Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Transaction ID 36077377
Case No. 6207IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
YAIR GOLDFINGER,
Petitioner,
v.
MPC HOLDING ESTABLISHMENT AND
DANIEL MATTES,
Respondents.
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C.A. No.
PETITION
Yair Goldfinger brings this Petition against MPC Holding Establishment
and Daniel Mattes and alleges as follows:
Parties
1.
2.
Liechtenstein corporation.
3.
4.
2005.
Daniel Mattes on February 9, 2010 and has a principal place of business in Los Altos
California.
5.
home in California and is the owner of MPC, was one of the founders of Jajah and is the
founder of Jumio.
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6.
telecommunication sector.
7.
When it was formed, Jumio was a high tech startup in the electronic
9.
At the beginning of the period covered by this Petition, MPC held all
stockholders agreement which provided for certain restrictions on the transfer of Jajah
common stock (the Transfer Restrictions).
11.
Shortly after the second round of financing for Jajah, Mattes needed
money and his only immediate source was his Jajah stock.
12.
obtain the cash that he needed without violating the Transfer Restrictions.
13.
was designed to provide Mattes with current funds without violating the Transfer
Restrictions which was evidenced in a written agreement executed on December 20,
2006. (The MPC Agreement, Exhibit A hereto).
14.
the Petitioner under the MPC Agreement depended on the occurrence of one or more
events in the future that might or might not occur. The amount to be paid to Petitioner
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under that agreement was also dependent on both the occurrence of future events and the
financial effect of such future event or events. (Exhibit A at 7)
15.
pay MPC and Mattes a sum of money currently and, in return, MPC would pay Petitioner
a sum of money in the event that a Change of Control of Jajah were to occur at some
time in the future. The term Change of Control was defined broadly to include, among
other things, a merger, acquisition or sale of substantially all of the assets of Jajah. Upon
a Change of Control, Petitioner would be entitled to receive a sum of money from the
proceeds received by MPC for 356,406 shares (the Original Amount) of its Jajah stock
in the Change of Control transaction. The amount of that payment would vary according
to the amount that MPC would receive for the Original Amount as a result of the Change
of Control event and certain elections that MPC was entitled to make based upon the
amount of the proceeds it was to receive in the Change of Control transaction. (Exhibit A
at 7).
16.
Once the MPC Agreement became effective, MPC held the Original
Amount of its Jajah shares for the benefit of Petitioner. (Exhibit A at 3).
17.
MPCs Jajah shares identified to the MPC Agreement to ensure that there would be a
source of funds from which Petitioner would be paid in the event of a Change of Control
transaction.
18.
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19.
21.
22.
providing that any litigation arising out of or related to the MPC Agreement would take
place only in the courts of Delaware. Mattes signed the MPC Agreement on behalf of
MPC and also in his personal capacity.
23.
24.
and obtaining two extensions of the time to answer the petition, Mattes instructed MPCs
counsel not to file an answer and to inform Petitioners counsel that MPC would not be
participating in the Delaware litigation.
25.
Industry Ventures Fund V, L.P. (Industry Ventures) in which MPC was to sell
3,101,072 shares (the IV Shares) of Jajah common stock to Industry Ventures for
$2,387,825.44 (the IV Agreement, Exhibit B hereto, at first Whereas clause and
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1.2(a)). The IV Agreement provided for additional consideration to MPC under certain
circumstances. (Exhibit B at 1.2(b)).
28.
threatened to make a claim that such person had any ownership interest in or right to
payment from the proceeds of the IV Shares. (Exhibit B at 4.5).
29.
Exhibit B at 2). For example, MPC warranted that as of the closing date, the seller
would own and have all right, title and interest (both legal and beneficial) to the IV
Shares (Exhibit B at 2.1). MPC also warranted that the IV Shares would be free and
clear of any lien, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance or restriction of any sort
whatsoever. (Id.). In addition, MPC warranted that the selling shareholder had the
absolute and unrestricted capacity to enter into the IV Agreement and that it had not, at
any time, taken any action that would have had an adverse effect on its ability to perform.
