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)