Astorg, an independent private equity group, completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Avania, a provider of contract research services. Kester Capital retains a minority stake. Financial terms were not disclosed. “We are extremely pleased to partner with Sapna and her team, as well as Kester, on this transaction. Being one of the global leaders in a profitable and fast-growing niche market, Avania squarely fits with Astorg’s investment criteria, and we are delighted to have Avania as our first mid-cap healthcare deal, sitting within Astorg’s broader healthcare portfolio," Edouard Pillot, Astorg Managing Partner of Mid-Cap.