immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: finanzen

  • Luzerner Kantonalbank: Simon Kauth becomes a new member of the Executive Board

    Luzerner Kantonalbank: Simon Kauth becomes a new member of the Executive Board

    In January 2022, LUKB announced that it would adapt its organizational structure in order to increase its clout in the areas of IT and digitization. The IT department, which currently reports to CFO Marcel Hurschler, will move to the previous Market Services department on January 1, 2023. At the same time, the asset management area will be moved from the Market Services department to Marcel Hurschler’s responsibility and the area of special advice (financial planning, pension, tax and inheritance law advice) will be reassigned to sales, i.e. to the Corporate Customers & Private Banking department. In the future, the Market Services department will focus even more on IT and digitization and will bear the new name “Technology & Services” from 2023.

    In the course of this reorganization there will also be personnel changes: Leo Grüter, who has been a member of the management board of Luzerner Kantonalbank AG (LUKB) since 2010, will leave the management board at the end of 2022. The successor as Head of Corporate Customers & Private Banking will be Beat Hodel, who will head the previous Market Services department until the end of 2022.

    As of January 1, 2023, Simon Kauth will take over management of the newly structured Department of Technology & Services. Simon Kauth received his doctorate in economics from the University of St. Gallen HSG in 1997. He has many years of professional experience both in banking and on the side of the providers of core banking software (Avaloq and Finnova), most recently at management level. Born in Thurgau, Simon Kauth lives with his family in Zollikon ZH.

    “With his profile and his previous track record, Simon Kauth optimally fulfills our catalog of requirements for the management of the Department of Technology & Services: Strong IT background and profound know-how in banking,” says LUKB CEO Daniel Salzmann, explaining the choice of the new member of the management board. LUKB carried out a multi-stage selection process under the direction of Daniel Salzmann and with the support of external specialists.

  • Holcim increases sales significantly

    Holcim increases sales significantly

    The building materials group Holcim , headquartered in Zug, is reporting positive economic figures for the first quarter of 2022. According to a press release , net sales rose from 5.36 billion francs to 6.44 billion francs. Sales thus increased by 20.1 percent. Operating profit (EBIT) rose by 16.3 percent compared to the same quarter last year to CHF 614 million. According to the announcement, EBIT and sales have reached a “record high”. According to the announcement, the roof systems segment developed particularly positively with an EBIT margin of 17 percent.

    “I am very confident about the record start to the year, which creates a solid basis for our ‘Accelerating Green Growth’ strategy 2025,” CEO Jan Jenisch is quoted as saying. For the first time, Holcim has published a sustainability report on the aforementioned “accelerated green growth”. “The report is a first in our industry and provides an overview of our decarbonization measures, which range from climate-friendly construction solutions to circular construction and next-generation technologies,” Jenisch continues.

    In the global overview of Holcim’s activities, North America with the USA and Canada is highlighted as growth markets. Argentina, Colombia and El Salvador also recorded good market growth in the Latin America region.

    Europe did extremely well. Strong pricing has allowed the company to contain the effects of cost inflation. There was also good market demand in Eastern Europe.

    In the Middle East and Africa, cost inflation has been absorbed well, the report says. Asia and Oceania was difficult given cost inflation. Better business in China and improved profitability in Australia helped partially offset weaker cement demand in the region.

  • Avobis takes over the credit factory and underpins its leading position in the area of mortgage servicing

    Avobis takes over the credit factory and underpins its leading position in the area of mortgage servicing

