immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Business

  • AXA Switzerland launches real estate funds for pension funds

    AXA Switzerland launches real estate funds for pension funds

    According to a message from AXA Switzerland , the company has launched a new, actively managed real estate fund. The AXA pension fund real estate Switzerland contains a high proportion of residential properties in central locations in Swiss metropolitan areas, explains AXA Switzerland in the press release. The fund should only be open to "certain qualified tax-exempt investors in Switzerland".

    "The capital market interest rates in Switzerland are currently at historic lows, and a significant change in the interest rate environment is not in sight", Daniel Gussmann, Chief Investment Officer of AXA Switzerland, is quoted in the press release. "Real estate investments are therefore becoming increasingly important in the investment of pension funds, not least thanks to positive cash inflows from rental income." The new fund from AXA Switzerland currently has a volume of CHF 1.7 billion.

  • Fundamenta Real Estate posts record profit

    Fundamenta Real Estate posts record profit

    According to a release from Fundamenta Real Estate AG , the Zug-based real estate company generated net rental income of CHF 33.47 million in the 2020 financial year. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 13.4 percent. The announcement mentions the purchase of two new properties and the completion of three of its own projects as growth drivers. In addition, the company was able to reduce its vacancy rate year-on-year by 0.2 percentage points to 3.5 percent.

    A new record of CHF 26.69 million was reported as net profit in the 2020 reporting year. In the previous year, a net profit of CHF 22.51 million was realized. In the year under review, a slightly lower revaluation effect than in the previous year was more than offset by “an excellent operating result” and the sale of three properties, explains the real estate company.

    "The stability of our real estate portfolio, which is dominated by residential space, has also been shown in this special year," Andreas Spahni, President and Delegate of the Board of Directors, is quoted in the press release. "The corona crisis only had a marginal effect on the result."

    The balance sheet value of Fundamenta Real Estate's real estate portfolio rose from CHF 908.91 million to CHF 991.94 million in the course of the year under review. In February of this year, the company acquired another residential property. In addition, the “further repositioning of two existing properties in Zurich and one property in Bern” has started, according to the announcement. Fundamenta Real Estate plans to carry out a capital increase this year to finance ongoing projects. Details are to be communicated after the General Assembly on April 8th.

  • Sika buys mortar manufacturer in Brazil

    Sika buys mortar manufacturer in Brazil

    Sika buys a mortar manufacturer in Brazil. With its BR Massa brand, Supermassa do Brasil Ltda has a strong market position in the Minas Gerais region, Sika explains in a statement on the takeover. It is intended to strengthen the presence of the Zug-based building materials group in hardware stores and specialist dealers in what is said to be one of the most important economic regions in Brazil. In addition, Sika is relying on being able to successfully offer other of its own products in conjunction with BR Massa products.

    "With BR Massa we can further improve our customer service and our offer in the Minas Gerais region", Christoph Ganz, Regional Manager Americas, is quoted in the press release. “The increased presence in sales and the expanded local supply chain will make a significant contribution to the further penetration of the Brazilian market.” The takeover also gives Sika its first production site in the region.

    The transaction will take place subject to the approval of the local antitrust authorities, Sika further informs in the announcement. No information is given there about the purchase price or further details about the takeover.

  • Investis acquires Rohr AG

    Investis acquires Rohr AG

    Investis Holding AG specializes in properties in the Lake Geneva region and real estate services throughout Switzerland. To strengthen the second business area, the Zurich real estate company took over Rohr AG on March 12th, Investis explains in a press release . The Aargau building service provider offers special and facade cleaning, maintenance cleaning, integral building management as well as the construction and operation of clean rooms. The two partners have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

    "This company is an ideal addition to our existing subsidiaries in the facility services sector", Walter Eberle, Head of Real Estate Services at Investis, is quoted in the press release. "With the acquisition, we will continue to expand our services and strengthen our national awareness in the market." Eberle also wants to use the synergies and opportunities for further development resulting from the takeover.

    Rohr AG has around 1000 employees and generated sales totaling 41 million francs in the 2020 financial year, the announcement further explains. The Aargau company will also operate under the umbrella of Investis Holdung as an independent company under the existing name.

  • Porsche supports start-ups in Zurich

    Porsche supports start-ups in Zurich

    Porsche supports innovative start- ups through its Forward31 program. Now the German carmaker has also included the Zurich start-up The Embassies in this program, according to a media release .

