S.O. Capital Advice, founded in 2009, is a financial intermediary and advisory firm based in Paris. Since its inception, the firm has provided tailored, high-quality services to its clients, focusing on managing private assets portfolios. With more than 15 years of industry experience, S.O. Capital Advice has developed a deep expertise in advisory services, monitoring and liquidation of unlisted assets, fundraising and a comprehensive range of transactional services in the private assets market. The firm’s commitment to delivering personalised and strategic solutions has made it a trusted partner to numerous clients navigating the complex world of private investments.
At the helm of S.O. Capital Advice is Marc Lasserre, the firm’s founder, who has built a remarkable career spanning over 30 years in the financial sector. With expertise in cross-border M&A operations and investments across private equity, infrastructure, venture capital and debt, Marc has become a seasoned and thought leader in the investment advisory space. His career began with a focus on strategic investment management, and he has since played key roles in significant financial operations worldwide in the insurance industries, doing large M&A operations on the five continents.
Prior to founding S.O. Capital Advice, Marc served as an Investment Principal at AXA Private Equity (now Ardian), where he led major investment projects. He later became the Head of the Private Equity Funds of Funds division at Oddo Asset Management. Between 2002 and 2009, Marc was instrumental in leading investments in private equity, infrastructure and venture capital funds across both primary and secondary markets, honing his expertise in structuring deals and managing diverse portfolios. His extensive experience has enabled him to craft a nuanced understanding of the financial landscape, particularly in the private equity, private debt and venture capital sectors.
Since 2013, Marc and his team at S.O. Capital Advice have been dedicated to supporting African private equity and venture capital managers in raising funds. The firm has also facilitated several secondary transactions involving African assets, further establishing its reputation as a key player in advancing investments across the African continent. S.O. Capital Advice’s deep understanding of both local and international markets allows the firm to offer valuable insights and strategies for investors looking to navigate the evolving landscape of private equity and venture capital, particularly in emerging markets like Africa.
In 2024, S.O. Capital Advice played a pivotal role in several notable transactions and fundraising milestones. One of the key highlights was its involvement in the fundraising efforts for Inside Capital Partners a Mauritian based investment management firm that successfully achieved the first closing of its second fund at $55 million, with a target size of $100 million.
This success was made possible through significant commitments from investors such as DGGF, Terra Mauricia, IFC, DFC, Swedfund and MIC.
The company also facilitated successful fund closings for several other initiatives. Breega Africa also completed its first institutional fundraising round, further solidifying its position in a rapidly growing market. Meanwhile, Argos Wityu exceeded its fundraising target and focused on decarbonisation investments for European mid-sized companies. In addition, the European venture fund Capagro II surpassed €115 million in commitments, with a focus on agritech and foodtech innovations while Suma Capital doubled the size of its Climate Impact III fund, reinforcing its strong commitment to combating global warming.
Beyond these fundraising successes, S.O. Capital Advice also contributed to multiple secondary transactions throughout the year, including a large secondary transaction for a Spanish institutional investor with more than $75m of proceeds. These milestones underscore S.O. Capital Advice’s significant role in increasing liquidity in private assets markets across a variety of sectors.
S.O. Capital Advice has also facilitated secondary transactions involving African assets for more than 10 years, underlining its strong commitment to providing some liquidity for private assets in the region. This extensive experience in Africa has allowed the firm to develop a deep understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges within the continent’s private assets markets.
Given this extensive background, S.O. Capital Advice is eager to be a partaker of PIA 2025 in Mauritius. The firm recognises the growing opportunities for private investments across the African continent, particularly in private equity and venture capital, and sees PIA 2025 as an ideal platform to explore these opportunities further. With a keen interest in emerging markets and their potential for high-impact growth, S.O. Capital Advice is excited to connect with industry leaders and investors to discuss the evolving trends in private assets, sustainable investment strategies and the future of African markets.
Having been given the opportunity to moderate a session at PIA 2025, Marc Lasserre will lead a discussion with other seasoned panelists on the topic ‘Pension Funds Investments in Private Assets in Africa and Globally: Current Situation and Propositions for the Future.’ With his extensive experience in private investments, Marc will focus on exploring the role of pension funds in the private assets landscape, highlighting the opportunities and strategies for both African and global markets.
By attending PIA 2025, S.O. Capital Advice hopes to further its mission of fostering meaningful conversations in the private assets space, strengthening relationships with key industry players, and continuing to support sustainable investment growth, particularly across Africa.
