SWITZERLAND - Swiss investment foundation Pensimo Management has awarded a global real estate investment mandate to Partners Group.

Partners Group will pursue value-added and opportunistic investment strategies on behalf of the institution, which invests capital on behalf of a number of Swiss pension funds through a range of investment trusts.

Pensimo has thus far concentrated on core real estate, and the new mandate represents a move up the risk curve for the organisation.

Paola Prioni, managing director at Pensimo Management, said: "We chose Partners Group to gain access to attractive investment opportunities in the global private real estate market.

"Partners Group's investments in the primary and secondary market are an ideal addition to our existing portfolio of core and listed assets. We highly appreciate its global positioning and expertise."

Partners Group specialises in non-listed real estate and looks to invest through a variety of structures, including funds, joint ventures, recapitalisations and secondary market transactions.

Claude Angéloz, co-head of private real estate at Partners Group, said: "Our global reach and integrated approach ensure we are well positioned to identify the most attractive investment opportunities, while the strengthening of our presence in Asia and Latin America last year will provide an even more direct access to relevant growth markets."

Pensimo Management was advised in awarding the mandate by an unnamed consultant firm for institutional investors.

Major Swiss pension funds have already committed CHF 140m (€108m) to the investment programme established by Pensimo, which remains open to other investors.