euro adhoc: Fortune Management Inc.
Mergers - Acquisitions -
Takeovers
Fortune acquires Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung und
Anlageberatung AG
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
09.05.2005
Zug, 9 May 2005 - Fortune Management Inc., Zug, Switzerland (General Standard segment, ISIN USU026281027, WKN A0BLYY), has taken over Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung und Anlageberatung AG, Zurich. Since 1982, Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung has looked after high net worth individuals and institutional investors based mainly in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. With nine employees, it has a fully licensed subsidiary in Vienna and a representative office in Munich for institutional investors. Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung has acquired a particular reputation in the area of "ethical investments". Its PRIME VALUE funds were launched in 1996 and have been among the best-in-class ethical funds for many years.
Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung und Anlageberatung AG is the fourth Swiss asset management company that Fortune Management has acquired. In accordance with the Fortune business model, Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung will continue to trade under its established name and offer its full range of well proven services. There will be no changes in client and custodian relationships. In addition, the companys founder and managing director, Dr. Elisabeth Höller, will continue to head the company and be in charge of its further development. Its sophisticated investment process and research will also be available to the other asset managers in the Fortune Group.
"We have always provided our clients with asset management services focused on continuity and risk-adjusted performance," said Dr. Höller. "To secure the highest level of service quality for our clients also for a long time into the future has been our main concern. In order to achieve this and anticipating the present upheaval in the asset management industry, we have chosen a strategic partnership with a company that guarantees our independence and is at the same time solidly based. Fortune Management provides our clients with the continuity upon which we can carry on building our business while remaining true to our principles," continued Dr. Elisabeth Höller.
René Müller, CEO of the Fortune Group, added: "With Dr. Höller having predicted the consolidation among independent asset managers for some time, the integration of her company into Fortune Group represents another milestone. We look forward to working with the Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung. Fortune Group clients and staff alike will benefit from Dr. Höllers many years of experience, excellent contacts and proven special investment expertise in the ethics area."
For Fortune Management Inc., the takeover of Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung represents an important step in the implementation of its business model, which is specifically focused on providing a succession alternative for independent asset management companies primarily in Switzerland. Fortune aims in particular to maintain the companys independence while at the same time concentrating on clients real needs.
In accordance with its strategy, Fortune is continuously in acquisitions talks with further asset managers.
End of ad hoc release
Profile of Fortune Management Inc.: FORTUNE Management Inc., Zug, Switzerland, focuses on building a network of independent asset management companies, mainly in Switzerland. It has subsidiaries in the Swiss cities of Zug, Zurich and Geneva, as well as in Dubai, the UK, Germany and Belgium. FORTUNE aims to acquire majority stakes in such companies. These asset managers are then integrated into the Group, thereby relieving them of as much of their middle office administrative workload as possible. The resulting economies of scale contribute to improving the cost-income ratio. Research and portfolio management support is provided with a view to enhancing risk-adjusted returns for investment clients. The asset managers relationships with their clients and custodians remain intact, and the firm continues to trade under its established name.
FORTUNE Management Inc. was created from the former ComTelco International Inc. at the end of 2003 following a strategic reorientation. Its stock (ISIN: USU 026281027) is traded on the regulated market (General Standard segment) of the Frankfurt stock exchange.
Profile of Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung und Anlageberatung AG: Dr. Höller Vermögensverwaltung und Anlageberatung AG, Zurich, was founded by Dr. Elisabeth Höller in 1982 and trades as an independent asset manager and investment advisor. Dr. Höller founded and served on the board of the Swiss Association of Asset Managers (SAAM) in 1986, is well known as a financial expert and with her team has acquired an outstanding reputation as an independent asset manager throughout German-speaking Europe. In the recently published Elite Special Report 2005, Dr. Höller was for the second time rated the best independent asset manager in Switzerland, placing it among the Elite 250 financial institutions reviewed in German-speaking Europe. Dr. Höller has offices in Switzerland, Austria and Germany and its pioneering role in investment ethics endows it with valuable expertise in financial analysis. An experienced ethics research team prepares ethical analyses of listed companies and issuers for Dr. Höller.
end of announcement euro adhoc 09.05.2005 07:30:33
Further inquiry note:
Fortune Management Inc.
Christian Hillermann
Investor Relations Manager
Tel.: +49 40 / 23608-897
Fax: +49 40 / 23608-500
Email: ir@fortune-management.com
Branche: Financial & Business Services
ISIN: USU026281027
WKN: A0BLYY
Index: General Standard, Prime All Share, HDAX, CDAX
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / regulated dealing
Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB) / free trade