Ardian announces the sale of its stake in TRIGO to Montyon Capital

Ardian, a global private investment firm, announces the sale of its stake in TRIGO, the global leader of quality management in the transportation sector, to Montyon Capital, a French investment fund. 

Founded in 1997, TRIGO is a leading provider of inspection, quality engineering, and industrial performance management services, serving major players in the automotive, aerospace, rail, and other transportation industries. 

With a presence in more than 25 countries and operations at hundreds of sites worldwide, the group has established itself as a key partner to manufacturers for the improvement of their production processes and quality. The company has more than 12,000 employees in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and North Africa. 

Since acquiring a stake in 2016, Ardian has supported TRIGO’s extensive diversification, aimed at strengthening its position as a global platform for value-added quality services.

During this period, and in particular through 12 acquisitions in the United States and Europe, TRIGO has significantly expanded: 
•    Its geographic footprint through international expansion — particularly in North America — with a presence now spanning nearly 30 countries;
•    Its end-market exposure, by extending its strong expertise in the automotive sector to aerospace, rail, defense, and heavy transportation;
•    Its service offering, with a shift toward activities such as quality engineering, analysis, auditing, and training.

This transformation has strengthened TRIGO’s position as a global one-stop-shop platform for quality services in the manufacturing industry, enhancing its ability to address its clients’ most critical challenges across international and increasingly complex supply chains.

The group has also demonstrated the strong resilience of its business model, having successfully navigated several economic cycles and major crises that have significantly impacted the transportation sector, while maintaining solid operational performance and a sustainable growth trajectory.

Montyon Capital’s investment marks the start of a new phase of growth for the group, building on the strength of its management team led by Matthieu Rambaud and Benoit Leblanc and on the solid foundation established over the past decade.

"Since our investment, TRIGO has undergone a profound transformation in terms of geographic reach, end-market exposure, and operating model. The group has significantly strengthened its market position, developed engineering and auditing services, and demonstrated remarkable resilience in a complex environment. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Matthieu Rambaud, Benoit Leblanc, and their entire team for their dedication and the outstanding work they have accomplished alongside us.” Edouard Level, Managing Director Buyout, Ardian.

"We are very proud of the journey we have taken with Ardian, which has supported us with high standards and ambition to make TRIGO the global leader we are today. This new phase with Montyon Capital builds on that momentum. Their knowledge of our industry, their partnership-based approach, and their belief in TRIGO’s potential make them the ideal shareholder to support the next phase of our growth. Together with our teams, we are approaching this new phase with enthusiasm and determination.” Matthieu Rambaud and Benoit Leblanc, CEO, TRIGO.

The completion of the transaction remains subject to the clearance from the relevant competition authorities.