• “What are you, and if so, how many?” – Considerations on Compliance with the new 500-Investor Rule in Practice

    Under the newly enacted Financial Services Act (FinSA), a prospectus is not required if a public offer of securities is directed at less than 500 investors. This article considers the new 500-investor rule from a practical perspective and proposes guidelines for potential offerors who wish to rely on it. By David Weber (Reference: CapLaw-2020-14)


    Read more: “What are you, and if so, how many?” – Considerations on Compliance with the new 500-Investor Rule in Practice
  • Sustainability Considerations in Debt Finance Transactions

    The financial sector plays an important role in addressing climate change issues. While it is recognized that climate change can have an impact on financial stability, the financial sector can contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This article provides an overview of the various green / sustainable financing methods and their main characteristics,…


    Read more: Sustainability Considerations in Debt Finance Transactions
  • New Rules on the Disclosure of Beneficial Owners and the Death Knell for Bearer Shares

    On 21 June 2019, the Swiss Federal Assembly passed the Federal Act on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (the Act) into law. The Act sounds the death knell of bearer shares for non-listed companies. It also introduces criminal law sanctions for breaches…


    Read more: New Rules on the Disclosure of Beneficial Owners and the Death Knell for Bearer Shares
  • Expiration of Swiss Stock Exchange Equivalence and Activated Protective Measure

    On 30 June 2019, the European Commission did not extend the so-called equivalence recognition of the Swiss legal framework applicable to stock exchanges. As a reaction, the Swiss Federal Department of Finance activated countermeasures designed to protect Swiss financial market infrastructures, in particular Swiss stock exchanges. This article provides an overview of the events surrounding…


    Read more: Expiration of Swiss Stock Exchange Equivalence and Activated Protective Measure
  • The Rise of Swiss Domestic Covered Bond Programmes

    In the recent past, Swiss domestically oriented covered bond structures have become increasingly popular. Under recent successfully established domestic, purely Swiss law governed covered bond structures, Swiss issuers have been able to replicate traditional English law elements of covered bonds under Swiss law, enabling the covered bonds to be assigned a triple-A rating. This article…


    Read more: The Rise of Swiss Domestic Covered Bond Programmes
  • Discontinuation of LIBOR and Swiss Law-Governed Legacy Bonds – Time to Take a Closer Look

    LIBOR was – and still is – the dominant reference rate for CHF-denominated floating rate and other variable interest rate bonds. There is still a significant number of outstanding “legacy bonds” with such variable interest rates that have maturities beyond the end of 2021, the announced time for the discontinuation of LIBOR. This article discusses…


    Read more: Discontinuation of LIBOR and Swiss Law-Governed Legacy Bonds – Time to Take a Closer Look
  • Can publicly available data become insider information?

    Investors of the twenty-first century can harness the power of publicly available data to form a view on a specific company or – more generally – on a particular investment topic. Satellite imagery, marine and air traffic trackers, keyword or search engine trends can provide critical insights on how a company is performing, sometimes unbeknownst…


    Read more: Can publicly available data become insider information?
  • Popular Initiative on Responsible Enterprises: Switzerland’s Long Arm on Subject Enterprises

    Although its fate and timing are very unclear, the popular initiative “for responsible enterprises – for the protection of human rights and environment” (initiative on responsible enterprises; Konzernverantwortungsinitiative; Initiative Multinationales Responsables; “Initiative”) is not only hotly debated among the many Swiss based international companies that would be affected by it, but also among lawmakers in…


    Read more: Popular Initiative on Responsible Enterprises: Switzerland’s Long Arm on Subject Enterprises
  • Asset Backed Securities Under the Financial Services Act

    The Financial Services Act of 15 June 2018 (FinSA) and the consultation draft Financial Services Ordinance (draft FinSO) dated 24 October 2018 include significant new rules for the distribution of financial instruments and the regulation of financial services in Switzerland. This article discusses the potential impact of the new rules on Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) in…


    Read more: Asset Backed Securities Under the Financial Services Act