Tag: Investoren

Planned stock market listing to strengthen market presence

The fund management company of Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG(SSPS), an asset manager for real estate solutions based in Zug, is considering listing the SPSS Investment Fund Commercial(SPSS IFC) on the SIX Swiss Exchange, according to a press release. According to the company, the SPSS IFC invests with a focus on commercial real estate in economically established locations throughout Switzerland. The company plans to list by the end of 2025, thereby strengthening its market presence, opening up access to new investors and promoting the fund’s liquidity in the long term. The listing will be accompanied by Zürcher Kantonalbank as sole lead manager.

According to the press release, the listing is subject to market conditions, approval of the amendments to the fund contract by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority(FINMA) and approval of the listing application by the SIX Swiss Exchange. The SPSS IFC will be open to all investors once the amendments to the fund contract have been approved as a public fund. Until then, it will only be accessible to qualified investors. On the SIX Swiss Exchange, the fund is to be included in the SXI Real Estate Broad and SXI Real Estate Funds Broad indices in future.

In the run-up to the planned listing, the company has already been able to expand its portfolio and thus prepare for the further development of the fund. “With the funds from the last capital increase, we have optimally expanded the portfolio with two attractive light industrial properties, sustainably strengthened the equity base and consistently aligned the product with the requirements of a stock exchange listing,” says Maximilian Hoffmann, CIO Funds at SPSS.

August 2025
1.47 billion in venture capital invested in Swiss start-ups in the first half of the year

In the first half of 2025, CHF 1.47 billion flowed into Swiss start-ups, an increase of 36 per cent compared to the previous year. This is the third-best result since measurements began. However, growth was driven by a small number of startups that raised large sums from international investors. The number of financing rounds fell for the third time in a row to 124, which corresponds to a decline of ten per cent.

Biotech as a growth driver
The biotech sector in particular produced a strong result. It set a new record with an inflow of CHF 705 million in capital. The previous record of CHF 436 million from 2021 was clearly surpassed. The reasons for this success lie in highly qualified start-up teams and technological developments based on excellent research.

Recovery in ICT and fintech
The recently weakening ICT and fintech sectors were also able to recover. General ICT start-ups recorded investment growth of 86 per cent to CHF 247 million. Fintech companies received CHF 153 million, which corresponds to an increase of 93 per cent. The number of transactions remains low, which indicates continued investor selectivity.

Swiss startup ecosystem remains resilient
Despite the uncertain market environment, the Swiss startup ecosystem is able to produce internationally competitive companies. One example of this is Sygnum Bank, which became Unicorn in the first half of 2025. The bank, which specialises in digital assets, was valued at over 1 billion dollars, a signal of the potential of innovation outside of the healthcare sector.

Gloomy outlook among investors
A broad-based survey shows that expectations for the coming twelve months are subdued. Fundraising and more difficult exit opportunities are of particular concern. International trade barriers, on the other hand, only play a subordinate role. Access to capital is likely to remain challenging for many start-ups, despite individual success stories.

July 2025
BLKB Fund Management AG launches sustainable property fund

BLKB Fund Management AG, the Binningen-based subsidiary of Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank(BLKB), has launched its first sustainable property fund. According to a press release, the BLKB (CH) Sustainable Property Fund will primarily invest in energy-efficient properties in Northwestern Switzerland and the neighbouring regions of Bern, Central Switzerland and Zurich. It is aimed at qualified investors who wish to invest in a high-quality property portfolio with a predominantly residential focus.

The initial issue has a volume of up to CHF 160 million. BLKB also intends to invest in the fund. The proceeds of this issue are to be used to acquire a property portfolio with a market value of CHF 177 million. The portfolio, for which BLKB has already acquired seven of the eight properties in the past two years, consists of energy-efficient properties in good locations. It is characterised by a high proportion of residential properties with a low vacancy rate. Currently, 80 per cent of the property assets in the BLKB (CH) Sustainable Property Fund are located in Northwestern Switzerland.

“The launch of the sustainable property fund with a focus on Northwestern Switzerland is an important milestone. The property sector offers attractive yield opportunities for investors and at the same time has a major impact on energy efficiency, which is particularly relevant for climate neutrality,” Michel Molinari, CEO of BLKB Fund Management AG, is quoted as saying in the press release.

