DWS acquires Peakside Capital Advisors and strengthens its commitment to value-add real estate in Europe
5 OCT, 2026
By Joanna Piwko from RankiaPro Europe
DWS strengthens its alternative assets platform with the purchase of Peakside Capital Advisors, a manager specializing in value-added and opportunistic real estate investment in Germany, and Central and Eastern Europe.
The manager led by Stefan Hoops as CEO announced today the signing of a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Peakside, which manages more than 1.700 million euros in assets, mainly on behalf of institutional investors.
Strengthening of DWS's European real estate business
The operation will provide DWS with consolidated experience and a solid track record in value-add and opportunistic strategies, which will be integrated into its European real estate business, led by Clemens Schaefer. It will expand the manager's offer especially in Germany and will add relevant capabilities in Central and Eastern Europe.
Based in Zug (Switzerland), Peakside operates in Germany, Luxembourg and Poland, with experience in offices, retail, logistics and residential. Its PREF fund series reflects its investment trajectory.
The acquisition of Peakside is an important step to strengthen our alternative assets platform. Peakside will bring consolidated capabilities and a solid track record in value-added and opportunistic real estate investments in Europe. This sends a clear signal that the real estate sector is a fundamental part of our alternative assets offer and a promising asset class that we want to grow.
Stefan Hoops, CEO, DWS
Continuity of Peakside's management team
The current owners of Peakside, Stefan Aumann, Boris Schran and Simon Lutz, along with Frank Schäfer and Karol Maziukiewicz, from the management team, will remain in the company after the closing. According to the statement, it is expected that this continuity will extend to the entire team.
Aumann sees in DWS's global platform a lever to continue developing the business and solutions for investors.
By combining our investment experience with customer relationships, distribution capabilities, and DWS's global platform, we see significant opportunities to continue developing the business and the solutions we offer to investors. We look forward to continuing to develop the business as part of DWS and support its next phase of growth.
Stefan Aumann, founder and managing partner, Peakside Capital Advisors
Schran, for his part, emphasizes the clients and preserving the firm's culture.
Our clients and our current investments will continue to be the core of our business. Together with DWS, we will focus on preserving continuity, maintaining the entrepreneurial DNA of our team, and writing a new and exciting chapter together.
Boris Schran, founder and managing partner, Peakside Capital Advisors
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, once regulatory approvals have been obtained and other customary conditions have been met. The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial terms.
