Partners Group Acquire Real Estate Platform Empira Group

Partners Group, one of the largest financial investor in the global private markets industry, on Tuesday said that it will acquire Empira Group, a premier real estate investment platform based in Switzerland. The terms of the transaction remain undisclosed.

The transaction will enhance Partners Group’s position as a global real estate investor and support its ambitious growth plans as the asset class enters a new paradigm for investing. Following the acquisition, Empira Group will continue to operate under its existing brand as part of Partners Group, with the ambition to become a pan European platform.

The acquisition is anticipated to close in H1 of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals; it is not expected to have a material impact on Partners Group’s financial results in 2025.

Thn is the third acquisition by Partners Group’s and the firm earlier made  strategic investments in Trinity Investments, a US-based hospitality-focused real estate investor in April 2024, and Citivale, a UK-based logistics real estate developer and asset manager, in February 2024.

The Swiss-based Partners Group’s Real Estate business has a global portfolio with a total Gross Asset Value of $43 billion and $15.9 billion in assets under management.

Empira Group is one of the most respected vertically integrated real estate investment managers focused on the residential sector, with a portfolio with a Gross Development Value of around $14.69 billion. Its investment strategies include European residential; US residential; transition-to-green, which involves creating value through sustainability initiatives; and real estate credit.

Within its real estate credit segment, Empira Group offers a range of financing solutions, including senior and junior loans, whole-loan and mezzanine financing, preferred equity, and joint venture opportunities.

The transaction comes at an inflection point for the global real estate industry, as the asset class moves beyond traditional asset management to focus on transformational investing and operational excellence to generate attractive returns for clients.

Empira Group’s investment strategy closely aligns with Partners Group’s focus on the two giga themes – New Living and decarbonisation & sustainability – and in particular the revolutionary shifts in residential demand caused by factors including migration, hybrid working, undersupply of affordable, high-quality rental properties for “Generation Rent,” and increased emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency.

With this transaction, Empira will give Partners Group access to wider and more granular sector coverage, proprietary transactions, and enhanced operating substance through its established capabilities.

Pivotal Moment for Real Estate

Karim Habra, Global Co-Head Real Estate, Partners Group, said that this strategic acquisition supports Partners Group’s long-term growth in real estate and brings Empira Group’s operational expertise to their established global investment platform at a pivotal moment for the real estate industry.

The significant development and operator skills gained from this acquisition position Partners Group to lead in this evolving landscape, moving beyond traditional ownership strategies to embrace a new era of asset transformation and innovation, he said.

Lahcen Knapp, Founder and Chairman, Empira Group, said that Empira Group’s investment focus and entrepreneurial spirit is strongly aligned with that of Partners Group.

“We believe the combination of our expertise and resources with Partners Group’s powerful private markets platform will enable us to better source, build, and manage residential real estate for a new era,” Knapp added.