Attica Group
Encyclopedia
Attica Holdings S.A. is an operator of international ferry services in Europe
. The Group’s main operations are with its subsidiary Superfast Ferries
which began in 1995 with the launch of its first ships, Superfast I & Superfast II. The company also has a majority share in Blue Star Ferries
which operates ferries in the Aegean Sea
to the Greek islands.
under the name of Attica Flour Mills SA.. In 1992 the company changed hands and was renamed to Attica Enterprises S.A., subsequently changed to Attica Enterprises Holding S.A. and has since changed to Attica Group.
2006
February: Attica sells its 12.33% stake in Hellenic Seaways acquired a year earlier.
Blue Star Ferries receives the ‘Superbrand’ award recognized as a leading brand in Greece in the ‘Tourism Services’ industry.
March: Blue Star Ferries’ passenger-only catamaran SeaJet 2 is sold. The sale of the vessel is part of the Company’s policy to focus on the operation of fast, modern conventional car-passenger vessels.
April: Superfast VII, Superfast VIII and Superfast IX, serving on the Rostock
, Germany – Hanko, Finland route in the Baltic Sea
are sold to AS Tallink Grupp. The sold vessels will retain their names and continue sailing under the Superfast livery until the end of 2007 at the latest, following an agreement with AS Tallink Grupp.
Attica Group maintains its presence in the Baltic Sea with the operation of its two RoRo
vessels, which trade between Rostock, Germany and Uusikaupunki
, Finland.
July: Attica’s subsidiary, Blue Star Maritime S.A. acquires the total assets of DANE Sea Line for a total of Euro 19.9mln. The assets included car-passenger ferry Diagoras which is deployed to the Dodecanese
Islands’ routes in August.
August: Attica enters into an agreement to sell to Veolia Transport its ice-class vessel Superfast X trading between Scotland and Belgium for a total cash consideration of Euro 112mln. The delivery of Superfast X and final payment is to take place at the beginning of 2007.
November: Attica enters into an agreement with Fret Cetam of France for the chartering of RoRo Nordia until October 2008. RoRo Nordia was deployed on the Uusikaupunki, Finland – Rostock, Germany route together with RoRo Marin. As of the beginning of 2007, RoRo Marin is to be redeployed from the Baltic Sea to serve the needs of the Group in the Greece-Italy routes in the Adriatic Sea and in the domestic market.
Blue Star Ferries is voted “Passenger Line of the Year” at Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards.
December: Attica Group announces the deployment of Blue Star 1 of its subsidiary Blue Star Ferries to the Scotland-Belgium service as of the end of January 2007. Blue Star 1 is to replace Superfast X which was sold earlier in the year, and is to be delivered to her new owners in February 2007.
2007
February: Attica Group increases its stake in Minoan Lines to 22.25%
June: Attica sells its total participation in Minoan Lines S.A.
August: Attica proceeded in the assignment of new offices and new responsibilities to its Board Members. On behalf of its subsidiaries Superfast Ferries and Blue Star Ferries, Attica Group donated the amount of Euro 150,000 to the Special Relief Fund for the benefit of the victims of the recent fires in Greece.
September: Attica Group announces the purchase of two RoRo ships, built in 1998 and 1999.
Attica Group, pursuant to the Law 3556/2007, the Decision 1/434/03.07.2007 and the Circular nr. 33 of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission
, announced that Marfin Investment Group
Holdings S.A., which is closely associated to the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. Andreas Vgenopoulos, bought shares of the Company as follows:
a) on 20.2.2008 bought 19,295 shares with total net value of Euro 106,292.29
b) on 21.2.2008 bought 10,518 shares with total net value of Euro 57,938.79
2008
September: Zeebrugge
-Rosyth
route discontinued on 13 September. The service will be restarted in Spring 2009 by Norfolkline
.
2009
March: On the 12th Superfast XII inaugurates the Piraeus
- Heraklion
route.
December:Brittany Ferries
have entered into a contract to buy the Superfast V from the Attica Group at sum of €81.50 million, with delivery in February 2010. It is not yet know what she will be named or what route she will service.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The Group’s main operations are with its subsidiary Superfast Ferries
Superfast Ferries
Superfast Ferries is a Greece-based ferry company founded in 1993 by Pericles Panagopulos and Alexander Panagopulos. Superfast Ferries is a member of Attica Group and operates 5 ultra-modern car-passenger ferries, offering daily connections between Ancona and Bari and Patras and Igoumenitsa...
which began in 1995 with the launch of its first ships, Superfast I & Superfast II. The company also has a majority share in Blue Star Ferries
Blue Star Ferries
Blue Star Ferries is a brand name of Blue Star Maritime S.A. The company operates ferry services from the Greek mainland to the Aegean Islands.-History:Blue Star Ferries began operations in 1965 as Strintzis Lines...
which operates ferries in the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
to the Greek islands.
