Court Opinion

ID: 4880520
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-01 03:06:54.279493+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:02:28.503756
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

   TECHVIEW INVESTMENTS LIMITED                )
   and PRIME OVERSEAS                          )
   INVESTMENTS AND ENTERPRISES                 )
   LIMITED                                     )
                                               )   C.A. No. N20C-11-229 EMD CCLD
         Plaintiffs,                           )
                                               )
                  v.                           )
                                               )
   AMSTAR POLAND PROPERTY FUND                 )
   I, L.P., AMSTAR POLAND PROPERTY             )
   FUND I GP, L.P., AMSTAR POLAND              )
   FUND I GP, L.P., AMSTAR GLOBAL              )
   PARTNERS LIMITED, and AMSTAR                )
   GROUP, LLC,                                 )
                                               )
            Defendants.                        )

                                  Submitted: May 14, 2021
                                  Decided: August 31, 2021

 Upon Defendants Amstar Poland Property Fund I, L.P., Amstar Poland Property Fund I, GP,
              L.P’s and Amstar Global Partner Limited’s Motion to Dismiss
                                     GRANTED

                   Upon Defendant Amstar Group, LLC’s Motion to Dismiss
                                       GRANTED

Kenneth J. Nachbar, Esquire, Ryan D. Stottmann, Esquire, Miranda N. Gilbert, Esquire, Morris
Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, Michael B. Carlinsky, Esquire, David E.
Myre, Esquire, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, New York, New York, Attorneys for
Plaintiffs.

A. Thompson Bayliss, Esquire, E. Wade Houston, Esquire, Abrams & Bayliss LLP, Wilmington
Delaware, Attorneys for the Defendants Amstar Poland Fund I, L.P., Amstar Poland Fund I, GP,
L.P and Amstar Global Partner Limited.

A. Thompson Bayliss, Esquire, E. Wade Houston, Esquire, Abrams & Bayliss LLP, Wilmington,
Delaware, Emily L. Wasserman, Esquire, Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, Denver, Colorado,
Attorneys for Defendant Amstar Group, LLC.

DAVIS, J.
                                       I.       INTRODUCTION

        This is a civil action assigned to the Complex Commercial Litigation Division of the

Court. This litigation involves a real estate development transaction (defined below as the “Zlota

44 Project”). Plaintiffs Techview Investments Limited (“Techview”) and Prime Overseas

Investments and Enterprises Limited (“Prime Overseas”) (collectively “Plaintiffs”) allege that

Defendants Amstar Poland Property Fund I, L.P. (“Amstar Poland Fund”), Amstar Poland

Property Fund I, GP, L.P. (the “Former GP”), Amstar Poland Fund I GP, L.P. (“Amstar Poland

Fund GP”), Amstar Global Partners Limited (“Amstar Global”), and Amstar Group, LLC

(“Amstar Group”)1 fraudulently induced Plaintiffs into investing in Amstar Poland Fund.

Plaintiffs also allege that Amstar Poland Fund GP, Amstar Global and Amstar Group acted with

gross negligence when: (i) obtaining financing for the Zlota 44 Project; and (ii) managing the

Zlota 44 Project. Plaintiffs also allege that those defendants acted grossly negligent by

mismanaging arbitration costs.

        Amstar Poland Fund, Amstar Poland Fund GP and Amstar Global moved to dismiss all

claims (the “Amstar Motion”) on January 1, 2021. Amstar Group separately moved to dismiss

all claims against it (the “Amstar Group Motion”) on April 6, 2021. The Court held a hearing on

both motions on May 14, 2021. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Court took the matters

under advisement

        This is the Court’s decision on the motions. For the reasons set forth more fully below,

the Court GRANTS the Amstar Motion and the Amstar Group Motion.

1
 The Court will collectively refer to Amstar Poland Fund, the Former GP, Amstar Poland Fund GP, Amstar Global
and Amstar Group as the “Amstar Defendants.”

                                                      2
                                         II.      RELEVANT FACTS2

    A. THE PARTIES

         Techview was originally a Bahamas corporation.3 On or about December 30, 2015,

Techview ceased to be a Bahamas corporation and registered as a corporation in the British

Virgin Islands.4 Prime Overseas is a Cyprus LLC.5 Both plaintiffs are limited partners in

Amstar Poland Fund.6

         The defendants hold themselves out as part of “Amstar,” an investment firm.7 Amstar

Poland Fund is a Cayman Islands limited partnership.8 The Former GP was Amstar Poland

Fund’s general partner until November 2015, and was a Cayman Islands limited partnership.9

Amstar Poland Fund GP has been Amstar Poland Fund’s general partner since November 2015,

and is a Cayman Islands limited partnership.10 Amstar Global is a Bermuda limited company.11

Amstar Global is one of the two primary divisions at the global “Amstar Group, LLC.”12 Amstar

Global acts as the investment manager for Amstar Poland Fund.13 Amstar Group is a Colorado

LLC with its principal place of business in Colorado.14

2
  Unless otherwise indicated, the following facts are as alleged in the Complaint. For purposes of the Motion, the
Court must view all well-pled facts alleged in the Complaint as true and in a light most favorable to the Plaintiffs.
See e.g. Cent. Mortg. Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortg. Capital Holdings LLC, 27 A.3d 531, 536 (Del. 2011).
3
  Compl. ¶ 17.
4
  Id.
5
  Id. ¶ 18.
6
  Id. ¶ 19.
7
  Id. ¶ 1.
8
  Id. ¶ 20.
9
  Id. ¶ 21.
10
   Id. ¶ 22.
11
   Id. ¶ 23.
12
   Id.
13
   Id.
14
   Unsworn Decl. of Faraz Shahid Supp. Amstar Colorado’s Mot. to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(2) ¶ 6.

