12.06.2006
DVB Bank establishes DVB Capital Markets LLC
DVB Bank, the Frankfurt-based specialist in transport finance, has further strengthened its commitment to providing investment banking services with the formation of DVB Capital Markets LLC, a U.S. registered broker-dealer. William J. Abrams has been appointed as Managing Director of the new unit. The unit will function as the U.S.-investment banking office of DVB, serving clients in the shipping, aviation, land transport and transport infrastructure industries.
DVB Capital Markets became registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and a member firm of the NASD in April 2006 enabling it to complement DVB's existing London-based financial advisory services with debt and equity capital markets capabilities. The unit will also provide financial advisory and M&A services in New York.
Dagfinn Lunde, Member of the Board of Managing Directors of DVB Bank AG and Head of DVB's Shipping Division commented: "Establishing a U.S. investment banking presence is part of our strategy to expand our client relationships by broadening the range of products we offer. Our relationship bankers now have the ability to offer our clients access to U.S. and international capital markets including public underwritings and private placements of equity and debt, as well as merger and acquisition advisory services."
Lunde added: "We believe our strength in the transport sector provides a strong platform with which we can expand our investment banking activities. The services delivered by the Capital Markets unit will complement DVB's existing Advisory and M&A, structured asset finance, securitization and fund management activities.
Abrams, with extensive capital markets and transport finance experience, joined DVB in April 2005 as a Senior Vice President. Prior to joining DVB, Abrams spent over eight years with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Credit Suisse First Boston as an investment banker focused on leveraged finance, structured finance and equity offerings. Most recently, Abrams was Senior Vice President with the U.S. government's Air Transportation Stabilization Board, the loan guarantee board established to assist air carriers following the events of September 11, 2001.
Mark S. Johnson joins the unit as a senior investment banker focused on M&A and capital markets in the shipping sector. Prior to joining DVB Capital Markets, Johnson spent 13 years with Citigroup, including five in New York where he was responsible for the North American shipping, cruise, and offshore sectors, seven in Piraeus with relationship responsibility for major Greek and Middle Eastern ship owners, and a London posting with a global corporate finance mandate. Most recently, Johnson was director of a private finance firm focused on strategic transactions, structured finance and consulting for maritime sector companies and investors.
"We have a highly qualified team in place with expertise and experience in investment banking and the shipping and aviation industries," said Abrams. "Working with DVB's relationship officers around the world, we intend to offer significant value for the bank's existing clients and also create a new vehicle for developing additional relationships with companies in the transport sector."
Note to Editors:
DVB Bank AG, based in Frankfurt/Main, is an international advisory bank and finance house that specialises in the global transport market. DVB offers integrated financing solutions and advisory services in respect of Shipping, Aviation, Land Transport, and Transport Infrastructure. The Bank operates out of offices in Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, London, New York, Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Bergen, Piraeus, and Curaçao. DVB Bank AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE 0008045501).
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Borislav Bjelicic, Phone +49 69 9750-4390, Fax +49 69 9750-4333, DVB Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Corporate Communications, Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 2-14, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany, borislav.bjelicic@dvbbank.com, www.dvbbank.com
DVB Capital Markets became registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and a member firm of the NASD in April 2006 enabling it to complement DVB's existing London-based financial advisory services with debt and equity capital markets capabilities. The unit will also provide financial advisory and M&A services in New York.
Dagfinn Lunde, Member of the Board of Managing Directors of DVB Bank AG and Head of DVB's Shipping Division commented: "Establishing a U.S. investment banking presence is part of our strategy to expand our client relationships by broadening the range of products we offer. Our relationship bankers now have the ability to offer our clients access to U.S. and international capital markets including public underwritings and private placements of equity and debt, as well as merger and acquisition advisory services."
Lunde added: "We believe our strength in the transport sector provides a strong platform with which we can expand our investment banking activities. The services delivered by the Capital Markets unit will complement DVB's existing Advisory and M&A, structured asset finance, securitization and fund management activities.
Abrams, with extensive capital markets and transport finance experience, joined DVB in April 2005 as a Senior Vice President. Prior to joining DVB, Abrams spent over eight years with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Credit Suisse First Boston as an investment banker focused on leveraged finance, structured finance and equity offerings. Most recently, Abrams was Senior Vice President with the U.S. government's Air Transportation Stabilization Board, the loan guarantee board established to assist air carriers following the events of September 11, 2001.
Mark S. Johnson joins the unit as a senior investment banker focused on M&A and capital markets in the shipping sector. Prior to joining DVB Capital Markets, Johnson spent 13 years with Citigroup, including five in New York where he was responsible for the North American shipping, cruise, and offshore sectors, seven in Piraeus with relationship responsibility for major Greek and Middle Eastern ship owners, and a London posting with a global corporate finance mandate. Most recently, Johnson was director of a private finance firm focused on strategic transactions, structured finance and consulting for maritime sector companies and investors.
"We have a highly qualified team in place with expertise and experience in investment banking and the shipping and aviation industries," said Abrams. "Working with DVB's relationship officers around the world, we intend to offer significant value for the bank's existing clients and also create a new vehicle for developing additional relationships with companies in the transport sector."
Note to Editors:
DVB Bank AG, based in Frankfurt/Main, is an international advisory bank and finance house that specialises in the global transport market. DVB offers integrated financing solutions and advisory services in respect of Shipping, Aviation, Land Transport, and Transport Infrastructure. The Bank operates out of offices in Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, London, New York, Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Bergen, Piraeus, and Curaçao. DVB Bank AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE 0008045501).
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Borislav Bjelicic, Phone +49 69 9750-4390, Fax +49 69 9750-4333, DVB Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Corporate Communications, Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 2-14, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany, borislav.bjelicic@dvbbank.com, www.dvbbank.com