Legal Notices
By accessing the websites and apps (together hereinafter "VZ website") of the VZ Group (hereinafter "VZ"), the user declares that it has read and acknowledged the legal notices.
The legal notices as well as all information on the VZ website may be changed at any time without prior notice. If the user does not agree with or does not understand any of the following provisions it must refrain from accessing the VZ website.
1. Access restrictions
The VZ website is intended solely for users who have their residence or registered office, as applicable, in Switzerland. In particular, the VZ website is not intended for users who are subject to a jurisdiction that prohibits publication of and/or access to the VZ website due to nationality, residence/registered office (e.g. USA, UK, Canada, Japan, China, Singapore etc.) or for other reasons. Users to whom such restrictions apply are expressly prohibited from accessing the VZ website. This specifically applies to users who are nationals of or reside in the USA (so-called US persons).
2. No offer and no advice
The information contained on the Financial Portal and/or this website constitutes advertising pursuant to Art. 68 FinSA. If a key information document has been prepared for the financial instruments indicated, it may be obtained on the Financial Portal or at https://kurse.vermoegenszentrum.ch. The document may also list financial instruments that can only be purchased by qualified investors in accordance with the Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (CISA). The opinions and assessments expressed on the VZ website and/or in the Financial Portal reflect the view of VZ at the time of publication and do not constitute individual investment, legal and tax advice. The fact that the user accesses the VZ website does not make the user a client of VZ.
3. No warranty
VZ uses customary due care in compiling the content of the VZ website. However, VZ makes no representation or warranty that the information on the VZ website is up to date, correct or complete. VZ makes no representation or warranty that access to the VZ website or individual functions on the VZ website will run without interruptions or errors, that errors will be eliminated or that no viruses or other malware will be transmitted when accessing the VZ website.
4. No liability
To the extent legally permitted, VZ excludes all liability arising from access to the information on the VZ website or to links to third party websites, or arising because access is not possible.
5. Reservation of all intellectual property rights
All information on the VZ website belongs exclusively and comprehensively to VZ (in particular copyright and other rights) unless otherwise specified. The information is made freely available solely for private use. No element or information on the VZ website is designed in such a way as to grant a licence or right to use a registered trademark, logo, image or other content protected by intellectual property rights. VZ reserves all intellectual property rights concerning all information on the VZ website. The written consent of VZ is required for any use other than private use (e.g. reproduction, use for public or commercial purposes).
6. Personal data
Where the user provides VZ with personal data (e.g. name, telephone number, address or email address) using a form or otherwise via the VZ website, VZ may use this personal data in particular for marketing purposes and for contacting the user at a later point to inform them of services and news. Such personal data may be disclosed within the VZ Group. Additional information about the ways in which VZ handles such personal information can be found in the Privacy Policy of VZ at www.vzch.com/en/privacy-policy.
7. Security of data transfer and electronic communication
When the user visits the VZ website, its data is transmitted via an open network accessible to anyone. Data which the user electronically transmits to VZ or has VZ electronically transmit to it (e.g. contact form or email) is generally not encrypted. This includes in particular the following risks:
- Data may be intercepted and viewed by third parties.
- Even if the sender and recipient are located in Switzerland, data may be transferred uncontrolled abroad, where data protection might not be comparable to Switzerland.
- Electronic messages may contain viruses or other malware which may result in various types of damages. For anti-virus purposes, the use of up-to-date browser versions and the installation of antivirus software which is updated on an ongoing basis is recommended.
- The identity of the sender (e.g. email) and the content of the message may be faked or otherwise manipulated by unauthorised persons. Emails of doubtful origin and unexpected attachments to an email should not be opened.
Even in a transmission that might be encrypted, the sender and recipient remain unencrypted in each case. It can therefore not be ruled out that data sent in such a way may be intercepted and viewed by third parties or that the contact with VZ may be traced.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, VZ does not accept orders or instructions of any kind that are issued via email or by other electronic message transmission systems.
8. Online tracking
The VZ website uses various techniques with which VZ and third parties involved can recognise the user and, under certain circumstances, track the user over several visits.
The techniques used are designed in such a way that the user is recognised as an individual visitor each time the page is called up, for example by the VZ server (or the servers of the third parties) assigning the user or his browser a specific recognition number (so-called "cookie"). VZ uses such techniques and allows certain third parties to do so as well. The list of third-party tools used is available at www.vzch.com/third-party-cookies.
VZ collects the following tracking data of the user in particular: IP address, date and duration of access, name and URL of the file accessed, browser used and operating system used.
VZ uses online tracking to ensure the functionality of the VZ website and to be able to carry out evaluations and personalisation, in particular to target advertising to specific groups.
Tracking data does not have any personal reference. However, VZ may merge tracking data with data already held by VZ. As a result, it may be possible to establish a personal reference. Information on how VZ handles such personal data can be found in the VZ Privacy Policy at www.vzch.com/en/privacy-policy.
The user may at any time deactivate the use of cookies or alternative technologies in its browser settings and delete existing cookies. In this case not all VZ website functions may be accessible in full. The user can find further information on this on the help pages of his browser (usually under the keyword "data protection").
The user acknowledges that VZ may also track its behaviour in connection with newsletters (e.g. whether and when the user has opened such a newsletter or clicked on links contained therein).
9. Links to other websites
VZ does not review the third-party websites linked to the VZ website. These links are for the sole purpose of user-friendliness and information. Third-party websites are completely outside the control of VZ, which is why no responsibility of any kind is assumed for the accuracy, completeness and legality of the content and any offers. The operator of the websites visited via the links bears responsibility for those aspects. Linking to these websites is done at the user's own risk.
Placing a link to the VZ website on a third-party website requires the prior approval of VZ.
10. Whistleblowing
Integrity and compliant behaviour are the foundation for the good reputation and trust that VZ Group enjoys among clients, employees and business partners. VZ Group therefore relies on receiving reports of potential wrongdoing within the organisation by their employees or clients, business partners and other third parties. Employees who make justified reports are protected from sanctions under labour law and negative consequences.
VZ Group has established an electronic whistleblowing system that allows employees, clients, business partners and other third parties to report potential wrongdoing anonymously in the event of suspicion. Such wrongdoing may include irregularities, misconduct, potential infringements, and criminal offences.
11. Applicable law and jurisdiction
Insofar as a legal relationship has even been created between the user and VZ, it shall be governed exclusively by Swiss law, excluding the provisions of private international law or other rules on the conflict of laws. The place of performance and jurisdiction for disputes shall be exclusively at the registered office of VZ, unless stipulated otherwise under mandatory statutory provisions. For users domiciled abroad, the registered office of VZ shall also be the place for debt collection proceedings. VZ may also enforce its rights at the domicile of the user or before any other competent court.
Last updated: 15 December 2023