                                                           3
     B. THE ZLOTA INVESTMENT PRESENTATION

        In July 2014, Plaintiffs received an “Investment Management Presentation” (the “Zlota

Investment Presentation) offering the opportunity to invest in Amstar Poland Fund.15 The Zlota

Investment Presentation described how “Amstar” secured an opportunity to acquire and

complete Zlota 44, a 54-story luxury residential tower in Warsaw, Poland (the “Zlota 44

Project”).16

        The Zlota Investment Presentation often referred to “Amstar.” The Zlota Investment

Presentation contained a disclaimer noting that “Amstar” referred to both Amstar Advisers LLC

and Amstar Group:

        Except as otherwise noted, the term “Amstar” as used throughout this presentation
        refers collectively to Amstar Advisers, LLC and its affiliates. Amstar Group, LLC
        was formed in 1987 to invest and manage the reale state allocation of a large family
        office client. Amstar Advisers, LLC was formed in 2010, and became a registered
        investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
        in 2011, to manage the real estate portfolios of unaffiliated, third-party clients.
        Additionally, Amstar Group, LLC became a client of Amstar Advisers, LLC as of
        January 1, 2013. Amstar Advisers, LLC and Amstar Group, LLC have historically
        shared the same investment management approach, invested in the same types of
        real estate properties and shared the same premises, personnel and processes,
        therefore these entities are collectively referred to as “Amstar.” For the avoidance
        of doubt, statements within this presentation that refer to the statistics, history,
        employees, offices or other resources of “Amstar” refer to the collective statistics,
        history, employees, offices or other resources of Amstar Advisers, LLC and its
        affiliates; these statements do not refer to any one of these entities independent from
        the others.17

        The Zlota Investment Presentation listed Jason M. Lucas, the “President – Amstar Global

Advisers” as the contact person for potential investors.18 The Zlota Investment Presentation also

listed several members of management including Gabe L. Find (the “General Partner and Chief

15
   Compl. ¶ 31.
16
   Id. ¶ 32.
17
   The Fund, the Fund GP, and Amstar Bermuda’s Op. Br. in Supp. of their Mot. to Dismiss (Amstar Mot. Op. Br.)
Ex. A (the “Zlota Investment Presentation”) at 2.
18
   Compl. ¶ 33.

                                                       4
Executive Officer” of “Amstar”); Gerry R. Moran “Managing Director/Chief Financial Officer”

of “Amstar”); Gerry R. Moran (“Managing Director/Chief Financial Officer of Amstar

Advisers”); Ulf Pettersson (the “Director of Development and Construction” at “Amstar”);

Mathieu de Brun (“Managing Director” responsible for “overseeing the operational activities of

Amstar in Ukraine”); Ryan Mathison (“Director of Amstar Global Partners”); and Norman M.

Glazer (a “Senior Analyst” at “Amstar”).19

            The Zlota Investment Presentation made several statements including:

                 •   The development was already “90% constructed” and required just “12-15
                     months to complete;”

                 •   There was an “Expected Completion Date” of “4Q 2015;”

                 •   “Amstar’s development, technical, and financial professionals have prior
                     experience in Central & Eastern Europe (including Poland) and are familiar
                     with the market environment;”

                 •   BBI, a co-investor with Amstar, was a “best-in-class, publicly listed local
                     developer and specializes in high-end residential and mixed-use projects in
                     prime locations throughout Warsaw,” and was “expected to take a strong
                     role in day-to-day management of a number of aspects of the development
                     including construction management, permitting and permissions, lobbying
                     with governmental bodies and utility companies and sales;” and

                 •   While there were “negotiations” between Orco and “the previous general
                     contractor about the settlement of a dispute regarding outstanding
                     construction payment,” Orco had purportedly agreed to “provide Amstar
                     with financial guarantees (partially secured by money in escrow and
                     partially via a corporate guarantee) for any residiual claim arising from this
                     issue up to an amount of € 20 million.” No further details were shared about
                     the nature or status of this pending issue.20

19
     Id.
20
     Id. ¶ 37.

                                                       5
         The Zlota Investment Presentation included detailed information about the project costs

and the expected return on investment.21 A further “Project Sensitivity Analysis” in the Zlota

Investment Presentation stated that “Amstar net investor returns” ranged from 10.8% to 56.6%.22

     C. PLAINTIFFS INVEST IN THE ZLOTA 44 PROJECT.

         Techview agreed to invest €10 million in Amstar Poland Fund.23 Techview executed a

Subscription Agreement, Investor Questionnaire, and Side Letter dated September 25, 2014.24

Techview and the Amstar Poland Fund entered into the Amended and Restated Limited

Partnership Agreement (LPA) dated July 29, 2014.25

         Prime Overseas also agreed to invest €5 million in Amstar Poland Fund to pursue the

Zlota 44 Project.26 Prime Overseas also executed a Subscription Agreement, Investor

Questionnaire, and Side Letter.27 Prime Overseas and Amstar Poland Fund entered into the

LPA.28

         The Subscription Agreements contain anti-reliance provisions:

         No Other Information: Other than as provided in this Subscription Agreement, the
         Partnership Agreement and any other separate agreement in writing with the fund
         executed in conjunction with the Investor’s subscription for Interests, the Investor
         is not relying upon any other information (including any advertisement, article,
         notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar
         media or broadcast over television or radio, and any seminars or meetings whose
         attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or advertising),
         representation or warranty by any Covered Person in determining to invest in the
         Fund . . .29

The Subscription Agreements define Covered Person:

21
   Id. ¶ 38.
22
   Id. ¶ 39.
23
   Id. ¶ 41.
24
   Id.
25
   Id.
26
   Id. ¶ 42.
27
   Id.
28
   Id.
29
   Amstar Mot. Op. Br. Ex. B (“Techview Subscription Agreement”) at 3; Ex. C (“Prime Overseas Subscription
Agreement”) at 3.

