Mark Friedman of Evercore Partners told delegates at Marine Money's annual New York finance conference that further alliances in the style of this week's deal between private OceanBulk and public Star Bulk are on the way.

"It's just a matter of time," Friedman said after his appearance on an afternoon financial panel.

Friedman was asked from the audience by Goldman Sachs debt analyst Justine Fisher whether there can really be a meeting of the minds given the high return expectations held by some private-equity houses.

"Might