Through his consulting company and as a private individual, he brought in claims totaling more than 6.3 million euros, according to research by “Profil” and “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. After leaving politics in 2008, Gusenbauer joined Signa: on the one hand as an advisory board member of the insolvent Signa Holding, on the other hand he is still chairman of the supervisory board of the also insolvent companies Signa Prime Selection AG and Signa Development Selection AG.
Gusenbauer Projektentwicklung & Beteiligung GmbH & Co KG is not only on the creditor list of Signa Development AG, where Alfred Gusenbauer is chairman of the supervisory board, but also of Signa Holding.
5.5 million euros open
The Alpine Creditors Association (AKV) submitted the claims to Signa Holding on behalf of its company: These are two invoices that were submitted in July and October of this year for three million euros each. Of this, 500,000 euros are said to have been paid. In addition to the outstanding 5.5 million euros, AKV reported default interest of 167,331.23 euros for Gusenbauer.
As a private individual, Gusenbauer submitted a further claim for 679,950 euros through the AKV. This is a collective invoice for the monthly fees from May to December as well as a further 300,000 euros in November 2023, reported “Profil”. The ex-chancellor reported default interest of 18,408.69 euros for these outstanding debts. In return, advice on the German Galeria/Kaufhof/Karstadt and in connection with capital raising measures is rumored – at least the latter with little success.
Bridging financing needed
In order to restructure the Signa companies Signa Prime and Signa Development, bridging financing is required. As exclusively reported, 300 to 500 million euros are needed for Signa Prime and around 50 million euros for Signa Development.
The money should come from the existing investors and co-shareholders. In addition to Signa founder Rene Benko, there are building contractor Hans Peter Haselsteiner, logistics entrepreneur Klaus-Michael Kühne and the Swiss Eugster family. The renovator Erhard Grossnigg, appointed as the new Signa boss, wants to raise the money in the form of a mass loan in the form of profit participation rights. The negotiations are ongoing. As to whether Hans Peter Haselsteiner would also provide money, he answered as follows: That would be “possible if everyone agrees”.
The ex-chancellor, on the other hand, was more silent: According to “Profil”, Gusenbauer left questions about compliance problems, the services provided or the high interest on late payments unanswered.
Concerns about State money
The Signa collapse will cost the state money – at least with a connection to the kika/Leiner bankruptcy. The President of the Financial Procuratorate, Wolfgang Peschorn, draws attention to this in a media report. This involves a payment of 20 million, which Signa Holding can use to settle all claims against Signa companies, executive bodies and consultants. 15 of those millions are now in question.
According to his own statements, Peschorn always opposed the agreed mode of payment in the kika/Leiner insolvency, which called for the payment to be made in four tranches. The head of the financial prosecutor’s office, which also represents the state’s interests in the Signa matter, wanted Signa to pay the full amount straight away. The insolvency court and creditors’ committee decided differently. Now 15 million are still open. How much of this still flows depends on the insolvency rate of Signa Holding’s proceedings.
Video: More and more Signa companies are becoming insolvent