    The Embassies is developing a new solution for living in old age. This consists of a digital platform and habitable rooms. The company wants to build a network with around 30 locations worldwide. She wants to focus on big cities like Zurich, London, New York or Berlin. The first location is scheduled to open in Europe in 2022.

    At the locations – so-called embassies – of The Embassies, residents and visitors should have publicly accessible catering and leisure facilities available. The goal is to encourage social interaction. Traveling by older people is also supported. This also gives residents and members access to other The Embassies locations around the world.

    "We created our offer for people who want to lead a self-determined, fulfilled and healthy life for as long as possible," says Jan Garde, founder of The Embassies, in the press release.

    Forward31 will now continue to develop the business model together with the founding team of The Embassies and support the company as a strategic partner in the future.

  • Implenia wins five orders in Germany

    Implenia wins five orders in Germany

    According to an announcement from Implenia , the construction and real estate company was able to acquire five building construction contracts in Germany. Specifically, Implenia is to implement office, hotel and apartment projects for various clients in the Karlsruhe area, in Berlin and in Jena. The order volume is put at a total of 140 million euros in the announcement.

    In Karlsruhe, Implenia is building a new office and hotel building for [glossary_exclude] Qcoon Real Estate GmbH [/ glossary_exclude] and FORTOON Development GmbH. Construction work is scheduled to begin this quarter. In Bruchsal, Implenia was entrusted with the construction of a residential and commercial quarter by Grundwerte Verwaltungs GmbH. The start of construction is planned for autumn.

    Implenia will build an office and commercial building for Investa Real Estate in Berlin. Certification according to the environmental standard DGNB Gold is being sought for the building, explains the company in the announcement. Implenia has been entrusted with the implementation of two high-rise buildings in Jena.

    On the one hand, the company in Jena will build an inclusion center for people in need of care and multi-generation shared apartments on behalf of the Wandlungswelten Foundation. On the other hand, Implenia was entrusted with the construction of a new office building by a private investor not named in the notification. Both projects in Jena are already under construction and will be handed over to their clients in the coming year.

  • SF Urban Properties can increase profits

    SF Urban Properties can increase profits

    Despite the pandemic, SF Urban Properties AG can look back on “a gratifying 2020 financial year”, writes the real estate company belonging to Swiss Finance & Property Group AG in a press release . Specifically, the company was able to increase its operating result at EBIT level from 27.0 million to 32.0 million francs year-on-year. The net profit before revaluations increased by 92.8 percent compared to 2019 to 23.0 million francs. Net profit including revaluations improved by 23.8 percent to 23.0 million francs.

    As a background for the good developments, SF Urban Properties cites the successful sale of a property and the vacancy rate, which was kept at a low 2.62 percent despite the pandemic. As in the previous year, shareholders are to be paid a dividend of CHF 3.60 per listed ordinary share. With an equity ratio of 46.4 percent, the company continues to be “robustly financed,” writes SF Urban Properties.

    In the current year, the real estate company intends to concentrate on the economic areas of Zurich and Basel as before. In the year under review, SF Urban Properties was able to successfully market the Sandreutergarten residential development planned in Riehen BS, the real estate company reports. Nine out of ten of the units under construction since the end of 2020 have already been sold. In the development project at Klusstrasse 38 in Zurich, twelve of a total of 13 units were reserved in the reporting year and two of them had already been legally sold.

  • Implenia sees itself in a good position

    Implenia sees itself in a good position

    According to a message from Implenia , the construction and real estate company from Dietlikon generated sales totaling CHF 2.99 billion in 2020. In the previous year, sales of 4.43 billion Swiss francs were posted. The operating result at EBIT level fell year-on-year from CHF 63.5 million to CHF -146.8 million. A loss of 132.1 million francs was reported as the consolidated result; in 2019, a profit of 33.9 million francs had been realized.

    The order backlog remained at a high level at CHF 6.39 billion and is also well distributed across business areas and markets, Implenia writes in the press release. More than 80 percent of the sales targeted for the current year are already secured. In the current year, the company intends to be back in the black.

    The return to the profit zone should be achieved through restructuring in the portfolio and measures for profitable growth. Implenia writes that the company has already started to reduce business areas that are not part of its core business or that are unprofitable. For profitable growth, "an effective management of opportunities and risks was introduced".

    Implenia wants to report an EBIT of at least 100 million francs in the current year. At the corresponding rate, the target is 2.8 percent. In the medium term, an EBIT margin of 4.5 percent should be achieved.

