CNN star’s husband in Australian legal battle with tycoon over Polish mines

Fund manager Philipp Graf von Bernstorff is married to CNN International war correspondent Clarissa Ward – and knee deep in an Australian legal battle.

The fund manager husband of CNN’s international star reporter Clarissa Ward has launched legal action in Australia as part of a fight with a Singaporean tycoon over a mining company.

Philipp Graf von Bernstorff, who works for fund management group Vulpes, has asked the Federal Court for orders giving him access to company documents at Balamara Resources, an Australian company that owns two coal mines in Poland.

In court documents, he claims that even though he is a director of Balamara, he has been unable to get information relating to the stake in the company owned by Yaw Chee Siew.

He also claims he is concerned about a conflict of interest related to Mr Yaw in legal action against the Polish government, which is withholding Balamara’s mining licenses.

Vulpes and Mr Yaw, a Singaporean businessman who has worked in the ship leasing and property development industries, are key shareholders in Balamara.

Philipp Graf von Bernstorff and Clarissa Ward with their son Ezra Albrecht Nikolas Nour Graf von Bernstorff in 2018. Picture: Supplied

Mr von Bernstorff is Vulpes’ representative on the Balamara board while Mr Yaw’s interests are represented on the board by a relative, Jonathan Kwok Hung Leung.

Ward and Mr von Bernstorff married in 2016 and have three children.

She joined CNN in 2015 and in 2018 was named chief international correspondent, replacing Christine Amanpour.

The veteran war correspondent has reported from inside Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and from the front lines of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and speaks six languages in addition to English: French, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Spanish and Mandarin.

Mr von Bernstorff has been with Vulpes, which was founded by hedge fund veteran Stephen Diggle, since 2011, after a stint at Mr Diggle’s earlier fund, Artradis.

In an affidavit filed with the Federal Court, Mr von Bernstorff said Vulpes started investing in Balamara in 2019 and over time built up its stake through buying convertible notes, which are a type of loan that can be turned into company shares.

CNN reporter Clarissa Ward in Kabul. Picture: Clarissa Ward

He said that he previously understood Mr Yaw owned 16% of Balamara but last year, as the company was considering raising more money, Mr Kwok said that Mr Yaw’s interest was 19.9%.

Mr von Bernstorff said he made at least five requests to other members of the board for documents relating to Mr Yaw’s shareholding but had not received the information he sought.

He said he was also concerned that the same lawyers who are representing Balamara in a potential arbitration claim against Poland also represent Mr Yaw in his claim against the country.

“I am concerned that the litigation strategy in relation to the arbitration is not in the best interest of the company,” he said.

However, he said he had not been provided with the documents he needed to form a view.

Last week, the court ordered the other directors of the company to hand over the documents sought by Mr von Bernstorff.

Balamara director Michael Hale said the company will be making an announcement to shareholders. Mr Kwok has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as CNN star’s husband in Australian legal battle with tycoon over Polish mines