Partners Group
Partners Group is a global private equity firm based in Switzerland, primarily known for managing private market investments across various sectors including private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and debt. Unlike luxury groups such as LVMH, Richemont, or the Swatch Group, Partners Group operates as an investment management firm with assets under management exceeding $100 billion. In 2022, Partners Group took over the majority of the Breitling shares from CVC, which had, in turn, purchased the brand in 2017. In 2023 the group acquired Universal Geneve, followed by Gallet in 2025.
Brands summary:
Founded in 1884, Breitling is renowned for professional-grade aviation chronographs and dive watches. Their precision instruments, like the iconic Navitimer with its distinctive slide rule bezel, blend technical functionality with bold aesthetics. In recent decades, Breitling has undergone a major renaissance, raising its profile by investing heavily in in-house movement production and partnering with A-list celebrities including Brad Pitt and Kelly Slater. Collectors around the world celebrated when Breitling announced that it was reviving Universal Genève, a legendary and long-dormant Swiss brand famous for its Polerouter designed by Gérald Genta and the Tri-Compax chronograph. This trajectory continued with the purchase of Gallet, a similarly beloved maker of classic chronographs.
