541, 546 (Bankr. Nor is it necessary for the Court to decide whether New York or South Carolina law applies under South Carolina's choice of law principles. Fed. Litigation. Bloomberg View columnist Barry Ritholtz looks at the people and ideas that shape markets, investing and business. Since its founding in 1995, Wellspring has raised over $4 billion of initial capital commitments through six private equity funds. Tenn. 1991); 11 U.S.C. At Wellspring we pride ourselves on client service. As with the plaintiffs assertions around disinterested governance, such allegations may (or may not) bear any semblance to the actual facts. Sounds like a tidy deal at year end [2017] made a lot of sense." The Debtors in the bankruptcy cases, pending in the District of Delaware, are SportCo Holdings, Inc.; Ellett Brothers, LLC; United Sporting Company, Inc.; Bonitz Brothers, Inc.; Evans Sports, Inc.; Jerry's Sports, Inc.; Outdoor Sports Headquarters, Inc.; Quality Boxes, Inc.; and Simmons Guns Specialties, Inc. 1997) (citing Bannister v. Hertz Corp., 316 S.C. 513 (Ct. App. WELLSPRING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED is registered in England and Wales under Company Number 12429146, PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. 23, 2006) (stating that some courts characterize fraudulent conveyance actions as tort actions, while others characterize them as matters in equity). Since its founding in 1995, Wellspring has raised over $4.5 billion of initial capital commitments through six private equity funds. The firm, which is based in New York City, was founded in 1995 by Martin Davis and Greg Feldman. hbbd``b`u@IHEX 3X "2A`V @B'Hl``bdV8 2h Ripoff Report | scalp-med complaints, reviews, scams, lawsuits and at 382. "[F]or purposes of Rule 12(b)(6), '[the court is] not required to accept as true the legal conclusions set forth in a plaintiff's complaint.'" In 2008, Wellspring Capital, through its fund Wellspring Capital Partners, acquired Ellett. About Wellspring Capital Management Wellspring Capital Management is a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York. The plaintiff's third cause of action, for negligent misrepresentation against defendants Wellspring Capital, Mr. Carles, and Mr. Johnson, must also be dismissed. Mr. Friedman was substituted as the plaintiff on January 10, 2020. Corporate Advocacy Program. On December 31, 2018, the Borrowers defaulted on their obligations under the Loan Agreements and the Amendments. W.D. Practices: . Wellspring has the flexibility to complete transactions ranging from $100 million to as much as $1.5 billion in total value in a wide range of industries. To summarize New York law, then, it appears that opinions can be actionable, but are not always actionable. Bill Dawson is taking time off from his $2.2 billion private equity firm Wellspring Capital Management, which will investigate the claims of . Salaries posted anonymously by Wellspring Capital Management employees. James brought a civil suit against Trump in September, alleging the Trump organization had fraudulently inflated the value of . (quoting Edwards v. City of Goldsboro, 178 F.3d 231, 244 (4th Cir. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Menu Home; Rankings. 609, 614 (Bankr. Wellspring Capital Management is a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York. The portfolio manager is also a co-investor in the strategy. Wellspring Capital Management LLC Chief Executive Officer Bill Dawson has taken a leave of absence, days after a former employee alleged in a lawsuit that he threatened her for accusing his son of sexual assault. By teaming up with strong management, Wellspring is able to unlock underlying value and. These emails may be a lot of things, but negligent misrepresentations they are not. (Bloomberg) -- Wellspring Capital Management LLC Chief Executive Officer Bill Dawson has taken a leave of absence, days after a former employee alleged in a lawsuit that he threatened her for accusing his son of sexual assault."We are taking this matter very seriously, and have launched an immediate internal investigation," Jeffrey Gould, Wellspring's head of marketing and investor . Marlow v. Oakland Gin Co. (In re The Julien Co.), 128 B.R. Try our Advanced Search for more refined results. [Amended Complaint, 49]. 