Frequently Asked Questions

You received a Plan Notice if you were identified by the Distribution Agent through its access to the claims process in the Related Class Action (Shige Takiguchi, et al. v. MRI International, Inc., et al., 2:13-cv-01183-GMN-VCF (D. Nev.)) as someone who may have suffered losses on investments in MRI International, Inc. that were initially made or reinvested from July 5, 2008, and July 5, 2013, inclusive (the “Relevant Period”).

You may review a copy of the Plan Notice here.

If you did not receive a Plan Notice and believe you suffered losses on investments in MRI International, Inc. that were initially made or reinvested during the period July 5, 2008, through July 5, 2013, inclusive, please contact the Distribution Agent immediately to establish if you should be considered a Preliminary Claimant. Any request made more than sixty (60) days after the Plan was approved may not be considered.  You will be required to submit documentation that establishes that you suffered losses on investments in MRI that were initially made or reinvested during the period July 5, 2008, through July 5, 2013, inclusive. Examples of valid documentation are Corporate Certificates of Investments issued by MRI or other investment documentation supplied by MRI.  Documentation must include the name on the investment, the date of investment, the certificate number, the value of the investment, and the investment option.
 

You do NOT have to file a claim form to be eligible for a Distribution Payment under the Distribution Plan. Preliminary Claimants were identified by the claims and opt-out process in the Related Class Action and not through an independent claims process. 

If the Distribution Agent does not have sufficient information to make a Distribution Payment to you, a “payment request” form was included with the Plan Notice sent to you.  If a payment request was included with the Plan Notice sent to you, you must complete it and submit it to the Distribution Agent to update your address and payment information no later than January 26, 2024.  

For more information, including how to submit the required documents, please see the Plan Notice and FAQ 10 below. 

For details regarding eligibility for a Distribution Payment, see FAQ 5 below. 

The Relevant Period is from July 5, 2008 through July 5, 2013, inclusive.
 

To be eligible for a Distribution Payment from the Distribution Fund, you must satisfy certain criteria that are described in detail in the Plan. The Plan is available in English and Japanese, in the Documents section of this website. You may also request a copy of the Distribution Plan by calling 0210-974-935 (Japan) or (833) 383-5377 (U.S) to request one from an operator or by emailing a request to [email protected]. The eligibility criteria include the following:

• You suffered losses on investments in MRI International, Inc. that were initially made or reinvested during the period July 5, 2008, through July 5, 2013, inclusive.  This includes Persons who filed their claims untimely in the Related Class Action but submitted their claim in sufficient time to be considered under this Plan, as well as any investors who opted out of the Related Class Action;
• You are determined to have suffered a Recognized Loss pursuant to the Plan of Allocation attached as Exhibit A to the Plan;
• The Distribution Agent has been able to obtain from you all information that is needed to determine your eligibility and/or direct a payment to you; and
• You are determined eligible to receive a payment equal to, or more than, $20.

If you did not receive a Plan Notice and believe you suffered losses on investments in MRI International, Inc. that were initially made or reinvested during the period July 5, 2008, through July 5, 2013, inclusive, please contact the Distribution Agent immediately to establish if you should be considered a Preliminary Claimant. Any request made more than sixty (60) days after the Plan was approved may not be considered.  You will be required to submit documentation that establishes that you suffered losses on investments in MRI that were initially made or reinvested during the period July 5, 2008, through July 5, 2013, inclusive. Examples of valid documentation are Corporate Certificates of Investments issued by MRI or other investment documentation supplied by MRI.  Documentation must include the name on the investment, the date of investment, the certificate number, the value of the investment, and the investment option. 

Pursuant to the Discharge Order, the Receiver sent $32,842,802.82 to the SEC, comprising the Distribution Fund. The Distribution Fund is held in an interest- bearing account and all accrued interest will be added to, and become a part of, the Distribution Fund. If any additional funds are directed to the Distribution Fund from the Receivership Estate, by SEC or Court order, agreement, or otherwise, prior to the Court’s termination of the Distribution Fund, such funds will be added to, and become part of, the Distribution Fund and distributed, if feasible, in accordance with the Plan.
 

To qualify for a payment from the Distribution Fund, you must have losses on investments in MRI that were initially made or reinvested from July 5, 2008, through July 13, 2013, inclusive, and satisfy other eligibility criteria in the plan. You also must have timely provided requested information to the Distribution Agent (if any was requested).  Details on eligibility for a Distribution Payment are explained in detail in FAQ 5 above.  
 

You are excluded from participation in the Distribution Fund if you are an Excluded Party defined in the Distribution Plan, including:

• Edward Yoshihiro Fujinaga and MRI International, Inc. (the “Defendants”), CSA Service Center, LLC, The Factoring Co., June Fujinaga, and The Yunju Trust (the “Relief Defendants”), and the defendants to the Related Class Action (see the Plan Notice, footnote 3, for a list); and the agents, nominees, assigns, heirs, successors-in interest, spouses, parents, children, and controlled entities of the Defendants, Relief Defendants and the defendants to the Related Class Action;
• To the extent known to the Distribution Agent at the time of distribution, investors who failed to negotiate a check issued in the Related Class Action prior to its stale date or to whom an electronic or other payment issued in the Related Class Action could not be delivered despite commercially reasonable efforts by the Distribution Agent prior to the distribution calculations under this Plan;
• The Distribution Agent, its employees, and those persons assisting the Distribution Agent in its role as Distribution Agent; and
• Any purchaser or assignee of another person’s eligibility for a recovery from the Distribution Fund for value; provided, however, that this provision shall not be construed to exclude those persons who obtained such a right by gift, inheritance, devise or operation of law. 

All Excluded Parties will be deemed ineligible to participate in the distribution of the Distribution Fund.

Kroll is the Distribution Agent appointed by the Court to administer the Plan.  The Court Order appointing Kroll and setting forth Kroll’s obligations is available in the Documents section of this website.  
 

If you received a payment in the Related Class Action and would like to update or change your payment information, please download the payment request form located in the Documents section of this website. You may also request a payment request form by calling 0120-974-935 to request one from an agent or by emailing a request to [email protected].

You may submit payment request form by mail or through the secure online portal, as set forth below.  All submissions MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 26, 2024.  

Through secure online portal located on the Document Uploader page of this website. 

You may contact the Distribution Agent by calling 0120-974-935 (Japan) or (833) 383-5377 (U.S.), sending an email to [email protected] or by writing to SEC v. MRI Distribution Fund, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.