Our People

John Papapetros is one of the managing partners of the firm and head of the Athens based shipping team. John advises major shipping companies, banks and financial institutions and has significant experience in a broad range of work in the shipping sector including banking and financial services, asset and project finance (including shipping and aircraft finance), loan workouts (including arrest and auction of vessels in various jurisdictions and enforcement of other securities worldwide) and restructurings, white collar crimes, shareholders' disputes, mergers & acquisitions (including acquisitions of shipping companies), IPOS, joint ventures, takeovers and corporate reorganizations, shipbuilding contracts and ships' sale and purchase contracts.

John has been listed as a Leading Lawyer in ‘Legal 500’ Europe, Middle East & Africa 2014, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets. John is recommended for ship finance in Chambers & Partners and according to clients interviewed by Chambers Europe John "has worked in shipping for years and his knowledge is unmatched in the industry," and "He is quick in his responses and has a creative mind to help our problems.".

John was a Vice-Chairman of the Maritime Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) and is a frequent speaker on IBA and other conference platforms.

John is a co-author of the Greek Chapter of the 2014 and 2015 Ship Finance Edition of Getting the Deal Through and the Chapter on Greece in: “Bank Security and other Credit Enhancement Methods”, Kluwer Law International, 1995. He has also written articles for financial and maritime law journals.

John has been a member of the Athens Bar since 1984. He obtained his law degree from the Law School of the University of Athens and a master’s degree from University College, London in Shipping Law (LL.M.). John is fluent in Greek, English and German

Experience, key assignments and notable projects
2014 - 2015

• Acting on behalf of Attica Holdings S.A.in relation to the restructuring of Attica Group existing debt (including a €200,000,000 bond loan issued by Blue Star Ferries Maritime S.A. originally led by Citibank International Plc and with Aegean Baltic Bank S.A. as the new agent and loan facilities in the aggregate amounts of €253,927,710 (originally) provided by KfW IPEX – Bank GmbH) plus new bond loans in relation to a €25,000,000 common bond loan and a €50,000,000 exchangeable bond loan subscribed to by affiliates of Fortress Credit Corp. with Eurobank Ergasias S.A. as agent, a €50,000,000 convertible bond loan was issued by Attica Holdings S.A. in relation to the above mentioned exchangeable bond loan and a new €42,425,000 bond loan led by Piraeus Bank S.A.
• Acting on behalf of Navios Europe (II) Inc. on the acquisition of fourteen vessels from debtors of HSH Nordbank AG through an innovative financing structure. This project involved the acquisition of seven bulkers and seven container vessels with a purchase price of US$327.7 million in cash funded by a US$135 million senior bank debt and a US$14 million investment from Navios Maritime Holding Inc., Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation and Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and the assumption of US$192 million subordinated HSH participating loan facility. This transaction was concluded in June 2015 (V&P Law Firm was one of the finalists for the Lloyd’s List Global Awards - Deal of the Year Award 2015 in respect of this transaction).

2013

• December 19 2013: Assisted the bondholders on the Greek and shipping law aspects at a US$300,000,000 offering of first priority ship mortgage notes by ELETSON HOLDINGS INC. (Marine Money Public Debt Deal of the Year Award 2013).
• December 18 2013: Acted on behalf of Navios Europe Inc. on the acquisition of ten vessels from debtors of HSH Nordbank AG through an innovative financing structure. This project involved the acquisition of five tankers and five container vessels with a purchase price of US$127.8 million in cash funded by a US$120.4 million senior bank debt and a US$10 million investment from Navios Maritime Holding Inc., Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation and Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and the assumption of US$173.4 million subordinated HSH participating loan facility. This transaction was concluded in December 2013.
• November 14 2013: Assisted NAVIOS MARITIME ACQUISITION CORPORATION in relation to the US$610,000,000 offering of first priority ship mortgage notes due 2021.
• June 28 2013: Assisted NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P. in connection with a US$260,000,000 syndicated senior secured term loan facility and a subsequent increase of such facility on October 18 2013 by US$ 179,500,000.
• May 21 2013: Assisted NAVIOS MARITIME HOLDINGS INC. in its strategic partnership with a significant shipowner and operator based in Japan to own and operate six dry bulk carriers for a start.

2012

• November 30, 2012: Assisted Aegean Baltic Bank S.A. (“AB Bank”), HSH Nordbank AG (“HSH”) and Unicredit Bank AG in the amendment and restatement of a $ 65m loan facility to the EDT group of companies.
• November 9, 2012: Assisted Marfin Egnatia Bank (“Marfin Bank”) in relation to the arrest and auction of four (4) vessels of the Allied group of companies in Gibraltar.
• June 27, 2012: Assisted Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc. in its $88,000,000 Add-on Debt Offering of 8 7/8% First Priority Ship Mortgage Notes due 2017.

