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Private Equity FundAllocates capital directlyActive · deal in last 18 monthsLAST VERIFIED Oct 2026 · 15 SOURCES

Albarest Partners

Also known as ALBAREST PARTNERS, Albacap

Independent Lyon small-cap private equity manager (AMF GP-20000043) doing LBOs and growth equity in south-east French SMEs (EV €10–50m) with €5–15m tickets via its Albacap funds.

HEADQUARTERS
Lyon, France
FOUNDED
2019
AUM
—
OUTSIDE CAPITAL
Yes
TEAM LISTED
11 people

FOCUS

STAGES
GrowthBuyout
SECTORS
Industrial & ManufacturingFood & AgricultureSoftware & SaaSFintechConsumer & E-commerceMedia & Entertainment
ASSET MIX
Private equity
GEOGRAPHY
France

WHAT IT IS

Private Equity Fund. A fund manager investing limited-partner capital into mature private companies.

ABOUT

Albarest Partners is an independent portfolio management company created in Lyon in November 2019 by Édouard Malandrin, Laure Thibierge and Médéric Gaillard, all formerly of MBO Partenaires. It invests in buyouts (LBO) and growth equity in small-cap SMEs across all sectors in the south-east quarter of France, targeting companies with €10–50m enterprise value, preferably in primary deals and with majority positions. Its first fund, Albacap 1, closed at €114m in 2022 and made 12 investments; Albacap 2 held a first close of about €75m in January 2025 against a €115m target.

INVESTMENT THESIS

Generalist small-cap LBOs and growth equity in south-east French SMEs (EV €10–50m), mostly primary and non-intermediated majority deals, with operating partners for finance, HR, cybersecurity, ESG and build-ups.

PORTFOLIO (13)

  • High Connexion
    Media & Entertainment · since 2025
  • OPTYM-HA
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2024
  • ALL IN Group
    Consumer & E-commerce · since 2023
  • Aquasphère
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2023
  • MERARD
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2023
  • Genius Energies
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2023
  • Golocal
    Food & Agriculture · since 2022
  • Arcado
    Food & Agriculture · since 2022
  • Éphie Industries
    Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2022
  • Fidlease Groupe
    Fintech · since 2022
  • MASA Group
    Software & SaaS · since 2022 · Exited
  • ip-label
    Software & SaaS · since 2021 · Exited
  • Airria
    Software & SaaS · since 2021

TEAM

  • Édouard Malandrin
    President and Partner (co-founder) · source
  • Laure Thibierge
    Partner (co-founder) · source
  • Médéric Gaillard
    Partner (co-founder) · source
  • Laurent Gelpi
    Senior Advisor · source
  • Steve Guyard
    Investment Director · source
  • Anais Large
    Senior Investment Manager · source
  • Neil Benoist
    Senior Investment Manager · source
  • Frédéric Badin
    Analyst · source
  • Marine Bonnell
    Operating Partner ESG · source
  • Bertrand Sarrere
    Operating Partner Finance · source
  • Aline Vermorel
    Financial Controller · source

LINKS

FAQ

Albarest Partners is a private equity fund based in Lyon, France, founded in 2019.

Yes. Albarest Partners invests directly in private companies.

Albarest Partners invests at Growth and Buyout stages in Industrial & Manufacturing, Food & Agriculture, Software & SaaS, Fintech, Consumer & E-commerce and Media & Entertainment.

Albarest Partners's stated ticket size is €5M–€15M.

Key people at Albarest Partners include Édouard Malandrin (President and Partner (co-founder)), Laure Thibierge (Partner (co-founder)), Médéric Gaillard (Partner (co-founder)) and Laurent Gelpi (Senior Advisor).

Albarest Partners's investments include High Connexion, OPTYM-HA, ALL IN Group, Aquasphère, MERARD, Genius Energies, Golocal and Arcado, among others.

The most recent publicly reported investment by Albarest Partners is High Connexion (Majority BIMBO (first Albacap 2 investment)), announced in Jun 2025.

Yes. Albarest Partners manages capital from outside investors.