                                                      6
        “Covered Persons” means the Fund, any Parallel Funds, the GP, the general
        partners of any Parallel Fund, the Investment Manager, their respective affiliates
        and their respective partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents and
        representatives.30

The Subscription Agreement also contains a forum selection provision:

        To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any action or proceeding between
        the parties relating in any way to this Subscription Agreement or the Partnership
        Agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of Delaware
        or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and, to the extent
        permitted by applicable law, the parties irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of
        these courts in respect of any such action or proceeding.31

The Subscription Agreements were signed by the Former GP.32

        The LPA contained a liability limiting provision:

        The General Partner shall be liable for all debts and obligations of the Partnership
        to the extent that the Partnership’s assets are insufficient to discharge the same;
        provided, that to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the General Partner,
        the Investment Manager, members of the Investment Committee, their Affiliates
        (including the General Partner but excluding any Parallel Fund or any Successor
        Fund), nor any of their respective partners, officers, members, managers,
        shareholders, directors, employees, agents and sub-advisors (each, an
        “Indemnified Part”), shall be liable to the Partnership or to any Limited Partner
        for (i) any act or omission taken or suffered by such Indemnified Party in
        connection with the conduct of the affairs of the Partnership or otherwise in
        connection with this Agreement or the matters contemplated herein, except to the
        extent that the resulting loss, cost or damage resulted from fraud, intentional
        misconduct, Gross Negligence, a material violation of applicable securities laws or
        willful and material breach of this Agreement by such Indemnified Party or (ii)
        losses due to the negligence, dishonesty or bad faith of any broker or other agent of
        the Partnership except to the extent that the resulting loss, cost or damage resulted
        from such Indemnified Party’s selection of such broker or agent with Gross
        Negligence.33

30
   Id. at 1; Prime Overseas Subscription Agreement.
31
   Id. at 11.
32
   Id. at 14.
33
   Amstar Mot. Op. Br. Ex. D (“LPA”) § 4.3.1.

                                                      7
     D. THE AMSTAR DEFENDANTS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY
        FINANCING FOR THE ZLOTA 44 PROJECT.

        Obtaining debt financing was a “key milestone” for developing the Zlota 44 Project.34

The Amstar Defendants failed to obtain the required debt financing.35 The Amstar Defendants

did not disclose that obtaining such debt may come at a significant cost, despite their purported

significant experience and familiarity with the Polish market environment.36

        On October 14, 2014, Amstar Poland Fund circulated a presentation stating that there was

an executed term sheet with PEKAO SA, a reputable Polish bank, for the required financing.37

The presentation stated that the debt financing would be approved in mid-October.38

        By March 23, 2015, Amstar Vice President Jeffrey Stronger had written an email

disclosing that the Amstar Defendants had not obtained debt financing.39

        On April 8, 2015, Mr. Stronger further assured Plaintiffs that debt financing was in the

works.40 Mr. Stronger outlined the details of a purported debt proposal from Blackstone and

confirmed that Amstar Poland Fund GP intended to close within 60 days.41

        On May 28, 2015, Plaintiffs learned that Blackstone declined to provide the financing.42

        The Amstar Defendants ultimately sought additional funds by obtaining a Preferred

Equity Facility through which existing investors would receive a preferred equity position to be

34
   Compl. ¶ 47.
35
   Id. ¶ 48.
36
   Id. ¶ 49.
37
   Id. ¶ 50.
38
   Id.
39
   Id. ¶ 51.
40
   Id. ¶ 52.
41
   Id.
42
   Id. ¶ 53.

                                                 8
repaid at a rate of 12% per annum.43 Plaintiffs repeatedly implored the Amstar Defendants to

restructure the terms of the Preferred Equity Facility and the Defendants refused to do so.44

     E. THE AMSTAR DEFENDANTS MISMANAGE PROJECT TIMELINES AND COSTS.

          On June 8, 2018, nearly three years after their investment, Plaintiffs learned that the Zlota

44 Project was only 70% complete when they invested.45 The Zlota Investment Presentation also

stated that the timeline to complete construction was 12-15 months.46 The presentation disclosed

that the party selling the development, Orco, was negotiating a dispute settlement with a previous

general contractor INSO, but failed to disclose the significant and material impact the settlement

negotiations were expected to have on the project timeline.47 The presentation also represented

that Orco provided Amstar with guarantees that were not provided by Orco.48

          INSO insisted that it would only resolve the Orco dispute if the Amstar Defendants

agreed to install INSO as the general contractor for the continued Zlota 44 Project.49 The Amstar

Defendants hired INSO as the general contractor.50

          INSO had several failures as general contractor including:

