Vontobel launches cosmofunding, the digital platform for private placements and loans

The market for private and public sector financing has evolved significantly in recent years.  The public sector is increasingly opting for shorter-term and lower-cost financing options from institutional investors who are seeking alternative investment opportunities due to the prevailing low interest rate environment. This is driving the growth of the private placement segment.

Vontobel is harnessing the power of digitalization to revolutionize existing market structures and processes, thus providing greater transparency and reach. Online platforms are ideal in the area of private placements or loans since they enable the interests of professional investors and borrowers to be aligned rapidly, transparently and cost-effectively: Institutional investors gain access to attractive financing projects of public sector bodies such as cities and municipalities that were previously absent from the capital markets. The public sector –  but also medium-sized companies – can reach a broader circle of professional investors through Vontobel’s new online platform, allowing them to obtain financing that is tailored to their individual needs – in terms of the volume, term and form of financing, as well as pricing thanks to increased transparency.

With cosmofunding, Vontobel has launched the first online platform for private placements in Switzerland that combines its extensive market knowhow and its own technology leadership to create value for end-clients. “As the company behind cosmofunding, Vontobel is a solid and prudent Swiss financial services provider with proven fixed income expertise and a broad base of institutional investors from our advisory activities. Drawing on our long experience in the platform business, we are anticipating the needs of end-clients – such as the automated securitization of financing in all common currencies – and we are thus offering a fully automated and user-friendly process,” stated Roger Studer, Head of Vontobel Investment Banking. In this area, Vontobel is working exclusively with the independent credit rating agency fedafin – the first and only Swiss rating agency to be recognized by FINMA. “For many institutional investors, a fedafin rating is a prerequisite for the conclusion of a private placement or loan, since this provides them with certainty regarding the creditworthiness of the issuer and the offering. In addition to over 320 companies of various sizes, we currently cover 2,200 Swiss municipalities and cantons – which corresponds to 95% market coverage” added Dr. Adrian Oberlin, Managing Director of fedafin.

cosmofunding is a Web-based, license-free platform. Market participants can access the platform without obligation using a personal log-in. Like all Vontobel platforms, cosmofunding meets the very highest security standards. Borrowers and lenders of capital can now register at: www.cosmofunding.com. The platform will go live on September 3, 2018.

Vontobel Investment Banking
Vontobel Investment Banking creates specialized investment solutions for private and professional clients. We follow a client-oriented digital business model, manage risks carefully and build compelling service packages to get our clients ahead. Understanding our clients’ needs in depth is of vital importance for us. We use our expertise to anticipate trend reversals, risks and opportunities in order to exploit them successfully for you. We only do what we master, and we follow up on opportunities we believe in. We take clear decisions and act with determination. We are proud of our specialized offering, which includes structured products, transaction banking, corporate finance, brokerage and solutions for external investment advisors, and digital platforms. We regularly win awards for our research capabilities. This is how we add value for you.

Legal information
This media release is intended solely for information purposes. The information and views contained in it do not constitute a request, offer or recommendation to use a service, to buy or sell investment instruments or to conduct other transactions. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections and other outcomes described or implied in forward-looking statements will not be achieved.