2010 CONGRATULATIONS! SHANE RADBONE, SEAN CORBIN, PETER ELLIGETT, PETER GRAHAM, AND LACHLAN MCINTOSH!! YOU'RE ALL WIENERS!

Esteemed Australian publication SMART COMPANY has named their "Best and Worst of 2010".

It is with great pride and humility that ALLIED BRANDS LTD. is awarded the coveted "WORST COMPANY OF THE YEAR".

In the words of Smart Company:

"The collapse of Allied Brands was one of the sorriest tales to come out of the franchising sector in years. This was a company that had it all – poor management, lax financial discipline, an uncanny ability to over-promise and under-deliver and even an immigration rort. While the company finally went into administration in late October, the jig was really up in late September, when the company’s Cookie Man chain was placed into liquidation by the NSW Supreme Court. Incredibly, Allied Brands claimed it didn’t even know about the liquidation until after it happened, and so wasn’t in court for the hearing."

While clearly this kind of achievement can't be accomplished alone, we must recognize the architects of such a prestigious achievement:

LACHLAN MCINTOSH: The Korda Mentha liquidator/director who was the principal architect of the plans that ran ABQ into the ground, Korda Mentha is so embarrassed and disgusted with his actions they've removed his CV from their website and disavow any knowledge of him. McIntosh is now busy driving other companies into a ditch - his management of the Eureka Group (EGH) is planning to embark on the same franchising strategy that was so successful at Allied Brands!

SEAN CORBIN: A CFO plucked from obscurity by the team in order to "take the fall". With his background of failed companies, he's the Lee Harvey Oswald of financial directors. His career should be well and truly over.

SHANE RADBONE: Ex-athletes are generally good for nothing in business. Radbone proved this time and time again, all the while relentlessly promoting his "successes". Just prior to ABQ he spent six months as CEO of VIP Home Services before the owners there figured out he was Trouble. He spent all his ABQ-paid time spruiking his overhyped CV and arranging "motivational speaking engagements". The ultimate in ABQ window dressing, most directors were stunned when Radbone give himself and wife Victoria Elise a sweetheart loan for shares that are now all but worthless. The Radbone's still refuse to pay up, over $750,000.00! Can someone get some dosh out of the Radbones?

PETER ELLIGETT: Selling Cookie Man to Allied Brands was supposed to be Elligett's cash-out of the Cookie Man business he had been running smoothly. However he's now considered a major player in the Korean/Indian 457 Visa Scam, with dud Cookie Man shops being involved and Elligett's grubby hands all over the dodgy deals.

PETER GRAHAM: Ex-motel owner has a brainstorm on a trip to the USA, let's get Baskin Robbins to give us the Aussie licence. Without even checking him and his slimy brother David out, they grabbed this potential goldmine and then spent 15 years doing what they thought best - screwing the franchisees, the people at the coalface. And let's not forget all the other Graham children who were educated in the "Graham Way" before becoming disgusted with their own parents for pissing away their planned million$$ in inheritance. The Grahams can't even show their faces around their tony Gold Coast friends anymore, they're outcasts and laughingstocks.

Finally, a prestigious award like this shouldn't forget the "little people" who made it all possible. Tony Cavanagh, fired from one ice cream company, his dodgy methods fit right in with the McIntosh/Graham management direction. And let's not forget the employees who've launched sexual harassment and other charges against the "little people". Then two victims of the scam that should have known better - Tom Krulis, formerly "Godfrey's CEO", and Barbara O'Brien, from the Breville family. No one knows what kind of lies these suckers fell for.

As we go into 2011, we're all hoping to start seeing charges lodged against these criminals thanks to the support of publications like Smart Company, Blue Mau Mau, and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. And let's say a prayer for the dozens, yes DOZENS of hard-working Australians, South Koreans, Indians, and others who had their life savings stolen by this company, and their dreams shattered. Many will never be the same. . . .

