The global leader in Secondaries & Primaries investments

Ardian has the world’s largest Secondaries & Primaries platform, with more than $97bn 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

  • 14

    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.

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

Executive President, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Co-Head of Secondaries & Primaries

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Vladimir Colas

Executive Vice-President, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee and Co-Head of Secondaries & Primaries

Jan Philipp Schmitz

Jan Philipp Schmitz

Executive Vice-President, Member of the Executive Committee, Head of Investor Relations, Deputy Co-Head of Secondaries & Primaries

Marie-Victoire Rozé

Marie-Victoire Rozé

Deputy Co-Head of Secondaries & Primaries, Senior Managing Director and Member of the ASF Management Committee

Bertrand Chevalier

Bertrand Chevalier

Senior Managing Director and Member of the ASF Management Committee

Case studies

View all
  • Portfolio Rationalisation – Project Ship II

    • Seller type

      UK Pension Fund
    • Portfolio

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

    • Seller type

      U.S. Financial Institution
    • Portfolio

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

    • Seller type

      Sovereign Wealth Fund
    • Portfolio

      14 Buyout & Growth LP Interests and 14 Co-Investments
    See more

Sara Huang joined Ardian in 2010. Now at the helm of the Secondaries & Primaries team in Ardian's New York office, she brings her skills and...

  • Secondaries & Primaries Inside Ardian

Ardian's Grace Lloyd career testimony from Bi4 to Private Equity

Career path - 1 minute to consider going from Big4 to Private Equity

  • Secondaries & Primaries, Talent Inside Ardian

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European Private Markets Fund Manager of the Year 2024

In November 2024, Ardian has won the “European Private Markets Fund Manager of the Year 2024” (AuM of more than €100bn) at the Funds Europe Awards 2024 in London.

Publications

Ardian Corporate Brochure

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Ardian 2023 Integrated Report

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Funds of Funds Sustainability Brochure

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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.