In brief: Partners Group parts from founders’ impact firm

The impact investment firm founded by Partners Group’s founders, PG Impact Investments, has rebranded to Blue Earth Capital and plans to “reach operational independence from Partners Group” over the next four years.

Based in Baar-Zug, Switzerland, Blue Earth Capital also aims to double its assets under management from $400 million to $800 million by 2024, and to move into its own headquarters in Baar later this year, the firm’s CEO and co-founder Urs Baumann said.

PGII launched a $300 million private equity impact fund in April. The fund will target “market-rate returns” and invest in climate solutions in North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. The firm also hired ex-KKR director Kayode Akinola as head of private equity directs in April 2021.

Blue Earth Capital also announced the addition of two members to its board of directors: Tilmann Trommsdorff, a former partner and executive board member at Partners Group, and Sandra Pajarola, also a former partner at Partners Group. They join Baumann, Blue Earth Capital’s co-founder Urs Wietlisbach and Andreas Kirchschläger on the board.

Blue Earth Capital is wholly owned by Blue Earth Foundation (formerly PG Impact Investments Foundation), which commits Blue Earth Capital’s profits to its philanthropic activities. The firm was founded in 2015 by Wietlisbach, Alfred Gantner, Partners Group’s co-founders, and Peter Wuffli, Partners Group’s former chairman.