Avadis investment foundations
Our investment foundations have long-standing experience with private equity programmes for Swiss employee benefits institutions. The foundations also offer a wide range of traditional and other alternative investment groups.
Has successfully invested for pension funds for over 20 years
Investments for institutional customers are made through the Avadis Investment Foundation. It is the largest purchasing association for pension funds in Switzerland, independent of banks and insurance companies. Thanks to the bundling of assets and the resulting volume advantages, investors benefit from cost-effective asset management.
What distinguishes the Avadis Investment Foundations?
Tax advantages
With the exception of private equity, investment vehicles are exempt from stamp duty. Domestic withholding taxes are automatically reclaimed by Avadis. Qualified pension schemes such as pension funds under Art. 48 BVG can reclaim 100% of the withholding tax on US equity securities.
The Avadis Investment Foundation is open to all tax-exempt employee benefit plans domiciled in Switzerland. Investment groups that also invest in equity securities of American companies are subject to withholding tax.
Avadis Investment Foundation 2 was established in 2008. It manages investment groups that also invest in US equities. It is only open to pension funds that are entered in the Register of Occupational Pension Plans. Only under this condition will the investment groups not be charged withholding tax on dividends from US equities.
Sustainability approach
The Avadis Investment Foundations apply the sustainability approach when investing the assets entrusted to them by investors. They are guided by internationally recognised environmental, social and corporate governance principles (the so-called ESG criteria). Avadis Investment Foundations do not invest in companies that violate Swiss and internationally recognised sustainability principles. Specifically, companies are excluded which:
- the Oslo Convention against the Production and Proliferation of Cluster Munitions
- the Ottawa Convention against the production and dissemination of anti-personnel mines
do not consider. Both the Avadis investment foundations and the asset managers entrusted with the investment of assets have already ratified the UN Principles for Responsible Investments (UN PRI). The Avadis Investment Foundations are also members of Swiss Sustainable Finance.
For investments in Swiss shares, the ESG principle also covers the exercise of shareholders' rights.