Arnott's resisted Campbell's efforts. The slumping Australian economy, however, forced the family's hand. With profits shrinking, Arnott's slowly yielded to the American company, which gained a 70 percent stake by 1994. The company, already hit hard by losses, was dealt a new blow in 1996 when it became the subject of an extortion plot, with a threat to poison its products in an attempt to free a convicted murderer. By 1997, after several years of negotiations, Campbell finally succeeded in gaining full control of the Australian legend.