Anfechtungsklagen – Worum geht es?
Schuldner können versucht sein, Vermögenswerte dem Zugriff durch eine mögliche Zwangsvollstreckung zu entziehen. Die Anfechtungsklage (auch "Pauliana" genannt) gibt der Konkursverwaltung, und unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen den Gläubigern, die Möglichkeit, solche Rechtshandlungen des Schuldners anzufechten. Bei Gutheissung der Klagen werden die Vermögenswerte der Zwangsvollstreckung zugeführt.
Avoidance Actions – What are they?
Debtors may be tempted to protect assets from access by a possible foreclosure. The avoidance action (also called "Pauliana") gives the bankruptcy administration, and under certain conditions the creditors, the opportunity to challenge such legal acts of the debtor. Upon approval of the actions, the assets will be foreclosed.
Although Switzerland recently decided to facilitate the financing activities of groups operating in or out of Switzerland by easing some restrictions under the Withholding Tax Ordinance, the rather stringent requirements regarding group financings according to corporate law, as well as the rules under banking law and bankruptcy law, remain the same.
Der Basler ZPO-Tag 2017 vom 3. November 2017 (Programm) befasste sich mit aktuellen praktischen Fragen und Neuerungen rund um die verschiedenen zivil-prozessrechtlichen Verfahren und die Vollstreckung. Für Gläubiger wie auch Schuldner sind insbesondere der Wegfall des Gefährdungserfordernisses beim Arrest gestützt auf Urteile sowie neue Tendenzen bei der Verjährungsunterbrechung durch Betreibung von Bedeutung.
The Swiss government presented a draft bill in May 2017 which was approved by the Swiss Council of States in December 2017 with very few amendments. The revised law could be effective as from 1 January 2019 if the Swiss National Council approves the revision this year.
Key changes include:
On 16 March 2018, the Swiss Parliament adopted the revision of the international insolvency provisions of the Swiss Private International Law Act ("PILA"). Such revision particularly aims at simplifying the recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings in Switzerland which shall lead to a reduction of costs and improved efficiency. The revised PILA is now subject to an optional referendum.
Der Konkurs der weltweit siebtgrössten Containerreederei Hanjin erschüttert gegenwärtig den Welthandel. Es wird angenommen, dass Güter im Wert von ca. USD 14 Milliarden auf den Schiffen dieser Reederei blockiert sind bzw. blockiert waren. Die Bemühungen um eine Freigabe dieser Waren laufen, doch stellen sich dabei erhebliche Probleme.
The insolvency of the container shipping company Hanijn freezes cargo on vessels and ports in amount of USD 14 Billions. Worldwide, all concerned parties try to defreeze their cargo and face complex legal problems.
Swiss companies must now analyse the implications of these problems in Switzerland which can be outlined as follows (see in detail Raphael Brunner, KOLT-Newsletter, in German):
The Swiss Federal Council presented to parliament its dispatch for a reform of Swiss corporate law. The draft Act amending the Swiss Code of Obligations (Draft Act) seeks to modernize corporate governance by strengthening shareholder rights and promoting gender equality on corporate boards and senior management. It also replaces the provisions of the (interim) Ordinance on Excessive Compensation (Minder-Ordinance) by a federal act of parliament with only a few changes.
A creditor of a debt in Switzerland can file a debt collection request against the debtor to enforce its claim. The debt collection proceedings will eventually lead to the seizure of the debtor's assets. If the enforcement proceedings are unsuccessful and the debtor's assets are insufficient to cover the creditor's claim, the debt collection authorities will issue a loss certificate confirming the part of the claim which was not covered by the proceeds.