    Die Avobis Invest AG übernimmt die Kreditfabrik AG rückwirkend auf den 1. Januar 2022 mitsamt dem Kundenstamm und den Kreditspezialisten und untermauert damit die Führungsposition im Bereich des Hypotheken-Servicings. Mit den übernommenen Kundenbeziehungen verwaltet Avobis nun ein Kreditvolumen von über zwölf Milliarden Franken und baut damit seine Nummer 1-Stellung im Markt noch weiter aus. Zudem verfügt die Avobis Invest AG über eine Bewilligung der FINMA als Vermögensverwalterin für kollektive Kapitalanlagen und bietet mittlerweile das breiteste Dienstleistungsangebot für alle Kundensegmente im Markt an. «Das Hypotheken-Servicing ist für Avobis seit 25 Jahren einer der strategischen Grundpfeiler. Wir freuen uns sehr, dies mit der Integration der Kreditfabrik zu unterstreichen. Avobis ist nun der grösste Anbieter auf dem Schweizer Markt, der sowohl Pensionskassen, Anlagestiftungen, Versicherungen sowie auch alle Arten von Banken als Hypothekar-Servicing-Kunden mit der für sie passenden Lösung betreuen kann», sagt Andreas Granella, Geschäftsführer der Avobis Invest AG. Auch Stefan Hermann, bisheriger Verwaltungsratspräsident der Kreditfabrik AG, ist überzeugt: «Unsere Kunden profitieren nun vom geballten Know-how und der Kompetenz beider Unternehmen – eine Win-Win-Situation für alle Beteiligten.»

    Neue Investitionsmöglichkeiten für institutionelle Anleger
    Die Avobis Invest AG plant zudem, den Bereich der Investmentprodukte weiter zu verstärken, um die Position als One-Stop-Shop für alle Dienstleistungen entlang der gesamten Immobilien-Wertschöpfungskette zu stärken. Dafür soll die bereits seit 20 Jahren bestehende Palette an Anlagemöglichkeiten für institutionelle Investoren um weitere Investmentprodukte erweitert werden. Die Entwicklung erfolgt in den nächsten 12 Monaten und ermöglicht Investoren spannende Anlagemöglichkeiten auf der Aktiv- sowie auch auf der Passivseite der Bilanz.


    Medienkontakt
    Nicole Fankhauser
    Communications Manager
    Tel. +41 58 255 39 42
    communications@avobis.ch

  • Sika presents a strong start to the year

    Sika presents a strong start to the year

    Sika closed the first quarter of 2021 with record sales of almost CHF 2.40 billion, the Zug-based building materials group, which operates worldwide, announced in a press release. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 20.0 percent. In local currencies, growth of 21.9 percent was realized, writes Sika.

    All of the Group’s market regions contributed to the good development with double-digit growth rates in local currencies. The strongest growth was realized in the Americas region at 36.2 percent. In the region with the highest sales, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), sales increased by 18.1 percent to CHF 1.04 billion.

    For the year as a whole, Sika is aiming for sales growth of well over 10 percent in local currencies to total sales of more than CHF 10 billion for the first time. The operating result is to be increased disproportionately by at least 15 percent.

    Sika sees the construction sector being shaped “by the megatrend of climate change” and the associated shift to sustainable construction. According to its own statements, the group is well positioned here. “With our environmentally friendly and innovative solutions, we are positioning ourselves as a sustainability champion and, together with our customers, are making an important contribution to climate neutrality in the construction and vehicle industries,” said Group CEO Thomas Hasler in the statement. According to the announcement, the takeover of the former construction chemicals business of the BASF Group (MBCC Group), which was launched in November 2021, should also make Sika a “key player for more sustainability”.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Subordinated real estate loans

    Subordinated real estate loans

    Subordinated loans as a complement to traditional financing
    In Switzerland, private real estate debt is increasingly establishing itself as an alternative form of real estate financing. This is mainly because structural changes in the traditional credit market and stricter regulations have led to traditional mortgage institutions becoming increasingly reluctant to lend capital. Private Real Estate Debt supplements the classic mortgage and is aimed at small and medium-sized real estate developers, among others, who are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain financing from traditional sources. Real estate companies and private property owners use this financing solution for reasons of yield optimization, freeing up capital and as a source of liquidity for asset reallocation. In any case, the financing is secured with subordinated promissory notes from Swiss real estate.

