Libra Group

🎬 Excited to share that Principal Media LLC has teamed up with food streamer Tastemade to produce another season of From Scratch, David Moscow’s acclaimed travel and culinary series. The series will return to the beloved food streaming channel this April showcasing the stories behind our interconnected food systems. Hosted by actor and adventurer David Moscow, the show takes viewers on a captivating journey into the origins of food. In each episode, Moscow is tasked with recreating a dish entirely from scratch, collaborating with local food producers to harvest, hunt, fish, forage, and grow the ingredients. Along the way, he explores regional histories, uncovers the challenges faced by those who produce our food, and celebrates the natural beauty of each location. 🌍 🍴 This season highlights world-renowned chefs, including Michelin-starred talent, as it journeys to diverse locations—from Sweden to Kansas City, Missouri—seamlessly blending culinary mastery with cultural discovery. Principal Media, one of Libra Group’s #media subsidiaries based in Hollywood, specializes in both distribution and production. We can’t wait to see the exciting projects they have in store next! Discover more about #PrincipalMedia and their catalogue of offerings here: https://lnkd.in/ebKwz5Uj

Lomar Shipping, one of our #maritime subsidiaries, has named the latest recipients of Achim Boehme Scholarship grants. The scholarship program, established in 2021, supports the next generation of shipping leaders and honors Achim Boehme, Lomar’s late CEO, who courageously battled cancer until his passing in 2020. For 2024-25, first-time recipients of bursaries are: Jinky Pagilagan from the Philippines, Lennart Jacob Bünemann from Germany, and Adel Hassanein from Egypt. All are studying the English-language bachelor's degree program in International Shipping and Chartering (ISSC) at Hochschule Bremen in Achim Boehme’s home city of Bremen. Financial support has also been renewed for ISSC student Michael Pasion from the Philippines, who is this year's winner of the university’s prestigious #DAAD academic award. Michael has benefitted from the scholarship for the past two years. #Lomar CEO, Nicholas Georgiou, said: “Once again we are delighted to provide support for young people looking to pursue careers in the shipping industry. Achim was a true leader and mentor to many in shipping and our scholarship maintains his wonderful legacy with support for this talent of the future, our leaders of tomorrow.” We congratulate all four grantees and wish them success in their maritime careers! For more information about the scholarship, see: https://bit.ly/4fnZYN0

🌅 Pleased to share that Aria Hotels, our Greek-born #hospitality subsidiary, has announced the official opening of Casa del Torno, its first property under operation and second historic property in #Colombia, marking a significant milestone as Aria embarks on its global expansion. Casa del Torno is nested in the historic San Diego neighborhood in the city of Cartagena, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site on Colombia’s Caribbean coast known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, colorful streets, and lively plazas. Housed in a meticulously restored 17th-century building, once home to Clarissine nuns who lived in complete seclusion, the property features accommodation for up to nine guests and a private pool, offering an authentic taste of Cartagena’s colonial past. Cartagena offers diverse experiences including boat trips, fine dining, shopping and guided tours. Aria Hotels also offers full concierge services and hospitality encounters carefully curated to celebrate local culture and heritage. Part of our Group’s hospitality portfolio, which includes over 70 properties, Casa del Torno is one of two Colombian hospitality projects that will be under Aria's management. In September, #AriaHotels announced the name of its first Colombian property, “Aria Maria,” inspired by the shared love of the Greek folksong “Maria Me Ta Kitrina” (Maria Dressed in Yellow) between our Executive Chairman, George Logothetis, and former Colombian President, Iván Duque Márquez. Aria Maria is currently under development, with more details to be unveiled soon. Congratulations to the Aria team on this achievement, representing an exciting new chapter as Aria introduces its passion for authentic hospitality experiences to a global audience! Read more about Casa del Torno here: https://bit.ly/49rsFq6 #VisitColombia #HolidayVilla #CityBreaks

