David Lee Molner
David Lee Molner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | David Lee Molner November 3, 1969 |
| Citizenship | American |
| Education | Trinity College (Connecticut) |
| Occupation | Financier, media executive |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Employer | Screen Capital International |
| Known for | Film finance and entertainment finance |
David Lee Molner (born November 3, 1969) is an American financier and media executive associated with film, entertainment, and sports finance. He has served as managing director of Screen Capital International and Ajax Financial Holdings,[1] firms specializing in financing media, entertainment, and sports-related projects. Public professional profiles state that he has participated in transactions exceeding US$10 billion and has been involved in the financing of more than 150 feature films.[2][3]
Early life and education
Molner studied at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and language.
Career
Molner began his career in the entertainment industry with Viacom Entertainment Group and Paramount Pictures, where he served as Senior Vice President between 1995 and 2000.[4]
He later transitioned into entertainment finance, becoming managing director of Screen Capital International and Ajax Financial Holdings. His work has focused on arranging financing for film productions, media companies, and sports-related investments. Public profiles attribute to him participation in financing transactions valued at more than US$10 billion and involvement with over 150 feature films.
Molner has also been associated with Aramid Entertainment Fund,[5][6] a film-finance investment fund that subsequently entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
Business affiliations
Public corporate records identify Molner as Chief Executive Officer of A-Company Film Licensing International GmbH and as a director associated with A-Company Filmed Entertainment AG.
Companies House filings and corporate databases also list him as an officer or director of several companies, including Ajax Financial Holdings Ltd., Atlantic Screen Capital Limited, and various film production and entertainment businesses operating in the United States and Europe.[7]
Legal proceedings
Molner has been involved in several publicly reported legal proceedings in New York and federal courts.[8][9]
In Meckler v. Molner, litigation concerning a loan agreement resulted in arbitration after the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court affirmed an order designating JAMS as the arbitral forum. In 2023, the New York County Supreme Court confirmed an arbitration award directing Molner to pay Alan Meckler US$215,000.
Molner was also connected with litigation arising from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of the Aramid Entertainment Fund.[10][11] Court records include adversary proceedings involving the fund, related management entities, and professional advisers. In separate proceedings, Molner brought claims against Reed Smith LLP and other defendants concerning the administration and liquidation of the fund. In September 2024, the bankruptcy court granted motions dismissing his amended complaint.[12][13]
Molner was additionally named as a defendant in Adler v. Molner, a New York civil action involving alleged ticket-resale investments. Court decisions addressed procedural matters, including summary judgment and discovery issues. Separate federal criminal and civil enforcement actions involving Joseph Meli and Craig Carton concerned a broader ticket-resale investment fraud; Molner was not charged in those federal criminal cases.[14][15]
References
- ↑ "AJAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LTD. – Filing History". Companies House. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Wanna finance a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie?". AsianInvestor. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Aramid Investors Sue David Molner". TheWrap. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Molner v. Reed Smith LLP". New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "QED secures $50m credit facility from Comerica and Aramid". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "In re Aramid Entertainment Fund Ltd". United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Investors sue film financier David Molner alleging misappropriation of funds". Los Angeles Times. 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "David Molner and David Bergstein: Guilty or Not?". TheWrap. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Molner v. Reed Smith LLP et al". Supreme Court of the State of New York. 2018. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "In re Aramid Entertainment Fund Ltd". Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department. 2022. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "In re Aramid Entertainment Fund Ltd". United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Aramid Entertainment Fund Files for Bankruptcy Over Lawsuits". Bloomberg News. 2014-06-16. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Molner v. Reed Smith LLP et al". United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Probe Determines No Charges Against David Molner". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Calif. Panel Axes Bergstein's $50M Film World Malpractice Win". Law360. Retrieved 2026-08-04.