The firm has a solid corporate practice providing its services to its local and international clients through all stages of the corporate lifecycle, as well as in relation to private equity transactions, public takeovers, capital raising transactions, debt restructurings, mergers, management buy-outs and privatisations. The practice benefits from the firm’s expertise in related practice areas, such as tax and finance, delivering a seamless, global service to its clients, with a high degree of quality and efficiency.
Our corporate practice focuses on three main areas:
Mergers and acquisitions: Our M&A work covers all legal services typically offered to buyers, sellers or target companies in local and cross-border transactions, including advising on the optimum deal structure, performing legal due diligence, advising on the financing of the transaction, drafting the documentation and dealing with licensing and other regulatory formalities. The firm’s involvement in prominent privatisation projects also demonstrates its ability to work in complex multi-disciplined transactions extending across various fields of law.
Private equity: Our involvement in this field encompasses the provision of legal services to a wide range of clients including advising on the structuring and establishment of investment funds, advising on the structuring and assisting to the conclusion of private equity transactions, advising management companies on incentive schemes, advising on carried interest arrangements and co-investment plans and dealing with related financing issues.
General corporate: The firm is able to provide full range services through all stages of the corporate lifecycle, including company formation, corporate governance, shareholders and management relationships, regulatory compliance, legal and tax support to the day-to-day operations, winding-up and restructuring.
Practice Highlights
• DVLaw acted as co-lead legal counsel of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) in relation to the privatisation of the Greek regional port of Igoumenitsa through an international public tender process for the sale of HRADF’s 67% shareholding in the Igoumenitsa port operating company (IPA). See more
• DVLaw has advised METAVALLON PARTNERS VENTURE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT S.A. in connection with the establishment in Greece of a venture capital fund of €21,550,000 initial size that will invest in SMEs through the acquisition of securities pursuant to the provisions of article 7 of Law 2992/2002, following submission by the manager of the Fund of an expression of interest to Hellenic Development Bank of Investments S.A (“HBDI”) relevant invitation of 04.02.2019 and under the 4IR Fund Project. See more
• DVLaw has advised BIG PI VENTURE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT S.A. in connection with the establishment in Greece of a venture capital fund of €50,150,000 initial size that will invest in SMEs through equity / quasi equity instruments pursuant to the provisions of article 7 of Law 2992/2002, following submission by the manager of the fund of an expression of interest to Hellenic Development Bank of Investments S.A (“HBDI”) relevant invitation of 20.4.2022 and under the InnovateNow Project. See more
• DVLaw advised H.I.G., a leading global alternative investment firm with over $42 billion of equity capital under management, on the acquisition under Greek law 4354/2015 of NPLs of a total amount of €130 ml. approximately, extended by three Greek banks to a hotel company owing five 4 and 5 star hotels in Dodecanese islands. See more
• DVLaw has advised a subsidiary of H.I.G Capital in relation to the acquisition of the entire common shares of Mayor Hotels and Resorts Holding S.A., which is the 100% owner of four hotel operating companies in Corfu Island of Greece. See more
• DVLaw advised QUALCO in the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of “Tensorfin Single Member SA” and “Daedalus Technologies, Inc”, subsidiaries of Neurosoft that have been established following the split-off of Neurosoft’s ‘Fintech & Analytics’ business unit. Tensorfin and Deadalus operate in the Supply Chain Finance sector and provide complete technology-enabled solutions, through combining niche software development with consulting services provision. See more
• DVLaw has been selected together with Deloitte, FCNC Financial Advisors, Doxiadis Associates and Your Legal Partners by the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations S.A. (HCAP/ ΕΕΣΥΠ) as the preferred contractor to advise for the development of Kalamata Airport, the first of the 23 regional airports that fall under the HCAP’s responsibility. See more
• DVLaw advised QUALCO, a leading financial technology software and services company in the acquisition of a strategic stake at CNL (Alternative Fund Management), which will enable CNL to take advantage of the strong technical capabilities of QUALCO. See more
• DVLaw advised H.I.G. in the acquisition of the Greek banks’ participation in the €316 million syndicated secured bond loan issued by Hellenic Halyvourgia S.A., a leading Greek steel company. The firm also advises H.I.G. in the company’s debt to asset restructuring process under the newly enacted Greek bankruptcy law that has been filed with the court for approval. See more
• DVLaw advised H.I.G. Capital in its investment in Makios Logistics S.A, a provider of integrated logistics services and operator of temperature-controlled warehousing in Greece. See more
• DVLaw acted as legal counsel to New Energy Partners A.E.D.A.K.E.S, manager of the fund, in connection with the establishment of New Energy Capital Fund. See more
• DVLaw advised TAMZO Holdings, a member of the QUALCO group, on the acquisition of a €80 million consumer loan portfolio from VIVA Bank. See more
• DVLaw advised the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund in relation to the Alimos Marina Concession, one of the largest marinas in the region with more than 1,000 permanent positions. Total consideration for a 40-year concession period is €57.5 million, while taking into account the investment to be made in the Marina, the total value of the agreement for the whole concession period is over €177 million. See more
