immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Global

  • Sustainable living quarters: big leaps instead of small steps

    Sustainable living quarters: big leaps instead of small steps

    The energy transition can only be achieved with the housing industry. Because almost 40 percent of the world’s CO 2 emissions come from buildings, and most of it from residential buildings. In order to achieve the climate protection goals, European and national regulations are therefore increasingly aimed at the construction and housing sectors.

    However, it is not only increasingly stringent regulations that are forcing builders and owners to pay attention to sustainability. Irrespective of this, investors are increasingly demanding that ecological and social criteria be taken into account in real estate projects, and the EU Disclosure Regulation ensures more transparency in this regard. Properties that fail to meet sustainability criteria will lose value and find it increasingly difficult to find buyers and tenants.

    In this way, the market creates incentives for builders and owners to make their properties more sustainable. The “impact” idea is becoming more and more important: It is not about complying with the regulations with the least possible effort, but about creating the greatest possible benefit for the environment and society with reasonable effort.

    It is not primarily a question of planning new buildings at the drawing board according to the latest ecological standards. Because most of the houses that we will be living in in ten, 20 or 30 years have already been built. And many of them have the energetic standard of the seventies and therefore no features to keep energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions within limits. Demolition and new construction are often not financially viable. In addition, there is the so-called gray energy, which is used for the extraction, production and transport of building materials and the construction itself. A refurbishment with unspectacular but intelligent measures often has more ecological impact than an ecological model new building.

    Strong Lever
    Quarters, i.e. entire building ensembles or districts, offer special opportunities to achieve impact. On the one hand, of course, because such projects include a large number of residential units. This multiplies the effect of measures at building level, such as improved insulation, installing better insulating windows or replacing the heating system with more energy-efficient technology.

    Above all, however, thanks to the economies of scale, the construction of complex systems is considerably cheaper because several buildings can share a common infrastructure. Energy-efficient combined heat and power plants can thus become just as economical as the use of solar energy, small wind turbines or geothermal energy. Electromobility concepts, which include, for example, charging infrastructure for electric cars or bicycles, can be implemented much more easily in a neighborhood than in a single building. Other possibilities concern common green areas that improve the microclimate or accommodate biotopes for plants and insects.

    In addition, larger neighborhood projects have spillover effects on the neighborhood and possibly even beyond. This applies in particular to the social component. In this way, facilities such as kindergartens or doctor’s surgeries, which are being planned as part of the development of the district, can also be used by residents from the wider area. The planning therefore includes the social structure beyond the boundaries of the quarter and should be carried out in close coordination with the municipality and residents. For larger projects, there should also be traffic planning in cooperation with external bodies, which works towards pedestrian and bicycle friendliness and greater use of local public transport and electromobility.

    The more a project has an impact on the neighborhood, the greater the weight that builders and owners have in negotiations with municipalities and authorities. This can also lead to urban planning decisions that increase the sustainability and thus the market value of the project, for example when a new tram stop is built for a new or redesigned quarter.

    Good contacts and negotiating power in the exchange with authorities are also important in order to influence or accelerate bureaucratic processes in terms of the sustainability of the project. One example is environmental protection, which often prevents environmentally harmful heating systems from being replaced by more efficient technology. However, authorities have some leeway when it comes to permits and are more likely to use this leeway if a permit for a large-scale project will bring significant environmental benefits.

    Possible conflicts between ecological and social sustainability must be taken into account. It is conceivable that energy-related renovations will increase rents. On the other hand, tenants are relieved of the ancillary costs, which is more important due to the recent sharp rise in energy costs. With state aid, it is conceivable to make energy-related renovations neutral in terms of overall rent.

    Climate protection is one of the most important challenges of our time, and the real estate industry has a special responsibility here. In the case of neighborhood projects, the actors have a particularly strong lever in their hands to quickly achieve noticeable effects.

  • Holcim acquires market leader in USA

    Holcim acquires market leader in USA

    Holcim has reached an agreement to acquire SES Foam LLC of Spring, Texas. The largest independent spray foam insulation company in the US is expected to have net sales of $200 million in 2022. As stated in a media release , SES can look back on double-digit growth. The company produces innovative energy-efficient and bio-based solutions for new and environmentally friendly renovation projects.

    This acquisition in the “highly profitable” American spray foam market is another exciting step in the expansion of the Solutions & Products division, “which drives our ‘Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth’,” its boss Jamie Gentoso is quoted as saying. SES “is an excellent addition to our roofing and insulation business.” This brings Holcim’s 2022 pro forma net sales in this business, including recent acquisitions from Firestone Building Products to Malarkey , to $3.5 billion.

    SES was founded in 2009. In addition to its ‘superior’ and eco-friendly products, such as a sucrose-based bio-certified foam, SES excels at providing value-added services to contractors, including on-site technical training, business consulting, branding and customer acquisition support.

  • Swiss and German debt collection industry exchange ideas

    Swiss and German debt collection industry exchange ideas

    Both associations have developed codes of conduct in recent years that define rules for fair debt collection. The Code of Conduct of Inkasso Suisse has been in effect since December 1, 2020. Since October 1, 2021, the Code of Conduct of the BDIU has been mandatory for all members of the German Debt Collection Association.

    Martin Wehrli explains: “With our code of conduct, we take into account both the legitimate interests of creditors to have their claims settled and the no less legitimate interests of consumers, whom we want to protect against abusive collection of claims. We see debt collection as a mediative, dispute-avoiding and communicative activity. This is the only way to reach amicable agreements. Both the Code of Conduct of Inkasso Suisse and that of the BDIU are formulated in this spirit.”

    “Our member companies are a pillar of the economy. Especially in these economically challenging times, they ensure that companies are supplied with liquidity, thus securing entrepreneurial livelihoods and many jobs,” adds Kirsten Pedd. “However, debt collection companies only live up to this great responsibility if they treat everyone involved in the collection of receivables fairly. Debt collection service providers commit to this with our Code of Conduct.”

    The two associations will continue the exchange that began during the development of the respective code, both bilaterally and within the European umbrella organization FENCA (Federation of European National Collection Associations), whose founding members include Inkasso Suisse and BDIU. A dialogue between the ombudsmen Stephan Glättli (Inkasso Suisse) and Brigitte Zypries (BDIU) is also to be initiated.

