info suisse - Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Transcription
info suisse - Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce
^c[dhj^hhZ Publication of the Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce Toronto and Montreal Publication de la Chambre de Commerce Suisse-Canadienne de Toronto et Montréal June/July Juin/Juillet 2008 FEATURE: Insurance Industry Secteur Assurance www.swissbiz.ca www.cccsmtl.com Fondue and Raclette. Unmistakably SWISSMAR BEYOND ORDINARY. LEGENDARY. Heritage - Craftsmanship - Innovation - Performance - all key elements and commitments from Wenger ®, known as the Maker of the Genuine Swiss Army Knife™. The Swiss Military® Watch collection continues the tradition of quality, heritage and Swiss craftsmanship that began more than a century ago with the Swiss Army knife ™ . Today, the same passion for providing lasting value and timeless design exists in both the Wenger ® Swiss Army Knife and the Swiss Military ® watch. Visit us at www.swisspeak.com Fondue and raclette are delectable Swiss cheese dishes that have been popular for centuries. 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Visit us at www.swissmar.com Publication of the Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce Toronto and Montreal Publication de la Chambre de Commerce Suisse-Canadienne de Toronto et Montréal FEATURE / REPORTAGE 4 Insurance / Assurance Report on the status of today’s Insurance and Reinsurance Industry, condensed by various insurance experts Reportage sur l’état du secteur assurance et reassurance par des experts dans cette domaine BUSINESS AND TRADE NEWS NOUVELLES ECONOMIQUES 17 Swiss International Airlines 18 Travel News Switzerland 22 Nouvelles tendances en aménagement paysager 23 Business News Switzerland 26 Burning Your Mortgage 26 Swiss Trade Fairs / Foires en Suisse 28 La Suisse a pignon sur rue à Montréal 31 Délégation économique du Canton de Vaud CHAMBER NEWS NOUVELLES DE LA CHAMBRE 2 Toronto: President’s Message / Upcoming Events 3 Montréal: Message du Président / Evénéments 20 Member Profile / Profil d’un membre Arbonne International 32 Welcome New Members Bienvenu aux nouveaux membres Photo shows the Canadian head office building of Zurich Insurance in Toronto and the Lloyd’s world headquarters in London, England. Illustré sur la photo sont les sièges socials de Zurich Canada à Toronto et de Lloyd’s à Londres, U.K. 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: [email protected] • www.swissbiz.ca BOARD OF DIRECTORS • 2008 – 2009 President Ernst Notz 2 Hunter Avenue, Toronto, ON M6E 2C8 Tel: (416) 784-2872 E-mail: [email protected] First Vice-President Hans Munger Silent Gliss Canada Ltd., President 181 Amber Street, Markham, ON L3R 3B4 Tel: (905) 470-6901 Fax: (905) 470-6906 E-mail: [email protected] Second Vice-President Philipp Gysling Mesh Innovations Inc., Director 174 Hallam Street, Toronto ON M6H 1X5 Tel: (416) 871-8159 Fax: (801) 681-0986 E-mail: [email protected] Treasurer Urs Villiger RE/MAX WEST REALTY INC. 16 Humbercrest Blvd., Toronto, ON M6S 4K7 Tel: (416) 604 2798 E-mail: [email protected] Secretary & Legal Counsel Bernard Lette Lette Whittaker, Barrister and Solicitor 20 Queen Street West, #3300, P.O. Box 33, Toronto, ON M5H 3R3 Tel: (416) 971-4848 Fax: (416) 971-4849 E-mail: [email protected] Past President Stefan Kneubuhler Kuehne + Nagel Ltd., CFO 5800 Hurontario Street, Fl.12, Mississauga, ON L5R 4B6 Tel: (905) 502-4140 Fax: (905) 501-6665 E-mail: [email protected] Directors Rudi Blatter Lindt & Spruengli (Canada) Inc., CEO 181 University Avenue, Suite 900, Toronto, ON M5H 3M7 Tel: (416) 351-8566 Fax: (416) 351-8507 E-mail: [email protected] Peter Emmenegger Business Manager, UC Architect 283 Lisgar Street, Toronto ON M6J 3H1 Tel: (416) 953-2393 Fax: (416) 533-8886 E-mail: [email protected] Ronnie Miller Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., President & CEO 2455 Meadowpine Blvd., Mississauga, ON L5N 6L7 Tel: (905) 542-5522 Fax: (905) 542-5507 Fabian Richenberger Zurich Canada, Senior Vice President 400 University Avenue, 25th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 1S7 Tel: (416) 586-2959 Fax: (416) 586-2939 E-mail: [email protected] Dear Members, You will immediately have noticed the new look of “info suisse”, I am sure! We have tried to give our magazine – jointly published with our colleagues of CCCS in Montreal – a face lift and believe we succeeded in looking younger and more professional. I hope you will like what you see. Our Chamber will soon be able to also present to you the long awaited new website www.swissbiz.ca (unchanged access) which is presently in the final development stage by our hard working communication committee and scheduled to be launched in July. Our info suisse publication and our new website will give our members an improved forum to promote and explain their businesses and will feature special editorial articles on different business segments important for the Swiss Canadian business community. This issue focuses on general insurance and reinsurance and explains some basics about insurance, which we hope you will find interesting. Any comments and questions from our members are most welcome and we encourage a dialogue. I would like to thank Jean-Jacques Henchoz of Swiss Re for the sponsorship and his presentation to our members at the National Club. Kuehne + Nagel are great supporters of SCCC and its own in-house insurance brokerage firm Nacora contributed to this issue. Insurance has the reputation of being quite boring but – come to think of it – what other trades reunite so many different professions under one umbrella? SCCC can direct you and support in any field of insurance through our own members (e.g. Zurich, another great supporter of SCCC). Our next issues will feature the following industries: transportation, pharmaceutical, food, tourism, manufacturing, consumer goods and watches; we already invite our members to contribute to these special features. Please stay tuned! I hope you are enjoying the nice weather and the outdoor activities, such as biking, playing tennis, golfing, jogging, walking, etc. which will help us all to be fit for our business tasks and to look trimmed in our swim wear….By the time you get this issue we already know how our Swiss soccer stars have done at the Euro 2008 hosted in our home country! SCCC welcomes also social events and I am sure we had a good time with our joint events with other participating countries (e.g. the opening game with the Czech Republic on June 7th). The second half of this year will bring a lot of activities. The Spousal/Partner event on Toronto Island on June 25th with Swiss wine tasting from La Cote – Vinessence Wine Club and David & Lynne Durward will finally bring us Swiss wines to Canada! – will be followed by various events which you will find listed later on. Separate social events will take place at the occasion of the 90th Anniversary of our friends of the Swiss Club to be held on September 27th at the Granite Club. Please also make a note in your calendars regarding an amazing cultural show called “Amakhosi” – The Kings of Africa – which is directed by the Swiss Thomas Wehrli (Ottawa, June 12th to July 6th; Montreal, July 18th to August 17th; and Toronto, September 26th to November 2nd, 2008). As you can see there is a lot happening…. Most Sincerely, Heidi Suter Suter Law, Lawyer 8 Briarcroft Road, Toronto, ON M6S 1H4 Tel: (416) 760-0529 Fax: (416) 769-0529 E-mail: [email protected] UPCOMING EVENTS David Turnbull Canadian Courier & Logistics Association, President & CEO 169 Beechwood Avenue, Willowdale, ON M2L 1J9 Tel: (416) 449-2860 E-mail: [email protected] June 25 Place: Time: Spousal/Partner event & wine tasting Royal Canadian Yacht Club on Toronto Islands 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Honorary Director Bruno Ryff Consulate General of Switzerland, Consul General 154 University Avenue, Suite 601, Toronto, ON M5H 3Y9 Tel: (416) 593-5371 Fax: (416) 593-5083 E-mail: [email protected] August 19 Place: Time: Pub Night with the British Chamber Duke of York Pub 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm September 15 Place: Golf Tournament Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club October 16 Place: Guest Speaker: Luncheon TBA Ronnie Miller, CEO Roche November 15 Place: Time: Black Tie Dinner Dance Le Meridien King Edward Hotel 7:00 pm Cocktails, 8:00 pm Dinner Liaison Officer Consulate General of Switzerland Philippe Crevoisier Consulate General of Switzerland, Consul 154 University Avenue, Suite 601, Toronto, ON M5H 3Y9 Tel: (416) 593-5371 Fax: (416) 593-5083 E-mail: [email protected] Executive Assistant Patricia Keller Schläpfer 756 Royal York Road, Toronto, ON M8Y 2T6 Tel: (416) 236-0039 Fax: (416) 236-3634 E-mail: [email protected] 2 Ernst Notz, President INFO SUISSE Further Information can be found on www.swissbiz.ca under “Events” or (416) 236-0039 LA CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE CANADO-SUISSE (MONTRÉAL) INC. SWISS CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (MONTREAL) INC. 1572 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montréal, Qué. H3G 1C4 • Tél: (514) 937-5822 • Fax: (514) 693-1032 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web site: www.cccsmtl.com CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION / BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2008 – 2009 Président / President Mr. Jacques Thevenoz President, Europack tel: (514) 633-8583 fax: (514) 633-8321 cel: (514) 979-8583 e-mail: [email protected] Vice-présidents / Vice-Presidents Me Monica Schirdewahn Avocate / Lawyer, Lette & Assoc. tel: (514) 871-3838/213 fax: (514) 876-4217 cel: (514) 909-3119 e-mail: [email protected] Mr. Michael Stucky President, Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch tel: (514) 847-7617 fax: (514) 288-0562 e-mail: [email protected] Trésorier / Treasurer Mr. Andreas Kräuchi Manager Finance & HR Canada, Swiss Int’l Air Lines tel: (514) 954-5600/6630 fax: (514) 954-5619 e-mail: [email protected] Président sortant / Past President Et Secrétaire / and secretary Mr. Raphaël Delacombaz UBS Bank (Canada) tel: (514) 985-8104 fax: (514) 985-8128 e-mail: [email protected] Directeurs / Directors Mr. Marc Bolay Associé, Auberge St. Gabriel tel: (514) 878-3561/40 fax: (514) 878-4492 e-mail: [email protected] Mr. Jean Serge Grisé Conseiller en affaires publiques tel: (450) 674-2251 e-mail: [email protected] Me Jean-Marc Ferland Avocat / Lawyer, Ferland, Marois, Lanctot tel: (514) 861-1110 fax: (514) 861-1310 e-mail: [email protected] Mr. Olivier Schlegel General Manager for Canada, SWISS Int’l Air Lines tel: (514) 954-5600/6610 fax: (514) 954-5619 e-mail: [email protected] Mr. Othmar Widmer Consultation Widmer tel: (514) 290-4822 E-mail: [email protected] Mrs. Marianne Wurm Développement des affaires à l’international / International Business Development tel: (514) 996-8790 fax: (514) 499-9547 e-mail: [email protected] Secrétaire exécutive / Executive Secretary Birgit Erdan-Klema tel: (514) 937-5822 fax: (514) 693-1032 e-mail: [email protected] Liaison au Consulat général de Suisse M. Claude Duvoisin – Consul général tel: (514) 932-7181 fax: (514) 932-9028 e-mail: [email protected] VEUILLEZ NOTER QUE LES ÉTATS FINANCIERS DE LA CCCS MONTRÉAL SONT DISPONIBLES SUR DEMANDE. COMMUNIQUEZ AVEC LE (514) 937-5822 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SCCC MONTREAL ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. YOU MAY CONTACT (514) 937-5822 Chers Membres, Ce fut un plaisir de vous voir à l’occasion de notre Assemblée Générale Annuelle et je remercie tous ceux qui ont participé et formulé leur intérêt dans les travaux de la Chambre. Nous sommes d’ores et déjà contents d’avoir commencé à