Last month, Concordia, one of 10 philanthropic initiatives under Libra Philanthropies, our sister organization and an independent foundation, released its 2024 Annual Summit Report. This past September in New York City under the theme “Navigating a New Era,” the 14th annual Summit brought together nearly 4,000 attendees, 300 speakers (including 9 sitting Heads of State), and 58 partner organizations from 112 countries. Uniting global leaders across politics, business, academia, philanthropy, and more, the Summit explored #challenges and #opportunities of today’s rapidly evolving world, including geopolitical fragmentation, socioeconomic shifts, and technological advancements, showcasing the vast capacity of the Concordia community. Underscoring the power of cross-sector collaboration, many new initiatives that address global challenges were also announced during the gathering. Just some of the many #highlights at this year’s Summit included: 🤝 The Diana Award was joined by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, as young people took center-stage to drive a movement for the organization’s Decade of Youth Wellbeing launch. 🤝 London was announced as the 2025 Concordia Europe Summit host city on stage with The Rt Honorable Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and Concordia Co-founder Nicholas Logothetis. 🤝 African Parks Network announced a $1 billion initiative to scale conservation efforts across the continent, before the end of the decade in 6 years. 🤝 Factor H La Luz Caregivers Programme received the Amgen Prize and will be awarded $150,000 in funding to scale their innovative solution to support caregivers of people with Huntington’s Disease in Venezuela. 🤝 iDE (International Development Enterprises) Global announced Project Fury aiming to empower 1 million women entrepreneurs and impact 100 million people in their communities. 🤝The Eleanor Crook Foundation announced the creation of the James P. Grant Child Survival Award which recognizes contemporary leaders for their achievements in scaling child survival solutions. 🤝 Prosper Africa Prosper Africa announced two catalytic capital awards that will catalyze over $800 million in private investment for resilient infrastructure and adaptation finance in Africa. 🤝 Concordia announced the new Concordia Future Initiative to amplify the voices of young changemakers, connecting them with international leaders to drive meaningful action. We look forward to following the impact of these initiatives and the work of #Concordia and its #partners as they spearhead innovative solutions for lasting impact. For a more in-depth look at the Summit, find videos of the sessions here: https://bit.ly/3D1ou8o

⭐ Honored to share that long-time partner, The American College of Greece (ACG), honored Libra Group, among other organizations, at its Inspirational Partners Awards held last week at Deree – The American College of Greece in Athens. 📚 ACG has been a longstanding partner of the flagship Libra Internship Program, which originated in Greece. In 2022, our sister organization and an independent foundation, Libra Philanthropies, launched the Libra Philanthropies Leadership Scholarships program with Deree, building on over a decade of collaboration between the college and Libra Social Responsibility, which was the basis for Libra Philanthropies. The scholarship provides academic opportunities for graduate students through financial assistance with $140,000 in grants, awarded over five years to up to 10 students per year who wish to apply to a Deree Graduate School program. A Libra Group delegation, including Group General Counsel Nikolaos Verras and Administrative Assistant Artemis Kanellopoulou, attended the event and proudly accepted the award on the Group’s behalf. #Empowerment is one of Libra Group’s core values, and we are delighted to join ACG to support deserving students in Greece and beyond to reach their potential and achieve new milestones. We look forward to future #collaborations to empower #YoungLeaders of tomorrow!

Last week over 3 days, a Libra Group delegation, including Executive Chairman George Logothetis, Chief Relationship Officer Maria Paula Correa, Chief Strategy Officer Phaedra Chrousos, Chief of Staff Juliana Sáenz, Senior Associate Esther Abinader, as well as Seema Bajaj, Executive Director of Seleni Institute, a non-profit of Libra Philanthropies, traveled to Colombia and Panama for over 20 meetings with heads of government, public officials, business partners and nonprofit leaders. In Panama, the delegation, as well as #RenewableEnergy subsidiary Greenwood Energy’s (GWE) Country Manager of Panama Menelao Mora, and Global Bank’s Chairman Jorge Vallarino and SVP Marelissa Perez Lopez, participated in a signing ceremony for GWE’s financing facility in excess of $40 million with Global Bank. Other highlights in Panama included: 🔹Time spent with #RealEstate subsidiary FCA GROUP, S. A., including CEO Raul Gonzalez Neira, to review its portfolio of commercial properties and new partnerships, as well as growth plans of FCA Group. 🔹Meetings with the Minister of Commerce and Industries (Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias) Julio Moltó and Panamanian chef Mario Castrellón. 🔹Philanthropic meetings with Gisela Alvarez de Porras, Chairwoman of non-profit and Libra Philanthropies partner Voces Vitales de Panamá, which advocates for advancing equal opportunities for women, as well as a visit to non-profit FANLYC, which supports the well-being and treatment of children with cancer across Panama. In Colombia, the group attended Fundación Innovación para el Desarrollo's (I+D Foundation) AI forum, where George participated in a Q&A on the challenges and opportunities of AI and the need to ensure humanity persists over an algorithm. The I+D Foundation was launched one year ago by former Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez to empower the next generation of leaders. George also recorded an episode of President Duque’s Tres Respuestas podcast where he shared #leadership insights, Libra’s commitment to contributing to a more sustainable and equitable world, and more. Other selected highlights in Colombia included: 🔹A Q&A with former and future Libra Internship participants. 🔹A visit to All God's Children International, an organization dedicated to improving the care and outcomes for vulnerable children. 🔹Meetings with the GWE team and Arhuaco community, who are working partners on the Terra Initiative. 🔹Meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Gilberto Murillo and President of the National Development Finance Corporation of Colombia Francisco Lozano. 🔹Meetings with business partners to further expand #hospitality subsidiary Aria Hotels into Colombia. 🔹A Q&A with Universidad de Los Andes business students and a meeting with their faculty Dean Ximena Rueda. We’re grateful to our many trusted partners across Latin America and look forward to more #collaborations!

