Investors in child care group, Affinity Education, have certainly learnt not to underestimate the team at its suitor, G8 Education.
The duo running the G8 show – chairman Jenny Hutson, and managing director Chris Scott – managed to stitch up a 20 per cent stake in Affinity before their fellow investors had so much as a sniff of a bid.
Hutson's work has not always drawn accolades.
The Hutson founded Wellington Capital has had a colourful run as the manager of an investment disaster called the Premium Income Fund.
In November last year, the High Court dismissed an appeal by Wellington Capital against a court decision that found it had acted improperly in its managerial role.
Wellington had handballed more than $90 million worth of PIF assets to a company called ARL, which was then acquired by PIF. Wellington then tried to issue these ARL shares to PIF unit holders.
"This decision once again validates ASIC's concerns with Wellington's conduct," said ASIC commissioner Greg Tanzer.
In 2011, Hutson was implicated in a bizarre scheme that involving hired actors to ensure Wellington did not get removed as PIF's manager.
An affidavit alleged Hutson was involved in an orchestrated attempt to subvert the outcome of a meeting of PIF investors, by signing up a rent-a-crowd of as many as 200 people to temporarily become PIF investors and vote in her favour.
ASIC gave up investigating the matter in 2013. http://www.smh.com.au/business/cbd/...mps-fijian-resorts-dream-20150708-gi7ako.html
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