^c[dhj^hhZ Publication of the Swiss Canadian Chambers of Commerce Ontario and Quebec Publication des Chambres de Commerce Canado-Suisse de l’Ontario et du Québec October/November Octobre / Novembre 2014 Feature/Reportage eature/Reportage:: Swiss Subsidiaries in Canada Les filiales Suisses au Canada www.swissbiz.ca www.cccsqc.ca Une véritable révolution pour votre café en grande tasse et votre espresso. Découvrez la nouvelle technologie CentrifusionMC et savourez ce goût incroyablement onctueux et cette crema formée naturellement. D É COU VREZ LA RÉVO LU T I ON S U R WWW. NES PRESS O.CO M #TheCoffeeRevolution Publication of the Swiss Canadian Chambers of Commerce Ontario and Quebec Publication des Chambres de Commerce Canado-Suisse de l’Ontario et du Québec FEATURE / REPORTAGE Swiss Subsidiaries in Canada / Les filiales Suisses au Canada 4 6 7 Switzerland and Canada – Trade & Investments Update Services et Solutions TWM Canada Inc. Kaba Montreal Facility Meets with the Security Needs of the Lodging Market BUSINESS AND OTHER NEWS ACTUALITÉS ÉCONOMIQUES ET D’AFFAIRES 9 12 14 16 17 19 21 28 Obtaining Citizenship in Canada and in Switzerland Karin Lindner: Manufacture Your Future US Citizen and Green Card Holders Living in Canada – Further Changes to US Income Tax Amnesty Programs Business News Swiss Watch Industry Welcomes Apple’s iWatch Despite Warning Economists Predict That Switzerland Faces Several Months of Weaker Economic Growth UBS: Too Big to Lend Trade Fairs CHAMBER NEWS INFORMATIONS DE VOTRE CHAMBRE 2 3 11 15 17 22 22 25 26 28 President’s Message SCCC/Upcoming Events Message du Président CCCS / Événements à venir Member Profile Quote of the Month Scholarship Fund SCCC New Members Nouveaux Membres – CCCS Cocktail de la rentrée Travel News SCCC Group Health Plan CONTENTS / INDICE ^c[dhj^hhZ Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Ontario) Inc. 756 Royal York Road • Toronto, Ontario M8Y 2T6 Tel: (416) 236-0039 • Fax: (416) 236-3634 • E-mail: sccc@swissbiz.ca • www.swissbiz.ca BOARD OF DIRECTORS • 2014 – 2015 President / Director: Ernst Notz Nacora 2 Hunter Avenue, Toronto ON M6E 2C8 Tel: 416-784-2872 Email: ernst.notz@rogers.com 1st Vice-President/Director: Julien Favre UBS Bank (Canada) 154 University Avenue, Toronto ON M5H 3Z4 Tel: 416-345-7033 Email: julien.favre@ubs.com Website: www.ubs.com/1/e/canada Treasurer/ Director: Monica Stevens-Wyss Trowbridge Professional Corporation 25 Adelaide St. E.; Suite 1400; Toronto, ON M5C 3A1 Phone: 416-214-7833 ext.104 Email: monica.stevens@trowbridge.ca Website: www.trowbridge.ca Secretary & Legal Counsel: Bernard Lette Lette LLP 20 Queen Street West, #3300, P.O. Box 33, Toronto ON M5H 3R3 Tel: 416-971-4898 Email: blette@lette.ca Website: www.lette.ca Past President / Director: Philipp Gysling Mesh Innovations Inc. 174 Hallam Street, Toronto ON M6H 1X5 Tel: 416-871-8159 Email: philipp.gysling@meshinnovations.com Website: www.meshinnovations.com Directors: Brett Berman IMD Alumni Club of Canada 107 Cottingham Street, Toronto, ON M4V 1B9 Tel: 416-464-9422 Email: b.berman@intifin.com Rudi Blatter Lindt & Spruengli (Canada) Inc. 181 University Avenue, Suite 900, Toronto ON M5H 3M7 Tel: 416-351-8566 Email: rblatter@lindt.com Website: www.lindt.com Heidy Lawrance WeMakeBooks.ca 238 Willowdale Ave., North York ON M2N 4Z5 Tel: 416-733-1827 Email: heidy@wemakebooks.ca Website: WeMakeBooks.ca Sandra Leuba RBC Wealth Management CINEBOXX Film & Television Inc. 136 Curzon Street, Toronto ON M4M 3B5 Tel: 416-616-4251 Email: leubasandra@yahoo.ca Dear Members, Having just spent a few weeks in the Swiss mountains (Graubuenden), I realize each time how beautiful this Swiss region is and how charming their “Romansh” is and that we must do everything possible to save our forth official language. In strong contrast to this peaceful small part of the world, we are experiencing in many parts of this world political turmoil, race and religion issues, crime, corruption and poverty, climate change, diseases etc. We are fortunate to live and be associated with the two countries, Canada and Switzerland,that celebrate and embrace democracy, where we are encouraged to raise our voice in support of our values, concerns and priorities. This issue’s feature is on “Subsidiaries”, i.e. Swiss firms that are already established or plan to come to Canada. Together with Switzerland Global Enterprise and its local Business Hub, our Chamber is offering our services to help potential interested firms to set foot in this promising marketplace. SCCC offers Swiss and Canadian firms to present themselves in this magazine in the “Member Profile” section. The remaining months – scary how fast this year went by – SCCC will again have its popular Dinner & Dance event and the theme will be the above mentioned canton of Grisons. Together with the Canadian Swiss Cultural Association we are also planning to attend an opera-in-concert event, i.e. Rossini’s’ William Tell. Please see details on our website. We have started to plan for 2015 more business oriented networking events and presentations (incl. IMD) and invite our members to come forward with new ideas. Yours sincerely, Ernst Notz, President Marianne Mian-Krenger Re/Max Legacy Realty Inc. Brokerage 368 Lees Lane, Oakville, ON L6L 4S5 Tel: W: 905-272-5000 Tel: H: 416-820-2003 Email: mariannemian@gmail.com Ronnie Miller Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd 2455 Meadowpine Boulevard, Mississauga ON L5N 6L7 Tel: 905-542-5522 Email: ronnie.miller@roche.com Website: www.rochecanada.com Christoph Oehy Swiss Reinsurance Company 150 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 1J9 Tel: 647-775-2443 Email: christoph_oehy@swissre.com Website: www.swissre.com Daniel Oehy Swissmar 35 East Beaver Creek Rd, Unit 6, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1B3 Tel: 905-764-1121 Email: danielo@swissmar.com Website: www.swissmar.com Urs Uhlmann Zurich 400 University Avenue, 25th Floor, Toronto ON M5G 1S7 Tel: 416-586-2959 Email: urs.uhlmann@zurich.com Website: www.zurich.ca 2014 / 2015 COMING EVENTS 2014 Events: November 15 December 5 Gala Dinner Dance at the King Edward Hotel William Tell at Roy Thomson Hall April 22 June 9 2015 Events: AGM Golf Tournament Honorary Director: Kathy Utigard Honorary Consul of Toronto 193 Riverview Street, Oakville, ON L6L 5S3 Tel: 905-845-1259 E-mail: kathy.utigard@gmail.com Executive Assistant: Patricia Keller Schläpfer – SCCC 756 Royal York Road, Toronto ON M8Y 2T6 Tel: 416-236-0039 Fax: 416-551-1011 E-mail: sccc@swissbiz.ca Website: www.swissbiz.ca Typesetting and Assembly: Nancy Raitt @ corptype Printed by: J. B. Deschamps 2 INFO SUISSE Further Information can be found on www.swissbiz.ca/upcoming_events Dates above are subject to change La Chambre de commerce canado-suisse (Québec) Inc. Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Quebec) Inc. 1572 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montréal, Qué. H3G 1C4 • Tél: (514) 937-5822 • Fax: (514) 954-5619 • E-mail: info@cccsqc.ca • Web site: www.cccsqc.ca CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION / BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013 – 2014 Président / President M. Christian G. Dubois Président Onix international Tel: (514) 624 5740 courriel:onixi@videotron.ca Secrétaire / Secretary Me Monica Schirdewahn Avocate / Lawyer Lette & Associés Tel: 514.871.3838, # 213 E-mail: mschirdewahn@lette.ca Vice-présidents / Vice-Presidents Mr. Bruno Setz Consultant Tel: 514.767.5123 E-mail : brunosetz@videotron.ca Mr. Olivier Rodriguez Gestionnaire de portefeuille Mirabaud Canada Inc. Tel: 514.393.1690 E-mail : olivier.rodriguez@mirabaud.ca Trésorier / Treasurer Mr. Othmar Widmer Consultation Widmer Tel: 450.973.2864 E-mail: widmer.aviation@gmail.com Directeurs / Directors Mme Mina Cicale Directrice Générale Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. Tel: 514.954.5600 E-mail: mina.cicale@swiss.com Mr. Christian G. Dubois President Onix International Tel: 514.624.5740 onixi@videotron.ca Me Jean-Marc Ferland Avocat Ferland, Marois, Lanctot Tel: 514.861.1110 E-mail: ferland@fml.ca Mr. Moritz Gruber Consultant Tel: 450.264.6278 E-mail: mfgruber@live.ca Mme Marie-Josée Loiselle Présidente Nuno ID Tel: 514.574.6641 mariejo@nuno-id.com Mr. Jean-Aymeri de Magistris Directeur Ventes et Marketing Stambac International Tel : 514.564 6798 E-mail: jmagistris@stambac.com Chères, chers membres, Voilà la saison est lancée, nous avons eu notre cocktail d’ouverture et ce fut un succès sur la magnifique terrasse de l’Auberge Saint Gabriel, chez notre membre et ami Marc Bolay. Septembre va rester marqué dans les annales de la Chambre en effet depuis le début du mois nous avons des bureaux, donc un siège social, avec salle de conférence accessible pour nos réunions du conseil. Il y a des décennies que la Chambre n’avait pas eu son propre bureau, voila qui est chose faite. Un très grand merci à Alfid, Walter et Jean-Jacques, pour cette superbe place. Nous sommes donc au 3450 rue Drummond, bureau 152, au centre ville de Montréal. Septembre marque aussi la mise en place de notre tout nouveau site web je vous encourage à aller le visiter, une très belle réussite, grâce à la précieuse collaboration des membres de notre conseil. Le 19 septembre marque également le dévoilement devant l’Hôtel de Ville de Québec de l’horloge offerte par le Canton du Jura à la Ville de Québec pour célébrer leur 400ème anniversaire. J’aurai le plaisir de représenter la Chambre à ce prestigieux événement en compagnie du Consul Général de la Suisse et du Président du Parlement Jurassien entre autres. Sur une nouvelle un peu plus triste, le monde du design montréalais a perdu un de ses géants en août : M. Frédéric Metz nous a quitté. Une cérémonie en sa mémoire a d’ailleurs eu lieu ce mois-ci à l’UQÀM où Frédéric a enseigné pendant plusieurs décennies. On lui doit, entre autres, l’accent circonflexe sur le À de l’UQÀM et oui c’est du Frédéric Metz, un beau souvenir. Nos activités continuent, suivez-nous sur le site pour le prochain évènement d’octobre. Je vous souhaite un très bel automne et au plaisir de vous revoir tous. Christian G. Dubois Président du conseil d’administration Mr. Paul Wieser PDG pour le Canada Busch Vacuum Technics Inc. Tel: 450.435.6899 E-mail: pamawi@busch.ca Directeur honoraire / Honorary Director Mr. Beat Kaser Consul général de Suisse Tel: 514.932.7181 E-mail: beat.kaser@eda.admin.ch ÉVÉNEMENTS / UPCOMING EVENTS 2014 5 novembre / November 5th Visite Institut Neurologique Montréal / Visit Montreal Neurologic Institute 19 novembre / November 19th Soirée Fondue / Fondue