On December 2, 2024, Bernitsas Law announced that Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company's acquisition of Terna Energy (previously reported by CEE Legal Matters on June 24, 2024) has now closed.

On November 7, 2024, M&A experts from Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine participated in a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the FDI screening regimes in their country and key developments in the area on the horizon.

Bernitsas has advised China State Grid on its acquisition of a 20% stake in Greece's Independent Power Transmission Operator's subsidiary Ariadne Interconnection which is responsible for implementing the electricity interconnection between Attica and Crete.

Bernitsas has advised Piraeus Financial Holdings on a liability management exercise consisting of an invitation made to holders of its outstanding EUR 500 million fixed-rate reset tier 2 notes due February 2030 to tender their notes for purchase by PFH for cash and on the issuance and offering to international and domestic institutional investors through a bookbuilding process of EUR 650 million tier 2 fixed rate reset notes due September 2035, as well as on the listing of the new notes on the Euro MTF market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Potamitis Vekris has advised Eurobank and Eurobank Leasing Single Member on asset management agreements and service level agreements with Cerved Property Services Single Member regarding the management of Eurobank Group’s real estate portfolio.

Koutalidis has advised the Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator on its issuance of a bond loan of up to EUR 710 million with National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank, Alpha Bank, and Eurobank as acting as arrangers, NBG and Piraeus Bank also serving as bondholder coordinators, and Alpha Bank acting as bondholder agent and administrative agent. Lambadarios advised the banks.

Former Eurobank Head of Legal Services Division Alexia Kefalogianni has joined Bernitsas Law as Counsel.

In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.

The development of offshore wind farms in Greece represents an ambitious step in the country’s energy transition, further promoting the shift towards renewable energy sources and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The regulatory framework governing the installation and operation of offshore wind farms has evolved significantly in recent years, reflecting both national and international energy commitments, as well as the technological and environmental challenges accompanying such investments.

Koutalidis has advised Alpha Bank on the financing of a EUR 806 million secured bond loan issued by Athens International Airport.

Bernitsas has advised the joint global coordinators, joint physical bookrunners, and joint bookrunners on Public Power Corporation's EUR 600 million issuance and offering of 4.625% senior notes due 2031 and listing the notes on the Global Exchange Market of Euronext Dublin.

Unauthorized constructions have been a prominent issue in Greek reality for decades, leading to repeated legislative attempts to address it. Currently applicable legislation (law 4495/2017) provides for legalization of such unauthorized constructions, as well as arbitrary changes of use, subject to conditions and further to submission of statements, payment of fines, etc.

On November 4, 2024, Clifford Chance announced that Alpha Bank Group and Alpha Bank Romania's sale of 90.1% of Alpha Bank Romania to UniCredit (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on November 16, 2023) has closed.

Lambadarios has advised PPC on the acquisition of 66.6 megawatts of operational RES assets, a 1.7 gigawatt pipeline under development, and a 20% stake in the combined-cycle gas turbine unit in Alexandroupolis from the Copelouzos and Samaras groups. PwC Legal reportedly advised Copelouzos and Samaras.

Papapolitis & Papapolitis has advised Intrakat on the acquisition of a EUR 600 million real estate portfolio from Prodea Investments.

Papapolitis & Papapolitis, working with White & Case, has advised Germany-based investment holding Armira and Viessmann Generations Group on the acquisition of a minority stake in Pharos Generics Holding from Diorama Investments, Limonilum, Amarilenco, and Hesperiada. KLC advised Pharos Generics Holding as well as Limonilum, Amarilenco, and Hesperiada. Zepos & Yannopoulos advised Diorama Investments. Latham & Watkins was reportedly the sellers' international counsel.

Your Legal Partners has advised on the Public-Private Partnership project titled "Design, Construction, Financing, Maintenance and Operation of Seventeen School Units in the Region of Central Macedonia" to be undertaken by ATESE and Metlen Energy & Metals. Karatzas and Partners advised Piraeus Bank as the lender on the project.

Lambadarios, working with Grant Thornton, has advised Quest Holdings on its EUR 27.2 million acquisition of a 70% stake in Benrubi. Potamitis Vekris reportedly advised the sellers.