Finance
Abu Dhabi's Mubadala wins 700 million euro arbitration against Signa and founder Benko
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 3, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 3, 2026
Home > Finance > Abu Dhabi's Mubadala wins 700 million euro arbitration against Signa and founder Benko
Quick Summary
Mubadala wins €700M arbitration against Signa's Benko, amid Europe's major real estate collapse due to financial distress.
Mubadala Secures €700 Million Arbitration Victory Over Signa's Benko
Mubadala's Arbitration Case Against Signa
VIENNA, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi's Mubadala fund has been awarded more than 700 million euros ($825 million) in arbitration linked to the collapse of Austria's Signa property empire, creditor protection group Creditreform said on Tuesday.
Background on Signa and Benko
Mubadala is among multiple international investors and creditors seeking to recover losses from one of Europe's biggest real estate failures.
Details of the Arbitration Award
Signa, founded by real estate investor Rene Benko, once owned landmark buildings in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It fell into insolvency in late 2023 after rising interest rates and borrowing costs pushed the group into financial distress.
Impact on Investors and Creditors
Creditreform, which represents Signa creditors' interests, said the arbitration, overseen by the International Chamber of Commerce, targeted Rene Benko himself, the core entities of Signa Group and two family trusts.
The total disputed sum in the case was about 900 million euros.
Benko's lawyer, the International Chamber of Commerce and Mubadala did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
It has yet to be determined where the money awarded to Mubadala will come from.
Signa's two main property operations, Signa Prime Selection and Signa Development Selection, which held the group's most valuable city assets and development projects, were spared payment and cost obligations in the case, their insolvency administrators said.
Benko, once one of Europe's most ambitious real estate developers, has been in custody for about a year. He has been convicted twice for fraud related to insolvency cases. He is appealing against both convictions.
The collapse of his group left investors, including major German and Swiss companies, facing hundreds of millions of euros in losses.
($1 = 0.8483 euros)
(Reporting by Alexandra Schwarz-GoerlichWriting by Kirsti KnolleEditing by David Goodman)
Key Takeaways
- •Mubadala awarded over €700 million in arbitration.
- •Signa's collapse linked to high interest rates.
- •Case overseen by International Chamber of Commerce.
- •Rene Benko, Signa founder, targeted in arbitration.
- •Signa's property operations spared payment obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Abu Dhabi's Mubadala wins 700 million euro arbitration against Signa and founder Benko
1What is insolvency?
Insolvency is a financial state where an individual or entity cannot meet their debt obligations as they come due.
2What is a financial crisis?
A financial crisis is a situation in which the value of financial institutions or assets drops rapidly, leading to widespread economic instability.
