By Aruna Viswanatha
WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Three senior executives of
New Stream Capital, a Connecticut hedge fund, were arrested and
charged on Tuesday for allegedly lying about the fund's
structure and financial condition in 2008 before it failed.
A grand jury indicted Managing Partners David Bryson and
Bart Gutekunst and Chief Financial Officer Richard Pereira on
charges of conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud, the U.S.
Justice Department said.
The executives pleaded not guilty and were released on bail,
the department said.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed related
charges against the three executives and settled a related case
against the fund's head of investor relations, Tara Bryson, who
is David Bryson's sister.
Gutekunst's attorney, Stanley Twardy, said his client and
others relied on lawyers and accountants in the matters at
issue.
"He looks forward to having the opportunity to vindicate
himself at trial," Twardy said.
A lawyer for Tara Bryson, Richard Portale, said the SEC did
not accuse Bryson of realizing any personal gain from the
conduct.
Attorneys for New Stream and the other executives did not
immediately respond to requests for comment.
Authorities accused the executives of secretly revising the
fund's capital structure to prioritize its largest investor,
Gottex Fund Management, while continuing to tell other investors
they were all on the same footing.
The $750 million fund, which focused on illiquid
investments, revised its structure in March 2008 after Gottex
threatened to redeem its investment, the SEC said.
A Gottex representative was not immediately available for
comment.
As the financial crisis worsened in September 2008, the fund
faced $545 million of redemption requests. It attempted
restructuring and filed for bankruptcy in March 2011, the SEC
said.
"Hedge fund managers who put greed ahead of full disclosure
to investors violate a fundamental trust," said George Canellos,
acting director of the SEC's enforcement division.
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