Carlyle acquires Adastra in the largest deal of the year

U.S. investment firm Carlyle has acquired a majority stake in Adastra, a Czech IT consulting company specializing in data management infrastructure, digitalization, information management, and artificial intelligence implementation. Adastra had been seeking an investor since October of last year. The company currently employs over 2,000 people, and its revenues reached CZK 5 billion in 2023. With Carlyle’s investment, Adastra plans to pursue large-scale cloud, data, and AI projects. The company was founded and owned by Jan Červinka, Jan Mrázek, and Petr Jech, who are expected to retain minority stakes.

Carlyle is a global American investment firm listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. It manages assets worth USD 453 billion. Carlyle entered the Czech market in 2022 with the acquisition of microscope manufacturer Tescan, followed by the 2023 acquisition of optical-mechanical equipment supplier Meopta.

The value of the transaction and the size of the majority stake have not been disclosed. According to media reports, the total deal value is estimated at approximately USD 400 million (CZK 8.5 billion). The investment is being carried out through Carlyle Europe Technology Partners V and Carlyle Asia Partners Growth II funds. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.