The Austrian Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Crimes and Corruption (WKStA) is tightening its grip on René Benko’s empire. In a dramatic escalation, criminal investigations now extend to the INGBE Private Foundation in Liechtenstein—one of Benko’s most secretive financial constructs. Explosive details point to coordinated asset transfers involving gold, villas, and trusted allies like Robert Schimanko and Thomas Limberger—central figures in Benko’s alleged shadow network. The investigations under the Association Responsibility Act could pierce the legal shields of foundations and hit the Benko circle where it hurts most: in the vaults.
KEY POINTS
- WKStA Targets INGBE Foundation: Austrian authorities expand their investigations into the Liechtenstein-based INGBE Foundation, allegedly controlled by Benko.
- Suspicious Gold Transactions: 360 kilograms of gold worth €30 million were reportedly liquidated in mid-March 2025—possibly to evade European oversight.
- Asset Shifts to Liechtenstein: Six luxury villas on Lake Garda were transferred from Signa to INGBE Foundation shortly before Signa’s collapse.
- Shadow Figures Identified: Robert Schimanko and Thomas Limberger, both linked to the WEC and SilverArrow Capital, are under scrutiny.
- Legal Basis: Association Responsibility Act: Investigators treat INGBE as part of Benko’s extended structure, potentially opening the door to foundation liability.
SHORT NARRATIVE
According to the Kronen Zeitung, the WKStA is now investigating the INGBE Stiftung, based in Schaan, Liechtenstein. The foundation is reportedly named after Benko’s mother, Ingeborg Benko, and serves as a strategic holding entity in his offshore empire. The investigations suggest that Benko—despite formal denials—acted as the “de facto ruler” of the foundation, orchestrating complex asset shifts in anticipation of legal consequences.
The probe gained momentum after reports emerged of a suspicious conversion of €30 million worth of gold into cash and the earlier transfer of six luxury villas to INGBE. At the center of this activity is board member Robert Schimanko, who has a checkered past involving financial scandals in the US and Switzerland, and who is also tied to the World Economic Council (WEC) and SilverArrow Capital Group.
EXTENDED ANALYSIS
The use of foundations like INGBE and Laura Privatstiftung illustrates a textbook model of asset shielding through private legal entities. By shifting luxury properties (e.g., the Eden Gardone villas) from insolvent Signa Holding to INGBE, and receiving soon-to-be-worthless shares in return, a strong case can be made for fraudulent asset diversion. The prosecution is leveraging the Verbandsverantwortlichkeitsgesetz (Association Responsibility Act) to hold these entities accountable—an increasingly potent tool in white-collar investigations.
The role of Robert Schimanko is particularly problematic. As a former investment fund executive implicated in US financial fraud, and now a central figure in the WEC and SilverArrow Capital alongside Thomas Limberger, he represents a recurrent type in high-level financial crime: the professional fixer operating in legally grey zones. Their synchronized appointments to the INGBE and Laura foundations raise serious questions of orchestration, not coincidence.
The gold liquidation, coupled with widely dispersed safe deposit boxes and foreign bank accounts, fits a classic pattern of “last-mile shielding”—moving liquid assets beyond reach once legal pressure mounts.
ACTIONABLE INSIGHT
Regulators and investigative journalists should scrutinize the WEC (World Economic Council) and its associated entities (e.g., SilverArrow Capital) as potential vehicles for legal façade management and asset fragmentation. The appointments of Schimanko and Limberger to separate Benko foundations appear to be part of a larger coordination strategy to maintain control while insulating Benko personally from legal exposure. This is where the network must be pierced.
INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES
| Name/Entity | Role/Position | Connection to Benko Case |
|---|---|---|
| René Benko | Founder and former Signa CEO | Alleged de facto controller of INGBE Foundation; under criminal investigation |
| INGBE Privatstiftung | Private foundation in Liechtenstein | Allegedly used to shield assets like gold and villas; controlled by Benko network |
| Laura Privatstiftung | Benko-linked foundation in Innsbruck | Parallel structure with suspected coordinated management |
| Robert Schimanko | Board member, INGBE Foundation; WEC partner | Implicated in asset purchases and prior financial fraud; involved in gold movement |
| Thomas Limberger | Board, Laura Stiftung; Co-founder of SilverArrow Capital | WEC associate and key Benko network member |
| SilverArrow Capital Group | Investment firm | Operated by Schimanko and Limberger; part of network under scrutiny |
| World Economic Council (WEC) | Vienna-based think tank | Nexus for appointments and strategic coordination |
CALL FOR INFORMATION
FinTelegram calls on insiders, compliance professionals, and whistleblowers with knowledge of the INGBE and LAURA foundations, the WEC, or SilverArrow Capital to submit information confidentially via Whistle42.com. Any leads related to gold transactions, foundation activities, or cross-border asset movements are highly valuable for ongoing investigations.
