United States of America v. Real Property Located in Los Angeles, California

NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Dismiss Case

C.D. Cal.December 21, 2016

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Daniel A. Zaheer (Bar No. 237118) Robin Rathmell (admitted pro hac vice) KOBRE & KIM LLP 150 California Street, 19 th Floor San Francisco, California 94111 Telephone: +1 415 582 4800 Facsimile: +1 415 582 4811 E-mail: daniel.zaheer@kobrekim.com E-mail: robin.rathmell@kobrekim.com Aaron M. May (Bar No. 207751) Grant B. Gelberg (Bar No. 229454) HUANG YBARRA SINGER & MAY LLP 550 South Hope Street, Suite 1850 Los Angeles, California 90071-2604 Telephone: (213) 884-4900 Aaron.May@hysmlaw.com Grant.Gelberg@hysmlaw.com Attorneys for Claimants Low Hock Peng, Goh Gaik Ewe, Low Taek Szen and Low May Lin UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. REAL PROPERTY IN LOCATED IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. CV 16-05378-DSF-PLA CLAIMANTS LOW HOCK PENG, GOH GAIK EWE, LOW TAEK SZEN AND LOW MAY LIN’S NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION TO DISMISS; MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT THEREOF [Proposed order lodged Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 1 of 29 Page ID #:506 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) contemporaneously herewith] Date: February 13, 2017 Time: 1:30 p.m. Judge: Honorable Dale S. Fischer Courtroom: 7D Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 2 of 29 Page ID #:507 i 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 II. BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 III. STANDARD OF REVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 IV. ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A. The Complaint Fails to State a Claim that a Specified Unlawful Activity Occurred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1. The Wire Fraud and Stolen Property SUAs Do Not Apply Extraterritorially. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2. The Complaint Fails to Allege Fraud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 a. Failure to allege a misrepresentation. . . . . . . . . . 12 b. Failure to allege materiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 V. CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 3 of 29 Page ID #:508 ii 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES FEDERAL CASES Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009)………… …………………………………….………5 Cent. States, Se. & Sw. Areas Pension Fund v. Kroger Co., 73 F.3d 727 (7th Cir. 1996) ……………………………………………… 15 In re Anthem, Inc. Data Breach Litig., 162 F. Supp. 3d 953 (N.D. Cal. 2016) …………………………………… 15 Matusovsky v. Merrill Lynch, 186 F. Supp. 2d 397 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) …………………………………… 14 Morrison v. National Australia Bank Ltd., 561 U.S. 247 (2010)………………………………………………………8 Northstar Fin. Advisors Inc. v. Schwab Investments, 779 F.3d 1036 (9th Cir. 2015)………………………………………………3 Odom v. Microsoft Corp., 486 F.3d 541(9th Cir. 2007) ……………………………………………11 Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265 (1986)……..…………………………………………….5 Republic of Philippines v. Marcos, 818 F.2d 1473 (9th Cir. 1987)………………………………………8 Semegen v. Weidner, 780 F.2d 727 (9th Cir. 1985)…………………………………………11 United States v. Awan, 459 F. Supp. 2d 167 (E.D.N.Y. 2006)………………………………...10 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 4 of 29 Page ID #:509 iii 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States v. Castellini, 392 F.3d 35 (1st Cir. 2004) …………………………………….……6 United States v. Jinian, 725 F.3d 954 (9th Cir. 2013)…………………………………………8 United States v. Kennedy, 64 F.3d 1465 (10th Cir. 1995)…………………………………….……6 United States v. Lindsey, 827 F.3d 865 (9th Cir. 2016)……………………………………...11, 17 United States v. Marbella, 73 F.3d 1508 (9th Cir. 1996)……………..………………………….6 United States v. Mardirosian, 602 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2010) …………………………………….……8 United States v. One White Crystal Covered Bad Tour Glove, No. 11-3582, 2012 WL 8455336 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 12, 2012)… …….passim United States v. Prevezon Holdings LTD., 122 F. Supp. 3d 57 (S.D.N.Y. 2015)………………………………...8, 9, 10 United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903 (9th Cir. 2003)………………………………………….3 United States v. Rogers, 321 F.3d 1226 (9th Cir. 2003)…………………………………….....6 United States v. Savage, 67 F.3d 1435 (9th Cir. 1995)………………………………….....6 United States v. Sidorenko, 102 F. Supp. 3d 1124 (N.D. Cal. 2015)……………………………..8 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 5 of 29 Page ID #:510 iv 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 FEDERAL STATUTES 18 U.S.C. § 1343……………………………………………………………...7, 8 18 U.S.C. § 2314……………………………………………………………...7, 8 18 U.S.C. § 2315……………………………………………………………...7, 8 18 U.S.C. § 1956..…………………………………………………………6, 7, 10 18 U.S.C. § 1957..…………………………………………………………….6 FEDERAL RULES Fed. R. Civ. P. 9…………………………………………………………………..5 Fed. R. Civ. P. 12…………………………………………………………………4 Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions (A)………………………………………………4 Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions (G)…………………………………………….4, 13 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 6 of 29 Page ID #:511 v 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION TO ALL PARTIES AND THEIR ATTORNEYS OF RECORD: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on February 13, 2017, before the Honorable Dale S. Fischer, in Courtroom 7, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard in the above-entitled Court located at the First Street Courthouse, 350 West 1 st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, Claimants Low Hock Peng, Goh Gaik Ewe, Low Taek Szen and Low May Lin (“Claimants”) will and hereby do respectfully move this Court for an order dismissing this action. This motion is made pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) and Supplemental Rule G(2) on the grounds that the Government has not alleged adequately detailed facts to support a reasonable belief that it can meet its burden of proof at trial as required under Supplemental Rule G(2). This motion is based on this Notice of Motion, Motion to Dismiss and the Memorandum of Points and Authorities attached hereto and such other papers and arguments as the Court may entertain. This motion is made following the L.R. 7-3 counsel conference, which took place on December 14, 2016. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 7 of 29 Page ID #:512 vi 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DATE: December 21, 2016 Respectfully Submitted, KOBRE & KIM LLP /s/Daniel A. Zaheer Daniel A. Zaheer Robin Rathmell Attorneys for Claimants Low Hock Peng, Goh Gaik Ewe, Low Taek Szen and Low May Lin Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 8 of 29 Page ID #:513 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES I. INTRODUCTION1 On July 20, 2016 plaintiff the United States of America brought 16 related forfeiture cases in this District alleging a vast international conspiracy to launder money purportedly misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (“1MDB”), a Malaysian state-owned investment company. In its 145-page Complaint, the Government outlines the alleged laundering of funds via banking transactions and property purchases around the world. But the sprawling nature of the Complaint—which is substantially identical to the complaints in each of the other 15 cases—obscures that few of allegations actually concern the Defendant Asset in this case. And even those allegations that relate to the Defendant Asset focus primarily on the alleged money laundering, not the original alleged misappropriation without which there can be no case. The Government provides sparse allegations regarding the alleged particular criminal acts that are the essential predicate to transforming an otherwise lawful set of transfers into an unlawful scheme. In addition, the Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Close scrutiny of the underlying “specified unlawful activities” that 1 Claimants are filing motions to dismiss in Cases 16-CV-05364, 16-CV-05367, 16-CV-05368, 16-CV-05369, 16-CV-05370, 16-CV-05374, 16-CV-05375 and 16-CV-05378. The motions in Cases 16-CV-05364, 16-CV-05374 and 16-CV-05375 argue for dismissal based on: (1) improper venue and lack of jurisdiction; (2) failure to state a claim with regard to the alleged $700 million transfer to the Good Star Account; and (3) failure to state a claim regarding the alleged $330 million Good Star transfer. The other motions make only a subset of these arguments, as follows: Case 16-CV-05367, arguments (1) and (2); Cases 16-CV-5368 and 16-CV-5369, argument (2); Case 16-CV-05370, argument (1); Case 16-CV-05378, arguments (2) and (3). Claimants respectfully suggest that the Court review the motion in Case 16-05374 first, as that motion covers all of the arguments and the overlapping legal arguments in the other briefs are substantively identical. For ease of reference, “Compl.” refers to the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem in Case 16-05374 and all Complaint citations herein are to the paragraph numbers of the Complaint in Case 16-05374, unless otherwise indicated. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 9 of 29 Page ID #:514 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 concern this case yields just a handful of alleged misstatements. When viewed in the context of the other allegations in the Complaint, and the documents which it incorporates, those statements cannot support any allegation of fraud or like violation because they were not false and not material. For these and the other reasons identified herein, Claimants respectfully submit that the Complaint should be dismissed in its entirety. II. BACKGROUND The Complaint alleges that the Defendant Asset is traceable to an international conspiracy to launder money misappropriated from 1MDB, a strategic investment and development company wholly owned by the Malaysian Government. Compl. ¶ 5. The Government alleges that between 2009 and 2013, large sums of money were improperly diverted from 1MDB in three “phases”: (1) the “Good Star” phase; (2) the “Aabar-BVI” phase; and (3) the “Tanore” phase. Id. ¶¶ 6-12. The Defendant Asset in this matter is alleged to have been purchased with funds derived from the “Good Star” phase. In September 2009, 1MDB entered into an agreement with PetroSaudi International (“PetroSaudi”), a Saudi oil extraction company, to form a joint venture called 1MDB PetroSaudi Ltd. (the “JV”). Id. ¶¶ 8, 40. Under the terms of the agreement, 1MDB invested $1 billion in the JV and acquired one billion shares of the JV, or the equivalent to a 40% equity interest. Id. ¶ 52. PetroSaudi, in turn, contributed energy concessions in Turkmenistan and Argentina, valued at approximately $2.7 billion, in exchange for a 60% equity interest in the JV. Id. ¶¶ 40, 52. The Joint Venture Agreement (“JVA”) reflects that PetroSaudi provided the JV “with advances amounting to . . . USD700,000,000,” which was the subject of a loan agreement dated September 25, 2009, and which was due for repayment Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 10 of 29 Page ID #:515 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 on September 30, 2009. Exh. 1 (JVA) at 1, 4, 7. 