Astorg, a pan-European private equity firm, has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in the Solabia Group, a global provider of biotech ingredient solutions, from TA Associates, an international private equity firm, which will reinvest in the company alongside Astorg. Together, Astorg and TA Associates will support Solabia in the implementation of its growth plan, focused on international development and innovation, through organic actions and external growth operations.

Founded in 1972, Solabia specializes in natural active ingredients for the cosmetics, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and microbiological diagnostics industries. Drawing on cutting-edge biotech expertise - notably in fermentation, enzymatic synthesis, plant extraction and green chemistry - the company develops high-performance ingredients that meet specific formulation needs and enable its customers to develop differentiated products. Positioned in dynamic and resilient end markets, the company benefits from the growing demand for natural ingredients as substitutes for synthetic ones.

Headquartered in Paris, Solabia has eleven production sites and eight R&D laboratories worldwide, and employs over 900 people. It is one of the few independent natural active ingredient platforms to have reached critical mass, combining in-depth technological expertise with strong global distribution capabilities.

On the strength of solid fundamentals and double-digit growth over the past five years, the French SME intends to accelerate its international development - particularly in the USA and Asia - and pursue its innovation strategy. Astorg, TA Associates and Solabia's management team will work together in this new phase of growth.

"We are delighted to welcome Astorg as a strategic partner and to continue our successful collaboration with TA. Astorg combines in-depth sector expertise, a solid track record of value creation and an entrepreneurial spirit that resonates with Solabia's values and ambitions. Their support will be instrumental in accelerating innovation, strengthening our international presence and continuing to offer our customers high-performance scientific solutions."emphasizes Jean-Baptiste Dellon, Solabia's Chairman and CEO.

"Thanks to its unique positioning in a structurally growing market for natural active ingredients, its cutting-edge expertise in biotechnology and its sustained development trajectory, Solabia embodies the archetypal international B2B leader that Astorg is destined to support. We look forward to working with Jean-Baptiste and the Solabia team to drive the next phase of growth and value creation.says Nicolas Marien, Partner at Astorg and Paul Arhanchiague, Managing Director at Astorg.

Patrick Sader, Managing Director at TA, and Jérémy Dréan, Director at TA, add: "Since our initial investment in 2018, we have had the privilege of accompanying Solabia in its transformation into a benchmark integrated platform in the life sciences and healthcare sector, specializing in natural and biotechnological solutions. Under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Dellon and his team, Solabia has enjoyed solid development, combining strong organic and external growth. We remain fully convinced of the company's long-term growth potential, and are delighted to continue this adventure alongside Astorg."

The transaction was carried out via Astorg VIII and represents the fund's ninth investment to date.

The transaction will be subject to the usual regulatory approvals and is expected to be finalized in the coming months. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

_{Visual taken from the Solabia website.}

Based in Shanghai, the Oriental Beauty Valley (OBV) group is an industrial cluster of excellence supported by the Chinese authorities as part of their national development strategy for the cosmetics sector. Amoéba, a French industrial greentech specializing in the development of natural microbiological solutions based on the patented use of amoebae, has announced the signature of a memorandum of understanding with Metron Technology, its subsidiary specializing in regulatory, scientific and technological support for innovative cosmetics projects. This partnership comes just a few months after the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Koppert, a global specialist in biocontrol.

"This signature with a strategic player in China's cosmetics industry once again demonstrates the interest shown by major global groups in Amoéba's solutions and their promising prospects".according to the Lyon-based SME.

Recognized as a pilot zone by the Chinese government, Oriental Beauty Valley embodies the Chinese government's determination to accelerate innovation, raise quality standards and strengthen the attractiveness of the Chinese market in the beauty and wellness sector.

It brings together over 1,000 companies (including L'Oréal, Shiseido etc.), laboratories, research centers and specialized organizations, forming a unique ecosystem that fosters synergies between innovation, production and regulation. A true strategic hub, it offers a structured and secure environment to support innovative projects, from formulation to regulatory compliance, while meeting growing demands for safety, efficiency and sustainable development.

"Oriental Beauty Valley therefore appears to be the ideal partner for Amoéba to amplify the development of its cosmetic ingredient, whose potential and efficacy on skin ageing markers and the attenuation of the harmful effects of oxidative stress have already been demonstrated. A study carried out by the Institut d'Expertise Clinique in the first half of 2024 had also confirmed the value of using the ingredient for anti-aging and skin care, with "statistically significant" measured results for various claims (in particular the reparative effect on the superficial dermis)."says Amoéba.

This memorandum of understanding will enable Amoéba and the Oriental Beauty Valley group to open a period of negotiations in order to reach a contract covering both the regulatory aspects and the marketing of Amoéba's ingredient on Chinese territory. The agreement provides for

- Support and advice from the Oriental Beauty Valley group to obtain approval for Amoeba's cosmetic ingredient in China;

- An agreement to distribute Amoéba's cosmetic ingredient to Chinese cosmetics groups, once approval has been obtained.

A new step in Amoéba's development

In 2024, Amoéba had already obtained Inci listing for its cosmetic ingredient, enabling it to be marketed worldwide without further authorization, with the exception of China. This memorandum of understanding now enables Amoéba to prepare for its arrival on the Chinese market, the world's second-largest cosmetics market, estimated at nearly $85 billion, after the United States. Once approved in China, Amoéba's cosmetic ingredient can then be used worldwide, paving the way for future collaborations with international groups.

Amoéba is thus poised to considerably accelerate the development of its cosmetics business, which is complementary to its biocontrol segment, since it is characterized by lower ingredient volumes but sold at very high margins. Lastly, the signing of this memorandum of understanding once again demonstrates the interest shown by major global players in Amoéba, which boasts unique expertise in the world, based on the patented exploitation of amoebae, in the development of substances and ingredients that are both innovative and respectful of the environment.

"After signing an MoU with Koppert, the world leader in biocontrol, at the end of 2024, we are delighted to sign an MoU for our cosmetics business with the Oriental Beauty Valley (OBV) group, a major player in China. This is a key step for Amoéba, as we will not only benefit from all the OBV group's expertise, both regulatory and commercial, but also join a veritable hub made up of several hundred of the world's leading cosmetics players. This memorandum of understanding aims to considerably accelerate our presence in this industry, and we are very proud to have been selected by OBV. In this way, we are actively pursuing Amoéba's development plan, whose unique expertise has once again been recognized by a leading global player.says Benoît Villers, Chairman of Amoéba's Board of Directors.

"OBV, China's cosmetics capital and a leader in the Chinese cosmetics industry, will offer Amoéba its full range of services, which in time may extend beyond the registration and distribution process. The scientific results already obtained have convinced us that Amoéba can provide innovative and unique solutions in China. We are convinced that this cooperation will be a great success for both companies".says Yuecheng Zhu, CEO of Metron Technology CO.