The subscription period is expected to run from 24 June to 23 July 2025 with payment on 30 July 2025.

June 2025
Zurich housing protection initiative increases value at risk for real estate portfolios

In February 2024, the Zurich housing protection initiative was submitted with over 20,000 signatures. Initiated by the Tenants’ Association, SP, Greens and AL, it is intended to give municipalities more leeway to intervene in the housing market in future. The vote is planned for 2026. However, property owners should already be analyzing the potential effects on their portfolios.

Flexible framework with unclear consequences
The cantonal bill is limited to framework definitions. Municipalities are given the right to define temporary rent caps in the event of housing shortages, conversions, demolitions or conversions into property. Whether and how these are implemented is at the discretion of the municipalities. Any municipal decree would be subject to a referendum. However, based on examples such as Basel-Stadt or Geneva, many municipalities are likely to adopt similar instruments.

Risks to value retention and investment momentum
The potential “value at risk” for real estate portfolios lies in restrictions on rent adjustments, uncertainty in project development and a declining willingness to invest. Experience from other cantons shows that rent caps dampen new construction and renovation activities, which can lead to supply bottlenecks and the erosion of residential quality in the medium term. Existing properties in tight markets are particularly affected.

Strategies required to minimize risk
For institutional investors, a differentiated scenario analysis is recommended, which takes into account possible reductions in value as well as tax and regulatory consequences. Strategic diversification, active asset management and timely communication with local authorities will be crucial in order to secure room for maneuver.

May 2025
Lucerne responds to tax pressure with a billion-euro package

International tax competition is being readjusted by the OECD minimum taxation and is hitting Lucerne hard. The previous advantage of low corporate taxes for internationally active groups will no longer apply. This could result in companies moving away, a drop in investment and a massive loss of tax revenue. Over a billion francs are at stake for the federal government, canton and municipalities – a scenario that Lucerne is not prepared to accept without taking action.

Strengthening the business location, ensuring quality of life
The cantonal government is responding with a far-reaching location promotion programme, which comprises around CHF 300 million per year. Around two thirds of this is to flow directly into measures to promote innovation, digitalisation, economic areas and a business-friendly administration. This will also create new opportunities for property developers and investors. In particular in the planning and realisation of forward-looking commercial and infrastructure projects.

The remaining third is dedicated to quality of life. The measures range from tax relief and family friendliness to the promotion of culture and digital participation, key location factors when it comes to retaining talent and attracting new workers.

Participatory and forward-looking
The programme was developed in close consultation with the business community, municipalities and social partners. The public consultation will run until 9 June 2025 via the “e-participation” tool. The final decision lies with the people. The package will be put to the vote in September 2026 and is scheduled to come into force on 1 October 2026.

Lucerne is sending a strong signal with this proposal. Location promotion is no longer an optional extra, but a strategic duty – and it requires clear, long-term investment.

March 2025
Private investors drive innovation in Zurich

The Zurich financial centre is not only an important centre for banks and insurance companies, but also a key factor for the development of young companies. Private investors such as private equity and venture capital companies, multi and single family offices as well as foundations support start-ups with targeted investments that promote innovation and economic growth.

According to the new study “Zurich Financial Centre 2025/2026”, which was commissioned by the cantonal Office of Economic Affairs and the city’s Urban Development Department, 208 private equity and venture capital companies and over 2,800 foundations are active in the Zurich region. They employ a total of around 3800 people and have made a significant contribution to the development of Zurich as a centre of innovation over the last ten years.

Growth and financing gaps in the start-up ecosystem
Between 2014 and 2024, over 900 start-ups were founded in the Zurich region, raising a total of CHF 9.6 billion in various financing rounds. Almost half of the total financing volume of start-ups in Switzerland. In the case of companies whose investor structure is known, around one third of the funds come from regional investors.

However, the study shows that many start-ups encounter financing hurdles in the next growth phase after initial support from accelerators, incubators and foundations. While private equity and venture capital companies are increasingly getting involved in expansion financing, a financing gap remains. This can lead to young companies moving abroad in order to secure capital for scaling up.