COOKIE MAN RESCUED BY AMERICAN MRS. FIELDS WITH ELLIGETT RUMOURED TO BE LIKELY PROSECUTION TARGET

To the relief of Cookie Man franchisees, the Australian arm of Mrs. Fields has assumed control of the Cookie Man group instead of the previously rumoured Indian Cookie Man company.

READ HERE

Peter Elligett, the owner of the Cookie Man brand prior to his sellout to Allied Brands, has been appointed Managing Director although insiders report this is only temporary. Elligett is said to have retained a criminal solicitor for likely defence of charges to be brought by the Department of Migration in the sale of visas and dud franchises to Koreans and Indians.

One of the documented cases of this fraud involved a Cookie Man location at the Sydney Central Train Station. Elligett as general manager for the brand, and Allied Brands director, likely was privy to the scam that was running to defraud migrants to Australia.

THE ALLIED BRANDS RATBAGS RUN, BUT THEY CAN'T HIDE

Senior management at Allied Brands, Baskin Robbins, and Cookie Man are all trying desperately to find other employment, a difficult task considering how many crooked operators it took to take down Allied Brands and these related brands.

One story today about "brand manager" Jack Sakalis is worth watching. Sakalis was among a group of ex-Wendy's executives scraped together by disgraced ex-CEO Sean Corbin who were integral to the colossal failure of these brands. Sakalis was considered the "mystery manager" by most Baskin Robbins franchisees - he's the brand manager NO ONE ever saw. Even his so-called memos were signed by others. IS THIS THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE BEING OFFERED BY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GROUP?

And yet Sakalis, along with Tony Cavanagh, Brett Amis, and Peter Graham were all apparently in on the 457 Visa scheme which is known to have defrauded South Koreans and Indians expecting a profitable Baskin Robbins or Cookie Man shop, along with their families and children attending Australian schools.

You've got to wonder if his new partners at Business Development Company are aware of how much trouble it will be as criminal charges are laid by the Commonwealth against those who were defrauding these franchisees and the government?

ADMINISTRATOR STALLING CREDITORS MEETING, ABQ BOOKS A SHELL GAME, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE

Reports this morning indicate administrators from Vincents Accountants in Brisbane (one of whom is a former workmate of Allied Brands chairman Lachlan McIntosh) have asked a Queensland Supreme Court to "delay" their second creditors meeting over a month, to at the earliest January 19, 2011.

Vincents have told the court "The investigations to date revealed the company's affairs are intertwined with Allied Brands Group, which, in turn, has around 26 subsidiaries from which numerous inter-company transactions and loans have ensued", they said in a statement on Monday.

It's called "the old shell game", Vincents. It's what corrupt companies do to try and hide all their illegal activities - moving money from place to place so that no one can figure out what's going on.

Vincents would seem to have little experience in forensic auditing of companies this large that have failed due to criminal activity.

So why are they continuing their attempts to unravel this debacle? The court needs to look at appointing an administrator with greater experience and fewer ties to the company they're investigating!

Company debts are now said to run over $19 million, over double from the company's original statements.

As Allied is essentially now not running as a company, with most of the employees sacked, we don't have so much inside information coming into the blog now. However we're aware that the ASIC and ASX have wide-ranging investigations of the directors and other "insiders" running.

And perhaps administrators are now chasing the $750k "sweetheart loan" from Allied Brands (when Shane Radbone was CEO) to Shane Radbone and Victoria Elise Radbone. This loan is unpaid, in default, and was by many accounts likely illegal when it was made. It was made at the same time ABQ stopped paying employee entitlements and superannuation.

How about it Shane and Victoria, where's our dosh? What about the hardworking employees of this corrupt company? Do they deserve to be swindled, too?

ALLIED BRANDS (ABQ) ADMINISTRATOR REPORT CONTINUES TRADITION OF A COMPANY OF LYING ARSEHOLES

Administrators Peter Dinoris and Peter Biazos of Vincents Accountants have filed their first report with the ASX regarding Allied Brands (ABQ) and related companies.

Questions in this report are rampant.

