immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Trends

  • 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.”

  • New recycling center focuses on circular economy

    New recycling center focuses on circular economy

    The city of Zurich is planning to set up a sustainable, innovative recycling center on the Juch site in Zurich-Altstetten. It is intended to replace the Hagenholz recycling center. The city council has now approved an additional loan of 4.24 million francs for the implementation of the project, the civil engineering and waste disposal department of the city of Zurich informed in a statement .

    The construction of the new recycling center is intended to serve as a pilot project for circular construction. On the one hand, the reuse of as many elements as possible from the Hagenholz recycling hall and other components owned by the city is planned. On the other hand, value is placed on a simple and independent renewal of components in the new recycling center.

    The operating concept of the center is also based on the principles of the circular economy. It is planned to repair disposal goods as far as possible and to recycle them.

    The new recycling center on the Juch site is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2026. At a later date, the city of Zurich also wants to replace the Werdholzli recycling center with an equivalent recycling center in Zurich-North, explains the Civil Engineering and Waste Management Department.

  • Super core residential real estate for return and sustainability

    Super core residential real estate for return and sustainability

    In order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, the world must become climate-neutral by 2050 according to the Paris climate agreement. Real estate investors play an important role in reducing CO 2 emissions. According to the World Green Building Council, buildings cause around 40 percent of global CO 2 emissions during operation and construction.

    The 2050 climate goal represents a major challenge because it requires far-reaching measures in the building sector. At the same time, however, it also offers opportunities, especially when it comes to sustainable living space in popular cities. Based on particularly low-risk real estate in a prime location (core assets), in combination with the sustainability factor, one can speak of an up-and-coming “super core” asset class.

    Investment decisions are increasingly being made not only on the basis of expected returns, but also on the basis of environmental, social and corporate governance aspects (ESG criteria). Therefore, fund managers go to great lengths to meet sustainability criteria and to communicate transparently. A lot of money goes into optimizing the ESG profiles of potential investments, for example in the form of green building certifications or the climate neutralization of entire funds.

    But it is also clear that the industry as a whole needs clear rules if it is to fully exploit its potential to deal with the climate crisis. A corresponding legal framework offers a solid basis to support professional investors on their way to more sustainable decision-making processes.

    Financial and social returns

    This development also creates new investment opportunities, not least with the new asset class Super-Core. Residential properties in established urban regions with a strong ESG profile are sustainable per se – ecologically, socially and economically. They are also inherently low-risk, as sought-after residential areas in attractive cities have historically proven to be extremely crisis-proof.

    Super-Core also offers the opportunity to generate a social return. Large investors are able to manage large housing stocks efficiently and professionally with digital support. This increases the residents' quality of life. They like to live in the neighborhood and move less often. This is all the more true when social infrastructure such as day-care centers, green spaces and local amenities are already firmly integrated during the construction phase. Investors, in turn, benefit from lower tenant fluctuation, a higher occupancy rate and a more sustainable environment overall.

    Super-Core also means constructing buildings according to modern sustainability criteria. New near-natural materials and increasingly popular methods such as modular construction can massively reduce both CO 2 emissions and construction time and costs. The components are manufactured in factories and then assembled on site.

    It's not just about ESG

    It would, however, be wrong to restrict the view to new buildings. Most of the houses that we will live in in the next 50 years have already been built. The sustainable renovation of existing buildings is therefore becoming increasingly important. While every building is different, there are many ways to achieve significant results at relatively low cost. The simple measures include changing the lighting, ventilation and insulation, modern heat and water supply and photovoltaic systems. Greenwashing and redevelopment just for the sake of rent increases must be avoided at all costs. Investors and tenants would rightly rebel.

    As important as sustainability is, the appeal of super-core residential real estate lies just as much in its financial security. Aside from logistics, no other real estate market segment has proven as resilient in terms of cash flow and valuations as residential real estate over the past several years. The new Super-Core asset class is a real asset for real estate investors.

