Latest news with #Argyle
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Dragons' Den star Arlene Dickinson sued for $17.5 million
Celebrity entrepreneur and Dragons' Den star Arlene Dickinson is being sued for $17.5 million. The suit was filed earlier this year by former shareholders and employees of Argyle Communications, a Toronto-based public relations company which was one of four firms which merged with Dickinson's Venture Communications in 2022 to create a communications 'superfirm.' The $17.5 million claim includes $15 million for misrepresentation and unjust enrichment, and $2.5 million in punitive damages. None of the allegations have been proven in court. In a written statement, Dickinson's lawyer blasted the lawsuit, calling it 'nonsense,' and said her legal team is seeking to have the suit tossed out of court. 'An aspect of being a highly successful public figure is that they face nonsense such as this. Arlene will have none of it. These allegations are plainly false and have no basis in fact,' said Jeremy Devereux, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. 'Our courts are not the place to pursue petty PR tactics by attempting to diminish Arlene's sterling reputation. We are bringing a motion in the court for an order to dismiss these allegations.' In a statement posted to her social media accounts Monday afternoon, Dickinson also denied the allegations, calling them 'baseless.' 'I understand that being a public figure makes me a target. That comes with the territory. But it's still disappointing that people do this,' Dickinson wrote in her post. 'I want to call this out for what it really is, which is a shameless PR tactic, from a well resourced PR firm, poorly dressed up as a lawsuit. It's a manipulation tactic designed to pressure, distract, or harm my reputation.' The suit accuses Dickinson of overstating Venture's financial health in the lead-up to the takeover of Argyle, then running the merged company — known as Believeco:Partners (BCP) — so badly that cash infusions from a private equity company were required. According to the suit, those cash calls caused the value of the Argyle investors' stake in BCP to drop from 20 per cent to just three per cent, with the merged company losing more than 95 per cent of its original value. (Believeco:Partners changed its name to Changemakers in October.) 'Ms. Dickinson's conduct is egregious, high handed, and deserves condemnation by this Court,' the suit argues. The suit also accuses Dickinson of misusing company funds, including selling her personal furniture to BCP for $175,000, which was later valued at $20,000. 'As 'payment' for this furniture, Ms. Dickinson directed BCP to pay her $165,000 personal credit card debt incurred for a luxury vacation, including the purchase of Chanel bags and watches,' said a statement of claim filed by the Argyle shareholders and employees on May 13. The suit also says that after convincing Argyle shareholders of the wisdom of the deal, Dickinson also convinced several Argyle employees to invest in the combined company. 'The Argyle Employees each invested between $50,000 and $65,000 into BCP. To make these investments, the Argyle Employees dipped into savings, spent inheritance money, and mortgaged their homes,' the suit says. 'Although the Argyle Employees did not know it at the time, the Employee Representations were false. Ms. Dickinson made them intentionally, for the purpose of inducing the Argyle Employees to invest in BCP.' According to the suit, Dickinson also withheld vital information from the former Argyle employees and shareholders, and made 'inappropriate and/or excessive' payments to lawyers and staff, including having a family member on BCP's payroll 'whose role was principally promoting Ms. Dickinson's personal brand.' Argyle's shareholders turned down a competing bid for the firm from a U.S. company, according to the suit. Lawyers representing Dickinson filed a 'Notice of Intent to Defend' with the Ontario Superior Court on Jun. 10. A statement of defence hasn't been filed with the court yet. Last August, BCP sued Dickinson after she resigned as interim CEO of the company. That suit also accused Dickinson of overstating Venture's finances, and argued that caused BCP to overpay for Venture. Dickinson countersued, saying the allegations were designed to sideline her from BCP, as part of an attempt to give private equity firm Canadian Business Growth Fund control of the company. She also denied Venture's finances were misrepresented. ' BCP's late-breaking claims are a pretext to defeat … legitimate employment and shareholder entitlements … and as part of a broader strategy to allow CBGF to assume control over BCP,' Dickinson's counterclaim said. In her counterclaim, Dickinson said she 'provided transparent information to BCP's board regarding Venture's business, and both CBGF and BCP had the opportunity to conduct their own due diligence.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pepple relishing fight for Argyle starting spot
