DUTY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
W.I.S.E. MANAGEMENT SA
Informations sur la société
W.I.S.E. MANAGEMENT SA, hereinafter referred to as “W.I.S.E.”, is a public limited company under Swiss law registered in the Commercial Register of the Canton of Geneva and its registered office is at 15 rue Pierre-Fatio, 1204 Geneva.
Founded in 2009, W.I.S.E. provides its clients with asset management services and financial investment advice.
W.I.S.E. is subject to the supervision of FINMA – Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, Laupenstrasse 27, 3003 Bern, in accordance with the Financial Institutions Act (LEFin). She is licensed as wealth manager.
W.I.S.E. is subject to the organization SO-FIT Organisme de Surveillance pour Intermédiaires Financiers & Trustees, 2 rue Pedro-Meylan, 1208 Geneva.
The SO-FIT supervisory body is responsible for monitoring and controlling W.I.S.E. in order to ensure compliance with laws and best practices in its asset management activity.
Financial services information
W.I.S.E. provides different types of financial services as defined in FinSA: asset management and investment advice.
On the basis of a written discretionary management mandate or investment advisory mandate, the client entrusts the management of their assets deposited with a custodian bank by means of a power of attorney limited to management acts. The Mandate shall determine the tasks and powers of W.I.S.E., as well as the rights of the client. Legal information is regulated by the Mandate as well as the general terms and conditions of the custodian bank.
W.I.S.E. exercises the discretionary management mandate at its own discretion within the framework of its investment policy and in accordance with the investment strategy chosen by the client as well as any instructions from the latter. W.I.S.E. alone makes investment decisions. Throughout the duration of the mandate, W.I.S.E. shall check the suitability of the strategy adopted by the client and the risk level of the client’s portfolio.
As part of an investment advisory mandate, the service provided by W.I.S.E. applies only to assets under management. For this service, W.I.S.E. recommends one or more financial instrument(s) and the client makes and assumes the final investment decision. Throughout the duration of the mandate, W.I.S.E. shall check the suitability of the strategy adopted by the client and the risk level of the client’s portfolio.
W.I.S.E. acts independently from banks and financial product providers. No exclusive relationship is established. W.I.S.E. offers a range of mandates with different investment strategies adapted to the financial and personal circumstances of its clients.
W.I.S.E. may recommend to the client, at its request, custodian banks which, in its view, offer the best guarantees in terms of prices and quality (best execution).
Cost information
W.I.S.E. shall inform its clients of the costs associated with the financial services it provides. This information shall be made available by the manager when signing the mandate. This information shall be supplemented by the handing over of a brochure of the custodian bank’s fees, at the opening of the relationship and/or at any time at the client’s request.
Risk information
Investing in any financial instrument always involves a risk of loss even with careful investment. It is decisive for W.I.S.E. to provide each client with services adapted to their financial circumstances.
In setting up investment strategies, W.I.S.E. can offer a diversified range of investments and investment vehicles.
The investment strategy aims to achieve the expected results over the planned investment period.
W.I.S.E. does not guarantee the outcome of the strategy. The client is informed that the potential for an increase or decrease in the portfolio is linked to the usual risks associated with each financial asset as well as any exchange rate, counterparty or any other risk that may affect the client’s investments.
The characteristics and risks associated with financial instruments are described in the Swiss Bankers Association’s brochure “Risks Involved in Trading in Financial Instruments”, delivered when the mandate is signed. W.I.S.E. is at the client’s disposal for any further information.
Conflicts of interest
W.I.S.E. operates with due diligence and in the best interests of the client. W.I.S.E. may be exposed to risks of conflicts of interest in the context of the implementation of its investment strategy. For example, W.I.S.E. may recommend structured products or investment funds for which it receives retrocessions.
W.I.S.E. puts in place all organisational measures to avoid conflicts of interest to protect clients from possible harm. W.I.S.E. undertakes to ensure that the interests of the client are fairly taken into account. If prejudice to the detriment of the client cannot be avoided, the conflict of interest will be communicated to the client.
Client classification
W.I.S.E. considers the Client, de facto, as a Retail Client, unless the client is a life insurance company subject to prudential supervision equivalent to the ISA (Insurance Supervision Act), in which case the latter has the status of Institutional Client. The Client may however request to be treated as a Professional Client by signing the “Request to be treated as a professional client (opting out)”. Also, a client whose assets under management exceed the threshold set out by law will be treated directly as a Professional Client, unless otherwise requested by the client (opting in).
Economic relations with third parties concerning the financial services offered
W.I.S.E. may receive retrocessions when the client acquires shares in collective investment schemes or other financial instruments. W.I.S.E. may also receive retrocessions from custodian banks with which it conducts business. The client shall be duly informed of the type and amount of remuneration relating to their portfolio.
W.I.S.E. shall inform the client of the foreseeable amount of retrocessions when signing the management mandate.
Information on the possibility of initiating a mediation procedure
In the event of any dissatisfaction with the financial services provided by W.I.S.E., the Client should contact their advisor or contact the Compliance department on +41 (0)22 869 15 15.
If, despite everything, no amicable solution is found, the Client may contact OFS Ombud Finance Suisse, which is the mediator for W.I.S.E.
OFS Ombud Finance Suisse only intervenes once the client has made a complaint to W.I.S.E. and no agreement has been reached.
OFS Ombud Finance Suisse
12 rue de Chantepoulet
1201 Geneva (Switzerland)
www.ombudfinance.ch.