With a US real estate platform dating back more than four decades and a formal insurance asset management practice going back to 1980, DWS has been well-positioned to participate in the outsourcing trend which saw a growing number of insurers participate in the move toward non-core holdings. It offers strategies across real estate, infrastructure, commodities, and liquid strategies, with assets totalling $133.3bn.

Through an open-end diversified core equity strategy, which invests in higher quality private US real estate in more established locations across various property types, the DWS structure has enabled insurance companies to access the market via lower investment minimums and achieve adequate diversification as opposed to having to construct their own portfolio.

Complementing its real estate equity exposure, DWS added private commercial real estate debt capabilities to expand the real asset offerings. The investment manager particularly focused on providing access to segments in less covered portions of the capital stack that could be able to potentially deliver a higher level of income in a risk-controlled fashion.

For its expansive line-up of real asset capabilities and advisory acumen, DWS wins this year's real asset manager award.