The longtime ceo of Harboes bryggeri, a 78-year-old Bernd Griese, has been repeatedly criticized for to benefit themselves at the expense of the shareholders.

But now Ekstra Bladet can reveal that he is in an unprecedented scale has mixed his personal finances with the brewery’s coffers.

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German Bernd Griese married into the Harboe Brewery and took over in 1984 the president’s office from his father-in-law. In the fall of 2019, he moved to be president. Photo: Claus Bech/Ritzau

Since 2001, Harboe bought bl.a. unspecified ‘goods’ and ‘services’ by Bernd Grieses private companies for a staggering amount of over 300 million dollars. It shows a review of Harboe’s financial statements.

– warning lamps flashes so here. Investors should really careful when a publicly traded company with its own director on the way, says Johnny Madsen, investeringschef in the Danish FI, which manages billions of dollars.

– Would you even invest in such a company?

We have previously considered Harboe as investment targets. But Bernd Griese has driven it too arbitrary. Such a company we will not touch, says investeringschefen.

Bernd Griese, whose family owns 16 percent of the shares in Harboe, shifted in 2019 from the top executive to the president at the brewery. Despite repeated requests he did not wish to comment on the big purchases in his own companies.

It has also not been possible to get a comment to the case from the Harboe group ceo Ruth Schade.

because of the silence of the protagonist, it is not clear what Harboe, exactly, has been for the many millions of dollars.

Former has an Extra Leaf, however, revealed that the brewery has purchased two villas in Skælskør for a total of 7.5 million dollars by Bernd Grieses private company.

And the trade face criticism.

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This white house by the water in san francisco was previously owned by Bernd Griese. But in the summer of 2016, he sold it suddenly 4.6 million. kr. to the Harboe Brewery, where he was the director. Photo: Tariq Mikkel Khan

– It does not look good. If Harboe has purchased villas of its own director, which is not necessary for the brewery’s operation, so we are completely out in the grey area. It actually sounds as if it is just smart enough compared to what the shareholders in the brewery must accept, says Jacob Pedersen, aktieanalysechef in Sydbank.

Bernd Griese and his family owns just 16 per cent. of the shares in Harboes bryggeri.

But the family shares is so-called A-shares.

It means that Bernd Griese, his wife Kirsten and their three daughters Karina, Michael and Pernille have to 53.5 percent of the votes in the company.

Thus determines the continued sovereign over the brewery.

Source: financial statements of Harboes bryggeri

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Storbanken Nordea is a shareholder in Harboe and has now demanded an explanation of the purchases in Bernd Grieses companies. Other shareholders as Danske Bank and Sparinvest provide to Ekstra Bladet, the ‘follow closely’.

Close to How he was ølkonge: Married Harboe-heir

Since the 1980s has Bernd Griese owned a large orchard in san francisco via his company Danfrugt Skælskør.

In frugtselskabets accounts, it says that it has sold both the ‘administrative assistance’ and ‘boysenberry juice’ to Harboe’s branches in Denmark, Estonia and Germany.

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In the fall of 2019 gave Bernd Griese became ceo in Harboe for his daughter, Karina Harboe Laursen is a trained physiotherapist. Three months later, she was replaced by his brother-in-law. Photo: Claus Bech/Ritzau Scanpix

Ekstra Bladet has asked Bernd Griese explain what is meant by ‘administrative assistance’. And why his own orchard has been preferred as the supplier of the juice to the Harboe departments in Estonia and Germany, rather than local companies in the two countries.

But he has not returned.

It has also not been possible to get a comment from Anders Piper, director in the Danfrugt Skælskør and the other by Bernd Grieses private companies.

When the Extra Magazine is calling at the number which Danfrugt general accounting office indicates on its own website, the call is answered by a person without the knowledge of frugtselskabets activities.

– You must have gotten the wrong number. I work for Harboe Brewery, says he.

In the graphics below you can see examples of the mixing of Bernd Grieses and Harboe interests.

Total kasketforvirring in Harboes bryggeri

Golf sponsorship

Harboe is the main sponsor of the Korsør Golf club, where Bernd Griese (th.) is vice-president. PR photo

Millionerne

Since 2001, Harboe bought bl.a. ‘goods’, ‘services’ and ‘material assets’ of Bernd Grieses companies for more than 300 million dollars.
Photo: Claus Bech/Ritzau Scanpix

Football

FC Vestsjælland was a brainchild of Bernd Griese (center). Harboe was both storsponsor and shareholder in the club, which went bankrupt in 2015.
Photo: Lars Rønbøg/Ritzau Scanpix

Ejendomshandlerne

In the summer of 2016 bought Harboe two properties – bl.a. this white house – for € 7.5 million. kr. by Bernd Griese.
Photo: Tariq Mikkel Khan

the Artwork

Harboe bought a 3.5 metre high sculpture made of the deceased prince Henry, who was a close friend of Bernd Griese. Photo: Tariq Mikkel Khan

Heirs

In 2019 conferred Bernd Griese president’s office to his own daughter Karina Harboe Laursen is a trained physiotherapist. Three months later, she was replaced by his brother-in-law.
Photo: Claus Bech/Ritzau Scanpix

Café-loan

Harboe has borrowed an amount of money to a cafe in strandbyen Kobæk. It is located 400 metres from Bernd Grieses cottage, and the owner has a relationship with his family. Photo: Per Rasmussen

Gifts

Harboe has bestowed on dragon boats to crown prince Frederik and prince Henrik, who was a close friend of Bernd Griese (th.). In 2008 the brewery was appointed royal purveyor. Photo: Jens Nørgaard Larsen/Ritzau Scanpix