  • digitalSTROM launches new product

    digitalSTROM launches new product

    digitalSTROM AG from Schlieren is launching a new device for the convenient operation of shadow facilities. According to the press release , electric roller shutters, awnings, blinds and curtains can be opened and closed digitally with the GR-KL300 universal shade clamp. This is done using digitalSTROM commands. These can also be given by a smartphone app. In this way, desired shading positions can be called up from a distance.

    According to the product description , the various types of shading, such as the height of blinds, can be freely configured using software. Several installations can be intelligently networked in the digitalSTROM system via the power line in the house. This makes it possible to control several shading devices in one room or in the entire apartment or house.

    With the GR-KL300, opening and closing can be controlled via a digitalSTROM button and automated if desired. Depending on the time of day, weather conditions or as a simulation of presence, a specific setting can be selected.

    The drive of the blinds or other systems can also be operated directly via buttons without digitalSTROM. The installation automatically recognizes the position of the shading device. And there is a shutdown when overload is indicated. According to digitalSTROM, the new device will be on the market from April 15th.

  • Coop builds new solar system on shopping center

    Coop builds new solar system on shopping center

    The retail cooperative Coop has installed a photovoltaic system on the roof of the Friborg Süd shopping center. According to a press release , Coop has installed a total of 60 solar systems on the roofs of its supermarkets, shopping centres, production facilities and distribution centers since 2016. The commitment is part of a new sustainability strategy for the Basel-based company.

    At 4,300 square meters, the new facility in Villars-sur-Glâne is one of the largest at Coop to date. All systems together result in an area of 115,000 square meters of solar cells. They produce 19 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year. According to the information, this corresponds to the annual electricity consumption of 5800 households.

    Coop uses the electricity to supply its own infrastructure in the sales outlets, including refrigerated shelves and lighting. The Friborg South location uses 90 percent of its solar power.

    In the future, Coop wants to switch to 100 percent electricity from renewable energy sources. As part of its sustainability strategy, the cooperative also wants to reduce its direct CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2026. Furthermore, Coop wants to expand the transport of goods by rail and implement projects to reduce carbon dioxide along the supply chain.

  • Steiner AG sells commercial building in the Glasi district

    Steiner AG sells commercial building in the Glasi district

    The investment company Edmond de Rothschild Real Estate SICAV from Geneva has bought the Angelo house in the new Glasi district in Bülach from the Zurich general contractor Steiner , who is developing the quarter. Nothing was known about the purchase price. According to a press release , the first expansion work began in November 2021.

    The Wisli Foundation will move in as a long-term tenant. The non-profit social institution wants to run a cafeteria and a bakery on the ground floor. Furthermore, the digital health center , a center for digital innovation in healthcare, occupies rooms. Overall, more than 80 percent of the 6,576 square meter commercial space is rented.

    From the summer, the new district with its 21 new buildings on a 42,000 square meter site of the former Bülach glassworks should gradually come to life. After completion of all work, the quarter will offer 1,500 people 560 apartments and more than 20,000 square meters of commercial space to live and work.

  • 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.

  • Swiss TPH opens a new building in the BaseLink area

    Swiss TPH opens a new building in the BaseLink area

    The Swiss TPH combines its departments, which were previously spread across seven properties, in a new building on the BaseLink site . The Belo Horizonte building, designed by the Basel architects Kunz and Mösch , was officially opened on April 1st. On five floors, it offers 725 modern workplaces and 150 laboratory places on an area of around 13,000 square meters. According to a press release , up to 10,000 new jobs are to be created on the site.

    In her speech, State Secretary Martina Hirayama said that “the institute makes an important contribution to improving the health of people in Switzerland and around the world and drives innovation”. According to the information, the new building enables “attractive forms of interdisciplinary cooperation in order to take on global challenges and approach solutions in a spirit of partnership”.

    The director of the Swiss TPH, Jürg Utzinger, described the opening as a historic day for the Swiss TPH: “Almost 80 years after our founding – originally intended as a three-year temporary arrangement – we can call this great building our new home.” Transformation from ‘Tropeli’ to ‘Swiss TPH’ accomplished and we can push our mission even more consistently”.