• "Winding Up" proceedings have been filed by a vendor known as "Coco Design Investments", an action that may make the rest of these proceedings irrelevant.

• The "background" section, said to be from CEO Sean Corbin (although there is no record of Corbin being appointed to anything but interim CEO) lists numbers of shops owned and franchised radically different from the annual report. The new reference to Corbin as CEO may signal the director's sleazy plan to dump everything in his lap. Wonder how that works out with the criminal charges coming for the "Korean Visa Scam" that happened prior to Corbin's arrival!

• Registered charges show, as previously alleged, a relationship with PPK Group Ltd. director Raymond Beath that is a likely conflict of interest with the ABQ investment by PPK.

• The "Declaration of Independence" filed by Vincents makes no mention of Peter Biazos being employed by Korda Mentha Brisbane co-incident with ABQ Chairman Lachlan McIntosh. This stinks.

• The Administrators have hired Andrew Crook at "Crook Publicity" for media releases. Some things are too funny for words. Do these Crooks need any more publicity?

Clearly the deception continues all the way to the grave.

ABQ FRANCHISEES REPORT CONTINUING FRAUD BY COMPANY - EVEN WHILE IN "CONTROL" OF ADMINISTRATOR

Now that Allied Brands Ltd. (ABQ) has finally admitted operating while insolvent and appointed an External Administrator, franchisees of all the brands involved are writing to complain that the ASIC administration rules are not being followed. Has the "old boy's club" extended to the appointed liquidators, McGrath Nicol and Vincents Chartered Accountants? Vincents appointment is especially suspicious, as a "home town" firm to the company and ABQ Chairman with at least one director, Peter Biazos a former director with Korda Mentha in Brisbane who's one of the appointed administrators!

Be reminded that Allied Brands chairman Lachlan McIntosh is also a licenced liquidator and director of another oft-criticised firm, Korda Mentha. Oddly, while still listed as liquidator on several high-profile Australian liquidations, McIntosh has been completely removed from the Korda Mentha website. This follows after Korda Mentha blocked access to this and other related blogs on the Korda Mentha internal internet access system, apparently so other employees and staff couldn't find out what kind of damage was being done to employees and franchisees at this McIntosh-run company. Perhaps finally the embarrassment of having a corporate loser as company director started to bite? Call Mark Korda and ask him!

Franchisees report continued billings, invoices, and other items without the ASIC required notices that they are "UNDER ADMINISTRATION" or "RECEIVERS AND MANAGERS APPOINTED". This is just one serious breach of the Insolvency Laws administered by ASIC.

And one franchisee has reported seeing management still driving a "Baskin Robbins" advertising car around the Gold Coast. It's easy to spot - covered with Baskin Robbins logos and rotten tomatoes.

Franchisees are now reporting these violations to ASIC, but don't hold your breath thinking ASIC is the least bit interested now. They haven't been for years!

Franchisees with any question about payments to Allied Brands Ltd. or some subsidiary company should take legal advice and perhaps delay any payments until it is clear they're going to the right pocket. These companies didn't collapse by mismanagement. Most believe serious fraud has been involved. There is no reason to think Administration will be any different.

ABQ FINALLY ADMITS BANKRUPTCY AND ONLY COURT ACTIONS REMAIN!!

It's official.

Allied Brands Ltd. finally admits bankruptcy (though likely trading insolvent for months).

All that's left are the trials and jail sentences for this bunch of criminals. You know who you are, pathological liars all, interested only in lining your own pockets while screwing honest hardworking people.

From all your franchisee battlers, current and dudded we salute you!

ALLIED BRANDS OFFICIALLY STRIPPED OF BASKIN ROBBINS FRANCHISE

Dunkin Brands has sent personnel to Brisbane to take over operations of Baskin Robbins Australia from Allied Brands.

Westpac Bank has appointed a receiver, McGrath Nicol.

Insiders indicate all Allied Brands-Baskin Robbins management has been sacked including Tony Cavanagh, general manager. Reports about this piece of news were prefaced with the word "huzzah!". Cavanagh was said to be one of the real "black hands" in this whole fiasco.

