GKB confirms 60 million loan to Signa Group for the first time
Published: Friday, Mar 15th 2024, 11:50
Updated At: Saturday, Mar 16th 2024, 00:59
Volver a Live Feed
El Presidente del Graubündner Kantonalbank (GKB), Peter Fanconi, confirmó el viernes los rumores sobre un préstamo de 60 millones de francos. El dinero se destinó al Grupo Signa del magnate inmobiliario en apuros René Benko.
The loan is secured by first-class collateral, Fanconi told the Graubünden daily newspaper "Südostschweiz". The Globus building in Zurich serves as collateral. From the bank's point of view, such a loan makes perfect sense.
Sin embargo, el Director Financiero de los Grisones, Martin Bühler (FDP), hizo público el jueves que la empresa auditora Ernst & Young había iniciado una investigación externa sobre la concesión de este préstamo. Se esperan los resultados en las próximas semanas.
At the weekend, the Sonntagszeitung newspaper quoted from emails that allegedly show conversations between Fanconi and Benko. These are said to show that Fanconi may have received benefits because he indirectly helped Benko obtain loans from other cantonal banks. Fanconi is said to have acted as a "door opener".
However, his spokesperson emphasized that Fanconi had never received any benefits. Moreover, the investigation is not primarily about Fanconi, but about the general process of granting loans.
"They wanted to harm me"
In the interview, Fanconi also spoke of a defamation campaign against the Graubünden bank. This "defamation campaign" was presumably about distracting attention from himself. "They wanted to damage me, and if you look at the media reports of the past few days, they succeeded," said Fanconi.
He had done nothing wrong. He merely maintained a collegial, albeit loose, business relationship with Benko. Fanconi suspects that hackers or Benko and his entourage are behind the leaked emails.
Other cantonal banks also involved
Además del Banco Julius Baer, varios bancos cantonales también concedieron al magnate inmobiliario en apuros Benko préstamos millonarios, entre ellos los bancos cantonales de Zúrich y Argovia. Este último concedió préstamos por valor de 73 millones de francos.
The Aargau government commented on this at the beginning of the month and described the transactions as "low-risk" in comparison. The loans are property financing with long-term rental agreements.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic