The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
|
|
Executive Offices
|
|
615 East Michigan Street
|
|
Milwaukee, WI 53202
|
|
(800) 730-2932
|
|
A Swiss Investments Fund
|
Annual Report
|
www.swzfund.com
|
|
For the Year Ended
|
|
December 31, 2020
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
Percent
|
|||||||||||
No. of
|
Fair
|
of Net
|
|||||||||
Shares
|
Security
|
Value
|
Assets
|
||||||||
Common Stock — 97.94%
|
|||||||||||
Advertising — 0.98%
|
|||||||||||
17,914
|
DKSH Holding AG
|
$
|
1,348,692
|
0.98
|
%
|
||||||
An international
|
|||||||||||
marketing and services
|
|||||||||||
group. The company
|
|||||||||||
offers a comprehensive
|
|||||||||||
package of services that
|
|||||||||||
includes organizing and
|
|||||||||||
running the entire value
|
|||||||||||
chain for any product.
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $1,176,534)
|
|||||||||||
1,348,692
|
0.98
|
%
|
|||||||||
Banks — 4.05%
|
|||||||||||
10,700
|
Cembra Money Bank AG
|
1,297,630
|
0.94
|
%
|
|||||||
Provides financial services.
|
|||||||||||
The company’s services
|
|||||||||||
include personal loans,
|
|||||||||||
vehicle financing, credit
|
|||||||||||
cards and savings and
|
|||||||||||
insurance services.
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $636,061)
|
|||||||||||
131,638
|
Credit Suisse Group AG
|
1,697,690
|
1.23
|
%
|
|||||||
A global diversified
|
|||||||||||
financial services company
|
|||||||||||
with significant activity in
|
|||||||||||
private banking,
|
|||||||||||
investment banking and
|
|||||||||||
asset management.
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $1,641,957)
|
|||||||||||
184,000
|
UBS Group AG
|
2,595,713
|
1.88
|
%
|
|||||||
Provides retail banking,
|
|||||||||||
corporate and institutional
|
|||||||||||
banking, wealth
|
|||||||||||
management, asset
|
|||||||||||
management and
|
|||||||||||
investment banking.
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $2,541,374)
|
|||||||||||
5,591,033
|
4.05
|
%
|
|||||||||
Biotechnology — 0.75%
|
|||||||||||
36,000
|
Idorsia Ltd.1
|
1,039,335
|
0.75
|
%
|
|||||||
Researches, develops,
|
|||||||||||
and manufactures
|
|||||||||||
pharmaceutical, biological,
|
|||||||||||
and diagnostic products.
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $1,027,734)
|
|||||||||||
1,039,335
|
0.75
|
%
|
|||||||||
Building Materials — 3.80%
|
|||||||||||
145
|
Belimo Holding AG
|
1,259,800
|
0.91
|
%
|
|||||||
Market leader in damper
|
|||||||||||
and volume control
|
|||||||||||
actuators for ventilation
|
|||||||||||
and air-conditioning
|
|||||||||||
equipment.
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $344,115)
|
|||||||||||
660
|
Forbo Holding AG
|
1,133,413
|
0.82
|
%
|
|||||||
Produces floor coverings,
|
|||||||||||
adhesives and belts for
|
|||||||||||
conveying and power
|
|||||||||||
transmission.
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $1,054,700)
|
|||||||||||
2,550
|
Geberit AG
|
1,598,744
|
1.16
|
%
|
|||||||
Manufactures and supplies
|
|||||||||||
water supply pipes and
|
|||||||||||
fittings, installation, and
|
|||||||||||
drainage and flushing
|
|||||||||||
systems such as visible
|
|||||||||||
cisterns other sanitary
|
|||||||||||
systems for the commercial
|
|||||||||||
and residential
|
|||||||||||
construction markets.
