CLEMAP has successfully completed a seed round, the young company from Zurich informs in a message . No information is given there about the amount of capital collected under the leadership of Malco Parola, investor in the Swiss ICT Investor Club ( SICTIC ). CLEMAP intends to use the funds for the further development of its B2B energy platform and further market entries. Founded in 2017, the company has specialized in products for intelligent networks, factories and buildings since 2020.
In the financing round that has now been concluded, the investors were convinced “by the new national and international cooperation”, writes CLEMAP. CLEMAP's charging management for electric vehicles and energy monitoring solutions for intelligent factories are named as further capital magnets in the communication. The young company is already active on the Italian market with the latter. The load breakdown product CLEMAP One is already being used in intelligent buildings.
In connection with the seed round, the start-up is also changing its board of directors. SICTIC investor Parola takes a seat as a new member. Pascal Kienast will hand over the presidency to the ex-CEO of Repower, Kurt Bobst. With Gino Agbomemewa as CEO and Pascal Kienast as COO, however, the management of CLEMAP will remain unchanged.
Swiss Prime Site buys the Zug-based Akara Group . The transaction is to be completed in mid-January retrospectively to the beginning of the year, the Solothurn real estate company informs in a message .
The takeover is intended to strengthen the real estate fund division (Swiss Prime Site Solutions) at Swiss Prime Site. According to the announcement, Akara manages real estate investments totaling around CHF 2.3 billion. The partner companies have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
"We are very pleased to be able to acquire an innovative, dynamic and at the same time established company with the Akara Group", René Zahnd, CEO of Swiss Prime Site, is quoted in the press release. "The fund provider's business model and corporate culture are a perfect match for Swiss Prime Site Solutions."
The Akara Group consists of Akara Funds AG, Akara Real Estate Management AG and Akara Property Development AG. They are to be integrated into Swiss Prime Site Solutions in the course of next year. The portfolio of real estate assets under management, including the projects under development, will thus reach a volume of over CHF 6.5 billion, writes Swiss Prime Site. The real estate company expects to post a contribution to the operating result at EBIT level of CHF 27 to 28 million in the real estate funds division in 2022.
Ina Invest will take over the majority of the CERES Group Holding AG, informs the real estate company based in Opfikon in a message . Further shares in the company of the Lucerne investor Hermann Alexander Beyeler go to Ina Invest investment partners not named in the communication.
The Bredella development area in Pratteln is named as the heart of the new acquisition. The industrial and commercial park located here is to be replaced in the next 20 years by a city quarter with 70 percent living space and 30 percent commercial space.
Ina Invest writes that the market value of the properties on the 82,600 square meter area at Pratteln train station will increase from around CHF 300 million today to over CHF 1 billion. The commercial space in Bredella currently generates around 8.6 million Swiss francs in rental income. HRS Real Estate AG and Implenia as general contractors are to take on the implementation of the project in equal parts.
Ina Invest intends to pay part of the purchase price in the form of shares. Specifically, 10 percent of Ina Invest's share capital is to be transferred to Hermann Alexander Beyeler. Ina Invest intends to offer the current tenants on the site "in the course of the site development further suitable areas on the site".
In the same communication, Ina Invest communicates the appointment of Daniel Baumann as CFO. The business economist who works at Implenia has "supported Ina Invest in all business matters" since the company was spun off from Implenia and the subsequent IPO in summer 2020. Baumann will take up his new office at the beginning of 2022.
Acquisition of the founder-managed and successful Akara Group, Swiss Prime Site, strengthens the business model in the services segment with the intended takeover of the founder-managed Akara Group from Zug. Akara Funds AG was founded in 2016 by Karl Theiler and Jonathan van Gelder and developed into a fund provider regulated by FINMA with a focus on residential and commercial real estate.
The group also includes Akara Real Estate Management AG, which provides real estate services in the areas of development, realization, management and marketing, and Akara Property Development AG, which manages a limited partnership for collective capital investments (KmGK). The group employs a total of around 50 specialized real estate specialists, all of whom will be taken over. The real estate assets under management total around CHF 2.3 billion and consist of the “Akara Diversity PK”, a real estate fund for tax-exempt pension schemes, the private equity product “Akara Property Development 1 KmGK” for qualified investors and a development pipeline (including Akara Tower, Baden) of over CHF 240 million. René Zahnd, CEO of Swiss Prime Site: “We are very pleased to be able to acquire an innovative, dynamic and at the same time established company in the Akara Group. The business model of the fund provider and the corporate culture are a perfect match for Swiss Prime Site Solutions. “
Karl Theiler, CEO Akara adds: “The future membership of the Swiss Prime Site Group enables us to bundle our strengths in the area of funds and to significantly expand our market position.” The two contracting parties have agreed not to disclose the sales price. The acquisition will be financed 35% from Swiss Prime Site shares and the authorized capital provided for this purpose. The remainder of the transaction amount is paid from freely available funds.
