NEW YORK, July 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Swiss
Helvetia Fund, Inc. (NYSE: SWZ), a non-diversified registered
closed-end investment company, announced today that First Coast
Results, Inc., the independent inspector of election for the Fund's
Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June
19, 2018, has certified the final voting results regarding
the proposals presented at the Annual Meeting. The final
voting results differ slightly from the preliminary voting results
announced by the Fund on June 25,
2018, although there are no changes in the outcomes of any
proposals. The final voting results are summarized below.
Class III Director Elections
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Withheld
|
Phillip
Goldstein
|
9,031,335
|
95,740
|
Gerald
Hellerman
|
9,028,807
|
98,268
|
Brian A.
Berris
|
8,991,471
|
155,831
|
Jean E.
Hoysradt
|
8,980,882
|
166,420
|
Based on the Fund's plurality voting standard for the election
of directors, Messrs. Goldstein and Hellerman have been elected by
stockholders as Class III Directors of the Fund, to serve a
two-year term of office until the Fund's 2020 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, or until their respective successors are duly elected
and qualify.
Other Proposals
Stockholders approved the ratification of the selection of Tait,
Weller & Baker, LLP as the Fund's independent registered public
accounting firm for the year ending December
31, 2018:
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstentions
|
18,086,143
|
82,531
|
106,101
|
Stockholders did not approve the non-binding stockholder
proposal recommending that the Fund's Board of Directors reduce the
ownership threshold required for stockholders to call a special
meeting of stockholders:
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstentions
|
1,580,594
|
7,979,187
|
8,717,109
|
Stockholders approved the non-binding stockholder proposal
recommending that the Fund's Board of Directors authorize a
self-tender offer for at least 50% of the outstanding common stock
of the Fund:
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstentions
|
9,658,466
|
8,388,278
|
227,628
|
There were 25,313,872 shares of the Fund's common stock
outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. At
the Annual Meeting, the holders of 18,276,890 shares of the Fund's
common stock were represented in person or by proxy, constituting a
quorum. As reflected in the results above, not all shares
eligible to vote on each proposal did so. The Fund has posted
the final voting results on its website (www.swzfund.com) and will
provide similar information in its Semi-Annual Report to
Stockholders for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018.
About The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
The Fund (www.swzfund.com) is a non-diversified, closed-end
investment company seeking long-term capital appreciation through
investment in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss
companies. Its shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol
"SWZ." The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing generally in Swiss equity and equity-linked securities
that are traded on a Swiss stock exchange, traded at the pre-bourse
level of one or more Swiss stock exchanges, traded through a market
maker or traded over the counter in Switzerland. The Fund
also may invest in Swiss equity and equity-linked securities of
Swiss companies that are traded on other major European stock
exchanges.
Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously
offered. Typically, shares of closed-end funds are sold in
the open market through a stock exchange. Shares of
closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset
value. The price of the Fund's shares is determined by a
number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the
Fund. Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares
will trade at, below or above net asset value.
The Fund is managed by Schroder Investment Management North
America Inc. and Schroder Investment Management North America
Limited.
About Schroder Investment Management North America
Inc.
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. and Schroder
Investment Management North America Limited, investment advisors
registered with the U.S. SEC, are units of Schroders plc (SDR.L), a
global asset management company with approximately $614.6 billion under management and
administration as of March 31,
2018. Schroder's clients include major financial institutions
including banks and insurance companies, as well as local and
public authorities, public and private pension funds, endowments
and foundations, intermediaries and advisors, as well as high net
worth individuals and retail investors. The firm has built
one of the largest networks of offices of any dedicated asset
management company with more than 500 portfolio managers and
analysts covering the world's investment markets, offering a
comprehensive range of products and services.
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. provides asset
management products and services to clients in the U.S. and
Canada. Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. is
an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Schroders plc, a U.K.
public company with shares listed on the London Stock Exchange.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Fund's
shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.
Contact:
Jennifer Brogadir
212-641-3863
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SOURCE The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.