Meopta: Leading Manufacturer of Optical Solutions in Přerov

Meopta was founded in 1933 in Přerov and is a leading manufacturer and developer of high-precision industrial and hand-held optical, opto-mechanical and opto-electronic solutions. Production, which takes place entirely in Přerov, includes the design, development and production of optical components, high-precision mechanical parts and assemblies, assembly of subsystems in clean rooms, and metrology, including measurement and testing of the properties of components and subsystems.

The site includes 140,000 square meters of production space, including 30,000 square meters of ultra-clean space. Meopta employs over 1,700 people, including over 300 in research and development, and has its own global sales network serving a wide range of markets.

Meopta in Přerov is being bought by an American giant, the company has not yet disclosed the details

Carlyle, with the support of Meopty’s management, will seek to grow the company through greater focus on research and development, pursuing attractive opportunities in a diverse range of end markets, expanding international presence through the creation of a direct sales network and improving operations.

Carlyle has been investing in the industrial optics industry for a long time. For example, in December 2022 it invested in Tescan Orsay Holding.

Capital for this investment will be provided by the Carlyle Europe Partners platform, which invests in European opportunities in various industries and sectors, and the Carlyle Europe Technology Partners platform, which invests in technology and growth companies in Europe. The Rausnitz family will retain a minority stake in Meopta.

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“At Meopta, we have identified an attractive opportunity to invest in a high-quality and differentiated business. In addition to a unique vertically integrated manufacturing process, Meopta offers world-class expertise in the design, manufacture, assembly and testing of optical components and systems and is well positioned to benefit from strong secondary trends and growing demand for its specialized products across various end markets. We look forward to working with Alena Moore and the entire Meopty team on its journey to become the world’s leading supplier of optical systems,” said Friedel Drees, Managing Director of Carlyle Europe Partners’ Investment Advisory Team, and Vladimir Lasocki, Managing Director of Carlyle Europe Technology Partners’ Investment Advisory Team.

“I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at Meopta and would like to thank every member of our team who has contributed to its success. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, the company has become a leader in optical, opto-mechanical and opto-electronic solutions. Having built this company with my late uncle Paul Rausnitz and later with my son David, the legacy of the company is extremely important to me and my family. I am confident that we have found the right manager for its long-term growth and success. The business has an exciting future in cooperation with Carlyle and we look forward to supporting its success as a minority shareholder,” said Gerald Rausnitz, now the majority shareholder of Přerov company Meopta.

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According to him, Carlyle’s industry experience and track record in the growth and internationalization of leading European technology companies make Meopta an ideal partner for the next stage of the journey. “We look forward to working together to accelerate our plans for growth and international expansion,” outlined Alena Moore, CEO of Meopta.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in 2023.