Walder Wyss with Cembra on Santander’s Swiss auto financing business acquisition
Walder Wyss advised Cembra Money Bank (SIX: CMBN) as the Swiss provider of financing and payment products has signed an agreement for the acquisition of the substantial part of Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz’s Swiss auto financing business.
The transaction comprises a lending portfolio of about CHF 800 million and the intended transfer of nine partner relationships (manufacturers and importers), and is expected to close in November 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
As part of the deal, Cembra will also become Santander’s exclusive Swiss partner for pan-European leasing and vehicle financing programs.
The Walder Wyss team
The Walder Wyss team was led by partner Markus Pfenninger (banking & finance) and managing associate Dario Galli (corporate/M&A) and further included senior associate Fabian Akeret (corporate/M&A), senior associate Letizia Schlegel (corporate/M&A), managing associate Michael Kissling (commercial contracts), counsel Matthias Lötscher (banking & finance), senior associate Sarah Vettiger (banking & finance), associate Jérôme Heman (banking & finance), partner Irène Suter-Sieber (employment), associate Marisa Hunkeler (employment), partner Reto Jacobs (competition), counsel Gion Giger (competition), associate Tamara Zeiter (competition), and junior associate Argyrios Lygeros (corporate/M&A).
