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GPB Capital Holdings, LLC Fraud and/or Investment Loss Customer Complaint Disclosures

Attention GPB Capital Holdings Investors: The Window Is Narrowing to Pursue Your Investment Losses

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. is currently representing investors across the country in the recovery of their investment losses in GPB Capital Holdings due to the inappropriate investment advice of their financial advisors and brokerage firms. Due to the volume of mounting litigation, it is imperative that investors act now or they may find themselves without a source of recovery.  Many of the brokerage firms that sold GPB have finite resources and insurance coverage, and when those funds are gone, so, too, is the opportunity for recovery.

Rise and Fall of GPB Funds

GPB has reportedly raised $1.8 billion from investors across the country through private placement investments in a number of individual limited partnerships, including the following:

  • GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP
  • GPB Cold Storage, LP
  • GPB Eurobond Finance PLC
  • GPB Holdings II, LP
  • GPB Holdings, III, LP
  • GPB Holdings Qualified, LP
  • GPB Holdings, LP
  • GPB NYC Development
  • GPB Scientific, LLC
  • GPB Waste Management, LP formerly: GPB Waste Management Fund, LP.

Over the last several months, the GPB family of funds has precipitously declined, leaving investors with large losses. Some of the GPB funds have reported declines of 40 to 70 percent.

Revelations Leading to Lawsuits Against GPB

Several disturbing revelations have recently surfaced. In a lawsuit filed by a former GPB operating partner, it was alleged that GPB was operating a Ponzi scheme. Specifically, in July 2017, GPB Capital Holdings, LLC (“GPB”) initiated a litigation against Patrick Dibre, a former operating partner, in New York State Supreme Court, Nassau County, Index No. 606417/2017 (the, “Dibre Case”). On March 19, 2018, Mr. Dibre filed counterclaims against GPB in the Dibre Case. Mr. Dibre’s allegations, which include allegations against GPB Capital Holdings, LLC’s controllers, David Gentile (“Gentile”) and Jeffrey Schneider (“Schneider”), allege the following:

Allegations Against GPB Capital Holdings

Contrary to GPB’s stated purpose in bringing the instant action against Dibre, the true purpose of this action by GPB is to divert attention away from the fact that the losses occasioned by GPB were in fact caused by a very complicated and manipulative Ponzi scheme. *** Gentile also engaged his father’s accounting firm to perform monthly services that were either never performed or which were overbilled in the approximate amount of $100,000 per month. The performance of those alleged services by a related party was not disclosed to investors at that time. *** Gentile and Schneider also expensed significant personal expenses, such as luxury cars, vacations, and private jets, to GPB or dealerships. One of those expenses totaled $550,000 for use of an airplane for the month of August 2017. *** Gentile and Schneider recorded the purchase price of the dealerships that they purchased from Dibre at several million dollars more than the combined actual purchase price, closing expenses, and working capital investment. They then directed those additional monies back to themselves, or entities in which they held in interest, as acquisition fees. In addition, in July 2019, David Rosenberg, a chief executive of Prime Automotive Group, filed another lawsuit against GPB in Massachusetts Superior Court, alleging a “massive securities fraud” in which it used money from investors to prop up the performance of auto dealerships it owns, as well as to finance payments to other investors. Separate and apart from the lawsuits, there are pending governmental and regulatory investigations:

  • In September 2018, the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth announced that it was launching an investigation into the 63 securities broker-dealer firms that sold partnerships controlled by GPB.
  • In December 2018, it was reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, launched investigations into GPB.
  • On February 28, 2019, the FBI made an “unannounced visit” to GPB’s office in New York. Following the visit, a spokesperson for GPB announced that the firm was cooperating with the investigation.

More recently, in October 2019, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (the “Texas Action”). In the Texas Action, the class plaintiffs allege the following:

  • “While deceiving investors into believing they were earning 8% annual return, Defendants attempted to mask the inevitable failure of the partnership by telling the Class that they would receive on a regular and continuous basis payments ‘fully covered from funds from operations’ and from ‘healthy cash flows’ in an amount of 8% annualized. Indeed, as late as 2019, Defendants continued to represent that distributions were being based upon ‘performance results.’ This was all a lie. GPB played a game with the limited partners. Almost all (e., more than 95%) of the distributions made to limited partners from GPB and its affiliates were simply returns of the limited partners’ own capital. There was no 8% operational income, only losses.”
  • That GPB failed to register some of the larger funds in violation of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

GPB Capital Holdings Investment Losses? Call the Wolper Law Firm, P.A.