travailler avec les nouveaux membres du conseil mais tristes du départ de notre second Vice-Président, Michael Stucky, Président de Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch. Nous lui souhaitons beaucoup de succès dans la poursuite de ses études à l’Université de Stanford. Conformément à notre souhait d’offrir d’avantage d’événements d’affaires aux membres de la Chambre, nous avons été heureux d’organiser, avec le Consulat général, une rencontre de réseautage avec la Chambre de commerce du grand Montréal métropolitain, le 31 mars au Café du Monument National du Québec. De plus, le 28 mai nous avons accueilli une délégation économique dirigé par le Ministre du Département de l’économie du Canton de Vaud, M. Jean-Claude Mermoud pour un cocktail et une présentation par DEWS (Développement économique Western Switzerland). Ces événements ont été appréciés par nos membres et nous avons reçu beaucoup d’avis favorables de votre part. Alors que cette édition sera en cours d’impression, nous sommes heureux de mentionner que grâce au grand nombre d’inscriptions que nous avons déjà reçues, nous nous attendons à un record de participation à notre tournoi annuel de golf. Je vous souhaite un merveilleux été et des vacances des plus reposantes et espère vous voir à nos prochains évènements. Dear Members, It was a pleasure to see you during our General Annual Meeting, and I thank those who attended for their participation and interest in the workings of the Chamber. We are pleased to have started working already with the new members on the board, however saddened to see our second Vice-President, Michael Stucky, President of Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch, leave the board. We wish him much success for his continued studies at Stanford University. Following our decision to offer more business-oriented events to the members of the Chamber, we were pleased to coordinate, with the Swiss Consulate, a joint networking event with the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal on March 31st, at the Café du Monument National du Québec. Furthermore, on May 28th, we welcomed an economic delegation headed by M. Jean-Claude Mermoud, Minister of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Canton of Vaud for a joint cocktail and presentation by DEWS (Développement économique Western Switzerland). These events were welcome by our members, and we have received a lot of positive feedback from you. At the time this edition will be in print, we are pleased to note that, due to the great number of registrations we have already received, we will look forward to a great turn-out at our annual Golf Tournament as well. I wish you a wonderful summer and relaxing holidays, and look forward to seeing you and our upcoming events. Jacques Thevenoz, Président / President EVÉNÉMENTS / UPCOMING EVENTS Septembre/ September 2008 Cocktail d’Ouverture de la Saison/ Season Opening Cocktail 15 Octobre/ 15 October 2008 Carrefour Europe Palais des Congres Novembre/ November 2008 Soirée Fondue Annuelle Annual Fondue evening Information et détails/and details : www.cccsmtl.com ou/ or (514) 937-5822 J U N E /J U LY 3 I N S U RA N CE INTRODUCTION In our April/May 2008 issue we published articles on the finance world and focused on the Banking sector in Canada and Switzerland. An article on Private Banking and an Investment Outlook for 2008 further highlighted some of the problems the finance industry is facing today. Both Chambers in Montreal and in Toronto had guest speakers addressing these manifold issues. Many banks (including some Swiss) have reported disastrous results stemming from the subprime US market. Also some ••• US insurance companies, e.g. American International (AIG, the world’s largest insurer by assets), were hit with related claims and some have posted the biggest losses in their history. Some European insurers (including Zurich Financial Services), however, succeeded to stay away from those exposures and reported great year-end results. These following articles refer to the Insurance and Reinsurance industry, mainly focusing on General or Property and Casualty (P & C) Insurance. They do not What if you can’t find the 32 hidden risks in this picture? We know where to look. If you look at a successful company, you will most likely find it offers something special. For us, that’s providing insurance insight. To help our customers understand where risks are hidden, we offer one of the largest and most advanced global risk management networks in the world. Through a Relationship Leader who serves as a single point of entry, you get access to highly trained professionals who know your industry, know where to look for risks and what solutions you should consider. In a world where risks are changing all the time, that is special indeed. www.zurichcanada.com Because change happenz® and Zurich® are trademarks of Zurich Insurance Company 4 INFO SUISSE intend to analyze or recommend insurance coverages but rather give you a short overview of the insurance industries in Canada and Switzerland. Canada’s Bank Act outlaws the promotion of most types of insurance in bank branches, a law that’s unique in the developed world. In Switzerland for instance, banks and insurance companies are allowed to sell both product lines although the life insurance segment has been more successful than the general insurance (example CS/Winterthur). The insurance ban in Canada is among the few restrictions banks continue to face in financial services, which is increasingly moving towards one-stop shopping. Banks are diving deeper into insurance and they hope within the next five years to demolish the laws that ban banks from selling most insurance products – including life, health, home and auto insurance – in a branch. This following info suisse publication intends to focus on Insurance and the various contributions that follow outline General Direct Insurance and Reinsurance (i.e. excluding Life and Health Insurance) matters: • A brief perspective and history • Functions of insurance • Property and Casualty insurance in Canada and its organization • How insurance is distributed • Lloyd’s of London • The role of Government in the insurance industry • The P & C insurance market in Switzerland • Reinsurance GENERAL INSURANCE A Brief Perspective on General Insurance (i.e. excluding Life and Health Insurance) Insurance is all about “risk sharing”. Since earliest times, people have demonstrated a willingness to pool their resources to help others in times of need. Insurance is nothing other than the formalization of the basic principle of risk sharing into an organized facility. pl ácido domingo World’s leading tenor. Conductor. Director. Mentor. Author. Universally beloved. While most would be content to excel in just one of these roles, he has mastered them all. rolex. a crown for every achievement. OYSTER PERPETUAL DAY-DATE, IN PLATINUM For an official Rolex jeweller call 416.968.1100, Toronto. I N S U RA N CE History suggests that as early as 5000 BC some form of insurance existed. Marine insurance was the first one to be borne. In September 1666 the birth of fire insurances is traced to London, England. Today, there are over 200 general (or Property and Casualty) insurance companies (other than life and health) in Canada and over 100 in Switzerland. Five Functions of Insurance a) Spread of Risk Insurance provides a mechanism in which the losses of the few are shared among the many. Insurance can be viewed as a large pot into which all insureds place their premiums. In addition to paying the cost of running the business, this pot has to provide for payment of the losses of those who have claims. The ability to contribute to a fund – to share the 6 INFO SUISSE losses of the few among the many – is the major function of insurance. b) Basis of Credit System Consumer access to insurance frees up credit. Like most Canadians, people are using loans to finance the purchase of their automobiles, home, and business. The availability of insurance to protect the investments of lenders helps to facilitate the granting of credit. c) Eliminates Worry – Encourages Entrepreneurship The availability of insurance allows people to engage in many ventures without having to set money aside to meet the financial requirements that may arise from future losses. By making a small, defined expenditure (the premium) to cover large but uncertain future losses, much of the anxiety and worry about the unknown future is reduced. d) Loss Prevention and Loss Reduction In addition to paying for losses, the insurance industry works hard to prevent them and to reduce their severity. Active partnerships have been formed with communities and public officials to deal with important issues such as road safety, fire prevention, and anti-theft measures. Other joint projects have included a nationwide campaign to fight insurance fraud which is a huge concern for the insurance industry. e) Source of Employment and Investment Capital Insurers are major employers and investors: Canadian insurers employ or contract services from more than well over 100,000 people (Switzerland 47,000 and 78,000 abroad), including independent brokers, adjusters, and actuaries. In addition, thousands of people working in a wide range of trades and professions such as car repair, INSURANC E construction, medicine, law, and accounting derive income from the settlement of insurance claims. Insurance is big business. Claims total into the billions of dollars annually. Assets controlled by insurers amounted to more than $50 billion and if history is any indication, this amount will double in ten years. Property and Casualty Insurance in Canada It involves all types of insurance (other than life and health) and it includes: a) Automobile insurance This is the greatest single class of P & C insurance in Canada with premiums exceeding those for all other classes combined. b) Property insurance Habitational (or Homeowners) and business properties represent the second largest source of premiums to insurers. c) Liability insurance It provides protection when insureds are financially responsible for injury or damage they cause to others. Premiums from liability insurance represent the third major source of income to insurers. Organization of Insurance Insurance in Canada is distributed by two distinct types of organizations. These include private insurance companies and government insurers. 1. Private Insurers The majority of insurance business in Canada is transacted by private insurers, the most common of which are: 1.1. Stock Companies Most insurance written in Canada today is provided by stock companies. The money to operate a stock company may come from private funds through a public sale of stock. Ownership rests in the hands of the company’s shareholders whose main purpose is to derive a profit from their investment. 1.2. Mutual Companies A mutual company is a corporation owned by its policyholders. The creation of profit is not a primary incentive. Instead, the main goal is to provide policyholders with insurance at as low a cost as possible. When the company makes money, it is refunded to the policyholders directly through dividends or through subsequent rate adjustments. Stock and mutual companies are generally able to meet the standard insurance needs of most Canadians. While most private insurers are licensed to transact business in all provinces, some seek to maintain more of a provincial or regional presence. 