Argon & Co welcomes second investor to drive next chapter of growth

Argon & Co has welcomed a new investor on board, with Bridgepoint joining incumbent sponsor Ardian as a minority shareholder. “We are excited to be partnering with Bridgepoint and Ardian for our next growth chapter.”

With around 750 consultants and staff operating out of offices in 13 countries, Argon & Co is one of the world’s largest independent consultancies dedicated to operations , supply chain and procurement. The company works for a wide range of blue-chip and middle-market clients in sectors such as manufacturing, industrials, consumer goods, pharma and retail.

Investor Ardian has been on board as a minority investor since 2020, two years after Argon & Co was formed through the merger between France’s Argon Consulting and the UK’s Crimson & Co. Back then, the firm had around 230 staff – fast forward to today and a strong organic growth track combined with an M&A campaign (over a dozen deals) has seen the firm more than triple its revenue to circa €175 million.

Now with Bridgepoint on board, Argon & Co aims to replicate that success in the years ahead, noted CEO Jean-François Laget. “We are proud of the journey Argon & Co has been on to date with Ardian and are excited to be partnering with Bridgepoint for this next chapter. Their experience in internationalising specialist consultancies, and deep understanding of our sector, make them the ideal partner to help us scale further.”

Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Argon & Co has however revealed that Bridgepoint will become a significant minority shareholder, with incumbent sponsor Ardian reinvesting a minority stake in the business, while the consultancy firm will continue to be majority owned by its partners.

“Argon & Co is a stand-out player in the global operations consulting market. With its strong technical expertise, high client retention and clear growth strategy, the business is well placed to capitalise on intensifying global demand for supply chain resilience, digital transformation, and operational excellence,” said Bertrand Demesse, partner at Bridgepoint. “We are delighted to partner with the team to help accelerate Argon & Co’s international footprint.”

New offices, capabilities and deals

Key elements of the growth plan include further internationalisation (particularly in Europe and the United States), investments in consulting and technology capabilities, and a renewed M&A strategy with a focus on “highly synergistic transactions that will strengthen the company’s leadership position.”

With over $75 billion of assets under management, Bridgepoint is one of the world’s largest private equity firms. The company is a well-known player in the consulting scene, with (previous) stakes in Alpha FMC, Analysys Mason and Prescient. Meanwhile, Bridgepoint also has experience in the supply chain world, with the likes of Achilles, Sinari and Surikat part of its portfolio.

Dealmakers

Bridgepoint was advised by L.E.K. Consulting (strategy), Sycomore Corporate Finance (corporate finance), Lazard (M&A), Natixis Partners (M&A), KPMG (finance, labour, tax), Singulier x Indefi (AI), and Hogan Lovells and Ropes & Gray legal).

Argon and Co was advised by Edmond de Rothschild (M&A), Eight Advisory, Oderis, and PwC (due diligence), Paul Hastings (legal and tax), and Argos and Cards (legal). Ardian was advised by King & Spalding (legal).