2 According to the Complaint, both 1MDB’s Board of Directors and the Malaysian Central Bank approved the transfer of $1 billion to the JV. Compl. ¶ 41. Of the $1 billion representing 1MDB’s investment in the JV, the Government claims $700 million was diverted on September 30, 2009 to an account at RBS Coutts Bank in Zurich held in the name of Good Star Limited (the “Good Star Account”). Id. According to the Government, 1MDB officials caused this diversion in part by providing false information to banks that the Good Star Account was beneficially owned by PetroSaudi or the JV, when in fact the account was allegedly owned by Low Taek Jho (“LTJ”). Id. ¶ 8. The Complaint also focuses on a second set of transfers to the Good Star Account almost two years after the first and totaling $330 million. On or around June 14, 2010, the JV entered into a financing agreement with 1MDB, under which 1MDB agreed to provide the JV with a loan at an 8.75% annual rate of return. Id. ¶ 92. On or about May 12, 2011, the JV issued a loan drawdown notice, authorized by PetroSaudi’s CEO, requesting that 1MDB wire $330 million to the Good Star Account. Id. ¶ 93. Then, on May 20, 2011 and May 23, 2011 two wire transfers totaling $95 million were allegedly sent to the Good Star account. Id. ¶ 94. The Government asserts that on May 23, 2011, a 1MDB officer wrote a letter to Bank Negara, Malaysia’s Central bank, in which he falsely represented that the 2 “Exh.” refers to the exhibits attached to the concurrently filed Declaration of Daniel Zaheer in Support of Claimants’ Motion to Dismiss. The Court may consider the JVA, September 26, 2009 1MDB Board Minutes, and the October 10, 2009 1MDB Board Minutes on this motion to dismiss because “plaintiff refers extensively to the document or the document forms the basis of the plaintiff's claim.” United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 2003). “The defendant may offer such a document, and the district court may treat such a document as part of the complaint, and thus may assume that its contents are true for purposes of a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6).” Id.; see also Northstar Fin. Advisors Inc. v. Schwab Investments, 779 F.3d 1036, 1043 (9th Cir. 2015). Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 11 of 29 Page ID #:516 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Good Star account was the “account of” the JV’s parent company, PetroSaudi. Id. ¶ 95. Thereafter two more wire transfers totaling $235 million were transmitted to the Good Star Account, on May 27 and October 25, 2011, respectively. Id. ¶ 94. Finally, the Complaint alleges that funds from the Good Star Account were ultimately used to purchase the Defendant Asset. Specifically, in November 2012, approximately $153 million was purportedly wired from the Good Star Account to an account at BSI Bank in Singapore held in the name of Abu Dhabi Kuwait Malaysia Investment Corp. (“ADKMIC BSI Account”), of which LTJ is claimed to be the beneficial owner. Compl. ¶ 354. The Government further contends that around the same time, the $153 million was wired from the ADKMIC BSI Account to an account at BSI Bank held in the name of Low Hock Peng (the “LHP Account”). Id. ¶ 355. From there, approximately $150 million was then allegedly transferred to an account in the name of LTJ held at BSI Bank (“LOW BSI Account”). Id. The Complaint further alleges that approximately $110 million was thereafter wired from the LOW BSI Account to an account in the name of Selune Ltd. at Rothschild Bank AG in Switzerland, purportedly beneficially owned by LTJ. Id. ¶ 356. Eventually on November 29, 2012, a different account held at Rothschild Bank AG, in the name of 1/Oriole Drive (LA) LLC, purportedly transferred approximately $37.9 million to Chicago Title’s account at Bank of America for the purchase of Defendant Asset. Id. ¶ 357. III. STANDARD OF REVIEW This in rem civil forfeiture action is governed by the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions (hereinafter “Supplemental Rules”). See Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. R. A(1)(B). Under these rules a claimant may move to dismiss a complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 12(b). Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. R. G(8)(b). Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 12 of 29 Page ID #:517 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Claimants move to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6). To avoid dismissal on that basis, the Government must satisfy both of the two applicable pleading standards. See United States v. One White Crystal Covered Bad Tour Glove, No. CV 11-3582, 2012 WL 8455336, at *2 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 12, 2012). First, the Court applies the familiar Iqbal/Twombly standard: “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.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). The facts alleged must be non-speculative and non- conclusory. Id. Although the Court accepts the well-pleaded facts as true and draws all reasonable inferences in the non-moving party’s favor, the Court is “not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation.” Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986). Second, a civil forfeiture complaint is subject to a heightened pleading standard and must state sufficiently detailed facts to support a reasonable belief that the Government will be able to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant asset is subject to forfeiture. See One White Crystal Covered Bad Tour Glove, 2012 WL 8455336, at *2 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. R. G(2)(f)). The Government must “at minimum, plead specific allegations that specific instances of criminal activity took place.” 3 Id. at *3. IV. ARGUMENT A. The Complaint Fails to State a Claim that a Specified Unlawful Activity Occurred. The Complaint alleges forfeiture to be appropriate under section 981 because the property is either “involved in” a money laundering transaction in 3 Because each of the claims advanced in the Complaint is predicated upon alleged fraud, a third overlapping standard—Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b)’s particularity requirement—also applies. The Ninth Circuit has not yet ruled on whether Rule 9(b) applies in forfeiture cases. In any event, dismissal is warranted even on the more lenient Iqbal standard. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 13 of 29 Page ID #:518 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and/or 1957, (Claims 2-4), or constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to a money laundering transaction in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (Claim 1). Sections 1956 and 1957 each require the Government to demonstrate that the Defendant Asset has a connection to the proceeds of a predicate specified unlawful activity (“SUA”). See United States v. Marbella, 73 F.3d 1508, 1514 (9th Cir. 1996) (section 1956(a)(1)); 4 United States v. Rogers, 321 F.3d 1226, 1229 (9th Cir. 2003) (section 1957). Failure to establish an actionable predicate SUA is fatal to the Government’s claim for forfeiture under section 981. Importantly, Congress intended for the SUAs generating the illicit proceeds to be distinct crimes that must be established independently from the subsequent money laundering transaction in order to support forfeiture. See United States v. Savage, 67 F.3d 1435, 1441 (9th Cir. 1995) (explaining that “‘proceeds’ are funds obtained from prior, separate criminal activity” and that Congress “considered money laundering to be separate conduct occurring after completion” of the SUA which generated the proceeds to be laundered); United States v. Castellini, 392 F.3d 35, 38 (1st Cir. 2004) (“the ‘proceeds’ used for money laundering must be ‘proceeds’ from a different illegal activity than the illegal activity of money laundering itself.”). It is therefore vital to a money laundering claim to determine when and where the predicate SUA is completed after which money laundering can occur. See United States v. Kennedy, 64 F.3d 1465, 1477-78 (10th Cir. 1995). Moreover, in the forfeiture context, it is insufficient for the Government to point to the structure of the subsequent transactions as purported proof that the initial act was unlawful. See One White Crystal Covered Bad Tour Glove, 2012 WL 4 Section 1956(a)(2)(B) proscribes the transport of funds from the United States outside of the United States knowing that the funds involved in the transportation represent the proceeds of “some form of unlawful activity.” Here, the unlawful activity identified by the Complaint is the aforementioned four SUAs. Compl. ¶ 512. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 14 of 29 Page ID #:519 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 8455336, at *5 (“Nguema’s use of shell companies and corporations . . . to purchase luxury items, are commonplace financial arrangements and do not readily, without further allegations, support the reasonable belief that the Government will be able to meet its burden of proof at trial . . . .”). As such, each of the Complaint’s claims for relief rises and falls with the predicate SUAs. Those four SUAs are: (1) an offense against a foreign nation involving the misappropriation of public funds by or for the benefit of a public official under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(7)(B)(iv); (2) an offense against a foreign nation involving fraud against a foreign bank under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(7)(B)(iii); (3) wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; and/or (4) international transportation or receipt of stolen or fraudulently obtained property under 18 U.S.C. § 2314, and receipt of stolen money in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2315. The Government has failed to state a claim for several reasons. First, wire fraud and international transportation or receipt of stolen or fraudulently obtained property or money cannot serve as a predicate SUA when (as here) the locus of the conduct is outside of the United States. Second, each of the predicate SUAs is, at its core, a fraud claim. But the Complaint’s allegations of falsity are belied by the very documents upon which it relies. And, the Government has failed to allege a plausible basis for concluding that the alleged misrepresentations were material or that the requisite intent to defraud was present. 