Written by Sarah Praetorius

The British fund management company, Liontrust Asset Managemen, has launched a new venture in Zurich.

Liontrust Switzerland opened its doors in February and will have its new Swiss headquarters in the Schiffbaustrasse 2 in Zurich.

According to documents obtained by Finews, the purpose of the new company is ‘to distribute and offer in its own name, on a non-exclusive basis and primarily in Switzerland, units of domestic and foreign collective investment schemes of Group companies and third parties.’

Liontrust Switzerland will provide «services relating to the distribution and offering of authorized domestic and foreign collective investment schemes and similar assets, in particular the establishment of distribution networks and support for distribution and offering, primarily in Switzerland.»

In pursuit of these purposes, Liontrust Switzerland may enter into non-exclusive cooperation agreements with financial institutions and other companies in the area of distribution and offering of collective investment schemes.

The firm will not however provide services in connection with the representation of foreign collective investment schemes, asset management and investment advice for collective assets, in particular collective investment schemes and pension funds.

It will also not offer «any other services requiring a license or act as a representative or branch of a foreign financial institution or a foreign bank.»

Failed acquisition

The new firm was founded by Wolfgang Müller, who represented Liontrust Asset Management in Switzerland via MLL Legal, during its public exchange offer for all shares of GAM Holding.

The company is part of the Liontrust Group and may take into account the interests of the Liontrust Group in pursuing its corporate purpose, but may not legally represent or bind the Liontrust Group.

In the Summer of 2023, Liontrust Made an Unsuccessful Attempt to Acquire Swiss Asset Manager GAM.

The British company aimed to achieve a significant growth boost through the acquisition and leverage GAM’s global distribution network. However, in the end, shareholders rejected the offer, and GAM secured financing with the support of the investor group NewGAMe.