immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: business

  • Swisscom takes over majority of e-government specialists

    Swisscom takes over majority of e-government specialists

    Swisscom announces the acquisition of the Zurich-based Innovative Web Group. With the takeover, the telecommunications company wants to expand its activities in the areas of web solutions and e-government for public administrations and municipalities, according to a press release. The Innovative Web Group remains legally independent. The takeover will not result in any changes for customers or employees. The parties have agreed not to disclose the company valuation.

    The Innovative Web Group, founded in 2000, is well positioned in the segment of e-government solutions for Swiss municipalities and cities, cantons, municipal utilities, schools and other administrative-related organizations. With the acquisition of the group of companies, Swisscom expects new growth potential for its “Municipalities and Associations” business area, which is mainly handled by the subsidiary Swisscom Directories AG with the municipality platform Localcities .

    Localcities provides information and advice on all aspects of official, economic, social and cultural life in the community. In association with Innovative Web, the foundation stone is to be laid in order to “use technical modules reciprocally and develop new, innovative solutions for almost every need of the around 2,200 Swiss communities, regardless of the size of the community”, says Stefano Santinelli , CEO Swisscom Directories AG, quoted.

  • Implenia separates from Gravière de la Claie-aux-Moines

    Implenia separates from Gravière de la Claie-aux-Moines

    Implenia AG is selling its majority stake of 66.67 percent in Gravière de la Claie-aux-Moines SA ( GCM ). The construction and real estate company from Opfikon informs in a message that the stake will be sold to Walo Bertschinger SA Romandie as well as to Vigier Holding AG and H 2 M Participations SA. Shareholder Walo Bertschinger SA Romandie had previously held the remaining third of the GCM. Even after the entry of Vigier Holding AG and H 2 M Participations SA, the stake held by Walo Bertschinger SA Romandie will remain a minority stake, according to the announcement. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

    “Implenia is selling its stake in GCM SA to suitable owners in order to continue to focus on the defined core portfolio and advance its asset-light strategy,” the company explains in the press release. As part of the corporate strategy, Implenia wants to concentrate on “integrated construction and real estate services in Switzerland and Germany as well as tunnel construction and related infrastructure projects in other markets”.

  • Holcim takes over Malarkey Roofing in the USA

    Holcim takes over Malarkey Roofing in the USA

    The global Zug-based building materials company Holcim has signed an agreement to take over Malarkey Roofing Products . Malarkey is a leader in the American residential roofing market, according to a press release . It is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The transaction is valued at $ 1.35 billion and will be 100 percent cash-funded. Holcim expects to realize synergies of $ 40 million per year by year three.

    Malarkey Roofing Products is forecast to have net sales of $ 600 million in 2022. According to the announcement, the company can point to double-digit growth in the highly profitable roof-top housing market in the USA with a volume of 19 billion dollars. Both companies have set themselves the goal of sustainable building.

    “The acquisition of Malarkey Roofing Products is an excellent start for our ‘Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth’, with which we are expanding our Solutions & Products division and becoming one of the world’s leading providers of roofing systems,” Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch is quoted as saying. With Malarkey, Holcim is positioning itself as a full-range roofing provider. The strategy to accelerate green growth is to expand this area to 30 percent of the Group’s net sales by 2025.

    Gregory Malarkey, President of Malarkey Roofing, founded in 1956, sees Holcim as the right partner. “For decades we have been looking for a company that aligns with our vision, shares our values and can help us accelerate our growth strategy.” Like Malarkey, Holcim also focuses heavily on promoting the circular economy and the transition to sustainable construction, Malarkey becomes further quoted.

  • Baloise presents its ecosystem for innovations

    Baloise presents its ecosystem for innovations

    The Baloise Group has been modernizing and expanding its core business as part of its Simply Safe strategy since 2017. According to a statement from the insurer, working methods have been modernized internally, scope for design expanded and hierarchies dismantled, thereby increasing employee satisfaction overall.

    At the same time, an ecosystem of innovations was built up. To this end, 7,500 ideas and start-ups were tested in the Baloise Open Innovation Funnel. The Basler Insurance Group has invested a total of 50 million francs annually in the most promising initiatives. Around 30 investments are in the scaling phase. As the largest investment, FRIDAY is already one of the most popular digital insurers in Germany and was able to expand to France in 2021. FRIDAY sales are likely to rise to over 50 million francs this year, with a target of 150 million francs in 2025.

