Anti-corruption prosecutors are probing a loan made by a private bank to Signa property group
After the March insolvency of the Austrian family foundations, investors are asking where the tycoon’s fortune has gone
Benko achieved billionaire status from a European property empire that started disintegrating last year
Plus, the UK flags deals from UAE buyers and a ‘snowball’ derivative crisis grips China
Not so much a firesale as a smoke Signa
Investigators are probing whether property tycoon benefited from sweetheart terms on key developments
Boards of troubled luxury real estate group say contract of Timo Herzberg terminated with immediate effect
Plus, bankruptcy protections face a Supreme Court test and Toyota fuels rising hopes of a governance revolution in Japan
Non-essential staff made up the bulk of property holding company’s staff, court filing shows
The players and properties at the centre of one of Europe’s highest-profile restructurings
Lenders across Europe race to assess their exposure to sprawling empire of Austrian billionaire René Benko
Quantifying its single client exposures would be one way for Baer to settle market nerves
Austrian property billionaire René Benko this week lost control of his luxury development company Signa
Arndt Geiwitz replaces René Benko at helm of property group with stakes in Selfridges and Chrysler building
Billionaire steps down from real estate empire that co-owns Selfridges and the Chrysler Building after a series of setbacks
Austrian furniture chain’s announcement causes uproar in home state and throws focus on Signa Group
Developer named by prosecutors last year as a suspect in long-running corruption investigation
High-profile proceeding alleged scheme to corrupt politician responsible for Vienna planning permissions
The filing of Germany’s biggest department store chain for bankruptcy protections intensifies scrutiny of the Austrian developer
Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof owner René Benko, who also co-owns UK retailer Selfridges, under pressure to save mid-market chain
The sense of invulnerability cloaking one of Europe’s most politically connected billionaires is punctured
Action linked to investigation by state prosecutor into corruption at top of government