|
|
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
Executive Offices
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(800) 730-2932 |
A Swiss Investments Fund
www.swzfund.com |
Semi-Annual Report |
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|
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For the Six Months Ended |
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
Managed Distribution Policy Disclosure
In May 2018, The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”),
acting pursuant to an SEC exemptive order and with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), adopted
a managed distribution policy. Under that policy, as resumed by the Board and as currently in effect, the Fund will pay a quarterly distribution
stated in terms of a fixed amount of $0.12900 per share of the Fund’s common stock, which equates to an annualized distribution
rate of 6.00% based on the Fund’s net asset value of $8.60 as of October 31, 2023. In accordance with the policy, the Fund distributed
on March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, $0.12900 per share to stockholders of record on March 18, 2024 and June 18, 2024 respectively.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment
performance from the amount of the Fund’s distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s managed distribution policy. The Board
reviews the Fund’s managed distribution policy periodically and may amend or terminate the managed distribution policy at any time
without prior notice to Fund stockholders, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s shares.
With each distribution, the Fund will issue a notice to stockholders
and a press release which will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other related
information. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in the notice to stockholders are only estimates, are likely to change
over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes
will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on
tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099- DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for
federal income tax purposes. Please refer to “Federal Income Tax and Investment Transactions” under Note 5 of the Notes to
Financial Statements for information regarding the tax character of the Fund’s distributions. A copy of the Fund’s Section 19(a)
notices is available on the Fund’s website at www.swzfund.com.
The Fund’s total return in relation to changes in net asset
value is presented in the Financial Highlights.
Management Discussion and Analysis (for the six months ended June 30, 2024)
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, The Swiss Helvetia
Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), as measured by the change in value in the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”), increased
by +0.9% in US dollars (“USD”) on a total return basis. For the same period, the Fund’s share price on the New York
Stock Exchange increased by +1.6% in USD on a total return basis. This compares with an increase of 2.0% in the Swiss Performance Index
(the “Index” or the “SPI”) in USD.
Economic environment during the period under review
Global economic review
The European Central Bank cut interest rates but sticky inflation
kept some other major central banks on hold.
In July 2023, the US Federal Reserve (“Fed”) raised interest
rates for the last time in the current cycle, from 5.25 to 5.50 percent, representing the highest level since 2007. There were worries
at beginning of this year that the US economy may be overheating and strong economic data evidencing this was greeted negatively by the
market. However, hopes of a soft landing for the economy grew as the quarters progressed. Annual US inflation eased slightly to 2.6% in
May 2024 from 2.7% in April 2024. The US labor market remained strong with 179,000 jobs added in June, according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
The European Central Bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points from
4.0 to 3.75 percent in early June, representing the first decrease since 2019. However, the scope for further cuts may be limited by sticky
inflation. Annual inflation in the euro area was 2.6% in May, up from 2.4% in April.
Market environment during the period under review
Global stock markets registered strong gains in Q1 amid a resilient
US economy and ongoing enthusiasm around artificial intelligence (AI). Strength in some Asian markets helped emerging market equities
outperform developed markets in Q2. Stocks related to AI continued to perform strongly in the second quarter of 2024.
In fixed income, as the first quarter progressed, governmental bond
yields adjusted in response to shifting market sentiments and economic indicators. 10-year government bond yields increased across the
board. The global government bond markets diverged during the second quarter. Following an initial sharp sell-off in US treasuries, yields
peaked towards the end of April and subsequently trended lower.
Worldwide equities, measured by the MSCI World Index, increased +12.0%
in USD for the first half of 2024.
With respect to European equities, the MSCI Europe Index increased
+9.6% in EUR, and the weakening of EUR had translated into a +6.1% USD increase.
Swiss equities, as measured by the SPI, increased by +9.3% in the
first half of 2024 (in CHF, which translates to a +2.0% USD increase). Within Switzerland, small and mid-cap companies, represented by
the SPI Extra Index (the “SPIEX”), increased by +4.5% and underperformed large cap companies, represented by the Swiss Market
Index Total Return (the “SMIC”), by -6.5%.
Within sectors of the SPI, Industrials showed the strongest performance
in the first half of 2024 by increasing +8.4%, followed by Consumer Discretionary (+7.9%), Health Care (+5.9%), Materials (+3.9) and Financials
(+3.6%).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Except as otherwise specifically stated, all information and investment
team commentary, including portfolio security positions, is as of June 30, 2024. The views expressed in this Management Discussion and
Analysis section (the “MD&A”) are those of the Fund's portfolio manager and are subject to change without notice. They
do not necessarily represent the views of Schroders Investment Management North America Inc. The MD&A contains some forward-looking
statements providing current expectations or forecasts of future events; they do not necessarily relate to historical or current facts.
There can be no guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Any discussions of specific securities should not be
considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The Fund may buy, sell, or hold any security discussed herein, on the basis
of factors described herein or the basis of other factors or other considerations. Fund holdings will change from time to time. Current
and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk, including geopolitical and other risks.
Performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee
or predict future results.
Swiss Performance Index for the first half of 2024
Source: Schroders, Blackrock Solutions / Aladdin Explore, as of
June 30, 2024. Performance measured as total return in USD. Sectors mentioned should not be viewed as a recommendation to buy/sell. Portfolio
composition is subject to change over time. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index or sub-indices.
Performance
The Fund’s NAV increased by +0.9% in USD, which underperformed
the Index’s return, for the period under review.
The MSCI Switzerland Value Index outperformed the MSCI Switzerland
Growth Index by +2.6%. Thus, the value bias applied by the Fund’s investment adviser was positive during the period. On the other
hand, the bias towards small and mid-cap companies was negative as the SMIC outperformed the SPIEX by +6.5%.
In terms of stock picking, the biggest contributors to relative performance
came from overweights in Galderma, Swissquote,
OC Oerlikon, R&S
Group, Sandoz, Accelleron and Baloise.
Other contributors to performance came from underweights in Straumann, Adecco
and UBS.
On the other hand, overweights in Ams-Osram,
Tecan, Swatch and SIG
as well as our underweights in ABB, Holcim, Swiss
Re, Nestle, Novartis and Roche
detracted from relative performance.
The Fund’s private equity positions in Aravis
Biotech and Spineart positively contributed to performance.
Portfolio changes
In total, there were 12 purchases and 26 sales of listed equities
on a net basis in the first half of 2024. As of June 30, 2024, there were 46 listed companies held by the Fund and 2 direct private equity
investments, including one participation in a private equity limited partnership.
New
Investments by the Fund
Galderma
Georg Fischer
Straumann
Additions
to Existing Investments
AMS
Aryzta
BKW
Helvetia
Kuehne & Nagel
Sandoz
SFS
SIG Combibloc
St. Galler Kantonalbank
Positions Entirely Disposed of
Forbo
Idorsia
Selfrag AG
Reductions in Existing Investments
ABB
Accelleron
Alcon
Baloise
Barry Callebaut
Comet
Compagnie Financiere Richemont
DKSH
Givaudan
Julius Baer
Logitech
Lonza
Medacta
Nestle
Novartis
OC Oerlikon
Partners Group
Roche
Sika
Swiss Life
Swissquote
Tecan
VZ
Zurich Insurance
The Fund established new positions in Galderma,
Georg Fischer and Straumann.
Galderma is a leading dermatology
specialist which went public on SIX Swiss Exchange on 22 March 2024. The Fund participated in the IPO of Galderma.
The business model of Galderma is convincing, and the end markets promise good growth. Normally,
one must be cautious with IPOs of private equity-held companies. However, after the announcement of the transaction details, we believe
that the transaction took an attractive price according to our valuation model.
Georg Fischer is a quality
industrial company. Over the past several years, management has shifted the business focus more towards the attractive segment of piping,
giving it less weight towards the automotive industry. We believe that the stock is attractively valued compared to other Swiss industrials.
Straumann is world leading
player in the dental replacement and correction market. It has in the past experienced strong growth, and it has diversified its business
in terms of applications and geography. The stock price reaction to its first quarter result, where it still grew by 15% organically in
constant currency terms, seemed too harsh, which is why a position was established by the Fund after the sell-off.
We sold Forbo, before they
reported a disappointing first half result, because the market environment for its two businesses is currently challenging. As a result
of declining volumes, some factories ran below capacity. Management has addressed these issues, but we think the company will need more
time until profits can grow again.
We sold Idorsia, as it had
not made progress in terms of sales of its main products as we had expected.
Outlook
We have revised our global GDP growth forecasts to 2.8% for both
this year and next, up from our previous projection for growth of 2.6% this year and 2.7% in 2025. That leaves us above consensus, which
means that we expect most major economies to beat expectations on GDP growth over the next eighteen months. Decent GDP growth would also
support a continued recovery in the global manufacturing cycle. However, we believe that inflation is also set to be a bit higher at 3.1%
this year, due in large part to upside surprises from incoming data in the developed markets, before subsiding to a below consensus of
2.4% in 2025.
Source: Schroders Economics Group, 28 May 2024.
In the US, against a backdrop of robust demand, inflation has been
stickier than expected. While steady disinflation is likely – we expect the CPI rate to fall from 3.1% this year to 2.2% next year
– we see less room for interest rate cuts. We now expect the Fed to deliver a total of only 75 basis points (bps) of rate cuts through
the end of 2025.
The eurozone economy emerged from its shallow recession in Q1 and
we now expect GDP to grow by 0.9% this year (up from 0.7%, previously) and 1.8% in 2025 – comfortably above consensus. We also expect
that Inflation will be higher this year at 2.3% (up from 2.1%, previously) as incoming data have been more positive than we had assumed.
As a result, we expect the European Central Bank (ECB) to proceed with interest rate cuts, delivering an estimated 150 bps of easing starting
in June until the end of 2025.
In Switzerland, the Federal Export Group on Business Cycles adjusted
GDP growth estimates slightly up to 1.2% in 2024 (previously forecasted to be 1.1%) and left its forecast for 2025 unchanged at 1.7%.
In May 2024, inflation in Switzerland reached a level of 1.4% year over year. This favourable inflation rate allowed the Swiss National
Bank (SNB) to make the decision to lower interest rates by another 0.25% in June to a total of 1.25%. The SNB's proactive approach demonstrated
their commitment to supporting the Swiss economy and ensuring its stability.
The overall environment for equities has improved over the course
of the last few quarters in expectation of a more positive GDP growth environment. Swiss equities, in particular, which generate on average
between 80-90% of their revenue abroad, benefited from the more positive global growth environment. Many Swiss
companies expressed optimism regarding the demand outlook for the second half of 2024.
However, as visibility on the timing of a recovery is still limited for many companies, this could lead to short-term volatility.
Nevertheless, we believe that the path of interest rates could continue
to be a more important factor for equity markets than a positive economic environment. The overall market sentiment seems susceptible
to directional swings with significant reactions to singular data points on inflation, PMIs and jobs. These swings could mean that factors
will continue to be a larger driver of markets than specific company fundamentals
In terms of our investment strategy, we remain focused on the long-term
prospects of our holdings and will stick to our balanced positioning with a clear focus on high-quality firms with healthy balance sheets.
As started in the last few quarters, we will continue to add to stocks that have experienced temporary setbacks due to minor negative
news, whereas the long-term fundamental prospects remain fully intact. We are finding such stocks with such characteristics in various
sectors, including the more cyclical segments.
Performance at a glance (unaudited)
Average annual total returns for the Fund’s common stock for
the periods ended 6/30/2024
Net asset value returns |
1 year |
5 years |
10 years |
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. |
4.17% |
6.42% |
5.32% |
|
|
|
|
Market price returns |
|
|
|
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. |
4.65% |
7.17% |
5.31% |
|
|
|
|
Index returns |
|
|
|
Swiss Performance Index |
6.66% |
7.63% |
6.39% |
|
|
|
|
Share price as of 6/30/2024 |
|
|
|
Net asset value |
|
|
$9.59 |
Market price |
|
|
$8.07 |
Past performance does not predict future performance. The return and value of an investment
will fluctuate so that an investor’s share, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Fund’s common
stock net asset value (“NAV”) return assumes, for illustration only, that dividends and other distributions, if any, were
reinvested at the NAV on the ex-dividend date. The Fund’s common stock market price returns assume that all dividends and other
distributions, if any, were reinvested at the lower of the NAV or the closing market price on the ex-dividend date. NAV and market price
returns for the period of less than one year have not been annualized. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a stockholder
could pay on Fund dividends and other distributions, if any, or the sale of Fund shares.
