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Strong business relationship between the US and Switzerland

Axalta Coating Systems, Burger King and Coty Receive “Tell Awards” for Foreign Direct Investment Projects in Switzerland

Axalta Coating Systems, Burger King Corporation, and Coty Inc. received 2018 “Tell Awards” from the government of Switzerland recognizing their significant inward investment projects , reports Daniel Bangser, Director North America for Investment Promotion and Trade Commissioner of Switzerland. The awards, named for legendary Swiss hero William Tell, were presented by Giorgio Pompilio, Acting Consul General of Switzerland; Patrik Wermelinger, Head of Investment promotion at S-GE; and Mr. Bangser at the 2018 “Inspiring Innovation Conference" hosted by Bloomberg in New York.

awards on table
American firms choose Switzerland for the multi-lingual talent, American-like employment laws, and economic political stability.

New York, October 11 – Axalta Coating Systems, Burger King Corporation, and Coty Inc. received 2018 “Tell Awards” from the government of Switzerland recognizing their significant inward investment projects , reports Daniel Bangser, Director North America for Investment Promotion and Trade Commissioner of Switzerland. The awards, named for legendary Swiss hero William Tell, were presented by Giorgio Pompilio, Acting Consul General of Switzerland; Patrik Wermelinger, Head of Investment promotion at S-GE; and Mr. Bangser at the 2018 “Inspiring Innovation Conference" hosted by Bloomberg in New York.

Strong business relationship between the US and Switzerland

In his remarks, Acting Consul General Pompilio noted that "the business relationship between the United States and Switzerland is clearly a two-way street. This is exemplified by the approximately 85,000 people in Switzerland working for US companies, and some 500,000 people in the US working for Swiss companies."

Mr. Bangser added, "These companies demonstrate the breadth of industries that are present in Switzerland, which is well known as a location for companies in the fields of life science, ICT, consumer goods and finance, but is actually a prime location for many industry sectors. American firms across the board choose Switzerland for the multi-lingual talent, American-like employment laws, and economic/political stability – which are just a few of the reasons Switzerland is ranked as the 'World's Most Competitive Country' for business by the World Economic Forum."

About the Award winners

Axalta, based in Philadelphia, PA, has focused solely on coatings for over 150 years and had 2017 revenues of about $4.4 billion. The company established its EMEA Headquarters in Basel in 2016, relocating its leadership teams from all over the EMEA region to manage approximately 5,000 employees in the EMEA region.

A company spokesperson said the Basel HQ “was implemented due to Axalta’s wish to have an EMEA headquarters in a central location which truly reflects the regional and international direction of the company. The Basel area itself has easy access to two international airports that provide a gateway to the entire EMEA community, and beyond.”

Burger King Corporation, Miami, FL, also established an EMEA Headquarters, in Baar, Canton Zug. The company, whose parent is Restaurant Brands International, also owns the brands Tim Hortons and Popeyes. Together they have over $27 billion in system sales and over 23,000 restaurants in nearly 100 countries. Baar serves as the center of operations for Burger King in EMEA, Tim Hortons International, and Restaurant Brands International’s Global Procurement department.

“Switzerland’s central location in Europe is perfect for both our Burger King and Tim Hortons operations – BK EMEA manages around 5,000 restaurants across more than 50 countries and Tim Hortons International is rolling out restaurants in all continents, from Southeast Asia to Latin America.”

Coty Inc., New York, NY, is one of the world’s leading beauty companies with approximately $9 billion revenue and an iconic portfolio of leading brands (77 labels). They operate in over 40 countries and are the global leader in fragrances, with the number two position in salon hair and number three in color cosmetics.

In the canton of Geneva, Coty has the World Headquarters for its Global Professional Beauty division, Global Supply Chain, and Global Travel Retail business; as well as Regional Headquarters for operations in Europe; and Center of Excellence in R&D. The group is currently expanding its research laboratory in the canton of Geneva, an investment of CHF 4 million.

According to Coty, “Geneva is a region which trains and concentrates many talents. It is international and very connected to the rest of the world, while offering a high quality of life and stability.”

About the Tell Awards

Initiated in 2005, Tell Awards have been presented to nearly 50 companies in a program supported by Switzerland Global Enterprise, the Swiss government agency that assists American companies with evaluation and setup in Switzerland. Follow Switzerland on Twitter (@sbh_usa) and LinkedIn (www.s-ge.com/linkedin-invest) or visit us at www.s-ge.com/invest.

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