Singapore-based group to probe controversial publicity materials amid Newcastle bid: reports
SINGAPORE — Bellagraph Nova (BN) Group, the Singapore-registered business entity which had put in a takeover bid for English Premier League club Newcastle United, said that it will be seeking legal counsel to investigate the controversy surrounding its marketing and publicity materials.
According to The Straits Times, the group released a statement on Tuesday (25 August) saying that its Newcastle bid had “led to a number of queries relating to the company and marketing material that was purportedly released by the company”.
It added that the posting of the publicity materials, which include “matters in the pipeline but which have not been concluded”, seemed to be the result of the actions of “certain errant individuals, possibly with malicious intent”.
The group said it will not address further media queries until the investigations have been completed.
Doctored photos of former US president Obama
BN Group, formed by Singapore businessmen Terence Loh and Nelson Loh and Chinese jewellery merchant Evangeline Shen, had announced earlier this month of its intentions to launch a takeover bid for Newcastle, whose owner Mike Ashley has been keen on selling the club for a couple of years.
Trouble arose on Saturday (22 August), when the group admitted to wire agency Reuters that it had doctored photos of former United States president Barack Obama in marketing materials used to publicise the newly-formed group.
Other inconsistencies have also surfaced in BN Group's publicity material and social media posts, including its claim that it operates more than 10,000 private jets.
Another claim is that technology solutions company Hydra X is one of its entities and it is supposed to be implementing a trading system for the Singapore Exchange (SGX). Reuters reported that Hydra X and SGX have denied the claims.
Retracted media releases by group
On Tuesday, the group retracted several media releases which were posted by Cision PR Newswire agency. They include:
Since Tuesday morning, the BN Group website has been password-protected.
Website taken down, resignation of former US ambassador
Meanwhile, Terence Loh and Nelson Loh – who are cousins – have also taken down the website of a foundation linked to them.
The Loh Brothers Foundation – which the Loh cousins established to support local sports groups in Muay Thai, motorsport, football and basketball – has not been accessible since Tuesday night.
The foundation had claimed Singapore Exchange Regulation chief executive officer Tan Boon Gin as its board member, among others. According to The Straits Times, Tan is not a board member of the foundation.
According to BN Group’s statement, the Lohs had intended to set up a charitable foundation and had purchased the said domain name, the entity has yet to be set up.
“It appears that the content of the website was released prematurely and we are taking steps to address this," the statement said.
In another development, The Straits Times reported that former US ambassador to Singapore Kirk Wagar said he has resigned from his independent director position in Axington, which is linked to BN Group.
Shen is the non-independent non-executive chairman of Axington, while the Lohs are its controlling shareholders.
Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
Related story:
Photoshopping Obama - the company that wants to buy Newcastle United
Singaporean investors in 'advanced' talks to buy Newcastle United
