The investment firm has acquired the PE team of Dutch asset manager Robeco and will seek €250m for its latest fund.
Secondaries funds are more exposed to individual companies than ever and will play a significant role in seeing them through the crisis.
Ardian UK head Olivier Decannière discusses ASF VIII, transaction leverage and where it plans to invest all its dry powder.
The firm's latest flagship secondaries fund, which is targeting $5.75bn, has already invested $1bn.
The firm has added a late-stage direct secondaries strategy and a tech buyouts fund in the last five years.
ASF VIII has raised $19bn in blindpool and co-investment commitments, making it the third-largest pool of PE capital yet raised.
Secondaries was the biggest driver of growth in AUM for the investment manager.
The alternatives manager is known for its focus on complex, concentrated deals via its strategic equity unit.
Backers of the the $829m restructuring include Coller Capital, Neuberger Berman and Hellman & Friedman.
The pension made around $500m of secondaries investments in the 12 months to end-March, down almost 90% on the previous fiscal year.