A Misstep in Mansions
GREENWICH ANTARES Investment Partners decided to get into the business of building mansions back when Wall Street money still flowed so freely here that the housing market couldn’t sop it up fast enough.
Already heavily invested in commercial properties in the area, Antares distributed an offering memorandum in 2004 to potential investors describing plans for eight “llltrah.J.xury mansions” on two parcels that it had acquired in Greenwich’s pastoral. backcountry.
Dechert to Be Subpoenaed in Case Over Detained Jordanian Lawyer’s Human Rights Abuse Allegations
A Manhattan federal judge has granted an incarcerated Jordanian lawyer‘s request to subpoena global legal giant Dechert over claims that its partners committed human rights abuses during a fraud investigation in the Middle East.
U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken of the Southern District of New York has granted a request by Jordanian detainee Karam Al Sadeq for documents the firm’s policy committee allegedly has in connection with an investigation that Dechert partner Neil Gerrard led between 2014 and 2016, allegedly with the aid of two additional partners. All of the Dechert partners conducting the investigation were based in London.
NJ Coffee Company Sues Elmsford Roaster Barrie House for $6M
A Newark coffee company claims that Elmsford coffee roaster Barrie House Coffee Co. messed up its formula for success in the online market for coffee pods. Office Coffee Services and its 26 Flavors affiliate sued Barrie House Coffee Co. last month in Westchester Supreme Court. for $6 million “We vehemently deny all the allegations in the complaint,” Tab Rosenfeld, Barrie House’s Manhattan attorney, responded. He said Office Coffee owes money to Barrie House and his client plans to file a counterclaim to collect the debt.
Automakers Push GPB to Sell Stores
Some automakers are demanding one of the largest dealership groups in the country sell some of its stores after a management upheaval that occurred amid ongoing federal and state investigations into the group’s majority owner. Volkswagen, Toyota, Subaru and Audi said they are troubled over GPB Capital Holdings’ September ouster of David Rosenberg as CEO of Prime Automotive Group and as dealer principal of most of the group’s dealerships without notice or approval. Some automakers say contract breaches allegedly made by GPB are grounds for franchise termination.
Fugitive Russian Gold Exec Asks NY Civil Court to Clear Him
Law360, New York (December 2, 2019, 7:39 PM EST) — A New York state judge on Monday puzzled
over a Russian fugitive’s request that the civil court find Russia’s criminal charges against him are
baseless as part of a lawsuit involving gold mining, bribery and corruption.
Maxim Finskiy, former chairman of White Tiger Gold Ltd. now known as Mangazeya Mining Ltd., is
battling a $190 million lawsuit brought by Sergey Yanchukov over the purchase of the mining
company that claims Finskiy, his onetime friend, tricked him into buying shares by inflating the value
of the mines.
GPB Capital Faces Renewed Fraud Claims by a Massachusetts Auto Executive
GPB Capital Holdings LLC faces renewed allegations of fraud by a Massachusetts auto executive
whom the alternative asset manager forced from his leadership role earlier this year.
David Rosenberg, the executive, in an updated complaint filed in Norfolk County Superior Court
in Massachusetts, claims New York-based GPB engaged in fraudulent activities to finance its
acquisitions of auto dealerships, including the Prime Motor Group controlled by his family and
which he led. In raising more than $1.5 billion from investors, he claims the firm “engaged in a
massive securities fraud.”
GPB Capital Seeks Fresh Start For Prime
In July, Prime Automotive CEO David Rosenberg sued the owner of his dealership group, GPB Capital Holding. Now, two months later, the prominent New England dealer has been removed as GPB seeks a fresh start for the 56-store portfolio.
GPB of New York last week appointed Kevin Westfall, co-founder of online used-vehicle retailer Vroom and a former AutoNation Inc. executive, as interim CEO of Prime Automotive after Rosenberg “was relieved of his duties,” Westfall said. Rosenberg also was removed as CEO of Prime Motor Group, part of the Prime Automotive umbrella.
Rosenberg Suit Alleges Financial Misconduct
Prime Automotive Group CEO David Rosenberg said he hasn’t been paid $5.9 million plus interest he’s owed by the group’s majority owner because he’s been cooperating with authorities over the majority owner’s alleged financial misdeeds.
Scientologist-Owned GPB Capital Holdings Hit With Yet Another Lawsuit Alleging Serious Financial Misconduct
An article in the Boston Globe by correspondent Allison Hagan presents the details of a new lawsuit against GPB Capital, the troubled New York City private equity firm owned by Scientologist David Gentile. GPB’s investors were shocked after GPB was raided by the FBI earlier this year. Investors were then staggered to their core when GPB was forced last month to announce the devaluation of its holdings from $1.8 billion to $1.1 billion. $700 million in investor money is gone.
GPB Capital now faces what we consider a blockbuster lawsuit filed by GPB insider David Rosenberg, the CEO of Prime Automotive Group. GPB purchased a passive majority interest in Prime in 2017 for $235 million plus future monies to be paid on a call option. Rosenberg’s lawsuit contains a wealth of details about the alleged inner workings of GPB Capital.
Prime Motor Group CEO Accuses Primary Investor of Financial Misconduct
The chief executive of one of the nation’s largest auto dealer networks, with nine locations in Maine, is alleging that his largest investor has engaged in financial misconduct.
Prime Automotive Group CEO David Rosenberg – son of Ira Rosenberg, a colorful and longtime Maine auto dealer – filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts that, among other things, alleges the investor is running a Ponzi scheme by using new investment money to pay returns to existing investors.