  • Plazza defies the pandemic

    Plazza defies the pandemic

    Plazza AG achieved a very positive result in 2020 and exceeded its own expectations, writes the Zurich real estate company in a press release . Specifically, the company, which has been listed on the SIX since 2015, was able to increase its property income from CHF 24.3 million in the previous year to CHF 24.6 million in the year under review. At the same time, the operating result before depreciation and revaluation increased from 18.9 million to 20.0 million francs.

    The profit was 63.3 million francs, compared to 36.7 million francs in the previous year. The increase is primarily due to success in revaluations, explains Plazza in the press release. Without taking them into account, the profit remained unchanged from 2019 at 17.0 million francs.

    Plazza cites the high proportion of residential properties in its own portfolio as the background for the good developments. It was unchanged at 73 percent in the year under review and will continue to rise this year through the purchase of 80 apartments in the Tiergarten estate in Zurich's Friesenberg district, the statement said. According to her, none of the apartments managed by Plazza had been vacant by the end of 2020. Overall, the real estate company was able to reduce its vacancy rate year-on-year from 4.0 to 3.7 percent. The company writes that it mainly affects free commercial space.

    For the current year, Plazza is aiming for an operating result before depreciation and revaluation "at least in the order of 2020". Subject to the building permit expected in the first half of the year, the first stage of the development project in Crissier VD is to be tackled. The construction of a nursing home for a foundation and a primary school for the community of Crissier were agreed in the reporting year.

  • GuestReady teams up with Airhosted

    GuestReady teams up with Airhosted

    In the past four years, GuestReady has established itself as a specialist in six countries with its services for providers of short-term rentals, explains a report on Startupticker.ch. Despite severe setbacks during the coronavirus pandemic, the start-up from Appenzell Ausserrhoden managed to raise “fresh funds” through a swarm financing campaign at the end of 2020. She wants to use GuestReady for the development of the Swiss market. "Switzerland has become even more exciting for us due to Corona and the effects on travel behavior," Alexander Limpert, co-founder of GuestReady, is quoted in the report.

    To realize the plans, GuestReady is working with the Zug start-up company Airhosted . The company manages short-term rentals in a total of 18 cities in Switzerland and aims to bring this specialist knowledge to bear in the partnership. GuestReady, in turn, will equip the partner “with the necessary technology” and the specialist knowledge to also win real estate companies and other corporate customers.

    The two partners want to be able to look after 500 properties in Switzerland by the end of next year. "Thanks to more local guests, classic destinations in the mountains in particular are already showing higher occupancy rates again," explains Limpert in the article. "In addition, the number of vacation rental owners who want a professional rental service is increasing."

  • Locatee expands to New York

    Locatee expands to New York

    The Zurich-based company Locatee now has a second headquarters in New York. The team working there is intended to support American companies with immediate effect in planning their actual office space requirements. Because the office landscape will look completely different after the pandemic than before, it is necessary to get a clear picture of the actual occupancy and occupancy, according to a media release .

    This expansion in the US is another step towards becoming the global leader in workplace analysis. This analysis leverages the existing wired and wireless networks on site to determine exactly how effectively a company's office space is being used. This makes it possible to enlarge or reduce as needed.

    “We know that large companies often have difficulty identifying exactly how their real estate portfolio is being used,” says Locatee CEO Thomas Kessler. “And this leads to enormous costs in the form of wasted space. We want to help companies manage their real estate portfolio effectively. "

    Locatee was founded in 2014. In 2016, Swiss Post was the first company to use Locatee in all properties. Today, according to Locatee, its platform is used by companies such as Deloitte , Swiss Re and other of the world's 1000 most valuable companies in more than 60 countries.

  • The reference mortgage rate remains at 1.25 percent

    The reference mortgage rate remains at 1.25 percent

    The Federal Housing Office (BWO) has left the mortgage reference rate for tenancies unchanged at 1.25 percent. In a press release by the BWO, it is pointed out that this rate, which applies to rent structuring throughout Switzerland, has not been changed since March 3, 2020.

    The reference interest rate is determined on the basis of the quarterly average interest rate for domestic mortgage claims. This was determined on December 31, 2020. According to the BWO, the rate fell from 1.30 percent to 1.28 percent in the previous quarter. The reference interest rate applicable under rental law remains at 1.25 percent and remains at this level until the average interest rate falls below 1.13 percent or rises above 1.37 percent, explains the BWO. The rate is always given with a quarter percent accuracy.

