Ardian and SMBC launch mid-cap NAV financing platform. The joint initiative will provide fund-level capital to mid-market buyout and infrastructure funds to support portfolio growth and capital deployment. Get the hottest Fintech Hong Kong News once a month in your Inbox Ardian and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) have partnered to launch a direct mid-cap net asset value (NAV) financing platform. The initiative will provide fund-level financing to mid-market buyout and infrastructure funds, helping managers access capital to support portfolio growth and optimise capital deployment. The partnership combines SMBC's structuring experience in the large-cap NAV financing market with Ardian's expertise in private equity secondaries, mid-cap investments and private market data. Ardian will draw on a database covering more than 1,700 funds, over 700 general partners and 12,000 underlying companies to assess risk and identify assets. The firm also uses 4.5 million real-time data points to support its investment approach. The collaboration builds on Ardian's existing scale, including its US$30 billion ASF IX secondaries platform announced in January 2025. Both companies are already jointly evaluating potential financing opportunities in the mid-cap NAV market. Vladimir Colas, Executive President of Ardian, said: "By joining forces with SMBC, we are extending our reach into an asset class with compelling long-term growth potential, while reinforcing our ability to offer differentiated, cross-platform solutions at scale." Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Hong Kong, based on image by Who is Danny via Magnific

Ardian and SMBC Launch MidCap NAV Financing strategic partnership. * 08 October 2026 * NAV Financing * France, Paris 6 minutes de lecture Ardian, a global private investment firm, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), a leading global bank headquartered in Japan, have entered a new partnership to launch a dedicated Direct MidCap NAV Financing platform. The initiative will provide flexible, tailored financing solutions to mid-market Buyout and Infrastructure funds. By providing capital at the fund level, the partnership aims to enable managers to unlock additional value within existing portfolios - optimizing capital deployment, supporting portfolio growth and enhancing value creation. This partnership brings together two complementary strengths in NAV financing. SMBC has a long-standing track record in the large-cap segment, with deep structuring expertise and a strong global franchise. Ardian, through its Secondaries & Primaries expertise, brings mid-cap insights, local market access, and proprietary data on private market assets. Ardian's data-driven investment approach is underpinned by one of the industry's most comprehensive information sets, covering more than 1,700 funds, 700+ GPs, and over 12,000 underlying companies, supported by 4.5 million real time data points. Combined with the firm's scale - including its record $30bn Secondaries platform (ASF IX) announced in January 2025 - Ardian is well positioned to assess risk, identify high-quality assets, and execute with precision. This makes the firm a natural partner for SMBC as it expands further into the mid-cap NAV market. Ardian and SMBC are already jointly evaluating opportunities. "This partnership is a direct expression of Ardian's strategy: combining best-in-class expertise to create new value for our clients and investors. NAV financing sits at the intersection of private credit and secondaries - two areas where Ardian has built market-leading capabilities. By joining forces with SMBC, we are extending our reach into an asset class with compelling long-term growth potential, while reinforcing our ability to offer differentiated, cross-platform solutions at scale." Vladimir Colas, Executive President, Ardian "This partnership is a natural extension of what we have built in NAV financing: a dedicated, data-driven capability focused exclusively on the mid-market. By combining Ardian's unparalleled proprietary database with SMBC's structuring depth and global network, we are creating a genuinely differentiated offering. We are already seeing strong deal flow, and we believe the pipeline will continue to grow as fund managers increasingly recognize NAV financing as a strategic tool." Olivier Berment, Head of NAV Financing and Senior Managing Director, Ardian About Ardian. In a world of constant evolution, Ardian stands out for its ability to anticipate, adapt, and turn challenges into opportunities. As a global, diversified private markets firm with 22 offices and more than 350 investment professionals worldwide, Ardian provide investment and customized solutions that reflect new economic dynamics and help its clients remain resilient in a changing world. Ardian deliver multi-local expertise and long-term performance for its investors and partners as well as shared value for the broader society. Since Ardian's inception in 1996, its pioneering approach to diversification and its ability to offer tailor-made solutions at scale have remained the heart of its strategy. Through commitment, knowledge and technology, Ardian bring lasting value to its companies and contribute positively to the whole industry. Ardian currently manages or advises $200bn for more than 1,920 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit. Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value. Press contact

Ardian and Rockfield expand German portfolio with The Social Hub Berlin. Reading Time: 2 minutes As part of the transaction, The Social Hub will retain a minority holding in the asset and continue to operate the facility under a long-term management agreement. It marks the brand's first step towards an asset-light growth strategy. The Berlin asset comprises 474 units across 10 floors, combining student housing with extended and short-stay offerings. The partners will also fund a refurbishment that includes meeting, working and event spaces, a courtyard, a gym, a club lounge, food and drink offerings and more. "The Social Hub is a unique hybrid hospitality brand and best-in-class operator in one of Europe's most compelling real estate segments, where student, professional and lifestyle living, hospitality, and community converge," Ardian's managing director Nico Rheims said. "We are delighted to build a strategic partnership with The Social Hub and to expand our collaboration across the broader platform." The transaction marks the second PBSA investment in the German market for Rockfield's and Ardian's student accommodation strategy. It is the second-largest deal for the fund to date, bringing its total investment up to €1.16 billion and around 7,500 beds across Europe. Alongside APG and GIC, the partnership introduces long-term capital and a framework for future investments as The Social Hub continues to grow across Europe. "Berlin demonstrates the strength and attractiveness of our brand and operating model, the quality of our assets and the attractive cashflow they generate," said Denis Montrelay, group CFO and CIO at The Social Hub. "We are excited to welcome Ardian and Rockfield as partners in our journey. This transaction is an important milestone in our asset-light growth strategy and supports our long-term development objectives as we continue to scale our unique, impact-driven hospitality model across Europe." Highlights: * Rockfield and Ardian have acquired The Social Hub in Berlin, a 474-unit hybrid asset combining purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), premium extended-stay and short-stay accommodation, hospitality and public spaces. * The acquisition is Rockfield and Ardian's second PBSA investment in Germany. * The Social Hub will continue to operate the Berlin property under a long-term management agreement and retain a minority stake, while the partners will fund a refurbishment programme. * The 10-storey property will receive upgrades to meeting, working and event spaces, a courtyard, gym, club lounge and food and beverage facilities, alongside its existing accommodation offering. * The acquisition brings Rockfield and Ardian's total European student housing investment to €1.16 billion and around 7,500 beds, making the Berlin transaction their second-largest investment in the European student housing market.