Zurich as an attractive location for venture capital
The Zurich region offers ideal conditions for investors thanks to its strong market environment, international network and the availability of highly qualified specialists. Single family offices in particular are playing a growing role, as they enable long-term investments in innovative projects. Swiss single family offices invest an average of 12 per cent of their assets under management in venture capital, of which around CHF 24 billion flows into projects within Switzerland.

According to Michael Grass from BAK Economics, which conducted the study, it is crucial to close the financing gap in the growth phase of start-ups. This would not only secure the region’s innovative strength, but also reduce the risk of emigration.

“Strengthening the investor location” initiative launched
Based on the results of the study, the canton of Zurich is launching the “Strengthening the investor location” sub-project as part of the “Innovation Location 2030” initiative. The Department of Economic Affairs has been tasked with developing targeted measures to improve the attractiveness of the location for venture capitalists. The aim is to optimise the investment conditions for start-ups and scale-ups and expand financing opportunities in the region.

Concrete strategies are to be developed through dialogue between politics, business and investors in order to further strengthen Zurich as a leading location for venture capital. The city of Zurich is already actively involved in promoting start-ups, including with incubators such as BlueLion and Startzentrum Zürich as well as the city’s KlimUp programme for sustainable innovations.

The results of the initiative should help to further develop Zurich as a dynamic and competitive investment location and secure the business centre in the long term.

February 2025
Strengthening Europe’s innovation financing

Technology start-ups are crucial for the progress of disruptive innovations. However, financial hurdles are hampering their growth, as a new study by the EPO makes clear. A comparison with the USA shows that there is a lack of private capital in Europe, particularly in the later financing phases. This forces many innovative companies to look outside Europe for investors.

A new evaluation system
With the TIS, the EPO has developed a precise indicator to evaluate the specialisation of investors in patented technologies. The TIS is based on over 1000 individual values and indicates the proportion of patent-active companies in an investor’s portfolio. This enables start-ups to search specifically for investors who are particularly innovation-friendly.

Public investors as a central pillar
The study shows that public institutions play a key role in promoting innovation. Programmes such as the European Innovation Council, national funding agencies such as Innosuisse or Bpifrance and the European Investment Bank offer essential support in the early financing phases. However, there is a lack of seamless follow-up financing from private investors, which makes it difficult to scale up innovative technologies.

A comparison of European and US financing models
While 62% of private investors in Europe focus on early-stage financing, the proportion is significantly higher among the 100 largest US investors with a later-stage financing focus. 98 of the top 100 investors in the US are private, over half of whom specialise in growth financing. These differences illustrate the gap in the European capital structure.

New digital tools for finding investors
The EPO is expanding its digital tools to make it easier for start-ups to access capital. A filter has been added to the Deep Tech Finder that allows investors to be found specifically according to financing phase, location and technology field. This enables start-ups to efficiently identify suitable investors and improve their financing opportunities.

Paths to a stronger innovation ecosystem
The study emphasises the need for action to improve the networking of public and private innovation financing in Europe. With new digital tools such as the TIS and the Deep Tech Finder, the EPO is providing decisive impetus to close the financing gap and keep start-ups in the European market in the long term.

January 2025
IMMO25 – Where the Who’s Who of the property industry meets

It’s that time of year again: IMMO25, Switzerland’s largest real estate trade fair, will open its doors again on Wednesday, 15 and Thursday, 16 January 2025. The specialist congress is a firm fixture in the calendar and attracts several thousand visitors and industry giants to Zurich Oerlikon every year.

As an investor fair, the event is aimed at a professional audience from the property and finance industry. From architects and project developers to specialised service providers, consultants and lawyers to financial intermediaries and asset managers – the participants represent the entire value chain of direct and indirect real estate investments.

In addition to the traditional trade fair activities, participants at the accompanying forum can once again look forward to 35 panel discussions with over 120 high-calibre representatives from industry, politics and business. Renowned experts will share their visions on emerging trends, current challenges and future opportunities. Whether it’s about sustainable property investments, digital innovations or market developments – the IMMO Forum offers a wide range of topics, exclusive insights and assessments from decision-makers. IMMO is the meeting place for experts who want to think outside the box and set the course for successful business and investments. Take this opportunity to find out about the latest developments and opportunities and to sharpen your investment strategy.

