Former Harrier Group shareholders, including the Bunning family, have escalated a share payout dispute allegedly involving millions of dollars to the state’s highest court.
Former Harrier Group shareholders, including the Bunning family, have escalated a share payout dispute allegedly involving millions of dollars to the state’s highest court.
A group of plaintiffs lodged a writ to the Supreme Court of Western Australia, naming Belong2, Harrier Group, Belong2 group chief executive Simon Meyer and group chief customer officer Richard Wynn as defendants.
In the writ obtained by Business News, the plaintiffs alleged Belong2 failed to fully pay out their shares in Harrier Group, which were agreed upon at $7.8 million, despite demands.
Belong2 is the parent company of Harrier, a talent and recruitment provider also known as Harrier Talent Solutions.
The writ lists the plaintiffs as Jailaw, Omega Red, Drummond Nominees, Sunnyday, Scott Crawley, Philippe de Saint Jorre, Christine de Saint Jorre, and former Harrier group chief executive Kelly Reynolds.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission data show Jailaw and Drummond Nominees are owned by the Bunning family, led by Gavin Bunning.
Mr Bunning was a director of Harrier Group from mid-2013 until July 2022.
Omega Red is owned by former Harriet chair David Sourbutts while Sunnyday is owned by Helen Bunning, according to ASIC.
The plaintiffs claimed, in the writ, damages of at least $4.7 million for an alleged breach of agreement and interest.
Harrier Group, Belong2, and the plaintiffs entered a deed in June 2022 for the latter to sell their shares back to Belong2 for $7.8 million, the writ said.
The plaintiffs alleged Belong2 paid the first few instalments but claimed $4.05 million remained outstanding.
It is alleged in the writ that Belong2 failed to pay interest on the outstanding amount, after the parties amended the deed they’ve entered into.
Mr Sourbutts' Omega Red held the most shares as trustee for the Southport Family Trust, being 1.028 million ordinary shares converted from redeemable preference shares, 988,607 ordinary shares, and more than 730,000 redeemable preference shares, according to the writ.
He was chair of Harrier from July 2014 until June 2023.
Belong2 told Business News it was unable to comment at this time.
