Swiss Life Investment Foundation: opening of the “Real Estate Switzerland ESG” investment group

The successful opening of the real estate investment group from 1 February to 15 March 2023 attracted a great deal of interest from employee benefits institutions. The targeted volume of up to CHF 350 million was oversubscribed considerably. A total of 120 employee benefits institutions took part in the opening, increasing the number of investors to around 500.

The capital will be used to reduce the borrowing ratio following the acquisition in December 2022 of a high-quality residential portfolio, to purchase additional properties, and to make sustainable investments in the portfolio. The entitlements will be issued on 5 April 2023.

The investment group continues to pursue a targeted and quality-conscious growth strategy. The “Real Estate Switzerland ESG” investment group focuses on residential real estate in Swiss cities and their suburbs.

The investment group has a history of stable and positive performance in terms of both income and value. The selective expansion of the portfolio with its clear focus on quality has paid off: since its launch in 2009, the “Real Estate Switzerland ESG” investment group has posted an impressive performance of 5.54% per year. In a challenging market environment, the advantageous diversity of uses and the focus on active lettings management are reflected in a high occupancy rate of over 98%. At the end of February 2023, the investment group held a total of 270 properties with a market value of around CHF 4.2 billion. (Figures as at 28 February 2023).

Stephan Thaler, Managing Director of the Swiss Life Investment Foundation, says: “The opening of the investment group was very successful, despite the challenging environment. In addition to increasing our equity capital, the opening primarily enables us to expand our investor base. We see this as proof of the high level of investor confidence in the high quality profile of the real estate portfolio, and of the expertise of Swiss Life Asset Managers.”