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $1,228,762)
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
(continued)
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
(continued)
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
(continued)
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
(continued)
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
(continued)
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
(continued)
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
(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 $2,597,031 or 1.88% 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
|
$
|
1,810,184
|
||
Eyesense AG – Common Shares
|
July 22, 2010 – October 3, 2011
|
3,007,048
|
|||
Ixodes AG – Preferred Shares B
|
April 7, 2011 – June 1, 2012
|
2,252,142
|
|||
SelFrag AG – Class A – Preferred Shares
|
December 15, 2011 – January 28, 2014
|
1,932,198
|
|||
Spineart SA – Common Shares
|
December 22, 2010 – December 20, 2020
|
1,761,659
|
|||
$
|
10,763,231
|
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:
|
Fair Value
|
Change in
|
Fair Value
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
as of
|
Gross
|
Gross
|
Realized
|
Unrealized
|
Interest
|
as of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of Issuer
|
12/31/19
|
Additions
|
Reductions
|
Gain/(Loss)
|
Gain/(Loss)
|
Income
|
12/31/20
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Aravis Biotech II,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Limited Partnership
|
$
|
1,059,436
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
12,969
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
1,072,405
|
||||||||||||||
Ixodes AG – Preferred
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares B
|
7,460
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
712
|
—
|
8,172
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
$
|
1,066,896
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
13,681
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
1,080,577
|
5
|
Rate shown is the seven day annualized yield as of December 31, 2020.
|
6
|
The Fund has a fundamental investment policy that prohibits it from investing 25% or more of its total assets in a particular industry. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund had more than 25% of
its total assets invested in the pharmaceuticals industry as a result of the appreciation of the value of its existing investments. The Fund will not invest in any additional companies in the industry until such time that the percentage of
the Fund’s total assets invested in that industry is below 25%.
|
Schedule of Investments by Industry
|
December 31, 2020
|
(concluded)
|
Industry:
|
||||
Pharmaceuticals
|
25.32
|
%
|
||
Food
|
16.43
|
%
|
||
Insurance
|
11.60
|
%
|
||
Retail
|
6.02
|
%
|
||
Computers
|
5.93
|
%
|
||
Banks
|
4.05
|
%
|
||
Health Care-Products
|
4.72
|
%
|
||
Building Materials
|
3.80
|
%
|
||
Diversified Financial Services
|
3.18
|
%
|
||
Electronics
|
2.38
|
%
|
||
Private Equity
|
2.22
|
%
|
||
Semiconductors
|
1.99
|
%
|
||
Packaging & Containers
|
1.89
|
%
|
||
Electric
|
1.60
|
%
|
||
Biotechnology
|
1.54
|
%
|
||
Healthcare-Services
|
1.32
|
%
|
||
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
|
1.26
|
%
|
||
Metal Fabricate/Hardware
|
1.15
|
%
|
||
Advertising
|
0.98
|
%
|
||
Hand/Machine Tools
|
0.89
|
%
|
||
Commercial Services
|
0.48
|
%
|
||
Short-Term Investment
|
0.11
|
%
|
||
Industrial Goods & Services
|
0.04
|
%
|
||
Other Assets Less Liabilities
|
1.10
|
%
|
||
100.00
|
%
|
Nestlé SA
|
16.43
|
%
|
||
Novartis AG
|
12.68
|
%
|
||
Roche Holding AG
|
12.64
|
%
|
||
Logitech International SA
|
4.67
|
%
|
||
Zurich Insurance Group AG
|
4.27
|
%
|
||
Cie Financiere Richemont SA – Common Stock
|
3.83
|
%
|
||
Swiss Life Holding AG
|
3.05
|
%
|
||
ABB Ltd.
