Nicolas Bornozis opens the forum
10th Annual Capital Link Shipping, Marine Services & Offshore Forum – In Partnership with Fearnley Securities. Anna Kaparaki was there reporting:
London-The 10th Annual Capital Link Shipping, Marine Services & Offshore Forum took place at One Moorgate Place and was organized in partnership with Fearnley Securities and in cooperation with the London Stock Exchange. The event attracted the interest of a significant number of high calibre delegates. The forum consisted of 11 panel discussions on various shipping sectors and critical shipping industry issues as well as presentations. Nicolas Bornozis – Capital Link President, welcomed all attendees. He noted that this forum is in its 10th year and thanked London Stock Exchange and Fearnley Securities for their cooperation and partnership.
Even Matre Ellingsen
Even Matre Ellingsen (CEO, Fearnely Securities) provided Opening Remarks for the forum. Tom Attenborough – Head of International Business Development, Primary Markets-London Stock Exchange, presented London as a Global Capital Raising and Investment Destination.
Tom Attenborough
The forum featured senior executives from a significant number of maritime companies and various leading industry participants, who discussed issues of critical interest to the shipping industry stakeholders.
Dr. Adam Kent
Dr. Adam Kent – Director at Maritime Strategies International, took the podium and delivered an excellent and well construed presentation on “Fold, Hold, Double-up-which hand to play next?”
l to r: Jonnathan Cook, Christos Economou, Richard Tyrell, Morten Nielsen, Jon Skule Storheill
Time for the first panel; Peder Nicolai Jarlsby -Analyst, Fearnley Securities, moderated the “LNG Shipping Sector Panel” with panellists: Jonathan Cook -CEO, Flex LNG (FLNG:NO), Christos Economou, Founder of TMS Cardiff Gas, Richard Tyrrellm CEO & CFO with Hoegh LNG Partners (NYSE: HMLP), Morten Nielsen, Pool Manager at Cool Pool LNG, and Jon Skule Storheill, CEO at Awilco LNG (ALNG:NO).
John Lycouris, Christian Andersen and Martin Kjendlie
Martin Kjendlie – Senior Analyst Fearnley, moderated the “LPG Shipping Sector“ with panellists: John Lycouris – CEO- Dorian LPG (NYSE: LPG) and Christian Andersen – President Avance Gas (Avance:No).
And now here comes money… Dan Tindall, Consultant with Clyde & Co, moderated the “Shipping & Bank Finance Panel”
l to r: Bill Guo, Michael Steeman, Christos Tsakonas, Michael Parker, Joep Gorgels and Dan Tindall
The panellists being all experts in this specialist field: Bill Guo, Executive Director of Shipping at ICBC leasing, Michiel Steeman, Managing Director with DVB Bank, our well known form our event in Singapore back in April 2014 Christos Tsakonas the Head of Global Shipping at DNB, Michael Parker, Industry Head, Global Shipping & Logistics and Chairman EMEA Corporate Banking at Citi – a good old friend with sustainable views on shipfinance and Joep Gorgels the Country Executive Norway Regional Head Scandinavia ECT Energy & Transportation, ABN AMRO Bank. Ms Kavita Shah, partner, at international law firm Watson Farley Williams, subsequently presented on Maritime Loan Portfolio Sales & Transfers.
Rolf Johan Ringdal – Partner, BA-HR, moderated “Restructuring as a business & investment opportunity” with panellists: Mr. Don Featherstone (Partner-EY), Kevin O’ Hara – Managing Director-AMA Capital Partners, and Axel Siepmann – Managing Director-Naves Corporate Finance.
Panos Katsambas – Partner, Reed Smith, moderated the Shipping, Private Equity & Alternative Financing panel. Panellists included: Paulo Almeida – Portfolio Manager-Tufton Oceanic Ltd, Andrian Dacy – CIO & Head of Global Transportation-J.P. Morgan Asset), Andreas B. Povlsen – Founder & CEO-Breakwater Capital, and Anders Meyerhoff – Principal-Apax Partners).
Mariella Bottiglieri’s lethal question!
