Fostering sustainable value creation alongside talented entrepreneurs

The Expansion team partners with talented entrepreneurs running mid-sized companies across the major Western European economies. Drawing on 20 years’ experience in this segment, our team supports them with a pragmatic, customized approach as they accelerate their growth plans and confront their strategic challenges. We take a mid- to long-term perspective and build partnerships that create sustainable value for all stakeholders.

The team
Expansion investments

  • $6Bn

    of assets managed or advised

  • 33

    investment professionals in 4 offices

  • 75+

    investments in past and current portfolio companies

Multi-local presence builds strong partnerships

Thanks to our offices in Paris, Frankfurt, Milan and Luxembourg, our more than 30 investment professionals can closely follow their local market, developing cultural awareness and a powerful network for their portfolio companies. This helps us to build mutual understanding and trusting relationships with entrepreneurs and accelerate cross-boarder opportunities including build-ups, new customers and operational expansion.

Leveraging Ardian’s global network to foster organic growth

We work alongside talented entrepreneurs to build domestic and European champions with the full support of Ardian’s platform. Leveraging our global network of industry experts and international presence, our portfolio companies strengthen their organic growth and build a leadership position in their market segment.

Exploit the full potential of an efficient buy-and-build strategy

Ardian Expansion has an outstanding record of helping mid-size companies grow through strategic acquisitions. We offer them access to a powerful global growth platform, thanks to our ability to identify and complete add-on acquisitions in Europe, Asia and the Americas. This is often the key reason they choose Ardian. On average we perform more than 3 build-ups per portfolio company during the holding period.

Focus on sustainability and digital strategies to create long-term value

Engaging with our portfolio companies on sustainability and digital strategies is central to our monitoring approach. We believe transversaltopics such as these will have a major impact on long-term value creation. Thanks to Ardian’s two specialist internal teams, we work hand in hand with managements to address the most important sustainability and digital issues.

Our strategy

The Ardian Expansion team supports high-growth industry leaders through equity investments ranging from €50M to €300M. The team targets private mid-sized businesses with committed and experienced management teams.

F2A

Growing mid-size companies in all sectors

Our strategy is to invest in mid-size companies with enterprise values ranging from €100M to €500M. We target businesses with an established position in their home market, strong revenue growth and robust margins. As a generalist investor, we have experience in a wide range of sectors.

CLS Expansion

Major Eurozone economies

The team mainly invests across the major Eurozone economies (France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Iberian Peninsula), as well as in Switzerland.

Expansion cards strategy

A mid to long term shareholder

We take a mid- to long-term perspective, typically holding our investments for 4 to 6 years, and partner with entrepreneurs, founding families or financial investors to foster sustainable value creation. As a minority or majority shareholder, we have the flexibility to support family succession, an exit by financial sponsors or spin-offs.

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The Team

Ardian Expansion has a team of 30 investment professionals based in France, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg, sharing incentive in a common European fund. Our 8 managing directors have worked together for 15 years, building a strong team culture and long-lasting professional relationships.

"Management teams want local partners, but as they look to build on their domestic strength they also want a platform for international growth. Offering both is a powerful combination."

François Jerphagnon Member of the Executive Committee, Managing Director of Ardian France & Head of Expansion
François Jerphagnon

François Jerphagnon

Member of the Executive Committee, Managing Director of Ardian France & Head of Expansion