Night Liaison au Consulat général de Suisse Mr. Paolo Bezzola Consul Tel: 514.932.7181 E-mail: paolo.bezzola@eda.admin.ch Conseiller juridique / Legal Counsel Des événements supplémentaires seront ajoutés au fur et à mesure Lette & Associés Tel: 514.871.3838, # 213 E-mail: mschirdewahn@lette.ca Additional events will be added as soon as the dates will be known Responsable de l’administration / Administration Officer Mme France Nadeau Tel: 514.937.5822 E-mail: info@cccsqc.ca Dates sujettes à changement / Dates are subject to change INFORMATION et détails/and details : www.cccsqc.ca ou/or (514) 937-5822 O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 3 Swiss Subsidiaries in Canada / Les filiales Suisses au Canada SWITZERLAND AND CANADA – TRADE & INVESTMENTS UPDATE Canada is the 2nd most important economic partner in North America for Switzerland. Canada is a great market for Swiss exports and also for Swiss FDI*. Since 2009, Canada has a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), a trading bloc consisting of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Switzerland is already a world leader in capital investment abroad (FDI) relative to its GDP: it ranks 6th in the world with a FDI/ GDP ratio of 149% (2008). The volume of Swiss FDI in the world has quadrupled since 2000. Switzerland is also a major recipient of the world’s FDI. • Swiss FDI in the world: 809 B CH / 2,44 M jobs (2008) • World FDI in Switzerland: 467 B CH / 242 000 jobs (2008) 4 INFO SUISSE Switzerland has a steady positive commercial balance of trade with Canada and is also its 5th largest investor (FDI). Switzerland-Canada - Trade (2013) • Swiss Exports to Canada: 4 B$ • Canada Exports to Switzerland: 1,8 B$ Switzerland-Canada – Investments (2013) • Swiss FDI in Canada: 19 B$ • Canadian FDI in Switzerland: 6,9 B$ The value of Canada’s exports to Switzerland has decreased at an annual rate of 9,8% between 2007 and 2012 whereas the value of Canadian imports from Switzerland increased at an annual rate of 9,4% from 2007 to 2012. The majority of the Canadian exports to Switzerland are from Ontario and Quebec (83,8% in 2012). Nevertheless, from 2007 to 2012, the fastest growing provincial exports to Switzerland were from Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Alberta. Canada’s exports to Switzerland is a mix of resource-based and manufactured goods (42,8% and 57,2% in 2012). Canada’s imports from Switzerland are 95% manufactured goods. In 2011, Swiss subsidiaries were creating jobs for 57 000 people in Canada. The Greater Montreal region alone is home to some 70 Swiss subsidiaries. We find the major ones like Nestlé, Novartis, but also others like Kaba Ilco (security systems), Phostech/Clariant (lithium for batteries), Mirabaud, Pictet, etc. The majority of the 48 Swiss companies on the 2013 Forbes Global 2000 list have a presence in Canada: Nestlé, Novastis, Roche, Swiss Re, ABB, Xstrata, Holcim, Syngenta, UBS, Adecco, Kuehne + Nagel, Transocean, Schindler, Weatherford International, STMicroelectronic, Lindt & Sprungli, Sika, Sulzer Group, etc. The diversity of the activities of the Swiss subsidiaries in Canada indicates the depth of the Swiss knowhow: resource-based, manufactured goods, construction products, chemicals, medications, agro food, machinery and precision instruments, oilfield service and equipment, banking, insurance, information technology (IT), etc. Recent investments by Swiss subsidiaries in Canada (2012) Phostech/Clariant: 78$M in new plant in Candiac (Québec) to produce carbon coated lithium iron phosphate (C-LiFePO4) a high performance energy storage material used in batteries for electric vehicle drives, stationary energy storage and other applications. (2013) ABB transferred 4 types of products from their operations in Mexico to the Baldor Ste-Claire facility in Québec. Baldor’s Ste-Claire facility specializes in the design, production and marketing of top quality power transmission product components for a large range of industrial applications. In January 2011, Baldor was acquired by ABB Your in-depth knowledge Our risk assessment His quality of life Who will provide the healthcare that our ageing populations need, and the quality of life they expect? You know the issues better than the back of your own, elegantly ageing hand. And so do we. For example, right now in the US we’re working with clients to combine their expert market knowledge with our risk assessment capabilities. The result? Affordable private insurance that will not only provide retirees with comprehensive medical cover for the rest of their lives – but peace of mind for everyone concerned. Especially him. We’re smarter together. www.swissre.com/info2 O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 5 Swiss Subsidiaries in Canada / Les filiales Suisses au Canada and is now a proud member of the ABB Group. (2014) Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli AG is planning to open 12 stores in Canada by 2016. Lindt recently opened two Canadian stores: Niagara Outlet Collection and Wellington Crossing (in London, Ont.). Two more units are confirmed for fall: Landsdowne Park in Ottawa, and Montreal Premium Outlets. The company expects to finish the year with 22 Canadian stores. (2011) In 2011, Roche Pharmaceuticals announced a significant expansion with the introduction of a Global Pharmaceutical Development site, which plays a leadership role in worldwide clinical trials. The project involved an investment by Roche of more than $190 million in Ontario, and has resulted in a growth from 76 to 236 people in Pharmaceutical Development since the announcement. (2011) Sika Canada announces the opening of a new distribution centre located in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. The 8,400 m2 building will support the company’s continued growth and market demands in the construction products. This is their largest distribution centre in Sika Canada’s network and it supports all of Sika Canada’s business units. * The International Monetary Fund defines foreign direct investment (FDI) as an investment that allows an investor to have a significant voice in the management of an enterprise operating outside the investor’s own country. The phrase “significant voice” usually means ownership of 10 per cent or more of the ordinary shares or voting power (for an incorporated enterprise) or the equivalent (for an unincorporated enterprise). This may involve either creating an entirely new enterprise—a so-called greenfield investment— or, more typically, changing the ownership of existing enterprises, via mergers and acquisitions. Other types of financial transactions between related enterprises, such as reinvesting the earnings of the FDI enterprise, are also defined as FDI. Source: www.seco.admin.ch Source : http://www.canadainternational. gc.ca/switzerland-suisse/bilateral_ relations_bilaterales/fs_switzerland-suisse_ fd.aspx?lang=fra 6 INFO SUISSE Source : http://www.economywatch.com/ companies/forbes-list/switzerland.html Source : http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ ResearchPublications/2013-72-e.htm#notes Mme Marie-Josée Loiselle, Chambre de Commerce Canada Suisse (Québec) ■ Services et Solutions TWM Canada Inc. est une toute jeune filiale du groupe TeamWork créée en 2014 à Montréal par ses actuels Vice-Présidents Éric Beauxerois et Johann Marty. TeamWork est une entreprise Suisse de services en technologies de l’information, fondée en 1999 par son actuel président Philippe Rey-Gorrez. Concentrant la majorité de son activité sur SAP ainsi que sur les nouvelles technologies, TeamWork compte plus de 350 employés à travers le monde pour un chiffre d’affaire consolidé de 53 MCHF en 2013. Implantée à Genève et à Berne, TeamWork s’est bâti au fil des années une solide réputation de professionnalisme, d’abord auprès de ses clients Suisses publics et privés, puis étrangers avec le développement de ses différentes succursales en France (Paris, Lyon), aux États-Unis (Chicago) et en Asie (Singapour, Hô-Chi-Minh). Les valeurs fondatrices de TeamWork guident au quotidien la relation de confiance et de long terme que nous établissons avec nos clients : professionnalisme et expertise de nos consultants, qualité des relations humaines, proximité géographique. L’esprit d’équipe et l’engagement personnel sont deux piliers très forts de la culture de l’entreprise, qui se retrouvent dans la pratique sportive offerte aux employés et à travers du sponsoring ciblé. Pour son expansion internationale, TeamWork a chaque fois fait confiance à un employé volontaire et expérimenté pour accompagner ses clients suisses à travers le monde puis y développer une activité locale. Fin 2012, au cours d’une discussion avec Philippe Rey-Gorrez, Johann lui présente son projet de s’installer à Montréal pour des raisons familiales. L’idée de créer une structure TeamWork au Canada est lancée, avant de mûrir au sein du groupe et se concrétiser un an plus tard. Après une formation d’ingénieur en systèmes de communication et réseaux, Johann a obtenu un master en technologies de l’internet. Il rejoint TeamWork en 2006 où il dirige l’équipe genevoise « Nouvelles Technologies » de 2011 à 2014. C’est un fervent promoteur des nouvelles technologies appliquées à SAP, afin d’améliorer l’expérience utilisateur et faciliter l’intégration de systèmes complexes au sein des entreprises. Ingénieur de formation, Éric a commencé à travailler sur SAP en 1998 et rejoint TeamWork en 2002. Il a développé au cours des années de nombreuses compétences techniques et fonctionnelles SAP, mais aussi de gestion de projet SAP, de gestion d’affaires et de gestion d’équipe. Il a dirigé la succursale de Genève durant six ans jusqu’à son départ pour Montréal. Tout au long de ces années, Éric et Johann ont été appréciés et reconnus par leurs clients pour leur grande expertise SAP, que ce soit en Europe ou parfois en Asie. Ils se réjouissent maintenant de relever le défi à Montréal, pour construire dans la durée une nouvelle étape du développement de TeamWork sur le sol canadien. Le renforcement de notre présence en Amérique du Nord permet de consolider notre offre de support 24/24 des applications SAP à destination de nos clients internationaux opérant en Europe – Asie – Amérique. Toujours à la recherche des meilleures solutions pour nos clients, le marché montréalais semble idéal pour proposer nos services et solutions innovantes en bénéficiant d’un environnement technologique très actif et d’un bassin de ressources compétentes. Enfin, le Québec offre de nombreux avantages aux nouveaux employeurs : simplicité et efficacité administrative, charges faibles pour les entreprises, aide à l’accueil des nouveaux arrivants, qualité de vie attractive. Par sa double culture francophone et anglophone, Montréal constitue un point d’entrée idéal sur le Canada et les États-Unis, en même temps qu’un pont naturel avec l’Europe. A Montréal, nous offrons surtout trois types d’offres : services spécialisés SAP, nouvelles technologies en lien ou non avec SAP, solutions TeamWork à haute valeur ajoutée. Nous proposons également des services d’infrastructure en s’appuyant sur les capacités du groupe : installation de serveurs haute disponibilité / haute performance, de systèmes SAP, configuration, administration et support 24/24. Nous couvrons les aspects techniques et fonctionnels en conseillant nos clients sur la meilleure manière d’utiliser leurs solutions SAP en fonction de leurs processus de gestion d’affaires. Nous sommes à même de les aider à réussir leurs projets de par notre grande expérience sur les méthodologies éprouvées telles qu’ASAP ou AGILE. Nous sommes très investis sur les nouveautés technologies telles que HTML5, SAPUI 5, Hybris … autant d’opportunités qui permettent aux entreprises de déporter aisément leur site internet et autres applications web sur différents supports comme les ordinateurs, tablettes et mobiles. Nous espérons développer notre activité à Montréal, nouer une relation de confiance avec les clients et partenaires locaux sur le long terme en se faisant apprécier pour notre savoir-faire et notre savoir-être. Nous nous sommes inscrits à la Chambre de Commerce Canado-Suisse, que nous remercions pour son activité et les efforts qu’elle fournit, afin de promouvoir l’entreprenariat suisse. Nous comptons représenter dignement le groupe Suisse TeamWork lors des divers évènements organisés par la CCCS. www.twmcanada.net Kaba is a Swiss-based company, leading player in the worldwide security industry. With its innovative products, systems and services, globally active technology group Kaba (SIX Swiss Exchange: KABN) is a leading provider of high quality access management solutions, locks, cylinders, physical access systems, enterprise data and time recording, and hotel access systems. The Group is also the global market leader for high security locks, key blanks, transponder keys and key manufacturing machines. For more than 150 years, Kaba has set trends in security and beyond – in terms of functionality, convenience and design, and always with a focus on optimum value to customers. The listed Group employs around 7,500 people in more than 60 countries, including some 250 collaborators in the city of Montreal, Canada. KABA MONTREAL FACILITY MEETS WITH THE SECURITY NEEDS OF THE LODGING MARKET Kaba’s affiliates located in Montreal (QC, Canada) offers a wide range of hotel elec- ■ O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 7 Swiss Subsidiaries in Canada / Les filiales Suisses au Canada tomers with technical support on all its line of products. KABA HAS THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY LOCKED IN tronic locks, access control systems, safes and keycards for the lodging market, through their renowned brands ILCO and Saflok. The company manufactures high quality, stateof-the-art solutions that aim to enhance guest experience, in the global hotel industry. Its diverse portfolio includes magstripe and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) locks, wireless online systems, smart room and energy management interfacing as well as mobile access solutions allowing guests to access their room, using their smartphone. Because in today’s challenging world, it is essential to have a building that is safe and secure Kaba has the security solution for any access points in the hotel. As a global leader in developing and manufacturing robust and reliable access control solutions, Kaba offers systems designed for securing high-traffic access areas anywhere around the hotel. IN-HOUSE PRODUCTS WITH AN ATTRACTIVE DESIGN Over 50 dedicated engineers based in Montreal, think, develop and design inhouse customer driven products using the latest in technology. Beyond the security and functionality aspects, Kaba locks have 8 INFO SUISSE an attractive design to complement any existing hotel décor. All Kaba locks are then assembled and tested in the Montreal’s quality control labs. To comply with the high requirements in quality and get the appropriate security certifications, Kaba locks are subjected to rigorous tests to withstand and tear extreme temperatures. The electronic circuit boards within the locks are also manufactured in-house at Montreal. In addition to the hotel market, these circuit boards are also made for other Kaba products such as high-security locks. Every day, an amazing amount of locks, parts and circuit boards are shipped from Montreal’s factory to worldwide destinations. AN OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE Kaba offers a 1st class level of customer service throughout the entire product life cycle for both its Saflok and ILCO range of products, from installation & training to after-sales support. From the Montreal office, Kaba maintains a worldwide presence and ensures that its partners (affiliates and distributors) are Kaba certified by getting the required expertise to provide local cus- Kaba’s latest offering of RFID door locks are mobile-access compatible, giving operators a range of guest entry options. Kaba is an innovator in NFC (Near Field Communication), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and other technologies that enable the issuing and management of mobile credentials. Kaba’s secure digital credentials may be issued across its line of RFID access control products for safe and convenient entry to hotel rooms and other secured areas. The company offers a variety of mobile credential solutions to fit specific property needs. Kaba’s access platform flexibility improves operational efficiency and the guest experience. The Kaba Mobile Access Solution is a secure, end-to-end mobile credential delivery system that uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology. Kaba’s product emphasis is on flexible mobile credential systems based on tested technology that is proven to be secure and reliable. For more information: www.kaba.com ■ Business and Other News Actualités économiques et d’affaires OBTAINING CITIZENSHIP IN CANADA AND IN SWITZERLAND By Kurt Schläpfer, Switzerland Many readers of this article have acquired Canadian citizenship a long time ago and may remember little about the procedure necessary at that time to become a Canadian citizen. And some readers may ask whether it is easier to obtain a Swiss passport than a Canadian passport. As the governments of both countries are currently discussing reforms of their citizenship legislation, it might be interesting to compare the current and future requirements needed to obtain Canadian or Swiss citizenship. CANADA Approximately 33,700 people from 199 countries became Canadian citizens at citizenship ceremonies held (once a year) across Canada in March 2014. The requirements for obtaining Canadian citizenship are: • Have a permanent residence permit, • Have lived in Canada for at least three of the four years before you apply (exactly 1095 days), • Be able to communicate (read, write and speak) in English or French, • Have knowledge about Canada (history, geography, political system etc.). To fulfill this requirement, an applicant has to pass a citizenship test comprising 20 multiple choice questions (see examples below). The author of this article who recently met an elderly Canadian immigrant with very poor knowledge of English was wondering how it was possible for this person to obtain Canadian citizenship. The answer is that the requirements such as language proficiency and passing a knowledge test do not apply if you are 55 years of age or older. Based on a government report, more than 35% fail the the Canadian citizenship test. The processing time from receipt of application to final decision is typically 24 months. It is planned that this processing time would be less than one year by 2015-16. The processing fee for adults is 400 CAD. Canada does permit its citizens to hold dual or multi citizenship. As a result, new Canadian citizens will not lose their former nationality. The federal government is now introducing a series of reforms to the Citizenship Act that will make it tougher for many to become Canadian citizens. One of the changes — the O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 9 Business and Other News Actualités économiques et d’affaires first since the 1970s — is that permanent residents must have a physical presence in Canada for four years out of six years, compared to the current three out of four years. The bill will also expand the age range for those required to demonstrate language proficiency and pass a knowledge test, from the current age of 18-54 to age 14-64. Political opponents as well as refugee advocates were quick to criticize some of the amendments. The Canadian Council for Refugees said it was worried about increasing barriers to citizenship, particularly for refugees. Here are two possible questions from the Canadian Citizen Test: Approximately how many Canadians served in the First World War? a) 7000 b) 8 million c) About 60,000 d) More than 600,000 (correct answer) Give the first two lines of Canada’s national anthem? a) O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. (correct answer) b) O Canada! Our province and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. c) Canada! From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. SWITZERLAND Every year, around 40,000 people become Swiss citizens, three-quarters of whom are European. Yet only three out of 100 foreigners living in Switzerland have been granted Swiss citizenship – a small percentage compared to other countries. To become Swiss, there are basically three paths: through birth, marriage (not automatic) or naturalization. Unlike in Canada, Switzerland does not grant a child citizenship for being born in Switzerland. A person is automatically Swiss if one of the parents is Swiss. And Switzerland allows citizens to hold multiple nationalities. Foreigners with no family ties to Switzerland 10 INFO SUISSE must live in the country for at least 12 years before they can apply for citizenship. The 12-year period is a federal rule and applies to all cantons. In addition there are cantonal residence requirements, which would typically include: • Living in the canton for 2 years • Integrated in