How we acquire properties

Our Swiss Direct Real Estate business division – that is, our directly owned properties – has seen constant growth in the past few years. Today, direct real estate assets of around CHF 1.8 billion are actively managed from our head office in St. Gallen. Last year there was a new addition to our portfolio: the “7am Park” development in Winterthur.

So, how do we proceed if we’re interested in a particular property? Portfolio transactions such as “Eichpark” form part of the division’s core business and are normally undertaken several times a year. Available properties are first of all assessed internally, particularly with regard to our mandate guidelines as well as compliance with our strategy. Due diligence is then performed in conjunction with external consultants, in a process lasting several weeks. We then present the investment opportunity to the Real Estate Investment Committee. Following discussion and price-setting, we submit a binding offer and – if it is accepted – commence negotiations. In uncertain times, real estate investments constitute a stable income stream for the pension fund.

However, we continue to manage our properties once they are part of the Asga portfolio. At Landquart, we are currently looking at the installation of a photovoltaic system with the aim of further enhancing the attractiveness of the property and playing our part in the energy transition. The installation of charging points (e-mobility) is being assessed and implemented in response to demand.