Because of “questionable” takeovers
SMEs demand investigation into postal subsidies
The Swiss Trade Association has asked the Swiss Federal Audit Office to investigate any violations of the right to subsidies by Swiss Post. The triggers were the acquisitions of various companies by the yellow giant.
1/4
The Swiss Post headquarters in Bern Wankdorf.
Swiss SMEs are fighting back against the big post office! “Many of the current business practices of Swiss Post are not related to their service contracts and their monopoly position,” criticized the Swiss Trade Association (SGV) in a letter published by the newspaper “Le Temps”. The takeovers of companies in the areas of advertising and software, for example, are “questionable” and the prices paid are “hardly understandable in terms of the market”.
SMEs are to be squeezed out
In the letter to the Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO), the SGV suspected that Swiss Post’s business model would ultimately lead to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) being squeezed out. For example from markets such as communication, payment, fiduciary and IT services. As an example, the SME association cited the takeover of the company Klara, which operates in the field of confidential transport of digital information.
From the point of view of SMEs, the question arises as to whether Swiss Post is violating the law on subsidies when pursuing such business models, the letter continues. Accordingly, the SGV assumes that Swiss Post will have to “prove” in an investigation by the SFAO that it is not channeling any funds into non-subsidized areas. A review of the post is therefore considered “absolutely necessary”.
No «buy-out strategy»
At the request of Keystone-SDA, the Post defended itself: It adheres to the guard rails provided for by the law. “In the public debate, the impression sometimes arises that Swiss Post is buying up a large number of companies at will,” said the written response on Saturday.
However, Swiss Post is not pursuing a “purchase strategy”, but a “focusing strategy”. Ultimately, it is a “small number of defined and strategically selected companies” that Swiss Post wants to acquire.
Swiss Post is convinced that only through growth and the associated acquisitions can a politically desired and nationally relevant universal service be provided on its own in the long term. “We need a ‘portfolio adjustment’ in order to be able to finance the public service in the long term,” it said. (SDA/pbe)