A hedge-fund executive has emerged as the man behind the mysterious Kalani Investments, which is pumping nearly $450m into George Economou-led DryShips.

A TradeWinds investigation reveals that Toronto-based Marc Bistricer and his firm Murchinson Ltd are behind Kalani, which has also invested a further $160m in fresh equity into two other Greek companies, Top Ships and Diana Containerships.

This will surprise many observers, who had assumed Kalani to be yet another private business of Greek shipowner Economou.