the Swiss way of live • Familiar with Swiss customs and traditions Language knowledge is tested either in an informal interview or in a formalized test. In addition, some cantons conduct citizenship exams comprising questions about the history, the political system and the geography of Switzerland. Cantons can make exceptions for elderly or disabled applicants. The costs of naturalization applications vary widely depending on the canton and can be affected by factors such as age, marital status and income. The total fee can range from 900 to 4,500 CHF. The naturalization process usually takes between 1½ and 3 years. Here are two questions from a Swiss cantonal citizenship exam: Who was the first woman elected in 1984 to the Federal Council? a) Ruth Dreifuss b) Ruth Metzler c) Elisabeth Kopp (correct answer) d) Micheline Calmy-Rey Since when Swiss women are entitled to vote at the federal level? a) since 1946 b) since 1971 (correct answer) c) since 1919 d) since 1878 Under a new naturalization law approved in June 2014 by the parliament, foreigners will have to wait ten years, rather than 12, before they can request citizenship. But the Swiss passport remains still one of the most difficult to obtain in Europe. The parties on the political left felt the conditions for naturalization are still too strict. Even with the new law, Switzerland remains one of the strictest countries in Europe in terms of residency requirements. Only six other European countries, including Italy, Spain and Austria, require ten years. In most other countries five to eight years are required. ■ At one glance: Becoming a Canadian or Swiss Citizen Canada Switzerland Required status of residency Permanent residence permit Permanent residence permit (C permit) Minimum time of residency before application 1065 days 12 years (new: 10 years) Proficiency in at least one national language Yes (when younger than 55) Yes Passing a citizenship test Yes (when younger than 55) Yes (orally or in writing) Application fee 400 CAD Typically more than 1,000 CHF (depending on the canton) Usual processing time of the application 2 years 1½ – 3 years Member Profile Portrait d’un Membre GERVAIS RIOUX Founder and CEO of Argon 18 Canada in major international events for over a decade, such as the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. A VISION OF CYCLING Throughout his racing career, three personal traits defined Gervais Rioux: leadership, an unflagging determination in his every effort as well as an undying passion for his sport. These qualities have remained undiminished in his current role as cycle designer and company CEO. THE BEGINNINGS This is the story of a combative little kid riding his very first bike race. His bike is nothing special; heavy, a mass-produced clunker with fat tires. The kid looks kinda funny too. This being Canada, he’s borrowed a buddy’s hockey helmet to ride the race, a race he ends up winning. It’s 1973 and the kid’s name is Gervais Rioux and he’s about to discover a whole new world, the wonderful world of cycling and he decides right there and then that he is going to make that world his. A few years later, he witnesses the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and there’s no turning back now, his path is set: he too must reach the topmost rung of the ladder, the pinnacle of cycling achievement, pushing the envelope to the limit. ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NORTHAMERICAN RACERS OF HIS GENERATION The kid turned out to be one of the most successful North-American racers of his generation, with 150 or so victories in America and Europe. The list includes three Canadian road racing champion titles, three Quebec road championships, a win at Grand Prix de Beauce, a Tour of Luxembourg, a Tour of Nevada. While a member of prestigious, powerful squads such as Ten Speed Drive and Evian-Miko, Gervais Rioux also represented 1999: A TURNING POINT The year 1999 marked a turning point for the fledgling company; that’s when Argon 18 bicycles first appeared at Interbike and soon after became available everywhere in North America. This was extended to Europe the following year, and then to Asia and Oceania. Soon, Gervais Rioux, who by now was primarily occupied with bike design, began working with a material of almost unlimited potential: carbon fiber. This development work eventually yielded the Helium, the first full carbon frameset to bear the Argon 18 name. ■ In buying a Montreal bike shop at the close of his racing career, Gervais chose to put his vision of cycling to work in serving his customers. Thanks to this vision, the shop became an eastern Canadian authority in matters of road cycling and bike fit. More than 2000 bike fitting sessions took place in the store between 1990 and 1999. Alongside these developments, the house brand bike, the Argon 18, began attracting increasing attention everywhere in Canada, for its impeccable handling, quality fabrication and refined, detailed finish. O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 11 Business and Other News Actualités économiques et d’affaires Karin can be reached at 1-647-401-5274 or by e-mail at karin@ karicosolutions.com; you may also visit her website at www.karicosolutions.com MANUFACTURE YOUR FUTURE THE IRONMAN EXPERIENCE: ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE by Karin Lindner Fired up! I guess this is the best way to describe the feeling I had when I crossed the finish line at Ironman Austria after 7 months of relentless training. I had endured what many saw as a crazy adventure, obsession or too extreme for “the average person”. Even my mom said, “Karin, that’s not normal.” I don’t blame them because most people cannot wrap their head around these dis- tances. The Ironman is the toughest 1-day endurance event in the world and consists of a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km bike ride and a 42.2 km run (full marathon). I conquered this distance in 12 hours and 29 minutes. The allotted time to complete this race is 17 hours. Even if you came in only seconds after 17 hours meant that you were disqualified. Thankfully, I was far from being at risk of not making the cut. I agree, the Ironman is certainly not something the average person would go for. But then, who wants to be average? Being goal oriented, determined, committed, dedicated, focused, disciplined, and having a positive attitude and mental fortitude are only a few attributes that are must haves before you can even make it to the start of the race. So many people asked me “Why are you doing this to yourself?” My answer was simple, “I train for life. I train to be better in business. I train to serve my clients better. It does not only strengthens my body, most of all it strengthens my mind and my soul. We are capable of so much more than we ever think we are. It’s not about competing in an Ironman. It’s not about the finishing time. It’s about determination. It’s about going as far as you can go in your personal and professional life and having fun along the way. I have learned a long time ago that the only limits we have are the limits in our mind. The mind will quit 1,000 times before the body will. There is a great saying that I believe to be very true in our personal and professional life… “Making a big life change is pretty scary. But, know what’s even scarier? Regret.” This race is all about strategy but before we can even talk strategy, you have to register. Making the decision to get started is “ We make communication work seamlessly across six continents. Zurich does the same with our insurance.” Andrew M. Miller, President & CEO Polycom, Inc. A single property insurance solution designed to help reduce coverage gaps and overlaps. Polycom, a global leader in telepresence solutions, needed a financially strong carrier that could make complex insurance coverage easier. Zurich provided a custom solution that’s as simple as it is seamless, integrating property with liability coverage all under one policy. It’s an example of how Zurich delivers the help businesses need when it matters most. Watch the video to learn more. www.zurichcanada.com/stories Insurance is underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries within the Zurich Financial Services Group including, in Canada, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. Insurance product obligations are the sole responsibility of each issuing insurance company. For example, only the assets of Zurich Canada (and no other assets of the Zurich Financial Services Group) are available to meet its obligations for the performance of its products. For more complete financial information, audited annual statements of the Group and information on the ratings of the underwriting companies of Zurich in North America, access www.zurichcanada.com. Zurich® is a registered trademark of Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. 12 INFO SUISSE critical – in life and in business. There are so many things that can wrong in this race such as pacing, technical problems, lack of nutrition, dehydration, insufficient stamina to endure, etc. but you can get prepared for every single one of these challenges. That’s what it is all about. An Ironman competition has more to do with life and business than one might think. Personal fitness and endurance can easily be translated into organizational fitness. You may not be interested in this kind of craziness. So how could this be important to you? Have you made the decision to get started with something that is relevant for you? Do you want to know what it feels like to be fired up? Of course, you have to first set your goal and then get started,I have translated my race day experience into FIRE (focus, inspire, reflect, endure), 4 simple steps that if applied, guarantee success. Focus: Morning of July 29, 2014…. As soon as I was with 2,999 other athletes at the 6.45 a.m. start in the water, I knew that it was too late to turn around. Fear almost got the best of me but my commitment to make this a fun learning experience was stronger. Toooooooot….. Loud horn, race start, off I go…. In the water it is critical to pace yourself and get your breathing right from the get go, otherwise you will soon run out of steam. As soon as I found my rhythm I had to focus on these big yellow buoys that marked the course. The only way to keep on track was to lift my head out of the water on a pretty regular basis to see where I was. While I was focused on my swim, I didn’t even think about the bike and run. One step at a time. I just focused on making small adjustments along the way