When asked about the alleged money transactions in the context of a capital increase, the Swiss Signa investor Ernst Tanner, the chairman of the board and main shareholder of the chocolate company Lindt & Sprüngli, stated: "Yes, of course I feel cheated, harmed, and deceived." According to "Kurier" (Thursday), Tanner was questioned as a witness at the end of January.

Signa Investor Tanner: "This is clearly a gross deception and fraud to me"

Just a few months before the insolvency of the real estate group Signa (November 2023), at the end of June 2023, he injected 2.1 million euros for a capital strengthening of Signa. Tanner feels particularly cheated against the backdrop that Rene Benko funneled this money through several companies and presented it as his own. "This is clearly a gross deception and fraud to me," he told the investigators of the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA). For Benko, who denies the allegations of the WKStA, the presumption of innocence applies. The Swiss investor Tanner held a 3 percent stake in Signa Holding.

Another point: "From our perspective, Benko had one hundred percent the role of managing director within the entire Signa group. Everything was decided according to his will," Tanner further testified. "Rene Benko conducted all presentations and, in particular, made all decisions in the Signa group." They were "only informed afterwards" about Signa's entry into the retail business - the acquisition of the German Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof - "that the investment was made." This was also the case with the acquisition of the British Selfridges chain.

Regarding Benko's position in the private foundations: "Benko was the leading person in every foundation and had the say. If not on paper, then certainly in reality," Tanner testified. "From my perspective, the 'Laura Group' was never independent of Signa - the 'Laura Group' executed what Benko wanted." According to reports, Benko denies all allegations, as emphasized by the "Kurier." In the foundations, there are still assets worth millions parked, which the insolvency administrators would like to access to compensate Signa's creditors.

Benko According to Gusenbauer "Primary Decision-Maker"

Similar allegations regarding Benko's de facto management role had previously been made by other Signa investors and the former Signa supervisory board chairman Alfred Gusenbauer in their testimonies to the WKStA under oath. "For me, he (Rene Benko, note) was the primary decision-maker, there were no other decision-makers," Gusenbauer testified to the Soko Signa investigators at the end of January. "Just as Benko is responsible for the brilliant rise of the real estate company, he is also responsible for its decline." Gusenbauer is considered an important informant, as he was not only on the Signa advisory board but also served as chairman of the supervisory board of Signa Prime for 14 years and chairman of the supervisory board of Signa Development for nine years.

Signa Investor Toeller: "Benko is a Master at Sugarcoating"

The German Signa investor and founder of the pet supply chain Fressnapf, Torsten Toeller, did not participate in the capital increase of Signa Holding in 2023 and returned all his shares (4.6 percent) in October 2023. During his several-hour testimony last November, he stated, according to "Der Standard", that Benko concealed debts of the Signa Group and manipulated figures to make them look better. "Rene Benko is a master at sugarcoating." Toeller also confirmed that Benko had the say at Signa: "Benko had the de facto management, he completely ran the business," he was the "almighty sole ruler." Between Signa Holding and its subsidiaries, there was "a bit of an opaque network in internal settlements and funds (...)." The shareholders repeatedly demanded a consolidated balance sheet of the holding, but never received one. The holding did not distribute any dividends for 2021 and 2022.

Signa Investor Haselsteiner Also Disappointed by Benko

The founder of Austria's largest construction group Strabag and Signa investor Hans Peter Haselsteiner stated during his testimony in early October 2024 that he was "deeply shocked and disappointed" by the money carousel alleged by the WKStA in the course of the capital increase. He said he "never suspected Benko of criminal energy. Possibly, one could have considered him a fraudster." Haselsteiner had invested 15 percent in Signa Holding, mostly via the Haselsteiner Family Private Foundation, and injected another 4.9 million euros into the capital increase of Signa Development in November 2023, just before the insolvency. "Benko placed great importance on everyone knowing that he is the boss - of the entire Signa Group."

Serious Allegations Against Signa Founder Benko

Benko himself claims not to have been operationally active in Signa. The WKStA is interested not only in his role in the company but also in the events surrounding a capital increase in 2023 - initially, Benko aimed for 500 million euros, then 350 million euros. He is alleged to have transferred money in a circle to simulate additional available funds and encourage investors to release large sums: Benko is said to have pretended that the Benko Family Private Foundation contributed 35.35 million euros. In reality, the money is said to have come from Tanner (2.1 million euros) and the Swiss coffee machine manufacturer Eugster/Frismag AG (33.25 million euros). The WKStA accuses him of serious fraud in this regard. Benko's next detention hearing is scheduled to take place by February 28 at the latest.

(APA/red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.