• DVLaw has been appointed as co-counsel to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund in relation to the privatization of the regional ports of Alexandroupolis, Heraklion, Igoumenitsa and Volos through the sale of majority stakes in the relevant state-owned port operating companies. The transactions will also involve the amendment of the existing concession agreements between such operating companies and the Greek State and the conclusion of shareholders’ agreements with the respective investors. See more
• DVLaw advised the owners of Porto Carras SA, for the sale of Porto Carras, the largest holiday resort in Greece and one of the largest in Europe. See more
• DVLaw advised H.I.G. in its investment in the Mayor Hotels and Resorts Group which operates 4 hotels in Corfu Island of Greece. See more
• DVLaw acted as legal counsel to Motodynamics S.A., a major car and motorcycles distributor, in the acquisition of a majority stake in the share capital of Lion Rental S.A., exclusive franchisee of Sixt in Greece, through a share capital increase of €15 million and in the restructuring of its debt. See more
• DVLaw acted as legal counsel to Metavallon A.E.D.A.K.E.S, manager of the fund, in connection with the establishment of Metavallon Fund. See more
• DVLaw acted as Greek legal counsel to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund in the landmark privatization of 14 Regional Airports through the signing of two 40-year Concession Agreements with the consortium consisting of Fraport AG and Slentel Ltd (a unit of the Copelouzos Group). We also advised the Fund in relation to the EUR 1.6bn financing of the acquisition by Greek banks and IFIs., assisting in the approval and designation by the Greek State of all financing documentation. See more
• Dvlaw acted as co-counsel to Athens Metropolitan Expo SA in relation to the financing, development and operation of the Exhibition and Conference Centre at the area of the Athens International Airport. We, furthermore, advised the issuer in respect of the restructuring of a bond loan amounting to €25 million. Our involvement included reviewing and commenting the amendments to the bond loan documentation and collateral package and support to the issuer’s representatives during negotiation and closing.
• DVLaw acted as legal counsel to a major publishing group in respect of the refinancing of its loans with Piraeus Bank amounting to €35 million. Refinancing was effected by a capital increase and restructuring of the relevant loans. Our involvement included drafting the framework refinancing agreement between the bank and the group, drafting of the loan agreements, shareholders agreements, minutes of the relevant corporate decisions, documentation and collateral package and support to the group’s representation during negotiation.
• Acted as leading Greek legal advisor to the Ministries of Finance and Infrastructure, Transport and Networks for the restructuring of the railway sector and the reorganisation and development of the Hellenic Railways group (OSE group) and TRAΙNOSE Transports-Passengers and Cargo Transport Services Railway S.A. (TRAINOSE), the sole railway undertaking in Greece. The work involved, inter alia, the coordination of the special legal advisors for real property and employment matters and the drafting of the necessary legislative acts (Greek law 3891/2010 and relevant presidential decrees), the preparation of the law on the Railways Regulatory Authority, intercompany agreements between OSE and TRAINOSE and PSO agreements.
• Acted as Greek legal counsel to an international investment bank in connection with the financing of the restructuring of a major telecommunications company and its subsidiaries. In this context, our firm advised on a number of Greek law issues relating to the various alternatives reviewed during the restructuring process, drafted the pledge agreement over the shares of the company in favour of the bank providing a daylight facility of €357,900,000 and issued a legal opinion thereof in December 2010.
• Acted as legal counsel to Alpha Ventures Capital Management, manager of the fund, in connection with the establishment of venture capital mutual fund ALPHA -TANEO A.K.E.S in 2008;
• Acted as legal counsel to Oxygen Capital Management, manager of the fund, in connection with the establishment of venture capital mutual fund OXYGEN TANEO NEOVENTURES A.K.E.S in 2008;
• Acted as legal counsel to GLOCAL SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT, manager of the fund, in connection with the establishment of venture capital mutual fund Glocal Investment Ventures Enterprise (G.I.V.E.)- TANEO A.K.E.S in 2008;
• Acting (from 2007 onwards) as legal counsel to a Guernsey based private equity fund, in connection with the acquisition of ISP companies in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia;
• Acted in 2009 as legal counsel to two private equity funds for the acquisition, through a co-owned subsidiary, of 88.4% of the shares in a FYROM based marble extraction and processing company;
• Acted as legal counsel to a Luxemburg holding company for the acquisition of all of the shares in a major Greek telecommunications company in 2009;
• Acted as Greek legal counsel to a foreign bank in connection with the €357,900,000 financing of the restructuring of a major Greek telecommunications company and its subsidiaries in December 2010;
• Advised a Greek owned and London based private equity fund on Greek law matters in connection with its participation through a €10,000,000 share capital increase in a Cypriot SPV holding the stocks of a major Greek food company in November 2010;
• Acted as legal counsel to the above fund in connection with its investment in the development of photovoltaic parks in Greece of a total output of 10 MW and the acquisition of a company owning and operating two wind parks of a total output of 12.75 MW;
• Acted as legal counsel to National Bank of Greece S.A. in connection with the purchase of all of the shares in P&K Investment Services S.A.