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis. Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies, and securities. Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters. We can be reached at 800.931.8452, through the contact form below, or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.

SEC Brings Enforcement Action Against GPB Capital Principals in $1.7B “Ponzi-Like Scheme”; Criminal Charges Also Brought

As a result of allegations that GPB Capital Holdings committed investment fraud of $1.7 billion, on February 4, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed an enforcement action and separate criminal charges have also been filed in federal court. The SEC alleges that David Gentile, the founder, owner and Chief Executive Officer of GPB, of Manhasset, NY; Jeffry Schneider, the owner and CEO of Ascendant Capital LLC, of Austin, TX; and Jeffrey Lash, a former managing partner of GPB, of Naples, FL, engaged in a conspiracy as well as securities fraud and wire fraud. GPB Capital is a registered investment adviser. AAS is a registered broker-dealer; Ascendant Capital is its branch office. An SEC investigation alleges a “Ponzi-like scheme” through which the defendants intended to defraud investors by misrepresenting the source of funds used to make monthly distribution payments and the amount of revenue generated by two of GPB’s investment funds, GPB Holdings, LP and GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP. According to the SEC’s case, the defendants used deceptive marketing to misrepresent GPB Capital holdings. They promised monthly distributions paid to investors through money collected by investments and not from the invested capital received. What happened, according to the SEC, is that investor funds were directly used to pay many of the company’s distributions. According to the complaint, “Since its founding in 2013, GPB Capital has raised in excess of $1.7 billion for at least five limited partnership funds from approximately 17,000 retail investors nationwide, approximately 4,000 of whom are seniors. Nearly all of the $1.7 billion raised is still at risk: in 2018 GPB Capital suspended all redemptions and distributions and, according to a recent regulatory filing, GPB Capital’s assets are far below its obligations to the investors.” The complaint continues, “To existing and prospective investors in the limited partnership funds, GPB Capital projected an aura of success, touting that it consistently made an 8% annualized distribution payment to investors, as well as periodic ‘special distributions’ ranging from 0.5 to 3%.” Gentile was also criminally charged. According to court documents, GPB Capital was founded in 2013 by Gentile, a NY-based investment advisor registered with the SEC. It was the general partner of multiple investment funds known collectively as GPB Funds, including automotive, waste management, and healthcare sectors, and was responsible for managing the funds through raising and investing capital in private equity investment portfolios. Primary founding, development, operation, and marketing were the work of Gentile and Schneider. Lash’s role for five years beginning in 2013 was to oversee investments in car dealerships, a significant part of GPB’s portfolio companies. It’s alleged that the defendants engaged in fraudulent actions — material misrepresentations and omissions — toward investors in GPB Funds beginning in August 2015 and continued into December 2018. Among those actions included a representation to investors that monthly distribution payments from GPB Capital would come from operating funds, which implies that the GPB’s holdings were profitable enough to support a cash flow to investors without dipping into the money invested by customers. The SEC charges that investors’ money was used to pay for a big percentage of the distribution sent to investors. In addition, it’s alleged that Gentile and Schneider knew their portfolio wasn’t meeting the promised distributions and authorized using investor capital to cover the shortfalls. Lash helped Gentile and Schneider manipulate financial statements for two of the limited partnership funds. It’s also alleged that investors were misled about the fees and compensation given to Gentile, Schneider, and Ascendant Capital, and Gentile and Schneider’s conflict of interest in making acquisitions and the fees they earned from those acquisitions. In addition, it’s alleged that required SEC paperwork hasn’t been filed. If convinced, Gentile, Scheider, and Lash may be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. “Justice for investors of the company as well as the investors in general, whose faith in the free-market systems is crucial to the foundation of the securities industry,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr., who announced the charges with Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis. The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. is currently handling myriad arbitration claims on behalf of aggrieved investors of GPB and has been pursuing these claims since 2019. Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities. Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters. We can be reached at 800.931.8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.

JUNE 2019 INVESTOR UPDATE—GPB Capital Holdings Reports Significant Losses In The Value Of Its Investment Funds

As previously reported, the Wolper Law Firm, P.A. is currently investigating potential claims against various brokerage firms, who recommended that their clients invest in private placement securities issued by GPB Capital Holdings.

