Swissquote and PostFinance are establishing a long-term strategic partnership in online trading. Swissquote will operate as a trading platform for PostFinance from autumn 2015, handling stock exchange orders placed by PostFinance customers in e-trading. According to the partnership agreement, PostFinance will also acquire a 5 % equity investment in the capital of Swissquote.

A partnership in online securities trading is being formed between the number one in online trading and the number one in Swiss payment transactions. PostFinance and Swissquote intend to join forces to develop the online brokerage market. They will continue to appear on the market separately and to offer their own range of services.

"An even better e-trading platform"

As of autumn 2015, Swissquote will operate as the trading platform for PostFinance e-trading. "We chose Swissquote as our partner for our future e-trading platform because we were impressed by its services and its capacity to innovate. This partnership will enable us to offer our customers an even better e-trading platform", explains Hansruedi Köng, CEO of PostFinance. On the basis of the licence to operate as a securities dealer granted at the same time as the banking licence in June last year, PostFinance will become a securities dealer and acceptance point for around 60,000 e-trading customers – subject to approval by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). FINMA has been informed of the proposed partnership and will examine the request over the next few months. PostFinance’s current e-trading customers will be given due notice of how to proceed.

Online trading potential

"We are delighted to be taking such an experienced, well-established partner as PostFinance on board with us. This long-term partnership will help expand the Swiss online trading market and strengthen our position as market leader", declares Marc Bürki, CEO of Swissquote. Combining the largest online bank with one of the leading retail financial institutions in Switzerland unlocks huge potential in a range of fields including electronic asset management, in which Swissquote already has solid experience.

5 % equity investment in Swissquote Group Holding AG

PostFinance also plans to acquire a 5 percent equity investment in Swissquote Group Holding AG as part of the partnership between the two companies. The Swissquote shareholders will vote on the necessary capital increase at the forthcoming General Meeting on 7 May 2014.

PostFinance

PostFinance Ltd is one of the largest retail banks in Switzerland. It has around three million cus-tomers and manages customer assets totalling CHF bln112. It achieved an operating profit (EBIT) of CHF m 719 last year. PostFinance positions itself mainly in the payments and savings market segments, but also offers simple, inexpensive products in investments, financing and retirement planning. It is the first choice for customers who manage their own finances. PostFinance is number one in Switzerland for e-banking, with 1.5 million e-finance customers. It employs about 4,000 staff in all regions of Switzerland.

Swissquote - The Swiss Leader in Online Banking

As a leading provider of online financial services, Swissquote offers innovative solutions and analysis tools to meet the wide range of demands and needs of its around 220'000 clients. As well as various online trading services, the user-friendly platform also provides solutions for eForex, ePrivate Banking, eMortgage and flexible saving accounts. In addition to a low-cost service for private clients, Swissquote also offers specialized services for independent asset managers and corporate clients. Swissquote (SQN) is quoted on the SIX Swiss Exchange and holds a banking license. The company is subject to supervision by the Swiss Federal Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and is a member of the Swiss Bankers Association.

For more information

Marc Andrey, Mediensprecher PostFinance
Tel. +41 58 338 30 32.

Marc Bürki, CEO Swissquote Bank AG
Te. +41 22 999 98 50, Mobile +41 79 413 41 45.

Nadja Keller, Assistant to CEO / Media Relations Manager
Te. +41 44 825 88 01.