    The advantages for investors
     A regulated way is opening up for investors to invest in mortgage-backed loans. Credit checks and project security are of the utmost importance. Thanks to regular interest payments, the asset class has a fixed-income character related to the Swiss real estate market and only a low correlation to the stock markets.

    About Property One
     Property One is an independent, owner-managed group of companies owned by private shareholders, consisting of the public limited companies Property One Partners AG, Property One Investors AG and Property One Ticino SA. It provides services along the entire real estate value chain. The group combines the four business areas of investment management, development and planning, marketing and real estate family office under one roof. Property One combines real estate expertise with knowledge of financial investments. To date, credit requests exceeding an annual volume of CHF 1 billion have been processed. And so far, several hundred million francs in subordinated loans have been granted. The company employs over 40 real estate and finance specialists at the locations in Zurich, Zug and Ascona.

    CTA: Learn more about Private Real Estate Debt.

    The information in this document has been prepared with the greatest care and to the best of our knowledge, is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Opinions and assessments contained in this document are subject to change and reflect the point of view of Property One Investors AG (POI). No liability is assumed for the correctness and completeness of the information. Past performance is not an indicator of current or future development. This document is marketing material.




  • Warteck Invest grows profitably

    Warteck Invest grows profitably

    Despite the ongoing pandemic, 2021 was a successful financial year, Warteck Invest wrote in a statement . Specifically, the Basel real estate company increased its net profit by 2.4 percent to CHF 27.4 million. Excluding the gain from the revaluation of properties, growth of 5.6 percent to CHF 17.4 million was realised.

    At CHF 36.9 million, rental income was 0.4 percent up on the previous year. Financial expenses fell year-on-year by 2.6 percent to CHF 5.5 million. The vacancy rate was reduced by 0.6 percentage points to 2.4 percent compared to 2020.

    The market value of Warteck Invest’s real estate portfolio increased by CHF 35.8 million to CHF 874.4 million in the course of the year under review. The increase was not achieved through acquisitions, but through investments in new construction and renovation projects and the resulting revaluations. In the past financial year, the real estate company invested a total of CHF 22.8 million in ongoing projects. A project pipeline with a total volume of over 270 million Swiss francs should generate further growth over the next five to seven years.

  • Fundamenta Real Estate breaks the billion mark

    Fundamenta Real Estate breaks the billion mark

    According to a statement by Fundamenta Real Estate AG , the Zug real estate company’s portfolio exceeded the billion mark for the first time at the end of the 2021 financial year. Specifically, the value of the real estate portfolio increased from CHF 991.9 million to almost CHF 1.10 billion over the course of the year. Fundamenta Real Estate attributes the growth primarily to the completion and transfer of two new construction projects, the completion of three repositionings and the purchase of four existing properties. Revaluations resulted in an increase in value of CHF 15.3 million.

    The net actual rental income in 2021 was CHF 37.2 million, 11.2 percent above the previous year’s value. In the same period, net profit increased by 8.4 percent to CHF 28.9 million. The real estate company writes that a previous year’s success from the sale of three investment properties was more than compensated for “by an excellent operating result and a higher revaluation effect”. Excluding both effects, net income rose by 14.7 percent year-on-year to CHF 17.7 million. The vacancy rate was reduced from 3.5 “to a historically low 2.5 percent” in a year-on-year comparison.

    “Our residential focus has also proven itself in the second year of the pandemic,” Andreas Spahni, President and Delegate of the Board of Directors of Fundamenta Real Estate AG, is quoted in the statement. “The consistent alignment of the portfolio to market demand as well as the holistic and active asset management have again led to very good results.”

  • Helvetica plans capital increase

    Helvetica plans capital increase

    The subsidiary of Zurich-based Helvetica Property Group AG announced in a press release that Helvetica Property Investors are planning to increase the capital of their Helvetica Swiss Living Fund by around CHF 130 million. The new notifications are intended to be used for the acquisition of residential properties. Helvetica is currently examining the purchase of corresponding properties with a total value of almost CHF 330 million, explains the company, which specializes in real estate fund management and asset management services.

