Swiss crown: how the deal with sinfully expensive protective masks came about

How the deal with sinfully expensive masks came about

Brigadier Markus Näf comments on buying expensive masks from young SVP entrepreneurs.

Henry Habegger / Ch Media

An internet post referred to him as the “mask czar,” pulling the strings behind the military’s extremely expensive purchases of masks: Markus Näf, 53, Brigadier, Federal Procurement Coordinator for Army Protection Material crown. Earlier in the week, Federal Councilor Viola Amherd’s department protested the claim that the Näf played a decisive role in the costly deals.

Now the militia brigadier Näf defends himself personally from the accusation in a conversation with “Switzerland at the weekend”: “On Monday, March 23, 2020 I had the first conversation with the head of the army and the secretary general of the DDPS. I was officially deployed on March 26. Before March 23rd, I never had anything to do with buying masks or other goods, not even indirectly or in the background. I was not involved in any of the businesses. “He also does not know anyone from the Emix company.

Between March 2 and 24 of this year, the army bought masks from the Emix mini-company, which belongs to some members of the Zurich-based Junge SVP, for more than 22 million francs. The federal government paid up to CHF 9.90 per piece for the FFP2 protective masks, a multiple of the normal price. That was at a time when there was panic due to the impending crisis of the crown and the lack of protective masks in Switzerland.

According to Näf, the Emix showed up at the army pharmacy by the normal route and made an offer in early March. The special thing was: “The company offered that the merchandise would only be paid for after delivery and inspection. It was also able to deliver on very short notice, within three to five days. Because Emix already had the masks in Switzerland. You must have obtained it in China in February, ”says the brigadier.

In February, the masks were hardly seen in Switzerland, and Crown General Daniel Koch downplayed their importance. But: did the federal government really have to buy that expensive? Other companies, like 3M, could not have delivered large quantities in March, says Näf. But the army had been ordered to quickly acquire masks to secure supplies.

Notably, on March 17, Emix sold masks for 9.90 francs, with an upper limit of 10 francs set by the federal government. Did Emix have inside knowledge? Näf: “The 10 francs as the upper limit for FFP2 masks were set by the Federal Office of Public Health, not by the army. I don’t suppose Emix was aware of this limit. “

What is certain is that Emix must have made a multi-digit million dollar amount from protective masks in a month. Where did the young speculators get the knowledge and money to get the right masks at the right time? The company certainly took a lot of “play money” in hand, its own and that of unidentified “shareholders.”

In this way, the company was able to finance the purchase price of the masks and the transport to Switzerland itself, which gave it decisive advantages when it was sold to other countries. The federal government does not know what margins Emix had, says Näf. “It was only later, under my leadership, that we stipulated that all suppliers had to disclose their supply chains. It was not just about price, but also about quality assurance.”

The federal government is now considered to be much better prepared for the further course of the crown crisis; has learned and built supply chains. Näf was appointed coordinator because an assessment of the situation showed that the previous structures were not adapted to the extraordinary situation. “They probably chose me because I was coming from outside and I was able to implement new processes more easily and independently,” he says today.

That wasn’t possible without controversial personnel decisions, so the long-time and proven army pharmacist who had to work from headquarters was effectively ousted. In the fight for security of supply, a structure of rapid efficiency was established that put general success above the personal situations of those affected. Even if they were long-term employees. Näf, a former UBS banker, has experience in project management. And as a business lawyer, I also have legal knowledge, according to the VBS.