Dirk Wittneben

Dirk Wittneben

Head of Expansion Germany

Arnaud Dufer

Arnaud Dufer

Head of Expansion France

Abadir Marc

Marc Abadir

Managing Director

Marie Arnaud-Battander

Marie Arnaud-Battandier

Managing Director

Arthur de Salins

Arthur de Salins

Managing Director

Alexis Lavaillote

Alexis Lavaillote

Managing Director

Yannic Metzger

Yannic Metzger

Managing Director

Marco Molteni

Marco Molteni

Managing Director

Maxime Séquier

Maxime Séquier

Managing Director

Stéphan Torra

Stéphan Torra

Managing Director

Giacomo Brettoni

Giacomo Brettoni

Director

David Cahuzac

David Cahuzac

Director

Max Dolata

Max Dolata

Director

Romain Gautron

Romain Gautron

Director

Florian Haas

Florian Haas

Director

Mathieu Lebrun

Mathieu Lebrun

Director

Nicolas Munzer

Nicolas Münzer

Director

Steven Barrois

Steven Barrois

Senior Investment Manager

Elisabetta Bozzoni Pantaleoni

Elisabetta Bozzoni Pantaleoni

Senior Investment Manager

Claire d'Esquerre

Claire d'Esquerre

Senior Investment Manager

Thomas Grétéré

Thomas Grétéré

Senior Investment Manager

Steffen Prochazka

Steffen Prochazka

Senior Investment Manager

Edoardo Munari

Edoardo Munari

Investment Manager

Leslie Parmast

Leslie Parmast

Investment Manager

Janine Paustian

Janine Paustian

Investment Manager

Pierre Peslerbe

Pierre Peslerbe

Investment Manager

Marlon Sandvoss

Marlon Sandvoss

Investment Manager

Badr M’haidra

Badr M’haidra

Analyst

Vanessa Pitko

Vanessa Pitko

Analyst

Check out our investment map

  • Resource Center, Expansion Testimony

François Jerphagnon and Florian Kluge provide an in-depth analysis of Ardian's successful approach to navigate challenging market conditions. They...

  • Expansion, Investor Relations Growth stories

Janine Paustian joined Ardian as an intern in 2019. Now a full-time Analyst in Frankfurt in the Expansion team, she helps to convey Ardian’s core...

  • Expansion Inside Ardian

Stijn Vandeputte, founder of Trustteam, and Arnaud Dufer, Head of France and Belgium in the Expansion team at Ardian, explain how the former portfolio...

  • Expansion Growth stories Responsible finance

Ardian’s partnership with Lagarrigue saw the company complete 25 acquisitions, transforming it firstly into the leading French orthopedics and...

  • Expansion Growth stories

Artefact-l-alchimiste-de-la-donnee

Artefact, the data alchemist

  • Expansion Growth stories

At Ardian, we are invested in the future

Invested in the future

  • Sustainability, Buyout, Expansion, Infrastructure, Investor Relations Responsible finance

At Ardian, we are invested in data & AI to accelerate the change

Invested in data & AI to accelerate the change

  • Sustainability, Expansion, Investor Relations Responsible finance

Private Equity Magazine Grands Prix

Grands Prix - Private Equity Magazine

In June 2022, the Expansion team was awarded the prize of best investment fund in the “Mid” category at the Private Equity Magazine “Grands Prix”.

Private Equity Exchange Awards 2018

Private Equity Exchange and Awards

In November 2021, the golden prize of Private Equity Exchange and Awards was given to Ardian Expansion in the category Best French Mid & Upper Mid-Market LBO Fund.

Magazine Affaires

Grand Prix Affaires 2018

Ardian received two awards at the Grand Prix 2018 of the Affaires Magazine. The Expansion and Buyout teams were named Best LBO fund with the most external growth in 2017, and Best LBO fund for their support to outperforming ETIs.

Private Equity Exchange Awards 2017

Private Equity Exchange Awards 2017

Ardian received 1 Special Distinction Award for the Best French Mid and Upper Mid Cap buyout funds and 4 awards at the Private Equity Exchange & Awards organized by Leaders League.

Our latest publications

Ardian Corporate Brochure

Read the brochure

Ardian 2023 Integrated Report

Read the report

Our next events

The AI imperative: rethinking Alternative Investment

  • Paris , France

On average we have known each management team for three years before we invest. The understanding we build with them is the key to our success.

François Jerphagnon Member of the Executive Committee, Managing Director of Ardian France & Head of Expansion

Business enquiries

Contact the Expansion Team