    In the home sector, Baloise has invested in eight initiatives, five in Switzerland and three in Belgium. The total turnover is over 10 million francs, the aim for 2025 is 100 million francs. In the area of mobility, the nine initiatives should generate a total of up to CHF 10 million in sales in 2021. In 2025, sales are also expected to rise to 100 million.

    Gert De Winter is now initiating the second phase of Simply Safe. “Our ambition is to have our investment measures valued at CHF 1 billion by 2025 and to secure a business volume contribution of CHF 350 million through the new initiatives,” the CEO of Baloise is quoted as saying in the press release.

    At the same time, progress in the area of innovation should be made more visible. The innovations are presented narrative on the newly launched “ Baloise Innovation – Connecting the Dots ” website.

  • The Circle draws its first annual balance

    The Circle draws its first annual balance

    Since the opening on November 5, 2020, a number of new tenants have moved into The Circle , writes Flughafen Zürich AG in a message . She realized the quarter at Zurich Airport together with Swiss Life . One year after the opening, the co-owner company is “largely satisfied” with the development of the quarter, writes the company.

    “It is a great pleasure to see how the Circle is getting livelier”, Stefan Feldmann, Head of The Circle, Flughafen Zürich AG, is quoted in the press release. According to her, 85 percent of the space is now occupied “with an exciting mix of well-known companies from the technology, pharmaceutical, finance and consulting sectors”. The alleys of the quarter are also livened up by restaurants, exhibition rooms, the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle Hotel, the coworking space Spaces and the branch of the University Hospital Zurich. At the end of the year, the day care center in the Circle is also due to be inaugurated. “We are aware that everything is not yet perfect, but we are on the right track and are working on it every day,” says Feldmann.

    In September 2021, the first district festival was also celebrated in the Circle. The new winter festival Zauberpark will start on November 25th. Live open air concerts and children’s shows are planned here every day for 18 days. Finally, on December 15th, the second Hyatt Hotel, the Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle, will open its doors.

  • Smino earns 3.1 million francs

    Smino earns 3.1 million francs

    Smino has won over a number of investors with its platform for digital building planning (Building Information Modeling / BIM). The start-up from the St.GallenBodenseeArea has successfully completed a series A financing round and raised CHF 3.1 million, according to a press release .

    Smino is an offer from BBC Systems AG. The platform acts as a data hub for construction projects. This platform is now to be further developed. “The smino team impressed us and our partners with its comprehensive software solution for construction project management”, Manfred Heid is quoted in the message, managing partner of the investor BitStone Capital. “We are very pleased to support the team together with our co-investors as they expand into new markets and develop into a digital project assistant.”

    BitStone Capital led the financing round. Other investors are EquityPitcher Ventures, Swiss Startup Capital, Session VC, Swiss Immo Lab, AXEPT Business Software AG and Conreal. “Smino has managed to generate rapid growth and become a key player in the construction industry,” says Guy Giuffredi from Swiss Startup Capital. “Now the expansion is pending and we are convinced that the excellently positioned team will master this quickly and successfully.”

    This expansion is to be realized first in Switzerland and Europe. In the future, smino also wants to rely on applications with artificial intelligence, as co-founder Sandor Balogh calls it. “The Series A round enables us to expand our market leadership in Switzerland and expand internationally. A further branch will be set up in Germany specifically for the European region. “

  • Construction company W. Schmid AG is now called WSG

    Construction company W. Schmid AG is now called WSG

    The construction company W. Schmid AG has carried out a rebranding. The company founded in Glattbrugg by Walter Schmid in 1966 now appears as WSG. According to a message on LinkedIn, this is seen as a milestone for the owner-managed SME. Due to the dynamic change caused by digitization, the business model, competencies and company culture have already been adjusted. Now follow the matching modern dress, it says in the message. In addition to the new WSG logo, the generously designed new logo in light green lettering bears the addition “See what will be.” This is intended to signal the “fresh wind” in the traditional company, according to LinkedIn.

    The development from the original construction company to today’s WSG is described on the company’s website. The company is active in German-speaking Switzerland, with three offices in Glattbrugg, Zug and Basel and employs around 70 people. WSG is active as an innovative real estate developer and is responsible for the construction of more than 10,000 apartments in the past 55 years.

    As a construction company directly at the airport, the airport region around Kloten shaped the orders and customers of W. Schmid AG. Swissair and the hotel chains with their airport hotels are named as regular customers. The company also paid attention to sustainability early on. The first solar facade was built in 1988 and the first apartment building with a Minergie certificate was completed in 1998. In 2016, the world’s first energy self-sufficient apartment building was built by W. Schmid AG.

