United Against Nuclear Iran(UANI), a lobbying group led by former US ambassador to the United Nations MarkWallace, claims the tycoon was involved in the formation of a strategicalliance between FBB and Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum.
The allegations, which Restis hasrefuted, stem from a letter in which Greek businessman Dimitris Cambis, whorecently landed on the US Treasury Department’s blacklist, asked Restis and FBBCEO Christos Kazantzis to back an Iranian investment scheme.
TradeWinds obtained copies of twodocuments, including one dated 25 April 2012 and signed by Cambis onthe letterhead of Athene Consulting House in which he requests a meeting aimedat “initiating and concluding a strategic agreement” with FBB.
“We have established a long termstrategic collaboration with the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum and a number ofmajor Iranian private entities operating globally (which are not sanctioned),”the letter read.
“We have been mandated, amongothers, to propose a Greek financial institution whereas our clients wish toparticipate in the share capital and bring along a major part of theirbusinesses.”
Cambis went on to propose anarrangement in which the Tehran’s oil ministry would acquire a “substantialstake in the equity of the bank” and “other institutions in Greece” that werein the process of privatisation.
“Their own monthly transactionswhich shall be directed to FBB are a few billions and they have vast resourcesto support the strategic plan that you might agree on,” Cambis continued beforeoutlining a proposed agenda for a meeting that would correspond with theministry’s visit.
The second letter, which wasaddressed to Restis and also dated 25 April 2012 but not signed, suggests thatFBB hired Concept Consulting of Cyprus to advise on a transaction withrepresentatives of the Iranian government.
Its unclear if a meeting betweenIran’s oil ministry and FBB ever took place but today Greek operatorEnterprises Shipping & Trading released a statement on behalf of Restis inwhich the executive denied UANI’s accusations.
The release read: “Mr Victor Restis, in his personalcapacity and as shareholder of Enterprises Shipping & Trading, and allaffiliated companies, unequivocally and categorically refutes any involvement,arrangement or transaction of any kind whatsoever between him and any of his affiliatedcompanies with Mr Dimitris Cambis or any of the companies or entities Mr Cambisrepresents.
“Mr Restis refutes with the same emphasis andsentiment denies any involvement, arrangement or transaction with any othersanctioned entity including the National Iranian Oil Company and/or NationalIranian Tanker Company.
“Mr Restis rejects any arbitrarily manufactured‘indications’ that insinuate the opposite. Mr Restis reserves his rights todefend his own and his affiliated companies’ ethics, reputation and integrity.”
The war of words erupted a day after the NationalBank of Greece announced plans to absorb what it called the “healthy assets” ofFBB, in which affiliates of the Restis family controlled a 64% stake prior towhat some have likened to a bailout.
The allegations come against thebackdrop of reports that Restis is laying the platform for an initialpublic offering (IPO) in New York that would feature a mixed fleet of tankers.
Youcan read more about FBB deal and the proposed IPO of Golden Energy by clicking the hyperlinks or exploringour archive, which can be accessed from the top of this page. UANI's letter to Restis can be found to the right of this article
