{"id":878,"date":"2025-02-13T17:09:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T17:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iqeq.com\/ch\/insights\/guest-post-accessing-the-swiss-institutional-and-professional-investor-market\/"},"modified":"2025-02-19T16:22:43","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T16:22:43","slug":"guest-post-accessing-the-swiss-institutional-and-professional-investor-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iqeq.com\/ch\/insights\/guest-post-accessing-the-swiss-institutional-and-professional-investor-market\/","title":{"rendered":"GUEST POST: Accessing the Swiss institutional and professional investor market"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Anne-Cathrine Frogg, Managing Director (Business Development), <\/span><\/i>Mont-Fort Funds AG<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Switzerland continues to be an attractive market for asset raising. Its investor market is broadly diversified across numerous private and international banks, independent asset managers, family offices of varying sizes, pension funds, large companies, and, of course, high-net-worth individuals (HNWI). In Deloitte\u2019s recently released <\/span>International Wealth Management Centre Ranking<\/span><\/a>, Switzerland tops the list as the largest booking centre for international wealth management, valued at US$2.2 trillion, and leads in terms of competitiveness.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The highly sophisticated investor market has long understood and heavily invested in alternative investment strategies, including hedge funds, private equity, venture, real assets and, more recently, private credit. When managers are deciding on a European marketing strategy, Switzerland and\/or the UK, as well as several EU countries, tend to be focus jurisdictions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Switzerland\u2019s regulatory framework is very open by European standards and allows all fund structures (including non-EU and those located offshore) access to its attractive pool of investors. However, knowledge of the regulatory requirements is necessary and requirements vary according to the investor type targeted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Swiss regulatory requirements<\/h2>\n

Depending on the marketing strategy pursued, requirements may apply to the fund, the investment manager and\/or the distributor or placement agent.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA), part of the regulatory framework concerning fund distribution, it should be determined if, and by which party, a financial service (such as fund distribution) is being performed at the end-investor stage.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The applicable requirements for the product will be determined by the type of end investors targeted:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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If opt-out professional investors, such as HNWI and <\/span>certain<\/span> family office<\/span> structures<\/span>,<\/span> are within the scope of prospective investors, the fund must have appointed <\/span>both <\/span>a <\/span>r<\/span>epresentative<\/span> and<\/span> a <\/span>p<\/span>aying agent. The <\/span>i<\/span>nvestment manager and\/<\/span>or placement agent also need<\/span>s<\/span> to ensure that the person(s) reaching out to prospective investors <\/span>are <\/span>on the <\/span>Swiss <\/span>Client Advisor Register. The <\/span>below <\/span>graph illustrates these requirements:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Case studies<\/h2>\n

Below are a few real-world examples to help assess specific requirements:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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London-based private equity manager with in-house marketer as well as placement agent (all FCA regulated) targeting family offices of varying sizes (including family-managed) as well as opting-out HNWI<\/p>\n

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Requirements:<\/p>\n