Corporate & M&A

Cosco Shipping Acquisition of 60% Stake in PEARL SA

Bernitsas Law advised Ocean Rail Logistics, a company which is 100% owned by COSCO Shipping, in relation to the acquisition of 60% stake in Piraeus Europe Asia Rail Logistics.

Acquisition of Minority Stake in Skroutz SA

Bernitsas Law has acted as Greek law counsel to CVC in connection with the acquisition of a strategic minority stake in Skroutz SA, the leading e-commerce platform in Greece, by SAIGA Sàrl, a company invested in by funds managed or advised by CVC.

Acquisition of Marinas

We advised CVC in the successful acquisition (through a portfolio company invested in by funds advised or managed by CVC of the Greek, Croatian and the UAE businesses of D-Marin, a leading operator of premium yacht marinas in the Mediterranean and United Arab Emirates (UAE), from the Doğuş Group, a leading Turkish conglomerate.

Divestment of Assets

We acted as co-counsels to Andromeda Seafood SL on the divestment of assets of the then-to-be-acquired Nireus SA and Selonda SA through a bidding process in compliance with the remedies agreed with the Competition Directorate of the EU Commission to enable completion of the acquisition of Nireus SA and Selonda SA.

Link Group Acquisition of Companies

Bernitsas Law advised on the Greek leg of the acquisition by the Link group of Pepper group companies in Ireland, England, Cyprus, Spain and Greece, including a licensed NPL servicing company Greek subsidiary.

Advice on Group Restructuring

We are advising a leading radio software group of companies on restructuring and the establishment of a new branch in Greece. We also advised on the transfer of the business from a Greek entity of the group to the newly established branch.

Sale of Independent Portfolio Management

We advised a global professional services firm in the sale of a majority stake in its local regulated loan servicing company to an independent global loan and REO asset management platform.

Ellaktor Merger by Absorption

We advised Ellaktor, the leading Greek construction company, on its merger by absorption with EL.Tech Anemos, a leader in renewable energy in Greece, both listed companies.

Hipoges Iberia Purchase of Majority Stake in Alsvit

We advised Hipoges Iberia SL with respect to the purchase of a majority stake in the Greek private company Alsvit, one of the top tier local real estate services providers, serving credit institutions, international investors and NPL servicer companies.

Media-Saturn-Holding and Olympia Group Ltd. Joint Venture

We advised Media-Saturn-Holding GmbH and Olympia Group Ltd in the merger of the operations of Media Saturn Electronics Hellas Commercial and Holding AE with Retail World SA to establish a new joint venture company, bringing these two major electronics and electric appliances companies together in the Greek and Cyprus markets.

Rolling Stock Maintenance Company (ROSCO)

We advised HRADF in the privatisation of the Rolling Stock Maintenance Company (ROSCO), the independent company providing maintenance of the rolling stock, through the sale of shares representing 100% of the company’s share capital.

AIG Greece SA Sale of Shares

We advised AIG in the purchase by two entities of the AIG Group of Companies of 100% of AIG Greece SA’s shares from local partners.

Acquisition in Optical Products Sector

We advised a global market leader in optical lenses industry in their acquisition of a majority stake in a local optical lenses manufacturer.

iHeartMedia Acquisition of Radiojar

We advised RCS Europe Sarl, a company owned by the leading global media entertainment group iHeartMedia, Inc, in their acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Radiojar Information Technology SA, a cloud-based audio platform in which European Investment Fund and Piraeus Bank participate via the Jeremie Program to support Greece-based entrepreneurs.

Samsung Electronics Greece Merger with Innoetics

We advised Samsung Electronics Greece and Innoetics in their merger by absorption.

AIG Global Restructuring

We advised AIG on the Greek law implementation, the regulatory and corporate issues arising from the global restructuring of AIG’s insurance business as a result of Brexit, including setting up a new branch in Greece. The restructuring aimed at providing clients with certainty of uninterrupted UK and European insurance coverage as part of AIG’s planned restructure of its European business.

Amerra Capital Management Acquisition of Majority Stakes in Nireus and Selonda

We advised Amerra Capital Management LLC and Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, being the controlling shareholders of Andromeda Group, in the latter’s acquisition of majority stakes in Nireus SA and Selonda SA, two major Greek fish farming companies with vast international activities, from the four Greek systemic banks.

