Ardian extends global reach with Tokyo office

Japan forms an important part of Ardian’s international development strategy. It will continue to be a significant base for the company in terms of both fundraising and investing, and will build on Ardian’s established strong presence in the region. Ardian has more than a dozen blue-chip clients in Japan, which represent over $2bn of AUM and comprise some of the most respected pension plans, insurance companies and financial institutions. 

The office will be led by Kanji Takenaka, who joins Ardian as Head of Japan and Managing Director. Mr Takenaka’s career includes senior roles at Simplex Real Estate, Fortress Investment Group, Norinchukin Bank and most recently at HarbourVest Partners, where he held the position of Principal.

Dominique Senequier, President of Ardian, said: “The opening of our office in Japan is a natural progression for us as we continue our strategy of evolving and growing our business globally. Ardian has established itself as a leading player in the global investment industry and this latest office opening marks our commitment to the region. As more and more Japanese pension funds, companies and institutions are increasingly looking to diversify their investments outside of the domestic market, Ardian is well placed as a global investment house to provide an array of quality opportunities to deliver superior returns.”

Jan Philipp Schmitz, Member of the Executive Committee of Ardian and Head of Asia, said: “This is a great step for Ardian, and it will allow the company to meet the requirements of a market in which we see a lot of growth to come. We already know the Asian market well. We have nearly 50 clients in the region, who have invested $8.2bn in our funds, while we have made nearly 100 fund investments in addition to 20 direct investments. Having this local footprint is essential in serving our existing clients, as well as attracting new ones and benefitting from emerging opportunities.”