to keep my swim as straight as possible and respect all the other swimmers around me. I figured that if I won’t hit them, they won’t hit me and it was true. Don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you. Simple concept. In our personal and professional life the breathing represents our daily habits. Like LAWYERS – AVOCATS – RECHTSANWÄLTE For over 50 years, many of Europe’s largest corporate groups, as well as numerous small and medium-size companies, have counted on Lette to provide them with practical, sophisticated and cost-effective legal advice in Canada. CONTACT BERNARD LETTE BLETTE@LETTE.CA WWW.LETTE.CA TORONTO – LETTE LLP MONTRÉAL – LETTE & ASSOCIÉS S.E.N.C.R.L. breathing, our habits are for the most part automatic and rarely do we think if they serve us well or not. However, when we do, it makes such a big difference. We should certainly not sweat the small stuff BUT focusing on small adjustments to improve little, seemingly insignificant things along the way will have a tremendous impact in the big picture. Inspire: As soon as I mounted my bike I knew that I had to eat and to drink – the bike is the place to do that. Besides taking care of these basic needs, I also wanted to feed my spirit by smiling as much as I possibly could for the remainder of the race. You never know when and how you inspire other people to make significant changes in their life. To be at our best, I think it is important to inspire and to be inspired regularly. PARIS – LETTE ALÉRION MUNICH – LETTE & KNORR Reflect: Some moments are tougher than others – in business, in life and at the Ironman. Talking yourself through these moments and remembering “why” you started the journey is not only of tremendous value, it helps you to shift things into perspective. Sometimes it’s good to step aside and look at your life from a bird’s eye view and recognize yourself for all the good stuff that’s happening and how far you have come. Endure: No matter what, you have to endure to cross the finish line. After completing this long-distance triathlon, I know that it does not matter how big certain challenges are, you can always put one foot in front of another and keep going. You keep going and going and going until you cross the finish line. It’s as simple as that. I O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 13 Business and Other News Actualités économiques et d’affaires wanted to finish strong, healthy, and joyful, ...... and I did. In summary, I believe that if we truly want to change our manufacturing environments, our corporate cultures and even our personal lives, we have to generate excitement and make people aware how their daily habits and actions impact the bigger picture. If I would have focused only on the Ironman without breaking it down to what I need to do to make this a success, it would have been overwhelming. My daily habits and actions are what helped me to succeed in this great challenge. I didn’t focus on other people, I focused entirely on myself. So here is my final question. What would it be like if people in companies would strive to achieve their personal best rather than blaming others for their own shortcomings? Imagine that! If you think this can’t be done, ■ think again. Anything is possible. US CITIZEN AND GREEN CARD HOLDERS LIVING IN CANADA – FURTHER CHANGES TO US INCOME TAX AMNESTY PROGRAMS The US Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) recently announced changes to their tax amnesty programs, in a further effort to encourage taxpayers who may have unknowingly been obligated to file a US income tax return but have not yet complied. BACKGROUND To help certain taxpayers, including Canadians who are also US citizens or “green card” holders, who have previously not complied with their US tax reporting obligations, the IRS had put in place procedures to allow these taxpayers to come forward and avoid penalties and possible criminal conviction. The two IRS programs which were introduced in 2012 were the “streamlined” process and the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (“OVDP”). The IRS has made changes to these programs applicable to submissions made beginning on July 1, 2014. Revamped “Streamlined” Program The “streamlined” procedures continue to require the filing of US federal tax returns for three years, the filing of Foreign Bank Account Reports (FBARs) for six years, and payment of the full amount of tax and interest due in connection with the filings. However, the new “streamlined” procedures include a(n): • Elimination of the eligibility requirement that a taxpayer have $1,500 or less of unpaid tax per year; Bringing high-quality products to the world. It’s a Swiss tradition. There’s comfort in high-quality products. We should know. We export them. As the airline of Switzerland, we translate high quality into comfort on every Ðight by oøering service and hospitality you can count on. For daily Ðights from Montreal to Zurich, with connections to over 70 worldwide destinations, contact your travel agent or visit us on swiss.com 14 INFO SUISSE • Elimination of the requirement that applicants complete a risk questionnaire; and • New requirement that a taxpayer needs to certify that previous failures to comply were due to non-willful conduct. For taxpayers eligible for the “streamlined” procedures, all penalties will be waived if they reside outside the US. Modifications to the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (“OVDP”) Changes were also announced to the OVDP that may assist taxpayers who do not qualify for the “streamlined” procedures. The new changes to the OVDP include a(n): • Requirement for additional information from taxpayers applying through this program; • Elimination of the existing reduced penalty percentage for certain nonwilful taxpayers in light of the expanded eligibility for the “streamlined” program; • Requirement for taxpayers to submit all account statements; • Requirement for taxpayers to pay the offshore penalty at the time of the OVDP application; Ability for taxpayers to file large amounts of records electronically rather than via paper; and Increase in the penalty percentage (from 27.5% to 50%) if the financial institution where the taxpayer holds an offshore account or another party facilitating the taxpayer’s offshore arrangement is being investigated by the IRS or Department of Justice. card” holder and believe that you have not complied with your US income tax and foreign account disclosure obligations, and do not have a US tax preparer, please contact your Cunningham representative for a referral. Conclusion For an individual who is required to file a US income tax return and make various disclosures but has not done so, these changes make it easier and, in some cases more inviting to become compliant. Note that under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FACTA) foreign financial institutions are now required to report information to the IRS in connection with foreign accounts held by US citizens and “green card” holders, including those that live in Canada. We strongly recommend that taxpayers who are not up to date with their US tax filings do so immediately under one of these two programs. Cunningham does not prepare US tax returns. If you are a US citizen or “green This publication/communication is intended to inform readers of developments as of the date of publication/transmission and is neither a definitive analysis, nor a substitute for professional advice. You should consult with your Cunningham or other professional advisor(s) to obtain additional details. This publication may be displayed or printed only for personal non-commercial use and unchanged. Copyright 2014 by Cunningham LLP • • For more information contact: Cunningham Tax Department 2001 SHEPPARD AVE. E., SUITE 810 TORONTO, ON CANADA M2J 4Z8 www.cunninghamca.com ■ Quote of the Month In a time of universal deceit – telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 15 Business and Other News Actualités économiques et d’affaires THE WORLD’S MOST REPUTABLE COUNTRIES, 2014 Which countries have the best reputations? What does that even mean? The Reputation Institute, a global private consulting firm based in New York and Copenhagen, has just released its fifth annual “Country RepTrak” of what it calls “The World’s Most Reputable Countries,” a tool the firm uses to help it advise countries on how to bolster their reputations around the globe. It also advises companies who want to know how their country of origin influences their reputations elsewhere. This year it made some changes to the list. Instead of rating the 50 countries that either have the largest economies and populations or are in the public eye as a result of economic, political or natural events, it decided to do a less subjective ranking of the 55 countries with the largest GDP. That meant it left off countries with low GDPs like Haiti and Iraq and added bigger economies like Kuwait and Romania. Topping the list this year: Switzerland, which edged out Canada, the No. 1 country for the previous three years. Sweden comes in third, down from second last year. Finland is the biggest gainer in the top 10, moving up to fourth place, from eighth last year. The US is down at 22, behind Brazil and just above the Czech Republic (more on the US below). Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was received in Neuchâtel by President Didier Burkhalter, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, with military honours. The talks that followed provided an opportunity to express appreciation of the excellent bilateral relations between Switzerland and Luxembourg. As a multilingual country with a strong financial centre and neighbouring country to Germany and France, Luxembourg not only has many similarities with Switzerland, but also takes a similar position on many issues. STARBUCKS SECRET WEAPON IS A MACHINE FROM A SLEEPY SWISS VILLAGE As Starbucks Corp. intensifies its charge on China, one of its little-known weapons is a family-owned company in a sleepy Swiss village. Thermoplan AG, based among cow pastures in Weggis, a town of 4,400 inhabitants near Lucerne, makes the automatic machines for espressos and cappuccinos in each of Starbucks’s almost 21,000 shops around the world. TANT D’HORIZONS À EXPLOR R OFFICIAL VISIT BY LUXEMBOURG’S PRIME MINISTER XAVIER BETTEL President Didier Burkhalter welcomed Luxembourg’s prime minister to Neuchâtel on 17 September for an official working visit. Their talks focused on the countries’ bilateral relations, relations between Switzerland and the EU, immigration policy and Switzerland and Luxembourg’s co-presidency of the European Space Agency. In the afternoon Mr Bettel met Federal Councillors Simonetta Sommaruga and Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf in Bern to discuss issues relating to immigration and financial and fiscal policy. 