Thursday, 23 April 2026
Swiss Life Asset Managers has been appointed to take over portfolio and asset management responsibilities for a residential property portfolio owned by Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder, following a restructuring of the assets into a dedicated fund.
The portfolio is being transferred into the newly established “Via Nova Wohnen” property fund as part of a broader reorganisation aimed at ensuring long-term stability, targeted development and improved management of regulatory and sustainability requirements.
Under the mandate, Swiss Life Asset Managers in Germany will be responsible for overseeing portfolio strategy, asset performance and development planning, in line with VBL’s long-term investment objectives. The focus includes coordinated investment planning, refurbishment programmes and the gradual decarbonisation of the housing stock.
“The reorganisation of VBL’s residential portfolio demonstrates the added value that professional third-party asset management can deliver in complex portfolio structures,” said Holger Matheis, CEO of Swiss Life Asset Managers in Germany. “Institutional owners face the challenge of making their residential property portfolios sustainable in the long term. This is precisely where we come in: with clear governance, integrated management and robust decision-making frameworks across the entire lifecycle of a portfolio. The VBL mandate underscores this commitment.”
The new fund structure is intended to support more transparent and consolidated management of the portfolio, enabling a consistent approach to capital expenditure, modernisation and long-term asset positioning.
Christina Schädler, Head of Real Estate at Swiss Life Asset Managers in Germany, added: “The VBL mandate involves the structured management of a large residential property portfolio over many years. This requires robust data, clear processes and an integrated view of investments, decarbonisation and portfolio development. This is the core competence of our portfolio and asset management, and our leading Digital Real Estate Platform also supports us in this.”
Swiss Life Asset Managers said the mandate will be managed through its Europe-wide digital real estate platform, designed to standardise processes, improve data transparency and support decision-making across the portfolio lifecycle.
The restructuring does not involve a sale of assets. VBL will remain the beneficial owner through its fund units and retain strategic control over the portfolio. The changes relate to the investment structure and management framework, with no impact expected on tenants or existing property management arrangements.
The mandate reflects continued demand among institutional investors for specialised third-party asset management solutions, particularly as regulatory and environmental requirements increase across European residential markets.
Photo: Holger Matheis, CEO of Swiss Life Asset Managers
