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The Gazette

of the Bicentenary BANQUE BONHÔTE & CIE SA www.bonhote.ch/200years

Edition 3/January 2015

1815-2015

Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA - Biel/Bienne

FROM BANQUE ANTENEN & BONHÔTE TO BANQUE BONHÔTE WHEN LOUIS-EDOUARD PETITMAÎTRE PASSED AWAY IN 1895, HIS CASHIER OTTO ANTENEN OBTAINED POWER OF ATTORNEY AND PARTNERED WITH PAUL BONHÔTE TO FOUND BANQUE ANTENEN & BONHÔTE.

On 24 July 1903, Otto Antenen dies after a long, traumatic illness at the age of 48. Trained at La Roche & Cie, a Basel private bank, Paul Bonhôte subsequently joined forces with his

father, Charles-François Bonhôte, to incorporate Banque Bonhôte & Cie in the form of a limited partnership on 1 October 1903. The offices were moved to the ground floor of Rue du Môle 1. By 1928, the establishment had been completely transformed and refitted by Bonhôte father and son as they continued fashioning the bank’s contours. Front door, lobby, counters and vault - everything had been designed to give the whole an allure of solidity and sobriety fitting for a private bank. Continued on page 3.

200 YEARS AND COUNTING… This new year, 2015, officially marks the beginning of festivities associated with our bicentenary, and we are delighted to share these moments with you. We would also like to thank you for the considerable

amount of feedback received following the publication of earlier editions of the Gazette and in response to our adver tisements. Expect the unexpected in 2015, there will be plenty to discover throughout the year!

EDITORIAL OLIVIER VOLLENWEIDER CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Dear reader, The apparatus that makes operations work is often a behind-the-scenes affair; for the most part, what is done cannot be seen from the outside. Yet it is day-to-day operations that make (or break) the reputation of any company. Every hour, every day, each team member should be working meticulously to create value. In recent times, there has been a shift in the roles attached to banking operations. And at Bonhôte, the number of positions calling for highend skills has risen more than fivefold. You can therefore imagine my constant satisfaction in managing a department which thrives on providing a top-flight level of service. Warmest regards,

www.bonhote.ch/200years

The Gazette of the bicentenary - Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA

Edition 3/January 2015

WEALTH MANAGEMENT IN BIEL/BIENNE expertise in watchmaking and micro mechanics, it has also become a host city for the tertiary sector, most notably for communications and IT industries.

From left to right: Paul Schmid, Petra Bataillon, Simone Wälti, Philippe Borner, Martin Salvisberg, Claude Di Matteo - Photo L. Wettstein.

THE BONHÔTE TRADITION IN BIEL/BIENNE

With the opening of its branch at Rue du Marché-Neuf in Biel/ Bienne in May 2002, Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA embarked on a new chapter in its long history. In 2004, Bonhôte moved to the historical location of Pontdu-Moulin 3. These premises were built by the Local Savings Bank in 1915 and served as its

headquarters for several decades. Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA was able to acquire the building in 2010 - a sign of its lasting commitment to the city. Biel/Bienne, the largest bilingual city in Switzerland, acts as a gateway between French- and German-speaking cultures. Faced with an upheaval in its economic landscape, Biel/Bienne has innovated to sustain growth. While continuing to hone its

“With the opening of its branch at Rue du Marché-Neuf in Biel/ Bienne in May 2002, Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA embarked on a new chapter in its long history” Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA believes that a commitment to regional development requires a bricks-and-mortar presence and face-to-face dealings with clients and business relations. The Biel/Bienne branch counts six employees.

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL IN SWITZERLAND A M A J O R C U LT U R A L HIGHLIGHT IN THE REGION AND A LEADING F I L M F E S T I VA L I N SWITZERLAND

Patrick Bruel at the 2014 Festival - Photo G. Perret. For further information, visit www.fffh.ch

As a long-time festival sponsor, we are proud to be associated with this dazzling event and its prestig ious prog ramme. Enthusiasm, approac hability and sensitivity to language issues are some of the values shared by our selves and the film festival, whic h celebrated its 10th anniversary last year in the presence of Frenc h actor and singer Patr ick Br uel.

www.bonhote.ch/200years

The Gazette of the bicentenary - Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA

Edition 3/January 2015

HISTORY OF THE BANK IN SIX INSTALMENTS PART 3: 1895 - 1936 PAUL BONHÔTE

1, rue du Môle - Photo L. Wettstein (continued from page 1)

