French private equity firm Ardian SAS has appointed Morgan Stanley and Macquarie Group Ltd to advise on a potential sale of German laboratory services provider GBA Group, in a deal that could be valued at around €1.5bn ($1.7bn), according to a report by Bloomberg citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
GBA, which provides analytical testing and laboratory services across sectors including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, building materials and sustainability, currently generates approximately €80 million in EBITDA.
Ardian acquired a majority stake in GBA in 2021 alongside the company’s management team and Quadriga Capital, as part of its strategy to expand in essential services businesses. The sale process could launch as early as next year, though discussions remain at an early stage.
