Lafayette Instrument adds Sutter Instrument
The transaction is the platform’s fifth add-on since Branford Castle’s 2021 investment, extending Lafayette’s product offering into electrophysiology and neuroscience research instruments.
Takeaways
- Sutter Instrument is a precision scientific instruments for electrophysiology, neuroscience, and life sciences research.
- Lafayette Instrument is acquiring Sutter Instrument with backing from Branford Castle.
- The business serves life sciences research institutions and universities.
Lafayette Instrument extended its life sciences instrumentation platform with the acquisition of Sutter Instrument Corp., a manufacturer of precision devices for cellular electrophysiology and neuroscience research.
The add-on is the fifth under Branford Castle Partners ownership since the private equity firm invested in 2021 and deepens the platform’s reach into university and institutional research laboratories globally.
Sutter Instrument, founded more than 50 years ago, supplies microelectrode pullers, micromanipulators, and imaging systems used in electrophysiology experiments.
Its products are employed by neuroscience departments and life science researchers at universities and research institutions worldwide.
The company’s customer base aligns with sustained funding growth in cellular biology and brain research.
Lafayette Instrument engineers equipment across three segments: life sciences, polygraph, and human evaluation.
CEO Benjamin Mangrich noted that Sutter’s decades-long track record in precision instrumentation and customer support fits directly into the life science division, bringing electrophysiology tools alongside Lafayette’s existing neuropsychological assessment and motion capture systems.
Branford Castle’s Ceon Francis said the deal broadens the platform’s product set for a growing base of life sciences customers.
Akerman LLP served as legal counsel to Branford Castle, and RSM was accounting and tax advisor.
EC M&A acted as financial advisor and Donahue Fitzgerald LLP as legal advisor to Sutter.
Byline Bank provided senior debt financing and Brookside Capital Partners supplied mezzanine debt to support the acquisition.
The transaction closed concurrently with the announcement.
Get tomorrow morning's tape in your inbox.
Yesterday's platforms, add-ons, recaps, and exits, cleaned up before the workday starts.