Ardian has hired Morgan Stanley and Macquarie to assess a potential sale of GBA Group in a transaction that could value the German laboratory services provider at about €1.5bn, or roughly $1.7bn, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.

A sale process could launch next year, although discussions remain at an early stage and Ardian may decide not to proceed.

GBA delivers analytical testing and laboratory services across food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, building materials, and sustainability. The company generates around €80m in EBITDA.

Ardian acquired a majority stake in GBA in 2021 together with the company’s management team and Quadriga Capital. The investment aligned with Ardian’s strategy of building scale in essential services assets.

Ardian, Morgan Stanley, and Macquarie declined to comment on the process.

If you think we missed any important news, please do not hesitate to contact us at news@pe-insights.com.

Can`t stop reading? Read more.