Dear Clients, Dear Friends,

I have the pleasure of introducing the second instalment of the Gazette celebrating our bicentenary.

This anniversary is of considerable importance to us all. The staying power and stability of our bank offer a solid foundation for warranting the ongoing trust of our staff and clients.

As heirs of the Bonhôte banking tradition, our role today is to shape the present in a responsible manner so that we can pass on a worthy heritage to our progeny.

I would like to thank you for the trust and loyalty that you have expressed to us.

Yours faithfully,

HAVING WORKED ALONGSIDE HIS FATHER FOR MANY YEARS, LOUIS-EDOUARD PETITMAÎTRE (1832-1895) TOOK OVER THE FAMILY TRADING FIRM IN 1872, TRANSFORMING IT INTO A RENOWNED, RESPECTED PRIVATE BANK.

Louis-Edouard Petitmaître was established as a banker by the time he was accepted into the merchants guild in 1858. In 1860, he moved into politics, winning a seat in the

local parliament of the City of Neuchâtel. As a member of this local assembly, he demonstrated an acute awareness of economic issues. In 1865, he was elected to the City Council, as a result of which he became a board member of the local water company (of which he would later become chairman). In 1875, he married Berthe Châtenay, daughter of merchant Henri-Auguste Châtenay. This marriage ushered him into a prominent family of merchants... (continued on page 3)

LOUIS-ÉDOUARD PETITMAÎTRE SUCCEEDS HIS FATHER

YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITIONTo mark its bicentenary, Banque Bon-hôte & Cie SA is organising a con-temporary art competition for young artists in Switzerland. Candidates have until 30 November to submit their entries to one of the group’s branches. Four artists will be short-listed, and the Bank will then finance

production of each of their works. For the overall winner, the Bank will cover the costs of a 200-day academic placement in a major world city outside Europe. More information and details on how to register for the competition can be found by visiting www.bonhote.ch/art.

Yves de montmollinCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

editoRiAl

Edition 2/October 2014www.bonhote.ch/200years 1815-2015

The Gazette of the Bicentenary

bANqUE bONHôTE & CIE SA

INTRODUCING DISCRETIONARY MANAGEMENT

VIDEO TESTIMONIES

Edition 2/October 2014www.bonhote.ch/200years

From left to right: Jean-Paul Jeckelmann, Valentin Girard, Pierre-François Donzé, Nathaniel Burkhalter, Françoise Mensi, Julien Stähli, Irina Lescouffe.

THE GROUND FLOOR OF OUR NEUCHÂTEL HEAD OFFICE IS HOME TO AN ABUNDANCE OF FINANCIAL-MARKET SPECIALISTS, THEIR EYES RIVETED ON THEIR BLOOMBERG SCREENS. YOU COULD BE ON WALL STREET OR IN THE CITY.

These are the inspiring surroundings in which our experienced discretionary-management staff

JOURNEY THROUGH OUR HISTORY GIVES VOICE TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED FOSTER THE BANK’S SUCCESS

We have been able to gather accounts from directors, managers and staff along with members of the Bonhôte family, all of whom have agreed to talk about their years spent at the Bank. The result is fascinating, testifying to the care for detail and discretion cultivated by our predecessors. Equally clear is their dedication to the business of banking. These testimonies can be viewed on: www.bonhote.ch/200years.

work, led by Chief Investment Officer Jean-Paul Jeckelmann. With their finger on the pulse of global financial marketplaces, our specialist staff create strategies tailored to each of the investment mandates entrusted to us. The challenges facing the investment industry today require a new set of skills. Managers must be able to adapt quickly, have the latest software at their fingertips and be able to condense a growing volume of raw

data. Versatility and productivity are also watchwords, along with a knack for communicating in a constantly evolving financial context.

“The ground floor of our Neuchâtel head office is home to an abundance of financial-market specialists, their eyes riveted on their Bloomberg screens.”

Though only marginal in comparison with the size of global equity markets, recent flotations of companies hailing from the new economy (for example, Facebook, Alibaba and GoPro) make it clear that understanding such companies requires a solid academic background and wide-ranging business expertise. These are the strengths offered by our discretionary management team.

