CVC Catalyst III has agreed to acquire a majority stake in WillowWood, one of the best-known names in prosthetic liners, feet, knees and related technologies. The transaction will see CVC become the majority investor in WillowWood alongside Blue Sea Capital, the Arbogast family and company management, who are all reinvesting substantially in the business.
For the global prosthetics and orthotics sector, the deal is significant because it brings another major private equity investor into a long-established O&P manufacturer with a strong clinical and product innovation history. WillowWood has stated that the next phase of growth will focus on research and development, new product innovation, targeted acquisitions and international expansion.
A 115-Year Prosthetics Business Enters a New Growth Phase
Founded in 1907 in Mount Sterling, Ohio, by William E. Arbogast, a bilateral amputee, WillowWood has built a reputation as one of the leading prosthetic product manufacturers in the United States and key European markets. The company is especially well known for its prosthetic liner portfolio, including the ALPHA liner range, as well as its growing offering in prosthetic feet, prosthetic knees, suspension systems and custom solutions.
According to the company announcement, WillowWood pioneered the gel liner, an essential interface between a residual limb and the prosthetic socket. This makes the company particularly important to prosthetists and amputees because liner design directly affects comfort, suspension, skin health and day-to-day prosthetic use.
The company says it now offers approximately 1,000 SKUs, including custom liner capabilities for more complex patient needs. This has been complemented by growth in prosthetic feet, knees and custom fabrication.
Existing Leadership to Continue
WillowWood’s co-CEOs, Mahesh Mansukhani and Daniel Rubin, will continue to lead the company. Ryan Arbogast, a fourth-generation member of the founding Arbogast family, will also continue to support the company’s mission.
Mansukhani said the new partnership with CVC is intended to accelerate what the company has already built, including bringing new products to patients faster and expanding internationally.
This continuity is important for clinicians and distributors because it suggests the transaction is not simply a financial ownership change, but a growth strategy built around the existing WillowWood platform, leadership and clinical product portfolio.
Why This Matters for IMEA CPO Readers
For prosthetists, orthotists, distributors and rehabilitation providers across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and South Asia, the most important part of the announcement may be WillowWood’s international growth strategy.
CVC Catalyst has indicated that it plans to support WillowWood through:
- investment in research and development
- new product innovation
- targeted mergers and acquisitions
- broader geographic reach
- expansion of WillowWood’s international presence
- development of a direct commercial footprint in Europe
While the announcement specifically highlights Europe as a priority, stronger international expansion by a major prosthetics manufacturer can have wider implications for emerging and growth markets. For IMEA countries, this may influence future access to advanced liners, prosthetic feet, knees, suspension systems and custom solutions, particularly if expanded commercial structures later support wider distributor networks, education programmes and product availability.
Private Equity Interest in O&P Continues to Grow
The transaction also reflects a wider trend: prosthetics and orthotics is increasingly being viewed as a specialist healthcare technology sector with long-term growth potential.
CVC describes WillowWood as a business with a strong market position, long-term fundamentals and significant runway for growth. The firm also points to its experience in MedTech and healthcare investments, including R&D acceleration, commercial expansion, international scale-up and M&A.
For O&P professionals, this type of investment can bring opportunities and concerns. On one hand, larger capital backing can support product development, manufacturing capacity, international distribution and clinical research. On the other hand, consolidation in the sector can also raise questions about pricing, market access, distributor relationships and whether innovation remains closely connected to clinical realities.
In the case of WillowWood, the company’s stated emphasis remains on innovation, product quality and improving outcomes for people with limb loss.
Innovation and Product Development in Focus
WillowWood has launched 18 new products since 2021 and has continued to work with national academic institutions on clinical and product research. The company’s innovation has also received industry recognition, including research into protecting limb health that is due to be recognised at the 2026 AOPA National Assembly.
For clinicians, this emphasis on residual limb health is highly relevant. Across IMEA markets, many amputees face hot climates, long wear times, limited follow-up care, skin breakdown risk and inconsistent access to replacement liners or components. Advances in liner materials, suspension, socket interface technology and fit management can therefore have a direct effect on patient comfort, mobility and prosthetic adherence.
Potential Implications for Emerging Markets
The immediate announcement does not specify new commercial plans for the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia or South Asia. However, the investment highlights several issues that are relevant to the region.
First, global manufacturers are increasingly looking beyond mature markets for long-term growth. Second, the success of advanced prosthetic technologies in IMEA countries will depend not only on product availability, but also on training, reimbursement models, procurement systems, after-sales support and affordability. Third, as multinational O&P companies expand, local distributors and clinical partners may become increasingly important in connecting global technology to local patient needs.
For clinics and rehabilitation providers, the transaction is worth watching because it may shape future access to WillowWood products, education, service models and potential regional partnerships.
Transaction Expected to Close in Q3 2026
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion remains subject to regulatory approvals and is expected in the third quarter of 2026.
For now, the announcement signals confidence in the long-term future of prosthetic technology and in the continuing demand for high-quality liners, feet, knees and socket interface solutions. For the wider O&P profession, it is another reminder that prosthetics is no longer a niche manufacturing category, but an increasingly strategic segment of global MedTech.
- WillowWood official announcement
- WillowWood
- WillowWood liners
- WillowWood feet
- WillowWood knees
- CVC
- Blue Sea Capital
- AOPA National Assembly