Deals & Cases

Homburger advised SIX Swiss Exchange AG on its new Zurich-based joint venture 12H AG with the shareholders of the microwave solutions provider 12Horizons Pte Ltd

Effective May 1, 2018, SIX Swiss Exchange AG (“SIX“) launched its new international microwave-based trade data connections in Europe. The Swiss exchange offers the service through its new Zurich-based joint venture 12H AG (“12H“) with the shareholders of the microwave solutions provider 12Horizons Pte Ltd. Microwave technology allows trade data for all securities listed at SIX to be transmitted more than twice as fast as connections based on commonly used fiber optic technology. SIX is the first exchange worldwide to own and operate an international microwave network in Europe.

The new microwave network from SIX connects Zurich to London, Frankfurt and Milan as well as Milan to Frankfurt. The service enables trading participants of the Swiss exchange to execute their trading strategies faster and enhances their risk management. It also improves liquidity and tighten spreads, which results in better execution conditions for all stakeholders of the Swiss exchange, including trading participants and end investors alike. The new service is integrated in the portfolio of SIX who takes care of all customer relationships for 12H. Equal access to the new offering is ensured for all trading participants at both regulatory and technical levels, in line with Switzerland’s legal framework.

The Homburger team advising SIX on the joint venture was led by partner David Oser and counsel Micha Fankhauser (both Corporate / M&A), and also included partner Reto Heuberger (Tax) with respect to tax matters, partner Stefan Kramer (Banking and Finance) and counsel Martin Thomann (Competition / Regulatory) on regulatory matters.