High-Trend International Group Appoints Veteran Private Equity Executive Shahryar Oveissi as Chief Capital Markets Officer (CCMO)

Rhea-AI Summary

High-Trend International Group (NASDAQ: HTCO) appointed Shahryar Oveissi as Chief Capital Markets Officer, effective January 9, 2026. Oveissi, a private equity executive with over 25 years of international finance and fundraising experience, will report to Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox and lead financing, asset acquisition structuring, institutional investor relations, and sovereign/long-term capital engagement to support HTCO's 2026–2030 strategic plan to evolve from traditional shipping into a global maritime infrastructure platform.

Positive

• Appointment of Shahryar Oveissi as CCMO effective Jan 9, 2026
• Executive brings 25+ years in private equity, international finance, and fundraising
• Mandate to structure financings and asset acquisitions for fleet expansion and infrastructure
• Explicit focus on institutional and sovereign capital relationships across Middle East, Europe, and North America
• CCMO role reports directly to Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox, indicating board-level priority

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

+5.00%

4 alerts

+5.00% News Effect

+4.9% Peak Tracked

+$4M Valuation Impact

$83M Market Cap

0.2x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, HTCO gained 5.00%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +4.9% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 4 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $4M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $83M at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Experience: 25 years Strategic plan period: 2026–2030 Effective date: January 9, 2026

3 metrics

Experience 25 years Shahryar Oveissi’s background in international finance and private equity

Strategic plan period 2026–2030 HTCO strategic plan timeframe referenced for capital markets execution

Effective date January 9, 2026 Start date for Shahryar Oveissi as Chief Capital Markets Officer

Market Reality Check

Price: $10.43 Vol: Volume 28,573 is below th...

low vol

$10.43 Last Close

Volume Volume 28,573 is below the 20-day average of 100,555, indicating muted trading interest ahead of this announcement. low

Technical Shares at $10.20 are trading below the 200-day MA of $12.29 and sit far under the 52-week high of $106.25, though above the $4.55 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

HTCO’s pre-news decline of -5.56% occurred as multiple Marine Shipping peers wer...

1 Down

HTCO’s pre-news decline of -5.56% occurred as multiple Marine Shipping peers were also down, including EDRY (-0.62%), GLBS (-1.20%), CTRM (-0.93%), PSHG (-3.77%) and USEA (-1.16%). Momentum scanners also flagged ICON with a -5.45% move, reinforcing broader weakness.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Nov 07 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Nov 07	Strategic financing	Neutral	-0.5%	Announced up to $20M multi-tranche financing focused on AI and digital initiatives.
Oct 30	Policy benefit	Positive	+16.6%	Section 301 tariff suspension expected to lower costs and support margins and growth.
Oct 23	Operational response	Neutral	-12.0%	Adjusted fleet deployment to mitigate impact of new U.S.-China port fee policy.
Aug 28	Share buyback	Positive	-4.1%	Authorized up to $5M share repurchase program through August 23, 2027.
Aug 25	Listing compliance	Positive	+28.3%	Regained compliance with Nasdaq minimum bid price after 10 days above $1.00.

Pattern Detected

Recent news has produced mixed reactions: some positive developments (tariff relief, Nasdaq compliance, buyback) led to strong gains or modest declines, with no consistent pattern of market response.

Recent Company History

This announcement adds to a series of capital-markets-focused developments for HTCO. In August 2025, the company regained Nasdaq minimum bid compliance and introduced a $5.0M share repurchase program. Subsequent policy updates on U.S.-China tariffs and port fees in October 2025 directly affected operating costs and cash-flow visibility. In November 2025, HTCO secured an investor financing facility of up to $20M for digital transformation. Today’s appointment of a Chief Capital Markets Officer fits this trajectory of strengthening financial strategy and investor engagement.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf · $400,000,000

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-11-24

$400,000,000 registered capacity

An effective Form F-3 shelf registration dated November 24, 2025 permits HTCO to offer up to $400,000,000 of various securities over time, providing flexibility to raise capital for working capital, debt management and acquisitions as detailed in future prospectus supplements.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved +5.0% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with HTC...

Analysis

The stock moved +5.0% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with HTCO’s ongoing focus on capital markets strategy. The hire of a CCMO with 25 years of international finance and private equity experience fits prior steps such as strategic financings and tariff-driven cost benefits. However, the presence of a $400,000,000 shelf registration highlights the potential for future securities offerings. Past news has sometimes seen sharp reversals, so sustainability would depend on how effectively this appointment translates into tangible capital-structure improvements.

