Companies House Serendipity

Strange stories from the bowels of our beloved corporate registry

Did you know that the word “serendipity” derives from a story wrotten by Horace Walpole called “The Three Princes of Serendip” who were wont to make discoveries of things which they were not looking for but which proved to be of value? And did you also know that “Serendip” was the old name of what is now Sri Lanka?

No, neither did I until I looked it up!

None of which has anything to do with the story I am about to relate.

I am going to relate it as a straightforward narrative, without comment and leave it for you, my dear readers (both of you!) to discern whatever patterns, meanings or insights that you may ascertain.

On 29 June 2005, along with a host of other legal entities, Companies House records the formation of a firm called T.M.A. Food Ltd.

The company was created by someone called Thi Thanh Thuy Nguyen (a splendid name) who the wise among you will recognise as being Vietnamese although, intriguingly, her address is given as Minskaya Street, Moscow and her occupation (perhaps not surprisingly) as “linguist”.

The registered office was located in Aldermaston, UK and the company secretary was a firm called Mita Consulting, who are based in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Not a bad global tour and that’s just the beginning.

The Memorandum of Association states that T.M.A. Foods objective was to carry on the business of a general commercial company (and a whole host of other generalities). Ms Nguyen was the sole shareholder.

The next filing was on 3 August 2006 at which point nothing had changed.

On 23 August 2006, the company filed dormant accounts for 2006.

On 13 September 2007, the company filed dormant accounts for 2007.

On 14 September 2007, the annual return showed no change to the company structure, shareholder, director or company secretary.

On 1 July 2008, the company filed dormant accounts for 2008 and on 2 July 2008, the annual return showed no changes. So far, other than the global nature of the officers, it’s all a bit boring.

But stay with me here, it will liven up.

On 8 October 2008, they filed amended accounts for 2006 as they had forgotten to include bank charges of £62 which meant they made a loss of £62. Although, what the bank was charging them for, given that it was a non-trading company, isn’t made clear.

And again, on 8 October 2008, they also filed amended accounts for 2007. They’d forgotten that in that year they had a turnover of £1,589,916 (it’s so easy to do)! Even better, they’d made a profit on that fantastic turnover of £1,596 which, after tax and bank charges, left them with a net profit of £1,135. Happy days! However, they forgot to amend the 2008 accounts (which still showed zero funds) as there was now a retained profit of £1,135.

On 29 July 2009, they filed their annual return. No change.

On 8 March 2010, they filed accounts for a dormant company – it had gone back to sleep! And the shareholder’s funds had disappeared as all balances were now showing as £0.

On 29 June 2010 they filed the annual return. No change.

On 28 March 2011, they filed accounts for a dormant company.

On 27 April 2011, the company secretary changed from Mita Consulting, Wickham’s Cay, BVI to Mita Consulting, Road Town, BVI.

On 30 August 2011, they filed the annual return. No change.

On 3 April 2012, they filed accounts for a dormant company.

On 31 May 2012, the registered office was changed from Road Town, BVI to Winchmore Hill, London, N21 and the Company Secretary changed from Mita Consulting to Lawson Secretaries Limited, of Duke Street, Edinburgh.

On 24 July 2012, the company filed dormant accounts (still no sign of the £1,135 retained profit).

On the same day they filed the annual return. No change.

On 27 August 2013, the annual return showed no change, again and on 17 January 2014 they filed dormant accounts (somewhat belatedly) for 2013.

No change in 2015 and still dormant (why have they got this company – it’s doing nothing).

On 21 April 2016, Ms Nguyen resigned as director! She was replaced by Luong Phan Song, also Vietnamese and also living in Moscow.

On 26 April 2016, Luong Phan Song resigned (that was quick!).

He was replaced by… er… Thi Than Thuy Nguyen. Who is now shown as “businesswoman” (must have given up the linguist trade).

On 20 May 2016 (almost a whole month later) Thi Thanh Thuy resigned (again).

The new director was… er… Luong Phan Song.

On 23 May 2016 (my 24th wedding anniversary, as it happens) the annual return showed that Thi Thanh Thuy Nguyen had transferred her entire shareholding to HCKG Pte (but no further details were given).

On 20 March 2017, the company returned dormant accounts.

On 5 June 2017, the company filed a confirmation statement showing a Person with Significant Control as Luong Phan Son (presumably as the owner of HCKG Pte although that isn’t made clear.

The accounts for 2017 are currently overdue.

A curious history.

So what else do we know? Let’s have a little look around the internet, starting with HCKG Pte.

HCKG Pte appears to be a Singapore registered company with a Unique Entity Number of 201503146C, registered on 2 February 2915 as a holding company.

I also found these (translated) extracts from a Russian website.

And if you are wondering, JSC Zarubezhenergoproekt owns 100% of a Russian Bank called “Solidarity”. So TMA Food Ltd owns 3.56% of a Russian Bank. Further information: https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=34166309

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