    Since the rate remains unchanged, according to the BWO, there is no new lower or higher claim. If a rent in the individual contractual relationship is not based on the current reference interest rate of 1.25 percent, there is a right to a reduction. Changes in costs, for example in the case of maintenance costs, could also lead to an adjustment claim.

  • Swiss Prime Site defies the pandemic

    Swiss Prime Site defies the pandemic

    According to a message from Swiss Prime Site , the Solothurn-based real estate company generated total income of CHF 792.9 million in the 2020 financial year. In the previous year, 1.26 billion Swiss francs had been booked. Swiss Prime Site attributes the decline primarily to the sale of its subsidiary Tertianum, which was completed in February 2020.

    The profit from the sale was also reflected in a strong increase in the operating result (EBIT). In the year under review, 762.3 million francs were posted here, compared to 628.3 million in the previous year. Net profit increased year-on-year from 608.5 million to 610.4 million francs. Without taking into account revaluations and deferred taxes, the profit increased from 315.7 million to 476.6 million, writes Swiss Prime Site.

    In 2020, the core real estate business generated a total of 431.0 million francs in rental income, 1.4 percent less than in 2019. The operating result fell year-on-year from 572.9 million to 555.0 million francs. At the same time, the value of the real estate portfolio increased by 4.7 percent to CHF 12.3 billion. Swiss Prime Site intends to make its real estate portfolio climate-neutral by 2040, explains the real estate company in the press release.

    In the same announcement, the company announces a change in the group management. CFO Markus Meier decided to leave Swiss Prime Site for personal reasons, writes the real estate company. Marcel Kucher, who is currently CFO of the Peach Property Group, is to be his successor at the beginning of July. "With his broad wealth of experience in the areas of capital markets and digitization", Kucher will "optimally complement and further strengthen the management team of our group", Board member Barbara Frei-Spreiter is quoted in the announcement.

  • Home ownership achieves new record prices

    Home ownership achieves new record prices

    The prices for owner-occupied residential property rose to new highs at the end of 2020, informs Raiffeisen Switzerland in a report on the study “ Real Estate Switzerland Q1 / Q2 ”. Specifically, the analysts of the banking group observed an increase in the prices of single-family houses by 2.9 percent and of condominiums by 3.1 percent year-on-year. They expect home ownership prices to continue to rise this year as well. Martin Neff, chief economist at Raiffeisen Switzerland, is quoted in the press release: "For households that meet the affordability guidelines and equity requirements, the purchase of home ownership is and will remain an economically sensible decision from a purely cost perspective".

    In the office space market, the pandemic has not yet led to falling prices either, the announcement further explains. "The test is still ahead of this market, because it is characterized by long-term rental agreements and changes to flexible working models do not take place overnight," says Neff. In the case of upcoming construction projects, however, “fundamental questions about the usefulness of a project and its chances in the post-Corona reality should be asked,” recommends the Raiffeisen chief economist.

    In the niche market of residential communities (WG), however, the study authors identified clear traces of the pandemic. "The demand for rooms in shared apartments in this dynamically reacting market has literally collapsed, as our analysis of the data from the largest platform wgzimmer.ch shows," explains Neff. The proportion of Swiss people who share their apartment with one or more flatmates increased from 1.5 to 2.7 percent within ten years by 2018.

  • LafargeHolcim is on course for recovery

    LafargeHolcim is on course for recovery

    According to a release from LafargeHolcim , the Zug-based building materials group generated total sales of CHF 23.14 billion in the 2020 financial year. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to a decrease of 13.4 percent. The recurring operating profit at EBIT level was 3.68 billion Swiss francs, 10.4 percent below the previous year's figure. Consolidated profit fell by 7.5 percent compared to 2019 to 1.90 billion Swiss francs.

    "2020 was an extraordinary year for everyone, which we have not yet experienced in this form", Jan Jenisch is quoted in the communication. According to the CEO, LafargeHolcim has proven its resilience during the crisis. In the fourth quarter of 2020 the company "returned to the growth path". Specifically, sales and recurring operating profit increased by 1.5 and 14.1 percent on a comparable basis compared to the previous year.

    For the current year, LafargeHolcim is aiming for a growth in recurring operating income of at least 7 percent on a comparable basis. The takeover of the American manufacturer of roof systems and building envelopes, Firestone Building Products , which was announced in January, should contribute to this. As part of the acquisition, LafargeHolcim is creating a new position for global management of the Solutions & Products segment. She will be taken over by the current CEO of US Cement, Jamie Gentoso.

