HL Deb 17 March 1986 vol 472 c855WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who are the real and ultimate beneficial owners of the shares in Westland Helicopters held by the following nominee companies:

  1. (i) Rowe and Pitman Nominees,
  2. (ii) Sterling Trust of Geneva,
  3. (iii) Midland Bank Overseas Nominees,
  4. (iv) Vidacos Nominees, and
  5. (v) Invastadt.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)

Responses to the first issue of Section 212 notices issued by the company under the provisions of the Companies Act indicated the following (i.e. second level) nominee holdings:

Actraint No. 34 Pty Limtied, Canberra 4.99 per cent.
Sterling Trust SA, Geneva 4.89 per cent.
Rothschild Bank, AG, Zurich 4.76 per cent.
Les Fils Dreyfus & Cie SA, Switzerland 3.65 per cent.
Gulf & Occidental Investment Company SA, Geneva 1.38 per cent.
Banque Les Fils Dreyfus Les Fils Dreyfus & Cie Sae A/C Lynx Marketing SA, Panama, RP 1.18 per cent.
20.85 per cent.

Westland then issued further Section 212 notices to each of these companies as the next step towards identifying the beneficial owners of the shares.

One beneficial owner (TNT Ltd., an Australian company) has so far been confirmed, and Westland is pursuing its inquiries concerning the remainder.