In November 2025 UBP was honoured in the category of ‘Best Private Bank in Europe for Alternatives’ at the prestigious PWM & The Banker Global Private Banking Awards 2025, which took place in London.

UBP has been a pioneer in alternative investment since in the 1970s, with our offering composed of our Alternative Investment Solutions (AIS) team co-headed by John Argi and Kier Boley, and our Private Markets Group (PMG) led by Brice Thionnet.

UBP Best Private Bank in Europe for hedge funds

 

UBP has long-standing experience in alternatives, having first invested in hedge funds in 1972, and is one of Europe’s top players in the sector. The AIS team draws on an institutional set-up, a rigorous, conviction-driven investment process and a solutions-based approach to offer a broad range of products and services for both private and institutional clients.

Always looking to anticipate and stay ahead of trends, the AIS team is well equipped to provide its clients with a best-in-class service as well as innovative and individual solutions and has attracted large institutional and family office mandates.

AIS stands apart from many of its peers because of its ability to provide customised solutions for all strategies. Whether through a multi- or single-manager offering, UBP is able to turn fund managers’ investment skills into value-added propositions that address clients’ needs.  

Clients can rely on UBP for portfolio management solutions providing them with discretionary and advisory mandates as well as blended funds. To adapt to specific requirements, our teams devise innovative structures to add flexibility with full transparency. Partnerships are also part of our framework – they include our alternatives UCITS platform and the use of third-party funds that give exposure to thematic investments like private debt and infrastructure. Over the last 12 months we have seen a pick-up of inflows into such strategies. Other exclusive partnerships allow us to offer specific, cutting-edge solutions to our clients, mainly in insurance-linked securities, and digital finance.

UBP Best Private Bank in Europe for private markets

 

PMG gives UBP clients unique access to private markets. With a broad range of investment solutions spanning the entire private-market universe and dedicated teams focusing on real estate, private equity, private debt and infrastructure, PMG is a one-stop shop for clients seeking to build or enhance their exposure to private-market assets.

PMG avoids the industry trend towards ‘one size fits all’ and actively assists its clients in constructing private market portfolios whether on a deal-by-deal basis, within a hands-on advisory framework, or even via a bespoke discretionary private market mandate.

Since its launch in 2015, PMG has rapidly expanded to serve the needs of UBP clients. This is demonstrated by the exponential growth in its client assets to over USD 5 billon; its growing investor base, with the number of participants in PMG transactions already exceeding 3,000; and its increasing portfolio size of over 70 live and exited transactions. Add to that the expanding team of over 40 full-time employees.

PMG can access exclusive and high-profile transactions for investment sizes as low as USD 125,000 and offers a growing shelf of core evergreen solutions as well as 4–6 closed-ended tactical opportunities per year. As a result, the team enables clients to construct institutional-quality private market portfolios that meet their own investment criteria and guidelines in terms of currency, asset class, duration, and risk/reward. PMG is highly selective in terms of the investments it offers: its top-down conviction-driven approach and in-house due diligence capabilities mean that fewer than 4% of deals screened are ultimately offered to clients.

PMG’s business model is designed to adapt proactively to market trends and clients’ objectives. It remains highly dynamic, continuously refining its services and expanding its investment solutions to meet the needs of its investors. Among its key achievements in 2024–25 have been the launch of its formal evergreen platform, which has rapidly scaled to almost 10% of the assets managed by the team within one year. The team have also started operating with the eFront investment software, demonstrating their dedication to operational improvements. Additionally, PMG rolled out a platform enabling family offices to access PMG’s club deals, showcasing a drive to further expand our client base.

UBP, a Swiss bank with cutting-edge expertise in alternatives

 

Among the reasons for choosing UBP as the winner of this award, the panel of judges noted AIS's single fund of managed accounts through seven leading portfolio managers with a simple and transparent fee structure for one of its institutional clients. PMG's evergreen platform now amounting to USD 655 million in assets was a highlight too.

Overall, this award is testament to our cutting-edge expertise and outstanding services in alternatives, the result of substantial investment into our capabilities over the years.