2010); Saifullah v. Johnson, 948 F.2d 1282, at *1 (4th Cir. Shoe designer and creative Salehe Bembury takes us on a journey from his childhood growing up in Manhattan, to an invaluable degree in industrial design, to working with some of the biggest names in fashionbefore breaking off to make his own name. The basic complaint is that Wellspring directors put self-interests above those of the company and its creditors. The Uniform Commercial Code defines insolvency as the inability to pay debts in the ordinary course or when they come due, while the Bankruptcy Code defines insolvency as debts exceeding assets. . It featured lower-priced clothing and was Gymboree's direct competitor for The Children's Place and Old Navy.. Div. . They were not statements of presently existing fact. Public Records Policy. Wellspring Capital Management We charge a minimal base fee and the rest is performance fees we generate for clients and not on the amount of capital clients allocate. hb```e``jb`a`\ @1V h`2q:lp10qfaqB,X3s10iH(^t1 By Zachary Zagger (July 31, 2020, 9:56 PM EDT) -- Private equity firm Wellspring Capital Management LLC on Friday hit a slew of its insurers with a suit in New York state court alleging they must defend it against claims that it plundered millions of dollars from gun seller United Sporting Cos. Inc., which blamed its bankruptcy on Donald Trump's win in the 2016 election. Access to case data within articles (numbers, filings, courts, nature of suit, and more. Wellspring Capital Management is an American private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout investments in middle-market companies across a range of industries. Even California Democrats don't want Newsom to run for president Note: This site is for informational purposes only. The issue in Merritt Dredging was the sale of a barge and the priority of parties' interests in the proceeds of the sale. Wellspring Capital Management Acquires Steele Solutions, Inc. Wellspring Capital Management is a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York. Wellspring brought its assets under management to more than $4.4 billion as of January 2018. Id. It is not intended as and should not be construed as financial, investment, tax, legal, regulatory, or other advice. Founded in 1995, Wellspring invests anywhere . From October 2017 to April 2018, Mr. Carles and Mr. Johnson sent numerous emails to representatives of Prospect, attempting to induce Prospect to agree to forego exercising its rights in the event of a default. 2022 Wellspring Capital Management Group LLC |. Consumers want to see how a business took care of business. As discussed in Cyrus II, the Fourth Circuit has stated that a bankruptcy court should apply the choice of law rules of the state in which it sits. Broker-Dealers Business & Commercial Litigation Business Restructuring California Consumer Privacy Act Capital Markets Capital Solutions & Private Credit Charitable Foundations China Life Sciences Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) Consumer Protection and Advertising Law Corporate & Securities Litigation Using a sophisticated network of for-profits, shell corporations, and consultancies, Wellspring has poured out an incredible $1.1 billion into nonprofits, most of which is hidden from prying eyes in donor-advised funds. This approach has historically delivered returns well above inflation Our clients Otherwise you cannot get paid." This matter is before the Court on motions to dismiss filed by the defendants Wellspring Capital Management, LLC ("Wellspring Capital"), Wellspring Capital Partners IV, L.P. ("Wellspring Capital Partners"), WCM Genpar IV, L.P., WCM Genpar IV GP, LLC (collectively, the "Wellspring Defendants") [Docket No. In connection with this contemplated purchase, Alexander Carles, a managing partner of Wellspring Capital and an officer and director of SportCo and its subsidiaries, and Bradley Johnson, the president and chief executive officer of SportCo and its subsidiaries, sought to convince Prospect to forbear from exercising any remedies in the event of a payment default. Wellspring Capital Management, founded in 1995, is a middle-market private equity firm that has approximately $2 billion of private equity capital under management. 2012) and West Side Fed. The District Court discussed the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision in Sheldon v. Blauvelt, 29 S.C. 453 (1888). The firm's objective is to bring partnership, experience and value creation to each investment. Id. Frustrated stakeholders can be further inclined, and incentivized, to view all corporate decisions with an eye towards litigation first through a 20/20 hindsight lens. I Shall [Not] Be Released: Wellspring, Director Releases, breached their duty of care, since the directors refused to reasonably maximize corporate value by killing the restructuring on account of releases/indemnity (, breached their duty of loyalty, since they placed their own