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 WE ARE OFFERING: Establishment and management of Swiss corporations Trustee and Management functions in Finance and Administration Accounting services Estate Planning International Tax Planning for companies and individuals Service provided in English, French and German. C O N T A C T: Nauenstrasse 49, P.O.Box, CH-4002 Basel, Phone +41 61 270 99 10, Fax +41 61 270 99 19, www.steiger-zumstein.ch MEMBER OF: Swiss Institute of Certified Accountants and Tax Consultants J U N E /J U LY 7 An investment in research is an investment in hope. Roche is a leader in the research and development of pharmaceutical and diagnostic solutions that look beyond today’s horizons and make a profound difference in people’s lives. Working in partnership with healthcare practitioners from across the country, we have opened the door to countless new possibilities in the discovery, treatment and management of acute and long-term disease. www.rochecanada.com Registered Trade-Mark of Hoffmann-La Roche Limited INSURANC E 2. Government Insurers Federal and provincial governments are involved in providing various insurance plans, including medical insurance, employment insurance, and workers’ compensation. Governments in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec provide compulsory automobile insurance coverages to residents and may, in most of these provinces, compete directly with private insurers for additional or excess coverages. In Saskatchewan, the government also competes with private insurers for property and other classes of insurance. Act requires that all people who sell insurance be licensed. There is a step licensing system in place and it is heavily regulated. Please see the separate article with an interesting view of an Ontario broker regarding broker’s view of the Canadian insurance market. 2. Direct Writing System Under this system, producers are employees of the insurer and are limited to selling only those products provided by the insurer. Remuneration may be on either of a salary or commission basis or combination of salary and bonus. The insurer owns all of the business written and performs all administration functions. State Farm, Allstate, and Cooperators are examples of direct writers. 3. Lloyd’s of London Conventional Property and Liability insurers are able to write insurance for a wide variety of exposures. Nevertheless, there are still many submissions which cannot be handled by them. In such instances, Lloyd’s of Lon- How Insurance is distributed Insurers use different methods to sell their products, including: 1. Independent Agency/ Brokerage System There are over 7,000 independent agency/ brokerage insurance offices in Canada employing over 30,000 people. It is estimated that over 80 percent of all property and casualty insurance is sold through this system. These offices are also used to distribute compulsory government automobile insurance in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Brokerage owners are not employees of insurers and may represent many insurers. As well, the brokerage owns the business it produces and is responsible for providing policyholders with a number of client services. The agency/brokerage system is paid a commission by the insurers on all the business it writes. These commissions are used to pay salaries, rent, postage, and other operating expenses. Agents and Brokers are subject to government regulation in one form or another. The administration of the Insurance Act is the responsibility of the Superintendent of Insurance, or the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (British Columbia), or the Commissioner (Ontario). In Ontario, the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) Act was enacted in 1981. This Act gives extensive authority to brokers in setting and enforcing broker standards. The Insurance ••• Et si vous ne pouviez pas trouver les 32 risques cachés dans cette image? Nous sommes de fins limiers. Qui dit société prospère, dit souvent société qui sort des sentiers battus et se singularise. Chez nous, ce petit quelque chose d’inhabituel se nomme «sixième sens de l’univers de l’assurance». Expliquons-nous. Pour que nosclients comprennent mieux les risques qui se dissimulent, nous mettons à leur disposition l’un des plus vastes et des plus perfectionnés réseaux de gestion des risques du monde. Un leader de la relation clients, seule source douée de ce sixième sens, vous met en contact avec des professionnels chevronnés pour lesquels l’industrie n’a plus de secrets, qui savent où débusquer les risques et vous suggèrent des solutions. Dans un monde où les risques sont en constante mutation, c’est décidément quelque chose d’inhabituel. www.zurichcanada.com Because change happenz® et Zurich® sont des marques déposées de «Zurich» Compagnie d’Assurances J U N E /J U LY 9 O VERSEAS M OVING Your goods are priceless ! • Air • Sea • Groupage • Packing • Crating • Storage • Insurances 633-8583 (Toll Free) 1-877-633-8583 The International movers inc. EUROPACK Fax : (514) 633-8321 [email protected] Free estimate INSURANC E don has proven to be a valuable insurance market option. Lloyd’s of London was established in the late 17th century to write marine insurance. It is not an insurance company, and it does not transact any insurance business itself. Rather, Lloyd’s Corporation consists of a group of individuals called underwriters who assume risks for themselves. Underwriting membership is open to anyone meeting the financial requirements of the Committee of Lloyd’s and all underwriters are liable to the full extent of their private fortunes to meet insurance commitments. As marine insurance became more complex, more underwriters were required to subscribe to the risks. This led to the formation of syndicates which are composed of underwriting members or names. An underwriting agent manages the affairs of each syndicate and appoints an expert underwriter for each class of business written. Today, approximately 19,000 members of Lloyd’s make up about 400 syndicates varying in size from a few to more than 1,000 names. In Canada, there are several nonunderwriting members who act as broker intermediaries for various Lloyd’s syndicates. To place a risk at Lloyd’s, the producer must provide the broker with the necessary underwriting information, the details of which are presented by way of a folded sheet of paper or “slip”. The underwriter commits to a cer- tain percentage of the total limit of liability and, when 100 percent of the risk is subscribed, the slip is forwarded to the Policy Signing Office. All Lloyd’s policies must bear the embossment of this office. Commercial Aircraft, satellite risks, hot air balloons, oil rigs and nuclear power plant facilities are part of the portfolios of Lloyd’s underwriters, along with less likely items such as the voices of opera singers, the legs of movie stars and the chance that weather might cancel an entertainment event. The Role of Government in the Canadian Insurance Industry Government regulation of insurance companies is essential for the protection of Canadian insurance consumers. Insurance companies are subject to more government control than many other corporations because of the unique nature of the business. The conduct of the general insurance industry in Canada is closely supervised and regulated by federal and provincial statutes. Many insurers in Canada are federally licensed. Licensing is provided only to those companies that can meet the strict financial standards established by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). These insurers are monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure their financial stability. The Superintendent of Insurance in each province is responsible for administering the Insurance Act. The main areas of responsibility as they relate to insurers include: • Supervising the terms and conditions of insurance contracts • Licensing of insurers. All insurers are required to be licensed in each province in which they transact business. This rule applies even when those insurers have received a federal license. • Monitoring financial stability of provincially licensed insurers. Insurance is fiduciary in nature. Insurers and brokers are both fiduciaries. Consumers expect that when premiums are paid, they will be forwarded by the broker to the insurance company. In addition, they expect that insurers will retain a certain portion of all premiums collected in order to pay claims. There are many insurance organizations and associations, e.g. The Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC) – mostly dealing with the professional education, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) – in charge of improving communication with the public and government, the news media and other industry associations. Other divisions of IBC are Association of Canadian Insurers, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Canadian Coalition against Insurance Fraud, Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO), Insurers’ Advisory Organization (IAO), Insurance Brokers’ Association of Canada (IBAC), Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA), Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association and Facility Association dealing with high and hard to place risks, etc. J U N E /J U LY 11 I N S U RA N CE The P & C Insurance Market in Switzerland The Swiss spend a lot of money on insurance. The Swiss people are the most heavily insured in the world, although this reflects social insurance such as health insurance as well as more commercial types of business. Some is compulsory – like state pension contributions, pension fund and unemployment insurance, which are deducted at source from salaries, and health insurance which every resident must arrange privately. Of course, Motor vehicle insurance is compulsory and everybody buys liability insurance limit of at least CHF 1 million (equivalent in C$). The system is “at fault” based and is less complicated than e.g. the Ontario Auto insurance which is very difficult to understand and could not be more complicated. The Ontario Auto insurance system is presently under review and debates are heating up between the Ontario Bar Association and the insurance carriers. 12 INFO SUISSE Most houses/buildings in Switzerland are insured with the cantons (there are a few exceptions) and tenants are generally obliged to take out personal liability insurance as a condition of their lease. Overall, an average Swiss family spends over 20% of its household budget on insurance. The Swiss are among the world leaders in expenditure on private insurance. Despite this, Swiss insurers now rely on foreign business for two-thirds of their premium income. Switzerland is the leading insurance exporter in Europe. The insurance sector has been steadily deregulated during the 1990s. One of the last set of controls was scrapped in 1996 when the fixed tariff regime for third-party vehicle insurance was abolished. As of 1999, Swiss insurance companies numbered over 100. Switzerland controls an estimated onethird of the world’s reinsurance, and insurance income represents a major item in the Swiss balance of payments. Insurance investments are represented heavily in the Swiss capital market, and Swiss insurance firms have invested widely in foreign real estate. About half of the domestic insurance business is in the hands of the state. There are several types of compulsory insurance in Switzerland, including workers’ compensation, third-party automobile liability, fire, pension, old age, unemployment, disability insurance, aircraft, nuclear power station, etc. As at the end of 2006 the total Life and Property & Casualty insurance business in Switzerland was CHF 49,335 billions (Life CHF 28,072 and Non-Life CHF 21,263 billions). In addition, over CHF 110 billions were produced abroad. The Swiss private insurance companies employed 78,000 abroad and 47,000 in Switzerland. The Swiss Insurance Association (SIA) is the umbrella organization representing the private Swiss insurance