Commentaries

Following the US sanctions against Russia for its annexation of Crimea, the Federal Supreme Court, in its ruling 4A_84/2021, examined the scope of the grounds justifying a refusal of the payment services falling under the universal service of the Post Office. In April 2018, Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian citizen and Swiss resident, was placed on the list of Specially Designated National and Blocked Persons (SDN) by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as part of the sanctions against[...]

In its report on digital finance, the Federal Council defines the fields of action in the domain for the coming years. It notes that the digital transformation of the financial sector represents a strong potential for growth for Switzerland as a business centre. This transformation can lead to an improvement in the efficiency of the financial markets, increased transparency, better matching of customer services and a reduction in costs. However, the Federal Council notes that the use of new technologies[...]

Can a bank be guilty of unfair management in the context of the realisation of assets following a margin call? Do the transaction confirmations provided by the bank constitute evidence with increased probative value under Art. 251 PC? In the 6B_1381/2021 ruling, the Federal Court answers both questions in the negative. A client entered into an execution only options and futures trading contract with his bank in 2015. This contract obliged the client to meet the margin requirements that the[...]

Lawyers only focus on the verb. The received idea is almost correct, but therefore false: they also become infatuated with deeds. Art. 18 para. 1 CO, central to our legal system, illustrates this when it states that the real and common intention of the parties takes precedence over their inaccurate expressions. The bias in favour of the primacy of will is, moreover, nothing specific to Switzerland. Inherited from Roman law, it is consequently one ‘of the dominant features of the[...]

In the 1B_537/2021 ruling, the Federal Court examines the question of whether, in the context of a transfer of assets within the meaning of art. 69 et seq. LFus, the acquiring company acquires the legal standing of the transferor's plaintiff. On 15 December 2017, a foundation filed a criminal complaint against its former secretary general for acts committed in the management of the foundation from 2012 to 2017. The public prosecutor's office then opened an investigation for unfair management (art.[...]

The sealing route is not open to the bank, some of whose employees are being prosecuted for violating the obligation to communicate (art. 9 and 37 LBA). The Federal Supreme Court (FSC) ruled in this way in two (surprisingly) similar cases, which were the subject of three rulings, the first dated 14 December 2021, the second two dated 20 December 2021 (1B_49/2021, 1B_461/2021 and 1B_243/2021). For ease of reading, the following lines focus on the first decision. On 7 November[...]

In response to the postulate of 16 August 2019 of the Council of States' Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (CEATE-CE), the Federal Council published its report “How can Switzerland make financial flows consistent with climate objectives?” on 17 November 2021. In it, the Federal Council examines various measures that could more effectively involve the financial sector in the transition to a ‘net zero’ economy. The conclusion of voluntary sectoral agreements and greater transparency are the approaches that[...]

In the judgement 4A_36/2021 intended for publication, the Federal Supreme Court considered the question of the creditor's standing to bring an action for liability (art. 754 CO). It considered, incidentally, the effects of the assignment of claims and the consequences thereof for the original holder of the claim. An open-ended investment company, based in the Cayman Islands, holds several sub-funds. These sub-funds are autonomous, but do not have legal personality. One of these sub-funds participates in real estate projects in[...]

What procedural protection can be granted to the minutes of the board of directors (and other internal information) of a bank? In ATF 148 III 84 (4A_58/2021), the Federal Tribunal specifies the scope of the measures that a civil court may order in order to protect the interests worthy of protection of a party. A Guernsey company is suing a Swiss bank for damages before the Zurich Commercial Court. In its response, the bank asks the court to prohibit the[...]

Should the use of an algorithmic trading programme be considered a substitution within the meaning of Art. 398 para. 3 CO ? Does the agent violate his duty to inform if he does not regularly inform his principal about the progress of market making? The Federal Supreme Court answers both questions in the negative in its judgement 4A_305/2021. A company incorporated under Israeli law enters into a mandate agreement with a Swiss bank. Under this agreement, the bank undertakes to[...]

