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Would-be Green Acres franchise holders allegedly robbed of tens of thousands of dollars by scamming franchise master Keith Lapham will have their franchise agreements honoured.
Company bosses Logan Sears and Andrew Chisholm announced the deal, described as a "rescue package", at a lunchtime press conference in central Auckland today.
The company will honour the ironing franchises given out by Lapham to his 200 victims, provided they meet "standard qualifying criteria".
These criteria include "citizenship and the ability to own a business", Mr Chisholm said.
The defrauded franchise holders, mostly Chinese and Indian immigrants, are owed up to $25,000 by Lapham, who held the Auckland franchising licence for Green Acres ironing services.
Lapham disappeared soon after being confronted about the scam by Green Acres bosses about December 20.
His fraud has been estimated at around $3m.