industry. The SIA’s 80 INSURANC E members comprise small and large, national and international primary insurers and reinsurers. SIA is committed to preserving and promoting a liberal and socially-responsible competitive market economy, and strive to maintain conditions that are favourable to business. They are a reliable and professional partner for the authorities, the government and the general public. The Swiss authorities and the Swiss financial sector have established a framework for the dialogue on the future direction of Switzerland’s financial centre. FINMA, the Federal Financial Market Supervisory Authority, is scheduled to start performing its role in 2008. The ongoing meetings focus on the adoption of a joint work schedule and the prioritization of topics raised by the private sector and the Confederation. Various working groups were set up to examine existing and new proposals for measures to improve the conditions of the financial centre, and implement them where appropriate. The authorities are repre- sented by the Swiss National Bank, the Swiss Federal Banking Commission, the Federal Office of Private Insurance and the Federal Tax Administration. The financial sector is represented by the Swiss Bankers Association, the above mentioned Swiss Insurance Association, the Swiss Funds Association and the Swiss Financial Market Services. The goal of this Swiss Financial Centre Master Plan is to sustain, strengthen and develop the international competitiveness of the Swiss financial sector. companies dealt solely with reinsurance. Please see the article that follows, kindly elaborated by Mr. Jean-Jacques Henchoz, Market Unit Head of Swiss Re, Toronto. (The above articles were edited and condensed by Ernst Notz, President of SCCC. He was former CEO of The Citadel (now AXA) and is a P & C broker for NACORA (p.o. Kuehne & Nagel Group). REINSURANCE Reinsurance (insurance for insurers), is also an important service, with much of the business done abroad. The Swiss Reinsurance Co. in Zurich is the largest of its kind in the world. As of 1999, about 10% of all Swiss insurance I will often get a blank stare when I tell someone I work in reinsurance. Frankly, I do not blame them, because on the face of it insurance may seem dull and boring. But the J U N E /J U LY 13 I N S U RA N CE time, even dramatically in the last decade or so. (See Fig. 1) The year 2005 saw several major hurricanes the likes of which we had not previously seen; Swiss Re estimates total natural catastrophe economic losses that year at USD 230 billion. About one-third was covered by insurance, so the cost to insurers and reinsurers was about USD 78 billion. Property and business interruption losses (USD billion, at 2006 prices) Weather-related Nat Cats Man-made disasters Earthquake/tsunami $100 $80 $60 $40 $20 2006 2002 2000 2004 1998 1994 1996 1992 1990 1988 1986 1984 1982 1980 1978 1976 1974 $0 1972 to reinsurers, Canada ranks 5th globally at about Cdn 2 billion. Lately, insurance and reinsurance has been good business. In a sample of 30 major reinsurers worldwide, the combined ratio was 88%. That means for every dollar in premium earned, 88 cents was paid out in claims and related expenses. But that is not always the story because insurance is a cyclical business, and as an industry we are headed into a period of softening pricing and certain volatility. Much of our industry’s performance is predicated on the things that cannot be controlled. Will the wind blow? Will the ground shake? We refer to those events as major catastrophes, and it is no secret we are living in an age of increasing severity when it comes to windstorms, earthquakes and the like. If you observe insured losses from catastrophes over the last three decades or so, you will see the numbers increase over 1970 fact is, insurance is a critical foundation of the economy. Without insurance buildings do not get built, planes don’t fly, businesses cannot get a loan. Insurance is there to help protect assets, everything from property to professional reputations. Think of reinsurance as insurance for insurance companies. Because no insurer could hold all the risk it takes on its balance sheet, it transfers some of that risk to reinsurers. Reinsurance is a well-capitalized, well-funded safety net. It is just that economic challenge that led to the founding of Swiss Re in 1863: to address the need to spread risk. With headquarters in Zurich, Swiss Re is the worldwide leader in reinsurance. Our company has 90 offices in more than 25 countries and about 10,500 employees worldwide. Swiss Re has been operating in Canada since 1912 and is the largest Canadian reinsurer. When you consider all the insurance premiums ceded (Fig. 1) Source: Swiss Re, sigma No 2/2007 The forecast is turbulent as well. We are living in an age characterized by greater extremes in weather due to climate change. Successful logistics is a question of creativity Your business requires a service provider that understands and listens to your unique logistics requirements, then translates that understanding into efficient logistics solutions. Kuehne + Nagel combines 117 years of global strength and experience in international transportation and logistics with comprehensive information technology solutions. Our worldwide network of sea and air logistics, road and contract logistics provides you with a flexible and evolving infrastructure making your business competitive in the global marketplace. Looking forward, Kuehne + Nagel will continue to build upon a strong foundation and tradition of providing service excellence in international transportation and logistics with a clear focus on providing IT-based supply chain solutions. Sea & Air Logistics Road Logistics Contract Logistics Kuehne + Nagel Ltd. 5800 Hurontario Street, Mississauga, ON L5R 4B6 Tel: (905) 502-7776 Fax: (905) 502-0775 email: [email protected] www.kuehne-nagel.com 14 INFO SUISSE Special Services INSURANC E Couple this with the fact that people are moving to the coasts and accumulating more wealth and you have the recipe for a “perfect storm”. More people and more assets in the path of more severe hurricanes. This spells the potential for increased losses and more insurance payouts. While that prospect may seem daunting, the insurance industry and the larger financial services community is responding to the challenge in innovative ways. Swiss Re is a leader in the development of insurancelinked securities. We take insurance risk, securitize it and transfer it to the capital markets. It is another way to spread the risk, thereby mitigating our financial exposure to peak events. For Swiss Re, securitization represents a fundamental transformation of our traditional business model, from “buy and hold” to “buy, transform and sell”. Investors like the diversification because windstorms and earthquakes are largely uncorrelated to the rest of their portfolios. By the end of last year, the volume of capacity provided by insurance-linked securities had reached USD 38.7 billion worldwide. Of that total, USD 16.2 billion was in catastrophe bonds and the remainder linked to life risks. I am of the opinion that the insurance industry is prepared for future scenarios, yet we welcome the support we receive from other sectors and rely on adequate public infrastructure and prevention measures. For example, Swiss Re applauds the work of governments in implementing and enforcing stricter building codes and emergency management protocols. Earlier I mentioned the cyclicality of insurance markets and the fact that the industry’s combined ratio (claims and expenses paid to premiums earned) is expected to increase. Although last year was a profitable one for Canada’s non-life insurance industry, it is increasingly clear that the soft phase of the cycle is upon us. Net income declined in 2006 and claims eroded underwriting margins. In addition, the volatile financial markets kept investment results of insurers in check. This is nothing new in our industry, as we have endured many of these cycles before. At Swiss Re, we are consistent about the risks we assume – from year to year and cycle to cycle. Disciplined underwriting sometimes means declining a submission that does not meet our requirements – where we would be unable to collect a premium that is commensurate with the risk we assume. Swiss Re has a rich history of 150 years, and it is our desire to remain in business for another 150 years and to be there for our clients, to protect assets in times of crisis. To do that, we must underwrite to bottom-line performance, not to the top-line. Our clients demand it, our shareholders demand it, and we demand it of ourselves. A word or two about the subprime crisis. The insurance industry is preparing to face increasing claims on Directors & Officers policies, as financial institutions and their executives come under fire from shareholders. A recent survey finds that sub-prime related litigation could cost D&O insurers USD 3.6 billion. The subprime crisis also means the cost of capital is higher because as share prices declined, the costs of gaining access to the equity markets have increased. As credit spreads continue to widen, the costs of debt funding have increased. So what does the future hold for non-life insurance in Canada? Over time we have observed that more insurance premium is concentrated in fewer companies. The top 15 companies now account for 70% of total premium. While the strong get stronger, the challenges become greater. The frequency and severity of catastrophes, one of the key drivers of our industry’s performance, are becoming more and more pronounced. Still, Canada is a good bet for reinsurers, the providers of ultimate, top-layer protection to insurance companies. Significant reinsurance capacity is available to the Canadian market. What is more, investors are starting to get a taste of the attractiveness of securitized insurance risk from Canada – e.g. catastrophe bonds. When I go to work each morning, I am energized by the fact that an adventure lies before me. I cannot predict exactly what I will confront. Some things are within my control and other things are not. Who says insurance is boring? J U N E /J U LY 15 I N S U RA N CE LARGER INSURANCE BROKERS – WHAT DOES IT MEAN? In Canada, circa 1980, the average size of a property/casualty insurance brokerage firm was 3½ people. It’s hard to believe, but most insurance agencies, of that era, were very small and the owners were also typically the ones doing the selling and servicing of client accounts. Only in the larger centers would one find bigger firms; those with the time and manpower to handle large national and international accounts. Compensation in the insurance business (often discussed, but essentially unchanged) continues to consist, primarily, of 3 components. There is a standard commission scale, based on the type of insurance sold, and this standard is quite universal across Canada. This is received, by the brokerage firm, for the servicing of the client. Typically, less than half of that is passed on to the actual salesperson who maintains the regular client contact. In addition, the insurance brokerage firm may be able to negotiate other special compensation based on such things as larger business volume delivered to the insurer, or perhaps in respect of special programs which require the broker to play a larger role in the delivery of insurance to the end user. Lastly, insurers will often pay the brokerage firm an annual bonus, which is derived from a profit formula applied to the business written by that firm. The careful selection of good clients with a solid record of low claims levels is justifiably rewarded. Less used, but still seen at times, are give away trips and other prizes. In the “old” days, these