The Swiss Performance Index (SPI) is considered Switzerland's overall stock market index.
It comprises practically all of the SIX Swiss Exchange-traded equity securities of companies that are domiciled in Switzerland or the
Principality of Liechtenstein. You cannot invest directly in an index.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
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Percent |
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No. of |
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of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Common Stock — 97.08% |
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising — 1.03% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,000 |
|
DKSH Holding AG |
|
$ |
1,283,441 |
|
|
|
1.03 |
% |
|
|
|
An international |
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
marketing and services |
|
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|
group. The company offers |
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|
|
a comprehensive package |
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of services that includes |
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|
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|
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|
organizing and running |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the entire value chain |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
for any product. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,301,774) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,283,441 |
|
|
|
1.03 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banks — 3.32% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500 |
|
St Galler Kantonalbank AG |
|
|
721,956 |
|
|
|
0.58 |
% |
|
|
|
St. Galler Kantonalbank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AG is a Swiss Regional |
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|
bank. The Bank offers retail |
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and commercial banking |
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as well as private and |
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institutional banking. |
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SGKB also provides asset |
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management and financial |
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planing services. The Bank |
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offers its services in the |
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Canton of St. Gall through |
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a network of branches. |
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(Cost $753,505) |
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|
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|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
116,000 |
|
UBS Group AG |
|
|
3,414,423 |
|
|
|
2.74 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides retail banking, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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corporate and institutional |
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banking, wealth |
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management, asset |
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management and |
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|
|
|
|
|
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investment banking. |
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|
|
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|
(Cost $1,582,000) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,136,379 |
|
|
|
3.32 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Biotechnology — 2.81% |
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
10,801 |
|
Bachem Holding AG |
|
|
991,033 |
|
|
|
0.80 |
% |
|
|
|
Specializes in the |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
development and |
|
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|
|
|
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manufacture of peptides |
|
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and oligonucleotides. |
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The company provides |
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products for research, |
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clinical development and |
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|
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|
commercial application to |
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|
|
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|
pharmaceutical and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
biotechnology companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $827,767) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,600 |
|
Lonza Group AG |
|
|
2,510,394 |
|
|
|
2.01 |
% |
|
|
|
Produces organic fine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chemicals, biocides, active |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ingredients, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
biotechnology products. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $2,585,236) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,501,427 |
|
|
|
2.81 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building Materials — 1.86% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,100 |
|
Sika AG |
|
|
2,318,406 |
|
|
|
1.86 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures construction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
materials, producing |
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
concrete and mixtures, |
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|
|
|
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|
|
mortar, sealants and |
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|
|
|
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|
|
adhesives, tooling resins, |
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
anti-static industrial |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
flooring, and acoustic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
materials. The company |
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|
|
|
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|
serves customers |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
worldwide. |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,482,802) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,318,406 |
|
|
|
1.86 |
% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
Percent |
|
No. of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Common Stock — (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chemicals — 1.52% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
400 |
|
Givaudan SA |
|
$ |
1,896,283 |
|
|
|
1.52 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures and markets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
fragrances and flavors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
from natural and synthetic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ingredients. The Company |
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
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|
sells its products to |
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|
|
manufactures of perfumes, |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
beverages, prepared foods, |
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
and consumer goods. |
|
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|
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|
|
(Cost $1,207,567) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,896,283 |
|
|
|
1.52 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computers — 1.26% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
Logitech International SA |
|
|
1,160,739 |
|
|
|
0.93 |
% |
|
|
|
Engages in the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
development and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
marketing of hardware and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
software products that |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
enable or enhance digital |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
navigation, music and video |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
entertainment, gaming, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
social networking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and audio and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
video communication. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $162,698) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
SoftwareONE Holding AG |
|
|
413,755 |
|
|
|
0.33 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides IT services. The |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company offers cloud |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
computing, portfolio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
management, procurement, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
unified communication, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and other related solutions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $400,813) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,574,494 |
|
|
|
1.26 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services — 3.39% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,400 |
|
Julius Baer Group Ltd. |
|
|
1,251,369 |
|
|
|
1.01 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides private banking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
services. The company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
advises on wealth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
management, financial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
planning and investments; |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
offers mortgage and other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
lending, foreign exchange, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
securities trading, custody |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and execution services. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,027,660) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
Swissquote Group |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holding SA |
|
|
1,735,811 |
|
|
|
1.39 |
% |
|
|
|
Through its subsidiaries, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
offers online financial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
services. The company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
operates an online trading |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
system which offers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
customers real-time |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
securities quotes on the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swiss Stock Exchange. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $532,333) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,600 |
|
VZ Holding AG |
|
|
1,230,714 |
|
|
|
0.99 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides independent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
financial advice to private |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
individuals and companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The company consults on |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
investment, tax and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
inheritance planning and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
provides advice regarding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
insurance products |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and coverage. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $313,230) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,217,894 |
|
|
|
3.39 |
% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent |
|
No. of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Common Stock — (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric — 1.64% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,824 |
|
BKW AG |
|
$ |
2,045,047 |
|
|
|
1.64 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides energy supply |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
services. The company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
focuses on the production, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
transportation, trading and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sale of energy. In addition |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to energy supply, the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
company also develops, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
implements and operates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
energy solutions for |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
its clients. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,009,310) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,045,047 |
|
|
|
1.64 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic Components & Equipment — 3.34% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
ABB Ltd. |
|
|
1,944,358 |
|
|
|
1.56 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides power and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
automation technologies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The company operates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
under segments that |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
include power products, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
power systems, automation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
products, process |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
automation, and robotics. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $706,563) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,900 |
|
Comet Holding AG |
|
|
765,413 |
|
|
|
0.61 |
% |
|
|
|
Develops, produces, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
distributes components |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and systems for x-ray tubes, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
vacuum condensers, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
radio frequency, as well as |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
other medical products. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $381,063) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
R&S Group Holding AG2
|
|
|
1,463,388 |
|
|
|
1.17 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures small and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
medium power and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
distribution transformers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and other components in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the utility, infrastructure, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and industrial sectors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,137,204) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,173,159 |
|
|
|
3.34 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food — 17.49% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,317,302 |
|
Aryzta AG2
|
|
|
2,345,519 |
|
|
|
1.88 |
% |
|
|
|
Produces and retails |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
specialty bakery products. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company produces |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
French breads, pastries, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
continental breads, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
confections, artisan breads, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
homestyle lunches, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
viennoiserie, patisserie, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cookies, pizza, appetizers, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and sweet baked goods. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,411,109) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
840 |
|
Barry Callebaut AG |
|
|
1,368,529 |
|
|
|
1.10 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures cocoa and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chocolate products. The |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company markets to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
industrial food |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manufacturers, chocolatiers, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pastry chefs, bakers, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
retailers globally. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,554,845) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
177,000 |
|
Nestle SA |
|
|
18,066,370 |
|
|
|
14.51 |
% |
|
|
|
One of the world’s largest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
food and beverage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
processing companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $10,753,330) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,780,418 |
|
|
|
17.49 |
% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent |
|
No. of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Common Stock — (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health Care — 2.93% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
76,000 |
|
Sandoz Group AG |
|
$ |
2,752,103 |
|
|
|
2.21 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
distributes generic and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
biosimilar medicines for the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
treatment of patients with |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
diseases such as cancer, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
diabetes, and arthritis. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,763,484) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
Ypsomed Holding AG |
|
|
899,177 |
|
|
|
0.72 |
% |
|
|
|
Develops and manufactures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
custom-made injection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
systems for pharmaceutical |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and bio-technology |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $583,146) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,651,280 |
|
|
|
2.93 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Healthcare - Products — 7.76% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,600 |
|
Alcon, Inc. |
|
|
2,642,457 |
|
|
|
2.12 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures eye care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
products. The company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
produces and markets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
vitreoretinal and cataract |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
surgery, contact lenses, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and refractive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
technology products. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,948,164) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,300 |
|
Medacta Group SA |
|
|
1,128,711 |
|
|
|
0.91 |
% |
|
|
|
Produces and distributes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
medical devices. The |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
company develops, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manufactures, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
distributes orthopedic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and neurosurgical |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
medical devices. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $913,516) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,848 |
|
SKAN Group AG |
|
|
608,135 |
|
|
|
0.49 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides health care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
supplies. The Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
offers isolators, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cleanroom devices, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
decontamination processes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
for the aseptic production |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of the biopharmaceutical |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
products. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $530,142) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
Sonova Holding AG |
|
|
926,775 |
|
|
|
0.74 |
% |
|
|
|
Designs and produces |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wireless analog and digital |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in-the-ear and behind-the-ear |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
