Recent News

The European Commission has officially put forward a milestone corporate reform initiative aimed at stopping the mass migration of tech companies across the Atlantic. At the heart of this initiative is the introduction of a single harmonized pan-European legal entity form: “EU Inc.”.The issue is long overdue. Statistics show that despite hosting over 40,000 VC-backed startups, Europe lags drastically behind in scaling them. The EU has just over 330 unicorns (companies valued at $1B+), while the US approaches 2,000. The primary barrier for European founders is regulatory fragmentation: expanding a business within the EU requires navigating 27 separate legal systems and over 60 different limited liability forms.The new “EU Inc.” status (referred to as the “28th regime”) will serve as an optional alternative alongside national company forms.Key Benefits of the EU Inc. Format48-Hour Registration: Companies can incorporate entirely online through a centralized EU interface within 48 hours, at a maximum cost of just €100.The “Once Only” Principle: The future EU central register will automatically share company data with tax authorities, social security systems, and...

The Swiss Confederation is taking a historic step toward absolute corporate transparency. On October 1, 2026, the new Federal Act on the Transparency of Legal Entities (TJPG) will officially enter into force. Swiss and certain foreign entities will be legally required to report their Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) to a newly established federal transparency register.Driven by Switzerland's commitment to comply with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards ahead of an upcoming country evaluation, this reform signals that the era of confidential corporate structuring in Europe has formally drawn to a close.Who Falls Within the Scope?The mandate captures virtually all Swiss stock corporations (AG), limited liability companies (GmbH), and significantly, foreign corporate structures if they:Maintain registered Swiss branches;Own or acquire real estate in Switzerland;Have their de facto administration located within Swiss territory.Exemptions: Listed companies (and their >75% subsidiaries), traditional foundations, and associations.Critical Deadlines and the "Acceleration Trap"The timeline for initial UBO filings depends on the entity type:By February 1, 2027: Entities...

Leading financial institutions in Spain have joined forces to radically overhaul cyber-defense. FrauDfense, an innovative company owned by banking giants BBVA, Banco Santander, and CaixaBank, has rolled out a cutting-edge technological platform. The core mission of the project focuses on detecting and neutralizing financial fraud before it can actually occur.The developers successfully built a collaborative ecosystem for real-time information sharing across the sector. Within this network, security executives and financial crime experts analyze shared risks, detect emerging threats, and promptly design joint response strategies.Over the past year, the founding banks rigorously tested the FrauDfense Check platform across multiple operational scenarios. The trial phase covered client onboarding, financial product sign-ups, standard fund transfers, instant payments, Bizum transactions, and card-based operations.According to initial data, the pilot stage successfully prevented millions of euros in potential fraudulent losses. Project participants emphasize that inter-institutional data exchange enables much faster reaction times to new financial threats. Following its commercial...

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have published a series of proposed changes. These updates aim to modernize the nation's issuer bid, take-over bid, and beneficial ownership reporting regimes. Currently, the proposals remain open for public comment until August 12, 2026.This regulatory shift focuses on granting issuers enhanced capital flexibility. At the same time, it demands rigid transparency from bidders and dissident shareholders regarding derivative positions.📌 Key Takeaways of the ProposalNew Selective Repurchase ExemptionThe CSA plans to introduce a brand-new exemption for corporate issuers. Under this rule, issuers can buy back up to 5 percent of an outstanding class of securities over a 12-month period. However, this setup requires a liquid market, strict pricing compliance, and timely disclosure.Consequently, these specific transactions will not deplete an issuer’s normal course issuer bid (NCIB) capacity. Therefore, companies gain a highly flexible tool to manage large-block liquidity pressures safely.Enhanced Derivative DisclosureIn addition, the rules tighten requirements for corporate contests. Bidders and dissident shareholders must now fully...

The Swiss Federal Supreme Court has issued a landmark decision that significantly alters the balance of power between shareholders and creditors during corporate distress. According to ruling 5A_53/2026, when a company is placed under a composition moratorium, shareholders lose all statutory rights to approve or block asset disposal transactions. Experts at the prominent Swiss law firm Lenz & Staehelin emphasize that this judgment eliminates critical legal uncertainty, allowing for swift corporate rescues without owner obstruction.The Conflict: Corporate Framework vs. Insolvency RealityUnder standard Swiss corporate law, corporate asset sales fall within the competence of the board of directors. However, authority shifts to the shareholders if a transaction involves all or a substantial part of the company's assets, resulting in a factual liquidation with no intent to reinvest proceeds. Executing such sales without shareholder approval risks making the transaction null and void. Previously, the Supreme Court admitted exceptions only if a company was heavily over-indebted, facing a severe time crunch, or caught in a shareholder stalemate.The New Ruling: Composition Proceedings...