               •   Failing to timely hire designers leading to an initial three-month delay of
                   the project;

               •   Failing to assign sufficient staff with sufficient authority, competence and
                   willingness to make the required decisions;

               •   Failing to timely issue execution designs;

               •   Not hiring or mobilizing subcontractors on a timely basis;

43
   Id. ¶ 54.
44
   Id. ¶ 59.
45
   Id. ¶ 66.
46
   Id. ¶ 67.
47
   Id.
48
   Id.
49
   Id. ¶ 70.
50
   Id. ¶ 71.

                                                    9
              •   Not following the agreed top-down approach for the sequence of execution
                  of works; and

              •   Not timely performing its duties on various elements of the project.51

         Amstar Poland Fund canceled the INSO contract in September 2015.52 Subsequently,

Amstar Poland Fund became embroiled in lengthy arbitration with INSO.53

         Plaintiffs also allege that the Amstar Defendants failed to appropriately manage this

arbitration.54 For example, the Amstar Defendants failed to obtain any cost estimate before

commencing proceedings and the sole estimate provided to Plaintiffs was significantly lower

than the expenses actually incurred.55

     F. PROCEDURAL POSTURE
         Plaintiffs filed their initial complaint on December 1, 2020 seeking recovery (i) against

all defendants for fraudulent inducement into the Subscription Agreements and LPA and (ii)

against Amstar Poland Fund Property Fund GP, the Former GP, Amstar Global and Amstar

Group for gross negligence in managing the Zlota 44 Project.56

         Amstar Poland Fund, Amstar Poland Fund GP and Amstar Global filed the Amstar

Motion on January 25, 2021 seeking to dismiss the Complaint on all counts.57 Amstar Group

also filed the Amstar Group Motion seeking to dismiss all counts against Amstar Group based on

lack of personal jurisdiction and all counts substantively on April 6, 2021.58 Plaintiffs oppose

both motions.

51
   Id. ¶ 75.
52
   Id. ¶ 76.
53
   Id.
54
   Id. ¶ 82.
55
   Id.
56
   D.I. No. 1.
57
   D.I. No. 12.
58
   D.I. No. 22

                                                  10
                                III.    PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS

   A. THE AMSTAR MOTION

       Amstar Poland Fund, Amstar Poland Fund GP and Amstar Global argue that the

fraudulent inducement claim is (i) time-barred, (ii) barred by the contract and (iii) alleges fraud

with insufficient specificity and challenges statements upon which the Plaintiffs could not

justifiably rely. Amstar Poland Fund, Amstar Poland Fund GP and Amstar Global also contend

that the Court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction over the gross negligence claim.

According to Amstar Poland Fund, Amstar Poland Fund GP and Amstar Global, the gross

negligence claim is a breach of fiduciary duty claim, over which the Court of Chancery has

subject-matter jurisdiction.

       Additionally, Amstar Poland Fund, Amstar Poland Fund GP and Amstar Global argue

that Amstar Bermuda owed no duty to Plaintiffs. Furthermore, Amstar Poland Fund, Amstar

Poland Fund GP and Amstar Global assert that Amstar Poland Fund GP only existed for

allegations with respect to arbitration and decisions to hire outside counsel are non-actionable

business judgments. Finally, Amstar Poland Fund, Amstar Poland Fund GP and Amstar Global

argue that the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over Amstar Bermuda and Amstar Poland Fund

GP.

       Plaintiffs argue that fraudulent concealment or equitable tolling tolled the fraudulent

inducement claim. Plaintiffs assert that the contract does not clearly disclaim fraud and that they

made specific allegations with respect to fraud and that the alleged misrepresentations are

actionable. Plaintiffs also claim that the Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over gross

negligence claims. Plaintiffs contend that Amstar Bermuda and Amstar Group owe duties to

Plaintiffs because they control Amstar Poland Fund. Plaintiffs further argue that Amstar Poland

                                                 11
Fund GP alleged several grossly negligent acts after Amstar Poland Fund GP became Amstar

Poland Fund’s general partner. Finally, Plaintiffs maintain that the Court has personal

jurisdiction over all defendants because of the Subscription Agreements’ forum selection clauses.

   B. THE AMSTAR GROUP MOTION

       Amstar Group argues that (i) the Court does not have personal jurisdiction over Amstar

Group because it is a Colorado LLC headquartered in Colorado, (ii) the complaint does not plead

that Amstar Group did anything to induce Plaintiffs and (iii) the complaint does not allege that

Amstar Group was involved with any grossly negligent acts.

       Plaintiffs argue that Amstar Group submitted to the Court’s jurisdiction through the

Subscription Agreements because Amstar Group directly benefitted from managing Amstar

Poland Fund and that Amstar Group could foresee the forum selection clause binding them.

Plaintiffs also assert that the complaint alleges Amstar Group committed fraud because all

Amstar entities took credit for the alleged fraudulent misrepresentation. Plaintiffs further

contend that Amstar Group owed duties to Plaintiffs because its representatives managed

Plaintiffs’ investments in Amstar Poland Funds and breached that duty by failing to perform any

due diligence and raising preferred equity from investors with existing ties to Amstar. Finally,

Plaintiffs argue that their claims are not barred by laches.

