Snow Covered Capital, LLC v. Weidner ( 2024 )

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 SNOW COVERED CAPITAL, LLC, Case No.: 2:19-cv-00595-APG-NJK 4 Plaintiff Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law 5 v. 6 WILLIAM WEIDNER, et al., 7 Defendants 8 9 As required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a), I enter my findings of fact and 10 conclusions of law following the bench trial in this case. 11 I. FINDINGS OF FACT 12 1. Defendant Lucky Dragon, LP (LD LP) is a Nevada limited partnership. 13 2. Snow Covered Capital, LLC (SCC) is a single purpose California limited liability 14 company which was formed to fund a loan to LD LP. 15 3. On May 3, 2016, SCC entered into written contracts to provide loans to LD LP to 16 complete the construction of a new hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada to be called the Lucky 17 Dragon. These contracts included: 18 • A Construction Loan between SCC and LD LP. Exh. 16. 19 • A Secured Promissory Note (Construction Loan) given by LD LP and payable to 20 SCC in the amount of $30,000,000 and a Secured Promissory Note (Line of 21 Credit) given by LD LP and payable to SCC in the amount of $15,000,000 22 (collectively the Notes). Exhs. 12, 13. 23 / / / / 1 • A Construction Deed of Trust executed by LD LP for the benefit of SCC that was 2 recorded against the Lucky Dragon property. Exh. 29. 3 • A Completion Guaranty Agreement signed by William Weidner, Andrew 4 Fonfa, and David Jacoby (the Guarantors). Exh. 21. 5 • A Recourse Obligations Guaranty signed by Weidner, Fonfa, and Jacoby. Exh. 6 15. 7 • A First Amendment to Construction Loan Agreement and Extension Agreement, 8 which extended the maturity date for the repayment of the amounts borrowed. 9 Exh. 43. 10 4. In addition to the loans from SCC, LD LP obtained approximately $90,000,000 11 from foreign nationals who invested under the then-effective EB-5 program, 8 U.S.C. 12 § 203(b)(5). See 8 C.F.R. § 204.6; USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 6, Part G, Ch. 4; Final Rule, 84 13 Fed. Reg. 35750, 35752 (July 24, 2019). These EB-5 investors became limited partners in LD 14 LP. 15 5. The Lucky Dragon real estate and improvements (the Property) were owned by 16 LD LP. Lucky Dragon, LLC (LD LLC) operated the hotel and casino. 17 6. The Lucky Dragon was built in 2016 at a cost of more than $160,000,000. It was 18 located along the north side of Sahara Avenue, between Fairfield Avenue and Tam Drive, one- 19 quarter mile west of the Las Vegas Strip. It included a 203-room hotel, 27,500-square-foot 20 casino, and 408 parking spaces on 2.51 acres of land. 21 7. The Lucky Dragon amenities included a lobby with a front desk and reception 22 area, multiple food and beverage outlets, casino space, retail areas, a business center, spa, 23 / / / / 1 outdoor swimming pool, guest pantry/gift shop, guest laundry, attached parking garage, and 2 wireless high-speed internet. 3 8. The Lucky Dragon’s business plan was to cater to high-end Asian gamblers. 4 9. The Lucky Dragon opened on November 19, 2016. Its profitability struggled 5 from the outset, primarily due to a poor “hold” percentage in the casino, particularly in baccarat. 6 In the spring of 2017, LD LP began efforts to find funds to pay off the SCC loans. Those efforts 7 later expanded to also attempt to sell the Property and the general partner interests in LD LP and 8 LD LLC. 9 10. While the Lucky Dragon struggled financially, Weidner and Fonfa, through their 10 affiliated entities, infused additional funds to keep the Property operating throughout 2017, with 11 the majority of those funds (over $18 million) provided by entities affiliated with Weidner. 12 11. The existence of EB-5 investors made it difficult to sell the Property or interests 13 in the businesses. 14 12. On August 8, 2017, SCC issued a formal notice of default. Exh. 55. 15 13. On August 18, 2017, SCC sent a notice of default and demand letter. Exh. 67. 16 14. After the default, SCC entertained offers for the purchase of its Notes. 17 15. On September 1, 2017, SCC recorded a Notice of Default and Election to Sell 18 under Deed of Trust, which was recorded in the Clark County Recorder’s Office as 19 Book/Instrument No. 20170901-0000515. Exh. 72. 20 16. On January 4, 2018, the Lucky Dragon casino, bars, and three of the four 21 restaurants were closed. ECF No. 288 at 33 ¶ 76. 22 17. On January 9, 2018, SCC recorded a Notice of Trustee’s Sale with the Clark 23 County Recorder’s Office as Book/Instrument No. 20180109-0001520. Exh. 120. 1 18. The SCC Trustee’s sale was scheduled to take place on February 6, 2018. 