Further Claims Against Signa Founder Benko

At the examination hearing in Innsbruck, four additional creditors registered claims totaling 260 million euros against Benko. Ultimately, however, only 39,000 euros were recognized, insolvency administrator Andreas Grabenweger and creditor protection representative announced to journalists afterwards.

2.7 Billion Euros Claimed from Benko, 47.4 Million Euros Recognized

The recognized claims, which are negligible given the total amount, were those of the tax office. In addition to the latter, two Signa companies and a German bank had also registered claims, according to the Alpine Creditors Association (AKV) after the approximately 15-minute hearing to the APA. However, these were disputed or not recognized by the insolvency administrator.

In total, 2.7 billion euros in claims have been made against the fallen Tyrolean entrepreneur, who is in pre-trial detention, by 40 creditors in Benko's personal insolvency proceedings. Only a comparatively very small amount, namely 47.4 million euros, was recognized. Wednesday marked the second subsequent examination hearing following one in the past September.

The creditors whose claims have been disputed so far have the opportunity to seek the determination of their claims in a separate civil process or to file a so-called dispute lawsuit. The insolvency judge set the deadline for doing so at three months on Wednesday. In such a case, the Credit Protection Association of 1870 (KSV) spoke again of a comparatively high litigation risk for the creditors.

Appeal Regarding Lawsuit Against Benko's Mother at OLG

Meanwhile, insolvency administrator Grabenweger had little new to report regarding his ongoing attempts to crack two private foundations attributable to Benko, along with the assets stored therein, where Benko's mother Ingeborg acts as the initial donor. He recently failed in the first instance with a civil lawsuit against the mother at the Regional Court in Innsbruck. Grabenweger filed an appeal against this, and now the Higher Regional Court Innsbruck (OLG) must decide, as he said to the APA on Wednesday. "Maybe three to six months" it could still take until a decision is made. In any case, the processing of the entire Benko complex is progressing, even if it is "tedious," the insolvency administrator referred to ongoing contestation lawsuits and arbitration proceedings, without wanting to go into detail.

(APA/Red)

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