🎬 Excited to share that Principal Media LLC, one of Libra Group’s #media subsidiaries headquartered in Hollywood with distribution and production capabilities, has acquired a slate of TV series from the renowned Donut Media, the premier destination for automotive “edutainment” content. 🚘 Donut Media produces exciting, educational shows that celebrate automotive culture through humor and relatable storytelling, simplifying complex topics to make car culture accessible to everyone. Available now for license to TV networks and streaming platforms worldwide, The Donut Show series caters to car enthusiasts of all levels, offering insights into how cars work, their history, product reviews, and DIY projects. 🌟 We look forward to seeing what exciting projects #PrincipalMedia has in store next! Principal Media is one of two media companies that are part of Libra Group’s #DiversifiedInvestments portfolio. Browse their catalog and offerings here: https://lnkd.in/ebKwz5Uj

🌍 Last month, our Chief Financial Officer Praveen Vetrivel joined a delegation from EuroEnergy, one of our #RenewableEnergy subsidiaries, including CEO Antonis Menegas and Head of Business Development Marietta Metallinou, on a meaningful trip to Greece and Cyprus, where they met with public and private sector leaders and trusted business partners. In Cyprus, the delegation was honored to meet with the President of Cyprus H.E. Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. During their discussion, they explored opportunities for Libra Group to contribute positively to Cyprus’s growing economy across various sectors, including renewable energy, media, real estate, and hospitality. They also delved into the current landscape of the energy sector in Cyprus, with #EuroEnergy expressing its commitment to support the country’s transition to a clean energy future, including through opening a new office in the region. The team also connected with joint venture partner Afcon Renewable Energy, represented by Executive Vice President Dimitrios (Damon) A., with whom EuroEnergy is advancing substantial renewable energy investments in Poland. Together, they developed a solar park in Boguszyn, Poland, which was successfully energized this past April. Furthermore, the team also met with longstanding partner, Schoeller Holdings, as well as AstroBank and EY Cyprus, where they discussed Libra Group's presence and potential opportunities in Cyprus across sectors. Praveen also visited Athens, Greece where he engaged with Libra Group subsidiaries, partners, and senior executives of leading financial institutions to explore opportunities across Libra Group. 🤝 We are always thankful for the opportunity to connect with partners, colleagues, and public leaders, and we look forward to sharing exciting updates on the developments that will arise from these visits!

Proud to share that on Monday, Greenwood Energy (GWE), one of our #RenewableEnergy subsidiaries, closed on a financing facility in excess of $40 million with partner Panama's Global Bank to further GWE’s work to advance #CleanEnergy in the country. This new facility will contribute to the operation of GWE’s ɅLMɅ MɅTER 40 MW #solar project, which recently completed construction. The scalable partnership model with the Universidad de Panamá (UP) is the second launched by GWE in Latin America and will allow UP to become the first public university in Latin America entirely powered by renewable energy sources. It will supply clean energy to power UP for over 40 years, preventing 380,000 tons of CO2 emissions during that timeframe. After 20 years, ownership of the solar facility will be transferred to UP for the remainder of the plant’s life cycle. This financing agreement is part of a strong, established relationship between our Group and Global Bank, which has included financial agreements with our Latin American #RealEstate subsidiary FCA GROUP, S. A. over the last two years.   Thank you to our trusted partner Global Bank, a prominent lender in Panama, whose resources have allowed this project to come to life and supply clean energy to Panama. We look forward to many future #collaborations as we invest in the future of Latin America!

Last week, St. Johns Ship Building, Inc., the Jones Act-compliant shipyard of one of our #maritime subsidiaries, Americraft Marine Group, participated in the 2024 International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, LA. Drawing over 13,000 industry leaders, the International #WorkBoat conference and exposition connects commercial vessel owners, operators, builders, as well as vendors and suppliers, fostering #collaboration and #synergies across the marine industry. The St. Johns Ship Building team, including Edward Sheets, Executive VP of Americraft Marine, and Joe Rella, President of St. Johns Ship Building, engaged with key maritime stakeholders sharing insights and showcasing their innovative and sustainable solutions. Most recently, St. Johns secured a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the construction of two stop log barges that will be used for civil work maintenance and repair missions around Tulsa, Oklahoma. This project adds to St. Johns’ pipeline of high-quality, reliable #vessels—ranging from offshore wind support vessels to versatile barges that support a secure U.S. economic and clean maritime future. We look forward to seeing the new opportunities and partnerships that will emerge for St. Johns following this landmark industry event, and to many developments to come!