By Philipp Freise, Partner and Co-Head of European Private Equity at KKR

St. Peter-Ording, on Germany’s north-west coast, is home to me. I grew up here, and I return at least twice a year for a few days of vacation.

Between my day-to-day life in London and my regular business trips, my time at the North Sea allows me an important change of perspective — in a place where I can find peace, recharge my batteries, and broaden my horizons.

Early mornings spent on the beach are particularly special. When the light rises across the Wadden Sea and the town is still quiet, there is a sense of calm that is hard to find elsewhere. A walk through the dunes, a tea in town, and spending time with my mother are what I look forward to the most. As I always come with my children, there’s naturally always plenty going on, but that is exactly what makes coming home so special.

The sheer expanse of the landscape puts many things into perspective. St. Peter-Ording reminds me how important long-term thinking is. Those who keep their eyes on the horizon rather than chasing the next wave often see connections that are easy to miss in the rush of everyday life.

Switzerland as a long-term partner

Our ties to Switzerland date back to 1987, when KKR received its first fund commitment from a Swiss investor. The first investment followed in 2007. It was clear to us from the very beginning that a long-term perspective is highly valued here. Switzerland isn’t our largest market in Europe, but over the years we’ve built strong partnerships here and supported companies like Scout24, SoftwareOne, and Wella on their growth trajectories.

When it comes to wealth building, people in Switzerland think in terms of generations. This aligns with one of our core beliefs: that individuals should have the same access to private markets as institutional investors. The importance of professional guidance for individuals participating in private markets cannot be understated, and here Switzerland plays a key role as a global centre for wealth management. Swiss financial institutions and private banks have a unique depth of expertise in private markets. With our office in Zurich, I enjoy frequent visits to spend time with our clients, Swiss entrepreneurs, and our growing team of locally based Swiss executives.

Switzerland's strengths of stability, entrepreneurial culture, and ability to attract long-term capital are not unique to one country. They reflect qualities that exist across Europe, and which are yet to be fully leveraged. The question is whether Europe as a whole can build on these foundations in an era of profound change.

Europe’s potential is underestimated

Europe faces a decisive question: how does the continent remain competitive in a world that is changing fundamentally? With economic and geopolitical volatility seemingly becoming the new normal, taking a long-term perspective is essential. 

European competitiveness is at the forefront of policymakers’ minds; however, investing in Europe’s future cannot fall to governments alone. Private investors have an important role to play in financing Europe’s transformation.

At KKR, we’re focusing on high-quality businesses backed by global trends: an enhanced focus on security and defence, booming demand for energy and renewable solutions, demographic change and digitalisation. These are precisely the megatrends that will shape the coming decade.

A growing share of value creation is taking place outside the public markets. As we support our portfolio companies through long-term investment and close collaboration with management teams, in tandem, we provide access to private markets for investors seeking exposure to the region’s most innovative businesses. Europe has more to offer than the current debate might suggest. That is our conviction.