Ardian postponed the launch of its next flagship buyout fund as it strengthens its leadership structure and continues to deliver across its wider investment platform. 

The Paris-based firm had planned to begin fundraising for Ardian Buyout Fund VIII in early 2025 but will now approach investors later in the year.

The shift follows the formation of a new buyout management committee, a strategic move aimed at bolstering succession planning and enhancing investor confidence. The committee, introduced to LPs earlier this year, brings together seasoned executives including buyout co-heads Thibault Basquin and Nicolò Saidelli, operating partner Helen Lee Bouygues, and regional heads spanning France, Spain & Portugal, the UK, and the US.

Ardian’s Buyout Fund VIII will follow the success of its €7.5bn Fund VII, which closed in 2021 and has now deployed approximately 80% of its capital. The strategy focuses on European companies with enterprise values up to €2bn across key sectors including healthcare, technology, business services, and food.

While the firm continues to evolve its private equity leadership, it remains highly active in the market. Ardian recently entered exclusive negotiations with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan to acquire a significant stake in French insurance broker Diot-Siaci.

Despite ongoing leadership transitions, Ardian’s broader platform continues to gain momentum. In January, the firm raised €3.2bn for its mid-cap growth strategy and closed $30bn for its global secondaries programme. It has also expanded its global presence by opening a new office in Hong Kong, responding to rising demand from Asian institutional and family office investors.

Ardian currently manages or advises on $177bn in assets and serves more than 1,700 institutional clients worldwide. With over 1,000 professionals globally, the firm remains one of Europe’s most prominent private equity managers, demonstrating a consistent ability to evolve and scale across market cycles.