Not their first time (the history of John & Chris Iliopoulos's companies)

#1 · November 9, 2023, 2:37 am

Quote from Guest on November 9, 2023, 2:37 am
Since some of the things have come to light on this forum about company ownership and shares I have begun doing some research into the company set up and history and I’ve discovered a lot of curious things. While some may not be criminal, they’re certainly a smoking gun and curious in the grand scheme of things, and I hope others can pick up the mantle here and continue the research. Please do update us if you do!

e-Mersion Media was originally Box Digital, which was started not by John, but by Troy Barbagello for his Box Magazine. John then bought into Box Magazine and the technology in mid-2015 and created Box Digital Media Pty Ltd, claiming to have invented the technology and claiming to be the founder when he wasn’t. The purchase of this was facilitated by the Directors of Groove Train Werribee (this is important later).

On the 21st of December 2015, John Iliopoulos is made a Director of KTL Technologies along with David Jaffe (now e-Mersion’s accountant) and Allan Holmes by the Chairman, Richard Symon (now director of Gooroo who were “meant to” buy e-Mersion).

The announcement states that John “has 20 years experience in the Corporate Banking industry in marketing and business development with organizations such as ANZ Bank, ING Bank, RACV, FAI Finance and Mortgage Advance.” No records of John working at any of these financial institutions exist.

In April 2016, four months after John is made a director of KTL Technologies, KTL announces it is buying Box Digital Media shares. It doesn’t appear like this purchase went ahead, if it did, where did the money go? It seems that this was the first in a long line of fake announcements to get potential shareholders excited and raise money.

At the same time KTL Technologies (which remember, John was a director of at this time) announces it is also acquiring Priority One (which David Jaffe was also a director of) and Steer Film & Entertainment (which Allan Holmes is a director of). Steer has also been called Capricon Film Studios Pty Ltd, Galaxy Motion Pictures Pty Ltd, International Capital Group Australia Pty Ltd, and is now a butcher called Terra Firma Meatco Pty Ltd (Whole Seafood Market, Pure Meatco, The Butcher’s Market). David Jaffe was the Steer Film & Entertainment accountant (the company was registered to his office) and his company Priority One is also a major shareholder.
Here is the only review of the company while it was called International Capital Group:

In June 2016, GT Consortium Pty Ltd (John and Chris’s Epping restaurant) is placed into liquidation.

In November 2017, e-Mersion signs an MOU with iSYNERGY. The iSYNERGY Chairman, is also Richard Symon. Nothing ever comes of this deal, it seems to be another fake news story to increase the company valuation ahead of the next update.

In January 2018, Authorised Investment Fund (ASX:AIY) executed a binding term sheet to acquire interest in Box Digital Media Pty Ltd, a part of this deal involving shares in AIY. Under the terms of the deal, Authorised Investment Fund agreed to issue and allot 30 million of its fully paid ordinary shares to Box Digital Media in consideration for a parcel of shares in Box equal to 10% of its issued share capital. However instead of these shares being issued to Box Digital Media (now e-Mersion), they were issued to John and Chris’s private company, Sir James Pty Ltd.

In July 2018 Cool Time Equity Pty Ltd and Box International Pty Ltd takes Box Media Digital Pty Ltd to court alleging they were never paid for the sale of Box Magazine to John Iliopolous.

In October 2018 Box Media Digital Pty Ltd changes it name to e-Mersion Media Pty Ltd.

In March 2019 Cool Time Equity Pty Ltd and Box International Pty Ltd win their case against the former Box Media Digital Pty Ltd (now e-Mersion Media). e-Mersion pay the damages. John sends shareholders an update spinning this as positive news because 246 shares held by the plaintiff were cancelled. What he neglects to mention is e-Mersion Media has to pay the plaintiff the original sale price and damages instead of trying to pay with shares.

In May 2020, GT Werribee Pty Ltd (John and Chris’s Werribee restaurant) is placed into liquidation.

In 2020 GT19 Pty Ltd (John and Chris’s Geelong restaurant) is put into Administration. Creditors chase debts for the next three years.

In 2021, John and Chris Iliopoulos sold off AIY shares, profiting about $1.4million. This money went directly into John and Chris Iliopoulos’s pockets and NOT into e-Mersion. If these shares were given as part of AIY acquiring interest in Box Digital Media (later renamed e-Mersion Media Pty Ltd) e-Mersion should have benefited from the sale. John and Chris stole $1.4million.

The directors of Groove Train Werribee allege that they were the ones to pay for the purchase of Box Magazine, this is currently in Supreme Court and has been for two years. So the question is, if the directors of Groove Train Werribee gave John Iliopoulos the money to purchase Box Magazine, yet Troy Barbagello was never paid, where did the money go?

In August 2023 John and Chris Iliopoulos finally wound up the insolvent GT19 Pty Ltd.

In 2022/2023 when faced with accusations of a growing debt of $4,000,000, e-Mersion announces that it is exploring a buyout from Gooroo Ventures Limited and dangles this carrot in front of investors to raise more capital. Gooroo’s Director is Richard Symon.