  • BIM data help with raw material shortages and material shortages

    BIM data help with raw material shortages and material shortages

    With the increasing degree of digitization, the chances of the construction industry anchoring their solutions in the plans of the architects and thus being advertised as a lead product more often increase. In addition, information about availability and delivery times can be added more easily. However, according to BIM expert Matthias Uhl, the degree of digitization in the construction industry is still lagging behind other sectors, depending on the size of the company. “BIM represents one of the greatest opportunities of the last decades. From the design to the operation of the building, processes and steps can be mapped more efficiently, cheaply and transparently. But building material manufacturers now have to digitally prepare and provide their data for this,” states Uhl, who has developed a BIM solution for manufacturers with BIM & More Orchestra. He gives three reasons why manufacturers now have to prepare their product portfolio digitally and provide planners and architects with BIM data.

    Firstly, the construction and real estate industries are already digital
    The degree of digitization of the large construction and real estate companies in Germany has reached a significant level in the past two years. The big players in the industry such as Drees & Sommer, Goldbeck or ZECH together make up a large proportion of the total planning volume. They have now become so digitized that they are increasingly dependent on digital products. “Out of necessity, they fall back on the products that are available in the leading planning programs with the appropriate level of detail,” explains Uhl. Building material manufacturers must realize that they only exist in the digital cosmos if they are digitally visible. Especially in view of the delivery and material bottlenecks, digital visibility is more important than ever for planners to check prices and availability beyond technical specifications.

    Second: All future trends have a digital component
    Construction methods and trends are increasingly developing out of digitalization. Uhl: “Whether modular construction, sustainability or prefabrication: all relevant ideas have a digital component. Without digitization in planning and implementation, it doesn’t work at all.” This also suggests that manufacturers now have to deliver their data digitally if they want to participate in the megatrends or want to shape them. With the amount of data, the possible combinations increase for planners and offices, with which not only new structural solutions can be found. In addition, alternatives become visible in the event of other unavailabilities.
    “Let’s take a look at the sustainability megatrend using the example of the Building Circularity Passport in the coalition agreement,” says Uhl, giving another example from climate protection. With the Building Circularity Passport, the federal government has anchored the topic of circular economy as a mandatory element for the future in the coalition agreement. Only access to transparent product information allows consideration of recyclability. The circular economy does not work without information on the material composition, manufacturing method, service life, repairability and recycling options of the products. “Product information forms the basis for a transition to a circular economy,” says Uhl. There are no laws yet, but they will come soon. The first municipalities in Germany want to introduce the Building Circularity Passport for their new buildings, regardless of the legislation. Any new school, kindergarten or office building will require products whose recyclability has been assessed, calculated and certified.

    Third: the complexity of the planning processes is increasing and with it the need for data
    Another reason for the provision of BIM data: The requirements for planning processes and thus for planners in terms of verification and calculations are becoming more and more complex. Planners and architects are therefore increasingly open to support from industry. “While today evidence of circular economy plays an increasingly important role, it used to be physical building requirements such as energy consumption, for example in the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV), in passive house calculations or energy-plus house concepts. These topics require a new level of data volume and information quality on the part of the planner,” explains Uhl. This need would continue to grow. This circumstance also requires the industry to make data available digitally now. “Product information from the industry has never been more popular than it is today. It has never been easier for manufacturers to gain acceptance from planners,” sums up the BIM data expert.

  • Zurich is the second best city in Europe for real estate investments

    Zurich is the second best city in Europe for real estate investments

    Zurich gained two places in the European Thematic Cities Index (TCI) compared to the previous year and is now in second place. London is in first place and Stockholm is in third place. According to a press release , this index from Swiss Life Asset Managers measures 135 European cities in 28 countries. He evaluates them on five core themes that shape a city’s real estate market: Change and Disruption, Climate and Environment, Communities and Clusters, Consumers and Lifestyle, and Connectivity. He wants to offer a comparability for real estate investments.

    The six Swiss cities in the ranking are all in the top 50 of the TCI. Among them, Zurich remains “the most dynamic and healthy city with the best networks”. Despite the lack of an international airport, Bern’s 9th place is now “the third most accessible city in the entire ranking”. Basel gains one place compared to the previous year and is in 7th place, Lausanne in 15th place. Geneva has gained the most with 16 places and is listed in 31st place. Due to its “less environmentally friendly mix of sectors and above-average car use”, Lucerne lost nine places and ended up in 41st place.

    According to the TCI, all six Swiss cities promise little growth potential despite their stability and attractiveness. According to this analysis, they are all among the eleven worst European cities in terms of this criterion. And as in the TCI 2021, this year’s analysis rates health as the weakest issue in Swiss cities.

  • Implenia wins the German Construction Prize

    Implenia wins the German Construction Prize

    Implenia has been voted one of the best and most innovative construction companies in Germany at the German Construction Prize 2022 , the Opfikon-based construction and real estate company said in a press release . The company prevailed over 170 competitors in the category for companies with more than 500 employees and took second place behind Zech Bau . The podium was completed by Wolff & Müller .

    “We are very proud to be among the top three in the German Construction Prize 2022 and to be one of the best major construction and real estate service providers in Germany,” Matthias Jacob, Country President Germany at Implenia, said in the statement. “This confirms our claim to set ourselves apart from the competition with our skills in the management of large, complex real estate and infrastructure projects and a clear focus on sustainability.”

    The winners of the construction prize were determined by a jury in an extensive three-stage process. This year’s competition took place for the first time under the patronage of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building , according to the statement.

    The award ceremony took place on May 31 at the digitalBAU 2022 trade fair in Cologne. A young talent prize for innovative digital solutions in the construction industry was also awarded at the trade fair, Implenia reports. He was won from Implenia by a young specialist in Building Information Modeling (BIM).

  • Market for crowdfunding is growing significantly

    Market for crowdfunding is growing significantly

    The market for swarm financing grew significantly last year from CHF 606.6 to 791.8 million. According to a media release in the current crowdfunding monitor of the Institute for Financial Services Zug (IFZ), the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts found that this corresponds to growth of almost a third and represents another record value.

