The global leader in Secondaries & Primaries investments

Ardian has the world’s largest Secondaries & Primaries platform, with more than $86bn under management or advisement. Since 1999, we have built the world’s leading Secondaries platform: we acquire stakes in high-quality private equity and infrastructure funds from institutional investors, providing a liquidity solution for them before the underlying funds reach maturity. On the primary side, we use our unrivalled network to give our investors access to top-tier fundraisings worldwide. Our integrated primary and secondary set-up ensures that Ardian has a common relationship network of managers and a world-leading proprietary database.

THE TEAM
Secondaries & Primaries case studies

  • 1,600+

    Funds in the portfolio

  • 10,000

    underlying companies

Our locations

  • 110+

    investment professionals

  • 10

    Offices around the world

The world leader in secondary markets

Ardian pioneered the secondary market for fund investments. We use our unrivalled proprietary database to execute the largest and most complex transactions, buying portfolios of interests in private equity and infrastructure funds typically valued at $1bn-plus. We buy from institutional investors that are seeking to crystallize returns through early access to their capital or to manage their private equity exposure dynamically. Our ability to provide an exit for these investors has brought much-needed liquidity to private asset classes that have historically been considered illiquid.

Primary access to the most sought-after funds worldwide

We source and select primary commitments for our investors to the most attractive funds across regions and strategies. The best managers often have limited capacity in their funds. Gaining access requires established relationships and preferential positioning, both of which Ardian has built throughout its two decades of Secondaries & Primaries activities. Disciplined manager selection is also key: Ardian’s leading investment database allows the Secondaries & Primaries team to perform uniquely in-depth due diligence. Primary commitments are offered mainly through our Customized Solutions. Thanks to Ardian’s global reach, we are able to build both diversified and focused portfolios precisely matching the client’s needs.

Unique opportunities through early secondary deals

Ardian also has a dedicated strategy offering Early Secondary investments into less mature portfolios. This strategy purchases stakes in Private Equity portfolios that are between 15%-50% funded, offering a unique risk-return profile.

Reshaping the market in private assets

Ardian’s activity in the secondary market accounts for a significant proportion of the total transaction volume. We have invested in more than 1,600 underlying funds. Our presence allows large institutions to actively manage their exposure to private market assets – releasing money early for reinvestment, shifting their exposure between assets or regions, and rationalizing their portfolios to create fewer core relationships with third-party Private Equity managers.

The Team

Ardian Secondaries & Primaries has a team of professionals across Ardian’s offices, with major hubs in London and New York and a local presence throughout Europe, North America and Asia.

"Private Equity is no longer an illiquid asset class. Our leadership in the secondary market has helped change the way big institutional investors manage their entire private portfolios."

ASF Committee
Mark Benedetti

Mark Benedetti

Member of the Executive Committee, Co-Head of Ardian US and Member of the ASF Management Committee

Vladimir Colas

Vladimir Colas

Member of the Executive Committee, Co-Head of Ardian US and Member of the ASF Management Committee

Jan Philipp Schmitz

Jan Philipp Schmitz

Member of the Executive Committee, Head of Ardian Germany and Asia, Head of Investor Relations