typical sources of income were actually paid to the benefit of the sales people, who also happened to be the owners of the brokerage firm. This made it easy for insurers to maintain very close business relationships with their sales people. It also made for good customer service and the sales effort was well rewarded. The world of consolidation has changed all that. The radical reduction in small bro16 INFO SUISSE kerages has changed the sales and service part of the business noticeably. Many of the smaller brokerage firms, having been swallowed up by larger firms or “consolidators”, no longer have the sales person as an owner. In fact, the Canadian property/ casualty market is populated with insurance broker networks (whose growth has been financed by institutional investors, some of whose stock can be bought on public markets) as well as larger consolidations which have been financed by big corporations and (are you sitting down?) actual insurance companies. About a dozen property/casualty insurers, in Canada, are currently active owners of brokerages that publicly promote themselves as licensed and “independent”. This development has resulted in the fact that the sales force, which handles the client’s insurance needs, no longer receives the benefits of multiple income streams. While they look after their clients on a daily basis, for a portion of the commission, the administrators and institutional owners receive the benefits of overrides and bonuses. Smaller insurance companies, doing business with these larger brokerage firms, will find that the overrides and bonuses flow, not to the sales people whose support they very much need, but to the institutional owners, or even to one of their insurance company competitors. For the pressured sales person the going can get a bit rough. It’s tough to be objective when there’s only a commission portion to be earned. For the astute insurance buyer, however, there is a much more important question… …how independent is your broker’s advice? We’ve often heard stories of insurance companies insisting that their wholly owned insurance broker operations place much of the available business with “head office”. For the insurance consumer, as with the selection of any professional service, the need to select your advisor carefully is a very important part of making wise choices. ■ By Andreas Schwartze, MBA, CIP, Nacora Insurance Brokers Ltd. NOUVELL E S ECO N OM I Q U E S SWISS DE NOUVEAU EN TÊTE AU CLASSEMENT DES COMPAGNIES AÉRIENNES Le sondage lecteurs du magazine allemand Capital visant à déterminer la « Compagnie aérienne de l’année 2008 » vient de placer Swiss International Air Lines première ex æquo avec Austrian Airlines et Lufthansa au classement traditionnel des compagnies desservant les lignes européennes. SWISS détient par ailleurs avec Lufthansa la 6e place pour ses dessertes intercontinentales. « Les lecteurs de Capital ont rendu hommage à ce que nous considérons être notre capital : la ponctualité et un service personnalisé », déclare avec satisfaction Olivier Schlegel, directeur général de SWISS au Canada. « Nous souhaitons que nos vols soient encore plus agréables pour les passagers. Aussi réalisons-nous des investissements permanents dans notre produit en accordant une grande importance à la qualité et aux détails », poursuit Olivier Schlegel. Le sondage annuel de « Capital » invite les lecteurs du magazine à évaluer en ligne les prestations des compagnies aériennes. C’est sa 22e édition. Les résultats portent sur l’analyse de près de 17 000 vols effectués par plus de 1 000 grands voyageurs, en fonction de six catégories : le rapport qualité/prix, l’impression de sécurité, le service, le confort des sièges, la restauration à bord et la ponctualité. Le détail des évaluations est publié dans le dernier numéro du magazine et sur son site Internet www.capital.de. SWISS renforce continuellement sa position de compagnie de qualité. Début avril, elle a notamment achevé le renouvellement des sièges des 52 avions composant sa flotte européenne. Les passagers de SWISS bénéficient désormais sur tous les vols européens de nouveaux fauteuils très confortables et de plus d’espace pour les jambes. SWISS investit également dans son produit au sol. Par l’ouverture de la nouvelle « Business Class Lounge » de Genève, SWISS a lancé en mai 2007 un concept à trois classes pour ses salons aéroportuaires. À Zurich, comme c’est déjà le cas à Genève, les passagers disposeront prochainement de nouveaux salons « Business Class » et « Senator ». Le salon « First Class » a déjà ouvert ses portes en décembre dernier. Les nouveaux salons aéroportuaires ont été conçus dans un esprit typiquement « SWISS », conformément à la charte graphique et à l’identité visuelle de la compagnie. La modernisation et l’extension des salons aéroportuaires s’achèveront par l’inauguration du salon Business Class de Zurich avant le coup d’envoi du Championnat d’Europe de football 2008. ■ Switzerland is a small country. Less than one hour, and you’re off. – SHORTCUTS, SWISS MADE. – Short walking distances and perfectly harmonised flight schedules mean that nowhere in Europe is it quicker and easier to change from one plane to the next than in Zurich. It’s almost a shame that you don’t have more time to enjoy the airport itself, which was awarded the «World Travel Award 2006». For information and reservations, call 1-877-FLY-SWISS or contact your travel agent. Visit SWISS.COM to find out more about all the things we do to make each and every flight as comfortable as possible for our guests. SWISS.COM 055_300_HUB_191.77x127_InfoSuiss1 1 20.3.2007 J U14:36:49 Uhr N E /J U LY 17 T R AV EL N EWS INAUGURATION OF THE SWITZERLANDMOBILITY ROUTE NETWORK: A WORLD FIRST The SwitzerlandMobility Foundation (successor to “Cycling in Switzerland”) and Switzerland Tourism (ST) launched on April 27 in Murten, Fribourg region, the largest national network of non-motorized transport routes ever created. Nearly 20,000 km of itineraries through the whole of Switzerland open up unlimited opportunities for active holidays. The routes for hikers (6,300 km), touring cyclists (8,500 km), mountainbikers (3,300 km), inline skaters (1,000 km) and canoeists (410 km), all marked with standardized signposting, offer tremendous scenic variety. A range of services is available along the routes, including accommodation, luggage transportation, sports equipment rental and discounted travel on public transport. The choice of Murten for the inauguration today of the SwitzerlandMobility network is significant. This was the location selected for the “Human Powered Mobility” pilot project during Expo.02; in addition, Lake Murten is the setting for the first of this year’s slowUp events – festivals of non-motorized transport. Already since 1998 Switzerland has been a paradise for cyclists, thanks to the routes of the “Cycling in Switzerland” project. The new network additionally incorporates itineraries for hikers, mountainbikers, inline skaters and canoeists – around 20,000 km PROMOTING ACTIVE HOLIDAYS AND NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT of routes in all, throughout the whole of Switzerland. Marking the way are more than 100,000 signposts, with a different colour for each activity: green for hiking, pale blue for cycling, ochre for mountainbiking, violet for FINECAST High Precision Machining / Machinage de Haute Précision Finecast is a precision machining and manufacturing solutions service that offers fast turn-around, innovative machining expertise and high-quality, tight-tolerance parts. The company offers a complete solution based on a consultative approach, innovative technological abilities and multi-sector experience. Finecast est une entreprise d'usinage et de manufacture de pièces de haute précision, à tolérance serrée. Une expertise novatrice, une exécution rapide et une qualité supérieure sont de rigueur. La compagnie offre une solution complète basée sur une approche consultative, des capacités novatrices et une expérience multisectorielle. 208 Migneron Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1Y7 Tel : 514-331-0322 Fax : 514-331-0261 [email protected] www.finecast.ca 18 INFO SUISSE inline skating, and turquoise for canoeing. Full details of the itineraries appear in 57 printed route guides published in German, French and English; an additional guidebook lists all the accommodation options along the routes. The SwitzerlandMobility route network is a joint project by public- and private-sector partners. It is supported by all 26 Swiss cantons, eight federal agencies and the Principality of Liechtenstein, as well as numerous organizations in the fields of transport, tourism and sport. “SwitzerlandMobility is one of the most important tourism projects in Switzerland of the past fifty years,” said Jürg Schmid, Director of Switzerland Tourism, on the occasion of the official opening of the SwitzerlandMobility network today in Murten. “With SwitzerlandMobility, Switzerland has an exceptional product that makes the most of the country’s finest tourist assets: the unique beauty and variety of its natural landscapes, the quality of the accommodation and the superb public transport network. Switzerland is the ultimate paradise for active, environmentally-friendly leisure pursuits.” AN UNRIVALLED TOURIST PRODUCT The SwitzerlandMobility network also incorporates a comprehensive range of facilities and services, including 1,100 establishments along the routes offering a range of accommodation from hotel rooms equipped with every comfort to beds of straw on farms. At locations throughout the country, bicycles and mountainbikes – and, on some itineraries, electric FLYER bikes – are available for hire. The SwitzerlandMobility routes are accessible from more than 18,000 different stops on the public transport network. In addition, more than 100 package deals are available, often with luggage transport included. ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS The SwitzerlandMobility Foundation estimates that day trips on routes of the “Cycling T RAVEL NE W S in Switzerland” network generated a tourist income of 155 million Swiss francs in 2007. “From 2008, we are reckoning on an income of 300 to 500 million Swiss francs per year,” said George M. Ganz, President of the Foundation. “SwitzerlandMobility adds to what Switzerland has to offer in summer, and will encourage the development of tourist services along the route. SwitzerlandMobility is also an exceptional asset for attracting guests from abroad who are seeking active holidays close to nature.” Create your route on www.switzerlandmobility.ch – book packages on www.swisstrails.ch Whether you prefer a gentle ride on a bike along the shores of some of Switzerland’s most beautiful lakes or the adrenaline kick of a fast mountainbike descent, whether you dream of walking in the footsteps of pilgrims along the celebrated Via Jacobi, gliding on inline skates along the banks of the Rhine or floating down the river Aare in a canoe – you can create your ideal itinerary with just a few clicks on www.switzerlandmobility.ch. The exceptionally user-friendly website is the result of close collaboration between the SwitzerlandMobility Foundation, Switzerland Tourism, and the rail operator SBB. As you use your mouse to move your pointer over the interactive maps for the five categories of routes, information appears on rail connections, rental locations and accommodation options. As you proceed on your virtual with Austria) this huge event from June 7 – 29, 2008. During this tournament, where the top 16 national teams from Europe compete, emotions and euphoria are guaranteed. Up to 5.4 million fans are expected to follow the games in Switzerland, including 1.4 million visitors from