On August 20, private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Robert & Co. L.P. (KKR) announced the formation of Maritime Finance Company, a new specialty finance company created to lend to the maritime industry. Willkie is advising Maritime Finance Company and its founders, Kristan Bodden and Gabriel Tolchinsky, in the deal. The company will be initially capitalized by a $580 million investment, 45% of which has been provided by KKR and its affiliates. The balance was arranged by MerchCap Solutions LLC. The new investment platform will acquire assets in the offshore oil field services industry as well as traditional shipping sectors.
The deal was handled by partners Jeffrey Poss, Jordan Messinger, Laura Delanoy and James Brown, and associates Margaret Hanson and Andrew Shapiro.