                               IV.     STANDARD OF REVIEW

       Upon a motion to dismiss, the Court (i) accepts all well-pled factual allegations as true,

(ii) accepts even vague allegations as well-pled if they give the opposing party notice of the

claim, (iii) draws all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party, and (iv) only

dismisses a case where the plaintiff would not be entitled to recover under any reasonably

                                                 12
conceivable set of circumstances.59 However, the court must “ignore conclusory allegations that

lack specific supporting factual allegations.”60

        In considering a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the court generally may not

consider matters outside the complaint.61 However, documents that are integral to or

incorporated by reference in the complaint may be considered.62 “If . . . matters outside the

pleading are presented to and not excluded by the Court, the motion shall be treated as one for

summary judgment and disposed of as provided in Rule 56, and all parties shall be given

reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent to such a motion by Rule 56.”63

        “Unlike the standards employed in Rule 12(b)(6) analysis, the guidelines for the Court’s

review of [a] Rule 12(b)(1) motion are far more demanding of the non-movant. The burden is on

the Plaintiffs to prove jurisdiction exists. Further, the Court need not accept Plaintiffs factual

allegations as true and is free to consider facts not alleged in the complaint.”64 “Plaintiffs have

the burden to demonstrate a prima facie case establishing personal jurisdiction.”65 Plaintiffs

“must plead specific facts and cannot rely on mere conclusory assertions.”66

        When personal jurisdiction is challenged by a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule

12(b)(2), the plaintiff bears the burden of showing a basis for the court’s exercise of jurisdiction

over the nonresident defendant.67 A motion under Rule 12(b)(2) presents a factual matter, not a

59
   See Central Mortg. Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortg. Capital Holdings LLC, 227 A.3d 531, 536 (Del. 2011); Doe v.
Cedars Academy, No. 09C-09-136, 2010 WL 5825353, at *3 (Del. Super. Oct. 27, 2010).
60
   Ramunno v. Crawley, 705 A.2d 1029, 1034 (Del. 1998).
61
   Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(b).
62
   In re Santa Fe Pac. Corp. S’holder Litig., 669 A.2d 59, 70 (Del. 1995).
63
   Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(b).
64
   Appriva S’holder Litig. Co. v. EV3, Inc., 937 A.2d 1275, 1284 n.14 (Del. 2007).
65
   AR Capital, LLC v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 2019 WL 1932061, at *2 (Del. Super. Apr. 25, 2019).
66
   Id. (quoting Mobile Diagnostic Grp. Holdings LLC v. Suer, 972 A.2d 799, 802 (Del. Ch. 2009)).
67
   Werner v. Miller Tech. Mgmt. LP, 831 A.2d 318, 326 (Del. Ch. 2003); See Hornberger Mgmt. v. Haws & Tingle
Gen. Contractors, Inc., 768 A.2d 983, 986 (Del. Super. 2000); Boone v. Oy Partex AB, 724 A.2d 1150, 1154 (Del.
Super. 1997).

                                                      13
legal question alone.68 That factual question will concern the connection that the defendant has

had, directly or indirectly, with the forum.69 The legal questions presented – whether that

connection constitutes “doing business,” whether it satisfies some aspect of a long-arm statute, or

whether the assertion of personal jurisdiction conforms to conventional notions of fair play and

substantial justice – cannot be resolved until the Court determines these predicate factual

matters.70 A court cannot grant a motion under Rule 12(b)(2) simply by accepting the well

pleaded allegations of the complaint as true71 and the Court cannot restrict a Rule 12(b)(2)

motion to the face of the complaint.72

                                          V.       DISCUSSION

     A. AMSTAR POLAND FUND GP CONSENTED TO DELAWARE’S EXERCISE OF PERSONAL
        JURISDICTION BUT THE COURT MAY NOT EXERCISE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER
        AMSTAR GLOBAL AND AMSTAR GROUP.

        “Plaintiffs have the burden to demonstrate a prima facie case establishing personal

jurisdiction.”73 Plaintiffs “must plead specific facts and cannot rely on mere conclusory

assertions.”74 Delaware courts apply a two-part analysis to determine whether personal

jurisdiction exists over nonresident defendants. “First, the Court must determine whether

Delaware’s long-arm statute is applicable. Second, the Court must determine whether subjecting

a nonresident defendant to jurisdiction would violate due process.”75 To be subject to the

Court’s personal jurisdiction, the nonresident defendants must be subject to either (i) general

jurisdiction based on activities within Delaware that are so continuous and substantial so as to

68
   Hart Holding Co. Inc. v. Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., 593 A.2d 535, 538 (Del. Ch. 1991).
69
   Id.
70
   Id.
71
   Id.
72
   Id. at 539.
73
   AR Capital, LLC v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 2019 WL 1932061, at *2 (Del. Super. Apr. 25, 2019).
74
   Id. (citing Mobile Diagnostic Grp. Holdings LLC v. Suer, 972 A.2d 799, 802 (Del. Ch. 2009)).
75
   Id. (citing Matthew v. Fläkt Woods Group SA, 56 A.3d 1023, 1027 (Del. 2012)). See also Sessoms v. Richmond,
2017 WL 6343548, at *2 (Del. Super. Dec. 8, 2017).