abroad. During the month of June, the European soccer heart will be the beat of Switzerland. The EURO 2008 is a unique opportunity for Switzerland to present itself to millions of soccer fans and the rest of the world. With many additional tourist attractions, visitors may well be tempted to stay longer. Switzerland is a modern, high-performing and open-minded country with authentic roots, a unique natural environment and a place to do successful business. Come and experience our friendliness, hospitality, and especially join the biggest festivity of the decade! Guests and locals will party in the streets, and at the official fan festivals organized by the host cities for free. The idea to enable people without tickets to see the games live on giant screens (“public viewing”), proved to be a hit during last World Cup in Germany. This is one of many highlights on how to enjoy the party atmosphere during the event. For more information about the EURO 08 and Switzerland, please visit: www.switzerland.com / www.myswitzerland.com ■ journey, you will also find information on the history, sights and attractions of stops along the route. The website is set up in English as well as German, French and Italian. Packages for all the national routes, as well as “Swiss Trails à la carte” trips, can be booked online at www.swisstrails.ch. COMMITMENT FROM ALL THE SWISS TOURISM REGIONS Development and operation of the SwitzerlandMobility product is the responsibility of the SwitzerlandMobility group, which brings together all of the Swiss tourism regions as well as various private organizations including Switzerland Tourism (promotion of SwitzerlandMobility in Switzerland and abroad) and Swiss Trails (operation of the package holiday business). “GET READY FOR SWITZERLAND’S BIGGEST KICK-OFF SINCE 1954!” 2008 UEFA EURO 2008™ is by far the biggest sporting event ever to take place in Switzerland. This will be the second time for Switzerland to be hosting a major soccer tournament since the World Cup in 1954. The four cities Bern, Zurich, Geneva and Basel are hosting 15 of the 31 EURO 2008 matches. Expect emotions from June 7 to 29. The games will be broadcast in 170 countries with an expected combined total of eight billion TV viewers for all matches. Switzerland will be hosting (together Provided by Switzerland Tourism Seit über 20 Jahren in Ontario zugelassener, deutschsprechender Anwalt und Notar bietet Ihnen persönliche Betreuung und fachliche Kompetenz. ALEXANDER SENNECKE BALDWIN ANKA SENNECKE HALMAN LLP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Helping you make the Right Moves Victoria Tower 25 Adelaide Street East Suite 900 Toronto, Ontario M5C 3A1 www.bashllp.com Direct: 416.410.2113 Facsimile: 416.410.9423 Cell: 416.816.2113 Handy: +49.171.713.4423 [email protected] Für weitere Fragen stehe ich gerne zur Verfügung. J U N E /J U LY 19 MEMBER PROFILE ARBONNE INTERNATIONAL THE POWER OF CHOICE: BUSINESS IS BOOMING IN THE DIRECT SELLING INDUSTRY Why Swiss formulated skin care products are leading the way. by Sylvia Mayer Arbonne Independent Consultant, District Manager Why are so many people leaving corporate America to start home-based businesses? There were 2.7 million Canadians representing a Direct Selling company in total in 2006. They generated sales of 1.96 billion in 2006. The new global leaders are forward thinking business entrepreneurs whom have embraced direct selling. Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic Airways also owns Virgin Cosmetics Company, one of the leading cosmetics companies in the United Kingdom and a direct selling company. Time Warner and Citigroup have also launched direct selling companies. Arbonne International is the largest and fastest growing network marketing company in the Direct Selling Association with growth of over 40% in Canada in 2006 alone. Success from Home Magazine published an entire issue on Arbonne in 2006 and recently Empowering Women Magazine 20 INFO SUISSE has dedicated an issue to Arbonne (June 2008 issue). Arbonne International CEO Bob Henry won the prestigious Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006, recognizing an individual’s contribution to economic growth, innovation and cutting edge products and services. Arbonne International also won an award from the Direct Sellers Association in 2007 for the best web-based training program. Arbonne has a 30-year history of providing Swiss formulated skin care products that are unsurpassed in quality and effectiveness. The Swiss company, founded in 1975 by Petter Morck and a team of biochemists, biologists and herbalists expanded into the United States in 1980 and from there became Arbonne International. The botanical principals behind Arbonne International have now grown to encompass more than 450 inner and outer body, skin care, colour, nutrition, weight loss and aromatherapy products. Arbonne’s proprietary formulas are a blending of science and nature based on herbal and botanical principles. These innovative and results-oriented products are hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested and formulated without mineral oils, dyes or chemical fragrances. Master formulators use cutting edge technologies and the latest advances in skin care science to research and develop Arbonne’s exclusive skin care products at the Arbonne Institute of Research and Development, a research development facility, located in Switzerland. Pierre Bottiglieri, a renowned scientist with over 35 years experience formulating products for several Swiss-international products, coordinates the development of Arbonne’s proprietary skin care formulas at AIRD. As a member of the Swiss Society of Cosmetic Chemists since 1972, and having played key roles in the IFSCC (International Federation of Swiss Cosmetic Chemists) since that time, Pierre brings his own experience and the best minds in the business to create pure, safe and beneficial products. Arbonne …. Good things from the earth! Preserving the planet’s natural resources is an important part of the Arbonne philosophy. Long before regulations required the recycling of materials and eco-conscious manufacturing, Arbonne led the way by being a proponent of recyclable packaging, no testing on animals and a strict policy against the incorporation of animal products or bi-products in their botanically based formulas. MEMBER PROFILE ARBONNE INTERNATIONAL Their professional line of products are represented by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, chiropractors, licensed massage therapists, aestheticians, and professional make up artists The world steps aside for those who know where they are going. For Independent Consultant/Canadian National Vice President Karen Skeels, Arbonne is not just a job or career, but a way of life. “On February 28, 2005, Karen was promoted to District Manager. One year later, in February of 2006, we became a Nation,” Karen Skeels said. “This is one job where you can set your hours and have the potential to get a promotion in 12 months that can change your life, both personally and financially.” “Arbonne is empowering. Everyone has different strengths and people join your team because they have something to offer the team,” Karen Skeels said. “When you love what you do, you attract successful people to your business. The key to success is simple: WHY? Everyone will have one desire that is stronger than their desire to quit. Show everyone that their Why is significant because this can make or break someone’s business.” The philosophy of serving others is woven throughout the company. Arbonne’s giving culture is fundamental to its success. CEO Bob Henry’s mission is to offer an entrepreneurial opportunity that allows consultants to succeed in business and in life. Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise; risking more than others think is safe; dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible. ■ Editor’s Note: Sylvia Mayer will be present at the June 25th Spousal Event at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club to share the Arbonne experience with Swiss Chamber members, donating a portion of their sales during this event to the Scholarship Fund. J U N E /J U LY 21 N O U V E LLES ECO N OMI Q UES LES NOUVELLES TENDANCES EN AMÉNAGEMENT PAYSAGER Par Patrick Edelmann, Création de jardins Edelweiss De nos jours la création et la réalisation d’aménagements paysagers n’est plus seulement une question d’esthétique. Un jardin se doit d’être pensé et conçu pour bien servir ses propriétaires et usagers. On prend d’abord le temps de bien saisir leurs besoins et leurs attentes face à leur aménagement : quels en seront l’utilisation, le degré d’intimité, l’ensoleillement, le style de végétaux à privilégier, l’équipement et le mobilier de jardin à y intégrer? Doit-on tenir compte de la sécurité des enfants ou des aînés? Existe-t-il des besoins particuliers pour les animaux? Ensuite, on tâche de préserver les acquis, par exemple lorsque des plantes et des arbres de valeurs s’y trouvent déjà ou encore, des dénivellations qui pourraient être mises à profit. On crée aussi l’aménagement en ayant en tête sa longévité : qu’il mature en beauté et permettent aux propriétaires d’en profiter pour encore de nombreuses années. Puis, il y a la facilité d’entretien qui devient un facteur primordial. La vie d’aujourd’hui ne nous accorde pas toujours le loisir de passer des heures à entretenir un jardin. Un bon architecte de paysage en tient compte dans le choix des plantes et recouvrements qu’il y suggère. Une fois réalisé, le jardin devient un lieu de recueillement et de rencontre. Il se doit d’être bien organisé tant pour s’offrir un Neuchâtel. Next September. moment de détente bien à soi que pour y accueillir famille, amis. La création et la réalisation d’un jardin est un investissement à long terme qu’il importe de bien préparer. Une bonne planification peut représenter des économies en tenant compte des besoins des occupants, en profitant des acquis et en s’assurant de sa longévité et de son peu d’entretien. Investissement aussi parce qu’un aménagement bien pensé et exécuté augmente la valeur de la propriété et peut même devenir un lieu propice à la réalisation d’affaires lorsqu’on y accueille les clients! L’équipe d’Edelweiss est formée de professionnels qui se dédient à la conception et à la réalisation de jardins exclusifs et personnalisés pour chaque client, en fonction de leurs goûts et besoins, tout en leur faisant profiter de ses connaissances en design, techniques de sols, matériaux et végétaux. Création de jardins Edelweiss… pour faire fleurir vos rêves! ■ • Learn in English. Live in French. • Live in a Swiss university town. • Earn Ontario Grade 12 & AP credits. • Benefit from a focused 90-student community. • Absorb history & cultures through European travel. • Help others through international service projects. NJC is a member of the Canadian Association of Independent Schools the Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIS) 4 16 .36 8.8 16 9, 1.80 0 .263.2923 ad mis si ons @ n e uc h at e l .org w ww .n jc .c h A p p l i c a t i o n d e a d l i n e s f o r 20 0 8 / 20 0 9 a d m i s s i o n a r e : Monday, December 10, 2007 (first round) Monday, March 3, 2008 (second round) 22 INFO SUISSE and BUSINESS AND TRADE NEWS – SWITZERLAND SWITZERLAND HAS ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE TAX SYSTEMS WITHIN EUROPE According to a survey of European tax systems, compiled by KPMG International, in which major business organizations across Europe assessed the attractiveness of their domestic tax systems, Switzerland ranks third behind Cyprus and Ireland respectively. The survey is based on particular aspects of the tax system, including consistency, stability over time, volume of legislation, the tax