self-interests above those of their fiduciaries [. The Loan Agreements and the First and Second Amendments each contain a choice of law provision, providing that New York law applies. v. Holmes (In re Holmes), 610 B.R. View contacts for Wellspring Capital Management to access new leads and connect with decision-makers. The adviser's REGISTRATION status is listed below. In support of this argument, the plaintiff cites a case from the United States District court for the District of Idaho, which was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit, as well as a case from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, in which the court stated that 544(b) claims are unique "because they exist only to the extent of applicable state law," but then found, "Even so, such claims are not pendant state claims in federal bankruptcy cases, but are federal causes of action rooted in federal bankruptcy law and policy." The third cause of action asserts that those parties "made numerous representations to Prospect concerning the AcuSport Purchase, including that the purchase would allow the Debtors to acquire $14 million worth of AcuSport inventory at a substantial discount; that it would result in the Debtors' immediate realization of a $7 million profit on the sale of the AcuSport inventory so purchased; and that it would result in the Debtors' capturing 20% to 30% of AcuSport sales." e""8*&B David R. Duncan US Bankruptcy Judge District of South Carolina. Ashmore for Wilson v. Dodds, 262 F. Supp. Wellspring Capital Management LLC Chief Executive Officer Bill Dawson has taken a leave of absence, days after a former employee alleged in a lawsuit that he threatened her for accusing his son of sexual assault. Va. Mar. Designed By BM Designs. 91], Andrew Kupchik [Docket No. at 321. While New York law and South Carolina law have slightly different tests for avoiding constructive fraudulent conveyances, there exists a common thread which is not satisfied hereinsolvency at the time of the transfer. Please see our Privacy Policy. Wellsprings investment professionals possess diverse and complementary backgrounds that combine valuable experience in private equity, restructuring, corporate finance, capital markets and corporate law. Later emails berate Prospect's representative for failing to agree to the AcuSport purchase more quickly. In considering whether to grant a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the court may take judicial notice of matters of public record and may consider documents attached to the complaint and the motion to dismiss, "so long as they are integral to the complaint and authentic." The District Court in Ashmore for Wilson stated: The parties' arguments regarding what law applies to the plaintiff's fraudulent conveyance claims present some complicated and novel questions; however, it is not necessary for the Court to decide whether the defendants are third party beneficiaries of the Loan Agreements or the Amendments. 'Ov}b0. 3d 341, 357 (D.S.C. Sav. The amended complaint further states, "As recently as 2015, Ellett was the fifth largest private company in South Carolina and the largest distributor of firearms in the United States, with annual revenues of $750 million, over 350 employees nationwide, and 175 employees in South Carolina." 22-2003, 2023 WL 1098189 (3d Cir. For the reasons set forth below, under the law of either state, the plaintiff's first and second causes of action must be dismissed. The December 26, 2017 email stated, "So you will waive [your interest payments]. Investment Philosophy; Target Investments; Portfolio There are also no allegations concerning expenses. The 2011 Wellspring Capital Partners V LP was fully invested at $1.2 billion and has generated positive returns for its investors to-date. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. Since its founding in 1995, Wellspring has raised over $4 billion of initial capital commitments through . The amended complaint also details numerous emails sent by Mr. Carles and Mr. Johnson to a representative of Prospect, urging Prospect to defer its right to payment in the event of a default. If you do not agree with these terms, then do not use our website and/or services. Investment adviser | Wellspring Capital Management Ltd | M25 0FX 598, 614 (Bankr. The plaintiff's first and second causes of action are based on 11 U.S.C. The alleged statements simply do not constitute actionable statements that can form the basis of a negligent misrepresentation claim. The court stated that expressions of opinion are actionable under New York law, but further stated: New York courts have also stated