India sends a request for administrative assistance to Switzerland. The request apparently concerns Alain, who has lost his father (the late Denis). This circumstance is going to be a source of confusion: is India interested in Alain or in the inheritance of the late Denis? Before delving into this question, let us note that three bank accounts have been identified as relevant in Switzerland. Alain and the late Denis were joint holders of account number 1. The company ‘C.’ is[...]

In the 4A_263/2021 ruling, the Federal Supreme Court analyses the liability of an asset management company under Art. 55 CO. The company had hired an asset manager as an external manager who had adopted a risky investment strategy. This strategy resulted in substantial losses for the client. In March 2008, the client opened an account with a first Swiss bank and entrusted the management of all his assets to a trader specialising in derivatives. In May 2008, the client suffered[...]

In a ruling dated 6 August 2021 (4A_659/2020), the Federal Court specified the cases in which a bank may invoke international sanctions not recognised in Switzerland to refuse to execute a client's instruction. On 6 August 2013, a Panamanian company opened a bank account with a Swiss bank. At the end of the company's chain of ownership is Mr Viktor Vekselberg, who indirectly controls the company. Furthermore, the company indicates that Mr Viktor Vekselberg is the beneficial owner of the[...]

On 4 November 2021, the Takeover Committee issued Decision 795/01 in which an exemption from the mandatory offer was granted to the group of shareholders made up of the Hoffmann family (hereinafter: the applicants) in the context of a planned buyback of own shares relating to a block of Roche shares held by Novartis. In order to reduce its shareholding, Novartis entered into discussions with the Roche board of directors to buy back and cancel 53.3 million Roche shares. As[...]

The direct transfer of client data across the Atlantic by an asset manager in the context of the tax dispute between Switzerland and the United States constitutes an act performed without right for a foreign state, punishable within the meaning of Article 271(1) of the Swiss Criminal Code. The Federal Supreme Court ruled as such in a judgement of 1st November 2021 intended for publication (6B_216/2020). This is the second time that the judges of Mon Repos have considered this[...]

In a recent judgement concerning the interpretation of an insurance contract, the Federal Court was required to determine the extent of the insured risk in light of the concepts of ‘primary limitation’ and ‘secondary limitation of risk’ (TF 4A_72/2021 of 28 September 2021). A Swiss holding company provides financial services through its subsidiaries, including a US subsidiary. In order to protect itself against the civil liability risks associated with its commercial activity, the holding company has taken out civil liability[...]

In a judgment 1B_59/2021 of 18 October 2021 intended for publication, the Federal Supreme Court rules for the first time on the procedure to be followed by the criminal authorities when realising seized cryptoassets in advance. Criminal proceedings have been brought in the canton of Zurich against Alexis for money laundering (art. 305bis CP). In September 2019, the public prosecutor's office seized the defendant's cryptoassets deposited with B. SA with a view to their confiscation. A year later, the prosecution[...]

Is a customer who trades online a consumer? Is a bank that cannot immediately execute a stop-loss order when the market is illiquid liable for the losses incurred by the customer? In the 4A_54/2021 ruling, the Federal Court considered these two questions, but only ruled on one of them. In 2014, a client with some experience in the financial field used the IT platform of a bank in the canton of Vaud to speculate on the variation in the EUR/CHF[...]

In a ruling dated 19 August 2021 (2C_530/2020), the Federal Court reiterated the principles applicable to the calculation of confiscable gains within the meaning of Art. 35 LFINMA. A public limited company X authorised by FINMA as a manager of collective investments within the meaning of the LPCC (authorisation now known as manager of collective assets since the relevant provisions were transferred from the LPCC to the LEFin) had entered into business finder contracts with a public limited company Y[...]

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) recently published an update of the principles on outsourcing established in 2005 for market intermediaries and in 2009 for stock exchanges. This update is due to new technological developments and recent developments in the field of outsourcing. Firstly, the personal scope of these principles has been broadened. They apply not only to the aforementioned entities, but also to trading platforms (in particular multilateral trading facilities), participants in the financial markets acting on their[...]

