Refco, the scandal-hit US broker that bankers expect to auction for about $1.2bn (€1bn) this week, is facing a legal claim of $1.4bn, the highest so far.

Gerard Sillam, a French businessman, said he has filed a complaint against Refco LLC and 38 other defendants he says are involved in the case, including company subsidiaries, directors, auditors and banks which underwrote its Refco's flotation in August.