Sagard, Baird Broadens Private Credit Access to US Wealth Channel

Montreal-based Sagard, an alternative asset management firm, has launched its private credit business, marking its entry into the U.S. wealth market. 

Through the expansion, wealth managers, advisors and investors will gain access to Sagard’s educational content and tools, and private markets insights, through the firm’s $5.9 billion private credit platform. 

Additionally, the expansion follows Sagard’s partnership with wealth management firm Baird, which has acquired a minority equity stake in Sagard, becoming the firm’s first U.S. institutional shareholder. 

The partnership enables Baird to distribute Sagard’s investment strategies across its Private Wealth Management network, which oversees $350 billion in assets. 

“Financial advisors are looking for experienced investment partners, clear education and thoughtful support as private markets become a more meaningful part of client portfolios,” said Dayna Kleinman, managing director and head of U.S. Wealth at Sagard. 

Sagard’s announcement comes shortly after the firm raised $1 billion in capital in the first round for its Sagard Credit Partners III Fund in July, with its targeted goal of reaching $2 billion. 

Sagard specializes in lending funds to non-sponsored businesses, which are not owned or controlled by private equity firms and direct-lending activities oin North American middle-market companies with EBITDA ranging from $10 million to $100 million. 

Baird, founded in 1919, manages more than $595 billion in client assets as of September 30.

Sagard manages roughly $47 billion in total assets across 15 offices as of June 30.