Bulletin # 2418
Week Ending June 25, 2010
This bulletin constitutes the only official notification you will receive from this office concerning any of the following applications. Any observations you may have are solicited. Any comments should be in writing to Howard F. Pitkin, Banking Commissioner, at the Connecticut Department of Banking, 260 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103-1800 or via E-mail. Written comments will be considered only if they are received within ten days from the date of this bulletin.
Date | Bank | Location | Activity |
---|---|---|---|
6/23/10 |
The Connecticut Bankd and Trust
Company, Hartford |
114 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105 |
opening
date |
6/24/10
|
The Savings Bank of Danbury
Danbury |
325 Main Street South
Southbury, CT 06488 |
approved
|
SECURITIES AND BUSINESS INVESTMENTS DIVISION ACTIVITY
Consent Order
Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Intent to Fine Issued
On June 24, 2010, the Commissioner entered an Order to Cease and Desist, Notice of Intent to Fine and Notice of Right to Hearing against Grosvenor Partners, Ltd. a/k/a Aster Associates, a limited partnership located at 223 Coral Lane, Palm Beach, Florida. The respondent’s general partner is Mayfair Ventures, G.P. Frank J. Avellino is the general partner of Mayfair Ventures, G.P. The action alleged that, commencing in June 1995, Grosvenor Partners, Ltd. violated the antifraud provisions in Section 36b-4(a) of the Connecticut Uniform Securities by failing to make key disclosures to investors, including the fact that Frank J. Avellino had been the subject of a 1992 Order of Preliminary Injunction and Other Equitable Relief on Consent procured by the Securities and Exchange Commission (Securities and Exchange Commission v. Avellino & Bienes et al., No. 92-CF-8314 (S.D.N.Y)). The SEC action had alleged that Frank Avellino guaranteed that investors could achieve a return of between 13.5% and 20% by investing monies with Bernard L. Madoff. The June 24, 2010 Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Intent to Fine also alleged that the respondent failed to tell at least one Connecticut investor that all of the investor’s funds would be placed with Bernard Madoff. In addition, the action alleged that, the respondent’s offering of limited partnership interests violated Section 36b-16 of the Act, notwithstanding a prior Rule 506 exemptive filing, since the offering did not meet the criteria for an exemption under Rule 506. Grosvenor Partners, Ltd. was afforded an opportunity to request a hearing on the Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Intent to Fine.
Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Intent to Fine Issued
On June 24, 2010, the Commissioner entered an Order to Cease and Desist, Notice of Intent to Fine and Notice of Right to Hearing against S&E Investment Group, a general partnership having its principal office at 670 Tennis Club Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The action alleged that, from at least July 1993 forward, the respondent sold unregistered partnership interests to at least one Connecticut investor, notwithstanding the investor’s lack of experience in financial and business matters. The interests were purportedly sold absent registration under Section 36b-16 of the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act to investors who would take no active role in partnership management. The action also alleged that the respondent violated the antifraud provisions in Section 36b-4(a) of the Act by failing to make material disclosures to investors, including disclosures regarding risk, how investor funds would be invested and financial information on the respondent. S&E Investment Group was afforded an opportunity to request a hearing on the Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Intent to Fine.
Dated: Tuesday, June 29, 2010