The French major investor Ardian is solidifying its presence in Germany, most recently by announcing a major investment via its infrastructure fund, ACEEF. According to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, the fund has acquired a 100 percent stake in a wind farm project in Saxony, where it is cooperating with the local project developer 3Energy. This comprehensive stake includes the necessary land parcels, permits, and key contractual agreements. The resulting wind parks will be sited across the districts of Zwickau, Mittelsachsen, and Nordsachsen. Of the four planned projects, construction is slated to begin this year, ultimately bringing a combined capacity of 132 megawatts online.
Beyond this specific project, Ardian is placing a high strategic emphasis on Germany through its new European private equity fund. For this Buyout Fund VIII, the French company is currently raising capital. The fund is expected to reach a volume comparable to its predecessor, Fund VII, which amounted to €6.5 billion. A stated goal is to invest a greater proportion of the capital in Germany this time around-specifically aiming for between 10 and 20 percent of the overall portfolio. Globally, roughly one third of the capital earmarked for the fund is reserved for France. Jan Philipp Schmitz, a board member and head of operations in Germany, noted that, on average, the fund anticipates providing between €400 million and €500 million in equity for each transaction, correlating to an overall enterprise value approximately double that investment.
Schmitz pointed out that while the investor had been comparatively reserved in direct investments over the past two to three years, this held true only for classic private equity deals. He emphasized that the German market for private credit has remained one of the most active sectors for the group. Historically, Ardian derived its foundation from the private equity division of the insurance company Axa, focusing on corporate stakes. However, the company has significantly expanded its interests to include infrastructure, real estate investments, private loans, and stakes in existing private equity funds.
To Schmitz, Germany remains the most important market for the EU, underscoring the company’s deep commitment. He stated that the German market has been fundamentally important to Ardian for 25 years, reiterating the firm’s commitment to continued growth and expansion within Germany.