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VERAISON is pleased to announce that Senior Partner and CEO Andreas Weigelt has been elected to the Board of Directors of Evolva (SWX:EVE). Andreas Weigelt brings many years of experience as a strategy and finance expert.
VERAISON is pleased to announce that Senior Partner Paul McNulty has been elected to the Board of Directors of Ontex Group (XBRU:ONTEX). Paul McNulty brings many years of experience as an investor and committed shareholder.
On the 28th of April 2022 the shareholders of VERAISON SICAV approved all recommendations of the Board submitted to the Annual General Meeting in accordance with the AGM invitation dated April 5, 2022. In particular all members of the Board were confirmed for a further one-year term. The Board of Directors thanks all shareholders for their ongoing trust and looks forward to further cooperation.
Kind regards
BoD SICAV
The Board of Directors of Ascom Holding AG (SWX:ASCOM) appoints Nicolas Vanden Abeele as the new CEO of the Ascom Group. Veraison welcomes the appointment of a leader with proven, long-standing industry experience and looks forward to working with Nicolas.
Modern Times Group (MTG) announced the sale of its eSports division (ESL) for USD 1’050 million. ESL is the world’s largest independent eSports company. The net proceeds for MTG are USD 875 million, representing 83% of the Group’s total market capitalization prior to the announcement. The transaction results in a significant value crystallization. At least 40% of the proceeds will be distributed to shareholders and the remainder will be used to strengthen the core (mobile gaming). The closing of the transaction is expected in the second quarter 2022.
VERAISON is pleased about the successful IPO (“Initial Public Offering”) of VT5, the first-ever SPAC to be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. As VT5 announced this morning, the IPO was oversubscribed on a total amount of CHF 200 million.
As initiator, sponsor, and cornerstone investor, VERAISON holds 16% of the voting rights in VT5 and will actively accompany the company as an engaged shareholder.
VERAISON is pleased that VT5 acquisition company, the first-ever SPAC to be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange was launched this morning. As initiator, sponsor, and cornerstone investor, VERAISON has committed to invest CHF 3.5 million in Sponsor Class A Shares and an additional CHF 20 million at IPO terms. VERAISON will thus hold 16% of the voting rights of VT5 after a successful IPO.
Evolva transformed from a research company to a commercial enterprise with a product-based business model in recent years. Today, the company has a promising portfolio of nature-based ingredients produced by fermentation. Thereby, Evolva is addressing the growing demand for more natural ingredients in the flavor, food as well as health and wellness industries.
VERAISON has subscribed to 6.2% of Evolva’s share capital in a private placement in order to actively accompany the company in its next phase of development as an engaged shareholder. To this end, Andreas Weigelt, CEO and Senior Partner of VERAISON, will be proposed by the company for election to Evolva’s Board of Directors at the upcoming Annual General Meeting in April 2022
The admission decision published today enables the listing and trading of SPACs on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The new regulation ensures investor protection and offers companies the possibility of additional financing options.
In this context, FINMA has approved the amendment of the Investment Regulations of VERAISON SICAV Engagement Fund regarding SPAC Investments as of November 16, 2021. The shareholders of VERAISON SICAV have already approved the amendment at the Extraordinary General Meeting on October 7, 2021.
VERAISON is pleased that the launch of a SPAC is now possible with the new regulation.
On the 7th of October 2021 the shareholders of VERAISON SICAV approved all recommendations of the Board submitted to the Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with the EGM invitation dated Sept 16, 2021. The investment regulations have been amended to allow a potential SPAC Investment for the VERAISON SICAV Engagement Fund.
The Board of Directors thanks all shareholders for their ongoing trust and commitment.
VERAISON is pleased to announce that Eric Sibbern has been appointed to the Nomination Committee of Modern Times Group. The committee is responsible to propose to shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting in May 2022, who should be a member of the company’s Board of Directors (including nomination of the chairman position). In addition, the committee proposes the remuneration of the Board of Directors.
VERAISON Capital Ltd., Zurich has acquired for the VERAISON SICAV – Engagement Fund a 3.03% stake in Ontex Group, a European leader in personal hygiene products. This corresponds to 2’497’800 registered shares.
VERAISON is expanding its investment universe in light of its successful shareholder engagements. The Engagement Fund will continue to hold significant investments in listed companies in Switzerland and actively contribute to the value creation of its portfolio companies. In addition, selected investments in European companies outside Switzerland will be assessed in the future. A first position is currently being built up; others are on the radar.
In addition, VERAISON intends to contribute its experience as a sponsor and investor in Swiss SPACs. VERAISON is convinced that together with experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts, it will be possible to bring hidden champions to the Swiss stock exchange and to develop them over the longer term. Through SPACs, hidden champions will gain an innovative and disruptive access to the capital market, to an informed investor base, as well as to industry-experienced, entrepreneurial leaders. Through planned IPOs on the SIX, these companies will be made publicly accessible to investors.
VERAISON notes that, at FINMA’s suggestion, the regulatory bodies of the SIX must add the topic of SPACs to the current listing regulations and submit them to FINMA for approval. VERAISON supports such an approach and trusts in self-regulation. The first Swiss SPAC – VT5 – is ready for launch and has been set up for the IPO with renowned advisors. The interest of investors is significant, as corresponding soundings among institutional Swiss as well as foreign investors have shown.
Within VERAISON, co-founder Gregor Greber will drive this new opportunity, which has been successfully established in the USA and in various European countries. He withdraws from all operational activities at VERAISON but stays on as a member of the Board of Directors. Apart from that, the partner team remains unchanged and consists of Andreas Weigelt, Christopher Detweiler, Eric Sibbern, Paul McNulty and René Bernhard.
As an engaged shareholder, VERAISON will continue to actively support the sustainable value-enhancement of its portfolio companies.
VERAISON has reduced its stake in ASCOM to just below 5% following the significant strengthening of the company and the positive 2020 results (Link to SIX disclosure). The initiatives started under the leadership of Chairman Chapero and CEO Pilloud have restored confidence in Ascom. The new order intake demonstrates the company’s potential in the digitization of hospitals and especially also in intensive care units.
In the last trading days of December 2020, VERAISON sold around 4% of Aryzta AG in two blocktrades to two Swiss family offices. The achieved return amounts to more than 100%. VERAISON now holds significantly less than 3% in Aryzta AG.
