CASE STUDY
Our client, a British national and senior investment professional, had relocated from London to Zurich and was looking to acquire a prime residential property in the Herrliberg area for CHF 11 million.
The client had substantial liquidity and marketable investments held across leading European private banks. His income comprised a senior CHF-denominated executive salary, bonus potential and significant rental income from a prime London residential property.
While the client’s overall financial position was particularly strong, the objective was to complete the CHF 11 million acquisition without unnecessarily deploying a significant proportion of his existing liquidity.
The wider position also needed to be considered carefully. The client already held substantial investment assets, had relatively modest secured liabilities and benefited from highly competitive existing CHF borrowing, fixed at approximately 1% on an interest-only basis.
This meant the transaction could not be approached as a standalone mortgage exercise.
The client was also looking to establish a long-term relationship with a Swiss private bank, with the property acquisition forming part of a broader banking and investment strategy.
Property value:
CHF 11 million
Total financing:
CHF 11 million
Traditional mortgage:
60%
AUM-backed financing:
40%
Location:
Zurich region
We structured the acquisition through a combination of traditional Swiss mortgage lending and financing against assets under management.
60% of the purchase price was financed through a traditional CHF mortgage.
The remaining 40% was financed through leverage against assets held with the private bank.
Together, the facilities provided CHF 11 million of total financing, allowing the client to complete the acquisition while preserving existing liquidity.
The structure also created the foundations for a wider private banking relationship, with scope for assets under management with the bank to develop progressively over time.
Rather than considering the mortgage in isolation, the financing was structured around the client’s wider balance sheet, liquidity position and long-term banking objectives.
For internationally mobile private clients with significant investment assets, this type of structure can provide an alternative to deploying substantial capital into a property acquisition, where appropriate and subject to the terms and risks associated with both property-backed and investment-backed borrowing.
Client details have been anonymised. Lending and investment-backed facilities are subject to individual circumstances, lender criteria and availability. Borrowing against investment assets can introduce additional risks, including requirements to provide further collateral if asset values fall. Appropriate investment, tax and legal advice should be obtained where relevant.
OFFICES
United Kingdom
Switzerland
United Arab Emirates (DIFC)
Registered in England and Wales under reference 12002019. Registered office address: c/o First Floor, Tabard Works, 6-12 Tabard Street, London SE1 4JU.
With regard to any financial or mortgage advice you may receive from us, any decision on which interest rate, amount sought and specific product terms should rely on the personal and business circumstances you find yourself in. We encourage you to enable us to carry out a full review prior to any mortgage application, made by you or on your behalf, to enable us to clearly and accurately understand and establish the specific needs and preferences that you may have and to help determine whether you meet any relevant criteria or not.
We will be delighted to advise you and make recommendations based on your specific details and there may be a fee for such mortgage advice.
Please note: mortgage deals may not be available, and lending is subject to individual circumstances and status. Any rates shown on this website are indicative only and may not be suitable for you. You must be 18 or over.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it.
A bridging loan is a short-term loan secured against your home or property. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any debt secured on it. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some forms of bridging finance.
Henry Dannell Private Clients Limited is a broker, not a lender, and is independent with access to the whole of market. We may receive commissions that will vary depending on the lender, the product or other permissible factors. The nature of any commission model will be confirmed to you before you proceed.
Henry Dannell is a trading style of Henry Dannell Private Clients Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register under reference 943626.
Henry Dannell Private Clients Limited is registered in England & Wales under registration No. 12002019. Registered and trading office address: First Floor, Tabard Works, 6-12 Tabard Street, London SE1 4JU.
The information contained within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK.
Our written complaints procedure is available upon request. If we cannot settle your complaint, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. If we cannot meet our obligations, you may be entitled to compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. This depends on the type of business and the circumstances of the claim.
© 2026 Henry Dannell