Bell Pottinger

Heather Kerzner wants Bell Pottinger to pay back her millions

Heather Kerzner, who is engaged to ex-Bell Pottinger CEO James Henderson, has instructed a top London lawyer to find a way to recover money she invested in the PR firm.

“I invested a substantial amount of money in good faith at the end of April, four months before the company collapsed,” she told the Financial Times in an interview, which was published on Friday. “I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t seek legal advice in that situation.”

Sol Kerzner’s ex-wife had invested millions of pound into the firm, which saw her and Henderson increase their stake to 40%, valued at £7m (R125.6m), The Times reported.

Bell Pottinger was placed under the administration of BDO, after clients ditched the public relations firm following its expulsion from the Public Relations and Communications Association.

That followed a complaint lodged by the Democratic Alliance regarding Bell Pottinger’s work for the Guptas, in which it alleged the firm incited racial hatred in South Africa through their campaign to divert the narrative from state capture, which has plagued the friends of President Jacob Zuma.

Kerzner is being represented by top lawyer Dan Morrison of London law firm Grosvenor Law, The Times reported. Grosvenor Law wrote to BDO to ask questions regarding Kerzner’s investment, Kerzner told the FT.

Kerzner and Henderson have postponed their wedding, which was due to take place in November.

While the PR firm has collapsed, Save South Africa has called on various groups to explain how Bell Pottinger helped them.

“We are particularly offended that Bell Pottinger was commissioned by a private company and yet collaborated in work of a political nature in a sovereign state – among other things, by writing speeches for the ANC Youth League and MK Military Veterans’ Association, as revealed in the ‘Gupta emails’,” the action group said in a statement recently.

“The ANCYL, MKMVA, BLF and the Decolonisation Foundation must explain this – as must the ANC itself.”
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http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Adve...ger-to-pay-back-her-millions-reports-20170915

Hau shem
:crylaugh:
 
The_Librarian said:
On the flipside, Victoria's initial reaction could have been not to go ahead with the ZA campaign, but was bullied into it, and later made a patsy.

Don't be too quick to judge, we do not know what really transpired on their side.
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From what I have read Victoria was a connected hitter of note. Her dad has major connections with SA's political elite and she came into the firm at such a senior level because of her connection to the Gupta's. She is no angel, but it sounds like her dad is the real power behind the scene's.
 
I cannot believe a company as big as Bell Pottigner would fall, that quickly.
 
Cius said:
From what I have read Victoria was a connected hitter of note. Her dad has major connections with SA's political elite and she came into the firm at such a senior level because of her connection to the Gupta's. She is no angel, but it sounds like her dad is the real power behind the scene's.
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Her father had links during the arms deal (on the board of BAE systems) and was mates with Fana Hlongwane (former adviser to Defence Minister Joe Modise) and key figure during the arms deal.
Press has it that Fana introduced Chris to the Gupta's, Chris then pulled in Bell Pottinger for the Gupta's and was allegedly paid 100 000 pounds for that by BP.
 
Tander said:
I cannot believe a company as big as Bell Pottigner would fall, that quickly.
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Companies with an overtly racist image tend to fall very quickly when it’s publicised in the UK. No big companies will touch them and there’ll be contract clauses about this sort of thing to allow firms using them to cancel contracts already signed.

Remember, that nonsense of racism only being white on black has no standing in Europe.
 
nightjar said:
RE - Sol Kerzner’s ex-wife had invested millions of pound into the firm, …......

Screwed for the screwing she got
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Seems odd/ambitious, making noise about a few bad apples at BP and crying foul whilst engaged to marry the protagonist in chief and partner making you jointly the biggest shareholders of BP, Henderson. (subsequently wedding postponed from Nov '17, date to be advised just in case you were on the RSVP list)
 
Also no tax guru, but it looks like moneys allocated to tax were used 'elsewhere' and now the partners are liable, so, if the company does go tits up, the taxman comes first to fill his bowl.
 
Dave said:
Companies with an overtly racist image tend to fall very quickly when it’s publicised in the UK. No big companies will touch them and there’ll be contract clauses about this sort of thing to allow firms using them to cancel contracts already signed.

Remember, that nonsense of racism only being white on black has no standing in Europe.
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The irony of course is that it is only commercial firms taking a fall. KPMG and McKinnsey as well here in SA. The politicians and the Gupta's sail on unscathed. Thus far.
 
