Greece Announces Privatization Advisors
 
                         The  Interministerial Committee for Asset Restructuring and Privatisations  (ICARP) has decided to proceed with the selection of privatization  advisors in order to expedite the public real estate and asset  privatisations programme.  
 
According to a Finance Ministry announcement, the ICARP took the following decisions:
 
Hellenic Football Prognostics Organisation (OPAP): For the extension of  the duration of the existing concession contract between the HR and OPAP  as well as the further privatisation of the company, Deutsche Bank and  National Bank of Greece have been selected as HR’s financial advisors.
 
State Lottery Tickets: For the privatisation of a newly established  special purpose company in which the HR has decided to assign its rights  in the state lottery tickets, Credit Suisse and EFG Eurobank Equities  have been selected as HR’s financial advisors.
 
Hellenic Horse Racing Company (ODIE): The HR has selected Credit  Agricole and Emporiki Bank as its financial advisors for the  privatisation of ODIE through the sale of its holding.
 
Hellenic Vehicle Industry S.A. (ELBO): The HR has selected Societe  Generale - Geniki Finance as its financial advisors for the  privatisation of ELBO through the sale of its holding.
 
Hellenic Motorways S.A.: The HR will proceed to the sale of its  participation in the Hellenic Motorways Co or in its subsidiaries which  will hold rights on the concessions with Aegean Motorway SA, Nea Odos  SA, Kentriki Odos S.A., Olympia Odos S.A., Moreas S.A., Attiki Odos S.A.  and Gefyra S.A., as well as any other rights which may derive from  future concessions that the HR may decide to implement in road transport  infrastructure, including Egnatia Odos Motorway. For that purpose Ernst  & Young, Rothschild & Sons LTD and Barclays Bank PLC have been  selected to act as HR’s financial advisors.
 
Natural Gas Storage “South Kavala”: For the privatisation of a newly  established special purpose company in which the HR has decided to  assign its rights in the Natural Gas Storage “South Kavala”, HSBC Bank  PLC and EFG Eurobank Equities SA have been selected as HR’s financial  advisors.
 Frequency Spectrum: The HR has selected Analysys  Mason Limited and Aegis Systems LTD as its technical advisors for the  exploitation of its rights in the frequency spectrum
 
Real Estate Assets:  It has been decided that selected real estate  property rights of the Hellenic Republic will be incorporated in a  number of special purpose vehicles through which the government shall  explore the best available investment options.
 
The project involves the establishment of a full registry of the  state-owned real estate assets, together with a legal and financial due  diligence report for these assets, as required for the HR to proceed in  the needed legislative and administrative initiatives so as to establish  mature and ready for privatisation investment portfolios.
 
For this purpose, the National Bank of Greece, EFG Eurobank, Piraeus  Bank, Alpha Bank, Emporiki Bank, Investment Bank of Greece, Hellenic  Post Bank, Agricultural Bank of Greece and Attica Bank have been  selected to act as financial advisors of the Hellenic Republic.
 
Moreover, it should be mentioned that the following privatisation projects are already in full progress:
 
Hellinikon S.A.: The HR has decided to proceed with the development of  the area of the former Hellinikon Airport using privatisation and  fast-track investment procedures. For that purpose the HR has selected  Citigroup and Piraeus Bank as its financial advisors and Βarcelona  Strategical Urban Systems, AIE as its technical advisor.
 
4 Airbus Aircrafts: The tender process for the sale of 4 Airbus A340 is in progress. Lazard is acting as HR’s financial advisor.
 Hellenic Railways (OSE Group and TRAINOSE S.A.):  The full implementation of the restructuring program for OSE Group and  TRAINOSE is currently underway. PWC is acting as HR’s financial advisor.
 
Public Gas Corporation (DEPA): The HR has appointed UBS, Rothschild and  Alpha Bank as financial advisors for the process of privatizing the  company by selling part of its share capital to private investors.
 
Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS):. For the possible sale of HR’s  participation to a strategic investor, the HR has appointed KPMG as its  financial advisor.
 
Loan and Consignment Fund: Lazard is acting as HR’s financial advisor  for the unbundling of the commercial activities of the Loan and  Consignment Fund and the identification of the best available options  for their exploitation.
 
Athens International Airport (AIA): BNP Paribas and National Bank of  Greece are acting as HR’s financial advisors for the extension of the  concession agreement in AIA and the assessment of the best available  options for the privatization its stake.
(capital.gr)