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After fiber maker Lenzing, as majority owner of mask maker Hygiene Austria, surprisingly removed its two CEOs on Monday, the remaining managing director Tino Wieser of minority shareholder Palmers has to deal with damage limitation in the scandal. of the masks. In reality, he wanted to take over the company entirely, but Lenzing broke off contact, Wieser told the APA on Monday night.
Lenzing surprisingly retires his CEOs
A few hours earlier, Lenzing had announced by mail that the appointment of Stephan Sielaff as managing director of Hygiene Austria would be withdrawn with immediate effect and that Stephan Trubrich would be removed as managing director. The reason given was that they had not been given full access to important documents.
“Last week we worked together with Lenzing to clear the whole thing up, including the entire weekend, except yesterday at eight o’clock when I suddenly sat there alone,” Wieser told the APA. “Today the statement came in at noon, while all employees were invited to a team luncheon, that all Lenzing employees would be retired.”
Lenzing was “with between 15 and 20 people in the place”
Until then, Lenzing had been there with 15-20 people. “In terms of the division of tasks, it was clear from the beginning that Lenzing would do the production and procurement of materials, as well as quality assurance and certificates,” said Wieser. Palmers’ tasks were sales, marketing, logistics, and accounting. “I just don’t think it’s okay if a partner steals a bit during this time, to put it bluntly.”
Wieser does not accept Lenzing’s reasoning that they did not have access to important documents. “You know what happens when they search a house? They confiscate everything. We sat here until Saturday night, we solved everything together. Data was exchanged yesterday, last data was exchanged this morning.” But it is not possible to inspect documents that are in the prosecution.
“I have made a takeover offer”
He still intends to take over Hygiene Austria entirely. “I made a takeover offer, we were already drafting the contract, the notary was appointed for 2 pm today,” Wieser said. Instead, however, there was Lenzing’s surprising press release. He is still interested in the acquisition, but “you have to talk to me. If the majority shareholder no longer talks to you, it will be a bit difficult. I called everyone, no one answers.”
Over the weekend, mask production was discontinued but has since resumed, Wieser reported. It is now producing in stock at the moment. “Last week was not the best in terms of sales, you have to be very clear.”
Hygiene Austria: “98 percent of sales in Austria”
The scandal surrounding the “Made in Austria” FFP2 protective masks occurred when it emerged that some of the masks were not produced on the Wiener Neudorf site, but were purchased from a Chinese manufacturer under contract.
Actually:
Raid in Hygiene Austria: “Involved in everyday political conflicts” >>
Hygiene Austria: some of the masks are made in China, much more expensive than in this country >>
“I understand people’s uncertainty,” Wieser said, but “our masks are all of the highest quality. We also had the masks made by the contract manufacturer rechecked over the weekend.” Nobody has to worry, “the masks are better than anything else you can buy on the market.” Hygiene Austria made 98 percent of its sales in Austria. “We are an Austrian company and everything I deliver is fine.” So far, more than 100 million masks have been produced, of which only a small part has been purchased from a contract manufacturer due to high demand. “I am of the opinion that I have done nothing wrong,” said Wieser. “In my opinion, a certain amount of the product is sufficient to write ‘Made in Austria'”. It is the same model and the same material, “they are twice as expensive as if you made them yourself.”
It was also criticized that the certification of FFP2 protective masks was not carried out in Austria. Last weekend’s review also took place in Hungary, Wieser said. “This is Europe, this is not the pampas. At that time we called the whole of Europe in the course of certification: ‘Who can issue us a certificate quickly?’ Austria only has one certification body, I think since December last year. ”With other certification bodies, there would have been waiting times of six to eight months.
Not a single illegal worker
Wieser also rejected the allegation that Hygiene Austria had employed undeclared temporary workers. They used three personnel supply companies and received statements from the tax and social security authorities every month to check whether all employees are correctly registered. “In the course of the investigation last week, we had all the records of all the employees. I will put my hand on fire for that.” They currently have 220 employees and plan to increase to 300 by the middle of the month.
“I never called Kurz”
The scandal takes on a political dimension through Wieser’s relationship with Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s (ÖVP) office manager, who is married to his brother, Palmers board member Luca Wieser. Hygiene Austria could have benefited from this close relationship, making it suspicious. Wieser also rejects this accusation. “We have sold a total of just one percent of everything we have produced over the entire period to public authorities, governments and the BBG (Federal Procurement Company, note),” said the managing director of Hygiene Austria. “I never called Kurz on the phone. I went to his election rally, what do I know when it was in 2015? To congratulate him, that was it.” (off / red)