that statements of "mere puffery", or "statements founded entirely on speculation concerning future profits from proposed business endeavors" are not actionable. Designed By, https://www.wellspringcapital.co.uk/disclaimer. Wellspring Capital Management Portfolio Investments, Wellspring Capital Section 544(b) states: The defendants' motions assert numerous arguments in support of the assertion that the Court must dismiss the plaintiff's causes of action. The plaintiff responds that Prospect is a preexisting creditor because the distributions were not made until after Prospect became a creditor when the Loan Agreements and the Amendments were signed. Pentec Health Inc. Acquired by Wellspring Capital Management Since its founding in 1995, Wellspring has raised over $4 billion of initial capital commitments through . [Amended Complaint, 57]. Over $134 million of the loan proceeds were used to fund distributions to Wellspring Capital Partners, WCM GenPar IV, L.P., WCM GenPar IV GP, LLC, F. Hewitt Grant, Charles E. Walker, Jr., Todd Boehly, Bernard Ziomek, and Andrew Kupchik (collectively, the "Transferee Defendants"). The defendants' remaining arguments need not be addressed. THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY INTERESTS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. Brought up in a family enjoying long-term success in real estate investment, Avrohom instead turned to the stock market. In King County, the court considered suits by investors seeking to recover losses incurred after the collapse of a structured investment vehicle. Additionally, the plaintiff argues that the third element of New York's third-party beneficiary test is not met because there is no express intent in the Loan Agreements or the Amendments to compensate the defendants in the event the distributions were not paid and in fact, the Loan Agreement indicates the opposite by virtue of the inurement clause found in Section 13.1. Wellspring Capital Management is a mega-sized private equity firm that focused on a variety of transaction situations. wikipedia.en/Vatterott_College.md at main chinapedia/wikipedia.en 1984) for the proposition that under New York law, opinions are actionable in a negligence context. The court must construe the allegations in the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. We are taking this matter very seriously, and have launched an immediate internal investigation, Jeffrey Gould, Wellsprings head of marketing and investor relations, told investors last week in a note seen by Bloomberg News. Wellspring Capital Management LLC operates as a private equity firm. The firm functions as a strategic rather than tactical partner, providing management teams with top-line support, M&A experience and financial expertise, and access to resources. your most valuable capital, your ultimate resource. D.S.C. The plaintiff responds that the statements relate to presently existing facts and that opinions are actionable in a negligence context. Wellspring Capital buys Center for Diagnostic Imaging - Minneapolis at 385. %%EOF Instead, they may form the basis for a negligent misrepresentation claim if the party making the misrepresentation possesses some special expertise (by way of his job title or position, for example), or has some special knowledge about the particular fact that is allegedly misrepresented. The Firm will consider buyouts of private companies, acquisitions of divisions or subsidiaries of public companies, shareholder liquidity needs, partnering with entrepreneurs for growth opportunities, and special situations. Accordingly, Wellspring reinforces the importance of disinterested governance and arms length dealing in connection with the restructuring process. The elements of a negligent misrepresentation claim under South Carolina law are as follows: Turning now to the present case, the third cause of action must be dismissed under either New York or South Carolina law because the statements that the plaintiff asserts constituted negligent misrepresentations were all statements regarding potential outcomes of a potential business endeavor; thus, they relate to future events and cannot form the basis of a negligent misrepresentation claim. Va. June 8, 2011) (acknowledging that Maryland law is not clear regarding whether a fraudulent conveyance action sounds in tort, but concluding that "given that the gravamen of the fraudulent conveyance claim is the wrongfulness of the conveyance and the injury to the creditor, rather than balancing equities or fairness, it is appropriate to conclude that fraudulent conveyance claims sound in tort. Full title:Ronald J. Friedman, as the trustee for the SportCo Creditors' Liquidation, Court:UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA. Wellspring Capital Management Acquires Paragon Films As we here at Ropes & Gray look back on 2021 and ahead into 2022, we call your attention to the lessons of Friedman v. Wellspring Capital Mgmt., LLC (In re SportCo Holdings, Inc.), Case No. Law360 takes your privacy seriously. It is not unusual for an entity facing distress to engage with their stakeholders and to negotiate any number of transaction alternatives and terms. It is not intended as and should not be construed as financial, investment, tax, legal, regulatory, or other advice. 