Offshore Finance Forum, Oslo, June 11

David Mullen, CEO of Ocean Rig, will serve as chairman of the Norway Ship & Offshore Finance Forum that is set for June 11 in Oslo.

Mullen will speak on a panel focused on deepwater drilling that also includes Trond Brandsrud, CFO of Seadrill, and Jan Erik Tveteraas, CEO of Sevan Drilling. Topics include the oil market, supply and demand, reserves investment, drilling, reduced access to capital, equity research and more.

For a full list of the event's offerings, corporate sponsors, last year's attendees or registration information contact Marine Money International at (203) 406-0106, ext. 3712; e-mail afarrison@marinemoney.com, or visit www.marinemoney.com.

Marine Money International is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

Record Real Estate Sale, Penthouse In Stamford

The real estate market may be impacted by the national economic slowdown, yet in Stamford the most expensive condominium apartment sale ($1.67 million) was recently recorded.

The Metropolitan, developed by Hannah Real Estate Investors, led by Seth Weinstein, principal, is located at 1515 Summer St. in downtown Stamford. Partners are Ray Kinol of Stillwater Investment Management and Steven Wise of Summer Partners, LLC.

Views and spacious interior and outdoor living space distinguish both the Metropolitan’s remaining unsold duplex penthouse and the recently sold grand penthouse. The residences offer private outdoor terraces and views of the city and Long Island Sound.

Residents of The Metropolitan, and the adjacent townhomes with frontage on First Street, enjoy amenities such as a private fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, a temperature-controlled wine storage facility, and an elegantly styled club room with a flat screen television, bar, and modern furnishings. A full-time concierge is available to assist residents and guests.The price of remaining flat in the main building is the duplex penthouse, priced at just under $1.2 million.
For details see www.themetropolitan1515summer.com.

Gartner Grows With Tax Credit, Incentive

The state of Connecticut is helping Gartner, Inc. of Stamford expand its operations, retaining 861 jobs and creating approximately 300 additional positions over the next 5 years.

Founded in 1979, Gartner is a research and advisory company with 4,100 associates worldwide, including more than 1,100 research analysts and consultants. It has clients in more than 80 countries.

The Department of Economic and Community Development is providing a $5 million, low-interest loan to the company for building and leasehold improvements and equipment, as well as up to $20 million in Urban and Industrial Site Reinvestment Tax Credits.

The Connecticut Development Authority has approved a sales and use tax exemption of up to $1 million.

NBC Universal Talks Connecticut, Stamford Studio

NBC Universal is in negotiations with the state of Connecticut on a project that is anticipated to result in a large television production studio at the Rich Forum Theater in Stamford, bringing approximately 150 to 200 jobs and an initial infrastructure investment in excess of $3 million to the state.

The state’s 30 percent production tax credit on annual activity and 20 percent tax credit on infrastructure costs exceeding $1 million were among several factors cited by NBC Universal as reasons why it is considering Connecticut as a location.

“As a company based in the tri-state area, NBC Universal is enthusiastic about expanding our footprint in the region, " said Barry Wallach, president of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. "The tax credit program fosters additional public/private investments in production infrastructure that Connecticut can use to help the state through the current economic crisis."

NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi. The company develops, produces, and markets entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a portfolio that includes news and entertainment networks, a motion picture company, television production operations, a television stations group, and theme parks.

Hulu was founded in March 2007 by NBC Universal and News Corp. and is operated independently by a dedicated management team.

International Shipping CEO, CMA Commodore

Capt. Wei Jiafu, president and CEO of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) has been named as the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Commodore for 2009.

The award will be presented to Capt. Wei on March 25, at the annual CMA conference and trade exposition in Stamford.

The CMA mission is to provide a platform for the "development and growth of the international maritime and trade industries." The annual conference, held each March in Stamford, is the premier shipping gathering in North America.

Former CMA Commodores include Ole Skaarup, Jacob Stolt-Nielsen, George Livanos, Phil Loree, Thomas Moran, Gregory Hadjieleftheriadis, Helmut Sohmen, Gerhard Kurz, William O’Neil, Richard du Moulin, Per Heidenreich, Mark Saverys, Frank Tsao, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Peter Georgiopoulos, C. Sean Day, Torben Jensen, Morten Arntzen and John Fredriksen.

COSCO was founded in 1961 as the pioneer of international shipping in China; together with the re-construction of national transportation resources on February 16, 1993, China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) has grown into a $17 billion corporation. COSCO Group now owns and operates more than 800 modern merchant ships.