Olympus to sell microscope unit to Bain for $3 billion, focus on medical technology

Olympus had agreed to sell its microscope unit to private equity firm Bain Capital for $3.1 billion as it speeds up the overhaul of its business portfolio to focus solely on medical technology

The microscope unit, which also manufactures industrial endoscopes and x-ray analyzers, will be transferred to Bain on January 4, subject to antitrust regulatory approvals in Japan and elsewhere.

Olympus stated that the transfer to Bain would benefit the company by allowing it to grow through more agile and flexible decision-making based on market needs.

Bain edged global private equity firms such as Carlyle Group and KKR & Co. for the right to acquire the microscope unit.

Olympus said the transfer to Bain would be in its best interest to allow the business to grow with more agile and flexible decision-making based on market needs.

Bain won over global private equity firms such as Carlyle Group and KKR & Co.

Bain owns flash memory chip maker Kioxia Holdings and is proceeding to a second bidding round for Toshiba.