GPB Investor Updates

Please note that on December 14, 2023, in response to filings by opposing parties, the Court issued an order temporarily staying the Receivership (a copy of the order may be read here https://gpb-cap.com/secfilings). Therefore, the Receivership is on hold until the stay is lifted. As a practical matter, GPB Capital will continue to operate under the Monitorship and the current management, as it has done since February 2021.

GPB Receivership FAQs

A. December 14, 2023 Stay Order

1. What does it mean that the Receivership Order is temporarily stayed as of December 14, 2023?

A: As you are likely aware, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (the “Court”) entered an Order on December 8, 2023 appointing Joseph T. Gardemal III as the receiver for GPB Capital Holdings, LLC (“GPB Capital”), as well as related entities (the “Receivership Entities”). On December 14, 2023, in response to Court filings by David Gentile, Jeffry Schneider, and Ascendant Capital, LLC (“Ascendant”), the Court issued an order temporarily staying the Receivership (the “December 14, 2023 Order”) on the basis of the stated intentions of Messrs. Gentile and Schneider and Ascendant to appeal the Receivership Order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Therefore, the Receivership is on hold until the stay is lifted. As a practical matter, GPB Capital will continue to operate under the Monitorship and the current management, as it has done since February 2021. Joseph T. Gardemal III will return to his role as Monitor for the duration of the stay.

2. What does the temporary stay mean for distributions?

A: Prior to the stay, the Receiver was required to file with the Court, on or before January 22, 2024, a proposed plan (“the Distribution Plan”) that governs how distributable funds of the estate will be appointed among investors and claimants. The Court’s December 14, 2023 Order to temporarily stay the Receivership did not address how that date might change. However, if the stay is lifted, the Receiver, once back in place, will file a Distribution Plan with the Court as quickly as possible and certainly within the forty-five day time period (taking into account the time period stayed) prescribed under the Receivership Order that is currently stayed on the basis of the filings by Messrs. Gentile and Schneider and Ascendant and their stated intent to appeal the Receivership Order.

B. Receivership Overview

3. When was the Receivership created and which entities are part of the Receivership?

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (the “Court”) entered an order on December 8, 2023, appointing Joseph T. Gardemal III as the receiver (the “Receiver”) over the following entities (collectively, the “Receivership Entities”), who are now part of and together comprise the receivership estate (the “Receivership” or “Receivership Estate”):

  • Armada Waste Management GP, LLC (fka GPB Waste Management GP, LLC)
  • Armada Waste Management, LP (fka GPB Waste Management, LP)
  • Armada WM SLP, LLC (fka GPB WM SLP, LLC)
  • GPB Auto SLP, LLC
  • GPB Automotive Income Fund, Ltd.
  • GPB AUTOMOTIVE INCOME SUB-FUND, LTD.
  • GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP
  • GPB Capital Holdings, LLC
  • GPB Cold Storage, LP
  • GPB H2 SLP, LLC
  • GPB H3 SLP, LLC
  • GPB Holdings II, LP
  • GPB Holdings III GP, LLC
  • GPB Holdings III, LP
  • GPB Holdings Qualified, LP
  • GPB Holdings, LP
  • GPB NYC Development, LP
  • GPB NYCD SLP LLC
  • GPB SLP, LLC
  • Highline Management, Inc

4. What is a “receivership”?

When the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) files a lawsuit to enjoin conduct prohibited under various securities laws, the SEC sometimes seeks appointment by a court of a receiver to take control of the assets and operations of the defendant. That is what has occurred here. The Receiver is a fiduciary of the Court and the Court oversees the Receiver’s duties and activities. The Receiver is charged with, among other things, marshaling and preserving the assets of the Receivership Entities, making distributions to investors (“Investors”) in the Receivership Entities and to creditors, and winding down the Receivership Entities.

5. Where can I find information about the status of the Receivership and recent developments?

Epiq Corporate Restructuring, LLC is the claims and noticing agent for the Receivership (“Epiq” or the “Claims Agent”). General information about the Receivership, including access to Court filings, is available on the Claims Agent’s website: https://dm.epiq11.com/GPBCapital. In addition, Investors may obtain information at https://gpb-cap.com.

6. Is the Receivership final?

A: It is possible that there will be additional litigation with the individuals who objected to the appointment of the Receiver, which could include requests to stay the Receivership and appeals of the Order appointing the Receiver. The Receiver will keep investors informed of any significant litigation that could impact the timing of distributions and the status of the Receivership.

7. Who is Epiq?

Epiq is an independent third party and is the Claims Agent for the Receivership. Epiq will be handling the mailing of all distributions and materials related to the Receivership to Investors and creditors and the processing of proof of claim forms for the Receivership.

