Zvi Williger Allegedly Transfers and Lends Money From Family Companies Without Approval
Another round in the dispute between businessman Zvi Williger and his wife, Ravit Williger, who together control, through a chain of holdings, the publicly traded food importer Willi-Food, over family companies valued at hundreds of millions of shekels. In a petition for an order to obtain documents and financial information filed this morning (Wednesday) with the Tel Aviv District Court, Ravit Williger, a director and shareholder in the family companies, claims that her husband, chairman of the public Willi-Food company, made transfers totaling 12 million shekels to his personal account and granted a loan of 4 million shekels to businessman Meni Witzman, allegedly without her knowledge or approval.
This is another round in the legal dispute between the two, after Ravit Williger claimed that she had been unlawfully removed from her position as a director in the family companies. As part of an arrangement between the parties, following a proposal from the court, Ravit was returned to the role. Now, as noted, she claims she has not received all of the relevant information from the companies in order to supervise and carry out her duties.
The Williger spouses each indirectly hold about 13% of Willi-Food shares through the network of family companies they established. "Ravit and Zvi are a married couple, and in recent years there has been a deterioration in the relationship between them," it was written in the previous petition Ravit filed with the court. "The two recently engaged in mediation proceedings, the purpose of which was to settle their separation by agreement."
The parties, it was learned, ordered a valuation of all joint assets for the purpose of the separation and division process between them. "Ravit Williger discovered that significant transfers were made from the accounts of the companies (the family companies, T.G.) to private accounts, without her approval and without lawful decisions having been made regarding these requests," it was written in the current petition filed today with the court. "Among other things, transfers totaling 2 million shekels were made to Zvi's private accounts, and later an additional transfer of 10 million shekels was made, without the petitioner's approval and without a lawful decision having been made on the matter."
"Zvi Williger," it was further alleged, "gave a loan to various parties from the companies' funds, without the petitioner's approval and without her knowledge, while the loan repayments, if made, do not necessarily reach the companies' accounts, but apparently Zvi's personal accounts, in a manner that raises concern for the benefit of the companies." Attached to the petition, Ravit Williger included a loan agreement for 4 million shekels that was given in December 2023 from one of the family companies to businessman Meni Witzman and other companies connected to him.
"There is a clear justification for the court's immediate intervention," the petition states, "in order to enforce Ravit's rights and prevent harm to her duties as a director."
No response was given on behalf of Zvi Williger.
