Swiss Life AM remains on growth track

Swiss Life Asset Managers' assessment of its real estate business in the first half of 2018 is positive from the company's point of view. The real estate portfolio continued to grow, mainly as a result of acquisitions, but also due to renewed positive changes in value, the asset manager says. Overall, Swiss Life AM managed real estate worth EUR 72.2 billion (CHF 82.7 billion) across Europe as of the end of June 2018, up three billion or four percent from the end of 2017.

"In the coming months, we want to launch new pan-European real estate funds both in our core markets and beyond," says Stefan Mächler, Swiss Life's Group CIO. That includes a European healthcare real estate fund, he adds. As customer demand is high, the company intends to further expand its real estate fund volume.

Stock in Switzerland to be expanded

In Switzerland, Swiss Life AM intends to expand its real estate portfolio. This will be done by purchasing properties and development projects with high location quality and excellent property characteristics in the residential, office and retail use classes, the company said. In addition, the investment focus will be on niche segments with high growth potential such as retirement and healthcare properties, student housing and coworking space. In addition to the acquisition of new properties, the company will also push ahead with the realization of densification potential in existing properties. 

According to a company statement, Swiss Life AM's most significant individual acquisitions in Switzerland currently include the office property Bellerivestrasse 241/245 and the Hotel Aries in Zurich, the commercial and residential property Rue du Rhône 57/Quai du Général-Guisan 38 in Geneva, and Wankdorf City II in Bern-Wankdorf. (ah)