Orion Medical Supplies

About Orion Medical Supplies

Founded in 2012 and based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, Orion Medical Supplies is a niche assembler and distributor of harm reduction medical devices, products designed to reduce the spread of blood-borne infections, drug-related litter, overdose injuries, and deaths. Its customer base spans NHS England, Public Health Wales, Public Health Scotland, local councils, and several European health authorities. Over more than a decade, founders Shaun Hazlett and Salv Picillo built the business into a recognised and trusted supplier within a highly specialised public health niche.

The challenge

After fourteen years building Orion from the ground up, the founding shareholders were ready to retire, and they wanted to do so on the right terms. That meant finding a buyer who understood the product range, respected the public health mission behind it, and had the infrastructure to carry the business forward without disruption to customers or operations.

With Orion serving NHS bodies and public health agencies across the UK and Europe, the sale required careful handling. The buyer, Femcare Ltd, a UK subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD), brought significant regulatory and commercial complexity to the transaction, requiring the shareholders to have sharp, experienced legal advice in their corner from the outset.

The solution

K3 Law acted as legal adviser to the shareholders throughout the transaction, working alongside KBS Corporate, whose Associate Director Jacob Lord led the corporate finance process. The K3 Law team guided Shaun and Salv through every stage, from negotiation and due diligence through to completion on 31 August 2026, ensuring the £3.6 million deal closed cleanly and on terms that reflected the true value of what they had built.

With UTMD funding the acquisition entirely from its own cash reserves, the transaction moved with pace and certainty. K3 Law’s role was to keep the shareholders fully informed, protect their position through warranties and disclosure, and ensure nothing was left on the table.

The outcome

The sale completed on 31 August 2026. Orion’s operations will transition into Femcare’s existing facilities in Romsey, Hampshire following a handover period, and the acquisition is expected to add approximately $6 million to UTMD’s annual consolidated revenues.

UTMD CEO Kevin Cornwell commented:

“This is the kind of acquisition that makes sense for UTMD: a stable, profitable and affordable business with well-accepted products, in a specialised market niche with some growth potential.”

For Shaun and Salv, the deal represented the culmination of over a decade’s work, exiting into capable hands, with a buyer whose values aligned with the public health purpose at the heart of Orion’s business.

K3 Law is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The firm specialises in business sales, M&A, and investment deals for SME and mid-market businesses.