Significant expansion and strengthening of the group-wide investment platform The closing of the transaction is expected to take place in mid-January 2022 retrospectively to January 1, 2022. It is planned to integrate the Akara Group or the respective companies into Swiss Prime Site Solutions in the course of the 2022 financial year and to merge the two fund management companies. The intended merger will make Swiss Prime Site Solutions one of the leading Swiss real estate asset managers with real estate assets and under management (including development pipeline) of over CHF 6.5 billion and an expected EBIT contribution of CHF 27 to 28 million in 2022. With the acquisition, Swiss Prime Site Solutions can significantly expand its customer base and expand the existing investment platform with additional product and fund categories such as real estate private equity investments. To ensure an orderly transition, the two company founders will continue to work for the company until July 2022. There is also the option of further collaboration on a mandate basis. Anastasius Tschopp, CEO of Swiss Prime Site Solutions, sums up: “I am delighted to welcome the Akara team to our place and, together with Swiss Prime Site Solutions, to shape them into an even more quick-witted real estate asset manager. The two companies complement each other perfectly in terms of customers, employees and know-how. “
The Partners Group , a global manager of private market investments, has partnered with the Texan real estate developer StoryBuilt , according to a press release . Both have formed a joint venture with a capitalization of $ 1 billion. It will fund 17 of StoryBuilt's existing projects as well as future acquisitions and developments in the most dynamic American cities of Austin, Dallas, Denver and Seattle.
Projects include apartment buildings, condominiums, and mixed-use properties. "The Partners Group offers StoryBuilt a strong future in which we can accelerate our growth and steadily increase our property acquisitions and developments," said co-founder Anthony Siela in the press release.
Scott Egarian, executive board member of Private Real Estate Americas at Partners Group, sees “strong thematic investment opportunities in the housing market in growth cities” for his company. The housing shortage there “should support demand in the years to come. We believe StoryBuilt has the right offer. "
The Wettinger construction company Hächler is providing the Pfadi Hochwacht Baden home association with CHF 10,000 as a contribution to the renovation of the old Rütibuck scout home. According to a press release , the Hächler Group supports a non-profit organization every year. The donation of 10,000 francs replaces the usual gifts to business partners at Christmas and the turn of the year.
Who Hächler gives the donation to is never an easy decision, says the media release. There are many institutions that are worth supporting. This year Hächler chose the home club Pfadi Hochwacht Baden. He is the bearer of the old Rütibuck scout home in Baden. This was used by the scout department between 1932 and 1973. They then moved into the new youth center and the old scout home has since been available to children and youth organizations, school groups and sports clubs for weekly camps, training weekends or festivities.
This winter, the old Rütibuck scout home will be renovated and the outer shell will be subjected to an urgently needed energetic renovation, according to the Hächler announcement. That includes the renovation of the statics, the insulation of the outer walls, replacement of the old windows with triple-glazed wooden windows. The house will also have central heating and there will be a “gentle renovation inside” with adjustment and refreshment work such as painting and modernization of toilets and showers.
The donation to the old scout home is also the cover story of the company newspaper “ Der Hächler ”. An interview with Stefan Zantop, founding member of the Pfadi Hochwacht Baden home association, is printed there. And there are tips on donations or active help with the renovation.
Dhp technology , based in Zizers, wants to raise fresh funds from investors for further growth. To this end, the manufacturer of the folding solar roof called Horizon is now starting a swarm financing campaign, according to a media release . The goal is between 1 million and 3 million francs. The minimum investment is estimated at 120 francs. The campaign is expected to last until the end of January 2022. It will be carried out on the platform of the Zug-based provider Conda.ch .
With the solar folding roof from dhp, solar modules are retracted and extended on a cable construction. The control takes place automatically and is based on the weather data. For example, the system can protect itself from a storm.
According to dhp, the roof is particularly suitable for sewage treatment plants. There are 800 of these in Switzerland and around 80,000 in Europe. In addition, Horizon can be used in park, commercial and logistics areas. The company estimates the economic potential in Europe at around 60 billion euros.
The solar folding roofs have been manufactured in a factory in Zizers since 2019. Twelve dhp systems are currently in operation. The next ones are already waiting for delivery.
On the one hand, the solar folding roof is to be further developed with the fresh money. On the other hand, sales abroad are to be promoted.
The Helvetia (CH) Swiss Property Fund posted an overall profit of CHF 24.2 million in the first regular financial year, which ended on September 30, informs Helvetia Asset Management AG in a message . The overall success consisted of net income of CHF 12.8 million and an appreciation of the portfolio. The return on investment was 5.5 percent.
The fund, which is mainly made up of residential properties, was "largely spared the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic", explains the Helvetia Group's investment manager. The rent default rate was reduced to 2.5 percent in the course of the year. The report puts the rental income at CHF 22.2 million.
In the course of the financial year, the fund gained 18.9 percent in over-the-counter trading, the press release explains. This means that the SXI Real Estate Funds Broad TR, which is relevant for listed Swiss real estate funds, was exceeded with its performance of 15.3 percent. The market value of the properties rose by 2.3 percent or around 12.2 million francs year-on-year.
Helvetia Asset Management intends to further expand its real estate portfolio in the current financial year. To this end, a capital increase of around CHF 200 million is planned for the end of March. The fund should also be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in three years at the latest.