Tanker shipowner Ms. Mariella Bottiglieri and ever present to Capital Link forums and many others globally, asked the panel a question to which the audience applauded. As she has characteristically pointed out “…my aim is to give the company to the 7th generation and I will try to explain why the time line is the problem. For the traditional family based shipowner the bank used to be the perfect guy but the bank goes away. So, I would like to ask the panel if the private equity wants to marry me or wants a one night stand. The vessel is a 20 years life investment so I would like to ask how long you do intend to stay in the investment and when do you expect to exit. The panel’s answer was that private equity refers to a financial platform that provides five year loans to shipowners, but the intention is to make long term deals with ship-owners.” Martin Stopford – Non-Executive President, Clarkson Research Services Limited, then proceeded to present on the Global Shipping Markets-Current Developments & Outlook.
Clay Maitland – Managing Partner, International Registries: Founder Namepa; and Chairman-Neymar, moderated “The Industry Challenges and The Road Map Ahead” panel with panellists: Frederick J. Kenney – Director of Legal and External Affairs-International Maritime Organisation-IMO, Knut Orbeck-Nilssen – CEO-DNV GL-Maritime, Mark O’ Neil – President-Columbia Shipmanagement and John O’ Kelly – Lynch Chairman-Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority). During the subject panel discussion Mr. Clay Maitland asked Mr. Robert Burke CEO-Ridgebury Tankers, what he considers to be the major challenge for ship-owners and Mr. Burke characteristically answered that the biggest challenge is “ourselves”.
Douglas Mavrinac – Managing Director, Equity Research, Maritime Group-Jefferies LLC, moderated Product Tankers with panellists Jacob Meldgaard – CEO-TORM A/S (CPH: TRMD-A), Marco Fiori – CEO-d’Amico International Shipping (BIT:DIS), Kim Ullman – CEO-Concordia Maritime (STO:CCOR-B), and Jerry Kalogiratos – CEO and CFO –Capital Product Partners LP (NASDAQ:CPLP).
Dr. Arlie G. Sterling – Co- Founder-Marsoft Inc., moderated Crude Oil Tankers with panellists Lars Barstad – Commercial Director, Frontline Ltd (NYSE:FRO), Lois Zabrocky – President and CEO)-International Seaways (NYSE:INSW), Robert Burke – CEO-Ridgebury Tankers, Scott Gayton – CFO-Tanker Investments Ltd. (OSE:TIL);VP Finance –Teekay Corporation (NYSE:TK) and Paul Durham – CFO-Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE: TNP).
Joshua Wechsler – Partner-Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP., moderated the Shipping & Capital Markets panel. Panellists included: Karl Fredrik Staubo – Managing Director & Head of Shipping, Clarksons Platou Secuirities, Rikard Vabo – Managing Director, Corporate Finance-Fearnley Securities, and Todd Wilson – Senior VP Maritime Investment Banking – Jefferies LLC.
Espen Landmark Fjermestad – Analyst at Fearnley Securities, moderated the Container Shipping panel. Panellists included: Aristides Pittas CEO-Euroseas (NASDAQ:ESEA), Achim Boehme – CEO- Lomar Shipping, Heiko Hoffmann – Head of Investor Relations-Hapag-Lloyd (ETR: HLAG), Constantin Baack – CEO-MPC Containership (MPCC-ME:NO), Mr. Ted Petrone – Vice Chairman- Navios Group of Companies (NYSE:NM, NMM, NNA, NAP) and George Youroukos – Managing Director – Poseidon Containers.
Finally, Herman Hildan – Managing Director- Clarksons Platou Securities AS, moderated the Dry Bulk Sector Panel. Panellists included: Gary Vogel – CEO and Director, Eagle Bulk Shipping, NASDAQ:EGLE), Loukas Barmparis – President Safe Bulkers, NYSE:SB, Herman Billung – CEO at Songa Bulk, SBULKME:NO), Christos Begleris – CO-CFO at Star Bulk Carriers (NASDAQ:SBLK) and Jens Ismar – CEO at Western Bulk AS.
Lilian Evgenidis with Anna Kaparaki
A lively cocktail reception was held at the end of the forum, where participants had the great opportunity to mingle, network and further discuss on the crucial shipping matters presented in the conference; one of the best networking event we witnessed!
