EVIDENT’s acquisition of CrestOptics marks Primo Capital’s third exit of the year. Primo Capital invested in the Rome-based company from its early stages, supporting its evolution from an emerging technology business into an international player in advanced life sciences imaging.
Rome, 5 October 2026 – Primo Capital SGR S.p.A. (“Primo Capital”) announces the sale of its stake in CrestOptics S.p.A. (“CrestOptics”) as part of the company’s acquisition by Evident, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced scientific instruments, specializing in microscopy and imaging solutions for the life sciences and industrial sectors.
CrestOptics develops and manufactures advanced optical imaging systems for life sciences research. Its spinning disk confocal microscopy and super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (SIM) technologies are used today in research laboratories around the world and integrated with the platforms of leading international microscope manufacturers.
Primo Capital has believed in the CrestOptics project since the company’s earliest stages, supporting its technological and industrial development as it grew into a globally recognized player.
CrestOptics’ story is also a significant example of the Italian ecosystem’s ability to turn scientific and academic expertise into proprietary technologies and high-tech products that can compete in global markets. Founded in Rome in 2011 on the back of outstanding expertise in applied physics and optical technologies, CrestOptics successfully transformed advanced scientific know-how into proprietary technologies, industrial products and solutions now adopted globally, while maintaining its research, development and manufacturing center in the Italian capital.
The company’s portfolio includes the X-Light family of spinning disk confocal systems, CICERO, an integrated widefield and spinning disk solution, and DeepSIM, a platform for super-resolution microscopy. CrestOptics also develops custom optical solutions for OEMs operating in the research, pharmaceutical, biotech and industrial markets.
Antonio Concolino, Chief Executive Officer of Primo Capital, commented:
“CrestOptics is a strong example of the kind of innovation we seek to support: deep technology, hard-to-replicate scientific expertise, and the ability to translate that expertise into products that compete globally. Thanks also to the support of Fondazione ENPAM, the main investor in the fund that backed the company, we invested at an early stage and supported its growth. Its evolution shows how Italian scientific excellence can give rise to technology companies capable of competing in international markets. We are particularly pleased that, in this new phase as well, CrestOptics will continue to operate from Rome through its research, development and manufacturing center, under the leadership of its current management team.”
“After five years of double-digit organic revenue growth, consistent profitability and an increasingly broad technology portfolio, joining Evident represents the natural next step for CrestOptics,” said Renato Giacobbo Scavo, Chief Executive Officer of CrestOptics. “We share the same commitment to continuously expanding what microscopy can make visible. With Evident’s global presence, manufacturing capabilities and application expertise, we will be able to accelerate our innovation roadmap and bring our technologies to an even greater number of laboratories around the world. We are grateful to our previous investors, Apposite Capital and Primo Capital, as well as to our Chairman, David Martyr, and our Board of Directors, for their support throughout this journey.”
Advisors to CrestOptics, Apposite, Primo Capital and the sellers: Leerink as financial advisor, Deloitte for financial and tax due diligence, Roland Berger for commercial due diligence, and Chiomenti as legal advisor.
Founded in Rome in 2011, CrestOptics develops and manufactures advanced optical imaging systems for life sciences research. Its spinning disk confocal microscopy and super-resolution SIM technologies enable high-speed, high-contrast imaging with reduced phototoxicity, making it possible to work with live cells, 3D models and thick tissue samples that conventional techniques are unable to resolve.
Its portfolio includes the X-Light family of spinning disk confocal systems, CICERO, an integrated confocal solution, and DeepSIM, a super-resolution microscopy module, all designed to ensure broad compatibility with leading microscopy platforms. CrestOptics also develops custom optical solutions for OEMs operating in the research, pharmaceutical, biotech and industrial sectors.
CrestOptics operates from an ISO 9001-certified research, development and manufacturing center in Rome and collaborates with research institutions including the Italian Institute of Technology.
CrestOptics.com
For more than 100 years, Olympus has set a benchmark for optical precision in microscopy. Today, Evident carries forward this legacy, helping scientists, physicians and engineers make the invisible visible through advanced imaging solutions that combine renowned optical excellence with digital innovation.
Evident’s life sciences portfolio ranges from brightfield and darkfield microscopy to advanced fluorescence technologies, 4D analysis and digital pathology. In industrial microscopy, the company provides laser scanning, digital and semiconductor systems for inspection, quality control and production process analysis.
Evident is headquartered in Tokyo and operates research, development and manufacturing centers in Japan, the United States, Germany and China, supported by a global sales and service network.
EvidentScientific.com
