Maria Luisa and Lady Monika Bacardi strongly criticise the behaviour of BACARDI LTD in the run-up to the AGM
In the wake of the Bacardi LTD AGM, Maria Luisa and Lady Monika Bacardi have released a statement regarding Bacardi LTD’s invitations to the subsidiaries of the BASTILLE TRUST, as they are simply ignoring the Monegasque court proceedings. This fact still seems inexplicable as Bacardi LTD has to appear in court itself in Monaco on May 5th, 2022 and is well aware of the litigation regarding the illegality of the BASTILLE TRUST. The press release was published in international media, among others in Associated Press, and received broad attention: “Maria Luisa and Lady Monika Bacardi strongly criticise the behaviour of BACARDI LTD in the run-up to the AGM BACARDI LTD summoned to take part to the hearing scheduled on 5 May 2022 in Monaco on the question of the nullity and voidity of Bastille Trust and of its lack of titles on the BACARDI LTD shares. Maria Luisa and Lady Monika Bacardi, daughter and widow of the late Lord Luis Bacardi, are scathingly critical of the conduct of the management of BACARDI LTD in the run-up to the Annual General Meeting of BACARDI LTD to be held on 16 June 2022. This follows the sending of the nomination forms for the candidates to be voted on at the AGM. These appear to be grossly defective across a number of areas and provide scope for challenging the resolutions of the AGM. Again, the invitations to the AGM were sent to the trustees of the Liechtenstein of the BASTILLE TRUST in their capacity as directors of the two underlying vehicles, Rantex Anstalt and Arateo Anstalt, who, in the opinion of the management of BACARDI LTD, hold the blocks of shares in BACARDI LTD, and are therefore recorded in the share register. Invitation to the general meeting delivered to a void legal construct and lacking of the titles on the shares? BASTILLE TRUST is a void legal construct and lacking any title to the BACARDI LTD shares according to the heirs of Lord Luis Bacardi. The confirmation of this nullity and lack of titles to the BACARDI LTD shares is currently being sought in court proceedings. In addition, there are other pending proceedings to clarify whether the transfers of ownership of Lord Luis Bacardi’s share packages to the BASTILLE TRUST and to its underlying vehicles by his lawyers were carried out lawfully and whether these two entities are, in fact, the owners of the shares in BACARDI LTD. In the meantime, an AFFIDAVIT by the formal settlor of the BASTILLE TRUST has been received, confirming the nullity of the trust and the glaring deficiencies in the transfers of ownership on the shares. The judicial clarification of ownership will take place in Monaco, among other jurisdictions. BACARDI LTD has been summoned to take part to the hearing on 5 May 2022. All proceedings are well known to the company. CEO candidate Facundo Bacardi with irresolvable conflict of interest with BASTILLE TRUST In addition, Facundo Bacardi, current CEO of BACARDI LTD, is again nominated by his governance as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the AGM. He has been entangled in a massive and irremediable conflict of interest regarding the BASTILLE TRUST for decades. On 2004 he was installed as a family trustee in the BASTILLE TRUST against the wishes of the late Lord Luis Bacardi. Lord Luis Bacardi, and later his widow, were only able to get him removed after several years of court proceedings. The company he represents, failed to execute the transfer of the share packages registered in the name of Rantex Anstalt and Arateo Anstalt, under the control of BASTILLE TRUST, to another private vehicle governed by Lord Luis Bacardi and before that to his daughter, when it was ordered to do so by the dying Lord Luis Bacardi. Meanwhile, Facundo Bacardi is still the ultimate beneficiary of the BASTILLE TRUST, contrary to the express will of Lord Luis Bacardi, as he clearly stated in his MEMORANDUM OF WISHES dated 30 November 2004. The unprecedented insistence with which BACARDI LTD is trying to ignore this situation and the numerous legal issues surrounding the nullity of the BASTILLE TRUST, and the lack of titles on the BACARDI LTD shares by Arateo Anstalt and Rantex Anstalt, is breath taking. Coupled with the CEO’s irresolvable conflict of interest in relation to a share package of about 6% of the corporate capital, this behaviour is evidence of glaring governance deficiencies in the group. The suspicion is, that compliant enablers are helping Facundo Bacardi to be re-elected chairman of the board. For our part, the results of the Annual General Meeting will in any case be examined, and we reserve the right to challenge all resolutions.”
Flawed establishment of Bastille Trust confirmed by one of the Bastille Trust founding entities!
A Gamechanging event might have taken place recently. We have obtained information that one of the founders of Bastille Trust, after having a deep look inside their archives and reviewing newly surfaced material, has declared that the establishment of the trust should never have happened. The founding party declared that neither paperwork nor other valid documents could be retrieved that would suggest a lawful incorporation of the BASTILLE TRUST! This supports the suspicion of Lady Monica Bacardi and her legal team that the establishment of the Trust should never have happened in first instance. This could have far reaching consequences for the legitimacy of the Trust. This supports legal opinion that the transfer of assets – especially the transfer of the Bacardi Ltd. shares – from the predecessor vehicle to the null & void BASTILLE TRUST must be reversed and that all assets should have been part of the inheritance of the Late Lord Luis Bacardi. It seems that slowly the house built of lies and deception over decades begins to crumble from the fundament. We will closely watch the implications of this. More and more new evidence is recovered!
