Helvetica plans to float HSO fund on the stock exchange in 2024

The Helvetica Swiss Opportunity Fund (HSO) is to be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in the first half of 2024. The merger with the Helvetica Swiss Commercial Fund (HSC) should be completed by the end of 2024. "This is subject to the approval of FINMA and the SIX Swiss Exchange," Helvetica writes in a press release today. The formal preliminary application to FINMA is to be submitted before the end of 2023. The portfolio of the Opportunity Fund had a market value of CHF 332.5 million at the end of June, while the significantly larger Commercial Fund had a market value of CHF 750.0 million.

"Broad discussions with our investors support our conviction that the listing of the HSO Fund and the merger of the two investment funds is the right path for the successful further development of our commercial funds," says Hans R. Holdener, CEO of Helvetica.

"Greater diversification of risk"

As a result of the planned merger, the new HSC Fund is expected to reach a portfolio of over CHF 1 billion. "The aim of the merger is to offer potential and existing investors a solid investment vehicle with appropriate returns," it says. Due to its size and diversification, the new HSC Fund should provide investors with greater liquidity and a stronger presence in the SXI Real Estate Funds Broad Index. Current investors in the HSC Fund would benefit from greater risk diversification as a result of the merger of the two portfolios. "Investors in the HSO Fund will benefit above all from the daily liquidity and the structurally better diversified portfolio of the new fund," adds Helvetica.

The fund company first announced in August that a merger of the two vehicles was being examined and that the leverage ratio of the Commercial Fund was to be reduced through sales (IB reported). Shortly afterwards, it was announced that the Opportunity Fund would be waived further capital increases will. (aw)