2018

Strengthening customer confidence
In 2018, we held client satisfaction constant at a very high level and generated sustainable growth with existing and new clients. This is underlined by the 7% increase in our gross earnings to CHF 137.6 million and the growth of more than 10% each posted for total assets and client loans respectively. This was further supported by the solidity we enjoy as a member of the Crédit Mutuel Group, one of the best capitalised banks in Europe. Being part of this Group and our positioning as a flexible bank allowed us to gain and further develop the trust of new and existing clients. In 2018 we attracted CHF 1.1 billion in new money, a peak performance for a bank that focuses its business on Switzerland. This result is all the more encouraging as the growth was achieved in an environment of political uncertainty and difficult market conditions. 

Our entrepreneurial preference for long-term relationships based on a spirit of partnership particularly proves itself in times of uncertainty. Because we are rooted in Switzerland, we understand the needs and requirements of our clients. We also take into account the unique and specific circumstances of each and every client in order to offer them authentic and value-adding solutions. In 2018 we again used the knowledge derived from our cooperation with our clients to launch new products. Clevercircles, for example, is a new investment platform allowing our clients to have access to market evaluations of professionals and make their own investment decisions. The app is very popular and client numbers reached four digits after just six months.   

We are delighted that increasing numbers of clients are putting their trust in our new Swiss banking approach. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our clients for their cooperation in 2018 and pledge our commitment to ensuring that 2019 is at least as successful – for our clients, our employees and our Bank CIC!

In 2008, a second cousin of the Jaquier brothers wanted to sell his company. The three colleagues made use of this opportunity and bought the company together. At that time it manufactured packaging machines and cheese robots. But the trio quickly decided to change their focus and to bet everything on the development of new cheese robots. With success. They started with 18 employees and now have 75. They are also planning to build a new factory to cope with rising demand.

“Our former employers, the Sugnaux brothers, were originally less than enthusiastic about our activities”, admits JNJ chairman Sébastien Jaquier. “To prevent us from making life difficult for one another, we thought about a shared future. But we soon realised that the Sugneaux family didn't want to invest in dialogue.”

A case for Bank CIC
A good thing then that a friend of Sébastien Jaquier had a positive experience with Bank CIC and told the three of them about it. Sébastien Jaquier started listening attentively when he heard that Bank CIC had people specialising in mergers and acquisitions. Maurizio Pierazzi, Head of Corporate Finance at Bank CIC in Neuchâtel, soon gained his confidence – as well as that of Sugnaux Electromécanique.

It's different when a bank calls rather than a competitor.

“It's different when a bank calls rather than a competitor”, says Jérôme Nicolet, Technical Director at JNJ automation. “After all, the bank doesn't just offer financial advice. It helped us enter into dialogue and find a solution that suited both parties.”  Maurizio Pierazzi met with representatives of Sugnaux and explained carefully that an offer for a partnership with their company has been made. “We only divulged the name of the interested party after the Sugnaux family confirmed their interest in the deal,” says Maurizio Pierazzi, who then invited both parties to the table.

The Sugnaux brothers asked for time to think about the offer. After two months they agreed to a partnership with JNJ automation. Maurizio Pierazzi coordinated the entire negotiation process, from due diligence to signing of the contract. What exactly convinced the Sugnaux family to agree? “Our relationship is shaped by mutual respect”, say Joël and Sébastien Jaquier and Jérôme Nicolet in agreement. “The Sugnaux family was convinced by our intention to strengthen the position of Romont.”

One strategy, two strong partners
All Sugnaux employees and their two bosses, Alain and Marc Sugnaux, now work for JNJ automation. According to Sébastien Jaquier, the Sugnaux brand will not disappear, but will be repositioned and strengthened. “We want to offer more services and products relating to dairy processing under this brand.”

The machines of JNJ automation are 100% made in Romont. Up to 70% of their machines are exported to France, Austria, the UK, Canada, the US and increasingly also to Russia. It therefore comes as no surprise that the new building, which was commissioned in spring 2014, is already reaching the limits of its capacity. Building work will start again soon as the factory space has to be doubled. The industry is continuing to gain ground in the dairy region around Romont.

Their friendship and confidence in one another remained and together they completed the building project with a construction loan. The Helblings were the first clients of Bank CIC in St. Gallen. 

Investment properties need flexibility
“The financing parameters are different for investment properties than for owner-occupied residential property”, explains Osterwalder. As a rule, the lending value is calculated using the gross rental method. This is done by dividing the rental income by the capitalisation rate. “Usually more own capital is needed to finance such projects”, says Osterwalder.

This meant that Bank CIC had to be flexible. This was made possible, among other things, by the fact that the Helbling family did a lot of the work themselves. Claudia Helbling was in charge of finances and interior fittings, while father and son focused on the construction work. They were joined over weekends by sons Yannick, professional footballer with FC Schaffhausen, and Noé, the youngest in the family. “The Helblings are very well acquainted with the market for building materials. This had a positive effect on the prices and quality”, says Osterwalder.

Support in all phases of life
Just like Bank CIC has become established in St. Gallen, it has become hard to imagine Wagen without the elegant apartment building. The end of the project does not mean the end of the partnership with Bank CIC, however. The construction loan has been replaced by a mortgage. And every new phase of life brings new challenges. “We want to continue planning our finances with Franz Osterwalder”, confirm the Helblings. A good thing that this can be done without detouring via South East Asia.