Schroder Ventures, financial investors, with offices in London and Frankfurt, Germany, announced last month that it will purchase the Leica Microsystems Group, with headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany. The group, which comprises 18 sales companies, 11 factories in seven countries and a total workforce of 3600 employees, is a supplier in the fields of microscopy, image analysis, laser scanning microscopy, medical technology and equipment for the semiconductor industry. The total amount of the acquisition and further development of the group is estimated at 900 million DM. Starting at a yearly growth of 7 percent, a strategic goal of Leica Microsystems is to double revenue over the next 10 years. The company does not anticipate any changes in its employee and managerial structure.