As an event partner, we cordially invite you to participate

The congress programme and exhibitor list are available on the trade fair website at www.swisspropertyfair.ch. The online ticket counter for IMMO25 opens on Wednesday, 11 December 2024.

Secure your ticket in good time and become part of the biggest property event in Switzerland!

Visitor ticket code IMMO25: 50251

December 2024
Changing investment strategies due to rising interest rates

Just as sailors avoid the Bermuda Triangle, investors must also consider the risks of their investments. The magic triangle of investment strategy – liquidity, profitability and security – is now being expanded to include ESG factors. This step is also supported by the “Lost in Transition” study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Institutional investors are placing greater emphasis on ensuring that their investments are sustainable in the long term, even if this leads to lower returns in the short term.

A look at Swiss pension funds
Swiss pension funds have diversified their investments, although the proportion of real estate varies from fund to fund. The analysis of the Swisscanto Pension Fund Study 2023 shows that real estate is gaining in importance compared to equities and bonds. This trend can also be observed among other institutional investors, whereby the real estate ratio in the portfolio should be between 10% and 25% in order to ensure optimal diversification.

The impact of rising interest rates on the asset classes
Rising interest rates have a negative impact on all three main asset classes – equities, bonds and real estate. For bonds, interest rate rises lead to price losses, while for equities they reduce their attractiveness. Real estate investments become more expensive, which leads to a decline in demand and thus to a fall in prices. Institutional investors are reacting to these developments by realigning their portfolios and reducing their real estate holdings in order to lower their leverage ratios.

The difficult market environment and its impact on real estate investments
Sentiment on the real estate market is subdued due to rising interest rates and uncertainty on the financial markets. This is reflected in the Swiss Real Estate Sentiment Index, which measures the expectations of market participants. Investments in real estate are becoming less attractive, but the current market environment also offers opportunities, especially for investors who are prepared to invest for the long term and weather the market fluctuations.

Rising interest rates pose a challenge for institutional investors, especially those who have invested in real estate. A realignment of the investment strategy and prudent portfolio optimization are crucial to achieving long-term returns and minimizing risks.

March 2024
Property market remains attractive

The Swiss property market remains attractive for 98 per cent of property investors, EY Switzerland reports in a press release. The auditing and consulting firm based its findings on the latest edition of its annual “Real Estate Investment Market Trend Barometer”. For this, EY Switzerland surveyed a representative cross-section of 96 companies.

“According to investors, the high level of attractiveness can be attributed to the stable economy, persistently high demand and the fact that Switzerland remains a lucrative location despite the geopolitical changes,” Daniel Zaugg, Sector Leader Real Estate at EY in Switzerland, is quoted as saying in the press release. “According to the respondents, the Swiss National Bank’s interest rate hikes will also have no substantial short-term impact on the market value of investment properties.” 96 per cent of those surveyed expect inflation to remain below 3 per cent this year.

Within the property market, residential property is becoming more attractive. Interest here has risen from 93 per cent in the two previous years to 96 per cent this year. Fewer investors want to invest in office, logistics and healthcare properties than in the previous year, at 39, 42 and 45 per cent respectively. Only 16 per cent of respondents expressed interest in space for food retailers and specialist stores.

Sustainability criteria are playing an increasingly important role for a large majority of respondents when selecting investment properties. Investors also predict that demographic changes and climate change will have an increasing influence on the property market in the future.

January 2024
Crowdlending, a new source of real estate financing

Investors benefit from fixed interest rates in Swiss francs. Unlike traditional savings accounts, which often offer negligible returns, real estate crowdfunding offers attractive returns and is therefore an interesting alternative for those who want to maximise their income. In addition, the minimum investment required is affordable. This widens the circle of investors and allows them to diversify their real estate portfolios by investing in different short- and medium-term projects while avoiding the volatility of the equity markets.

Optimise financing structures
Real estate crowdfunding is not a substitute for banks, but complements the equity of real estate developers. The loans granted by investors are subordinated and secured by real estate, which provides security in case of default. This approach allows developers to focus on developing existing and new projects without tying up a large part of their capital in ongoing projects. This allows them to complete their financing quickly and avoid diluting future profits from their businesses by using external financing partners.

