Company acquisitions have always been complex. In an increasingly international economy, however, mastering the corporate law aspects of a transaction is no longer enough. Cross-border M&A brings together different legal systems, regulatory requirements, tax questions and, quite often, personal life decisions.
The article Grenzüberschreitende Unternehmensübernahmen – Wenn Transaktionen mehr als nur Verträge sind, published in the Swiss financial magazine PRIVATE (issue 3/2026) and co-written by Christoph Wagner, Of Counsel, and Dr Ariel Sergio Davidoff, Partner at Davidoff Law in Zurich, explains why successful cross-border M&A depends on connecting legal, regulatory, tax and practical questions from the very start.
Switzerland remains an attractive hub
Switzerland continues to attract international entrepreneurs, investors and holding structures. It offers a stable business location, strong legal certainty and an entrepreneur-friendly environment. At the same time, expectations are rising. Many transactions begin with a strategic idea – expansion into a new market, a transfer of assets, regulatory access to the EU or the succession planning of a business – and therefore require coordinated advice across borders.
Aligning different regulatory systems
The authors illustrate this with recent cases. When a financial-market-regulated company within the European Union was acquired by a Swiss buyer, the competent authorities had to be involved early, approval questions clarified transparently and the future structure designed to satisfy both EU regulation and the Swiss side’s interests. In another transaction, a Swiss company was acquired by an investor group from the United Arab Emirates, with key decision-makers relocating to the UAE. Residence permits, housing and coordination with local authorities became an integral part of the overall project.
Transactions with a German dimension
Deals between Switzerland and Germany raise specific formal challenges. While share transfers in Switzerland are generally free of formal requirements, transfers of German GmbH shares must be notarised. In one case the notarisation had to take place before a German notary, which demanded close coordination between advisers in both countries, careful handling of powers of attorney and the precise sequencing of commercial register filings. Recognising such differences early, the authors note, is decisive for a smooth closing.
Solutions «from a single source»
Many cross-border projects run under considerable time pressure, with several adviser teams, different time zones and regulatory deadlines. Entrepreneurial decisions are taken globally, and economic, tax and personal questions are closely interwoven – particularly in holding and family office settings. Clients therefore expect an integrated advisory approach in which corporate, tax, regulatory, immigration and relocation matters are closely aligned. This brings not only efficiency, but substantial time and cost advantages.
Please note: the complete article is available in German only. You can read it here:
Grenzüberschreitende Unternehmensübernahmen – Wenn Transaktionen mehr als nur Verträge sind (PDF, German)
Further related insights from Ariel Davidoff and Davidoff Law are available here:
Cross-Border Complexity and Swiss Precision
Grenzüberschreitendes Wealth Management: Chancen und Risiken
Unternehmensnachfolge – Klarheit über die persönliche Situation
Steuerliche Fallgruben in der Nachfolge privater Unternehmen
In short, cross-border M&A transactions are far more than company purchases. They combine strategy, regulation, tax, mobility and often very personal life planning. Advising on them successfully requires not only legal precision, but also an understanding of the economic and human factors – supporting international entrepreneurs from a single source.