2 19. LD LP and LD LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2018, 3 which stalled the Trustee’s sale. 4 20. SCC filed in the bankruptcy case two appraisals (the Harper appraisals) that 5 valued the property at $60,000,000 as of January 31, 2018 and $55,500,000 as of May 4, 2018. I 6 do not rely on those appraisals as indicative of the Property’s fair market value as of the 7 foreclosure date. Nevertheless, SCC represented to the bankruptcy court that the Property was 8 worth between $55,500,000 and $60,000,000 in the first half of 2018, and the bankruptcy court 9 agreed. Exh. 594 at 8. 10 21. On September 10, 2018, a bankruptcy auction was conducted at which SCC credit 11 bid $35,000,000 for the Lucky Dragon assets. Exh. 200. That purchase was never completed. 12 22. The hotel at the Lucky Dragon closed on October 2, 2018. 13 23. On September 25, 2018, the bankruptcy court granted SCC’s motion for relief 14 from the automatic stay in order to sell the Property through a Trustee’s sale. 15 24. On October 30, 2018, the Lucky Dragon was sold at a Trustee’s foreclosure sale 16 to SCC for a credit bid of $35,000,000.00. 17 25. SCC then retained CBRE to sell the Property. 18 26. CBRE immediately began communicating to potential buyers that obtaining the 19 highest sale price was not the most important factor to SCC, and that SCC was most interested in 20 a quick transaction. For example, CBRE made the following statements to prospective buyers: 21 • “Deal certainty and the amount of time needed to close are going to be the most 22 important factors to Snow Covered at this point.” Exh. 673. 23 / / / / 1 • “Deal certainty and timing to close will likely be more important than pricing to 2 Snow Covered at this point.” Exh. 702. See also Exh. 704 (similar). 3 • “Speed to close is more important than price at this point.” Exh. 703. 4 • “I would like to give you the full story not simply a price because while price is 5 important it is not the most important element for the seller. Deal certainty and 6 transaction speed will yield the best possible price.” Exh. 675. 7 • “While we have people saying they will pay us as much as $60 million we do not 8 have any term sheet with financial support. Our client is most interested in a 9 quick certain deal with a reasonable price rather than the maximum price. They 10 will transact in the high $40 millions and be responsible for paying off the two 11 other secured lien holders. We are already engaging with interested parties. We 12 will not be running s [sic] competitive suction [sic] process. The first real group 13 that comes to the table with acceptable price and terms and signs the PSA will be 14 give [sic] the deal.” Exh. 713. 15 • “Their price flexibility will be maximized if a buyer says they are prepared to put 16 up $5.0 million non-refundable and close within 30 days. A tall order but under 17 that structure I believe Snow Covered will sell for a number that begins with a 4.” 18 Exh. 696 at 2. 19 • “If any of your investors have an interest in the asset and can close on a deal 20 quickly . . . there is extreme flexibility on pricing.” Exh. 713. 21 27. On December 5, 2018, CBRE sent bid instructions (Exh. 241) to potential buyers 22 stating the following: 23 • Final bids were due on January 18, 2019. 1 • Financing contingencies were not acceptable. 2 • “Bids with the soonest closing date will be favored over those that have a future 3 date that is more than a few weeks out.” 4 • “Bidders will find the maximum price flexibility if they complete their due 5 diligence prior to the bid date, are prepared to place a $5.0 million non-refundable 6 deposit with Fidelity Title, are prepared to close in less than 10 days and have 7 marked up the PSA in a manner deemed acceptable to the Seller.” 8 28. SCC’s proposed Purchase and Sale Agreement called for a $5,000,000 deposit, a 9 20-day period from signing to closing, no due diligence period, and no conditions. ECF No. 700. 10 29. SCC ultimately sold the Property to DFA, LLC, an entity controlled by Don 11 Ahern, for $36,000,000. The parties signed a letter of intent to purchase the Property on 12 February 25, 2019 and entered into a purchase agreement on March 1, 2019. Exhs. 259, 260. 13 The sale closed on April 22, 2019 for a price of $36,000,000. 14 30. The sale to Ahern was not indicative of the fair market value of the Property 15 because of several significant differences between a typical sale process and the events that led 16 up to the Ahern purchase. For instance, SCC was very interested in selling quickly and not 17 commanding the highest purchase price. It clearly conveyed that message to potential buyers 18 through CBRE’s messaging. 