Mr Oliver went on to say his client was considering whether it could take
action against CVC for alleged losses it suffered through the sale.
“CVC’s position remains under very serious scrutiny,” said Mr Oliver.
The interpretation Mr Oliver put on Mr Ecclestone’s evidence is in line with
the claim it has submitted to the High Court in London.
In the claim Mr Ecclestone and co-defendants including his family trust
Bambino, his former lawyer Stephen Mullens and Mr Gribkowsky are described
as engaging in “unlawful activity” in paying and receiving bribes
and materially undervaluing Formula 1 when it was sold to CVC.
Constantin claims its 47pc stake was worth over $2bn rather than the $800m
price achieved by Mr Gribkowsky who was handling the sale.
Constantin had contractual rights to 10pc of any sale price over $1bn. The
company claims it missed out on $171m through the material undervaluation of
the sport.
This is the first time lawyers for Constantin Medien have spoken publicly
about their case. Although Mr Ecclestone is not on trial in Germany he is at
the centre of the civil dispute being pursued through the London courts.
In the London case he is alleged to have manipulated the sale in order to
retain control of the sport under the ownership of CVC.
It is alleged millions of dollars in bribes were moved through a complex
series of offshore companies controlled by Mr Gribkowsky and Mr Ecclestone.
The civil case is running in parallel with criminal proceedings in Germany in
which Mr Gribkowsky is accused of accepting the $44m bribe from Mr
Ecclestone and his family trust Bambino Holdings.
CVC Capital Partners, the private equity group which bought Formula 1 in 2006
has so far declined to comment on the case.
Mr Ecclestone also declined to comment on Friday.