    The capital increase is to be carried out in mid-April. Conditions and further details will be communicated by Helvetica at the beginning of April, “just before the start of the subscription period”. The Helvetica Swiss Living Fund is aimed at qualified investors and is traded over the counter. Bank J. Safra Sarasin is responsible for over-the-counter trading. She will also play a leading role in the capital increase.

  • Implenia posts double-digit million profit

    Implenia posts double-digit million profit

    In the 2021 financial year, Implenia generated sales totaling CHF 3.76 billion. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to a decline of 5.6 percent. In a statement , the construction and real estate company from Opfikon informed that it was lower than expected “despite portfolio adjustments and longer project durations”. The order backlog increased by 7.7 percent year-on-year to a high of CHF 6.88 billion at the end of 2021. Implenia attributes the development here to “the strategic focus on large and complex projects”.

    Implenia’s operating result at EBIT level for the year under review was CHF 114.8 million. In the previous year, a loss of CHF 146.8 million was incurred here. The consolidated result increased from a loss of CHF 132.1 million to a profit of CHF 64.0 million from 2020 to 2021. All four of Implenia’s business areas were involved in the positive developments. For the current financial year, Implenia is aiming for an EBIT of more than 120 million francs.

    Following the loss in fiscal 2020, the company initiated a comprehensive transformation process. Implenia explains that this transformation is now well advanced. In the future, the company intends to continue to focus on construction and real estate services in Switzerland and Germany as well as on tunnel construction and related infrastructure projects in other markets.

    “The 24 percent increase in the operating result shows that we are consistently implementing our transformation,” Implenia CEO André Wyss is quoted as saying in the statement. “After portfolio adjustments, with a strategic focus on profitable, complex projects and thanks to Value Assurance, all divisions are well positioned to further increase profitability.”

  • Zürichholz increases share capital

    Zürichholz increases share capital

    Zürichholz issues shares worth 3 million Swiss francs. As the wood marketer writes in a press release , the capital increase creates “a high-yield, sustainable investment opportunity” for qualified investors from the Swiss forest, wood and CO2 industries”. The company, which specializes in logs and energy wood, reached a new growth stage in 2019 after a consolidation phase. With the additional share capital, the company intends to continue growing in the forward-looking business areas of hardwood processing and biochar production.

    Since the groundbreaking ceremony in November 2021, Zürichholz has been building a new operations center in Illnau ZH for around 12 million francs, which is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2022. This includes a pyrolysis plant for the production of biochar, a garage and workshop for the vehicle fleet, a wood chip hall to increase the capacity of the Aubrugg wood-fired power plant, offices for Zurich wood with rental capacity for third parties and a heating center for the Illnau heating network.

    The increasing demand for wood is reflected in a “very pleasing” balance sheet for the 2021 financial year. The company expects sales to jump from 15 million Swiss francs to 20 million in the medium term.

    The canton and city of Zurich are among the approximately 300 shareholders as large forest owners, which gives the share “additional stability and potential”. The issue price is CHF 1,400 per share with 2 to 1 subscription rights. Trading in subscription rights is excluded. The long-term dividend yield of nominally 5 percent should be maintained.

    Wood is becoming increasingly popular from a climate point of view. This applies to construction and industry, in energy production and as pyrolysis wood in bioenergy. Timber stocks are not only financially worthwhile. An investment in the forest and timber industry also pays off with a view to “climate management and net zero obligations of companies and the public sector,” it says. Due to its high CO2-reducing effect, wood is considered one of the leading negative emission technologies ( NET ) because it can absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and thus minimize them.

