Ardian, the global private markets investment firm, has announced the signing of a share purchase agreement under which Assurances du Crédit Mutuel (ACM) and Wafra, two existing shareholders in its capital, will increase their respective stakes in the company. As part of this transaction, AXA will sell its 10% holding in Ardian, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Following this investment, ACM’s stake in Ardian will rise to 23%, while Wafra will also expand its investment after acquiring an initial minority stake in 2025. Both shareholders will increase their positions by exercising pre-emption rights available to them as existing shareholders. Meanwhile, Ardian’s employees will remain the primary shareholder group, controlling approximately 40% of the firm’s capital.
Concurrently, AXA will continue its long-standing relationship with Ardian as one of the primary investors in its funds. The transaction is expected to close between late 2026 and early 2027.
“AXA has been our partner since day one, when Claude Bébéar asked me to create a private equity firm in 1996 and Ardian—then AXA Private Equity—was born. I am delighted to see that this 30-year partnership will continue to strengthen through AXA’s renewed trust in our strategy through its investments as a client, alongside the growing support of our diversified international shareholder base,” explained Dominique Senequier, founder and CEO of Ardian.
Mark Benedetti, co-CEO of Ardian, highlighted: “Opportunities to acquire shares in Ardian arise very rarely, and demand consistently exceeds supply. The increased stakes from ACM and Wafra, together with AXA’s ongoing commitment as one of our major clients, represent a strong endorsement of the business we have built over the past three decades and our current position as a global investment firm with $200 billion in assets under management. We look forward to continuing to create sustainable value for all of our shareholders.”
Finally, Patrick Thomas, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee at Ardian, added: “We are pleased to see the continued commitment of our existing shareholders through this agreement. The transaction further strengthens our international shareholder base while preserving the long-term governance model and corporate culture that remain the foundation of Ardian’s success.”
