{"id":316065,"date":"2025-11-29T08:18:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T08:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/316065\/"},"modified":"2025-11-29T08:18:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T08:18:10","slug":"show-me-your-wealth-liquidator-orders-natasha-donnelly-to-reveal-finances-after-latest-collapse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/316065\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Show me your wealth\u2019: Liquidator orders Natasha Donnelly to reveal finances after latest collapse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\"><a class=\"css-1wq8pq9-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thewest.com.au\/news\/court-justice\/courts-wind-up-more-businesses-run-by-former-west-coast-eagle-andrew-donnelly-and-wife-natasha-c-18339087\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Natasha Marshall Donnelly<\/a>, the daughter of football legend Denis Marshall and wife of ex-West Coast Eagle Andrew Donnelly, has been asked to detail her personal finances in the wake of another company collapse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Meanwhile, a victim in the fallout, who sold his business to the Donnellys but didn\u2019t get paid, has vented frustration at the corporate regulator\u2019s failure to take action against the couple.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Paul Crennan said his complaints to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission had fallen on deaf ears.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Profounder C&amp;H Mining is the 12th Donnelly-owned company to hit the wall in recent years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Ms Marshall Donnelly was the sole director of the company, but Mr Crennan said it was her husband who negotiated the sale and called all the shots thereafter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Liquidator Daniel Bredenkamp of Pitcher Partners acknowledged in his recent report to creditors that Mr Donnelly might be a shadow director \u2014 effectively in charge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">He reported Ms Marshall Donnelly had failed to co-operate with his enquiries, \u201cdespite numerous requests\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cAs I have not received the company\u2019s books and records from the director, I have been unable to conduct sufficient investigations into any potential recovery actions,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cThis breach has been reported to ASIC for their consideration and next steps.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The company, a mining services contractor, had just $11 in the bank and potentially owed creditors as much as $2.8 million, with Mr Crennan owed most of that.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/c506eb5af35ff05b57c570b0b7b1c822bec6f1d3.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew and Natasha Donnelly on a previous skiing holiday.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\"\/>Camera IconAndrew and Natasha Donnelly on a previous skiing holiday. Credit: Supplied\/Supplied<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The WA Commissioner of State Revenue, which petitioned the court to wind-up the company, is owed $21,403.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Mr Bredenkamp is trying to ascertain the whereabouts of six motor vehicles registered to the company as well as equipment including forklifts and cranes, but said he\u2019d been hindered by the non-co-operation by the director.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">It\u2019s a similar story with ongoing liquidations into other related companies. For example, in the case of Profounder Plumbing and Gas Pty Ltd, liquidator David Hodgson is trying to get details from the Donnellys on the sale of 15 vehicles prior to his appointment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Dr Hodgson has also complained to ASIC about a lack of assistance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Mr Bredenkamp said his preliminary investigations had revealed several possible offences, including that Ms Marshall Donnelly had \u201cfailed to discharge her duties with the degree of due care and diligence that a reasonable person would as the company incurred liabilities which resulted in it being wound up\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cIt appears that the director may have been reckless or intentional dishonest in failing to exercise duties in good faith,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cThe director acquired the C&amp;H Mining Services business by vendor finance and failed to make any payment of the purchase price, while advancing their own interest by granting (a security interest) in favour of their related entity Amulet Securities Pty Ltd.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Mr Bredenkamp said Ms Marshall Donnelly may have breached her duties by potentially trading whilst insolvent, but it was unclear for how long. Directors can be held personally liable for debts incurred after the date of insolvency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cI consider that the director may be personally liable for any debts incurred. Further, if it is proven that the director\u2019s husband, Andrew Donnelly, was a shadow director of the company during the relevant period, he may also be personally liable for debts incurred,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cI intend to formally request a statutory declaration from the director detailing her personal assets and liabilities to determine whether it is commercially feasible to pursue an insolvent trading claim.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">As with other present liquidations of companies operated by the Donnellys, Mr Bredenkamp is unfunded and is reliant on ASIC providing funds or creditors putting up money, to advance his investigations. Without support, he is hamstrung.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cI will not be undertaking any further investigations unless further records or funding becomes available,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">On Friday, Mr Bredenkamp said nothing had changed since he wrote his report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Mr Crennan said he was frustrated by ASIC\u2019s apparent inaction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cIt drives you nuts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cI\u2019ve dobbed (Andrew Donnelly) into ASIC several times. I\u2019ve tried giving them information. No one ever contacts me back. You never hear back. So they just get away with it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cWhat annoys me is that all these laws are in place. It\u2019s illegal for a director to do this. It\u2019s illegal for them to do that &#8230; you must act in the best interest of a company at all times. But if you don\u2019t, there\u2019s no consequences. There\u2019s no company police that come around and go, \u2018mate, you\u2019re under arrest\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Mr Crennan, who continued to manage the company for a period after the sale, said he never had anything to do with Ms Marshall Donnelly. He said all his interactions were with her husband.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cI\u2019ve never even met her, spoke to her, nothing. It was all him, all the way through, like he\u2019s the one that signed the agreements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Under the sale agreement, Mr Crennan said he was meant to receive 50 per cent of the profits for five years, but despite him bringing in lots of work for the busy business, he alleged it didn\u2019t turn a profit after the 2020 sale, because Mr Donnelly was taking so much money out of the business, some of which was allegedly moved around other Donnelly companies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">A spokesperson for ASIC said the regulator was unable to comment on specific cases, but said it took very seriously patterns of repeated company failures, concerns raised by external administrators and indications of phoenix-type conduct are matters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cUnder the Corporations Act 2001, ASIC has a wide range of enforcement powers available in response to such conduct. This includes administrative director disqualification for up to five years, applying to a court for disqualification orders of up to 20 years, and taking a civil or criminal action where evidence supports it,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cASIC uses statutory reports from liquidators and other information to assess whether director behaviour warrants further regulatory action, including possible disqualification from managing corporations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cDecisions about enforcement action are made in line with ASIC\u2019s legislated powers, the evidence available and the broader public interest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The Sunday Times has calculated that total estimated liabilities from ten of the insolvent Donnelly companies exceed $22 million, with unsecured creditors owed an estimated $13.7 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">For the past two years Consumer Protection in WA has been investigating two defunct Donnelly companies, Factory Direct Group and Profounder Factory Direct.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/f2a07aa41b441d0e6632c1045920995afd758c53.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew Donnelly and wife Natasha Donnelly on a skiing holiday in January at the premium Alpine resort of Val d'Isere in France.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\"\/>Camera IconAndrew Donnelly and wife Natasha Donnelly on a skiing holiday in January at the premium Alpine resort of Val d&#8217;Isere in France. Credit: Unknown\/Instagram<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Scores of customers who paid for patios, carports, garages and sheds but got nothing in return are among unsecured creditors owed almost $1.2m by the firms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">In July 2023, Consumer Protection urged the public to be wary of Factory Direct given its shocking record of taking large advance payments and failing to deliver.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cWith regard to Factory Direct, our investigation remains ongoing,\u201d a spokesperson said on Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The Donnellys were contacted for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Natasha Marshall Donnelly, the daughter of football legend Denis Marshall and wife of ex-West Coast Eagle Andrew Donnelly,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":316066,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99,44,45],"class_list":["post-316065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-business","tag-news","tag-wa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316065"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316065\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/316066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}