We are thrilled to announce that POTAMITISVEKRIS acted as legal advisor to Attica Bank S.A. in its successful share capital increase, raising approximately €672.2 million through the issuance of 359,469,360 new ordinary registered shares, and in the issuance of the same number of warrants. This share capital increase, completed in November 2024, was designed to enhance the bank’s capital position and growth.

In advance of the share capital increase and warrant issuance, our team also acted as legal advisor to Attica Bank in its strategic merger by absorption of Pancreta Bank S.A., a milestone transaction completed in September 2024. Together, these significant capital initiatives, which took place in accordance with the provisions of the agreement concluded in July 2024 between the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund and Thrivest Holding Ltd, as ratified by Law 5127/2024, represent an important step toward establishing Attica Bank as the “fifth pillar” in the Greek banking sector.

This highly complex and challenging project was led by Partner George Bersis, with support from Senior Associate Elena Theocharakou and Associate Elisabetta Lentsiou. Partner Dimitris Loukas, assisted by Senior Associate Kostas Manikas and Associate Alexandros Ntallas, advised on competition law matters, notably on the merger control filing before the HCC, while the tax aspects were expertly handled by Partner Aspasia Malliou, with the assistance of Senior Associate Grigoris Katsoras.

Hogan Lovells acted as international counsel for Attica Bank S.A., led by Partners Madeleine Horrocks and Annalisa Dentoni-Litta, together with Senior Associate Franco Lambiase and Junior Associate Noemi Biagini.

We extend our warm congratulations to the exceptional team at Attica Bank S.A. on reaching this landmark achievement and express our gratitude for their trust and collaboration. We are honored to have been part of this transformative journey and look forward to supporting Attica Bank in future successes.

Dimitris Loukas and associate Alexandros Ntallas advised HSBC Continental Europe in relation to the HCC’s simplified Settlement Procedure concerning suspected coordination of Greece’s systemic and other smaller banks for the introduction of certain banking fees in the banking & payments sector, resulting to a Settlement Decision acknowledging the bank’s passive role and imposing a reduced fine. The main HCC investigation involving Greece’s systemic banks was settled in Dec 2023 following an extensive and lengthy investigation (see pertinent work highlight of Dec 2023).

Dimitris Loukas and associates Athanasios Taliadouros and Alexandros Ntallas advised Gregory’s SA, Greece’s leading food retail franchising operator in Greece, in relation to the HCC’s merger control approval process for its acquisition of joint control (together with Foodcorp Investments SA) over 1904 SA (assigned with the reconstruction and operation of the “AIGLI ZAPPEIOU” building complex, which will function as a multi-purpose site offering catering, leisure, cinema and event organization services).

Dimitris Loukas and associates Athanasios Taliadouros and Alexandros Ntallas advised DECA Investments/Diorama Investments II RAIF S.C.A., a major investment fund active in Greece, in relation to the HCC’s merger control approval process for its acquisition of control over Leader S.A., a leading dairy food trade operator active in the storage, distribution, processing and marketing of milk and cheese products in Greece.

Dimitris Loukas and associates Athanasios Taliadouros and Alexandros Ntallas advised a key supplier of medical equipment in relation to the HCC’s antitrust investigation and ensuing settlement decision concerning an infringement of competition rules in the market for the supply of diagnostic rapid tests for SARS-CoV-2.

Partner Dimitris Loukas and associates Athanasios Taliadouros and Alexandros Ntallas advised a leading Greek motor vehicle importer and distributor, as well as a leading Israeli motor vehicle importer and distributor, in relation to the HCC’s merger control approval process over their joint acquisition of the Greek subsidiary of a major global automaker and mobility provider in the motor vehicle sector (import, wholesale and retail distribution of new passenger and light commercial vehicles, spare parts, vehicle leasing/rent-a-car and provision of car repair and maintenance services).

Dimitris Loukas and associates Alexandros Ntallas and Konstantina Markomichali advised a leading provider of school bags, kid’s lunch bags, pencil cases and waist bags in relation to the settlement of the HCC’s ex officio cartel investigation in the market for the retail trade of those products in Greece.

Partner Dimitris Loukas and associates Athanasios Taliadouros and Alexandros Ntallas are advising a leading Greek supplier of machinery for field, forest and garden use in relation to the in relation to the settlement of the HCC’s ex officio investigation for suspected vertical restraints in the market for the supply of machine-operated tools for garden use in Greece.

Partner Dimitris Loukas and associates Athanasios Taliadouros and Alexandros Ntallas advised a major retail supermarket chain in relation to the HCC’s merger control approval process concerning its acquisition of another regional supermarket chain in Greece.

Partner Dimitris Loukas and associates Athanasios Taliadouros and Alexandros Ntallas advised a major health services provider in Greece in relation to its third-party intervention before the EU Commission in merger control proceedings involving a concentration in the markets for the provision of private health services and related insurance services.

Partner Dimitris Loukas and associates Kostas Manikas and Alexandros Ntallas advised a local ferry services provider in relation to the settlement of the HCC’s ex officio cartel investigation in the market for the provision of ferry connection services in Northern Greece.

Partner Dimitris Loukas and associates Athanasios Taliadouros and Alexandros Ntallas advised a global wind & solar developer & utility fund manager, a Greek real estate & energy developer and a Greek importer & wholesale distributor of vehicles in relation to the EU Commission’s merger control approval process over their creation of a full-function JV in the renewables energy sector in Greece.