Property owners now have access to an additional source of financing to add value to their assets. They can use the funds received for renovations and improvements to their properties and thus optimise the financial structure of their property portfolios. This financial flexibility is a great advantage for owners who want to increase the value of their properties while maximising returns.

Apart from the individual benefits, real estate crowdlending also contributes to Switzerland’s economic and social dynamism. By encouraging the creation of new housing and the renovation of existing assets, it meets the housing needs of the local population. The increasing demand for housing in Switzerland, especially in urban areas, requires high investments in the real estate sector. Real estate crowdfunding offers an innovative solution for financing these projects and thus contributes to the country’s economic growth. Furthermore, by supporting real estate projects, real estate crowdlending creates employment opportunities in the construction industry and related service sectors.

Conclusion
In summary, real estate crowdlending is an innovative source of financing for the real estate sector in Switzerland. With undeniable benefits for investors, developers and property owners, it opens up new perspectives and appeals to a growing number of people in Switzerland with a
growth of over 400% in six years and a volume of CHF 142 million1 by 2022. This model offers an interesting alternative to traditional investments and contributes to the democratisation of real estate investments in Switzerland.

August 2023
PropTech investors score with quality and industry know-how

Despite interest rate increases, declining transactions, rising construction costs and tighter regulations, the construction and real estate industry is experiencing a wave of innovation. This is due in particular to the PropTech scene, which set a new record last year with an investment volume in the high triple-digit millions in the DACH region.

A survey conducted in June 2023 on the brand awareness of PropTech investors revealed a growing diversity of funders active in different regions. The 90 real estate executives and professionals surveyed concluded that brand awareness is increasingly important in this dynamic environment. It can be assumed that in the future investors will increasingly deal with branding and marketing in order to expand their own visibility and strengthen their reputation.

Quality and number as criteria for cooperation
Around 42 percent of the participants stated that they knew PT1 – PropTech1 Ventures. The company was rated as a leading investor by the respondents both in terms of overall perception and along individual criteria. Multiple responses were possible. It is followed by Bitstone Capital (approx. 33 percent), BeyondBuild (approx. 26 percent) and High Rise Ventures GmbH (approx. 22 percent).

In the case of interest in a collaboration, the choice of an investor depends on various criteria. The quality of the investments made proved to be important or very important for around 90 percent of the survey participants. The number of previous investments was also rated as important or very important by three-quarters of respondents. Other relevant criteria are the level of awareness, quality (network, industry know-how) and expected returns.

Advice, mentoring and expertise as the most important services
Nevertheless, the survey shows that the market shares of PropTech investors are not solely due to financial support. The range of services and the fulfilment of service expectations are also decisive, whereby the latter differ according to the recipient group: For example, real estate decision-makers primarily expect a good market overview, advice, expertise and a strong network. PropTechs, on the other hand, value capital, business development support, access to resources as well as advice and mentoring.

These findings suggest that expertise, industry knowledge and service quality are becoming more important for PropTech investors to gain competitive advantage in the future. The diversity of investors also highlights the importance of regional expertise.

Survey results at www.pom.ch

July 2023
Evorest receives seven-figure early financing

The Zurich-based start-up Evorest has acquired a seven-figure sum in a so-called pre-seed financing, according to a media release. The company has set itself the goal of renewing the rental deposit market. For the first time, tenants will be able to digitally invest their rental deposits in low-cost funds.

This is intended to simplify the entire rental deposit management process for tenants and property managers. In the future, tenants will thus be able to sign their rental deposit contract digitally and invest their tied-up capital in exchange-traded index funds such as ETFs. They will benefit directly from the return achieved in the process.

In the future, it will also be possible to conclude a conventional deposit account completely digitally via Evorest. Thanks to digitalisation, deposit accounts can be opened within 24 hours. Property managers will receive a higher damage cover sum as security, in line with the market. Evorest works with an unnamed Swiss partner bank that manages the capital and guarantees the security of the deposit.

The financing now obtained is expected to be effective by the fourth quarter of 2023. With the acquired capital, the company, which was founded in March 2023, wants to implement its programme developments and activate the programme interface to its partner bank.

