Delicate constellation between UBS and the Medienhaus Ringier

Federal Councilor Keller-Sutter wants UBS to form much more equity. UBS rejects this. The bank receives the bank from a media house in which a UBS exponent plays a leading role.

Big story in the “Sonntagsblick” four days ago: UBS could be taken over by an American bank. The reason for higher equity is given as the reason for higher equity that Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter wants to impose UBS. According to the newspaper, the new provision could weaken the financial institution so that it becomes a takeover candidate.

Switzerland may lose its last remaining major bank if Finance Minister Keller-Sutter intervenes too hard-that is the main message of the text.

“Sonntagsblick” warns: UBS could be taken over

The “Sonntagsblick” is a title of the media company Ringier. The business magazine “Balance” also belongs to the group. Editor -in -chief Dirk Schütz wrote last August in a guiding article of « Friendly Fire. » He meant “small-scale politicians, professors and regulators” who “fear a world player” and “UBS bashing”. The journalist, on the other hand, spoke out that the big bank has to form a lot more own funds.

Vice President of UBS is Lukas Gähwiler. He is also a member of the Ringier Board of Directors. This constellation is delicate. The UBS has background talks with journalists. The bank explains to media professionals why it no longer wants to accumulate equity. UBS also speaks to Ringier’s business journalists. These know: The Vice President of the Grossbank has been on the board of directors of his own company for eight years.

A week ago, the boulevard leaf also took up a report from the « Bloomberg » information service: UBS Prüffe to move its headquarters abroad because the bank could become unattractive for investors with the required higher capital quota.

Can the impression of bias arise if the Ringier journalists write on a controversial topic in which a Ringier Board of Directors is directly involved? Manuel Puppis, professor of communication science at the University of Freiburg, says: « To do this, it should be known in public that Mr. Gähwiler is sitting on the Ringier board of directors. » The constellation in the media and economic industry and in politics is well known.

Ringier spokeswoman Johanna Walser explains on request: «The editorial offices of Ringier Medien Switzerland work completely independently and only publish content that you consider to be current, relevant and ethically justifiable. You make your editorial decisions without political, economic or ideological influence. The Lukas Gähwiler Board of Directors at Ringier has no influence on journalistic decisions. »

Walser also refers to texts by Ringier media that dealt relatively critically with the UBS. The topic was, for example, the high wages of the CEO Sergio Ermotti.

President of the press council sees credibility at risk

The President of the Swiss press council, Susanne Boos, submits the following assessment of the constellation at Ringier: There are probably no concrete indications that the Ringier board of directors is trying to influence the editorial offices. « But the only way that this could be the case is enough to fundamentally damage the credibility. »

At Ringier there is also the journalistic overhead line with the publisher and Board of Directors, Michael Ringier. So there is no classic fire wall between the editor and the owner and the publisher – which tightens the apparent problem.

« Media companies should be careful not to have people on their board of directors who could have an essential self -interest to influence the reporting, » explains the president of the press council.

In the opinion of Susanne Boos, Ringier would do well to appoint people to the board of directors who could not be suspected of influencing the editorial offices in their favor. This applies in particular if – as the case here – the Board of Directors is directly involved in the journalistic management.