Browne Jacobson advises shareholders on £15m BGF investment into Seda Pharma Development Services

Browne Jacobson has advised the shareholders and company on BGF's £15 million growth capital investment into Seda Pharma Development Services Ltd (Seda), a Cheadle-based integrated contract research, development and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO).

The UK and Ireland law firm supported on a multi-faceted transaction comprising BGF's equity investment, a refinancing with Santander, and the acquisition of the freehold of Seda's 50,000 sq. ft manufacturing facility at Cheadle Royal Business Park – securing long-term control of a strategically critical asset as the business targets its next phase of international growth.

Founded in 2015, Seda has delivered more than 1,000 projects for 185 customers and, following receipt of its MHRA manufacturer licence in February 2025, has evolved into a fully integrated CRDMO. 

The investment from BGF comes against a backdrop of strong structural growth in the global pharmaceutical outsourcing market, as biotech and pharma companies increasingly look to integrated specialist partners to compress development timelines, manage regulatory complexity and support the manufacture of increasingly sophisticated medicines.

The deal was led by Partners Ryan Brown (Corporate), Emma Hinton (Banking) and Tom Cressey (Real Estate), with further support from Alex O’Donoughue (Associate, Corporate), Craig Thomas (Principal Associate, Tax), Tim Williams (Associate, Employment), Emma Cascales-Labbate (Associate, Banking), and James Bryce (Senior Associate, Property).

Dr Paul Stott, CEO at Seda, said: “BGF’s investment marks a pivotal moment in Seda’s growth. It unlocks additional capital to scale our integrated CRDMO platform and enhance our technical capabilities to meet client needs. Securing the freehold of our manufacturing facility gives us long term control and positions us well to expand into new markets and support the development of increasingly complex medicines.”

Ryan Brown, Partner in Browne Jacobson's Corporate Team, said: "Seda is a compelling business – built on genuine scientific excellence and now backed with the capital to scale globally. This was a complex, multi-workstream transaction and we are pleased to have supported the team on such a significant milestone. It is also a proud moment for the life sciences ecosystem in the North West."

Browne Jacobson has a strong track record advising across the life sciences and healthcare sector and continues to build momentum in this space. Recent highlights include advising a US life sciences business on its international expansion, supporting shareholders of The Functional Gut Clinic on investment from Foresight Group, and acting for Apiary Capital on its investment in pharmaceutical marketing agency PIO, alongside advising the Office for Life Sciences on an £85 million health innovation programme. 

The firm has also advised on a series of transactions across healthcare services and the wider pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem, with its cross-practice team regularly supporting clients on investments, acquisitions and real estate-backed growth strategies in this rapidly evolving market.