    Accordingly, the market for crowdlending, i.e. the brokering of funds for loans via online platforms to private individuals and companies, increased significantly by 35 percent and rose to CHF 607 million. The market for crowd investing, i.e. the online brokerage of investments in companies and real estate, grew to CHF 147 million. “In particular, investments in loans to real estate companies and direct investments in real estate have driven this growth,” says the press release.

    The volume of digital donations, known as crowddonating, and financial support for creative and cultural projects and campaigns via the internet, known as crowdfunding, on the other hand fell by 16 percent and was only CHF 38 million in 2021. The reason for this is that these two types of crowdfunding had recorded record values in the previous year due to the Corona crisis and several temporarily active crowdfunding platforms. Nevertheless, political campaigns generated significantly more money via crowdfunding in 2021. Here the volume rose from 90,000 to 800,000 francs.

    The authors of the study assume that the total volume of swarm financing on the Internet will increase to more than CHF 1 billion this year.

  • Start-up MOOST wins ABB Electrification Challenge

    Start-up MOOST wins ABB Electrification Challenge

    MOOST has won ABB ‘sSmart Buildings Challenge . The Rapperswil start-up was honored by the technology company as part of the ABB Electrification Startup Challenge 2022 .

    According to MOOST, it has transformed the not always intelligent home (smart home) into a learning home (learning home). The start-up company has “created a great concept and a plan including a proof of concept,” said Aldo Sciaccia, Global Head of Product Management and R&D, ABB Electrification , Smart Buildings, in thejury’s statement . “With the proposed solution, we are able to connect different data sources, add context and provide users with actionable insights.” It bridges the gap to advanced technology and helps even untrained end users to make “billions of better decisions”.

    According to an ABB press release , more than 100 teams from 34 countries applied for the awards. Victory in the Smart Power category went to Italian start-up i-EM . The North American start -up Pratexo won in the Distribution Solutions category.

    The winners take part in a collaborative project with ABB worth $30,000. The goal is to launch a joint solution for customers on the ABB Ability Marketplace later this year, reaching an audience in over 100 countries. They also receive mentoring support from ABB’s startup accelerator SynerLeap and from Microsoft ‘s startup advisors. Because, according to Anton Kotov, Head of Digital and Strategy at ABB Electrification, “only with some of the brightest minds in the world can we develop solutions to the world’s energy and climate problems”.

  • Tangible assets become indispensable

    Tangible assets become indispensable

    Many are still talking about whether she’s coming – but she’s already here. The turnaround in interest rates has also reached Switzerland. The word turning sounds a bit bigger than what actually happened. It is simply a matter of a change of sign: For the first time in many years, the yields on medium- and long-term Swiss franc bonds are again nominally in positive territory. The same trend can be observed in the euro area and spreads in the peripheral countries are also widening.

    Is the real estate boom coming to an end?
     The reason for the nervousness on the interest rate markets is quickly found. Inflation is rising on both sides of the Atlantic – and now so fast that the US Federal Reserve is now clearly tightening the reins. That’s why everyone is now staring at the European Central Bank (ECB): Will it follow the USA and thus also burden the local economy with higher capital costs? And what would that mean for the Swiss National Bank (SNB)? Are we threatened with an end to the good economic environment and the long-standing real estate and material asset boom?

    Neither nor. Because the situation in Europe is fundamentally different than in the USA. First of all, real interest rates and, in some cases, nominal interest rates have been negative in the euro area and in Switzerland for years. This has never happened in the USA. Negative interest rates, such as those demanded by the ECB and the SNB for deposits for many years, are also unknown in the USA. Just like the negative interest rates for larger sight deposits that are now common here from commercial banks. Second, growth in Europe is structurally weaker than in the US. The American gross domestic product grew by 5.7% last year and even increased by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. This even puts inflation into perspective, which at 7.5% recently reached its highest level in 40 years. Employment in the USA has risen sharply and unemployment is falling. And at the same time, after two years of the pandemic, US citizens are sitting on a lot of money. All of this enables the Fed to fight inflation vigorously.

    Slow rate hikes
     The ECB, on the other hand, is stuck at low interest rates. Even if it did so to curb inflation, there’s no way it can raise rates as quickly and decisively as the Fed. Because the large amount of cheap money that they pumped into the market over the past ten years has increased the debt burden of the EU countries so massively that the central bank not only chokes off the upswing with a rise in interest rates, but also gives their own member states the air to breathe would take. Even the triple-A nation Germany is now stuck in the interest rate trap.

    As a result, the hands of the SNB are largely tied. On the one hand, the franc is stronger against the euro than it has been since January 2015. On the other hand, inflation in Switzerland is currently contained. The economic research center Kof expects consumer prices to rise by 2.0% in 2022 and by 1.3% in 2023. Rising energy costs are having less of an impact on the Swiss economy than the economic areas of the USA and the euro zone, and the strong currency generally has a price-inhibiting effect. If the SNB does not want to take the risk of an even stronger currency, it will have to wait for the ECB’s first interest rate hikes before it can move its key interest rates closer to zero.

    In other words, the monetary policy turnaround is here. But in Europe, including Switzerland, we do it in slow motion. The ECB will scale back its bond-buying programs; it doesn’t have the leeway for large rate hikes. The ECB must and will let inflation run its course for a while. The SNB is unlikely to be under pressure as inflation will remain moderate. It will proceed cautiously with regard to rate hikes.

    Tangible assets remain trumps
     In such an environment, investors are dependent on real assets, the only investments that offer them protection against inflation and prospects for returns. Investments in real estate and other tangible assets are therefore becoming indispensable, and because investment pressure is increasing, prices in the segment are also continuing to rise. What we are witnessing here is not bubble formation. Normal market forces are at work here. Anyone who fears a bubble in the USA can also relax: There, the yield levels for most asset classes – especially on the real estate markets – are structurally higher than in the euro area. This in turn acts as a buffer against rising capital costs. If the Fed is now planning to return to interest rate normality, this is no cause for concern, but rather proof of economic strength.

    We are a long way from that in Europe and in Switzerland. Instead, we must brace ourselves for a phase of persistently low real interest rates. In this environment, which penalizes holding cash and investments that pay nominal interest, equities, real estate and commodities continue to promise the greatest success. Against this background, securities of globally active real estate companies continue to show good prospects. In Switzerland, the real estate market has moved up sharply in terms of prices in recent years. From an economic perspective, however, there is little reason why prices should fall as long as negative real interest rates persist.

