Okeanis Eco Tankers appears to be eager to make its New York debut after the Greek shipowner filed a request with US securities regulators to allow its shares to trade there starting on 11 December.
The Athens-based company said that the regulatory review process has concluded for the planned listing of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
The announcement comes roughly a month after the company, whose shares currently trade on the Oslo Stock Exchange, filed a registration statement with the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), a key milestone in the process.
Okeanis said that it has now filed an “acceleration request” with the SEC to make that registration effective on Wednesday, which would allow its shares to trade “on or about” 11 December.
The Alafouzos family-controlled company said share trading will be suspended for at least two trading days in Oslo as part of the effort. The suspension will likely start on Thursday.
Okeanis plans for New York to be the main home of its shares, which will trade under ticker symbol ECO.
Its shares in Oslo will be secondary and will retain ticker symbol OET.
The company controls a fleet of six suezmax tankers and eight VLCC tankers, all with scrubbers.
Okeanis held a special meeting of shareholders on Thursday to approve changes to its bylaws and articles of incorporation.
SEC records show that the New York Stock Exchange approved its listing the same day.
According to filings, chairman Ioannis Alafouzos controls a 35.6% stake in the company, and his brother Themistoklis holds 22.4%.
Like many Greek companies listed in New York, Okeanis pays fees to the Alafouzos family’s privately- held Kyklades Maritime for technical management and other services, among other related-party transactions.
