The major bank sells its Swiss headquarters at the Quai du Général Guisan in Geneva: The office building is sold to a billionaire from Hong Kong.
According to various media from the Romandie («Tribune de Genève», «Bilan»), the building, which has been owned by HSBC for decades, is now sold for 108 million francs to the entrepreneur Samuel Tak Lee from Hong Kong,
HSBC is thus no longer present in Geneva as the owner of real estate and its staff will from now on work in hired properties. The British major bank wants to focus its activities in Geneva on two places – Quai des Bergues (for trade and customer relations) and Blandonnet (where mainly administrative functions are centralized).
By the end of the year, 10 000 square meters are to be developed at the Quai des Bergues so that approximately 650 members of staff of HSBC can commence their duties there. Altogether, HSBC employs 1700 people in Switzerland, out of which around 1400 are posted in Geneva.
