Sagard and Unigestion have announced the combination of their private equity platforms, creating a global leader in middle-market private equity investment solutions with more than $23bn in assets under management.

The partnership expands Sagard’s total AUM to about $44bn and will deliver bespoke private equity programmes across primaries, secondaries, and co-investments for institutional and high-net-worth clients. Unigestion’s non-private equity businesses are excluded, while Sagard’s direct strategies in France and Canada will remain separately managed.

Bernard Sabrier, Group Chairman of Unigestion, will chair the new platform and join Sagard’s board as Vice Chairman. He said: “This combination paves the way for a new growth chapter and will be first and foremost beneficial to our LPs. Sagard’s values and long-term orientation align closely with ours. It allows us to remain true to the entrepreneurial DNA and client focus that define Unigestion, while positioning us for long-term growth within a broader global firm.”

Paul Desmarais III, Chairman and CEO of Sagard, added: “Unigestion’s track record of building deep client relationships by crafting customised private equity programs makes them a natural partner for Sagard as we take this next step toward becoming a global leader in the middle market.”

Jonathan Tétrault, Managing Partner at Sagard, will lead the new platform as CEO, supported by Unigestion’s Christophe de Dardel and Mark Zünd. He noted that the merger would accelerate Sagard’s expansion in Europe and Asia.

The transaction is expected to close in early 2026, pending regulatory approvals. UBS acted as financial adviser to Unigestion, with PwC and Deloitte among the advisers to Sagard.

The move highlights the increasing scale of consolidation in private equity, as firms seek to expand global reach and enhance offerings to meet growing demand from institutions and private clients for diversified middle-market strategies.

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