Initial Benko Acquisition: "No Proof is Sufficient!"
René Benko, the embattled founder of the insolvent Signa Group, recently faced questioning over the failed June 2023 capital increase by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA).
In a two-hour interrogation, Benko, who is currently in custody, suffered memory lapses and pinned much of the blame on former manager Dieter Berninghaus, as well as TPA tax consultants and legal advisors. However, Benko maintains that the funds from investors like Frismag and Ernst Tanner, which the prosecutors allege were used in a circular flow via the Benko Family Foundation as Benko's contribution, were actually a loan to the foundation.
During the questioning session at the Josefstadt Justice Center, Benko dictated his responses into a protocol. He emphasized the need for historical documents and reiterated that the capital increase was Berninghaus's idea, with Benko operating primarily as a founder and fundraising consultant, not a decision-maker.
However, Berninghaus denied this statement in a subsequent release, claiming that the idea for the capital increase came from Benko, and he was not involved in its execution.
"Unfounded Suspicions"
According to Benko, conversations with investors such as Hans Peter Haselsteiner and Alfred Gusenbauer took place. Benko refuted claims that some investors assumed everyone would contribute. He insisted that the capital increase was a bilateral agreement, not similar to that of a public company.
Regarding allegations that investor funds were used as equity, Benko declared, "These suspicions are unfounded."
At this stage, all parties involved, including Benko, are presumed innocent.
According to recent reports, René Benko is entangled in a contentious investigation involving his role in the Signa Group's capital increase of 2023. The prosecution alleges that Benko initiated the capital increase process, placing him at the heart of the controversy[1].
However, Benko denies these allegations. He states that his role was not that of an originator or initiator but primarily operational in nature[1]. The investigation includes claims that the €35 million allegedly contributed by Benko was not his own but rather cycled through other Signa companies to appear as his money[1].
In essence, the disagreement revolves around the question of whether Benko took initiative to instigate the capital increase or whether he was simply a decision-maker within the group. A definitive public verdict has yet to be reached, given the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings[1][3].
- René Benko, under investigation for his role in the Signa Group's insolvent state, has rejected allegations by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office that he was the originator of the failed June 2023 capital increase.
- During the interrogation, Benko asserted that he was primarily involved in the business operations and fundraising efforts, but not in the decisive stages of the capital increase.
- In his defense, Benko has emphasized that the €35 million he allegedly contributed was not his own capital, but a loan to the Benko Family Foundation.
- Documents pertaining to the capital increase and historical details have been emphasized as vital for understanding the events that transpired, with Benko expressing the need for their presentation to clear his name.
- Politics and general news outlets have been covering the ongoing investigation involving Benko, with reports claiming that there are questions around the source of the funds used during the capital increase and whether Benko played a bigger role in its initiation than he has admitted.