|
2.38
|
%
|
||
Partners Group Holding AG
|
2.22
|
%
|
||
Swatch Group AG – Registered Shares
|
2.17
|
%
|
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
|
December 31, 2020
|
Assets:
|
||||
Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value (cost $94,324,011)
|
$
|
135,433,950
|
||
Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (cost $4,062,326)
|
1,080,577
|
|||
Total Investments, at value (cost $98,386,337)
|
136,514,527
|
|||
Foreign currency (cost $751,785)
|
761,501
|
|||
Tax reclaims receivable
|
1,194,032
|
|||
Receivable for investment sold
|
75,492
|
|||
Interest receivable
|
19
|
|||
Prepaid expenses
|
45,547
|
|||
Total assets
|
138,591,118
|
|||
Liabilities:
|
||||
Accrued:
|
||||
Advisory fees
|
82,781
|
|||
Audit fees
|
55,502
|
|||
Legal fees
|
200,427
|
|||
Custody fees
|
16,374
|
|||
Directors’ fees and expenses
|
74,995
|
|||
Other expenses
|
121,375
|
|||
Total liabilities
|
551,454
|
|||
Net assets
|
$
|
138,039,664
|
||
Composition of Net Assets:
|
||||
Paid-in capital
|
$
|
101,615,569
|
||
Total distributable earnings
|
36,424,095
|
|||
Net assets
|
$
|
138,039,664
|
||
Net Asset Value Per Share:
|
||||
($138,039,664 ÷ 13,212,254 shares outstanding,
|
||||
$0.001 par value: 50 million shares authorized)
|
$
|
10.45
|
Statement of Operations
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
|
Investment Income:
|
||||
Dividend (less of foreign tax withheld of $443,709)
|
$
|
2,834,056
|
||
Interest income
|
32,536
|
|||
Total income
|
2,866,592
|
|||
Expenses:
|
||||
Investment advisory fees (Note 2)
|
879,663
|
|||
Directors’ fees and expenses
|
305,411
|
|||
Legal fees (Note 3)
|
304,882
|
|||
Officer Fees
|
133,997
|
|||
Administration fees (Note 3)
|
123,181
|
|||
Insurance fees
|
104,097
|
|||
Printing and shareholder reports
|
99,801
|
|||
Delaware franchise tax fees
|
80,300
|
|||
Custody fees (Note 3)
|
65,549
|
|||
Audit fees (Note 3)
|
55,494
|
|||
Transfer agency fees (Note 3)
|
32,619
|
|||
Miscellaneous expenses
|
83,134
|
|||
Total expenses
|
2,268,128
|
|||
Net investment income
|
598,464
|
|||
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency:
|
||||
Net realized gain (loss) from:
|
||||
Investments in unaffiliated issuers
|
(2,560,384
|
)
|
||
Investments in affiliated issuers
|
—
|
|||
Foreign currency transactions
|
427,995
|
|||
Total net realized gain (loss) from unaffiliated and
|
||||
affiliated issuers and foreign currency transactions
|
(2,132,389
|
)
|
||
Net change in unrealized appreciation from:
|
||||
Investments in unaffiliated issuers
|
18,415,132
|
|||
Investments in affiliated issuers
|
13,681
|
|||
Foreign currency and foreign currency translations
|
128,951
|
|||
Total net change in unrealized appreciation from unaffiliated and
|
||||
affiliated issuers, foreign currency and foreign currency translations
|
18,557,764
|
|||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments and Foreign Currency
|
16,425,375
|
|||
Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations
|
$
|
17,023,839
|
For the
|
For the
|
|||||||
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
|||||||
December 31, 2020
|
December 31, 2019
|
|||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:
|
||||||||
Operations:
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
$
|
598,464
|
$
|
122,416
|
||||
Total net realized gain (loss) from unaffiliated and
|
||||||||
affiliated issuers and foreign currency transactions
|
(2,132,389
|
)
|
2,278,006
|
|||||
Total net change in unrealized appreciation from
|
||||||||
unaffiliated and affiliated issuers, foreign currency
|
||||||||
and foreign currency translations
|
18,557,764
|
22,749,226
|
||||||
Net increase in net assets from operations
|
17,023,839
|
25,149,648
|
||||||
Distributions to Stockholders:
|
||||||||
From earnings
|
(1,066,099
|
)
|
(1,862,703
|
)
|
||||
From return of capital
|
(6,332,807
|
)
|
—
|
|||||
Total distributions to stockholders
|
(7,398,906
|
)
|
(1,862,703
|
)
|
||||
Capital Stock Transactions:
|
||||||||
Value of shares repurchased through
|
||||||||
stock repurchase program (Note 6)
|
(449,102
|
)
|
—
|
|||||
Total decrease from capital share transactions
|
(449,102
|
)
|
—
|
|||||
Total increase in net assets
|
9,175,831
|
23,286,945
|
||||||
Net Assets:
|
||||||||
Beginning of year
|
128,863,833
