Beckman Said to Explore Sale After Firms’ Approach

Beckman Coulter Inc., a maker of laboratory equipment, is exploring a sale after it was approached by buyout firms interested in taking the company private, said people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Beckman, with a market value of about $4 billion before today, hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to study whether to go private or search for a strategic buyer, said the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. Blackstone Group LP and Apollo Global Management LLC are among the firms that approached Beckman, said two of the people. The process is in early stages, and any deal for the Brea, California-based company would likely be months away, the people said.