Authorities in Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom arrested five current or former executives as part of an insider trading investigation linked to a Swiss publicly listed IT company. Prosecutors said the individuals are suspected of selling company shares before two official announcements that preceded a significant decline in the firm’s share value. The company itself is not under suspicion and has stated that it is cooperating with investigators.
Authorities said the suspects avoided losses estimated at about €2.6 million. Investigators believe the individuals had access to confidential information that indicated the upcoming announcements would negatively affect the share price. Coordinated searches took place on 2 December across private homes and company premises in all three countries. Officers seized digital devices, financial documents, and communication records to reconstruct the timeline of the trades.
Officials said the alleged share sales occurred shortly before the company published two press statements that contained adverse information. Once the announcements were made and the market reacted, the share price fell sharply. Investigators said the early sales allowed the insiders to avoid losses incurred by public shareholders. Under Swiss law, insider trading can lead to prison sentences and significant financial penalties.
The wider investigation involved cooperation between Swiss federal prosecutors and authorities in Germany and the United Kingdom. Officials said the case demonstrates the importance of cross-border coordination in tackling market abuse and maintaining confidence in public markets. Regulators noted that actions of this type seek to protect the integrity of financial systems and uphold rules designed to ensure equal access to price sensitive information.
Authorities said the investigation remains active. Forensic analysis of seized material is ongoing as officials review trading data, financial records, and communication logs. Prosecutors said it is possible that further individuals could be identified as the review progresses. They also noted that all suspects are presumed innocent while inquiries continue.