More soon. . . .

KENNY'S GROUP BANKRUPTCY RUMOURED TO BE IN PLAY

Insider reports today advise Kenny's Cardiology and associated companies are close to being pushed into receivership. Insiders say, like Cookieman, it's involuntary and being organised by one or more unpaid vendors.

Other corporate events that have occurred since shares were suspended are also being investigated by the ASX. The ASX is previously said to have warned Allied Brands directors that suspension of the shares on the market does not remove the requirement for "continuous disclosure" of important corporate events.

More soon. . . .

LAWYERS START TO CIRCLE CORPSE OF ALLIED BRANDS LOOKING FOR COMPENSATION

Solicitors have reportedly begun visits to Brisbane-area Baskin Robbins shops, offering to organise a "class action" compensation lawsuit against Allied Brands Ltd., Dunkin Brands USA, and Baskin Robbins Australia directors and management personally.

Solicitors for the large unnamed litigation firm claim that the franchise industry has long needed a "get square" against the rogue franchisors that operate unchecked in Australia. With the name recognition as well as connection to American companies, Baskin Robbins Australia franchisees may be an ideal test case for the kind of abuses that have gone on in Australian franchising. With little stock available to them and other franchisors offering conversions to different brands to key locations, clearly the brand is going to have difficulty surviving the onslaught of buzzards now picking over the corpse.

Several of the Korean victims of the company's "Visa Sale Scam" have been located as well and said to be already signed on to go after these companies and individuals. While clearly Allied Brands will be judgement-proof after they enter inevitable administration, the other defendants will be the deep pockets funding this action.

ALLLIED BRANDS CEO SEAN CORBIN EMERGES FROM HIS CAVE, ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC PLAN

”I am focusing on trying to sell the assets I need to sell to try and keep the whole thing afloat.” Sean Corbin, CEO, Previously Failed CFO

NOT THE WINNING BUSINESS

STRATEGY OF THE YEAR

It's hard to believe people this stupid are actually trying to run a public company in Australia.

Sean, it's over. You're fired.

Along with all the people going to jail for

tax and migration fraud.

SEAN CORBIN'S C.V.

PRACTEL INTERNATIONAL (WOUND UP)

KING EQUIPMENT LTD. (UNDER ADMINISTRATION AND WINDUP ORDERS)

VOYAGER GAMING (MYSTERIOUS SHORT-TIME EMPLOYMENT)

RP DATA (APPOINTED MAY 1 2008, GONE APRIL 2009)

ALLIED BRANDS (#YEARS IN JAIL TBD)

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS - AUSTRALIAN TAX OFFICE SHOWS UP AT ALLIED BRANDS GOLD COAST OFFICE LOOKING FOR THEIR $$$$$

Australian Tax Office investigators have reportedly attended the Gold Coast offices of Allied Brands Ltd. (ABQ) in search of huge sums of money unpaid to the tax office. Employees at the Gold Coast have referred these investigators to the Christie monthly rental offices used by the ABQ financial department on Adelaide Street in Brisbane. Few Allied employees are near any of the offices, afraid of the different investigations currently underway.

Christie Corporate has confirmed that Allied Brands is in arrears in payments for this office area as well.

The ATO is in search of not only employee-withheld tax deductions, but a reported $290,000 in unpaid superannuation contributions including employee-made top-ups.

CAN THINGS GET WORSE? AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FINALLY ACTS ON ALLIED BRANDS VISA SCAM WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES SAID TO BE LIKELY

One of the first subjects of this blog, and the catalyst for exposing the criminality at Allied Brands Ltd (ABQ), is the "457 Visa Scam" being run by Baskin Robbins management in order to scam Koreans.

It's today reported that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DOIC) has filed a criminal complaint against Allied Brands for the scam, and subsequent lying to the government by the company.

