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About
Provided by Athanasia G Tsene
Practice Areas
Banking, Finance & Capital Markets, Restructuring and Insolvency.
Career
Athanasia is a leading expert in banking & finance, with vast experience in structuring, drafting, negotiating and advising on the feasibility and implementation of international financial transactions, including on security and hedging arrangements.
Professional Memberships
Athens Bar, Supreme Court of Greece.
Clients
Astir Group, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Bank of New York Mellon, CVC Capital Partners, Deutsche Bank, Eurobank SA, Gastrade, Hellenic Healthcare Group, Helleniq Energy, Hoist Finance, Intrum, JP Morgan, Lapithus Group, Morgan Stanley, National Bank of Greece, Partners Group, PIMCO, Piraeus Bank, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), Société Générale, Stripe, Titan Group.
Work Highlights
Recent experience includes advising the National Bank of Greece SA as arranger, coordinator, bondholder agent, bondholder and hedge bank, Eurobank SA as arranger and hedge bank, Eurobank Cyprus Ltd as arranger and bondholder, Eurobank Private Bank Luxembourg SA as bondholder and CBRE Loan Services Limited as paying agent, in connection with a syndicated bond loan facility governed by Greek law for the refinancing of the existing capital structure of a Cypriot NPE portfolio acquisition transaction, with 97.3% of the underlying portfolio consisting of assets relating to the Helix 1 portfolio acquired in 2019 and 2.7% of assets acquired as part of the Tide Y portfolio in 2022.
Athanasia led the team which advised the Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) in connection with the refinancing and financing of the HHG group of companies in Greece and Cyprus, through the issue of a common secured bond loan in the amount of up to €1bn by the group company Hellenic Healthcare Single Member Holding SA, with Eurobank SA as original bondholder and bondholder agent.
She also advised the European Investment Bank (EIB) in connection with financing of the extension of the interconnection of Northern Cyclades by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) and Partners Group and Pharmathen in connection with the financing of the acquisition of CBL Patras by Pharmathen.
She advised Hoist Finance AB (publ) as purchaser in connection with the sale and purchase agreement entered into with Alpha Bank acting as seller of Project Cell, a portfolio of non-performing retail loans with a total outstanding balance of approximately €1.5bn.
Experience
Athanasia has acted in innovative and groundbreaking deals which have paved the way for future transactions in the banking sector. Her broad practice encompasses secured and unsecured corporate, asset, acquisition and structured financings and an expertise in securitisations. She has also been involved in most transactions for the sale, transfer and servicing of non-performing loan portfolios of the Greek banks. She has extensively advised funds and credit and financial institutions on regulatory compliance in the context of all the above transactions, as well as on financial restructurings and insolvency proceedings.
She joined the Firm in 2001 and her clients include all the major banks and financial institutions that are active in the Greek market.
Athanasia holds a Degree in Law from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and an LLM in European Internal Market, Comparative Conflict of Laws, Law of Restitution and Jurisprudence and Legal Theory from the University of London (External Programme). She is admitted to the Athens Bar (1989) and the Supreme Court of Greece (1997).
Publications
Greece Chapters in The Insolvency Review, published by Law Business Research and edited by Donald S Bernstein of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Lexology Panoramic Loans and Secured Financing, published by Law Business Research with Michael Chernick and Thomas Mastoras of Shearman & Sterling LLP as contributing editors and the International Comparative Legal Guide to Securitisation Laws and Regulations, published by the Global Legal Group and edited by Rupert Wall of Sidley Austin LLP.
Chambers Review
Europe
Market-leading partner Athanasia Tsene is widely appreciated for her comprehensive coverage of complex finance and capital market transactions, ranging from corporate credit facilities and non-performing receivables sales to structured finance deals and NPL transactions.
Market-leading partner Athanasia Tsene is widely appreciated for her comprehensive coverage of complex finance and capital market transactions, ranging from corporate credit facilities and non-performing receivables sales to structured finance deals and NPL transactions.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Athanasia Tsene is a very good lawyer who is very technical and reliable."
"She is excellent - she's knowledgeable and has extremely good client service."
"Athanasia Tsene is a very good lawyer who is very technical and reliable."
"She is excellent - she's knowledgeable and has extremely good client service."
Articles, highlights and press releases
20 items provided by Bernitsas Law
Bernitsas Law advises Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) on the acquisition of TERNA ENERGY
Bernitsas Law advised Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) on their agreement with GEK TERNA and other shareholders to acquire TERNA ENERGY. The deal represents the largest ever energy transaction on the Athens Exchange and one of the largest in the EU renewables industry.
