ab Companies The smart business decision: Switzerland and UBS
Switzerland is the ideal location for business Switzerland is a world leader in business competitiveness and innovation, with a strong economy, superb infrastructure, well-educated workforce, and solid government. Free of overrestrictive labor regulations, with a highly efficient administration system, Switzerland is the world s leading country for business competitiveness 1 and innovation 2. Excellent roads, reliable national and international railways, efficient airports with direct connections to the world s most important business centers, and modern telecommunication networks provide a first-class infrastructure for running a business. High-quality workforce Companies in Switzerland benefit from a well-educated, hard-working workforce committed to quality, punctuality and reliability. In fact, Switzerland is the world s most attractive country for professionals 4, which ensures a strong pool of well-trained talent for business. A high standard of living, excellent educational institutions, superb health care, and a competitive tax system for both individuals and companies all add to Switzerland s attractiveness. Political and economic strength Founded over 700 years ago, Switzerland has a well-established, stable political and legal system. While solidly independent and with its own currency, Switzerland also has close trading links with the EU, Asia and the world. This strong, diverse and wealthy economy is particularly business friendly 3. 1 No. 1 in the Global Competitiveness Report 2013 2014 of the World Economic Forum WEF 2 No. 1 on the Global Innovation Index 2013 issued by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (part of the UN) 3 No. 4 in the Economic Freedom of the World Report 2013, and top in Europe 4 World s most attractive country for professionals according to the Global Talent Competitiveness Index issued by INSEAD in 2013 2
Connected to the world Across all industries Switzerland s highly-trained workforce and technical sophistication make it particularly attractive to firms in the manufacturing and engineering industries, as well as in the IT and communications, and chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology sectors. Foreign firms in many other industries, including commodity trading in particular, are also well established. Situated in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is just a few hours by air from the continent s major cities. There are frequent international connections to the most important hubs in the Far East, Middle East, Africa and the Americas. As a trade-oriented country whose exports account for over 50 percent of GDP (by comparison, China s exports amount to just under 30 percent of GDP 5 ), Switzerland has a positive and welcoming attitude to foreign companies. Expats are in good company With over 20 percent of Switzerland s population originating in other countries 7, Switzerland has long experience of welcoming expatriates from around the world. Alongside its four national languages, English is widely spoken and understood, especially in business. Many expatriates choose to send their children to one of the excellent international schools throughout Switzerland. If you are interested in locating to Switzerland, UBS will be glad to introduce you to reliable and efficient independent relocation experts, law firms, tax advisors and insurance brokers. Favorite location for multinationals Drawn by Switzerland s multiple attractions as a business location, numerous foreign corporations have placed their global, European or EMEA headquarters here. 5 The World Bank 6 Arthur D. Little: Headquarters on the Move Benchmarking of Global and Regional Headquarters in Switzerland 7 Swiss Federal Statistical Office 3
UBS: Switzerland s strongest bank As the leading universal bank in Switzerland, UBS has been serving private, institutional and corporate clients across the world, and retail clients in Switzerland, for 150 years. UBS is not only Switzerland s largest bank, it has also been named Best Bank in Switzerland for the last two years by Euromoney magazine s Awards for Excellence panel. The fact that we put our clients first is demonstrated by our huge market share in Switzerland, where UBS serves: over 40 percent of all Swiss SMEs and corporations over 85 percent of the top 1,000 Swiss companies You too can benefit from our extensive market and industry knowledge based on our vast client base. Comprehensive corporate offering Our corporate clients operate in every business sector, and come in every size. We offer a similarly comprehensive range of corporate banking products and services, ranging from attractive basic banking products to transaction banking services (cash management, asset servicing, trade and export finance), and specialist services including commodity trade financing, fixed income, corporate finance/m&a, securities dealing and capital markets access and advisory. UBS is a world-leading global wealth manager, integrating the services of its investment bank, global asset management and Swiss retail and corporate banking businesses to provide an exceptional offering to clients. Headquartered in Zurich and Basel, Switzerland, UBS has offices in over 50 