A scandal-hit firm accused of doctoring photos of its owners meeting with Barack Obama insist it is still seeking to buy Premier League club Newcastle United.
Bellagraph Nova Group, founded by two Singaporean entrepreneurs and a Chinese business partner, announced in August it was in "advanced talks" to buy the English team.
Both parties have had little to say on any advance talks since the group's bid was made public, which has become mired in controversy over allegations photos had been doctored to show the trio meeting with the former US president.
It has blamed "errant individuals" for the manipulated pictures of President Obama.
Police are also investigating a company linked to the Singaporean co-founders, cousins Terence and Nelson Loh, after an accounting firm lodged a report over unauthorised signatures on the group's financial statements.
Regulators have also announced investigations into several firms linked to the Loh cousins.
Evangeline Shen, the firm's Chinese co-founder, told the BBC that despite the negative headlines, it was still pushing ahead with its bid, reported to be worth $360 million.
"We are always in contact and we are still very aggressive on trying to close the deal," she said, adding the company's team recently met a representative of Newcastle's owner, Mike Ashley.
"We started real planning for the club such as whom to hire as trainer and whom to sign for players," she added.
BN Group's bid came after a Saudi Arabia-backed consortium, which included the Saudi Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben, had reportedly struck a £300 million ($391 million) deal to buy the club in April.
The Saudi fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, had been set to take an 80 per cent stake under the proposed deal before the bid was withdrawn, after months of waiting for Premier League approval.
Bellagraph Nova Group said it oversees 31 businesses worldwide, with 23,000 employees and a group revenue of $12 billion in 2019.
In its proposal, the company said it has "the necessary experience and resources to accelerate Newcastle United's growth and realise its full potential".
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Newcastle v Newport player ratings
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NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Mark Gillespie - 5: Dreadful mistake by summer signing to allow Tristan Abrahams’ weak shot to squirm through his grasp and into the net after five minutes. Vital save with his legs in the shootout. Getty -
Javie Manquillo - 6: Left with a bloody mouth after taking forearm to the face in first half. Almost gifted Padraig Amond with a goal just before the break after the Spaniard failed to deal with a cross from the right. Woeful cross out of play in last 20 minutes with Newcastle players perfectly placed in box. Getty -
Emil Krafth - 7: Full-back playing out of position in centre of defence but acquitted himself well against the physical fourth-tier side. AP -
Federico Fernandez - 7: Captain in absence of Jamaal Lascelles. Failed to close down Scot Bennett when the Newport man guided a chance wide just before break. Rarely troubled after in second half. PA -
Jamal Lewis - 6: Failed to gel with Fraser down the left. Signing from Norwich looked better going forward than defensively. Allowed Newport to send over a few dangerous crosses in first half. Reuters -
Jonjo Shelvey - 6: Booked after 15 minutes for needless foul. Should have made it 1-1 five minutes before break but could only miscue the ball which trickled back to the keeper. Had been poor until five minutes from time when he turned a player inside out then curled it into the top corner. His first moment of quality - but a crucial one. Reuters -
Sean Longstaff - 5: Midfielder looked to attack from start but distribution was sadly lacking at times. Finally found his range after break with superb ball over top to hand chance to Fraser. Still looks a shadow of the player who first burst onto the scene at Newcastle a couple of seasons ago. PA -
Jacob Murphy - 8: Newcastle’s biggest attacking threat throughout. Fizzed early ball across six-yard box that was crying out for a touch. Forced two decent stops out of the Newport keeper and fired another just wide in first half. Had four or five chances in second half but didn't score until shootout. Reuters -
Ryan Fraser - 5: Agonisingly close to getting on the end of Longstaff cross in a first half. But the former Bournemouth man was wasteful in possession and poor with final ball in key moments. Couldn’t get on end of excellent Longstaff ball just after break. Denied goal by magnificent Brandon Cooper tackle. AP -
Miguel Almiron - 5: Fleeting flashes of his pace but Newcastle needed more from the Paraguay international. Should have done better with chance at start of second half but could only shoot straight at keeper. Reuters -
Andy Carroll - 5: Big striker needed more support up front and ended up being dragged out of attacking positions looking for the ball. Never looked like ending his scoring drought. Getty -
SUBS: Joelinton - (On for Carroll 62') 5: Abysmal penalty miss in shootout. Getty -
Callum Wilson (On for Almiron 62') 7: Instantly offered more attacking threat when he came on. Went close a couple of times and gave Murphy a verbal roasting for shooting when he was better placed. Scored in shootout. PA -
Fabian Schar (On for Krafth 72') 6: Returning from injury and scored in shootout. Reuters