  • Holcim acquires ready-mixed concrete manufacturer in the USA

    Holcim acquires ready-mixed concrete manufacturer in the USA

    The Zug-based building materials company Holcim has bought the Cajun Ready Mix Concrete company in the US state of Louisiana. According to a press release , Holcim intends to expand its ready-mixed concrete division by taking over the associated eight plants for ready-mixed concrete, 108 employees and 51 mixing vehicles.

    Accordingly, the manufacturer of ready-mixed concrete is the largest company in its sector in the greater Baton Rouge area. “With this acquisition, we are expanding our presence in the dynamic Baton Rouge market and reaffirming our focus on growth in North America,” Toufic Tabbara, head of Holcim’s North America region, said in the press release. Cajun’s industry connections and technical skills make him an ideal fit for Holcim’s business.

    Holcim does not disclose anything about the purchase price in its press release. Founded in 2014, Cajun provides concrete and customer service for residential, commercial and industrial partners.

  • Energy efficiency makes buildings more economical

    Energy efficiency makes buildings more economical

    Nowhere else is so much energy consumed as in the building sector. In Europe, around 40 percent of final energy consumption and 36 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to this sector. With its Smart Buildings technologies, Talkpool AG is helping to make buildings more energy-efficient. For example, via intelligent sensors that can be used to automatically control and optimize the indoor air and climate. “Our technology not only helps to significantly reduce the energy requirements of buildings, but also saves the corresponding costs,” says Aurelius Wosylus, Group Chief Commercial Officer at Talkpool AG. He refers to the rapidly increasing energy prices and advises building operators to tackle the problem now.

    In Germany alone there are 21 million buildings, of which around 19 million are residential buildings and around 2 million non-residential buildings. Together they consumed around 865 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy in 2019. At 76 percent, by far the largest part is accounted for by space heating (658 TWh). Even back in 2019, i.e. before the energy price shock, the costs for space heating, hot water and lighting in buildings in Germany amounted to an estimated 73 billion euros. Although the final energy consumption in the building sector has fallen slightly in recent years, it is not to the extent that would be necessary to achieve the climate targets. This is also due to the fact that around a third of the buildings in Germany and Europe are more than 50 years old. Older buildings in particular often only have inadequate HVAC systems. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and refers to the various systems in a building responsible for heat regulation, indoor comfort and air quality.

    Convincing solutions for saving energy in buildings

    The international company, headquartered in Chur, Switzerland, has developed solutions with which energy and cost savings of 10 to 25 percent can be achieved in existing HVAC systems. Aurelius Wosylus explains the technology behind it: “Our wireless room climate sensors form the basis. After they have been installed in the building, these monitor the various parameters such as room heat and air quality in real time.” This input goes to a self-learning control algorithm via an Internet gateway. According to Wosylus, the AI also accesses external data, such as the weather situation or the development of energy tariffs. “In this way, the AI controls the HVAC system in a constant improvement process to maximize indoor climate quality and optimize energy consumption.”

    The system is already installed in buildings with a total area of more than one million square meters. With consistently good results. As an example, Wosylus cites a hotel and office project in Sweden with an area of around 25,000 square meters. “Our analysis shows that not only has the air quality and thus the feel-good factor improved significantly, but also the energy consumption for the heating and cooling systems has been reduced by between 20 and 25 percent.” It didn’t even take a year, he says Wosylus until the project has recouped its costs for the building operator.

  • Sika expands in Bolivia

    Sika expands in Bolivia

    According to the company , Sika has put a new production plant into operation in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Manufacturing at the new headquarters allows the production of mortar and concrete additives to be doubled compared to the previous plant. Production is automated, promotes efficiency and makes the production process more sustainable.

    Christoph Ganz, Head of the Americas Region at Sika, is quoted as saying that the investment is aimed at serving the rapidly increasing demand in the “dynamic Bolivian construction market”. According to calculations, the country’s construction market expects economic growth of 9.5 percent in 2022.

    On the way to industrialization, the South American country is dependent on sufficient infrastructure for energy supply and for industrial projects. The new location is in the largest industrial park in the country. It has good transport links and allows capacity to be expanded to meet higher demand in the future. By creating additional storage space, an administration building and a training center for customers, Sika has also prepared itself for logistical growth impulses.

  • Edmond de Rothschild REIM finances repositioning of Hotel Londra

    Edmond de Rothschild REIM finances repositioning of Hotel Londra

    Hotel Londra, owned by Eurazeo and managed by Grape Hospitality, is located in the city center of Florence, close to the train station and the city’s main cultural attractions. The hotel was acquired by Eurazeo in December 2020. It is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment and conversion into a 160-room 4-star superior lifestyle hotel. The hotel is scheduled to reopen under the Intercontinental Group’s “Indigo” brand in Q4 2023.

    The financing has been structured in the form of senior secured bonds in which the two funds invest jointly. The closing was successfully completed on May 12, 2022.

    Eurazeo is a leading global investment firm with expertise in private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure. It manages a diversified portfolio with EUR 31 billion of assets under management, of which almost EUR 22 billion on behalf of third parties, invested in 450 companies.

    Grape Hospitality is a pan-European hotel platform founded in 2016 and majority-owned by Eurazeo. Grape Hospitality owns, operates and manages 106 franchised hotels with over 10,000 rooms and 70 restaurants in eight European countries.

    Ralf Kind, Head of Real Estate Debt at Edmond de Rothschild REIM, states: “This transaction is the first financing under our pan-European debt strategy in Italy and also the first in the hotel sector. Having already made four real estate debt investments in Germany, France and the Netherlands, this demonstrates our team’s ability to identify and execute attractive investment opportunities across Europe, backed by strong and experienced partners and sound financing structures . We will further intensify our international fundraising activities in order to expand the pan-European High Yield Debt Fund, which is to be finally closed by the end of 2022.”

    In March 2022, the Edmond de Rothschild REIM team completed another equity closing for its European High Yield I Real Estate Debt Fund, bringing the current equity commitments for the fund to over EUR 160 million. The final closing with a target of EUR 300 million is scheduled for December 2022.