On June 20, 2019, GPB Capital Holdings reported significant losses in the value of its investment funds.  The two largest funds, the GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio, have reported losses of 25.4% and 39%, respectively.  On June 21, 2019, Investment News reported “According to a document from GPB sent to custodians and investors, that means that a client who bought $50,000 of GPB Holdings II has seen his investment trimmed to $37,300. For an investor who purchased $50,000 in GPB Automotive Portfolio, that position now has an estimated value of $30,460, according to GPB… GPB’s five other smaller funds reported declines in estimated value of 25% to 73%, according to GPB.”

GPB Capital Holdings is a New York based alternative asset management firm with approximately $1.5 billion in investor capital, invested through a variety of different private placements, including the following:

-GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP
-GPB Cold Storage, LP
-GPB Eurobond Finance PLC
-GPB Holdings II, LP
-GPB Holdings, III, LP
-GPB Holdings Qualified, LP
-GPB Holdings, LP
-GPB NYC Development
-GPB Scientific, LLC
-GPB Waste Management, LP formerly: GPB Waste Management Fund, LP.

It appears that investors may lose a significant amount of money after GPB Capital Holdings failed to file required SEC reports in April 2018.  Securities regulators have since launched investigations into GPB Capital Holdings and brokerage firms’ sales of GPB’s private placements.  It was recently disclosed that the FBI has commenced an investigation into GPB, which remains pending. 

GPB Capital Holdings LLC started in 2013, buying auto dealerships. It reportedly has raised money from approximately 4,000 investors. The GPB Automotive Portfolio reportedly raised $622 million, with a minimum investment of $100,000, and GPB Holdings II reportedly raised approximately $650 million.

It is believed that brokerage firms Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., Sagepoint Financial, Inc., FSC Securities Corp., Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Newbridge Securities, Ladenburg Thalmann, and Hightower Securities also sold GPB Capital Holdings Funds.

The brokerage firms and brokers working at those firms were incentivized to sell the GPB funds by commissions rates of nearly 8%. GPB is said to have paid more than $100 million in commissions to brokers and brokerage firms that sold the risky GPB private placements.

According to public reports, trouble for GPB started in 2017 when it sued a former business partner who allegedly reneged on a sale of multiple car dealerships. Among other claims, GPB Capital Holdings sought the return of $42 million it had paid to the former business partner.

Then, in April 2018, GPB Capital Holdings, failed to provide the SEC with required financial reports and a few months later announced that no new investor capital would be accepted. According to public reports, the firm is “straightening out” the accounting for two of its larger funds – GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio.

Shortly after GPB’s announcement, Massachusetts securities regulators announced an investigation into 63 broker-dealers who allegedly sold GPB private placements. GPB’s auditor also recently resigned, citing perceived risks, and securities regulators Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also have launched independent investigations into GPB Capital Holdings and those broker-dealers that sold GPB Funds.

There is also litigation pending between GPB and its former business partner, Patrick Dibre.  In the litigation, Patrick Dibre has alleged that GPB Capital Holdings is nothing more than a “very compliucated and manipulative ponzi scheme.”  

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis.  Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities.  Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters.  We can be reached at 800.931.8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.

Wolper Law Firm, P.A. Is Pursing Recovery On Behalf Of Investors With Losses In GPB Capital Holdings

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. is currently investigating potential claims against various brokerage firms, who recommended that their clients invest in private placement securities issued by GPB Capital Holdings.

GPB Capital Holdings is a New York based alternative asset management firm with approximately $1.5 billion in investor capital, invested through a variety of different private placements, including the following:

-GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP
-GPB Cold Storage, LP
-GPB Eurobond Finance PLC
-GPB Holdings II, LP
-GPB Holdings, III, LP
-GPB Holdings Qualified, LP
-GPB Holdings, LP
-GPB NYC Development
-GPB Scientific, LLC
-GPB Waste Management, LP formerly: GPB Waste Management Fund, LP.

It appears that investors may lose a significant amount of money after GPB Capital Holdings failed to file required SEC reports in April 2018.  Securities regulators have since launched investigations into GPB Capital Holdings and brokerage firms’ sales of GPB’s private placements.  It was recently disclosed that the FBI has commenced an investigation into GPB, which remains pending. 

GPB Capital Holdings LLC started in 2013, buying auto dealerships. It reportedly has raised money from approximately 4,000 investors. The GPB Automotive Portfolio reportedly raised $622 million, with a minimum investment of $100,000, and GPB Holdings II reportedly raised approximately $650 million.

