The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. Announces ISS And Glass Lewis Voting Recommendations For 2018 Annual Stockholder Meeting

NEW YORK, June 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (NYSE: SWZ), a non-diversified registered closed-end investment company, announced today that Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS) and Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (Glass Lewis), two leading independent corporate governance analysis firms, released their voting recommendations for the Fund's Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is scheduled to be held at 9:30 a.m., on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at the offices of Proskauer Rose LLP, Eleven Times Square, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10036.

ISS—which spoke with representatives of the Fund's Board of Directors and management, as well as with representatives of Bulldog Investors, LLC, who launched a proxy contest against the Fund—and Glass Lewis each recommends that the Fund's stockholders vote using the Fund's WHITE proxy card as follows:

• "FOR" each of the Board's nominees for Director: Brian A. Berris and Jean E. Hoysradt; and
• "AGAINST" the proposal submitted by Full Value Partners, L.P., an affiliate of Bulldog, requesting the Fund's Board of Directors approve a tender offer for at least 50% of the Fund's shares.

In addition, Glass Lewis recommends that the Fund's stockholders vote "AGAINST" a separate stockholder proposal requesting that the Board reduce the ownership threshold required for stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders.  ISS, consistent with its U.S. proxy voting guidelines, has recommended that the Fund's stockholders vote "FOR" this proposal.

ISS and Glass Lewis each recommend that stockholders donotvote using the GREEN proxy card submitted to them by Bulldog. 

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.