immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: gewinn

  • New momentum for Switzerland

    New momentum for Switzerland

    Whether digital property management, digital financial solutions or bio-based chemicals, Swiss start-ups are currently on the road to success. The latest awards show how broadly positioned the innovation landscape is and how strong the international demand for scalable solutions with added social value is growing.

    Digital property management with prospects
    Proptech startup Bewy impressed in the Swiss Prime Site Accelerator 2025 and is one of the winners of the programme. With digital solutions for the management of rental and owner-occupied properties, the young company aims to make the real estate industry more transparent and user-centric. The award enables pilot projects and commercial collaborations with one of Switzerland’s leading property companies.

    High technology for the future of fusion
    Smolsys was honoured with the transfer prize at the Neuland Innovation Contest for its focus on safe hydrogen isotope processing. In partnership with KIT, the company is working on key technologies for fusion research, a highly specialised, safety-critical field of application with great potential for the future.

    Rethinking nutrition with intellectual property
    Planetary uses precision fermentation to develop sustainable proteins and was honoured with a WIPO Global Award for its work. The start-up combines technological progress with IP strategy and contributes to the transformation of global food systems towards greater resilience, nutrient density and climate compatibility.

    Financial technology with Swiss precision
    Fintech Bivial was honoured with the Best Use of Tech in Business Payments award at the PayTech Awards 2025. The API-based platform enables real-time payments in over 160 countries and combines Swiss IBANs with modern financial tools. The company achieved profitability within six months of its market launch, a testament to efficient processes, regulatory clarity and market-orientated development.

    Sustainable chemistry from Zurich to Houston
    The start-up Biosimo was accepted into the renowned Activate programme in Houston. The team will receive two years of financial and infrastructural support to scale up biobased acetic acid as an alternative to fossil-based chemicals. Co-founder Sotiria Mostrou also benefits from targeted access to experts and innovation networks.

    Prostheses made from plastic waste with impact
    The social enterprise Circleg is the only Swiss company to be included in the Forbes Accessibility 100 list. With affordable, locally manufactured prostheses made from recycled plastic, the start-up not only provides mobility for people with amputations in East Africa, but also strengthens local economic cycles and labour markets.

  • Prix SVC Eastern Switzerland 2024 goes to Zindel United

    Prix SVC Eastern Switzerland 2024 goes to Zindel United

    Zindel United from Maienfeld has won this year’s Prix SVC Ostschweiz, the Swiss Venture Club(SVC) announced in a press release. The prize honours innovative companies in the region for outstanding achievements that enable sustainable economic success to be realised. “Zindel United realises its vision – developing complete solutions from ideas for future generations, inspiring people and protecting the environment in the process – in an exemplary and pioneering manner,” said jury president Andrea Fanzun in the press release, quoting from his laudatory speech.

    Zindel United specialises in construction-related services. The family-run company, now in its eighth generation, is committed to the circular economy in the construction industry. To this end, Zindel United relies on local raw materials and, according to the company, “is making a relevant contribution to achieving the 2050 climate targets with Switzerland’s first demonstrably CO2-neutral concrete”.

    Märchenhotel AG from Braunwald GL and Huber Fenster AG from Herisau AR were awarded the silver and bronze medals in the competition. The multi-award-winning Märchenhotel for families with children has developed into one of the largest tourist employers in the canton of Glarus since it was founded in 1977. Huber Fenster AG, now in its fifth generation, specialises in custom-made windows and façade elements that meet the architect’s specifications.

  • LEDCity wins Green Business Award

    LEDCity wins Green Business Award

    LEDCity has won the Green Business Award 2023. The Zurich-based company, founded in 2017, has developed an intelligent lighting system that uses around 50 percent less energy than conventional LED lighting with motion sensors. This year, 28 applicants competed for the most important sustainability prize in Switzerland. In addition to LEDCity, Haelixa with its DNA marker for raw materials and namuk with its high-quality children’s outdoor label also reached the final, the organisers of the Green Business Award informed in a statement.

    “LEDCity’s solution convinced us because it shows how we can use technology and artificial intelligence to tackle the challenges in the energy industry,” jury president Doris Leuthard is quoted as saying in the release. For LEDCity CEO Patrik Deuss, the award shows “that we are on the right track with our energy-saving and at the same time quickly amortisable lighting system”. In addition, the win underlines “our commitment to sustainable innovations”.

    LEDCity uses up to five sensors per light source. In addition to brightness and movement, humidity, temperature and CO2 concentration are measured. The data obtained can be used, for example, by security systems or for planning cleaning work.

    The Green Business Award is being presented for the fifth year by the cooperation Green Business Switzerland. It honours “solutions that combine ecological innovation with economic success”, according to the press release. Green Business Switzerland is made up of actors from business and environmental protection. The cooperation was initiated by the Swiss Environmental Foundation and the Go for Impact association.