16 INFO SUISSE MIRABAUD ÉLARGIT SON HORIZON, AUTANT POUR LA GESTION PRIVÉE QUE L’ASSET MANAGEMENT ET L’INTERMÉDIATION. S’ENGAGER AUTREMENT POUR ALLER PLUS LOIN. www.mirabaud.com MIRABAUD Canada Inc. - Olivier Rodriguez / MIRABAUD Gestion Inc. - Yves Erard 1501, avenue McGill College - Bureau 2220 - Montréal (Québec) H3A 3M8 - T +1 514 393-1690 - F +1 514 875-8942 MIRABAUD Canada Inc. est membre de l’Organisme canadien de réglementation du commerce des valeurs mobilières inc. et du Fonds canadien de protection des épargnants. “Fully automatic machines are something very German and Swiss,” said Chief Executive Officer Adrian Steiner, an electrical engineer who has worked for Thermoplan for 17 years. “It’s a product that matches the technology of those countries. It’s like the watch industry, where you have everything from education to the people, the quality, value, to reliability.” With 230 employees, Thermoplan, which exports 98 percent of its wares, is emblematic of Switzerland’s globally oriented smalland medium-sized companies that bank on craftsmanship to drive their business. A free-trade accord between Switzerland and China and the rising popularity of creamy coffee drinks in the Asian giant – with China set to become Starbucks’s biggest market outside the U.S. – have given Steiner cause for optimism. Despite being home to big listed companies such as Nestle SA and UBS AG, 99 percent of Swiss businesses are SMEs, generating two-thirds of employment. Thermoplan joins companies from watchmakers such as Swatch Group AG to producers of precision tools like Mikron Holding AG setting their sights on more business from Beijing and Shanghai. ■ SWISS WATCH INDUSTRY WELCOMES APPLE’S IWATCH DESPITE WARNING swissinfo.ch Apple’s design chief has allegedly warned the Swiss watch industry that it’s “in trouble” in the face of the impending iWatch release. However, Swiss watchmakers are optimistic that smartwatches will benefit them by making watches mainstream again. Jonathan Ive, head of Apple’s design team, reportedly bragged that the traditional watch industry would find itself in a tough spot after the iWatch is unveiled on September 9 along with two next generations of iPhones. The comment has been generating a lot of online buzz. But are Swiss watchmaking companies really worried about the imminent launch of the iWatch? It’s a question the industry has been responding to for quite some time now. Nick Hayek, CEO of the Swatch group, does not think products like the iWatch pose a threat. In an interview with L’Hebdo magazine, he said the arrival of new products is a fantastic opportunity to reach mil- lions of people who do not wear a watch and convince them to do so. He also shared that Swatch’s sales in the United States have increased by 30% since fitness monitoring bracelets – another potential rival product – arrived on the market. That view is shared by Jean-Claude Biver, head of watch brands at the luxury goods SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF ONTARIO The Swiss Canadian Scholarship Fund of Ontario is pleased to offer yearly scholarships. It is open to members of the SCCC and the Swiss Community in Ontario. To find out more about the availability and eligibility criteria, please visit the Ontario Chamber’s website at: www.swissbiz.ca/scholarship R e stau r a n t, bar et douc e s fo l i e s 426, RUE SAINT-GABRIEL M O N TREA L Q C T 514.878.3561 A U BE RG E S A I N T- G ABR I E L . C O M O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 17 Discover 8 Swiss mountain peaks. With the new Swiss Peak Pass you discover 8 of the most fascinating Swiss mountain peaks. Available only in combination with a Swiss Pass 4-days or 8-days. Book now on www.raileurope.com Business and Other News Actualités économiques et d’affaires conglomerate LVMH which counts TAG Heuer, Zenith and Hublot as its subsidiaries. He told the news website L’AGEFI that any product that encourages young people to wear watches is a good thing. According to him, the iWatch is a like a “snow plow” that could open up the path for future lovers of all types of watches. The Swiss watchmaking industry is especially unlikely to be caught unawares by new technology after the lessons learned from the quartz watch crisis of the 1970s. In the L’Hebdo interview, Hayek stated that the Swiss watch sector is a champion of mechanical and electronic miniaturisation, as well as innovative materials. He also said that the arrival of smartwatches is a golden opportunity for the watch industry, as it already has all the know-how to successfully integrate new functionalities into a wristbased product. And electronic manufacturers are aware of this. Apple recently poached the vice president for sales at TAG Heuer, presumably to take advantage of knowledge from the traditional watch sector. However, Biver told CNBC that he was not bitter about losing a valuable employee to Apple. “If it had been a direct competitor, I would have felt a bit betrayed, but if he goes to Apple I think it is a great experience for him,” he said. Does that mean Biver doesn’t consider Apple a threat? In his interview with L’AGEFI, he did warn against the danger of complacency. The watch industry will have to adapt and work to turn the iWatch to its own advantage, he said. Another point to take into consideration is the impact smartwatches will have on the electronics industry itself. Smartwatches do not faze the traditional Swiss watch industry Hayek told L’Hebdo that it is electronic manufacturers that have the most to fear because smartwatches are a threat to smartphones and other portable devices, not traditional watches. “It is going to be a great challenge for them to introduce a new product like the smartwatch that will not cannabilise the market for their existing products,” he said. ■ ECONOMISTS PREDICT THAT SWITZERLAND FACES SEVERAL MONTHS OF WEAKER ECONOMIC GROWTH HAVING USED UP MOST OF THE TRUMP CARDS IT ONCE PLAYED TO INSULATE ITSELF AGAINST GLOBAL TURMOIL. By Matthew Allen, swissinfo.ch Gross domestic product (GDP) growth stagnated completely in the second quarter of 2014, according to government statistics. Credit Suisse and economic forecasters BAK Basel both this week slashed their Swiss growth predictions from 2% to 1.4% for the year. Outside forces have been blamed for the slump, most notably the Ukraine and Middle East crises and the continued slide of the weaker eurozone economies, such as France and Italy, that have dragged down Switzerland’s vital trading partner - Germany. Swissmem, the body representing the electronic, fine tools and machinery manufacturing sectors, has already revealed that sales fell flat between from May through August as European customers tightened their belts. Retail turnover shrank 0.6% in July compared with the corresponding month last year as conditions also soured for stores. Not so special Switzerland gained an enhanced reputation for sound economic and fiscal management in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, 1 800 874-1071 514 631-6565 www.amjmontreal.com DÉMÉNAGEMENTS I N T E R N AT I O N A U X O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 19 Business and Other News Actualités économiques et d’affaires keeping its head well above water as many other Western economies sank beneath the waves. But conditions are less optimal for Switzerland this time around, according to Felix Brill, chief economist at consultancy firm Wellershof & Partner. “The factors that made Switzerland a special case in Europe have diminished,” he told swissinfo.ch. “Net immigration rates will probably decline as a result of February’s vote [which approved an initiative] to restrict EU workers and this will have a dampening effect on real estate prices and construction.” Furthermore, Brill believes that the domestic consumer boom of the last two years – fuelled by cheaper imports as the Swiss franc rose in value against other currencies – will likely fade now that the franc has been held stable against the euro and retailers have already completed their downward price adjustments. Credit Suisse also believes that domestic consumer growth – a fundamental pillar of Switzerland’s relative economic security in the past six years – will diminish from 2.3% in 2013 to 1.2% this year and 1% in 2015. The bank stated on Tuesday that a recent Swiss economic “super-cycle” boom, fuelled by rock bottom interest rates, rising house prices and high immigration rates, “is coming to an end”. The slow recovery 20 INFO SUISSE of Swiss exports from their previous slump would not be enough to compensate, Credit Suisse warned. Mortgage lending restrictions imposed on domestic banks by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will partially cancel out the Swiss manufacturing faces a tough few months as European customers cut back on investments. (Keystone) effect of low interest rates that have been heating up property prices. House prices and wider economic growth could be dragged back further by anti-mass immigration votes, Credit Suisse concludes. Foreign market intervention? Stagnant European economic conditions, coupled with a recent decision by the European Central Bank (ECB) to further reduce interest rates, have led to media speculation that the SNB will again have to buy up large quantities of euros to defend the CHF1.20 exchange rate peg. Speaking to the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper, SNB chairman Thomas Jordan refused to be drawn on such questions other than to say the central bank would continue to defend its policy. But he added his own warnings about the worsening state of economic conditions. “New geo-political risks have emerged and international economic data, particularly from Europe and South America, has been weaker than we expected,” he told the newspaper. “The situation for Switzerland has clearly worsened.” However, Swiss economists are not convinced that the SNB will have to intervene on the foreign exchange markets any time soon. “I am working on the base scenario that the SNB does not have to intervene,” Alessandro Bee, economist at J Safra Sarasin told swissinfo.ch. “Unlike a few years ago, investors can now move into the US dollar where the interest rate situation is much more interesting than in Switzerland.” Bee is also more upbeat than