Riverside Extends the Dastex Group’s European Reach

The Riverside Company (Riverside), a global investment firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market, has announced that its affiliated European fund has signed a definitive agreement to invest in Conformat, a French distributor of consumables and equipment for cleanrooms and clean environments. The investment is the fifth add-on to Riverside’s portfolio company the Dastex Group (Dastex), a pan-European expert in cleanroom contamination control, which Riverside backed in May 2023.

Conformat, founded 40 years ago and headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, west of Paris, is the market-leading distributor of cleanroom consumables in France – the second largest market in Europe. The company predominantly serves clients in the life sciences industry, as well as in microelectronics, spatial and other end-markets. Conformat offers a wide range of third-party consumables as well as proprietary products developed and sold under its own brands, including wipes, gloves, packaging and disinfectants. Conformat is also active in the Czech Republic through its own subsidiary.

The company has a strong social responsibility ethos and a formalised ethics and environment charter, meeting Riverside’s desire to invest in socially responsible firms.

Karsten Langer, Riverside Europe Managing Partner, commented: “This latest investment is yet another example of Riverside’s commitment to driving ambitious growth transformation projects by identifying attractive add-on acquisitions and intelligent implementation of our well-honed buy-and-build programme. Conformat also shows Riverside’s capabilities to originate off-market opportunities and successfully transact in the French market."

Damien Gaudin, Partner and Head of Healthcare at Riverside Europe, who led the deal, added: “We are delighted to welcome Conformat into the Dastex Group. It is the largest independent cleanroom consumables player in the French market and perfectly complements the other companies of the Dastex Group. The investment further diversifies the geographic footprint, increasing revenue generation outside of the DACH, Benelux and Nordic regions. We have ambitious plans for the company’s growth, further building on its excellent market reputation, strong supplier relationships and diversified product range including its proprietary brands.”

“Conformat was a pioneer in cleanroom consumables development in France, becoming the most renowned expert in its field,” said former owner Marie-Hélène Baudoux. “Most of its customer relationships date back more than 30 years and the collaboration with Dastex, established 15 years ago, has always been respectful and fruitful. Joining forces felt logical since Riverside started to consolidate the European cleanroom consumables market over the past two years.”

“The Conformat team is thrilled to bring their knowledge, experience and creativity to the other entities of the Dastex Group and contribute to shape this new European champion,” said Laurent Galibert, General Manager of Conformat.

“For 39 years, I have dedicated my career to the cleanroom industry, and it brings me immense pride to honor the founders of the cleanroom companies we have acquired over the past two years,” said Linda Vereycken, Chief Executive Officer of the Dastex Group. “Their legacy inspires us as we embark on a significant journey to transform the cleanroom sector across Europe. The industry is characterized by stringent standards that demand exceptional expertise and unparalleled service. In line with this commitment to excellence, we are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Conformat, a gem of a cleanroom company in France. This strategic addition enriches our group and enhances our capabilities and reach within the industry. We are genuinely excited about the prospects of collaborating with the talented and professional team at Conformat, as we work together to elevate the standards of cleanroom solutions.”

Riverside acquired Dastex, a specialized distributor of cleanroom garments and consumables in Europe, in mid-2023, simultaneously completing its first add-on, Vita Verita, in Sweden. Continuing its buy-and-build strategy, the company added AET, a leading independent player in Norway, in April 2024, and CRTM, another German distributor, in December 2024. Earlier in 2025, Dastex closed the acquisition of pure11, a leading distributor of cleanroom consumables in the DACH region. Dastex serves the resilient and growing cleanroom industry, helping customers in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, semiconductors and other high-tech industries to meet ever stricter quality and regulatory standards.

Working with Gaudin on the transaction were Riverside Europe team members Vice President Maxime Meulemeester, Senior Associate Sebastiaan Pauwels and Senior Legal Counsel Peter Parmentier. The investment was sourced by Damien Gaudin.