Endless Trail of abused Power of Attorney and Misconduct
The enclosed visualization reveals constant abuse of power of attorney that happened over decades and in multiple shades, fraudulent legal proceedings and regulation infringements that led to the Bacardi Ltd. Shares, that were part of Lord Luis’ inheritance from his bother being locked up in a null and void vehicle, named the Bastille Trust. Lord Luis Bacardi, who repeatedly tried to intervene in the dealings of his advisers, did at lifetime not succeed in protecting his interests and the family wealth. This visualization gives a first impression on the developments over time. Massive conflicts of interest point out that some of Liechtenstein lawyers and trustees did certainly not operate in the best interest of their clients but rather for their own personal gains and motivations.
Dr. Lorenz fails with attempt to shut Lady Monika and Maria Luisa Bacardi up
Now the Court of Appeal lifted the injunction and remanded the case to the court of first instance as Lady Monika and Maria Luisa Bacardi’s rights were injured as they were not allowed to answer in court to the wrongful accusations of the Trustees.
Anonymous Messages from deceased Individuals to Lady Monika Bacardi
owever, one sender is peculiar, interesting as a quick google search shows that the used name belongs to a deceased person. Furthermore, the message was sent to a quite private email-address belonging to Lady Monika Bacardi, which was not known to a wider group of individuals. The phrasing “business colleagues from Cuba” brings to mind the origin of the Bacardi Family and those parts of the family who still do not accept Maria Luisa and Monika as part of their family. These parts have a keen interest in the wrongful existence of the Bastille Trust. Even more disturbing seems the threat to seek refuge in “another country”, a chiffre for “another world”. As today these kind of messages have not stopped.
Re-Surfaced Deed Of Gift
After desperate attempts to receive the Deed of Gift, in which Lord Luis Bacardi gifts without any doubt his shares to his daughter Maria Luisa, the original document was finally retrieved from the archives of the trustees. This is further proof for the misconduct of the trustees and the nullity of the Bastille Trust. In two separate documents, one even carrying the stamp and seal of the Liechtenstein Court, the will of Lord Luis Bacardi is crystal clear. It is a question, how despite this clear expression of will the direct transfer (that would not have required the setup of Bastille Trust) was conducted.
Monegasque Inheritance law being plainly ignored?
After the passing of her beloved husband, Lady Monika had to deal with inheritance matters. Apparently, also the Trustees dealing with Bastille Trust were aware of this situation, as they feared, that Lady Monika could fight over the heirship on behalf of her daughter. A recently obtained protocol of a trustee meeting between L.M., Ernst Walch, Wohlmacher and R.S. in 2005 reveals their knowledge of collision of Monegasque inheritance law to Liechtenstein law. Although the protocol states that tAlthough the protocol states that they will notify the executor of the Lord Luis Bacardi’s will of this legal matter, they never have done so. They also have never approached Monaco juvenile courts, who were appointed for Maria Luisa. Why not?hey will notify the executor of the Lord Luis Bacardi’s will of this legal matter, they never have done so. They also have never approached Monaco juvenile courts, who were appointed for Maria Luisa. Why not?
Bacardi LTD. Shares on wrong tracks
Sometimes the new finding is that there is none. Until this day, neither a contract justifying the transfer of assets or shares from Lord Luis Bacardi to a previous trust structure (Firstinvest/Primeinvest), from which the shares were transferred to the null & void Bastille Trust, could be found, nor could the trustees provide one. This makes one wonder what the good practice threshold of business is in Liechtenstein. It is frightening that without clear proof, even assets worth billions can be moved from one place to the other, solely upon initiative of legal advisors, but with no express deed, verified by a notary.
Florida court documents show major involvement of the infamous Liechtenstein law firm Marxer & Partner
What happened exactly? In the late 80s, when Lord Luis Bacardi lawfully took 50% of his assets out of the Corniche Trust, the Contingent Beneficiaries sued him in Liechtenstein. The lawfirm Marxer & Partner represented the Contingent Beneficiaries in this fraudulent scheme (s. Screenshot). At first sight, it seemed they sued him out of greed. However, Lord Luis Bacardi won the heavy legal battle with ease. Later one of the Contingent Beneficiaries replied to a Florida Court that it was manipulated by the other Contingent Beneficiaries and by a board director member of Bacardi Ltd (!) to gain control of the Bacardi Ltd. shares, which were bequeathed to Lord Luis. The following passages of the Florida court documents stand for themselves: One of the Contingent Beneficiary (“The Petitioner”) was deceived by the other Contingent Beneficiaries and by a board member of Bacardi Ltd (“The Respondents”). Most disturbing the Petitioner confirmed that she was not represented by independent legal counsel! Moreover, all of this devious deception, Marxer & Partner played the key role in the fake legal proceedings against Lord Luis Bacardi in Liechtenstein.