The Gazette of the bicentenary - banque bonhôte & Cie SA

Interview with Nicolas Wavre - Director at Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA and formerly Chairman between 2003 and 2009

(continued from page 1) ...to whom he was able to offer banking services – as suggested by the oldest book in the Bank’s archives. Louis-Edouard Petitmaître’s institution, which bore the hallmarks of a private bank, was first of all located at Faubourg du Lac 9 before moving to Rue de l’Orangerie 3 in June 1893 - to a building (situated on the site of the former orangery belonging to the Hôtel DuPeyrou) that Louis-Edouard Petitmaître had purchased the previous year. Business was booming since, in December 1884, he resigned the position as

The first visual of our advertising campaign dedicated to our bicentenary has been released, you may have seen it. The second one in our series devoted to business leaders who have shaped the future covers the period 1858 to 1895. Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet shaped the history of fine watchmaking, joining forces to create one of the most prestigious brands in the Swiss watch industry. Audemars Piguet private collection

agent inherited from this father at the Compagnie Française du Phénix, though he remained a broker and receiver for the guild of blacksmiths, stonemasons and carpenters. It seems that he subsequently resigned from all political duties with the exception of his seat on the finance committee. Louis-Edouard Petitmaître - now a fully fledged banker - remained on the electoral roll and was repeatedly elected to public office. Furthermore, his name appears from time to time alongside those of fellow bankers such as Berthoud & Cie, Albert Bovet, Chatelin, DuPasquier-

Pourtalès, Pury & Cie and de Perrot et Petitpierre. He was equally active in a range of charitable ventures, while his wife worked helping the poor. Louis-Edouard Petitmaître, who was also a member of the synodal council, passed away on 1 January 1895. Since the company name L. Petitmaître died out with him, interim authority over the bank was granted to senior manager Otto Antenen from Orpund (Biel/Bienne). On 15 February 1895, the bank took on the name Antenen et Bonhôte and was constituted as a general partnership.

Edition 2/October 2014www.bonhote.ch/200years The Gazette of the bicentenary - banque bonhôte & Cie SA

3 rue de l’Orangerie. Photo: L. Wettstein

HISTORY OF THE bANK IN SIX PARTSPART 2: 1858 - 1895 LOUIS E. PETITMAÎTRE

ADVERTISING When Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet opened their watch manufacture in 1875, Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA had already been in business for 60 years.

OUR STORY IN SIX PARTS

1858 - 1895

www.bonhote.ch/200years

THE SHAPE OF INVESTMENT FUNDING TOMORROW

After the automotive sector, property and the music industry, «crowd-sourcing» is now having a bearing on the banking sector, where «crowd-funding» is beco-ming popular. Even though the

Bonhôte has a long tradition in the canton of Neuchâtel. Its roots run deep into our local fabric. But it is also an innovator in its field. Stability makes it possible to strive for the very best. Many of the headquarters of both financial and non-financial companies founded in Neuchâtel have moved on to larger cities - for the most part Geneva or Lausanne. Oftentimes, the centres of decision-making - at the very least concerning the biggest deci-sions - are no longer situated in the canton. I am therefore delighted

Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA was the main partner in the inaugural concert at the Paul & Henri Carnal Hall (Rolle), a futurist-style building dedicated to the arts. It was designed by world-renowned architect Bernard Tschumi. Following on from this inauguration, we will once again be present in this magnificent venue on Monday 3 November for our regular Bonhôte Forum. Our special guest will be Simon de Pury, chairman of the prestigious auction house Phillips de Pury & Cie. Attendees should register with us in advance.

Carnal Hall - Rolle

THE bANK OF THE FUTURE: INVESTING

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

LATEST NEWS

Edition 2/October 2014www.bonhote.ch/200years The Gazette of the bicentenary - banque bonhôte & Cie SA

bONHôTE AS SEEN bY...

movement is still embryonic, it is worth observing the interest that it is arousing. The particularity of these new electronic hubs is that producers and buyers are being put directly in touch with each other. Business models vary, ranging from funding partners (kickstarter.com) to loans between private borrowers

(lendingclub.com). The common thread is tight integration with existing social networks. By unders-tanding and harnessing these new technological channels, the private bank of tomorrow will be able to provide the right advice to clients, thus retaining its pivotal position in relation to them.

that Bonhôte has remained faithful to the territory into which it was birthed. The bank is a renowned part of the cantonal economy. Aside from the tax income that it generates, it has created many jobs and has a snowball effect on business activity as it has invested in several companies and business partners in the region.

“I am delighted that Bonhôte has remained faithful to the territory into which it was birthed. The bank is a renowned part of the cantonal economy.”

The State Council is intent on breathing fresh life into the canton of Neuchâtel. It is counting on eve-ry stakeholder to assist in this aim. That naturally includes Bonhôte.

AlAin RibAux NEUCHÂTEL

STATE COUNCILLOR