Property investor Benko raises stake in Austria’s S Immo

VIENNA (Reuters) – Austrian property investor Rene Benko has raised his stake in real estate group S Immo to 29.1 percent of voting rights, just shy of the 30 percent threshold that requires a mandatory takeover offer, S Immo said on Monday.

Benko bought a 7.3 percent stake from insurance company VIG , S Immo said, without disclosing a purchase price.

Benko’s move comes weeks after U.S. private equity firm Starwood offered to acquire stakes in S Immo’s rivals CA Immo and Immofinanz .

S Immo holds stakes in both companies.

Immofinanz and CA…