other economists on the overall outlook for the Swiss economy. “The external situation is worsening and exports may suffer as a result,” he said. “But domestic demand, the engine of growth that has supported the Swiss economy for the last few years, will recover as long as unemployment stays low.” And here at least, Switzerland still holds a trump card over other countries. The jobless rate currently stands at 3% and is expected to reach no higher than 3.2% by the end of the year, according to economists. ■ TOO BIG TO LEND Regulations have incentivised banks to de-risk their balance sheets and reduce lending to the private sector. In Europe, the regulatory environment and firms’ reliance on bank lending make it unlikely that a fully-fledged QE programme would have the same expansionary effects as it has done in the US or UK. The ECB introduced a programme of ABS purchases but there are obstacles to implementing this. Government guarantees may be needed to kick-start the ABS market and prevent credit growth from stalling. The financial crisis was a wake-up call for banks that had grown too big, and it was also a wake-up call for taxpayers that they were carrying a lot of the risks when those banks ran into trouble. The unsurprising reaction was to reduce risks on bank balance sheets and improve regulation. Now there is a need for another wake-up call: the realisation that a proper recovery will require credit creation. But credit creation requires the banks to increase their loan books – and banks cannot do this without taking more risks. Since the introduction of the euro, the balance sheet of Eurozone banks has expanded substantially relative to the size of the economy. Now, the size of the banking sector relative to the economy varies a lot across the Eurozone: from two and half times GDP in Italy to more than six times as large in Ireland. These figures are large compared to Japan (less than two times GDP), and the US (less than the size of the economy). This reflects the Eurozone’s almost exclusive reliance on banks for credit provision. In the US the credit market is a far more important intermediary. But in Europe, what happens to banks drives overall credit provision. IMAGINEZ UN GESTIONNAIRE DE PATRIMOINE Imaginez un gestionnaire de patrimoine à la convergence des gestions traditionnelle et alternative. Imaginez un gestionnaire de patrimoine à la recherche de réelles performances et non d’indices à battre. Imaginez un gestionnaire de patrimoine dont les collaborateurs ont la latitude nécessaire pour donner le meilleur d’eux-mêmes. Imaginez un gestionnaire de patrimoine capable de diversifier véritablement les risques. Imaginez un gestionnaire de patrimoine qui façonne l’avenir de la gestion de fortune. Bienvenue chez Lombard Odier. Lombard Odier Gestion (Canada) Inc., commandité pour Lombard Odier & Cie (Canada), société en commandite 1000, rue Sherbrooke Ouest · Bureau 2200 · Montréal (Québec) · H3A 3R7 · Canada Téléphone 514 847 7748 Most of the regulation and macroprudential policy that has been put in place in recent years was aimed at limiting the risk exposures on bank balance sheets. Loans to the private sector are considered far riskier than they were in the past, which means that banks are now required to hold a larger capital buffer to protect against those risks. The more capital that is needed, the less that will be left to provide protection for new loans. The situation is even worse for structured financial products such as O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 21 Business and Other News Actualités économiques et d’affaires asset-backed securities (ABS) or residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), which are penalised even more than their underlying loans would suggest because they are less liquid. The new regulations have also changed the risk-weighting applied to government bonds relative to loans to the private sector. For a given capital buffer, banks can lend more to the government than they could to the private sector. This has incentivised banks to take almost all the extra liquidity that the ECB injected into the system in recent years and pump all of it back into government bonds. Little of that extra money found its way into additional lending for the private sector (although the ECB may argue that it prevented a worse shrinkage of credit to the private sector). While all these regulations and incentives would not be a problem for a country like the US that has a dominant credit market WELCOME NEW MEMBERS BIENVENUE AUX NOUVEAUX MEMBRES SCCC (ONTARIO) INC. CCCS (QUÉBEC) INC. New Non-Resident Members: Paul Wuergler Action First Aid 85 Shanty Bay Rd. Barrie, ON L4M 1E1 pwuergler@rogers.com www.actionfirstaid.ca Bernhard Huber 7 ch Dompierre Chelsea, Quebec J9B 2H3 bernyhuber@me.com (819) 230-0440 How to become a member of the SCCC: Sign up online at www.swissbiz.ca/memberships or contact our office at sccc@swissbiz.ca or 416-236-0039 Membre individuel: Nadine Hoehener SEG, Swiss Educational Group 3437 rue Gertrude Verdun, QC H4G 1R2 514.661.1042 nhoehener@swisseducation.com Membre Corporatif: TWM Canada Inc. 1800 Avenue McGill, bureau 810 Montréal, QC H3A 3J6 514.916.1141 Membre principal Johann Marty, Vice-président johann.marty@twmcanada.net Membres associés Eric Beauxerois eric.beauxerois@twmcanada.net Florent Martin florent.martin@twmcanada.net Offrir au monde ce qu’il y a de mieux. Une tradition suisse. Les produits de haute qualité sont synonymes de confort. Nous sommes bien placés pour le savoir. Nous les exportons. En tant que transporteur aérien de la Suisse, nous traduisons la haute qualité en confort sur chaque vol, en vous oørant un service et une hospitalité jamais démentis. Pour les vols quotidiens de Montréal à Zurich, et des correspondances vers plus de 70 destinations à travers le monde, contactez votre agent de voyage ou visitez swiss.com * *Notre emblème est notre promesse. 22 INFO SUISSE for corporate financing, they are far more important for the Eurozone where bank financing is key. The amount of sovereign debt on banks’ balance sheets has increased substantially since 2007, especially in the Eurozone periphery. Most of that increase has come at the expense of lending to the private sector, especially non-financial corporates. In such a regulatory environment it appears unlikely that a fully-fledged quantitative easing (QE) programme that bought government bonds would achieve the same expansionary effects as it has done in the US or UK. One of the most important channels through which QE works is the so-called portfolio effect: pushing banks and private investors out of sovereign bonds and into riskier assets. In particular, it is likely to push them into corporate credit, thereby reducing the cost of borrowing for firms. Unfortunately, the majority of firms in the Eurozone are too small to issue bonds in the credit market. And banks may still feel uncomfortable about increasing their leverage when they know they could be punished by the regulator for taking too much risk. A full-blown QE programme could still have an impact through other channels. Increasing the money supply should push the exchange rate down, which would be helpful for net exports. But the Eurozone already runs a pretty substantial trade surplus so this may not be the most longterm beneficial result, although the increase in import prices would help get inflation back up. But the credit channel (through the banks) and the portfolio rebalancing channel (through credit markets) are likely to be disappointing. The ECB is currently in an awkward position: on one hand it wants the banks to de-risk their balance sheets and be more responsible, but on the other hand it wants them to lend more money to the economy (which is an inherently risky thing to do). Faced with this contradiction, and having exhausted all the ‘conventional’ monetary policy bullets, the ECB knows it has to do something unusual. Given the political resistance and the doubtful efficacy of QE, the ECB decided to target the problem more directly by buying ABS and covered bonds. The rationale is that since the ECB cannot force banks to lend more, if it removes these higher risk-weighted assets from bank balance sheets it will free up space for new risky lending to the private sector without increasing total risk. It is a form of “credit easing” rather than QE. The thrust of regulation in the Eurozone, and indeed around the world, is to shrink the relative importance of the banking sector. Effectively this means supporting credit markets as an alternative intermediary. In this context, the ECB efforts to focus more on purchases that could revitalise securitization make a lot of sense, and could have more long-lasting effects than standard QE purchases of government bonds Unfortunately, while the process of buying ABS seems conceptually simple, there are substantial obstacles to the implementation. The ABS market in Europe is relatively small, heterogeneous and fragmented (see Economist Insights, 22 April 2014). Furthermore, the amount of new issuance of ABS in the last few years has been very small. But perhaps most importantly, since the ECB’s own rules mean that it cannot be exposed to substantial credit risks, it will not be able to buy all of the ABS (or all the tranches) without some explicit guarantee STEIGER, ZUMSTEIN & PARTNERS AG B U S I N E S S A N D M A N A G E M E N T C O N S U L T A N T S • Establishment and management of Swiss corporations CONTACT: • Accounting services Nauenstrasse 49, P.O.Box, • International Tax Planning for companies and individuals CH-4002 Basel • Management functions in Finance and Administration for Phone +41 61 270 99 10, Fax -19 Swiss- and international companies • Services provided in English, French and German E-mail: brd@steiger-zumstein.ch www.steiger-zumstein.ch MEMBER OF: O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 23 from governments or a supra-national institution such as the European Investment Bank. And if ultimately the ECB is buying government guarantees, is this not just a little bit like buying government bonds? For all these reasons the markets so far have remained relatively sceptical on the potential implementation and benefits of the ABS programme, even if the idea is sound. With the exception of Italy, it seems that the largest European governments are not inclined to offer such guarantees. It is easy to understand why the German government does not want to provide guarantees on Spanish or Irish residential mortgages. Yet unless the ECB plays its part in kick-starting the