    In order to streamline the group organization, LafargeHolcim is also merging the regions Europe and the Middle East and Africa into one region EMEA, is further explained in the press release. The current head of Middle East and Africa, Miljan Gutovic, will take over the management of EMEA. The previous head of Europe, Marcel Cobuz, has decided to leave the group, writes LafargeHolcim.

  • Allreal is on course despite the Corona crisis

    Allreal is on course despite the Corona crisis

    Allreal achieved rental income of CHF 200.4 million last year, according to a statement . The company was thus able to maintain the level from the previous year despite the Corona crisis. In 2019, it had received 203.1 million francs from rents.

    In the spring, Allreal stated that it was able to agree on rent waivers in connection with the lockdown with all affected tenants. In total, the company has granted rent leases amounting to 1.5 million francs.

    The cumulative vacancy rate has meanwhile fallen by 0.8 percentage points to 1.4 percent despite the crisis. According to the information, it is at the lowest level that Allreal has ever reached.

    The company result including the revaluation effect is 167.2 million francs after 243.2 million francs in the previous year. Excluding the revaluation effect, the company result is 124.7 million francs after 142 million francs in the previous year. Allreal explains the decline primarily with one-off effects from the sale of development properties.

    According to the announcement, Allreal is satisfied with its annual result and expects overall “stable business development” in the long term. The Board of Directors is therefore proposing to the General Meeting of Shareholders a stable distribution at the previous year's level of 6.75 francs per share.

    Allreal is based in Glattpark in Opfikon. The company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

  • PSP Swiss Property defies the pandemic

    PSP Swiss Property defies the pandemic

    According to a statement from PSP Swiss Property , the Zug-based real estate company generated real estate income totaling CHF 296.27 million in the 2020 financial year. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to a growth of 2.0 percent. The operating result (EBITDA) excluding real estate successes and valuation differences amounted to CHF 271.06 million in 2020, 5.8 percent more than in 2019.

    The net profit in the year under review was CHF 292.1 million, compared to CHF 453.4 million in the previous year. PSP Swiss Property attributes the decline to one-time effects. In the previous year, for example, a tax effect and the sale of two investment properties had a positive impact. In addition, the portfolio revaluation in 2019 brought in a total of CHF 244.2 million. In the year under review, the corresponding figure was 101.6 million francs.

    The balance sheet value of the PSP Swiss Property portfolio as of the end of 2020 was CHF 8.577 billion. As of the 2019 reporting date, the value was 7.982 billion francs. The vacancy rate was reduced from 3.5 to 3.0 percent within a year. The real estate company provides details of the portfolio change in the notification.

    For the current financial year, PSP Swiss Property is aiming for an EBITDA excluding real estate gains of around CHF 275 million. The vacancy rate is expected to increase to 4.5 percent.

  • Pension funds are putting banks under pressure

    Pension funds are putting banks under pressure

    In the past year, mortgage holders reached new records for possible savings, writes MoneyPark in a press release . With this statement, the Zurich-based fintech relies on the analysis of fixed-rate mortgages concluded via its own platform. According to her, when taking out a ten-year mortgage, mortgage borrowers were able to save an average of 22 percent, or 26 basis points, compared to the benchmark rate of 1.17 percent. With a borrowing of 750,000 francs, this would save a total of 19,500 francs over the entire term, explains MoneyPark.

    According to the fintech company, the high savings are related to the competition that alternative capital providers are making for traditional banks. Pension funds in particular are increasingly entering the mortgage business, writes MoneyPark. They offered an average of 46 basis points discount on ten-year mortgages last year. Insurance companies and banks were well behind with an average discount of 29 and 20 basis points, respectively, from the target rate.

    Towards the end of the year, the competition has eased somewhat, is further explained in the announcement. "On the one hand, this can be explained by the fact that the providers no longer fought for every deal at the end of the year and, on the other hand, capital market rates rose, making alternative investments significantly better returns than they were at the beginning of 2020," said Stefan Heitmann, founder and CEO of MoneyPark, quoted there. "But we see clear signs that the competition among the providers will intensify again."

