Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal assisted Damen Galati Shipyard in obtaining the 25 million euros financing from Exim Banca Romaneasca

Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal assisted Damen Galati Shipyard in obtaining the financing from Exim Banca Romaneasca of 25 million euros, which will be used by the shipbuilder in implementing its investment program, based on the expansion and equipping of ship assembly facilities.

“The completion of this transaction marks an important milestone in the development of our company and is an achievement that we also consider the merit of Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal, their professionalism and expertise being essential for the success of this endeavor,” said Daniela Cristea, Chief Financial Officer, Damen Galati Shipyard.

Damen Galati Shipyard, one of the leading players in its field in Romania, will expand, through the investment program implemented with the help of this financing, its interior construction capacities, especially for ships dedicated to the luxury segment, as well as to the military segment. In 2023, Damen Galati Shipyard inaugurated a new robotic line for the manufacture of micropanels, an investment also financed by Exim Banca Romaneasca, in 2022.

The Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal practice specialized in financing and financial-banking law provided legal assistance in the review and negotiation phases of the financing documentation. The team involved in the project consisted of Patricia Enache, Senior Managing Associate, and Bogdan Vlad, Senior Associate, under the coordination of Andrei Burz-Pinzaru, Partner.

“We are glad that we were able to support Damen Galati Shipyard in this achievement and to contribute by providing legal assistance on the negotiation of the financing documentation to the success of this project, which will strengthen the position of our client and of Romania on the shipbuilding map. We are delighted with the excellent relationship we have developed over the past years of collaboration with Damen Galati Shipyard and we are confident in the future of this collaboration,” said Andrei Burz-Pinzaru, Partner at Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal and Leader of the Financing and Financial-Banking Law Department.

The Dutch Damen Shipyards Group took over the majority stake in Damen Galati Shipyard in 1999 and has invested since then over 146 million euros in the development of the company. In 2024, the shipyard completed and delivered a 179-meter military support ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Outstanding manufacturing projects underway include the construction of a multi-purpose ship for the Portuguese Navy and the delivery of four all-electric ferries for the province of British Columbia, Canada, reflecting the company's commitment to providing sustainable maritime solutions.

The Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal practice specialized in financing and financial-banking law is recognized by the international rankings Legal 500, IFLR and Chambers and Partners as a leader in its field. The team has extensive experience in assisting clients in all types of transactions in the banking sector, including syndicated credit facilities, restructurings, securities, portfolio transfers, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Andrei Burz-Pinzaru, the leader of the practice, is recommended by Legal 500 as having “one of the best strategic approaches in the legal environment in Romania”, while Patricia Enache, Senior Managing Associate, is recommended as a key lawyer. Also, Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal is recognized for the quality of its services offered on regulatory issues concerning the financial and banking sector, having assisted numerous banks, payment institutions, investment funds, non-banking financial institutions and companies admitted to trading on the capital market.

Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal is recognized as a leading law firm in Romania for the quality of services and ability to deliver solutions on complex legal matters. The areas of practice include banking and finance, competition, employment, energy and environment, insolvency, legal management consulting, litigation, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, public sector and real estate, as well as optimization of legal processes and the adoption of new technologies. The firm represents in Romania Deloitte Legal, a global network with more than 2,500 lawyers in 80 countries.

About Damen Galati Shipyard

With an area of 53 hectares and approximately 1,500 employees, Damen Galati Shipyard is one of the largest production units within the Dutch Damen Group. Since its takeover by the Damen Group in 1999, the Damen Galati Shipyard has evolved into a high-performance manufacturing yard with a significant production. Carefully managed expertise and supply chain are the base of Damen's most important deliveries to date, fully embodying the group's diverse product portfolio. Since 1999, Damen Galati Shipyard has delivered more than 500 ships to customers around the world (among them, more than 30 military ships built for 13 different countries, including NATO and EU member states). The company's portfolio includes patrol vessels, offshore vessels, ferries, dredgers and barges, superyachts, military vessels and tugboats. The Damen Group operates 35 shipyards located on five continents and supported by a worldwide sales and service network.