Droit des affaires divers

Bonus als Risiko – Zur Regulierung der variablen Vergütung von Bankorganen

The experience with the Credit Suisse crisis of confidence has once again shown that compensation systems are of considerable importance for the risk management of financial institutions. Inappropriate risks and wrong incentives can endanger the substance and profitability of a bank and thus its stability. This article focuses on the regulation of variable compensation of bank boards and analyzes…

Bail-in-Bonds

Following the financial crisis of 2007/08, the bail-in has established itself as the preferred resolution strategy for large banks throughout Switzerland and internationally. According to the concept, it is not the bank’s owners or the state that are to finance a resolution but the bank’s creditors. This is to be achieved by converting a certain type of debt called «bail-in-bonds» into equity…

Neuerungen in der Einlagensicherung

The partial revision of the Banking Act and thus an improved depositor protection came into force on 1^st January 2023. CHF 100 000 will remain protected if a bank goes bankrupt, and the financing of the system is strength­ened. Among other things, the new law brings changes for joint account holders. Parts of the revision came into force immediately. Transitional periods apply to others. CS…

Schutz der Kundenvermögen durch Segregation

Swiss financial market law contains various provisions that serve to protect client assets by means of segregation. With regard to the custody of intermediated securities, a revision entered into force on 1 January 2023: Art. 11a of the Federal Act on Intermediated Securities (FISA) now stipulates an obligation for custodians to hold their own securities and those of their account holders in…

Verfügt die FINMA über genügend wirksame und scharfe Instrumente gegen (höchste) Bankmanager?

In March 2023, Crédit Suisse (CS) had to be taken over by UBS. It was the first global systemically important bank to face imminent resolution since the financial crisis of 2007–2008. Unlike UBS in 2008, CS remained well capitalized until the end. But clients had lost confidence in the bank’s management. This led to a bank run and thus to the bank’s demise. The ongoing crisis of specialist and…

Recent developments in Swiss competition law

Note from the editors

This edition concludes the tenure of Professor Jean-Luc Chenaux on the editorial board of the Swiss Review of Business and Financial Market Law. Jean-Luc was on the board for twelve years. In the past two years, he has also assumed the co-chairman­ship, helping to fill the gap when former chairman Hans-Caspar von der Crone took his well-deserved leave after several decades of service. Jean-Luc is…

Editorial

The present issue of the Swiss Review of Business and Financial Market Law marks the end of a fateful year for Switzerland in general and the Swiss financial center in particular. The demise of Credit Suisse has rekindled the debate among politicians, the media and the general public regarding the effectiveness of FINMA’s supervision. Drawing from the various crises since 2007/2008, David Wyss d…

Finanzmarktaufsicht zwischen Macht und Ohnmacht

FINMA has been under constant criticism since its inception; the disappearance of Credit Suisse has only added fuel to the fire. The case of FINMA’s attempted enforcement of a capital surcharge – from 2016 until today! –, which is well documented by court rulings, drastically highlights the difficulties of delivering effective supervision in individual cases in accordance with the mandate. …

Floating Charge as Security in Debt Finance Transactions

The granting of security by the way of a floating charge is a common law concept which allows the entirety of a company’s assets to be used as collateral. Borrowers and lenders profit from this highly flexible means of providing a comprehensive security interest in debt finance transactions. This article examines whether the concept of floating charge is recognized under Swiss law or not. For…