On the sidelines of COP26, FINMA published a communication on supervision regarding the prevention of and fight against greenwashing. This document sets out FINMA's expectations for combating this practice in the investment fund sector. First of all, it reiterates that several initiatives have been taken at national and international level to increase sustainability transparency for investors and clients. Indeed, one of the main challenges in preventing and combating greenwashing is access to objective and accurate information on the sustainability of[...]

In judgment 6B 379/2020 intended for publication, the Federal Court details the conditions under which the intermediary's fees in the context of a corruption scheme may be subject to confiscation measures (articles 70 and 71 PC). The Brazilian and Swiss criminal authorities were each conducting proceedings against Alexis, a middleman in the context of the award by Petrobras of operating contracts to B. Inc. and C. BV. with a total estimated value of USD 2,680,000,000. Following solicitations from the directors[...]

In a decision of 24 November 2020 (ACJC/1653/2020), the Court of Justice of Geneva ruled on the validity of a request for payment made under a bank guarantee. The peculiarity of the ruling lies in the fact that the request did not come from the beneficiary itself but from a third-party assignee, which had then merged with the principal. The Court of Justice concluded in essence that, in addition to being formally non-compliant, the appeal to the disputed guarantee was[...]

Does an employee who uses a company credit card for private purposes commit a breach of trust to the detriment of his or her employer? The Federal Supreme Court answered this question in the affirmative in its ruling 6B_701/2020 of 11 June 2021. A bank grants an executive secretary a credit card in her name and for her exclusive use to enable her to pay her business expenses independently. Each month, the employee receives a statement which she must check[...]

In its judgement 4A_223/2021 of 26 August 2021, the Federal Supreme Court ruled on an action for the protection of clear cases concerning the surrender of 299 ounces of physical gold. This dispute has already given rise to a ruling by the Federal Court, which referred the case back to the Obergericht of the canton of Aargau for a new judgement on the application of the clausula rebus sic stantibus (4A_263/2019 of 2 December 2019, commented on in cdbf.ch/1109/). By[...]

Following on from an initial ruling in which it had ruled that an access request whose objective was to obtain information to be used in a lawsuit against the recipient of the request was abusive (4A_277/2020 of 18 November 2020), the Federal Court is continuing its case law aimed at limiting the scope of the right of access under the Data Protection Act (ATF 147 III 139). Although delivered in a very specific context, this ruling nevertheless offers interesting lessons,[...]

Ten years after the entry into force of the Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees (URDG, ICC publication no. 758), the International Chamber of Commerce published in 2021 the International Standard Demand Guarantee Practice for URDG 758 (ISDGP, ICC publication no. 814), adopted by the ICC Banking Commission in March 2021. The collection consists of a set of practices (‘best practices’), inspired by international customs and intended to complement URDG 758. The text is published exclusively in English. Like the URDG,[...]

How can you prove your loss when a bank does not execute the order to buy shares? ATF 147 III 463 (Federal Court decision 4A_606/2020, intended for publication) provides some welcome clarification. A client asked his bank to purchase 25,000 Twitter shares at a price of USD 25 when the company went public on 7 November 2013. The bank confirmed the purchase of these shares on 6 November. However, on 11 November, the bank informed the client that it had[...]

On 22 September 2021, FINMA published a Practical Guide aimed at setting out its practice regarding changes within banking bodies and, more specifically, at providing an overview of the assessment criteria that it generally applies in the context of examining the guarantee of irreproachable activity. Concept of body The concept of a governing body extends to the persons responsible for administering and managing the bank. Holders of qualified participations, although also subject to an examination from the point of view[...]

When a bank informs its client that it will liquidate his securities if he does not react within the allotted time, can the client complain after the fact about the liquidation of his securities? The Federal Court addressed this issue in its ruling 4A_354/2020 of 5 July 2021. A Mexican national has had a bank account in Geneva since 2006. In 2010, the bank amended its general terms and conditions so that it could terminate the contractual relationship at any[...]