3/17/2025 - Information letters

Regulatory changes for trustees in Switzerland – Just talk to us!

Professional trustees in Switzerland have been required to obtain a licence from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) for some time now.

What does this mean for Swiss trustees?

The activity of a trustee is considered to be professional if it:

  1. generates gross annual income of CHF 50,000; or
  2. enters into business relationships with more than 20 contracting parties annually, which are not limited to one-off activities, or maintains at least 20 ongoing business relationships; or
  3. has unlimited power of disposal over third-party assets whose total value at any time exceeds CHF 5 million.

This CHF 5 million threshold means that most trustees in Switzerland are now subject to the FINMA authorisation requirement.

What does this mean for Swiss trustees?

Trustees who are unable or unwilling to submit to the licensing requirement of the FINMA have the option of either ceasing their activities as trustees or seeking to collaborate with us. Merco Trustees Ltd in Zurich, part of the international ATU Group, has been a FINMA-licensed company since summer 2024.

Finding a successor

If, independently of a FINMA licence, you are looking for a sustainable succession solution for your trust company, the ATU Group could be a promising alternative.

Our cooperation can be tailored to your individual needs and preferences. Just talk to us – by working together, we will find the ideal solution for you and your customers

For further information or a personal meeting, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. iur. HSG Jürg P. Brinkmann.

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