Plymouth Argyle striker Bim Pepple says he is relishing the competition for the place as the Pilgrims' starting centre forward. Pepple, 22, has joined the club from Luton Town after spending the past two seasons on loan at Bromley, Inverness, Chesterfield and Southend United. He is one of two young forwards Argyle have brought in this summer, alongside 22-year-old Owen Aseni, who joined from St Mirren. Pilgrims head coach Tom Cleverley has stated he is still hoping to sign an experienced striker to complement the younger players as Argyle aim to return to the Championship after relegation last season. "I think all the big clubs in world football, you have people battling for competition," Pepple told BBC Radio Devon. "Right now, there's still competition between me and Owen, but it's healthy competition - we're pushing each other, we're giving each other tips. "Owen's probably a bit better running in behind so I ask him 'How do you time your runs?' and he asks me 'How do you hold the ball up so well?' and we're kind of growing together. "Whoever comes in we're sure is going to add as well and it's going to be healthy competition. "But at the end of the day we just want to go up, so the more people who can come in and help us score goals and help to take the club up it's good for us." Pepple says the Argyle squad is focused on promotion after coming down last season. The Pilgrims have seen a host of experienced players leave the club with 10 new faces coming in, and more still expected. Pepple says with so many new players, as well as a new management and coaching team, there is not the same relegation hangover as there might be for other clubs. "It's something new and it's a new energy," he says. "No one's really focused on the relegation from last season, which is quite good and you won't get that everywhere. "So it's just for us now to transfer that onto the pitch. "We're still aware of what happened last season, we know that's not acceptable, but it's something new and all of us are excited, we all want to be here. "We all love coming in every day, we're all so happy we're here - we just want to repay the faith that's been put in a lot of us young players to come in now and push this club back to where it belongs."
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Pepple relishing fight for Argyle starting spot
Plymouth Argyle striker Bim Pepple says he is relishing the competition for the place as the Pilgrims' starting centre 22, has joined the club from Luton Town after spending the past two seasons on loan at Bromley, Inverness, Chesterfield and Southend is one of two young forwards Argyle have brought in this summer, alongside 22-year-old Owen Aseni, who joined from St Mirren. Pilgrims head coach Tom Cleverley has stated he is still hoping to sign an experienced striker to complement the younger players as Argyle aim to return to the Championship after relegation last season."I think all the big clubs in world football, you have people battling for competition," Pepple told BBC Radio Devon."Right now, there's still competition between me and Owen, but it's healthy competition - we're pushing each other, we're giving each other tips."Owen's probably a bit better running in behind so I ask him 'How do you time your runs?' and he asks me 'How do you hold the ball up so well?' and we're kind of growing together."Whoever comes in we're sure is going to add as well and it's going to be healthy competition."But at the end of the day we just want to go up, so the more people who can come in and help us score goals and help to take the club up it's good for us." Pepple says the Argyle squad is focused on promotion after coming down last Pilgrims have seen a host of experienced players leave the club with 10 new faces coming in, and more still says with so many new players, as well as a new management and coaching team, there is not the same relegation hangover as there might be for other clubs."It's something new and it's a new energy," he says. "No one's really focused on the relegation from last season, which is quite good and you won't get that everywhere."So it's just for us now to transfer that onto the pitch."We're still aware of what happened last season, we know that's not acceptable, but it's something new and all of us are excited, we all want to be here."We all love coming in every day, we're all so happy we're here - we just want to repay the faith that's been put in a lot of us young players to come in now and push this club back to where it belongs."
Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Ousted Nedlands boss sells house for $2.9m after court fight
Sacked Nedlands mayor Fiona Argyle has sold her Nedlands property as a development site, blaming neighbours who built next door for 'destroying' her privacy. Argyle sold the 1012sqm Kinninmont Avenue block for $2.9 million last month, with an advert that promised a 'compelling blank canvas' for a 'sought-after development offering'. Speaking while abroad yesterday, Ms Argyle said she sold the property — which included the separate sale of the weatherboard house structure — because her family did not want to live with the neighbouring home looking into her children's bedrooms. 'They destroyed our privacy,' she told House That!. She maintained the neighbouring house was an overdevelopment — a claim she made regularly during a year-long battle to prevent construction — because it did not strictly comply with the R Codes. But she rejected claims that it was a bit rich to play up the density potential in an appeal to developers, and at odds with her highly-publicised stance on promoting green space. Argyle's home in Nedlands sold as a development site. Credit: supplied Her property advert highlighted in-principal approval for three lots and the capacity to 'increase the density significantly' under the R60 zoning, which would allow the block to be carved into six 150sqm lots. 'The choice is yours as to how far you subdivide and how you develop the site,' the advert said. But Ms Argyle yesterday said the advert spoke only about what could be achieved under the planning code. Fiona Argyle house structure has been sold seperately to the block. Credit: supplied Her fight against the neighbours, however, was over breaching aspects of that code. 'I know it sounds ironic but (the advert discusses what is possible under) the planning laws,' she said. 'That is the zoning of the block, and the people who bought it can build what they want with it.' The house is set on a 1012sqm block on Kinninmont Avenue. Credit: supplied Back in 2022, the Argyle-led council rejected plans for the neighbouring home, despite advice from city planning staff that they should approve it. Councillors again refused the application months later after the design was altered during mediation. Ms Argyle had recused herself from voting due to her interest, but it was revealed she had texted a councillor who spoke in favour of the neighbour's application that her comments were 'appalling'. Inside the Nedlands home. Credit: supplied Argyle then applied to intervene as an interested third party when her neighbours took the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal, but her request was rejected. Taking the battle to epic proportions, she then appealed the SAT decision in the Supreme Court, but again failed, with the neighbours securing the right to build. Yesterday she said the failed bid had cost her $90,000 in legal fees. The council also had a costly legal bill of $30,000, while the neighbours had complained of their expenses too. At the time, Ms Argyle tole The West Australian it was her duty to fight. 'The Mayor should be setting the example,' she told The West Australian at the time. 'If I do not have the courage to defend my home from over-development and non-compliance, then what does that signal to the other people in the City of Nedlands?' Ms Argyle said. The family will move into another home in the city of Nedlands.
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Slapstick of the year' – Plymouth keeper trialist scores humiliating own goal as fans moan ‘kids' stuff'
THE former Fulham stopper won't want to see this one back ARG YOU KIDDING 'Slapstick of the year' – Plymouth keeper trialist scores humiliating own goal as fans moan 'kids' stuff' PLYMOUTH'S trialist goalkeeper had a horror first run out in an Argyle shirt after letting in "the worst own goal ever seen". The Pilgrims, who were relegated to League One last term, began their pre-season tour on Friday, facing Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig. Advertisement 2 Plymouth's trialist had a game to forget 2 It won't have been what Argyle fans will have wanted to see after being relegated last season Credit: Getty Tom Cleverley suffered a defeat in his first game in charge following his departure from Watford, with his new side losing 1-0. And unfortunately for the Pilgrims' trialist, he was to blame for the goal. Plymouth were passing the ball back to the newcomer, with the final pass back to the goalkeeper coming from what should have been an easy angle for a routine recycle of play. Footage shows the glovesman looked to hit the ball first time along the ground and back up the pitch. Advertisement read more on football EUR OUT Palace RELEGATED from Europa League with Nottingham Forest set to be promoted However, he unfortunately mishit his pass, sending the ball into the inside of his own net. To be fair, it was quite a good finish. Fans watching from home - some clearly still reeling from their relegation - were furious. One said: "Ah wow, that's awful. Kids stuff." Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK A second replied: "It might be the worst own goal I've ever seen." A third added: "Slapstick of the year." A few fans decided to laugh rather than cry though, with one joking: "That's it, we're going to win the league!" Advertisement One more quipped: "Picks out the bottom corner wonderfully from a tight angle. "Stick him up top for the second-half!" According to the Plymouth Herald, it was former Fulham goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond in between the sticks. The 24-year-old never made a first team appearance for the Cottagers but played 48 times for their Under-21s. Advertisement After numerous loans in the EFL, including with Crawley Town, Notts County and Gillingham, he was released by the Premier League club at the end of last season.