    Edmond de Rothschild REIM was advised by Gianni & Origoni (Simone D’Avolio, Maria Rosa Piluso), Mayer Brown (Alban Dorin) and Nauta Dutilh (Nicolas Bonora).

  • Largest wood module factory in Germany

    Largest wood module factory in Germany

    Renggli Deutschland GmbH is a joint venture between the four shareholders Renggli AG, Saxovent Smart Eco Investments GmbH, Sächsische Ärzteversorgung (SAEV) and MQ Real Estate GmbH. Renggli AG is committed to providing know-how and expertise. The new plant is being built in Eberswalde (state of Brandenburg), around 40 kilometers from the Berlin city limits. In February 2022, the purchase contract for the land of the production facility was signed. Construction will start in the third quarter of 2022 and completion is scheduled for the end of 2023. From 2024, wooden modules for sustainable and climate-friendly, multi-storey buildings will be manufactured in the modern plant on a production area of around 20,000 square meters.

    Great potential in Germany

    In the greater Berlin area, there is great potential for serially and industrially manufactured wooden modules. In modular construction, entire room units are prefabricated in the production plant and assembled on the construction site. Today, modular buildings meet all the requirements of modern and sustainable real estate and offer a solution for the realization of attractive, affordable and climate-friendly living space. Samuel Renggli says: “We want to meet the high demand for timber construction capacities in the Berlin/Brandenburg area as needed and thus make a significant contribution to resource-friendly and climate-neutral construction. With the performance of this modern production plant, we meet the high standards of quality, efficiency and reliability.»

    Market development in Germany – further development in Switzerland

    The investment is the consistent strategic further development of activities in Germany and is based on Renggli AG’s long-term business plan. The commitment in Germany will not affect the activities in Switzerland. As planned, Renggli AG will continue to strengthen its market position in Switzerland and invest in the digitization and further development of the company in parallel to its expansion in Germany. In the production plant in Schötz (LU), Renggli AG continues to realize industrially manufactured, high-quality and climate-friendly buildings in element and modular construction. It thus serves the demand from Switzerland for architecturally sophisticated, multi-storey wooden buildings for housing developments, office and commercial buildings or kindergartens and schools.

  • Holcim sells Indian business for 6.4 billion Swiss francs

    Holcim sells Indian business for 6.4 billion Swiss francs

    The Zug-based building materials company Holcim is selling its 63.11 percent stake in the Indian company Ambuja Cement and ACC to the Indian Adani Group . According to a media release , the two contracting parties have agreed on this. For Holcim, the sale means cash proceeds of 6.4 billion Swiss francs. The company is investing a large part of this in the expansion of its Solutions & Products division.

    The Indian building materials brand Ambuja Cement , in turn, owns a 50.05 percent stake and a direct stake of 4.48 percent in the Indian building materials company ACC . Together they have 31 cement plants and 78 ready-mixed concrete plants with 10,700 employees across India. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of this year, subject to local authority approvals.

    “With the Adani Group we have found the perfect new owner to initiate the next growth phase of our Indian business for our employees and stakeholders in a fast and efficient transaction,” Jan Jenisch, CEO at Holcim, is quoted as saying in the press release. Holcim entered the Indian market in 2005.

    With its CHF 5 billion investment in the Solutions & Products business area as a “new growth engine”, Holcim aims to become the world’s leading provider of innovative and sustainable building solutions. “The construction sector has never been as attractive as it is today. There are many ways to build better and more with less to improve living standards for everyone in a sustainable way.”

  • Holcim buys Polish company Izolbet

    Holcim buys Polish company Izolbet

    According to a press release , Holcim is taking over the Izolbet company, which is headquartered in the Polish city of Gostynin. This offers special construction solutions and has four production sites in Poland. Over the past three years, Izolbet has reportedly achieved double-digit growth in revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBIDTA).

    With the takeover, the Zug-based cement group intends to strengthen its presence in the areas of renovation and thermal insulation, among other things. The acquisition also complements Holcim’s recent investment in a new dry mortar production facility in Kraków.

    “Construction solutions are a key focus for Solutions & Products expansion in Europe, particularly with the recent acquisitions of PRB Group in France and PTB-Compaktuna in Belgium,” says Miljan Gutovic, Head of Region Europe, Middle East and Africa at Holcim , quote. “I am delighted to welcome all Izolbet employees to the Holcim family to start our next growth chapter together,” he added.

  • Hilti receives award as an attractive employer

    Hilti receives award as an attractive employer

    Hilti has received the Great Place to Work award for the seventh time, according to a media release. A representative anonymous employee survey and analyzes of the company’s HR work were therefore decisive for the evaluation. Two-thirds of the perspective of the workforce was included.

    The Great Place to Work assessment provides information about the quality and attractiveness of the company’s workplace culture. An excellent and future-oriented workplace according to the criteria of the international research and consulting institute is characterized by trust between employees and managers, sustainable value creation, effectiveness of management, lived values, the commitment and motivation of employees to innovate and the extent to which the team members can reach their potential.

    According to Philip Janssen, Head of Headquarters Human Resources at Hilti, 91 percent of employees would recommend Hilti to their friends and family as a great place to work. “For us as an HR department, it shows that our efforts to promote an employee- and performance-oriented company culture are visible and important to our team members.”

    The Liechtenstein provider of machines, products, services and software for the construction industry has also received the Benefits Award from Swibeco, which is given for additional services provided by a company.

  • Hybrid buildings made of wood have a future

    Hybrid buildings made of wood have a future

    Mr. Wappner, wood is one of the oldest building materials in Central Europe. We all know stilt houses or medieval half-timbered houses. Nowadays, however, wooden buildings are rare. Since when has wood been forgotten, especially in the urban context of construction, and why?

    It is correct: the building material wood was used much more frequently for the construction of buildings in the past. This is mainly due to the fact that wood has always been available in sufficient quantities in our Central European regions – also because the climatic conditions in Germany and many other European countries favor rapid regrowth. Due to the enormous effort in building in the past centuries, craftsmen over many generations have developed excellent knowledge and skills to deal with this material in an increasingly creative, skilful and efficient way. We still benefit from that today.