  • Thomas Hasler is to lead Sika

    Thomas Hasler is to lead Sika

    According to a statement from Sika , the globally active Zug-based building materials group was able to post new record values for operating profit and consolidated profit in the 2020 financial year. Specifically, the operating result at EBIT level rose by 7.1 percent year-on-year to 1.13 billion Swiss francs. At the same time, consolidated profit increased by 8.8 percent to 825.1 million francs. Sales grew by 3.4 percent in local currencies to 7.88 billion Swiss francs.

    "In 2020, the distribution business and our refurbishment business in particular proved to be particularly resistant to crises," Paul Schuler is quoted in the press release. In the opinion of the Sika CEO, the group will benefit from the growing demand for environmentally friendly products in the future. "A large part of our sales is already generated with technologies that provide customers, the environment and society with sustainable benefits," explains Schuler. For the current year, Sika is aiming for sales growth of between 6 and 8 percent in local currencies.

    Schuler will hand over his position to Thomas Hasler at the beginning of May. The current head of Global Business and Industry at Sika has been with the Zug-based building materials group for 32 years, the press release explains. Hasler joined Sika as a research chemist for industrial adhesives and in 2011 took over as head of automotive worldwide. The designated CEO has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2014. The current CEO, Paul Schuler, will be proposed for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting in April.

  • Limmat Verwaltungs AG gets a new name

    Limmat Verwaltungs AG gets a new name

    Limmat Verwaltungs AG has become Elicere Real Estate Management AG. Limmat Verwaltungs AG, founded in Schlieren in 1967, has been taken over by Elicere AG in Zug, according to a press release in 2019. The company was renamed from Limmat Bau-, Treuhand- und Verwaltungs AG to Limmat Verwaltungs AG.

    The administration is now to be continued under the new name, which refers to the new owner. The new company Elicere Real Estate Management AG is naturally based in Schlieren on Schulstrasse, at the previous address of the Limmat administration.

    Before the start with the new name, a comprehensive restructuring and especially digitization had been carried out, it says in the message. In addition to the management and valuation services already offered, there is now also the assumption of construction management.

    The new company, which was founded in December, is managed by Rikard Memaj and Roger Priester. Both are members of the Board of Directors. Its President Roger Priester is quoted as saying: "We are convinced that with the transparent and structured set-up in the company, we can lead our customers into a sustainable future with the most modern tools and motivated employees."

  • Swiss Finance & Property can act as a securities house

    Swiss Finance & Property can act as a securities house

    The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has issued Swiss Finance & Property AG with a license to operate as a securities firm. This enables the company to support, for example, Swiss real estate funds, real estate stock corporations and selected stock corporations with issues and capital increases. Swiss Finance & Property can act as a bank-independent lead or co-lead manager.

    "The securities house license is also a further step towards professionalization and makes us even more competitive overall," said Adrian Murer, CEO of the Swiss Finance & Property Group, in a press release .

    Swiss Finance & Property will also add market making to its range of services. "With market making, Swiss Finance & Property AG can provide the necessary liquidity even in volatile markets," explains Florian Lemberger, Head of Corporate Finance & Banking at Swiss Finance & Property AG. The company wants to set up an in-house trading team that will provide the off-exchange block capacities.

    The approval will lead to changes in the organizational structure, it is said. For example, the management of direct and indirect real estate investments is clearly separated.

  • Westhive wants to expand further

    Westhive wants to expand further

    Westhive sees an increasing demand for flexible office space. The Zurich-based provider, founded in 2017, therefore plans to open new locations in Basel, Zurich-Stettbach and Zug at the beginning of 2022. Geneva is to follow a year later, Westhive writes in a statement. The location there is to be set up in the new Alto Pont-Rouge and cover an area of 4500 square meters. It will also have its own fitness center, two restaurants and an event conference center.

    A total of around 1,000 jobs will be created at the four locations on 10,000 square meters. "All locations have a high proportion of private offices, for which we are seeing the greatest demand," Westhive co-founder Andreas Widmer is quoted in the press release.

    Westhive continued to see strong growth in 2020. The number of tenants has risen by over 50 percent. "We are seeing continuous demand for flexible offices and workplaces, even now that the home office is mandatory," says Widmer. "But most of all we are pleased that we have lost practically no members."

  • Schlieren drives the upgrading of Kesslerplatz

    Schlieren drives the upgrading of Kesslerplatz

    The Migros Pension Fund's investment foundation has presented a design plan for Kesslerplatz. After the transfer of the private design plan from the local council to the local parliament, "the city of Schlieren will soon come a big step closer to its goal," as a media release said.