hearing aids and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
miniaturized voice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
communications systems. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $457,261) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
221,085 |
|
Spineart SA1,2
|
|
|
1,458,974 |
|
|
|
1.17 |
% |
|
|
|
Designs and markets an |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
innovative full range of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
spine products, including |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
fusion and motion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
preservation devices, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
focusing on easy to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
implant high-end products |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to simplify the surgical act. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,554,486) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent |
|
No. of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Common Stock — (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Healthcare - Products — (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
Straumann Holding AG |
|
$ |
990,875 |
|
|
|
0.80 |
% |
|
|
|
Straumann Holding AG |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
develops, produces and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sells dental implants. The |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
company manufactures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
metal devices implantable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in the jaw, in place of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
missing teeth, to which |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
prosthetic teeth are attached. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Straumann has subsidiaries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
throughout Europe and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North America. The |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company sells its |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
products worldwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,058,271) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,700 |
|
Tecan Group AG |
|
|
1,908,035 |
|
|
|
1.53 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
distributes laboratory |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
automation components |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and systems. The products |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
are mainly used by research |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and diagnostic laboratories. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $785,966) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,663,962 |
|
|
|
7.76 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Healthcare - Services — 0.74% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,300 |
|
Galenica AG |
|
|
924,900 |
|
|
|
0.74 |
% |
|
|
|
Retails pharmaceutical |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
products, and services |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
customers in Switzerland. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company offers health, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
beauty, and related |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
products and services. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $902,693) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
924,900 |
|
|
|
0.74 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrials — 1.77% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,252 |
|
Belimo Holding AG |
|
|
627,811 |
|
|
|
0.50 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures heating, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ventilation and air |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
conditioning equipment. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $144,479) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,976 |
|
Georg Fischer AG |
|
|
333,634 |
|
|
|
0.27 |
% |
|
|
|
Greorg Fischer AG is a |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
global supplier in the safe |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
transportation of liquids |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and gases, in the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
production of lightweight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
casting components and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
high-precision |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manufacturing technologies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Headquartered in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Switzerland, it was founded |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in 1802. The company is |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
located in over 30 countries. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Georg fischer comprises |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of three divisions: GF Piping |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Systems, GF Casting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solutions, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GF Machining. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $342,850) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
230,000 |
|
OC Oerlikon Corp. AG |
|
|
1,240,864 |
|
|
|
1.00 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures industrial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
equipment. The Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
produces protective |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
coatings for precision tools |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and components, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
equipment for textile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
production, and propulsion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
technology drive systems. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $2,526,045) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,202,309 |
|
|
|
1.77 |
% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent |
|
No. of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Common Stock — (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance — 7.80% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
Baloise Holding AG |
|
$ |
1,161,941 |
|
|
|
0.93 |
% |
|
|
|
Offers group and individual |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
life, health, accident, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
liability property, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
transportation insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to customers in Europe. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company also offers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
private banking and asset |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
management services. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $980,329) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
Helvetia Holding AG |
|
|
1,216,893 |
|
|
|
0.98 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides a broad range of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
life, casualty, liability, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
accident and transportation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
insurance in Switzerland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and in other European |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
countries. The Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
insures individuals, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
property such as vehicles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and buildings, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
consumer goods and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
personal belongings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $889,706) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,870 |
|
Swiss Life Holding AG |
|
|
2,109,862 |
|
|
|
1.69 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides life insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and institutional |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
investment management. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $657,120) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,800 |
|
Zurich Insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group AG |
|
|
5,224,994 |
|
|
|
4.20 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides insurance-based |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
financial services. The |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
company offers general |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and life insurance products |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and services for individuals, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
small businesses, commercial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
enterprises, mid-sized |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and large corporations, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
multinational companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $3,153,010) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,713,690 |
|
|
|
7.80 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Machinery-Diversified — 0.85% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,000 |
|
Accelleron Industries AG |
|
|
1,057,645 |
|
|
|
0.85 |
% |
|
|
|
Develops, produces, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
services turbochargers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and large turbocharging |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
components. The Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
offers turbocharging |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
technologies and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
optimization solutions for |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
engines thereby reducing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the environmental impact |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
with less fuel emissions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $477,992) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,057,645 |
|
|
|
0.85 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metal Fabricate/Hardware — 1.23% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,500 |
|
SFS Group AG |
|
|
1,528,044 |
|
|
|
1.23 |
% |
|
|
|
Provides automotive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
products, building and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
electronic components, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
flat roofing and solar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
fastening systems. The |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
company operates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
production facilities in Asia, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Europe and North America. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $778,227) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,528,044 |
|
|
|
1.23 |
% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent |
|
No. of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Common Stock — (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Packaging & Containers — 1.43% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
97,000 |
|
SIG Combibloc Group AG |
|
$ |
1,775,707 |
|
|
|
1.43 |
% |
|
|
|
The company, through |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
its subsidiaries, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manufactures and produces |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bottling machines and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
systems for the food |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and beverage industries. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The company serves |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
customers worldwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,384,254) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,775,707 |
|
|
|
1.43 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals — 23.25% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
Galderma Group AG2
|
|
|
1,975,339 |
|
|
|
1.59 |
% |
|
|
|
Delivers science-based |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
portfolio of brands and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
services that span the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
full spectrum of self-care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
dermatology market |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
through injectable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
aesthetics, dermatological |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
skincare, and therapeutic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
dermatology. The company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
serves customerss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
worldwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,414,512) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
140,000 |
|
Novartis AG |
|
|
14,983,085 |
|
|
|
12.03 |
% |
|
|
|
One of the leading |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manufacturers of branded |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and generic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pharmaceutical products. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $6,851,499) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,200 |
|
Roche Holding AG |
|
|
11,994,658 |
|
|
|
9.63 |
% |
|
|
|
Develops and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manufactures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pharmaceutical and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
diagnostic products. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Produces prescription |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
drugs to treat |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cardiovascular, infectious |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and autoimmune diseases |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and for other areas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
including dermatology |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and oncology. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $7,592,284) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,953,082 |
|
|
|
23.25 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private Equity — 2.42% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,350 |
|
Partners Group |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holding AG |
|
|
3,017,917 |
|
|
|
2.42 |
% |
|
|
|
A global private markets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
investment management |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
firm with investment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
programs under |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
management in private |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
equity, private real estate, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
private infrastructure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and private debt. The firm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manages a broad range of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
customized portfolios for |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
an international clientele |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of institutional investors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partners Group is |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
headquartered in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zug, Switzerland. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $1,796,137) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,017,917 |
|
|
|
2.42 |
% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent |
|
No. of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Common Stock — (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retail — 6.75% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,400 |
|
Cie Financiere |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richemont SA |
|
$ |
6,773,704 |
|
|
|
5.44 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures and retails |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
luxury goods. Produces |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
jewelry, watches, leather |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
goods, writing instruments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and men’s and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
women’s wear. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $3,343,992) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
Swatch Group AG – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Shares |
|
|
1,633,652 |
|
|
|
1.31 |
% |
|
|
|
Manufactures finished |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
watches, movements and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
components. Produces |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
components necessary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to its various watch brand |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
companies. The company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
also operates retail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
boutiques. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $2,466,618) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,407,356 |
|
|
|
6.75 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Semiconductors — 0.78% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
701,100 |
|
ams-OSRAM AG2
|
|
|
970,976 |
|
|
|
0.78 |
% |
|
|
|
Designs and manufactures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
advanced sensor solutions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The company also delivers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a broad range of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
technology solutions for |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
consumer electronics and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
communication device |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manufactures. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $2,147,015) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
970,976 |
|
|
|
0.78 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation — 1.71% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,400 |
|
Kuehne + Nagel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
International AG |
|
|
2,127,932 |
|
|
|
1.71 |
% |
|
|
|
Transports freight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
worldwide. The company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
operates sea, land, and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
rail freight transportation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
businesses and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
warehousing and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
distribution facilities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $2,030,349) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,127,932 |
|
|
|
1.71 |
% |
|
|
|
Total Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $78,604,356) |
|
|
120,921,748 |
|
|
|
97.08 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limited Partnership — 0.88% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biotechnology — 0.88% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,294,705 |
|
Aravis Biotech II, Limited |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership1,2
|
|
|
1,097,563 |
|
|
|
0.88 |
% |
|
|
|
Makes early stage venture |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
investments in the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
biotechnology & |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pharmaceuticals industry. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $213,885) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,097,563 |
|
|
|
0.88 |
% |
|
|
|
Total Limited |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $213,885) |
|
|
1,097,563 |
|
|
|
0.88 |
% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent |
|
No. of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Net |
|
Shares |