1. The Wire Fraud and Stolen Property SUAs Do Not Apply Extraterritorially Each claim for relief asserts wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, international transportation or receipt of stolen or fraudulently obtained property under 18 U.S.C. § 2314, and receipt of stolen money under 18 U.S.C. § 2315 as predicate SUAs supporting forfeiture. Wire fraud occurs upon the use of a United States wire in furtherance of a scheme or artifice to defraud with the specific intent to Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 15 of 29 Page ID #:520 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 defraud. See United States v. Jinian, 725 F.3d 954, 960 (9th Cir. 2013). The transportation of stolen property and/or receipt of stolen money under sections 2314 and 2315 occurs when stolen property or money is transferred between states, i.e., in interstate commerce, or between a foreign country and any state, i.e., in foreign commerce. None of these offenses is cognizable as a basis for forfeiture because the relevant conduct occurred outside of the United States. In Morrison v. National Australia Bank Ltd., 561 U.S. 247 (2010), the Supreme Court articulated a presumption against the extraterritorial application of a statute unless there is the affirmative intention of Congress clearly expressed to give the statute such effect. See Morrison, 561 U.S. 247, 255. Wire fraud (section 1343), transportation of stolen property (section 2314), and the receipt of stolen property (section 2315), do not apply to entirely extraterritorial activity because these statutes do not contain a clear indication of such an extraterritorial effect. See United States v. Sidorenko, 102 F. Supp. 3d 1124, 1129 (N.D. Cal. 2015) (“Under Morrison, without a ‘clear’ and ‘affirmative indication’ of Congress's intent to have the . . . wire fraud statute[] apply extraterritorially, the presumption is that [it] do[es] not.”); United States v. Prevezon Holdings LTD., 122 F. Supp. 3d 57, 70 (S.D.N.Y. 2015); United States v. Mardirosian, 602 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2010) (noting that the district court dismissed section 2314 count because “foreign commerce” does not include commerce between two foreign countries and explaining that section 2315 requires that the stolen money “crossed a United States boundary”); Republic of Philippines v. Marcos, 818 F.2d 1473, 1478 (9th Cir. 1987) (noting that conduct violating sections 2314 and 2315 that took place entirely abroad “quite probably . . . cannot be reached by U.S. law”). Consequently, wire fraud and the transportation or receipt of stolen property or money cannot serve as a predicate SUA when, like here, “the alleged scheme is Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 16 of 29 Page ID #:521 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 not sufficiently domestic and is therefore not actionable under U.S. law.” Prevezon Holdings, 122 F. Supp. 3d at 70. The purported fraudulent scheme described in the Complaint was not formed in the United States and there is no allegation that any of the elements of wire fraud was conducted in the United States. See id. at 71 (holding foreign conspiracy involving a foreign victim conducted by foreign defendants participating in a foreign enterprise could not form the predicate SUA for forfeiture and collecting cases). Likewise, there are no allegations that any of the “stolen funds” were transported between a foreign country and the United States independent and distinct from the money laundering transactions. In fact, the Complaint contains no allegations of any independent SUAs that occurred, even in part, in the United States. To the contrary, the purported scheme allegedly consisted of misstatements made by Malaysian officials to banks in Malaysia and subsequent fund flows between Singapore, Malaysia, and Switzerland. 5 Thereafter, the proceeds were allegedly laundered, in part, through the purchase of the Defendant Asset in the United States. Accordingly, by the time any funds flowing from the alleged SUAs came onshore, the predicate SUAs of wire fraud or transportation or receipt of the funds had already been completed. Those predicate crimes did not occur, in whole or in part, in the United States. The only link to the United States is not the wire fraud SUA, or the transportation or receipt of the “stolen” funds, but instead the subsequent alleged money laundering which is insufficient standing alone to support forfeiture. See id. at 72 (rejecting Government’s argument that the scheme was “sufficiently domestic because the 5 To the extent the Government contends that the alleged processing of transfers between Singaporean, Malaysian, and Swiss banks by a U.S. correspondent bank account at J.P. Morgan constitutes a sufficient U.S. nexus, courts have rejected this exact argument. See Prevezon Holdings, 122 F. Supp. 3d at 71 (“In an otherwise wholly foreign wire fraud scheme, the only domestic contact is a single wire transfer directed from [one offshore bank account to another], with the transfer routed through New York. . . . [T]he court cannot conclude that this single transfer is sufficient to overcome the presumption against” extraterritoriality.). Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 17 of 29 Page ID #:522 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 actual money laundering by Prevezon took place in Manhattan, and the funds at issue remain invested in Manhattan real estate [because] this argument confuses the underlying SUA . . . with the later alleged money laundering”). Because these predicate act statutes have no extraterritorial application, and because all of the conduct giving rise to the alleged SUAs happened abroad, the Government cannot rely upon these statutes as the requisite SUA for any of its claims. 2. The Complaint Fails to Allege Fraud In addition to the U.S. law based SUAs, the Government’s forfeiture complaint rests on two “offenses against a foreign nation”: (1) an offense against a foreign nation involving the misappropriation of public funds by or for the benefit of a public official under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(7)(B)(iv); (2) an offense against a foreign nation involving fraud against a foreign bank under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(7)(B)(iii). An “offense against a foreign nation” is defined as an offense that is “prohibited under the law of the foreign nation in which it is committed.” United States v. Awan, 459 F. Supp. 2d 167, 183 (E.D.N.Y. 2006). Therefore, to serve as actionable predicate offenses, plaintiff must plead sufficient facts to show that a crime under the laws of the relevant foreign nation, here Malaysia, has occurred. The Government has identified several Malaysian laws 6 that it asserts were violated as part of the purported SUAs of misappropriation of public funds by or for the benefit of a public official or fraud against a foreign bank. As pled in the 6 In particular, Malaysia Penal Code sections: 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 405 (criminal breach of trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant or agent), 166 (Public servant disobeying a direction of the law, with intent to cause injury), 415 (cheating), 418 (cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may be thereby caused to a person whose interest the offender is bound to protect), and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property); and sections 16, 17, and 23 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 18 of 29 Page ID #:523 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Complaint, each of those foreign crimes—like the wire fraud and transportation or receipt of stolen fund SUAs—is, at its core, a fraud claim. 7 Here, the Government identifies three alleged representations that, in relation to the Defendant Asset, are claimed to be materially false and which form the bases for each of the SUAs: (1) that a $700 million loan from PetroSaudi to the JV existed, see Compl. ¶ 83(c); (2) that the $700 million wire repayment of that loan was transmitted to PetroSaudi, see id. ¶ 83(a); and (3) that a $330 million wire payment was transmitted to PetroSaudi, see id. ¶¶ 94-95. As a procedural matter, to state a fraud claim the Government must allege factual circumstances regarding the fraud itself, Odom v. Microsoft Corp. 486 F.3d 541, 554 (9th Cir. 2007), including the “specific content of the false representations.” See Semegen v. Weidner, 780 F.2d 727, 731 (9th Cir. 1985). Fraud also requires that the misrepresentations be “material” such that they had “a natural tendency to influence, or were capable of influencing, the decision of the decision-making body to which [they were] addressed.” See United States v. Lindsey, 827 F.3d 865, 869 (9th Cir. 2016). The Government fails to meet its burden on both fronts because its allegations do not support a reasonable belief that the Government will be able to prove at trial that any such fraud has occurred. See One White Crystal Covered Bad Tour Glove, 2012 WL 8455336, at *2 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 12, 2012). 7 See, e.g., Malaysia Penal Code §§ 405 (acts include that the defendant “dishonestly misappropriates” property); 415 (acts include that the defendant “fraudulently or dishonestly induces a person so deceived to deliver any property”). Certain other Malaysian laws pled in the Complaint (e.g., “using office or position for gratification”) do not apply to the Defendant Asset, which according to the Complaint is the product of misappropriation based upon false statements made to banks and/or other parties. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 19 of 29 Page ID #:524 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 a. Failure to allege a misrepresentation (1) Existence of the $700 million loan from PetroSaudi to the JV. According to the Complaint, the first purported misrepresentation with respect to the JV was a representation (though it is unclear to whom) that PetroSaudi had made a $700 million loan to the JV. Compl. ¶¶ 56, 83(c). But the documents relied upon in the Complaint reflect that such a loan did, in fact, exist. The JVA states that pursuant to a “PSI Loan Agreement” “dated 25 September 2009” PetroSaudi provided the JV $700 million in “advances” at its inception. Exh. 1 (JVA) at 1, 4. The nature of these “advances” is evident from the plain terms of the JVA which reflect that PetroSaudi had transferred energy assets valued at $2.7 billion to the JV while receiving only $1.5 billion worth of shares in return. See Compl. ¶ 52; Exh. 1 (JVA) at Recitals A, B. The JVA contemplates that this over-contribution resulted in PetroSaudi having made a $700 million loan to the JV to be paid by the JV. Exh. 1 (JVA) at 4, Recital B, § 4.5, Schedule 2 ¶ I(4). The JVA further states that the $700 million loan would be repaid from 1MDB’s $1 billion contribution to the JV. Id. at Recital D, § 4.5. By structuring the transaction in this manner, the JV was able to acquire energy assets valued at $2.7 billion and obtain cash on hand of $300 million. Despite this structure, the Government contends that it “appears” PetroSaudi never made such a loan because: (1) there is no “apparent” commercial purpose for this loan; (2) the JV’s bank account was not opened until September 30, 2009; (3) PetroSaudi’s account was opened in June 2009 and inactive until December 2009; (4) the Malaysian Public Accounts Committee could not verify the existence of such a loan; and (5) the $700 million went into an account controlled by LTJ, not by PetroSaudi. Compl. ¶¶ 56, 83. None of these bases constitutes sufficiently detailed facts to support a reasonable belief that the Government will be able to Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 20 of 29 Page ID #:525 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a fraud occurred. See Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. R. G(2)(f). The JVA’s terms discussed above demonstrate that the $700 million loan had a substantial commercial purpose—to allow the JV to obtain exploitable energy assets. Further, the JVA itself recognizes that the JV was not an exclusively commercial transaction, providing that one of its purposes was “to enhance, strengthen and promote the future prosperity and economic development of Malaysia.” Exh. 1 (JVA) § 2(b). Moreover, the JVA included safeguards to ensure 1MDB did not overpay for the one billion in shares it received. 