|
105,576,888
|
||||||
End of year
|
$
|
138,039,664
|
$
|
128,863,833
|
For the Years Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2020
|
2019
|
2018
|
2017
|
2016
|
||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating Performance:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value at the beginning of year
|
$
|
9.71
|
$
|
7.96
|
$
|
14.10
|
$
|
11.66
|
$
|
12.30
|
||||||||||
Income from Investment Operations:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income1
|
0.05
|
0.01
|
0.14
|
0.13
|
0.15
|
|||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized
|
||||||||||||||||||||
gain (loss) on investments2
|
1.24
|
1.88
|
(1.35
|
)
|
2.41
|
(0.45
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Total from investment activities
|
1.29
|
1.89
|
(1.21
|
)
|
2.54
|
(0.30
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Gain from capital shares repurchases
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
0.02
|
|||||||||||||||
Gain from tender offer
|
—
|
—
|
0.30
|
0.03
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
Capital change resulting from the
|
||||||||||||||||||||
issuance of fund shares
|
—
|
—
|
(0.12
|
)
|
—
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Anti-dilutive effect of common
|
||||||||||||||||||||
share repurchase program
|
0.01
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
Less Distributions:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from investment income and
|
||||||||||||||||||||
net realized gains from foreign
|
||||||||||||||||||||
currency transactions
|
(0.08
|
)
|
(0.12
|
)
|
(0.10
|
)
|
(0.13
|
)
|
(0.12
|
)
|
||||||||||
Distributions from net realized capital gains
|
—
|
(0.02
|
)
|
(5.01
|
)
|
—
|
(0.21
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Return of capital
|
(0.48
|
)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||||
Total distributions
|
(0.56
|
)
|
(0.14
|
)
|
(5.11
|
)
|
(0.13
|
)
|
(0.33
|
)
|
||||||||||
Net asset value at end of year
|
$
|
10.45
|
$
|
9.71
|
$
|
7.96
|
$
|
14.10
|
$
|
11.66
|
||||||||||
Market value per share at the end of year
|
$
|
8.94
|
$
|
8.41
|
$
|
6.90
|
$
|
12.76
|
$
|
10.21
|
||||||||||
Total Investment Returns:3
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Based on market value per share
|
14.18
|
%
|
24.00
|
%
|
-10.90
|
%
|
26.26
|
%
|
-0.24
|
%
|
||||||||||
Based on net asset value per share
|
14.29
|
%
|
23.80
|
%
|
-6.98
|
%
|
22.17
|
%
|
-2.19
|
%
|
||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses
|
1.80
|
%
|
2.13
|
%
|
1.44
|
%
|
1.40
|
%
|
1.19
|
%
|
||||||||||
Gross expenses
|
1.80
|
%
|
2.13
|
%
|
1.44
|
%
|
1.40
|
%
|
1.19
|
%
|
||||||||||
Net investment income
|
0.48
|
%
|
0.10
|
%
|
1.12
|
%
|
0.98
|
%
|
1.26
|
%
|
||||||||||
Supplemental Data and Ratios
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets at end of year (000’s)
|
$
|
138,040
|
$
|
128,864
|
$
|
105,577
|
$
|
356,832
|
$
|
327,861
|
||||||||||
Average net assets during the year (000’s)
|
$
|
125,666
|
$
|
118,960
|
$
|
305,270
|
$
|
350,487
|
$
|
331,874
|
||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate
|
12
|
%
|
18
|
%
|
21
|
%
|
9
|
%
|
19
|
%
|
1
|
Calculated using the average shares method.
|
2
|
Includes net realized and unrealized currency gain and losses.
|
3
|
Total investment return based on market value differs from total investments return based on net assets value due to changes in the relationship between the market value of the Fund’s shares
and its NAV per share.
|
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)
|
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
|
$
|
133,732,824
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
1,465,458
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
135,198,282
|
||||||||||
Preferred Stock
|
—
|
—
|
59,168
|
—
|
59,168
|
|||||||||||||||
Limited Partnership
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,072,405
|
1,072,405
|
|||||||||||||||
Money Market Deposit Account
|
—
|
154,333
|
—
|
—
|
154,333
|
|||||||||||||||
Warrant
|
30,339
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
30,339
|
|||||||||||||||
Total Investments in Securities
|
$
|
133,763,163
|
$
|
154,333
|
$
|
1,524,626
|
$
|
1,072,405
|
$
|
136,514,527
|
*
|
Please see the Schedule of Investments for industry classifications.
