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SWISS BUSINESS NEWS

 

 

WINTER 2006 - 2007

 

 

Top of the News

 

A four-page report by KPMG titled "How Switzerland attracts international headquarters" was published as a sponsored section in the April edition of International Tax Review.  The lead notes that the country's tax regime has a lot of advantages for any multinational corporation thinking about locating a headquarters there.   The tax regime is one of many factors that position Switzerland as a favored FDI destination for companies from around the world.  For a copy of the report log onto www.locationswitzerland.com/html/newsletters-pr-articles/articles/april2006-kpmgintltaxrev.pdf

 

 

Wins and Updates

 

Three from California:

 

Kyphon Inc. (NASDAQ: KYPH) is establishing an operational presence in Neuchatel to support rapid international growth. Kyphon Sarl will house manufacturing and distribution activities for international markets as well as administrative activities including clinical, regulatory, marketing and shared financial services. Certain global R&D activities will be performed to augment Kyphon's R&D center in Sunnyvale.

 

From Belmont, Red Herring, a leading technology business magazine and organizer of global industry conferences, has relocated its EMEA headquarters from France to Switzerland. The organization will accelerate the expansion of its presence in the regions and offer its entire product portfolio from its new facilities in Techno park Zurich.

 

Palo Alto-based Vendavo, a leading provider of price management software, opened its European headquarters in Geneva as part of a program to expand its European operations to meet the growing demand for its pricing solutions in that region.

 

 

And three for the Geneva Region:

 

GeNeuro, a new biotech company with a focus on combating multiple sclerosis, was recently launched in Geneva.  For the next two years, GeNeuro will be based at Eclosion SA, the launching platform for new companies engaged in various scientific fields in the Lake Geneva Region.

 

GenKyoTex, a second new biotech company, with a concentration on fighting degenerative diseases and cellular aging, will also be based at Eclosion, situated in Plan-les-Ouates.  The underlying research and company names derive from the work done on three continents - GENeva-KYOto-TEXas.

 

Also in Geneva, the Metropolitan Museum of Art launched its first full-time representative office overseas under the direction of Dr. Mahrukh Tarapor.  In her new post, Dr. Tarapor will supervise the Museum's Exhibitions and work closely with the curators on their program of temporary exhibitions frequently traveling to destinations around the globe.

 

Stryker Spine, a Division of Stryker Corporation, a world leader in orthopedics, announced the completion of its 80,000 square foot production plant.  Construction on the new plant in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in the Canton of Neuchatel, was begun in March 2005.  Up until now 25 million SFr have been invested in a project that over the next five years is expected to provide up to 150 new jobs.

 

Industrial and aerospace manufacturer Barnes Group Inc., (NYSE: B) has reportedly agreed to acquire Heinz Hanggi AG, Stanztechnik.  The Swiss company makes high-precision metal components for a range of industries.

 

Armor Holdings Inc., based in Jacksonville, FL and publicly traded (NYSE: AH), has bought Swiss-Photonics AG.  The Swiss company, based in Heerbrugg, through its trade name Projectina, makes and distributes forensic optical equipment for the international forensics and crime scene markets.

 

Three American investors have reportedly acquired the Sunstar chain of eight hotels, with most properties located in Cantons Bern and Graubunden.  Sunstar, which owns and manages these four-star hotels, is quoted on the Swiss stock exchange.  The company closed its current tax year with revenue of about forty million SFr.

 

Salt Lake City, UT-based Huntsman has won the bid for the textile business of Ciba Specialty Chemicals for a reported 332 million SFr.  The textile effects operation has revenue of 1.3 billion SFr, and 3,300 employees, all of whom will be transferred to Huntsman.

 

Swiss companies have also been active expanding in the US.

 

In late April Novartis completed its takeover of Chiron Corp.  The Emeryville, CA, company is a leading maker of vaccines and biotech drugs.

 

Muttenz, Canton Baselland-based chemical concern Clariant has reportedly bought KiON Corporation, a leading manufacturer and seller of high performance based polysilazane resins used in the aerospace, automotive, metals, construction, electronics and coating industries.  The American company is based in Huntingdon Valley (a suburb of Philadelphia, PA).

 

Jet Aviation, with its worldwide headquarters in Zurich Switzerland, has expanded its North American footprint by acquiring St. Louis, MO- based Midcoast Aviation with 875 employees. Jet Aviation was founded in 1967 and with 4,500 employees worldwide working in over 60 facilities has become the leading business aviation service globally.

 

 

Swisscom Eurospot, a subsidiary of Switzerland's largest telecommunications provider will acquire Core Communications Corp, headquartered in Northern Virginia.  Core Communications, with about 75 employees, is a professional services company specializing in data communications and Internet solution for the hospitality industry.

 

 

From The Foreign Desk

 

Clinical House, a German supplier of medical technology products, has launched its Swiss subsidiary Clinical House Europe GmbH in Zurich to facilitate the European expansion of the high-tech implant supplier.

 

Dormio Leisure Development from the Netherlands and EPS-Projectmanagement GmbH from Germany reportedly plan to build a vacation resort with 850 beds, vacation apartments, a harbor and sports facilities in the town of Unterterzen on the shores of Lake Walensee.  Projected opening date is sometime in 2008.

 

An equally ambitious mega real estate project is apparently on the drawing boards for Andermatt in the Canton of Uri.  The Orascom Group of Egypt plans to develop a huge resort complex spanning one million square meters including hotels, apartments, vacation homes, wellness services and a golf course. The resort, on which construction is not expected to begin until 2008, is intended to attract tourist from all over Europe to one of Switzerland's best know mountain towns.

 

 

Other News

 

The Forbes Global 2000 for 2006 lists 39 Swiss companies starting with UBS at 10 through BCGE Group ranked at 1997. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/18/Country_11.html

 

According to the latest OECD report, Switzerland ranks 4th behind Iceland, Korea, Netherlands and Denmark in broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants at 23.1. The U.S. ranks 12th among industrialized nations at 16.8.

 

The Networked Readiness Index, released by the world Economic Forum for the fifth time, finds the US leading the pack and Switzerland, unchanged in ninth place.  All of the top ten countries were found to have a transparent government and regulatory system, leading educational institutions, favorable framework conditions for business and a high acceptance of new technologies.

 

 

Publicity and Promotion

 

The 2006 edition of "Switzerland, your International Management Gateway to Europe" is off the press.  For print copies email locswitz@locationswitzerland.com or go online at www.locationswitzerland.com/html/publications/gateway06.pdf

 

 

Releases since our last Newsletter:

 

 

February 14 - Report on 2005 North American investments and expansions

 

March 7 - VF Corporation Consolidates European Shared Services and other Key

 

Operations in Switzerland

 

March 29 - Red Herring opens EMEA Headquarters in Switzerland

 

April 11 - Zurich, Geneva and Berne in Top 10 in 2006 Mercer Quality of Living Survey

 

April 25 - GenKyoTex Launched in Switzerland to Combat Cellular Aging

 

 

 

News from Location Promotion Switzerland