Valērijs Belokoņs Explained
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 ; 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
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
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
- Baltic International Bank – founded in 1993, servicing VIP customers. Position - founder, main shareholder and chairman of the supervisory board. Representative offices opened in Moscow in 2004, London in 2005, and Kyiv in 2007.[8] In 2020, Belokon held a 62.08% stake and his brother Vilorijs Belokon (Latvian: Vilorijs Belokoņs) held a 32.99% stake.[9] On 11 February 1999, 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.[10] [11]
- Maval Aktivi AS - a holding company jointly formed in June 2006 with Maxim Bakiev[12] [13] [14]
- 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".[15] On 11 February 2019, JSC "Brīvais vilnis" became a closed firm and ended trading on the regulated market.[16]
- Manas Bank – formerly Insan Bank (Russian: банка «Инсан») in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Acquired in 2008.[17] 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."[18] Belokons and 31 others were indicted by Kyrgyz authorities for alleged money laundering.
- 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
- 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
- Baltic Institute of Strategic Studies – a non-profit scientific research organization founded in 2004.
Blackpool F.C.
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.[19]
Personal life
Belokoņs has three children.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: THE PRINCE'S FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK . 2022-12-06 . find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk . en.
- Web site: Literature projects supported by Valeri Belokon.
- News: Exclusive interview with Valeri Belokon. 24 Kg News Agency. 13 October 2006. 4 June 2008.
- Web site: Baltic International Bank website. bib.eu. lv. 2019-01-14.
- https://archive.today/20231108020627/https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-46653022 Латвия открыла архивы КГБ.
- Web site: Валерий Белоконь: «Патриотизм начинается с уважения к себе» :: Freecity.lv . 2022-12-06 . www.freecity.lv.
- Web site: Our Businesses. Belokon Holdings. 8 September 2008.
- Web site: Baltic International Bank. About bank: OUR HISTORY . Baltic International Bank (bib.eu) website . 20 July 2021.
- News: Līdzdalību "Baltic International Bank" kapitālā nedaudz samazinājis Valērijs Belokoņs . Valērijs Belokoņs has slightly reduced his participation in the capital of Baltic International Bank . lv . Firmas.lv . 7 April 2020 . 20 July 2021.
- Web site: LATVIJAS INDUSTRIĀLĀ BANKA, Akciju sabiedrība . Latvian Industrial Bank . lv . Firmas.lv . 20 July 2021.
- News: Lainbanka pievienota BSB . Lainbanka added to BSB . lv . . 30 December 1999 . 20 March 2018.
- News: Вокруг Новости staff . 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 . ru . ПрессНаз.ру . "Вокруг новостей" (Vokrug Novosti) (vokruginfo.ru) . 1 September 2009 . 3 August 2021 . 4 September 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090904235424/http://www.vokruginfo.ru/news/news25135.html. Archived from pressnaz.ru on 7 September 2009. Archived at compromat.ru on 1 September 2009.
- News: Burke . Justin . Kyrgyzstan: Banking Tussle Nearing Resolution? . eurasianet.org . 26 September 2013 . 3 August 2021.
- News: Doward . Jamie . 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 . . 12 January 2013 . 3 August 2021.
- News: Paziņojums par netiešas būtiskas līdzdalības iegūšanu . Notice of acquisition of an indirect qualifying holding . lv . globalnewswire.com . 5 December 2014 . 20 July 2021.
- Web site: Draft decision of 28.02.2019 extraordinary shareholders` meeting of the JSC “Brivais vilnis” . globalnewswire.com . 11 February 2019 . 20 July 2021.
- Web site: Grave Secrecy: How a Dead Man Can Own a UK Company and Other Hair-raising Stories About Hidden Company Ownership From Kyrgyzstan and Beyond . . 49 . June 2012 . 24 July 2021.
- News: Conn . David . 2018-10-18 . Blackpool FC, a Kyrgyzstan money-laundering conviction and a non-takeover . 2024-01-25 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
- https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/why-simon-sadler-s-takeover-means-blackpool-fc-are-oyston-free-for-good-1-9821764 "Why Simon Sadler's takeover means Blackpool FC are Oyston free for good"