Special investigation: NZX-listed education provider Intueri under scrutiny, Coke pushes Pepsi out of KFC, Are your financial records safe with Xero?

In NBR Print today: An NBR investigation has uncovered information suggesting one of the country’s biggest private training providers has been generating substantial income from thousands of failing students, despite reporting success rates of more than 90%. The findings raise concerns about the accuracy of statements in prospectus documents for the $177 million initial public offer of NZX-listed Intueri Education Group [NZX: IQE]last year, as well as the effectiveness of the government’s huge investment in private tertiary education. Tim Hunter investigates.

Concerns have been raised over whether the government’s revamp of its procurement process to one that leans heavily on all-of-government contracts is achieving the desired outcomes. Nick Grant reports.

Meanwhile, Nathan Smith reveals the government is scrambling to account for how New Zealand logs are used overseas, ahead of international climate change negotiations in Paris next month and a readjustment of New Zealand’s carbon credit payback under the Kyoto framework.

A beauty and personal care product distributor, boasting brands including Burberry, Jimmy Choo, and La Prairie, will appeal a High Court judge’s ruling which found it owed a former Australian business partner $1.7 million. NBR Rich Lister Rod Duke, Briscoe Group’s [NZX: BGR] managing director, bought a 50% stake in the multimillion dollar company BDM months after the dispute was aired before Justice Ailsa Duffy. Hamish McNicol has the story.

A kind of undeclared local government reform strategy is slowly being rolled out of the Beehive, writes NBR political reporter Rob Hosking in his Order Paper column.

Until this week, Suntory-owned Frucor Beverages was the exclusive supplier of Pepsi soft drinks to Restaurant Brands’ [NZX: RBD] KFC and Pizza Hut chains. But Restaurant Brands has confirmed to Nevil Gibson that a newly refurbished KFC outlet in Napier is switching to Coke NZ brands. This will be followed by stores in Greymouth and Palmerston North (Rangitikei St) that are undergoing refurbishments.

The explosion of equity crowdfunding in New Zealand has been criticised by two of the world’s top angel investors, who are concerned by high-risk companies being presented to the public to invest. Calida Smylie talks to US investor Bill Payne and Scottish investor Nelson Gray who understand the high risk involved better than most.

It’s as predictable as the seasons: after the major banks report their half-yearly and annual results, the headlines trumpet how much the bastards are gouging us for. Except are they? And hasn’t concern about financial stability been one of the Reserve Bank’s major concerns since the global financial crisis? Jenny Ruth wraps up the big four bank results.

Columnist Rodney Hide asks a big curly question: Are your financial records safe with Xero? [NZX: XRO] Or would Xero do a Westpac and release them to state agents on simple request without warrant?

With millions of executive share options suddenly exercisable, Contact Energy [NZX: CEN] opts for an on-market buyback. Tim Hunter canvasses the electricty company’s $100m “mindwarp”.

Rugby’s grassroots origins lay foundation for grit, resilience and leadership, writes Jacqueline Rowarth in her Heartland column.

All this and more in today’s NBR Print Edition. Out now.