Foreign investments in Swiss real estate are subject to restrictions imposed by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad (Lex Koller). As a general rule, the acquisition of Swiss real estate by persons abroad are subject to pre-approval by the competent cantonal Lex Koller authorities, which is issued subject to a catalogue of requirements. However, per current regulations, the acquisition of Swiss commercial real estate such as manufacturing premises, warehouse facilities, offices, shopping centers, retail premises, hotels, restaurants, workshops, medical practices etc. are exempt from such Lex Koller pre-approval.
On January 14, 2021, under the pretext of a purported need of protection of the Swiss economy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legal Affairs Committee of the Swiss National Council adopted by a surprisingly large majority a parliamentary initiative, seeking a revision of Lex Koller to impose a temporary suspension of the Lex Koller exemption for Swiss commercial real estate.
In a nutshell and based on the information disclosed through official Parliamentary channels, the initiative sought to suspend the Lex Koller exemption for Swiss commercial real estate
<ul>
<li>during periods of particular or extraordinary circumstances (besondere Lage oder ausserordentliche Lage), which can be declared by the Swiss Federal Council on the basis of the Swiss Federal Epidemics Act; and</li>
<li>up to two years from expiry of such periods of particular or extraordinary circumstances.</li>
</ul>
Moreover, the suspension of the Lex Koller exemption would have also applied to all transactions that have not yet been completed or that have not yet received formal Lex Koller clearance at the time of implementation of the proposed regulations.
At its session yesterday, the Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of States rejected the initiative by a close majority (7:6 votes), to the great relief of many economic players, such as the current Swiss commercial real estate owners, future Swiss and foreign investors and, in general, of the certainty of the law. The Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of States especially emphasized in that respect that mountain regions and the related touristic infrastructures are dependent on foreign investors.
Further to this rejection, the Legal Affairs Committee of the National Council must now submit to the National Council for confirmation whether or not the initiative should be dropped. There is a risk that the National Council might stick to the initiative and re-submit it to the Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of States.
In any case, given the lacking consensus of the Legal Affairs Committees, the risk of the proposed legislation is much less imminent.
We will keep you informed of any developments in this regard.

No support for COVID-19 restrictions on foreign investments in Swiss commercial real estate

<h3>Introduction</h3>
Foreign investments in Swiss real estate are subject to restrictions imposed by the Federal Law on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad (Lex Koller). As a general principle, EU/EFTA nationals with (lawful) main residence (Wohnsitz) in Switzerland are not subject to Lex Koller.
As of January 1, 2021, further to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the expiry of the Brexit transition period, UK citizens do no longer benefit from this preferential treatment for EU/EFTA nationals.
<h3>General Rule for UK Nationals Post-Brexit</h3>
Going forward, UK nationals will only be exempt from Lex Koller if they have acquired a permanent residency permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung C) and established their main residence (Wohnsitz) in Switzerland. If this is not the case, direct investments by UK nationals are subject to Lex Koller restrictions. Under such restrictions, UK citizens remain entitled to acquire the following main categories of real estate, subject to certain requirements:
<ul>
<li>commercial real estate (note that there is a proposal by a parliamentary commission to impose temporary restrictions on all foreign investments into commercial real estate in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – it is currently unclear whether this proposal will reach parliamentary debate);</li>
<li>residential real estate to be used as main residence under a temporary residency permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung);</li>
<li>holiday homes or serviced apartments in certain designated areas (subject to restrictions such as yearly quotas and maximum size); and</li>
<li>residential or other non-commercial real estate that is inherited by way of intestate succession, or otherwise acquired from relatives in line of ascent or descent or from spouses or registered partners.</li>
</ul>
Not only direct investments by UK individuals are affected by Brexit: Swiss legal entities and investment vehicles should be mindful as well and consider that involvement of UK nationals as investors or beneficiaries could trigger Lex Koller restrictions, which might limit their ability to invest in non-commercial real estate.
<h3>Protection of Pre-Brexit Ownership</h3>
Switzerland and the UK have concluded various bilateral treaties to maintain the pre-Brexit status in certain areas. As part of this overall arrangement, the Agreement on Acquired Citizens’ Rights (AACR) mitigates the consequences of Brexit under the Lex Koller. The AACR will formally enter into force on March 1, 2021, but it has already been implemented effective as from January 1, 2021.
According to the AACR, any acquisition of Swiss real estate by UK nationals that was completed before January 1, 2021, remains unaffected by Brexit. Hence, there is no requirement to divest such real estate due to changed legal and factual circumstances (such as if a UK national gives up permanent residency).
In our view, the preservation of rights also applies to Swiss legal entities that own restricted Swiss real estate and that are (fully or partially) controlled by UK nationals.
<h3>Preservation of Pre-Brexit Temporary Residency</h3>
UK citizens who lawfully established (temporary) main residence in Switzerland before January 1, 2021, remain exempt from Lex Koller. According to official communication by the Swiss Federal Office of Justice, this also applies to UK nationals who (at least) applied for a temporary residency permit before then.
Grandfathering however only applies if pre-Brexit main residency persists at the time of acquisition and thus ceases to apply in case that Swiss residency is interrupted. UK nationals that intend to benefit from the AACR should thus make sure to maintain uninterrupted legal and factual main residence in Switzerland.
We believe that grandfathering of temporary main residence also applies to determine foreign control or ownership of Swiss legal entities or investment vehicles. Hence, the involvement of UK nationals cannot be considered foreign involvement and trigger Lex Koller restrictions for future investments of such entities for as long as grandfathering applies.
<h3>Protection of Cross-Border Commuting</h3>
UK citizens who were cross-border commuters between the UK and Switzerland or who applied for such permission prior to January 1, 2021, and who have retained their status will continue to benefit from the exemption under the Lex Koller and remain entitled to acquire a secondary home in the region of their Swiss workplace. Again, grandfathering only applies for as long as the migration status is maintained.

