Legal experts from regional law firm Ashfords’ Bristol office have worked with colleagues from across the firm to advise on the $51m (£34.8m) sale of a Cornish global leader in IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) to a US medical giant.
Research Instruments, based in Falmouth, has specialised in cutting-edge IVF technology, consumables and hardware since its launch in the early 1980s. 
Run by William Brown, Justin Retallack and David Lansdowne, it has expanded to become the largest hardware ART (assisted reproductive technology) supplier in the world with a global network of distributors and a comprehensive product portfolio.
Buyer CooperSurgical is the women’s health care division of The Cooper Companies, the New York Stock Exchange-listed global medical device company.
CooperSurgical, which supplies market leading products and treatment options to women’s health clinics, said the acquisition would strengthen its IVF offering within the consumables, software and hardware areas. California-based Cooper employs around 10,000 people with products sold in more than 100 countries.
Ashfords advised Research Instruments’ shareholders with a multi-disciplinary team led by corporate partners Stuart Mathews, pictured, and Andrew Betteridge, who is based in Bristol, assisted by Bristol-base corporate solicitor Tom Storey, along with Mark Lomas and Giles Lane (intellectual property), Morwenna Pestell (real estate), Angus Bauer (tax), Rebecca Dury (banking and finance) and Charles Pallot (employment).
Research Instruments’ shareholders were also advised by West of England accountants Bishop Fleming and Oasis Europe, the corporate finance advisers with offices in London, Reading and Falmouth.
Ashfords’ Stuart Mathews said: “We were delighted to represent the Research Instruments shareholders having acted for the company for a number of years.
“This sale is the culmination of years of hard work by William, Justin and David, who together have built an outstanding global business.
“The deal brings together two important players in the IVF field and provides a strong strategic growth opportunity for CooperSurgical.”
William Brown thanked the Ashfords’ team, who he said worked tirelessly to get the deal done. “The calm approach of Stuart and his team was invaluable in helping us through some complex aspects of the transaction in a very short space of time and I am glad we picked Ashfords to represent us on the sale,” he said.
Ashfords also has offices in London, Exeter, Taunton, Plymouth and Tiverton.
