Two companies and 12 individuals yesterday filed a counter-protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court following a judicial protest filed against them by Sign It Ltd which had alleged that its rights as a minority shareholder were being violated.
The counter-protest was filed against Sign It by Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre Limited (MFCC), Fairs & Exhibitions Ltd, Alfred V. Calleja, Paul Abela, Joseph Mifsud, Ian Mizzi, Joseph Tabone Iacono, Charles M. Mercieca, Raphael E. Micallef, Darren De Domenico, George Demajo, Carmel V. Galea, Peter Grima and Paul Abela.
All the counter-protesters declared in their reply that Sign It, which held 25 per cent of the shareholding in MFCC, could not accept that a commercial company was to be regulated by the will of the majority shareholders. On the contrary, Sign It expected to dictate to the board of directors of MFCC and that its will was binding upon the company.
The counter-protesters stated that Sign It had failed to abide by the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the parties. Sign It had failed to pass on relevant documentation to the architect agreed upon between the parties. Any delay in the completion of the architect's report was merely due to this fact.
Furthermore, they claimed that they had met with the architect with the sole aim of helping him complete his report. No direct or indirect influences had been put on the architect.
In addition, the counter-protesters added that Fairs and Exhibitions Ltd was entitled to enter into an agreement with the Electoral Commission and that there was no resulting conflict with MFCC as alleged by Sign It. Fairs and Exhibitions Ltd added that at no time had it imposed its will, as the major shareholder of MFCC on the minority shareholder, namely Sign It.
The directors of MFCC categorically denied that they had acted illegally in their dealings with the board of this company. The fact that the chairman of MFCC had resigned from this post did not mean that he did so in connection with Sign It's allegations. Lawyer Joseph Schembri acted for the counter-protesters.