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Barcelona Court Orders Ex‑Celsa Owner Francesc Rubiralta to Repay €7.19 Million Over ‘Toxic’ Bonuses

The decision follows a fund‑led takeover that ousted the founding family through a court‑approved restructuring, signaling further claims now headed to trial.

Overview

  • Mercantile Court No. 24 in Barcelona ruled that variable pay collected by Rubiralta in 2022–2023 must be returned due to disloyalty to the company’s interests and its ‘toxic’ nature.
  • The judgment constitutes the first condemnatory ruling against Rubiralta for his tenure as Celsa president.
  • A separate case in Mercantile Court No. 8 is scheduled next week to examine a payment exceeding €20 million to a family company during Celsa’s financial difficulties.
  • Rubiralta previously won acquittal in Mercantile Court No. 5 over an alleged failure to claim a €504 million intragroup loan, which the court deemed improper to pursue.
  • The funds that took control of Celsa in 2023 now use Toda & Nel·lo as counsel, while Rubiralta is represented by lawyer Daniel Irigoyen of the Cortés firm.