Category: Company changes

For every Swiss company limited by shares, the share register (Aktienbuch) is more than an internal spreadsheet. It is the record that shows who the company recognises as shareholders and who may exercise shareholder rights. For founders, investors, fiduciaries and legal teams, a clean share register is essential for governance, financing rounds, due diligence and…

In Switzerland, a commercial register extract (HR extract or Handelsregisterauszug) and register information (Registerauskünfte) are essential tools for understanding, verifying and documenting a company’s legal status. They are used every day by investors, international entrepreneurs, fiduciaries, lawyers, founders, and corporate legal teams. Whether you are checking a potential investment, preparing a transaction, opening a bank…

When setting up or changing a Swiss company, one question often comes up early: who really stands behind the company? In legal and compliance terms, this person is usually called the beneficial owner (wirtschaftlich berechtigte Person). The concept is simple in principle. A beneficial owner is the natural person who ultimately owns or controls a…

When incorporating or managing a Swiss company, the word “register” appears everywhere. Share register (Aktienregister), Commercial Register (Handelsregister), and now the Transparency Register (Transparenzregister). They sound similar, but they serve different purposes and contain different information. For Swiss companies, especially an LLC or Ltd, understanding the difference is essential for clean governance, investor readiness, and…

In 2025, Switzerland recorded a significant rise in company bankruptcies. According to the latest debt enforcement and bankruptcy statistics published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 12,485 company bankruptcies were opened during the year. This represents an increase of 61.2% compared with 2024. The increase is striking, but it should be understood in context. A…

Audit Requirement in Switzerland: What Swiss LLCs and Ltds Need to Know If you run a Swiss LLC (GmbH) or Ltd (AG), you will eventually come across the topic of audit requirements. Many companies ask themselves: The good news is that for many SMEs, the process is simpler than expected. In this article, we explain…

If you are managing a Swiss company, sooner or later, you will need to make updates in the Commercial Register (Handelsregister). A new board member, a change of address, an update of the company purpose, or signing authority, these are all common mutations. The question many founders, investors, and advisors ask is simple: Can these…

In Switzerland, the Articles of Association (AoA) define the legal framework of a company. Any amendment must follow a structured process and comply with the Swiss Code of Obligations. Whether you are a first-time founder, an investor, or a fiduciary managing multiple entities, preparing an amendment correctly is essential to avoid delays, rejections, or legal…

Changing the share capital of a company is a strategic move that often reflects growth, restructuring, or new ownership dynamics. Whether you are raising funds, adjusting your balance sheet, or preparing for new investors, understanding how to increase or reduce capital in a Swiss limited company (Ltd, also known as AG) or limited liability company…

In Switzerland, changes to company leadership must be officially recorded in the Commercial Register. This includes updates to the Board of Directors (Verwaltungsrat, VR) in a limited company (AG) and Managing Directors (Geschäftsleitung, GL) in a limited liability company (GmbH). A VR or GL change can involve the appointment, resignation, or replacement of individuals who…