countries, including all the major financial centers, approximately 61,000 employees worldwide, and one aim: your financial success. Meeting your employees needs for wealth management and capital markets access and advisory Beyond this, UBS uses its global wealth management, asset management and investment bank businesses to meet the financial needs of private individuals. You and your employees can benefit from our full range of retail financial services extending from bank accounts, investment products and pension funds, to credit cards, mortgages and beyond, and our network of over 300 branches in Switzerland. And as a world-leading wealth manager, we will be delighted to assign a dedicated client advisor to introduce you to our extensive advice and services for wealthy individuals and entrepreneurs. 4
Services all along the value chain Our transaction banking services support your company from liquidity management, to securing performance and payment, to hedging trade and export activities. Every company has its own order-to-cash cycle. Nevertheless, most firms operating internationally have similar needs: to process payment transactions efficiently; plan, control and manage liquidity; deal with foreign currencies; finance trade and export transactions; hedge currency, service and payment risks; and manage assets. Comprehensive range of services We are here to meet your needs. Our transaction banking services provide specialist advice and expert implementation for all your requirements through a wealth of products and services that can be combined into a customized solution tailored to your company s needs and value chain. For example, we offer tailor-made transaction and cash management services; currency risk and payments hedging; financing for investments and working capital; payment services; currencies and cash management; specialist information on countries, currencies and business practices; and much more. Access our global networks With UBS you can manage your international and local business out of Switzerland, and also take advantage of our transaction banking services in Singapore and Hongkong as required. For the rest of the world, you can rely on our international payments services and vast network of partner and correspondent banks. 5
Products and services for companies Trade and export finance We can support you in all your trade and export activities. UBS Trade & Export Finance gives you effective, comprehensive support combining individual funding and solutions to secure performance and payment. Corporate finance Our specialists offer advice and implementation services for nonstandard banking transactions such as structured financing, mergers and acquisitions and spin-offs, as well as providing operational and strategic financing, interest hedging, and real estate financing and advisory. Our experience and vast domestic and international networks will help you to find suitable partners. With UBS in Switzerland, you have a single partner for the entire array of transaction banking products and services you require. Payment transactions and cash management Our solutions ensure cost-efficient and reliable domestic and international payment transactions. With a high-performance cash management solution from UBS, you can plan, manage and invest your company s liquidity to best effect. Additional services As an integrated universal bank, we can meet all your needs. For example, we can support your foreign exchange and securities transactions, give you access to capital markets, and optimize your expenses and cash management by providing a credit card solution tailored to your requirements. 6
Take advantage of Switzerland and UBS Working with UBS in Switzerland opens up a world of opportunities and benefits for your company and for you: All the advantages of one of the world s most innovative, wealthy, well-connected and business-friendly economies offering a top quality of life. The security of partnering with the leading Swiss universal bank and a world-leading wealth manager. Assurance of expert operational and strategic advice tailored to your value chain, needs and goals. Access to excellent standard products and fully customizable modular solutions. Use of integrated transaction banking solutions from a strong and dependable banking partner. Timely, secure and reliable handling of all your financial transactions including the most complex. Contact us For more information about how UBS can assist your firm to make the most of Switzerland as a business location, please contact: E-mail: cic-apac@ubs.com You can also visit: www.ubs.com/swiss-hub 7
This publication is intended for information only and is not intended as a recommendation, an offer or a solicitation of an offer. Before making a decision, you should obtain relevant professional advice. Please note that UBS reserves the right to alter its services, products or prices at any time without prior notice. Certain products and services are subject to legal restrictions and cannot be offered worldwide on an unrestricted basis. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission of UBS. UBS AG P. O. Box 8098 Zurich Switzerland www.ubs.com ab UBS 2014. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. All rights reserved. 84103E