While current acting CEO Sean Corbin claims that the employees involved are no longer ABQ employees, this is another bald-faced lie. At the time this scam was being run, brand manager Tony Cavanagh was overseeing the Baskin Robbins brand, and in fact bragging that "every new site and franchisee is approved by him personally". The franchise agreements for these shops (Henry Deane Plaza, New Farm, and Strathpine) are reportedly signed by Tony Cavanagh, and at least one of these signed agreements has apparently been given to DOIC. He can hardly claim he didn't know the circumstances of these agreements - and the bogus employment by the company of these migrants to cover the real deal to dud them and boost store numbers to dud the sharemarket.

This was the perfect Allied Brands Scam - -

Everyone gets screwed!

The other two culprits are David Graham and his son Trent Graham. David is still a major shareholder along with his co-founder brother Peter Graham, and Trent Graham who was formerly a "Franchisee Business Manager" is now running an "area developer" company called "Essential Growth" - a scheme that has as principals Tony Cavanagh and another manager, Brett Amis listed as owners.

Essentially still working for Allied Brands.

Note also that all of these schemes were conducted with Peter Graham as Managing Director, and Lachlan McIntosh as Chairman of the Board of Allied Brands. And also note two of these locations, and all of the Korean advertising, also includes Cookie Man - so Peter Elligett is involved in the scam, too! Since the scam was first exposed, none of these parties took action to stop the scheme or sanction those who dreamed it up. The scam collapsed only because the shops provided to these poor Koreans were known dud locations, the Koreans lost their dosh, and were deported back to Seoul where Dunkin Brands has some 600 locations and the brand has widespread respect.

BASKIN ROBBINS BEGIN CLOSING IN PROTEST OF NO STOCK, NO ASSISTANCE, NO NOTHING

Several Baskin Robbins shops have reportedly been closed yesterday (Sunday) with organisers now attempting to get all the franchisees to close their shops this week and deny Allied Brands (ABQ) any more revenue.

Most shop owners report less than 10 ice cream flavours available for ordering, missing key dry goods including cups, spoons, and cones and other essentials. Baskin Robbins management is refusing to even turn their mobile phones on because of the abuse being heaped on them by franchisees. One of these managers is said to be preoccupied in preparations to defend himself from sexual harassment charges by a former staffer, allegations that make the David Jones case pale in comparison. Company defense solicitors have been among those unpaid by Allied Brands.

Attempts by many of the franchisees to contact parent Dunkin Brands and Baskin Robbins international management have also seen these executives bunkered down and refusing to discuss the situation with the Australian franchisees.

The media is going to be called in this week by franchisees frustrated with the continued lack of integrity shown by these people. Pictures of empty ice cream freezers and sad children of shop owners will be compelling additional evidence of the morals shown by this rogue franchisor.

한국어 가게 소유자는 지침을 주최자에게 연락해야합니다

PEGASUS PRINTING JUST ONE VENDOR OWED HUGE AMOUNTS BY ALLIED BRANDS - MANAGEMENT LIES TO ASIC CONTINUE

It's been revealed that Allied Brands Ltd. (ABQ) vendor Pegasus Print Group was responsible for the wind-up order against Cookie Man. While Allied claims they "didn't know anything" about the huge amount owed to this vendor, other vendors with claims against other Allied Brands companies are now lining up to push the whole works into liquidation.

Allied has referred to the Windup Order as an "Administration error". Allied claims "neither the board nor anyone in senior management" knew about the windup application. THIS IS NOW KNOWN TO BE A LIE. We have information at least one director and one senior manager were told directly by Pegasus Print that a windup order was being sought.

As one of these persons has been negotiating to "buy out" the brand from ABQ, it's now considered unlikely that this bid can be successful with a potential criminal charge a likely consideration by ASIC.

We also have additional information that a senior manager at the Baskin Robbins brand has been given similar information about another vendor owed tens of thousands by the brand.

In the ASX letter to Allied Brands as well as the press reports, all note that management has been again caught lying to the shareholders and the public. Anyone familiar with the history knows that virtually every statement made by this company is packed with lies, misstatements, and just meters of bullshit.

