A new echelon of dummies, or the so-called. “straw people“, have become managers and owners of some of the British and Cypriot companies behind the Bulgarian companies from the so-called.smoking empire” of thermal power plants, district heating and coal mines, associated with the energy boss and “consultant” Hristo Kovachki. BIRD проучи всички фирми в регистрите. Повечето от промените в чуждестраните дружества са станали през 2024 г. В нарушение на Закона за мерките срещу изпирането на пари (ЗМИП), Ten of the changes have not been declared before the Bulgarian Commercial Register. In addition, some of the companies have accumulated a total of over BGN 320 million. obligations to the NRA.
These are not the first violations of the law when declaring circumstances for companies with foreign participation in Bulgaria. BIRD In June 2021, in response to questions under the APIA, the Registry Agency admitted to 70% violations in the verified declarations of beneficial owners of companies.
There has been no change so far. An illustrative example of this is the lack of movement in the accounts in the Commercial Register of the former companies of MP from “Change” and former Finance Minister Asen Vassilev and his offshore company. Той твърди, че не я притежава, а друга will open a case.
Асен Василев още притежава офшорка, но не е декларирал този факт
Against this background, Bulgaria has been included in the grey list of risky countries for money laundering. This complicates banking for businesses and repels investors, but as we said – there is no change.
Are Kovachki “consulting” not to declare?
The BIRD team examined all British, Cypriot and Bulgarian companies from the “smoking empire” associated with the “consultant” Hristo Kovachki, and found that ten changes in ownership and management were not declared before the Commercial Register. Each red arrow on the map indicates an undeclared change of ownership:
A month ago, on 29.08.2024, a change in the ownership of the smoking and regularly polluting TPP “Brikel” associated with Hristo Kovachki was entered in the Commercial Register“. A change in the British “BAKKAR LIMITED – the sole owner of Brikel EAD, however, has been omitted and has not been declared! Before Ryan Farrant, the owner and manager until 01.05.2024 was Roy Dennis Tolfts, who briefly replaces Roy Kennedy – the previous beneficial owner entered until 29.08.2024 in the Commercial Register. This is a violation of the law!
The beneficial owner is directly registered as the British Ryan Paul Paul Anthony Farrant, born in 1997. “Frant“, however, is inadvertently or intentionally misspelled by the manager of “Brikel” Yanilin Pavlov in the declaration under the Law on Money Laundering, certified by a notary from Radnevo. The correct spelling of the Cyrillic alphabet of the surname ” Farant” is present in a legalized translation of the certificate of good standing of the British company. The documents are available with an electronic signature or PIC of the NRA.
Debtor No. 1 of the NRA does not declare a new owner
Associated with Kovachki and declared bankrupt “Coal mining Bobov dol” also does not declare changes. The company is the largest debtor of the NRA with over BGN 238 million. Obligations! In the Commercial Register as beneficial owner, through the Coal Mining Company and the British Coal Company. CARLINGTON LTD, is listed Nigel Martin Fozard. However, the data in the British register show that as early as January 10, 2020, he was replaced by Lydia Amber Hyett. On 01.02.2024, she was replaced by Nicholas Henry Thom, who was replaced shortly thereafter on 01.07.2024 by Chloe-Marie Marshall. These Three consecutive changes in management and the ultimate owner have not been declared in the Bulgarian register. Triple violation of the law!
The other “Mini Open Coal Mine” EAD, also associated with Kovachki and also a large debtor of the National Revenue Agency, with accumulated over BGN 50 million. liabilities, also does not declare Changes. As beneficial owner, through the British ” LAUMER LIMITED, is registered Roger Stuart Poppleton. The data in the British register shows that on 01.02.2024 he was replaced by Michael Ulrich Manegold, who on July 1, 2024 was replaced by Carl James Goldfinch. The two changes have not been declared.
