Corporate Governance 2026

Overview of Swiss corporate governance in 2026, including AG vs GmbH, board structure, shareholder rights, ESG duties, activism trends and key legal developments. This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Corporate Governance laws and regulations applicable in Switzerland.

What are the most common types of corporate business entity and what are the main structural differences between them?

The two most common types of corporate entities are the stock corporation or company limited by shares (Aktiengesellschaft, hereinafter referred to as stock corporation or company) and the limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung).

The share capital of a stock corporation is divided into shares and its liabilities are covered by its own assets only. The shareholder's sole legal obligation is to pay-in a fixed amount per share. Further obligations may be contained in a shareholder agreement. The minimum share capital is CHF 100,000.- (or the equivalent amount in a