Libra Group
Libra Group is a privately held international holding company with businesses in maritime transport, aerospace, renewable energy, hospitality, real estate and diversified investments.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Libra Group is a privately owned international holding company headquartered in New York and operating through businesses across multiple continents. The group developed from Lomar Shipping, a London shipping company founded by Michael Logothetis in 1976. His son, George Logothetis, joined the company in 1993 and became its chief executive in 1995. Under his leadership, Lomar expanded from a small fleet of fewer than five ships to more than 55 vessels during the following decade. George Logothetis established Libra Group in 2003 as an umbrella organization intended to diversify the family’s shipping interests. During the shipping boom from 2004 to 2007, the group sold most of Lomar’s vessels and redirected capital into aircraft acquired during a downturn in the aviation cycle. This strategy led to the creation of Lease Corporation International, or LCI, an aircraft-leasing business serving airlines and later helicopter operators. The group subsequently applied a similar counter-cyclical investment approach to other sectors. From 2006 onward, Libra Group broadened into real estate, hotels, renewable energy and other investments. It returned to shipping after the global financial crisis, acquiring vessels when asset values had fallen, and later expanded its maritime portfolio through Lomar Shipping, Americraft Marine and newer businesses focused on shipbuilding, vessel leasing, maritime technology and LNG infrastructure. In aviation, LCI moved from fixed-wing aircraft into helicopters and advanced air mobility, including proposed transactions involving electric and autonomous aircraft. The group also announced Space Leasing International, a venture intended to lease satellite, ground-station and other space-related infrastructure. Libra’s renewable-energy activities include solar and wind development in Europe, North America and Latin America. Its businesses have participated in utility-scale solar projects, distributed solar installations, energy-storage development and partnerships with Indigenous communities. Its hospitality interests include hotel ownership and management businesses such as Grace Hotels and Aria Hotels, while Elandis and other affiliated companies have developed or managed residential, commercial and hospitality real estate. The group has also held interests in media, home furnishings, financial services and sustainable-minerals infrastructure. Its operating businesses have included Principal Media and a significant interest in COCO-MAT, while earlier investments included LXM Group and Riposte Capital. Libra Group remains family-owned and privately held. George Logothetis serves as executive chairman, with Nick Logothetis as executive vice chairman and Manos Kouligkas as chief operating officer. Public descriptions identify approximately 15 operating entities and activity in nearly 60 countries, although the composition of the portfolio changes over time through acquisitions, disposals and reorganizations.
History
Libra Group’s history begins with Lomar Shipping, founded in London by Michael Logothetis in 1976. The company initially focused on commercial shipping. George Logothetis, Michael’s son, joined in 1993 and became chief executive in 1995. During the next decade he expanded the fleet from fewer than five vessels to more than 55. In 2003, George Logothetis created Libra Group in New York and London as a holding structure for a broader international investment strategy. Shipping remained the main business at first, but the group began selling vessels during the strong market conditions of 2004–2007. It used the proceeds to acquire aircraft at comparatively low points in the aviation cycle and established Lease Corporation International. LCI leased aircraft to international airlines and subsequently developed a helicopter-leasing business serving offshore, commercial, governmental, rescue and medical operators. Libra’s diversification accelerated from 2006, when it entered real estate, hospitality and renewable energy. The group established or acquired businesses involved in hotel management, property ownership, solar generation, wind development and energy services. Grace Hotels became one of its most visible hospitality ventures, while Elandis and related companies participated in real-estate development and management across several regions. The global financial crisis created another major portfolio shift. In late 2009, after shipping assets had depreciated, Libra returned to the sector through the acquisition of Allocean and subsequently bought additional fleets. Lomar’s later transactions included container ships, tankers, bulk carriers and offshore vessels. It sold offshore-support vessels before the subsequent oil-price collapse and later rebalanced its fleet through further purchases and disposals. In 2022 it acquired the chemical-tanker fleet of Carl Büttner Holding. By 2024, after substantial container-ship sales, Lomar was described as having a smaller fleet concentrated in tankers and bulk carriers. The group continued to develop adjacent maritime businesses. Americraft Marine acquired St. Johns Ship Building in Florida and entered construction and servicing for Jones Act-compliant vessels. Lomarlabs was created to investigate technologies such as carbon capture, robotics and removable wind-assistance systems. Seapath pursued LNG-bunkering infrastructure and maritime leasing, while Americraft delivered crew-transfer vessels intended for offshore-wind operations. In renewable energy, Libra’s portfolio expanded through EuroEnergy in Europe, Greenwood Energy in Latin America and GSI in North America. Projects and acquisitions have included utility-scale solar, wind, storage and development pipelines. The Terra Initiative was launched with the Confederación Indígena Tayrona in Colombia, and the Iyuhána Solar project was developed with the Ocean Man First Nation in Canada. The group also invested in sustainable-minerals infrastructure and later changed its position in that area. Libra has maintained interests in media, home furnishings and other diversified investments alongside its main sectors. Principal Media invested in Chesler/Perlmutter Productions, and Libra held a 50% interest in COCO-MAT. Its private ownership allows the group to reorganize, sell or seed businesses without the disclosure requirements associated with a listed conglomerate. The group is led by George Logothetis as executive chairman and remains controlled by the Logothetis family.
- 2023
Lomarlabs and Space Leasing International expand technology interests
[1]Libra launches or develops ventures in maritime technology and space-related asset leasing.
- 2022
Americraft acquires St. Johns Ship Building
[1]The maritime group expands into U.S. shipbuilding and Jones Act-compliant vessel services.