    According to Nicole Nüssli-Kaiser, mayor of Allschwil, the new Swiss TPH is “an important anchor institution” in the BaseLink area, the up-and-coming life science cluster. It is in the immediate vicinity of the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area Main Campus , which will open in autumn 2022. Companies such as Abbott, Basilea Pharmaceutica, Idorsia, Johnson&Johnson and Skan have settled there.

  • 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.

  • Two women strengthen the board of the SVSM

    Two women strengthen the board of the SVSM

    At the General Assembly of the Swiss Association for Site Management ( SVSM ) in Baden on March 31, the members elected two new board members: Jasmina Ritz and Katharina Hopp. According to the announcement on the association’s website , the general assembly took place as part of the SVSM Dialogue Site Management 2022 in the garden hall of the Villa Boveri in Baden. During the dialogue, more than 30 people followed the practical presentations on site management in Baden, in the Wil region and in Upper Valais.

    With the election of Jasmina Ritz, Managing Director of the Limmatstadt AG location promotion, there are now three Limmattal residents on the seven-strong SVSM board. President Beny Ruhstaller is also head of the office of the Niderfeld landowners’ association, Albert Schweizer is a founding member of the SVSM and head of Schlieren location promotion.

    When asked, Ritz explains her motivation for the position on the board: “I would like to campaign for more visibility and awareness of our profession, to make our performance and impact more recognizable. Our work cannot be reduced to company settlements. We are designers, drive projects forward, bring people together, open doors and are ambassadors for our locations.”

    Katharina Hopp, who was also elected to the SVSM board, worked until 2021 as head of site development at the Baselland location promotion. From summer 2022 she will work at AXA Investment Managers as an ESG/Asset Management Analyst.

  • SNBS certifications in Basel for sustainability

    SNBS certifications in Basel for sustainability

    On March 30th, Stefanie Steiner, project manager of the certification organization SNBS, presented the certificate to the new cooperative housing project on Schorenweg in Basel and thanked the builder of the Northwest Housing Cooperative for the good work and handling of the certification.

    In particular, great importance was attached to social values such as a multi-purpose room or residents’ café. The SNBS building standard is a building standard that covers the building itself and the site in the context of its surroundings. It enables the needs of society, the economy and the environment to be equally and comprehensively included in planning, construction and operation. The prerequisite for this is the view of the entire life cycle of a property.

    The winning project, which emerged from a competition, is the final building block to close a vacant lot that resulted from the demolition of a former Novartis office building on Schorenweg. 94 apartments can be found in the buildings, which impress with their permeable structure and clearly defined outdoor spaces and passageways. The latter connect the different uses of the public, semi-public and private areas. The roofs accommodate a photovoltaic system with an output of approx. 230,000kWp, the settlement draws the electricity as a group for self-consumption (ZEV).

    Due to the central location near the train station, the number of parking spaces tailored to the use and the numerous bicycle parking spaces, the requirements for mobility from the energy efficiency path can be met. A spacious bicycle storage hall and numerous above-ground parking spaces encourage the use of fuel-free means of transport and support the sustainability concept of the client and the canton. By taking into account the social and economic aspects, which are checked in addition to the energetic criteria in the SNBS building certification, the SNBS building certification is a perfect supplement to the Minergie-P-ECO certification. As a building standard, the SNBS building allows the Comprehensively incorporating the needs of society, the economy and the environment into planning, construction and operation.

  • Uneco produces petrol and diesel from wood

    Uneco produces petrol and diesel from wood

    Sursee-based Uneco Energie Schweiz AG is currently installing a pilot plant for the local production of synthetic fuels from biomass. The facility will be built on the site of the two Buttisholz companies Interspan Tschopp and Toma Holz . Uneco board member Peter Müller presented the project at the second energy aperitif organized by the Energie Hub Buttisholz association.

    The “Putin-free” energy, as Müller described the new form of energy according to a report in the weekly newspaper “Anzeiger vom Rottal” at the energy aperitif, is to be produced primarily from wood residues. According to the information, the process is based on the technology of so-called thermochemical carbon conversion . The fuels kerosene, petrol and diesel are obtained from wood, biomass and other organic waste. Finally, activated carbon can also be produced. This could be used by the construction industry, for example, as insulating material.