    As part of the planned upgrading of the square, the high-rise is to be preserved. The design plan also provides for four new structures. One of them is intended for commercial use, the other three are intended to provide living space. A total of 103 new apartments, a double kindergarten and a multi-purpose room are to be created as a result. For the realization of the kindergarten, the city of Schlieren has agreed with the investment foundation of the Migros pension fund both an exchange of land and compensation of CHF 2.11 million.

    Work is scheduled to begin in spring or summer 2022, and move-in is to take place from spring / summer 2024. Since the double kindergarten will not be available until a year later, “the Migros Pension Fund's investment foundation will cover 50 percent of the rental costs for a temporary arrangement, the remaining rental costs are also included in the compensation”, according to the city of Schlieren.

    With the upgrading of Kesslerplatz, a “high-quality and attractive entrance gate” to Schlieren should be created, which will also be optimally connected to the Limmattalbahn.

  • Homes are still in demand

    Homes are still in demand

    The home market continues to grow even during the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In the four most liquid market regions in Switzerland, prices rose by an average of 3.7 percent in 2020 to an average of 1.3 million francs, explains homegate.ch in a statement on the current Home Market Price Analysis. It is created annually by the digital real estate marketplace from TX Group in cooperation with the Swiss Real Estate Institute of the Zurich School of Economics ( HWZ ).

    The study analyzes the development of purchase prices and transactions for single-family houses and condominiums in the regions of Zurich, northwestern Switzerland, Bern and Lake Geneva. The prices for single-family homes rose in all four market regions last year, the press release explains. The most significant price increase was observed in the Lake Geneva region, at 4.1 percent. The lowest price increases of 1.6 percent were in the Zurich region. The number of transactions in the single-family home market increased by 3.1 percent year-on-year.

    For condominiums, the analysts identified price increases of between 3 and 4 percent in three of the four regions examined. In the Lake Geneva region, on the other hand, prices fell by 2 percent year-on-year. On average, the prices for condominiums rose by 0.5 percent to 850,000 francs in the year under review. The number of transactions in the condominium market increased by 2 percent in 2020.

    In times of crisis, the flight into real assets is nothing new, Peter Ilg is quoted in the communication. The “ongoing boom” during the pandemic-induced recession is “astonishing” for him, says the head of the Swiss Real Estate Institute. As a background to the current developments, Ilg cites, on the one hand, the likely long-term low interest rates. On the other hand, "living in the times of Corona has become more important".

  • Zühlke supports Adtrac with targeted outdoor advertising

    Zühlke supports Adtrac with targeted outdoor advertising

    Zühlke supports the Zurich start-up Adtrac . The aim of the cooperation is the development of a platform for the targeted control, changing content and tracking of digital outdoor advertising until it is ready for the market. According to a press release, the innovation service provider from Schlieren has been at Adtrac's side right from the start with advice and support for further development. This should make the platform ready for the market in a few months.

    According to the media release, the idea of Adtrac is to transfer the advantages of the digital world into the classic principle of outdoor advertising. The sensors of the advertising displays should be used to play the most relevant content for the target group in front of the displays. This means that the offer on the advertising space can be adapted precisely for these viewers and their interests based on data about the respective target group. And the customer can follow the progress of his campaign online. According to Adtrac, the web-based campaign tool is used for this. Advertisers can use it to plan their campaigns themselves at any time, follow them live, optimize them and create evaluations.

    "Thanks to Zühlke's expertise and the flexible and agile cooperation, we are now there with a market-ready and convincing product," Benjamin Wey, CEO of Adtrac, is quoted as saying. Adtrac was created as a joint venture between Advertima , Fortimo and SPAR , all based in St.Gallen.

    After the initial launch on the market, the platform is to be continuously developed and supplemented with new functions.

  • 4B and Somfy are cooperating on intelligent home control

    4B and Somfy are cooperating on intelligent home control

    4B and Somfy have entered into a strategic partnership in the development of intelligent home controls, the two partner companies inform in a joint communication . With the Somfy TaHOme-Box, house and apartment owners should be able to create the conditions for the digitization of the building during construction or renovation, it says there. Joint products are launched under the Smart Home Ready by Somfy label.

    "Intelligent windows and facades are proof that we have been combining tradition, Swiss quality and innovation for over 100 years and that we are developing from a pure product to a solution provider", says Jean-Marc Devaud, CEO of Lucerne window manufacturer 4B , quoted in the communication. "With the Smart Home Ready cooperation, 4B can offer quality windows in combination with high-quality, radio-controlled privacy and sun protection as a smart, expandable package," explains Hannes Naef, Managing Director of Somfy Switzerland, in the press release.