  • Forster and ConReal Swiss join forces

    Forster and ConReal Swiss join forces

    Forster enters into a strategic partnership with the technology start-up ConReal Swiss AG . For this purpose, the kitchen builder is getting into the start-up company for the digitization of the construction and real estate industry from Winterthur through its investment company e-comm Beteiligungen AG, based in Baar, according to a media release. The companies do not disclose the investment amount.

    The collaboration will initially focus on household appliances. Existing partners from the trade are to be offered new services. In addition, the partnership supports the “ongoing development of the digital marketplace” for interior design.

    “With this partnership, we are able to combine Forster’s competencies and market knowledge with ConReal’s digitization capabilities in order to create a better offer and a unique shopping experience for both tradespeople and end consumers,” said Joachim Wallishauser, Managing Director of e-comm, quoted in the press release.

  • Major merger of Homegate, Ricardo, anibis.ch and Scout24

    Major merger of Homegate, Ricardo, anibis.ch and Scout24

    With the merger of the marketplaces, a monopoly arises in the categories of real estate, cars and classified ads. It’s going to be tight, very tight for the competition.

    The TX Group, the Ringier Verlag as well as the insurance company Mobiliar and General Atlantic, which supports the group with its international expertise in the field of digital marketplaces, are entering into a web joint venture.

    There is a lot involved in real estate. Because homegate.ch owns the marketplaces home.ch , alle-immobilien.ch ,immostreet.ch and now acheter-louer.ch . The immoscout24.ch network includes comparis.ch, HEV Switzerland, Zentralhome.ch, NZZdomizil.ch, osthome.ch and many more. The offer will certainly also be placed on the newspaper portals of various national newspapers. This is how you create a competitive Swiss marketplace offering and can act as a pioneer in the Swiss market. As a spokeswoman for TX announced, all 1000 jobs will remain.

    The TX-Group now holds 31 percent of the shares, Ringier and Mobiliar 29.5 each, and General Atlantic 10 percent. The four shareholders each have 25 percent of the voting rights and are pursuing the medium-term goal of an IPO.

    The CEO is to be Scout24 CEO Gilles Despas, the board of directors is to consist of Mobiliar boss Michèle Rodoni, Pietro Suppino, Mark Walder and Jörn Nikolay.

  • Managing Director Audergon leaves arv Baustoffrecycling

    Managing Director Audergon leaves arv Baustoffrecycling

    After five years at the helm of the arv building materials recycling association, Laurent Audergon is leaving. He wants to face a new professional challenge, it says in a letter from association president Adrian Amstutz and the two vice presidents Stefan Eberhard and Laurent Steidle to all members and partners of the association arv Baustoffrecycling Schweiz.

    The board of directors agreed on an immediate end of work with Audergon. However, the departing managing director is available to arv for an orderly handover, according to the letter. The association is therefore looking for a new managing director.

    In the meantime, the deputy managing director Gregor Schguanin will take over the management of the association with the support of the board. He has extensive and longstanding expertise in the areas of inspectorate and environmental protection as well as in-depth experience in project and team management. Schguanin studied cultural engineering and surveying at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and is a graduate engineer and certified consultant for organizational development.

    Audergon is a graduate chemist and civil engineer at the ETH. In his five years as managing director he had a decisive influence on the repositioning and continuous development of arv, the presidents state in their letter. He led the association with great commitment.

    The association arv Baustoffrecycling Schweiz is based in Schlieren.

  • Swiss Prime Site can look back on a successful half-year

    Swiss Prime Site can look back on a successful half-year

    According to a message from Swiss Prime Site , the Olten real estate company generated income totaling 362.8 million francs in the first half of 2021. Adjusted for the sale of the subsidiary Tertianum, which was completed in February of last year, this corresponds to growth of 6.3 percent, explains Swiss Prime Site. All of the real estate company’s divisions contributed to the “pleasing growth”.

    In the core real estate segment, the pandemic led to a drop in income of 5.5 million francs, the announcement further explains. In contrast, rental income adjusted for Tertianum effects increased by 2.2 percent to CHF 213.4 million. The income from investment management for third parties increased by 56 percent to CHF 7.5 million.

    In the half-year under review, Swiss Prime Site reported operating profit before interest and taxes to be CHF 355.6 million. Excluding revaluations and the Tertianum effects, the result rose by 36.6 percent to CHF 211.0 million, the company writes. The EBIT margin increased year-on-year from 45.3 percent to 58.2 percent. The net profit was 257.1 million francs, compared to 269.7 million francs in the first half of 2020. Without the sales proceeds for Tertianum, however, the profit in the previous semester would have been only 64.4 million francs.