    The pilot plant is scheduled to go into test operation at the end of the year. Its expansion in the coming year is already being considered. With this pilot plant, Uneco wants to show how non-fossil energy can get from the laboratory into the local real economy.

    The energy aperitif is organized by the Energie Hub Buttisholz association. The municipality wants to be CO2-neutral by 2035 and thus become a lighthouse project in the energy transition.

  • 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 ).

  • Acquisitions drive Poenina's growth

    Acquisitions drive Poenina's growth

    According to a statement by Poenina Holding AG , the building technology company from the Glattal generated operating income of CHF 383.2 million in the 2021 financial year. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 26.8 percent. The operating result at EBIT level increased by 41.3 percent to CHF 21.2 million in the same period. A net profit of CHF 16.9 million was booked, which is 34.1 percent more than in 2020.

    In the statement, Poenina states “two inorganic effects” as the background to the development of sales. On the one hand, three acquisitions in the financial year are mentioned here. On the other hand, the merger with Caleira AG in June 2020 had an impact over an entire reporting year for the first time. Poenina attributes the increase in profitability to “continued internal process improvements” and the waning impact of the pandemic.

    In January of this year, Poenina announced the start of merger negotiations with the Burkhalter Group , which specializes in electrical engineering. The background is the Energy Strategy 2050 planned by the federal government. “In the course of the constructive merger talks”, the board of directors is now applying for the implementation of the merger, Poenina informs in the press release. Poenina is to be merged into Burkhalter and Poenina shares are to be exchanged for newly created Burkhalter shares at a ratio of 1 to 0.73. The approval of the general meetings of both companies is still pending.

  • TSC Real Estate closes 2021 as the best year in the company's history

    TSC Real Estate closes 2021 as the best year in the company's history

    Assets under management increased from approximately EUR 1.5 billion at the end of 2020 to approximately EUR 1.6 billion as of December 31, 2021, with the number of employees increasing to 27 in the same period. In addition, TSC Real Estate has accompanied sales worth around EUR 530 million.

    Berthold Becker, Managing Director of TSC Real Estate, comments: “The asset class 'health care properties' is becoming more and more differentiated and complex. We actively accompany this ongoing process for our customers and support them with our expertise and industry know-how in strategic investment decisions and management. In addition, we formulated ESG as a value-added service early on, including the development and implementation of a rating structure, our own ESG reporting and property-specific catalogs of measures. Even if we are constantly developing in this regard, we are already positioned for the future. This puts us in a position to create and transparently implement an individual manage-to-ESG strategy for our properties and those of our customers.”

    In 2022, TSC Real Estate has both the initiation and launch of its own investment vehicles for institutional investors in the area of residential and healthcare real estate and the participation in or the establishment of operating companies in the respective real estate segments on the agenda.

    In addition to organic growth options, acquisitions will also be examined and, if necessary, implemented in the coming months. In addition, not only the purchase of real estate with a volume of approx. EUR 300 million is planned, but also the further development of the vertical service structure. This includes the expansion of the areas of property management and, last but not least, project development.

  • Steinfels Swiss lays the foundation stone for a new factory

    Steinfels Swiss lays the foundation stone for a new factory

    Steinfels Swiss laid the foundation stone for its new building in Winterthur on March 30, the Coop subsidiary, which specializes in the production of sustainable cosmetic and hygiene products for the retail trade, hospitals and gastronomy, informed in a statement. “With the new building, we are investing in the Winterthur production site and expanding our range of cosmetic products,” Christian Koch, CEO of Steinfels Swiss, is quoted as saying. “In this way we can meet the increasing demand for cosmetic products, especially for sustainable alternatives.”

    In the new production building, the company wants to renew its cosmetics production and realign the production of detergents, the press release explains further. The internal flow of goods should be automated. The end of the construction work is scheduled for the end of 2023. The new production premises offer space for 150 employees.