    An intelligently controllable, motorized sliding door from 4B is to be brought onto the market this summer. The partners explain in the press release that the door can be integrated into intelligent building systems via both io radio and wired controls.

  • Andermatt becomes a practical field for the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences

    Andermatt becomes a practical field for the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences

    The location sponsors of Andermatt Swiss Alps and the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden cooperate for the purpose of knowledge transfer. According to an identical press release from both organizations, they signed a corresponding agreement on Monday. The aim of this is to build up relevant knowledge through the university and to scientifically support its implementation in practice. In terms of content, the focus is initially on digital customer experience, guest loyalty, data management, networks and sustainability.

    Joint research and service projects are to be implemented in these subject areas. "The cooperation is proof of the high quality of the innovation promotion at the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden and strengthens the exchange with external partners through practical projects", says the rector of the University of Applied Sciences, Jürg Kessler.

    As part of this cooperation, the Andermatt Swiss Alps Group offers the platform to test the results of scientific work in practice. In this way, the holiday destination is to be substantially further developed. "Thanks to the cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden, we can further strengthen our uniqueness in individual topics and test and further develop our modernity", Raphael Krucker, CEO of Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, is quoted as saying.

  • Sika purchases in Russia

    Sika purchases in Russia

    Sika is buying up the Russian manufacturer of mortar products Kreps LLC, informs the Zug-based building materials group in a press release . The company, with annual sales of around 15 million francs, specializes in the production of tile adhesives, plasters and floor leveling compounds. The notification does not provide any information about the purchase price.

    The new addition is intended to strengthen Sika's position in the region. "Kreps offers a broad product portfolio and an expanded geographic presence for mortar in the Russian Federation," Ivo Schädler, Regional Manager EMEA at Sika, is quoted in the press release. "Together with the improved access to the sales channel, we get a platform to further expand and strengthen our position in this market." The new acquisition has production sites in Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, both regions in which Sika was previously not represented with its own locations.

    With the takeover, a training center operated by Kreps and “well-equipped” production laboratories will also be owned by Sika, the press release explains. According to her, the transaction has yet to be approved by the local antitrust authorities.

  • Mobimo is defying the pandemic

    Mobimo is defying the pandemic

    Mobimo generated an operating result (EBIT) of CHF 145.8 million in the 2020 financial year, the real estate company informed in astatement . Excluding revaluation effects, the operating result was CHF 111.5 million. In the previous year, the corresponding values were CHF 134.0 million and CHF 82.5 million, respectively.

    The development and sale of properties proved to be growth drivers in the year under review. The year-on-year success here had risen from CHF 3.0 million to CHF 36.8 million. The revaluation gain, however, fell year-on-year from CHF 51.5 million to CHF 34.3 million. Mobimo writes that it was mainly generated operationally in the reporting year.

    The real estate company posted rental income of CHF 105.1 million in the year under review. This only just fell short of the value of CHF 106.7 million in 2019. At the same time, Mobimo supported its own tenants from the catering, hotel and retail sectors with rent relief totaling 6.5 million francs due to the pandemic.

    Mobimo's real estate portfolio increased from CHF 3.3 billion to CHF 3.4 billion in the course of the year under review. The average gross return remains unchanged at 4.5 percent, the company informs in the announcement. As of the end of the year, Mobimo had investment properties under construction in the amount of CHF 90 million and in planning in the amount of CHF 490 million.

  • Valuu triples the volume of brokered mortgages

    Valuu triples the volume of brokered mortgages

    Valuu was able to grow disproportionately in the second year of its existence. According to its own information, the Swiss comparison and conclusion platform for mortgages tripled the brokered mortgage volume in 2020 compared to the year it was founded. As stated in a press release , it currently has 12,000 users. That is twice as many as last year. Valuu puts the number of represented lenders at 29. They represent over 100 well-known Swiss banks, insurance companies and pension funds.

    “And that's just the beginning,” the press release continues: Valuu, a business unit of PostFinance , wants to become “the leading Swiss comparison and transaction platform” in the medium term. In the current year it is expanding its range to include additional services. "More and more people understand the opportunities a transparent comparison and digital mortgage conclusion offer – and how much money they can save with it," Valuu manager Thomas Jakob is quoted in the press release.