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alan


Posts: 10768
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27th Mar 2024
What's this?What's this?What's this?
Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 20.23hrs on Mon 19 Feb 18
There seems to be some doubt and confusion as to who is operating CairnGorm Mountain and/or the ownership of CairnGorm Mountain Ltd (CML).

On 23rd October 2017 Natural Retreats founder, Matthew Spence established a new Ltd Company with himself as the sole director and shareholder - 'The Great Travel Company Ltd'.

On 1st November 2017 Natural Retreats UK Ltd (frequently referred to by HIE during the bidding process) changed it's name to 'The UK Great Travel Company Ltd'.



According to public record the entire shareholding of CairnGorm Mountain Ltd transferred from HIE to NAIL (Natural Assets Investments Ltd) in June 2014 - the entity then known as Natural Retreats UK Ltd did not own CML and NAIL appears to have been a subsidiary of a US entity registered in Delaware.

After questions were asked of HIE as to why CML and NAIL had not complied with the legal requirement to to identify a 'person of significant control' such a statement was lodged with Companies House on 22nd January 2018 that NAIL was a PCS/RLE as of 6th April 2016.

Just 18 days later a 'Withdrawal of a person with significant control statement' was submitted, on 9 February 2018. The date given for cancellation of statement was before the original PSC statement was filed on 22nd Jan 2018!



Once again CML is in breach of the legal requirement to identify any PCS/RLE. Is it acceptable for a company in receipt of significant public sector financial support, leasing a publically owned asset for private profit to be in breach of it's legal obligations and still be considered suitable for further financial assistance?

In some recent coverage of the proposed Ptarmigan extension NAIL Chief Operating Officer Ewan Kearney was referred to as CEO of CML, but ownership of CML was attributed to the UK Great Travel Company Ltd which is under the control of 'The Great Travel Company Ltd' (sole owner and director Matthew Spence). Indeed the CML website states:

CairnGorm Mountain Ltd is operated by The UK Great Travel Company Ltd


How & when did ownership of CML change (if it did)? From previous face to face meetings involving HIE my understanding was a change of CML ownership was not possible under the arrangement entered with NAIL in 2014 (other than back to HIE).

Time for another change of ownership we think, to the local community both for the mountain and the operating company.





Edited 3 times. Last edit at 20.28hrs Mon 19 Feb 18 by alan.

Attachments: CMLshareholding.jpg (79kB)   CMLpsc.png (35kB)  
oversteer


Posts: 242
Joined: Jan 2008
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11th Mar 2024
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 21.03hrs on Mon 19 Feb 18
Top work, sir.

What can be done about it? Any point in contacting politicians?

some frustrated skier


Posts: 236
Joined: Mar 2003
Last Visited: 21:55
16th Feb 2021
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 21.58hrs on Mon 19 Feb 18
Nothing to see hear, sweep sweep.

The mound under the carpet is quickly becoming a snow capped peak.

HTH


Posts: 3210
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20th Feb 2018
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Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 11.19hrs on Tue 20 Feb 18

There is a case for seeking clarification.

Public funds should be traceable to the correct recipients. There is a public interest in knowing the true controller of those funds, and operator of any land/facilities in public ownership.

Doug_Bryce


Posts: 1373
Joined: Jan 2003
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 12.00hrs on Tue 20 Feb 18
Park Watch Scotland ran a blog on this in January...

[parkswatchscotland.co.uk]

There is a wider question to be asked about public funding and HIEs cosy relationship with Natural Retreats.

I used to be jealous of the preferential public funding awarded to the Cairngorm ski area. However they have used this public money to remove 7/17 lifts and focus on the funicular. i.e the funding has been a negative for snowsports.

Long term a diminished Cairngorm is a bad thing for the entire Scottish snowsport industry.


growwild


Posts: 3550
Joined: Oct 2005
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 04.47hrs on Thu 22 Feb 18
Hahaha, ops007 will have bugged your house and motor. They might even keep the lifties on for the summer tae follow you aboot!

glenogle


Posts: 486
Joined: Feb 2008
Last Visited: 23:25
1st Jun 2018
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 19.58hrs on Thu 22 Feb 18
Surely a wee journalist would take up the story?

Linzski


Posts: 9
Joined: Jan 2018
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 23.04hrs on Fri 9 Mar 18
Yup, it really is not looking good at all...................latest here from Parkswatch website.

Surely someone must be accountable at HIE? How can things get to this stage without someone being held to account?

[parkswatchscotland.co.uk]

growwild


Posts: 3550
Joined: Oct 2005
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 02.25hrs on Sat 10 Mar 18
Cash corrupts.........


SnowmanDave


Posts: 186
Joined: Dec 2013
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3rd Mar 2021
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 09.01hrs on Sat 10 Mar 18
HIE just hand cash out to people who talk the same middle management powerpoint presentation, American sales BS....

I used to go to business meetings organised by them....

They recently spend £10K on a thin "feasibility study" carried out by some external consultants.....all because some local community councillor (the unpaid ones) had a bright item which he presented to HIE to get funding for.... which was actually rubbish & should never have made it of the piece of paper that should have been thrown in the bin, let alone spending £10K on it....

I remember people who worked on the train buildings at the time...there was money flying around on stuff which was not needed or was going missing...in other peoples back pockets...HIE just flung the money around & the whole debacle has crippled CGM since then...

---That was not a fall, I intended to do that!---

alan


Posts: 10768
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27th Mar 2024
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Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 17.24hrs on Tue 13 Mar 18
The question that started this thread might seem a bit abstract, but it appears from recent publications, information and statements that NAIL (Natural Assets Investments Limited) owns CML, but by their own words the mountain is operated by the UK Great Travel Company Ltd.

Why does that matter, well the entire company and it assets appear to now be mortgaged to Natural Retreats Management LLC in Delaware, USA.

How can HIE justify lending this outfit £4m of public funds? Even more so that the proposed use of the funds is absolute folly.

If you care about CairnGorm, the importance of snowsports to the Strathspey economy and the significance of CairnGorm Mountain to Scottish Snowsports as a whole you should read this:

[parkswatchscotland.co.uk]


chrisski


Posts: 359
Joined: Feb 2005
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 17.43hrs on Tue 13 Mar 18
they are looking for a marketing and social media co-ordinator for cairngorm based guess where?.......... Wilmslow! jeez when will action be actually taken to remove NaturaL Retreats or whoever the company is called??

[naturalretreats.co.uk]

some frustrated skier


Posts: 236
Joined: Mar 2003
Last Visited: 21:55
16th Feb 2021
Re: Is CairnGorm Mountain Ltd operating CairnGorm and if so who owns CML?
Date Posted: 20.54hrs on Tue 13 Mar 18
I look forward to the fight between HIE and ‘the operator’ when the contract finishes and ‘the operator’ has sold the family silver.

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