There’s never a dull moment in the jetsetting life of German financier Lars Windhorst.
The founder of investment company Tennor, who has survived plane crashes and fraud trials, manages to keep the plates spinning despite the odd hiccup.
In a High Court case brought by some of his creditors earlier this year, Windhorst denied living a “billionaire lifestyle”, while admitting his various trusts owned jets, a thousand bottles of wine and a modest powerboat, the FT reported.
Not everyone is amused, however. Last week, HM Revenue and Customs filed a winding-up petition against the Lars Windhorst Private Office. This comes hot on the heels of a string of winding-up petitions from creditors of his La Perla womenswear business, where the accounts of two subsidiaries are now ten months overdue.
Sources close to Windhorst insisted the taxman’s bill had been settled and that La Perla’s problems would soon be behind it. An HMRC spokesman declined to comment, beyond saying: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts.” Keep those plates spinning, Lars.
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EE-zer fails to vibe up palace
To Alexandra Palace last week, where Fatboy Slim played the launch party of “new EE”, as BT’s consumer services are now called. Marc Allera, the division’s head, also jumped on stage to hail the rebranding.
Those in attendance were less than stirred, however. “It was at 25 per cent capacity, so everyone was standing around awkwardly like at a school disco,” said one luckless attendee.
In an attempt to liven proceedings, one of the acts asked the crowd to chant “EE” every time they shouted “new”. “But no one responded,” said Prufrock’s spy. “It was embarrassing.”
Battery maker’s day in court
The cash-strapped Aussie saviour of Britishvolt was back in the news last week amid reports that he is trying to rescue his rescue of the collapsed battery maker.
David Collard wants to build a gigafactory in Northumberland, but hasn’t come up with the money and is being chased by creditors.
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Collard watchers are keeping an eye on a court date this Wednesday. A Collard firm, Sanitex, faces a winding-up petition in Victoria from consultancy Lake Social Enterprises, owed A$104,000. Curiously, according to LinkedIn, Lake now employs a former Collard executive, and one-time local radio DJ, Roxie Bennett. What a small world.
Coast isn’t clear at Kin + Carta
Tech consultancy Kin + Carta agreed a £200 million buyout by private equity firm Apax last week. Coast Capital, a 5 per cent shareholder, was fuming, and urged investors to reject the offer as too low. “The board’s behaviour is incomprehensible,” founding partner James Rasteh said.
A Kin + Carta spokesman said the offer “fairly represents the opportunities and risks inherent in the business”. But Caymans-based Rasteh said Coast may yet call an extraordinary general meeting to oust the board: “We’re in a position to do that, if the board has demonstrated to us that it’s incapable of looking after shareholders’ best interests.”
Best grab the popcorn.
Activist awaits Pearson new boy
Pearson boss Andy Bird surprised the City last month when he announced he would be stepping down after just three years. Omar Abbosh, a Microsoft exec, takes over early next year.
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Abbosh will still have to deal with Sphinx-like activist Cevian Capital, which last week raised its stake in Pearson from 11 to 12 per cent, extending its lead as the biggest shareholder.
No pressure, Omar ...
● There’s a new name in the frame for the Telegraph sale, Prufrock hears. Marc Boyan, the media entrepreneur behind marketing group Miroma, has apparently registered his interest with the board appointed to oversee the sale. It sounds like early days, but the well-connected Boyan, who splits his time between Los Angeles and London, might be able to find the funds required.
Last year, he teamed up with the actor Idris Elba to launch a £1 billion-ish bid for Channel 4, before the auction was called off by the government. Media grandee Lord (Michael) Grade is an adviser to Miroma. And earlier this year, Boyan became a co-owner of Charlton Athletic football club. A new media mogul in the making? Watch this space.
Funny business
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Just saying ...
I’m pleased to see how Labour went from an extremist party with a Marxist leader to Keir Starmer, who has shown real strength – BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink gushes about Sir Keir — before Labour had even secured two by-election wins