Key Terms

private equity, sovereign wealth funds, family offices

3 terms

private equity financial

"veteran entrepreneur and private equity investment specialist Shahryar Oveissi"

Private equity involves investing money directly into private companies or buying out public companies to make them private, with the goal of improving their performance and increasing their value over time. For investors, it offers an opportunity to earn returns by helping companies grow or restructure, often requiring a longer-term commitment and a higher level of involvement than typical stock investments.

sovereign wealth funds financial

"network across the Middle East, Europe and the United States, including sovereign wealth funds"

Sovereign wealth funds are large pools of money managed by a country's government, often built from profits earned from natural resources or other national revenues. They invest these funds in global markets to help secure the country's future financial stability and growth. For investors, these funds can influence markets because they have significant resources and long-term investment strategies.

family offices financial

"including sovereign wealth funds, family offices, major financial institutions"

A family office is a private wealth-management firm that handles the finances, investments, taxes and estate planning for one wealthy family, acting like a household’s dedicated finance team or personal bank. They matter to investors because family offices can move large amounts of capital quietly and for the long term, become stable buyers or sellers in private deals and markets, and often back companies or funds in ways that affect valuations and access to funding.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- High-Trend International Group (NASDAQ: HTCO) ("HTCO" or the "Company"), a global ocean technology company, today announced the appointment of veteran entrepreneur and private equity investment specialist Shahryar Oveissi as its Chief Capital Markets Officer (CCMO), effective January 9, 2026. This appointment represents a key milestone in the execution of HTCO's 2026–2030 strategic plan, aimed at strengthening its capital markets capabilities to support the Company's transformation from traditional shipping to a fully integrated global maritime infrastructure platform.

A "global connector" in capital markets, Mr. Oveissi brings over 25 years of experience in international finance, private equity and global expansion. He has cultivated a high-level network across the Middle East, Europe and the United States, including sovereign wealth funds, family offices, major financial institutions and industrial groups. Before joining HTCO, he served as a Partner at Rose Capital, where he led investor relations, fundraising initiatives and portfolio value creation, and played an active role in advising companies on global growth strategies and cross-border capital flows.

In his new role as CCMO, Mr. Oveissi will report directly to HTCO's Chairman, Christopher Nixon Cox, and play a central role in structuring and executing the Company's global financial strategy. His core responsibilities will include:

●

Financings and asset acquisitions: Structuring and executing diversified, long-term financing solutions to support HTCO's fleet expansion and maritime infrastructure investment strategy, while optimizing the Company's capital structure.

●

Institutional investor relations: Building, maintaining and expanding long-term partnerships with institutional investors worldwide, enhancing HTCO's visibility and support in the global capital markets.

●

Sovereign and long-term capital engagement: Leveraging his deep relationships in the Middle East and other key regions to introduce sovereign wealth funds, family offices and government-related long-term capital, thereby strengthening HTCO's international influence and resource integration capabilities.

"Shahryar's joining HTCO is a landmark development for the Company," said Christopher Nixon Cox, Chairman of HTCO. "His multifaceted background in private equity, international trade and capital markets aligns perfectly with our vision to build a world-class maritime infrastructure and digital shipping platform. With his connectivity across key markets in the Middle East, Europe and North America, he will serve as a critical bridge between HTCO and the world's leading capital providers, accelerating our strategy in green shipping, digital finance and innovative asset structures."

"I am honored to join HTCO's highly entrepreneurial and forward-thinking leadership team," said Shahryar Oveissi. "HTCO is uniquely positioned by anchoring innovative financial and digital solutions on the solid foundation of real-economy shipping cash flows – a 'virtual plus physical' model that is highly compelling in today's global markets. I look forward to leveraging my experience in private equity, cross-border capital formation and sovereign capital partnerships to help drive HTCO's transformation into a global maritime infrastructure platform and to create long-term value for our shareholders and partners."

About Shahryar Oveissi

Shahryar Oveissi is a serial entrepreneur who has spent the last 25 years traveling the world, establishing new ventures, promoting U.S. companies across several continents and in the process developing global relationships. He has worked with many corporations, governments and heads of state, bringing new business opportunities to underdeveloped markets. A proven private equity investor with over 20 years of experience in the sector, Oveissi is currently focusing on investments in the healthcare and biotech sectors, the renewable energy, and the cryptocurrency/blockchain sector. Shahryar is also a Partner in Latitude Hotels Group, a leading African Boutique hotel chain. Shahryar graduated from NYU's Stern School of Business with a B.S. in Information Systems & International Business.

About High-Trend International Group

High-Trend International Group is a global ocean technology company with core businesses in international shipping and marine carbon neutrality.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "future," "will," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these statements, including but not limited to those detailed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024. All information in this press release is as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-trend-international-group-appoints-veteran-private-equity-executive-shahryar-oveissi-as-chief-capital-markets-officer-ccmo-302658155.html

SOURCE High-Trend International Group

FAQ

Who is Shahryar Oveissi and when did he join HTCO (NASDAQ: HTCO)?

Shahryar Oveissi is a private equity and international finance executive who joined HTCO as CCMO effective January 9, 2026.

What will Shahryar Oveissi's responsibilities be as HTCO CCMO (HTCO)?

He will lead structuring and execution of financings and asset acquisitions, institutional investor relations, and sovereign/long-term capital engagement.

How does Oveissi's appointment fit HTCO's 2026–2030 strategy (HTCO)?

The hire is intended to strengthen capital markets capabilities to support HTCO's transformation into a global maritime infrastructure and digital shipping platform.

To whom will the HTCO CCMO report and why does that matter for investors?

The CCMO reports directly to Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox, signaling board-level focus on capital strategy and fundraising.

What regions and investor types will HTCO target under Oveissi's mandate (HTCO)?

The role emphasizes relationships with sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and institutional investors across the Middle East, Europe, and North America.