Approach & Case Studies

We invest across a wide range of sectors in Swiss-based industrial and technology companies by providing equity to finance growth and succession-buyouts. Each year we review hundreds of investment opportunities, from companies needing growth-financing to succession-cases where the company’s shareholders are looking to sell their stake. We invest in a few selected companies with growth potential and where we can have a real impact.

Once we have invested, we are fully dedicated to our portfolio companies by leveraging our operational experience and networks. We typically play a very active role on the board of directors to ensure that all is at play to maximize the company’s success. Below are examples of areas where we can add value to our portfolio companies:

Strategy definition: choosing the right market segments, the right geography or the right business model to adopt are crucial decisions that small companies too often neglect to reflect on. We see it as our duty to ensure that an appropriate strategy is in place and that it is communicated and validated throughout the organization.
Staffing and recruitment: a good strategy is nothing without the right people to execute it. Selecting the best team and ensuring proper dynamic, both at the management level and at the board level, is one of our utmost priorities.
Syndication of large equity rounds: in some cases (for example for biotech companies) our portfolio companies may need to raise large rounds of equity financing. Through our network of leading pan-European investors, we have successfully syndicated rounds of financing of several tens of millions of Swiss-francs.
M&A and consolidation: acquiring a competitor or a partner is an attractive way to leapfrog competition but the integration can be difficult and costly. Our consolidation and M&A experience allows us not only to help structure financial deals as best as possible but also to ensure a smooth merge of the operations.
Trade sale and IPO: once our portfolio companies have reached the proper maturity level, we have a track-record of ensuring their continued success either through a listing on the public markets or through a trade-sale. The long-term sustainability of the company and its employees is for us always as much a consideration as the financial return.

The following case studies are examples of the different stages at which we invest and of how we support our portfolio companies to lead them to success:

Actelion – From a biotech start-up to the most successful SWX IPO of the last decade
RSD – A succession buyout of a leading enterprise software company
Silverwire – From start-up to a trade sale to Hewlett-Packard