Mr Yiannis Loizos > Koutalidis Law Firm > Athens, Greece > Lawyer Profile

Koutalidis Law Firm
The Orbit, 115 Kifissias Ave.
Athens 115 24
Greece

Work Department

M&A
Public Procurement, Privatisations, Concessions & Public Private Partnerships
Corporate & Commercial Law
Capital Markets
Energy Law

Position

Yiannis possesses broad expertise in both Greek and cross-border M&A transactions and privatisations, having been involved in a number of complex large-scale projects within these sectors since joining Koutalidis Law Firm in 2008. He also regularly advises domestic, as well as multinational clients, on concessions (particularly within the infrastructure sector), and has a strong record in energy and capital market transactions.

Career

Recent work includes advice to:

  • SouthBridge on the investment concluded by its investment fund, SouthBridge Europe Mezzanine II SCA SICAR, in the company Biologiko Xorio
  • Macquarie Group on the acquisition of a 49% ownership interest in the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) for € 2.116 bn.
  • The Sellers, including Southbridge Europe Mezzanine investment fund, in connection with the sale of a significant minority stake in Skroutz S.A. to CVC Capital Partners, •Eurobank on the sale of 80% of its subsidiary, FPS, to DoValue (Project Europe)
  • Southbridge Europe Mezzanine investment fund, in connection with the sale of Arivia Group to Upfield,
  • HRADF on the successfully completed privatisation of DESFA, as well as the previously successfully awarded (but not completed) attempt by the HRADF to privatise DESFA and the aborted privatisation of DEPA,
  • Avialliance GmbH in connection with the extension of the concession of the Athens International Airport,
  • Vodafone Hellas in the successfully completed sale process of Cyta Hellas S.A. as well as the successfully completed acquisition of Hellas Online,
  • Hellenic Petroleum S.A. in the tender process launched by the HRADF for the sale by its existing shareholders of 50.1% of its shares to investors,
  • The major shareholders of Stelios Kanakis SA, (listed in AthEx), on the transfer of all of their stake to OFI (member of the Orkla Group),
  • The preferred bidder (Fraport-Copelouzos consortium) with respect to the tender process for the awarded concession of the management, operation and maintenance of 14 regional airports,
  • Copelouzos group in relation to the sale and transfer of a 10% participation stake in the Fraport Greece entities by Slentel to Marguerite Fund,
  • An international consortium in relation to the privatization of Egnatia Odos Motorway (through the award of a relevant service concession agreement),
  • Deutsche Telekom AG on the further acquisition of 5% in OTE S.A.,
  • Virtus South European Fund in the acquisition of a majority stake in Astir Vitogiannis S.A,
  • Olympic Breweries S.A. and its shareholders on the recent merges with Mythos Breweries A.E. (a subsidiary of Carlsberg) and the relevant agreements for the future sale of the option shares,
  • Hochtief AG on its divestment from Athens International Airports.

Recognitions

  • IFLR 1000 – M&A (Greece), Rising Star, 30th & 31st edition
  • Legal 500 EMEA – Projects and Privatisations (Greece), Rising Star, 2020 & 2021.

Languages

Greek, English and German

Memberships

Member of the Athens Bar Association

Education

University of Cologne, Law School (LL.M. in Business Law, 2005)

University of Cologne, Law School (LL.B (erstes Staatsexamen), 2004)

Lawyer Rankings

Greece > Projects and privatisation

(Next Generation Partners)

Yiannis LoizosKoutalidis Law Firm

Cementing its place at the summit of projects and privatisations, Koutalidis Law Firm demonstrates ‘deep knowledge and unique expertise’ on high-profile privatisation projects in connection with infrastructure and energy assets. The team is particularly strong in advising on international tender processes, covering all elements of financing, operation, and maintenance, with the ‘excellent’ Gregory Logothetis being an expert in handling complex public tenders and concessions. With the team operating out of Athens, Nikos Koritsas and Nikos Salakas specialise in M&A and banking matters, whilst Ioannis Kaptanis leads the project finance offering. Effie Papoutsi focuses on project finance issues, Yiannis Loizos is knowledgeable in energy and concession projects, having been promoted to partner in January 2023, and Despoina Koutsou is also noted.

Greece > Commercial, corporate and M&A

Described as having a ‘business-oriented mindset’, the team at Koutalidis Law Firm has vast experience of handling complex M&A transactions, privatisations, and structured financial projects. Representing a vast array of clients from across the insurance, energy, and real estate industries, the practice routinely advises on strategic partnerships and joint ventures. Based out of Athens, Nikos Koritsas and Katia Protopapa co-head the group; the well-respected Koritsas focuses on finance and restructuring matters, whilst the ’broad-minded’ Protopapa specialises in cross-border M&A. Yiannis Loizos is a capital markets expert, Chrysanthi Karlou is knowledgeable on banking transactions, and Dora Karagiorgou is also highlighted as a key team member.