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Competition watchdog smashes road industry cartel

This content was published on Dec 11, 2000 The competition commission said the asphalt suppliers had made an illegal profit of SFr1.5 million ($880,000) a year since 1996. The head of the commission, Roland von Bueren, said: “For the first time, we have caught out an entire industry in a large and important region.” However, he added that the commission was unable to…

Gucci buys Swiss watchmaker

This content was published on Dec 11, 2000 No financial details of the transaction were released but there will be no job losses. “Each of the parties is very enthusiastic about the future and we are very happy that our paths have come together,” said Christian Bédat, president of the watch company. Founded in 1996, the Bédat company has developed rapidly, particularly in…

Leica adds US firm to growing list of acquisitions

This content was published on Dec 11, 2000 The deal, announced on Monday, is valued at $23.3 million (SFr39.6 million). It will be financed with cash and is expected to close in early January. A statement from Leica Geosystems headquarters in Heerbrugg said the acquisition would allow the company to establish a strong position in high-precision 3D guidance and automated machine control systems…

Saia-Burgess ups stake in US market

This content was published on Dec 11, 2000 The acquisition, which will become effective at the end of the year, is valued at $56 million (SFr95.2 million). In North America, the Ledex and Dormeyer companies are the leading supplier of actuators (linear and rotary solenoids) and subsystems, with a market share of 36 per cent. A statement said the acquisition would push Saia-Burgess’…

Business outlook

This content was published on Dec 10, 2000 One exception is the manufacturer of semiconductor assembly systems, Esec, which is due to publish third quarter figures on Thursday. Analysts expect an increase in net profit of around 25 per cent. Esec has managed to turn itself around after a tough couple of years and is now partially integrated into Unaxis. With the economic…

Switzerland backs global ban of organic pollutants

This content was published on Dec 10, 2000 The Swiss government has agreed to an accord in Johannesburg, which bans the worldwide use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The Swiss delegation reported that a breakthrough at the 122 nations conference was made on Sunday. Switzerland’s five-member delegation spent just under a week in the South African city to try to bring the negotiations…

International Human Rights Day focuses on awareness

This content was published on Dec 10, 2000 One of the group’s board members, Maya Doetzkies, told swissinfo that not enough people in Switzerland realise that human rights are very much a domestic issue. “A lot of people think violations of human rights happen only in other countries”, she says, “but we also have a lot of work to do here in Switzerland…

Swissair gives all-clear to grounded Airbuses

This content was published on Dec 9, 2000 Swissair spokesman, Urs Peter Näf, said on Saturday that the nine planes which had been checked would be free to fly again. The Swiss carrier cancelled several long-haul flights on Friday after French authorities grounded various production series of the Airbus A330 plane powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. Passengers scheduled to fly Swissair from…

Farmers’ union wants end to live animal imports

This content was published on Dec 9, 2000 The measures suggested by the union are to be set up bearing in mind the situation in Britain, France and Germany in mind. “The steps taken in these countries against mad cow disease will take time before becoming effective,” the president of the union, Melchior Ehrler said. He added: “The measures we’re suggesting will help…

Protests by shop staff pay off

This content was published on Dec 9, 2000 The supermarket chain, Migros, made its intentions clear in several newspaper advertisements: by next year around 700 staff earning less than SFr3, 000 gross will have their wages topped up. The advertisements went on to say that by 2003 there will be a minimum wage of SFr3,300 at the store. Saturday’s announcement follows a round…

Internal: Archive

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Competition watchdog smashes road industry cartel

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Gucci buys Swiss watchmaker

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Leica adds US firm to growing list of acquisitions

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Saia-Burgess ups stake in US market

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Business outlook

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Switzerland backs global ban of organic pollutants

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International Human Rights Day focuses on awareness

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Swissair gives all-clear to grounded Airbuses

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Farmers’ union wants end to live animal imports

More

Protests by shop staff pay off

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