Acquisitions of Private Hospital Operators by CVC Affiliates

We advised CVC in connection with the successful acquisition by certain of its special purpose affiliates of all the shares or controlling stakes in each of HYGEIA SA, IASO General SA and Metropolitan Hospital Group, operators of leading Greek private hospitals.

First Data Sale of Card Processing Business

Bernitsas Law advised First Data, a global leader in commerce enabling technology and solutions, in the implementation of the local leg of the sale of their card processing businesses in Central and South Eastern Europe for €150m from SIA.

Forthnet Sale of ForthCRS

We advised Linxx Holding SA in their purchase of a majority stake in ForthCRS SA from Forthnet SA, a major Greek telecommunications provider. ForthCRS SA is a leading software house and service provider in the tourism and travel booking and ticketing sector.

Advice to BMW Group of Companies

We provide legal support to the local entities of the BMW Group of Companies on a day to day basis, including advice on their corporate bookkeeping, regulatory issues, commercial, labour, data protection and litigation matters.

Unilever Sale of Global Spreads Operations

We advised Unilever is the sale of their global spreads operations to KKR pursuant to an auction sale process.

Cyprus Popular Bank (CPB) Sale of Participation in Banks

We acted as lead legal advisors to CPB in relation to the sale of its subsidiaries (banking institutions) in Serbia, Romania, Ukraine and Malta. The transactions are innovative as CPB is under special resolution and all targets were heavily regulated.

Japan Tobacco Acquisition of SEKAP

We advised Japan Tobacco International in their acquisition of Greek Cooperative Cigarette Manufacturing Company SA (SEKAP SA) through a Dutch entity in the context of a major cross border transaction including tobacco companies in Greece and Russia. Japan Tobacco International is a leading global tobacco company, listed on the Nikkei, which operates in over 70 countries and sells its products in more than 120 countries. SEKAP SA is the Greek Tobacco Industry of Xanthi, active in the production, distribution and trade of cigarettes and tobacco products in the Greek as well as the international market.

Advice to CNP Group of Companies

We advise the local entities of the CNP Group of Companies, including its insurance companies, on a day to day basis, advising on their corporate bookkeeping, regulatory issues, commercial and litigation matters.

CYTA Cyprus Sale of CYTA Hellas to Vodafone

Bernitsas Law advised CYTA Cyprus in their sale of CYTA Hellas SA to Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Co. SA, with a transaction value of €118m.

Advice to Kosmocar

We advise Kosmocar SA, the official importer of VW, Audi and Skoda to Greece, on an ongoing basis in relation to their corporate governance, regulatory, commercial and labour issues.

Acquisition of Strategic Minority in Axel Accessories

We advised DECA Investments AIFM, manager of DIORAMA Investments Sicar SA, a Luxembourg based private equity fund specializing in generalist growth, in their acquisition of a strategic minority shareholding in Axel Accessories SA, a Greek retail and wholesale fashion company.

Acquisition in Chemical Products Sector

We advised a globally operating market leader in building materials in their acquisition of 100% of two chemical products companies.

Etraveli Acquisition of e-Travel SA

Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to Etraveli in connection with its acquisition of e-Travel SA.

Sealed Air Sale of Diversey Care Division

We advised Sealed Air in the Greek leg of its US$3.2bn global divestment of its Diversey Care division and its food hygiene and cleaning products division to Bain Capital Private Equity.

Sale of Local Operations

We advised a multinational consumer products group in their sale of one of their local operations to potential bidders pursuant to an auction sale process.

National Bank of Greece Proposed Sale of Stake in Ethniki Hellenic General Insurance

We advised the National Bank of Greece in connection with their proposed sale of a controlling stake in its subsidiary, Ethniki Hellenic General Insurance SA, to EXIN Financial Services Holding BV and the entering into a long term bancassurance agreement, pursuant to an international private competitive process.

Astir Palace Vouliagmeni Resort Acquisition

We advised Jermyn Street Real Estate Fund IV LP, a fund managed by AGC Equity Partners, acting through its subsidiary Apollo Investment ΗoldCo (Apollo), in connection with the acquisition of 100% of the Astir Palace Vouliagmeni resort (Astir) by Apollo pursuant to a privatisation transaction with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) and the National Bank of Greece and subsequently a mandatory tender offer made by Apollo to the remaining minority shareholders of Astir.