April 2023
Investment market for commercial real estate collapses by 72 per cent

At 31 percent or €1.6 billion, the highest share of the transaction volume was accounted for by retail properties. C&W puts the decline compared to the first quarter of 2022 at 30 per cent. The relatively positive result for the retail sector is due not least to the sale of 49.9 percent of Berlin’s KaDeWe department store to the Central Group from Thailand as well as the increase in Deutsche Euroshop’s share in five German shopping centres.

The transaction volume of office properties plummeted by almost 90 percent to 1.05 billion euros compared to the same period of the previous year. Only 2009 and 2011 had started the year even weaker in the previous 15 years. The majority of office properties sold in the first quarter were in the price range below 50 million euros. Value-add and core-plus properties dominated. Core properties and properties above 100 million euros remained the exception. For core properties in particular, the necessary downward price adjustment triggered by the turnaround in interest rates has not yet been completed, which is causing a widespread standstill in transactions in this sector. Buyers are focusing their attention primarily on value-add and core-plus properties in very good and central locations, not least with regard to compliance with ESG criteria.

Logistics and hotel also down significantly
Sales of logistics and industrial properties achieved a transaction volume of 795 million euros, 79 percent below the previous year’s figure. Two transactions of 100 million euros each supported the result, including the sale of the industrial and commercial park “Areal Böhler” in Meerbusch to Jamestown.

Hotel sales recorded a 49 per cent decline in turnover compared to the opening quarter of 2022 to 180 million euros (share of 4 per cent). In the “Other” sector, which at 1.5 billion euros (minus 34 percent) is almost on a par with the transaction turnover of the retail properties, the sales of development properties dominated with 805 million euros.

Few portfolio deals and restrained foreign capital
The turnover volume attributable to portfolio deals posted both the lowest quarterly value and the lowest share (12 per cent) of the total transaction volume since the last quarter of 2011 with a minus of more than 90 per cent and a value of 630 million euros. The majority of portfolio sales were below 50 million euros. The largest and only portfolio in the three-digit million euro range was Deutsche Euroshop’s share increase in five shopping centres in Germany. Foreign capital was involved in the 1st quarter of 2023 with 34 percent, but is clearly below the more than 50 percent share of the past five years.

Yields continue to rise
The rise in yields triggered by the turnaround in interest rates in Q2 2022 continued unabated in Q1 2023. In the first three months, the averages of the respective prime values in the top 7 markets rose on average by 32 basis points to now 3.83 per cent for office properties, by 30 basis points to now 3.90 per cent for city centre commercial properties and by 15 basis points to 4.15 per cent for logistics properties.

Munich is the most expensive office market with a top yield of 3.50 per cent, followed by Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg (each 3.80 per cent), Düsseldorf and Cologne (each 3.90 per cent). Stuttgart, at 4.10 per cent, has already exceeded the 4 per cent threshold. For commercial properties, Munich and Düsseldorf are at the top with values of 3.40 per cent and 3.50 per cent. Yields for logistics properties are quoted at 4.15 per cent in all seven top regions.

April 2023

Capital raising of the “Vertina Wohnen” investment group

The foundation, which was established in March 2022, was able to notarise 6 properties within a year. The portfolio, which focuses primarily on new buildings, has a market value of around CHF 60 million as of 31 December 2023. After completion of the projects, the market value will be around CHF 117 million. The new capital will be used for the focused expansion of the portfolio. Two real estate projects with an investment volume of CHF 70 million were secured for this purpose.

With its strategy, the Vertina Investment Foundation reconciles the requirements of investors and the needs of tenants. It has the knowledge and experience to combine high-yield real estate with responsibility for the environment. With its focus on future-oriented residential buildings in well-developed locations, the foundation aims for maximum sustainability.

Details on capital raising

Target volume	CHF 50 million
Subscription volume	Minimum CHF 0.5 million
Issuing premium	1.0% (in favour of assets) Relevant NAV as of payment date
Security number / ISIN	116 503 599 / CHE116 503 599 4
Allocation process	Subscriptions up to CHF 20 million will receive a full allotment. The remaining subscriptions may be reduced proportionally in case of oversubscription.
Subscription period	Start: 20 March 2023, End: 26 May 2023

Existing and new investors who are permitted to invest in tax-exempt foundations in accordance with Swiss legislation and the Articles of Association of Vertina Investment Foundation may participate in the capital raising.