    Especially in the urban context, however, wood fell into oblivion in the course of industrialization from the middle of the 19th century or received industrially manufactured competition as a building material. Machine-made building materials such as brick or concrete were increasingly preferred. Because they could be produced cheaper, faster and in large quantities. In addition, many of our cities used to be built entirely of wood and have burned down several times in their history. Wood was therefore anchored in people’s minds as a source of danger. Structural fire protection in connection with dense inner-city development has always been an issue in urban planning. In contrast, in the industrial age, more fire-resistant building materials provided better safety evidence and thus more trust among people. This is one of the reasons why industrial building materials have increasingly replaced wood, especially in European urban planning.

    How do you explain the current boom in timber construction?

    The timber construction boom was clearly triggered by the growing ecological awareness in society. Wood is so attractive as a building material because we work with a renewable, resource-saving and circular raw material. With wood we can store CO 2 in buildings and thus counteract the energy-intensive production of other building materials and their use with a sustainable and environmentally friendly statement. The CO 2 balance of wood is unbeatably good compared to other building materials. But wood is not infinitely available, so we have to use the resources wisely.

    The current boom is also made possible by extensive research in recent years – especially in regions such as Vorarlberg, Graubünden or South Tyrol, but also in the Black Forest and the Allgäu. Today we have a great deal of knowledge about the material, which is paired with the centuries-old handed-down craftsmanship experience. There are now excellent opportunities to optimally test the load-bearing capacity and fire resistance of wood in long-term tests.

    Digitization plays another major role. CNC technology and other technical revolutions were a real quantum leap here. Thanks to the technically based use of machines, wood can now be processed and pre-produced down to the millimeter. This then happens directly in a workshop, where the components can be prefabricated in the dry and some can already be assembled. This high degree of prefabrication of modular wooden elements saves a lot of time and money.

    As a result of all these developments, wood as a building material has become very exciting again in recent years – and trust in the material has grown enormously. In addition, wood also has many other advantages that people appreciate: it smells good, looks familiar and feels pleasant.

  • Sika sells construction machinery business

    Sika sells construction machinery business

    The Zug-based building materials group Sika , based in Baar, has agreed to sell its company Aliva Equipment to the Finnish Normet Group Oy . Aliva is a manufacturer of machines and accessories for sprayed concrete and achieved sales of 12 million Swiss francs last year, according to a press release . Since the shotcrete machine business accounts for only a small part of the Group’s sales, Sika has decided to divest it.

    The Normet Group is a global supplier of machinery and services in civil engineering. The acquisition gives the group access to Aliva’s global dealer network and strengthens its presence in the Swiss, Austrian and German markets.

    “Sika has found the right strategic partner for the Aliva Equipment business in Normet Group. Normet specializes in civil engineering and will invest in the long-term growth of Aliva’s business, people, products and technology. As part of the core business of a global company, new opportunities will open up for the strategic development of Aliva and its employees. For their part, customers can continue to count on first-class machines and reliable support,” Ivo Schädler, Regional Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Sika, is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • Acquisition makes Bauwerk the world market leader

    Acquisition makes Bauwerk the world market leader

    The Bauwerk Group acquired Somerset Hardwood Flooring from Somerset in the US state of Kentucky at the beginning of May. As a result of the takeover, Bauwerk is generating annual sales of around 400 million Swiss francs, making it the global market leader for quality parquet. The two transaction partners have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the takeover.

    With the takeover, Bauwerk intends to strengthen its own presence in the USA and Canada. The new acquisition, which specializes in solid parquet, can also benefit from Bauwerk’s expertise in multi-layer parquet, writes the Bauwerk Group. Somerset Hardwood Flooring will remain as a brand under the new owner. The brand will be managed by former Somerset Hardwood Flooring sales manager Paul Stringer.

    “With Somerset Hardwood Flooring we have found the ideal partner for the US expansion of the Bauwerk Group,” Patrick Hardy, CEO and President of the Bauwerk Group AG, is quoted in the press release. “All the requirements that we placed on an acquisition, such as a good market positioning, own production and a bond with values and employees, apply to Somerset Hardwood Flooring.”

  • Zurich is at the forefront of the circular economy

    Zurich is at the forefront of the circular economy

    The Zug-based building materials producer Holcim and the New York media company Bloomberg are launching the Circular Cities Barometer. The Circular Economy Barometer highlights the top 25 cities leading the shift towards circular living. According to the current status, the cities of Seattle, Copenhagen and Zurich are currently in first to third place in the four categories of buildings, municipal systems, municipal facilities and strategies.

    “The circular economy is a key element to respecting the limits of our planet and taking serious action on climate change. With the rapid urbanization of our world, cities are at the center of this shift from a linear ‘take-make-waste’ economy to a circular ‘reduce-reuse-recycle’ economy,” said Jan Jenisch, CEO of Holcim. This barometer gives unique insights into the most innovative circular cities around the world.

    Created in collaboration with Holcim, the barometer aims to “draw attention to what is making cities around the world circular. We hope that with these insights we can inspire other cities to take action to enable change,” said Lauren Kiel, general manager for Bloomberg Green at Bloomberg Media.

    The Circular Cities Barometer uses its own algorithm to measure the transition of 25 cities from a linear to a circular economy, according to the media release on the method. All regions of the world are represented.

  • Nüssli expo pavilions have received numerous awards

    Nüssli expo pavilions have received numerous awards

    Despite the pandemic, the Nüssli project teams built ten country pavilions for the Expo in Dubai on time. As the company has now announced , they have received numerous nominations and a total of 23 awards.

    Five pavilions have been nominated for one of the Expo’s governing body’s prestigious BIE (Bureau International des Expositions) awards . The German and Kazakh received gold and silver in the Theme Interpretation category. The Japanese Expo building also won gold in the Exhibition Design category. Silver and bronze in the architecture category went to Austria and China. The pavilions of Belarus, Germany, Kazakhstan and Luxembourg received one, and the Japanese pavilion even two Honorable Mentions in the various categories.

    With its unusual and sustainable architecture, the Austrian Pavilion attracted a lot of attention. It also won the renowned Global Architecture & Design Award 2021 , the BLT Built Design Award 2021 , the Austrian Green Planet Building Award and the German Design Award 2022 .