- 2012
LCI enters helicopter leasing
[1]LCI adds rotorcraft leasing to its fixed-wing aviation activities.
- 2009
Return to shipping
[1]Libra acquires Allocean and begins rebuilding a maritime portfolio after the financial crisis.
- 2006
Expansion beyond shipping and aviation
[1]The group begins major expansion into real estate, hospitality and renewable energy.
- 2004
LCI is founded
[1]Libra creates Lease Corporation International as it moves into aircraft leasing.
- 2003
Libra Group is established
[1]A new holding company is formed to diversify the family’s shipping business.
- 1995
George Logothetis becomes Lomar chief executive
[1]George Logothetis takes the leadership of Lomar and expands its fleet substantially over the following decade.
- 1976
Lomar Shipping is founded
[1]Michael Logothetis establishes the shipping company that later becomes the foundation of Libra Group.
Products and positioning
A family-owned, globally diversified investment group that allocates capital across transportation, energy, property and other asset-intensive sectors, often emphasizing counter-cyclical investment and long-term ownership.
Maritime transport · 1976
Lomar Shipping
Libra Group’s original maritime business owns and manages commercial vessels. Its fleet has included container ships, bulk carriers, refrigerated ships, tankers and offshore-support vessels. After extensive container-ship disposals, the business has focused more heavily on tankers and bulk carriers while continuing to pursue fleet transactions and maritime technology initiatives.
Aircraft and helicopter leasing · 2004
Lease Corporation International (LCI)
LCI provides leasing and related services for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Its rotorcraft are used in offshore energy, emergency medical services, search and rescue, government and commercial operations. The business has also pursued electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft and autonomous cargo-aircraft opportunities.
Luxury hospitality
Grace Hotels
Grace Hotels was established as a luxury-hotel business originating in Greece. Its properties included Grace Mykonos, Grace Santorini and Vanderbilt Grace. Auberge Resorts Collection took over management of the Grace hotels in 2018, while Libra Group retained a strategic interest in Auberge.
Renewable energy
EuroEnergy
EuroEnergy develops and operates renewable-energy assets, including solar and wind projects, primarily in Europe. Its activities have included acquisitions and partnerships in Croatia and Poland and the consolidation of another Libra renewable-energy business, Convergen Energy Latvia.
Renewable energy
Greenwood Energy
Greenwood Energy develops solar-energy systems and related infrastructure in Latin America. Its former Greenwood Biosar division provided engineering, procurement and construction services and built a utility-scale solar plant in Panama.
Real estate
Elandis
Elandis develops, owns and manages residential, commercial and hospitality real estate. Its activities have included multifamily-property investments, hotel projects and partnerships with institutional asset managers.
Space infrastructure leasing · 2023
Space Leasing International
Space Leasing International was created to develop leasing opportunities for satellites, spaceports, ground stations and related infrastructure. It acquired a satellite ground station in Alaska and described plans to build a larger network of leased facilities.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Terra Initiative
Colombia
Greenwood Energy and the Confederación Indígena Tayrona launched a utility-scale solar initiative in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Outcome. The initiative established a renewable-energy development partnership involving an Indigenous organization; the available reference does not provide a final operating outcome.
Brand decisions
2023
Sell a minority stake in LCIM&ABackground
Libra sought a strategic relationship for its aviation-leasing platform.
Action taken
Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing acquired a 35% stake in LCI.
Aftermath
The transaction created a strategic partnership while Libra remained involved in the business at that time.
2009
Re-enter maritime assets after the financial crisisStrategyBackground
The financial crisis depressed ship values and created an opportunity for counter-cyclical acquisitions.
Action taken
Libra acquired Allocean and subsequently purchased additional vessels through Lomar.
Aftermath
The group rebuilt a large maritime portfolio before later selling many container ships and reshaping the fleet.
2004
Rotate capital from shipping into aviationStrategyBackground
A strong shipping market created favorable conditions for selling vessels, while aircraft prices were comparatively depressed.
Action taken
Libra sold most of Lomar’s fleet and used the proceeds to acquire aircraft and establish LCI.
Aftermath
LCI became a major aviation-leasing platform and later expanded into helicopter and advanced-air-mobility assets.
2003
Create a diversified holding companyStrategyBackground
The family shipping business sought to expand beyond maritime transport and create a structure for investments in additional industries.
Action taken
George Logothetis established Libra Group as an umbrella company in New York and London.
Aftermath
The group expanded into aviation, real estate, hospitality, renewable energy and other sectors.
Recent events
- 2024
Lomar exits the container-ship sector[1]
Other
Lomar sold nearly 100 container vessels over several years and shifted its maritime portfolio toward other vessel categories.
- 2023
SMFL acquires a 35% stake in LCI[1]
M&A
Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing acquired a minority interest in Libra Group’s aviation-leasing business.
- 2023
Libra Group launches Space Leasing International[1]
Product launch
The group announced a venture focused on leasing space-related infrastructure, including satellites and ground stations.
- 2022
LCI signs advanced-air-mobility aircraft agreements[1]
Product launch
LCI announced agreements to acquire up to 125 BETA Technologies electric aircraft and, later, up to 40 Elroy Air autonomous cargo aircraft.
- 2012
LCI expands into helicopter leasing[1]
Product generation
The aviation-leasing business broadened its activities from fixed-wing aircraft to helicopters.
- 2009
Libra Group re-enters shipping through Allocean acquisition[1]
M&A
After the financial crisis reduced vessel values, Libra Group acquired Allocean and returned to maritime investment.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/libra-group · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled