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
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Le président de la Banque cantonale des Grisons (GKB), Peter Fanconi, a confirmé vendredi les rumeurs concernant un prêt de 60 millions de francs. L'argent est allé au groupe Signa du magnat de l'immobilier en difficulté 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.
Néanmoins, le directeur des finances des Grisons, Martin Bühler (FDP), a rendu public jeudi qu'une enquête externe avait été lancée par le cabinet d'audit Ernst & Young sur l'octroi de ce prêt. Les résultats sont attendus dans les prochaines semaines.
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
Outre la banque Julius Baer, plusieurs banques cantonales ont également accordé des prêts de plusieurs millions au magnat de l'immobilier en difficulté, dont les banques cantonales de Zurich et d'Argovie. Cette dernière a accordé des prêts pour un montant de 73 millions de francs.
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.
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