CHG Healthcare Services, a healthcare staffing firm based in Salt Lake City, announced that Leonard Green & Partners and Ares Management have agreed to acquire the company with existing management retaining a significant equity interest. CHG is currently majority-owned by funds affiliated with J.W. Childs Associates, L.P. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of 2012.

CHG is one of the largest providers of healthcare staffing in the U.S., and is the largest locum tenens (temporary physician) staffing firm in the nation. The company is comprised of more than 1,400 people in seven offices nationwide and is recognized as a top employer in the U.S., including being ranked No. 9 on FORTUNE magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America.

“We appreciate the positive, successful partnership we’ve enjoyed with J.W. Childs for the last six years, and look forward to continuing our growth with our new partners at Leonard Green and Ares,” said Michael Weinholtz, CEO of CHG.

John Baumer, partner at Leonard Green, commented, “We’re excited to partner with CHG’s management team and Ares and look forward to supporting the next phase of the company’s growth and profitability.”

“We are delighted to join Leonard Green in supporting CHG’s talented leadership team as long-term investors in the company,” said Bennett Rosenthal, senior partner at Ares Management. “We believe CHG’s dedication to delivering high-quality and timely solutions for its customers will position it for continued growth.”

“We have truly enjoyed our six-year partnership with the entire CHG management team and organization. We wish them continued success in building upon their leadership position with terrific new partners in Leonard Green and Ares,” said David Fiorentino, partner at J.W. Childs Associates.

Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. is a private equity firm with over $15 billion of private equity capital raised since inception.

Ares Management LLC is a global alternative asset manager with approximately $54 billion of committed capital under management and over 540 employees.

J.W. Childs is a private equity firm focusing on investing in middle-market growth companies.