Another Benko foundation discovered in Liechtenstein
Published: Wednesday, Apr 10th 2024, 14:30
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Another Liechtenstein private foundation has come to light in Signa founder René Benko's circle. As the news magazine "News" reports in its issue published on Thursday, there is a second asset vehicle in the small principality between Austria and Switzerland alongside the INGBE Foundation: the ARUAL Foundation.
According to "News", this is linked to the Laura Private Foundation in Austria and indirectly owns Villa Ansaldi on Lake Garda. According to the media report, the ARUAL Foundation was registered at the end of 2008. Reading from the back to the front, the foundation bears the name of Benko's eldest daughter, "News" points out.
The magazine quotes from an expert opinion by the Signa tax consultancy firm TPA, according to which the economic benefactor is the Laura Private Foundation. This is also the "sole and exclusive primary beneficiary". According to "News", it also states: "In the event that the Laura Private Foundation no longer exists or that execution is levied on the assets of the Laura Private Foundation, natural persons are designated as beneficiaries of the foundation."
There are several private foundations surrounding the collapsed Signa empire, first and foremost the insolvent Benko family private foundation. Rene Benko as an entrepreneur is also bankrupt.
According to earlier newspaper reports, INGBE stands for Ingeborg Benko, the Signa founder's mother, on whom Benko is now said to be financially dependent. As reported by "News" and "Kronen Zeitung" in a joint investigation, the Liechtenstein foundations INGBE and ARUAL held millions in gold in addition to real estate on Lake Garda.
Más de dos docenas de empresas de Signa tienen su sede en Suiza. Entre ellas figura Signa Retail Selection AG, que posee la mitad de la cadena de grandes almacenes Globus.
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