19 31. Ahern was in a position to make an all-cash offer in the expedited timeframe 20 required by SCC. He was an experienced and sophisticated seller and buyer of commercial real 21 estate. He was familiar with the location and the builder, and his son-in-law was in management 22 of the Lucky Dragon when it was operational. 23 / / / / 1 32. Ahern believed the conditions of sale laid out by SCC through CBRE were 2 “abnormal,” which presented him an opportunity to get an excellent deal if he moved quickly. 3 33. Ahern never considered including a casino in the Property. The appraisers that 4 testified at trial all agreed that the highest and best use of the Property—and therefore the highest 5 value—would come from including a casino in the Property’s operation. 6 34. Ahern believed he paid below the actual market value of the Property, and felt he 7 could double his purchase price in two years. Ahern Trans. at 55:15-56:16. 8 35. Shortly after purchasing the Property, Ahern received several inquiries from 9 people interested in buying it from him even though he did not solicit any offers and had no 10 interest in selling it. See Ahern Trans. at 43:6-46:9; Exhs. 757, 759, 760, 762; Ahern Trans. at 11 62:18-63:122 (Ahern would not have re-sold the Property for $50,000,000). 12 36. SCC filed this lawsuit on April 8, 2019 as an “Application for Deficiency 13 Judgment.” ECF No. 1 at 1. 14 37. To determine the existence and amount of a deficiency, if any, I must determine 15 both the amount of the indebtedness on the date of the Trustee’s sale and the Property’s fair 16 market value on that date. The difference between those numbers determines the amount of any 17 deficiency. 18 38. The parties stipulate that the total indebtedness owed by the Guarantors on 19 October 30, 2018 (the date of the Trustee’s sale) was $59,200,705.33. ECF No. 451. 20 39. Accordingly, the primary question to be determined at the bench trial is the fair 21 market value of the Property on October 30, 2018. 22 40. Three appraisers testified at trial regarding the fair market value (FMV) of the 23 Property as of October 30, 2018. SCC presented Scott Krueger and William Kimmel, and the 1 defendants presented Tio DiFederico (collectively, the Appraisers). I found all three Appraisers 2 to be credible and professional, so I disregard none of their testimony or opinions. However, I 3 disagree with some of the factors each of them considered in reaching their conclusions. 4 41. The Appraisers agree on the following FMV definition: “Fair market value is 5 generally defined as the price which a purchaser, willing but not obliged to buy, would pay an 6 owner[,] willing but not obliged to sell, taking into consideration all the uses to which the 7 property is adapted and might in reason be applied.” Unruh v. Streight, 615 P.2d 247, 249 (Nev. 8 1980). 9 42. The Appraisers agree that the highest and best use of the Property was as a 10 casino-hotel. Thus, they agree that a casino-hotel—as opposed to a hotel without a casino—was 11 feasible and the most valuable use of the Property. 12 43. All three Appraisers used the Income Approach to value the Property. In doing 13 so, each first estimated the stabilized value of the Property. Stabilization occurs when a property 14 is operating at its optimum potential. All three Appraisers projected a stabilized EBITDA1 and 15 multiplied that by a multiplier they determined to be appropriate, which produced a stabilized 16 value. All three Appraisers then deducted an amount for the costs they believed would be 17 necessary to achieve stabilization, which produced their ultimate FMV opinions. 18 44. The Appraisers estimated the following stabilized EBITDA for the Property: 19 DiFederico: $12,966,403 20 Krueger: $8,560,514 21 Kimmel: $10,000,000 22 / / / / 23 1 Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. 1 45. DiFederico and Krueger based their EBITDA opinions on revenue and expense 2 projections for different components of a casino-hotel – e.g., casino, hotel, food and beverage, 3 etc. Kimmel did not do that analysis. 4 46. The biggest differences between DiFederico’s and Krueger’s EBITDA estimates 5 are their casino revenue and expense projections. 6 47. After projecting the stabilized EBITDA, the Appraisers determined the 7 appropriate multiplier. A multiplier, like a capitalization rate, is an appraisal tool to convert a 8 property’s EBITDA to FMV. The Appraisers each selected what they believed was the 9 appropriate multiplier and then multiplied their stabilized EBITDA by that number to get a 10 stabilized value. 