Droit international et droit des étrangers

Are Credit Institutions in the Banking Union (BU) Resolvable?

This study discusses whether credit institutions established in the Member States participating in the (European) Banking Union (BU) are resolvable. It is structured in five Sections: Section I provides an overview of the legislative acts which constitute the “EU banking resolution framework” (including the rules on credit institutions’ loss absorption and recapitalisation capacity), as these…

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…

Editorial

The war is still raging in Ukraine and no international consensus has yet been reached on the possible use of Russian assets in support of Ukraine. The merger of the two Swiss banking mammoths is legally final and its implementation, a huge and immensely complex project, is under way and will be for quite some time. The government has just published an extensive report on how to improve the…

Intelligence artificielle et automatisation des décisions dans le secteur bancaire et financier : application de la LPD et du RGPD

This article addresses the application of Automated Decision-Making (ADM) in banking and finance, under the revised Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection and the EU’s GDPR. It scrutinizes the legal framework of ADM, particularly considering the European Court of Justice’s interpretation in the SCHUFA Holding AG case, which broadens the scope of “decision” within the GDPR, encompassing actions like…

FIDLEG-Verhaltenspflichten: Umsetzungsfragen und Weiterentwicklung nach der initialen Umsetzungsphase

Since the transitional period of the Financial Services Act (FinSA) expired on 31 December 2021, financial service providers have gained more than two years of experience with the new, cross-sectoral regulation. In practice, as well as through the first audits that have now taken place, it has become clear that many fundamental (interpretation) questions relating to the conduct duties of the…

Finanzmarktenforcement und Kommunikation: Zum Kommuni­kationsverhalten der FINMA hinsichtlich einzelner Enforcementverfahren

In the spring of 2023, the Swiss financial market saw the state-backed takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS, sparking global interest and retrospective scrutiny. The SNB, EFD and FINMA all faced criticism, but financial regulator FINMA in particular was condemned for perceived ineffectiveness and poor communication. Calls for legal reform aim to enhance FINMA’s ability to communicate enforcement…

Marktzutritt für Schweizer Banken in Deutschland – wieder aktuell

Swiss banks are actively seeking simplified market access in Germany. While in recent years the so-called simplified exemption procedure has become quieter and some Swiss banks have even returned their exemptions, it seems that with Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) having successfully procured a simplified exemption under the German Banking Act last year, that there has been new impetus for these…

The New EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation and its Implications for Switzerland

The EU has adopted a new unilateral instrument to control subsidies granted by non-EU countries, such as Switzerland, to companies operating in the EU. This subsidy control combines antitrust, state aid and trade rules, but applies directly to companies rather than to foreign states or granting authorities. Companies with some activities in the EU fall within the scope of this foreign subsidy…

Venture Capital, ESG and Sustainable Investments

Sustainability is a pressing issue that requires addressing various environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges. The venture capital industry has the potential to play a crucial role in sustainable investments due to its characteristics, such as long-term investment horizons and investor protections. However, sustainability has yet to become a major topic in private equity and venture…