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Valērijs Belokoņs

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Valērijs Belokoņs
Belokoņs at Bloomfield Road
Born (1960-02-14) 14 February 1960 (age 64)
Riga, Latvian SSR
NationalityLatvian
OccupationBusinessperson
Known forFounder of Baltic International Bank [lv]
former co-owner of Blackpool F.C.
Patron of literature.
Children3

Valērijs Belokoņs or Valeri Belokon (Russian: Валерий Белоконь; born 14 February 1960) is a Latvian businessman. He is a majority shareholder and chairman of the supervisory board of Baltic International Bank [lv]; a former co-owner of Blackpool F.C. From 12 January 2010 to 4 June 2013, he served as a Trustee of The Prince's Foundation for Building Community.[1]

For his continuous support of Latvian literature he is well known as Patron of literature.[2]

Education

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Born in Riga, when Latvia was a part of the Soviet Union, Belokoņs studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (USA) and the University of Latvia, Faculty of Philology.[3]

Business career

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Belokoņs is the chairperson of the supervisory board of Baltic International Bank,[4][5] and his corporation Belokoņs Holdings has interests in finance, media, the Food industry and social projects in Latvia as well as football in England.

In the 1980s, prior to becoming involved in business, Belokoņs worked as a correspondent in Soviet Youth newspaper in Latvia.[6]

Main business interests:[7]

Finance and investments

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  • Baltic International Bank[4] – founded in 1993,[a] servicing VIP customers. Position - founder, main shareholder and chairman of the supervisory board.[8] Representative offices opened in Moscow in 2004, London in 2005, and Kyiv in 2007.[4][9] In 2020, Belokon held a 62.08% stake and his brother Vilorijs Belokon (Latvian: Vilorijs Belokoņs)[b] held a 32.99% stake.[10][c] On 11 February 1999, Latvian Industrial Bank [lv] became insolvent and on 23 December 1999 the "BALTIJAS STARPTAUTISKĀ BANKA" (BSB), which is what Baltic International Bank was known as then, gained Lainbanka's assets.[12][13][d][e]
  • Maval Aktivi AS - a holding company jointly formed in June 2006 with Maxim Bakiev[20][21][22]
  • JSC "Brīvais vilnis" establish 1 December 2014. Formerly known as SIA „BALTIC FINANCE & CAPITAL” until 1 December 2014 when JSC "Brīvais vilnis" gained a 100% stake and on 2 December 2014 SIA „BALTIC FINANCE & CAPITAL” was removed from the register of Latvian companies. On 1 December 2014, the brothers Belokon, who act in concert, held a 97.25% stake in JSC "Brīvais vilnis".[23] On 11 February 2019, JSC "Brīvais vilnis" became a closed firm and ended trading on the regulated market.[24]
  • Manas Bank – formerly Insan Bank (Russian: банка «Инсан») in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Acquired in 2008.[25] Placed in insolvent liquidation on 6 July 2015. Position - Sole owner. On a petition from the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, the Paris Court of Appeal of the French Republic found on 21 February 2017 "that Insan Bank was taken over by Mr Belokon in order to develop, in a state where his privileged relations with the holder of economic power guaranteed him the absence of any true monitoring of his activities, money laundering practices which could not have flourished in the less favourable environment of Latvia."[26][4] Belokons and 31 others were indicted by Kyrgyz authorities for alleged money laundering.[25]
  • Since 2007- JSC Investment Management Company Global Fondi - co-founded by ex Prime Minister of Latvia, The former Chairman of National Bank of Latvia - Einars Repše
  • Since 2009 - JSC Hercogiste - company's aim is to develop sustainable projects in Latvia

Media

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  • Otkritij Gorod – a monthly magazine in Baltic countries
  • Novo News – a daily Internet newspaper
  • Since 1995 - Valērijs Belokoņs's Publishing House Ltd – became popular with the National encyclopaedia Latvijas Enciklopēdija and annual edition Who's Who in Latvia

Social Projects

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  • Baltic Institute of Strategic Studies – a non-profit scientific research organization founded in 2004.

Blackpool F.C.

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Through Belokoņs Holdings and VB Football Assets, Belokon bought a 20% stake in Blackpool Football Club in 2006, and is the club's president. In June 2007 he stated that he was prepared to increase his stake in Blackpool from 20% to 50% following the club's promotion to The Championship.

On 8 July 2008, Belokoņs announced that he and Owen Oyston, the majority share-holder of the club, would be personally financing the construction of the new South Stand and South-west corner at Bloomfield Road, with work to start immediately.

On 31 July 2009, it was announced that Belokoņs was setting up a new transfer fund for Blackpool, into which he was adding a "considerable amount" on 5 August in order to invest in new players identified by team manager Ian Holloway.

On 22 May 2010, Blackpool were promoted to the top tier of English football, the Premier League, one year sooner than Belokoņs had predicted when joining the club in 2006.

In September 2015, Belokoņs initiated legal action against the Oystons, alleging improper use of club funds.

In August 2017, Belokoņs resigned as director of Blackpool. In November 2017 a court determined that Owen Oyston and his son had abused their majority shareholding position at the club in a manner that was detrimental both to the business and Belokons himself. They were ordered to pay £31 million to buy out Belokons' share of the business.

