May 8, 2014 9:20 p.m. ET
SÃO PAULO—Troubled businessman Eike Batista confirmed late Thursday that a Brazilian court has frozen part of his assets, following a request by prosecutors in Rio de Janeiro state.
In a note to the market, a spokeswoman for Mr. Batista confirmed he was formally informed of the decision taken by the court earlier this week and said that 122 million Brazilian reais ($55.2 million) of his assets deposited at Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual BBTG11.BR +0.27% have been frozen. Other assets belonging to the businessman haven’t been ceased by the court. Mr. Batista plans to appeal the decision, according to the note.
The businessman, once Brazil’s richest person, is under investigation for alleged financial crimes connected to his distressed oil company, formerly known as OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes SA OGXP3.BR 0.00% . He has denied any wrongdoing.
Mr. Batista saw his wealth, estimated at more than $30 billion in 2012, collapse following several operational and financial failures at his oil firm. The company, the backbone of his industrial group, filed for bankruptcy protection last year, with billions of dollars in debt.