HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023312.jpg

3.09 MB

Extraction Summary

6
People
5
Organizations
1
Locations
1
Events
3
Relationships
5
Quotes

Document Information

Type: Email correspondence / draft
File Size: 3.09 MB
Summary

An email dated January 29, 2016, sent to Melanie Spinella, containing a drafted message explicitly addressed to 'Leon' (Leon Black). The author (Epstein) aggressively disputes a fee reduction for financial advisory services that purportedly saved the client $600 million in taxes. Epstein claims an agreement for $50-60 million was reduced to $20 million after intervention by Brad Karp, and criticizes the contributions of an advisor named Alan while mentioning payments involving 'my plane' and Phaidon.

People (6)

Name Role Context
Jeffrey Epstein Sender (implied)
Author of the text, demanding payment for financial advisory services.
Leon Black Recipient (contextual)
Addressed as 'Leon', referred to as 'closest of friends', client receiving tax advice.
Melanie Spinella Email Recipient
Listed in the 'To' field of the email header.
Brad Karp Attorney
Mentioned as having conversations regarding payment caps; Epstein suggests a meeting with him.
Alan Advisor/Retainer
Likely Alan Schwartz; Epstein criticizes his contribution and lack of unique ideas.
Debra Deceased Spouse
Likely Debra Black; mentioned in context of 'use issue on debras death'.

Organizations (5)

Name Type Context
Phaidon
Publishing company involved in the transactions/payout discussions.
Artspace
Mentioned in context of investment and debt write-offs.
BRH
Likely a family office or holding company entity; mentioned as 'largest asset by far'.
Athene
Mentioned regarding a future or separate transaction.
Rothschild
Mentioned regarding a future or separate transaction.

Timeline (1 events)

Unknown
Meeting in dining room regarding upfront advisory fees.
Epstein's Dining Room

Locations (1)

Location Context
Location of a specific conversation between Epstein and the recipient regarding upfront fees.

Relationships (3)

Jeffrey Epstein Friend/Client/Advisor Leon Black
Refers to him as 'closest of friends', provides tax advice, disputes fees.
Jeffrey Epstein Professional/Adversarial Brad Karp
Epstein questions if Karp knew of prior agreements; Karp communicated the lower fee cap.
Jeffrey Epstein Professional Rivalry Alan
Epstein disparages Alan's contributions to the financial planning.

Key Quotes (5)

"Leon I feel It was remarkably unfair."
Source
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Quote #1
"alternative methods of payment . ie my plane, or an -in-kind payment were discussed"
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023312.jpg
Quote #2
"you are my closest of friends ,but my experience is that when amounts get large, people tend to get unhappy when it actually comes time for them to pay."
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023312.jpg
Quote #3
"600 million in after tax savings was just accomplished."
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023312.jpg
Quote #4
"unless they were wearing a clown suit."
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023312.jpg
Quote #5

Full Extracted Text

Complete text extracted from the document (4,441 characters)

on the returns. a cashflow that is misleading helped prepare financial statements ( april ) Oversight on new grats- first at 22 and then at 19 that were done without my consultation and were "resolved " soley as a result of my last minute intervention. . 600 million in after tax savings was just accomplished. (BTW- for some reason you left the 30 million outstanding that I had said should only be done" if' that was my additional fee. and not used for non biz purposes and not art.
Sorry but .,
in June and then again Sept, we both agreed to a 50% of phaidon payout first projected at 20 . but less when artspace and debt taken out, - then only after weeks, when you delayed any detailed discussion of money wanting to give the issue a thoughtful response ( which I fully understand ) . you unilaterally changed our agreement. . 5m would be reserved for the future ? . and out of the remaining 15m ,? i would receive only a third. ( note : I'm confident that both the debt , and the art space investment will also lead to a write- off of another 30 m. plus ) In my dining room ,you were surprised when I said that I require most people to pay their advisory fee up front so that I am assured that I will be properly compensated for my work when strategies are implemented . you may recall that you appeared offended and said " are you suggesting that i would go back on my word " I said no , of course not ! you are my closest of friends ,but my experience is that when amounts get large, people tend to get unhappy when it actually comes time for them to pay.
I include below the email i sent to you on April 15, the day i was examining your returns It laid out my understanding of the compensation agreed for a transaction of the magnitude to the penny of the one just completed.ie 600m When it appeared that the transcation would and could go foward I was the first to point out that our agreement would cost you too much money, therefore
more details
From day one I proposed to discount our agreement to a 50 - 60 million range. An extremely fair price for all the transactions just completed . including Phaidon. - I was never told that this was out of range. in fact, alternative methods of payment . ie my plane, or an -in-kind payment were discussed ( ie including keeping the 30m portion of the fee outstanding till March ) ,I provided , only because you specifically requested a detailed step by step execution plan and reviewed all documents that i was given access to. ( Phaidon was never forthcoming ) in order to make my many corrections . ( as i said more needed on phaidon ) . I was then told that Alans involvement warranted a discount . Even in the best of light , though it is beyond question that not one time in the three years of his retainer has he ever proposed a unique idea. (including any way to deal with the use issue on debras death ,or even the most basic review of your largest asset by far , the BRH agreement. ) O.K. - lets say he made a contribution to the plan and stretch reality beyond the pale and say it was 50 %. though no one could posit such a large amount unless they were wearing a clown suit. , the payment and our formula of 37 percent associated with the deal was known . It had both sent in writing and spoken about on the phone numerous times , a detailed execution plan was provided . then and only then, after the entire transaction was laid out for the group to follow You told me that after a number of conversations with brad karp that a total of only 20m would be paid , (and even that was more than you originally contemplated ) for both transactions . Leon I feel It was remarkably unfair. Did brad even knew of our prior agreements.? ?, I would ask that you I and Brad karp sit together if you think it would be helpful. . I would like to send him this email, with your consent of course. If the transactions were never consummated , i would not be owed a dime, however , the expected fee was known up front. , the detailed step by step plan was followed and overseen by me, the amount that I had requested before the transaction had even begun, had already been heavily discounted, out of friendship, . I believe the decision re only paying 20 m has frankly , left me felling quite uneasy. and colors the view about the Athene or Rothschild transaction.
Date: Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 2:39 PM
Subject:
To: Melanie Spinella [Redacted]
you've agreed that
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023312

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