11 48. The Appraisers used the following multipliers: 12 DiFederico: 9.5 13 Krueger: 7.75 14 Kimmel: 7 15 49. To determine the appropriate multipliers, each of the Appraisers considered sales 16 of casino properties. Thus, a critical component of their analyses was selecting the sales most 17 comparable to the Property. It is preferable to use sales as close in time and location as possible. 18 50. Multiplying their EBITDA projections by their multipliers produced the following 19 estimated stabilized values: 20 DiFederico: $123,000,000 21 Krueger: $66,300,000 22 Kimmel: $70,000,000 23 / / / / 1 51. The Appraisers’ last step was to deduct the costs they believed necessary to reach 2 stabilization. The deductions included costs to reposition the property, lost revenue while the 3 Property is closed for repositioning, entrepreneurial profit, etc. The Appraisers made the 4 following deductions: 5 Deduction % of Stabilized Value 6 DiFederico $59,226,300 48% 7 Krueger $27,800,000 42% 8 Kimmel $33,400,000 48% 9 52. The Appraisers’ opinions of the Property’s FMV are as follows: 10 DiFederico: $63,770,000 11 Krueger: $38,500,000 12 Kimmel: $36,500,000 13 53. I agree with Kimmel that this Property is very difficult to appraise because it is 14 “betwixt and between.” The Property is approximately 2.5 miles from downtown Las Vegas and 15 thus not connected to the synergy that seems to exist among the hotels and casinos on or near 16 Fremont Street. It is one-quarter mile west of the Las Vegas Strip, so it is within a short walking 17 distance to the then-developing north end of the Strip (e.g., Resorts World, Convention Center 18 expansion, Fontainebleau). But it does not have the pedestrian traffic that benefits Strip-front 19 properties. It is much closer to the Strip than the Tuscany Suites & Casino, Silver Sevens 20 Hotel & Casino, and Palms Casino Resort. Thus, comparisons to downtown properties and Strip 21 properties are difficult to gauge. 22 54. The Appraisers used data reported by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. See, 23 e.g., Exhs. 708, 780. The data is grouped into “bands” of revenue combining several properties 1 in each band. It becomes difficult to precisely compare that data to the Property. DiFederico’s 2 comparable properties were skewed somewhat higher because he included in his database Strip 3 megaresorts, whose revenue would be expected to be higher than the Property’s. On the other 4 hand, Krueger and Kimmel included properties that are less comparable but on the lower end 5 (e.g., Club Fortune and smaller downtown casinos). Kimmel acknowledged that if you exclude 6 some of the downtown properties in these revenue bands that are not truly comparable to this 7 Property, his EBITDA estimate would be closer to $20,000,000. 8 55. Kimmel and DiFederico both assumed the Property would have 37 table games. 9 Krueger’s analysis, using fewer table games based on casino square footage, seemed a bit 10 contorted and less anchored to customer demand. 11 56. DiFederico’s estimate of table game revenue was confirmed by long-time, 12 respected market participants. ECF No. 466 at 13-14. 13 57. DiFederico’s multiple of 9.5 was properly based on sales of comparable 14 properties reasonably close in time and location to the Property. Kimmel used sales that were 15 more remote in time, and the only Las Vegas property he used was Club Fortune, which has no 16 hotel and is not comparable. Krueger relied on sales from Pennsylvania and Missouri and the 17 local Club Fortune, and included “proforma” EBITDA instead of “trailing” EBITDA. Kimmel 18 and DiFederico used trailing EBITDA. Trailing EBITDA are based on actual numbers, while 19 proformas are estimates and thus are more risky and less accurate. Krueger testified that using 20 trailing EBITDA usually results in using higher multipliers as well. 21 58. Overall, DiFederico’s estimate of FMV was more accurate than Krueger’s and 22 Kimmel’s, although I do not agree with it in total. A reduction is necessary to account for the 23 somewhat higher values that result from including the Strip megaresorts in the database. 1 59. Based on all the evidence, I find that the fair market value of the Property as of 2 October 30, 2018 was $60,000,000. 3 60. Contrary to SCC’s argument, the price Ahern paid for the Property is not 4 indicative of its FMV. SCC wanted to sell quickly and conveyed that message to potential 5 buyers. The conditions of sale laid out by SCC through CBRE (including very limited, if any, 6 due diligence) were abnormal and narrowed the pool of potential purchasers. Ahern knew he 7 could get an excellent deal by moving quickly because he was one of the few who could make an 8 all-cash offer in the expedited timeframe required by SCC. SCC’s expert appraiser Krueger 9 agreed that aspects of the sale to Ahern were “atypical.” Further, Ahern did not include the 10 value of a casino in the purchase price, but all of the Appraisers agreed that including a casino 11 would increase the Property’s value. 