Retrocessions in “execution only” relationships: the Swiss Supreme Court confirms its landmark ruling and applies it to remunerations related to in-house structured products
Retrocessions in “execution only” relationships: the Swiss Supreme Court…
<p class="MsoBodyText">In its rulings 4A_501/2025 and 4A_503/2025 of 17 June 2026, the Swiss Supreme Court confirmed and applied the principles established in its recent landmark ruling of 12 January 2026: Banks are not required to return to their clients retrocessions (or other forms of financial kick-backs) received in connection with “execution only” relationships, absent a concrete risk of a conflict of interest (which is generally absent in “execution only” relationships). This decision is of particular relevance for in-house structured products. The flows of remuneration linked to structured products are indeed expected to continue to be a focus point of the Swiss financial regulator FINMA going forward (see the recent FINMA Communication 03/2026). This Legal Insight refers principally to ruling 4A_501/2025, the two decisions being materially similar.</p>