A once in a lifetime decision backed by a trusted adviser – Owen Munford sell to Embecta

“As shareholders, selling our business was one of the most important and demanding decisions we have ever made, and Forvis Mazars proved to be exactly the professional advisers we needed.”

Owen Mumford is a UK-based innovator and manufacturer of medical devices and drug-delivery technologies, with a strong reputation for quality, innovation and patient-centred design. For its shareholders, their sale of the business to Embecta in May 2026 marked an important milestone in the company’s journey.

A transaction shaped by shareholder objectives

Selling a business is one of the most significant decisions shareholders can make. In the case of Owen Mumford, the goal was not simply to complete a transaction, but to run a thoughtful and well-structured process that balanced value, certainty and long-term fit.

From the outset, we worked closely with the shareholders to understand their priorities and shape a process around them. That meant helping prepare the business thoroughly for market, presenting a clear and credible equity story, and engaging buyers in a targeted way that reflected both strategic logic and cultural fit.

Preparing the business for sale

A strong outcome in any sale process starts with strong preparation.

We guided the shareholders and wider management team in getting the business ready for market including helping shape the financial story through a transaction lens, making sure materials were consistent, and supporting the business in presenting information in a way that would stand up to scrutiny.

Our approach places real emphasis on this: anticipating likely buyer questions early, improving control over the process, and helping businesses move through a sale with greater clarity and confidence.

Identifying the right buyer

The sell-side process was designed to identify a buyer that was not only commercially attractive, but also strategically aligned with the future of the business.

Our international reach is central to how we run sell-side processes. With integrated Deal Advisory specialists in more than 30 countries, we can tap into a much wider buyer universe, particularly those in the US, using a coordinated and seamless outreach approach to identify, engage and convert the right buyer.

In medical devices and drug-delivery technologies, that US connection is especially valuable, opening doors to strategic buyers seeking innovation, complementary capabilities and new avenues for growth.

Why Embecta?

In March 2026, Embecta agreed to acquire Owen Mumford. For Embecta, this acquisition allows them to grow beyond diabetes care and into the fast-growing area of drug delivery devices for both generic and branded therapies. It also supports Embecta’s wider ambition to build a broader medical supplies business focused on chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and anaphylaxis.

When announcing the deal, Embecta described Owen Mumford as a long standing, trusted partner to many leading pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare organisations. Owen Mumford’s growing pharmaceutical services offering, including the highly innovative Aidaptus autoinjector platform and a wider range of drug delivery devices, was highlighted as a strong fit with Embecta’s existing portfolio. The business also brings established expertise in point of care testing, self-injection and pelvic health.

Embecta also noted that Owen Mumford’s commercial channels, customer relationships and international footprint complement its own global diabetes care franchise.

The combination strengthens Embecta’s legacy in insulin delivery while supporting its evolution into a broader medical supplies company. Together, the two businesses bring more than 170 years of experience developing high-quality, patient-focused solutions, underpinned by strong cultures and multi-generational employee relationships. Together, the two businesses create a stronger platform with greater reach, deeper expertise and a more varied offering for customers across the healthcare sector.

Strong US demand for UK businesses

The sale of Owen Munford drew significant interest from international buyers and reflects strong overseas appetite for high-quality UK assets, particularly among US buyers. That demand is driven by the value, heritage and global reputation of UK businesses, especially in medical devices where innovation, intellectual property and long-standing customer relationships matter. It also shows why UK assets continue to be seen as compelling giving access to innovation and established global customer bases, combined with proven quality and trusted customer relationships.

Delivering a disciplined process

Our role in any sale is to help ensure the process remains structured, well-managed and aligned with shareholder priorities throughout. In the case of Owen Munford, we focused on helping shareholders prepare the business for sale, develop high-quality marketing materials, identify and approach buyers in any location, assess offers and project-manage the process through to completion ensuring the day-to-day business operations continue without any disruption.

That structured approach was particularly important in a transaction of this significance. By combining preparation, international reach and careful execution, we helped support a process that reflected both the quality of the business and the importance of the decision facing the shareholders.

Client perspective

“As shareholders, selling our business was one of the most important and demanding decisions we have ever made, and Forvis Mazars proved to be exactly the professional advisers we needed. From the outset, they took the time to understand our personal objectives and preferences and then executed the process in a disciplined and well-structured way.

The marketing process was well thought through, making effective use of the Forvis Mazars international network to engage relevant buyers that would also be the ‘right’ fit for our business. They did exactly what they said they would do, held us to account on execution, and guided us through the process with calm, experience and integrity. Over the course of the transaction, they became trusted advisers and people we genuinely enjoyed working with. Their approach was instrumental in delivering a successful transaction, and we are delighted with the outcome they achieved for the business and for us as shareholders.”

Shareholders, Owen Mumford

The outcome

The agreed transaction between Owen Mumford and Embecta demonstrates the value of combining early preparation, targeted buyer engagement and disciplined execution in a shareholder sale process. The level of interest from international buyers underlined the enduring appeal of UK assets offering compelling value, access to innovation and established global customer bases.

We were delighted to have supported the shareholders through this important stage in the company’s journey, helping them navigate a complex and high-stakes decision with a process designed to deliver clarity, momentum and confidence.