Timothy J. Neill, accionista principal de 45RPM, interpuso una demanda en Estados Unidos contra IGNIA, sus filiales y socios, por fraude y malversación de fondos. El monto reclamado asciende a 750,000 dólares.

Este caso puede llegar a cobrar un alto interés público, ya que IGNIA recibe recursos de las Afores mexicanas, lo cual pone el foco en los mecanismos que las Administradoras de Fondos de Ahorro para el Retiro.

El desfalco es superior a 9.8 millones de pesos, reconocido por directivos de IGNIA en 2023 mediante un acuerdo que no fue cumplido. Además, la firma habría iniciado en México una demanda a nombre de 45RPM sin autorización, con el fin de evitar que su responsabilidad quedará evidenciada.

MEDIA ALERT

 

45RPM interpone demanda en EE. UU. contra IGNIA y sus socios por fraude y malversación

 

·       ¿Por qué este hecho es relevante?

 

o   IGNIA recibe recursos de las Afores mexicanas, lo que amplifica la importancia pública y política de estos señalamientos sobre malos manejos financieros.

 

·       La acción legal:

 

o   Timothy J. Neill, accionista principal de 45RPM, presentó una demanda en Estados Unidos contra IGNIA, sus filiales y socios, reclamando al menos 750,000 dólares por daños y perjuicios relacionados con fraude y malversación de fondos cometidos por una exempleada de IGNIA.

 

·       El fraude:

 

o   Una exempleada habría realizado transferencias no autorizadas que superan los 9.8 millones de pesos.

 

·       Compromiso incumplido:

 

o   En 2023, directivos de IGNIA, incluidos Otto Graff y Álvaro Rodríguez, firmaron un acuerdo con Neill para:

 

§  Reembolsar los montos malversados

 

§  Devolver honorarios pagados por servicios financieros

 

§  Cubrir gastos legales y contables

 

§  Asumir costos de acciones legales contra la exempleada

 

o   A pesar de este compromiso, solo se realizó un pago parcial de 30,000 dólares, y desde abril de 2024 IGNIA dejó de responder, incumpliendo el acuerdo.

 

·       Demanda en México sin autorización:

 

o   IGNIA habría iniciado de manera unilateral una demanda en México a nombre de 45RPM, sin autorización de Neill, con el objetivo de evitar que las entidades de IGNIA fueran señaladas directamente.

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Exhibit A DocuSign Envelope ID: CD3AADC9-EE05-4DA8-AE09-3205D0F0A4D9 Timothy John Neill – IGNIA SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL TERMS The following is a summary of the main agreements reached by “Promotora Ignia”, S.C. (“IGNIA") and its partners, on one hand, and Timothy John Neill (“TN”) on the other. I. Background 1. TN, as the main shareholder of 45RPM LLC, was referred to IGNIA for advisory services when starting business in Mexico. 2. In 2017, FortyfiveRPM, S.A. de C.V. (“45RPM SA”), a Mexican Company owned by TN and Jorge López (“JL”), hired IGNIA for the provision of certain treasury professional services (IGNIA Services”). The agreement was entered with an affiliate company of IGNIA (“ISS”), as per IGNIA advice. 3. TN, through 45RPM SA and other companies, paid to ISS, an approximate amount of MXP$2,246,934.34 for the provision of the IGINIA Services. 3. IGNIA Services were assigned to an IGNIA’s employee named Andrea Patricia Benavides Elizondo (“ABE”). 4. It has come to IGNIA’s and TN’s attention that ABE (i) carried out a series of unlawful acts, including, but not limited to (a) certain unauthorized transfers of funds, from the bank account of 45RPM SA, for an amount of MXP$9,829,626.59, (b) the forgery of TN's and JL's signatures on corporate documents of 45RPM SA that included the illegal transfer of ownership of the company away from the original shareholders, and (ii) acted in coordination with Mr. David Gonzalez Alvarado (“DGA”) (presumably, her husband). 5. Due to the abovementioned events, TN has hired legal and accounting services in Mexico, and has incurred in fees for approximately MXP$,2,000,000.00. II. IGNIA’s Commitment In previous conversations between IGNIA’s principals and TN, IGNIA has agreed to: 1. Refund TN, personally or through any affiliated company, for 100% of the unauthorized transfers of funds made by ABE; 2. Refund TN, personally or through any affiliated company, for 100% of the fees paid to ISS as IGNIA’s Services; 3. Refund TN, personally or through any affiliated company, for 100% of the fees incurred by TN in legal and accounting services, as set forth in section I.5. above; 4. Assume all costs that may be incurred by IGNIA and/or ISS in pursuing any legal and/or criminal actions against ABE and/or DGA and/or any other persons involved ABE’s wrongful doings. DocuSign Envelope ID: CD3AADC9-EE05-4DA8-AE09-3205D0F0A4D9 III. TN’s Commitment In addition to the set forth in section II above, TN has agreed to: 1. Reasonably cooperate with IGNIA and/or ISS, at their sole costs and expenses, in pursuing any legal and/or criminal actions against ABE and/or DGA and/or any other persons involved ABE’s wrongful doings. The abovementioned, following the recommendations of the lawyers selected by IGNIA and/or ISS. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “reasonably cooperate” shall include, but not be limited to, co-filing any suits or actions before Mexican courts against ABE and/or DGA and/or any other persons involved ABE’s wrongful doings, as co-plaintiff, as well as to appear before such Courts to testify whatever is reasonable to prove the illegal actions carried out by them. The abovementioned cooperation will not be unreasonable denied, except for any strong legal advice to TN not to proceed in certain way, because of potential negative consequences of exposure by TN. IV. Payment of IGNIA’s Financial Commitments Nothing in this document shall be interpreted as a condition for IGNIA to compensate TN personally or through any affiliated company, for the amounts set forth in section II above. IGNIA agrees to pay to TN personally or through any affiliated company, any proceeds from the legal proceedings immediately upon receipt up to the aggregate amounts set forth in subparagraphs 1-3 in Section II above (“IGNIA Due Amounts”). IGNIA and TN hereby furthermore agree that any amounts recouped by IGNIA from ABE, in excess to the aggregate of the IGNIA Due, shall be applied to legal fees and expenses incurred by IGNIA. Notwithstanding the foregoing, TN is willing to await payment of the total of such amounts until IGNIA recovers all or a portion thereof from ABE, through such legal remedies as IGNIA and its advisors deem appropriate, provided however that, in the event that IGNIA has not recovered the IGNIA Due Amounts by April 30, 2024, IGNIA and TN agrees that both parties will meet and negotiate the form of payment of any payments that are pending.