Publica sells CHF 1.1 billion mortgage portfolio to BEKB

Publica, the Swiss Federal Pension Fund and largest Swiss pension organization completed the sale of its CHF1.1 billion mortgage portfolio to Berner Kantonalbank with effect as per January 1, 2012. The portfolio consists of more than 3,500 real estate financings for properties in Switzerland. Berner Kantonalbank takes over Publica's mortgage business inluding the approximately 20 staff handling Publica's mortgage activties to date. 

The Lenz & Staehelin team advising Publica in this transaction includes partner Matthias Wolf and associate Christian Kurer (both M&A and Banking).