The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. Declares Income And Capital Gain Distributions And Announces Extension Of Stock Repurchase Program

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2015

In addition, the Fund also announced the Board's approval of the continuation of the Fund's stock repurchase program, pursuant to which the Fund may purchase up to 500,000 shares of its common stock in open market transactions during the rest of 2015 and throughout 2016.  The principal purpose of the stock repurchase program is to enhance stockholder value by increasing the Fund's net asset value per share without creating a meaningful adverse effect on the Fund's expense ratio.  Since 1999, with the exception of 2014, the Fund's Board of Directors has authorized an annual stock repurchase program permitting open market purchases by the Fund of its shares of common stock. 

Any repurchase by the Fund of its common stock is subject to various factors, including the limitations imposed by the federal securities laws governing the repurchase of an issuer's stock by the issuer, the ability of the Fund's investment adviser to raise cash to repurchase shares of the Fund's common stock in a tax-efficient manner and general market conditions.  There can be no assurance that the program will enhance stockholder value or increase the market value of the Fund's shares.  The Fund's Board of Directors may amend this program, solely in its discretion, at any time during the duration of the program. Any amendment to the Fund's announced stock repurchase program will be publicly disclosed.

About The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.

The Fund (www.swzfund.com) is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company seeking long-term capital appreciation through investment in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies.  Its shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "SWZ."  The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing generally in Swiss equity and equity-linked securities that are traded on a Swiss stock exchange, traded at the pre-bourse level of one or more Swiss stock exchanges, traded through a market maker or traded over the counter in Switzerland.  The Fund also may invest in Swiss equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies that are traded on other major European stock exchanges.

Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered.  Typically, shares of closed-end funds are sold in the open market through a stock exchange.  Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value.  The price of the Fund's shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the Fund.  Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value.

The Fund is managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. and Schroder Investment Management North America Limited.