Investments

Founded in 1979 in Lille, France, Micropross supplies products and solutions for the smartcard industry. The company produces products that meet the highest standards of global security and interoperability.
Ardian’s investment will allow the company to accelerate its growth strategy, with a particular focus on contactless smart card payment solutions (such as NFC) and consolidate its position in the US and in Asia.

CLS, a subsidiary of CNES (French Space Agency), Ifremer (French Research Institute for exploration of the sea) and several French financial institutions, offers satellite services in location, environmental data collection, ocean observations, earth location and monitoring, to a broad range of sectors including: government, industry and the scientific community. Ardian will work alongside CLS to strengthen the resources of the group and continue its internal and external expansion.

SynerLAB is one of the leading French Contract Manufacturing Organisations of generic and ethical pharmaceutical products (i.e. patent protected and prescription sales) supplying laboratories. SynerLAB focuses on dry pharmaceutical forms including capsules, tablets, powders, granules etc and liquid forms such as syrups and mixtures.

Founded in France in 2001, Arkadin provides a complete range of remote collaboration solutions (audio, web and video conferencing services). After 10 years of significant growth, Arkadin was a world leader in collaboration solutions, enabling more than 60 million people to connect in 2011. The company has 1,000 employees in 29 countries and generated turnover of €159 million in 2011. Ardian will use its extensive operational expertise and international network to help support Arkadin’s ambitious growth strategy.

Frostkrone and its subsidiary, Bornholter, produce and market frozen finger food and snack products such as mozzarella sticks, cream cheese jalapeños, chilli cheese nuggets and sushi. The company has a highly diverse product portfolio based on cheese, fish, vegetables and baked goods, and markets its products in food retail outlets and the food service sector. With its workforce of 102 employees, the frostkrone Group generated sales of approximately €36 million in 2011. The frostkrone Group will benefit from Ardian’s European network and from its expertise, particularly in relation to the food industry.

Novotema designs and produces rubber components for applications in the automotive, medical, gas control and industrial sectors. Founded in 1973, the Novotema Group employs 178 staff and generates the majority of its revenues in Germany (approximately 51%) in 2011. In 2011, the Novotema Group posted revenues of more than €28 million. Ardian will support Novotema's strategy based on a stronger sales structure and an increased market presence.