Unlike the Public sector, in the Pvt sector if you are caught with your pants down there are more often than not tangible consequences. i.e. Consequences / Accountablility!!

One of the reasons I reckon why the Scorpions were stomped on so vigorously by the ANC and replaced by the sightless and flightless Hawks.

Who or what has been prosecuted by the Hawks in the Public sector since?
 
Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan has slammed KPMG International for their "colonial arrogance" in their handling of the Gupta family accounts and the SARS Rogue report‚ accusing them of being complicit in state capture.

Gordhan‚ who has indicated that he will possibly take legal action against the company‚ said although he welcomed the auditing firm's withdrawal of its findings and recommendations from its legally flawed report into the alleged rogue unit it was not enough.

On Friday KPMG said it had concluded its investigation into the company's handling of numerous Gupta accounts and that it was withdrawing its findings of the alleged South African Revenue Service rogue spy unit.

The allegations were used to fire Gordhan‚ who was accused of having knowledge of the unit‚ which was accused of among other things‚ spying on the National Prosecuting Authority.

International auditing firm KPMG has admitted that senior executives ignored "red flags" relating to the accounts of the controversial Gupta family.

Gordhan said he was surprised by the "scant regard" shown for KPMG's role in the “capture” of SARS and the huge damage that it had done to "the livelihoods and reputations of a very professional‚ honest and loyal group of public servants.

"It is unfortunate that a company with the stature of KPMG‚ with a responsibility and obligation to be objective‚ has been found to be wanting. This is exacerbated by their collaboration with the Gupta family.

"Let me categorically state that KPMG ought to have had the integrity and honesty to state the research and investigative unit [the alleged rogue unit] created within SARS was legal.

"Its activities in detecting and combatting the illicit tobacco trade and other efforts aimed at bringing an end to tax evasion were within the law. KPMG had no basis‚ except subservience to a malicious SARS management‚ to malign a number of individuals and facilitate the capture of a vital state institution."

Gordhan added that the over-enthusiastic collaboration of senior KPMG personnel - whether in current employment at KPMG or not - and their collusion with nefarious characters in SARS‚ "directly contributed to state capture".

"It should‚ and must be‚ remembered that this was about attacking SARS as an institution with the main intention being to capture it."

He said these actions were the symptoms of deteriorating levels of governance and the gravity of state capture.

"The saddest consequences about this is the negative impact it has had on the lives of all those that were‚ and continue to be‚ persecuted if the latest actions of the Hawks and NPA are anything to go by.

"KPMG international did not implement its own criticism of KPMG South Africa – that those affected by their alleged findings should be given a hearing. Did they talk or even attempt to contact the senior officials who were victimised at SARS? Why has there been no direct contact with myself‚ to convey a sincere apology?

"This is typical colonial arrogance and KPMG has not done enough. One would have expected KPMG to have the courage to admit‚ in the face of their own investigation‚ that the establishment of this unit was‚ in fact‚ legal."

He said he had noted KPMG's “regret”‚ but doubted whether this was adequate and proportional to the damage that KPMG has done.


Although there had been personal consequences‚ the real issue that confronts South Africa was the "significant damage to our hard won democracy‚ to our state institutions and ultimately to the South African people for whom we seek a better life".

He said KPMG had to do more to convince South Africans that they are prepared to take total ownership for the damage they have caused.

Gordhan added that if KPMG was truly remorseful it must provide equivalent employment to those involved in SARS’ high risk unit as a corruption fighting unit hin KPMG itself.

The result of KPMG International's investigation was that nine KPMG South African executives‚ including the chief executive officer‚ Trevor Hoole‚ were ordered to resign.
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https://www.timeslive.co.za/politic...mg-admit-you-were-complicit-in-state-capture/
 
Sneeky said:
Seems odd/ambitious, making noise about a few bad apples at BP and crying foul whilst engaged to marry the protagonist in chief and partner making you jointly the biggest shareholders of BP, Henderson. (subsequently wedding postponed from Nov '17, date to be advised just in case you were on the RSVP list)
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When she invested in April it was common knowledge (not "common cause" as some people like to say) around the world what BP's agenda was and she hoped to profit on any misery caused.

Too bad for her and I hope she loses every penny.
 
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