    For the entire current year, Swiss Prime Site expects an increase in rental income and income in the area of services. In terms of services, the company is also striving to improve margins.

  • Ina Invest has made millions in profit

    Ina Invest has made millions in profit

    Ina Invest closed the first half of 2021 with an operating result (EBIT) of CHF 3.1 million, the Implenia spin-off set up in spring 2020 informs in a message . The real estate company shows a net profit of 2.9 million francs.

    In the previous semester, a loss of just under 2 million francs was incurred. For 2020 as a whole, Ina Invest had already achieved a net profit of 3.9 million francs. With the result “again above expectations”, the company is building on “the successful previous year”, according to the announcement.

    The revaluation of investment properties achieved a profit of 3.8 million francs in the half-year under review. The total value of the real estate portfolio increased by CHF 19 million to CHF 385 million. Ina Invest explains that all of the properties currently being realized are on schedule. In the announcement, the real estate company highlights the tender high-rise in Winterthur. Here, 31 of the 39 apartments have already been sold or reserved.

    Ina Invest also acquired another property with a market value of more than 60 million francs in the six months under review. This means that the company has already exceeded its acquisition target for the year as a whole, the press release explains. Since the transfer of ownership will not take place until the current semester, the purchase will not yet affect the result in the half-year under review.

  • Novavest is growing profitably

    Novavest is growing profitably

    According to a notification from Novavest Real Estate AG , the value of the real estate company's real estate portfolio as of June 30th of this year was CHF 664.3 million. At the end of 2020, the value was 645.4 million francs. The growth was generated primarily through investments in investment properties and projects, explains Novavest. Revaluations contributed CHF 6.3 million to the portfolio's increase in value.

    Rental entries increased by 8 percent year-on-year to CHF 12.6 million. Around 62 percent of rental income is currently generated by residential properties, informs Novavest. The net return on investment properties was unchanged at 3.7 percent in the reporting semester. Compared to the end of 2020, the vacancy rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 4.3 percent.

    The income was offset by direct expenses for rented properties amounting to CHF 2.0 million. Overall, Novavest's expenses increased by 6 percent year-on-year to CHF 4.4 million. The bottom line was an operating result at EBIT level of 14.5 million francs. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to an increase of 29 percent. At 10.6 million francs, net profit including revaluations was 30 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year.

  • Swiss Prime Investment Foundation achieves high returns

    Swiss Prime Investment Foundation achieves high returns

    The investment group SPA Real Estate Switzerland of the asset manager Swiss Prime Investment Foundation in Olten ( SPA ) closed the first half of 2021 with an investment return of 3.28 percent. In the same period of 2020, the return was 1.66 percent, according to a media release .

    The market value of the real estate portfolio also increased significantly: from 2.31 billion francs in the first half of 2020 to over 2.8 billion francs in the first half of 2021. This is due to transactions and investments. SPA added four properties worth CHF 118 million to the investment group's portfolio, including a retirement center in Bern and five apartment buildings in Schüpfheim LU.

    “The overall portfolio has shown a strong appreciation of CHF 33.8 million net due to the positive developments in new construction projects and marketing success,” the press release continues. The vacancy rate has also fallen from 4.17 to 3.34 percent.

    The investment group SPA Living + Europe, which was launched in 2020, also closed the first six months of this year successfully with a 4.4 percent return after the first transaction. The profit results from the purchase of five retirement and care properties in Germany.

  • Emmi uses solar energy from Amstutz

    Emmi uses solar energy from Amstutz

    Emmi and Amstutz Holzenergie AG are expanding their cooperation. According to a press release from Emmi, the products manufactured at Emmi's Emmen location, such as Aktifit or Lucerne cream cheese, will in future be produced using solar power from the roofs of the neighboring Amstutz AG. For twelve years now, 80 percent of the process energy required by Emmi has come from a wood chip plant on the Amstutz site. It feeds hot steam into the Emmi pipes via a pipeline.

    Amstutz's 1,440 photovoltaic modules produce around 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. Amstutz uses around 200,000 kilowatt hours itself, while 300,000 are given to Emmi. "We are pleased that our neighbor Emmi has been relying on environmentally friendly 'wood steam' from our company for twelve years and that we can now use solar energy from our roofs to strengthen the partnership for a sustainable energy future", CEO Albert Amstutz is quoted as saying.