1MDB was entitled to procure a valuation report by independent experts of the energy assets, and if the valuation report was below the target valuation of $2.7 billion, 1MDB had the option of terminating the agreement and its obligations (including its payment obligations) thereunder. Exh. 1 (JVA) § 5.2. Nor is a fraud demonstrated by the allegation that the JV’s bank account was opened on September 30, 2009, the same day that the $700 million loan was to be repaid. See Compl. ¶¶ 55-56. The parties agreed that once the subscription was completed, “the [JV] shall repay all outstanding indebtedness under the PSI Loan Agreement to PSI in full, and in accordance with the terms thereof, on or before September 30, 2009.” Exh. 1 (JVA) § 4.5. The subscription would be complete upon 1MDB obtaining its independent valuation report by September 30, 2009. Exh. 1 (JVA) § 5.1. In other words, the agreement reflects that, subject to valuation, on September 30 the shares would be issued, the assets would be transferred and the loan repaid upon 1MDB’s $1 billion contribution to the JV. The Government’s second, third and fourth reasons also fail because, as described above, the loan was not a cash loan (which may have made the status of PetroSaudi’s bank account marginally relevant) but instead a debt stake in the JV Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 21 of 29 Page ID #:526 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 due to PetroSaudi’s over-contribution of the energy assets. Finally, as discussed below, the Government’s last reason is inapplicable because the amended JVA provided that the loan would be repaid to an account nominated by PetroSaudi, not PetroSaudi’s own account. (2) The $700 million wire repayment was transmitted pursuant to PetroSaudi’s instructions. The Government asserts that 1MDB officers falsely represented to Bank Negara, Deutsche Bank and the 1MDB Board that PetroSaudi was the recipient of the $700 million wire transfer when, in fact, the funds were wired to the Good Star Account. Compl. ¶¶ 59, 65, 72, 79, 83(a). This conclusory allegation cannot be sustained because it conflicts with the Complaint’s other allegations and the documents incorporated therein. See Matusovsky v. Merrill Lynch, 186 F. Supp. 2d 397, 400 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (“If a plaintiff's allegations are contradicted by [an incorporated] document, those allegations are insufficient to defeat a motion to dismiss”). First, the Government alleges that 1MDB Officer 1 “falsely represented that the beneficiary of the $700 million wire was PetroSaudi” to a Deutsche Bank representative when in truth it was Good Star. Compl. ¶ 67. In fact, the recorded conversation that is the basis for this allegation reveals that the 1MDB Officer never said the money was going directly to PetroSaudi but rather told the bank that the money was going to an account pursuant to PetroSaudi’s instructions: Deutsche Bank employee: But just one question as to why is it going to [PetroSaudi] itself? Is there any particular reason? . . . . 1MDB OFFICER 1: – for us, we don’t care. Because 700 million I mean it’s a[n] advance [that’s] owed to them. . . They give us instructions, . . . [t]his is where they want to send, they want to send to Timbuktu also, we don’t care. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 22 of 29 Page ID #:527 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Id. (emphasis added). 8 Second, the Government asserts that 1MDB Officers 1 and 2 did not disclose to the 1MDB Board, prior to October 3, 2009, that the JVA required the JV to repay PetroSaudi a $700 million debt. Id. ¶ 83(d). The Complaint alleges no facts to substantiate this assertion. In fact, the October 3, 2009 1MDB Board minutes reflect that “[t]he 1MDB Board’s understanding was . . . [that] the Joint Venture’s board of directors makes the decision to remit US$700 million to PetroSaudi.” Id. ¶ 84. Accordingly, the 1MDB Board (1) knew that $700 million was owed to PetroSaudi; and (2) knew about the terms of the JVA, which directed 1MDB to issue the full $1 billion payment to the JV, which would in turn remit payment of $700 million from that $ 1 billion to PetroSaudi as repayment of the loan. However, as detailed below, 1MDB covenanted in the JVA Amendment 9 to issue the $1 billion payment in two tranches—$300 million to the JV and $700 million to PetroSaudi. Specifically, the JVA, as later amended and executed by PetroSaudi, 1MDB, and the JV, reflects that 1MDB covenanted to subscribe for one billion JV shares in consideration for payment in two tranches: (1) $300 million to an account held in the name of, and nominated by, the JV; and (2) $700 million to a bank account “nominated by” PetroSaudi: 8 The ensuing allegations (¶¶ 68-75) claim purported misrepresentations between bank officials and not attributable to the conversation between 1MDB Official 1 and the Deutsche Bank employee. 9 The JVA is relied upon in the Complaint and therefore may be considered even though it was not attached to the Complaint. See supra note 2. The JVA and JVA Amendment are a single contract and, as such, both may be considered because the JVA Amendment incorporates the JVA. See In re Anthem, Inc. Data Breach Litig., 162 F. Supp. 3d 953, 1007 n.10 (N.D. Cal. 2016); Cent. States, Se. & Sw. Areas Pension Fund v. Kroger Co., 73 F.3d 727, 731 (7th Cir. 1996) (“Rather than two agreements, the Master Agreement and the Local Supplement form a single, unitary contract . . . [as the parties] clearly set forth their intent that the Local Supplement be incorporated into the Master Agreement and be made a part of it . . . [and] related documents must be read together.”). Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 23 of 29 Page ID #:528 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Subject to the provisions of Clause 5 (Valuation Report), 1MDB covenants and undertakes to subscribe, on or before 30 September 2009, for one billion (1,000,000) Shares (the “Subscription Shares”), credited as fully paid up, in consideration for the payment: (i) of three hundred million (300,000,000) US Dollars in immediately available cleared funds to a bank account in the name of, and nominated by, the Company with JP Morgan (the “Company Account”); and (ii) (on behalf of the Company) of seven hundred million (700,000,000) US Dollars in immediately available cleared funds to a bank account nominated by [PetroSaudi], in full and final discharge of all outstanding indebtedness of the Company under the PSI Loan Agreement. Exh. 2 (JVA Amendment) § (c) (emphasis added). Nowhere does the Complaint allege that PetroSaudi did not nominate the Good Star Account as the recipient of the $700 million loan payment. (3) PetroSaudi was the recipient of the $330 million wire transfer. On May 12, 2011, the JV issued a notice of drawing, signed by PetroSaudi’s CEO, requesting that 1MDB “transmit $330 million to the Good Star Account.” Compl. ¶ 93. The Government claims that the transfer of $330 million was fraudulent because on May 23, 2011, after $95 million of the $330 million had already been transferred to Good Star in accordance with the May 12, 2011 drawing, 1MDB’s CFO wrote to Bank Negara thanking the Bank for having approved the transactions. Id. ¶ 95. In so doing, the 1MDB CFO allegedly stated that the JV requested the funds be sent to its parent company, PetroSaudi, when (according to the Complaint) the funds were sent to Good Star. Id. Just two days later, before an additional $135 million was wired, PetroSaudi’s CEO wrote to 1MDB clarifying, as indicated by the drawing notice, that the recipient of the funds was the Good Star Account. Id. ¶ 96. Perplexingly, the Government contends that PetroSaudi’s CEO’s statement in May of 2011 was “materially inconsistent” with a Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 24 of 29 Page ID #:529 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 representation made by 1MDB Officer 2 nearly two years prior thereby rendering the 2011 transfers fraudulent. Id. ¶ 97. But as explained below, the recipient of the 2011 transfers was immaterial to the banks as Good Star was always contemplated by all parties as the recipient of the $330 million. b. Failure to Allege Materiality The Government fails to plausibly allege that any fraudulent statement was made to Deutsche Bank, Bank Negara, or the 1MDB Board, much less that those statements induced any entity to transmit funds. In order to prove a “scheme to defraud,” the plaintiff must demonstrate that defendant employed “material falsehoods.” See Lindsey, 827 F.3d at 869 (emphasis in original). A falsehood is material if “it has a natural tendency to influence, or is capable of influencing, the decision of the decision-making body to which it was addressed.” Id. (internal alteration omitted). First, the Government’s contention that the repayment of the $700 million loan to an account nominated by PetroSaudi (Good Star) directly from 1MDB’s $1 billion was not sufficiently disclosed to the 1MDB Board fails because any such omission was not material. On September 26, 2009, before 1MDB entered into the JVA, the 1MDB Board empowered 1MDB management with the authority to “execute the JVA [and] any agreements and documents in relation thereto (as may be amended from time to time by further agreement between the parties).” Exh. 3 (9/26 BOD Minutes), at 4 (emphasis added). Having granted 1MDB’s management the right to amend the JV, the subsequent decision of 1MDB management to alter the repayment structure was expressly contemplated by 1MDB. Moreover, it is also immaterial that the Board may not have been expressly informed of the specific method of payment of the debt (directly to the account nominated by PetroSaudi rather than first to the JV and then to the Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 25 of 29 Page ID #:530 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PetroSaudi-selected account) because, as 1MDB’s counsel advised it: “Legally, it makes no difference whether: US $1 billion went directly to the JVCo. (and the JVCo. takes US$700 million to pay PSI); or 1MDB remits US$300 million to JVCo. and US$700 million to PSI.” Exh. 4 (10/10 BOD Minutes) App. A at 1. As such, there is no basis in the Complaint from which to conclude that the change in structure of the repayment was material such that it would have influenced 1MDB’s decision to contribute $ 1 billion to the JV when 1MDB was aware all along that $700 million of that $ 1 billion would be used to repay the loan. And, as the Complaint itself recognizes, 1MDB’s interest was in obtaining the one billion shares, not in the technical logistics of paying the debt to PetroSaudi. Compl. ¶ 67 (“‘[F]or us what we care about making sure they have issue us one billion dollar [shares] . . . [T]his is where they want to send, they want to send to Timbuktu also, we don’t care.’”). Second, the only allegation in the Complaint suggesting that a bank’s authorization of a wire transfer was influenced by the provision of a particular piece of information is RBS Coutts’ statement that “[w]e are not in a position to credit the funds without full beneficiary details (full name, address, account no.).” Compl ¶ 74. 