The Swiss Helvetia Fund Announces Special Meeting

Rhea-AI Summary

The Swiss Helvetia Fund (NYSE: SWZ) has announced a special stockholders meeting scheduled for February 21, 2025, to consider two major proposals: (1) approving an investment advisory agreement with Bulldog Investors, LLP, and (2) modifying the Fund's investment objective, strategies, and restrictions to broaden its investment capabilities.

If shareholders approve these proposals, the Board plans to: (1) sell substantially all portfolio securities, (2) declare a special cash distribution of approximately 30% of the Fund's net assets, and (3) authorize a tender offer for at least 15% of outstanding shares at 98% of NAV if shares trade at a >10% discount from NAV for 10 consecutive business days in 2025.

Only stockholders of record as of January 24, 2025, are eligible to vote. The complete proposal details are available in the Fund's Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on January 27, 2025.

Positive

• Planned special cash distribution of 30% of net assets
• Potential tender offer at 98% of NAV for 15% of shares if discount exceeds 10%
• Strategic expansion of investment capabilities

Negative

• Substantial portfolio liquidation may trigger taxable events
• Significant reduction in fund assets through distribution
• Potential strategy shift risk with new investment advisor

News Market Reaction

+2.00%

1 alert

+2.00% News Effect

On the day this news was published, SWZ gained 2.00%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) (NYSE: SWZ) announced today that a special meeting of stockholders will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022 to consider proposals to approve (1) the Fund entering into an investment advisory agreement with Bulldog Investors, LLP, and (2) changes to the Fund’s investment objective, strategies, and restrictions in order to expand the types of investments the Fund can make to meet its objective. If shareholders approve all of the proposals, the Board of Directors intends to authorize the sale of substantially all of the Fund’s portfolio securities, and to declare a special cash distribution (consisting largely or entirely of long-term capital gains) representing approximately 30% of the Fund’s net assets.

Following the special cash distribution, if the Fund’s shares trade at a discount of more than 10% from its net asset value per share (NAV) for any ten consecutive business days in 2025, the Board intends to authorize a tender offer to purchase at least 15% of its outstanding shares at a price of at least 98% of NAV.

Only stockholders of record as of Friday, January 24, 2025 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. The Board urges stockholders that do not plan to attend the meeting to promptly vote by proxy in order to minimize the cost to the Fund of soliciting additional proxies in the event a quorum is not reached and the meeting is adjourned.

The full details of the proposals to be considered at the special meeting are included in the Fund’s Definitive Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on January 27, 2025 and is available free of charge at www.sec.gov. Shareholders should carefully read the Definitive Proxy Statement and any other proxy materials that may be filed by the Fund because they contain important information about the special meeting and the proposals.

For more information, please call InvestorCom, the Fund’s information agent, at (877) 972-0090.

BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD READ CAREFULLY THOSE PROXY MATERIALS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE FUND WITH THE SEC, AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING, THE PROPOSED ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER PROPOSALS CONTAINED THEREIN.

This announcement is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of the Fund’s common stock. No tender offer for the outstanding shares of our common stock has commenced. If any tender offer is commenced, the Fund will file a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with the SEC related to the tender offer. The Tender Offer Statement (including an Offer to Purchase, a related Letter of Transmittal and other tender offer documents) will contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the tender offer, that should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the tender offer. Stockholders will be able to obtain these documents free of charge, when they become available, from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) or the Fund’s current website (www.swzfund.com) or a successor Fund website.

FAQ

What is the special cash distribution amount proposed by SWZ?

The Swiss Helvetia Fund (SWZ) plans to distribute approximately 30% of the Fund's net assets as a special cash distribution, consisting largely or entirely of long-term capital gains.

When is SWZ's special stockholder meeting scheduled?

The special stockholder meeting is scheduled for February 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP offices in New York.

What are the key proposals being voted on at SWZ's special meeting?

Shareholders will vote on: 1) approving an investment advisory agreement with Bulldog Investors, LLP, and 2) changes to the Fund's investment objective, strategies, and restrictions.

What is SWZ's proposed tender offer condition?

SWZ will initiate a tender offer for at least 15% of outstanding shares at 98% of NAV if shares trade at a discount exceeding 10% from NAV for any ten consecutive business days in 2025.

Who is eligible to vote at SWZ's special meeting?

Only stockholders of record as of January 24, 2025, are entitled to vote at the special meeting.