    As the announcement goes on to say, the 25 or so Emmi operations in Switzerland are supplied with 100 percent electricity from European hydropower. In the future, the company wants to "significantly" increase the production of its own renewable electricity in the coming years. The roof of the new cheese dairy currently under construction in Emmen will also be equipped with photovoltaic elements.

  • Holcim achieves record results

    Holcim achieves record results

    Holcim AG posted record results in the first half of 2021. The building materials manufacturer from Zug achieved an operating profit of 1.98 billion Swiss francs. That is 66 percent more than in the same period last year, according to a press release .

    Net sales of CHF 12.55 billion were also 17.4 percent, well above the previous year. Holcim had to accept major losses in the Corona crisis. “Around this time last year, I said that Holcim would emerge stronger from this crisis. These half-year results prove it ”, CEO Jan Jenisch is quoted in the media release.

    The acquisitions of seven companies by Holcim also contributed to the good result. The most recent takeover of roof and pond waterproofing system manufacturer Firestone Building Products saw a 21 percent increase in volume in demand. Due to this positive business development, the company is adjusting its expectations for adjusted operating profit in the current year to 18 percent.

  • Karsten Hell is leaving the Steiner Group

    Karsten Hell is leaving the Steiner Group

    Steiner AG initiated a company transformation in spring 2021, the Zurich-based general and general contractor explains in a press release . The business model was geared towards the further expansion of the company's own project portfolio and the addition of participation models and investment vehicles such as the Steiner Investment Foundation. In addition, Steiner wants to launch digital products for the real estate market in the future.

    As part of the company's transformation, Karsten Hell offered the board of directors his resignation as CEO, Steiner informs. Hell joined Steiner in 2013 as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and has headed the company as CEO since July 2018. The outgoing CEO will remain with the company as an advisor to the board of directors, writes Steiner.

    Hell's successor will be Ajay Sirohi with immediate effect. The graduate economist and mathematician joined the Steiner Group in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer. Sirohi previously held the same position for various multinational companies.

    With Michael Schiltknecht , Sirohi will also join Steiner AG's previous Head of Real Estate Development as Co-CEO. Schiltknecht joined Steiner in 2007 as head of real estate development. The two new company directors should “continue to pursue the specified strategy and ensure the sustainable development of the company”, says the announcement.

  • Partners Group acquires Australian Travelodge hotels

    Partners Group acquires Australian Travelodge hotels

    The Partners Group creates a hospitality mainstay in Australia. In partnership with the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC and the Australian hotel operator Salter Brothers , it is acquiring the Travelodge hotel portfolio. According to a press release from Partners Group, it is the largest portfolio of its kind in Australia and is spread across major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It offers a good starting point for further expansion.

    "This portfolio represents an excellent opportunity to acquire well-located investments" and at the same time benefit from the price discounts caused by the pandemic, says Rahul Ghai, Managing Director Private Real Estate of the Partners Group. "We particularly like this portfolio because it offers initial returns with the potential for further returns through transformative value creation strategies."

    On the one hand, the portfolio will benefit from a nationwide campaign launched this year to stimulate domestic tourism. On the other hand, the new partners are working on a plan that is supposed to improve the occupancy of the hotels through a new brand image and selective upgrading. In addition, the owners are thinking of expanding visibility by expanding loyalty and reward programs through a wider sales channel.

    Partners Group executive Euan Kennedy sees "some signs of steady economic recovery" in Australia. Rising vaccination rates are “a good omen for increasing room occupancy by domestic and foreign travelers in the course of our investment. We look forward to working with our experienced business and capital partners on this exciting opportunity. "

  • Sika is growing at a double-digit rate

    Sika is growing at a double-digit rate

    According to a message from Sika , the Zug-based building materials group closed the first half of 2021 with new record values. In concrete terms, sales grew by 23.1 percent to 4.45 billion Swiss francs. The operating result at EBIT level rose by 67.2 percent year-on-year to 685.9 million francs. The EBIT margin reached a new record at 15.4 percent.

    "We asserted ourselves again in a market environment that remained challenging and achieved very good business results in the first half of 2021", Thomas Hasler is quoted in the press release. "COVID-19 will continue to challenge us," says the CEO. "But we are well positioned and have proven our resistance to crises under difficult economic conditions and created new growth platforms."

    All of Sika's business regions contributed to the positive development in the first half of 2021 with double-digit sales growth rates. In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa), a year-on-year increase in sales of 25.2 percent to 2.04 billion Swiss francs was achieved. The Americas region grew by 15.8 percent to 1.10 billion Swiss francs. In the Asia / Pacific region, sales increased by 26.4 percent to 960.8 million francs. Business with the automotive industry (Global Business) grew by 26.4 percent to CHF 351.0 million.