1MDB Officer 2 allegedly told Deutsche Bank that the beneficiary of the $700 million wire was Good Star, and Deutsche Bank in turn submitted to RBS Coutts a SWIFT instruction identifying “Good Star Limited” as the beneficiary, along with Good Star’s Seychelles address. 10 Id. ¶¶ 76, 77. 10 Notably, RBS Coutts did not identify any other information, such as the relationship between the beneficiary and the transferring parties, as material to the transaction. And, the Deutsche Bank employee only asked for authorization to disclose that the beneficiary was Good Star and did not seek any information about the relationship between Good Star and PetroSaudi. Compl. ¶ 76. This further supports the conclusion that the fact the $700 million was sent to Good Star as opposed to any other entity was not material. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 26 of 29 Page ID #:531 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 The Complaint suggests that Bank Negara was misled as to the identity of the beneficiary of the $700 million wire transfer based on its letter to 1MDB Officer 1, acknowledging that “the funds for the approved investment will be remitted to PetroJV’s account.” Id. ¶ 65. But the Complaint makes clear that later the same day, prior to the transfer, Bank Negara was informed that PetroSaudi, and not the JV, was to receive the $700 million payment. See id. ¶ 67. This exchange is consistent with the JVA Amendment, which reflected PetroSaudi, 1MDB, and the JV’s “business decision” to amend the terms of consideration for 1MDB’s 1 billion JV shares to require 1MDB to issue $300 million to the JV and $700 million to PetroSaudi. And Deutsche Bank, like Bank Negara, understood this to be 1MDB’s business decision. On September 30, 2009, Deutsche Bank explained to Bank Negara 1MDB’s business decision to send the $700 million wire to an account of PetroSaudi’s choosing, stating: “‘in terms of account it’s basically a business decision for the [client] [now].’” Id. ¶ 68. Bank Negara replied “‘the crediting of the account and so on, is this their business decision, [], so long as it does not deviate from the original intention and that is not for Bank Negara to say.’” Id. (emphasis added). Here, Bank Negara makes clear that destination of the $700 million payment did not influence Bank Negara’s authorization, so long as the payment complied with 1MDB’s business decision. And it was 1MDB’s business decision to direct the funds to the account nominated by PetroSaudi—the Good Star Account. 11 Similarly, with respect to the $330 million in wire transfers, $95 million in wire transfers were made to Good Star prior to the purported May 23, 2011 misrepresentation, which was promptly corrected. Id. ¶ 95. And, the two 11 The Government’s assertion that 1MDB Officer 2’s statement that Good Star is owned 100% by PetroSaudi is misleading, see Compl. ¶ 76, is also immaterial for this reason. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 27 of 29 Page ID #:532 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 subsequent transactions on May 27 and October 25, 2011 were conducted after PetroSaudi’s CEO sent a letter requesting a SWIFT Clarification be sent to RBS Coutts explaining that the beneficiary of the transfers was Good Star. 12 CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, the Motion to Dismiss should be granted. DATE: December 21, 2016 Respectfully Submitted, KOBRE & KIM LLP /s/Daniel A. Zaheer Daniel A. Zaheer Robin Rathmell Attorneys for Claimants Low Hock Peng, Goh Gaik Ewe, Low Taek Szen and Low May Lin 12 Moreover, the alleged misstatement could not be material to any of the transfers because Bank Negara had previously been informed that the Good Star Account was not held by the JV or PetroSaudi, id. ¶¶ 65, 67. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 28 of 29 Page ID #:533 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was electronically filed on December 21, 2016 with the Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system thereby sending a notice of electronic filing to Assistant U.S. Attorney Woo S. Lee, Deputy Chief, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kucera, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christen A. Sproule. In addition, I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served by e-mail on Assistant U.S. Attorney Woo S. Lee, Deputy Chief, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kucera, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christen A. Sproule. DATE: December 21, 2016 KOBRE & KIM LLP /s/Daniel A. Zaheer DANIEL A. ZAHEER Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63 Filed 12/21/16 Page 29 of 29 Page ID #:534 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Daniel A. Zaheer (Bar No. 237118) Robin Rathmell (admitted pro hac vice) KOBRE & KIM LLP 150 California Street, 19th Floor San Francisco, California 94111 Telephone: (415) 582-4800 Facsimile: (415) 582-4811 daniel.zaheer@kobrekim.com robin.rathmell@kobrekim.com Aaron M. May (Bar No. 207751) Grant B. Gelberg (Bar No. 229454) HUANG YBARRA SINGER & MAY LLP 550 South Hope Street, Suite 1850 Los Angeles, California 90071-2604 Telephone: (213) 884-4900 Aaron.May@hysmlaw.com Grant.Gelberg@hysmlaw.com Attorneys for Claimants Low Hock Peng, Goh Gaik Ewe, Low Taek Szen and Low May Lin UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. CV 16-05378-DSF-PLA DECLARATION OF DANIEL A. ZAHEER IN SUPPORT OF CLAIMANTS LOW HOCK PENG, GOH GAIK EWE, LOW TAEK SZEN AND LOW MAY LIN’S MOTION TO DISMISS Date: February 13, 2016 Time: 1:30 p.m. Judge: Honorable Dale S. Fischer Courtroom: 7D Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-1 Filed 12/21/16 Page 1 of 2 Page ID #:535 1 2 3 DECLARATION OF DANIEL ZAHEER I, Daniel Zaheer, declare as follows: 1. I am a member of the bar of the State of California and of this 4 Court and an attorney at Kobre & Kim, LLP, attorneys for Claimants Low Hock 5 Peng, Goh Gaik Ewe, Low Taek Szen and Low May Lin. Other than matters 6 stated on information and belief, I make this declaration upon personal knowledge 7 about which I could and would testify competently. 8 2. Attached hereto as Exhibit 1 is, upon information and belief, 9 the document referred to in the Government's Complaint as the Joint Venture 10 Agreement ("JV A") between IMDB and PetroSaudi, executed on or about 11 September 28, 2009. 12 3. Attached hereto as Exhibit 2 is, upon information and belief, 13 the Letter of agreement to amend the document referred to in the Government's 14 Complaint as the JVA between IMDB and PetroSaudi, executed on or about 15 September 30,2009. 16 4. Attached hereto as Exhibit 3 are, upon information and belief, 17 excerpts from the document referred to in the Government's Complaint as the 18 minutes to the IMDB Board meeting held on September 26,2009. 19 5. Attached hereto as Exhibit 4 are, upon information and belief, 20 excerpts from the document referred to in the Government's Complaint as the 21 minutes to the IMDB Board meeting held on October 10,2009. 22 I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United State 23 of America that the foregoing is true and correct. 24 DATE: December 21,2016 25 26 27 28 1 Respectfully Submitted, ~D2 r2- ) Daniel A. Zaheer Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-1 Filed 12/21/16 Page 2 of 2 Page ID #:536 Exhibit 1 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 1 of 31 Page ID #:537 EXECUTION VERSION 28 September 2009 BETWEEN PETROSAUDI HOLDINGS (CAYMAN) LIMITED AND IMALAYSIA DEVELOPMENT BERHAD AND IMDB PETROSAUDI LIMITED JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT ) Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 2 of 31 Page ID #:538 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRET A TION .............................................................. 2 2. OBJECTIVES .............................................................................................................. 5 3. MUTUAL UNDERTAKINGS ...................................... .............................................. 6 4. CAPITALISATION AND FURTHER FUNDING ................................................... 6 6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS .......................................................................................... 7 7. SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS ............................................................................ 10 8. RESERVED MATTERS ........................................................................................... 10 9. SHARE TRANSFERS ............................................................................................... 12 10. WARRANTIES .......................................................................................................... 13 11. FINANCIAL MATTERS .......................................................................................... 13 1.2. SHAREHOLDER INVESTMENTS ........................................................................ 14 13. CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUl\fENTS ...................................................................... 14 1.4. INFORMATION RIGHTS ....................................................................................... 15 15. CONFIDENTIALITY ............................................................................................... 15 16. ANNOUNCEMENTS ................................................................................................ 1.6 17. NOTICES .................................................................................................................... 16 18. GENERAL .................................................................................................................. 17 19. TERM AND TERMINATION ................................................................................. 18 20. DISSOLUTION OF THE COMPANY .................................................................... 18 21. . DISPUTE RESOI,UTJON ........................................................................................ 20 22. GOVERNING LAW .................................................................................................. 21 SCHEDULE 1. DEED OF ADHERENCE .......................................................................... 