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Private equity in Agia Paraskevi sits within the broader Greek and EU legal framework, while also reflecting local commercial practices in the Athens metropolitan area. Agia Paraskevi is a residential and commercial suburb of Athens where private equity activity typically focuses on acquisitions of local companies, investments in commercial real estate, and growth financings for SMEs serving the Athens market. Legal work for private equity transactions in Agia Paraskevi follows Greek company law, tax rules, regulatory approvals and customary transaction structures commonly used across Greece.
Private equity deals in the area may involve targets incorporated locally, real estate located inside the municipality, or businesses operating across Attica. Lawyers advising on these transactions combine corporate law, contract drafting, regulatory clearance, tax planning and local due diligence - including checks with municipal authorities and the Hellenic Cadastre.
Private equity transactions are legally complex and often time-sensitive. You may need a lawyer in these common situations:
- When planning an acquisition or disposal of a company or business unit - lawyers draft and negotiate share purchase agreements and asset purchase agreements, and structure the deal to manage liabilities.
- For formation and structuring of investment vehicles - lawyers advise on whether to use a Greek Anonymi Etaireia (AE), an Eteria Periorismenis Efthinis (EPE), or a foreign holding vehicle, and on corporate governance rules.
- To conduct legal due diligence - lawyers identify contractual, regulatory, tax and employment risks and propose remedies such as warranties, indemnities, escrows and price adjustments.
- For regulatory clearances - competition filings, sector-specific approvals, foreign investment screening, or licensing matters require legal filings and guidance.
- For tax planning and optimisation - lawyers working with tax advisers develop structures to manage corporate tax, VAT, withholding taxes and transfer pricing.
- For employment and restructuring - investment deals often involve changes to workforce organization, collective bargaining considerations and redundancies that must comply with Greek labor law.
- For dispute prevention and management - lawyers help draft shareholder agreements with exit mechanisms and minority protection, and represent clients in litigation or arbitration when disputes arise.
Key legal and regulatory points that affect private equity in Agia Paraskevi include:
- Corporate forms and governance - Greek companies commonly used are the Anonymi Etaireia (AE) - similar to a public company - and the Eteria Periorismenis Efthinis (EPE) - similar to an LLC. Each form has distinct capital, governance and shareholder regime requirements that affect deal structure and investor rights.
- Securities and investment fund regulation - Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) applies across the EU and influences how alternative funds operate. National regulation implemented by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission governs registration and operation of certain fund managers and funds.
- Competition and merger control - transactions that meet turnover thresholds may require notification to the Hellenic Competition Commission. Even below thresholds, parties should assess anti-competitive risks and remedies.
- Taxation - corporate income tax, capital gains treatment, withholding taxes on dividends and interest, VAT issues and transfer pricing rules are central to transaction economics. Greek tax law and the tax authority procedures determine timing and reporting obligations.
- Real estate and property law - property due diligence must consider entries in the Hellenic Cadastre, zoning and building permits, municipal obligations, and local urban planning restrictions that may affect redevelopment or change of use.
- Employment and social security law - collective agreements, statutory dismissal procedures, severance obligations and employee transfer rules apply. Investor-driven reorganisations must respect worker protections and notification rules.
- Regulatory sectors and licensing - regulated sectors such as energy, telecoms, transportation, finance and defense may require sectoral approvals, authorisations or licensing transfers.
- Data protection and compliance - GDPR compliance is essential when handling personal data during diligence or post-acquisition integration.
- Dispute resolution and courts - commercial disputes frequently go to Athens courts; parties also use arbitration and alternative dispute resolution clauses in shareholder or investment agreements.
Investors commonly use the Anonymi Etaireia (AE) for larger or public-oriented investments and the Eteria Periorismenis Efthinis (EPE) for smaller or privately held vehicles. Foreign holding companies are also used for tax and investment flexibility. Choice of structure depends on governance needs, investor liability preferences, tax planning and administrative burdens.
Approval is required when a transaction meets the statutory turnover thresholds or creates material competition concerns. Even if thresholds are not met, the parties should assess competitive effects. A lawyer can run threshold calculations and, if needed, prepare the merger filing and negotiate remedies.
