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SWISS BUSINESS NEWS

 

 

WINTER 2005 - 2006

 

 

Top of the News

 

Switzerland landed 41 new investment projects from North America during 2005 vs. 18 in 2004. Among the better known are Eaton Corporation, Hercules, Kennametal and O-I (formerly Owens Illinois).  There were 19 expansions by existing investors vs. 9 in 2004 plus 52 M&A projects involving North American firms compared to 16 for the prior year.   

 

 

Wins and Updates

 

GW Equity, a global investment banking firm assisting middle market clients in M&A transactions with its global headquarters in Dallas, TX, announced the opening of a new office in Zurich.  The new office will serve as the firm's gateway to Western European companies and investors looking to buy or sell in the middle market.

 

California-based American Vanguard Corporation has expanded its international operations with the formation of a new subsidiary, AMVAC Switzerland GmbH and the opening of a new office in Basel.

 

Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology company selected Ireland over other candidates for a new manufacturing plant.  It is moving its European headquarters from Lucerne to Zug where it is also establishing Amgen International.  The new unit is expected to enhance access to Amgen's vital medicines for patients in emerging markets in Central and Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

 

San Carlos, CA-based Postini, a global leader in integrated message management announced the opening of two new data centers in Geneva and Zurich.  In addition to the data centers, the California company will open a new Zurich office to deal with customer support, technical account management and operational service issues.

 

Idexx Laboratories, Inc. based in Westbrook (a suburb of Portland), ME, acquired two veterinary service product companies, Dr. Bommeli and Dr. Grau Beterinary Diagnostics, both based in the Canton of Bern.  Idexx is a leader in innovative products and services for veterinary food and water applications and is publicly traded (NASDAQ: IDXX).

 

Software giant Microsoft in November announced it will buy Zurich-based media-streams, a firm that develops technology for making telephone calls through the Internet. Microsoft said it intends to integrate media-streams' technology into its Office software.

 

California-based Digital Realty Trust, an owner and manager of corporate data centers and Internet gateways, has acquired Geneva Data Center in the Meyrin industrial area for 10.1 million Euros.

 

Liberty Global, in a $2.2 billion deal, has completed the acquisition of Cablecom, Switzerland's largest broadband cable operator.

 

Advanced Digital Information Corp. of Redmond, Washington, has created a shared services center in Switzerland to improve customer services, centralize administrative support and integrate overhead from several acquisitions.

 

Twin Disc, Inc., Racine, WI, a developer, engineer and manufacturer and distributor of power transmission products, has acquired Rolla SP Propellers SA of Ticino

 

 

From The Foreign Desk

 

Netherlands-based food and consumer products giant Unilever NV has located its Unilever Supply Chain Company (USCC) in Schaffhausen. USCC will coordinate the procurement of raw and packaging material and the planning of production, the transport and warehousing of finished products from the European manufacturing sites to the end-user markets. Approximatly160 employees will staff the company.

 

Clinical House, a German supplier of medical technology products, has launched its Swiss subsidiary Clinical House Europe GmbH in Zurich.  Headquartered in Bochum, the company aims to create new markets for its high-quality medical technology products.  For additional information, see www.clinical-house.de

 

 

Other News

 

A recently released study jointly produced by the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and the Boston Consulting Group confirms the attractiveness of Switzerland for foreign companies and applauds the significant contribution they make to the country.  The Study shows that about ten percent of Swiss GDP is generated directly or indirectly by foreign companies and that these companies even more significantly contribute about one quarter of all economic growth in Switzerland.

 

A November 24 Financial Times article titled "Old Europe feels the winds of change" discussed the impact of tax policies on foreign direct investment.  The article noted that Oxford Intelligence reports "More commonly, tax plays an important role in deciding the location of new investment. Inward investment statistics for 2005 show that although the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment, Switzerland and the Netherlands are disproportionately successful at attracting international headquarters."

 

Zurich-based Micronas Semiconductor Holding AG last October announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire all shares of privately held fabless semiconductor company WISchip International Ltd. in Santa Clara, CA.

 

Fidelity International's compilation of the top 10 companies in Continental Europe in terms of market capitalization lists 4 Swiss firms compared to one in 1985.  Switzerland replaces Germany as the country with the most on the list led by France's Total.  Novartis, Nestle, Roche and UBS rank 2nd through 5th.

 

The Garvin business school in Thunderbird, Arizona, has agreed to work more closely with the Swiss Graduate Institute of International Studies.  This follows an earlier Thunderbird decision to move its European campus to Geneva from Archamps in France.  Details at www.thunderbird.edu

 

According to a study announced in SwissInfo, the stereotypical image of the conscientious, tradition-bound Swiss has been exposed as a myth.  The study covered 49 cultures and shows the Swiss as "most open" to new experiences.

 

 

Publicity and Promotion

 

A release on Unilever Supply Chain Company opening in Shaffhausen was distributed on January 24, while one on ADIC's new shared services center in Zurich was distributed February 7.

 

Another Swiss Info article reporting on the Gotthard Base Tunnel's Porta Alpina rail station planned for construction 800 meters below ground was sent to our Logistics Tour journalists.  It was picked up by Logistics News and is expected to be included in an article in Inbound Logistics.   In the latter instance we provided the editor with contacts. If completed, Porta Alpina will be the deepest underground station in the middle of the longest railway tunnel, connected to the surface by the longest lift.

 

Currently in production is our 2006 edition of "Switzerland - the International Management Gateway to Europe" and a new brochure focused on basing supply chain strategy and logistics operations in Switzerland.

 

In response to a request from Karen Thuermer, a writer for fDi Magazine, we provided a list of companies that have, or possibly have, shared services centers in Switzerland, including an advance copy of our release on ADIC's new shared services center in Zurich.  Our release was distributed February 7.

 

Our next media tour is scheduled for the week of May 14 and will cover Mechatronics, Robotics and Autonomous Systems.

 

 

 

News from Location Promotion Switzerland