Detailed information on the investment foundation and the “Vertina Wohnen” investment group can be found at: www.vertina.ch

March 2023

Cowa receives 1 million francs from investors

In a first round of financing, Cowa Thermal Solutions AG has received over CHF 1 million from private investors and its own founders Remo Waser and Simon Maranda. According to an article on the startupticker.ch portal, the young company based in Lucerne’s Technopark wants to use the fresh capital to market its heating storage system for heat pumps on a larger scale.

The cleantech start-up is developing a heating storage system with capsules that contain environmentally friendly salts as a phase change material. A tank filled with the capsules can absorb three times more energy than a conventional water tank for heat pumps. According to the information, this makes a heating system less dependent on mains electricity. In addition, unlike batteries or rechargeable batteries, it does not use lithium.

The storage tank filled with Cowa capsules has been available from the building technology company Meier Tobler since April of this year. According to startupticker.ch, the additional costs for the Cowa product compared to conventional storage systems are quickly balanced out due to the energy density and longevity of 20 years.

In addition to further scaling on the domestic market, the company would like to expand to Germany soon. Initial talks with potential sales partners have already taken place.

July 2022
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

April 2022
Avobis takes over Kreditfabrik

Zurich -based Avobis has taken over the credit factory from Horgen ZH via Avobis Invest AG. The real estate and mortgage service provider, which specializes in independent, integrated and technology-based real estate and financing solutions, intends to use the integration to further expand its market position in mortgage servicing.

As Avobis writes in a press release , both companies are leading providers of mortgage services. Avobis has been strongly positioned in servicing solutions in the mortgage market for 25 years. Kreditfabrik specializes in services for the processing, management and risk assessment of mortgages.

Thanks to Kreditfabrik's customer relationships, Avobis will have a credit volume of over CHF 12 billion after the takeover and will be able to underline its "number 1 position in the market". "Avobis is the largest provider on the Swiss market that can support pension funds, investment foundations, insurance companies and all types of banks as mortgage servicing customers with the right solution for them," says Andreas Granella, Managing Director of Avobis Invest AG . As an asset manager for collective capital investments, Avobis Invest AG offers services for all customer segments.

In order to complete the range of services "along the entire real estate value chain", Avobis Invest AG also wants to create additional investment opportunities for institutional investors in the coming year by introducing new products.

April 2022
Investors are lining up for key properties

The real estate market in 2021 was turbulent for investors. This is how the real estate market report 2022 from CSL Immobilien summarizes the situation in the past year. Prices for central locations reached record highs. Yields fell accordingly.

In a press release , CSL Immobilien cites the “Zurich Gold Coast community” Zumikon as an example of bidding processes that drive prices for office and residential buildings well connected to city centers to new record highs. There, the community had an empty fire station building next to a public transport station estimated at 8.7 million francs. It was sold for around 21 million Swiss francs. But first-class real estate “still has no alternative”, CEO Yonas Mulugeta explains this development, which can be observed in the centres.

The periphery, on the other hand, is seeing rising vacancies: in the past six months, the office space on offer in the greater Zurich area has increased to 910,000 square meters (previous year: 812,000 square meters) or by 12 percent. The same can be seen in the economic areas of Berne (+14 percent) and Geneva (+12 percent).

This price development led to new lows in net initial yields in most segments of the investment market last year. A sideways movement was expected. Residential properties of first-class quality yielded a national average of 1.9 percent compared to 2.35 percent in the previous year. At 1.9 percent (previous year 2.35 percent), top office properties fell to the level of residential properties.

Private individuals had to dig deeper into their pockets to buy their own homes. Due to the pandemic, there was also an increase in demand for large rental apartments that also offer space for working from home. Accordingly, the proportion of vacant 1 to 2.5 room apartments in the canton of Zurich rose to 27 percent (previous year 22 percent). Viewed across the country as a whole, the vacancy rate fell to 1.54 percent (previous year: 1.72 percent).

February 2022
Kaqtu raises capital from real estate industry

Kaqtu has successfully completed a first round of external investments, the young company from the Zurich Oberland announced in a press release. According to a corresponding report on startupticker.ch, business angels from the real estate industry are providing Kaqtu with a total of around half a million francs. Kaqtu intends to use the capital to further develop its digital interior design assistant.