Real estate due diligence should include a search of Hellenic Cadastre records, verification of title and encumbrances, review of zoning and planning permissions, inspections for building permits and occupancy certificates, and checks for municipal debts or obligations. Engage local counsel and technical experts to confirm legal and physical condition.
Tax issues include corporate income tax on profit, capital gains tax on disposals, withholding taxes on distributions, VAT on certain transactions, and transfer pricing compliance for intra-group transactions. Investors should coordinate legal and tax advice early to structure the deal efficiently and identify any need for rulings or clearances.
Under Greek law, when a business or part of a business is transferred, employment contracts generally transfer to the new employer with existing terms and accrued rights preserved. Employers must notify workers and often consult or inform employee representatives. Legal advice is essential to manage redundancies and integration risks.
Shareholder agreements set investor protections and exit mechanisms - for example, tag-along and drag-along rights, voting arrangements, board composition, reserved matters and pre-emption rights. They are key to aligning investor and founder expectations and are usually negotiated alongside the sale and purchase agreement.
Timelines vary by complexity. A straightforward minority investment can close in a few weeks to a couple of months. Full acquisitions involving due diligence, financing, regulatory approvals and real estate can take three to six months or longer, especially if merger control or sectoral approvals apply.
Possible delays arise from merger control filings, sector-specific licenses or approvals, foreign investment screening, environmental approvals for property redevelopment and labor consultations for transfers or redundancies. Early identification and engagement with regulators helps reduce unexpected delays.
Look for lawyers with demonstrable experience in private equity and corporate transactions in Greece, familiarity with the Athens commercial and regulatory environment, strong tax and labor law cooperation, and clear communication in your preferred language. Ask for references, examples of similar deals and a clear engagement letter explaining fees and scope.
Legal fees depend on deal size and complexity. Common billing methods include hourly rates, fixed fees for specific workstreams, retainers and occasionally success fees. Additional costs may include local searches, notarial fees, registration or filing fees and payments to technical advisers. Obtain a fee estimate early and clarify billing expectations in the engagement letter.
When seeking legal advice or conducting due diligence in Agia Paraskevi, the following local and national bodies and resources can be helpful:
- Hellenic Capital Market Commission - regulator for certain investment funds and market conduct issues.
- Hellenic Competition Commission - oversees merger control and competition matters.
- Independent Authority for Public Revenue - tax guidance and procedures.
- Hellenic Cadastre - property title records and cadastral maps.
- General Commercial Registry - corporate filings and registration records.
- Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry - local business information and networking.
- Municipality of Agia Paraskevi - local permits, zoning and municipal obligations.
- Athens Bar Association - for verification of lawyer credentials and local counsel referrals.
- Data Protection Authority - guidance on processing personal data during diligence and post-acquisition integration.
If you need legal assistance with private equity matters in Agia Paraskevi, consider these practical next steps:
- Prepare a brief - gather basic documents and describe your objective - acquisition, investment, exit, restructuring or property purchase. Useful documents include corporate statutes, recent financial statements, material contracts, employment records and property titles.
- Contact candidate lawyers - ask about private equity experience, relevant local expertise, examples of similar transactions and their approach to due diligence and regulatory coordination.
- Request an engagement proposal - ask for a written scope of work, fee estimate and timeline. Clarify who will lead the matter and how communication will be handled.
- Start limited-scope advice - for complex deals, consider an initial retainer to run preliminary due diligence and regulatory checks so you can make an informed investment decision.
- Coordinate advisers - involve tax advisers, technical inspectors for real estate, and any sector specialists early to avoid surprises.
- Plan for integration and compliance - once the deal is agreed, follow-up legal work often includes corporate filings, employment notifications, tax clearances and implementation of governance arrangements.
Working with a local lawyer experienced in private equity ensures that you comply with Greek and municipal requirements, manage risks effectively and keep the transaction on schedule. If you are ready to proceed, prepare your initial documents and reach out to qualified counsel in the Athens area with private equity experience.
