Buyer beware: frank advice on franchising, Shoeshine: Latest Abano bid falters, Media Watch: Diplomatic nudity

In NBR today:

In NBR’s special investigation into franchises, Karyn Scherer finds further franchisees claiming to have been duped into buying failing retail businesses are backing calls for regulation of the $20 billion franchising industry.They include Guthrie Bowron franchisees, who claim an ambitious new concept was sold to at least one new franchisee as it was circling the drain. That’s denied by the chain’s previous owner, private equity firm Waterman Capital.

Calida Smylie writes that the local branch of corruption watchdog Transparency International is digging into New Zealand’s financial services sector. “For it to be true that New Zealand is a safe place to bank, we have to be vigilant,” its chairwoman Suzanne Snively says. But with no power to make banks take part in the review, or assurances regulators will take note of its findings, is TINZ all bark and no bite?

In Shoeshine, Jenny Ruth says it looks as if Healthcare Partners shareholders’ third attempt at gaining control of Abano Healthcare will be as unsuccessful as the previous two.

The 16c increase in offer price to $10 a share – which has been described as a “Clayton’s increase” – doesn’t appear to have convinced any more Abano shareholders.

In Media Watch, David Cohen writes that coverage of the former senator reportedly being considered for nomination as US ambassador to New Zealand has canvassed his early 1980s outing as a semi-clad centrefold.

But it is not Scott Brown’s provocative poses but rather one of his political positions that prompted a local newspaper to make a break with precedent.

In Hunter’s Corner, Tim Hunter examines Sealegs, the NZX-listed maker of amphibious boats, which alleges a company set up by some of its former employees has breached its copyright.The dispute is set down for a court hearing in September. “Although it’s natural Sealegs would defend its turf like a bull elephant seal in the breeding season, the fact it has to try is symptomatic of its struggle to convert innovation into money.”

All this and more in today's NBR Print edition. Out now