South Florida Arbitration & Litigation Lawyer Blog
Investment Advisor and Broker-Dealer Fraud, Mismanagement and Misrepresentation Litigation and FINRA Arbitration Attorney, Russell L. Forkey, Esq.
February, 2012:
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Venulum Ltd., et al., Civil Action No. 3:12-cv-00477-N (N.D. Tex. February 15, 2012)
SEC Charges Venulum with Registration Violations in Connection with Offerings of Wine Contracts and Promissory Notes
The Securities and Exchange Commission recently charged two non-U.S. companies – Venulum Ltd. (a British Virgin Islands company) and Venulum Inc. (a Canadian company) – and their owner and chairman Giles Cadman (a resident of the United Kingdom), with registration violations in connection with unregistered offers and sales of promissory notes and interests in fine wines. The Commission’s suit, filed in Dallas federal court, alleges that, beginning in 2002, Venulum made unsolicited calls to American investors, primarily dentists, to solicit investments in interests in trading in fine wines to be managed by Venulum. Venulum’s solicitation highlighted its purported expertise in selecting, sourcing, storing and marketing fine wines for the benefit of investors. Then, starting in 2010, Venulum solicited 94 of its wine investors to purchase high-interest promissory notes. Neither of the offerings was registered with the Commission.
Without admitting or denying the Commission’s allegations, the defendants consented to permanent injunctions against violating Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933. The injunction is subject to court approval.