Partners Group

Founded in 1996 by Urs Wietlisbach, Marcel Erni, and Alfred Gantner in Zug, Switzerland, Partners Group has grown from a local investment manager into a global powerhouse in private markets. The firm achieved early success with European small and mid-cap funds and completed what was then the largest recorded secondary transaction in 1998. It has been a pioneer in the industry, launching the first European Long Term Investment Fund (ELTIF) in 2017 and developing evergreen funds to provide private market access to a broader range of investors.

The firm operates across five asset classes: private equity, private infrastructure, private real estate, private debt, and royalties. Partners Group is known for its active ownership approach, often described by its slogan 'Built Differently to Build Differently.' It has completed over 250 direct investments in portfolio companies and maintains a significant presence in the secondary market. In 2020, the firm reached a major financial milestone by becoming a constituent of the Swiss Market Index (SMI), representing one of the 20 largest stocks in Switzerland.

In recent years, Partners Group has focused heavily on thematic investing, particularly in areas like decarbonization, digitization, and healthcare. Notable activities include significant investments in direct air capture technology, data center infrastructure, and high-end consumer brands. The firm has also expanded its reach through strategic partnerships with major financial institutions like UBS and BlackRock to streamline retail wealth access to private markets. As of 2026, the firm manages $186 billion in assets and aims to significantly increase its scale by the early 2030s.