Osborne Clarke advises shareholders of UK Biocentre on sale to Azenta Life Sciences
Published on 6th March 2026
International legal practice Osborne Clarke has advised the shareholders of UK Biocentre Limited on its sale to Azenta UK Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Azenta, Inc.
UK Biocentre is a leading UK provider of sample management, storage and processing services. Founded in 2014, it supports large-scale biomedical, pharmaceutical and clinical studies and is a trusted partner for population scale research programmes.
Under the ownership of Azenta, a leading provider of life sciences solutions worldwide, UK Biocentre will continue to operate under its existing name. The acquisition will see further investment into the business, keeping it at the forefront of the biobank market and strengthening its ability to set international standards for sample quality, governance, accessibility and research.
UK Biocentre will serve as Azenta’s European operational hub, complementing its existing biorepository in Griesheim, Germany and expanding its automated, integrated sample management and processing capabilities across Europe.
"Our involvement in this deal is a fantastic example of our strong and growing presence across the life sciences and healthcare sector. Bringing together a market-leading UK biobank with a global life sciences platform will help accelerate innovation, investment and growth in the sector. It marks an exciting new chapter for UK Biocentre’s team, partners and customers.”
The Osborne Clarke team advising the shareholders was led by partner Justin Starling (Corporate), with support from associate director Emma Charlton (Corporate) and associate Fern Tawera (Corporate). The core team was supported by partner Michael Carter (Tax), partner James Meakin (Tax) and senior associate Maryam Satter (Tax).
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