Cash and cash equivalents amounted to CHF 398 747 988 at the end of 2015 compared with CHF 254 604 204 at the end of 2014 and comprised cash in hand denominated mainly in euros and to a lesser extent in Swiss francs and British pounds.

Near-cash assets amounted to CHF 127 215 961 at the end of 2015 compared to CHF 70 106 567 at the end of 2014 and included short-term deposits with an original maturity between 90 and 365 days.