  • Holcim looks back on an excellent half year

    Holcim looks back on an excellent half year

    Holcim generated sales of CHF 13.07 billion in the first half of 2023, the globally active Zug-based building materials group informed in a statement. This corresponds to a year-on-year decline of 11.0 percent. On an organic basis, growth of 7.4 percent was achieved, Holcim writes.

    Holcim reported a recurring operating result at EBIT level of CHF 2.04 billion for the reporting period. In the same period of the previous year, the figure was CHF 2.17 billion. The organic growth is put at 13.4 percent in the statement. The margin on operating profit increased by 0.8 percentage points year-on-year to 15.6 per cent. In the second quarter of 2023, a margin of 21.1 per cent was realised. Earnings per share increased by 15.3 per cent year-on-year to a record 2.19 Swiss francs. The company describes the first-half results as “outstanding”.

    “We are on track to achieve industry-leading margins in the 2023 financial year,” Jan Jenisch, Holcim’s chairman and CEO, was quoted as saying in the statement. “This confirms Holcim’s strong position in all markets where our leading sustainable construction solutions and brands deliver above-average profitability and growth.”

    In the half year under review, Holcim invested CHF 1.8 billion in 18 acquisitions. In addition, the company continued its expansion in the North American market, the statement said. According to it, Holcim has already been awarded more than 70 infrastructure projects in the US for the period 2023 to 2026.

  • Energie 360° increases share of renewable energy to 23.4 percent

    Energie 360° increases share of renewable energy to 23.4 percent

    Despite significantly higher net revenues in 2022 of plus 56.8 per cent, the energy supplier Energie 360° generated less net profit than in the previous year. The company, which is majority-owned by the City of Zurich, only achieved a net profit of CHF 54.1 million in the financial year ending 30 September 2022, compared to CHF 61.9 million in the previous year, according to a media release. The reason was a sharp rise in energy procurement costs.

    However, Energie 360° significantly increased the share of renewable energy in direct sales to 23.4 percent. The share is thus above target and is approaching the interim goal of 30 percent by 2025. A total of 1223 gigawatt hours of gas were generated from renewable sources, an increase of 2.9 percent. Total gas sales, on the other hand, fell from a total of 5468 to 5219 gigawatt hours, a decrease of 4.5 percent.

    Total biogas sales, including resales, even amounted to 1288 gigawatt hours. This corresponds to an increase of 11 percent. Energie 360° intends to further increase the share of this climate-friendly energy source in its standard product. This is to be achieved through the construction of new plants and new technologies.

    By 2040, the Swiss-wide energy provider aims to supply 100 percent renewable energy. The focus is on locally available solutions. Therefore, the company plans to build seven new energy networks in the city of Zurich alone.

    The annual general meeting approved a reduced dividend payment of CHF 11.7 million. It reportedly takes into account a higher investment requirement for the transformation of the company. The equity ratio is 85.1 per cent.

  • Fundamenta Real Estate reports strong operating result

    Fundamenta Real Estate reports strong operating result

    According to a media release, the real estate company Fundamenta Real Estate in Zug increased its operating result in 2022 and maintained the value of its real estate portfolio at over CHF 1 billion. This billion mark had been exceeded for the first time at the end of 2021. It now stands at 1216.4 million francs, according to the annual report for 2022, 10.7 per cent higher than the previous year.

    Fundamenta Real Estate’s operating result rose by 12.4 percent to CHF 19.9 million. Net profit, also due to positive revaluation effects, was CHF 22.3 million. Net actual rental income increased by 10 percent to 40.9 million Swiss francs and thus exceeded the 40 million mark for the first time. In the previous year, it was 37.2 million francs. The company also points to a record low vacancy rate of only 1.6 per cent compared to 2.5 per cent in 2021. This and the acquisition of six existing properties, the completion of a development project and its transfer to the portfolio had contributed to the high net actual rental income.

    After the share price had increased by a total of 26.7 percent in the two previous years, it fell by 17.2 percent to CHF 16.10 (previous year: CHF 19.45) in the reporting period due to market conditions. The market capitalisation at the end of the year was 484 million Swiss francs compared to 584.7 million a year earlier.

    For the 2022 business year, the Board of Directors will again propose a distribution of CHF 0.55 per share at the Annual General Meeting on 5 April, as in the previous year. The entire Board of Directors (BoD) will stand for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. Board member Herbert Stoop has announced that he will not stand for re-election at the 2024 general meeting.