The Council of the European Union has reached a provisional political agreement on the Digital Omnibus Regulation. The legislative update introduces pivotal amendments to the EU AI Act, systematically restructuring compliance windows for market operators and expanding the scope of prohibited AI practices.Deferral of High-Risk AI ObligationsThe provisional agreement grants structural extensions for compliance targeting high-risk artificial intelligence frameworks:Standalone High-Risk AI (Annex III): Governance obligations for systems deployed in critical infrastructure, biometrics, education, and employment are deferred to December 2, 2027 (originally scheduled for August 2026).Embedded High-Risk AI (Annex I): AI components acting as safety features in tangible regulated products (e.g., medical devices, aviation) face a rescheduled enforcement date of August 2, 2028.Regulatory Sandboxes: The operational deadline for Member States to establish domestic AI regulatory sandboxes is extended to August 2, 2027.Accelerated Generative AI Transparency TimelinesConversely, the EU has compressed the grandfathering grace period for generative AI providers. Technical transparency mandates,...

For decades, Liechtenstein was the ultimate golden sanctuary for private wealth. However, a major legal reform taking effect on 1 July 2026 is about to disrupt this peaceful landscape. Therefore, the new amendment introduces a mandatory watchdog for every single private-benefit trust. This step effectively ends the era of absolute internal secrecy. This newly created figure is known as the information rights holder. Furthermore, the structure must include a designated successor.This role is far from passive. For instance, the holder acts as a statutory guardian equipped with extensive oversight powers. Specifically, they will gain full access to secret resolutions, bank accounts, and asset books. Moreover, they must perform a mandatory annual check-up of the structure. Consequently, if the trustee steps out of line, the holder is legally bound to report them directly to the Liechtenstein Regional Court.Naturally, existing wealth structures are not exempt from these changes. Instead, they face a strict countdown until 31 December 2027 to comply. Adjusting current trusts will follow a tricky cascade process. If the settlor is alive, they can quickly fix the paperwork. Otherwise,...

At the Latin American Initiative meeting in Lima, Peru, the OECD dropped its latest 2026 tax transparency report. The numbers speak volumes: thanks to the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI/CRS) and voluntary disclosure schemes, regional tax authorities successfully recovered over €576 million.Key takeaways from the report:Offshore accounts are fully visible. Tax authorities worldwide have gotten highly efficient at cross-referencing foreign bank data with domestic tax returns.Beneficial owners (UBOs) are under the microscope. The OECD explicitly stated that Latin American countries need to tighten the screws on beneficial ownership registries. This means shell companies and nominal setups without real substance will be the first to face audits.A Quick Take from FBS Experts: Latin America is just a case study here—the exact same shift is happening across Europe and Asia. The days of opening an offshore account and keeping it completely off the radar are gone. Tax authorities see more than ever, and sitting on non-compliant structures will inevitably lead to massive fines. The only way to protect your capital today is through clean, transparent, and compliant...

The legislative agenda unveiled in the King's Speech 2026 officially triggers a major overhaul of the UK financial services landscape. At the center of this transformation is the Enhancing Financial Services Bill, the primary legal vehicle chosen to deliver the highly anticipated Leeds Reforms.The UK Government is making a clear pro-business move, aiming to strip away redundant red tape, supercharge economic growth, and upgrade consumer protection mechanisms for the digital age.Five Major Shifts for the Financial MarketsRegulatory Consolidation: The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) will be abolished as an independent body, transferring all its powers to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This delivers a single point of accountability for businesses and guarantees faster regulatory decision-making.Light-Touch SMCR: The strict individual accountability framework is getting a practical reality check. Mandatory certification for mid-level staff will be removed from primary legislation, and the list of senior functions requiring regulatory pre-approval will be trimmed down to cut corporate administrative costs.FOS Predictability: The Financial Ombudsman Service framework will be...