Public prosecutor's office apparently investigating Georg Kofler

According to a media report, there are fraud allegations against the investor known from the TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen".

According to a report in Manager Magazin

, the Munich II public prosecutor's office is investigating Georg Kofler for fraud. The former ProSieben CEO and well-known investor from the TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen" is said to have solicited investments for the e-commerce retailer 21sportsgroup at a dinner with backers in 2019. At the time, 21sportsgroup was apparently run by his son. In order to convince the backers, Kofler is said to have held out the prospect of a merger between 21sportsgroup and Social Chain AG, which he headed.

Kofler is said to have assured investors that a loss would be virtually eliminated by the merger. In a presentation for a planned IPO, they were promised high returns, reports Manager Magazin

, citing the public prosecutor's office. Subsequently, some investors are said to have given several million euros. However, a merger never took place. The 21sportsgroup filed for insolvency, the investors lost their money.

According to Manager Magazin

, Hofer denies the allegations. He says the financiers were aware of the 21sportsgroup's situation. He does not want to have known anything about a presentation. An IPO would only have been an option if the company had managed a turnaround beforehand. Risks are part of entrepreneurship, he tells the magazine. "And you shouldn't complain when those risks happen." On Monday 22.03 starts the Höhle der Löwen in its next season. Georg Kofler is also expected to sit on the jury.