WARNING OVER SELF-PROCLAIMED WONDER KID BEHIND
Sunday Mail
Michael Haston boasts of having sold a “Cayman-based fund” for more than £ 500million and has been widely reported to have pumped £2million into Shetland’s plans for a rocket launchpad through his firm Leonne International Ltd.
But a Sunday Mail investigation has uncovered a string of troubling revelations about the businessman and his company, which is also known as Leonreed Ltd.
Eight firms Leonne International claims to have “acquired” told us they had never heard of Haston or his organisation.
A businessman listed as a
“non- executive director” has confirmed he holds no such role.
Despite claiming to be a “leading multinational”, Haston is the only director and Leonne International has never filed accounts with Companies House.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned investors the company is operating “unregulated” and has advised people to protect themselves “from scammers”.
Documents also suggest Leonne International ’s heavi ly publicised £2million investment in Shetland Space Centre involves a “share swap” deal with a “nominal value” of just £ 5.
And the “port fol io” and “management team” sections of its website were removed after we began asking questions. Following
But when we contacted Strang, he refused to say how much of the money had been handed over.
The FCA issued a warning about Leonne on March 3 after we began making inquiries. It said the firm has been “targeting people in the UK” and “providing financial services… without authorisation”. Its official warning advises people to be wary of “scammers”.
Leonne International’s website claimed businessman George Rolls was a non-executive director until the page was removed following our investigation.
But when we contacted Rolls, at a private jet firm where he holds a senior position,