Gottex Brokers Alternative Opens US Office

Gottex Brokers has opened its first office in the US, focusing on brokerage services in the secondary market for alternative investments through its specialized entity Gottex Brokers Alternative USA. Gottex Brokers Alternative USA, based in Los Angeles, will act as an intermediary between US institutional investors buying and selling secondary interests in hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds.

PRESS RELEASE

Gottex Brokers, one of the leading interdealer brokers in interest rate derivative products, announced today that it has opened its first office in the United States, focusing on brokerage services in the secondary market for alternative investments through its specialized entity Gottex Brokers Alternative USA Inc.

Gottex Brokers Alternative USA Inc. (GBA USA), based in Los Angeles, will act as an intermediary between US institutional investors buying and selling secondary interests in hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds. It is a subsidiary of Gottex Brokers Alternative domiciled in Lausanne, Switzerland, whose dedicated and experienced team provides tailored broking services to the European and other non-US markets.

The secondary market for alternative investments enables sellers to address liquidity constraints caused by the extension or suspension of redemption periods and lock-ups. It enables holders of illiquid assets to reduce exposure to distressed assets and rebalance their portfolios and offers potential buyers access to limited partnership interests, Limited Liability Company memberships or interests in other organizational forms.

Raphael Moreno, CEO of Gottex Brokers Group said: “We are very pleased to be expanding into the United States, serving US clients directly on the ground as well as offering our customer base access to this exciting market. Volatility in the secondary markets for alternative investment shares has risen markedly in the past years and we have seen increased demand for investors to rebalance portfolios and to exit illiquid positions.”

GBA USA will be run by Bruno Bardavid, an experienced professional with more than 25 years of experience in financial services. Prior to joining GBA USA Bardavid developed the credit trading markets for Mizuho International and West LB, London.

Bruno Bardavid, Director, Gottex Brokers Alternative USA Inc., said: “I am pleased to join Gottex Brokers Alternative and look forward to further developing this business across the US, the most important market for secondary transactions in the area of alternative investments.”

Gottex Brokers Alternatives USA will manage relationships with hedge funds, funds of funds, family offices, third party asset managers, public entities and sovereign wealth funds, private and investment banks, investment advisors and pension funds. It is regulated by FINRA and the SEC.

For further information please contact:

Nick Lawler
Intermarket Communications
Tel: +1 212 754 5613
Email: nlawler@intermarket.com

Candice Adam
Argentus PR
Tel: +44 20 7397 2915
Email: candice.adam@argentuspr.com

Regula Arrigoni
Lemongrass Communications
Tel: +41 79 608 31 33
Email: regula.arrigoni@lemongrass-communications.com

About Gottex Brokers
Established in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1986, Gottex Brokers is one of the leading interdealer brokers for interest rate derivative products. Gottex Brokers services a broad international institutional client base and offers broking in short-, medium- and long-term interest rate swaps, as well as cross currency basis- and overnight interest rate swaps. Gottex Brokers was voted top Swiss Franc broker in the Risk Annual Interdealer Rankings 2012 for the 12th consecutive year.

About Gottex Brokers Alternative
Gottex Brokers’ specialized entity is a leading broker in the secondary market for alternative investments. Established in 2009 in Lausanne, its services are aimed at private and investment banks, insurance companies and pension funds, public entities and sovereign funds, funds of hedge funds, third-party asset managers and family offices looking to either purchase or sell shares of hedge funds and private equity funds.