Insurers comprise almost one-quarter of private equity asset manager Pomona's client base. It won the award this year for its particular specialisation in the niche secondaries area which has seen huge investor interest in the last years and become the fastest-growing segment of the private equity world.

The company's experience in this asset class stretches out over 27 years, with some $9bn of committed capital.

Focusing on diversification, the company has nonetheless racked up impressive returns purchasing secondaries assets at significant discounts. Indeed, over the past 10 years Pomona's funds delivered returns of 22% and significant liquidity.

Along with its secondary investing, Pomona has a $5.5bn business in primary investments in hard-to-access buyout, growth, credit, infrastructure and real estate managers mostly in its separately managed accounts. Its active programs include commitments to over 75 managers and 200 funds.

With secondaries momentum expected to continue, the focus shown by the asset manager should stand it in good staid with the insurance world in the years ahead.

"Insurance companies are investors in our secondary flagship funds, and we also work with them to solve their liquidity needs," Michael Granoff, chief executive and founder of Pomona Capital, said. "During this past year, our team provided an approximately $650 million bespoke innovative liquidity solution for a US insurance company."