(Exhibit B at 2.2 and 2.3).
30. Mattes negotiated the IV Agreement and executed it on behalf of
MPC. (Exhibit B at p. 10).
31.
Mattes knew that MPC had obligations under the MPC Agreement at
of 2009, the IV Shares were transferred and Industry Ventures paid the consideration
called for in the IV Agreement.
33. The IV Agreement provided that payment would be made to a bank
account specified by the seller. (Exhibit B 1.2(a)).
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34.
was made via a wire transfer to Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. Zurich Switzerland via the
following routing: CH94 0851 5611 0200 1.
36.
purchase agreement with various entities associated under the Globespan banner. (The
Globespan Agreement, Exhibit C hereto).
37.
of 3,124,888 shares of Jajah stock from MPC for $2,406,163.76. (Exhibit C at first
Whereas clause and 1.2(a)).
38. The Globespan Agreement is essentially a carbon copy of the IV
Agreement. Thus the Globespan Agreement also provided for additional payments to
MPC under certain circumstances. (Exhibit C at 1.2(b)).
39.
made or threatened to make a claim that such person had any ownership interest in or
right to payment from the proceeds of the IV Shares. (Exhibit C at 4.5).
40.
(See, Exhibit C at 2). For example, MPC warranted that as of the closing date, the seller
would own and have all right, title and interest (both legal and beneficial) to the
Globespan Shares (Exhibit C at 2.1). MPC also warranted that the Globespan Shares
would be free and clear of any lien, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance or
restriction of any sort whatsoever. (Id.). In addition, MPC warranted that the selling
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shareholder had the absolute and unrestricted capacity to enter into the Globespan
Agreement and that it had not, at any time, taken any action that would have had an
adverse effect on its ability to perform. (Exhibit C at 2.2 and 2.3).
41.
would not result in a violation or default under any other agreement to which MPC was a
party. (Exhibit C at 2.5).
42.
Mattes knew that MPC had obligations under the MPC Agreement at
the time that he caused MPC to enter into the Globespan Agreement. Moreover, Mattes
knew that the transactions contemplated by the Globespan Agreement violated MPCs
undertakings under the MPC Agreement.
44.
in August of 2009, the Globespan Shares were transferred and Globespan paid the
consideration called for in the Globespan Agreement.
45.
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48.
any Jajah common stock. Thus, Mattes had caused MPC to sell the Jajah stock that it
was holding for the benefit of Petitioner.
49.
agreement with Rokon Holding GmbH (Rokon) whereby MPC would sell Rokon
7,210,860 shares of Series B Preferred Stock in Talenthouse, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, for a price that was dependent upon the amount that Rokon would receive
for its Jajah stock in the Change of Control transaction discussed above (the Rokon
Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit D).
50.
that payment would be made by wire transfer to a bank account specified by the selling
shareholder. (Exhibit D 1.2).
52.
made to Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. Zurich Switzerland via the following routing: CH94
0851 5611 0200 1. (Exhibit D at last page).
53.
the excess payment provisions under the IV Agreement and the Globespan Agreement
were triggered. Mattes and Industry Ventures agreed upon the amount of the excess
payment necessary under the IV Agreement and memorialized that agreement in a letter
signed by Mattes (the IV Letter, Exhibit E hereto).
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54.
Despite the fact that the parties to the IV Agreement were Industry
Ventures and MPC (Exhibit B), Mattes refers to the IV Agreement as between Industry
Ventures and Daniel Mattes in the IV Letter. (Exhibit E).
55.
Mattes then designated the same routing directions for the excess
payment that he had for the other payments: Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. Zurich
Switzerland via the following routing: CH94 0851 5611 0200 1.
56.
number CH94 0851 5611 0200 1 (the Bank Baer Account) is listed as belonging to
Mattes. (Exhibit F).
57. Since the Globespan Agreement also included excess payment
provisions, payments were also due under the Globespan Agreement as a result of the
Change of Control event. That fact is evident from contemporaneous e-mails discussing
the amount of those payments. (Exhibit G).