Sale of TRAINOSE

We advised the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) in the privatisation of the National Train Operating Company (TRAINOSE) through the sale of 100% of the company’s share capital to Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane. TRAINOSE currently is the sole railway transport services provider in Greece and its privatisation was part of the unbundling of the railway sector in the context of the Second Railway Legislative Package enacted by the EU.

Atlas Merchant Capital Acquisition of Credicom Consumer Finance Bank SA

We advised Atlas Merchant Capital (AMC) in its indirect acquisition of Credicom Consumer Finance Bank SA, a local consumer finance credit institution, and its local car leasing subsidiary, from CA Consumer Finance SA, a subsidiary of Credit Agricole.

Hewlett Packard Separation of Business

We advised Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company on the Greek leg of the separation of its worldwide enterprise business and its subsidiaries from the remaining business, including the establishment of a new entity to which their software business was transferred.

Värde Partners Acquisition of Trastor SA

We advised Värde Partners in their acquisition of a controlling stake in Trastor, a Greek listed real estate investment company, by purchasing existing shares in Trastor held by Piraeus Bank and subscribing for new shares in Trastor issued pursuant to a rights issue.

The Swatch Group’s Merger of its Local Subsidiaries

We advised The Swatch Group in the merger by absorption of its local subsidiaries, ALKΙONI Société Anonyme for the Import and Marketing of Watches, Telecommunication and Electronic Material, by The Swatch Group (Greece) Import and Trade of Watches Société Anonyme.

Advice on Franchising Arrangements

We advised an international jewellery manufacturer and reseller on their franchising arrangements, including reviewing their global franchise agreement and adapting it for the purposes of its implementation in Greece and its compliance with local laws including competition and tax regulations.

Sale of Eurolife

We advised Eurobank Ergasias (Eurobank) in connection with the structuring and execution of an international competitive private auction process for the sale of 80% of its Greek and Romanian life and non-life insurance operations grouped under Eurolife ERB Insurance Group Holdings (Eurolife), as well as on the negotiation and execution of final transaction documentation with the winning bidder, Fairfax Financial Holdings, and Eurobank’s entering into long term bancassurance agreements with the Greek and Romanian life and non-life insurance subsidiaries of Eurolife.

Sealed Air Hellas Merger

We advised Sealed Air Hellas SA in the acquisition of 100% of Sealed Air SEE Ltd and the merger by absorption of the latter by the former.

Hewlett Packard Split of Businesses

We advised Hewlett Packard on the Greek leg of the implementation of the worldwide separation of the Hewlett Packard infrastructure, software and services businesses from the printing and personal systems businesses, a complex transaction resulting in two entities with c$57bn in revenue.

Advice on Franchise Network

We advised a global lingerie manufacturer and reseller on the contractual documentation relating to their franchise network in Greece.

Glaxo Smith Kline Global Joint Venture with Novartis

We represented Glaxo Smith Kline in the implementation of the local part of their global joint venture with Novartis, with a matter value of $16bn for the Oncology business and $7.1bn for the Vaccine business, a transaction which had a significant effect on the entire pharmaceutical market and resulted in a major reorganization and integration of the sector.

DE Master Blenders Joint Venture with Mondalez

We advised DE Master Blenders in the implementation of the local part of their joint venture with Mondelez International to create a global company with annual sales of more than US$7bn.

Eurobank Acquisition of New Hellenic Postbank and New Proton Bank

We advised Eurobank on its acquisition of the New Hellenic Post Bank and New Proton Bank from the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund following a mandatory transfer order of their portfolios pre-liquidation, a transaction which took place in the context of the rehabilitation, consolidation and recapitalization of the Greek banking system.

Paine & Partners Acquisition of Eurodrip

We advised Paine & Partners on the initial acquisition of a 75% stake in Eurodrip, the subsequent mandatory offer made to acquire the remaining 25% stake therein and the delisting of the Eurodrip’s shares from the Athens Exchange.

Europe-Wide Acquisition of Tissue Operations

We advised a listed producer of packaging and personal care products in their Europe-wide acquisition of a leading paper manufacturer’s tissue operations.

Acquisition in Food & Nutrition Sector

We advised an international producer of food, agricultural and industrial products in relation to the acquisition of a global animal nutrition group.