The Pefaco Group has denied stories in the international media about involvement with the Bolloré Group, which is being investigated in connection with port concessions in West Africa, saying it was at the disposal of the judicial authorities should any clarification be required.
However, perhaps more alarming was that the international media also claimed – as background to the news story – that Pefaco has already been under investigation for four years by the French financial crimes unit.
The Pefaco spokesman said that this was “news to them”.
“From reading the news, we learned about the ‘French investigation’, and we immediately contacted the authorities via our legal counsel to let them know that we are at their entire disposal to provide any required clarification if any investigation is in course,” he told The Business Observer.
Grupo Pefaco was established under Spanish law 20 years ago, and is present in 13 countries on three continents.
Its subsidiary Pefaco International is registered in Malta and has shares listed on the Malta Stock Exchange.
The Financial Times reported last week that French prosecutors are investigating whether the Bolloré Group – which already operates 17 ports in Africa – was helped by the chairman of Grupo Pefaco, Francis Perez (the CEO of the Maltese subsidiary), to get concessions for ports in Guinea and Togo.
“Grupo Pefaco and its chairman Francis Perez are surprised that reference has been made to them in this case, as they have no connection of any nature with the activities and businesses of the Bolloré Group.
“They consider it deplorable that doubt has been cast on Grupo Pefaco, known in Africa for its dynamism, its contribution to local employment and its social activities and they intend to take firm action to protect the honour, reputation and image of the company,” a company spokesman said from its headquarters in Swatar.
Grupo Pefaco specialises in the leisure & gaming and the hospitality industries. The group, headed by its founders Mr Perez and Olivier Cauro, has more than 3,000 employees in 13 countries. Pefaco International installs and operates slot machines in gaming halls and bars in Africa under its trademark Lydia Ludic. The company has more than 280 gaming halls and 350 partner bars, with a turnover of €43 million and a profit of €.1 million in 2014.
The spokesman said Pefaco International was not being investigated by the Maltese authorities.