Daniel writes to tell me I should provide a brief explanation of why this should be considered a scandal. I suppose the reason is that it’s simply not normal for a Central Bank to transfer the ownership of a sovereign bond, valued at $2 billion, to a newly formed limited company with a share capital of £2,000, managed by an individual (Tony Caplin) who appears inactive in the Financial Services Authority’s registry.
[Read UPDATE] Context for actors is provided to facilitate further investigation in the relevant jurisdictions.
Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV): Central Bank of Venezuela [undefined link].
Nelson Merentes: Current President of the BCV [undefined link].
Eudomar Tovar: First Vice President of the BCV [undefined link].
Kellmar Limited: registered in the Isle of Man, limited company of £2,000 [undefined link].
James Ellwood: Director of Kellmar Ltd [undefined link]. Board member of Momentum Pensions Ltd [undefined link].
Anthony Lindsay Caplin: also known as Tony Caplin [undefined link]. Former operations director of the Conservative Party. Previously with Panmure Gordon. Director of Kellmar Ltd since March 29, 2011. Current chairman of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust. Present member of the Medical Research Council. Current commissioner of the Public Works Loan Board [undefined link]. Currently inactive – as individual AXC01538 – Anthony Lindsay Caplin – according to the Financial Services Authority registry [undefined link].
Ramón Carpio Carvajal: Vice President of International Operations at BCV [undefined link].
Ira D. Pruitt Jr: Lawyer for Kellmar Ltd and Tony Caplin [undefined link].
Rosallyn Hazelle: Ambassador and Permanent Secretary of Industry, Commerce, and Consumer Affairs of St. Kitts & Nevis [undefined link].
Credit Suisse [undefined link].
Sovereign Bond: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 9.250, 28/05/07, ISIN USP17625AB33, common code 036133678 [undefined link].