The transaction establishes an independent company, with the Microbiology business providing the foundation of a global microbiology diagnostics platform serving the clinical, food safety and pharmaceutical markets. Dirk Bontridder has been appointed Chief Executive Officer to lead the company through its next stage of growth, in partnership with Astorg. Astorg, a leading pan-European private equity firm, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of the global microbiology business from Thermo Fisher Scientific. The Microbiology business is a global provider of diagnostic consumables and equipment used in microbiological testing across clinical, food safety, and pharmaceutical applications. Dirk Bontridder, Chief Executive Officer, concluded:"This is a unique journey to create an independent global microbiology diagnostics company with an exceptional portfolio, talented teams and a long-standing reputation for quality, scientific excellence and customer service.