• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday 19 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

China Construction America accuses former Baha Mar partner of trying to create chaos in ongoing legal dispute

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Thu 16 Jan 2025 at 05:51
China Construction America entities seek stay on US$1.6 billion Baha Mar fraud case amid fears of insolvency

Baha Mar

22
SHARES
559
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

CCA Bahamas, which was in August found liable to pay US$1.6 billion to the original developer of Bahamas integrated resort Baha Mar, has accused its former partner of attempting to create chaos by filing a Winding Up Petition against it and other CCA entities in a local court.

As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, the Winding Up Petitions were filed by BML Properties this week after the entities – CCA Bahamas Ltd, CSCEC Bahamas Ltd and CCA Construction Inc – sought bankruptcy protection in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey in December.

CCA was in October ordered to pay BML Properties a total of US$1.6 billion after a trial court found it had committed “many acts of fraud” in assuming control of the property in 2015. It has since filed counterclaims.

Baha Mar is currently operated by Hong Kong jewelry giant Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, which also holds interests in Australia’s Star Entertainment Group and Vietnam’s Hoiana. Chow Tai Fook also has links to Macau concessionaire SJM via chairman Henry Cheng’s 10% stake in STDM.

In a response sent to IAG, a spokesperson for CCA Bahamas said, “Along with its affiliate CSCEC (Bahamas), CCA Bahamas is disappointed that BML Properties has filed a meritless winding up petition.

“CCA Bahamas will take all necessary steps to protect our employees and the Margaritaville Beach Resort and British Colonial Hotel from BML Properties’ attempt to create chaos. The only threat to their jobs and operations is from BML Properties and its owner, Sarkis Izmirlian.

“BMLP’s gross mismanagement drove the Baha Mar resort into receivership and its latest gambit in The Bahamas is nothing other than transparent grandstanding to distract from the prospect of defeat in our appeal in New York of the trial court’s flawed decision.

“It is telling that BML Properties’ response to receiving our opening brief on the appeal was to attempt to bypass the New York appellate process by means of this frivolous petition and to litigate by press release.”

The ongoing dispute between BML Properties and the CCA entities revolves around BML’s assertion that the entities breached an Investors’ Agreement (IA) by failing to meet construction deadlines and forcing the collapse of the project in order to enrich itself and ensure Chinese interests claimed control.

Izmirlian had, during the global financial crisis, sought funding to realise his vision for Baha Mar and found success to the tune of US$2.45 billion through China’s Exim Bank. However the bank also stipulated that CCA must be general contractor and with the right to import up to 8,000 Chinese construction workers, providing in the process a significant boost to China’s domestic economy. On top of Exim Bank’s contribution, CCA chipped in US$150 million and BML Properties US$845 million.

The resort had initially been slated to open in December 2014, but after missing the opening and a series of later dates throughout 2015, BML filed for bankruptcy in June 2015 while blaming CCA for allegedly deliberate poor craftmanship. Baha Mar was said to be 97% complete at that point.

It was also reported at the time that CCA employees had been found smuggling computers and documents – some seeming to acknowledge substandard work – from project offices.

While Izmirlian had hoped to retain control and bring in a different contractor, the Bahamian government – which saw Baha Mar as a key national project – had other ideas and the property was instead handed over to a liquidator. Construction ultimately halted for more than a year before the government announced it had reached a deal with CCA to resume construction while it looked for a buyer.

Chow Tai Fook, whose controlling Cheng family has long held close ties with Beijing, was ultimately revealed to be that buyer at an undisclosed price although rumors circulating at the time suggested the acquisition came at a massive discount.

In response to the recent US$1.6 billion against it, CCA has claimed that BML Properties brought about its own demise by “bombing” its own deliverables and failing to meet its own responsibilities in ensuring Baha Mar could open on its originally scheduled opening date of 27 March 2015.

RelatedPosts

ARIA executive Ayesha Molino to replace Corey Sanders as MGM Resorts COO

ARIA executive Ayesha Molino to replace Corey Sanders as MGM Resorts COO

Fri 19 Sep 2025 at 06:06
CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:08
Genting sued by partner in Bahamas casino Resorts World Bimini for alleged “massive and co-ordinated fraud”

Genting Malaysia looks to dismiss amended complaint filed by partner in Bahamas casino-resort, says no new material elements introduced

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 19:02
Guiding light

Light & Wonder prices US$1 billion in senior notes to pay down existing debt

Thu 11 Sep 2025 at 07:00
Load More
Tags: Baha MarBahamasBML PropertiesCCA BahamasChina Construction AmericaNorth America
Share9Share2
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
NWR

Related Posts

ARIA executive Ayesha Molino to replace Corey Sanders as MGM Resorts COO

ARIA executive Ayesha Molino to replace Corey Sanders as MGM Resorts COO

by Newsdesk
Fri 19 Sep 2025 at 06:06

MGM Resorts International has appointed ARIA COO Ayesha Molino as its new Chief Operating Officer effective 1 January 2026, replacing the outgoing Corey Sanders. Gary Fritz, currently President of MGM Resorts International Interactive, will take on the role of Chief...

Philippines casino GGR up 630% quarter-on-quarter in 3Q20

Philippines remote gaming industry heading towards period of heavy consolidation

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 19 Sep 2025 at 01:26

The recent surge in Philippine online gaming licensees is likely to enter a period of contraction in the near future, with barely a third of those currently operational generating sufficient revenue to justify their existence. Tonet Quiogue, Partner and Head...

1xBet and Paris Saint-Germain extend partnership for three more seasons

1xBet and Paris Saint-Germain extend partnership for three more seasons

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 22:18

Global betting company 1xBet has extended its partnership with Champions League champs Paris Saint-Germain, retaining its status as the club’s official partner for the next three seasons. The renewal was confirmed during the final day of the 2025 SBC Summit...

Industry lawyer: All hope not lost for Thailand’s deflated casino bill

Industry lawyer: All hope not lost for Thailand’s deflated casino bill

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 20:04

Thailand’s controversial Entertainment Complex Bill may be dead in the water, but there remains some hope that it could yet be revived – possibly as soon as early 2026 – according to prominent industry lawyer Lau Kok Keng, Partner and...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English