Holcim is buying the American company Marshall Concrete Products , according to a media release . This specializes in concrete products for residential buildings and small businesses. It was founded in 1936 and is based in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
With the acquisition, Holcim wants to expand its position in the USA. "The acquisition strengthens our presence in this strong growth market and contributes to Holcim's overall strategy of expanding our range of low-carbon products and solutions," Jan Jenisch, CEO of Holcim, is quoted as saying.
According to the announcement, all Marshall Concrete Products employees will continue to be employed and integrated into Holcim's national subsidiary in the USA. No information is given about the purchase price.
The building technology company Hälg , based in the St.GallenBodenseeArea, announces the purchase of the Zürcher Malpur Gebäudetechnik AG in a press release. Malpur moves the company headquarters and the workforce to the headquarters of Hälg in Winterthur and cedes the proper name. Both companies will operate on the market as Hälg & Co. AG in the future.
With the merger, two industry giants in the building technology division are pooling their competencies: Boris Bischoff, branch manager of Hälg & Co. AG Winterthur, in the communication quoted. Malpur has many years of industry experience in the professional maintenance and repair of building technology systems.
Hälg announces that the takeover took place retrospectively as of January 1, 2021 and that it aims to be the "leading Swiss service company for building technology in the fields of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and sanitation over the entire life cycle of a system".
The Ernst Göhner Foundation , based in Zug, is funding a research project for high-performance concrete at the Federal Materials Testing and Research Institute ( Empa ). She has now made an unspecified amount available to the Empa Future Fund as start- up funding, according to a media release .
This supports a research project for more environmentally friendly concrete. This has a lower CO2 footprint than conventional reinforced concrete because it is more durable and stable. In addition, the self-tensioning concrete can be used more sparingly.
The project is a so-called high-risk-high-gain project. "The risk of failure is high, but there is also a lot to be won," Masoud Motavalli, head of the research department for engineering structures at Empa in Dübendorf, is quoted in the media release. Since 2008 he had approached potential sponsors with the idea of prestressed high-performance concrete.
During the first construction phase, Fortimo will build 16 terraced houses and 42 apartments in the Minergie standard. The latter are spread across three apartment buildings that are being newly built, as well as two existing listed buildings. The new quarter will have attractive housing offers, private retreats and communal meeting areas. Right from the start, Steiner AG pursued the goal of transforming a fallow industrial area into a new, livable place to live in the countryside. Existing listed buildings such as the barn and the old post office were carefully integrated into the project and are now being revitalized as part of the implementation for living and common rooms.
Focus on real estate development Due to a portfolio adjustment, Steiner AG decided to sell the site development, which has already been approved in part, before the execution phase. Michael Schiltknecht, Co-CEO of the Steiner Group, is very pleased about the successful transaction: “With Fortimo we can hand over this great project to a long-term partner company, which ensures the successful implementation and further development of this attractive residential development.” He adds: “We have developed a convincing new building project with great potential from a former industrial site, the success story of which is now being continued by Fortimo.”
A major project in three stages The construction of the first stage will start in summer 2022 if the project goes according to plan. The overall project, which consists of three stages and will one day include 165 residential units in 10 multi-family houses and 46 row single-family houses, will be completed in the next few years.
Rural yet central The proximity to Zurich, an independent village character and a colorful club life make the Aargau community of Fischbach-Göslikon particularly attractive as a place to live. The Widacher area is in a quiet location and scores with a wonderful view and excellent transport links. From here, the public schools, shops and the natural banks of the Reuss with their sandbanks can be reached quickly on foot.
Steiner AG Steiner AG, one of the leading project developers as well as total and general contractors (TU / GU) in Switzerland, offers comprehensive services in the areas of new construction, renovation and real estate development. The company, founded in 1915, has built over 1,500 residential construction projects, 540 commercial properties, 45 hotels and 200 infrastructure facilities such as universities, schools, hospitals, old people’s homes and correctional facilities. Steiner AG is headquartered in Zurich and has branches in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Tolochenaz and Lucerne.
Fortimo AG Fortimo creates added value with joy and enthusiasm, regardless of whether you develop, hold or operate real estate. Responsible and sustainable, the more than 80 Fortimo employees at the new headquarters in St.Gallen generate annual added value of well over CHF 200 million. In 2020 Fortimo built more residential units than ever before, and at the beginning of 2021 the properties it owns exceeded the billion mark. The combination of investment, development and operation creates valuable synergies that ultimately benefit the users of the real estate.
The Baloise Group has been modernizing and expanding its core business as part of its Simply Safe strategy since 2017. According to a statement from the insurer, working methods have been modernized internally, scope for design expanded and hierarchies dismantled, thereby increasing employee satisfaction overall.
At the same time, an ecosystem of innovations was built up. To this end, 7,500 ideas and start-ups were tested in the Baloise Open Innovation Funnel. The Basler Insurance Group has invested a total of 50 million francs annually in the most promising initiatives. Around 30 investments are in the scaling phase. As the largest investment, FRIDAY is already one of the most popular digital insurers in Germany and was able to expand to France in 2021. FRIDAY sales are likely to rise to over 50 million francs this year, with a target of 150 million francs in 2025.
