Key Takeaways
- • Sagard Private Equity announced the final close of its third emerging manager-focused fund at €520 million ($600 million), exceeding its original €400 million target.
- • The fund is roughly three times the size of its predecessor and is described as the largest fund ever raised with a specific focus on emerging buyout managers.
- • The strategy targets spinouts from hard-to-access private equity firms and sector specialists, and may also invest in co-investments, late primaries and shorter-duration opportunities.
- • The fund is already well deployed, with commitments made to emerging manager opportunities in the US and Europe.
- • Sagard Private Equity now manages over USD 23 billion in combined private equity assets following its platform combinations, including Unigestion.
Summary
Sagard Private Equity, the global middle-market private equity platform, announced the final close of its third emerging manager-focused fund at €520 million ($600 million), according to the company's announcement distributed via Business Wire. The close exceeded the fund's original €400 million target and is approximately three times the size of its predecessor fund. The firm describes the vehicle as the largest fund ever raised with a specific focus on emerging buyout managers.
The fund draws on more than three decades of experience investing in emerging private equity firms. Over that period, the team has backed more than 125 emerging managers, including early funds of firms that have since become established industry leaders. Following the combination of Unigestion with Sagard Private Equity, the strategy gains a broader international network and access to investment opportunities across North America, Europe and Asia.
The fund focuses on highly differentiated managers, including spinouts from established, hard-to-access private equity firms and sector specialists pursuing distinct investment strategies. Alongside primary fund commitments, the strategy may invest in co-investments, late primaries and shorter-duration opportunities to support portfolio diversification and cash flow management. The company states the fund is already well deployed, with commitments to emerging manager opportunities in the US and Europe.
Kim Pochon, Global Head of Primary Investments at Sagard Private Equity, said the close reflects investor confidence in the dedicated emerging manager team. Paul Newsome, Head of Investment Solutions, said institutional investors are showing renewed interest in emerging managers for their sector expertise, differentiated strategies and access to lower middle-market opportunities.
Sagard Private Equity manages over USD 23 billion in combined private equity assets following the completion of combinations with Performance Equity Management, BEX Capital and Unigestion's private equity platforms. The firm states the platform connects more than 300 institutional investors and over 500 general partners. Sagard, the parent group, is a multi-strategy alternative asset manager with over USD 47 billion in assets under management. In September 2026, the firm hosted its sixth annual Emerging Manager Conference in Paris during IPEM Global.
The fund draws on more than three decades of experience investing in emerging private equity firms. Over that period, the team has backed more than 125 emerging managers, including early funds of firms that have since become established industry leaders. Following the combination of Unigestion with Sagard Private Equity, the strategy gains a broader international network and access to investment opportunities across North America, Europe and Asia.
The fund focuses on highly differentiated managers, including spinouts from established, hard-to-access private equity firms and sector specialists pursuing distinct investment strategies. Alongside primary fund commitments, the strategy may invest in co-investments, late primaries and shorter-duration opportunities to support portfolio diversification and cash flow management. The company states the fund is already well deployed, with commitments to emerging manager opportunities in the US and Europe.
Kim Pochon, Global Head of Primary Investments at Sagard Private Equity, said the close reflects investor confidence in the dedicated emerging manager team. Paul Newsome, Head of Investment Solutions, said institutional investors are showing renewed interest in emerging managers for their sector expertise, differentiated strategies and access to lower middle-market opportunities.
Sagard Private Equity manages over USD 23 billion in combined private equity assets following the completion of combinations with Performance Equity Management, BEX Capital and Unigestion's private equity platforms. The firm states the platform connects more than 300 institutional investors and over 500 general partners. Sagard, the parent group, is a multi-strategy alternative asset manager with over USD 47 billion in assets under management. In September 2026, the firm hosted its sixth annual Emerging Manager Conference in Paris during IPEM Global.
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