New Fraud Allegation Against Rene Benko
The WKStA confirmed on Monday another investigation against Rene Benko. There is suspicion that he persuaded an investor to transfer approximately 5 million euros to the restructuring officer of Signa Holding GmbH. Benko allegedly misled the investor into believing he would cover a dividend amount from another Signa investment if it was not paid out. Further details cannot be disclosed at the moment for investigative reasons.
Personal Guarantee Statement Shortly Before Signa Bankruptcy
According to "krone.at," Benko allegedly obtained the 5 million euros from the Haselsteiner family's private foundation shortly before the wave of Signa bankruptcies that began at the end of 2023. In the fall of 2023, Benko reportedly requested 5 million euros from the construction magnate for the Signa subsidiary Sportscheck to prevent its insolvency. On November 6, 2023, shortly before the insolvency of Signa Holding, Benko is said to have handed the major Signa shareholder a personal, notarized guarantee statement, promising that the 5 million euros would be returned to the Haselsteiner foundation by June 30, 2024, at the latest. This did not happen - Sportscheck went bankrupt despite the multi-million euro cash injection, and Benko personally filed for bankruptcy in March 2024.
In June 2022, Haselsteiner acquired Signa Development shares worth 5 million euros. According to the information, the plan was for the purchase price not to be paid but to be offset against the dividends that would have been due to the Haselsteiner foundation. Haselsteiner was then asked for the 5 million euros and was supposed to receive it back as a dividend by the summer of 2024. Haselsteiner was also significantly involved in Signa Holding, which was the first major Signa company to file for bankruptcy at the end of November 2023 - he had increased his shares from 10 in 2021. Currently, according to company register data via "WirtschaftsCompass," he holds 14 percent.
(APA/Red)
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