58.
which he said: The wire instructions have not changed. Daniel Mattes, Bank Julius Baer
& Co. Ltd. Zurich, IBAN: CH94 0851 5611 0200 1. (Exhibit H). This e-mail expressly
identifies the Bank Baer Account as one belonging to Mattes and also identifies the Bank
Baer Account as the account to which the previous payments from Globespan
purportedly had been made to MPC.
59.
asked Mattes to supply it with a form W-8 so that Globespan would not have to withhold
a portion of the excess payments for the IRS. (Exhibit H). In response, Mattes provided
Globespan with an IRS W-8 form showing that MPC had received the excess payments
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despite the fact that the account those payments were sent to was in the name of Mattes.
(Exhibit H at p. 3).
60.
to attach the Bank Baer Account on the basis of his judgment against MPC, Mattes
appeared and defended on the basis that the Bank Baer Account belonged to him and him
alone.
61.
the same stock twice in the apparent expectation that the company would fail and no one
would ever be the wiser.
63.
proceeds that he received from the IV Agreement and the Globespan Agreement to form,
and later to fund, Jumio, a Delaware Corporation.
COUNT I
Fraudulent Transfer
64.
66.
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67.
Globespan
Agreement
and
the
Rokon
Agreement
(together,
the
Stripping
Transactions).
68.
Mattes designated the Bank Baer Account as the account into which
Mattes knew that the Bank Baer Account was his personal bank
exchange for the transfer of the proceeds of the Stripping Transactions to his personal
bank account.
71.
done with the intent to prevent, or at least to hinder and delay, Petitioner from gaining
access to those proceeds to satisfy the obligations underlying the Judgment.
73.
of the Stripping Transactions to Jumio was done with actual intent to prevent, or at least
hinder or delay, Petitioner from gaining access to those funds to satisfy the Judgment.
75.
76.
77.
from Mattes.
MPC held the Original Amount of its Jajah stock for the benefit of
80.
Petitioner.
Transactions to himself, the proceeds of the Stripping Transactions would have been
available to MPC to satisfy the obligations underlying the Judgment and the Judgment
itself.
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84.
Mattes then used the diverted proceeds, in part, to found, and later to
85.
fund, Jumio.
Shares) in Jumio as a result of his use of the diverted proceeds to found Jumio.
86. On information and belief, Mattes provided Jumio with additional
funds from the diverted proceeds in return for additional Jumio securities and/or debt
instruments (together with the Founders Shares, the Jumio Securities).
87.
Mattes obtained the Jumio Securities with proceeds that MPC should
the Stripping Transactions sufficient to satisfy the Judgment together with additional
amounts to which Petitioner is entitled as indemnity under the MPC Agreement to cover
his expenses in attempting to collect on the Judgment.
89.
Securities sufficient to satisfy the Judgment together with additional amounts to which
Petitioner is entitled as indemnity under the MPC Agreement to cover his expenses in
attempting to collect on the Judgment.
COUNT III
Piercing the Corporate Veil
90.
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92.
93.
At the time MPC and Petitioner entered into the MPC Agreement,
MPC held substantial assets more than enough to perform its obligations under the
MPC Agreement.
94.
MPC did not hold the Original Amount for the benefit of Petitioner.
96.
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102. Because Mattes stripped MPC of its assets, MPC was unable to
satisfy the Judgment.
103. On information and belief, at the time this Court entered the
Judgment, Mattes had diverted over $8,000,000 worth of assets from MPC to himself
without any consideration to MPC.
104. Mattes purposely diverted the proceeds of the Stripping Transactions
to put that money out of the reach of MPC and Petitioner.
105. Mattes is using MPC to insulate himself from personal liability
arising out of the MPC Agreement.