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Impact of Brexit on UK Real Estate Investments in Switzerland

Gesellschaftsrecht / M&A

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Homburger for Aequita

Homburger News

Homburger and AEQUITA

AEQUITA entered into an agreement to acquire the Swiss Glassolutions business from Saint-Gobain. The acquisition that is expected to close in May 2023 will further strengthen AEQUITA&#8217;s specialty glass division vandaglas.
AEQUITA is a Munich-based, privately held German industrial group, investing in special situations such as corporate carve-outs, successions and recovery situations across Europe.
Homburger acts as transactional counsel to AEQUITA. The team included Andreas Müller and Stefan Luginbühl (both Corporate/M&amp;A), Reto Heuberger and Philippe Weber (both Tax), Richard Stäuber (Competition) as well as Stefan Gäumann (Real Estate).

Homburger advises AEQUITA on its acquisition of Saint-Gobain's Swiss Glassolutions Business

Finanzmarktrecht

Swiss Prime Site Solutions_bw

On September 20, 2021, Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG received final confirmation from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA of its authorization as a fund management company under the Financial Institutions Act. The fund contract of its first contractual real estate investment fund for qualified investors was approved by FINMA shortly thereafter, which involved the granting of a special permission by FINMA for the acquisition of a seed portfolio of real estate investments from within the Swiss Prime Site group on the basis of an additional valuation by an independent valuation expert.
Homburger advised Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG in regulatory, tax and corporate matters throughout the authorization and approval process. The Homburger team was led by partner Jürg Frick (Financial Market Regulation) and included partners Stefan Gäumann (Real Estate), Dieter Grünblatt (Tax) and Daniel Hasler (Corporate / M&amp;A) and associates Manuel Baschung, Fabrice Eckert (Financial Market Regulation), Philippe Gobet (Tax) and Kevin Hubacher (Corporate / M&amp;A).

Homburger advised Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG in relation to its authorization by FINMA as a fund management company

On June 14, 2021, HRS Real Estate AG announced that it has submitted a building application in Arbon for the construction of a hotel with 63 rooms, a restaurant and SPA and meeting facilities on the former Saurer area in Arbon, in the immediate vicinity of the lake and public transportation. The Liechtenstein company «b_smart selection», based in Gamprin-Bendern, which already operates 16 hotels and motels in Liechtenstein and Switzerland with an innovative self check-in concept, will operate the new «smart hotel» in Arbon.
Homburger advised the investor Toni Hilti Familien-Treuhänderschaft (THF) and the Toni Hilti family, respectively, with regard to all legal aspects of the acquisition of the hotel complex as well as in connection with the long-term lease agreement with the future operator.
The Homburger team advising in this transaction was led by partners Daniel Hasler and Stefan Gäumann and included senior associate Marc Schamaun, all members of Homburger&#8217;s real estate practice group.

Stefan
Gäumann

Homburger advises AEQUITA on its acquisition of Saint-Gobain's Swiss Glassolutions Business

Homburger advised Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG in relation to its authorization by FINMA as a fund management company

Homburger advised Toni Hilti Familien-Treuhänderschaft in its investment in hotel project in Arbon

No support for COVID-19 restrictions on foreign investments in Swiss commercial real estate

Impact of Brexit on UK Real Estate Investments in Switzerland

Das Verfahren der dringlichen Feststellung gemäss SIA-Norm 150

Vernehmlassung Änderung BewG

Die Querfinanzierung von strukturierten Beherbergungsbetrieben gemäss Zweitwohnungsgesetz

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Homburger advises AEQUITA on its acquisition of Saint-Gobain's Swiss Glassolutions Business

Homburger advised Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG in relation to its authorization by FINMA as a fund management company

Homburger advised Toni Hilti Familien-Treuhänderschaft in its investment in hotel project in Arbon

No support for COVID-19 restrictions on foreign investments in Swiss commercial real estate

Impact of Brexit on UK Real Estate Investments in Switzerland

Das Verfahren der dringlichen Feststellung gemäss SIA-Norm 150

Vernehmlassung Änderung BewG

Die Querfinanzierung von strukturierten Beherbergungsbetrieben gemäss Zweitwohnungsgesetz

Join the Team

Stefan Gäumann

Karriere

Sprachen

Zulassung

Teams

Stefan
Gäumann