High-Tech Gründerfonds: Successful sale of portfolio company m2p-labs GmbH to Beckman Coulter Life Sciences

November 13, 2020

Together with lead investor FIDURA, KfW Development Bank, TechVision Fonds and other co-investors, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) has successfully sold its shares in m2p-labs GmbH, one of the leading manufacturers of microbioreactors, to Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.

Founded in 2005, m2p-labs is a leading global manufacturer of microbioreactors.  „m2p“stands for „from microreactor to process“. Using optical measuring technology and microfluidic chip technology combined with miniaturization and intelligent analyses methods, the company created an innovative system (BioLector®Technology) that provides the user with important information in a non-invasive way and with online monitoring during the process already at a very early stage of development in microscale. The user is thus able to efficiently develop a multitude of bioprocesses and products in a much shorter time to market. The technology is suitable for diverse screening tasks such as strain selection, promoter characterization, optimization of culture media and bioprocess development.

Innovation defines our future. m2p-labs core product line complements our existing liquid handling and laboratory automation business. It provides new opportunities for our collective team to develop and enhance time-saving solutions for cell line development and process development workflows.

Greg Milosevich, President, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences

We are pleased to have found in Beckman Coulter Life Sciences the ideal strategic partner to further realize the great potential of the m2p product portfolio. Our buy-and-build strategy has thus been implemented extremely successfully.

Klaus Ragotzky, Managing Director of lead investor FIDURA Private Equity Fonds

We are proud that HTGF, as a seed investor, has been there to accompany the technological and corporate development of m2p-labs since its foundation. This transaction once again shows that is possible to achieve very successful exits in times of the coronavirus.

Marco Winzer, Partner at High-Tech Gründerfonds

HTGF invested in m2p-lab as early as 2006.

Our consortium of investors was for many years an excellent financial partner and sparring partner for the m2p team. This helped enable the company to realise rapid growth as a market leader in bioprocessing and develop unique microfluidic technology while optimizing and improving internal processes.

Dr. Christoph Petry, CEO of m2p-labs GmbH

All parties have agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding the purchase price.

About Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical testing. For more than 75 years, the products of Beckman Coulter have been making a difference in people’s lives by improving the productivity of medical professionals and scientists, supplying critical information for improving patient health and delivering trusted solutions for research and discovery.
For more information visit www.beckman.com

About FIDURA Private Equity Fonds
FIDURA is a German group of independent Private Equity Funds, investting in growth-oriented and innovative mid-sized companies based primarily in German-speaking countries. The fund management team provides companies with personal networks and own entrepreneurial wealth of experience.
In addition, FIDURA Private Equity Funds are investing in accordance with clear ethical and sustainability criteria.
For more information visit www.fidura.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor that finances high-potential, tech-driven start-ups. With around EUR 900 million in total investment volume across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has already helped forge almost 600 start-ups since 2005. Driven by their expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion, its team of experienced investment managers and startup experts help guide the development of young companies. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial technology, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have injected over EUR 2.7 billion into the HTGF portfolio via more than 1,600 follow-on financing rounds. HTGF has also successfully sold interests in more than 100 companies.

Investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, KfW Capital, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and 32 companies.  The Fund Investors

For more information visit www.htgf.de/en

Contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Marco Winzer, Partner
T.: +49 228 82300 050
m.winzer@htgf.de