|
**
|
As of December 31, 2020, 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.
|
Fair Value at
|
|||||||
December 31, 2020
|
Valuation Technique
|
Unobservable Inputs
|
Range1
|
||||
Biotechnology
|
|||||||
Ixodes AG, Series B—Preferred Shares
|
$
|
8,172
|
Asset based
|
Operational
|
|||
approach
|
cash expenditure
|
0-20%
|
|
||||
Healthcare-Products
|
|||||||
EyeSense AG, Series A—Common Shares
|
48,240
|
Market approach
|
Latest round of financing
|
||||
with an additional discount
|
|||||||
as a going concern using a
|
|||||||
probability weighted approach
|
70-90%
|
|
|||||
Spineart SA—Common Shares
|
1,417,218
|
Market approach
|
Secondary share purchase
|
||||
with an additional discount
|
|||||||
for lack of marketability
|
15-25%
|
|
|||||
Industrial Goods & Services
|
|||||||
SelFrag AG Class A—Preferred Shares
|
50,996
|
Market approach
|
Latest round of financing
|
||||
with an additional discount
|
|||||||
as a going concern
|
40-60%
|
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
1,524,626
|
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.
|
Common
|
Preferred
|
|||||||||||
Stock
|
Stock
|
Total
|
||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2019
|
$
|
1,567,283
|
$
|
131,596
|
$
|
1,698,879
|
||||||
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation (a)
|
759,845
|
(72,428
|
)
|
687,417
|
||||||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss)
|
(52,898
|
)
|
—
|
(52,898
|
)
|
|||||||
Gross Purchases
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||
Gross Sales
|
(808,772
|
)
|
—
|
(808,772
|
)
|
|||||||
Transfer out of Level 3
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2020
|
$
|
1,465,458
|
$
|
59,168
|
$
|
1,524,626
|
(a)
|
The noted amounts of change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation relate to the fair value of Level 3 assets held on December 31, 2020.
|
Derivatives not accounted
|
Statement of Assets &
|
|
for as hedging instruments
|
Liabilities Location
|
Value
|
Equity Contracts—Warrants
|
Investments, at value
|
$30,339
|
Amount of Realized Gain on Derivatives Recognized in Income
|
||
Derivatives not accounted
|
Statement of
|
|
for as hedging instruments
|
Operations Location
|
Value
|
Equity Contracts—Warrants
|
Net Realized Gain on Investments
|
$ —
|
Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Derivatives Recognized in Income
|
||
Derivatives not accounted
|
Statement of
|
|
for as hedging instruments
|
Operations Location
|
Total
|
Equity Contracts—Warrants
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments
|
$30,339
|
For the Year Ended
|
For the Year Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
December 31, 2020
|
December 31, 2019
|
|||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
|||||||||||||
Dividends Reinvested
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
||||||||||
Repurchased through Stock Repurchase Program (Note 6)
|
(54,857
|
)
|
(449,102
|
)
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||
Repurchased from Tender Offer (Note 7)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||
Net Increase/(Decrease)
|
(54,857
|
)
|
$
|
(449,102
|
)
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
2020
|
2019
|
|||||||
Ordinary Income
|
$
|
1,066,099
|
$
|
1,656,554
|
||||
Return of Capital
|
6,332,807
|
—
|
||||||
Long-Term Capital Gains
|
—
|
206,149
|
||||||
Total
|
$
|
7,398,906
|
$
|
1,862,703
|
Undistributed Ordinary Income
|
$
|
—
|
||
Capital Loss Carry Forward
|
(2,576,148
|
)
|
||
Current Late-Year Loss Deferral and Post-October Losses
|
—
|
|||
Other Accumulated Gain (Loss)
|
(21,189
|
)
|
||
Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)
|
39,021,432
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
36,424,095
|
Record Date
|
Payable Date
|
Ordinary Income
|
Return of Capital
|
Total Distribution
|
|||||||||||
3/23/20
|
3/31/20
|
$
|
0.02023006
|
$
|
0.12016994
|
$
|
0.14040
|
||||||||
6/22/20
|
6/29/20
|
0.02023006
|
0.12016994
|
0.14040
|
|||||||||||
9/21/20
|
9/30/20
|
0.02023006
|
0.12016994
|
0.14040
|
|||||||||||
12/21/20
|
12/31/20
|
0.01981941
|
0.11773059
|
0.13755
|
|||||||||||
$
|
0.55875
|
Total Distributable Earnings
|
$ 4
|
Paid In Capital
|
$(4)
|
Original Capital
|
Unfunded
|
|
Investments
|
Commitment*
|
Commitment*
|
Private Equity Limited Partnership—International(a)
|
||
Aravis Biotech II, Limited Partnership
|
$3,676,679
|
$ —
|
*
|
The original capital commitment represents 3,250,000 Swiss francs, which has been fully funded as of December 31, 2020. The Swiss franc/U.S. dollar exchange rate as of December 31, 2020 was
used for conversion and equaled 0.88395 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.