In the home sector, Baloise has invested in eight initiatives, five in Switzerland and three in Belgium. The total turnover is over 10 million francs, the aim for 2025 is 100 million francs. In the area of mobility, the nine initiatives should generate a total of up to CHF 10 million in sales in 2021. In 2025, sales are also expected to rise to 100 million.
Gert De Winter is now initiating the second phase of Simply Safe. “Our ambition is to have our investment measures valued at CHF 1 billion by 2025 and to secure a business volume contribution of CHF 350 million through the new initiatives,” the CEO of Baloise is quoted as saying in the press release.
At the same time, progress in the area of innovation should be made more visible. The innovations are presented narrative on the newly launched “ Baloise Innovation – Connecting the Dots ” website.
TX Group , Ringier and Mobiliar as well as the financial investor General Atlantic have founded a joint venture, inform the four partners in a joint announcement . The Swiss Marketplace Group, launched on November 11, is to manage the digital marketplaces of Ringier and Mobiliar as well as TX Group in an independent market presence . The joint venture will be managed by Martin Waeber, Pierre-Alain Regali, Francesco Vass and Boris Gussen under the leadership of Gilles Despas.
The marketplaces acheter-louer.ch, anibis.ch, AutoScout24, Car For You, FinanceScout24, home.ch, Homegate, icasa.ch, ImmoScout24, ImmoStreet.ch, MotoScout24, Ricardo, tutti.ch and advertising marketing are combined in SMG . TX Group will hold 31 percent, Ringier and Mobiliar 29.5 percent each and General Atlantic 10 percent in the new joint venture, according to the announcement. However, the voting rights in SMG are divided between the partner companies at 25 percent each.
“Today we are embarking on an exciting journey with a new, forward-thinking and future-oriented company,” Despas is quoted in the press release. According to the CEO of SMG, the new company should strive for sustainability, live “real diversity in an inspiring, multilingual and agile environment” and drive “the digitization of our industries”.
Since the opening on November 5, 2020, a number of new tenants have moved into The Circle , writes Flughafen Zürich AG in a message . She realized the quarter at Zurich Airport together with Swiss Life . One year after the opening, the co-owner company is “largely satisfied” with the development of the quarter, writes the company.
“It is a great pleasure to see how the Circle is getting livelier”, Stefan Feldmann, Head of The Circle, Flughafen Zürich AG, is quoted in the press release. According to her, 85 percent of the space is now occupied “with an exciting mix of well-known companies from the technology, pharmaceutical, finance and consulting sectors”. The alleys of the quarter are also livened up by restaurants, exhibition rooms, the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle Hotel, the coworking space Spaces and the branch of the University Hospital Zurich. At the end of the year, the day care center in the Circle is also due to be inaugurated. “We are aware that everything is not yet perfect, but we are on the right track and are working on it every day,” says Feldmann.
In September 2021, the first district festival was also celebrated in the Circle. The new winter festival Zauberpark will start on November 25th. Live open air concerts and children’s shows are planned here every day for 18 days. Finally, on December 15th, the second Hyatt Hotel, the Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle, will open its doors.
Where does this saxophone come from? –Mr. G-Sax, one of the most renowned saxophonists in Switzerland, shortens the waiting time at the entrance control. “This is my 10th time here,” he says during a break in play. «The Immo-Boat was a hit right from the start. The whole real estate scene meets here in an almost familiar setting. You know each other, talk about the respective business situation and look forward to seeing you again. ” It is also clever that the Immo-Boat has always taken place on a Monday, which Marnie Baldessari from SVIT Zurich confirms: “We always plan the Immo-Boat on the last Monday of August. Because of Corona, it was September this year. But on Monday, unlike other days of the week, people have time. “
After previous speakers such as Thomas Borer (2011), Valentin NJ Landmann (2013), Jean-Claude Biver (2016), Bertrand Piccard (2017) or Ottmar Hitzfeld (2018), this year Mario Gyr, Olympic champion, rowing world champion and European champion in the lightweight foursome without a helmsman as well as Olympic diploma holder from London 2012, the honor. In his presentation, he chatted freshly and freely from the sewing box of a top athlete and repeatedly drew parallels to today’s working life, and not only in the real estate industry. With his thoroughly sympathetic manner, he conquered the audience in no time and thanked him by handing around his gold medal, which feels much heavier than expected in terms of weight.
Once again, the Lake Zurich tour on the MS Panta Rhei felt like a vacation: an idyllic ambience and wonderful landscapes, entertaining conversation partners and a cheerful after-work atmosphere among all guests are essential success factors. At the end of the evening there was not only fine wines and a generous aperitif, but also a cigar lounge on the sun deck. “Even people who normally don’t indulge in cigars come here to a Stump”, said one guest, almost cynically. Even the lighting glitch did not detract from the leisurely philosophizing. But on the contrary. Many a lady bobbed to the cool Mr. G-Sax beat almost like in the disco.
