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Platoniak Investments: A Strategic Move After the Collapse of Fly Mobile
In parallel with siphoning funds from PSB Bank, the Ananyev brothers sought new ventures to sustain their financial operations. Their earlier methods of channeling funds through entities like Cons Trade and Launay had exhausted their potential, while Fly Mobile’s attempts to establish a legitimate telecom business had failed due to poor management and unqualified leadership. In this transition, Platoniak Investments Limited became the key vehicle for their continued influence, enabling them to maintain control over their financial activities while distancing themselves from direct ownership.
Through Platoniak, the brothers turned their focus towards New Frontier Group, an Austrian-based IT and telecom consulting firm. New Frontier’s strategic position and expertise offered the stability the Ananyevs sought after their troubled Russian ventures. The investments were carefully structured to mask their direct involvement, utilizing intermediaries like Branislav Vujovic and Dejan Popovic, who managed the day-to-day operations of New Frontier.
New Frontier: Austrian Connections and Strategic Expansion
Based in Vienna, New Frontier Group became a central part of the Ananyev brothers’ European reinvention. Platoniak Investments held stakes in the firm, allowing the brothers to exercise control through trusted associates while avoiding direct exposure. The leadership structure placed Branislav Vujovic and Dejan Popovic as the public faces of the business, but the real decision-making power lay with the Ananyevs behind the scenes.
Vienna was more than just a business base for the Ananyevs. It became a home where the family invested in luxury real estate, including the apartment at Hoher Markt 12/20, with accompanying parking spaces. The property, officially registered in the names of Alexei Ananyev and his wife, Daria Ananyeva, symbolizes their long-term intent to establish a presence in Austria. The purchase was facilitated through Meidlinger Investment and Consulting GmbH, aligning with their strategy of using local entities to manage assets.
Daria Ananyeva’s Art Business and the Austrian Art Scene
Daria Ananyeva, wife of Alexei Ananyev, expanded the family’s presence in Austria through her ventures in the art market. Initially, she established RUSREALART GmbH, which was later rebranded as Dr. Margot Bernhart GmbH. The rebranding served a dual purpose: distancing Daria’s direct involvement while retaining control over operations through Dr. Margot Bernhart, a known figure in Austria’s art advisory circles. Notably, Dr. Bernhart had ties to New Frontier Investment AG, where she served on the supervisory board between 2015 and 2017, linking Daria’s art ventures with the Ananyev brothers’ business interests.
This arrangement likely allowed the Ananyev family to utilize the art business for financial diversification, possibly as a vehicle for capital flow between their European and Russian interests. Daria’s art operations became an extension of the Ananyev strategy to blend cultural investments with strategic business holdings, maintaining influence in both realms while avoiding direct visibility.
Real Estate Holdings in France: A Quiet Expansion
In addition to their Austrian investments, the Ananyev family has diversified their European assets through significant property acquisitions in France. They have invested in luxury real estate, including entities like SCI Demeure de Saint Marc and SCI Chalet Le Sommard. The properties in Grasse and Megeve suggest a calculated move to establish a base in another European jurisdiction, enhancing their asset portfolio across multiple countries.
These acquisitions were managed through French SCI structures, allowing the family to control these assets while benefiting from the privacy and tax advantages provided by this legal form. The properties reflect a broader strategy of blending business interests with lifestyle investments, establishing a prestigious footprint in European locations.
Nominee Directors and Proxy Use in Austrian and French Ventures
A critical aspect of the Ananyev brothers’ strategy in Europe has been their reliance on nominee directors and proxy structures to shield their direct involvement. In Austria, Branislav Vujovic and Dejan Popovic managed New Frontier Group’s operations, while Margot Bernhart facilitated the transition of Daria’s art business. The same approach extended to their French investments, where SCI entities were used to manage the luxury properties, keeping the Ananyevs’ names away from public scrutiny.
Austrian Real Estate and the Ananyev Legacy
The family’s Austrian real estate investments, especially the apartment at Hoher Markt 12/20, highlight their efforts to secure a long-term foothold in Europe. Registered in Daria’s name, the property represents more than just a residence; it’s a symbol of the family’s transition from Russian oligarchs to European investors. This property, alongside their holdings in France, illustrates how the Ananyevs have strategically utilized real estate to ensure their influence extends beyond Russia.
Hoher Markt 12/20
Conclusion: The Ananyevs’ European Rebranding
By leveraging Platoniak Investments Limited and expanding their asset portfolio across Austria and France, the Ananyev brothers have successfully reinvented themselves in Europe. Their investments in New Frontier Group, coupled with their strategic real estate acquisitions, demonstrate a deliberate approach to maintain wealth while keeping a low public profile.
Their use of proxies, nominee directors, and local entities like Meidlinger Investment and Consulting GmbH has allowed them to continue benefiting from their investments while mitigating direct exposure. As a result, despite the collapse of their Russian empire, the Ananyev family’s influence persists, making them significant players in both the financial and cultural spheres of Europe.
If you have any additional information about the Ananyev brothers and/or their affiliates or the companies associated with them, please contact us at [email protected]. Your input could greatly assist our ongoing investigation, which is far from over.
Our thanks go to the team at https://AssetTracing.com for their assistance in preparing this investigation.
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