João Espírito Santo Brito and Cunha claims that the right of preference was guaranteed to sell land in the immediate vicinity of Herdade da Jardia and accuse the bank to share the values to prevent the exercise of this right.
A lawsuit was recently filed at the Setúbal District Court by João Espírito Santo Brito and Cunha, owner of Herdade da Jardia, against the Novo Banco group (GNB), to aim at annulment of a sale of 8.7 million euros and the exercise of your right of preference over two Horses located in Sesimbra.
According to writes, the sale in question, made in 2024, involved Spanish manager Volkert Schmidt, GNB executive administrator and representative of the Lone Star Fund, who manages the Bank’s vast real estate portfolio.
The controversy revolves around the sale of about 750 hectares of land belonging to Greenwoods Ecoresorts – a society integrated in Novo Banco’s asset manager – to investors associated with the Arié group, including Albatros and Quantum funds.
João Espírito Santo Brito and Cunha claims that preference was promised In the purchase of part of these land, located next to his property, which presented a proposal of 7.75 million euros, approved by the BPI with credit granted, but the sale was eventually made to the Arié group for a slightly higher value.
The sales process was, according to the complaint, involved in lack of transparency and alleged simulation: the values were artificially distributed by different sonships to prevent the exercise of the right of preference over the grounds adjacent to the Herdade da Jardia.
The operation also involved figures close to Schmidt, and part of the quotas was later transferred to Ana Argos, his wife, which raised suspicions and Originated a complaint with CMVM. The sale is also being investigated for deliberately not to include a legal study that attested the constructive potential of the land, resulting in the approval of the sale without a reevaluation of the price.
Faced with the charges, the new bank said it was unaware of the lawsuit, while the Arié group assured that the transaction respected all legal rules. Already Banco de Portugal and CMVM, contacted by the public, refused to provide clarification on the case.