8. What is the best way to get in touch with the Receiver if I have a question?

You can submit an inquiry through the Claims Agent’s website: https://dm.epiq11.com/GPBCapital or by submitting your question to the Claims Agent at [email protected].

9. If my contact information changes, how can I let the Receiver know?

If your contact information changes, you must complete and submit a change of information form which can be found on the Claims Agent’s website: https://dm.epiq11.com/GPBCapital. The completed change of information form must be emailed to the Claims Agent as a .pdf attachment to: [email protected]. It is your responsibility to keep the Receiver apprised of your current email and mailing address in order to receive distributions (if any), notices and other communications from the Receiver and the Receivership Estate.

C. Distributions and the Distribution Plan

10. When does the Receiver plan to make distributions?

The Receiver will be proposing a plan of distribution (the “Distribution Plan”) to the Court on or before January 22, 2024, as required by the Court’s order appointing the Receiver. The Distribution Plan will be available on the Claims Agent’s website, https://dm.epiq11.com/GPBCapital, once it has been filed with the Court. If the Court approves the Distribution Plan, there will be an initial distribution to Investors in certain funds (the “Initial Distribution”) and subsequent distributions to the extent there is money available to make such distributions.

If the Court approves the Distribution Plan, the Receiver intends to make the Initial Distribution within fourteen business days thereafter. The Receiver anticipates making additional rounds of distributions as the Receivership progresses, remaining assets are liquidated, and claims against third parties are pursued. However, the precise timing of those distributions will depend on the progress of the foregoing and the claims resolution process.

You are encouraged to monitor the Claims Agent’s website for announcements, a copy of the Distribution Plan once it has been filed with the Court, a copy of the Court’s order approving the Distribution Plan (along with a copy of the final plan as approved by the Court), additional distribution related information, and copies of the Receiver’s quarterly reports. The website can be reached at https://dm.epiq11.com/GPBCapital.

11. What is a “Distribution Plan”?

A distribution plan, once it has been approved by a court, governs how the distributable funds of a receivership estate will be apportioned among investors and other claimants, and the process by which such funds will be distributed. Further, a distribution plan addresses how claims are calculated, the relative priority of claims once they are allowed, sources for paying claims, and the methodology for paying claims.

The Receiver’s Distribution Plan in this case, if approved by the Court, would achieve an equitable distribution of assets to Investors and creditors pursuant to the distribution methodology that will be described in the Receiver’s motion seeking approval of the Distribution Plan and in the Distribution Plan.

12. How do I get a copy of the Distribution Plan?

A copy of the Receiver’s Distribution Plan will be available on the Claims Agent’s website once it has been filed with the Court: https://dm.epiq11.com/GPBCapital.

13. Has the Distribution Plan been approved by the Court?

Not yet. The Receiver will be filing the Distribution Plan with the Court on or before January 22, 2024, as required by the Court’s order appointing the Receiver. The Distribution Plan will be available on the Claims Agent’s website: https://dm.epiq11.com/GPBCapital once it has been filed with the Court.

14. Is there a summary of how the Receiver proposes to distribute Receivership funds?

Not yet. However, a summary of the Receiver’s Distribution Plan will be available in the Receiver’s motion seeking approval of the Distribution Plan and the distribution details will also be set out in the Distribution Plan itself. You will be able to find a copy of the motion on the Claims Agent’s website at https://dm.epiq11.com/GPBCapital. We strongly encourage you to review the motion and also the full version of the Distribution Plan that will be available on the website as well.

15. How much of my investment or amount that I believe is owed to me will I receive back?

Estimated recoveries on a fund-by-fund basis will be made available to Investors in the Distribution Plan. In addition, if the Distribution Plan is approved by the Court, you may receive a notice from the Receiver that includes an estimate of your specific recovery.

16. How will the Receiver be sending distributions?

The Receiver, through the Claims Agent, will make direct payment to Investors and creditors using the addresses and other information in the books and records of the Receivership Estate. Where appropriate, distributions may also be made to an Investor’s investment custodian or counsel. The Receiver is authorized, and has discretion, to make distributions to an Investor’s custodian or counsel, and, if not held in a custodial account, the distribution will be made directly to the Investor.

17. What will happen with the Receivership Entities?

After a reasonable amount of time to allow the Receiver to administer the Distribution Plan, and after the Receiver has completed any related ancillary claims or third-party litigation, the Receiver will wind down the business operations of the Receivership Entities and the Receivership Estate and arrange for the payment from Receivership assets available for such purpose any outstanding obligations to creditors, employees and agents of the Receivership Entities and Receivership Estate. The Receiver is vested with management authority for the Receivership Entities and the Receivership Assets and reserves the right to exercise powers provided under the order commencing the Receivership, including the right to commence Chapter 11 cases.