Press release
Baar-Zug, 6 February 2009
According to the best practice code for corporate governance and its interpretation by market participants such as the Ethos Foundation, a member of the board with tenure of over 10 years no longer qualifies as independent. Thus, Robert Schenker, who has been a member of the board of directors since 1998, will resign from his post at the forthcoming annual general meeting of shareholders. Alfred Gantner, executive chairman, comments, “During the past decade, Robert Schenker has accompanied Partners Group from its beginnings through to the IPO and since, offering the firm the benefits of his long-term experience in the banking field. As chairman of the risk and audit committee, he was instrumental in the continued expansion and strengthening of the internal control systems, the risk management and the risk reporting. The board of directors of Partners Group Holding would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert Schenker for his valuable contribution to the firm.”
The board of directors will propose Peter Wuffli to replace Robert Schenker at the next annual general meeting. Alfred Gantner adds, “We are convinced that Peter Wuffli's leadership experience in the global financial sector will be beneficial to Partners Group.” Marcel Erni, executive vice chairman, continues, “We have known Peter Wuffli for a number of years and hold his ethical values and integrity in high esteem.”
Peter Wuffli started his career at McKinsey & Company in 1984 and joined Swiss Bank Corporation (now UBS) in 1994 as its Group Chief Financial Officer. He held various roles at the UBS group executive board, most recently as its Group CEO. Since 2007 he holds mandates in various organizations (see appendix for detailed CV). “I am excited about this new activity in the financial sector, and I am grateful to Partners Group for offering me the opportunity to contribute to this entrepreneurial success story in the future” Peter Wuffli says.
The annual general meeting of Partners Group Holding will be held on 30 April 2009, 4 pm, at the headquarters of the firm in Baar-Zug. Registered shareholders will receive the invitation to the annual general meeting in due course.
About Partners Group
Partners Group is a global alternative asset management firm with over CHF 24 billion in investment programs under management in private equity, private debt, private real estate, private infrastructure, absolute return strategies and listed alternatives. The firm manages a broad range of funds, structured products and customized portfolios for an international clientele of institutional investors, private banks and other financial institutions. Partners Group is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland and has offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Guernsey, Luxembourg, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney. The firm employs over 340 people, is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (symbol: PGHN) with a market capitalization of around CHF 2 billion and majority owned by its 38 Partners and all employees.