Kelly Slater dealt blow as investment company falters

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Surfpolitik

The Kelly Slater Wave Company has been dealt a blow with today's announcement that LM Investments has been placed into voluntary administration. LM Investments is being investigated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for multiple breaches of corporation law.

LM Investments is a fund manager that reportedly holds $3 billion worth of investors funds and operates in 70 countries. In a recent ABC investigation LM Investments were found to be making misleading claims about its operations and were involved in a dubious property development called Maddison Gardens at Pimpana, north of the Gold Coast. 62.5% of LM Investments entire portfolio is invested in Maddison Estate.

The land at Pimpana was bought for $89 million between 2007 and 2009. Property prices have since slumped and the ABC claims that the borrowings on Maddison Estate now amount to $240 million.

Further, there are 800 lots of land for sale at Maddison Estate which equals the entire number of lots sold on the Gold Coast last year. Not a single lot has yet been sold at Maddison Estate.

Maddison Estate has been advertised as a lifestyle housing estate with celebrities such as gardener, Jamie Durie, beach volleyballer, Natalie Cook, and swimmer, Samantha Riley, all lending their name to the venture and the various parks within the estate.

A wave pool was also planned at Maddison Estate and this where the Kelly Slater Wave Company becomes involved.

Last August LM Investments signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kelly Slater Wave Company to develop the world's first continuous wave pool at Maddison Estate. The Kelly Slater Wave Company has been in a first-to-market race with Webber Wave Pools and this news appeared to give the Kelly Slater Wave Company the lead.

Meanwhile, stories questioning the integrity of LM Investments and its founder, Peter Drake, were beginning to appear in the press. In May, Michael West at Fairfax called Drake, "The Scarlet Pimpernel of funds management", questioning his mysterious operations.

West followed that in October with another, more damning article. "A man with so many hats and masks can't help but be elusive" was written after unsuccessfully trying to contact Drake for many months and also researching the labyrinthine structure of LM Investments. West also began to contact investors in the fund who were being left out of pocket.

In November it appeared that, despite the negative press, LM Investments were strengthening their relationship with the Kelly Slater Wave Company. A press release was sent out stating that the company would be on site at Maddison Gardens to inspect the estate and also holding a press conference. In attendance would be Noah Grimmett, General Manager of Kelly Slater Wave Company.

Swellnet immediately emailed Grimett to ask if we could speak to him privately while he was on the Gold Coast. He promptly replied asking if we could send the press release to him, which we did. It appeared he wasn't even aware of the details within the press release.

The following day the inspection and the associated press conference at Maddison Estate were cancelled.

Earlier this month the ABC program Four Corners picked up the trail that Michael West had found and launched an investigation. In a program titled 'Betrayal of Trust' they discovered breaches in LM Investment's business practice and informed ASIC Chairman, Stephen Metcalf. "Thank you for telling me," said Metcalf on camera, "We'll take a closer look at it."

Which leads to today's news that LM Investments has been placed into voluntary administration. LM Investments maintain that, if finished, Maddison Estate would be worth between $1 billion and $1.6 billion although it's unlikely they will get the opportunity to realise that now.

Where that leaves Kelly Slater and the race to build the first continuous wave pool is anybody's guess, however today's news is a resounding setback for the 11-time world champion. Swellnet has contacted Noah Grimmett but is yet to receive a reply.

Comments

top-to-bottom-bells's picture
top-to-bottom-bells's picture
top-to-bottom-bells Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 2:01pm

Baywatch, VSTR, and now this. No doubt about it, the boy can surf but you wouldn't seek him out for business advice.

top-to-bottom-bells's picture
top-to-bottom-bells's picture
top-to-bottom-bells Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 2:44pm

So Kelly (or his company) signed the memorandum of understanding six months AFTER the first reports of malpractice surfaced?? I was tempted to think this was just bad luck bad that's plain careless. A quick Google search would reveal the murk surrounding LM Investments.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 2:50pm

One of the KSWC directors is Terry Hardy, maybe he's too busy to Google search? He's has an awful lot on his plate lately.

gromfull's picture
gromfull's picture
gromfull Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 3:53pm