    According to the information provided, the Austrian pavilion consumed 70 percent less energy than comparable buildings. The structure and facade of the Kazakh building can be largely recycled. And when the Baden-Württemberg house was built from wood, 200 tons of CO2 could be saved compared to conventional steel structures. According to Nüssli, these three examples are “exemplary for the innovation and sustainability of Nüssli’s pavilion range.

  • GenTwo launches first real estate certificate in the Metaverse

    GenTwo launches first real estate certificate in the Metaverse

    Three companies are partnering to launch the Metaverse’s first digital real estate investment product, the Criptonite Metaverse Real Estate AMC. Zurich-based securitization specialist GenTwo Digital , Lisbon-based luxury brand NFT marketplace Exclusible and Geneva-based cryptocurrency asset manager Criptonite have joined forces. To celebrate the launch of the Actively Managed Certificate (AMC) Criptonite Metaverse Real Estate, the Crypto Night Party will be held in Decentraland on the evening of April 8th. This is GenTwo’s web3 conference organizer AssetRush ‘s first event.

    According to a press release , the focus of this “exclusive investment product” is digital luxury real estate, i.e. NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens), in the Metaverse, a future giant network of virtual worlds including a virtual economy and virtual societies. The investment product is intended to allow institutional investors to participate directly in the development of the Metaverse and digital assets.

    “We are proud to announce our next major Metaverse investment product given the incredible opportunities offered by the Metaverse,” GenTwo CEO Philippe Naegeli said. “We believe our curated luxury digital properties will give both new and crypto-savvy professional investors the confidence they need to take their first steps into the Metaverse,” said Exclusible co-founder Romain Girbal. “Thanks to this AMC, you don’t have to be a ‘geek’ to invest in the Metaverse.”

  • Amberg Engineering receives an order from Deutsche Bahn

    Amberg Engineering receives an order from Deutsche Bahn

    Amberg Engineering won the drawing of lots for planning the new railway line between Innleiten and Kirnstein near Rosenheim in Bavaria. In a joint venture with Obermeyer Infrastructure , the consulting company based in Regensdorf is to process the order from Deutsche Bahn (DB) in the Brenner Nordzulauf project , according to a press release . Both companies are already working together on an ongoing project on the Brenner Base Tunnel.

    The Innleiten-Kirnstein planning section in the Brenner-Nordzulauf rail network expansion project includes, among other things, the planning of the two Ringelfeld and Steinkirchen tunnels, including the technical tunnel equipment, the planning of the rails and roads as well as the planning for the new construction of flyover structures, troughs, noise protection walls and supporting structures.

    The digital process Building Information Modeling (BIM) is contractually mandatory. “We are very pleased to be able to show our planning expertise in such an exposed overall DB planning project. In addition, together with those involved in the project, we can further develop the BIM methodology in infrastructure planning,” Christoph Heiter, an engineer at Obermeyer Infrastructure, is quoted as saying.

  • Building technology for the largest UPS distribution center in Europe

    Building technology for the largest UPS distribution center in Europe

    Apleona Wolfferts has been commissioned with the heating, cooling and ventilation trades as well as fire protection for the latest expansion stage of the freight and handling center of the parcel service provider United Parcel Service (UPS) at Cologne-Bonn Airport. Europe’s largest UPS hub, built in 2005, is currently being expanded to include four multi-storey dispatch halls, each with an area of 6,000 square meters and a ceiling height of up to ten meters, as well as three seven-storey office towers. Completion is scheduled for August 2022.

    In addition to the HVAC systems, the Apleona subsidiary is also equipping the new dispatch halls with smoke extraction systems. In addition, it installs the sanitary facilities in the office towers and also provides the execution and assembly planning as well as the coordination of all other building services. The client for the major order is the general contractor, Baugesellschaft Walter Hellmich GmbH. Builder is UPS.

    Managing Director of Apleona Wolfferts, Horst Kever: “Such complex construction projects are logistically challenging due to the tight schedule and the size of the building. The sensitive airport area also increases the requirements due to explicit security regulations. This applies to the entire construction team and Apleona Wolfferts plays a key role through the commissioned coordination, which we fulfill through professionalism, adherence to schedules and commitment.”

  • Patron Capital and Sonar Real Estate acquire Frankfurt Prisma

    Patron Capital and Sonar Real Estate acquire Frankfurt Prisma

    The aim of Patron Capital and Sonar Real Estate is to reposition the landmark office building, which was built in 2001 and has been vacant since the beginning of 2022 when the only tenant moved out. To this end, the building, which has 42,450 square meters of rental space, will be modernized in accordance with sustainability aspects once the conception and planning phase has been completed. As part of this, the building technology – especially the air conditioning technology – will be brought up to date in order to be able to provide future tenants with ultra-modern and sustainably designed office space.

    The areas on the ground floor, including the open lobby, are to be opened to the public. This is intended to support the change from the former office location “Niederrad” to the “Lyoner Quartier” with gastronomy and fitness facilities.

    Holger Hosang, Managing Partner of Sonar Real Estate, comments: “The observation and implementation of ESG criteria in revitalization and project developments is now part of our corporate philosophy. We not only pay attention to ecological aspects, but also increasingly to the social impact of our projects and have the corresponding expert know-how in-house. Due to its architecture and size, the ‘Prisma’ is a particularly exciting project at an excellent micro-location within the Lyon district. We want to retain the landmark character of the property for future tenants and at the same time develop it into a modern and ESG-compliant building.”

    Christoph Ignaczak, Senior Partner at Patron Capital, adds: “With Sonar, we have a partner at our side with whom we can fully implement our Manage-to-ESG strategy from day one. The goal is to provide an ultra-modern and attractive office property that is also a lively place – and this at a location that has happily developed and diversified in recent years. We are firmly convinced that future tenants will appreciate our concept.”

    Ashurst LLP advised the buyer and Taylor Wessing the seller on legal issues. For Patron Capital and Sonar Real Estate, Noerr was also responsible for the tax and Witte Projektmanagement for the technical side. Colliers acted as exclusive transaction advisor for the seller.

    Funding is provided by HSBC. Patron was advised by Laurus Property Partners on the creation of the financing concept. BNP Paribas Real Estate had previously prepared a valuation report required for this.

