Swiss company financial statements: what you can compare
A Swiss company search can return registered capital without returning a balance sheet. Most privately held Swiss companies do not publish their annual accounts in the commercial register. Before buying access to a financial database, ask which companies have actual statements and where those statements came from.
Find accounts for the entity you need
For a listed business, start with the annual reports on its investor-relations website. Check the legal entity and reporting period. A consolidated report covers a group; the subsidiary you intend to contract with may have a different financial position.
Article 958e of the Code of Obligations requires companies with outstanding bonds or listed equity securities to publish approved accounts and audit reports or supply them on request. For other businesses, creditors must demonstrate an interest worthy of protection to obtain access. Prospecting does not create a general right to inspect private accounts.
Companies can share accounts voluntarily. Vendors may obtain financial figures directly from them or from other lawful sources. Ask whether a number is reported or estimated, which financial year it covers, and whether it describes a group or a single company.
What registered capital establishes
An AG with CHF 100,000 of registered share capital could have substantial reserves, accumulated losses or significant borrowing. Registered capital is a nominal legal amount. It does not measure current equity, cash or revenue.
The register also identifies legal form and registered office. SHAB notices document registered changes. A capital increase can involve different forms of contribution, so its amount alone does not establish a cash injection. See how to read capital increases before treating one as evidence of spending capacity.
A comparison worksheet for published accounts
- Record the exact company name and UID beside each source document.
- Match financial periods and identify shortened or extended years.
- Record currency, accounting standard and consolidation scope.
- Read the notes and audit report for accounting policies and qualifications.
Only then compare financial positions and results. Keep missing accounts visible in the worksheet. Substituting registered capital for equity produces a false comparison. Credit decisions may require more recent information than the last annual report provides.
Using company data to select prospects
Prospex provides registered capital, legal form and published register events. An employee-size category may be available, depending on the company. That category is separate from financial reporting and is not drawn from a public balance sheet. Prospex’s Swiss corpus has no revenue field and does not provide comprehensive annual accounts.
These records can help establish that a company exists and give context for its activity. Combine them with evidence of what it sells and where it operates to build a Swiss target company list. When a potential order creates a credit exposure, request the necessary financial documents from the company and assess them separately.