immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Versicherung

  • AXA expands property commitment at Newhome

    AXA expands property commitment at Newhome

    AXA has taken an important step towards expanding its portfolio in the residential sector by acquiring a 20 per cent stake in the established property platform Newhome. The company, which is owned by 19 cantonal banks and around 500 companies from the property sector, plans to increase its share capital by issuing new shares. Following this capital increase, which is still subject to FINMA approval, the ownership structure will be reorganised: 50 percent by the cantonal banks, 30 percent by Next Property AG and 20 percent by AXA.

    Dominique Kasper, Head of General Insurance at AXA, sees the investment as a strategic opportunity to strengthen the company’s positioning in the residential sector. Since it was founded in 2012, Newhome has developed into a major property platform in Switzerland. AXA hopes that this investment will not only give it greater access to customers in the home and property sector, but also enable it to serve the insurance needs of the platform’s users more effectively.

    Johannes Hoehener, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Newhome, welcomes the expansion of the shareholder base and sees AXA’s strategic investment as an important step in the implementation of the growth strategy. The partnership with AXA is intended to increase the reach of Newhome and contribute to its positioning as a leading regional property portal.

  • PostFinance and GLKB join CredEx

    PostFinance and GLKB join CredEx

    Credit Exchange AG has gained two new shareholders, PostFinance and GLKB, according to a press release. The two banks will also sit on the company’s board of directors. Mobiliar and Swisscom from Berne, Vaudoise Insurance from Lausanne and Bank Avera from Wetzikon ZH are already represented on the board. Mobiliar and Vaudoise Versicherungen will also participate in the current capital increase.

    The new shareholders want to help expand the mortgage marketplace CredEx. To this end, PostFinance will also contribute its comparison and closing platform Valuu to CredEx. Specifically, Valuu is to be transferred to the joint venture CredEx, as PostFinance explains in a statement. CredEx will then bundle the brokerage business under the Valuu brand and continue to operate the brokerage business.

    GLKB is already a long-standing partner of CredEx. “Over the years, a unique settlement ecosystem has been developed together with GLKB, which has greatly contributed to CredEx’s success,” Andrea Canonica, CXO of Credit Exchange AG, was quoted as saying in the statement. “With GLKB’s rich experience in the fintech sector, I am convinced that we will also achieve similar milestones together on the financing side,” Canonica added.

  • Helvetia launches real estate platform Helvetia ImmoWorld

    Helvetia launches real estate platform Helvetia ImmoWorld

    The insurance group Helvetia , based in St.Gallen, has put a new website online for real estate owners. With Helvetia ImmoWorld , the company combines real estate services with its expertise in insurance and pension issues, according to a press release . To this end, it works together with the mortgage and real estate company MoneyPark , based in Pfäffikon SZ, and other partners.

    The real estate platform takes a holistic approach. It is intended to cover all phases of real estate ownership, from saving to searching and financing to securing, maintaining value and selling.

    Users can search for real estate via a search portal that combines properties from Helvetia and MoneyPark with offers from other portals. A calculator determines when a renovation makes sense. The value of a property can be tracked online in your own user account. In addition, registered users can monitor local construction projects and the prices that have been paid for properties in their area in recent years.

    In addition, Helvetia ImmoWorld provides access to verified prospective buyers and craftsmen as well as information and advice on all aspects of value retention, tax savings, liquidity requirements, pension provision and insurance cover.

    "We are convinced that it is worthwhile for our customers to take a holistic view of insurance, pension provision and property ownership," Ralph Jeitziner, Head of Sales Switzerland, is quoted as saying in the media release. With the new platform, Helvetia is strategically developing its Home ecosystem.

  • ImmoScout24 relies on iptiQ

    ImmoScout24 relies on iptiQ

    ImmoScout24 wants to offer customers residing in Germany a rental loss insurance. To this end, the real estate platform of the Scout24 Group is working together with the white label insurer iptiQ from Swiss Re , the Zurich insurance group informs in a message . The offer launched under the ImmoScout24 brand covers the complete or partial loss of up to six monthly rents including ancillary costs. The insurance can be taken out and managed online.

    "With the digital ImmoScout24 loss of rent insurance, we are providing private landlords with an innovative service that makes renting safer for them," Ralf Weitz, Managing Director of ImmoScout24, is quoted in the press release. This could be particularly relevant in times of the pandemic, says Weitz. ImmoSout24 takes on the role of the registered agent in the partnership.

    IptiQ is responsible for covering all insurance-related aspects of the community offer, is further explained in the communication. "With ImmoScout24 we have the ideal partner in Germany to be able to offer customers tailor-made insurance products in the household sector online exactly when it matters", Andreas Schertzinger, CEO iptiQ EMEA P&C, is quoted there.

    The Scout24 group belongs to the insurance group Mobiliar and the media group Ringier . In addition to the real estate platform ImmoScout24, the network of online marketplaces operates the platforms AutoScout24, FinanceScout24, MotoScout24, the classified ads platform Anibis and the marketer Scout24 Advertising.

  • Rental deposit insurance is expensive

    Rental deposit insurance is expensive

    Rent deposit insurance is only advisable in the event of short-term financial bottlenecks. The online comparison service Comparis points this out. In contrast to a rent deposit payment, the premium payments are lost in any case. With a ten-year contract, they can amount to more than half of the deposit amount. In a press release , Comparis calculates this on the basis of a ten-year contract and a deposit of 6,000 francs.

    A good 20 percent of the Swiss population will have to make the right decision in the next twelve months. This is shown by a representative survey by Comparis on moving behavior in Switzerland .

    Rent deposit insurances give new residents the required amount of mostly three months' rent. In return, they ask for an annual premium. The cheapest and the most expensive would be 40 percent apart. "Rent deposit insurance should only be considered to bridge short-term financial bottlenecks," is the recommendation of Comparis expert Frédéric Papp.

    The definitely cheaper solution is to transfer the entire rental deposit to a rental deposit account. “You should pay attention to the choice of bank.” There are still banks that pay interest on deposits and others that charge opening fees of up to 150 francs or netting fees of up to 100 francs. Basically, the banking relationship can be negotiated.

  • UBS and iptiQ launch new insurance

    UBS and iptiQ launch new insurance

    UBS joins forces with iptiQ , a subsidiary of reinsurer Swiss Re . Together they are testing a new insurance solution specially designed for UBS's mortgage customers in Switzerland. The offer is accessible via the iptiQ digital platform, according to a communication . Initially, it will be tested for around six months from July 15. Then it should be optimized based on feedback.

    "Protecting yourself against unforeseen events is of central importance for every homeowner," says UBS Switzerland boss Axel Lehmann. "We are pleased to be able to offer our mortgage customers, in cooperation with the Swiss Re subsidiary iptiQ, an innovative offer with which they can cover personal risks quickly and easily."

    Cooperations between banks and insurance companies are already successful in many countries, UBS states in its announcement. In Switzerland, the bank still sees untapped potential in this area.