Astorg agreed on 27 April to acquire the global microbiology business of Thermo Fisher Scientific for about US$1.075bn, carving out the maker of Oxoid and Remel culture media and antimicrobial susceptibility tests as an independent company.
Why Astorg (Astorg VIII) is buying Thermo Fisher Scientific microbiology business (Oxoid and Remel)
Astorg said the deal reflected strong conviction in microbiology diagnostics, citing a consumables-driven model in markets with long-term structural growth and opportunities in product innovation, commercial expansion and acquisitions. Thermo Fisher chief executive Marc Casper said the sale provided additional capital to deploy to create shareholder value.
Deal terms and financing
The consideration comprises cash and a US$50m seller note. The investment is the tenth by Astorg VIII. The unit sat in Thermo Fisher's Specialty Diagnostics segment and generated US$645m of revenue in 2025.
Regulatory approvals and timing
Closing was expected in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Astorg announced completion on 12 August 2026.
Market context
The business serves clinical, pharmaceutical and food safety laboratories, with about 15,000 customers operating more than 38,000 labs in over 100 countries, 13 manufacturing and R&D sites and about 2,400 employees. Former PerkinElmer chief executive Dirk Bontridder became chief executive on completion.
