Regulatory Information

FinSA Client information

Based on the legal requirements of Art. 8ff. of the Financial Services Act (FINSA), information below provides an overview of ELIA Investment Advisors AG (hereinafter referred to as the «financial institution») and its services.

A. Company information

Address
Seefeldstrasse 287
8008 Zurich
+41 44 384 90 80
info@eliainvestments.com
www.eliainvestments.com

The financial institution was established in 2019.

Supervisory authority and audit firm
Under the Federal Act on Financial Institutions (FinIA), a license issued by the financial regulator (FINMA) is required by all financial institutions offering professional services as a portfolio manager. The financial institution received its license on 16.08.2023 and is supervised by FINControl Suisse AG. The financial institution is audited by TTP Consulting AG.

FINControl Suisse AG
General-Guisan-Strasse 6
6300 Zug
+41 41 767 36 00
info@fincontrol.ch
www.fincontrol.ch

TTP Consulting AG
Seestrasse 45
8703 Erlenbach
+41 79 851 58 10
info@ttpconsulting.ch
www.ttpconsulting.ch

Ombudsman
The financial institution is affiliated with the independent ombudsman Finanzombudsstelle Schweis (FINOS), which is recognized by the Federal Department of Finance. Disputes concerning legal claims between the client and the financial services provider should be settled by an ombudsman’s office, if possible, within the framework of a mediation procedure.

Finanzombudsstelle Schweiz (FINOS)
Talstrasse 20
8001 Zurich
+41 44 552 08 00
info@finos.ch
www.finos.ch

B. Information on the offered financial services

The financial institution provides portfolio management services, portfolio-based and transaction-based investment advisory services as well as execution-only services to its clients. In the case of a transaction-based investment advisory mandate with the financial institution, a personal recommendation relating to individual financial instruments is provided to the client. The decision to buy or sell remains always ultimately with the client.

The financial institution does not guarantee any yield nor performance of investment activities. The investment activity can therefore lead to an appreciation or a depreciation in value.

The financial institution has all the necessary licences to perform the services described above.

C. Client segmentation

Financial service providers are required to classify their clients into a client segmentation according to the law and adhere to the respective code-of-conduct. The Financial Services Act provides for «retail clients», «professional clients» and «institutional clients» segments. For each client, a client classification is determined within the framework of the cooperation with the financial institution. Subject to certain conditions, the client may change the client classification by opting out.

D. Information on risks and costs

General risks associated with financial instruments transactions
The investment advisory and portfolio management services involve financial risks. The financial institution shall provide all clients with the «Risks associated with Financial Instruments Transactions» brochure prior to the execution of the contract. This brochure can also be found at www.swissbanking.ch.

Clients of the financial institution may contact their client advisor at any time if they have any further questions.

Risks associated with the offered services
For a description of the various risks that may arise from the investment strategy for clients’ assets, please refer to the relevant investment advisory or portfolio management agreements.

In the case of investment advice, the financial institution shall provide its retail clients with the basic information sheet of the recommended financial instrument.

Information on costs
A fee is charged for the services rendered, which is usually calculated on the assets under management and/or on a performance basis. For more detailed information, please refer to the relevant investment advisory or portfolio management agreements.

E. Information about relationships with third parties

In connection with the financial services offered by the financial institution, economic ties may exist with third parties. The acceptance of payments from third parties as well as their treatment are regulated in detail and comprehensively in the respective investment advisory and portfolio management contracts.

F. Information on the market offer considered

The financial institution basically follows an «open universe approach» and tries to make the best possible choice for the client when selecting financial instruments. The financial institution’s own collective investments can – where appropriate – be used in the portfolio management mandates or recommended as part of investment advice

Eveline Bieler

Independent Advisor to the Board

Eveline is an Independent Advisor to the Board on multiple corporate topics. Eveline brings an extensive experience in supporting wealthy families in their banking and wealth management matters. Prior to joining ELIA Investment Advisors, Eveline had worked for 10 year at key client desks of UBS, Bank Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs in Zurich, and has also spent two years in Hong Kong as an Analyst for a Boutique Financial Advisory, Private Equity & Risk Management Firm. Eveline holds a specialist certificate in Asset Management from Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute and has completed a Master’s Degree in Financial Consulting and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) programme at Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

James Bejjani

Senior Partner

James has over 17 years of experience in Portfolio Management and Special Situations in the United States, Europe and the GCC. His areas of expertise span across a range of asset classes including Private Equity and Venture Capital. Prior to joining ELIA Investment Advisors James Bejjani served as Director of a large Geneva based multifamily office, and member of its Investment Committee. Earlier, James had spent eight years at M1 Group, a Single Family Office, where he was a Portfolio Manager. In that role he led M1’s Fixed Income investment activities in public (credit and capital structure investing) and private companies in both Developed and Emerging markets. Before that, he worked at Macquarie Funds Group where he had dual responsibility as a Trader and Analyst for a multi-billion dollar Fixed Income portfolio for institutional clients. He was also previously an Associate Director and an Institutional Investor ranked Strategist at UBS Investment Bank in New York. He began his career on Wall Street at Mortgage Industry Advisory Corporation (as a Quantitative Analyst). 

James earned his MS in Financial Mathematics from Warwick Business School in the UK, his BA in Economics and minor in Mathematics from the American University of Beirut and his double LLB degree in Private and Public Law from Saint Joseph University. He also completed an executive program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, James is a member of the NY based Fixed Income Analysts Society.

Anton Schmidt

Managing Partner

Anton has spent over a decade covering UHNW families and individuals. He dedicated his professional career to providing tailor-made and differentiated investment advice across major asset classes and whole range of financial instruments. Most recently as an Executive Director and Private Wealth Advisor in the Private Wealth Management division of Goldman Sachs in Zurich after joining from Morgan Stanley in 2012, where he started as an analyst in 2010. His prior professional experience includes Bloomberg in London and Volkswagen in Wolfsburg.

Anton holds a Business Administration Diploma (MSc) with specialisation in Banking & Finance from Mannheim University, Germany and a Postgraduate Certificate in Finance from London School of Business and Finance, UK.

Christos Kontos CFA, FRM

Founding Partner & CEO

Prior to setting up ELIA Investment Advisors, Christos worked as an Executive Director at the Wealth Management divisions of Goldman Sachs (2014 – 2019) and Morgan Stanley (2007 – 2014), offering an institutional approach to private client investing. Before entering the world of the two large Investment Banks, Christos served as a Senior Associate for Swiss Capital Alternative Investments (currently StepStone Global), a Hedge Fund company based in Zurich, dealing with the design of specialised investment solutions for pension funds and insurance companies. Prior to moving to Switzerland in 2005, he worked in the Fixed Income Derivatives department of Intesa San Paolo IMI in Milan, and Equity Trading at NBG Securities and Alpha Bank in Greece.

Christos is a holder of the Certificate of Business Excellence from Columbia Business School in New York and holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Milan, an MSc in Finance from Strathclyde University in Glasgow and a BSc from Athens University of Economics and Business. He is a certified risk manager (FRM) by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.