This is all becoming quite disturbing, am I right so far in recapping,
2009, Kelly Slater and his manager fail in taking control of the world tour, with a rebel tour.
Meanwhile KS continues to be the no 1 sponsor of quicksilver, what is his sponsorship worth per yr, and considering quirks share price woes and sliding sales, how has quick retained him ? By way of giving him shares ? If so how much of the company does he own. And if he is a major share holder, minor share holder, he has a say in where quick spend their money, he owns the contest he just won
Then he starts his own wave company with the man who now owns Zosea the owner of the asp tour rites, not sure about the last one,
Now the KSWC in partnership with terry hardy/Zosea attempt a wave pool with a dodgy investment firm, bad connection, bad research, and this man is in control of the asp's future, mmm good luck with that one, but the what is worrying is KS's drive for control, all seems a bit too in house for me

whaaaat's picture
whaaaat's picture
whaaaat Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 3:53pm

The depressing fact is that this is a voluntary administration, and a deed of company arrangement is probably being put together as I write.

Instead of the legitimate purpose of giving a company breathing space to take stock and restructure, VAs are now commonly used as a tool to allow directors (in this case, a sole director) to rise from the bonfired ashes of stolen savings to con another day.

hungryhippos's picture
hungryhippos's picture
hungryhippos Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 4:32pm

You people raise good points.

However, for a second, forget about LM investments and their bum chums at ASIC.

What I don't get is, why put a wave pool in place that has plenty of good waves?

Why not set them up in places like Perth? the waves here are well below mediocre.

blow-in-9999's picture
blow-in-9999's picture
blow-in-9999 Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 4:38pm

? waves for the vast majority of days on the goldie are

a) very overcrowed

b) generally pretty poor.

To be entirely honest SEQ is vastly overrated for good surf and only really gets coverage because of the volume of photographers, along with the lack of secret spots to protect... (Although I'd grumble about some of the Sunny coast shots posted here).

NB: KS does NOT have significant holding is QS http://au.finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=ZQK

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 4:52pm

@Hungry Hippos,

Because the wave pool wasn't being built to service surfers, it was being built to, (a) help revive the lagging Gold Coast economy, and (b) turn a buck for LM Investments.

The needs of surfers may be taken into account at a later date but this was a strategic move to put a marquee entertainment park near a tourist hub.

derra83's picture
derra83's picture
derra83 Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 5:16pm

So Kelly Slater sells his name and image to a shyster that's just ripped off institutional investors and individuals conned by his 'bank like' assurances?

Nice one Kelly, nice.

crisp's picture
crisp's picture
crisp Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013 at 10:40pm

Just fucking around on the Kelly Slater Wave Company site and it says that there is 6.5 million surfers in Australia. Really? Cooly at 4ft might feel like all 6.5 million are out with you but that has to be bullshit.

That's 1 in 4. No way. So there are 1 million people in Sydney who surf?

The scary thing is I bet you the same figures are used to calculate ROE for these parks.

sandcastle's picture
sandcastle's picture
sandcastle Thursday, 21 Mar 2013 at 1:21pm

Kelly more and more resembles someone who reached the top and is starting to fall... I've seen this film before, many times!

yehmateyeh's picture
yehmateyeh's picture
yehmateyeh Thursday, 21 Mar 2013 at 8:19pm

Tall poppy syndrome the lot of you.

z-man's picture
z-man's picture
z-man Thursday, 21 Mar 2013 at 9:36pm

"Stuff happens"

bob_s's picture
bob_s's picture
bob_s Monday, 8 Apr 2013 at 9:41am

If you counted every person who enjoys a wave in some form ,shape or method I think that 6.5m is a possible estimate. Only half or less of that might be what we each perceive or recognise as a "surfer". Spin is always there but the method of counting needs to be stated for us to understand what is meant by that.

evand's picture
evand's picture
evand Thursday, 11 Apr 2013 at 1:13am

HAHAHA. Baywatch, VSTR and now this. Cheers, mate.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Monday, 29 Jul 2013 at 3:34pm

In a world full of hucksters and conmen Peter Drake, the architect behind Madisson Estate, could hold his head high. It's been revealed the man who almost potted Kelly Slater's wavepool on the Gold Coast had:
-Two properties on South Straddie
-A property at Maldon, Vic
-A property on Russel Island, QLD.
-A family home at Mermaid Beach, QLD. Worth $15 million to boot!
-Property at Savisavu, Fiji
-Four cars including a Lexus and Mercedes (of course).
-Gave himself a $26 million loan.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/lm-fund-gave-loan-to-drake-20130728-2qsnp...