True to the motto “Never Change a Winning Team”, along with SVIT CEO Pascal Stutz, Marnie Baldessari and Christoph M. Steiner, SRF presenter Monika Schärer was also present for the tenth time. No question: Both the Swiss Real Estate Association (SVIT) Zurich and the hosts ImmoScout24, Quooker, Raifeisen, Siemens Hausgeräte, Sunrise UPC and immo! Nvest can be satisfied. The tenth edition of the networking event for executives from the real estate industry will also be fondly remembered by all those involved. For Marnie Baldessari, every issue of Immo-Boat is a highlight: “We have many returning guests and we even have a waiting list. But because of Corona this has become shorter than it was before. ” Ship ahoy: See you again in 2022!
The Baloise Swiss Property Fund is expected to be traded on the Swiss stock exchange from November 1, 2021. According to a press release from Baloise Asset Management AG , the relevant listing application has been approved by the SIX Swiss Exchange . The fund is therefore also open to non-qualified investors from this date. The portfolio currently comprises 72 properties with an estimated market value of around CHF 811 million.
According to the issuer, the investment objective of this real estate fund, launched in 2018, is “primarily to generate stable current income through direct investments in Swiss core / core plus properties that are in good locations and have a high level of income and value stability”. At least 50 percent residential properties and a maximum of 50 percent commercial properties would be aimed for. A further expansion with a focus on residential buildings is planned.
Real estate service provider Wincasa has entered into a partnership with Madaster . According to a press release , Wincasa intends to facilitate the efficient use of materials throughout the life cycle of a property. Wincasa uses the Madaster material pass for this. It gives insight into the materials, components, products and quantities that were used to create a building. It also includes information about the quality of the materials, their locations, and their financial and circular value.
“The exact knowledge of the built-in materials is an integral part of the holistic view of a property”, Beatrice Landolt, Head Construction & Facility Management at Wincasa AG, is quoted as saying. “On the basis of this data, we will in future be able to evaluate the circularity of the properties we manage and map this in a corresponding index.”
As stated in the announcement, a detailed material pass for an existing building is being created for the first time in Switzerland in the Müllerstrasse 12 renovation project in Zurich. Wincasa is supporting this Swiss Prime Site Immobilien AG project with its client trust department. In this way, if one property is demolished, materials can be used specifically in another property, says Landolt. “This possibility means a new dimension of circularity in the real estate industry and closes the cycle in Cradle to Cradle construction projects.”
Luucy AG, based in Lucerne, was founded in 2019 by the architect and entrepreneur Mark Imhof. He describes himself as a visionary who has been dealing with the complex issues of the internal development of villages and cities for a long time. It struck him that he was repeatedly reaching limits with the usual methods and procedures. Imhof decided to develop a solution that strengthens and simplifies communication and cooperation between all parties involved: “Luucy combines the relevant data for the spatial and real estate development of all Swiss municipalities in one central location. The planning platform also provides intelligent tools for development and supports the exchange with all stakeholders through the understandable 3D visualization, ”explains Mark Imhof, CEO of Luucy AG.
Data and information from all stakeholders could be easily found, further developed and made available via the comprehensive platform. To make this possible, Luucy was constructed as a digital twin of built Switzerland. Imhof: “The topography of the Swiss landscape with all existing buildings is available in 3D as a basis. Thanks to the web solution, no software needs to be installed to use it. Initial building volumes and variant studies can be modeled directly in Luucy and compared with one another. Additional apps from third-party providers, for example for calculating investment costs, provide valuable additional information for decision-making. “
The official survey data, maps and access to the building laws can also be called up directly on the platform. “Luucy enables all interested third-party providers to connect additional solutions and thus offers space for new business models and value chains,” says Imhof. The solution met with great interest in the real estate industry: “Having all the relevant data and tools for room and real estate development available online in one place increases efficiency considerably,” explains Imhof.
Make feasibility studies much easier Luucy isn’t the only platform that makes data accessible in a digital twin. «The specialty of our solution is the platform concept. We don’t work out everything ourselves – we integrate and work with the best. As a result, the platform is growing steadily, ”says Imhof, explaining the advantages. The interactive platform also differs from other solutions, because it acts as an intermediary builder of bridges between the authorities, which often do not know enough about the needs of the private sector, and the private sector, which the overarching goals of spatial development in the sense of a sustainable and holistically functioning organism Too little consideration of “living space”.
“Today, for example, many steps in different systems are necessary to create a feasibility study. The analysis of the legal basis in the building laws of the 2172 municipalities in Switzerland and their interpretation is often a challenge. A lot of time is lost here, ”says Imhof. Luucy has all of these basics ready in a single system. The platform would primarily be used by specialists from architecture or site development. In this way, they can check meaningful development scenarios in just a few hours. “Authorities and spatial planning offices can also use our solution to display local planning revisions and potential spatial developments over a large area. Investors can easily make their own initial potential assessments of properties and areas,” explains Imhof.
The modeling of own building volumes and the quick calculation of the corresponding rough costs are currently most in demand. “Here, the entire settlement context is taken into account, and the influence on neighboring buildings in terms of shadows and views can be quickly checked. In addition, Luucy is often used for digital competitions in which the different project ideas are simply evaluated and compared with one another, ”says Imhof.
In 10 years the most used planning and coordination platform for the space and real estate industry The main focus of Luucy AG is initially on Switzerland. “But it is quite conceivable that the solution will also be offered in the DACH region and Europe in the next few years,” says Imhof. The basic costs for the platform are CHF 3,000 per year. This means that three administrators can create any number of projects, and unlimited users can work in these projects.
