Business law firm DWF, which has an office in Bristol, has advised international medical products supplier Ambu on its acquisition of Wiltshire-based medical hydrogel producer First Water Heathcote.
Danish-headquartered diagnostic and life-supporting device producer Ambu is paying £1.8m for First Water Heathcote, based in Ramsbury, where it has its office and plant producing its gel. The firm was an existing Ambu supplier.
Leading the deal was David Armitage, partner in DWF’s corporate group. Also on the team advising Ambu were Alex Birch, associate in the corporate group and Amy Crowley, associate in the tax group.
The deal continues Ambu’s continuing expansion in the specialist sector. In 2012, the NASDAQ OMX-listed company acquired Unomedical’s biomedical electrodes business for £3.4m, assisted by a legal team led by David Armitage.
Mr Armitage said: “By working with Ambu on this acquisition we’ve been able to help strengthen the company’s position as one of the world’s foremost biomedical electrodes producers.”
Ambu CEO Lars Marcher said: “High-quality gel is a key ingredient in our ECG electrodes, and with the acquisition of First Water Heathcote we strengthen our business by having in-house hydrogel competencies. With our leading position in the ECG electrode market, the acquisition of the Heathcote facility supports our desire to control the entire value chain.”