It seems there is a long history of John and Chris stealing money, announcing fake business deals to boost company valuations only to pocket the money and then run the companies into liquidation, and then moving onto the next vehicle.

Since some of the things have come to light on this forum about company ownership and shares I have begun doing some research into the company set up and history and I’ve discovered a lot of curious things. While some may not be criminal, they’re certainly a smoking gun and curious in the grand scheme of things, and I hope others can pick up the mantle here and continue the research. Please do update us if you do!

e-Mersion Media was originally Box Digital, which was started not by John, but by Troy Barbagello for his Box Magazine. John then bought into Box Magazine and the technology in mid-2015 and created Box Digital Media Pty Ltd, claiming to have invented the technology and claiming to be the founder when he wasn’t. The purchase of this was facilitated by the Directors of Groove Train Werribee (this is important later).
On the 21st of December 2015, John Iliopoulos is made a Director of KTL Technologies along with David Jaffe (now e-Mersion’s accountant) and Allan Holmes by the Chairman, Richard Symon (now director of Gooroo who were “meant to” buy e-Mersion).
The announcement states that John “has 20 years experience in the Corporate Banking industry in marketing and business development with organizations such as ANZ Bank, ING Bank, RACV, FAI Finance and Mortgage Advance.” No records of John working at any of these financial institutions exist.
In April 2016, four months after John is made a director of KTL Technologies, KTL announces it is buying Box Digital Media shares. It doesn’t appear like this purchase went ahead, if it did, where did the money go? It seems that this was the first in a long line of fake announcements to get potential shareholders excited and raise money.
At the same time KTL Technologies (which remember, John was a director of at this time) announces it is also acquiring Priority One (which David Jaffe was also a director of) and Steer Film & Entertainment (which Allan Holmes is a director of). Steer has also been called Capricon Film Studios Pty Ltd, Galaxy Motion Pictures Pty Ltd, International Capital Group Australia Pty Ltd, and is now a butcher called Terra Firma Meatco Pty Ltd (Whole Seafood Market, Pure Meatco, The Butcher’s Market). David Jaffe was the Steer Film & Entertainment accountant (the company was registered to his office) and his company Priority One is also a major shareholder.
Here is the only review of the company while it was called International Capital Group:
In June 2016, GT Consortium Pty Ltd (John and Chris’s Epping restaurant) is placed into liquidation.
In November 2017, e-Mersion signs an MOU with iSYNERGY. The iSYNERGY Chairman, is also Richard Symon. Nothing ever comes of this deal, it seems to be another fake news story to increase the company valuation ahead of the next update.
In January 2018, Authorised Investment Fund (ASX:AIY) executed a binding term sheet to acquire interest in Box Digital Media Pty Ltd, a part of this deal involving shares in AIY. Under the terms of the deal, Authorised Investment Fund agreed to issue and allot 30 million of its fully paid ordinary shares to Box Digital Media in consideration for a parcel of shares in Box equal to 10% of its issued share capital. However instead of these shares being issued to Box Digital Media (now e-Mersion), they were issued to John and Chris’s private company, Sir James Pty Ltd.
In July 2018 Cool Time Equity Pty Ltd and Box International Pty Ltd takes Box Media Digital Pty Ltd to court alleging they were never paid for the sale of Box Magazine to John Iliopolous.
In October 2018 Box Media Digital Pty Ltd changes it name to e-Mersion Media Pty Ltd.
In March 2019 Cool Time Equity Pty Ltd and Box International Pty Ltd win their case against the former Box Media Digital Pty Ltd (now e-Mersion Media). e-Mersion pay the damages. John sends shareholders an update spinning this as positive news because 246 shares held by the plaintiff were cancelled. What he neglects to mention is e-Mersion Media has to pay the plaintiff the original sale price and damages instead of trying to pay with shares.
In May 2020, GT Werribee Pty Ltd (John and Chris’s Werribee restaurant) is placed into liquidation.
In 2020 GT19 Pty Ltd (John and Chris’s Geelong restaurant) is put into Administration. Creditors chase debts for the next three years.
In 2021, John and Chris Iliopoulos sold off AIY shares, profiting about $1.4million. This money went directly into John and Chris Iliopoulos’s pockets and NOT into e-Mersion. If these shares were given as part of AIY acquiring interest in Box Digital Media (later renamed e-Mersion Media Pty Ltd) e-Mersion should have benefited from the sale. John and Chris stole $1.4million.
The directors of Groove Train Werribee allege that they were the ones to pay for the purchase of Box Magazine, this is currently in Supreme Court and has been for two years. So the question is, if the directors of Groove Train Werribee gave John Iliopoulos the money to purchase Box Magazine, yet Troy Barbagello was never paid, where did the money go?
In August 2023 John and Chris Iliopoulos finally wound up the insolvent GT19 Pty Ltd.
In 2022/2023 when faced with accusations of a growing debt of $4,000,000, e-Mersion announces that it is exploring a buyout from Gooroo Ventures Limited and dangles this carrot in front of investors to raise more capital. Gooroo’s Director is Richard Symon.