  • New principle for the industrial flat roof

    New principle for the industrial flat roof

    More stability under heavy loads

    Due to the wavy structure of the F100 W skylight dome, the glazing absorbs loads better and distributes them evenly. This results in better load transfer and more rigidity, allowing the skylight to remain watertight in higher wind speeds and withstand more wind and snow. According to LAMILUX, the load-bearing capacity for snow has also been increased, depending on the size and variant of the skylight, by up to four times that of skylights previously available on the market. The new dome light has been checked and tested for resistance to heavy rain with 8 liters per square meter and minute and simultaneous hurricanes of up to 115 km/h and the highest hail resistance class HW5. This means that the wave-shaped dome light can withstand hailstones of up to 50 mm in size, which hit the dome light from sky high with a final speed of 111 km/h.

    More safety in extreme weather

    Precisely because extreme weather occurs irregularly and suddenly, it is particularly important to protect roofs from the dangers of environmental influences. “As a manufacturer of daylight systems, we see it as our duty to adapt our skylights to the constantly changing influences in order to preventively protect buildings from extreme weather events. That’s why it was our goal to once again optimize the functionality and stability of our well-known classic skylight. This is how the LAMILUX F100 W skylight dome came about – with an innovative wave shape,” explains Niklas Braun, Technical Manager for the Daylight Systems division of the LAMILUX Heinrich Strunz Group.

    More convenience during installation

    In addition to technical advantages, the new product impresses with even easier installation on the roof, because the constructive improvement of the geometry without additional material does not generate any additional weight. Following the tradition of the other LAMILUX daylight systems, the new F100 W skylight dome is also delivered to the construction site completely pre-assembled. So nothing stands in the way of an uncomplicated installation for processors.

  • JPI Hospitality acquires Hotel Rotterdam City

    JPI Hospitality acquires Hotel Rotterdam City

    The hotel is located in Rotterdam at Schiekade 658 in the up-and-coming Oude Noorden district in the middle of the two canals Spoorsingel and Provenierssingel and around 800 meters from the main train station. Oude Noorden is characterized by attractive and trendy shopping and dining options.

    Daniel Jelitzka, founder of the JP Immobilien Group and Chairman of the Advisory Board of JPI Hospitality: “We are committed to high-quality, functional hotels with development potential in attractive locations, which we are transforming into top destinations with a clear idea and contemporary branding. Rotterdam offers the best chances here. The city is considered an up-and-coming market and is already seen as the ‘coming Amsterdam’. However, there is still a need to catch up in the hospitality sector. With our hip hotel, we will fill exactly this gap.”

    The building was built in 1940 and renovated in 2008 and currently has 115 rooms, a brasserie, a lobby lounge and a breakfast area on a gross floor area of around 5,600 square meters. The hotel has considerable potential for upgrading, such as an increase in height of up to 70 meters and thus an increase in room capacity.

    Christian Walter, Global CEO of the PKF hospitality group: “We see great potential in the hospitality industry in Rotterdam – especially in the lifestyle and serviced living segment. The city stood in the shadow of Amsterdam for a long time. But a healthy emancipation has been observed for years, accelerated by the hotel development moratorium in the Dutch capital. Many developers, operators and investors are now looking for alternatives – and are finding them. We see a promising development area in the Oude Noorden district in particular. There is still plenty of room for an exciting, hip lifestyle hotel concept in the up-and-coming quarter.”

    As a city lifestyle hotel with a high proportion of leisure activities, the Hotel Rotterdam perfectly fulfills the conditions desired by the JPI Hospitality Investors Club and fits in well with the range of recently acquired hotels: “We will be here, as in other locations before redesign an existing structure with a clear concept and develop it into a hip lifestyle hotel,” says Lukas Euler-Rolle, Managing Partner and CEO of JPI Hospitality.

    Gebhard Schachermayer, CAM and hotel expert at JPI Hospitality emphasizes that “thanks to its ideal location, the hotel will attract not only guests from all over the world but also the local population and will therefore become a lively meeting place”.

    Rotterdam, the city on the Rhine-Maas Delta, is home to the largest deep-water port in Europe, is just over 20 minutes by train from the Schiphol hub and is home to global players such as Unilever. “Certainly less touristy than Amsterdam, the city is no less interesting and can be described as ‘quirky’, creative and free-spirited. In the Benelux region, comparisons with Antwerp can certainly be drawn. The city offers a good club scene and a variety of exciting gastronomic concepts and shopping opportunities – with the rougher charm of a cosmopolitan port metropolis,” concludes Walter.

  • Catella Group withdraws from real estate consulting business in Germany

    Catella Group withdraws from real estate consulting business in Germany

    After a strategic review of the Corporate Finance division, Catella has decided to end its activities in Germany on June 30, 2022. After the restructuring, the future focus will be on the areas of investment and asset management. With the real estate funds of Catella Real Estate AG (CREAG) and Catella Residential Investment Management (CRIM) as well as the project development company Catella Project Management (CPM), Germany will continue to be the largest market for them.

    The Catella Group is one of the leading specialists for real estate investments and fund management and is active in 14 European countries.

  • Presence Switzerland is satisfied with the presentation at the Expo

    Presence Switzerland is satisfied with the presentation at the Expo

    At the end of March, the world exhibition in Dubai came to an end after six months. According to a press release , Presence Switzerland is satisfied with Switzerland’s performance. As a unit of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Presence Switzerland was responsible for running the Swiss pavilion during the Expo.

    According to Presence Switzerland, the Swiss Pavilion received a total of 1.7 million visitors. Among them were people from around 100 different nationalities. This made the Swiss Pavilion one of the most popular and most visited pavilions at the Expo.

    The Swiss Pavilion also served as a platform for exchange with trading partners. More than 50 companies and 20 institutional partners and universities have used it for this purpose. In addition, 987 official delegations visited the pavilion, including 90 prime ministers, ministers and governors from different countries.

    A survey showed that the majority had a good or very good impression of the Swiss presence. The pavilion has also had a positive impact on how Switzerland is perceived in areas such as innovation, tourism, sustainability and Swiss products.

    The Swiss pavilion also received three prizes: the World Expo Award from Exhibitor magazine as the best medium-sized pavilion, the 2A Certificate & Veneration and Innovative Achievement Memorial Icon from 2A magazine and an award for architecture and landscape from the Committee of Experts of the Bureau International des Expositions ( BIE ).