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History

Our history

Sagard was created in 2002 at the initiative of Power Corporation of Canada, a major investor in Europe and North America.

It finds its roots with entrepreneurial families but has grown with the support of renowned institutional investors, including Canada’s pension plans, family offices, financial institutions and other corporates in a shared commitment to supporting talented entrepreneurs.

Today, Sagard has developed into a global alternative asset manager active in venture capital, private equity, private credit, real estate. Since 2016, Sagard has experienced significant growth, with assets under management¹ increasing to over $27B+, some 400 professionals joining the team and over 150 companies in the portfolio.

Close-up of fallen leaves and foliage.
  • 2002

    Launch of Sagard in Europe by the Desmarais family and other European industrial families to invest in and support talented entrepreneurs in growing their middle-market businesses.

  • 2005

    Launch of Sagard in North America.

  • Aerial view of lake and forest in autumn.
    2016

    Sagard takes on new leadership, headed by Paul Desmarais III, beginning its transformation to become a global alternative asset manager.

    2016

    Launch of Portage Ventures, a global early-stage fintech venture capital strategy dedicated to supporting fintech and financial services entrepreneurs, led by Adam Felesky.

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    2016

    Launch of Diagram, a venture builder that conceives and launches technology companies in the Fintech and ClimateTech spaces, led by François Lafortune.

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  • 2017

    Launch of Sagard Credit Partners, a non-sponsor direct lending strategy focused on middle-market companies in North America, led by Adam Vigna and Mustafa Humayun.

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  • 2019

    Launch of Sagard Healthcare Partners, an investment strategy that invests in credit backed by approved and commercialized biopharmaceutical products, diagnostics and medical devices, led by David MacNaughtan, Ali Alagheband and Raja Manchanda.

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  • 2020

    Partnership with Grayhawk, a private wealth investment platform offering independent, bespoke and client-centric investment solutions for Canadian families, led by Michael G. Kaumeyer and Peter Mann.

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    2020

    Launch of Sagard NewGen, a European investment strategy that invests in lower-middle-market high-growth technology and healthcare industry leaders, led by Bérangère Barbe, Agnès Huyghues Despointes and Guillaume Lefebvre.

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  • 2021

    Launch of Sagard Private Equity Canada, a private equity strategy that invests in the Canadian middle market, with a focus on business and financial services, as well as manufacturing, led by Marie-Claude Boisvert and Patrick Daignault.

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    2021

    Launch of Sagard Senior Lending Partners, a direct lending strategy focused on middle-market companies in North America, led by Adam Vigna and Dev Gopalan.

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    2021

    Strategic partnership with Great-West Lifeco Inc. and acquisition of EverWest, a full-service real estate investment platform operating in acquisitions, development, asset management and property management in the U.S., led by Rick Stone.

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  • 2022

    Portage expands beyond venture to late-stage fintech and financial services with the launch of Portage Capital Solutions, a strategy that delivers flexible equity capital solutions and resources to public and private later-stage businesses, led by Daniel Ballen and Devon Kirk.

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    2022

    Launch of Diagram Climate Tech, a strategy leveraging Diagram’s venture-building expertise and capabilities to advance the transition to a more sustainable future, led by Amélie Foz-Couture.

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  • 2023

    Strategic partnership with ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, and Bank of Montreal (BMO), the eighth largest bank in North America by assets.

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    2023

    EverWest Real Estate Investors, a Sagard partner since 2021, rebrands as Sagard Real Estate.

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    2023

    Strategic partnership with Performance Equity Management, a leading global, multi-product, private equity investment firm, led by John Clark.

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  • 2024

    Strategic partnership with HalseyPoint Asset Management, a CLO platform led by Lynn Hopton and Yvonne Stevens, and rebrand to SagardHalseyPoint.

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    2024

    Sagard and Export Development Canada (EDC) enter a strategic partnership marked by a CA $340M investment from EDC.

    2024

    Launch of Sagard Private Credit Fund, a Sagard private credit fund for Canadian accredited investors.

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  • 2025

    Launch of Sagard Private Equity Strategies Fund, a Sagard private equity fund for Canadian accredited investors.

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    2025

    Grayhawk Wealth, a provider of personalized wealth management services and a Sagard partner since 2020, rebrands as Sagard Wealth.

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Sagard has achieved this growth while developing a culture anchored in the core values of entrepreneurship, innovation, rigor, collaboration and authenticity.

Our teams are committed to a fundamental vision: to provide flexible capital, an entrepreneurial culture and a global network to offer our partners the assets they need to learn, grow and succeed at every stage.

Our teams are dedicated to a fundamental goal, vision and mission:

Goal – To promote progress.

Vision – To build one of the most respected and influential alternative asset managers in the world.

Mission – Sagard offers capital, culture and network to generate returns for our clients and communities.

Our values

The values we live by

Our leadership, partners and team share the same commitment to our culture anchored around core values.

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¹Assets Under Management (“AUM”) as of September 30, 2024 is the sum of:

  1. net asset value of private equity, venture capital, private credit and healthcare funds, including uncalled capital commitments of those funds and unused leverage,
  2. gross asset value of the underlying real estate of EverWest funds and separate accounts,
  3. fair value of assets held in co-investment vehicles managed by Sagard and uncalled capital commitments of those co-investment vehicles,
  4. AUM of other managers controlled by Sagard,
  5. fair value of all other assets managed by Sagard that are not otherwise included in the clauses above.

Our definition of AUM is not based on any definition contained in our fund management agreements. Furthermore, our calculation may differ from the manner in which the SEC defines “Regulatory Assets Under Management” on Form ADV and from the AUM definition used by other asset managers.

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