Launches US Access Fund: Ardian

Ardian, a leading private investment firm with $180bn in assets, has taken a significant step forward in democratising private equity investing with the introduction of Ardian Access. This new investment vehicle is designed to provide accredited US investors with access to private equity opportunities that were previously reserved for institutions.

Over the last four years, Ardian's secondaries team has negotiated over $40bn in transactions, while its co-investment arm has supported more than 140 portfolio businesses. This extensive experience and track record form the backbone of Ardian Access, which will utilise the firm's secondary and co-investment platforms, collectively managing over $104bn.

Ardian Access is an evergreen fund, allowing for ongoing inflows and prompt capital deployment, a rarity in private markets. This structure is designed to provide clients with broad, global private markets exposure to help fill the gaps in their portfolios.

The fund is designed to mitigate common obstacles in private market investing, such as the J-curve effect, by investing in a diverse portfolio of global private assets. Ardian's proprietary database includes over 650 GP's, 1,600 funds, and 10,000 portfolio firms, ensuring a wide range of investment opportunities.

Mark Benedetti, Executive President at Ardian, stated that Ardian Access represents the continued expansion of the firm's Private Wealth Solutions team. Following the US debut, Ardian will launch Ardian Access SICAV-RAIF in Luxembourg to accommodate growing global demand.

Institutional investors such as public pension funds, endowments, and foundations were attracted by the launch of the Ardian Access fund in the USA. The vehicle aims to provide private wealth investors with access to the performance that institutional investors have benefitted from since Ardian's inception.

Ardian Access aims to appeal to a broader variety of accredited investors with a minimum investment of $25,000. The offering is still subject to regulatory approvals and consultations with relevant employee representative bodies.

The fund offers flexible and diverse access to Ardian's secondary, primary, and direct co-investment strategies. Ardian Access LLC has been created to serve Ardian's core competencies to a broader audience.

Ardian has already tested this approach in Europe, having successfully launched Ardian Access FCPR in France. This expansion into the US market is a testament to Ardian's commitment to making private equity investing more accessible to a wider range of investors.

Launches US Access Fund: Ardian