Marie-Victoire Rozé

Marie-Victoire Rozé

Senior Managing Director and Member of the ASF Management Committee

Martin Kessi

Martin Kessi

Head of Ardian Switzerland & Senior Managing Director

Olivier Decannière

Olivier Decannière

Senior Managing Advisor

Benoît Verbrugghe

Benoît Verbrugghe

Senior Managing Advisor

Bertrand Chevalier

Bertrand Chevalier

Senior Managing Director

Manuel Haeusler

Manuel Häusler

Senior Managing Director

Daryl Li

Daryl Li

Senior Managing Director

Wilfred Small

Wilfred Small

Senior Managing Director

Won-Ha-2

Won Ha

Head of Singapore & Korea and Managing Director

Jason Yao

Jason Yao

Head of Greater China and Managing Director

Lucas Coleon

Lucas Coleon

Managing Director

Maria Daguere

Maria Daguere

Managing Director

Nicolas Duchange

Nicolas Duchange

Managing Director

Michel Fellmann

Michel Fellmann

Managing Director

Grégoire Guinot

Grégoire Guinot

Managing Director

Michael Hu

Michael Hu

Managing Director

Sara Huang

Sara Huang

Managing Director

Caroline Letellier

Caroline Letellier

Managing Director

Arnaud Mercier

Arnaud Mercier

Managing Director

Glenn Richard

Glenn Richard

Managing Director

Felix Signorell

Felix Signorell

Managing Director

Matthieu Teyssier

Matthieu Teyssier

Managing Director

Georges Wazen

Georges Wazen

Managing Director

Colin Wang

Colin Wang

Managing Director | China

Robert Capron

Robert Capron

Director

Lujun He

Lujun He

Director

Quentin Hugot

Quentin Hugot

Director

Artjom Jalosa

Artjom Jalosa

Director

Apoorva Joshi

Apoorva Joshi

Director

Kévin le Toux

Kévin le Toux

Director

Yoochan Lee

Yoochan Lee

Director

Zachary Levine

Zachary Levine

Director

Martin Locher

Martin Locher

Director

Mackenzie Speak

Mackenzie Speak

Director

Yan Tiegen

Yan Tiegen

Director

Ada Wen

Ada Wen

Director

Aaron Deutsch

Aaron Deutsch

Senior Investment Manager

Gregory Garvey

Gregory Garvey

Senior Investment Manager

Stephan Hess

Stephan Hess

Senior Investment Manager

Anna Komarova

Anna Komarova

Senior Investment Manager

Regan Lim

Regan Lim

Senior Investment Manager

Christina Lin

Christina Lin

Senior Investment Manager

Grace Lloyd

Grace Lloyd

Senior Investment Manager

Sven Lumsden

Sven Lumsden

Senior Investment Manager

Mario-Felix Pasku

Mario-Felix Pasku

Senior Investment Manager

Maxime Pasqualini

Maxime Pasqualini

Senior Investment Manager

Lucas Radal

Lucas Radal

Senior Investment Manager

Florian Reeh

Florian Reeh

Senior Investment Manager

Jean-Christophe Richard

Jean-Christophe Richard

Senior Investment Manager

Lisi She

Lisi She

Senior Investment Manager

Benedikt Wagner

Benedikt Wagner

Senior Investment Manager

Adrien Zervos

Adrien Zervos

Senior Investment Manager

Yuki Zhang

Yuki Zhang

Senior Investment Manager

Nikolas Buha

Nikolas Buha

Investment Manager

Sam Chan

Sam Chan

Investment Manager

Ross Dexter

Ross Dexter

Investment Manager

Hodge

John Hodge

Investment Manager

Dominik Langenegger

Dominik Langenegger

Investment Manager

Emilio Llosa

Emilio Llosa

Investment Manager

Natalia Nogues

Natalia Nogues

Investment Manager

Daniel Schenk

Daniel Schenk

Investment Manager

Christopher Sealey

Christopher Sealey

Investment Manager

Noah Segal

Noah Segal

Investment Manager

Stephen Sellman

Stephen Sellman

Investment Manager

Mateo STEINBACH-KÜNKLER

Mateo STEINBACH-KÜNKLER

Investment Manager

Jeff Won

Jeff Won

Investment Manager

Eric Wong

Eric Wong

Investment Manager

Weiting Yuan

Weiting Yuan

Investment Manager

Nicholas Basch

Nicholas Basch

Analyst

Paul Bellec

Paul Bellec

Analyst

Amanda Chen

Amanda Chen

Analyst

Crystal Chua

Crystal Chua

Analyst

Eric Ganshof

Eric Ganshof

Analyst

Eva Han

Eva Han

Analyst

Ryckiel Hossie

Ryckiel Hossie

Analyst

LAUTE Moritz

Moritz LAUTE

Analyst

Laura Metzler

Laura Metzler

Analyst

Rory Milbank

Rory Milbank

Analyst

Jack Phelan

Jack Phelan

Analyst

Barton Trimble

Barton Trimble

Analyst

Alexis de Girardier

Alexis de Girardier

Analyst & Data Scientist

Case studies

View all
  • Portfolio Rationalisation – Project Ship II

    • Seller type

      Seller type
      UK Pension Fund
    • Portfolio

      Portfolio
      8 Buyout LP Interests
    See more
  • Direct Portfolio – Project Walter

    • Seller type

      Seller type
      U.S. Financial Institution
    • Portfolio

      Portfolio
      30 Direct Assets + 2 Buyout LP Interests
    See more
  • Complex Corporate Restructuring – Project Cruise

    • Seller type

      Seller type
      Sovereign Wealth Fund
    • Portfolio

      Portfolio
      14 Buyout & Growth LP Interests and 14 Co-Investments
    See more
In March 2022, Ardian won first place in the Secondaries Deal of the Year Asia - Private Equity International

Secondaries Deal of the Year Asia - Private Equity International

In March 2022, Ardian won first place in the Secondaries Deal of the Year in Asia, by Private Equity International.

Private Equity International Awards 2020

Private Equity International Awards 2020

In March 2021, Ardian won the title Secondaries Firm of the Year in Europe at the Private Equity International Awards 2020.

Private Equity International Awards 2019

Private Equity International Awards 2019

Ardian received the LP sale of the year award in Europe for the sale of secondary vehicles to Strategic Partners at the 2019 Private Equity International Awards.

Private Equity International Awards 2018

Private Equity International Awards 2018

Ardian received the North American Secondary Deal of the Year award (for Manulife) at the Private Equity International Awards 2018.

Publications

Ardian Corporate Brochure

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house that bases its success on building long-term relationships with clients, partners and management teams to create enduring financial value alongside positive environmental and social impact.

Download the Report

2021 Activity Report

Ardian is a global investment house, specializing in three broad asset classes: Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit.

Read our 2021 Activity Report and discover how we are committing ourselves to responsible investment solutions.

Download the Report

Funds of Funds Sustainability Brochure

Sustainability in the private Fund of Funds market. Discover key insights from Ardian's GP engagement program

Download the Report
Ardian Mandates

A trusted partner for tailored solutions

Ardian’s customized solutions are tailor-made investment solutions that precisely reflect the client’s goals. As a trusted partner, Ardian builds bespoke portfolios and provides access to top-quality private market investments worldwide. Moreover, our Customized Solution clients benefit from a premium service offering.