Eurozone ABS market, it is highly unlikely that banks will go through the effort of creating an asset that so far no one else has an appetite to buy. So even if guarantees for ABS might not be the wisest move politically, without them the ECB cannot revitalise the ABS market and so credit growth will stall. If credit growth stalls then the economy will stall. That means the ECB will be forced to try the one thing it has not tried yet: full-blown QE. And that would mean Eurozone governments such as Germany providing an implicit guarantee for another type of security: the government bonds of their neighbours. Article by UBS Global Asset Management Joshua McCallum, Head of Fixed Income Economics and Gianluca Moretti, Fixed Income Economist ■ 24 INFO SUISSE GALA DINNER DANCE GALA DINNER DANCE GALA DANCE GALA DINNER DINNER DANCE Viva Viva la la Vita! Saturday, November November 15 15thth,, 2014 2014 The Omni King King Edward Edward Hotel Hotel 37 King Street East, Toronto Toronto $195.00 per person $195.00 person (incl. (incl.HST) HST) Cocktails 7:00 pm, Cocktails pm, Dinner Dinner8:00 8:00pm pm Black Tie Highlights: Highlights: 55 Course Course Meal Meal by by Swiss Swiss Executive Executive Chef Chef Daniel Daniel Schick Schick Musical Musical Entertainment Entertainment by by Shakura Shakura S’Aida S’Aida Grand Prize sponsored by SWISS SWISS and and Switzerland Switzerland Tourism Tourism Contact 416-236-0039 or sccc@swissbiz.ca Click here to register online or contact 416-236-0039 or sccc@swissbiz.ca Chamber News Informations de votre Chambre COCKTAIL DE LA RENTRÉE Le président de la CCCS, M. Christian Dubois Le 10 septembre dernier, la CCCSQ tenait son 44e cocktail d’ouverture sur la terrasse extérieure de l’Auberge Saint-Gabriel. En plus de souhaiter la bienvenue aux membres et amis venus renouer avec les Nouveaux membres de la chambre, Johann Marty, Services et Solutions TWM Canada et Nadine Hoehener, The Swiss Education Group. dont Nadine Hoehener , représentante du très prestigieux Swiss Éducation Group à Montréal et Johann Marty, vice-président fondateur de la toute nouvelle filiale montréalaise de TeamWork Management SA, une entreprise de services spécialisés dans les produits SAP dont la maison mère est située à Genève. Le hasard du calendrier aura également permis à l’un de nos membres résidents de la Suisse, Marc Pannatier, de profiter d’une visite à Montréal pour réseauter avec les autres membres et faire de nouvelles rencontres. Nous ne doutons pas qu’il retourne chez lui avec le souvenir d’une soirée réussie. Profitant de la douceur du climat automnal, anciens, nouveaux et futurs membres ont pu pour renouer et créer de nouveaux liens en discutant de leurs projets et objectifs communs tout en sirotant vin et bouchées. Tous se réjouissent déjà de se retrouver ■ bientôt au prochain événement. M. Jean-Marc Ferland, FML avocats et Marine Augustin Normand habitudes conviviales de leur chambre, notre Président Christian Dubois, a rappelé le retour des événements traditionnels, soit fondue, raclette et golf, tout en rappelant le « Virage Affaires » de la chambre qui poursuit sa lancée initiée l’an dernier pour promouvoir les activités de réseautage. Une visite à L’Institut Neurologique de Montréal est prévue pour la fin octobre et les événements à venir seront affichés en ligne sur le tout nouveau site web. Il a invité les membres à participer en grand nombre. Cette année encore, nous avons pu célébrer la venue de nouveaux membres, O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 25 Travel News The Swiss love a good party. Fortunately, Switzerland offers all kinds of festivals – especially in the second half of the year. We highlight a few traditional and authentic village celebrations as well as some moodlifting sounds for the onset of the winter season. THE WINE HARVEST FESTIVAL IN LUTRY The Lutry Wine Harvest Festival from September 26 to 28 means three days of feasting in an old town with its wine vaults and cellars wide open. 20,000 people visit the festival situated in the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It ends on Sunday traditionally with the famous parade, featuring over 600 children in fancy costumes. THE BLUES FESTIVAL IN LUCERNE For its 20th birthday, the Lucerne Blues Festival presents a top program from November 8 to 16. The high quality of the performances has made the festival one of the world’s leading blues festivals, culminating in 2007, when it received the “Keeping the Blues Alive Award” by the American Blues Foundation. GOURMET FESTIVAL ST. MORITZ From January 26 to 30, the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival features a “British Edition”, honoring the first guests who ventured to the resort during the winter time in 1864, which allows Switzerland Tourism to celebrate “150 Years of Winter Tourism in Switzerland”. Gourmet fans can look forward to exciting and enjoyable encounters with nine young, highly creative avant-garde star chefs from Great Britain’s top league! CHOCOLATE DELIGHTS Did you know that Switzerland restaurants have more Michelin stars per capita than any other country in the world? Join “Savoring Switzerland” of Alpenwild, a gourmet tour which uncovers some of Switzerland’s natural splendor, traditional cuisine, and the rural charm of exquisite culinary regions. 26 INFO SUISSE AUTUMN The Swiss autumn is pure gold. The end of summer heralds the start of Switzerland’s most varied and enjoyable season. HIKING Maienfeld in the Bündner Herrschaft inspired the poetess Johanna Spyri to write her novels about Heidi. The hiking trail takes you through the vineyards to Heidi Land. The world famous story of Heidi can be lived and experienced on a hiking tour in and around Maienfeld. From Heidi House in Heidi Village to Heidi Cake, everything is geared to the heroine of the novel. The Heidi Trail wends its way from the railway station in Maienfeld through the narrow lanes of the historic town of Maienfeld to Rofels and the small Heidi Village. The trail is well marked and can be easily walked with baby strollers. The Heidi House in Heidi Village is today a museum that depicts life as it was lived in Heidi’s time, over 100 years ago. The interesting and challenging Heidi Adventure Trail starts at Heidi Village. It takes hikers 1¾ hour to reach the Heidi Alp (Ochsenberg). The story of Heidi is narrated in a playful manner on 12 illustrated markers along the trail. If you don’t want to hike to Heidi Alp, there is a trail that leads across fields and meadows to the Hotel-Restaurant Heidihof. Fortified by a hearty meal, you can walk in the direction of Heidi’s Well, an important monument dedicated to Johanna Spyri. Original Heidi souvenirs that will keep beautiful memories alive are available at the village store in Maienfeld. ■ chartered accountants | tax advisors trowbridge.ca Andrea von Moeller Director, Business Development We take the complication out of tax • • • • • Corporate and Expatriate tax services Full cycle accounting services Business and corporate structure consulting services Managed payroll services Multilingual−English, German, French Monica Stevens-Wyss Manager, Accounting & Business Services monica.stevens@trowbridge.ca 25 Adelaide St. E., Suite 1400, Toronto, ON M5C 3A1 2Market International B2-125 The Queensway, #131 Toronto, Ontario M8Y 1H6 Canada Phone: Mobile: Fax: Fax: +1-416-907-8012 +1-416-505-1870 +1-866-407-0719 +1-647-439-0831 andrea@2marketinternational.com 77 Foster Crescent Mississauga, Ontario L5R 0K1 ernst.notz@rogers.com 8c\oXe[\imfe?ldYfc[k >\idXe@ek\ieXk`feXcJZ_ffc Ki`c`e^lXcgi`mXk\jZ_ffc Gi\jZ_ffckf^iX[\() ?`^_$jkXe[Xi[>\idXeZlii`Zlcld`eZfigfiXk`e^Hl\Y\Zi\hl`i\d\ekj <ok\e[\[Y`c`e^lXc>\idXe<e^c`j_ jZ`\eZ\gif^iXd =i\eZ_[`m`[\[`ekfdfk_\ikfe^l\Xe[j\Zfe[cXe^lX^\ZcXjj\j JkilZkli\[_fd\nfibgif^iXd @ek\ieXk`feXc\em`ifed\ekXe[ZlckliXcXZk`m`k`\j <Xicp[ifg$f]]Xe[X]k\ieffejlg\im`j`fe Ef\c`^`Y`c`kpZ\ik`ÔZXk\i\hl`i\[ The only inspirational newsletter of its kind. 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It is absolutely free. )(-#il\M`Zkfi`X#9X`\$;Li],(+$+,.$)//-nnn%Xm_%dfeki\Xc%hZ%ZX O C T O B E R /N O V E M B E R 2014 27 SWITZERLAND CENTRE FOR TRADE FAIRS/ LA SUISSE – PLACE DE FOIRES Basel Wine Fair 25 Oct-02 Nov 2014 Basel, Switzerland Basel Autumn Trade Fair 25 Oct-02 Nov 2014 Basel, Switzerland Zug Trade Fair 25 Oct-02 Nov 2014 Zug, Switzerland Basler Feinmesse 30 Oct-02 Nov 2014 Basel, Switzerland Meeting Luxury 31 Oct-02 Nov 2014 Lugano, Switzerland Swiss International Holiday Exhibition 31 Oct-02 Nov 2014 Lugano, Switzerland Travel Expo 31 Oct-02 Nov 2014 Lucerne, Switzerland Montreux Art Gallery 05-09 Nov 2014 Montreux, Switzerland Through your membership in the SCCC, you can join a group health insurance plan The country’s leading benefit program for small business • • • • • Covers businesses with up to 35 employees, including one person firms Is open to all industries Pools claims for price stability Never targets an individual firm for a rate increase or cancellation Offers a full range of benefits, including coverage normally reserved for big businesses Discover the wide range of benefits available to you, such as Health and Dental, Critical Illness coverage, Short & Long Term Disability income replacement and more! For more information, contact Patricia Keller Schläpfer at the SCCC or visit www.chambers.ca. 28 INFO SUISSE Perspective mondiale. Présence locale. Forte d’une histoire de plus de 150 ans, et présente au Canada depuis plus de 60 ans pour servir les familles fortunées et ultra fortunées, UBS est branchée sur le monde comme nul autre gestionnaire de patrimoine. Plus que jamais, nos clients ont besoin de solutions mondiales pour une stratégie d’investissement optimale à long terme. 6#4PťSFVOBDDTEJSFDUBVYNBSDITNPOEJBVYEFTPVUJMT EFEJWFSTJÏDBUJPOEÁBDUJGTFYDFQUJPOOFMTVOFQMBUFGPSNFEF placement multidevises, ainsi que des solutions de garde EFWBMFVSTQPVSNUBVYQSDJFVYBV$BOBEB Depuis plus de 150 ans, nous mettons nos vastes ressources mondiales au service de nos clients. Pour en savoir plus sur les façons de mettre nos conseils et nos solutions au service EFWPTPCKFDUJGTDPOUBDUF[OPVTETNBJOUFOBOU S’il vous plaît, contactez: Julien Favre, Dirigeant Régional, Ontario +1 416-345-7033 julien.favre@ubs.com Christian Rime, Dirigeant Régional, Québec +1 514-985-8100 christian.rime@ubs.com ubs.com/ca ab ©UBS 2014. Le symbole de la clé et UBS figurent parmi les marques de commerce déposées et non déposées de UBS. Tous droits réservés. Banque UBS (Canada) est une filiale de UBS AG. 140505-0688_r2
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