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited)
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited) (continued)
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited) (continued)
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited) (continued)
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited) (continued)
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited) (continued)
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited) (continued)
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited) (continued)
|
Fund Investment Objective, Principal Investment
|
December 31, 2020
|
Strategies and Principal Risks (Unaudited) (concluded)
|
Gross Foreign
|
Foreign Taxes
|
Gross Foreign
|
Foreign Taxes
|
Shares Outstanding
|
Source Income
|
Pass-through
|
Source Income Per Share
|
Pass-through Per Share
|
at 12/31/20
|
$3,277,765
|
$443,710
|
$0.24808523
|
$0.03358322
|
13,212,254
|
Shares and
|
||||
Dollar Range of
|
||||
Position(s)
|
Other Directorships
|
Common Stock
|
||
Name,
|
with Fund
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Held By Director
|
Beneficially
|
Address1 & Age
|
(Since)
|
During At Least The Past Five Years
|
During At Least The Past Five Years
|
Owned
|
Class I
|
||||
Richard Dayan
|
Director (2018);
|
President and owner of
|
Trustee of High Income Securities
|
0
|
Member of the
|
Cactus Trading since 1990
|
Fund since 2018; Director of
|
$0
|
|
Age: 77
|
Audit Committee
|
Emergent Capital, Inc. (formerly,
|
||
(2018); Member of
|
Imperial Holdings, Inc.) until 2016
|
|||
the Governance/
|
||||
Nominating
|
||||
Committee (2018)
|
||||
Moritz A. Sell
|
Director (2017);
|
Principal, Edison Holdings GmbH;
|
Trustee of High Income Securities
|
3,330
|
Member and
|
Senior Advisor, Markston
|
Fund since 2018; Director of FAX
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
|
Age: 53
|
Chair of the Audit
|
International LLC; Director, Market
|
(Aberdeen Asia Pacific Income
|
|
Committee (2017);
|
Strategist and Head of Proprietary
|
Fund) and FCO (Aberdeen Global
|
||
Lead Independent
|
Trading (London Branch),
|
Income Fund) since 2018; Director of
|
||
Director (2018)
|
Landesbank Berlin AG and
|
IAF (Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund)
|
||
Landesbank Berlin Holding AG
|
since 2004; Director of Aberdeen
|
|||
(formerly, Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG)
|
Greater China Fund until 2018;
|
|||
from 1996 to 2013
|
Chairman and Director of
|
|||
Aberdeen Singapore Fund
|
||||
until 2018
|
||||
Class II
|
||||
Andrew Dakos*
|
Director
|
Partner, Bulldog Investors, LLP;
|
President and Director of Special
|
1,064
|
(2017) and
|
Principal of the former general partner
|
Opportunities Fund, Inc. since
|
$1-$10,000
|
|
Age: 54
|
Chairman (2018)
|
of several private investment
|
2009; Trustee, Crossroads
|
|
partnerships in the Bulldog
|
Liquidating Trust (formerly,
|
|||
Investors group of private funds;
|
Crossroads Capital, Inc.) from
|
|||
Principal of the managing general
|
2015-2020; President and Trustee of
|
|||
partner of Bulldog Investors
|
High Income Securities Fund since
|
|||
General Partnership
|
2018; Director, Brookfield DTLA
|
|||
Fund Office Trust Investor Inc.