544 and 550 and S.C. Code 27-23-10; and (3) negligent misrepresentations against Wellspring Capital, Mr. Carles, and Mr. Johnson. %PDF-1.5 % For the reasons set forth above, the first, second, and third causes of action set forth in the plaintiff's amended complaint fail to state claims for which relief can be granted. Mar 19, 2019 New York private equity firm Wellspring Capital Management said Monday it has acquired Center for Diagnostic Imaging, a Minneapolis-based operator of MRI and CT scanners that. The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit wasted no time getting the new year off to a roaring start through its ruling in In re LTL Mgmt., LLC, Case No. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. What happened to Birchbox? | Retail Dive 2100 Geng Road, Suite 210 Palo Alto, CA 94303. The firm's objective is to bring partnership, experience and value creation to each investment. Our tight-knit culture enables transparent oversight and a streamlined decision-making process. About Wellspring Capital Management Wellspring Capital Management, founded in 1995, is a leading middle-market private equity firm that manages more than $4.4 billion of private equity capital. Wellspring Philanthropic: An Ocean of "Dark Money" on the Left *aUQBT&1#J$8Q)=WE9M'v1s_)GG+.kbN;yELi.UD1N{f'u$y`'GCJfS;4yXwbW${%^tcxG2}+/P@U `a$b6? Fund VI brings the firm's assets under management to more . Wellspring Capital - Middle Market Private Equity The firm's objective is to bring partnership, experience and value creation to each investment. Fund VI brings the firm's assets under management to more than $4.4 billion. About Us - Wellspring Capital Tow v. Rafizadeh (In re Cyrus II P'ship), 413 B.R. Industry: Investment & Asset Management. 2005)). Wellspring targets investments with the following characteristics: with actual intent . ~p03ngx1Ai63*oP 4TP3Nt'xn0R8tJ'a7D2P6ILky6L;0;0SUNrtd t ";Qb[K-Ii 1g%\i) IZ3uAH0J40v0xt0v40Xt8 y CJ3t@y`$21kL The plaintiff responds that the express terms of the choice of law provisions provide that the clause applies only to the parties to the Loan Agreements and the Amendments and that the defendants' indirect connection to the parties to the agreements, and the nature of their received benefit, a distribution, are not sufficient to render them third-party beneficiaries of the Loan Agreements and the Amendments. The firm, which is based in New York City, was founded in 1995 by Martin Davis and Greg Feldman. Contact:KekstMark Semer or Peter Hill212.521.4800, Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 King County, 863 F. Supp.2d at 318. "To survive a motion to dismiss, 'a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to "state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face."'" Innovative Custom Brands, Inc. v. Minor, 2016 WL 308805, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. This approach has historically delivered returns well above inflation. On March 7, 2013, the Borrowers entered into a First Amendment to the Loan Agreements (the "First Amendment"), pursuant to which Prospect loaned the Borrowers an additional $60 million. All business will get complaints. In June 2017, Gymboree announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In considering what choice of law provisions to apply, the Fourth Circuit stated: The Court notes that there is a specific fraudulent conveyance section of the Bankruptcy Code. It identifies undervalued companies whose share price does not properly reflect the true value of the business. Twitter Revenue, Earnings Fell About 40% in December, WSJ Says, John Malone andCharter Directors Agree to $87.5 Million Settlement, China E-Commerce Giant JD Set for $1.4 Billion Discount Spree, Between Rounds of Golf, Trumps Searching for the Perfect DeSantis Diss, Your Saturday UK Briefing: Sunak Chalks Up a Win as the Budget Looms, Harrods Shrugs Off Recession Fears as Rich Get Richer, FT Says, Wealthy NYC Family Feuds Over $258 Million Madison Avenue Sale, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61, The Exhibit Reality TV Show PittingArtist Against ArtistIs No Masterpiece. For example, the October 27, 2017 email stated, "The only way to optimize is to merge with Acusport." articles a month for anyone to read, even non-subscribers! 