Harvey Boulter
Harvey Boulter is the chief executive of investment fund Porton Capital.[1] He is a former adviser to the Ministry of Defence on the breakup of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.[2]
Porton Capital worked with the UK government to develop a test for MRSA, which was subsequently sold to the US conglomerate 3M, sparking a long-running legal dispute.[3] As a result, Boulter hired lobbyists Tetra Strategy who suggested he cultivate Adam Werritty as a contact.[4]
Werritty set up a meeting between Boulter and Defence Secretary Liam Fox at the Shangri-La hotel in Dubai on 16 June 2011, at which the 3M dispute was raised. Shortly afterwards Boulter emailed 3M's lawyers.[5]
The email stated:
- At headline of of $30mn+ you will allow MoD internally to save face. IF it were to settle 3M would need to do an immediate charm offensive - my recommendation. The British generally are silent when they are upset - I am sure you realise this.
- Of course a settlement might not be possible, but as a result of my meeting today you ought to understand that David Cameron's Cabinet will very shortly be discussing the rather embarrassing situation of George's knighthood. It was discussed today. Government's are big and sometimes decisions in one part are not well coordinated.[6]
According to the Guardian, Boulter had discussed the issue of the knighthood being considered for 3M head George Buckley with Werritty, but not with Fox.[7] In a January 2014 libel settlement, Boulter accepted he had not discussed the knighthood with Fox.[8]
External resources
- Harry Wilson, Investors round on Harvey Boulter, The Telegraph, 9 November 2013
- Ian Drury, 'Cover-up' claim over Fox in Dubai: I was told to deny meeting, says executive, MailOnline, 10 October 2011.
- David Rose, The Israelis are very good at pirating other people's technology. What if they sell mine to our enemies?, MailOnline, 16 October 2011.
Notes
- ↑ Rupert Neate, 3M countersues as MRSA row becomes toxic, guardian.co.uk, 20 June 2011.
- ↑ Robert Boothe, Harvey Boulter: I assumed Adam Werritty was an MoD man, guardian.co.uk, 10 October 2011.
- ↑ Rupert Neate, 3M countersues as MRSA row becomes toxic, guardian.co.uk, 20 June 2011.
- ↑ Robert Boothe, Harvey Boulter: I assumed Adam Werritty was an MoD man, guardian.co.uk, 10 Ocxtober 2011.
- ↑ Reupert Neate,Liam Fox's friend set up crucial legal meeting, guardian.co.uk, 18 August 2011.
- ↑ Emails from Harvey Boulter to William Brewer, guardian.co.uk, 10 October 2011.
- ↑ Emails from Harvey Boulter to William Brewer, guardian.co.uk, 10 October 2011.
- ↑ Owen Bowcott, Liam Fox settles libel case over Adam Werritty claims, theguardian.com, 29 January 2014.
