rno, Czech Republic, and Tokyo, Japan, 05 January 2026 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that it has agreed to sell Tescan Group (“Tescan”), a leading manufacturer of electron microscopes and advanced scientific and analytical instruments, to Shimadzu Corporation, a global provider of analytical and measuring technologies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The enterprise value of the transaction amounts to $850 million.
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Brno, Czech Republic, Tescan is a leading global developer and supplier of scanning electron microscopes, ion beam systems, micro-CT scanners, 4D scanning transmission electron microscopes and ultrafast laser micromachining technologies, serving customers across material sciences, life sciences, and the semiconductor market.
Following its acquisition of the business in January 2023, Carlyle successfully completed a transition of leadership. The new management has accelerated the company’s repositioning around the fast-growing semiconductor and nanotechnology markets with the support of Carlyle. Together, Carlyle and management executed a three-pillar strategy around 1) strengthened execution and operational excellence, 2) market share gain driven by new product launches and 3) expansion of Tescan’s addressable market with product innovation and acquisitions. This strategy delivered above-market growth of ca. 50% over three years. The partnership also supported the launch of new semiconductor-focused workflows, broadened services capabilities, and deepened global partnerships, including with Shimadzu Corporation, enabling Tescan to scale and capture share in a sector experiencing rapid growth.
Vladimir Lasocki, Co-Head of the Carlyle Europe Technology Partners (“CETP”) investment advisory team, and Petr Rieger, Director in the CETP investment advisory team, said: “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, 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 served as exclusive financial advisor, White & Case served as legal counsel and Deloitte provided financial due diligence and accounting support to Carlyle and Tescan in the transaction. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd. served as financial adviser and Clifford Chance served as legal adviser to Shimadzu.
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About Carlyle
Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and operates through three segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $474 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2025, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,400 people in 27 offices across four continents. Further information is available at carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group and on X at @OneCarlyle.
Media Contacts
Carlyle:
Charlie Bristow
Tel: +44 (0) 7384 513568
Email: charlie.bristow@carlyle.com
Tescan:
Jana Šilarová
Email: jana.silarova@tescan.com