In the coming months, the start-up plans to continuously expand its offerings: “In five years, Luucy will be so extensive that all room-relevant data and functions can be accessed via the platform. Simulations, for example on noise, mobility and climate, can be displayed », says Imhof. And he is convinced: “In ten years, our solution will be the planning and coordination platform for the space and real estate industry. And with Luucy, cooperation with the private sector will also be greatly simplified for the authorities. Planning applications can then be published in 3D format. “
In addition to a further developed geometer system, Luucy will one day ensure that an up-to-date digital twin is available to all planners on a daily basis. The spatial strategies and the associated development of the infrastructure of the cities and municipalities should be available. The solution is disruptive and is likely to play a key role in replacing complicated and less dynamic processes in the construction industry, as Imhof explains.
The monthly rent index compiled by the digital real estate marketplace homegate.ch from TX Group in cooperation with Zürcher Kantonalbank rose by 0.2 percent to 115.7 points across Switzerland in September compared to August, explains homegate.ch in a corresponding message . An increase of 0.8 percent has been observed over the past twelve months. In the individual cantons and cities, the index analysts observed different developments on a monthly basis.
In some cantons, the changes compared to the previous month were stronger than usual, according to the announcement. The analysts observed the strongest increase in asking rents at 3.69 percent in Graubünden. But asking rents in Nidwalden and Uri also rose by a high 1.69 and 1.38 percent, respectively. In the cantons of Zug and Neuchâtel, on the other hand, asking rents were 1.25 and 1.21 percent lower than in August. With the exception of Lugano (+1.72 percent), the analysts recorded rather minor changes in the cities compared to the previous month.
“The moving month of September was not only an active time for those moving, the asking rents also reflected this”, Fabian Korn from homegate.ch is quoted in the message. “It will be exciting to see how this will develop with the falling temperatures.”
When recording the rental price changes for the rental index, the rental prices are corrected for different quality, location and size of the apartments, is explained in the communication. This makes it possible to record the actual rental price development.
Despite the pandemic burdening construction activity, wages in the construction industry have remained stable this year compared to 2020, the Swiss Master Builders Association ( SBV ) informs in a message . According to her, the construction industry continues to pay “the best wages for craftsmen”. The pay of building cadres is comparable to that of academics in industry.
According to surveys by the SBV, the current remuneration for foremen and foremen is currently around 7800 francs a month. The rest of the construction personnel have an average of 13 monthly salaries of 5901 francs each. The monthly wage ranges from 4921 francs for an unskilled worker without qualifications or work experience to 6743 francs per month for a foreman.
The SBV defines education as central to increasing income in construction. The leap from one wage class to the next is associated with a plus of around 500 francs, explains the association. Anyone who moves up from foreman to foreman earns around 1,000 francs more per month. In contrast, wage increases due to years of work were comparatively small due to the “high minimum wages”.
Around a third of construction site personnel will retire in the next ten years, the communication further explains. The SBV intends to counter the worsening shortage of skilled workers with “individual wage prospects based on targeted training and further education”. To do this, however, the wage system must be converted from general wage increases to performance-related, individual adjustments, says the association.
What does newhome say about the merger? Before the announced merger of the marketplaces of TX Group and Ringier , with the kind assistance of Mobiliar and General Atlantic, I conducted an interview with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of newhome.ch. After the bomb burst, I asked Jan Werkman more questions. homegate.ch is playing with fire with the announcement of Quality Partner. The annoyance is great, but the alternatives are small.
How is the acquisition of new shareholders going?
As is well known, NNH Holding AG and Next Property AG (NPAG) are the owners. NPAG unites the interests of over 500 players in the real estate industry and decides for itself how to expand its shareholder base. Accordingly, the acquisition (acquisition of shareholders) is the task of Next Property AG with managing director Mario Facchinetti. At newhome.ch, the NPAG shareholders are treated as business customers who enjoy certain preferential conditions.
A direct investment does not make sense as there is no intention to merge. newhome sees itself as the hub of an evolving ecosystem and not as an orchestrator or investor. The cantonal banks involved in emonitor AG intend to ensure close cooperation between newhome and emonitor and thereby gradually expand the real estate and housing ecosystem. With a view to this expansion, the three cantonal banks (SGKB, GKB, LUKB) want to attract even more cantonal banks to participate and thus support this commitment more broadly.
The long-time CEO leaves the portal, giving the impression that he did not leave voluntarily (there is no message on the homepage with the thanks of the Board of Directors)
Jean-Pierre Valenghi is leaving newhome at the end of 2021. The Board of Directors has granted his wish to be able to devote himself to his family on a sabbatical of several months from August. Official information or further information on his successor will be provided by newhome in due course. newhome will continue to be managed by the second Co-CEO.
How does the new board of directors intend to position the portal?
The strategic positioning is in development and not yet completed. newhome will provide information here in due course.
What should the ecosystem around newhome.ch look like?
newhome sees itself as the hub of an ecosystem in the real estate and housing sector. Future strategic alliances and collaborations will be evaluated depending on the situation in consultation with the newhome shareholders.
