Dr. Ioannis Kaptanis focuses on concession projects, project finance transactions, and privatisations and heads the project finance practice. He regularly advises and represents clients in arbitration and litigation, as well as contract negotiation.

Moreover, he advises banks and corporations on financing transactions, particularly asset backed lending transactions, derivatives and repo agreements.

Ioannis is ranked as a Leading Individual in the practice area of Projects and Privatisation in Greece and as a Next Generation Partner in the practice areas of Banking, Finance & Capital Markets and of Dispute Resolution in Greece by The Legal 500 EMEA. He is also ranked as Highly Regarded by the IFLR1000.

Academic Background

  • University of Athens, School of Law (Ph.D in Civil Law (Dr. juris), 2021 summa cum laude)
  • University of Athens, School of Law (LL.M. in Civil Law, 2006 summa cum laude)
  • University of Athens, School of Law (LL.B., 2003 summa cum laude)

Languages

  • Greek
  • English
  • French
  • German

Professional Memberships

  • Partner in Koutalidis Law Firm
  • Member of the Athens Bar Association. Qualified to appear before all Courts of all degrees, including the Supreme Courts.

Recognitions

  • Chambers Global and Europe Legal Guides 2023, ranked in Banking & Finance (Greece), 2023
  • IFLR1000 - Project Development (Greece), Highly Regarded, 2022
  • Legal 500 EMEA - Projects and Privatisation (Greece), Leading Individual, 2021, 2022
  • Legal 500 EMEA – Banking, Finance and Capital Markets (Greece), Next Generation Partner, 2021, 2022
  • Legal 500 EMEA - Dispute Resolution (Greece), Next Generation Partner, 2021, 2022

Career Highlights

Recent work includes:

  • Advising HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions GmbH on the sale of its 17% equity stake in the Olympia Odos motorway concessionaire and operator to VINCI Concessions, AVAX Concessions, AKTOR Concessions, and GEK TERNA.
  • Advising Alpha Holdings and Services S.A. on its inaugural issuance of €400 million Fixed Rate Reset AT1 Notes,
  • Advising Alpha Bank on its tender offer for its €400 million Senior Preferred Notes,
  • Advising Eurobank S.A., National Bank of Greece S.A. and Piraeus Bank S.A. (the “Banks”) with regards to the provision of financing to the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.A. (“HEDNO”)
  • Advising a syndicate of the Greek systemic banks in connection with the refinancing of the existing indebtedness to such banks of Athens International Airport S.A. (“AIA”) , 
  • Advising NN Group on the acquisition of MetLife’s business in Greece and the subsequent merger, 
  • Advising GMR Airports Limited and its Greek subsidiary on the EUR 60,5 million financing by National Bank of Greece S.A. in the context of the New Kastelli (Heraklion) International Airport concession project,
  • Advising DESFA on its €505 million common bond load, arranged by the four systemic banks, i.e. Alpha Bank S.A., Eurobank S.A., National Bank of Greece S.A., and Piraeus Bank S.A. where Eurobank S.A. acted as bondholder agent and administrative agent,
  • Advising Alpha Bank on its Euro 500M Senior Preferred bond issuance which has a 6.5-year maturity and is callable in year 5.5 with a coupon of 2.5% and a yield of 2.625%. The bond is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange – EuroMTF Market,
  • Advising the sponsor, Aktor Concessions S.A., and the concessionaire on the concession of the exclusive right to own, use, administer, operate and exploit the Marina of Alimos for a 40-year period for a total consideration of EURO 57.5 million,
  • Advising Piraeus Bank S.A., National Bank of Greece S.A., Alpha Bank S.A. and Eurobank S.A. on (i) an up to €665.6mio bond loan in connection with the 20-year extension of the Airport Development Agreement dated 31 July 1995, (ii) an up to €100mio bond loan, for the financing of capital expenditure projects (iii) an up to €140mio bond loan for the financing of working capital and operational needs,
  • Advising GMR Group Limited with respect to the concession of the planned new international airport in Heraklion, Crete,
  • Advising Alpha Bank on the demerger by way of hive-down of its banking sector,
  • Advising Alpha Bank on matters of Greek Law on the successful issuance of a landmark Euro 500 million Tier 2 subordinated bond,
  • Advising 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,
  • Advising Fraport and Copelouzos in relation to the sale and transfer of a 10% participation stake in the Fraport Greece entities by Slentel to Marguerite Fund,
  • Advising an international consortium in relation to the tender for the privatization of Egnatia Odos Motorway,
  • Advising Sponsors on Maliakos-Kleidi Project Finance,
  • Advising a major Greek Bank as hedging bank in the context of Mall development projects, energy projects and PPPs in Greece and abroad,
  • Advising and representing before arbitral tribunals and Greek Courts the Concessionaire of a Toll Road €1bn Concession (from the bidding stage until today),
  • Representing a French energy company in an ICC Arbitration against a major Greek company with respect to contract price escalation.

Publications