Simon Sadler became Blackpool's new owner in June 2019. He acquired a 96.2% stake in the club.[27]

Personal life

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Belokoņs has three children.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ Baltic International Bank (BIB) was known as Joint Stock Company "BALTIJAS STARPTAUTISKĀ BANKA" (BSB) (Latvian: Akciju sabiedrība "BALTIJAS STARPTAUTISKĀ BANKA") until 10 June 2003.[8]
  2. ^ Vilorijs can be translated as Vilory or Wilory.
  3. ^ In 2016, the largest creditor to Boris Berezovsky's estate was Baltic International Bank.[11]
  4. ^ Valts Vīgants and Vilis Dambiņš were the president and the vice-president of Lainbanka, respectively, when Lainbanka went into holding. Lainbanka had a very large number of accounts associated with either Russians or Russian entities.[14][15][16][17][18]
  5. ^ Baltic International Bank was involved in the Ukio Bankas Troika laundromat also known as ŪkioLeaks.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "THE PRINCE'S FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Literature projects supported by Valeri Belokon".
  3. ^ a b "Exclusive interview with Valeri Belokon". 24 Kg News Agency. 13 October 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d "Baltic International Bank website". bib.eu (in Latvian). Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  5. ^ Латвия открыла архивы КГБ.
  6. ^ "Валерий Белоконь: «Патриотизм начинается с уважения к себе» :: Freecity.lv". www.freecity.lv. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Our Businesses". Belokon Holdings. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  8. ^ a b "Baltic International Bank, SE" [Baltic International Bank, SE]. Firmas.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Baltic International Bank. About bank: OUR HISTORY". Baltic International Bank (bib.eu) website. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Līdzdalību "Baltic International Bank" kapitālā nedaudz samazinājis Valērijs Belokoņs" [Valērijs Belokoņs has slightly reduced his participation in the capital of Baltic International Bank]. Firmas.lv (in Latvian). 7 April 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  11. ^ Оверченко, Михаил (Overchenko, Mikhail) (26 July 2016). "Березовский признан банкротом посмертно: Британский суд оценил оставшиеся после смерти экс-миллиардера активы в £34 млн при долгах на £309 млн" [Berezovsky is declared bankrupt posthumously: British court estimated the assets remaining after the death of the ex-billionaire at £ 34 million with debts of £ 309 million]. Vedomosti (in Russian). Retrieved 20 July 2021 – via compromat.ru.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Vedomosti website is Лондонский суд узнал, что такое zanachka: Борис Березовский был «безнадежно неплатежеспособным», признал судья (London court learned what zanachka is: Boris Berezovsky was "hopelessly insolvent", the judge admitted).
  12. ^ "LATVIJAS INDUSTRIĀLĀ BANKA, Akciju sabiedrība" [Latvian Industrial Bank]. Firmas.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Lainbanka pievienota BSB" [Lainbanka added to BSB]. Dienas Bizness (in Latvian). 30 December 1999. Retrieved 20 March 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ "Lainbanka mekle vainigos" [Lainbanka is looking for a crown]. Dienas Bizness (db.lv) (in Latvian). Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  15. ^ news.lv 1999 archive
  16. ^ news.lv archive
  17. ^ "Latvia-Russia connections emerge from 'Panama Papers'". Public Broadcasting of Latvia (eng.lsm.lv). 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  18. ^ Jemberga, Sanita (2 May 2017). "Latvian financier said to act as a go-between to get Russian loan for Le Pen". Re:Baltica (rebaltica.lv). Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Ukios Bankas money laundering image". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). 22 November 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  20. ^ Вокруг Новости staff (1 September 2009). "Младший сын президента Бакиева Максим и его друзья из MGN Group осуществили финансовый захват Киргизии" [The youngest son of President Bakiev Maxim and his friends from MGN Group carried out the financial seizure of Kyrgyzstan]. ПрессНаз.ру (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2021 – via "Вокруг новостей" (Vokrug Novosti) (vokruginfo.ru). Archived from pressnaz.ru on 7 September 2009. Archived at compromat.ru on 1 September 2009.
  21. ^ Burke, Justin (26 September 2013). "Kyrgyzstan: Banking Tussle Nearing Resolution?". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  22. ^ Doward, Jamie (12 January 2013). "Prince Charles's banker friend in Asia cash feud: Valeri Belokon, president of Blackpool FC, says claims of money laundering in Kyrgyzstan are politically motivated". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Paziņojums par netiešas būtiskas līdzdalības iegūšanu" [Notice of acquisition of an indirect qualifying holding]. globalnewswire.com (in Latvian). 5 December 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Draft decision of 28.02.2019 extraordinary shareholders' meeting of the JSC "Brivais vilnis"". globalnewswire.com (Press release). 11 February 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Grave Secrecy: How a Dead Man Can Own a UK Company and Other Hair-raising Stories About Hidden Company Ownership From Kyrgyzstan and Beyond" (PDF). Global Witness. June 2012. p. 49. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  26. ^ Conn, David (18 October 2018). "Blackpool FC, a Kyrgyzstan money-laundering conviction and a non-takeover". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Why Simon Sadler's takeover means Blackpool FC are Oyston free for good" - Blackpool Gazette, 13 June 2019
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