Late MTV star Johnny 'Danger' Bennett's beer company goes broke

Saturday, 1 June 2019

Comedian and stuntman Johnny 'Danger' Bennett, died on Anzac Day in 2018.

Deceased MTV star Johnny 'Danger' Bennett's beer company has been liquidated.

The company was placed into liquidation in April in the High Court in Hamilton after creditor Hally Labels applied in January to wind up the company. The Official Assignee was appointed liquidator.

The company, which sold the late daredevil's eponymous beer and merchandise, owed about $385,000.

The 29-year-old social media stuntman died on Anzac Day in 2018 after crashing his Harley motorcycle in north Auckland.

Social media star Johnny Danger crashed while on a group motorbike ride on Wednesday.

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The company behind Johnny Bennett's beer and merchandise, Scotch Fileha, ceased trading in April 2018 after Johnny Bennett's death, the liquidator's first report published in May said.

The company was majority-owned by Johnny Bennett's brother, Steven Bennett. Johnny Bennett was still listed as a director of the company, as was Johnny Bennett's friend, Julian Rivers-Smith.

Johnny Bennett's mother Gina Mason was removed as a director in June this year, while Johnny Bennett was removed as a shareholder in September 2018.

When it had first gone on sale the beer, described as 'smooth and naturally brewed', had proved popular selling out in many stores.

Bennett was given a show on MTV in later 2017. Here Bennett (right) is pictured with former prime minister Sir John Key's son, Max Key.

But Foodstuffs, owner of the New World and Pak 'n Save supermarket chains, pulled the beer from shelves in 2017 after online criticism.

Do you know more? Email anuja.nadkarni@stuff.co.nz

The Official Assignee said there could be funds owing to the company. A former employee alleged there could be approximately $18,000 owed to the business in book debts 'from various liquor stores'.

But because no invoices were generated when the lager was supplied and the detail of the liquor shops were unknown, no action could be taken, the report said.

The employee also stated a large shipment of merchandise had been ordered but because it was not paid for it was never shipped.

The company had a little more than $2000 in a bank account.

One preferential creditor was owed about $11,000.

Unsecured creditors were owed about $370,000. Storm Brewing Company is among the creditors, along with Inland Revenue and Hally Labels.

Creditors had been paid about $34,000 the report said.

It was announced in September 2017 that Bennett would get a show on MTV.

The show was touted as a 'comedic take on the crazy life of Johnny, his friends, family and celebrity posse', and followed him creating the beer brand.

Steven Bennett, Mason and Rivers-Smith were contacted for comment, as were creditors Hally Labels and Storm Brewing.