Mad Dogs pubs founder banned until 2009

The deputy registrar of companies, Guy Caro, has banned the founder of pub chain Mad Dogs & Englishmen from being in business until 2009.

Stephen Brett Ashby faced a maximum penalty of being banned from business until 2010 for breaking sections of the Companies Act.

Following the Companies Office's national enforcement unit's investigation, Caro banned Ashby from being a director or managing companies for four years until 2009.

The office found Ashby responsible for a total loss to creditors of at least $1.22 million.

Ashby established the pub businesses then sold a series of franchises.

Some of those businesses are still operating and were not the subject of the investigation. Mad Dogs & Englishmen pubs at Wairau Park and Milford now have no association with Ashby and are still trading.

But other companies associated with Ashby are in liquidation.

Mad Dogs & Englishmen NZ and Mad Dogs & Englishmen St Lukes went under in March last year. Ashby's One Italy Epsom went under on June 17 last year.