  • PSP Swiss Property grows profitably

    PSP Swiss Property grows profitably

    According to a statement by PSP Swiss Property , the Zug-based real estate company generated property income totaling CHF 309.64 million in the 2021 financial year. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to growth of 4.5 percent. The operating result (EBITDA) excluding property gains such as valuation differences amounted to CHF 278.76 million in 2021, which is 2.8 percent more than in 2020. PSP Swiss Property attributes the growth primarily to increased rental income year-on-year and higher profits on the sale of development projects and condominium back.

    A net profit of CHF 595.02 million was reported in the year under review, compared to CHF 292.09 million in the previous year. In addition to the factors relevant to the operating result, the appreciation of the portfolio by CHF 464.9 million played a decisive role here. As of the end of 2021, the real estate portfolio of PSP Swiss Property was valued at CHF 9.13 billion.

    In the course of the financial year, the real estate company completed a number of projects and added them to the investment portfolio. The announcement mentions, among other things, the new ATMOS building in Zurich-West with an area of 24,000 square meters. Four investment properties have been reclassified as development projects and a number of properties have been successfully sold, explains PSP Swiss Property. No new investment properties, areas or projects were acquired in 2021.

    For the current financial year, the company anticipates an EBITDA excluding real estate gains of CHF 285 million. The focus will remain unchanged on the modernization of selected properties, our own development projects and leasing. PSP Swiss Property intends to resell non-strategic real estate, while purchases are made dependent on the added value that is expected in the long term.

  • Asking rents remain largely stable

    Asking rents remain largely stable

    The monthly rental index collected by the digital real estate marketplace homegate.ch from the TX Group in cooperation with the Zürcher Kantonalbank increased by 0.3 points to 116.7 points in January compared to December 2021, homegate.ch explains in a corresponding statement . The analysts explain that the asking rents in most cantons have not increased at all or only slightly. On average, however, there is an increase of 0.26 percent.

    The analysts registered above-average increases of 1.45 and 3.85 percent in the cantons of Nidwalden and Zug in the reporting period. In contrast, asking rents in the cantons of Graubünden, Valais, Schaffhausen and Geneva were between 2.01 and 0.08 percent lower than in December 2021.

    In contrast, the analysts observed rising rents almost everywhere in the cities surveyed. The only exceptions were St.Gallen and Lucerne. Here, the asking rents were 0.77 and 0.40 percent lower than in December 2021. The city of Bern showed the highest increase in a monthly comparison with 0.96 percent.

    When recording the rental price changes for the rental index, the rental prices are corrected for different quality, location and size of the apartments, the communication explains. This makes it possible to record the actual rental price development.

  • Peach Property posts record pre-tax profit

    Peach Property posts record pre-tax profit

    According to a statement from Peach Property , the Zurich-based real estate company, which specializes in real estate in Germany, posted a pre-tax profit of CHF 258 million in the 2021 financial year. This is the highest pre-tax profit in the company’s history, writes Peach Property. CHF 153 million was realized in the 2020 financial year.

    The value of Peach Property’s real estate portfolio increased year-on-year from CHF 2.1 billion to over CHF 2.6 billion. Rental income increased from CHF 54.7 million in 2020 to around CHF 108 million. With the help of a mandatory convertible bond issued in the year under review, the debt ratio was reduced from 57.8 to around 52 percent.

    In the financial year, Peach Property was also able to improve all external ratings, the press release explains further. Moody’s currently rates the company at Ba2 with a stable outlook, while FitchRatings gave it a BB with a stable outlook. S&P Global Ratings rates Peach Property at BB- with a stable outlook.

    “Our strategy and our business model have also proven to be outstanding in the 2021 financial year and we were able to close another year with very profitable growth,” Thomas Wolfensberger is quoted as saying in the press release. According to the CEO of Peach Property Group AG, the current financial year will primarily focus on “modernizing the residential portfolio and expanding sustainability activities”. Peach Property intends to invest around CHF 70 million in this.