COOKIE MAN HAS LIQUIDATOR APPOINTED, ABQ SPINS MORE FAIRY TALES FOR THE ASX WHICH ARE REJECTED AS MORE ABQ BULLSHIT

As we indicated yesterday, what Allied Brands termed "news" about the Cookie Man brand last Friday when they asked for share trading to be suspended has been exposed by the ASX as in fact a LIQUIDATION ORDER imposed by the courts on Allied in relation to Cookie Man operations.

Allied Brands (ABQ) management failed to reveal this LIQUIDATION ORDER to the ASX when asking for the suspension, and when the ASX was tipped to the LIQUIDATION ORDER, they stepped in. In the response by ABQ, they claim that secrecy was necessary not to damage the other businesses! In other words, we're close to landing new suckers in our Ponzi scheme, and don't want them to know it isn't working!

Allied management was asked seven specific questions by the ASX, and since trading has remained halted we can safely assume that the bullshit responses by the company, and over the signature of Sean Corbin, have been rejected.

It's unclear what vendors have pushed Cookie Man into liquidation, but since Allied has arrearages across all of the brands, this will likely encourage the others to file for LIQUIDATION ORDERS as well. The court has issued a "Winding Up Order" as of yesterday the 29th. Sadly the crooked actions of Allied Brands has destroyed perfectly good businesses like Cookie Man, Kenny's Cards, and Villa & Hut.

All that's left now are the criminal investigations into these fraudsters.

And remember, the real ratbag Shane Radbone and ratbagette Victoria Elise Radbone still owe ABQ over $750K for the sweetheart loan he made to himself with franchisee funds.

ASX NOW HALTS ALLIED BRANDS

THE ASX has now stepped in to halt trading in Allied Brands Ltd. (ABQ).

Investigations into the company have reportedly been stepped up by both the ASX and ASIC in the last week.

ALLIED BRANDS SHARES STILL HALTED, INSIDERS CONFIRM 30 DAY WARNING GIVEN BY BASKIN ROBBINS USA

Shares are still halted this morning, despite the company claiming the halt would be removed today.

Insiders confirm however that Allied Brands (ABQ) was given a "30 day warning" by the US owners of Baskin Robbins. It is unclear when this 30 day period began, but clearly with reports of widespread product shortages this would seem only a formality before ABQ is stripped of this franchise operation.

This is information required to be disclosed. It has not. Will we see the principals of this company jailed for these continual law violations? We hope so.

More soon. . . .

ALLIED CONFIRMS FINANCIAL DEFAULTS, NOW WANTS MEDIATION IT WON'T PROVIDE ANYONE ELSE!!!

Allied Brands Ltd (ABQ) issued a statement after close of market today that has brought peals of laughter and derision from Baskin Robbins franchisees in Australia.

The STATEMENT confirms that money raised this week in desperation by the sale of more shares was raised to pay Dunkin Brands money that it agrees is in default to Dunkin by ABQ. We wonder if the ASIC and the ASX are reading this statement - it confirms that Allied Brands is financially IN DEFAULT, and failure to pay debts as they come due is TRADING WHILE INSOLVENT.

TRADING WHILE INSOLVENT! CONFIRMED BY ALLIED BRANDS!

The statement then goes on to claim that ABQ is going to lodge a complaint under the provisions of the Australian Franchise Code for mediation!

This despite Allied's history of stonewalling complaints filed under the code by Australian franchisees. Baskin Robbins Australia has a long history of failing to respond to mediation notices and failing to even appear at scheduled mediations.

Since the ACCC has no "enforcement" provisions for "Failure to Mediate", Allied's history as a rogue franchisor in this area is clear.

Now Allied Brands insists that Dunkin Brands follow the code that they themselves have used to abuse the Baskin Robbins franchisees!

We all can't stop laughing!

