Global investment firm Carlyle announced it has reached an agreement to sell Tescan Group, a manufacturer of electron microscopes and advanced scientific instruments, to Shimadzu Corporation. The transaction is valued at $850 million.
Tescan, founded in 1991 and based in Brno, Czech Republic, develops scanning electron microscopes, ion beam systems, micro-CT scanners, 4D scanning transmission electron microscopes and ultrafast laser micromachining technologies. Its products serve the material sciences, life sciences and semiconductor markets.
Carlyle acquired Tescan in January 2023. Since then, new management implemented a strategy focused on operational excellence, product innovation and market expansion. According to Carlyle, this led to approximately 50% growth over three years. The company also launched new semiconductor-focused workflows and expanded its global partnerships.
Vladimir Lasocki and Petr Rieger of the Carlyle Europe Technology Partners investment advisory team stated: “Tescan has undergone a significant transformation over the past three years and is now a stronger, more diversified business with an attractive position in the fast-growing semiconductor and nanotechnology markets. Working closely with Jean-Charles, we strengthened the leadership team, expanded the company’s international footprint, and advanced product innovation and strategic add-on acquisitions that enhanced Tescan’s technological depth and market reach. These initiatives have positioned the company to continue its strong trajectory of growth, and we wish the company future success under Shimadzu’s ownership.”
Jean-Charles Chen, CEO of Tescan said: “Over the past several years, we have intensified our focus on delivering innovative solutions for our customers, particularly in semiconductor research and failure analysis. With Carlyle’s backing, we invested in our people, broadened our global reach, and accelerated the development of new technologies. Under Shimadzu’s ownership, we look forward to building on this progress and continuing to support the evolving needs of our customers worldwide.”
Yasunori Yamamoto, President and CEO of Shimadzu Corporation said: “Tescan’s advanced microscopy and imaging technologies are highly complementary to Shimadzu’s portfolio and support our strategy to expand in high-growth analytical and semiconductor applications. We look forward to working with the Tescan team to enhance our combined offering, invest further behind the company’s employee base and deliver even greater value to customers worldwide.”
J.P. Morgan Securities plc acted as exclusive financial advisor for Carlyle and Tescan; White & Case provided legal counsel; Deloitte supported financial due diligence; Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd. served as financial adviser for Shimadzu; Clifford Chance acted as legal adviser.
The Carlyle Group is headquartered in Washington D.C., operating globally across private equity and credit strategies with offices on four continents (official website). As of September 30, 2025 it managed $474 billion in assets through 660 investment vehicles with more than 2,400 employees (official website). Harvey M. Schwartz has served as chief executive officer since February 15th 2023 (official website).
Carlyle states that it aims to create value for investors while fostering inclusive teams for broader impact (official website).