                                                      14
justify litigation wholly unrelated to those activities or (ii) specific jurisdiction based on the

defendants suit-related contacts with Delaware.76 The constitutional standard for specific

personal jurisdiction remains whether the defendant purposefully established “minimum

contacts” in the forum state.77 Contracting with an out-of-state party is insufficient to establish

minimum contacts in the out-of-state party’s home forum.78

        Delaware’s long-arm statute permits the exercise of personal jurisdiction over a

nonresident defendant in a cause of action arising from the following specifically enumerated

acts required of that defendant:

        (1) Transacts any business or performs any character of work or service in the State;

        (2) Contracts to supply services or things in this State;

        (3) Causes tortious injury in the State by an act or omission in this State;

        (4) Causes tortious injury in the State or outside of the State by an act or omission
            outside the State if the person regularly does or solicits business, engages in any
            other persistent course of conduct in the State or derives substantial revenue
            from services, or things used or consumed in the State;

        (5) Has an interest in, uses or possesses real property in the State; or

        (6) Contracts to insure or act as surety for, or on, any person, property, risk,
            contract, obligation or agreement located, executed or to be performed within
            the State at the time the contract is made, unless the parties otherwise provide
            in writing.79

        To establish specific jurisdiction, Plaintiffs must show that “(1) the nonresident

transacted some sort of business in the state; and (2) the claim being asserted arose out of that

specific transaction.”80 This means that Plaintiffs must establish a nexus between their claims

76
    See, e.g., Genuine Parts Co. v. Cepec, 137 A.3d 123, 129-130 (Del. 2016).
77
   International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S., 310, 316 (1945).
78
   See Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 478 (1985).
79
   10 Del. C. § 3104(c).
80
   Maloney-Refaie v. Bridge at School, Inc., 958 A.2d 881, 878 (Del. Ch. 2008); EBP Lifestyle Brands
Holdings, Inc. v. Boulbain, 2017 WL 3328363, at *3 (Del. Ch. Aug. 4, 2017).

                                                       15
and the nonresident’s forum-related conduct.81 Furthermore, “[a] defendant can consent to a

court’s exercise of personal jurisdiction.”82 Parties to a forum-selection clause consent to that

forum’s court’s exercise of personal jurisdiction.83 “[N]on-signatory third party beneficiaries are

bound by forum selection clauses in underlying contracts.”84

        Amstar Group, Amstar Global and Amstar Poland Fund GP each assert that they are not

subject to Delaware’s long-arm statute and that exercising jurisdiction would violate due process

because the parties have no connection to Delaware and have conducted no Delaware business.

Plaintiffs contend that all parties are third-party beneficiaries of the Subscription Agreements and

are therefore bound by those Agreements’ forum-selection clause.

        i.       Amstar Poland Fund GP is a third-party beneficiary of the Subscription
                 Agreements.

        “A third-party beneficiary is an incidental beneficiary unless the parties to the contract

intended to confer a benefit upon it.”85 Third-party beneficiaries do not have to “be named and

identified as an individual.”86 Third parties may become bound by contracts “by either expressly

or implicitly adopting the agreement,” if the contract contemplates that non-signatories may

adopt it.87 Adoption occurs in a variety of contexts, such as when successors adopt contracts of

predecessors, or principals adopt the contracts made by their agents.88 Statements by

non-signatories may establish express adoption.89 Non-signatories may implicitly adopt

81
    See Mobile Diagnostic, 972 A.2d at 804.
82
   Focus Fin. Partners, LLC v. Holsopple, 241 A.3d 784, 801 (Del. Ch. 2020).
83
   See Nat. Indus’s. Grp. (Holding) v. Carlyle Inv. Mgmt. L.L.C., 67 A.3d 373, 381 (Del. 2013).
84
   Doe v. Cedars Academy, LLC, 2011 WL 285598, at *1 (Del. Super. Jan. 19, 2011).
85
   NAMA Holdings, LLC v. Related World Mkt. Ctr., LLC, 922 A.2d 417, 434 (Del. Ch. 2007).
86
   Oliver B. Cannon & Sons, Inc. v. Dorr-Oliver, Inc., 312 A.2d 322 (Del. Super. 1973).
87
   Am. Legacy Found. v. Lorillard Tobacco Co., 831 A.2d 335, 343-44 (Del. Ch. 2003).
88
   Id. at 348.
89
   Id. at 348-49.

                                                        16
contracts through conduct, for example, by accepting the benefits of a contract made for their

benefit.90

         The Former GP served as the Amstar Poland Fund’s first general partner.91 In November

2015, the Former GP exited the Amstar Poland Fund and the Amstar Poland Fund GP took over

as general partner.92 As the Amstar Poland Fund’s general partner, Amstar Poland Fund GP

received the benefit of the Amstar Poland Fund’s agreements. Amstar Poland Fund GP was the

successor in interest to the Former GP and therefore was a third-party beneficiary to the contracts

between the Amstar Poland Fund and the Plaintiffs. Amstar Poland Fund GP is thus bound by

the forum-selection clauses in the Subscription Agreements and is subject to Delaware’s exercise

of personal jurisdiction.

         ii.      Amstar Group and Amstar Global are not third-party beneficiaries to the
                  Subscription Agreements.