MORE DODGY FINANCIAL SHENANIGANS TODAY FROM ALLIED BRANDS (ABQ)

Allied Brands (ABQ) so-called acting CEO Sean Corbin has filed an ASX document today showing that the company is engaged in the dodgy accountant equivalent of "searching the sofa for coins". With weeks gone by, this is pathetic.

ASX NOTICE

No word on when Baskin Robbins "31 Flavours" franchisees will ever see 31 again (most reporting 12-15 currently).

And no word when, if ever, ex-CEO Shane Radbone and his glamour spouse Victoria Elise Radbone are going to pay back their sweetheart $750,000 loan - now seriously in default.

The amount raised in this action today won't even come close to paying costs associated with all the failed Kenny's, Cookieman, and Baskin Robins locations here an in New Zealand. Maybe it's for one big last party?

The next step (they do it all the time) is for one of the mates to buy some shares to push up the price in desperation. Given that 95% of the value and all of the cash is gone, what's the point?

PPK GROUP NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR UNDISCLOSED ALLIED BRANDS INVESTMENTS BY DIRECTORS

Insiders at Allied Brands (ABQ) are reporting that the ASX and ASIC are investigating PPK Group Ltd (PPK) in conjunction with the financial collapse at Allied.

PPK has previously disclosed an "investment" by the company in ABQ shares, although the exact amount and relationships between ABQ and PPK have remained hidden.

Two PPK board members are said to be involved personally with undeclared personal investments in "secured notes" to Allied Brands. These are Glenn Molloy and Jury Wowk.

Wowk, a solicitor with HWL EBSWORTH, was appointed to the ABQ board earlier in the year -- a position he resigned from almost immediately after his first board meeting. Wowk was heard exclaiming "quite a fucking mess you've got here" on his way out the door. It was this quick resignation that began the public unraveling of all the lies and misleading statements made by the company to, well everyone.

But now the re-organisation or windup by the company is being held hostage by what are said to be personal interests of note holders which include Molloy and Wowk, and perhaps others at PPK.

None of this has been properly disclosed according to the ASX, and this could have a major effect on the status of PPK Group as well. Since the same kind of ratfucking of share holders at PPK seems to be occurring along with the ABQ share holders, a common thread of greed seems to be running thru this Gold Coast "old boys network"

It's unclear if these issues are known to Dunkin Brands when they served their intent to cancel Allied's running of Baskin Robbins. But clearly this is another layer in the corrupt operation being run by Lachlan McIntosh of KordaMentha.

Note that none of these people including acting CEO Sean Corbin has any experience with franchises, ice cream, cookies, or anything else this company does. All they're worried about is how much money to squeeze from the battlers that own the franchises and work at the coal face.

ALLIED BRANDS SERVED BREACH OF CONTRACT LETTER, VOWS TO FIGHT THOUGH UNARMED AND OUT OF CASH

Acting Allied Brands (ABQ) CEO Sean Corbin has continued the tradition of lying and deceit today in the company's announcement to the share market about the loss of the Baskin Robbins brand.

In the statement from the company, they claimthat although Dunkin Brands has issued a letter outlining a breach of their agreement they refused to list what parts of the agreement are in breach. A plan clearly designed to softpedal the breach, and continue misleading the sharemarket and investors. The fact is the brand has been so completely mismanaged for so many years, this action by Dunkin was completely inevitable and predicted here and elsewhere for a long time. Koreans, Indians, Chinese and other migrants sold known dud locations with visas, dozens of failed shops with huge losses to mom-and-pop Australian battlers, and a revolving door of management are just some of the known complaints. No one's made money but insiders.

Corbin says that ABQ will "fight the threat to terminate", but how stupid is this? Are solicitors and barristers in the USA (or Australia) working for fairy floss now? And what kind of lender is going to advance funds to ABQ for a court battle with a billion dollar US multinational?

It's noted that NO ONE has signed the actual statement released to the market. Perhaps no one wants the criminal liability that comes with releasing false information to the market.

