Firepower: The most spectacular fraud in Australian historyA magic pill that cuts fuel consumption and reduces emissions ...... that was the miracle promised by Tim Johnsto's company, Firepower. Everyone believed him; prime ministers and presidents, doctors and diplomats, business leaders and sporting heroes - even ASIC the corporate watchdo - went along with the myth. Millions of shares were sold to investors, and by 2007, Firepower had become the biggest sporting sponsor in the country. But it was all a sham. In this compelling account, Gerard Ryle demolishes the fairytale, exposing a wobbly financial pyramid and the greatest fraud ever committed in Australia's history. Tim Johnston divided his people into Oranges and Lemons. Those who did't know him enough yet, he called Oranges. They thought he was nice and sweet and juicy. But those who really got to know him became Lemons: he left them bitter and twisted' |
Contents
| 1 | |
2 Choosing sides | 17 |
3 Abracadabra | 29 |
4 Big concepts | 41 |
5 Wanting to believe | 55 |
6 A new beginning | 69 |
7 Foreign shores | 81 |
8 Gaining credibility | 93 |
12 Changing the guard | 141 |
13 The big distraction | 155 |
14 Oranges and lemons | 165 |
15 Raining money | 177 |
16 Escape routes | 191 |
17 Behind the curtain | 205 |
18 The money pit | 219 |
Epilogue | 237 |
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Firepower: The Most Spectacular Fraud in Australian History (16pt Large ... Gerard Ryle No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
alleged Anderson ASIC Austrade Australian Automobile Association BAE Systems Bank basketball began biggest business partner cent fuel saving Chemplex chief executive Chorney claimed Clegg company called company’s contracts countries director distributors documents emissions engine engine-cleaning machine entity ferrocene financial advisor Finnin Firepower products Firepower's former fuel pill fuel-saving Giteau Graham Grebe Holmes à Court investment investors involved Johnston June Klumov Knebel later liquids London Lubricants Luchansky Macquarie Bank Malaysia meetings million months Moscow multi-level marketing Nairn newsletter newspaper organised Pakistan Perth Peter players Power Plan International prime minister Prok promised Pty Ltd quote Rabbitohs Romania rugby rugby union Russian Railways says selling September shareholders shares Singapore sold South Sydney Rabbitohs sponsor sporting Stein story Sydney Kings Sydney Morning Herald talk Tim Johnston told TPS Firepower trade trial trucks wanted Western Force Whitham wrote Zealand