What does newhome.ch say about the merger? So much for the interview from mid-August. In the meantime the situation has changed fundamentally. I wanted to know from Jan Werkmann whether he would like to make a statement on the merger of the Ringier and TX Group marketplaces. I was also interested in whether the announcement affected the strategy of newhome.ch and whether the speed at which measures were implemented changed? Jan replied: We are not making a statement about the joint venture. Our strategic alignment is being revised in order to do justice to the current market situation even better.
In old documents I found the vision defined earlier, that with newhome.ch, Switzerland’s dominant real estate marketplace should be created within 18 to 24 months. The data sovereignty should lie with the owners, service providers. The aim is to cooperate with the French-speaking Swiss marketplace immobilier.ch.
What has been achieved? newhome.ch is far from being the dominant marketplace. The cooperation with immobilier.ch did not materialize. According to market statements, the cantonal banks in Western Switzerland are said to have said goodbye to the shareholders of newhome.ch. This information cannot be verified because the logos of the shareholders are no longer shown on newhome.ch. The previous co-CEO has not (yet) been confirmed as sole managing director. What does newhome say about the merger?
“Find instead of search”
The Handelszeitung mentions that newhome.ch has adopted a new strategy. At least this statement contradicts the information given by the Chairman of the Board of Directors in my interview. Above all, according to the Handelszeitung, newhome.ch wants to score with the sentence: Find instead of search. This suggests that newhome.ch has the largest selection of properties. This is definitely not the case. The author of the article in the Handelszeitung sees the greatest advantage of the cooperation between real estate agents and cantonal banks in the fact that the banks “know” whether the money is available for a purchase (and less for a rent). In this way, the potential buyers could be “qualified”. Here, too, it is assumed that only the cantonal banks grant mortgages. But this is not the case. The competition between banks and insurance companies is raging and intermediaries such as Moneypark are playing an increasingly important role. We owners all want the same thing: the lowest possible mortgage interest.
homegate.ch ensures red heads again
homegate.ch has created a new award with “homegate.ch Quality Partner”. According to homegate.ch , the portal wants to evaluate the quality of a property (and thus of a provider) according to uniform criteria. The result should be conveyed transparently to homegate.ch customers. homegate.ch attaches great importance to the fact that the seal cannot be bought. Rather, criteria known in advance must be met.
The announcement causes great excitement on LinkedIn. Coupled with the call to rally together behind newhome.ch. Well, in the general outrage about the merger of the marketplaces, homegate.ch is certainly not acting wisely. Above all, they seem to have forgotten that the “homeday” project triggered Next Property back then. So why break even more dishes if you don’t have to? Are these the first signs of the coming monopoly?
What does newhome say about the merger? The statements are currently very vague. Let’s just wait for the long-promised deeds.
Smino has won over a number of investors with its platform for digital building planning (Building Information Modeling / BIM). The start-up from the St.GallenBodenseeArea has successfully completed a series A financing round and raised CHF 3.1 million, according to a press release .
Smino is an offer from BBC Systems AG. The platform acts as a data hub for construction projects. This platform is now to be further developed. “The smino team impressed us and our partners with its comprehensive software solution for construction project management”, Manfred Heid is quoted in the message, managing partner of the investor BitStone Capital. “We are very pleased to support the team together with our co-investors as they expand into new markets and develop into a digital project assistant.”
BitStone Capital led the financing round. Other investors are EquityPitcher Ventures, Swiss Startup Capital, Session VC, Swiss Immo Lab, AXEPT Business Software AG and Conreal. “Smino has managed to generate rapid growth and become a key player in the construction industry,” says Guy Giuffredi from Swiss Startup Capital. “Now the expansion is pending and we are convinced that the excellently positioned team will master this quickly and successfully.”
This expansion is to be realized first in Switzerland and Europe. In the future, smino also wants to rely on applications with artificial intelligence, as co-founder Sandor Balogh calls it. “The Series A round enables us to expand our market leadership in Switzerland and expand internationally. A further branch will be set up in Germany specifically for the European region. “
There is currently a waiting period for environmentally friendly investments in real estate. Such investments are only tax-deductible five years after the property has been built. Last December, Councilor of States Roberto Zanetti (SP / SO) submitted a motion calling for this waiting period to be shortened.
In view of the high construction costs, the financial limits of especially younger builders for ecological measures in new buildings are understandable, writes Zanetti in his motion. If, after completion of the building, it turns out “that the corresponding ecologically desirable additional investments would be financially viable”, the owners will, however, in view of the five-year waiting period “be careful not to take these investments by hand immediately”. This is “regrettable from an ecological point of view,” says Zanetti.
The shortening of the waiting period called for by the SP Council of States can now be implemented. After support from the Federal Council and the adoption of the motion by the Council of States, the National Council has now “accepted the proposal without discussion”, the parliamentary services inform in a message . Now it is the Federal Council’s turn. He must create the legal basis for shortening the waiting period. In addition, different procedures between the cantons are to be harmonized so far.
