Global investment firm Carlyle announced recently that it has agreed to acquire Meopta Optika, a manufacturer of optical, opto-mechanical, and opto-electronic solutions. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Launched in 1933 and based in Prerov, Czech Republic, Meopta is a leading vertically integrated developer and manufacturer of high-precision specialized industrial and handheld optical, opto-mechanical, and opto-electronic solutions. Its operations — all of which are based at its Prerov site, span the design, development, and production of optical components, high-precision mechanical parts and assemblies, clean room sub-system assembly, and metrology including the measurement and testing of component and sub-system attributes. This site comprises 140,000 square meters of manufacturing facilities, including 30,000 square meters of clean room facilities. Plus Meopta has over 1,700 employees, including over 300 engineers, and a global sales presence serving the company’s wide-ranging end markets.
Carlyle is going to seek to support Meopta’s growth in partnership with its management team by capturing the opportunity in more advanced built-to-spec use cases through an increased focus on R&D, capitalizing on attractive opportunities in a diverse range of end markets, expanding its international presence through the creation of a direct sales network, and improving its operations. And Carlyle has a longstanding history of investments in the sector, including an investment in TESCAN ORSAY HOLDING, announced in December 2022.
The equity for the investment will be provided by the Carlyle Europe Partners platform, which invests in European opportunities across a range of sectors and industries, and the Carlyle Europe Technology Partners platform, which invests in lower mid-market and growth technology companies across Europe. The Rausnitz family is going to retain a minority ownership stake in Meopta.
The deal is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in 2023.
KEY QUOTES:
“In Meopta, we identified an attractive primary opportunity to invest in a high quality and differentiated business. As well as its unique vertically integrated production process, it offers world-class expertise in the design, manufacturing, assembly and testing of optical components and systems, and is well-positioned to benefit from strong secular tailwinds and increasing demand for its specialist products across its varied range of end markets. We look forward to working with Alena and the entire team on the next chapter for Meopta, continuing its journey to become a globally leading optics systems provider.”
— Friedel Drees, Managing Director on the Carlyle Europe Partners investment advisory team, and Vladimir Lasocki, Managing Director and Co-Head of the Carlyle Europe Technology Partners investment advisory team
“I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished at Meopta, and I would like to thank every member of our team who has contributed to its success. As a result of everyone’s hard work, Meopta has grown into a leader in the field of optical, opto-mechanical, and opto-electronic solutions. Having built this business with my late uncle Paul Rausnitz, and later with my son David, the legacy of Meopta is extremely important to me and my family and I am confident we have found the right stewards for its long-term growth and success. The business has an exciting future in partnership with Carlyle and we look forward to supporting its success as minority shareholders.”
— Gerald Rausnitz, controlling shareholder of Meopta
“We believe Carlyle, with its deep experience in our sector and track record of growing and internationalizing leading European technology businesses like ours, is the perfect partner for Meopta on the next step of our journey. We look forward to working together to accelerate our plans for growth and international expansion.”
— Alena Moore, CEO of Meopta