|
Security |
|
Value |
|
|
Assets |
|
Short-Term Investment — 0.42% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
526,978 |
|
U.S. Bank Money |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market Deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Account, 1.55% |
|
$ |
526,978 |
|
|
|
0.42 |
% |
|
|
|
(Cost $526,978) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
526,978 |
|
|
|
0.42 |
% |
|
|
|
Total Short-Term |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $526,978) |
|
|
526,978 |
|
|
|
0.42 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Investments5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $79,345,219) |
|
|
122,546,289 |
|
|
|
98.38 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less Liabilities5
|
|
|
2,016,986 |
|
|
|
1.62 |
% |
|
|
|
Net Assets |
|
$ |
124,563,275 |
|
|
|
100.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Asset Value Per Share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
($124,563,275 ÷ 12,990,705 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
shares outstanding, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$0.001 par value: 50 million |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
shares authorized) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9.59 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(continued) |
|
1
|
Non-income producing security. |
2
|
Value determined using significant unobservable inputs. |
3
|
Illiquid. There is not a public market for these securities
in the United States or in any foreign jurisdiction, including Switzerland. Securities are priced at Fair Value in accordance with
the Fund’s valuation policy and procedures. At the end of the period, the aggregate Fair Value of these securities amounted
to $1,458,974 or 1.17% of the Fund’s net assets. Additional information on these securities is as follows: |
|
Security |
Acquisition Date |
|
Cost |
|
|
Aravis Biotech II, Limited Partnership |
July 31, 2007 – May 29, 2018 |
|
$ |
213,885 |
|
|
Spineart SA – Common Shares |
December 22, 2010 – December 20, 2020 |
|
|
1,554,486 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,768,371 |
|
4
|
Affiliated Company. An affiliated company is a company in which
the Fund has ownership of at least 5% of the company’s outstanding voting securities or an equivalent interest in the company. Details
related to affiliated company holdings are as follows: |
|
|
Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in |
|
|
|
|
|
Value |
|
|
|
as of |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Corporate |
|
|
Realized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Interest |
|
|
as of |
|
Name of Issuer |
|
12/31/23 |
|
|
Additions |
|
|
Reductions |
|
|
Actions |
|
|
Gain/(Loss) |
|
|
Gain/(Loss) |
|
|
Income |
|
|
6/30/24 |
|
Aravis Biotech II, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limited Partnership |
|
$ |
997,278 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
100,285 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,097,563 |
|
|
|
$ |
997,278 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
100,285 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,097,563 |
|
5
|
All of the Fund’s investments and other assets are pledged
as collateral in accordance with a credit agreement with U.S. Bank, National Association. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Schedule of Investments by Industry (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
(concluded) |
|
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
|
|
|
% of Net Assets as of June 30, 2024 |
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals |
|
|
23.25 |
% |
Food |
|
|
17.49 |
% |
Insurance |
|
|
7.80 |
% |
Healthcare-Products |
|
|
7.76 |
% |
Retail |
|
|
6.75 |
% |
Diversified Financial Services |
|
|
3.39 |
% |
Electronic Components & Equipment |
|
|
3.34 |
% |
Banks |
|
|
3.32 |
% |
Health Care |
|
|
2.93 |
% |
Biotechnology |
|
|
2.81 |
% |
Private Equity |
|
|
2.42 |
% |
Building Materials |
|
|
1.86 |
% |
Industrials |
|
|
1.77 |
% |
Transportation |
|
|
1.71 |
% |
Electric |
|
|
1.64 |
% |
Chemicals |
|
|
1.52 |
% |
Packaging & Containers |
|
|
1.43 |
% |
Computers |
|
|
1.26 |
% |
Metal Fabricate/Hardware |
|
|
1.23 |
% |
Advertising |
|
|
1.03 |
% |
Biotechnology |
|
|
0.88 |
% |
Machinery-Diversified |
|
|
0.85 |
% |
Semiconductors |
|
|
0.78 |
% |
Healthcare - Services |
|
|
0.74 |
% |
Short-Term Investment |
|
|
0.42 |
% |
Other Assets Less Liabilities |
|
|
1.62 |
% |
|
|
|
100.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
TOP 10 PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
|
|
|
|
% of Net Assets as of June 30, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Nestle SA |
|
|
14.51 |
% |
Novartis AG |
|
|
12.03 |
% |
Roche Holding AG |
|
|
9.63 |
% |
Cie Financiere Richemont SA |
|
|
5.44 |
% |
ZURICH INSURANCE GROUP AG |
|
|
4.20 |
% |
UBS Group AG |
|
|
2.74 |
% |
Partners Group Holding AG |
|
|
2.42 |
% |
Sandoz Group AG |
|
|
2.21 |
% |
Alcon Inc |
|
|
2.12 |
% |
Lonza Group AG |
|
|
2.01 |
% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2024 |
Assets: |
|
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated issuers,
at value (cost $79,131,334) |
|
$ |
121,448,726 |
|
Investments in affiliated issuers,
at value (cost $213,885) |
|
|
1,097,563 |
|
Total Investments, at value (cost $79,345,219)
|
|
|
122,546,289 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
— |
|
Foreign currency (cost $505,142)
|
|
|
504,327 |
|
Tax reclaims receivable |
|
|
1,691,539 |
|
Investment receivable |
|
|
57,182 |
|
Interest receivable |
|
|
711 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
60,149 |
|
Total assets |
|
|
124,860,197 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
Accrued Fees and Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Investment advisory |
|
|
73,104 |
|
Directors |
|
|
74,368 |
|
Legal |
|
|
17,557 |
|
Audit |
|
|
27,666 |
|
Custody |
|
|
9,849 |
|
Credit facility interest |
|
|
5,623 |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
|
88,755 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
296,922 |
|
Net assets |
|
$ |
124,563,275 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Composition of Net Assets: |
|
|
|
|
Paid-in capital |
|
|
87,513,782 |
|
Total distributable earnings
|
|
|
37,049,493 |
|
Net assets |
|
$ |
124,563,275 |
|
Net Asset Value Per Share: |
|
|
|
|
($124,563,275 ÷ 12,990,705 shares
outstanding, |
|
|
|
|
$0.001 par value: 50 million
shares authorized) |
|
$ |
9.59 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
|
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 |
Investment Income: |
|
|
|
Dividend (less of foreign tax withheld
of $444,000) |
|
$ |
2,732,691 |
|
Interest income |
|
|
5,238 |
|
Total income |
|
|
2,737,929 |
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Investment advisory fees (Note 2)
|
|
|
429,067 |
|
Directors’ |
|
|
153,900 |
|
Legal (Note 3) |
|
|
58,104 |
|
Officers |
|
|
67,222 |
|
Administration (Note 3) |
|
|
63,552 |
|
Delaware franchise tax |
|
|
19,150 |
|
Printing and shareholder reports
|
|
|
32,665 |
|
Audit (Note 3) |
|
|
27,661 |
|
Custody (Note 3) |
|
|
25,370 |
|
Insurance |
|
|
23,924 |
|
Transfer agency (Note 3) |
|
|
18,547 |
|
Listing fees |
|
|
25,800 |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
|
30,850 |
|
Total expenses |
|
|
975,812 |
|
Net investment income |
|
|
1,762,117 |
|
Realized and Unrealized Gains on Investments and Foreign Currency Translations:
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain from: |
|
|
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated issuers
|
|
|
(5,044,134 |
) |
Foreign currency transactions
|
|
|
(16,868 |
) |
Total net realized gain from unaffiliated
and |
|
|
|
|
affiliated issuers and
foreign currency transactions |
|
|
(5,061,002 |
) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation
from: |
|
|
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated issuers
|
|
|
4,283,152 |
|
Investments in affiliated issuers
|
|
|
100,285 |
|
Foreign currency translations
|
|
|
(931 |
) |
Total net change in unrealized appreciation
from unaffiliated |
|
|
|
|
and affiliated issuers,
and foreign currency translations |
|
|
4,382,506 |
|
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on
|
|
|
|
|
Investments and Foreign
Currency Translations |
|
|
(678,496 |
) |
Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations |
|
$ |
1,083,621 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) |
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 |
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
Net increase in net assets applicable
to common shareholders |
|
$ |
1,083,621 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net increase
in net assets applicable to |
|
|
|
|
common shareholders resulting
from operations to net cash |
|
|
|
|
provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of investments |
|
|
(5,773,216 |
) |
Proceeds from sales of investments
|
|
|
8,216,470 |
|
Net purchases and sales of short-term
investments |
|
|
331,030 |
|
Return of capital distributions received
from underlying investments |
|
|
— |
|
Increase in tax reclaims receivable
|
|
|
(260,520 |
) |
Increase in dividends and interest
receivable |
|
|
(262 |
) |
Increase in other assets |
|
|
(40,230 |
) |
Increase in payable to Adviser
|
|
|
(3,575 |
) |
Decrease in accrued expenses and other
liabilities |
|
|
(37,128 |
) |
Net realized gains from investments
|
|
|
5,044,134 |
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) from investments |
|
|
(4,383,437 |
) |
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
4,176,887 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
Distributions paid to common shareholders
|
|
|
(3,351,602 |
) |
Repurchase of common stock |
|
|
— |
|
Net cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(3,351,602 |
) |
Net change in cash |
|
$ |
825,285 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash: |
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period* |
|
|
23,446 |
|
End of period* |
|
$ |
848,731 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash financing activities not included
herein consist of interest paid |
|
|
63,834 |
|
* Cash included in the Statement of Cash Flows comprise of foreign currency and
Money Market Deposit Account.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
|
|
For the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
|
For the |
|
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
|
Year Ended |
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
$ |
1,762,117 |
|
|
$ |
896,303 |
|
Total net realized gain from unaffiliated
and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
affiliated issuers and
foreign currency transactions |
|
|
(5,061,002 |
) |
|
|
4,057,172 |
|
Total net change in unrealized appreciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(depreciation) from unaffiliated
and affiliated issuers, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
foreign currency and foreign
currency translations |
|
|
4,382,506 |
|
|
|
13,879,622 |
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
from operations |
|
|
1,083,621 |
|
|
|
18,833,097 |
|
Distributions to Stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From earnings |
|
|
(3,351,602 |
) |
|
|
(5,796,462 |
) |
From return of capital |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(691,968 |
) |
Total distributions to stockholders
|
|
|
(3,351,602 |
) |
|
|
(6,488,430 |
) |
Capital Stock Transactions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of shares repurchased through
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
stock repurchase program
(Note 6) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,687,724 |
) |
Total decrease from capital share transactions
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,687,724 |
) |
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
|
|
|
(2,267,981 |
) |
|
|
10,656,943 |
|
Net Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period |
|
|
126,831,256 |
|
|
|
116,174,313 |
|
End of period |
|
$ |
124,563,275 |
|
|
$ |
126,831,256 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Financial Highlights
|
|
For the Six |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Months Ended |
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Per Share Operating Performance: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value at the beginning of
period |
|
$ |
9.76 |
|
|
$ |
8.80 |
|
|
$ |
11.50 |
|
|
$ |
10.45 |
|
|
$ |
9.71 |
|
|
$ |
7.96 |
|
Income from Investment Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income1
|
|
|
0.14 |
|
|
|
0.07 |
|
|
|
0.07 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
Net realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
gain (loss) on investments2
|
|
|
0.19 |
|
|
|
1.36 |
|
|
|
(2.15 |
) |
|
|
1.58 |
|
|
|
1.24 |
|
|
|
1.88 |
|
Total from investment activities
|
|
|
0.33 |
|
|
|
1.43 |
|
|
|
(2.08 |
) |
|
|
1.63 |
|
|
|
1.29 |
|
|
|
1.89 |
|
Anti-dilutive effect of common
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
share repurchase program
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
— |
4 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Less Distributions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
(0.17 |
) |
|
|
(0.17 |
) |
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
(0.08 |
) |
|
|
(0.12 |
) |
Net realized gains |
|
|
(0.28 |
) |
|
|
(0.28 |
) |
|
|
(0.16 |
) |
|
|
(0.09 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
Return of Capital |
|
|
(0.05 |
) |
|
|
(0.05 |
) |
|
|
(0.40 |
) |
|
|
(0.43 |
) |
|
|
(0.48 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Total distributions |
|
|
(0.50 |
) |
|
|
(0.50 |
) |
|
|
(0.62 |
) |
|
|
(0.58 |
) |
|
|
(0.56 |
) |
|
|
(0.14 |
) |
Net asset value at end of year
|
|
$ |
9.59 |
|
|
$ |
9.76 |
|
|
$ |
8.80 |
|
|
$ |
11.50 |
|
|
$ |
10.45 |
|
|
$ |
9.71 |
|
Market value per share at the end of
period |
|
$ |
8.07 |
|
|
$ |
8.20 |
|
|
$ |
7.56 |
|
|
$ |
9.94 |
|
|
$ |
8.94 |
|
|
$ |
8.41 |
|
Total Investment Returns:3,5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on market value per share
|
|
|
1.63 |
% |
|
|
15.48 |
% |
|
|
-17.62 |
% |
|
|
18.25 |
% |
|
|
14.18 |
% |
|
|
24.00 |
% |
Based on net asset value per share
|
|
|
0.92 |
% |
|
|
16.92 |
% |
|
|
-17.97 |
% |
|
|
16.09 |
% |
|
|
14.29 |
% |
|
|
23.80 |
% |
Ratios to Average Net Assets:6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net expenses |
|
|
1.59 |
%7 |
|
|
1.66 |
%7 |
|
|
1.68 |
%7 |
|
|
1.40 |
% |
|
|
1.80 |
% |
|
|
2.13 |
% |
Gross expenses |
|
|
1.59 |
%7 |
|
|
1.66 |
%7 |
|
|
1.68 |
%7 |
|
|
1.40 |
% |
|
|
1.80 |
% |
|
|
2.13 |
% |
Net investment income |
|
|
2.87 |
% |
|
|
0.73 |
% |
|
|
0.74 |
% |
|
|
0.48 |
% |
|
|
0.48 |
% |
|
|
0.10 |
% |
Supplemental Data and Ratios |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (000’s)
|
|
$ |
124,563 |
|
|
$ |
126,831 |
|
|
$ |
116,174 |
|
|
$ |
151,912 |
|
|
$ |
138,040 |
|
|
$ |
128,864 |
|
Average net assets during the year
(000’s) |
|
$ |
123,264 |
|
|
$ |
123,139 |
|
|
$ |
123,684 |
|
|
$ |
144,019 |
|
|
$ |
125,666 |
|
|
$ |
118,960 |
|
Portfolio turnover rate |
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
14 |
% |
|
|
15 |
% |
|
|
11 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
18 |
% |
1
|
Calculated using the average shares method. |
2
|
Includes net realized and unrealized currency gains and losses.
|
3
|
Total investment return based on market value differs from total
investments return based on net asset value due to changes in the relationship between the market value of the Fund’s shares and
its NAV per share. |
4
|
Less than 0.5 cents per share. |
5
|
Not annualized for periods less than one year. |
6
|
Annualized for periods less than one year. |
7
|
If interest expense and commitment fees had been excluded, the expense
ratios would have been lower by 0.05% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Note 1—Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
A. Organization
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund is organized
as a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term growth of capital through
investment in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies. The Fund may also acquire and hold equity and equity-linked securities
of non-Swiss companies in limited instances.
B. Securities Valuation
The Fund values its investments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States (“GAAP”).
When valuing listed equity securities, the Fund uses the last sale price on the securities
exchange or national securities market on which such securities primarily are traded (the “Primary Market”) prior to the calculation
of the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). When valuing equity securities that are not listed (except privately-held companies
and private equity limited partnerships) or that are listed but have not traded on a day on which the Fund calculates its NAV, the Fund
uses the mean between the bid and asked prices for that day. If there are no asked quotations for such a security, the value of such security
will be the most recent bid quotation on the Primary Market on that day. On any day when a security’s Primary Market is closed because
of a local holiday or other scheduled closure, but the New York Stock Exchange is open, the Fund may use the prior day’s closing
prices to value such security regardless of the length of the scheduled closing.
When valuing fixed-income securities, if any, the Fund uses the last bid price prior
to the calculation of the Fund’s NAV. If there is no current bid price for a fixed-income security, the value of such security will
be the mean between the last quoted bid and asked prices on that day. Overnight and certain other short-term fixed-income securities with
maturities of less than 60 days will be valued by the amortized cost method, unless it is determined that the amortized cost method would
not represent the fair value of such security.
In accordance with Rule 2a-5 under the Act, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the
“Board”) has designated the Fund’s investment adviser, Schroder Investment Management North America Inc., as the Fund’s
valuation designee (the “Valuation Designee”) for purposes of determining fair value in good faith of securities for which
market quotations are not readily available, or for which the market quotations that are available are considered unreliable (a “Fair
Value”). The Valuation Designee may use the Fund’s fair valuation procedures to establish the Fair Value of securities when,
for example, a significant event occurs between the time the market closes and the time the Valuation Designee values its investments.
After consideration of various factors, the Valuation Designee may value the securities at their last reported price or at some other
value.
Swiss exchange-listed options, if any, including Eurex-listed options, are valued at
their most recent sale price (latest bid for long options and the latest ask for short options) on the Primary Market, or
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (continued)
if there are no such sales, at the average of the most recent bid and asked quotations
on such Primary Market, or if such quotations are not available, at the last bid quotation (in the case of purchased options) or the last
asked quotation (in the case of written options). If, however, there are no such quotations, such options will be valued using the implied
volatilities observed for similar options or from aggregated data as an input to a model. Options traded in the over-the-counter market,
if any, are valued at the price communicated by the counterparty to the option, which typically is the price at which the counterparty
would close out the transaction. Option contracts, if any, that are neither exchange-listed nor traded in the over-the-counter market,
and where no broker can provide a quote or approved pricing vendor a price, may be valued using the implied volatilities observed for
similar instruments or from aggregated market data received from services (e.g., Bloomberg) as an input to a widely accepted model.
The Fund is permitted to invest in investments that do not have readily available market
quotations. For such investments, the Valuation Designee determines their Fair Value. The aggregate value of these investments amounted
to $1,458,974, or 1.17% of the Fund’s net assets at June 30, 2024 and are listed in Note 3 to the Schedule of Investments.
Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Fund’s investments. These
inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1— |
unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities
|
|
|
Level 2— |
other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices of similar securities,
interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
|
|
Level 3— |
significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining
the fair value of investments) |
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk
associated with investing in those securities.