    For the year as a whole, Sika expects sales growth of between 13 and 17 percent in local currencies. The operating result is to be increased disproportionately. Sika expects the EBIT margin to be at least 15.0 percent despite rising raw material prices.

  • Baloise increases capital for real estate funds

    Baloise increases capital for real estate funds

    Baloise Asset Management AG will carry out a capital increase for its Baloise Swiss Property Fund from August 10th to 19th, announced the asset management company of the Baloise Group in a message . A maximum of 1.24 million new shares with a total value of around 135 million are to be issued on a commission basis.

    The issue price including issuing commission is stated in the notification at 110.70 francs per unit. According to her, every 19 subscription rights entitle the holder to purchase five new shares. Any shares that have not been subscribed will not be issued, Baloise informs.

    The funds raised are to be used for the acquisition of a real estate portfolio consisting of 15 residential properties, one commercial property and one mixed-use property. Baloise announced the planned purchase of this property, which is spread across ten cantons, last month.

    The property portfolio with a market value of around 185.2 million francs is currently held by Basler Versicherung AG and Basler Leben AG, which are part of the Baloise Group. The Swiss financial supervisory authority has already granted the fund management company the necessary exemption from the ban on takeovers by related parties, explains Baloise. To finance the purchase, Baloise intends to raise around 50 million francs in outside capital in addition to the capital increase.

  • Julius Baer expands real estate business

    Julius Baer expands real estate business

    Julius Baer's portfolio of real estate services has so far focused on mortgage financing. Now the banking group wants to expand its offering in "this important asset class", announced Julius Baer in a press release . In the future, advice, brokerage, financing and structuring as well as related services for investment management, valuation and management of real estate are to be offered.

    The banking group wants to implement these plans with partners and in cooperation with third-party providers. In a first step, Julius Baer will acquire 83 percent of the Zurich real estate service provider KMP , explains the banking group in the announcement. The current majority owner and CEO of KMP, Dominik Weber, is to set up a new real estate unit for the banking group under the umbrella of Julius Baer. As a future minority owner, Weber will also remain Chairman of the Board of Directors of KMP, writes Julius Baer.

    In a further announcement , the banking group is communicating its key figures for the first half of 2021. According to this, Julius Baer was able to increase net profit by 23 percent year-on-year to 606 million francs. The group’s assets under management increased by 12 percent to CHF 486 billion compared to the end of 2020.

    "We have successfully shifted our focus to sustainable profit growth and continuously strengthened the attractiveness of our performance promise for existing and new customers", Julius Baer CEO Philipp Rickenbacher is quoted in the press release. According to her, the net profit is the highest half-year profit in the company's history.

  • Swiss Life Asset Managers purchases in Oslo

    Swiss Life Asset Managers purchases in Oslo

    Swiss Life Asset Managers has taken over the real estate business of the Oslo-based investment company Ness, Risan & Partners ( NRP ). The acquired business area for commercial real estate and real estate funds with its 39 employees will in future operate under the Swiss Life Asset Managers brand.

    "With one of the leading providers of logistics real estate in the Nordic countries, we can strengthen our geographical presence in line with our strategy and further expand our position as a leading real estate manager in Europe", Stefan Mächler, CIO of the Swiss Life Group, is quoted in a press release. Nothing was known about the financial details of this transaction. It is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.

    NRP has a strong network and knowledge of the Nordic commercial real estate market. Founded in 2000, the company manages a diverse portfolio of office, retail and industrial properties. At the end of 2020, NRP managed and managed assets worth the equivalent of 1.2 billion Swiss francs. In addition to the real estate industry, NRP is also active in the shipping and offshore sectors.

    Christian Ness, founder and managing partner of NRP, is certain to have found “the perfect partner for NRP”, “who has a strategic approach, financial strength, know-how and a network that makes this relationship more valuable than the sum total of the individual parts. "

  • Dormakaba takes over Solus Security Systems in India

    Dormakaba takes over Solus Security Systems in India

    Dormakaba International Holding AG has taken over Solus Security Systems Pvt Ltd. closed. The company for access and security solutions expects the transaction to make a contribution to earnings per share at group level and to the EBITDA margin from day one, according to a media release . Solus achieved sales in the single-digit million range in the 2020/2021 financial year as of the end of March 2021. No further financial information was given on the transaction.

