Regulatory law:
The internationalisation of cash flows, technological progress and the continuous development of financial innovation consistently challenge the regulatory rules governing the financial markets. This results in a continuous adjustment of the regulatory framework and increases the number and complexity of applicable rules and regulations in this field. Against this background, well-founded and resourceful legal advice is crucial.

Debt financing:
The forms of debt financing offered by a bank or other lender range from straightforward bilateral loans to larger, possibly syndicated loans to be granted in connection with project finance, trade finance or mergers and acquisitions. This may also include tailor-made leverage buyout transactions or even the establishment of complex asset-backed structures. As far as the financing of property, plant and equipment is concerned, it often makes sense to review the alternatives offered by a finance lease.

Private equity:
Start-ups are often financed by professional venture capitalists. For this purpose, the founders and investors usually enter into subscription and shareholders' agreements. The success of a private equity transaction depends, among other things, on the optimisation of the scope of negotiation existing for such contracts.

Mezzanine financing:
If raising equity finance becomes an arduous task in a bear market or for other reasons, and taking on additional liabilities would only stress the balance sheet, hybrid capital (mezzanine finance) might offer a possible solution. Besides from various forms of subordinated loans, mandatory convertible loans in particular have recently experienced a revival.

Legal advice in the field of Banking & Financial Services not only requires meticulous work and research, but also experience and specialist know-how in a great variety of practice areas (regulatory law, contract law, company law as well as tax law).

The Banking & Finance Team of ALTENBURGER has the necessary interdisciplinary skills and experience to assist Swiss and foreign banks as well as other financial services providers with the compliant structuring of their business. It also provides proficient legal advice to either lenders or borrowers in connection with the customised structuring and documentation of their financing transactions. Our services in the field of Banking & Financial Services extend in particular to the following:

• Regulatory matters applying to banks and securities dealers
• Collective investment schemes
• Debt financing
• Finance lease
• Private equity
• Taxes
• M&A of banks

For details, please see Key Strength: Banking & Financial Services