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments
as of June 30, 2024:
|
|
|
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Other Significant |
|
|
Significant |
|
|
Valued at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quoted Prices |
|
|
Observable Inputs |
|
|
Unobservable Inputs |
|
|
NAV** |
|
|
Total |
|
Investments in Securities* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
$ |
119,462,774 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,458,974 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
120,921,748 |
|
Preferred Stock |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Limited Partnership |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,097,563 |
|
|
|
1,097,563 |
|
Short Term Investment |
|
|
526,978 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
526,978 |
|
Total Investments in Securities |
|
$ |
119,989,752 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,458,974 |
|
|
$ |
1,097,563 |
|
|
$ |
122,546,289 |
|
* |
Please see the Schedule of Investments for industry classifications.
|
** |
As of June 30, 2024, certain of the Fund’s investments were
valued using net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient for fair value and have been excluded
from the fair value hierarchy in accordance with ASU 2015-07. The fair value amount presented in this table is intended to permit reconciliation
of the amounts presented in the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the statement of assets and liabilities. |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (continued)
The Fund values its investment in a private equity limited partnership in accordance
with Accounting Standards Codification 820-10-35, “Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share (Or
its Equivalent)” (“ASC 820-10-35”). ASC 820-10-35 permits a reporting entity to measure the fair value of an investment
that does not have a readily determinable fair value, based on the NAV of the investment as a practical expedient, without further adjustment,
unless it is probable that the investment will be sold at a value significantly different than the NAV. If the NAV of the investment is
not as of the Fund’s measurement date, then the NAV should be adjusted to reflect any significant events that may change the valuation.
Inputs and valuation techniques for these adjustments may include fair valuations of the partnership and its portfolio holdings provided
by the partnership’s general partner or manager, other available information about the partnership’s portfolio holdings, values
obtained on redemption from other limited partners, discussions with the partnership’s general partner or manager and/or other limited
partners and comparisons of previously-obtained estimates to the partnership’s audited financial statements. In using the unadjusted
NAV as a practical expedient, certain attributes of the investment that may impact its fair value are not considered. Attributes of those
investments include the investment strategies of the privately held companies and may also include, but are not limited to, restrictions
on the investor’s ability to redeem its investments at the measurement date and any unfunded commitments.
Inputs and valuation techniques used by the Valuation Designee to value the Fund’s
Level 3 investments in privately-held companies may include the following: acquisition cost; fundamental analytical data; discounted cash
flow analysis; nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the investment; public trading of similar securities of similar issuers;
economic outlook and condition of the industry in which the issuer participates; financial condition of the issuer; and the issuer’s
prospects, including any recent or potential management or capital structure changes. Although these valuation inputs may be observable
in the marketplace as is characteristic of Level 2 investments, the privately-held companies, categorized as Level 3 investments, generally
are highly illiquid in terms of resale.
When valuing Level 3 investments, management also may consider potential events that
could have a material impact on the operations of a privately-held company. Not all of these factors may be considered or available, and
other relevant factors may be considered on an investment-by-investment basis. The table below summarizes the techniques and unobservable
inputs for the valuation of Level 3 investments.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (continued)
Quantitative Information about certain Level 3 Fair Value Measurements |
|
Value at |
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
Valuation Technique |
Unobservable Inputs |
Range1
|
Healthcare-Products |
|
|
|
|
Spineart SA—Common Shares |
$1,458,974 |
Market approach |
Based on listed trading |
15-25% |
|
|
|
multiples, cross checked to |
|
|
|
|
secondary share purchase |
|
|
|
|
with additional discount |
|
|
|
|
for lack of marketability |
|
Total |
$1,458,974 |
|
|
|
1
|
Significant changes in any of these ranges would result in a significantly
higher or lower fair value measurement. A change in the discount rate is accompanied by a directionally opposite change in fair value.
|
The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable
inputs were used to determine fair value.
|
|
Common |
|
|
Preferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
|
Stock |
|
|
Total |
|
Balance as of December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
1,341,160 |
|
|
$ |
5,177 |
|
|
$ |
1,346,337 |
|
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation |
|
|
3,124,862 |
|
|
|
1,927,021 |
|
|
|
5,051,883 |
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
|
|
(3,005,586 |
) |
|
|
(1,927,349 |
) |
|
|
(4,932,935 |
) |
Gross Purchases |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Gross Sales |
|
|
(1,462 |
) |
|
|
(4,849 |
) |
|
|
(6,311 |
) |
Transfer out of Level 3 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Balance as of June 30, 2024 |
|
$ |
1,458,974 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,458,974 |
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
for Level 3 investments held at June 30, 2024 |
|
|
117,814 |
|
|
|
(5,177 |
) |
|
|
112,637 |
|
C. Derivative Instruments
GAAP requires enhanced disclosure that enables investors to understand how and why an
entity uses derivatives, how derivatives are accounted for, and how derivative instruments affect an entity's results of operations and
financial position.
The Fund did not hold any derivative instruments during the period ended June 30, 2024.
D. Securities Transactions and Investment Income
Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains and losses are
determined by comparing the proceeds of a sale or the cost of a purchase to a specific offsetting transaction.
Dividend income, net of any foreign taxes withheld, is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is accrued daily. Estimated expenses are also accrued daily.
The Fund records Swiss withholding tax as a reduction of dividend income, net of any
amount reclaimable from Swiss tax authorities in accordance with the tax treaty between the United States and Switzerland.
Distributions received from securities that represent a return of capital or capital
gains are recorded as a reduction of cost of investment and/or as a realized gain.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (continued)
E. Distributions
The Fund makes distributions at least annually to the extent it has any federally taxable
net investment income and makes distributions of any net realized capital gains to the extent that they exceed any capital loss carryforwards.
The Fund determines the size and nature of these distributions in accordance with provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”). The Fund records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date.
In May 2018, the Board adopted a managed distribution policy that permits the Fund to
distribute long-term capital gains more frequently than once per year as permitted by the Act. Distributions under the managed distribution
plan may consist of net investment income, net realized short-term capital gains, net realized long-term capital gains and, to the extent
necessary, return of capital (or other capital sources). In August 2018, the Board suspended until further notice any distributions that
would otherwise be payable pursuant to the managed distribution policy. In November 2019, the Board approved the resumption of distributions
pursuant to the managed distribution policy. The Board may change or terminate the managed distribution policy at any time without prior
notice to Fund stockholders, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s shares. On March 31, 2024 and
June 30, 2024, in accordance with the Fund’s managed distribution policy as then in effect, the Fund paid quarterly distributions
of $0.12900 per share of the Fund’s common stock to all stockholders of record as of March 18, 2024 and June 18, 2024, respectively.
F. Federal Income Taxes
The Fund’s policy is to continue to comply with the requirements of the Code that
are applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all its taxable income to its stockholders. Therefore, no federal income
tax provision is required.
Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with federal income
tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. See Note 5 for federal income tax treatment of foreign currency gains/losses.
Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal income tax returns
for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements.
The Fund files federal tax returns which remain open for examination generally for the current year and the three prior years. In addition,
the Fund holds investments in Switzerland and other foreign tax jurisdictions. Withholding taxes on foreign interest and dividends have
been provided for in accordance with each applicable country’s tax rules and rates.
G. Foreign Currency Translation
The Fund maintains its accounting records in U.S. dollars. The Fund’s assets are
invested primarily in Swiss equities. In addition, the Fund can make its temporary investments in Swiss franc-denominated bank deposits,
short-term debt securities and money market instruments. Substantially all income received by the Fund is in Swiss francs. The Fund’s
NAV, however, is reported, and distributions from the Fund are made, in U.S. dollars, resulting in gain or loss from
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (continued)
currency conversions in the ordinary course of business. Historically, the Fund has
not entered into transactions designed to reduce currency risk and does not intend to do so in the future. The cost basis of foreign denominated
assets and liabilities is determined on the date that they are first recorded within the Fund and translated to U.S. dollars. These assets
and liabilities are subsequently valued each day at prevailing exchange rates. The difference between the original cost and current value
denominated in U.S. dollars is recorded as unrealized foreign currency gain/loss. In valuing securities transactions, the receipt of income
and the payment of expenses, the Fund uses the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date.
Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency shown in the Fund’s
financial statements result from the sale of foreign currencies, from currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement
dates of securities transactions, and from the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded
on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid.
When calculating realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments, the Fund does
not separate the gain or loss attributable to changes in the foreign currency price of the security from the gain or loss attributable
to the change in the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency. Other foreign currency translations resulting in realized and unrealized
gain or loss are disclosed separately.
H. Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial statements and the increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
I. Concentration of Market Risk
The Fund primarily invests in securities of Swiss issuers. Such investments may carry
certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. These risks include future political and economic
developments, unfavorable movements in the Swiss franc relative to the U.S. dollar, and the possible imposition of exchange controls and
changes in governmental law and restrictions. In addition, concentrations of investments in securities of issuers located in a specific
region expose the Fund to the economic and government policies of that region and may increase risk compared to a fund whose investments
are more diversified.
Note 2—Fees and Transactions with Affiliates
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. (“SIMNA”) and its affiliate,
Schroder Investment Management North America Limited (“SIMNA Ltd” and together with SIMNA, “Schroders”), serve
as the Fund’s investment adviser and investment sub-adviser, respectively. The Fund pays SIMNA an annual advisory fee of 0.70% of
the Fund’s average month-end net assets up to $250 million, 0.60% of such assets in excess of $250 million and up to $350 million,
0.55% of such
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (continued)
assets in excess of $350 million and up to $450 million, 0.50% of such assets in excess
of $450 million and up to $550 million, and 0.45% of such assets in excess of $550 million. As compensation for its investment sub-advisory
services, SIMNA Ltd receives 63% of the advisory fee paid by the Fund to SIMNA.
The Fund pays each Director who is not an “interested person” (as such term
is defined in the Act) of the Fund or Schroders (“Non-Interested Directors”), $42,000 annually in compensation, except for
the Chairman of the Board to whom the Fund pays an annual fee of $56,000 and for the Chairs of the Audit, the Pricing and the Governance/Nominating
Committees to each of whom the Fund pays an annual fee of $48,000. In addition, the Fund pays each Non-Interested Director $2,000 for
each Board meeting attended in person, and $750 for each Board meeting attended by telephone. Each Director who is a member of a Committee
will be paid a fee of $750 for each Committee meeting attended, whether in person or by telephone. The Board or a Committee may establish
ad hoc committees or subcommittees. Any Committee or sub-committee member may be compensated by the Fund for incremental work outside
of the regular meeting process based on the value determined to be added to the Fund. In July 2018, the Board approved a change to its
By-Laws and Board committee charters to provide that each Director who is not an “interested person” of Schroders or its affiliates
will be entitled to receive the above fees. The Fund pays an annual fee of $25,000 to the President and Chief Executive Officer, $30,000
to the Chief Financial Officer, $25,000 to the Secretary and $54,000 to the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund.
Note 3—Other Service Providers
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC is the Fund’s transfer agent. U.S. Bank, N.A. serves
as the Fund’s custodian and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, provides administration
and portfolio accounting services to the Fund. The Fund pays these service providers’ fees, which are accrued daily and paid monthly.
In addition to its other service provider fees, the Fund incurs certain professional
fees, including fees of its outside legal counsel as well as fees of its independent registered public accounting firm. Those fees vary
depending on the nature of the Fund’s activities each year.
Note 4—Capital Share Transactions
The Fund is authorized to issue up to 50 million shares of capital stock. Transactions
in capital shares were as follows:
|
|
For the Period Ended |
|
|
For the Year Ended |
|
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
Dividends Reinvested |
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Repurchased through Stock Repurchase Program (Note 6) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(205,045 |
) |
|
|
(1,687,724 |
) |
Repurchased from Tender Offer |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Net Increase/(Decrease) |
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
(205,045 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,687,724 |
) |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (continued)
Note 5—Federal Income Tax and Investment Transactions
The tax character of distributions paid during 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
Ordinary Income |
|
$ |
2,489,577 |
|
|
$ |
810,137 |
|
Return of Capital |
|
|
691,968 |
|
|
|
5,241,653 |
|
Long-Term Capital Gains |
|
|
3,306,885 |
|
|
|
2,167,057 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
6,488,430 |
|
|
$ |
8,218,847 |
|
Under current tax law, capital losses and specified ordinary losses realized after October
31 may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first business day of the following fiscal year. The Fund did not defer any post-October
capital and currency losses and other late-year deferrals for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Capital loss carryovers retain their character as either long-term capital losses or
short-term capital losses and are applied as a new loss on the first day of the immediately succeeding tax year. During the tax year ending
December 31, 2023, the Fund did not have any capital loss carryovers.
