16.12.2016

Helvetia pushes ahead with digitalisation

St.Gallen – The insurance group Helvetia is investing in the mortgage intermediary MoneyPark. By acquiring the majority of shares, Helvetia is pursuing a new business model and pushing ahead with digitalisation.

Helvetia is taking over 70 per cent of the shares of MoneyPark, Switzerland’s biggest mortgage intermediary. MoneyPark, which is headquartered in Wollerau in the canton of Schwyz, combines an online platform with personal consulting services. It also offers an online market place for mortgage refinancing.

"With this acquisition we are not only tapping into new sources of revenue, but also opening up access to new customers and a broader range of products," said Philipp Gmür, Group CEO of Helvetia, in a statement. "The acquisition is also an important step towards digitisation and an improved customer centricity as part of our helvetia 20.20 strategy."

MoneyPark will not be integrated into Helvetia but will instead be managed as an independent unit. Helvetia will exploit the benefits offered by the online platform and collaborate with MoneyPark to develop new digital services.

Helvetia, which is headquartered in the St.GallenBodenseeArea, bought the shares for CHF 107 million. In addition to other shareholders, the founders of MoneyPark and Tamedia still own around 20 per cent of the company.