It is believed that brokerage firms Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., Sagepoint Financial, Inc., FSC Securities Corp., Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Newbridge Securities, Ladenburg Thalmann, and Hightower Securities also sold GPB Capital Holdings Funds.

The brokerage firms and brokers working at those firms were incentivized to sell the GPB funds by commissions rates of nearly 8%. GPB is said to have paid more than $100 million in commissions to brokers and brokerage firms that sold the risky GPB private placements.

According to public reports, trouble for GPB started in 2017 when it sued a former business partner who allegedly reneged on a sale of multiple car dealerships. Among other claims, GPB Capital Holdings sought the return of $42 million it had paid to the former business partner.

Then, in April 2018, GPB Capital Holdings, failed to provide the SEC with required financial reports and a few months later announced that no new investor capital would be accepted. According to public reports, the firm is “straightening out” the accounting for two of its larger funds – GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio.

Shortly after GPB’s announcement, Massachusetts securities regulators announced an investigation into 63 broker-dealers who allegedly sold GPB private placements. GPB’s auditor also recently resigned, citing perceived risks, and securities regulators Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also have launched independent investigations into GPB Capital Holdings and those broker-dealers that sold GPB Funds.

There is also litigation pending between GPB and its former business partner, Patrick Dibre.  In the litigation, Patrick Dibre has alleged that GPB Capital Holdings is nothing more than a “very complicated and manipulative ponzi scheme.”  

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis.  Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities.  Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters.  We can be reached at 800.931.8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.

INVESTOR ALERT—The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. Is Actively Investigating Claims For The Recovery Of Investment Losses In GPB Capital

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. is currently investigating potential claims against various brokerage firms, who recommended that their clients invest in private placement securities issued by GPB Capital Holdings, including the GPB Automotive Portfolio and GPB Holdings II.

It appears that investors may lose a significant amount of money after GPB Capital Holdings failed to file required SEC reports in April 2018.  Securities regulators have since launched investigations into GPB Capital Holdings and brokerage firms’ sales of GPB’s private placements.

GPB Capital Holdings LLC started in 2013, buying auto dealerships. It reportedly has raised money from approximately 4,000 investors. The GPB Automotive Portfolio reportedly raised $622 million, with a minimum investment of $100,000, and GPB Holdings II reportedly raised approximately $650 million. GPB Capital Holdings reportedly has raised a total of $1.5 billion.

It is believed that brokerage firms Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., Sagepoint Financial, Inc., FSC Securities Corp., Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Newbridge Securities, Ladenburg Thalmann, and Hightower Securities also sold GPB Capital Holdings Funds.

The brokerage firms and brokers working at those firms were incentivized to sell the GPB funds by commissions rates of nearly 8%. GPB is said to have paid more than $100 million in commissions to brokers and brokerage firms that sold the risky GPB private placements.

According to public reports, trouble for GPB started in 2017 when it sued a former business partner who allegedly reneged on a sale of multiple car dealerships. Among other claims, GPB Capital Holdings sought the return of $42 million it had paid to the former business partner.

Then, in April 2018, GPB Capital Holdings, failed to provide the SEC with required financial reports and a few months later announced that no new investor capital would be accepted. According to public reports, the firm is “straightening out” the accounting for two of its larger funds – GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio.

Shortly after GPB’s announcement, Massachusetts securities regulators announced an investigation into 63 broker-dealers who allegedly sold GPB private placements. GPB’s auditor also recently resigned, citing perceived risks, and securities regulators Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also have launched independent investigations into GPB Capital Holdings and those broker-dealers that sold GPB Funds.

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis.  Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities.  Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters.  We can be reached at 800.931.8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.

The State of Massachusetts Securities Division Has Filed An Enforcement Action Against GPB Capital Holdings, LLC, Alleging, Fraud And Undisclosed Conflicts Of Interest