The Baden-based communications and advertising agency Megura has revised the Birchmeier Group’s public presentation. According to a media release, the new appearance under the motto Birchmeier enthusiastic is intended to clearly show the company’s development from the small construction company founded in 1940 to today’s large group with over 600 employees. The current range of services includes more than pure construction work. Birchmeier has developed from a pure construction company to a broad-based specialist within the construction world.
This development should also be made visible and noticeable in the appearance of the brand, according to the announcement. Logo, design, photo style, imagery, tonality as well as information architecture and user experience on the website were rather down-to-earth. Megura introduced an iconic B in the logo in the so-called refresh of the brand, which enthusiastically depicts Birchmeier’s positioning. The new page captivates with a light and reduced design, direct and simple tonality and an authentic world of images.
The Birchmeier Group presents itself on the redesigned page as a general contractor who takes full responsibility for the turnkey implementation of a construction project. Architects and specialist planners are integrated in the service contract. The customer has only one contact person.
Kollabo has raised a total of 2.4 million francs in a seed financing round, the Zurich start-up informs in a message on startupticker.ch. In addition to the already existing lead investor Wingman Ventures, Kollabo was also able to win PropTech1 Ventures from Berlin as well as other well-known business angels as investors. Roland Brack, Christian Wenger and Stéphane Pictet are named in the communication.
Kollabo intends to use the established funds to expand the company’s own job platform for temporary work in the construction industry. Craftsmen can create their own profile at Kollabo and have their specialist knowledge certified in an evaluation system. The aim of the young company is to “become the dominant digital ecosystem for qualified craftsmen in the DACH region,” explains Kollabo in an entry on LinkedIn.
“It is no secret that the shortage of skilled workers is the decisive bottleneck in the timely completion of construction projects”, Anja Rath is quoted in the message on startupticker.ch. The managing partner of PropTech1 Ventures sees the collaboration as “the right solution for this problem”. In addition, Rath points out that Kollabo’s sales are growing threefold every year. “Kollabo’s vision of offering additional products in the future, such as the possibility for craftsmen to book accommodation or insurance for individual orders, also opens up the opportunity for further synergies and growth potential,” says the manager of the young company’s new lead investor.
Westhive wants to open a new shared office in Stettbach Mitte, right next to the Stettbach S-Bahn station, as announced in a message on LinkedIn. More than 120 jobs are to be offered there as early as the first quarter of 2022. There will be six meeting rooms for conferences and seminars. The infrastructure should also include a restaurant and a fitness room.
Stettbach Mitte is interesting for Westhive thanks to its “good traffic location”. The new office location will have a direct connection to public transport as well as a connection to the A1 motorway. “This results in a large catchment area that extends from the Glatttal via Zurich Oberland to Winterthur,” said a message from Stettbach Mitte about the new arrival.
Weshtive was founded in 2017 and opened its first coworking location in Zurich in 2018. The company now offers offices and workplaces with a complete service infrastructure at five locations. Further locations are being planned.
The Zurich start-up has developed software that can be used to optimize the use of space in office buildings. The software obtains the necessary data for the utilization from existing IT infrastructures, motion sensors or WLAN networks.
The solution is intended to help real estate managers in large companies to make fact-based decisions about their office buildings. Employees can also benefit from the software. For example, you can see where free desks can be found.
Locatee expects the occupancy analysis market size to grow to more than $ 5 billion by 2025. This is also related to the change in the role of offices, which the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated significantly.
The construction company W. Schmid AG has carried out a rebranding. The company founded in Glattbrugg by Walter Schmid in 1966 now appears as WSG. According to a message on LinkedIn, this is seen as a milestone for the owner-managed SME. Due to the dynamic change caused by digitization, the business model, competencies and company culture have already been adjusted. Now follow the matching modern dress, it says in the message. In addition to the new WSG logo, the generously designed new logo in light green lettering bears the addition “See what will be.” This is intended to signal the “fresh wind” in the traditional company, according to LinkedIn.
The development from the original construction company to today’s WSG is described on the company’s website. The company is active in German-speaking Switzerland, with three offices in Glattbrugg, Zug and Basel and employs around 70 people. WSG is active as an innovative real estate developer and is responsible for the construction of more than 10,000 apartments in the past 55 years.
As a construction company directly at the airport, the airport region around Kloten shaped the orders and customers of W. Schmid AG. Swissair and the hotel chains with their airport hotels are named as regular customers. The company also paid attention to sustainability early on. The first solar facade was built in 1988 and the first apartment building with a Minergie certificate was completed in 1998. In 2016, the world’s first energy self-sufficient apartment building was built by W. Schmid AG.
Forster enters into a strategic partnership with the technology start-up ConReal Swiss AG . For this purpose, the kitchen builder is getting into the start-up company for the digitization of the construction and real estate industry from Winterthur through its investment company e-comm Beteiligungen AG, based in Baar, according to a media release. The companies do not disclose the investment amount.
The collaboration will initially focus on household appliances. Existing partners from the trade are to be offered new services. In addition, the partnership supports the “ongoing development of the digital marketplace” for interior design.
“With this partnership, we are able to combine Forster’s competencies and market knowledge with ConReal’s digitization capabilities in order to create a better offer and a unique shopping experience for both tradespeople and end consumers,” said Joachim Wallishauser, Managing Director of e-comm, quoted in the press release.
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