Sector expertise
We specialize in four sectors that are poised for robust and sustainable growth – Health & Wellness, the Food Value Chain, Technology, and Business Services – where our private equity expertise gives us a valuable competitive advantage. Ardian provides our portfolio companies with a strategic partner that offers in-depth market experience and an extensive network within the sector.
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100+
investments and over 320 build-ups since 1997

Business Services
Specialized skill requirements and equipment, tight labor markets, increasing cost pressures, and growing demand for outsourcing of non-core services present attractive growth opportunities for companies that can help others optimize their operations. Moreover, the digitalization of businesses across all sectors is increasing the need for specialist service providers. All of these themes are represented in our portfolio, which includes companies providing education programming, testing & inspection services, aircraft maintenance services, and commercial insurance brokerage.
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€3.8bn
invested since inception, 22 transactions
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Buyout
AD Education
France
EducationEducationFounded in 2009, AD Education is a leading European private higher education platform, notably in the field of Creative Arts, Business and Engineering, teaching to c.42,000 students in 20 schools on 72 campuses and online in 9 European countries (notably in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and more recently the UK). AD Education covers 7 main sub-segments: Engineering, Business, Design & Graphic Arts, Digital & Communication, Culture & Luxury, Audiovisual and Other (IT, Tech). Over the past 10 years, the Group has established itself as the French leader on its core educational fields, following continued organic growth as well as successful build-ups, and as a sizeable European platform following several acquisitions in Europe (mainly Italy, Spain, Germany and the UK).
Deal team
Press releases
- Ardian-backed AD Education acquires Oktogone Group, a leading player in online education and training
- Ardian backed AD Education acquires the European operations of SAE Institute, a leader in Audiovisual and creative media higher education
- Ardian acquires a majority stake in AD Education, a European education platform specialized in arts, digital and audiovisual alongside its founder and CEO
Articles