23 SCHEDULE 2 WARRANTIES ........................................................................................... 24 SCHEDULE 3 BOARD MATTERS ................................................................................... 26 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 3 of 31 Page ID #:539 JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT THIS JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT is made the 28th day of September 2009. BETWEEN: I. PETROSAUDI HOLDINGS (CAYMAN) LIMITED (Company No.: MC-231027) (a wholly owned subsidiary ofPetl'oSaudi International Limited, a company incorporated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands with its registered office at PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KYI-II04, Cayman Islands (hereinafter referred to as "PSI"); 2. IMALAYSIA DEVELOPMENT BERHAD (formerly known as Terengganu Investment Authority Berhad) (Company No.: 848230-V), a company incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Malaysia with its registered office at Level 21, Suite 2].01, The Gardens South Tower, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (hereinafter refen'ed to as "I MDB"); and 3. IMDB PETROSAUDI LIMITED (Company No.: 1548553), a company incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands with its registered office at Kingston Chambers, PO Box 173, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"). RECITALS A. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of PSI and was incorporated on 18 September 2009. As at the date of this Agreement, PSI had transferred the whole of the issued share capital of PetroSaudi International, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands ("PetroSaudi International Cayman") which owns all the legal and beneficial interest in the PSI Assets (which have an estimated value of approximately two billion, seven hundred million US Dollars (USD2, 700,000,000»,' to the Company. B. PSI is the legal and beneficial shareholder of one billion five hundred million (1,500,000,000) Shares (as defined below) and has provided the Company with advances amounting to seven hundred million US Dollars (USD700,000,OOO). C. PSI and 1 MDB are desirous of seeking, exploring, entering into and participating in business and economic opportunities within and outside of Malaysia towards the enhancement of and promotion ofthe future prosperity and long-term sustainable economic development of Malaysia. D. In pursuit of the said objectives, I MDB has agreed to subscribe for and the Company has agreed to issue one billion (1,000,000,000) ordinary shares of one US dollar (USDI.OO) each in the Company so that the Company will be owned sixty per cent (60%) and forty per cent (40%) by PSI and I MDB respectively. E. PSI and I MDB intend to further the best interests of the Company in the spirit of mutual cooperation and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 4 of 31 Page ID #:540 NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION 1.1 Definitions In this Agreement unless the context othenvise requires, the following terms and expressions Wure-the-fellewms-meaniu8s: "Affiliate" "Board" "Board Reserved Matters" "Business" "Business Day" "BSl Bank;' "Companies Act" "Deadlock" "Director" means, in relation to a company, a SubsidialY or Holding Company of that company, or any other SubsidialY of any such Holding Company, in each case for the time being; means the board of directors of the Company from time to time in accordance with the Memonmdllm and Articles (Shareholders Meetings); means the matters set out in Clause 8.2(b) (Board Reserved Matters) has the meaning defined in Clause 2 (Objectives); means a day (other than a Saturday and Sunday) on which commercial banks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and London, England are open for business; means BSI SA, 8 Boulevard du Theatre - 1204 Geneva; means the BVI Business Companies Act (No. 16 of 2004) of the British Virgin Islands, as amended, consolidated or replaced from time to time; means: (a) where any resolution relating to a Disposal proposed at a meeting of the Board or of the Shareholders (as the case may be) fails to be passed due to a failure to achieve the required votes for the resolution at three consecutive meetings of the Board or the Shareholders (as the case may be); or (b) where a quorum cannot be achieved at three successive proposed meetings of the Board or of the Shareholders (as the case may be) to be convened for the purpose of voting on a resolution to make any Disposal, of which not less than one week's notice has been given; means any director for the time being of the Company, including, where applicable, any alternate Director; 2 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 5 of 31 Page ID #:541 "Disposal" "Encumbrance" "Holding Company" "I nvestment" "Memorandum and Articles" "Parties" "Party" means any sale, transfer or divestment of any asset or business of the Company having a value in excess of twenty-five per cent (25%) of the value of issued and allotted share capital ofthe Company; means any interest or equity of any person (including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any right to acquire an option or right of pre-emption) or any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or assignment or any other encumbrance, priority or security interest or arrangement of whatsoever nature over or in the relevant property; of any other person, means a person in respect of whom that other person is a Subsidiary; means any strategic or financial investment, acquisition or financing proposal or other opportunity, whether relating to any Affiliate of any Shareholder or any other person, in any territory and in any sector; means memorandum of association and articles of association of the Company, as amended from time to time; means any Party to this Agreement from time to time; means anyone of them, as the case may be; "PetroSaudi International Cayman" has the meaning given in Recital A. to this Agreement; "Petro Saudi Panama" "Petro Saudi Turkmenistan" "PSI Assets" has the meaning given in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) in the definition of PSI Assets; has the meaning given in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) in the definition of PSI Assets; means: (a) one hundred per cent (100%) of the share capital of Petro Saudi Turkmenistan 1 Limited ("Petro Saudi Turkmenistan"), a Jersey Company holding energy interests in the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian Sea (the production licence relating to Block III area); and (b) one hundred per cent (JOO%) of the share capital of Petro Saudi Ltd. Inc., ("Petro Saudi Panama") a Panamanian company holding energy interests in the Argentinean provinces of Rio Negro (Laguna EI Loro) and Chubut (Confluencia, Pampa Salamanca, San Bernardo, Rio Senguerr, Buen Pasto, Sierra Cuadrada, Laguna EI Loro); 3 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 6 of 31 Page ID #:542 "PSI Loan Agreement" "Related Party" "Shareholders" "Shareholder Reserved Matters" "Shareholding Proportions" "Shares" "Su bscription" "Subscription Shares" "Subsidiary" "Surviving Provisions" "Target Valuation" means the loan agreement dated 25 September 2009 entered into between the Company (as borrower) and PSI (as Lender) in respect of a principal amount of seven hundred million US Dollars (USD700,000,000) and under which the interest rate is zero per cent (0%); means an individual who is or was, in the twelve (12) director or shadow director of any Shareholder or any other company which is (and, ifhe has ceased to be such, was while he was a director or shadow director of such other company) its Subsidiary or Holding Company or a Subsidiary of its Holding Company; and such individual's spouse, civil partner, minor child, stepchild, or any employee or partner of lh~ individual; means shareholders of the Company for the time being and "Sha.oeholder" means anyone of them, as the case may be; means the matters set out in Clause 8.1(b) (Shareholder Reserved Matters); has the meaning given in Clause 4.2(a) (Shareholding Proportions); means any issued or allotted shares in the equity capital ofthe Company; means the subscription of IMDB to the Subscription Shares in accordance with Clause 4.1 (lMDB Subscription); has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.1 (lMDB Subscription); means an entity of which a person has direct or indirect control and owns directly or indirectly (or together with any other Shareholder and its Affiliates) one hundred per cent (100%) of the voting capital or similar right of ownership; means Clause 1 (Definitions and Intelpretation), Clause 15 (Confidentiality), Clause 16, (Announcements), Clause 17 (Notices), Clause 18.2 (Waiver), Clause 18.3 (l!,ntire Agreement), Clause 18.9 (Third Party Rights), Clause 20 (Dissolution of the Company) Clause 21.3 (Arbitration) and Clause 22 (Governing Law),; means two billion, seven hundred million US Dollars (USD2,700,000,000); 4 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 7 of 31 Page ID #:543 "USD" or "US$" "Valuation Report" 1.2 r nterpretation means the lawful currency of the United States of America; and has the meaning described in Clause 5 (Valuation Report). In this Agreement, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent with such construction or unless it is otherwise expressly provided: (a) the expression "this Agreement" or any similar expression shall mean this joint venture agreement and any supplemental agreement as may be in force from time to time or at any time; (b) references to "Recitals", "Clauses", and "Schedules" are references to, respectively, any recital, clause and schedule of this Agreement and any reference to this Agreement or any of, the provisions hereof includes all amendments and modifications made to this Agreement from time to time in force; (c) words denoting the singular number only shall include the plural number and vice versa; (d) words denoting one gender include all other genders and words denoting the singular include the plural and vice versa; (e) any reference to a statutory provision includes any modification, consolidation or re-enactment thereof, for the time being in force, and all statutory instruments or orders made pursuant thereto; (t) references to "include" or "including" are to be construed without limitation; (g) words denoting persons include corporations, and vice versa and also include their respective estate, personal representatives, successors in title or permitted assigns, as the case may be; (h) headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall have no legal effect; and (i) if any period of time is specified from a given day, or the day of a given act or event, it is to be calculated exclusive of that day and if any period of time falls on a day which is not a Business Day, then that period is to be deemed to only expire on the next Business Day. 2. OBJECTIVES It is the Shareholders' intention that the objectives of,the Company are: (a) to seek, explore, enter into and participate in business and economic opportunities within and outside of Malaysia; and (b) to enhance, strengthen and promote the future prosperity and economic development of Malaysia, to the extent that achievement of above-mentioned objectives would maximise the profits of the Company. 