The acquisition will establish the microbiology unit as an independent platform focused on clinical diagnostic consumables and equipment.
Astorg, a pan-European private equity firm, signed a definitive agreement to acquire the microbiology business from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Following the transaction, the unit will become an independent, privately owned platform backed by Astorg.
The microbiology business provides diagnostic consumables and equipment used in antimicrobial susceptibility testing and culture media solutions. These products serve clinical, pharmaceutical, and food safety testing applications. The company operates 13 manufacturing and research and development (RD) sites globally and employs approximately 2,400 people.
“This investment reflects our strong conviction in microbiology diagnostics and exemplifies Astorg’s approach to creative dealmaking, leveraging deep sector expertise to identify global assets, navigate complexity, and translate it into a clear, executable growth strategy,” says Judith Charpentier, co-managing partner and head of healthcare at Astorg, in a release.
The business operates in a market driven by infection complexity, food safety standards, and quality control requirements, according to the press release. It currently serves approximately 15,000 customers across more than 38,000 labs in over 100 countries. The company reports that more than 95% of its revenues are recurring and driven by a consumables-based model.
“Thermo Fisher’s microbiology business, through its Remel and Oxoid brands, sits at the core of testing workflows in life sciences and plays an important role in global food safety,” says Olivier Lieven, partner at Astorg, and Paul Arhanchiague, managing director at Astorg, in a release. “Its consumables-driven model provides key products in markets supported by strong, long-term structural growth.”
Astorg plans to support the business by focusing on organic growth, executing mergers and acquisitions, and strengthening operational capabilities. The firm has previously invested in other healthcare and life sciences platforms, including CordenPharma, Clario, and Echosens.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Thermo Fisher Scientific will continue to operate the business until the transaction is complete.
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