Mergers & Acquisitions/ Corporate and Commercial/ Equity Capital Markets Εκτύπωση E-mail

Our pre-eminent corporate and M&A practice group acts for major domestic and international corporations, global law firms, leading investment groups, private equity funds, hedge funds, asset management companies, and other domestic and overseas investors with investments across a wide range of industries and with an active presence in the Hellenic Republic, the United States, the EU and the Middle East.

Our practice group advises clients on complex local, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions and combines in-depth experience with acute business acumen. Our knowledge and expertise spans all areas of corporate activity, including company formation both in Greece and overseas, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnership structures, public takeovers, IPOs, share capital increases and rights issues, public tender offers, private placements of securities, debt financing, private equity and venture capital.

Our M&A expertise spans across all industry sectors and we have been involved in some of the largest mergers and acquisitions in the banking, hotel, food and beverages, real estate, media and telecoms sectors. We have represented listed or private companies in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and have a thorough understanding of the challenges encountered during an M&A transaction. We advise clients throughout the entire M&A lifecycle from pre-acquisition planning, due diligence and successful closing to post-transaction transition and post-merger integration.

Our clients rely on us for advice on a wide range of issues, including corporate and commercial, tax, anti-trust, real estate, employment, environmental compliance, intellectual property and litigation. Our work scope involves performing full due diligence and reviewing all material documents and contracts of the target company, including corporate documents, loans, credit agreements, customer and supplier contracts, partnership or joint venture agreements, employment agreements, Union contracts and collective bargaining agreements, exclusivity agreements, real estate leases/purchase agreements, license agreements, franchise agreements, equity finance agreements, agency or distribution agreements, non-competition agreements and any industry-specific agreements. We also draft and negotiate all transaction documents, including asset purchase agreements, share and purchase agreements, shareholders’ agreements, loan agreements and related closing documentation and assist clients in obtaining all regulatory approvals.

We have unrivalled expertise in securities legislation and regulations such as obligations of listed companies, trading laws and regulations, dealings with and hearings before Hellenic Regulatory Authorities and the full range of securities laws and securities enforcement matters.

We have a leading track record in acting on equity capital markets transactions, such as IPOs, share capital increases and rights issues and share acquisitions and disposals of listed securities through the Athens Stock Exchange and over the counter.

We represent issuers and underwriters in complex initial public offerings (IPOs) and guide them throughout the IPO process. As issuer’s counsel, we play a central role in advising our clients on the development and implementation of corporate governance practices and on initial and ongoing disclosure and reporting requirements. Our work encompasses performing due diligence, handling all confidentiality matters, preparing the prospectus and all stock exchange filings. As underwriter’s counsel, we are responsible for assisting in the preparation of the prospectus, reviewing all offering documents and negotiating and drafting the underwriting agreement.

Our expertise also extends to share capital increases and rights issues and we act for both issuers and shareholders on all aspects of the transactions. Our work scope involves advising shareholders on the capital increase process and on any preemption rights, negotiating the terms of subscription and of shareholders’ agreements, drafting corporate resolutions and amending articles of associations. We provide extensive advice in connection with the prospectus and all documentation pertaining to rights issues.

Further, we have long-standing expertise in public tender offers and have been involved in some of the major tender offers, voluntary and compulsory, on the Athens Stock Exchange. We cover all aspects of the public tender process and advise issuers in connection with offering circulars, BODs and employees. On the side of minority and majority shareholders, our work focuses on offering them advice in connection with their rights and obligations. We have vast experience in advising some of the major corporates and shareholders with respect to all corporate matters, regulatory steps and filings required to complete such processes.

We represent clients in all types of private equity transactions, including private investments, leveraged and managed buyouts, investment fund formations, financings, recapitalizations, sales and other exit strategies, bankruptcy buyouts and other distressed M&A transactions, and support them through all phases of the investment cycle. Our work consists of assisting clients with the financing and formation of investment vehicles and with the management of portfolio companies, including restructurings and existing debt refinancing. Our work also includes performing due diligence, negotiating and drafting financing and shareholders’ agreements, security documents and all other transaction documents.

Our corporate and M&A practice group assists clients with day-to-day corporate matters, including company formation in Greece and overseas, shareholder rights and obligations, board meeting issues, EGM and AGM issues and corporate governance matters.

Further, we regularly advise clients on all types of commercial contracts such as business and asset acquisitions, distribution agreements, license agreements, franchises and MOUs.

Our M&A and corporate practice group is recommended as a leading practice by:

The Legal 500 (2012 - 2021)

Chambers Global (2011 - 2015)

Chambers Europe
(2010 - 2015)

“Highly responsive, clear advice. Excellent for commercial, corporate and M&A matters”. The Legal 500, 2021.

“The Firm continues to impress market observers with its deep commercial knowledge and strong track record in M&A and corporate finance. The firm has been particularly active on cross-border deals, a key focus for the practice.” Chambers Europe, 2012.

“This firm is the best I have utilised in Greece for corporate and commercial work”. The Legal 500, 2021.

“The firm’s efficiency and responsiveness is admirable. And the work in corporate law is really excellent”. Chambers Europe, Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2012.

“All the lawyers I have worked with are impressive”. The Legal 500, 2021.

“Their corporate and M&A practice truly stands among their peers”. The Legal 500, 2021.

“Cross-border M&A transactions and corporate restructurings are both keystones of the practice, as are regulatory matters”. The Legal 500, 2021.

They have wide experience in all aspects of corporate, e.g. high-profile capital markets transactions and IPOs and secondary offerings, M&A and all types of corporate and commercial transactions”. The Legal 500, 2021.

The firm “is no stranger to highly complex corporate mandates”.

The Legal 500, 2015.

The firm “which has a good reputation for capital markets work”, recently advised on issues related to “a delisting from the Athens Exchange and subsequent listings in London and New York”.

The Legal 500, 2014.

The firm provides “strong regulatory and transactional advice”.

The Legal 500, 2014.

“The Firm provides well informed, resourceful and efficient client service”.

The Legal 500, 2011.

“The Firm's clients include local and international financial institutions such as HSBC as well as investment fund entities such as Plainfield Asset Management, which it advised on participating in the share capital increase of Sciens International Investments and Holdings".

The Legal 500, 2011.

The Firm is praised for its “prompt service, reliability and innovative solutions. The firm’s clients include: The Olayan Group, EFG Eurobank Ergasias and Hellenic Aerospace Industry”.

Chambers Global (2010) and Chambers Europe (2010)

 


Top ranked in:
The Legal 500 (2023)


Mergers & Acquisitions
Law Firm of the Year 2021, Greece


Banking & Finance Lawyer of the
 Year 2020, Greece


Top ranked in:
 Medial Law International (2021)