Julius Baer, the Swiss private bank, has launched its first private equity funds of funds, as an initial step towards offering a fuller range of private equity products to its private and institutional clients.

The fund of funds, launched under the name shaPE Capital, will be listed on the Swiss stock exchange, at Sfr200 (€135) per share, with a minimum subscription of 50 shares. The fund is aimed at the bank's Swiss private clients and smaller institutional clients as it is optimised for the Swiss tax structure.