Desjardins Global Asset Management and Ardian have unveiled a new private equity vehicle aimed at providing accredited Canadian investors with faster, simpler exposure to buyout and long-term strategies, marking a strategic shift into more accessible alternative investments.
Desjardins Global Asset Management has unveiled a new private equity vehicle aimed at giving accredited Canadian investors faster access to buyout and long‑term capital strategies, the company said.
According to Desjardins, the DGAM Global Private Equity Fund will initially deploy capital via a structured vehicle run by Ardian, the Paris‑based private markets firm. The arrangement is intended to provide investors with immediate exposure, broader diversification and simplified operations, Desjardins said.
“The launch of the DGAM Global Private Equity Fund is a major milestone for Desjardins Global Asset Management,” said Frédéric Angers, private markets managing director and chief investment officer at DGAM. Ardian will be responsible for sourcing and constructing the portfolio across its global private equity platform. “By combining Ardian’s globally diversified private investment solutions with DGAM’s institutional approach, we are confident that we can offer Desjardins’s clients a robust solution,” said Vladimir Colas, executive vice‑president and co‑head of secondaries and primaries at Ardian.
The move extends a multi‑year push by DGAM into alternatives. The manager introduced a global private infrastructure fund in December 2021, targeting long‑term equity positions in infrastructure worldwide and signalling a strategic shift toward direct and co‑investment opportunities in real assets. According to Desjardins’s corporate materials, DGAM was established in 1998 and oversees more than CAN$107 billion in institutional assets, serving insurers, pension plans, endowments and other large clients across Canada. Industry profiles, however, show differing figures for the firm’s scale; a separate company profile published by RIA Canada lists roughly $63 billion under management, reflecting the variety of reporting conventions and reporting dates used across disclosures.
Ardian brings significant private markets scale to the partnership. The firm reports nearly $200 billion in assets under management or advisement and operates from more than 20 offices globally, offering expertise across primaries, secondaries and direct investments. The collaboration follows a wider trend among asset managers to offer turnkey private equity solutions to wealth and institutional clients who seek long‑duration returns but face operational and access barriers to direct buyouts.
Desjardins characterised the new fund as a response to sustained client demand for simplified routes into private markets. The firm’s continued expansion in alternatives forms part of a broader consolidation and growth strategy: in August 2025 Desjardins Group announced a definitive agreement to acquire Guardian Capital Group Limited in an all‑cash deal valued at about C$1.67 billion, a transaction Desjardins said would combine DGAM and Guardian into an organisation managing and advising approximately C$280 billion.
Investors considering the DGAM Global Private Equity Fund will need to weigh the potential benefits of diversified private equity exposure and Ardian’s sourcing capabilities against the usual illiquidity, fee structures and minimum requirements associated with private markets. Desjardins and Ardian said the fund structure is designed to simplify those operational and access challenges for accredited Canadian investors.
- https://pe-insights.com/desjardins-taps-ardian-as-it-launches-global-private-equity-fund-for-canadian-investors/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.desjardins.com/en/news/dgamlaunchesdgamglobalprivateequityfund.html – Desjardins Global Asset Management (DGAM) has launched the DGAM Global Private Equity Fund, providing accredited Canadian investors with enhanced access to private equity. The fund will initially invest through a dedicated structured vehicle managed by Ardian, aiming to offer immediate exposure with enhanced diversification and operational simplicity. Frédéric Angers, Private Markets Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at DGAM, highlighted the fund as a major milestone, while Vladimir Colas, Executive Vice-President at Ardian, expressed confidence in the robust solution offered to Desjardins’s clients.
- https://www.desjardins.com/ca/about-us/desjardins/governance-democracy/structure/desjardins-asset-management/index.jsp – Established in 1998, Desjardins Global Asset Management (DGAM) is one of Canada’s largest asset managers, overseeing over CAN$107 billion in institutional assets. DGAM offers in-house expertise in equity, fixed income, and real assets across various investment vehicles, serving clients such as insurance companies, pension funds, endowment funds, non-profit organizations, and corporations across Canada.
- https://www.desjardins.com/en/news/desjardins-launches-dgam-global-private-infrastructure.html – In December 2021, Desjardins Global Asset Management (DGAM) launched the DGAM Global Private Infrastructure Fund, its first alternative investment solution for Canadian institutional investors. The fund targets long-term equity investments in infrastructure assets worldwide, aiming to generate stable and predictable revenues. DGAM plans to invest significantly alongside participants, building a diversified infrastructure portfolio through direct investments, co-investments, and investments in funds.
- https://www.desjardins.com/en/news/desjardins-private-acquisition-guardian.html – In August 2025, Desjardins Group announced a definitive agreement to acquire Guardian Capital Group Limited in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately C$1.67 billion. This acquisition aims to unite the strengths of Desjardins Global Asset Management and Guardian, creating an organization with approximately C$280 billion in assets under management and advisement, positioning it as a major player in Canada and globally.
- https://www.riacanada.ca/company-profile/desjardins-global-asset-management/ – Desjardins Global Asset Management (DGAM) is a leading institutional portfolio manager in Canada, managing over $63 billion in assets for various clients, including insurance companies, pension funds, foundations, and trust companies. DGAM offers a full range of investment solutions, including fixed income, Canadian equity, systematic strategies, asset allocation, alternative strategies, and responsible investment, with a team of more than 60 professionals.
- https://www.ardian.com/ – Ardian is a global diversified private markets firm providing investment solutions and customized strategies. With $196 billion in assets under management or advised, Ardian operates across 22 offices worldwide and employs over 1,100 people, including more than 350 investment professionals. The firm offers expertise across private markets, delivering multi-local expertise, long-term performance, and shared value for investors, partners, and society at large.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article reports on the launch of the DGAM Global Private Equity Fund by Desjardins Global Asset Management, announced on January 30, 2026. ([desjardins.com](https://www.desjardins.com/en/news/dgamlaunchesdgamglobalprivateequityfund.html?utm_source=openai)) The earliest known publication date of similar content is January 30, 2026, indicating freshness. However, the article was published on February 2, 2026, which is more than 7 days after the announcement, slightly reducing the freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Frédéric Angers and Vladimir Colas. A search for these quotes reveals that they are present in Desjardins’ official press release dated January 30, 2026. ([desjardins.com](https://www.desjardins.com/en/news/dgamlaunchesdgamglobalprivateequityfund.html?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that the quotes are directly sourced from the press release, raising concerns about originality. The lack of independent verification of these quotes further diminishes their credibility.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from Private Equity Insights, a niche publication. While it provides coverage of the event, its limited reach and potential biases may affect the reliability of the information presented. The absence of independent verification of the quotes and the reliance on a single source further diminish the overall reliability.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about the launch of the DGAM Global Private Equity Fund and its partnership with Ardian are plausible and align with Desjardins’ recent activities. ([desjardins.com](https://www.desjardins.com/en/news/dgamlaunchesdgamglobalprivateequityfund.html?utm_source=openai)) However, the lack of independent verification and the reliance on a single source raise concerns about the accuracy of the information presented.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article reports on the launch of the DGAM Global Private Equity Fund by Desjardins Global Asset Management, announced on January 30, 2026. ([desjardins.com](https://www.desjardins.com/en/news/dgamlaunchesdgamglobalprivateequityfund.html?utm_source=openai)) However, the article relies heavily on Desjardins’ official press release, with no independent verification of the quotes or additional sources. This lack of independent verification and reliance on a single source raise significant concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information presented. Therefore, the overall assessment is a FAIL with MEDIUM confidence.