Acquire Learning collapse examined
Crown Resorts director Andrew Demetriou was questioned in court on Wednesday over the $145 million collapse of education group Acquire Learning. The former AFL boss told the Commercial Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria that “decisions about the financials were left to the directors”. The court heard that though he was paid $75,100 per month as an executive chairman of an advisory board, he was never a director. The court heard that Mr Demetriou had asked the company to approve a $150,000 bonus payment for “professional services” about a week before Acquire Clayton Utz law form sent a letter suggesting that the company was on the edge of trading while insolvent. The day the letter was received on 22 June, 2016, was the day that Mr Demetriou’s private company received payment.Mr Demetriou could not remember what the bonus was for. “I can’t recall,” he said.
Greece launches Brexit website
The Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry has launched a new website to assist Brits living in Greece after Brexit on 29 March, 2019. The Greek-English bilingual website includes valuable information for British people living permanently in Greece as well as for British citizens who travel to Greece during their vacations. Areas covered include passport controls and visas, as well as issues of citizenship, trade and elections. Greece has already stated that it will protect the rights of Brits living in Greece. Visit the website at https://brexit.gov.gr/uk-citizens-in-greece/
Folli Follie’s stocks take a tumble
Once a global success story, Folli Follie’s stocks took a plunge on Thursday after Greece’s stocks watchdogs on Tuesday slapped a 20.3 million euro fine on the management of the luxury jeweller for breaching manipulation rules. In June, the watchdog had sued the company’s management and several other former company officials. The watchdog said that it had found evidence of fewer than 300 points of sale, compared to the 630 mentioned in the company’s 2016 report. Folli Follie was founded in 1982 in Athens and enjoyed a 35-year span with continued expansion to global markets including great success in Asia.
Burger King comes to Greece
The first Burger King has opened in mainland Greece at Athens International Airport on 20 December. Food and beverage company SSP opened the fast food joint at a 526 m2 facility and hopes to sell Burger King’s flame-grilled Whoppers to a large portion of the 24.1 million passengers that pass through the international airport after the facility saw an 11 per cent rise in visitor numbers last year.
Greek pavillion at Disney
Greek-American Lee Pashalopoulos, a resident of Massachusetts, has started a petition to add Greece to the countries in the World Showcase at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Those who would like to help realise the dream should visit https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/726/680/883/greece-pavilion-epcot/ The petition organiser is hoping to get 25,000 signatures and quotes the Disney founder as stating, “If you can dream it, you can do it!”
Disney’s Grecian destinations
The Disney Cruise Line has announced a lineup of cruises for the summer of 2020 with destinations from around the world. After a five-year hiatus Disney will return to Greece one 12-night sailing and two nine-night sailings from Rome that include stops in Piraeus, the gateway to Athens; Katakolon, near ancient Olympia; and the islands of Santorini, Mykonos and Crete.