A company named Veritas Capital has announced their acquisition of “selected assets MZM, Inc.” MZM, you’ll recall, was taken down by their bribery scandal, which thus far has ensnared Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, and threatens to taint Reps. Virgil Goode and Katherine Harris, as well.
Which selected assets are they acquiring? It “includes, but is not limited to, all of the existing contracts, relationships and employees.” They will be “continuing the employment of the 420 current employees.” In other words, they’re buying the whole of MZM.
So, what is Veritas going to do with all of MZM? It “will be acquired through a newly created subsidiary, Athena Innovative Solutions, Inc.,” which will “continue to provide a broad array of services to the national security community,” including ” training, analytical support, operations support, campaign planning, language translation, investigative support, among other services relating to intelligence, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, biometrics, law enforcement, security, and information technology.”
Presumably, Athena will be operated by Robert McKeon, president of Veritas Capital, until a new president can be brought in. After all, McKeon is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the single most powerful private organization when it comes to military matters. (Conspiracy theorists have a field day with CFR, and I can hardly blame them. Familiar with the Iraq War? That’s a CFR project.) Also, Veritas has an “advisory council” that includes Dick Armitage, Barry McCaffrey, and Anthony Zinni. If anything, it should be easier than ever for MZM/Athena to get new contracts.
But, no. Athena’s CEO isn’t McKeon but, instead, it’s James C. King, the press release reports. James King…James King.. That name sounds really familiar.
Oh, right — James King is the CEO of MZM, Inc.
Same employees. Same contracts. Same facilities. Same work.
Same shit. Different name.
Philip Morris:Altria::MZM:Athena
It sounds like a move designed to avoid liability for potential future lawsuits. Veritas Capital only buys assets of MZM, Inc. They don’t buy the corporation. The money (“an undisclosed sum”) for the purchase will go to MZM, Inc. I suspect that it will be distributed to stockholders in some form, which would leave MZM, Inc. as an empty shell, to be shut down. No money. No assets. Nothing for potential litigants to take.
In the meantime, Athena/Veritas/MZM continues on its merry way. I wonder how long it will take them to put their PAC together? Paging Virgil Goode.
At least it’s Veritas that’s buying them… Maybe that’ll put some truth into the proceedings…
(In case you didn’t know Veritas means truth and my above comment is a sarcastic one…)
And as for Athena, she was the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill. Perhaps, of greater interest, though, she had sprung, fully grown, out of her father’s head. Much as this corporate Athena seems to have sprung, out of the head of MZM.
I am surprised the government has not tried to block this sale just like they are stopping the Duke from selling his home, which is the center of the investigation. You are right about it just being a different name with the same people. I would like to see them loose every contract they got on the BPA that the Duke helped MZM get… as well as not be able to rebid on those contracts. Won’t be surprised to see the NGIC continue to hand these contractors contracts as MZM… Athena… or whatever they are called… The good ole boy network at work.