2GB host Mark Levy named as party in Benjamin Yammine and Oliver Joseski’s Supreme Court matter
Sydney radio host Mark Levy has been named in a separate Supreme Court matter, after his restaurant Pronto was placed into administration.
Radio host Mark Levy is involved in a second lot of Supreme Court action, at the same time as a restaurant he owned has been wound up by the court and put into administration.
The 2GB morning host has been named as a party in the matter of Benjamin Yammine and Oliver Joseski, which was due to go before the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday but was adjourned until November 4.
The matter is understood to relate to an outstanding loan from Mr Yammine to Mr Joseski, on which Mr Levy is said to be a guarantor.
Mr Levy and Mr Joseski are close friends, and photos from the Instagram page of his Pronto restaurant at Sylvania show them both in shirts featuring the eatery’s logo.
They are, or were, also both involved in the Sydney-based Macedonian national rugby league team, with the club’s website listing Mr Levy as president and Mr Joseski as the CEO.
It is unclear how much it is claimed Mr Joseski owes to Mr Yammine.
That matter comes after Sydney businessman Luke Ainscough, who owns several pubs in the city’s outer west, took separate action in the NSW Supreme Court against Saint George Hospitality Group – the company of which Mr Levy is sole director, and which owned Pronto restaurant.
ASIC documents show Saint George Hospitality Group was put into external administration and liquidator Mitchell Ball appointed.
It is unclear how much is claimed as being owed, but a lawyer for Mr Levy had previously told News Corp: “Whatever is owed to the creditors will be paid, it’s just a matter of timing”.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing against Mr Levy, Mr Joseski, Mr Yammine or Mr Ainscough in either of the matters.
Mr Levy addressed the situation of his company and the future of his restaurant to listeners on 2GB on Wednesday morning – saying he was hoping to soon sell the business.
“You may have seen in The Telegraph a story about the sale of my restaurant business in Sylvania, which I’ve been fairly open about with listeners for some time now,” he said.
“It was a great little business, but in the end, it just wasn’t sustainable to run, particularly when I took on the role of mornings host here at 2GB, which I value very dearly.
“Now, the sale process is continuing, and I can assure you, as I assured the paper, that any outstanding debts are in the process of being paid and will be fully settled when the transaction is completed.
“It’s as simple as that, and this lets me focus 100 per cent on bringing the very best mornings program to you every weekday. So that addresses that.”
Mr Levy had been a longtime sports caller and fill-in host before winning the job as 2GB’s mornings host last year, in the wake of radio king Ray Hadley’s retirement.
In December last year, Mr Levy spoke openly on-air about the struggles of running a restaurant.
“Would I do it again? Absolutely not. It is extremely tough out there at the moment. We’re very lucky that the restaurant is going well and we are able to pay the bills,” he said.
“(But) just when you think you are getting on top of your bills, your invoices, paying your suppliers, paying your electricity, paying your rent, all of a sudden more come in.
“Just when you think you’re making headway, you seem to fall in this hole again. It’s extremely frustrating.
“But also – really tough when you’re taking constant phone calls saying – you’ve gotta pay this, you’ve gotta pay this invoice, you’ve gotta pay this bill.”
Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@dailytelegraph.com.au