This litigation on top of at least three ex-employee lawsuits, one of them alleging sexual harassment against Baskin Robbins managers. At least two ex-franchisee suits on foot. And others threatened. This is no longer a viable franchise management company, it's a solicitor's dream job!

Seems all the faceless men behind the scenes are still only concerned about getting their bad investments back.

Meanwhile, Baskin Robbins franchisees report the brand is only "15 Flavours" now in Australia - they've been missing so much ice cream for so long, they've decided just to change the name.

IS BASKIN ROBBINS THROWING IN THE TOWEL?

Insiders have contacted the blog and indicated that it's looking likely that Baskin Robbins US has had enough of the Australian market. It's clear that Allied Brands cannot operate the brand successfully, and the US has apparently been reducing ice cream and supply shipments in anticipation of a complete shutdown.

While others have written who believe that this would never happen, the lack of supply, with no concern or intervention by Baskin Robbins US, looks like a windup in progress to many.

More soon. . . .

**FLASH** ABQ TRADING HALTED, BREACH OF BASKIN ROBBINS AGREEMENT MAY MEAN LOSS OF BRAND **FLASH**

Early today, acting CEO of Allied Brands Sean Corbin met with Baskin Robbins senior management in Boston in order to receive the bad news about ABQ's continuing to represent the Baskin-Robbins brand in Australia.

In response, trading in ABQ shares has been halted by the ASX.

READ HALT ANNOUNCEMENT HERE

Corbin is said to be holed up in his luxury hotel suite in Quincy, Mass, refusing to take phone calls and lamenting his involvement again in another fucked up company.

Allied Brands has NO resources to fight an American company in American courts. So whatever has occurred, it's final. Done and dusted. Perhaps they can lodge a complaint with the ACCC like so many Allied Brands franchisees have done!

More soon. . . .

SHANE RADBONE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR SHATTERED REPUTATION WITH LITTLE SUCCESS

Shane Radbone, the sacked ex-CEO of Allied Brands Ltd (ABQ) has discovered that unemployment has given him the time to engage in a new career - attempting to fix his shattered reputation. His performance was so abysmal that the company issued two statements on his departure, the second ensuring that everyone was aware he didn't resign, but was ejected.

While Radbone was CEO at Allied Brands, the company has seen the shares collapse, all of the associated businesses showing massive losses, and employees filing lawsuits against the company as well as franchisees filing complaints over ABQ's "unconscionable conduct". Radbone oversaw the company while all these frightening actions were occurring. He's an embarrassment to all, including his Scotch College schoolmates.

Shane Radbone and his wife Victoria Elise Radbone also borrowed $750,000.00 from the company in what most regard as a "sweetheart" loan. With the shares now worth virtually nothing and the company having no choice but to sack Radbone, he now has continued to fail and pay the company back this large sum of money. With the company already deep into a bank overdraft (almost $650,000 at the end of the financial year), the company desperately needs funds to finance the closure of all the dud locations Radbone approved.

WHERE'S THE MONEY, SHANE & VICTORIA?

Today, a "mate's article" appeared in the Fairfax papers, including the Sydney Morning Herald. In it, Radbone claims he's "reengaging with his fan base on a new blog". A blog that has two entries in it, one from his "speaker's agent" Greg Hobby, and the second from his co-debtor wife Victoria Elise. Since several companies including Allied Brands experienced the "black hand" of Radbone on their operations, "motivational speaker" would seem to be an illogical choice. He points to his marginal performance ratings as a speaker - ratings that all occurred before he drove Allied Brands into a ditch. Hard to motivate another company when everyone knows under your watch a manager engaged in sexual harassment of an employee and finally drove the victim out of the company.

No amount of manipulated press can fix Radbone's now shit reputation. He can't skate thru on press releases and a mediocre sporting career anymore. Business judges by performance, and Shane Radbone is the bottom of the barrel.

One just has to read Shane Radbone's statements to the ASX and sharemarket and then compare them to reality. What kind of motivational speaker has so many lies with his name on them?

WHERE'S THE MONEY, SHANE & VICTORIA?