Edinburgh Instruments Ltd Acquired By Techcomp Group Ltd

Techcomp (Group) Ltd is pleased to announce the acquisition of the majority holding of shares in Edinburgh Instruments Ltd (EI) with immediate effect.

EI is the world’s leading manufacturer of Lifetime Fluorescence Spectrometers, Lasers and Gas Sensors for scientific research and industrial markets. The business is based in Livingston, Scotland and was founded in 1971 as an early pioneer of Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC), laser and gas sensing technologies.

Commenting on the acquisition, chairman Dr Derek Shepherd F.I.C.E., C.Eng. stated, “Edinburgh Instruments has prospered under strong leadership, a motivated team of highly qualified employees and with investment from Scottish Enterprise and Hamamatsu Photonics KK in the early years. Our products provide research institutes world-wide with the most advanced photonic analytical capabilities available today. EI is now ready to start a new phase of development. Techcomp’s knowledge and global presence in our high-end analytical markets position them as the perfect partner to help release the full potential of our technologies.”

Describing this latest addition to the Techcomp Europe business, Chris O’Connor (CEO Techcomp Europe Group) added, “We are delighted to have the opportunity of adding Edinburgh Instruments to our portfolio of businesses and to be able to expand our range of technologies and products. EI has a fantastic reputation for innovating and supporting leading edge research globally and we are excited about investing in the business and working with the employees to take it to the next level. The depth of knowledge and experience within the team at EI is truly impressive and we are proud that Professor Smith OBE FRS FRSE, EI’s founder and retired chairman, who is a genuine pioneer of advanced photonic research, will be joining Techcomp Group as our Chief Scientific Officer. ”

CEO Alan Faichney, having led the business for the past two and a half years, will pursue other interests and a replacement will be announced in due course.

About Edinburgh Instruments
Formed in 1971, Edinburgh Instruments were formed as the first spin-out from Heriot-Watt University and the first private company on Britain's first University "Research Park”.

Edinburgh Instruments (EI) is located in purpose built 12,800 sq.ft. facilities just outside Edinburgh, where it employs over 65 people. The company is involved in the development, manufacture and sale of a wide range of high technology products. Product ranges include lasers, analytical spectrometers and accessories supplied by the Photonics Division and gas detection and monitoring products supplied by the Sensors Division.

EI has an extensive global distribution network and has a highly prized reputation for the delivery of high quality, accurate instrumentation together with one to one customer service support.

About Techcomp Europe Group
Techcomp Europe Group is a leading manufacturer and distributor of analytical instruments, life science equipment and laboratory instruments with operations in Europe since 1920.

The Group consists of Froilabo (with factories in France and Romania) that specialises in Ultra Low Temperature technologies, Precisa (based in Switzerland) with a complete range of high precision metrology and weighing solutions and Dynamica (based in the UK) with ranges of analytical and laboratory instruments.

The Group also distributes Hitachi High Speed and Ultra centrifuges in Western Europe.

Products are distributed across Europe with direct support from local factories and commercial teams, throughout Asia from the distribution operation in Hong Kong and across Latin America from a dedicated office in Mexico City. Techcomp Europe is owned by Techcomp (Holdings) Ltd. Ordinary shares are traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK) as stock code 1298.

About Hamamatsu Photonics KK
Hamamatsu Photonics KK is a leading company in Photonics field, established in 1953, and producing Photomultiplier tubes, opto-semiconductors, light sources, imaging and measurement systems and others for medical, industrial, analytical, scientific and other markets.

About Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's main economic development agency and aims to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy by identifying and exploiting the best opportunities for economic growth.