1994)). Share Your Design Ideas, New JerseysMurphy Defends $10 Billion Rainy Day Fund as States Economy Slows, This Week in Crypto: Ukraine War, Marathon Digital, FTX. Therefore, the plaintiff argues that he is only required to establish constructive fraud. Id. Wellspring Capital formed SportCo Holdings, Inc. ("SportCo") to serve as a holding company for United Sporting Company, Inc. ("United Sporting"), Ellett's direct parent; Ellett; and its subsidiaries. The plaintiff relies on the fact that Ellett was unable to pay the debt owed to Prospect at the time that it had to be paid in full; however, this is not the only relevant point in time. Wellspring Capital Management is an American private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout investments in middle-market companies across a range of industries. .JFY+h!Hkw;s"$ 4AuF~!D =j]4z*g7i>B 1NEDm @@,!ptz"Br}-rh>wI }9.&>5/n2n/OefX Wellspring, 2021 WL 4823513, at *10. Wellspring CEO takes leave after explosive rape allegations against his son Middle Market Private Equity. Pentec Health Inc. Acquired by Wellspring Capital Management - PRWeb The defendants argue that Prospect is a subsequent creditor, because it had knowledge of and approved of the distributions prior to them being completed. Discretionary portfolio management with a difference, Make your investment with Wellspring Capital Management. The first and second causes of action are dismissed. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. IAPD - Investment Adviser Public Disclosure - Homepage Id. Wellspring Capital manages an investment portfolio of between 10 and 15 international stocks. pursue new growth opportunities through strategic initiatives, operating improvements and add-on acquisitions. The February 20, 2018 stated, "You're [sic] economics are going down and the risk of chapter is going up. Cases involving other matters not classified elsewhere, 890, 1890, 1990, 2890, 2899, 2999, 3375, 3890, 3896, 3899, 3999, 4890, 4896, 4999, Wellspring Capital Management, LLC; Wellspring Cap v. Barry, III et al. Sec'y of State for Def. Therefore, a finding that Prospect is a subsequent creditor would require dismissal of the first and second causes of action. Wellspring CEO Takes Leave After Son Accused of Rape in Lawsuit [Amended Complaint, 51]. Make your practice more effective and efficient with Casetexts legal research suite. Crazy 8 was started in August 2007. In Wellsprings view, the extent to which releases might have benefitted SportCo (as opposed to benefiting the directors alone) was at least in part a question of fact that could not be resolved on a motion to dismiss. Christopher Dawson: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know - Heavy Relevant here: the plaintiff/litigation trust alleged that SportCos directors: Finally, the litigation trust also asserted a variety of other counts in its complaint related to other facts, circumstances, and actions that are not the subject of this Alert. 2008) (citing Southmark Corp. v. Crescent Heights VI, Inc. (In re Southmark Corp.), 95 F.3d 53, 53, n.7 (5th Cir. Wellspring Capital, Mr. Carles, and Mr. Johnson were not insiders of AcuSport, and the amended complaint does not allege that they had any special knowledge or information about AcuSport that was not available to the public. THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY INTERESTS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. Wellspring CEO Takes Leave After Son Accused of Rape in Lawsuit After all, corporate decisionmakers are often tasked with choosing a path where outcomes are at best uncertain. Since its founding in 1995, Wellspring has raised over $4.0 billion of initial capital commitments through . Adversary Proceeding No. 6. 2018) (distinguishing cases where the courts dismissed negligent misrepresentation claims based on "puffery" or founded solely on speculative statements regarding future profits as a result of proposed transactions, and finding that the misrepresentations at issue were actionable because they involved present facts). SEC / JURISDICTION. SportCos negotiations were led by a SportCo director, who was also the managing partner of Wellspring Capital, SportCos equity sponsor. Friedman v. Wellspring Capital Mgmt. (In re Sportco Holdings)
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