5 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 8 of 31 Page ID #:544 3. MUTUAL UNDERTAKINGS PSI and I MOB undertake to each other to: (a) co-operate and use their respective reasonable endeavours with a view to ensuring that the Company successfully conducts its business in a manner consistent with Clause 2 (Objectives); ('" which is required of them; and (c) use all means reasonably available to them (including their voting power, direct or indirect, in relation to the Company) to ensure that the Company and any Oirector of the Company nominated or appointed by them (and ally alternate to such Director) shall implement all the terms, conditions and stipulations of this Agreement relating to the Company. 4. CAPITALISATION AND FURTHER FUNDING 4.1 lMDB Subscription (a) Subject to the provisions of Clause 5 (Valuation Report), IMDB covenants and undertakes to subscribe, on or before 30 September 2009, for one billion (1,000,000,000) Shares (the "Subscription Shares"), credited as fLilly paid up, in consideration for the payment of one billion (I,OOO,OOO~OOO) US Dollars in immediately available c1eared funds to a bank account in the name of. and nominated by. the Company with BS) Bank (the "Company Accounf'). (b) On or before the Subscription, the Company shall deliver to lMDB evidence, in the name of BS! Bank, establishing that the t MOB Directors are joint signatories of the Company Account (together with the PSI signatories). (c) As soon as practicable following the Subscription (and in any event no later than the first Business Day following the Subscription) the Company shall: (i) fulfil those actions listed in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (Board Maller.s): and (ii) deliver to IMOB evidence, in the name ofBSI Bank, establishing 111at IMOB is a joint beneficial owner of the Company Account (together with the PSI beneficial owners). 4.2 Shareholding Proportions (a) Immediately upon the issue ofthe Subscription Shares by the Company to 1 MOB, the issued share capital of the Company shall be held in the folIowing manner and proportions ("Shareholding Proportions") by the following Shareholders, subject to agreed variations in accordance with Clause 4.2(b): ;1 Nome Proportion NumbuofShilres PSI 60% 1,50Q,OOO,OOO IMOB 40% 1,000,000,000 (b) The issued and paid-up share capital of the Company shall be held by the Shareholders in the Shareholding Proportions unless the SharehoJding Proportion is: 6 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 9 of 31 Page ID #:545 (i) varied to comply with any law or regulation of any government or other relevant authority; or (ii) varied in accordance with the tenns of this Agreement or in such other manner as may be mutually agreed between the Shareholders. 4.3 Further Funding (a) The Shareholders intend to make further contributions to the Company in the form of cash and assets of up to a total amount of five billion US Dollars (USD5,OOO,000,000) at a level and on terms to be agreed by 1 MDB and PSI in their respective Shareholding Proportions. (b) The price payable for each new issued Share shall be at no less than its par value but subject to this, will be detennined by the Board at the time of approval of the share issuance. 4.4 Pre-emption Rights Unless otherwise agreed by the Shareholders, any Shares for the time being unissued and any new Shares from time to time created shall, before they are issued. be offered to each of the Shareholders jn the ratio that is reflective of $eir respective Shareholding Proportions, provided always that if any Shareholder does not accept or only accepts a portion of its pro- rata entitlement in relation to any new Share to be issued within 10 days of its receipt of the offer, then such unaccepted Shares shaH be offered to the other Shareholder if such Shareholder bas accepted its respective entjtlement under such issue. 4.5 Repayment of Advances Conditional only upon the completion of the Subscription, the C(Jlllpany shall repay all outstanditlg indebtedness under the PSI Loan Agreement to PSI in full. and in accOrdance with the terms thereof, on or before 30 September 2009. S. VALUATION REPORT 5.1 IMDB shall engage independent valuation experts to prepare a report specifYing a valuation range for the PSI Assets (the "Valuation Report"). I MPH shall procure delivery of the Valuation Report on or before 30 September 2009 (and the Company shall provide all reasonable assistance requested by the independent valuation expert for the purposes of such delivery). For the avoidance of doubt, the professional fees for such independent valuation expert shall be borne by the Company. 5.2 In the event that the Valuation Report values the PSI Assets, in all modelled scenarios, at an amount below the Target Valuation, IMDB may, on or before 30 September 2009, tenninate this Agreement with immediate effect upon the delivery of written notiee of its exercise of such right to both PSI and (he Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligations of 1 MDB shall continue in full force and effect in the event that it does not exercise this right. 6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 6.1 General Management The Board shall be responsible for and decide on the general policies of the Company. 7 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 10 of 31 Page ID #:546 6.2 Board Composition (a) The Board shall comprise initially four (4) directors, of which PSI shall be entitled to appoint two (2) Directors and IMDB shall be entitled to appoint two (2) Directors. (b) Each of the Shareholders shall take all necessary action including the passing of the necessary resolutions of the Board or the Shareholders to appoint the directors nominated bx the PSI and I MDa.ab. e (c) Notwithstanding Clause 6.2(a), the Shareholders may, together, decide to increase the number of directors in which case each Shareholder shall be entitled to appoint equal numbers of additional directors. 6.3 Appointment and Removal of Directol' (a) PSI and IMDB shall each have the right to appoint, remove, replace or substitute a Director appointed by it fTom ti me to time in accordance with the provis ions in this Agreement. (b) The right of nomination, determination of period of office or removal of a Director pursuant to this Clause 6 shall be exercised by the Shareholder(s) entitled to exercise such right by notice in writing signed for or on behalf of the Shareholder(s) entitled to exercise such right and addressed to the Company at its registered office. Such nomination, detennination or removal shall take effect from the date of such notice or on such later date as is specified therein, whichever is applicable and the Shareholders shall vote accordingly to give effect to such change. 6.4 Alternate Directors Each Director may appoint or remove from time to time any person (who, for the avoidance of doubt, need not be another Director) to act as his alternate in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles. One person may act as alternate director to more than one Director and while he is so acting he shall be entitled to a separate vote for each Director he is representing and if he is himself a Director, his vote or votes as an alternate director shall be in addition to his own vote. Ifa Director ceases to hold the office of Director, the appointment of his alternate shall thereupon cease. 6.5 Chairman (a) The Chainnan shall chair the meetings of the Board and of the Shareholders. The secretary of the Company shall be responsible for preparing the minutes of each meeting and shall keep all the official records of the Company. (b) The Chairman of the Board shall be appointed by PSI from among the members of the Board. If the Chairman is not present at any meeting fifteen (15) minutes after the stipulated time for the meeting, his alternate shall act as the Chairman. If neither the Chairman nor his alternate is present, the Directors so present at such meeting shall be entitled to appoint a Director that is a PSI appointee from amongst their numbers by way of a simple majority vote to act as Chairman of the meeting. (c) The Chainnan (whether the Chairman of the Board or the duly appointed Chainnan of any board meeting) shal1 have a second or casting vote at any meeting of the Board. 8 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 11 of 31 Page ID #:547 6.6 Quorum (a) No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Board unless a quorum is present at the beginning of and throughout each meeting. (b) The quorum for meetings of the Board is four (4) Directors present in person or by their alternates, of which there shall be at least two (2) Directors appointed by PSI and two (2) Directors appointed by 1 MDB. 6.7 Adjournment of Meetings If a quorum is not present within thirty (30) minutes of the time appointed for a meeting, that meeting will be adjourned until the same time and place on the same day in the next week unless the Directors agree otherwise. 6.8 Resolutions Save in respect of a Board Reserved Matter and subject to ihe C..<>mpanies Act, all resolutions of the Board may only be passed by a majority vote of the Directors present in person or by their alternates at the relevant meeting. 6.9 Frequency of Meetings Each of the Parties agree to cause a meeting of the Board of Directors to be convened at least once every 3 months and whenever Jlecessaryand whenever requested by any Director. 6;1 0 Notice of Meetings At least twenty one (21) days' notice in writing of each meeting of the Board specifying the date, time and place of the meeting sball be given to each Director and alternate Director both at the address from time to time provided by him to the Company for such purpose and at the address of the Shareholders and each .such notice shall be accompanied by an agenda of the matters to be considered, the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting and all relevant documents relating thereto. Np decision shall be taken on any matter at a meeting of the Board unless notice of such matter shall have been given as afc)resaid or waiver of such notice has been given in respect of stich matter by aU of the Directon; present at the meeting. 6.1 I Conduct of Meetings (a) The Board shall be responsible for supervising the activities of the Company and for determining the overall polici¢S and objectives of the Company. subject always to the tenns of this Agreement and the provisions of the Companies Act. (b) If the Board so authorises or requests, auditors, consultants, advisers and employees (or any other persons, at the discretion of the Board) shall be permitted to attend and speak at meetings of the Board, but not to vote. (c) Directors or their a]temst¢s may participate in Board meetings by means of conference telephone, video or other similar commWlications equipment where all Directors participating ill that meeting can hear and commWlicate with each other. Such participation is deemed to be presence in persoll. The matters resolved during such meetings shall be subject to confirmation by the signatures of the partidpating Directors on the minutes taken of such meeting provided that if no objc.ction is received by the company secretary mth respect to the contents of the minutes within three (3) days of the receipt by the participating Directors of the same, the 9 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 12 of 31 Page ID #:548 participating Directors will be deemed to have endorsed the minutes despite not having signed the same. 6.12 Written Resolutions Any resolution in writing signed by at least four (4) Directors then in office, including two (2) Directors nominated by PSI and two (2) Directors nominated by I MDB, shall be as effective as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held, and may consist of several docoments in the like form, eaeh si~ned by one or more of O1e Directors. 