|
||||
since 2017; Director, Emergent
|
||||
Capital, Inc. until 2017
|
*
|
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.
|
Shares and
|
||||
Dollar Range of
|
||||
Position(s)
|
Other Directorships
|
Common Stock
|
||
Name,
|
with Fund
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Held By Director
|
Beneficially
|
Address1 & Age
|
(Since)
|
During At Least The Past Five Years
|
During At Least The Past Five Years
|
Owned
|
Class III
|
||||
Phillip F. Goldstein
|
Director (2018);
|
Partner of Bulldog Investors, LLP
|
Chairman and Director of The
|
115,747
|
Member and
|
since 2009; Principal of the former
|
Mexico Equity and Income Fund,
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Age: 76
|
Chair of the
|
general partner of several private
|
Inc. since 2000; Chairman,
|
|
Governance/
|
investment partnerships in the
|
Director and Secretary of Special
|
||
Nominating
|
Bulldog Investors group of private
|
Opportunities Fund, Inc. since
|
||
Committee (2018)
|
funds since 2009
|
2009; Chairman and Secretary of
|
||
High Income Securities Fund since
|
||||
2018; Director of Brookfield DTLA
|
||||
Fund Office Trust Investor Inc.
|
||||
since 2017; MVC Capital, Inc. from
|
||||
2012-2020; Trustee of Crossroads
|
||||
Liquidating Trust (formerly,
|
||||
Crossroads Capital, Inc.) from
|
||||
2016-2020; Chairman and
|
||||
Director of Emergent Capital, Inc.
|
||||
(formerly, Imperial Holdings, Inc.)
|
||||
until 2017
|
||||
Gerald Hellerman
|
Director (2018);
|
Chief Compliance Officer of
|
Director of Mexico Equity and
|
4,323
|
Member of the
|
The Mexico Equity and Income Fund,
|
Income Fund, Inc. since 2001;
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
|
Age: 83
|
Audit Committee
|
Inc. from 2001 through March 31,
|
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
|
(2018); Member
|
2020 and Special Opportunities
|
since 2009; MVC Capital, Inc. from
|
||
and Chair of the
|
Fund, Inc. from 2009 through
|
2003-2020; Trustee of Crossroads
|
||
Pricing Committee
|
March 31, 2020; Managing Director
|
Liquidating Trust (formerly,
|
||
(2018)
|
of Hellerman Associates (a financial
|
Crossroads Capital, Inc.) from
|
||
and corporate consulting firm)
|
2017-2020; Fiera Capital Series Trust
|
|||
since 1993 (which terminated
|
since 2017; Trustee of High
|
|||
activities as of December 31, 2013)
|
Income Securities Fund since 2018;
|
|||
Director of Emergent Capital, Inc.
|
||||
(formerly, Imperial Holdings, Inc.)
|
||||
until 2017; Ironsides Partners
|
||||
Opportunity Offshore Fund Ltd.
|
||||
until 2016
|
Officers2
|
||||
Shares and
|
||||
Dollar Range of
|
||||
Common Stock
|
||||
Name,
|
Position(s)
|
Term of Office and
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Beneficially
|
Address1 & Age
|
with Fund
|
Length of Time Served
|
During At Least The Past Five Years
|
Owned
|
Andrew Dakos
|
President and
|
President and Chief
|
Partner, Bulldog Investors, LLP;
|
1,064
|
|
Chief Executive
|
Executive Officer since 2019;
|
Principal of the former general
|
$1-$10,000
|
Age: 54
|
Officer; Director
|
Chairman since 2018;
|
partner of several private
|
|
and Chairman.
|
Director since 2017
|
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,
|
0
|
Officer
|
Bulldog Investors, LLP;
|
$0
|
||
Age: 52
|
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
|
0
|
Officer
|
Compliance Officer of Bulldog
|
$0
|
||
Age: 50
|
Investors, LLP; Chief Compliance
|
|||
Officer of 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
|
32
|
Investors, LLP
|
$1-$10,000
|
|||
Age: 52
|
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.