    Solus is the market leader in India for integrated solutions in the field of electronic access control, time and attendance recording, access management for visitors, access control and security as well as the associated services. The company has a total of 200 employees in Bangalore and other locations, including 130 service technicians. They serve system integrators and medium-sized end customers in various industries throughout India.

    "We are expanding our electronic access & data business in India with a broad product portfolio, additional sales channels and a large customer base – Solus offers us excellent growth opportunities," said Jim-Heng Lee, COO AS APAC at dormakaba, in the press release quoted.

    For Solus, too, there are “synergies from the expanded product portfolio and the greater market presence, which increases the additional benefit for our customers in terms of better solutions and services,” said Narasimha Swamy, owner and managing director of Solus, quoted in the media release.

  • PriceHubble raises $ 34 million

    PriceHubble raises $ 34 million

    Zurich-based PriceHubble AG has successfully completed a Series B financing round. The proptech was able to raise $ 34 million from new and existing investors, according to a media release . It focuses on real estate valuations and property insights on the basis of big data analytics and artificial intelligence. This round was led by Digital + Partners . The internationally growing company received "significant investments" from Latitude Ventures , TX Ventures and Business Angels. It also met with great demand from existing investors, including Swiss Life and btov / Helvetia Venture Fund .

    This is one of the largest B rounds in the European proptech scene, said Dr. Stefan Heitmann, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PriceHubble. CEO Julien Schillewaert considers it an "important milestone on the way to realizing our vision of becoming the undisputed market leader for data-driven digital solutions for the real estate and financial industries in Europe and Asia".

    For this, PriceHubble “with the combination of an excellent team, a mature technology-driven organization and a best-in-class UX, PriceHubbel is ideally equipped to continue to drive growth, to attract additional top talent and the go-to-market organization to scale internationally ”, says Patrick Beitel, co-founder and managing director at Digital + Partners.

    The company, which was founded in Zurich in 2016, is now active in nine markets: Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The B2B customer base has tripled in the past twelve months. It now consists of 800 companies.

  • Hälg Group eröffnet neuen Standort in Freiburg

    Hälg Group eröffnet neuen Standort in Freiburg

    Die Gebäudeautomation der Hälg Group mit Sitz in St.Gallen eröffnet in Freiburg-Givisiez einen neuen Standort und baut damit ihr Netzwerk in diesem Geschäftsfeld aus. Laut Medienmitteilung ist Freiburg der siebte Standort. Bisher war die Hälg Gebäudeautomation mit eigenen Standorten in St.Gallen, Luzern, Zürich, Basel, Chur und Genf vertreten.

    Vom neuen Standort aus soll der Anlagenbau in der Region Freiburg, Neuenburg und Lausanne betrieben werden. Zusammen mit dem bisherigen Standort Genf sei damit die Hälg Gebäudeautomation in der ganzen Westschweiz vertreten. Ab dem 1. September sei ein vierköpfiges Team vor Ort. Der erste Mitarbeitende habe bereits jetzt seine Arbeit aufgenommen.

    Hälg hebt in der Medienmitteilung hervor, dass das Team in Freiburg-Givisiez in das Netz der Gebäudeautomation Schweiz eingebettet sei. Die Mitarbeitenden in den einzelnen Standorten tauschten sich aus. Damit könne die Hälg & Co. AG Gebäudeautomation neben dem Team vor Ort auch auf das schweizweite Team der Gebäudeautomation zurückgreifen.

    Das Familienunternehmen Hälg werde in vierter Generation durch die Inhaber geführt, heisst es in der Mitteilung. Unternehmensziel sei, die Hälg Group zum führenden Schweizer Dienstleistungsunternehmen für Gebäudetechnik im Bereich Heizung, Lüftung, Klima, Kälte und Sanitär über den ganzen Lebenszyklus einer Anlage zu machen.

    Die Unternehmensgruppe beschäftigt nach eigenen Angaben an 22 Standorten in der Schweiz 1125 Mitarbeitende und erzielte 2020 einen Umsatz von 312 Millionen Franken.

  • MoneyPark moves into a larger location in Winterthur

    MoneyPark moves into a larger location in Winterthur

    MoneyPark is growing in Winterthur. Last year, the company's team there was expanded from three to six consultants. Accordingly, MoneyPark has now moved into new premises. The location is at Metzggasse 20 and, according to a report, comprises six consultation rooms.

    "Now we want to continue to grow and provide our customers with intensive support on everything to do with mortgages, provisioning and buying and selling real estate," Flavian Scheidegger is quoted as saying. In June he took over the management of the Winterthur branch from Andreas Leu.

