MUNICH, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Partners Group

is selling German metering firm Techem for

6.7 billion euros ($7.46 billion) to US asset manager TPG

, Techem said on Tuesday, changing hands to its third

private equity firm.

TPG brought Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC

on board as a co-investor for the takeover.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of

next year, Techem said in a statement.

Partners Group had also been considering a public listing of

Techem, which is based outside Frankfurt and is active in 18

countries, having expanded beyond its traditional metering

business and into energy-efficient management of buildings.

TPG is acquiring the company for its $19-billion climate

fund TPG Rise Climate, for which Techem is the largest

transaction to date.

The purchase price will be paid in two instalments, the

first on completion of the acquisition and the second in July

2027, Techem said.

TPG is the third private equity firm to own Techem.

Australia's Macquarie bought the company in 2008 for

just under 1.5 billion euros and delisted it from the stock

exchange.

Ten years later it was sold on to Partners Group for 4.6

billion euros.

($1 = 0.8982 euros)