  • Prices drive revenue growth at dormakaba

    Prices drive revenue growth at dormakaba

    According to a statement from dormakaba, the globally active locking technology group from Glattal generated sales totalling CHF 1.42 billion in the first half of the 2022/23 financial year, which ended on 31 December 2022. This corresponds to year-on-year growth of 5.2 percent. Organic growth is put at 8.0 per cent in the press release. It was mainly generated by price increases, explains dormakaba.

    The adjusted operating result at EBITDA level was 4.6 percent below the previous year’s value at 184.6 million Swiss francs, and the corresponding margin fell from 14.3 to 13.0 percent. Similar losses were recorded in net profit. At 84.9 million francs, it was 15.7 million francs lower than in the same semester last year. The company attributes the decline in profitability to higher operating costs, a change in product mix and low volume growth in sales.

    “Dormakaba has consistently continued on its path of successive improvement,” CEO Jim-Heng Lee is quoted as saying in the statement. “Although this is a good result, there is still much to be done.” Here, dormakaba is putting the focus on improving profitability. “In the second half of the 2022/23 financial year, we will focus on measures to reduce the cost base across the company, increase efficiency and improve our operational performance,” Lee explains.

  • Profit increase of over 6% at Swiss Prime Site

    Profit increase of over 6% at Swiss Prime Site

    The key figures for 2022 are characterized by two factors: on the one hand, the Akara Group from Zug was included in the scope of consolidation for the first time with the closing on January 10, 2022, and on the other hand, the consolidated financial statements for 2022 were prepared in accordance with the IFRS accounting standard and the previous year's figures were adjusted accordingly.

    Interest rate turnaround heralded, but resistant Swiss real estate market
     In the year to date, the Swiss economy has continued on its growth course, despite geopolitical challenges, supply chain problems and rising prices. With an increase of 105,000 jobs in the service sector over the past 12 months and a record 114,000 vacancies, the outlook for the economy remains positive. The key interest rate increase by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) by 50 basis points in June 2022 is intended to prevent inflation, which is also increasing in Switzerland, from spreading to goods and services across the board. Inflation here is still below that in the European markets. Despite the further interest rate hikes announced by the SNB for 2022, we are still in a negative real interest rate environment. This favors real value investments such as real estate. Accordingly, we have only seen isolated reactions in the real estate market so far. First-class locations continue to be in demand by tenants and investors.

    Increase in operating income and good rental income
     The positive business development of the Swiss Prime Site Group is reflected in the increase in operating income by 2.5% to CHF 378.9 million. All group companies contributed to this. In the first half of 2022, we were able to newly let or re-let an area of over 102,000 m2 [47,000 m2] in our own real estate portfolio. This often happened on better terms and led to an increase in rental income to CHF 214.2 million (+1.9% on a comparable basis). The vacancy rate was reduced to 4.4% [4.7%]. The WAULT is still 5.5 years [5.6 years]. The rental successes more than compensated for the rent of CHF 3.3 million from the modernization project on Müllerstrasse in Zurich, which was still included in the first half of 2021, as well as the absence of the sale of properties as part of our capital recycling strategy. This involved a portfolio with seven properties, which was sold to the newly launched “Swiss Prime Site Solutions Investment Fund Commercial”, as well as two other properties in St. Gallen. This resulted in a pre-tax profit of CHF 14.7 million. Sales profits will increase significantly again in the second half of 2022 due to real estate sales already signed in the amount of more than CHF 165 million (including house B “Espace Tourbillon” in Plan-les-Ouates).

    Further details: sps.swiss/en/media/media-releases

  • Increased costs reduce Forbo's profitability

    Increased costs reduce Forbo's profitability

    According to a statement from Forbo , the internationally active manufacturer of floor coverings, construction adhesives, as well as drive and light conveyor technology from Baar, generated sales totaling CHF 667.3 million in the first half of 2022. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 7.1 percent. The company attributes the increase primarily to the increase in sales prices. Forbo writes that the demand from many customer segments has now “leveled out at a pre-pandemic level”.

    The company suffered declines in operating and net income. "Negative currency effects, significant increases in the cost of raw materials, transport and energy, as well as increased personnel and other costs have significantly reduced operating profitability," the statement said. At CHF 78.6 million, the operating result at EBIT level was 4.3 percent lower than in the previous year, and the corresponding margin fell by 1.4 percentage points to 11.8 percent. At CHF 60.3 million, consolidated profit was 5.0 percent below the previous year's figure.

    Due to volatile markets and "a difficult geopolitical and financial situation", Forbo does not make any estimates regarding sales and earnings for the year as a whole. However, the company sees itself well prepared for the upcoming challenges.

  • Ina Invest looks back on a good year

    Ina Invest looks back on a good year

    In the 2021 financial year, Ina Invest achieved an operating profit of 14.4 million francs and a net profit of 12 million francs. According to a media release , the company, which was spun off from Implenia in 2020, “again exceeded expectations”. Last year, the operating profit was around 5.5 million francs and the net profit was around 4 million francs.

