J&J Explores $20 Billion-Plus Sale of Orthopedics Unit

The Johnson & Johnson headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Photographer: Mark Kauzlarich/Bloomberg

Johnson & Johnson is preparing a potential sale of the orthopedics unit that it has been planning to separate, with big buyout firms already circling, according to people familiar with the matter.

The business, known as DePuy Synthes, could be valued at more than $20 billion in a sale, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information.