rate, and relationships with tax authorities. The survey is compiled from more than 400 interviews with tax professionals in multinational companies across Europe. Regarding the tax rate and the stability in resisting frequent changes to tax laws, Switzerland performed outstandingly: 100 percent (as opposed to 49 percent on average across Europe) of the participants called Switzerland attractive regarding the tax rate and stability. As far as relationships with tax authorities, 90 percent (as opposed to 60 percent on average across Europe) of the respondents lauded Switzerland. WINS AND UPDATES Internet company Yahoo! is moving its European headquarters from London to Geneva and relocate a portion of its UK staff of 700 over an 18-month period. offices in Mexico City, Mexico, and Villars-surGlane, Switzerland. Three Wins for Basel Maryland-based Sucampo Pharmaceuticals announced that its wholly-owned European subsidiary, Sucampo Pharma Europe Ltd. based in Oxford, UK, has opened a branch office in Basel. The company also continues to maintain an IP Center in Canton Zug. Basel is also the location for the new EMEA headquarters of California-based DNA2.0 Inc., a gene synthesis and protein engineering company, and for Synosia Therapeutics, which has relocated its headquarters from California. Synosia develops products for unmet needs in psychiatry and neurology. Minnesota-based Ecolab Inc., a provider of cleaning, food safety and health protection products, is establishing its EMEA headquarters in the Zurich suburb of Wallisellen. The operation is comprised of current European management staff as well as new talent totaling over 100 employees by the end of 2008. Massachusetts-headquartered Auspice Corp, a provider of real-time operations automation and network service assurance solutions, has opened two new regional sales REVERSE INVESTMENTS Swissmetal, with over 750 employees and last year turn-over of about SFr 350 million agreed to acquire RM Precision Swiss Inc., based in Las Vegas, Nevada. RM Precision is a highly-specialized manufacturer of technical precision parts composed of copper alloys used in the plug connector business in the aviation industry. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Molecular Diagnostics (RMD) division of Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche opened a new research facility at the company’s existing campus in Pleasanton, California. The Pleasanton campus now houses nearly 500 employees, including 120 members of RMD’s research teams previously located in Alameda. Swiss-based Novartis has acquired a 25 percent stake in Alcon, a Fort Worthbased company specializing in ophthalmics, which ranks among the fastest-growing sectors in pharmaceuticals. The initial 25 percent acquisition from current owner Nestlé is estimated to cost about $11 billion. Novartis retains the right to buy the remaining shares at a later date. J U N E /J U LY 23 BUSINESS AND TRADE NEWS – SWITZERLAND According to the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, Petroplus Holding AG, based in Zug, is forming a joint venture with US-based private equity groups Blackstone and First Reserve, to purchase crude oil refineries in the US. The joint venture will operate under the name PBF. FROM THE FOREIGN DESK Egypt’s hotel and tourism company Orascom Hotels & Development SAE is relocating its headquarters to Altdorf, canton Uri, as Orascom Development Holding AG and will list on the Swiss Stock Exchange SWX. The move is to give the family owned company 24 INFO SUISSE better access to capital markets to fund expansion. The company earlier received the go-ahead to build a resort complex in Andermatt in the same canton. It has been reported that Texas Pacific Group (TPG) has agreed to sell Swiss shoe group Bally International to the Labelux Group, formed by the German Reimann family. The transaction is said to be valued in the $600 million range. Terumo Corporation of Tokyo, Japan has opened a branch office in Wettingen. Terumo is a global manufacturer of medical devices with 2007 annual revenues exceeding $2.5 billion. The president of European operations noted that “Switzerland is home to many of the world’s largest healthcare companies and the opening of the Swiss branch presents a tremendous growth opportunity for the company.” OTHER NEWS Switzerland, Austria and Germany have the most attractive environments for developing the travel and tourism industry, according to the second annual Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008, released by the World Economic Forum. Rankings are based on the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) covering 130 countries around the world. The top-ranked countries demonstrate the importance of supportive business and regulatory frameworks, coupled with world-class transport and tourism infrastructure and a focus on nurturing human and natural resources. The March 14 issue of Financial Times reported on Yahoo’s plan to “quit London office for Geneva,” adding that recent wins for Switzerland included Google’s engineering headquarters in Zurich and Electronic Arts moving its European headquarters from outside London to Geneva. The March issue of Business & Commercial Aviation reported on five regional Swiss airports agreeing to cooperate in a push to attract more business traffic. Location Promotion Switzerland’s role is mentioned. The airports serve Berne, Luzerne, Lugano, Sion and St. Gallen, with Grenchen and Sameden expected to join in. Switzerland ranks third after Denmark and Sweden in the 2007-08 Global Information Technology Report produced by the World Economic Forum in cooperation with INSEAD, the leading international business school. Published for the seventh consecutive year with record coverage of 127 economies worldwide, the Report has become the world’s most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations. www.weforum. BUSINESS AND TRADE NEWS – SWITZERLAND org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Informat ion%20Technology%20Report/index.htm Switzerland ranks 5th in Europe in the 2008 E-readiness Index. The annual survey examines the information and communication technology (ICT) of 70 economies, using a model developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit in cooperation with the IBM Institute for Business. An interview of Mario Brossi by Staci Dixon of CoreNet Global’s The Leader resulted in a 2-page overview in the September-October 2007 issue discussing the current FDI environment. It is posted at http://www.locationswitzerland.com/ html/newsletters-pr-articles/articles/200709-lsecodevlbos.pdf ECOLAB ESTABLISHES EMEA HEADQUARTERS IN SWITZERLAND – STAFFING TO EXCEED 100 BY YEAR-END 2008 Ecolab Inc. the leading provider of cleaning, food safety and health protection products and services for the hospitality, foodservice, healthcare and industrial markets has established its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters in Switzerland, reports Mario Brossi of the Foreign Investment Agency Location Promotion Switzerland. The new offices in the Zurich suburb of Wallisellen will house the EMEA leadership team whose focus is to drive the strategic leadership and management of the region, Mr. Brossi added. Ecolab EMEA President Jim White commented on the move saying, “After undergoing an extensive evaluation process to find an ideal location, Ecolab selected the Zurich area because of its consistent ranking as one of the best business locations in the world, as well as the outstanding quality of life it offers our associates. These features will help us attract and retain world-class and diverse talent. “Other important criteria included its central location, excellent public transportation system, proximity to our regional customers and a diversity of housing options,” Mr. White said. “The presence of so many other headquarter operations in the Zurich area also served to reinforce our conviction that this is the right location for our EMEA activities.” Ecolab, with world headquarters in St. Paul, MN, has been operating in the EMEA region for more than 60 years and is represented in 35 countries in the region. It employs approximately 7,000 associates throughout the EMEA region and serves diversified market segments providing food safety, sanitation and health protection solutions to many of the world’s best known brands. With sales of $5.5 billion and more than 14,000 sales and-service associates, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is the global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection control products and services in more that 160 countries. More news and information is available at www.ecolab.com. ■ Source: Location Switzerland Experience the ultimate in chocolate. Taste what over 150 years of Swiss tradition, know-how and passion can produce. Visit our Lindt Boutiques at the Sears stores in Toronto Eaton Centre and Vancouver Pacific Centre. J U N E /J U LY 25 BUSINESS AND TRADE NEWS – SWITZERLAND BURNING YOUR MORTGAGE A significant event in everyone’s life is the burning of their mortgage. For some of us, between the cost of raising children, or “moving-up”, or other life decisions, the momentous mortgage pay-off can be delayed, sometimes significantly. Many of our clients still have mortgages and we are often asked about the value of transferring their mortgage into an RRSP. There is no definitive answer to this question. To the extent that there is any advantage, it is in the spread between the RRSP’s return on a same-risk investment (i.e. the RRSP funds you have in GIC’s and low risk investments) and the retail mortgage yield that the RRSP will receive. For example, if you have a GIC earning 3% a year and the retail mortgage interest rate is 7%, the spread is 4%. The next question is who can transfer their mortgage into an RRSP? The Income Tax Act provides that a mortgage in respect of real property situated in Canada is a “qualified investment” for an RRSP, unless the mort- gagor (or any mortgagor) of the mortgage is a person who is not at arm’s length, or does not deal at arm’s length, with an annuitant of the RRSP. In other words, the general rule is that neither you nor your spouse would qualify to make the mortgage transfer. However, the above provision is removed when the mortgage is insured under and administered by a lender approved by the National Housing Act. Most banks and trust companies would be approved lenders. For the mortgage to qualify, it must bear interest at the market rate and have commercial repayment terms. There are several fees involved in setting up your mortgage in your RRSP. These would include home appraisal fees, legal fees and administrative fees to the RRSP institution and insurance costs under the National Housing Act. If you are unsure about the possibilities of transferring your mortgage into your ■ RRSP, speak to your banker and us. By Cunningham LLP, Chartered Accountants, Toronto. SWITZERLAND CENTRE FOR TRADE FAIRS/ LA SUISSE – PLACE DE FOIRES 03.06. – 06.06.2008 EPHJ Expo is renowned as one of the wealthiest and most developed in the world. This glittering event brings together the best from the world of jewellery & Watches, and it presents an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to expand their business and gain profit from one of the richest markets in the world. Venue: Palais de Beaulieu, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland. 04.06. – 06.06.2008 Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress & Exhibition will provide a unique opportunity to meet the key buyers from around the world. The international ITS community will participate in this prestigious event in significant numbers and the Exhibition and Congress will run concurrently, giving exhibitors maximum exposure LETTE LETTE & PARTNERS WWW.LETTE.COM to both delegates and visitors. There is also an opportunity to display one’s ITS applications outdoors. Venue: Geneva Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland. For over 50 years, many of Europe's largest corporate groups, as well as numerous small and medium-size companies, have counted on Lette Lette & Partners to provide them with practical, sophisticated and cost-effective legal advice in Canada. 