On May 27, 2020, William Galvin, the Commissioner of the State of Massachusetts Securities Division, filed an enforcement action against GPB Capital Holdings, LLC. A copy of the Complaint can be accessed by clicking https://www.sec.state.ma.us/sct/current/sctgpb/2020-5-27-MSD-GPB-Complaint-E-2018-0100.pdf. The Complaint is a scathing commentary on the business practices of GPB, which have been well documented by the Wolper Law Firm, P.A. over the last year. The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. is currently representing myriad clients around the country in arbitration proceedings against brokerage firms that recommended that their retail clients invest in one of the GPB Capital Holdings’ various private placement offerings. GPB Capital Holdings is a New York based investment company that serves as the general partner for various privately held investment funds, including: -GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP -GPB Cold Storage, LP -GPB Eurobond Finance PLC -GPB Holdings II, LP -GPB Holdings, III, LP -GPB Holdings Qualified, LP -GPB Holdings, LP -GPB NYC Development -GPB Scientific, LLC -GPB Waste Management, LP formerly: GPB Waste Management Fund, LP. The three largest GPB funds are GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP, GPB Holdings II, LP and GPB Waste Management, LP a/k/a Armada Waste Management Fund, LP. The total amount of capital raised by GPB across its funds is estimated to be more than $1.5 billion. GPB was able to raise capital quickly through a network of brokerage firms across the country by offering selling commissions of 8% to Financial Advisors and additional placement fees available to the brokerage firm. According to the Massachusetts Complaint, GPB made material misrepresentations to investors by promising them 8% investment returns paid solely from operational capital and revenue. These representations were reinforced in private placement memoranda and marketing materials. However, as GPB continued to aquire new investors, it failed to deploy the capital into new business ventures. Instead of suspending investor dividends until such time as the capital could be deployed in order to generate revenue for the various GPB funds, GPB continued to pay dividends to investors. Because the revenue of the GPB funds was less than their distribution requirements, the dividends were paid with investor capital. Consequently, without a rapid appreciation of profits and revenue, GPB was completely reliant on new investor capital to meet its dividend requirements. All along, GPB continued to represent in marketing materials and financial reports that it was paying dividends from operational capital and revenue. In 2018, GPB casually changed language within a revised private placement memorandum to reflect that it may elect to use investor contributions to pay dividends without disclosing that it had been doing it all along. As set forth in the Massachusetts Complaint, between 50% and 100% of investor distributions were paid by GPB’s three largest funds by using investor contributions. These statistics reinforce the conclusion that GPB is nothing more than a ponzi scheme. Specific allegations within the Complaint reveal: GPB Capital Holdings II “GPB Capital has used investor funds to pay distributions, contrary to the disclosures in most of GPB Holdings II PPMs and marketing materials.” “The GPB Holdings II financials provide additional insight into its distribution practices. The GPB Holdings II consolidated financial statements from inception (April 13, 2015) to December 31, 2015, report a net income of $645,632, and total distributions of$197,056. 102. The GPB Holdings II consolidated financial statements for year ended December 31, 2016 report a net loss of$6,607,000, but total distributions of $8,089,000.” “Taking the two financial statements together, from inception to year end 2016, GPB Holdings II had a net loss of $5,961,368, yet still paid out $8,286,056 in distributions to limited partners.” “Per GPB Capital’s own definition, this means that since inception to year end 2017, GPB Holdings II had a coverage ratio of 48.46%, meaning 51.54% of distributions were paid using investor contributions.” GPB Automotive “This means that in the third quarter of 2017, GPB Automotive paid out more in distributions than it earned. In order to compensate for paying out more in distributions than earnings, GPB Capital utilized investor funds. For the calendar year of 2017, GPB Automotive’s coverage ratio was 60%, meaning that 40% of distributions were paid using investor funds, directly contrary to all of the GPB Automotive PPMs and GPB Automotive marketing materials.” GPB Waste Management/Armada Waste Management “According to the 2017 unaudited financials for GPB Waste Management, the fund reported a total investment income of $5,658,000 and total expenses of $3,541,000, and therefore a net investment income of $2,117,000. The fund reported a net income of $4,468,000.” “The unaudited financials also reported total distributions to limited partners of $4,411,000. 184. Per the audited financials, the fund reported a total net loss of $8,456,000, which includes a net loss to limited partners of $578,000.” “Despite the reported net loss, the fund paid $4,411,000 in distributions to limited partners. 186. For 2017 GPB Waste Management had a coverage ratio of less than 0%, which meant that all distributions were made using investor contributions.” “According to GPB Waste Management’s audited financials from inception to year end 2017, the fund had a total net loss of $1,562,880, yet paid distributions to limited partners totaling $4,630,170, putting the fund’s coverage ratio from inception to year end 201 7 well below 0%.” In addition, myriad undisclosed conflicts of interest within GPB are illuminated in the Massachusetts Complaint. Many of the automotbile dealerships owned by GPB Automotive are, in fact, owned by individuals within GPB Capital Holdings. The payment of fees, borrowing of capital and other remuneration was not at arm’s-length. These new revelations provide further support for the conclusion that GPB operated a ponzi scheme and will inevitably be forced into receivership or bankruptcy. GPB has not provided audited financials since 2018. The time for investors to recoup their losses is closing. Many of the brokerage firms that sold GPB to investors are small operations with minimal revenues and may become insolvent, rendering them unable to pay an arbitration award. The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis. Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities. Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters. We can be reached at 800.931.8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.