At December 31, 2023, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as
follows:
Tax cost of investments |
|
$ |
86,488,037 |
|
Unrealized appreciation |
|
|
48,523,318 |
|
Unrealized depreciation |
|
|
(9,986,563 |
) |
Net unrealized appreciation |
|
|
38,536,755 |
|
Net unrealized on foreign currency |
|
|
119,189 |
|
Undistributed ordinary income |
|
|
— |
|
Undistributed long-term capital gains |
|
|
— |
|
Distributable earnings |
|
|
— |
|
Other accumulated losses |
|
|
(30,439 |
) |
Total distributable earnings |
|
$ |
38,625,505 |
|
The differences between book basis and tax basis distributable earnings are primarily
attributable to tax deferral of wash sales and investments in partnerships.
Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are treated as ordinary income and
loss, respectively, for federal income tax purposes.
The following summarizes all distributions declared by the Fund during the year ended
December 31, 2023:
Record Date |
|
Payable Date |
|
Ordinary Income |
|
|
Return of Capital |
|
|
ST Cap Gains |
|
|
LT Cap Gains |
|
|
Total Distribution |
|
3/22/23 |
|
3/31/23 |
|
$ |
0.04139848 |
|
|
$ |
0.01310152 |
|
|
$ |
0.00574 |
|
|
$ |
0.06261 |
|
|
$ |
0.12285 |
|
6/21/23 |
|
6/30/23 |
|
|
0.04139848 |
|
|
|
0.01310152 |
|
|
|
0.00574 |
|
|
|
0.06261 |
|
|
|
0.12285 |
|
9/20/23 |
|
9/29/23 |
|
|
0.04139848 |
|
|
|
0.01310152 |
|
|
|
0.00574 |
|
|
|
0.06261 |
|
|
|
0.12285 |
|
12/19/23 |
|
12/29/23 |
|
|
0.04346261 |
|
|
|
0.01375739 |
|
|
|
0.00603 |
|
|
|
0.06575 |
|
|
|
0.12900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.49755 |
|
There were no reclassifications made between total distributable earnings and paid-in
capital.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (continued)
Note 6—Stock Repurchase Program
Pursuant to authorization by the Board, the Fund began open market purchases of its
common stock on the New York Stock Exchange in 1999. The Board has authorized a stock repurchase program permitting such purchases by
the Fund in each subsequent year, except for 2014. The principal purpose of the stock repurchase program has been to enhance stockholder
value by increasing the Fund’s NAV per share.
On December 7, 2018, the Fund announced the Board’s approval of the Fund’s
stock repurchase program for 2019. Under the 2019 program, the Fund was authorized to make open-market repurchases of its common stock
of up to 250,000 shares. The Fund did not repurchase any common stock pursuant to the program during the year ended December 31, 2019.
On December 13, 2019, the Fund announced the Board’s approval of the Fund’s stock repurchase plan for 2020 of up to 250,000
shares of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund repurchased 54,857 shares of its capital stock in the open market
at a cost of $449,102. The weighted average discount of these purchases comparing the average purchase price to net asset value at the
close of the New York Stock Exchange was 16.33%.
On December 12, 2020, the Board approved the Fund’s stock repurchase plan for
2021 of up to 250,000 shares of common stock. The Fund did not repurchase any common stock pursuant to the plan during the year ended
December 31, 2021. On December 10, 2021, the Board approved the Fund’s stock repurchase program for 2022 of up to 250,000 shares
of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund repurchased 16,504 shares of its capital stock in the open market at
a cost of $120,928. The weighted average discount of these purchases comparing the average purchase price to net asset value at the close
of the New York Stock Exchange was 14.09%.
On December 15, 2022, the Board approved the Fund’s stock repurchase program for
2023 of up to 250,000 shares of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Fund repurchased 205,045 shares of its capital
stock in the open market at a cost of $1,687,724. The weighted average discount of these purchases comparing the average purchase price
to net asset value at the close of the New York Stock Exchange was 16.32%. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Fund did not
repurchase shares of its capital stock.
The Fund intends to repurchase shares of its common stock, at such times and in such
amounts as is deemed advisable and in accordance with applicable law, subject to various factors, including the limitations imposed by
the federal securities laws governing the repurchase of an issuer’s stock by the issuer and the Fund’s available cash to repurchase
shares of the Fund’s common stock below NAV.
Note 7—Capital Commitments
As of June 30, 2024, the Fund maintains an illiquid investment in one private equity
limited partnership. This investment appears in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The Fund’s capital commitment for this
partnership is shown in the table below:
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (concluded)
|
Original Capital |
Unfunded |
Investments |
Commitment* |
Commitment* |
Private Equity Limited Partnership—International(a)
|
|
|
Aravis Biotech II, Limited Partnership |
$3,616,737 |
$ — |
* |
The original capital commitment represents 3,250,000 Swiss francs,
which has been fully funded as of June 30, 2024. The Swiss franc/U.S. dollar exchange rate as of June 30, 2024 was used for conversion
and equaled 0.8986 as of such date. |
(a)
|
This category consists of one private equity limited partnership
that invests primarily in venture capital companies in the biotechnology and medical technology sectors. There is no redemption right
for the interest in this limited partnership. Instead, the nature of investments in this category is that distributions are received through
the realization of the underlying assets of the limited partnership. |
Note 8—Investment Transactions
The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments, other than short-term
obligations, for the period ended June 30, 2024 were $5,773,216 and $8,216,470, respectively.
Note 9—Credit Facility
The Fund and U.S. Bank, National Association (“U.S. Bank”) are party to
a credit agreement, dated as of March 30, 2022 and amended March 29, 2023 and March 27, 2024, pursuant to which U.S. Bank has made available
to the Fund a $15,000,000 committed credit facility. For the period January 1, 2023 through March 28, 2023, interest is charged on
outstanding borrowings under the credit facility at the annual rate of the prime rate minus 2.10%. The Fund is responsible for paying
a commitment fee to U.S. Bank on the unused portion of the credit facility at an annual rate of (i) 0.250% of the unused amount of the
credit facility if the used amount of the credit facility is less than 75% of the credit facility or (ii) 0.175% of the unused amount
of the credit facility if the used amount of the credit facility is 75% or more of the credit facility. For the period March 29, 2023
through December 31, 2023, interest is charged on outstanding borrowings under the credit facility at the annual rate of the prime rate
minus 2.00%. The Fund is responsible for paying a commitment fee to U.S. Bank on the unused portion of the credit facility at an annual
rate of (i) 0.350% of the unused amount of the credit facility if the used amount of the credit facility is less than 50% of the
credit facility or (ii) 0.200% of the unused amount of the credit facility if the used amount of the credit facility is 50% or more
of the credit facility. The credit facility will terminate on March 26, 2025. The Fund has pledged its assets as collateral to secure
its obligations under the credit agreement. The Fund retains the risk and rewards of the ownership of the assets pledged to secure its
obligations under the credit agreement. As of June 30, 2024, the amount of total outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement was
$0.
For the period ended June 30, 2024, the Fund’s activity under the credit facility
activity was as follows:
Maximum Amount |
Average Daily |
Maximum Amount |
Interest |
Commitment |
Weighted Average |
Available |
Borrowings |
Outstanding |
Expense |
Fee |
Interest Rate |
$15,000,000 |
$319,203 |
$4,811,000 |
$21,036 |
$48,472 |
6.50% |
Note 10—Subsequent Events
The Fund has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent
events through the date financial statements were available to be issued. Based on this evaluation, no adjustments or additional
disclosures were deemed to be required to the financial statements as of June 30, 2024.
Information Regarding Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited)
At an in-person meeting held on March 22, 2024, all of the members of the Fund’s
Board of Directors who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the
Fund (the “Independent Directors”), constituting a majority of the Fund’s Board of Directors, considered and approved
a proposal to renew (i) the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2014 (the “Advisory Agreement”), between
the Fund and Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. (“SIMNA”), and (ii) the Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated as of
April 17, 2014, as amended as of November 1, 2015, as of September 19, 2017 and as April 1, 2020 (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”
and, together with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”), between SIMNA and Schroder Investment Management North America
Limited (“SIMNA Ltd.” and, together with SIMNA, the “Adviser”). Prior to the meeting, Fund counsel requested,
and the Adviser provided, materials to aid the Directors in their consideration of the proposal. It was noted that the Directors met over
the course of the year with investment advisory personnel from the Adviser and regularly review detailed information regarding the Fund.
In addition, the Board held a meeting via video conference on March 18, 2024 with counsel and representatives of the Adviser to commence
review of the materials provided and the relevant legal considerations. In approving the continuation of the Agreements, the Directors
considered all factors that they considered relevant, including the specific factors described below. The Directors did not identify any
one factor as all-important or controlling, and each Director attributed different weights to the various factors.
The Directors considered various data and information regarding the nature, extent and
quality of services provided, including, among other things, information about the background and experience of senior management and
investment personnel responsible for managing the Fund. The Directors considered the information provided regarding the portfolio managers
and other resources dedicated to the Fund and the investment philosophy and process and disciplined investment approach followed by those
individuals in managing the Fund, including the importance of dedicated Switzerland-based portfolio managers.
The Directors reviewed the Fund’s investment performance, determining that the
Fund’s performance should be evaluated against the achievement of the Fund’s investment objective of seeking long-term capital
appreciation through investment primarily in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies. The Directors considered the Fund’s
performance against the Swiss Performance Index (the “SPI”) and against a list of non-U.S. funds that invest in Swiss equities
in the Morningstar Category “Switzerland Large-Cap Equity (offshore territories)”, which includes two non-U.S. funds advised
by the Adviser. Although the performance data for funds included in the list included one-year, two-year, three-year, five-year and 10-year
returns ended December 31, 2023, the Directors considered most relevant the total returns for the one-year, three-year, and five-year
periods ended December 31, 2023 due to the fact that the Adviser commenced management of the Fund effective July 1, 2014.
The Directors noted that the Fund’s total return based on net asset value on an
absolute basis was 16.92% for the one-year period ended December 31, 2023, and that its total return based on share price over that period
was 15.48%, compared to 16.54% for the SPI for the same period. The
Information Regarding Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited)
(continued)
Directors also noted that for the five-year period ending December 31, 2023, the Fund’s
annualized total return based on share price underperformed the SPI by 1.94% and that the Fund’s annualized total return based on
net asset value under underperformed the SPI for that period by 2.18%. The Directors noted that for the three-year period ended February
29, 2024, the Fund’s annualized total return based on share price underperformed the SPI by 2.30% and that the Fund’s annualized
total return based on net asset value under underperformed the SPI for that period by 1.76%. The Directors noted that for the quarter
ended December 31, 2023, the Fund underperformed the SPI based on a total return net asset value basis by 0.96% and share price basis
by 1.14% and that for the two-month period ended February 29, 2024, the Fund slightly underperformed the SPI on a total return net asset
value basis by 0.19% and slightly underperformed based on share price by 0.96%. The Directors also noted that the Fund generally outperformed
the Adviser’s non-U.S. peer funds on a total return net asset value basis for the one-year, three-year and five-year periods ended
December 31, 2023. The Directors also observed that, unlike the Fund, the returns of the SPI and the peer funds were not subject to the
same regulatory restrictions, including issuer and concentration limits, applicable to the Fund by virtue of the Investment Company Act.