         Plaintiffs argue that representations in the Zlota Investment Presentation are evidence that

Amstar Group is a third-party beneficiary to the Subscription Agreements.93 For example,

references to “Amstar” in the Zlota Investment Presentation refers to Amstar Advisers, LLC and

Amstar Group.94 However, even if the representations in the Zlota Investment Presentation

suggested that Amstar Group was a third-party beneficiary to any agreements connected with the

Zlota 44 Project, “the contract itself . . . must contemplate that non-signatories may adopt it.”95

90
   Id. at 349.
91
   The Fund, the Fund GP, and Amstar Bermuda’s Op. Br. in Supp. of their Mot. to Dismiss (Amstar Mot. Op. Br.)
at 1.
92
   Id.
93
   Pls.’ Answer. Br. in Opp. To Amstar Grp.’s Mot. to Dismiss (“Amstar Grp. Mot. Answer”) at 7.
94
   Amstar Mot. Op. Br. Ex. A at 2 (“Amstar Advisers, LC and Amstar Group, LLC have historically shared the same
investment management approach, invested in the same types of real estate properties and shared the same premises,
personnel and processes, therefore these entities are collectively referred to as ‘Amstar.’ For the avoidance of doubt,
statements within this presentation that refer to the statistics, history, employees, offices or other resources of
‘Amstar’ refer to the collective statistics, history, employees, offices or other resources of Amstar Advisers, LLC
and its affiliates; these statements do not refer to any one of these entities independent from the others”).
95
   Am. Legacy Found., 831 A.2d at 344 (Del. Ch. 2003).

                                                          17
No provision in the Subscription Agreement suggests that the Amstar Group was meant to be a

third-party beneficiary to the Agreement.

        Similarly, Plaintiffs allege facts in the Complaint that Amstar Global was a third-party

beneficiary to the Subscription Agreement.96 The Court, however, cannot rely solely upon

well-pled allegations of the Complaint as true when the Court’s exercise of jurisdiction is

challenged under Rule 12(b)(2).97 Without evidence that Amstar Global is a third-party

beneficiary, the Court may not exercise personal jurisdiction over Amstar Global. Therefore, the

Court will GRANT the Amstar Motion with respect to Amstar Global.

        iii.    Amstar Group is not closely related to the Subscription Agreement.

        “[E]ven if defendants are not parties to the agreement or third-party beneficiaries . . . they

may be bound by the forum selection clause if they are closely related to the agreement.”98 A

party may be closely related if it: (i) it receives a direct benefit from the agreement; or (ii) it was

foreseeable that it would be bound by the agreement.99 It is foreseeable that controlled entities

would be bound by contracts entered by the entity that controls them.100

        There is evidence that Amstar Group controls Amstar Poland Fund.101 The Zlota

Investment Presentation notes that managing personnel comes from “Amstar,” defined within the

presentation as both Amstar Advisers, LLC and Amstar Group.102 Plaintiffs argue, therefore,

that it was foreseeable that Amstar Group would be bound to the Subscription Agreements.103

Delaware courts, however, find forum selection clauses binding “where the signatory controls

96
   See Pls’ Answer. Br. in Opp. To Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss (Amstar Mot. Answer) at 29-30.
97
   See Hart Holding Co. Inc., 593 A.2d at 538 (Del. Ch. 1991).
98
   Carlyle Inv. Mgmt. LLC v. Moonmouth Co. SA, 779 F.3d 214, 219 (3d Cir. 2015) (Citing Weygandt v. Weco, LLC,
2009 WL 1351808, at *4 (Del. Ch. May 14, 2009)).
99
   Weygandt, 2009 WL 1351808, at *4 (Del. Ch. May 14, 2009).
100
    Id. at *5.
101
    See Amstar Mot. Op. Br. Ex. A at 25-26.
102
    See id. at 2, 25-26.
103
    Amstar Grp. Mot. Answer at 8.

                                                     18
the non-signatory involved in the transaction.”104 By contrast, here, the non-signatory controls

the signatory. Thus, it would not be foreseeable that Amstar Group would be bound by the

Subscription Agreements. Amstar Group is not a third-party beneficiary of the Subscription

Agreements nor is it closely related to the Subscription Agreement. The Court also has no basis

to exercise personal jurisdiction over Amstar Group independent of the Subscription

Agreements. Therefore, the Court will GRANT the Amstar Group Motion.

        B. PLAINTIFFS’ FRAUDULENT INDUCEMENT CLAIM IS TIMELY.

        Delaware’s statute of limitations for a claim for fraudulent inducement is three years.105

“A claim for fraudulent inducement accrues when the fraudulent statements were made, which

must be on or before the date when the parties entered into the contract.”106 Plaintiffs argue that

their fraudulent inducement claim are timely under the tolling theories of fraudulent concealment

and equitable tolling.107 The limitations period, however, is only tolled until “the plaintiff was

objectively aware of the facts giving rise to the wrong i.e. on inquiry notice.”

        For tolling to apply, a plaintiff must plead that (i) defendants acted in an affirmative

manner to conceal the cause of action from Plaintiffs and (ii) defendants knew about the alleged

wrong to toll the statute of limitations at this motion to dismiss.108 Here, on June 8, 2018,

Defendants told Plaintiffs that the Zlota 44 Project was 70% constructed at the investment time,

and not 90% constructed as represented in the Zlota Investment Presentation.109 The Court can

infer that Defendants knew they had made a materially false representation that induced

104
    Neurvana Med., LLC v. Balt USA, LLC, 2019 WL 4454268, at *5 (Del. Ch. Sept. 18, 2019).
105
    See 10 Del. C. § 8106.
106
    Pivotal Payments Direct Corp. v. Planet Payment, Inc., 2015 WL 11120934, at *4 (Del. Super. Dec. 29, 2015).
107
    Amstar Mot. Answer at 11-12.
108
    Washington House Condo. Assoc. of Unit Owners v. Daystar Sills, Inc., 2017 WL 3412079, at *18 (Del. Super.
Aug 8, 2017).
109
    Compl. ¶ 66.

