In accordance with the prior arrangement, the Sheridan family vacated Schloss Eugensberg at the end of August. Following their departure, extensive security arrangements were put in place for the castle and its estate. Ginesta Immobilien, a real estate brokerage based in Küsnacht, was appointed as sales agency for the castle and all of its lands already last spring. The agents, in conjunction with an international marketing partner, will be targeting potential buyers not only within Switzerland, but also considerably further afield.

Notwithstanding the fact that there is already an extensive list of interested parties, all the necessary preparatory work will need to be completed very thoroughly prior to commencement of the offer for sale. Intensive preliminary arrangements are currently being undertaken in close cooperation with the insolvency administrators in the jurisdiction, representatives of the creditors, and the broker. Within the framework of these preparations, the estate, extending to more than 80 hectares, is to be divided into smaller land parcels. The residential plots will be re-designated and freed from existing restrictions pertaining to agricultural land to make them freely marketable. Accordingly, it will be possible to divide the various properties among a selection of different buyers according to individual interests and proposed use.

These undertakings are being conducted jointly and on good terms with the considerably diverse cantonal bodies involved. Essentially, it has been necessary to engage in consultations with the agricultural ministry, the forestry commission, the institute for archeology, and the heritage department responsible for the care and protection of public monuments. During the course of these negotiations, the Sandegg ruins became subject to a special protection order. Of the original fortress, only the vaulted cellar and a platform remain; both of these will require weatherproofing and clearance from vegetation. So far as concerns the buildings and, more particularly, the uniquely exceptional Schloss Eugensberg itself, extensive investigations will need to be carried out by the ministry of culture and heritage. All these preparatory measures are of great significance to the buyer. Prospective purchasers will need to be given details that are as comprehensive as possible in addition to full underlying documentation in order to be in a position to determine which of the buildings are listed and which of them can potentially be adapted.

In the light of the ongoing preparatory work, the administrators, in conjunction with the creditors and the real estate agent, have agreed on spring 2018 as suitable date for the start of the marketing process. At the appointed time there will be an opportunity to acquire all of the properties as a single estate or, alternatively, to purchase the following individually parceled-off lots separately:
 

• Schloss Eugensberg, including park, swimming pool, and ancillary buildings
• Large former farmhouse (residential building) with barn and outhouses
• Extensive, partially developed plot next to the Sandegg amounting to 7500m2 in total and classified as building land
• A beach pavilion located directly on the Untersee
• Extensive agricultural land together with forest and a pond

All of the above properties are to be sold at the highest obtainable price to suitable purchasers. Actual start date for the sales process will be communicated to the general public and the media in due course.

Enquiries:

Acting in respect of the assets in insolvency of Rolf Erb:

Mr. Martin Wenk, Head of Department, Cantonal Bankruptcy Administrators of Thurgau, Frauenfeld

Tel: +41 58 345 70 50

Acting on behalf of the creditors:

Mr. Matthias Hotz, Attorney-at-Law at the firm of Bürgi Hotz Zellweger, Frauenfeld

Tel: +41 52 723 00 00

Media announcement