Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) says it wants banks’ remuneration policies to be more closely aligned with the long-term health of the institution. They should not be an incentive to take risks which may undermine the company. But it will not cap bonuses. Finma announced its new circular Wednesday 11 November. The new regulations take effect 1 January 2010.
Finma says that variable remuneration, or bonuses, should reflect an employee’s stake in the success of the company, in the company’s overall performance, and should reflect the risks the company takes. Finma encourages senior employees’ bonuses to be deferred in order to ensure that the company’s health is aligned with their remuneration.
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss Federal Council, concerned about changes to the G20 group of the world’s largest economies and calls for changes to other international financial bodies, has told the country’s finance ministry to take steps to strengthen Switzerland’s role in the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank. Developing countries and emerging markets have been calling for reform of these two bodies, the two Bretton Woods international financial institutions, in recent months, suggesting that voting weights need to be reconsidered. Switzerland is keen to ensure that its seats on the Executive Councils of each group become permanent.
The cabinet (Federal Council) has also instructed the finance ministry to work closely with the Swiss National Bank and the Swiss financial market supervisory authority Finma to strengthen its role in the Financial Stability Board (FSB).
