BSN was established in April 2001as a 50:50 joint venture between Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, and Smith & Nephew plc, London due to complimentary geographic and channel strengths in the areas of wound care, fracture management, physiotherapy and compression therapy. 

Then functioning as an independent player, BSN was aquired by Montagu Private Equity firm in early 2006, a leading private equity investor in the European mid-market with offices in London, Manchester, Paris, Düsseldorf and Stockholm. Since 1968, the firm has supported more than 400 businesses operating across a range of different segments and sectors, and currently has more than €3 billion under management.