A new milestone in the Ticino financial sector. Credinvest Bank announced the acquisition of 19,5% of the capital of Carthesio SA, a Lugano-based company active in asset management and collective investment funds since 2001. This transaction represents a further step in the bank's growth strategy, which aims to consolidate its presence in the private banking and asset management sectors.
The agreement, made official on July 1, 2026, stems from a long-standing collaboration between the two companies and is part of a process aimed at creating new development opportunities, leveraging complementary skills and a shared vision of the market.
A company specializing in wealth management
Authorized by FINMA since 2007, Carthesio provides financial advisory, asset management, and collective investment fund management services to both high-net-worth private investors and institutional clients.
Over the years, the company has built a model focused on developing customized strategies, tailored to the characteristics and objectives of individual investors. Its distinctive features also include exclusive investment funds and a significant presence in alternative strategies, including those linked to hedge funds, which provide access to investment opportunities typically reserved for large institutional investors.
Over one billion francs under management
With a staff of 23 professionals and assets under management exceeding one billion Swiss francs, Carthesio is today one of the leading independent asset management firms in Ticino.
The company also highlights an organizational structure built to combine solidity and rapid decision-making, thanks to processes developed over almost three decades of activity and a governance that involves both operating partners and financial investors oriented towards a long-term perspective.
A shared strategy
According to the two companies, the transaction reflects a convergence of visions based on customer focus, quality investment solutions, and the valorization of specialized skills.
Credinvest Bank's investment in Carthesio aims to foster an ecosystem characterized by high specialization, operational flexibility, and international relations, elements considered essential to addressing the evolving financial sector.
Statements from the top management
Credinvest Bank CEO Alex Oberholzer explained that the bank views partnerships as a strategic tool for creating long-term value. He emphasized how the relationship developed over the years with Carthesio has allowed them to build a solid foundation, making the transition to an even closer collaboration a natural progression.
Oberholzer also emphasized that the transaction is part of the institution's development plan, which continues through both organic growth and selective acquisitions and the influx of new capital, with the aim of further consolidating its market position.
For Federico Bianchetti, CEO of Carthesio SA, strengthening the partnership with Credinvest Bank represents an opportunity to expand existing expertise and create new synergies. He emphasized the importance of relying on a partner capable of offering innovative services, a network of local and international relationships, and a focus on human capital development.
Bianchetti added that the collaboration could also facilitate future integrations of other managers within Carthesio's structure, thus contributing to the growth of the Ticino financial center. At the same time, the company will also assume an advisory role in Credinvest Bank's asset management operations, considered an evolution of the already established partnership between the two entities.
Strengthening private banking
With this acquisition, Credinvest Bank further expands its offerings for private and institutional clients. The institution intends to strengthen its advisory and wealth management activities, integrating the specialized skills developed by Carthesio over twenty years of experience.
The bank has two offices in Lugano, on Via G. Cattori and Contrada Sassello, as well as an office in Zurich. Its main areas of activity include personalized financial advisory, wealth management, structured products, actively managed certificates, and securitization transactions.
Over the past four years, the institute has also invested in expanding its workforce and strengthening its expertise, accompanying this growth with both quantitative and qualitative developments in its activities.
A look at the future of Ticino finance
The agreement between Credinvest Bank and Carthesio represents one of the most significant transactions in the Lugano financial center in recent months. In addition to strengthening the relationship between the bank and the asset management company, the agreement aims to create the conditions for new collaborations and potential mergers in the asset management sector.
The stated objective is to develop a model capable of combining specialization, innovation, and continuity, contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of the Ticino financial sector, also with a long-term perspective.
