Corporate news

Partners Group, the Switzerland based global alternative asset manager, announces the final close of Partners Group Global Mezzanine 2007 at EUR 447 million. The fund offers investors access to a broadly diversified portfolio of global mezzanine investments with an attractive return potential.

Since the credit crisis, the terms and conditions of mezzanine tranches have improved significantly. The increase in interest margins and the re-emergence of covenants in connection with a marked decrease in leverage result in a measurable reduction in transaction risk, thereby clearly improving the risk/return profile of mezzanine investments. Taking advantage of this current attractive environment for mezzanine financing, Partners Group Global Mezzanine 2007 has already committed over 50% of its capital, with eleven transactions alone since the beginning of the year.

In terms of Partners Group’s overall assets under management (AuM) development for the year, demand for private market products is sustained and is well on track to reach the announced direct AuM growth target of CHF 5 - 6 billion for the full year 2008. Net asset growth is expected to be moderated by currency effects, particularly the strengthening of the CHF and the massive weakening of the USD, as well as by anticipated redemptions in Partners Group’s public market business and is therefore expected to reach around CHF 3.5 – 4.5 billion for the full year 2008, resulting in total AuM in the range of CHF 28 - 29 billion.