Company history
The company’s origins date back as far as 1918 when it was called General Company of Commerce and Industry of Greece, but later focused on producing and trading flourFlour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
under the name of Attica Flour Mills SA.. In 1992 the company changed hands and was renamed to Attica Enterprises S.A., subsequently changed to Attica Enterprises Holding S.A. and has since changed to Attica Group.
2006
February: Attica sells its 12.33% stake in Hellenic Seaways acquired a year earlier.
Blue Star Ferries receives the ‘Superbrand’ award recognized as a leading brand in Greece in the ‘Tourism Services’ industry.
March: Blue Star Ferries’ passenger-only catamaran SeaJet 2 is sold. The sale of the vessel is part of the Company’s policy to focus on the operation of fast, modern conventional car-passenger vessels.
April: Superfast VII, Superfast VIII and Superfast IX, serving on the Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, Germany – Hanko, Finland route in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
are sold to AS Tallink Grupp. The sold vessels will retain their names and continue sailing under the Superfast livery until the end of 2007 at the latest, following an agreement with AS Tallink Grupp.
Attica Group maintains its presence in the Baltic Sea with the operation of its two RoRo
RORO
Roll-on/roll-off ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers or railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels...
vessels, which trade between Rostock, Germany and Uusikaupunki
Uusikaupunki
Uusikaupunki , is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is inland water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingually Finnish...
, Finland.
July: Attica’s subsidiary, Blue Star Maritime S.A. acquires the total assets of DANE Sea Line for a total of Euro 19.9mln. The assets included car-passenger ferry Diagoras which is deployed to the Dodecanese
Dodecanese
The Dodecanese are a group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, of which 26 are inhabited. Τhis island group generally defines the eastern limit of the Sea of Crete. They belong to the Southern Sporades island group...
Islands’ routes in August.
August: Attica enters into an agreement to sell to Veolia Transport its ice-class vessel Superfast X trading between Scotland and Belgium for a total cash consideration of Euro 112mln. The delivery of Superfast X and final payment is to take place at the beginning of 2007.
November: Attica enters into an agreement with Fret Cetam of France for the chartering of RoRo Nordia until October 2008. RoRo Nordia was deployed on the Uusikaupunki, Finland – Rostock, Germany route together with RoRo Marin. As of the beginning of 2007, RoRo Marin is to be redeployed from the Baltic Sea to serve the needs of the Group in the Greece-Italy routes in the Adriatic Sea and in the domestic market.
Blue Star Ferries is voted “Passenger Line of the Year” at Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards.
December: Attica Group announces the deployment of Blue Star 1 of its subsidiary Blue Star Ferries to the Scotland-Belgium service as of the end of January 2007. Blue Star 1 is to replace Superfast X which was sold earlier in the year, and is to be delivered to her new owners in February 2007.
2007
February: Attica Group increases its stake in Minoan Lines to 22.25%
June: Attica sells its total participation in Minoan Lines S.A.
August: Attica proceeded in the assignment of new offices and new responsibilities to its Board Members. On behalf of its subsidiaries Superfast Ferries and Blue Star Ferries, Attica Group donated the amount of Euro 150,000 to the Special Relief Fund for the benefit of the victims of the recent fires in Greece.
September: Attica Group announces the purchase of two RoRo ships, built in 1998 and 1999.
Attica Group, pursuant to the Law 3556/2007, the Decision 1/434/03.07.2007 and the Circular nr. 33 of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission
Hellenic Capital Market Commission
The Hellenic Republic Capital Market Commission is one of two regulatory bodies for the financial industry in Greece, the other being the Bank of Greece....
, announced that Marfin Investment Group
Marfin Investment Group
Marfin Investment Group is a Greek investment company created in 1998 as Marfin Α.Ε.Π.Ε.Υ.. It has acquired several companies and has changed name several times since. In 2001 it acquired Piraeus Prime Bank and was renamed Marfin Bank...
Holdings S.A., which is closely associated to the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. Andreas Vgenopoulos, bought shares of the Company as follows:
a) on 20.2.2008 bought 19,295 shares with total net value of Euro 106,292.29
b) on 21.2.2008 bought 10,518 shares with total net value of Euro 57,938.79
2008
September: Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
-Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
route discontinued on 13 September. The service will be restarted in Spring 2009 by Norfolkline
Norfolkline
Norfolkline was a European ferry operator and logistics company owned by Maersk. It provided freight ferry services on the English channel, Irish Sea, and the North Sea; and passenger ferry services on the English channel and Irish Sea; and logistics services across Europe...
.
2009
March: On the 12th Superfast XII inaugurates the Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
- Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
route.
December:Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries is a French ferry company that runs ships between France, the UK, Ireland and Spain.-1970s and 1980s:Following the provision of the deep-water port at Roscoff, the company commenced in January 1973 at the instigation of Alexis Gourvennec, when existing ferry companies showed...
have entered into a contract to buy the Superfast V from the Attica Group at sum of €81.50 million, with delivery in February 2010. It is not yet know what she will be named or what route she will service.