The Directors reviewed the information provided by the Adviser and compiled by Broadridge
showing a comparison of the Adviser’s fee rate for the Fund, as well as the Fund’s expense ratio, compared to a peer group
of U.S. registered closed-end funds selected independently by Broadridge having similar objectives, strategies and asset sizes as the
Fund. The Directors noted that the Fund ranked in the first quintile with respect to the Adviser’s contractual fee, first quintile
with respect to the Adviser’s actual fee, fifth quintile with respect to the Fund’s total expenses and fifth quintile with
respect to the Fund’s non-management expenses. The Directors considered that in November 2018 the Fund completed a large self-tender
offer that reduced the size of the Fund and thereby increased expense ratios for the Fund commencing in 2019. The Directors considered
that the peer non-U.S. funds advised by the Adviser had higher management fees compared to the Fund.
The Directors considered information regarding the profitability of the Fund’s
advisory arrangements to the Adviser. The Adviser discussed the methodology utilized for determining its profitability. The Directors
determined that the level of profitability did not appear inappropriate or unreasonable at this time. The Directors noted that the Adviser
experienced an increase in profitability in 2023 compared to 2022 due to a decrease in the allocation of client group expenses, despite
a slight decline in the dollar amount of assets under management during the year. During 2023 the Fund had average net assets of $123.1
million whereas during 2022 the Fund had average net assets of $123.7 million.
The Directors considered that the Fund is a closed-end fund and that it was not expected
to have meaningful asset growth absent primarily a rights offering or an acquisition. They did not view the potential for realization
of economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow to be a meaningful factor in their deliberations, and that due to the Fund’s
significant tender offer completed in November 2018, it does not appear that the Fund will likely experience economies of scale in the
near future. The Non-Interested Directors noted, however, that the advisory fee rate schedule under the
Information Regarding Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited)
(concluded)
Advisory Agreement contains multiple breakpoints commencing with assets of U.S. $250
million and above and that these breakpoints would benefit stockholders.
The Directors considered information regarding the financial position of each of SIMNA
and SIMNA Ltd. and were satisfied that they each have adequate resources to continue to perform the services required under the Agreements.
The Directors considered other benefits that the Adviser or its parent could be considered
to derive from their relationship with the Fund, including the marketing value of the Fund’s performance in attracting other clients.
The Directors determined that these benefits were relatively minor and did not affect their overall assessment of the reasonableness of
the relationship.
Based on the evaluation of these factors, the Board of Directors, including the Independent
Directors, unanimously concluded that the Fund’s advisory fee rate was reasonable in relation to the service rendered by the Adviser
and, therefore, approved the continuation of the Agreements.
Additional Information (Unaudited)
This report is sent to the stockholders of the Fund for their information. It is not
a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund or of any securities mentioned
in this report.
Proxy Voting Information
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to
vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge and upon request, by calling (800) 730-2932 and on the SEC’s
website at http://www.sec.gov. The Fund’s proxy voting record for the twelve-month period ended June 30 is available, without
charge and upon request, by calling (800) 730-2932 and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Schedules
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first
and third quarters of each fiscal year on Part F of Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Part F of Form N-PORT are available on the SEC’s
website at http://www.sec.gov.
Code of Ethics
The Board of Directors of the Fund and the Advisor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant
to Rule 17j-1 under the Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended the “Codes”). The Codes
apply to the personal investing activities of various individuals including directors and officers of the Fund, the Fund’s portfolio
managers and designated officers, directors and employees of the Advisor. The provisions of the Codes place restrictions on individuals
who are involved in managing the Fund’s portfolio, who help execute the portfolio managers’ decisions or who come into possession
of contemporaneous information concerning the investment activities of the Fund.
The fundamental principle of the Codes is that the individuals covered by the Codes
have a fiduciary responsibility to the Fund and its stockholders. They are, therefore, required at all times to place the interests of
the Fund and the stockholders first and to conduct all personal securities transactions in a manner so as to avoid any actual or potential
conflict of interest or abuse of their position of trust.
Portfolio managers and other individuals, within the Advisor, with knowledge of Fund
investment activities are prohibited from purchasing or selling a security during a blackout period of 30 calendar days before and after
the date on which the Fund effects a trade in the same or a similar security. They are also prohibited from engaging in short-term
trading of Swiss equity or equity-linked securities.
Additionally, the Fund’s portfolio managers are prohibited from participating
in any initial public offering or private placement of Swiss equity and equity-linked securities and other covered individuals must obtain
prior clearance before doing so.
The Advisor’s Code provides that any individual subject to such Code and who violates
the provisions of the Code is required to reverse the transaction and to turn over any resulting profits to the Fund. The Fund and the
Advisor have adopted compliance procedures and have appointed compliance officers to ensure that all covered individuals comply with the
Codes.
Additional Information (Unaudited) (concluded)
Federal Tax Distribution Information
The Fund designates 100% of its ordinary income dividend distributions for the qualified dividend
rate (QDI) as defined in Section 1(h)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The amounts may differ from those elsewhere in this report because of difference between
tax and financial reporting requirements. For federal income tax purposes, distributions from short-term capital gains are classified
as ordinary income. The Fund designated 12.18% of taxable ordinary income distributions designated as short-term capital gain distributions
under Internal Revenue Section 871 (k)(2)(C).
The Fund intends to elect to pass through to stockholders the income tax credit for
taxes paid to foreign countries. Foreign source income and foreign tax expense per outstanding shares on December 31, 2023, were $0.26
and $0.04 per share, respectively.
Foreign Income Information
Pursuant to Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund designates the following
amounts as foreign taxes paid for the year ended December 31, 2023. Foreign taxes paid for purposes of Section 853 may be less than actual
foreign taxes paid for financial statement purposes.
Gross Foreign |
Foreign Taxes |
Gross Foreign |
Foreign Taxes |
Shares Outstanding |
Source Income |
Pass-through |
Source Income Per Share |
Pass-through Per Share |
at 12/31/23 |
3,402,387 |
489,651 |
0.26190932 |
0.03769238 |
12,990,705 |
Certain Information Concerning Directors (Unaudited)
The following tables set forth certain information about each person currently serving
as a Director of the Fund, including his or her beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Fund. All information presented in the tables
is as of June 30, 2024.
|
Position(s) |
|
Other Directorships |
Name, |
with Fund |
Principal Occupation(s) |
Held By Director |
Address1
& Age |
(Since) |
During At Least The Past Five Years |
During At Least The Past Five Years |
Class I |
Richard Dayan |
Director (2018); |
President and owner of |
Trustee of High Income Securities |
|
Member of the |
Cactus Trading since 1990 |
Fund since 2018 |
Age: 80 |
Audit Committee (2018); |
|
|
|
Member of the |
|
|
|
Governance/ |
|
|
|
Nominating |
|
|
|
Committee (2018) |
|
|
Moritz A. Sell |
Director (2017); |
Principal, Edison Holdings GmbH; |
Trustee of High Income Securities |
|
Member and |
Senior Advisor, Markston |
Fund since 2018; Director of |
Age: 56 |
Chair of the Audit |
International LLC until 2019; Director, |
DMF (BNY Mellon Municipal |
|
Committee (2017); |
Market Strategist and Head of |
Income, Inc.) since 2024, FAX (Aberdeen |
|
Lead Independent |
Proprietary Trading (London Branch), |
Asia Pacific Income Fund) and |
|
Director (2018) |
Landesbank Berlin AG and |
FCO (Aberdeen Global Income Fund) |
|
|
Landesbank Berlin Holding AG |
since 2018; Director of IAF (Aberdeen |
|
|
(formerly, Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG) |
Australia Equity Fund) since 2004; |
|
|
from 1996 to 2013 |
Director of Aberdeen Greater China |
|
|
|
Fund until 2018; Chairman and |
|
|
|
Director of Aberdeen Singapore Fund |
|
|
|
until 2018 |
Class II |
Andrew Dakos* |
Director |
Partner, Bulldog Investors, LLP; |
President and Director of Special |
|
(2017) and |
Partner, Ryan Heritage, LLP; |
Opportunities Fund, Inc. since |
Age: 58 |
Chairman (2018) |
Principal of the former general partner |
2009; Trustee, Crossroads |
|
|
of several private investment |
Liquidating Trust (formerly, |
|
|
partnerships in the Bulldog |
Crossroads Capital, Inc.) from |
|
|
Investors group of private funds; |
2015-2020; President and Trustee of |
|
|
Principal of the managing general |
High Income Securities Fund since |
|
|
partner of Bulldog Investors |
2018; Director, Brookfield DTLA |
|
|
General Partnership |
Fund Office Trust Investor Inc. |
|
|
|
since 2017, and BNY Mellon |
|
|
|
Municipal Income, Inc. since 2024 |
* |
Mr. Dakos is considered an “interested person” of the
Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act (and a Class II Interested Director of the Fund) as a result of his position as President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Fund. |
Certain Information Concerning Directors (Unaudited) (concluded)
|
Position(s) |
|
Other Directorships |
Name, |
with Fund |
Principal Occupation(s) |
Held By Director |
Address1
& Age |
(Since) |
During At Least The Past Five Years |
During At Least The Past Five Years |
Class III |
Phillip F. Goldstein |
Director (2018); |
Partner of Bulldog Investors, LLP |
Chairman and Director of The |
|
Member and |
since 2009; Partner of Ryan |
Mexico Equity and Income Fund, |
Age: 79 |
Chair of the |
Heritage, LLP; Principal of the former |
Inc. since 2000; Chairman, |
|
Governance/ |
general partner of several private |
Director and Secretary of Special |
|
Nominating |
investment partnerships in the |
Opportunities Fund, Inc. since |
|
Committee (2018) |
Bulldog Investors group of private |
2009; Chairman, Trustee and Secretary |
|
|
funds since 2009; Principal of the |
of High Income Securities Fund since |
|
|
managing general partner of |
2018; Director of Brookfield DTLA |
|
|
Bulldog Investors General Partnership |
Fund Office Trust Investor Inc. |
|
|
|
since 2017 and BNY Mellon Municipal |
|
|
|
Income, Inc. since 2024; |
|
|
|
MVC Capital, Inc. from |
|
|
|
2012-2020; Trustee of Crossroads |
|
|
|
Liquidating Trust (formerly, |
|
|
|
Crossroads Capital, Inc.) from |
|
|
|
2016-2020 |
Gerald Hellerman |
Director (2018); |
Chief Compliance Officer of |
Director of Mexico Equity and |
|
Member of the |
The Mexico Equity and Income Fund, |
Income Fund, Inc. since 2001; |
Age: 86 |
Audit Committee |
Inc. from 2001 through March 31, |
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. |
|
(2018); Member |
2020 and Special Opportunities |
since 2009; Fiera Capital Series Trust |
|
and Chair of the |
Fund, Inc. from 2009 through |
from 2017-2023; Trustee of High |
|
Pricing Committee |
March 31, 2020; Managing Director |
Income Securities Fund since 2018; |
|
(2018) |
of Hellerman Associates (a financial |
MVC Capital, Inc. from |
|
|
and corporate consulting firm) |
2003-2020; Trustee of Crossroads |
|
|
since 1993 (which terminated |
Liquidating Trust (formerly, Crossroads |
|
|
activities as of December 31, 2013) |
Capital, Inc.) from 2017-2020 |
Certain Information Concerning Officers (Unaudited)
The following table sets forth certain information about each person serving as an Officer
of the Fund as of June 30, 2024.
