UBS Asset Management's Swiss real estate business is celebrating its anniversary and proudly looks back on its 80-year history. The launch of UBS «Foncipars» in 1943 marked the beginning of Real Estate Switzerland’s success story. Switzerland’s oldest still active real estate fund was the first building block of a successful and future-oriented product range that currently includes 11 real estate investment products and mandates with a market value over CHF 27 billion.
Yesterday
UBS «Foncipars» - founded in 1943
UBS «Foncipars», the oldest real estate fund still active in Switzerland, was launched under the name “Foncipars Série Ancienne” in April 1943 by SAGEPCO, a corporation based in Lausanne, with its first portfolio manager, Louis Zapelli. From 1945, the then Swiss Bank Corporation - now UBS - assumed the role of the custodian bank. In 1960, a second fund, Foncipars Série II, was launched. Finally, in 2002, the two funds “Foncipars Série Ancienne” and “Foncipars Série II” were merged to form today’s UBS «Foncipars».
The development of Real Estate Switzerland
The launch of UBS «Foncipars» in 1943 was followed by UBS «Sima», UBS «Anfos» and UBS «Swissreal» between 1950 and 1962. The investment foundation UBS AST Real Estate Switzerland, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, was founded in 1973. Today’s fund management company, UBS Fund Management (Switzerland) AG (which emerged from Interfonds), has been active under this name since 1998. In 2002 and 2003, the existing products were repositioned and refocused:
- UBS «Sima» with residential and commercial real estate throughout Switzerland
- UBS «Anfos» with residential properties in German-speaking Switzerland
- UBS «Swissreal» with commercial real estate throughout Switzerland
- UBS «Foncipars» with residential properties in French-speaking Switzerland
Meanwhile, the portfolio was further expanded: With UBS Direct Residential in 2006 and UBS Direct Urban in 2012, two direct-investing funds were launched. UBS AST Commercial Real Estate Switzerland, another investment group with a focus on commercial real estate, was added in 2009. The recent history of Real Estate Switzerland includes the takeover of the fund management business of Residentia - a real estate fund with an investment focus in southern Switzerland, and the launch of UBS PF Europe, which went public last year, marking the first fund investing outside of Switzerland.
Pioneer in sustainability
Real Estate Switzerland first adopted its sustainability strategy more than 10 years ago. What was considered new at the time is now actively practiced and firmly integrated into everyday business as a guiding principle. The inclusion of the areas of environmental, social and governance (ESG) in the fund contracts of the Swiss UBS real estate investment products in August 2022 marked another key milestone on the way to making our real estate investment products climate neutral.
Today
The Swiss real estate business of UBS Asset Management is meanwhile the market leader for listed Swiss real estate funds and stands for responsible real estate management. The portfolio includes eight listed funds, two investment foundations for pension funds and one mandate. In addition to UBS «Foncipars», the oldest Swiss real estate fund, the portfolio also includes UBS «Sima», the largest Swiss real estate fund. Regular awards and top rankings attest to Real Estate Switzerland’s commitment to sustainability.
More than CHF 27
billion assets under management
11 real estate
investment products and external mandates
~ 95 experienced employees
in Basel, Zurich and Lausanne
1100+
properties in Switzerland
Sustainable
and diversified
strategy
UBS «Sima» - the largest Swiss real estate fund and UBS «Foncipars» - the oldest Swiss real estate fund
Our real estate investment solutions at a glance
We live real estate! And have been doing so for 80 years:
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Daniel Brüllmann
Head of Real Estate DACH
We have been creating attractive investor prospects, valuable living, working and residential space and promising real estate solutions for 80 years. We are proud of this and thank all who have contributed to this.
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Urs Fäs
Head of Investment Products, Real Estate Switzerland
As a responsible investor, we see sustainable real estate management as an integrative corporate task whereby our contribution of today will benefit the tomorrow.
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Matthias Jäger
Head of Acquisition & Disposition, Real Estate Switzerland
Our focus is on our tenants and their needs among over 1100 properties throughout Switzerland. We maintain a regular and cooperative exchange - and have been doing so for many years.
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Oliver Müller-Känel
Head of Solutions
On the basis of our proven business model, we can take over sophisticated real estate portfolios in a short time, identify value potential in a targeted manner and successfully realize it for our clients.
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Jürgen Lutz
Head of Asset Management
We secure future-oriented investment opportunities for our real estate investment products and are proud of Real Estate Switzerland’s attractive property portfolio.
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Jean-Michel Roten
Head of Construction & Development
As experienced building trustees, we have accompanied numerous successful new construction projects and renovations. In this way, we ensure that Real Estate Switzerland's portfolio is continuously rejuvenated and that sustainability standards are implemented.
The employees of Real Estate Switzerland in Basel, Zurich and Lausanne
Did you know? Facts & Figures about Real Estate Switzerland
The tallest building in
the portfolio
The tallest building in
the portfolio
Claraturm in Basel (UBS «Sima») at 96 meters
The most powerful photovoltaic system in the portfolio
The most powerful photovoltaic system in the portfolio
Photovoltaic system with a module area of approx. 4000 m2 and a system output of approx. 840 kilowatt peak (UBS «Swissreal»)
Tomorrow
Real Estate Switzerland is convinced that sustainable real estate investments and long-term returns are directly related. For this reason, our corporate policy focuses on increasing the value of our assets for our investors and tenants and ensuring that our funds continue to generate an appropriate return in the future.
Acting sustainably and responsibly means addressing tomorrow’s trends today. We address social developments and strive to make sensible use of new technologies and state-of-the-art mobility concepts. Innovation is the focus of our fund team’s activities.
Real Estate Switzerland’s real estate investment products offer solutions for private and institutional investors as well as pension funds. The future-oriented product range is characterized by:
- A broadly diversified product range in terms of region and use
- (Partial) inflation protection through the real estate asset class
- A high commitment to sustainability
- A high-quality and broadly diversified real estate portfolio
- Interdisciplinary competence teams consisting of experienced portfolio managers, real estate trustees, architects and fund accountants
- In other words, the ideal conditions for the further development of the portfolio based on our 80-year track record
Our Real Estate Switzerland team
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Daniel Brüllmann
Head of Real Estate DACH
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Urs Fäs
Head of Investment Products, Real Estate Switzerland
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Matthias Jäger
Head of Acquisition & Disposition, Real Estate Switzerland
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Nicki M. Weber
Head of DACH Investment Sales Specialists
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Oliver Müller-Känel
Head of Solutions