12 61. Similarly, most of the “data points” SCC relies upon are not indicative of the 13 FMV. Bankruptcy auctions and foreclosure sales are not reliable indicators of FMV. During the 14 bankruptcy, SCC and its agents were marketing a variety of purchase options, including equity in 15 the entities and purchasing the Property. The mixed signals and the looming bankruptcy auction 16 and foreclosure sale also depressed interest in paying a high price for the Property. The 17 existence of the EB-5 investors further complicated sale efforts and reduced interest, and would 18 result in a lower sale price. SCC’s agent John Knott confirmed these complications and their 19 impact on price. See Exh. 696 at 1 (“The challenge with the [bankruptcy] sale was [that] not all 20 property issues, including EB-5, would be resolved via a sale through bankruptcy. . . . We 21 explained to Snow Covered that until they own the property and we can communicate what they 22 are selling the value will be lower.”). 23 / / / / 1 62. In addition, SCC represented to the bankruptcy court that the Property was worth 2 between $55,500,000 and $60,000,000 in the first half of 2018, and the bankruptcy court agreed. 3 Exh. 594 at 8. SCC argues that I cannot rely on the “Harper appraisals” that formed the bases for 4 SCC’s court representations. I give no weight to the Harper appraisals. However, SCC contends 5 I should rely on “data points” from the bankruptcy period (e.g., the bankruptcy auction). If so, 6 then it is fair to include as data points SCC’s representations to the bankruptcy court about the 7 Property’s value in the first half of 2018, and the bankruptcy court’s agreement. 8 63. I put no credence in the bankruptcy auction, foreclosure sale, or sale to Ahern as 9 indicators of the Property’s FMV. Rather, I place more emphasis on Ahern’s testimony that he 10 purchased the Property well below market value. The fact that he received several inquiries 11 about flipping the Property shortly after he purchased it reflects that his purchase price was well 12 below FMV. His belief that he could double his investment (i.e., to $72,000,000) in two years, 13 while not definitive or based on appraisal expertise, is more reliable than SCC’s “data points.” It 14 also confirms DiFederico’s FMV opinion as the most accurate, and supports my conclusion on 15 the Property’s FMV. 16 II. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 17 Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) § 40.459(2) limits the amount of a deficiency judgment 18 to the lesser of: 19 (a) The amount by which the amount of the indebtedness which was secured exceeds the fair market value of the property sold at the time of the sale, with 20 interest from the date of the sale; or (b) The amount which is the difference between the amount for which the 21 property was actually sold and the amount of the indebtedness which was secured, with interest from the date of sale . . . . 22 23 / / / / ] “Nevada’s deficiency legislation is designed to achieve fairness to all parties to a 2|| transaction secured in whole or in part by realty.” First Interstate Bank of Nevada v. Shields, 730 3} P.2d 429, 431 (Nev. 1986). Shields expressly applied the protections of Nevada’s deficiency judgment statutes to guarantors. /d. at 430-31. 5 “Fair market value is generally defined as the price which a purchaser, willing but not 6] obliged to buy, would pay an owner[,| willing but not obliged to sell, taking into consideration 7|| all the uses to which the property is adapted and might in reason be applied.” Unruh v. Streight, P.2d 247, 249 (Nev. 1980). The fair market value of property in a deficiency judgment action is determined as of the date of the foreclosure sale. /d. at 248. 10 The party seeking a deficiency judgment has the burden of proof for every element of a deficiency judgment, including the fair market value of the property. Branch Banking & Tr. Co. Desert Canyon Phase IT, LLC, No. 2:12cv-1463-JCM-PAL, 2016 WL 9108912, at *2 (D. Nev. 13]| Mar. 14, 2016); Miller v. Assurity Life Ins. Co., 2014 WL 859230 at *2-3 (Nev. Feb. 28, 2014). 14,10. CONCLUSION 15 The fair market value of the Property on October 30, 2018 was $60,000,000 and the 16]| indebtedness was $59,200,705.33, leaving no deficiency as of October 30, 2018. 17 DATED this 2nd day of July, 2024. 18 19 ANDREW P. GORDON UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 20 21 22 23 14