In 2022. we revealed that another company “IVP Commercial“EAD, consulted by Kovachki, with an actual owner being a dummy, has drained the water of Pernik illegally. Its obligations to the NRA are already over BGN 20 million. The beneficial owner continues to be Anna Ioannou from Cyprus, through the British “Spancor Ltd.” (SPANCOR LTD.). Промени в собствеността няма и в британския регистър.
“Toplofikatsia – Burgas” AD also does not declare changes in the ultimate owner. In the Commercial Register as beneficial owner, through the British ” BOVARD Ltd is listed as Stuart Ralph Poppleton (Stuart Ralph Poppleton), associated with other companies. However, the data in the British register shows that on 02.04.2024 he was replaced by Karl James Cutler, who on 01.08.2024 was replaced by Amanda Joy Girling-Heathcote. The two changes have not been declared by the TPP Burgas associated with Hristo Kovachki.
In addition to the Brikel TPP, with one registered and one undeclared change, similar cases are in the case of the Ruse TPP and the Pleven TPP. Beneficial owner of ” “Toplofikatsia Ruse” AD and “Toplofikatsia – Pleven” AD, through “Cataland Ltd“) became Chama Chilufya Musonda. On July 1, 2024, she replaced Sarah Amy Grice. The two changes, however, are entered respectively on 03.09.2024 and 20.05.2024 only on the account of TPP Pleven in the Commercial Register. The last change has not yet been reflected for TPP Ruse, only the first one is entered on 27.05.2024.
“Mining Company” EOOD, which received a concession for the Radulovtsi mine near Slivnitsa, is also with one undeclared change. On 24.09.2024, the Commercial Register has Entered change in ownership. As beneficial owner, through the British ” PLANFAIR LIMITED) directly inscribed Daniela Rios Domingues. However, the data in the British register shows that on 01.07.2024 she replaced Nicholas Henry Thom. He is not entered in the Bulgarian register, and on 01.02.2024 he replaces Lydia Amber Hyett.
Units, but still changes are entered
New beneficial owner of “Toplofikatsia-Sliven – Eng. Angel Angelov” EAD, through the Cypriot “NERPANA LTD“), became Ioannis Tsantekidis. The change is entered in the Commercial Register on 09.10.2023 The Cypriot company has been the sole owner of the TPP since 2014
” (Rafos Limited), becomes Christos Mavrakis from Nicosia, Cyprus. The change is Entered in the Commercial Register on 14.12.2023 Previously, the property was managed through the Cypriot Magiva Holdings Limited. The mine has over BGN 12 million. obligations to the NRA.
There are no changes in the ultimate owners of: TPP Bobov Dol (Stockett Limited), TPP Maritsa 3 (Heatherdell Ltd and Draft Actiengesellschaft), Toplofikatsia – VT Veliko Tarnovo (Astorida Trading Limited), Toplofikatsia – Vratsa (Olemira Business Ltd), Toplofikatsia – Gabrovo (Darklet Limited), Toplofikatsia – Pernik (Bingham Management Ltd), Mina Chukurovo (Stocket Limited), Mina Stanyantsi (Cowlan Corporation LTD), Mina Beli Breg (Newbury Management Ltd), Mina Balkan-2000 (Samey Ltd). Balkan Mine has close BGN 3 million. obligations to the NRA.
There are no changes in the ownership of the creditor company of TPP “Brikel” – “Eco Analysis” – debtor of the National Revenue Agency, with the beneficial owner Sava Panagiotis (Douan Limited).
There is no information that there will be any change in the case of “E-Consult 2007” (Remington Investment Ltd, Seychelles) and “Koiba” (Matex Limited, Belize) – creditor companies of TPP Vratsa, TPP Sliven and TPP Pernik.
Lead photo: Hristo Kovachki (bottom left), TPP “Brikel” in Galabovo (right).
Материалът The thermal power plants and mines associated with Kovachki have new “straw” owners е публикуван за пръв път на BIRD.
