Gaillard and Bénard launch Armen

Dominique Gaillard, previously managing director at Ardian and Laurent Bénard, formerly of Capza, have launched Armen to invest in European alternative investment companies.

Dominique Gaillard, chair of Armen, commented: "I am delighted to be able to offer management companies my knowledge of the private equity industry, a sector that I have worked in for over 30 years. Armen will act as a catalyst for sustainable and responsible development in the management companies in which it will be a shareholder".

Laurent Bénard, CEO of Armen, added: "The growing European private equity market requires management companies to think about sustainability and their business model.