US firm swoops for Lancashire medical equipment supplier

Lancashire-based Medical Equipment Supplies and Management has been sold to NASDAQ-listed global laboratory supplier and distributor VWR.

£8.5m turnover MESM, headquartered in Chorley, provides medical equipment for the clinical trials industry. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

VWR International is an American company involved in the distribution of research laboratory products with more than 1,200,000 items to upwards of 250,000 customers in North America and Europe. The US division is headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

RSM and Turner Parkinson have advised on the sale.

James Wild, corporate finance partner at RSM, said: “The deal brings together two complementary businesses delivering key synergies, increased commercial opportunities and access to new markets to support the growth plan for MESM.”

David Easdown, corporate partner at Turner Parkinson, said: “We are delighted to have supported the shareholders of MESM with the transaction and it will be exciting to see the continuing rapid growth of MESM in the future.”