  • Novavest records double-digit million profit

    Novavest records double-digit million profit

    According to a statement by Novavest Real Estate AG , the value of the real estate company’s real estate portfolio rose from CHF 645.4 million to CHF 741.3 million as of the reporting date at the end of 2021. Novavest explains that the growth is made up of success from revaluations of CHF 21.8 million, the acquisition of four properties and investments in existing properties and new construction projects.

    Rental entries increased year-on-year by 10 percent to CHF 26.7 million. The operating result at EBIT level increased year-on-year from CHF 22.9 million to CHF 39.1 million. Profit including revaluations is CHF 29.3 million, compared to CHF 17.8 million in the 2020 financial year. Excluding revaluations, profit in 2021 was CHF 11.7 million, up CHF 0.6 million on the previous year.

    Novavest will publish the detailed annual report on February 22nd.

  • Nova Property purchases for real estate funds

    Nova Property purchases for real estate funds

    Nova Property Fund Management AG is expanding its Swiss Central City Real Estate Fund. The fund will be expanded by two residential properties and two residential and commercial properties in attractive locations in Zurich, Basel and St.Gallen, the company, which operates as fund management company, informed in a press release . The investment amount mentioned is 43 million francs. The transfer of ownership of the two properties in Zurich took place in mid-December of last year, that of the properties in Basel and St.Gallen on January 3 of this year.

    All four properties together had a usable area of 2,400 square meters of living space and 660 square meters of commercial space, explains Nova Property. All properties are fully let and generate target rental income of 1.4 million francs per year. The Swiss Central City Real Estate Fund holds properties in central locations throughout Switzerland.

  • Swiss Central City Real Estate Fund approved by the Swiss Exchange Commission

    Swiss Central City Real Estate Fund approved by the Swiss Exchange Commission

    The SIX Exchange Regulation has approved the Swiss Central City Real Estate fund for listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange . This means that the Zurich-based Nova Property Fund Management AG will be able to trade the real estate fund on the stock exchange from December 13th, according to a media release .

    The fund is currently traded over the counter through Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG . In addition, the investment should also be included in the SXI Real Estate Broad and SXI Real Estate Funds Broad indices.

    The real estate portfolio currently has a market value of CHF 400 million. The fund management company wants to expand this further by investing the fund’s assets in real estate in central locations across Switzerland.

    For this year she is planning a distribution of CHF 2.50 per fund unit. In the coming years it should be increased further through the constant expansion of the property portfolio and the completion of further projects.

  • Swiss Marketplace Group combines platforms from TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar

    Swiss Marketplace Group combines platforms from TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar

    TX Group , Ringier and Mobiliar as well as the financial investor General Atlantic have founded a joint venture, inform the four partners in a joint announcement . The Swiss Marketplace Group, launched on November 11, is to manage the digital marketplaces of Ringier and Mobiliar as well as TX Group in an independent market presence . The joint venture will be managed by Martin Waeber, Pierre-Alain Regali, Francesco Vass and Boris Gussen under the leadership of Gilles Despas.

    The marketplaces acheter-louer.ch, anibis.ch, AutoScout24, Car For You, FinanceScout24, home.ch, Homegate, icasa.ch, ImmoScout24, ImmoStreet.ch, MotoScout24, Ricardo, tutti.ch and advertising marketing are combined in SMG . TX Group will hold 31 percent, Ringier and Mobiliar 29.5 percent each and General Atlantic 10 percent in the new joint venture, according to the announcement. However, the voting rights in SMG are divided between the partner companies at 25 percent each.

    “Today we are embarking on an exciting journey with a new, forward-thinking and future-oriented company,” Despas is quoted in the press release. According to the CEO of SMG, the new company should strive for sustainability, live “real diversity in an inspiring, multilingual and agile environment” and drive “the digitization of our industries”.

  • AKB is launching another sustainable bond

    AKB is launching another sustainable bond

    The Aargauische Kantonalbank has issued a green bond for the second time. According to a press release , it has a volume of CHF 100 million. AKB’s first green bond was issued in June 2020. Since then, according to a statement from the Kantonalbank, the AKB Green mortgage amounting to 110.4 million francs has been used to build or renovate homes according to climate-friendly criteria. 119.2 million francs have been pledged for further projects.

