Securities

A shift of paradigm in legislation is normally triggered by flaws or loopholes in the substance of the existing legislation. Looking at the draft bill for the revision of the Financial Market Infrastructure Act (FMIA), this does not seem to apply to the Swiss government, which proposes to change the current regime of disclosure obligations…

The draft changes proposed in the consultation on the amendment to the Financial Market Infrastructure Act (FMIA) seek to transfer issuer obligations from self-regulation by the stock exchange(s) to the FMIA and, associated with such transfer, the assignment of competencies from Swiss stock exchanges to FINMA. Among these issuer duties is the obligation to report…

The Federal Council recently concluded a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Financial Market Infrastructure Act (FMIA). The proposal consists of a wide range of amendments and modernizations covering topics and rules on financial market infrastructures, takeover law, management transactions, ad hoc publicity, insider and derivatives trading. The proposed amendments also include amendments to…

The Swiss system for major shareholder disclosures requires investors to report holdings crossing thresholds (e.g., 3%, 5%, 10%) within four trading days. While these disclosures can significantly impact stock prices, the system is complex and prone to errors, partly due to intricate rules and limited guidance from disclosure offices. Violations are treated as misdemeanors, punishable…

On 26 June 2024, the Swiss Federal Council launched a public consultation (Vernehmlassung) on its proposals to amend the Swiss non-financial reporting obligations. The changes aim to align the Swiss requirements with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).  This article provides an overview of and comments on the proposed key changes which include, inter…

Sustainability in the financial sector has become increasingly important, both nationally and internationally. Governments and companies worldwide are stepping up their efforts and commitments to combat climate change. Switzerland is no exception to this trend and aims to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2050. This article examines the diverse spectrum of sustainable finance instruments that are…

In 2024, most companies listed in Switzerland were obliged for the first time to publish a report on non-financial matters in accordance with articles 964a-c of the Code of Obligations. The following article describes the related issues primarily discussed in connection with this year’s AGM season and examines whether clear trends and market practice have…

Convertible bonds may be an attractive financing instrument for listed companies, particularly for companies with a high growth potential. Creating a share lending facility may help issuers to increase the size and improve the pricing terms of their convertible bonds. This article aims to provide a brief overview of how such facilities may be structured…

In December 2021, VT5 Acquisition Company AG (VT5), the first Swiss SPAC, was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, raising CHF 200 million despite regulatory changes causing a nine-month delay. The subsequent ‘SPAC-winter’, characterized by regulatory scrutiny and an unfavorable economic climate, posed significant challenges, leading to VT5 disclosing difficulties in proceeding with a de-SPAC…