| Capital managed |
The independent asset managers in Switzerland look after capital amounting to 500 billion CHF. This corresponds to a market share of around 14%.
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| Value creation |
The SAAM assumes an average gross profit of 0.8%.
The gross profit corresponds to the revenues from asset management (management honorarium plus retrocessions) in relation to the average sum of capital under management.
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| 2,600 companies |
There are around 2,600 companies in Switzerland operating in the independent asset management business.
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| Geographical distribution |
The asset management centres in Switzerland are found in Zurich and Geneva. More than half of all independent Swiss asset managers are domiciled in these two cities. Moreover, Lugano, Basel and Lausanne are also significant locations due to their proximity to the borders.
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| 9,600 jobs |
The 2,600 companies generate around 9,600 jobs. The average company staff consists of 3-4 people.
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| Commercial structure |
The study by Dr. Christian Bührer showed that 26% of the independent asset management companies surveyed are one-person operations. This matches the SAAM's estimate of 600 to 800 one-person companies within the industry. Only a few companies employ more than ten people. This shows the industry's clear commercial structure.
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| Customer structure |
Nearly two thirds of independent asset managers look after below 100 customers. One third look after between 100 to 499 customers. Only a few look after more than 500 customers.
Over 90% of the independently managed capital from the total of around 500 billion CHF originates from private and commerical clients. Only very few companies exclusively manage capital from institutional investors.
The majority of clients originate from Switzerland and Europe. According to a 2005 study by BNP Paribas, 25% of all clients are Swiss and 46% are from other parts of Europe. 8% originate from North and South America respectively. And 5% of clients are from Africa and Asia respectively. The remaining 3% are distributed throughout the rest of the world.
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| Affiliation with a professional association |
Only around half the 2,600 independent asset management companies are connected with a professional assocation such as the SAAM. With nearly 800 members, the SAAM is the largest professional association in the Swiss independent management industry.
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| Company age - a young industry |
Independent asset management is a young industry that has long lurked in relative obscurity in the shadow of the powerful Swiss banks. Nevertheless, the industry has grown constantly since the 1980's. Switzerland experienced a boom in the founding of new companies at the end of the 1990s. The sector grew from 500 then, to 2,600 companies today. The independent asset management sector has created around 9,600 jobs and provides significant value creation, positioning and establishing itself as an independent pillar in the financial centre Switzerland.
The SAAM strives to ensure that independent asset management is more widely perceived as an independent, relevant group of professional and is heard from as an independent economic entity.
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| Insurance protection |
An independent asset manager in Switzerland is not obliged to insure him/herself against potential economic losses or to meet specific rules regarding owner's capital. Normally, the customer bears the risk for losses arising from any infraction of the duty of care, transparency and loyalty obligtations by the independent asset manager.
A survey shows that neverthless around half of independent asset managers due have professional liability insurance. This covers the client's capital losses resulting from errrors made by the asset managers.
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