Since 2005, SIFEM AG, a Swiss limited company based in Bern, has managed a portfolio of development-oriented private equity, mezzanine, debt and structured investments on behalf of the Swiss Government. In August 2011, the Swiss Government has acquired SIFEM, which now holds the transferred investment portfolio, thereby completing SIFEM's transformation into a full-fledged, capitalised Development Finance Institution.
1995 - 2005
SECO develops a portfolio consisting of private equity fund participations and direct financial institution investments in more than 30 developing and transition economies
1995
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) makes its first emerging markets investment in Profund, a microfinance private equity fund in Latin America
December 2005
The former SIFEM team (now Obviam) wins two additional mandates to represent the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) on the Board of Directors of the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE)
June 2005
The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) is established by the management team as a privately-held management company mandated to oversee SECO's investment portfolio and advise on new investment opportunities
September 2007
The former SIFEM team (now Obviam) co-advises with responsAbility on Base of the Pyramid Investments S.C.A. SICAR
August 2011
SIFEM becomes a wholly government-owned Development Finance Institution.
The investment portfolio is transferred from SECO to SIFEM. The
management team is transferred into newly founded Obviam, which manages SIFEM.