                                                       19
Plaintiffs to enter the Subscription Agreements. Therefore, at this stage, the Court will not

dismiss the Plaintiffs’ claim as time-barred.

        C. THE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENTS BAR THE FRAUD CLAIM.

        “Delaware law enforces clauses which identify the specific information on which a party

has relied and foreclose reliance on other information.”110 “[M]urky integration clauses, or

standard integration clauses without explicit anti-reliance representations, will not relieve a party

of its oral and extra-contractual fraudulent representations.”111 The clause must reflect a clear

promise by the plaintiff that it did not rely on statements made outside of the Agreement to make

its decision to enter into the Agreement.112

        The Subscription Agreements provide that the Plaintiffs are not “relying upon any other

information . . ., representation or warranty by any Covered Person,” outside of the Subscription

Agreements.113 The Subscription Agreements define “Covered Persons” as “[the Amstar Poland

Property Fund], any Parallel Funds, the GP, the general partners of any Parallel Fund, the

Investment Manager, their respective affiliates and their respective partners, members, directors,

officers, employees, agents and representatives.”114 Plaintiffs allege that they were induced into

the Subscription Agreements by statements in the Zlota Investment Presentation.115 The

Plaintiffs could not rely upon those statements because they are outside the Subscription

Agreements. The Court thus finds that the Subscription Agreements’ integration clauses bar the

Plaintiffs’ fraudulent inducement claim.

110
    FdG Logistics LLC v. A&R Logistics Holdings, Inc., 131 A.3d 842, 858 (Del. Ch. 2016).
111
    Abry Partners V, L.P. v. F & W Acquisition LLC, 891 A.2d 1032, 1059 (Del. Ch. 2006).
112
    See Anvil Holding Corp. v. Iron Acquisition Co., Inc., 2013 WL 2249655, at *8 (Del. Ch. May 17, 2013).
113
    Amstar Mot. Op. Br. Ex. B at 3; Ex. C at 3.
114
    Id. Ex. B at 1; Ex. C at 1.
115
    See Compl. 31-39.

                                                       20
         D. THE COURT DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER PLAINTIFFS’ GROSS NEGLIGENCE
            CLAIM BECAUSE IT IS AN EQUITABLE CLAIM.

         “A claim that a corporate manager acted with gross negligence is the same as a claim that

he or she breached his or her fiduciary duty of care.”116 A claim for breach of fiduciary duty is

“perhaps the quintessential equitable claim.”117 “A general partner generally owes fiduciary

duties to the limited partners” but liability for fiduciary duties may be modified by the

agreement.118 Jurisdiction for a breach of fiduciary duty claim “lies exclusively within the

Chancery Court even where the relief sought is purely monetary.”119

         Here, Plaintiffs allege that Amstar Poland Fund GP120 breached its duty to Plaintiffs–

limited partners in Amstar Poland Fund–by mismanaging the Zlota 44 Project.121 Plaintiffs

allege that Amstar Poland Fund GP mismanaged the Zlota 44 Project by (1) prioritizing the

interests of certain investors to the detriment of the Plaintiffs when obtaining financing for the

Zlota 44 Project, (2) mismanaging project timelines and costs for the Zlota 44 Project and (3)

acting with gross negligence in managing arbitration costs related to Amstar Poland Fund.122

Plaintiffs allege that the general partner Amstar Poland Fund GP acted with gross negligence

when managing the limited partnership Amstar Poland Fund. This claim is, therefore, an action

for breach of fiduciary duty of care, and the Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction to

116
    Prospect Street Energy, LLC v. Bhargava, 2016 WL 446202, at *7 (Del. Super. Jan. 27, 2016) (Citing Albert v.
Alex. Brown Mgmt. Servs., Inc., 2004 WL 2050527, at *6 (Del. Super. Sept. 15, 2004)).
117
    QC Commc’ns Inc. v. Quartarone, 2013 WL 1970069, at *1 (Del. Ch. May 14, 2013).
118
    Richard B. Gamberg 2007 Family Trust v. United Restaurant Grp., L.P., 2018 WL 566417, at *8 (Del. Ch. Jan.
27, 2018) (Concerning an agreement limiting liability to actions constitution fraud, bad faith, willful misconduct or
gross negligence).
119
    Prospect Street Energy, LLC, 2016 WL 446202, at *4 (Del. Super. Jan. 27, 2016).
120
    Plaintiffs also bring their Gross Negligence claim against Amstar Global and Amstar Group but the Court will
dismiss the claims against those parties because the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over Amstar Global and
Amstar Group.
121
    Compl. ¶ 99.
122
    Id.

                                                         21
hear it. The Court will thus dismiss the gross negligence claim because the Court lacks

subject-matter jurisdiction.

                                        VI.    CONCLUSION

       For the reasons set forth above, the Court GRANTS the Amstar Motion and GRANTS

the Amstar Group Motion. The Court finds that it may not exercise personal jurisdiction under

the Delaware long arm statute and the U.S. Constitution over Amstar Global and Amstar Group.

The Court also finds that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over the Plaintiffs’ equitable claim

for gross negligence of management. Finally, although the Plaintiffs’ claims are timely, the

Subscription Agreements’ integration clauses bar the Plaintiffs’ fraudulent inducement claims.

Dated: August 31, 2021
Wilmington, Delaware

                                              /s/ Eric M. Davis
                                              Eric M. Davis, Judge

cc: File&ServeXpress

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