Cantonal shareholdings Trade representatives question the participation of the Canton of Aargau

The canton of Aargau is to examine four of its 47 holdings in institutions and companies particularly closely. The trade association and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce see the greatest need for action at Aargauische Kantonalbank (AKB).

There is no longer any economic justification for the state holding in AKB, said Hans Schibli, Vice President of the Aargau Trade Association (AGV), at a media conference in Aarau on Tuesday. According to the study "Review of the shareholdings of the Canton of Aargau", the state guarantee for AKB represents a considerable financial risk for taxpayers. The first step should therefore be partial privatization.

Beat Bechtold, Director of the Aargau Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AIHK), said that AEW Energie AG should concentrate on its core business, i.e. power generation and grid operation. Today, it is involved in companies that are in direct competition with private providers, for example in car sharing.

Red, yellow and green traffic lights

The study also identifies distortions of competition at Schulverlag plus AG and VIACAR AG (online car index). Like AKB and AEW, these companies were given a "red traffic light". The dual role of the canton, which on the one hand sells teaching materials for schools and at the same time controls procurement, is problematic, said Bechtold. Instead of VIACAR AG, which is owned by the cantons, private software providers could also be commissioned.

The participation in seven other institutions and companies was given a "yellow traffic light", which means that they should also be examined: Aargauische Gebäudeversicherung, Aargauische Pensionskasse, Axpo Holding AG, Aarau and Baden cantonal hospitals, Park Innovaare, Nationalstrassen Nordwestschweiz (NSNW).

At least a partial sale is proposed for the Aarau and Baden cantonal hospitals. In contrast, the Psychiatric Services Aargau (PDAG) in Windisch received a "green light".

The business representatives see no need for action with regard to the shareholdings in Aargau Verkehr AG and Hightech Zentrum Aargau AG. The participation of the Canton of Aargau in other companies and institutions, such as the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, the SVA Aargau, the hazardous waste disposal sites in Kölliken and Bärengraben Würenlingen, the forestry operations, the Swiss National Bank and the Center for Democracy Aarau, is also undisputed.

A nod to the government

AGV and AIHK want to use the results of the study to derive political demands. "We are now informing the Grand Councillors of the inter-party trade group," said Bechtold. The study is also "a nudge to the Aargau government" to move forward with privatization.

www.aihk.ch/studie-beteiligungen

SDA