    Steinfels Swiss had the old production building demolished for the new building project worth CHF 35 million. The new building is intended to set “standards in terms of sustainability”, the company explains in the press release. On the one hand, it is built according to the Minergie standard. On the other hand, a large part of the required electrical energy is to be produced with the company’s own photovoltaic systems. Steinfels Swiss will obtain the thermal energy required for production from Stadtwerke Winterthur in the form of waste heat.

  • Swiss Prime Site – General Assembly approves all proposals of the Board of Directors

    Swiss Prime Site – General Assembly approves all proposals of the Board of Directors

    Approval of the 2021 annual financial statements and the distribution of CHF 3.35
    The 2021 financial statements were approved by the General Assembly. The distribution of CHF 3.35 per eligible registered share proposed by the Board of Directors was also accepted. This consists of an ordinary dividend from the distributable profit of CHF 1,675 gross per registered share (CHF 1,089 net after deduction of 35% withholding tax) and will be paid on March 30, 2022 (ex-date: March 28, 2022) as well as a distribution free of withholding tax from a capital reduction through a nominal value reduction of CHF 1,675 per registered share. The corresponding payment of the same is expected to take place on June 13, 2022 (planned ex-date: June 9, 2022).

    Approval of the remuneration of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee
    The Annual General Meeting approved Swiss Prime Site AG’s 2021 remuneration report in a consultative vote. In addition, shareholders approved the total compensation for 2022 for the members of the Board of Directors and for the Group Executive Committee in two separate binding votes.

    Election of Brigitte Walter to the Board of Directors and confirmation of the members of the Board of Directors
    Brigitte Walter was newly elected to the Swiss Prime Site Board of Directors. The shareholders voted to re-elect Board members Barbara A. Knoflach and Gabrielle Nater-Bass as well as Board members Ton Büchner, Christopher M. Chambers, Mario F. Seris and Thomas Studhalter for a further term of office until the 2023 Annual General Meeting re-elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee consists of Thomas Studhalter (Chairman), Christopher M. Chambers and Brigitte Walter and the Nomination and Compensation Committee consists of Gabrielle Nater-Bass (Chairman), Christopher M. Chambers and Barbara A. Knoflach. The Investment Committee consists of Barbara A. Knoflach (Chairwoman), Mario F. Seris and Brigitte Walter. The new Sustainability Committee consists of Ton Büchner (President) and Barbara A. Knoflach.

  • Andermatt Swiss Alps is growing at double-digit rates

    Andermatt Swiss Alps is growing at double-digit rates

    In the 2021 financial year, the Andermatt Swiss Alps Group generated sales totaling CHF 201.1 million, according to the company responsible for the development, realization and operation of the holiday destination . In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 30 percent. The operating result at the EBITDA level increased by around CHF 20 million to CHF 25.3 million in the same period. A loss of CHF 8.0 million was reported as a net result. The Andermatt Swiss Alps Group writes that the result from the previous year was improved by CHF 24.4 million.

    “It is very gratifying that we were able to massively increase our sales and profitability in 2021,” said Group CEO Raphael Krucker in the statement. On the one hand, real estate sales worth CHF 122 million, up 58 percent year-on-year, contributed to the positive developments. On the other hand, the two hotels in the group, The Chedi Andermatt and Radisson Blu Reussen, reported a positive operating result for the first time due to the increase in sales and occupancy as well as the reduction in costs.

    The SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun, on the other hand, continued to suffer from the consequences of the pandemic in the winter season and from the bad weather in the summer, the statement explains further. Specifically, Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG’s sales of CHF 21.6 million were around 10 percent lower than in the previous year.

  • Leading security technology manufacturer Telenot enters the market for access control technology

    Leading security technology manufacturer Telenot enters the market for access control technology

    "For companies of all kinds as well as for public buildings, it is of obvious importance to control the safe access to the building as well as the flow of people and access authorizations inside in a structured and precise manner. Because security begins at the company door,” says Hendrik Spering. Telenot's product manager is one of the developers of the innovative access control system, the latest addition to the company's portfolio. The specialists for electronic security technology have now presented a comprehensive expansion stage for the system.