106. Because MPC was a sham and was used by Mattes to perpetrate a
fraud on Petitioner, the corporate existence of MPC should be disregarded by this Court
and Mattes should be held personally liable for the Judgment together with post judgment
interest and Petitioners costs and attorneys fees incurred in trying to collect on the
Judgment, including the expenses that Petitioner has incurred in the various garnishment
proceedings that Petitioner has filed in the United States, the attachment proceedings that
Petitioner filed in Switzerland and this proceeding.
COUNT IV
Alter Ego
107. Petitioner repeats and realleges the allegations of paragraphs 1 106
as if fully set out herein.
108. At all relevant times, Mattes has dominated and controlled MPC.
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109. Mattes has used MPC as a vehicle to obtain money that he needed to
further various personal projects that brought no benefit to MPC including, without
limitation, the Stripping Transactions and the formation of Jumio.
110. In the many transactions that Mattes has caused MPC to enter into
described above, Mattes did not maintain MPC as an entity separate from himself. Put
another way, Mattes has treated MPC as an extension of himself.
111. In each instance, when it was a benefit to Mattes to treat MPC as a
separate entity, he did so. On the other hand, when it was a benefit to Mattes to ignore
the legal distinction between Mattes and MPC, Mattes did so.
112. Mattes entered into the MPC Agreement, the IV Agreement, the
Globespan Agreement and the Rokon Agreement in the name of MPC to limit any
personal liability that might accrue from those transactions by hiding behind the
corporate shield of MPC.
113. However, at a later date when the excess proceeds were to be
distributed, Mattes referred to the IV Agreement, the Globespan Agreement and the
Rokon Agreement as agreements between the corporate purchasers and Mattes personally
thus dropping the fiction that MPC was the real party in interest.
114. Despite the fact that the Bank Baer Account is held in Mattes
personal capacity, Mattes has, when it is convenient for him to do so, alleged that the
Bank Baer Account actually belonged to MPC. Thus, when the IV Agreement, the
Globespan Agreement and the Rokon Agreement called for MPC to designate the
account into which each was to deposit proceeds of their agreements with MPC, Mattes
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designated the Bank Baer Account, thereby representing that the Bank Baer Account
belonged to MPC.
115. Later, Mattes dropped the fiction that the Bank Baer Account
belonged to MPC at least for some purposes. Thus, when Mattes wanted the additional
proceeds from the Stripping Transactions, he indicated that the Bank Baer Account was
in his name. By contrast, when, at the same time, he was trying to avoid tax liability with
the IRS, Mattes filed sworn statements to the effect that the proceeds of the Stripping
Transactions went to MPC rather than him.
116. As a result of this conduct by Mattes, MPC holds no assets in its own
name.
117. Indeed, all of the assets that MPC should hold in its own name, or
the proceeds from them, now appear in Mattes name.
118. Mattes inconstant view of his relationship to MPC has worked an
injustice on Petitioner.
119. As a result, this Court should treat MPC as the alter ego of Mattes
and Mattes should be personally responsible for satisfying the Judgment together with
post judgment interest and Petitioners costs and attorneys fees incurred in trying to
collect on the Judgment, including the expenses that Petitioner has incurred in the various
garnishment proceedings that Petitioner has filed in the United States, the attachment
proceedings that Petitioner filed in Switzerland and this proceeding.
COUNT V
Indemnity
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connection with this litigation which was initiated to obtain satisfaction on the Judgment.
124. Petitioner is entitled to indemnification for all of his collection
efforts.
WHEREFORE: Petitioner asks that this Court:
(a)
amount of the proceeds of the Stripping Transactions sufficient to pay the Judgment
against MPC, including any indemnity resulting from Petitioners efforts to collect on the
Judgment;
(b)
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(c)
(d)
Enter and order piercing the corporate veil between MPC and
Stock;
Mattes and enter judgment against Mattes in favor of Petitioner in an amount sufficient to
satisfy the Judgment including any indemnity resulting from Petitioners efforts to collect
on the Judgment;
(e)
Enter an order finding that Mattes and MPC are alter egos and
amount equal to the costs Petitioner has experienced in connection with his efforts to
collect on the Judgment including the cost of this litigation.
(g)