    The Aargauische Kantonalbank takes stock of the CO2 savings achieved every year through the sustainable construction activities it finances. In cooperation with the real estate consultancy IAZI , it publishes so-called impact reporting every year. According to the press release, the projections have shown that after just six months in 2020, the total annual savings in CO2 emissions will be around 232 tonnes. The 232 tonnes of CO2 savings in the projections of the IAZI test report correspond to the annual emissions of around 190 new, commercially available passenger cars, according to the report. The next impact reporting will be created on December 31, 2021.

    Green mortgages are financed from the green bond for ecological construction or renovation. In addition to new buildings, according to the AKB, individual energy measures or comprehensive overall renovations to increase energy efficiency or the use of renewable energies are also supported. The bank cites the installation of photovoltaic systems or panels for the preparation of hot water as examples.

  • Baloise real estate fund goes to SIX

    Baloise real estate fund goes to SIX

    The Baloise Swiss Property Fund is expected to be traded on the Swiss stock exchange from November 1, 2021. According to a press release from Baloise Asset Management AG , the relevant listing application has been approved by the SIX Swiss Exchange . The fund is therefore also open to non-qualified investors from this date. The portfolio currently comprises 72 properties with an estimated market value of around CHF 811 million.

    According to the issuer, the investment objective of this real estate fund, launched in 2018, is “primarily to generate stable current income through direct investments in Swiss core / core plus properties that are in good locations and have a high level of income and value stability”. At least 50 percent residential properties and a maximum of 50 percent commercial properties would be aimed for. A further expansion with a focus on residential buildings is planned.

  • 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. “

  • Collabo wins further investors

    Collabo wins further investors

    Kollabo has raised a total of 2.4 million francs in a seed financing round, the Zurich start-up informs in a message on startupticker.ch. In addition to the already existing lead investor Wingman Ventures, Kollabo was also able to win PropTech1 Ventures from Berlin as well as other well-known business angels as investors. Roland Brack, Christian Wenger and Stéphane Pictet are named in the communication.

    Kollabo intends to use the established funds to expand the company’s own job platform for temporary work in the construction industry. Craftsmen can create their own profile at Kollabo and have their specialist knowledge certified in an evaluation system. The aim of the young company is to “become the dominant digital ecosystem for qualified craftsmen in the DACH region,” explains Kollabo in an entry on LinkedIn.

    “It is no secret that the shortage of skilled workers is the decisive bottleneck in the timely completion of construction projects”, Anja Rath is quoted in the message on startupticker.ch. The managing partner of PropTech1 Ventures sees the collaboration as “the right solution for this problem”. In addition, Rath points out that Kollabo’s sales are growing threefold every year. “Kollabo’s vision of offering additional products in the future, such as the possibility for craftsmen to book accommodation or insurance for individual orders, also opens up the opportunity for further synergies and growth potential,” says the manager of the young company’s new lead investor.

  • Locatee takes 7.1 million euros

    Locatee takes 7.1 million euros

    Locatee was able to secure fresh capital in the amount of 7.1 million euros in a financing round, according to a media release . Venture capitalists such as SmartFin , Verve Ventures , FYRFLY Venture Partners , Tomahawk VC , Swiss Immo Lab and Zürcher Kantonalbank have invested.

    The Zurich start-up has developed software that can be used to optimize the use of space in office buildings. The software obtains the necessary data for the utilization from existing IT infrastructures, motion sensors or WLAN networks.

    The solution is intended to help real estate managers in large companies to make fact-based decisions about their office buildings. Employees can also benefit from the software. For example, you can see where free desks can be found.

    Locatee expects the occupancy analysis market size to grow to more than $ 5 billion by 2025. This is also related to the change in the role of offices, which the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated significantly.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.