|
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
|
|
Number of
Accounts
|
Total Assets in
Accounts
|
Number of Accounts
where Advisory Fee
is Based on Account
Performance
|
Total Assets in
Accounts where
Advisory Fee is
Based on Account
Performance
|
Stefan
Frischknecht
|
|
|
|
|
Registered
Investment
Companies
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
|
2
|
$64,983,493
|
None
|
None
|
Other Accounts
|
3
|
$832,478,216
|
None
|
None
|
Daniel Lenz
|
|
|
|
|
Registered
Investment
Companies
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
|
4
|
$1,041,921,872
|
1
|
$297,763,446
|
Other Accounts
|
4
|
$727,060,027
|
None
|
None
|
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
|
7/1/20 – 7/31/20
|
9,199
|
8.07
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
8/1/20 – 8/31/20
|
14,801
|
8.16
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
9/1/20 – 9/30/20
|
12,432
|
8.27
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
10/1/20 – 10/31/20
|
8,325
|
8.22
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
11/1/20 – 11/30/20
|
5,000
|
8.37
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
12/1/20 – 12/31/20
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Total
|
49,757(1)
|
8.19
|
|
|
(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 second fiscal quarter of 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.
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I.
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Covered Officers/Purpose of the Code
|
•
|
honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional
relationships;
|
•
|
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Fund files with, or submits to, the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and in other public communications made by the Fund;
|
•
|
compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;
|
•
|
the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and
|
•
|
accountability for adherence to the Code.
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II.
|
Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest
|
•
|
not use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Fund whereby
the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Fund;
|
•
|
not cause the Fund to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of
the Fund; and
|
•
|
not retaliate against any employee or Covered Officer for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith.
|
III.
|
Disclosure and Compliance
|
•
|
Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself with the disclosure requirements and disclosure controls and procedures generally applicable to
the Fund within his area of responsibility;
|
•
|
each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Fund to others, whether within or outside
the Fund, including to the Fund's Board members and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations; and
|
•
|
to the extent appropriate within his area of responsibility, each Covered Officer should consult with other officers and employees of the Fund and
the Advisor and take other appropriate steps with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Fund files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications
made by the Fund; and
|
•
|
it is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
|
IV.
|
Reporting and Accountability
|
•
|
upon adoption of the Code (or thereafter, as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing to the Board that he has received,
read, and understands the Code;
|
•
|
annually thereafter affirm to the Board that he has complied with the requirements of the Code; and
|
•
|
notify the Audit Committee (the "Committee") promptly if he knows of any violation of the Code. Failure to do so is itself a violation of the
Code.
|
•
|
the Committee will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to it;
|
•
|
if, after such investigation, the Committee believes that no violation has occurred, the Committee is not required to take any further action;
|
•
|
if the Committee determines that a violation has occurred, it will inform and make a recommendation to the Board, which will consider appropriate
action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the Advisor or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer; and
|
•
|
any waivers of or amendments to the Code, to the extent required, will be disclosed as provided by SEC rules.
|
V.
|
Other Policies and Procedures
|
VI.
|
Amendments
|
VII.
|
Confidentiality
|
VIII.
|
Internal Use
|
Andrew Dakos
|
Principal Executive Officer
|
Thomas Antonucci
|
Principal Financial Officer |
1.
|
I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.;
|
2.
|
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
|
3.
|
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
|
4.
|
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
|
(a)
|
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
|
(b)
|
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
|
(c)
|
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
|
(d)
|
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of
the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
|
5.
|
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
|
(a)
|
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
|
(b)
|
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
Date: 3/2/2021
|
/s/ Andrew Dakos
Andrew Dakos
President and Chief Executive Officer |
1.
|
I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.;
|
2.
|
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
|
3.
|
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
|
4.
|
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
|
(a)
|
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
|
(b)
|
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
|
(c)
|
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
|
(d)
|
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of
the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
|
5.
|
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
|
(a)
|
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
|
(b)
|
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
Date: 3/2/2021
|
/s/ Thomas Antonucci
Thomas Antonucci
Chief Financial Officer
|
/s/ Andrew Dakos
Andrew Dakos
President and Chief Executive Officer,
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
|
/s/ Thomas Antonucci
Thomas Antonucci
Chief Financial Officer,
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
|
Dated: 3/2/2021
|