HCA cares for hundreds of thousands of patients every year in its hospitals and outpatient centers. With the aim of also taking good care of its shareholders, HCA reviewed its alternatives and decided the best course was to become a private entity. In the $33 billion buyout, the largest in history at the time, Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity served as a lead equity sponsor, and Merrill Lynch Healthcare Investment Banking Group acted as financial advisor to the purchasing consortium. Drawing on the expertise of more than a dozen business units, including Leveraged Finance, Fixed Income, Currencies & Commodities, and Mergers & Acquisitions — Merrill Lynch delivered the deal. HCA shareholders received a healthy return, and now the company can focus on the results that really matter — one patient at a time.