Ludwig Criel Investigation

LUDWIG CRIEL - COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION

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Investigation Date: December 26, 2024

Sources: ICS Shipping, V.Group, ECSA, MarketScreener, Bloomberg

SUBJECT IDENTIFICATION

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Full Name: Ludwig Prosper Maria Criel

Nationality: Belgian

Education:

• University of Ghent - Applied Economic Sciences
• Vlerick School of Management - Management degree

CAREER HISTORY

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1974: Started involvement in Belgian Shipping Companies (as CFO)

1991: Chief Financial Officer of CMB NV (Compagnie Maritime Belge)

1991-present: Director of CMB

1999-2004: Managing Director of Wah Kwong Group (Hong Kong)

2003-present: Director of Exmar (since listing)

2016-present: Chairman of Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association (RBSA)

2018-present: Chairman of Banque Degroof Petercam

2025: Joined V.Group as Non-Executive Director

CURRENT BOARD POSITIONS

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• CMB NV (Compagnie Maritime Belge)

- Director since 1991

- Member and Chairman of Executive Committee

- One of oldest and biggest shipowning companies in Antwerp

• Exmar

- Director since 2003 (listing)

• Banque Degroof Petercam

- Chairman of the Board (since 2018)

- Previously: Board Member and Chairman of Petercam NV

- After merger: Board member of Banque Degroof Petercam

• DPG Media

- Member of the Board

- Chairman

• Wah Kwong Shipping Group (Hong Kong)

- Board Member (ongoing)

• V.Group Limited

- Non-Executive Director (appointed February 2025)

• Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association (RBSA)

- Chairman since 2016

• BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council)

- Board Member representing Belgium

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

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• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) - Board Member
• European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) - Director

COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE (CMB) - KEY COMPANY

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• Full Name: Belgische Scheepvaartmaatschappij-Compagnie Maritime Belge NV
• Location: Antwerp, Belgium
• Description: One of the oldest and biggest shipowning companies in Antwerp
• Major shareholder of: Euronav / CMB.TECH
• Family-owned maritime group
• Stock: CMB:BB (Bloomberg)

CONNECTION TO JANSSEN FAMILY

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From previous Protocol 777 research:

• Ludwig Criel is identified as a "son-in-law" of the Janssen family
• This means he is married to one of Paul Janssen's daughters

(likely Yasmine, Maroussia, or Graziella)

This connection would explain:

• His presence on QRS NV (Janssen family holding company)
• Access to significant capital for shipping investments
• Integration into Belgian business elite

GLOBAL SHIPPING NETWORK

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Ludwig Criel's positions reveal a GLOBAL shipping network:

EUROPE:

• CMB NV (Belgium) - Major European shipowner
• Exmar (Belgium) - Shipping company
• RBSA (Belgium) - Industry association
• ECSA (Europe) - European shipowners

ASIA:

• Wah Kwong Group (Hong Kong) - Major Asian shipowner

* Managing Director 1999-2004

* Still on board

GLOBAL:

• ICS (International) - Global shipping association
• BIMCO (International) - Global maritime council
• V.Group (International) - Ship management

BANKING/FINANCE:

• Banque Degroof Petercam (Belgium) - Chairman

* Major Belgian private bank

* Wealth management focus

MEDIA:

• DPG Media (Belgium) - Chairman

* Major Belgian media company

FORENSIC SIGNIFICANCE FOR PROTOCOL 777

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• GLOBAL REACH: Ludwig Criel has board positions spanning:

- Europe (Belgium)

- Asia (Hong Kong)

- Global shipping associations

- Banking sector

- Media sector

• JANSSEN FAMILY CONNECTION: As son-in-law to Paul Janssen's family,

Criel provides the shipping/logistics expertise to the family's

investment portfolio.

• FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: His chairmanship of Banque Degroof Petercam

provides access to private banking and wealth management services.

• HONG KONG CONNECTION: The Wah Kwong Group connection links the

Janssen family to Asian shipping and finance.

• MEDIA CONTROL: DPG Media chairmanship provides influence over

Belgian media landscape.

POTENTIAL PROTOCOL 777 CONNECTIONS

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• SHIPPING ROUTES: CMB and Wah Kwong operate global shipping routes

that could connect Belgium to New Zealand

• BANKING: Banque Degroof Petercam could facilitate international

wealth transfers

• CORPORATE STRUCTURE: Multiple board positions provide opportunities

for complex corporate arrangements

• GULF LIVESTOCK 1 CONNECTION: Previous research identified Gulf

Livestock 1 (lost at sea 2020) as connected to Protocol 777 network.

Ludwig Criel's shipping connections warrant investigation.

NEXT INVESTIGATION STEPS

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• Confirm which Janssen daughter Ludwig Criel married
• Investigate CMB shipping routes to New Zealand/Pacific
• Check for any CMB/Wah Kwong connections to Gulf Livestock 1
• Research Banque Degroof Petercam's New Zealand operations
• Investigate DPG Media for any Janssen-related coverage

Sources:

• https://www.ics-shipping.org/person/ludwig-criel-belgium/
• https://vgrouplimited.com/ludwig-criel-joins-v-as-non-executive-director/
• https://ecsa.eu/belgium-ludwig-criel-director/
• https://www.wahkwong.com.hk/bio-ludwigcriel.php
• https://www.marketscreener.com/insider/LUDWIG-PROSPER-MARIA-CRIEL-A0NEI7/
• https://www.cmb.be/