2011

• September 22, 2011: Assisted AB Bank in a $25m loan to Sanibel Maritime Inc. et al.
• July 19, 2011: Assisted Marfin Bank in funding through a US$55 million loan facility sale and leaseback transaction. The transaction involved the sale and leaseback of vessels from members of the group of Allied Maritime Inc. to Diolkos Group of Companies (“Diolkos”) and was Sari’ah law compliant.
• June 17, 2011: Assisted AB Bank in relation to a $18,5 loan facility to Oceanstar group.
• May 12, 2011: Assisted Navios Maritime Acquisition Corp. (“NNA”) in its $105,000,000 Add-on Debt Offering of 8 5/8% First Priority Ship Mortgage Notes due 2017.
• April 6, 2011: Assisted Navios South American Logistics, Inc., in its $200,000,000 Debt Offering of 9 1/4% Senior Notes due 2019
• January 13, 2011: Assisted Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. in its $350,000,000 Debt Offering of 8 1/8% Senior Notes due 2019.

2010

• November 22, 2010: Assisted Marfin Bank in relation to a loan facility to the group of Lemissoler Maritime Company WLL in respect of the sale and leaseback transaction with Newlead Holdings Ltd. To fund the transaction (which received the 2010 Marine Money Best Leasing Transaction Award) Marfin Bank provided a $93 million loan to members of the Lemissoler Group through a Shari’ah Law compliant structure by extending an existing facility involving 9 other additional collateral vessels. Marine Money described this transaction as “the most intriguing lease transaction of year 2010”.
• October 6, 2010: Assisted NNA in its $400,000,000 Debt Offering of 8 5/8% First Priority Ship Mortgage Notes due 2017.
• September 12, 2010: Assisted NNA in its acquisition of a fleet of seven VLCC tankers.
• June 1, 2010: Assisting NNA in its $457,700,000 acquisition of 13 vessels (11 product and two chemical tankers) plus options to acquired two additional product tankers. NNA received the 2010 Marine Money Mergers and Acquisitions Award in respect of its 2010 acquisitions.

2009

• October 22, 2009: Assisted Navios Maritime Holdings in its $400,000,000 Debt Offering of 8 7/8% Senior Secured First Priority Ship Mortgage Notes due 2017.
• October 13, 2009: Assisted Marfin Bank on US 145m convertible bond loan to Aries Maritime Transport Limited.
• August 28, 2009: Assisted Marfin Bank on a US 112m loan facility to Grand Rodosi Inc. et al (Newlead group of companies).
• May 27, 2009: Assisted Marfin Bank on a US 66m term and revolving facility to Alfa Tria Shipping Ltd et al (Fairdeal group of companies).

2008

• August 27, 2008: Assisted Marfin Bank in relation to a US$ 255,000,000 loan facility to Seanergy Maritime Corp.
• March 27, 2008: Assisted BTMU Capital Corporation and NIBC Bank N.V.as lenders and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch and NIBC N.V. as swap banks in relation to a loan facility of US$42,500,000 to Omega Navigation Enterprises, Inc.
• January 21, 2008: Assisted BTMU Capital Corporation in relation to a loan facility to Avra Maritime Services Group regarding a pre-delivery financing for seventeen newbuildings.
• January 3, 2008: Assisted Navios South American Logistics in its acquisition of 51% stake in Horamar (South American operator of barge and upriver port business).

2007

• December 4, 2007: Assisted the Bank of Scotland plc as senior lender in relation to a loan facility of US$446,050,000 and Bank of Scotland plc and BTMU Capital Corporation as junior lenders in relation to a loan facility of US$58,740,000 to Avgi group of companies and assisted in the relation to the same transaction The Bank of Tokyo- Mitsubishi UFJ, LTd., New York Branch as swap bank.
• January 30, 2007: Assisted HSH Nordbank AG as senior lender in relation to a senior loan facility of US$95,000,000 and BTMU Capital Corporation as junior lender in relation to a junior loan facility of US$30,000,000 to Anemi group of companies and assisted in the relation to the same transaction The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch and HSH Nordbank AG as swap banks.

2006

• December 13, 2006: Assisted Navios Maritime Holdings in its $300,000,000 Debt Offering of 9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014.

2005

• August 25, 2005: Assisted International Shipping Enterprises in its $607,500,000 acquisition of Navios Maritime Holdings Inc.
• August 25, 2005: Advised HSH Nordbank AG of Germany as lead arranger and agent on loan facilities for the US$700 million acquisition of Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. group by International Shipping Enterprises Inc.