Philippe de LaCroix Philippe de LaCroix AssociesAssociesSpecialists in Exclusive Swiss Private Specialists in Exclusive Swiss Private BankingBanking

Our clientsOur clients

Philippe de LaCroix Associés deal Philippe de LaCroix Associés deal

with:with:

RoyaltyRoyalty NobilityNobility EntrepreneursEntrepreneurs CelebritiesCelebrities Successful IndividualsSuccessful Individuals

Our PhilosophyOur Philosophy

At Philippe de LaCroix we At Philippe de LaCroix we believe;believe;

Switzerland is Banker to the world.Switzerland is Banker to the world. Everyone needs two Bankers, Everyone needs two Bankers,

and one must be Swiss. and one must be Swiss. Money talks - wealth whispers. Money talks - wealth whispers.

Why Switzerland ?Why Switzerland ?

Long established Economic & Political Long established Economic & Political StabilityStability

Unmatched Private Banking Unmatched Private Banking Professionalism developed over hundreds Professionalism developed over hundreds of yearsof years

Legally protected Confidential BankingLegally protected Confidential Banking Accounts for 40% of all “Off-shore” Accounts for 40% of all “Off-shore”

banking banking Tax haven status for non-residentsTax haven status for non-residents

Client ConfidentialityClient Confidentiality

Enshrined under Swiss Law:Enshrined under Swiss Law:

1.1. Art. 47 of the Federal Law on Banks and Art. 47 of the Federal Law on Banks and Savings BanksSavings Banks

2.2. Art. 13 Swiss ConstitutionArt. 13 Swiss Constitution

Limits of Swiss Bank Client Confidentiality:Limits of Swiss Bank Client Confidentiality:

Clients privacy is not aboslute and no Clients privacy is not aboslute and no protection is afforded to the proceeds of protection is afforded to the proceeds of criminality or certain proceedingscriminality or certain proceedings

Fight against Money Fight against Money LaunderingLaundering

According with the strict rules we can say Switzerland has the According with the strict rules we can say Switzerland has the world’s most effective mechanism for dealing with money from world’s most effective mechanism for dealing with money from criminal sources. criminal sources.

The Swiss Money Laundering Act (in force since 1998) obliges all The Swiss Money Laundering Act (in force since 1998) obliges all financial intermediaries “apporteurs d’affairs” as well as banks financial intermediaries “apporteurs d’affairs” as well as banks to identify all clients and to establish the beneficial owners of the to identify all clients and to establish the beneficial owners of the assets.assets.

We must report any justified suspicion of money laundering to We must report any justified suspicion of money laundering to the authorities and freeze the suspicious assets. the authorities and freeze the suspicious assets.

For more than 20 years now, banks in Switzerland have For more than 20 years now, banks in Switzerland have observed a "Due Diligence Agreement" which contains the observed a "Due Diligence Agreement" which contains the "know your customer" rules. The Due Diligence Agreement was "know your customer" rules. The Due Diligence Agreement was a key point of reference when the Money Laundering Law is a key point of reference when the Money Laundering Law is being drawn up.being drawn up.

Further rules and regulations against money laundering are laid Further rules and regulations against money laundering are laid

down in the Swiss Criminal Code and the Federal Banking down in the Swiss Criminal Code and the Federal Banking Commission guidelines of 26 March 1998. Commission guidelines of 26 March 1998.

Our ProcessOur Process

Preliminary free assessment of needs. Preliminary free assessment of needs.

Detailed client profiling and assessment. Detailed client profiling and assessment.

Anonymous submission to various Private Bankers. Anonymous submission to various Private Bankers.

Negotiation with Bankers to produce Banking proposals. Negotiation with Bankers to produce Banking proposals.

Discussion and advice on proposals received and selection. Discussion and advice on proposals received and selection.

Agreement and implementation of necessary Legal Agreement and implementation of necessary Legal structures. structures.

(Where required) “Distance Handling” facility of the account. (Where required) “Distance Handling” facility of the account.

(Where required) “Three Year Report” service.(Where required) “Three Year Report” service.

Distance HandlingDistance Handling

For those clients who wish to manage For those clients who wish to manage their accounts in Switzerland through their accounts in Switzerland through ourselves rather than personally. ourselves rather than personally.

Clients choose this service for a variety Clients choose this service for a variety of personal and/or business reasons, or of personal and/or business reasons, or because of concerns that confidentiality because of concerns that confidentiality may become compromised at their end. may become compromised at their end.

Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions (1)(1)

Is there a minimum sum required to open an Is there a minimum sum required to open an account in Switzerland? account in Switzerland?

The answer is no, but the number of Banks who The answer is no, but the number of Banks who will be interested may be restricted because a will be interested may be restricted because a great number of Banks do operate a policy of a great number of Banks do operate a policy of a "de minimis" figure. However the main benefit of a "de minimis" figure. However the main benefit of a larger sum is not only opening up the choice of larger sum is not only opening up the choice of interested  Bankers, but also the potential interested  Bankers, but also the potential performance of any investment, which will be performance of any investment, which will be enhanced through a greater spread of enhanced through a greater spread of opportunities than is possible with a smaller sum.opportunities than is possible with a smaller sum.

  

Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions (2)(2)

Is there any risk particularly associated with Is there any risk particularly associated with dealing with private banks in Switzerland? dealing with private banks in Switzerland? 

No. Banking in Switzerland is very strictly No. Banking in Switzerland is very strictly regulated; for example, a Bank failure is a regulated; for example, a Bank failure is a matter of criminal culpability under Swiss law. matter of criminal culpability under Swiss law. That is part of the reason for the stability and That is part of the reason for the stability and reputation of the Swiss Banking system. Indeed reputation of the Swiss Banking system. Indeed it is in the smaller boutique banks are often the it is in the smaller boutique banks are often the ones where your affairs will receive the most ones where your affairs will receive the most personal level of service and where the bankers personal level of service and where the bankers have a personal liability for the affairs of their have a personal liability for the affairs of their Bank. Of course we are using the term "small" as Bank. Of course we are using the term "small" as a relative term; even these small boutique banks a relative term; even these small boutique banks will have portfolios of many hundreds of millions. will have portfolios of many hundreds of millions.

Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions (3)(3)

Is an account in Switzerland subject to Is an account in Switzerland subject to taxation in a client's own tax jurisdiction?taxation in a client's own tax jurisdiction?

We cannot advise you about tax We cannot advise you about tax liabilities in your own tax jurisdiction, liabilities in your own tax jurisdiction, however we can confirm that -if our however we can confirm that -if our advice is followed- then under current advice is followed- then under current legislation the income from any account legislation the income from any account you open through us will not be subject you open through us will not be subject to withholding tax at source.to withholding tax at source.

Philippe de LaCroix AssociésPhilippe de LaCroix AssociésSpecialistes de Banques Privées SuissesSpecialistes de Banques Privées SuissesStockerhofStockerhofDreikoenigstrasse 31 A,Dreikoenigstrasse 31 A,8002 Zurich,8002 Zurich,Switzerland Switzerland

Tel: 0041 (0)44 208 3170Tel: 0041 (0)44 208 3170Fax: 0041 (0)44 208 3500Fax: 0041 (0)44 208 3500email: email: info@philippedelacroix.cominfo@philippedelacroix.com