Battery Ventures Acquires Analytical-Instrumentation Pioneer LI-COR Biosciences

Strategic investment in Nebraska company to help fuel growth as climate change, advances in biology expand market for LI-COR’s products

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Battery Ventures, a global, technology focused investment firm, has acquired LI-COR Biosciences, an industry-leading company that makes highly engineered instrumentation systems for environmental research, agriculture, drug discovery, protein research and therapeutics development.

LI-COR, founded by Bill and Elaine Biggs, has two main business lines: environmental-monitoring instrumentation, including devices and software for scientists to analyze plants, atmospheric qualities, gas and soil, and a biotechnology business, offering a portfolio of imaging and analysis instruments, proprietary software and reagents sold mainly to life-science research institutions and pharmaceutical producers.

An increased need for climate-change analysis and adaptation, as well continued global population growth and the need to improve food production, are larger trends pushing the adoption of LI-COR’s environmental products. LI-COR’s biotechnology products help researchers improve the human condition through innovative research tools that help scientists solve global health challenges. Based in Lincoln, Neb., the company counts more than 3,000 academic and commercial customers across 100 countries and operates two subsidiaries in Germany and the United Kingdom.

“We are excited to partner with LI-COR and the Biggs family in this transaction, particularly since we’ve been tracking the company and its growth since 2013,” said Jesse Feldman, a Battery Ventures general partner. “We look forward to helping LI-COR increase its market share and grow both organically and through targeted acquisitions.” Feldman and Battery’s Max-Julian Kaye are joining LI-COR’s board.

As part of the acquisition, current LI-COR Chief Executive Greg Biggs, the son of co-founder Bill Biggs, will transition to an advisory role. Thomas Reslewic, a current Battery executive-in-residence who previously served as group president for two business units within Teledyne Technologies, will become CEO. At Teledyne, Reslewic managed a portfolio of companies producing a range of scientific instruments, environmental-monitoring equipment, and test-and-measurement solutions, among other products.

“LI-COR has incredibly strong heritage as an innovator in both of its core markets, which continue to present exciting opportunities for organic and inorganic growth,” Reslewic said. “I am excited to assume this new role and to lead LI-COR in its next chapter of growth as a category leader.”

Greg Biggs noted: “Partnering with Battery, a well-capitalized firm with an extensive history of backing innovative analytical-instrument businesses, is the logical evolution for LI-COR. We could not be more thrilled to leverage Battery’s capital, network and industry expertise to continue to drive our growth in this dynamic industry environment.”

About LI-COR

LI-COR Biosciences is a leading innovator in developing high quality instrument systems used for plant research, gas analysis, drug discovery, protein research, and small animal imaging. The company’s instruments, analysis software, and reagents are used in more than one hundred countries, and the International Space Station, for studies ranging from global climate change to cancer research. LI-COR employs more than 300 employees at its headquarters in Lincoln, NE, USA, and subsidiaries in Bad Homburg, Germany, and Cambridge, UK. The company’s mission is “Impacting Lives Through Science.” LI-COR strives to improve the human condition through innovative research tools that help scientists solve the challenges that face humanity. More information at www.licor.com. LI-COR is ISO 9001:2015 certified.

About Battery Ventures

Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure, online marketplaces, healthcare IT and industrial technology. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from six strategic locations: Boston; San Francisco and Menlo Park, Calif.; Herzliya, Israel; London; and New York. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here.

Alicia Michaud
Marketing Director
Battery Ventures
415-426-5922
alicia@battery.com