Ardian, the independent private investment company, today announces the acquisition of a majority stake in Ionisos, a global leader in cold sterilisation services, from the pan-European private equity firm Agilitas. The management team of Ionisos is increasing its capital stake alongside Ardian. This is the first investment made through the Ardian Expansion IV fund, which closed in June 2016 after raising €1 billion.

Ionisos was founded in 1993 and is based near Lyon, France. The company specialises in cold sterilisation services (ionisation) for medical equipment, raw materials and goods produced in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and packaging industries. The group employs around 100 staff based in seven sites across France, Spain and China.

The deal will allow Ionisos to pursue its growth strategy with the aim of creating a fully European platform and expanding its offer. The company is already assessing targeted acquisition opportunities to further diversify its business and enter into new markets.

Michel Gominet and Christoph Herkens, respectively President and Managing Director of Ionisos, said: “Ionisos has enjoyed strong growth since its launch, becoming the leader in France and the third-biggest player in the global market. With Ardian, we’ll be able to take full advantage of their expertise and international network to begin a new phase in our development.”

François Jerphagnon, Chief Investment Officer at Ardian Expansion, added: “We are looking forward to working alongside Ionisos’ management. Together, we will accelerate international growth by combining organic growth and acquisitions.”

ABOUT IONISOS
Ionisos is a specialist in ionising radiation sterilisation and was created through the 1993 merger of Conservatome and Amphytrion. Ionisos is the leading cold sterilisation service provider in France and Spain. It is the only group in France that provides all three cold sterilisation technologies: gamma radiation, beta radiation and ethylene oxide.

The company employs about one hundred staff across its seven sites: Dagneux (01), Sablé (72), Pouzauges (85), Chaumesnil (10) and Gien (45) in France; Tarancon, near Madrid, in Spain; and Anji, near Shanghai, in China.

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian, founded in 1996 and led by Dominique Senequier, is an independent private investment company with assets of US$55bn managed or advised in Europe, North America and Asia. The company, which is majority-owned by its employees, keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and delivers investment performance to its global investors while fuelling growth in economies across the world. Ardian’s investment process embodies three values: excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship.