Ardian, a world-leading private investment firm, announces it has entered into exclusive negotiations to sell its majority stake in Artefact, a global provider of data and artificial intelligence (‘AI’) consulting services to large, blue-chip enterprises, to Cinven, for an investment valued at over €1 billion.

Established in 2014 and headquartered in Paris, Artefact empowers leading global businesses to navigate technological change and unlock the competitive advantages of data and AI-led transformation. Combining deep expertise in data science and AI, Artefact helps its clients to design and implement innovative, AI-driven strategies, helping to enhance decision-making, drive growth and deliver personalized customer experiences at scale. It works with some of the world’s biggest businesses across a range of sectors, including FMCG, Retail, Luxury, Telecoms, Healthcare, Tourism and Industry.

Since Ardian’s majority acquisition in 2021, Artefact has established itself as a global data and AI services leader. The company has significantly enlarged its footprint across Europe, Asia and the United States, with the opening of 13 new offices. Artefact also continued its vertical and geographical expansion with the acquisition of six companies since 2021. With Ardian’s support, the company has invested in an ambitious recruitment program for new talent, growing from 800 employees in 2021 to 1,700 today in 31 offices across 25 countries. This strategy has strengthened Artefact’s leadership in the Data & AI Consulting market and has translated into a path of continued strong revenue growth.
“In Artefact, we recognized an exceptional management team and a visionary company whose pioneering approach to data has set new standards in the industry. The strength of Artefact’s brand, the outstanding quality of its services, and the expertise of its teams have enabled the company to secure a leading position in a fast-evolving market. Our partnership has supported Artefact in accelerating its growth, expanding its product offering and international presence, and further enhancing its reputation. We are proud to have contributed to this journey and wish the Artefact team continued success in shaping the future.” Marie Arnaud-Battandier, Managing Director, Expansion, Ardian
“Under our ownership, Artefact has also demonstrated a remarkable capacity for innovation. The company established a recognized R&D center, fostering cutting-edge research in AI, and developed a proprietary solution to support the delivery across its clients worldwide. We are proud to have supported Artefact in these strategic initiatives, which have further strengthened its leadership in the Data & AI Consulting market.” Stephan Torra, Managing Director, Expansion, Ardian
“Ardian’s investment in Artefact marked a significant milestone in our company’s history and came at a pivotal as businesses around the world were accelerating their transformation through data and AI. Over the past four years, we have partnered closely together to deliver on our ambitious strategy, broadening our service offering, building an expert team, and expanding our international footprint. I would like to sincerely thank Ardian for their unwavering support throughout this transformative period.” Vincent Luciani, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Artefact