A view of the sign of Signa Holding on their headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 6, 2023.
REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVIENNA/FRANKFURT, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Property and retail giant Signa declared insolvency on Wednesday after last-ditch attempts to secure fresh funding failed, the biggest casualty so far of Europe's property crash.
Signa blamed its problems on external factors affecting its property business and pressure on high-street shopping.
Fuelled by low interest rates, billions were funneled into property, which was viewed as stable and safe.
Weakness in commercial real estate in the United States as offices remain empty after the pandemic and the struggles of major property developers in China have focused global attention on the sector.
Persons:
Leonhard Foeger, Rene Benko, Signa, Switzerland's Julius Baer, Hannes Moesenbacher, Matthias Inverardi, Rachel More, Madeline Chambers, Catherine Evans
Organizations:
Signa, REUTERS, Rights, Chrysler, Austria's Raiffeisen Bank, Thomson
Locations:
Vienna, Austria, FRANKFURT, Germany, Switzerland, Hamburg, Bavaria, Hesse, Europe's, United States, China