04.06. – 08.06.2008 Art 39 Basel takes place from June 4 – 8, 2008. The international art show Bernard Lette avocat aux barreaux de Paris, Montréal et Toronto Barrister & Solicitor, admitted to practice in Ontario, Québec and France [email protected] Toronto: +1.416.971.4848 ext 5421 Montréal: +1.514.871.3838 ext 202 features about 300 leading art galleries from 30 countries on all continents. Art Basel is the world’s premier modern and contemporary art fair. 20th- and 21stcentury art works by over 2,000 artists will be on display. 55,000 art collectors, Lette Lette & Associés Lette & Associés Lette Whittaker Paris Montréal Toronto Lette & Associés Lette & Knorr Genève München art dealers, artists, curators and art lovers attend the annual meeting place of the art community. Venue: Exhibition Center Basel, Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland. 26 INFO SUISSE Our roller coaster. MySwitzerland.com Switzerland has one of the world’s best and most integrated transportation systems. With only a single pass you can take advantage of the whole system – it even gives access to over 400 museums. Starting December 2007, the new Loetschberg-Basistunnel will become part of the European Railway Network and will reduce travelling time to the Valais by more than an hour. Get a Swiss Travel Pass and off you go, on a thrilling ascent while watching the spectacular scenery go by. Like on a Roller Coaster - just more naturally. For more information or to book online visit Raileurope.com/canada or call 1-800-361-RAIL N O U V E LLES ECO N OMI Q UES LA SUISSE A PIGNON SUR RUE À MONTRÉAL! « …mais ce qu’elle vous propose va au delà de ses industries chocolatière et horlogère » a précisé Mr Claude Duvoisin, Consul général de Suisse à Montréal, lors du cocktail organisé le 31 mars par la Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain.. À l’origine, il y a eu un désir de rapprochement de la Chambre de Commerce CanadoSuisse avec la Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain. Sous l’égide de l’Opéra de Montréal, le cocktail a eu lieu au Café du MonumentNational, bâtiment historique et haut lieu des arts de la scène. Mélange de bon goût aussi, car les participants ont eu le plaisir d’y savourer un excellent vin suisse offert par le Consulat et des chocolats suisses. Deux moments de grâce ont clôturé la soirée : les extraits d’opéras de Donizetti, Puccini et de Starmania interprétés avec talent et émotion par les solistes de l’Atelier des arts lyriques, relève des jeunes chanteurs québécois et canadiens. Finalement, un tirage au sort de billets pour Madame Butterfly, billets qui furent gagnés par un Suisse de Lausanne! L’objectif de la rencontre était de favoriser un échange fructueux entre les membres des deux Chambres de commerce afin d’établir des liens d’affaires dans un contexte détendu et d’aiguiser la curiosité envers le marché suisse pour des occasion d’affaires de toutes sortes. Le Consul a évoqué l’accord de libreéchange qui a été signé récemment entre le Canada et l’Association européenne de libreéchange, dont la Suisse fait partie. Il devrait agir comme catalyseur dès qu’il sera ratifié et relancer de plus belle les échanges commerciaux entre la Suisse et le Canada. Il a souligné plus particulièrement, les points de vue communs entre le Québec et la Suisse et a insisté sur les échanges fructueux dans les domaines académiques et culturels. Les membres de la Chambre de commerce Canado-Suisse ont partagé avec enthousiasme leurs points de vue avec leurs collègues de la communauté des affaires 28 INFO SUISSE de Montréal. Ces rencontres seront, nous l’espérons, le point de départ de relations d’affaires. Elles permettent à la Chambre de Commerce Canado-Suisse de mieux se faire connaître et d’attirer de nouveaux membres. Elles ajoutent aussi, tout en le diversifiant, une saveur d’affaires supplémentaire au menu d’activités que nous proposons. ■ De gauche à droite : Claude Duvoisin, Consul général de Suisse à Montréal; Chantal Lambert, Directrice de l’Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal; Louise Bélanger Vice-Présidente de la Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain; Pierre Dufour, Directeur général de l’Opéra de Montréal. 141 Adelaide Street West, Suite 203 Toronto, Ontario M5H 3L5 Telephone: 416 777-0123 Fax: 416 777-0308 For your investment needs please contact: Werner Joller David Ratcliffe President Managing Director www.hottinger.com WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD www.swissinfo.ch YOUR DIRECT CONTACT TO SWITZERLAND World’s finest products for skin care, nutrition, weight loss, health, anti-aging, cosmetics, hair care and aromatherapy delivered to your doorstep. Sylvia Mayer District Manager, Toronto ID # 115060678 Tel: 416-207-9797 or 1-800-ARBONNE Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.arbonne.ca PURE SWISS SKIN CARE . FORMULATED IN SWITZERLAND MADE IN THE USA COLOR I NUTRITION I WEIGHT LOSS I AROMATHERAPY 30 INFO SUISSE NOUVELL E S ECO N OM I Q U E S UNE DÉLÉGATION ÉCONOMIQUE DU CANTON DE VAUD EN MISSION À MONTRÉAL. Editorial articles on business and trade from members and member companies are welcome, subject to space availability. Please note the following deadlines for submission in the 2008 info suisse publication: Nous invitons des articles économiques et affaires de nos members, qui serons considerés pour publication selon espace disponible. Nous aimerions vous rappeler les dates les plus tards pour de telles soumissions en 2008: suivi par monsieur Jacques Pasche, PDG de DEWS, qui a fait une présentation plus formelle sur les avantages de la région. ALIBI Une importante délégation économique dirigée par le Conseiller d’État et Chef du département de l’économie du Canton de Vaud, monsieur Jean-Claude Mermoud s’est arrêtée à Montréal le 28 avril dernier. La Chambre de commerce canadosuisse de Montréal a saisi cette occasion pour s’associer au DEWS (Développement économique Western Switzerland) et organiser une réception avec de nombreux représentants de la communauté d’affaires montréalaise intéressés au marché suisse. Après un mot de bienvenue du Consul général, monsieur Claude Duvoisin, le Conseiller d’État Mermoud a prononcé une allocution convaincante sur les opportunités d’affaires dans l’Ouest de la Suisse. Il a été Une période de question fort animée a permis de répondre à de nombreuses interrogations des invités. « Je suis extrêmement satisfait de cette rencontre » a indiqué Jacques Thévenoz, président de la CCCSM. « Nous avons pu réunir un nombre important de représentants de la communauté d’affaires dont plusieurs ne sont pas membres de notre Chambre, et qui ont démontré un grand intérêt pour les questions économiques suisses. » La présentation a regroupé plus de 70 personnes à l’Auberge Saint-Gabriel et a été suivi d’une réception qui a favorisé les échanges avec les autres représentants suisses de la délégation. ■ Entre la banque fondée à Genève en 1819 et la marque désormais présente sur 3 continents, il y a tout un monde de nouvelles opportunités pour nos clients. Mais c’est toujours avec la même volonté d’excellence que Mirabaud peut, aujourd’hui, vous faire profiter de ses compétences sur un large territoire de produits et services financiers: gestion privée et institutionnelle, fonds traditionnels et alternatifs. Ouverture & équilibre Publication August / September Août / Septembre Submission Date / date de soumission 15 August / août 2008 Publication October / November Octobre / Novembre Submission Date / date de soumission 15 September / septembre 2008 Publication December / January (‘09) Decembre / Janvier (’09) Submission Date / date de soumission 15 November / novembre 2008 MIRABAUD Gestion Inc. Yves Erard 1501, avenue McGill College Bureau 2220 Montréal (Québec) H3A 3M8 T +1 514 393-9748 F +1 514 393-1828 www.mirabaud.com J U N E /J U LY 31 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS SCCC (TORONTO) INC. Corporate Member Sandra Leuba Manulife Investments 250 Bloor Street E., East Tower 12 Toronto, Ontario, M4W 1A5 Tel: (416) 852-7707 Email: [email protected] www.manulifeinvestments.ca Fabian Richenberger Zurich Canada, Senior Vice President 400 University Avenue, 25th Floor Toronto, ON M5G 1S7 Tel: (416) 586-2959 Fax: (416) 586-2939 Email: [email protected] …You Can Always Trust A Swiss BIENVENU AUX NOUVEAUX MEMBRES SCCC (MONTREAL) INC. Individual members / membres individuels Mr. Murad Hannoush Investors Group 2001 University, Bureau 1620 Montréal, QC H3A 2A6 Tel: (514) 618-1381 Fax: (514) 350-8752 Courriel:[email protected] Web: www.investorsgroup.com Mr. Andrea Heberlein President Balsavour Canada Inc. 378, MacArthur, St. Laurent, QC H4T 1X8 Tel: (514) 737-2929 Fax: (514) 737-6042 Courriel : [email protected] Web: www.balsavour.com M. Edouard Housez Consultant (Banking & Finance) Michael Page International 1000, de la Gauchetière ouest Bureau 2414, Montréal, QC H3B 4W5 Tel: 514-448-7471 Fax: 514-448-5101 Courriel: [email protected] Web: www.michaelpage.ca Corporate “B” Kuehne & Nagel Ltd 1155, rue University, Suite 400 Montreal, QC H3B 3A7 Tel: (514) 397-9900 Fax: (514) 395-2410 Web: www.kuehne-nagel.com Mr. John Stoppenbrink Regional Vice-President [email protected] Mr. Ian Ollek Sales Manager [email protected] Usinage Québec Centre M. Paul Lüthi, President 51, de l’Église Baie-du-Febvre, QC J0G 1A0 Tel. & Fax : (514) 783-7830 Courriel: [email protected] 32 INFO SUISSE For a taste you never tire of… T he legendary quality and precision of ‘Swiss Made Excellence’ is nowhere more evident than in Genuine Switzerland Cheese – The product of centuries-old tradition, natural ingredients and meticulous Swiss ingenuity, exactitude and dedication. Insist on real Swiss cheese Emmentaler Le Gruyère Sbrinz Appenzeller Raclette Vacherin Fribourgeois www.switzerlandcheese.ca Tête de Moine MONTREAL 2195 Crescent St. 514.848.0595 CUSTOM DESIGNS, MASTER GOLDSMITHS & RARE GEMS SINCE 1954 NEW YORK 785 Madison Ave. 212.249.5700 www.kaufmanndesuisse.ca With global resources behind us, we can focus on the financial issues that really matter. Yours. At UBS Wealth Management, we know that financial success comes to those who plan for it. So we make sure we understand your entire wealth situation, before we craft your customised solution. Your adviser draws on the comprehensive expertise of our extensive global network. Anticipating developments throughout your lifetime. And keeping your portfolio aligned with your goals. You enjoy pace-setting products and services, regular monitoring and proactive advice. And the might of one of the world’s leading wealth managers at your side. You and us. For information about UBS in Canada, please contact Karel Nemec, Montreal, 514 845 8828 Angela Wiebeck, Toronto, 416 343 1800 Beat Meier, Calgary, 403 532 2180 Martine Cunliffe, Vancouver, 604 669 5570 www.ubs.com © UBS 2005. All rights reserved. UBS is a premier global financial services firm offering wealth management, asset management and investment banking services to individual, corporate and institutional investors. UBS is headquartered in Switzerland and operates in over 50 countries and from all major financial centres. In Canada, UBS Wealth Management services are available through UBS Bank (Canada) and it’s subsidiary UBS Investment Management Canada Inc.