With this, interested parties can digitally search for furniture, decoration, colors and wallpaper for individual rooms or the entire apartment. The digital setup assistant is free to use, but Kaqtu offers a number of paid packages for more personal advice.

The young company is pursuing the goal of “digitizing the entire furnishing process and thereby enabling individual and beautiful living in every household,” writes Kaqtu in the statement. However, the company does not want to achieve this on its own, but rather in cooperation with partner companies in the furnishing market. The establishment of a corresponding network is therefore to be tackled in the current year. In addition, Kaqtu wants to invest part of the newly raised capital in marketing.

February 2022
Sustainability drives real estate prices

The Swiss real estate market will remain attractive for investors in 2022, writes EY Switzerland in a statement on the real estate trend barometer 2022 from the consulting firm. According to the EY surveys, the real estate market is currently being determined by the three factors of sustainability, digitization and the pandemic. The vast majority of investors are also of the opinion that the overall investment volume will remain at the level of the previous year.

Last year, the pandemic increased the focus of investors on residential real estate. "This clear preference is also clearly evident for the year 2022, because the residential segment is still clearly favored over other types of use," says Tizian Scheidegger, Senior Consultant Real Estate Switzerland, in the statement. "Like last year, logistics and healthcare properties are also very popular."

Almost nine out of ten people surveyed for the study believe that sustainability criteria are decisive in the purchasing decisions of institutional investors. Three quarters of investors have observed price premiums for sustainable real estate. At the same time, more than nine out of ten respondents believe that the implementation of sustainability strategies in the real estate sector is still in its infancy. Just as many investors are in favor of creating CO2 balance sheets for buildings or real estate portfolios. 97 percent of investors attach great importance to an intelligent infrastructure with charging stations, connectivity and intelligent energy concepts.

January 2022
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.

September 2021
open2work is looking for investors

Many companies have too much space all the time or even temporarily. Moving to smaller premises would be too time-consuming. Conversely, other companies or sole proprietorships often need more space temporarily. Open2work GmbH wants to mediate between the two groups.

The start-up founded in 2020 by Alexandre Roque and Lionel Ebener from western Switzerland handles the bookkeeping and payment transactions. New providers can activate their offices themselves on the open2work portal, and interested parties can book their workplaces there. There are currently a total of 22 offices around Zurich and Zug, two in Bern and one in Sion.

"We are the solution for those who have too much space," says co-founder and CEO Lionel Ebener. Conversely, users of the offer can choose offices from companies that correspond to their own interests. "This cultural aspect is important to us."

Open2work is currently in talks with investors. The company wants to grow faster with fresh capital. After the end of the Corona crisis, the two founders see a growing need for flexible solutions, both on the part of the providers of office space and among the users.

March 2021
Intelligent lighting convinces investors

LEDCity has secured 2 million francs in fresh capital as part of a financing round. A customer of the start-up and a group of business angels have invested, according to a media release. In addition to the financing by the investors, the company has also received a guarantee from the technology fund of the Federal Office for the Environment .

LEDCity has developed a lighting solution that aims to reduce electricity consumption by up to 80 percent. The development is intended to replace classic motion detectors in commercial buildings. It uses up to 50 times more sensors on the same area. Algorithms also ensure that the lighting intensity is controlled automatically.

With the fresh funds, LEDCity wants to enlarge its sales team in western Switzerland and at the same time expand to Germany. The start-up also wants to further develop its algorithms.

March 2021
Private individuals can participate in large solar systems

Romande Energie customers can invest in their own solar systems without having their own roof. The Vaudois energy supplier wants to build a solar system totaling 1,700 square meters on Bertrand Pittet’s Petite Chamberonne farm in Etagnières, he writes in a press release . He enables his customers to participate. In return, the corresponding share of the production of solar power on the farm would be deducted from their private electricity bills.

Romande Energie wants to attract a sufficiently large number of investors for its Jardin Solaire – sun garden – project by spring 2021. The plant should go into operation before summer.

The Vaudois energy supplier launched a similar project in Mont-sur-Rolle in December 2019. There 37 private customers took part in the Jardin Solaire.

November 2020

Tag: Investoren

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