contents
United Rivers from Basel wants to take over BLS Schifffahrt. The BLS declines. But the quarrel continues.
From the knee of the Rhine to the Bernese Oberland: The Basel shipping company United Rivers wants to take over BLS Schifffahrt, which operates on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
According to its own information, United Rivers operates 100 passenger ships throughout Europe and employs 3,000 people. BLS Schifffahrt has been a separate stock corporation under the umbrella of BLS since the beginning of the year and is looking for partner companies.
United Rivers make a power play
However, the BLS does not want to know anything about a takeover: “A sale is not up for discussion. But we are still open to strategic partnerships, »says BLS spokeswoman Helene Soltermann on Radio SRF.
Legend:
BLS Schifffahrt transported over a million passengers this year.
Keystone/Peter Schneider
United Rivers’ unusually brash communication raises questions. “I think it’s wrong in terms of environmental and tax policy to simply scrap older ships and then hollow your hand at the canton,” said managing director Robert Straubhaar in a harsh communiqué.
The Bernese Oberlander, who once worked as a cabin boy on the Rhine, attacks the canton of Bern and BLS Schifffahrt. This was despite the fact that United Rivers and BLS Schifffahrt had agreed not to disclose the negotiations – including a contractual penalty.
Straubhaar further accuses BLS Schifffahrt of getting too little out of their operations. «The ships simply go from A to B. There are far too few emotions in it. I could make a contribution to the region, »says Straubhaar, who comes from Brienz BE.
We are on the right path. The sea pass hit like a bomb.
BLS spokeswoman Soltermann, on the other hand, says that BLS Schifffahrt is on the right track. “We introduced new offers this year. The sea pass, for example, hit like a bomb». The Seepass is a kind of GA for Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
Politicians also believe that BLS Schifffahrt is on course. The Bernese government has decided to pay 14.5 million francs for a new ship for 700 passengers on Lake Thun.
How does politics react to takeover plans?
The decision now lies with the cantonal parliament. In the December session, the Great Council has to speak about the loan. After the recent announcement, the debate is likely to be emotional. The Bern government councilor Christoph Neuhaus now wants to send the members of parliament additional information about United Rivers and the offer, as he says on Radio SRF. With that, Robert Straubhaar of United Rivers has achieved an interim goal.
“Full transparency is important. There is an alternative before talking about new expenses for a ship on the wallets of the citizens. » Because if his company were to take over BLS Schifffahrt, the canton and the surrounding communities would not have to pay anything to the new ship.
However, who has to pay whom something should still cause a debate. “The company has obviously broken the silence,” Soltermann continues. At this point in time, however, it is still unclear whether the BLS will take legal action against United Rivers.