    The value of the real estate portfolio has risen by 19 percent to CHF 435 million since the previous year. In January 2022, the takeover of the Bredella area in Pratteln from the CERES Group was completed. As a result, the value of the real estate portfolio at the beginning of the year rose to CHF 700 million. Ina Invest describes the Bredella area as “one of the most interesting and largest development portfolios in Switzerland” with great potential.

    In the announcement, the company also emphasizes the good development at the Lokstadt Halls in Winterthur. The halls were “almost completely rented out in a very short time”. The Lokstadt in Winterthur and the Bredella area in Pratteln are examples of Ina Invest’s strategy. This concentrates on “future locations of the 10 million Swiss, which will be completely reinvented in the next 20 years”.

    Ina Invest continues to assess the market prospects as “promising”. In 2022, the company wants to continue growing and focus on the entrepreneurial integration of the newly created portfolio.

  • 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.

  • Holcim achieves record profit

    Holcim achieves record profit

    Holcim was able to grow strongly in the third quarter of the current year, according to a press release . Net sales rose by 12.9 percent to 7.29 billion Swiss francs. Recurring operating profit (EBIT) rose 6.2 percent to 1.53 billion Swiss francs, setting a new record.

    Holcim achieved strong growth in the North America region, for example. There, net sales rose in the third quarter by 27 percent to 2.3 billion francs. In the Middle East and Africa region, net sales rose by 8.5 percent to 653 million Swiss francs. In Latin America it rose by 8.4 percent to 675 million Swiss francs. Net sales in Europe climbed 8.4 percent to 2.15 billion, while those in the Asia-Pacific region rose 4.7 percent to 1.4 billion Swiss francs.

    Holcim assumes that the dynamic growth will continue in all regions. Firestone Building Products, the acquisition closed in late March, has net sales expected to grow double-digit in 2021.

    "The strategic reorganization of our portfolio is gaining momentum, with the divestment of our business in Brazil, the announcement of nine add-on acquisitions so far this year and the expansion of our Firestone GacoFlex range from Mexico to Colombia and Ecuador," said CEO Jan Jenisch in the Quote message.

  • sitEX increases half-year profit

    sitEX increases half-year profit

    According to the semi-annual report of sitEX Properties Holding AG , the Schwyzer real estate company realized a net profit of CHF 12.973 million in the first half of 2021. In the same period of the previous year, 10.454 million francs had been booked. Around 90 percent of the profit in the reporting semester was generated with properties in the USA. The remaining 10 percent were contributed by properties in Switzerland.

    "We can look back on nine successful months and are pleased that we have already achieved our liquidity and profitability targets for the 2021 financial year that we set in January", Beat Kähli is quoted in a communication from sitEX on the semi-annual report. Due to the continuing uncertainties in connection with the pandemic, the real estate company wants to "advance our projects cautiously and always realize profits when opportunities arise," said the CEO of sitEX.

    In the reporting semester, sitEx initiated the sale of its majority stake in the American AVEX Homes to Stanley Martin Homes . The sale to the American subsidiary of the Japanese group Daiwa House is expected to bring in a profit of around 35 million dollars for sitEX. As part of the takeover, sitEX and Stanley Martin Homes have also agreed a strategic partnership.

    In the semi-annual report, sitEX also provides an overview of a number of the real estate company's ongoing projects. In the largest project with a volume of around 3.5 billion dollars, an entire city in Volusia County in Florida is being realized. Construction work is scheduled to begin in the next six months.

  • Fundamenta Real Estate is growing at double digits

    Fundamenta Real Estate is growing at double digits

    According to a statement from Fundamenta Real Estate AG , the Zug-based real estate company generated net rental income totaling 17.9 million francs in the first half of 2021. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 10.6 percent. The communication cites the completion of projects and the purchase of new properties as growth drivers. In addition, the company was able to reduce its vacancy rate year-on-year by 0.8 percentage points to 2.7 percent.

    The net profit in the reporting semester was 12.0 million francs, 36.7 percent more than in the first half of 2020. "The strong profit growth" is mainly due to the good operational development and a revaluation success of 5.3 million francs, writes Fundamenta Real estate. The company also points to a “disproportionate increase in operating expenses”.

    The balance sheet value of Fundamenta Real Estate's real estate portfolio exceeded the billion mark for the first time on June 30, 2021. Compared to the end of 2020, the value increased from CHF 991.9 million to a good CHF 1.06 billion. The company acquired three properties in the reporting semester and transferred two projects to the portfolio after completion. As of the reporting date, the portfolio comprised a total of 66 existing properties and two development projects. In July, Fundamenta Real Estate acquired another residential property with 13 residential units in Richterswil ZH.

  • 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.