Armada Waste Management, LP Declines 70%, Leaving Investors With Large Losses.

investment loss lawyer

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. is currently representing clients who experienced investment losses in Armada Waste Management, LP, which is the latest fund issued by GPB Capital Holdings to experience sharp declines.

It is alleged that GPB Capital Holdings issued more than $163 million in securities in Armada Waste Management LP. Unfortunately for investors, it is alleged that the fund is now valued at just $53 million, an almost 70% reduction in value.

In June 2019, GPB Capital Holdings reported losses in the value of two of its investment funds: GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio. GPB Holdings II saw a decline in value of 25.4% and GPB Automotive Portfolio have decreased by 39%. GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio make up the majority of GPB Capital Holdings’ portfolio, raising $1.27 billion from investors.

GPB Capital Holdings is a New York based alternative asset management firm with approximately $1.5 billion in investor capital, invested through a variety of different private placements, including the following:

-GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP
-GPB Cold Storage, LP
-GPB Eurobond Finance PLC
-GPB Holdings II, LP
-GPB Holdings, III, LP
-GPB Holdings Qualified, LP
-GPB Holdings, LP
-GPB NYC Development
-GPB Scientific, LLC
-GPB Waste Management, LP formerly: GPB Waste Management Fund, LP.

It appears that investors may lose a significant amount of money after GPB Capital Holdings failed to file required SEC reports in April 2018.  Securities regulators have since launched investigations into GPB Capital Holdings and brokerage firms’ sales of GPB’s private placements.  It was recently disclosed that the FBI has commenced an investigation into GPB, which remains pending. 

GPB Capital Holdings LLC started in 2013, buying auto dealerships. It reportedly has raised money from approximately 4,000 investors. The GPB Automotive Portfolio reportedly raised $622 million, with a minimum investment of $100,000, and GPB Holdings II reportedly raised approximately $650 million.

It is believed that brokerage firms Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., Sagepoint Financial, Inc., FSC Securities Corp., Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Newbridge Securities, Ladenburg Thalmann, and Hightower Securities also sold GPB Capital Holdings Funds.

The brokerage firms and brokers working at those firms were incentivized to sell the GPB funds by commissions rates of nearly 8%. GPB is said to have paid more than $100 million in commissions to brokers and brokerage firms that sold the risky GPB private placements.

According to public reports, trouble for GPB started in 2017 when it sued a former business partner who allegedly reneged on a sale of multiple car dealerships. Among other claims, GPB Capital Holdings sought the return of $42 million it had paid to the former business partner.

Then, in April 2018, GPB Capital Holdings, failed to provide the SEC with required financial reports and a few months later announced that no new investor capital would be accepted. According to public reports, the firm is “straightening out” the accounting for two of its larger funds – GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio.

Shortly after GPB’s announcement, Massachusetts securities regulators announced an investigation into 63 broker-dealers who allegedly sold GPB private placements. GPB’s auditor also recently resigned, citing perceived risks, and securities regulators Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also have launched independent investigations into GPB Capital Holdings and those broker-dealers that sold GPB Funds.

There is also litigation pending between GPB and its former business partner, Patrick Dibre.  In the litigation, Patrick Dibre has alleged that GPB Capital Holdings is nothing more than a “very compliucated and manipulative ponzi scheme.”  

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis.  Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities.  Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters.  We can be reached at 800.931.8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.

 

Attorney Matthew Wolper

Attorney Matthew WolperMatt Wolper is a trial lawyer who focuses exclusively on securities litigation and arbitration. Mr. Wolper has handled hundreds of securities matters nationwide before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), JAMS, and in state and federal court. Mr. Wolper has handled and tried cases involving complex financial products and strategies ranging from traditional stocks and bonds to options, margin and other securities-based lending products, closed/open-end mutual funds, structured products, hedge funds, and penny stocks. [Attorney Bio]