Paul Bonhôte, with his strong personality, left a lasting imprint on local life in Neuchâtel during the first three decades of the 20th century. He was part of a line of leading liberal thinkers in Neuchâtel canton known for their love of the homeland, foresight and selflessness. From 1904 to 1931, he was a member of the cantonal parliament - a body which he presided in 1923. An experienced banker, his stance on financial matters was always highly valued. Paul

Bonhôte was an astute financier who dedicated the requisite time to his business while not neglecting charitable or philanthropic ventures, for which he worked tirelessly. He was a member of several boards of directors and, for a time, sat on the executive committee of the Swiss Bankers Association. He was also a founding member of the Neuchâtel Stock Exchange. He held the reins of the bank until his death: “ an honest man and a trustworthy and far-sighted financier, honouring the oldest and

best traditions of independent, private banking in Neuchâtel”. This was the eulogy featuring in a regional obituary of the time. Indeed, the piece was not sparing in its praise: “independence of mind and decency made him a virtuous politician, securing him both immense popularity as well as a high moral standing.” Paul Bonhôte, who died on 23 August 1936, left the bank to his son. Claude, who had joined in 1924 at the age of 21, similarly devoted his life to the bank, managing it for over half a century.

When Les Misérables by Victor Hugo was made into a film for the first time in 1909, Banque Bonhôte & cie sA was 94 years old.

You may have seen the second visual of the advertising campaign dedicated to our bicentenary. The third (1895-1936) creative figure part of our series devoted to who have shaped the future, features Victor Hugo. A famous writer with a reputation spanning the globe, Victor Hugo made his mark on the history of literature by writing boldly for the causes he believed in.

ADVERTISING

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The Gazette of the bicentenary - Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA

Edition 3/January 2015

THE BANK OF THE FUTURE: ADVISOR 2.0

THE STATE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN CLIENTS AND BANKERS IN THE YEARS TO COME

Preferential contact between clients and wealth managers will always be the norm. Still, the channels through which banking relationships will flow are bound to change radically in the years

ahead.With digital technology taking over every area of our lives, who knows what the wealth manager of the future will look like. One of the services that private banking clients will probably want to use is video-conferencing. Another is direct bank-account access, along with secure instant messaging and the possibility of timetabling appointments

BONHÔTE AS SEEN BY... tion. The same goes for cities, which are seeking to grow sustainably. They also establish long-term aims and projects. A city must take its clientele - its inhabitants - seriously and make sure that conditions are right for every person, company and society as a whole to prosper. ERICH FEHR MAYOR OF BIEL/BIENNE

Biel/Bienne has eleven banks, one of which is the private bank Bonhôte, which is located just around the corner to my office. That makes us neighbours. Though different, our objectives and the challenges we face overlap in plenty of areas. Bonhôte was founded in the same year as Biel was attached to the canton of Bern following the Congress of Vienna in 1815. A private bank steers its business with the long term in mind, to this end employing sophisticated financial strategies. It wins and retains clients on the basis of trust. Its business does not rely on speculation but is built on a more solid founda-

“Seeing Biel/Bienne with a private bank capable of successfully pursuing its operations here gives me a deep sense of personal satisfaction” Seeing Biel/Bienne with a private bank capable of successfully pursuing its operations here gives me a deep sense of personal satisfaction. It is a sign of our economic clout. Our strength in this area is consolidating the close ties between ourselves and Bonhôte, be they geographical or otherwise.

online. In today’s rapidly changing world where everything must be accessible at the click of a mouse, «advisor 2.0» will have to adapt to the wishes of clients who are connected 24/7. But we can also expect that trust in one’s advisor and the latter’s expertise will be even more important considerations than they are today.

LATEST NEWS Standing the test of time, the buildings represented by the Neuchâtel headquarters and branches in Biel/Bienne, Geneva and Bern are emblematic of our institution. During this year marking our bicentenary, these historical locations - most of which are listed buildings - will soon be decked in festive garment sporting the colours of our anniversary. Why not come and see for yourself? As always, your visit would be more than appreciated.

Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA Neuchâtel

QUAI OSTERVALD 2, 2001 NEUCHÂTEL, T. + 41 (0) 32 722 10 00, F. + 41 (0) 32 721 43 42, INFO@BONHOTE.CH, WWW.BONHOTE.CH