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 31 Jul 2013 at 6:06am

Actually it looks like PD's loan to himself has been upgraded - the latest SMH article reports $46 million.

And how's this: "Since the collapse in March this year, the administrators FTI Consulting have charged $2.4 million in fees, or $130,000 a week. Disbursements came to another $2 million."

Bloody hell, I am in the wrong business. $130K in weekly 'fees' plus nearly the same in 'expenses'?

http://www.smh.com.au/business/lm-frozen-funds-commissions-before-client...

whaaaat's picture
whaaaat's picture
whaaaat Wednesday, 31 Jul 2013 at 7:30am

Never get between a liquidator and a bankable cheque

whaaaat's picture
whaaaat's picture
whaaaat Wednesday, 31 Jul 2013 at 7:33am

Also, Ben, most liquidators I know think that any distribution to creditors is just an opportunity missed

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 31 Jul 2013 at 7:44am

That's the saddest part of all.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Tuesday, 3 Sep 2013 at 11:06am

LM Investments made a cameo appearance last night on Media Watch. Nothing new to reveal but it's an interesting addition nonetheless.

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3839279.htm

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Sunday, 29 Sep 2013 at 1:18pm

"Embattled Gold Coast businessman Peter Drake has had his passport revoked and assets frozen during an ongoing investigation into the collapse of his LM Investment Management empire."

(thanks to zenagain for the heads up)

http://www.smh.com.au/business/lm-boss-peter-drakes-assets-frozen-201309...

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Monday, 30 Sep 2013 at 8:40am

This is Peter Drakes little bungalow on Millionaire Row, sold for a song.

Maybe Kelly snapped it up?

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/queensland/fallen-gold-coast-financ...

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Monday, 30 Sep 2013 at 8:50am

"Before the sale, a mannequin would be moved from room to room in an attempt to ward off burglars while the house sat­ empty."

They used a scarecrow to fend off the crows? Hilarious!

peterb's picture
peterb's picture
peterb Monday, 30 Sep 2013 at 8:53am

This all a bit of a let down, I had his marketing strategy, wave-pool usage, wave monitors and background music, travelling, moving selfie of the ride, child care, after wave-pool drinks and a small shopping mall for the little lady after lunch.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Monday, 30 Sep 2013 at 9:01am

I know Pete.

I was looking forward to my Hurley fries and Quikshake post surf.

peterb's picture
peterb's picture
peterb Monday, 30 Sep 2013 at 9:16am

- plus we were working on the Kelly Slater Waterbed .. the ocean motion model, a night of deep and everlasting swell.

whaaaat's picture
whaaaat's picture
whaaaat Monday, 30 Sep 2013 at 9:38am

Jokes aside, if you're one of the poor gimps whose money has been hollow logged by this bastard, the link in this article should help you keep up with developments.

http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/asic.nsf/byHeadline/13-266MR%20Court%20order...

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 10 Sep 2014 at 7:25pm

New company not a good track record BKS.

the-roller's picture
the-roller's picture
the-roller Thursday, 11 Sep 2014 at 7:50am

udo,

Not to worry. Apparently he's well diversified with his investments.... and still owns 65% of the GPRO shares he earned.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2014/06/11/surfer-kelly-slater-looks...

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 11 Sep 2014 at 8:06am

Holding 73,000 shares currently @ $68 US per share.. shit that's big bucks.

whaaaat's picture
whaaaat's picture
whaaaat Thursday, 20 Nov 2014 at 11:01am

The chickens are coming home to roost. Let's all pray for jail time.

https://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/media-centre/find-a-media-release/201...

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Thursday, 20 Nov 2014 at 11:13am

Fingers crossed, but these slimy little Octopi always seem to find a way to sqirm out of the tank. It always seems to be the naive mum and dad investors that get burnt.

whaaaat's picture
whaaaat's picture
whaaaat Thursday, 20 Nov 2014 at 11:23am

True, Zen - sad but true. Let's just hope that ASIC is on its game. I know it's smarting from its recent Senate bashing. Which was well warranted.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 28 Dec 2016 at 2:02pm

"PETER Drake, founder of failed LM Investment Management and other directors of the funds manager have walked free after the Federal Court found them innocent of breaching their duties."

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/bankrupt-businessman-peter-...