Officers2
|
Name, |
Position(s) |
Term of Office and |
Principal Occupation(s) |
Address1
& Age |
with Fund |
Length of Time Served |
During At Least The Past Five Years |
Andrew Dakos |
President and |
President and Chief |
Partner, Bulldog Investors, LLP; |
|
Chief Executive |
Executive Officer since 2019; |
Partner, Ryan Heritage, LLP; |
Age: 58 |
Officer; Director |
Chairman since 2018; |
Principal of the former general |
|
and Chairman. |
Director since 2017 |
partner of several private |
|
|
|
investment partnerships in the |
|
|
|
Bulldog Investors group of private |
|
|
|
funds; Principal of the managing |
|
|
|
general partner of Bulldog |
|
|
|
Investors General Partnership |
Thomas Antonucci |
Chief Financial |
Since 2019 |
Director of Operations, |
|
Officer |
|
Bulldog Investors, LLP; |
Age: 55 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
and Treasurer of Special |
|
|
|
Opportunities Fund; Treasurer |
|
|
|
of High Income Securities Fund |
Stephanie Darling |
Chief Compliance |
Since 2019 |
General Counsel and Chief |
|
Officer |
|
Compliance Officer of Bulldog |
Age: 54 |
|
|
Investors, LLP; Chief Compliance |
|
|
|
Officer of Ryan Heritage, LLP, |
|
|
|
High Income Securities |
|
|
|
Fund, Special Opportunities Fund, |
|
|
|
Inc., and Mexico Equity and |
|
|
|
Income Fund, Inc.; Principal of The |
|
|
|
Law Office of Stephanie Darling; |
|
|
|
Editor-in-Chief of The |
|
|
|
Investment Lawyer |
Rajeev Das |
Secretary |
Since 2019 |
Head of Trading, Bulldog |
|
|
|
Investors, LLP |
Age: 55 |
|
|
|
1
|
The address for each Director and Executive Officer is c/o The Swiss
Helvetia Fund, Inc., 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. |
2
|
Each Executive Officer serves on a year-to-year basis for an indefinite
term, until his or her successor is elected and qualified. |
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (Unaudited)
Terms and Conditions
Pursuant to this Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”) of The
Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), unless a holder (each, a “Stockholder”) of the Fund’s shares of
common stock (the “Common Shares”) otherwise elects, all income dividends, capital gain distributions and returns of capital,
if any (collectively referred to herein as “dividends”), on such Stockholder’s Common Shares will be automatically reinvested
by Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as agent for Stockholders in administering the Plan (the “Plan Administrator”), in additional
Common Shares of the Fund. Stockholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends payable in cash directly to
the Stockholder of record (or, if the Common Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by Equiniti Trust
Company, LLC, as the Dividend Disbursing Agent. Stockholders may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all dividends in
cash by contacting the Plan Administrator. Enrollment, purchase or sales of shares and other transactions or services offered by the Plan
can be directed to the Plan Administrator through the following:
Telephone
Telephone the Plan Administrator: 1-888-556-0425.
In Writing
You may also write to the Plan Administrator at the following address: Equiniti Trust
Company, LLC, PO Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560. Be sure to include your name, address, daytime phone number, social
security or tax I.D. number and a reference to The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. on all correspondence.
Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated at any time
without penalty by providing notice in writing to the Plan Administrator at least 3 business days prior to any dividend payment date for
that dividend to be payable in cash. A request for termination that is received less than 3 business days prior to any dividend payment
date will be processed by the Plan Administrator, but you will have that dividend reinvested in additional Common Shares. However, all
subsequent dividends will be payable in cash unless and until you resume participation in the Plan. To resume participation in the Plan,
your request to enroll in the Plan must be received by the record date for that dividend distribution. If received after the record date,
your participation in the Plan will begin with the next dividend declaration.
Whenever the Fund declares a dividend, payable either in Common Shares or in cash, participants
in the Plan will receive a number of Common Shares determined in accordance with the following provisions and non-participants in the
Plan will receive cash. The Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Administrator for the participants’ accounts, depending upon
the circumstances described below, either: (i) through the receipt of additional unissued but authorized Common Shares from the Fund (“newly
issued Common Shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market (“open-market purchases”)
on the New York Stock Exchange, the primary national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are traded, or elsewhere.
If, on the payment date for any dividend, the net asset value (“NAV”) per
Common Share is equal to or less than the market price per Common Share (plus estimated brokerage trading fees) (such condition being
referred to
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (Unaudited) (continued)
herein as “market premium”), the Plan Administrator will invest the dividend
amount in newly issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of newly issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s
account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the NAV per Common Share on the date the Common Shares are
issued, provided that, if the NAV per Common Share is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per Common Share on the
date of issuance, the dollar amount of the dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the date of issuance for purposes of
determining the number of shares issuable under the Plan.
If, on the payment date for any dividend, the NAV per Common Share is greater than the
market price of the Common Shares (plus estimated brokerage trading fees) (such condition being referred to herein as “market discount”),
the Plan Administrator will invest the dividend amount in Common Shares acquired on behalf of the participants in open-market purchases.
In the event of a market discount on the payment date for any dividend, the Plan Administrator
will have until the last business day before the next date on which the Common Shares trade on an “ex-dividend” basis or in
no event more than 30 days after the record date for such dividend, whichever is sooner (the “last purchase date”), to invest
the dividend amount in Common Shares acquired in open-market purchases. If, before the Plan Administrator has completed its open-market
purchases, the market price of a Common Share exceeds the NAV per Common Share, the average per Common Share purchase price paid by the
Plan Administrator may exceed the NAV of the Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if the dividend had
been paid in newly issued Common Shares on the dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to open-market
purchases, if the Plan Administrator is unable to invest the full dividend amount in open-market purchases during the purchase period
or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Administrator may cease making open-market purchases
and may invest the uninvested portion of the dividend amount in newly issued Common Shares at the NAV per Common Share at the close of
business on the last purchase date provided that, if the NAV is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per Common
Share, the dollar amount of the dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the date of issuance for purposes of determining
the number of Common Shares issuable under the Plan.
The Plan Administrator maintains all registered Stockholders’ accounts in the
Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by Stockholders for tax records.
Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant generally will be held by the Plan Administrator in non-certificated form in the
name of the Plan participant, although the Plan Administrator will issue certificates for whole Common Shares upon your request. Certificates
for fractional Common Shares will not be issued.
In the case of Stockholders such as banks, brokers or nominees that hold Common Shares
for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Administrator will administer
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (Unaudited) (continued)
the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by
the record Stockholder and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.
There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by
the Fund as a result of dividends payable either in Common Shares or in cash. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage
trading fees incurred with respect to the Plan Administrator’s open-market purchases of Common Shares in connection with the reinvestment
of dividends under the Plan.
Participants in the Plan may sell any or all of their Common Shares in their Plan accounts
by contacting the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator currently charges $15.00 for the transaction, plus $0.10 per Common Share
for this service. Participants also may withdraw their Common Shares from their Plan accounts and sell those Common Shares through their
broker.
Neither the Fund nor the Plan Administrator will provide any advice, make any recommendations,
or offer any opinion with respect to whether or not you should purchase or sell your Common Shares or otherwise participate in the Plan.
You must make independent investment decisions based on your own judgment and research. The Common Shares held in Plan accounts are not
subject to protection under the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970.
Neither the Fund nor the Plan Administrator will be liable for any good faith act or
for any good faith omission to act, including, without limitation, any claim or liability arising out of failure to terminate a participant’s
account upon the participant’s death, the prices at which Common Shares are purchased or sold for a participant’s account,
the times when purchases or sales of Common Shares are made, or fluctuations in the market value of Common Shares. However, nothing contained
in this provision affects a Stockholder’s right to bring a cause of action based on alleged violations of the federal securities
laws.
Voting
Each Stockholder proxy will include those Common Shares purchased or received pursuant
to the Plan. The Plan Administrator will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for Common Shares held
pursuant to the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants.
Taxation
The automatic reinvestment of dividends will not relieve participants of any federal,
state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such dividends.
Amendments to Plan
The Fund reserves the right to suspend, amend or terminate the Plan at any time. All
Stockholders of record, both participants and non-participants in the Plan, will be notified of any suspension, termination or significant
amendment of the Plan. If the Plan is terminated, Common Shares held in the participants’ accounts will be distributed to the participants.
Any change in the source of purchase of Common Shares under the Plan from open market purchases or direct issuance by the Plan Administrator
does not constitute an amendment to the Plan.
Directors and Officers
Andrew Dakos |
Gerald Hellerman1,4
|
Chairman, President and |
Director |
Chief Executive Officer |
Thomas Antonucci |
Richard Dayan1,5 |
Chief Financial Officer |
Director |
Stephanie Darling |
Phillip Goldstein2
|
Chief Compliance Officer |
Director |
Rajeev Das |
Moritz Sell3,6 |
Secretary |
Director |
|
1
|
Audit Committee Member |
4
|
Pricing Committee Chair |
2
|
Governance Nominating |
5
|
Governance Committee |
|
Committee Chair |
|
Member |
3
|
Audit Committee Chair |
6
|
Lead Independent Director |
Investment Adviser
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.
7 Bryant Park
New York, NY 10018-3706
(800) 730-2932
Investment Sub-adviser
Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd.
1 London Wall Place
London, EC2Y, United Kingdom
Administrator
U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
Custodian
U.S. Bank, N.A.
Transfer Agent
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
48 Wall Street, Floor 23
New York, NY 10005
(888) 556-0425
Legal Counsel
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
The Investment Adviser
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is managed by Schroder Investment
Management North America Inc. (“SIMNA Inc.”).
SIMNA Inc. is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”). It provides asset management products and services to the Fund, other registered investment companies,
private funds and segregated accounts. SIMNA Inc. is part of a global asset management firm with approximately $978.1 billion in
assets under management and administration as of June 30, 2024.
Executive Offices
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(800) 730-2932
For inquiries and reports:
(800) 730-2932
email: swzintermediary@schroders.com
Website Address
www.swzfund.com
The Fund
The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company whose objective is to seek
long-term capital appreciation through investment in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies. The Fund also may acquire
and hold equity and equity-linked securities of non-Swiss companies in limited instances.
The Fund is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SWZ”.
Net Asset Value is calculated daily by 6:15 P.M. (Eastern Time). The most recent
calculation is available by accessing the Fund’s website www.swzfund.com. Net Asset Value is also published weekly in Barron’s,
the Monday edition of The Wall Street Journal and the Sunday edition of The
New York Times.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) |
Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form. |
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Financial Highlights for Open-End Investment Companies.
Not applicable to closed-end investments companies
Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants for Open-End Investment Companies.
Not applicable to closed-end investments companies
Item 9. Proxy Disclosure for Open-End Investment Companies.
Not applicable to closed-end investment companies.
Item 10. Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers, and Others of Open-End Investment Companies.
Not applicable to closed-end investment companies.
Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract.
See Item 1(a).
Item 12. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 13. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 14. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed‑End Management Investment Company and Affiliated
Purchasers.
The following purchases were made by or on behalf of the registrant or any “affiliated purchaser,” as defined in Rule
10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of shares of the registrant’s equity securities that are registered
by the Registrant pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act made in the period covered by this report.
Period |
(a)
Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased
|
(b)
Average Price
Paid per Share
(or Unit)
|
(c)
Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
|
(d)
Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares
(or
Units) that May
Yet Be
Purchased Under
the
Plans or Programs
|
Month #1
01/01/24-01/31/24 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Month #2
02/01/24-02/29/24 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Month #2
03/01/24-03/31/24 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Month #4
04/01/24-04/30/24 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Month #5
05/01/24-05/31/24 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Month #6
06/01/24-06/30/24 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Total |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Item 15. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board
of trustees.
Item 16. Controls and Procedures.
(a) |
The Registrant’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have reviewed the Registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a date
within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d‑15(b)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and
procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized
and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and by the Registrant’s service provider. |
(b) |
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that
occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's
internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 17. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
The registrant did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal period reported on this Form N-CSR.
Item 18. Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 19. Exhibits.
(a) |
(1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by
Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Not applicable.
|
(2) Any policy required by the listing standards adopted pursuant to Rule 10D-1 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.10D-1) by the registered national securities exchange or registered national securities association upon which the registrant’s
securities are listed. Not applicable.
(4) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c‑1
under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not
Applicable.
(5) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant. Provide the information called
for by Item 4 of Form 8-K under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 249.308). Unless otherwise specified by Item 4 or related to and necessary for
a complete understanding of information not previously disclosed, the information should relate to events occurring during the reporting
period. There was no change in the registrant’s independent public accountant for the period covered by this report.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of
1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
By (Signature and Title)* /s/Andrew
Dakos
Andrew Dakos, President and Chief Executive Officer
Date September 6, 2024
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of
1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By (Signature and Title) /s/Andrew
Dakos
Andrew Dakos, President and Chief Executive Officer
Date September 6, 2024
By (Signature and Title) /s/Thomas
Antonucci
Thomas Antonucci, Chief Financial Officer
Date September 6, 2024
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.