Disclosure rules are forcing issuers to consider listing outside the EU, reports Michael Evans. Switzerland's SWX sees an opportunity to win business from its European rivalsThe Swiss Exchange (SWX) has launched its first offensive in what promises to be a long battle to snatch Eurobond business away from London and Luxembourg. Last month, representatives of the exchange visited capital markets law firms in London in a bid to convince lawyers of the benefits to non-EU issuers of switching to SWX.
The SWX sales pitch is based on new rules unveiled on November 15. These make a Swiss listing relatively easy at a time when Europe's transparency and prospectus directives will impose costly reporting requirements on companies listed in the EU.
Executives in Zurich have noted the success of the Singapore Stock Exchange in attracting Asian issuers that would traditionally have listed in Europe. Issuers of convertibles, in particular, will be...