    Optimum processes for every requirement
     As usual from Telenot, the hilock 5000 ZK impresses with maximum performance and efficiency for every type of building. "During the development, we had in mind a system that was flexible in every respect, which enables optimal business processes and visitor flows, regardless of whether it is a small shop, an administration building or a large industrial plant," explains Spering. Particularly practical: thanks to the VdS approval of the control device as a switching device for an intruder alarm system, access control and intruder alarm technology can be linked in an economical and VdS-compliant manner, as required by building property insurance companies.

    Basic license enables extensive solutions
     The basic principle of the access control system is simple: everyone who wants to enter the building is checked before they enter. If someone is not authorized, they are not allowed in. The complexity is hidden in the details: For companies, for example, it is important that all employees can enter the company premises without delay. However, if there are areas that should only be accessible to certain groups of people, the same access control system must also regulate such authorization solutions. And this, if necessary, with a time limit or under other predefined conditions. The new access control system enables the flexible configuration and control of such authorization solutions in buildings of all kinds. This makes it easier for users to implement optimal business processes or visitor flows.

    “In combination with the compasZ 5500 management software and the hilock 5500 evaluation control unit with integrated Ethernet interface, we offer an economical solution for every size and type of property,” says Spering. Function time models can be set up very easily, for example to regulate the opening of shops. Even special routines for public holidays do not pose a problem for the system. Both significantly reduce the time required for administration and serve the security of the company. In addition, all access rights can be coordinated across locations – whether from one or more locations. The new system also offers countless other applications such as area change control, counting functions, elevator control, toggle authorizations, admin administration, formation of organizational units and groups. The highest encryption standards ensure maximum security – from the administration software to the evaluation and control device, the RFID reader to the transponder.

    Even with the basic license, the access control system enables the construction of a solution that is sufficient for many applications. Should an extension of functions or licenses become necessary, for example due to the opening of a new location, this can easily be done by the specialist company via the Telenot online shop, which is available around the clock.

    Access control with chip, code or smartphone access
     For on-site use, users can access a wide range of peripheral products. In addition to the well-known cryplock RFID readers, Telenot has a brand new selection of mechatronic locking elements in its range – door handles, door fittings, locking cylinders, furniture locks or locker locks. They connect centrally wired online access control systems with mechanical locking systems. This new type of access control has many advantages, as Spering explains: "The costs that arise in a company because of lost keys are considerable. Depending on the system and the key, they can easily reach a four-digit amount. With our mechatronic locking system, only the lost transponder has to be blocked.” This is done quickly and easily in the software.

    Flexible authorization management
     The innovative character of the access control system is also evident in the management of authorizations. With Credential Data Management (CDM), the user has a flexible choice of two online versions (classically wired or as a wireless system) and one offline system. With the latter, the access authorizations are written directly to the transponder. Since the component has no direct access to the evaluation and control unit (i.e. it is offline), the transponder is also used for data transfer between the online and offline system. A Smartphone Access CDM can also be integrated into the system. In this case, an app on the smartphone serves as a transponder.

  • Settlements reach pre-corona level

    Settlements reach pre-corona level

    Company settlements are increasing again after the Corona dip. The Greater Zurich Area AG (GZA), as the location marketing organization for nine cantons, was able to settle a total of 125 companies in 2021, an increase of 36 companies compared to the first Corona year 2020. According to a statement by the GZA, 42 companies came from the USA (+20 ), 19 from Germany (+4), ten from Italy (+5) and five each from China (-6), Great Britain and Singapore.

    Overall, the companies created 582 jobs in the economic area, an increase of 11 percent compared to the previous year. In the next five years there should be a total of 1843 jobs.

    The ICT sectors are most strongly represented with 42 companies, followed by the life sciences with 25 companies and the machine industry with 18 and financial services with 13 companies. The life sciences companies created 235 jobs, followed by the ICT companies with 154 jobs.

    However, the importance of the companies for the location goes beyond the number of new jobs. “We specifically address those companies that achieve high added value and strengthen the existing ecosystem,” said GZA Managing Director Sonja Wollkopf Walt at a digital media conference.

