Dutch financier boasted about links to Billie Eilish and Apple boss Tim Cook before he ‘ripped off’ Reform’ treasurer

A Dutch financier boasted about links to Billie Eilish and Apple boss Tim Cook before tricking Reform treasurer Nick Candy into investing in ‘fantasy’ social media platform, the High Court heard.

Candy, one of Britain’s best known property tycoons, is embroiled in a bitter legal row with Robert Bonnier, a businessman once handed a record fine for misleading the stock market.

Bonnier, 56, is said to have enticed Candy into a multi-million-pound investment in one of his firms, a fledgling social media company called Aaqua.

Candy, 52, launched a successful attempt to freeze Bonnier’s assets last summer, with the Dutchman filing a counter-claim that the asset freeze sparked the downfall of his business.

Bonnier, a former investment banker, made his name as the founder of phone directory firm Scoot in 2000.

The company soared to valuation of £2.5 billion in 2000 but sank to £5 million when the dotcom bubble burst.

Candy is seeking £6 million in damages from Bonnier – who has hit back with a £150 million lawsuit of his own.

Bonnier will represent himself throughout the High Court trial.

Candy owns 90 per cent of Candy Ventures Sarl (CVS) and the company is suing Bonnier over the allegations he lied to secure the £6.5 million investment in his company Aaqua BV.

Bonnier allegedly claimed that Apple and drinks and handbags giant LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton were about to invest one billion US dollars in Aaqua and as a result, CVS swapped shares in podcasting firm Audioboom for worthless shares in Aaqua.

At the High Court today (weds), Jonathan Nash KC, for CVS, said Bonnier told investors Apple would ‘make available its huge library of content’ for his ‘game-changing’ social media start-up.

‘It’s all fantasy’, Mr Nash told the court, ‘there was no expectation or agreement that Apple was about to subscribe.’

Mr Nash took the court through witness statements written by several people in close proximity to Bonnier as the financier sought investment for Aaqua.

Christian Gordon-Pullar worked as a former consultant legal advisor at Aaqua.

Mr Nash referred to Gordon-Pullar’s evidence that Bonnier ‘would regularly talk about his dealings with ‘Mark’ (Zuckerberg) at Facebook, and mention Apple, LiveNation and Billie Eilish.

‘He said that Apple had agreed to invest and then Tim Cook was mentioned.

‘He began to suspect this was all just promoter’s puff, or just lies – there was constant talk within the business of funds coming through, but nothing ever arrived.

‘He concluded there wasn’t any other source of funding other than Mr Bonnier, or his wife, which was causing financial problems.’

Businessman Hezi Yechiel said he knew Bonnier ‘socially’ in 2020 and was told about the Aaqua project in November 2021.

He said in his written statement: ‘At the meeting in November 2021, Mr Bonnier name-dropped various people who he said he worked with on his Aaqua project, including various Apple executives such as Tim Cook, senior executives from LVMH and other big tech giants.

‘He claimed in particular that Apple was invested or had agreed to invest in his business and spoke of other well-known names including Manchester City football club and Billie Eilish -who were also involved in Aaqua.

‘I recall (albeit this would have been a separate conversation) that Mr Bonnier claimed to be friends with Tim Cook, so much so that when he had a heart problem in LA, Tim Cook’s personal cardiologist had taken him under his care.’

Mr Yechiel concluded that it ‘all felt too good to be true’ and ‘politely declined any interest’ in investing in Aaqua.

Bonnier stated in court documents that he felt Apple’s ‘philosophy on safety and social media’ would be ‘aligned with that of Aaqua’s.’

He said that the Aaqua app was made available on Google Play and the Apple Store in ‘Q4 2021’ and had 23,839 members by mid-2022.

The app, he said, was ‘developing rapidly’ before it was foiled by a worldwide freezing order granted after allegations emerged about misleading investors.

‘For example, in July 2022, Aaqua hosted a successful five-a-side event, prior to the commencement of the litigation, which involved Geoff Shreeves, at the time a well-known Sky Sports reporter, acting as a commentator on a football match and engaging one of Aaqua’s passion communities.

‘During the event, members of the community were able to generate original content and engage both with each other and with Mr Shreeves.’

Bonnier will provide his closing submissions orally to the court this afternoon.

The trial continues.