Partners Group

Office address: 1200 Entrepreneurial Drive Broomfield, CO 80021 
Website: www.partnersgroup.com 
Year established: 1996 
Company type: private equity firm 
Employees: 1,800+ 
Expertise: venture capital, finance, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, private credit, institutional investors, private wealth, investment options, client access, accounting, reporting, and treasury management services 
Parent company: Partners Group Holding 
Key people: David Layton (CEO), Andreas Knecht (COO), Joris Gröflin (CFO), Roberto Cagnati (CRO), Juri Jenkner (president), Michael Marquardt and Wolf-Henning Scheider (partners) 
Financing status: N/A 

Partners Group, a Switzerland-based global private markets investment manager, employs over 1,800 people across 21 offices worldwide, with North American headquarters in Colorado. The firm, managing $149 billion in assets, has invested over $221 billion globally on behalf of clients, specializing in tailored private markets solutions. With thematic investing and portfolio transformation strategies, Partners Group serves institutional and private clients, aiming to create high-value, long-term investment outcomes. 

History of Partners Group 

Partners Group was founded in 1996 in Zug, Switzerland, by Marcel Erni, Alfred Gantner, and Urs Wietlisbach to offer a distinctive investment approach. Early on, the firm launched its first private equity fund in Luxembourg, soon followed by significant investments in Switzerland. By 2000, the company expanded into the US, establishing a New York office and initiating investments across Asia and Latin America.  

In 2004, the company entered private infrastructure, and in 2006, Partners Group went public on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Over the following years, it adopted sustainability principles, introduced a US evergreen private equity fund, and established major offices, including in Toronto. Recent expansions include a US headquarters in Colorado and European long-term investment funds (ELTIFs). 

Products and Services of Partners Group 

Partners Group offers a variety of private market investment solutions for both institutional and private clients: 

• institutional investors: tailored services for large clients and institutions 
• private wealth: private markets access for high-net-worth individuals 
• client access: extensive options designed to meet specific client needs 
• investment options: diverse private market vehicles designed for flexibility in portfolio structuring
  - closed-ends funds
  - mandate solutions
  - evergreen funds
  - ELTIFs
  - defined contribution solutions
  - permanent capital vehicles
•  

Partners Group crafts investment structures that meet diverse client objectives, balancing strategic goals with extensive portfolio management capabilities. 

Culture at Partners Group 

Partners Group’s culture focuses on growth, teamwork, and innovation. The firm values partnership, entrepreneurship, leadership, excellence, and passion, supporting fair career advancement and long-term rewards. They emphasize a collaborative environment with robust mentorship, career development, and performance-based benefits, including: 

• competitive compensation: including performance-based annual incentives 
• health benefits: medical, dental, vision coverage 
• retirement planning: 401(k) with Roth and pre-tax options, company match 
• paid time off: 25 vacation days and 12 holidays per year 
• long-term support: sabbatical after every five years, education assistance 
• community engagement: volunteer opportunities, team-building events 

Partners Group’s commitment to sustainability integrates responsible practices across all levels. The company evaluates both financial and non-financial impacts through a double materiality approach, enabling risk and opportunity management. Sustainability is embedded in company governance through: 

• sustainability governance: integrated across operations, no separate committee 
• entrepreneurial ownership: encourages collaborative culture, effective governance 
• impact assessments: addressing financial and non-financial impacts with double materiality 

For diversity and inclusion, Partners Group fosters an inclusive environment that celebrates each employee’s unique background. The firm’s networks support diverse perspectives, strengthening collaboration and engagement across the organization. 

About Partners Group CEO David Layton and Key People 

David Layton, the CEO of Partners Group, leads the firm’s executive team and global executive board, and serves on the global investment committee. Previously, he was the head of private equity and represented the company on several portfolio company boards. Layton holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management. 

The key people at Partners Group include investment and wealth professionals leading the firm’s strategies, such as: 

• Andreas Knecht serves as a partner, general counsel, COO, and head of compliance, legal & tax, managing regulatory frameworks and overseeing operational compliance 
• Joris Gröflin, as a partner and CFO, directs the firm's financial strategy, accounting functions, and reporting standards 
• Roberto Cagnati is a partner and chief risk officer, head of portfolio solutions, responsible for risk management and tailored portfolio strategies 
• Juri Jenkner, a partner, president, and co-head of investments, leads private market investment initiatives and oversees strategic asset growth 
• Michael Marquardt serves as partner and head of business services, managing the firm’s service delivery and operational efficiency 
• Wolf-Henning Scheider, partner, co-head of investments and head of private equity, drives portfolio company growth with an operational focus 

The Future at Partners Group 

Partners Group is widening private market access through a partnership with BlackRock, offering retail investors streamlined entry into private equity, credit, and real assets. This collaboration aims to simplify the investment process, enhancing private market availability to a broader client base. Through this initiative, the company seeks to diversify revenue and strengthen its position in the expanding private markets industry. 

The company is also enhancing its private equity approach by focusing on hands-on management to improve operational efficiency in portfolio companies. This strategy includes appointing leaders with an operational mindset to drive measurable growth in areas like profitability and cash flow. By prioritizing sustainable value creation over traditional financial engineering, Partners Group aims to meet investor expectations in today’s challenging market.