It seems there is a long history of John and Chris stealing money, announcing fake business deals to boost company valuations only to pocket the money and then run the companies into liquidation, and then moving onto the next vehicle.

groovetrain has reacted to this post.

#2 · November 9, 2023, 2:55 am

Dear esteemed guest poster, congratulations on your adept ability to carefully manipulate the truth to suit your personal agenda.

groovetrain, parmenides and 2 other users have reacted to this post.

#3 · November 9, 2023, 3:18 am

Why haven’t they called a shareholder meeting to clear this up?
Why haven’t they opened their books to show where the money has gone if not to their own pockets?
Why did John lie to the reporter and say the Fairwork cases were dropped and that all the staff have had their money owed paid to them?

Why are they in hiding?

groovetrain has reacted to this post.

#4 · November 9, 2023, 3:32 am

Quote from Mark Bartlett on November 9, 2023, 2:55 am

Dear esteemed guest poster, congratulations on your adept ability to carefully manipulate the truth to suit your personal agenda.

I’ve deleted several angry posts aimed at everyone involved because I’ve wanted to keep this as impartial as possible so we can get to the truth. This doesn’t seem like one of those posts what so ever. This seems like a fairly impartial timeline of events (all of which are in the public realm and can be verified independently).

Certain whistleblowers do not want to risk being identified because of the various threats of violence already levelled against several people. No one can blame them for that. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that these are all facts you can easily cross check yourself on the ASIC website and through various press releases.

Given the complete silence and accountability from the directors of e-Mersion Media, it’s no wonder shareholders are left to try to piece the puzzle together themselves. Given the track record of lies, it’s no wonder that anyone has a hard time believing their “carefully manipulated” story anymore. Given the state of affairs we find ourselves in, it’s no wonder shareholders have developed a distrust towards the directors of e-Mersion Media. All of this could have easily been cleared up had they taken the responsible action of having regular shareholder meetings, and transparency of their account keeping rather than constantly hiding and refusing to take any accountability for their actions and the train wreck they have caused. At this point, John, Chris and Peter, only have themselves to blame.

groovetrain has reacted to this post.

#5 · November 9, 2023, 3:49 am

Quote from Mark Bartlett on November 9, 2023, 2:55 am

Dear esteemed guest poster, congratulations on your adept ability to carefully manipulate the truth to suit your personal agenda.

Hi Mark,

Let’s enter into a real discussion at a shareholder meeting with everyone present. At which point we would like an open and up to date history of all the accounts and several questions answered:

Given the company had zero revenue, how could the directors justify their expenditure on trips and luxuries that netted zero revenue
How much did the Formula 1 contract, which was put on a pedestal as a major win to lure investment, really cost the company now that we know it’s actually a paid-for-by us licence agreement and not a client (clients pay)?
How much money was generated by the FIFA project? We understand the app was removed from the Google App Store, but the Apple App Store remained live. Therefore even if we lost 50% of the revenue, there should still be 50% left. So how much revenue came in? And more importantly how much did the project cost us?
What happened to the AIY shares, where did this money go?
How many of their own Sir James held shares did John and Chris sell, and when? More importantly, did the investors that purchased these shares believe they were purchasing new e-Mersion shares and thus raising capital for the business?
When are the directors prepared to pay back various loans made to the company to pay for staff wages?
As of today, what do the company debts sit at, and what is the plan to dig the company out of this hole? Particularly, what are the total ATO debts?
What is the agreement with Attnd Media?
Most importantly, how is the company solvent?

groovetrain and parmenides have reacted to this post.

#6 · November 15, 2023, 6:55 am

Crooks of a feather flock together.

#7 · November 22, 2023, 12:00 am

Are these names familiar to anyone (Anthony Ward & Hung Dao) ?

Maybe the brothers can answer !!!!

#8 · November 22, 2023, 7:21 am

Quote from Calmerisabitch on November 22, 2023, 12:00 am

Are these names familiar to anyone (Anthony Ward & Hung Dao) ?

Maybe the brothers can answer !!!!

?

#9 · November 23, 2023, 11:18 am

Quote from Calmerisabitch on November 22, 2023, 12:00 am

Are these names familiar to anyone (Anthony Ward & Hung Dao) ?

Maybe the brothers can answer !!!!

Care to expand?

#10 · December 4, 2023, 10:08 am

This is a good list but barely scratches the surface. Groovetrain, Bellini, Imperial Projects, Miss Behaving (John’s sexy lingerie company), Banqport, the wine and cleaning product imports, on and on. The only thing these all have in common is they all failed, people lost fortunes, but somehow Chris Iliopoulos and John always ended up pulling money out of each to start the next proposal. There are shareholders from multiple previous businesses spanning over a decade who have gone on the record to confirm that Chris and John have stolen millions of dollars from them.