    Not only the branch in Winterthur is expanding. MoneyPark also recently expanded its business. In this way, customers can get advice not only on financing and provision, but also on questions relating to property searches, buying, owning and selling.

  • Implenia and partners receive funding from Norway

    Implenia and partners receive funding from Norway

    The Oslo-based cleantech company TECO 2030 and the Norwegian subsidiary of the construction company Implenia will receive the equivalent of 16.77 million Swiss francs from the state enterprise Enova of the Norwegian Environment and Climate Ministry for the development of hydrogen-powered solutions for construction sites. The funds will be granted from September over a period of two and a half years. Part of Norway's climate strategy is that from 2025 onwards, no more fossil fuels will be used on construction sites. According to a press release from Implenia, these “generous subsidies” will enable both companies to achieve the goal set by the Norwegian government.

    Implenia and TECO 2030 had already signed a contract to develop and test such building solutions in April. "Our fuel cells can be used for large ships and other heavy-duty applications, then why not for driving devices on construction sites," Teco had 2030 CEO gates Enger then explained . "By using hydrogen-based fuel cells instead of diesel generators, emissions on construction sites can be completely prevented, making them more climate-friendly," said Enger in the current press release.

    As Implenia emphasizes, this initiative is in line with its own twelve sustainability goals, which are to be achieved by 2025. "We are of the opinion that hydrogen will play an important role as an energy source on the construction sites of the future," says the CEO of Implenia Norway, Audun Aaland. "And we are proud that we can advance this sustainable innovation together with TECO 2030."

  • Immo56 increases investment returns

    Immo56 increases investment returns

    According to a statement from Procimmo SA , the Immo56 fund managed by the asset manager of collective real estate investments achieved a good result in the financial year ended March 31. Specifically, the return on investment has risen from 5.78 to 7.54 percent year-on-year, it says there. The net asset value per unit rose from CHF 148.30 to CHF 154.00 over the same period.

    In the year under review, the fund generated total income of CHF 22.91 million. This was offset by expenses totaling 9.98 million francs. The overall success has increased by 51 percent year-on-year to 23.59 million francs, writes Procimmo.

    The fund's rental income in the year under review was CHF 20.20 million, up 5.3 percent on the previous year. At the same time, the rent default rate was reduced from 3.49 to 3.15 percent. The fund's EBIT margin improved from 65.82 to 68.81 percent year-on-year, explains Procimmo. The total net fund assets are stated in the notification at CHF 358.8 million as of the end of March 2021.

  • Swiss Life Asset Managers real estate fund increases capital

    Swiss Life Asset Managers real estate fund increases capital

    Swiss Life Asset Managers has successfully completed a capital increase for the real estate fund Swiss Life REF (LUX) German Core Real Estate SCS, SICAV-SIF, informs the asset manager belonging to the Swiss Life Group in a message . A total of 108.7 million euros were raised, it continues. The funds are to be used to acquire sustainability-oriented properties in Germany.

    Among other things, Swiss Life Asset Managers will acquire contractually secured residential properties that are characterized by energy efficiency and earnings potential, the company explains in the press release. In general, at least 50 percent of residential real estate should continue to be held in the fund. However, part of the newly brought in funds will be used to acquire commercially used properties in good to very good locations in German cities.

    Swiss Life Asset Managers signed the UN Principles for Responsible Investment as early as 2018, the announcement further explains. According to her, the company applies appropriate environmental, social and corporate management criteria to both the purchase and management of real estate.

  • Madaster wins Allco AG as a partner

    Madaster wins Allco AG as a partner

    Madaster wants to strengthen the circular economy in the construction and real estate sectors. To this end, it offers digital tools such as material passports and indices for recording the economic and circular value of buildings on its platform, Madaster explains in a press release . According to her, Madaster Services Schweiz AG has won a new colleague in Allco AG. Together, Madaster and Allco want to make it easier for companies to access building passes and promote their use.

    "As a general contractor for complex construction, conversion and renovation projects, we have a great responsibility", Allco managing director Urs Meier is quoted in the press release. "It is clear to us that Madaster is an important part of systematic and always transparent sustainability planning over the life cycle of a building." The company uses the Madaster tool, among other things, for the renovation of a property in Zurich for Swiss Prime Site .

    In building passports, data about the materials used in a building are recorded. In this way, future recycling of the material is made possible. Allco's specialist knowledge should help Madaster make “material data usable over the entire life cycle of buildings”, explains Marloes Fischer in the press release. "This is how circular building works", says the managing director of Madaster Services Switzerland.