    One of the newly settled companies is Benchling . The American provider of cloud solutions for life sciences wants to create up to 150 jobs in the Circle at Zurich Airport. The Chinese pharmaceutical company Hengrui already has its European headquarters in Basel and is now setting up a research and development site in Zurich.

    The German RegTech company targens will sell its software for compliance solutions to banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein from Schwanden GL. Ruedi Becker, the Swiss head of the Landesbank Baden-Württemberg subsidiary, was able to convince his superiors of the advantages of Glarus together with the GZA.

    That pleases the Glarner location promoter Christian Zehnder. So far, Glarus has been strong in manufacturing and food production. “We want to get away from our traditional image,” he said. “When companies settle here, however, we depend on the strong partner GZA, who markets the location internationally.”

    Sonja Wollkopf Walt sees it similarly: the settlement of targens strengthens the ecosystem as a whole and sends the signal that the economic area extends beyond Zurich and Zug. “In the Greater Zurich Area there is the ideal location for every company.”

    The Greater Zurich Area includes the cantons of Glarus, Graubünden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Zug and Zurich.

  • Holcim withdraws from Russia

    Holcim withdraws from Russia

    The Board of Directors of Holcim has decided to initiate the process of exiting the Russian market. According to a statement from the Zug-based building materials group, this is in line with the company’s values, which aim to act as responsibly as possible. This decision follows an earlier decision to halt all capital investments in the Russian market.

    The panel expresses its “deep concern at the tragic human suffering in the region”. Holcim is “determined to support the affected people, families and communities”.

    In addition, the Board of Directors would like to expressly thank all colleagues who work alongside local non-governmental organizations worldwide to provide accommodation, essential goods and medical care and who volunteer their time.

  • Tägi invites you to the Bauen+Wohnen trade fair

    Tägi invites you to the Bauen+Wohnen trade fair

    The leisure, sports and event center Tägi in Wettingen invites you to the Bauen+Wohnen Aargau trade fair again this spring after a two-year break. According to the press release , it will take place from Thursday, April 7th to Sunday, April 10th and will present offers for everything to do with building, living, gardening and energy. More than 180 exhibitors present products and services in four halls as well as on Tägerhardstrasse, the Tägi forecourt and in the event arena. There are also several specialist lectures in the Limmatraum on topics such as light, heat pumps, kitchen planning or solar power.

    The fair is open on Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is paid parking on the circus meadow.

    This weekend the Tägi also opens the mini golf season. The 18-hole mini golf course is open daily from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Provided the weather is nice and allows the game to play.

  • Climate neutral by 2050

    Climate neutral by 2050

    Many homeowners cannot afford a renovation. Long-term loans are now intended to support builders who want to make their property climate-friendly but do not have sufficient financial resources or prefer to invest their money in their core business. At least that's what the state wants. Whether and how this can be done remains questionable. Because the financial institutions intended for this, such as banks and insurance companies, are hardly interested in loans with terms of more than 30 years. The federal government therefore wants to act as a security guarantor. A pilot project in Berne is now to examine whether this financing idea is realistic.

    The Zuger Energeek Group AG proposes another way. "With Energeek®, the solar panel with rental for you", she gets people to invest in solar energy, whether they own real estate or not. Energeek provides the solar panels and the real estate projects. Anyone who wants to invest can buy one or more panels online and then rent them out to a project company. Upon purchase, the buyer also benefits immediately from the one-time payment (EIV), the federal subsidy for solar systems. The panels acquired will be integrated into a larger panel network that generates electricity sustainably; the buyer of these panels thus becomes a producer of electricity through renewable energy with the right to rental income. A minimum rental price is guaranteed when the contract is signed. However, upward rent adjustments are possible at any time. For example, when the price of electricity rises with inflation. The purchased solar panels can also be resold, inherited or given away at any time together with the rental agreement and the associated rental income.

    Another big advantage: so that solar panels and the projects work very efficiently, solar trackers are used whenever possible and in addition to the permanently installed PV area. With these, the panels are not permanently installed, but rotate according to the sun. This means that, for example, the morning and evening sun is also optimally used. Or discover the smallest gap in the cloud on a cloudy day and use it to generate electricity. This achieves an increase in production of an additional + 63% kWh on average. This in comparison to permanently installed solar panels.

