The Firm advises banks (as underwriters) and companies in connection with international capital markets transactions and their subsequent relations with the Stock Exchange and the Capital Market Authorities. The Firm is particularly specialized in listing of shipping companies.
The Firm advised and organised the corporate structure of the first shipping company to be listed with the Athens Stock Exchange (Strinzis Lines) and acted as advisor for the Greek Government in connection with the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Greek Telecommunication Company (OTE). The Firm has also acted for the first Greek interest company, Royal Olympic Cruise Lines, to have its stock traded with stock markets in USA.
Our clients in this field have included over the years Barclays Bank BZW, Attica Enterprises, holding of the Superfast Ferries and Blue Star Ferries (two of the shipping Companies listed with the Athens Stock Exchange) and Kathimerini (the most important Greek daily morning newspaper listed with the Athens Stock Exchange). We have provided all types of services and advice in relation to stock markets and we are involved in litigation in this connection as well.
Within 2004 and 2005, the Firm was particularly involved in initial public and other securities offerings and corporate restructurings of Shipping Companies in major foreign Capital Markets. Thus, we acted as Greek counsel for the listing (IPO) and the follow-on equity offering of Diana Shipping Inc. at New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), for the transfer of Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. from the American Exchange to NYSE and for a number of other companies the IPOs of which were suspended due to the situation of the stock markets in the second half of 2005, with most known the Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. We also acted for the Sellers and managers of the Vessels acquired by Global Oceanic Carriers Ltd. listed with AIM in London. In 2006 we acted as special Greek Law councel for Omega Navigation Enterprises listed with NASDAQ and the Singapore Exchange. In 2007 the Firm acted as Greek counsel for the structure and IPO of Globus Maritime Limited listed with AIM.