6.13 Initial Operational Meeting The Parties agree that the Board shall meet within three (3) months of the date of this Agreement in order to consider the matters listed in Part 2 of Schedule 3 (Board Matters). 7. SHAREHULOEKS' MEETINGS 7.1 Ouorum (a) No business of the Company shall be transacted at any Shareholders' meeting unless a quorum is present at the beginning and throughout each meeting. (b) The quorum for meetings of the Shareholders shall be PSI and I MDB present in person or by proxy, by their duly authorised agents or representatives. (c) If a quorum is not present within 30 minutes of the time appointed for a meeting, that meeting will be adjourned until the same time and place on the same day in the next week. 7.2 Notice of Meetings At least fourteen (14) days' prior written notice of all Shareholders' meetings specifYing the place, the day and the time of the meeting, shall be given to all Shareholders, unless all the Shareholders IInanimollsly agree to shorten or wflive the notice. 7.3 Procedures at Meetings and Written Resolutions Save as othelwise required by the Companies Act in relation to special resolutions or by the provisions herein and save in respect of any Shareholder Reserved Matter, all questions arising at any and all Shareholders' meetings shall be decided by poll. A resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of all the Shareholders, shall be as effective as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Shareholders duly convened and held, and may consist of several documents in the like form each signed by one or more Shareholders. 8. RESERVED MATTERS 8.1 Shareholder Reserved Matters (a) The Parties agree that notwithstanding any provision herein contained, no resolution of the Company in respect of the Shareholder Reserved Matters shall be passed unless: (i) such resolution receives the affirmative votes of PSI and 1 MDB respectively; and 10 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 13 of 31 Page ID #:549 (ii) notice of intention to propose such resolution has been given to the Shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles or unless waived by the Shareholders. (b) Shareholder Reserved Matters are the following: (i) any material change in the nature of the Business, including any proposal to restructure the Business or to enter into a new business; (ii) any change in the name ofthe Company; (iii) any appointment and/or removal of the company secretary; (iv) any alteration in the extent or structure of the authorised capital of the Company including any increase or decrease thereof or the issue or allotment of shares therein; (v) the creation or conferment on any person of any new equity interest in the Company; (vi) any alteration to or amendment of the Memorandum and Articles; (vii) the sale, transfer, conveyance, charge, mortgage, issue, licence, exchange, creation of any fixed or floating charge, lien (other than a lien arising by operation of law) or other encumbrance over or other disposition of any material part of the Company's undertaking, property or assets or of any immovable property of the Company exceeding an amount equal to twenty-five per cent (25%) of the value of the issued share capital of the Company whether in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions; (viii) the acquisition by purchase, lease, licence or otherwise of any immovable property or any other fixed assets or any other capital expenditure exceeding an amount equal to twenty-five per cent (25%) of the value of issued share capital of the Company whether in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions; (ix) the reconstruction, consolidation, merger or amalgamation, or the engagement in a partnership of the Company with any other company, firm, person or persons; (x) the dissolution of the Company except on the grounds of insolvency or in accordance with the provisions of Clause 20 (Dissolution of the Company) and any proposal to be put to the Shareholders in general meeting in respect thereof; (xi) the entry by the Company into any contract or transaction with a Related Party (or any material amendment of any such contract or transaction); (xii) appointment and removal ofthe Company's auditors; (xiii) declaring or paying dividends or adopting any dividend policy for the dealing with the profits of the Company; (xiv) the issuance of any debentures or other securities convertible into shares or debentures; 11 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 14 of 31 Page ID #:550 (xv) any change of the financial year or registered office of the Company; and (xvi) commencing, defending or settling any litigation, arbitration or other proceedings which are material in the context of the Company's business having a potential value often million US Dollars (US010,000,000) or more. 8.2 Board Reserved Matters (a) The Parties agree 1hat notwithstanding any provision herein contained, no resolution of the Board in respect of any of the Board Reserved Matters shall be passed unless : (i) the passing of such resolutions shall be by a majority vote of the Directors including the affirmative votes of at least one (I) PSI Director and one (I) I MDB Director; and (ii) notice of intention to propose such resolution has been given to all the DirecLors in accuf(]allc~ wiLh Lh~ pruvisiulls oftlle Memorandulll and Articles or unless waived by all the Directors. (b) Board Reserved Matters are the following: (i) the granting of any guarantee or indemnity or other security by the Company other than in the normal course of business or as approved in the annual business plan; (ii) the establishment of a joint venture between the Company and any other company, finn, person or persons; (iii) the lending of moneys, making of loans or advances by the Company or the giving of credit other than to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company; (iv) the borrowing of any monies, incurring of debts or acceptance of any credit facilities by the Company (with or without the issuance of mortgages, debentures or upon security of any part of the Company's assets); (v) effecting changes in the accounting policies and methods of the Company; (vi) disposal of its interest, directly or indirectly, in: (I) any subsidiary or; (II) any loan receivable, to a person who is not an Affiliate of the Company; (vii) granting any power ofattomey or delegating the Directors' powers; and (viii) the adoption and approval of the annual business plan, annual policies, annual budgets of the Company and any reports or statements accompanying the same. 9. SHARE TRANSFERS 9.1 Restriction on Transfers (a) Save with the written consent of the other Shareholder, no transfer of any Share shall be made by a Shareholder otherwise than in accordance with Clause 9.2 (Permitted Transfers) and no Shareholder shall otherwise sell, mortgage, charge, pledge or grant options over or otherwise dispose of any Shares or any interest therein. 12 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 15 of 31 Page ID #:551 (b) Any restriction in the Memorandum and Articles to the effect that the Directors shall have the right to accept or refuse registration on transfer of Sltares shall not be applicable in respect of the transfer of any Shares which are made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and each Shareholder agrees to cause the Directors nominated by it to so cast their votes in favour of accepting such registration or transfer of Shares. (c) No transfer of any Shares to a person who is not a Shareholder shall be valid unless and until the proposed transferee has first entered into a Deed of Adherence substantially in the fonn set out in Schedule I (Deed of Adherence). 9.2 Permitted Transfers Notwithstanding Clause 9.1 (Restriction on Transfers), any Shareholder may transfer any of its shares to any of its Affiliates, provided that: (a) the transferor transfers all (but not some only) of its Shares (and rigbts and obligations under this Agreement) to such Affiliate; (b) the transferee shall have first entered into a Deed of Adherence substantially in the form set out in SchedUle I (Deed of Adherence); (c) the obligations of the transferor under this Agreement shaH remain unaffected by the proposed transfer and the transferor shall not be in any way relieved from any of its obligations and liabiHties under this Agreement; (d) the Shares shall be rc-transferred to the transferor or another Affiliate immediately upon the transferee ceasing to be an Affiliate. lO~ WARRANTIES 10.1 PSI warrants to I MBD that the matters contained in Part 1 of Schedule 2 (Warranties of PSI) are true and correct as at the date of this Agreement. 10.2 1 MDB warrants to PSI that the m,atters contained in Part 2 of Schedule 2 (Warranties of JMDB) are true and correct as atthe date of this Agreement. 11. FINANCIAL MAITERS Il.t Dividend Policy (a) The policy for the distribution of profits by the Company by way of dividend shall be agreed upon by a unanimous decision of the Board based upon principles of prudent financial management and the Board shall have regard to Imer alia. the need to maintain adequate working capital for both the present needs of the Company and the future expansion of the Company. (b) The manner of distribution of dividends to PSI and tMDB shall be in accordance with the rights conferred upon the Shares held by PSI and 1 MDB respectively. 11 .2 Accounts (a) The Company shaH at all times maintain true and complete accounting and other financial records, in the English Language, in accordance with the requirements of all applicable laws and International Financial Reporting Standards. Such records shall be kept at the principal office of the Company and shall be made available for inspection by any of the Shareholders upon reasonable notice by the relevant 13 Case 2:16-cv-05378-DSF-PLA Document 63-2 Filed 12/21/16 Page 16 of 31 Page ID #:552 Shareholder and each Shareholder shall be entitled at its own expense to have an independent audit of the accounts of the Company in addition to the audit carried out by the auditors of the Company provided that the Shareholder shall give reasonable notice of any intended audit and it is carried out in a manner to ensure minimum disruption to the Company's business operations. (b) The annual financial statements and accounts and the conduct of business of the Company~1I be audited annually at the %Jlens.