    Energeek Group AG presents the projects for which solar panels can be purchased on its website. The buyer can decide for himself which project the acquired panels should be rented to. For example, a project on a horse farm and hotel in the Freiberge is currently on offer. There, the group, together with its certified partners, will set up photovoltaic systems on a planned area of 1,590 square meters and thus supply the hotel building infrastructure, neighbors, heat pumps and e-charging station(s) with electricity. A panel in this project currently costs a little more than CHF 900, the annual rental income is CHF 82.50. A respectable return.
    More information at www.energeek.biz

  • Investis grows profitably

    Investis grows profitably

    Investis generated total sales of 216 million francs in the 2021 financial year, the Zurich-based real estate group, which specializes in apartments in the mid-price segment in the Lake Geneva region, announced in a press release. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 21 percent.

    The operating result at EBITDA level before revaluations increased by 18 percent to CHF 54 million in the same period. Operating profit at EBIT level increased by 73 percent to CHF 235 million. This includes a gain from revaluation effects of CHF 184 million.

    At CHF 235 million, net profit was CHF 99 million higher than in 2020. The real estate portfolio was valued at CHF 1.735 billion at the end of 2021. At the end of 2020, 1.490 billion Swiss francs were reported.

    Stéphane Bonvin, CEO of Investis Group, said he was “very proud of everything that has been achieved since our IPO in 2016”. “All of the targets we set for the IPO were exceeded.” According to Bonvin, both the real estate business and the real estate services business contributed to the good developments.

    For the near future, Investis assumes that demand for apartments in the Lake Geneva region will increase and prices will rise as a result. Here the group intends to further optimize its real estate portfolio in the current year. Digitization is to be promoted in the Real Estate Services division.

  • Canton of Zurich launches new shop for geodata

    Canton of Zurich launches new shop for geodata

    The Office for Spatial Development of the Canton of Zurich has developed a shop for geodata . According to a press release , users receive free access to spatial data in the canton of Zurich and can order them at the touch of a button.

    With the new shop solution, use-restricted, i.e. non-open data is now also being added. Previously, cantonal geodata sets were available to users free of charge as open authority data via the GIS browser maps.zh.ch or a geoservice and could only be called up manually.

    A total of over 500 products from the geographic information system can be viewed and ordered in the geodata shop, including data on buildings, air, noise and climate. Later, data on buildings and land, so-called object data from the ObjektwesenZH platform, will also be added.

  • The SVIT real estate fair and Digital Day 2022

    The SVIT real estate fair and Digital Day 2022

    The Zurich Real Estate Days took place from March 18th to 20th. Under the roof of the newly renovated congress center, the “SVIT Immobilien-Messe”, the “SVIT Digital Day” and the “Digital Kompass Schweiz” were held there for the first time. Over the three days, there were a total of more than 2,500 visitors and more than 50 exhibitors at the fair.

    The “SVIT Immobilien-Messe” was held for the twelfth time and was a complete success. Due to the intensive construction activities in the economic area of Zurich, the fair has found its place in the agenda of visitors. Those interested in home ownership or first-time rentals found what they were looking for at the “SVIT Immobilien-Messe”, because existing properties and properties that are only in the planning stage are also presented.

    For the third time, but for the first time combined with the SVIT real estate trade fair, the “SVIT Digital Day” took place on Friday, March 18, 2022. The latest digital trends for the real estate industry were shown by around 40 exhibitors. The practice-oriented specialist presentations by Joel Hadwiger (Sales Manager casavi), Luc Zehnder (Account Executive Intrum AG) and Erich Birchler (CEO BMT AG) were also very exciting.

    The “Digital Compass Switzerland” is an innovation of the SVIT Zurich. The tool accompanies real estate players on the way to digital transformation, because the efficiency of a real estate company depends heavily on its software and its interfaces. The SVIT platform shows specific applicable solutions that are specifically tailored to the Swiss real estate industry.

    We look forward to all upcoming SVIT events.