Do you know the ownership details of your company? If not, it's high time. A regular review is worthwhile, not only with regard to legislative amendments.
Unclear ownership structures can impede the long-term success of a company and pose risks with company succession, the sale of the company, or when capital is needed. This is due to such factors as insufficient tax compliance, uncertainty about corporate actions, and gaps in shareholder structures.
Corporate housekeeping enables the professional handling of shares, thanks to the safekeeping of share certificates and the creation of book-entry securities. This lays the foundation for further development of the company while providing new strategic options.
Benefit from the corporate housekeeping services of Credit Suisse:
Entrepreneurs are usually fully involved in day-to-day business. This leaves little time to take care of administrative issues relating to owner shares. Our qualified advisory service in the context of corporate housekeeping will assist you with questions such as:
How can the ownership percentages of the shares be ensured at all times?
How can owner shares be kept securely and transferred efficiently?
What opportunities do modern solutions offer me as a company owner?
The key to answering these questions is a systematic advisory process. Your client advisor will manage this process and involve the relevant experts for you as required.
The safekeeping of share certificates at a bank increases security for shareholders and guarantees that the company is ready for future transactions and banking business. Control access rights quite simply: In an emergency, the proven processes will apply. The shares are shown in the safekeeping account at all times to verify the ownership situation.
There are many advantages of holding owner shares in shareholders' personal securities safekeeping accounts:
Flexible and easy to use
Professional reporting for documentation of ownership for authorities and other parties
Professional image when dealing with third parties (shareholders, financing partners, employees)
Ideal conditions for financing and other transactions
In short, the professional management of share certificates builds trust.
Issuing shares in the form of book-entry securities offers the highest level of professionalism. Digital shares make corporate actions seamless while providing maximum flexibility for handling the shares. For instance, the transfer of shares between owners in cases of divorce, inheritance, management participation or buyouts can then easily be carried out via bank order.
Handling share certificates can become complicated as the number of shareholders grows. If you create digital shares, your shares are integrated into the SIX/SIS securities system, thus achieving maximum professionalization of your shareholder base. The process for creating book-entry securities primarily involves the following:
Dematerialization of physical share certificates
Assumption of a paying agent mandate by Credit Suisse
Introduction of an electronic share register
Book-entry securities are booked into an individual securities safekeeping account
Professionalization of the structures for owner shares creates various strategic options and an excellent starting point for transfers of ownership, as in the following cases:
Admission of additional investors, including a future IPO
M&A transactions (mergers & acquisitions)
Employee participation
Succession solutions
Inheritance
Prepare your company for these scenarios at an early stage.
Do you have any questions, or would you like advice on share certificates or digital shares? We are here to help. Contact us and schedule a personal consultation with our experts.