Bernitsas Law advises Hoist Finance AB on Project Cell Portfolio of c.€1.5bn NPLs
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to Hoist Finance AB (publ) as purchaser in connection with the sale and purchase agreement entered into with Alpha Bank acting as seller of Project Cell, a portfolio of non-performing retail loans with a total outstanding balance of approximately €1.5bn.
Bernitsas Law advises Partners Group and Pharmathen on the financing of the acquisition of CBL Patra
Bernitsas Law advised Partners Group and Pharmathen in connection with the financing of the acquisition of CBL Patras by Pharmathen.
Bernitsas Law advises HelleniQ Energy Holdings on €400m refinancing
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to HelleniQ Energy Holdings in connection to the refinancing of a €400m common bond loan issued by its subsidiary, Hellenic Petroleum.
European Investment Bank financing for the Northern Cyclades Interconnection Extension by IPTO
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to the European Investment Bank (EIB) in connection with financing of the extension of the interconnection of Northern Cyclades by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO).
Bernitsas Law advises on multi-jurisdictional syndicated bond loan facility for refinancing
Bernitsas Law advises on multi-jurisdictional syndicated bond loan facility for refinancing a diverse asset portfolio
Bernitsas Law advises Hellenic Healthcare Group on €1bn bond refinancing and financing deal
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) in connection with the refinancing and financing of the HHG group of companies in Greece and Cyprus, through the issue of a common secured bond loan in the amount of up to €1bn
Bernitsas Law advises on Senna Securitisation of receivables
Bernitsas Law acted as a Greek law counsel to the Bank of New York Mellon acting as note trustee and security trustee in connection with the securitisation of a portfolio of non-performing loan receivables
Securitisation transaction amendment, restatement, and credit facility Agreement
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to an international investor in connection with the amendment and restatement of the transaction documents for a securitisation transaction for the replacement of the appointed servicer of the securitised portfolio
Refinancing and granting of new financing - Jupiter Portfolio of Securitised Receivables
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to National Bank of Greece SA as arranger, agent and bondholder in connection with a bond loan facility agreement for the refinancing of existing international bank financing and the financing of acquisition of real estate assets ...
Bernitsas Law advises HELLENiQ ENERGY HOLDINGS SA on the financing of Helpe Digital SA
Bernitsas Law advised HELLENiQ ENERGY HOLDINGS SA (ex Hellenic Petroleum Holdings SA) on the €33.5m joint financing of their subsidiary Hellenic Petroleum Digital SA by Alpha Bank and the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF).
Bernitsas Law advises GIC on strategic partnership with Sani/Ikos Group
Bernitsas Law advised GIC on their entry into a strategic partnership with Sani/Ikos Group, under which GIC will become the leading shareholder alongside Sani/Ikos Group’s management team.
Bernitsas Law advises Partners Group on the acquisition of Pharmathen from BC Partners
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to Partners Group on their acquisition of Pharmathen from the international investment firm BC Partners. The transaction values Pharmathen at an enterprise value of around €1.6bn. We also advised Partners Group in connection with various facilities agreements
Hoist Finance acquisition of c. €2.1bn NPL portfolio - Project Orbit
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to Hoist Finance AB as purchaser, in connection with a sale and purchase agreement entered into on 28 December 2021 with Alpha Bank as seller of a portfolio of non-performing retail loans with a total outstanding balance of approximately €2.1bn.
Bernitsas Law advises on Olympia Odos refinancing
Bernitsas Law advised Olympia Odos SA on the refinancing of its existing loans and advises on the financing for the construction of a 74.5km motorway extension between Patras and Pyrgos
Project Frontier €6bn securitisation of receivables
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to Morgan Stanley in the securitisation of a €6bn receivables portfolio originated by the National Bank of Greece, through the issue by Frontier Issuer DAC (an Irish securitisation SPV) of senior notes in the amount of €3bn (under the guarantee of the
Bernitsas Law advises Astir Group on €362m bond loan
Bernitsas Law advised the Astir Group on the issue of a €362m bond loan by Astir Palace Vouliagmenis for the refinancing of existing bank debt and financing of the development of the Astir marina located on the Athens Riviera.
Bernitsas Law advises on €214m Elpedison Power bond loans
Bernitsas Law advised BNP Paribas Securities Services, Intesa Sanpaolo SpA and UniCredit Bank SpA in relation to the syndication and extension of a c.€81m bond loan, Eurobank SA, Alpha Bank SA and Piraeus Bank SA in relation to the syndication and extension of c.€81m bond loan and Eurobank SA, Alpha
Bernitsas Law advises BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services on market first synthetic securitisation
Bernitsas Law advised BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Limited as Trustee on a market-first synthetic asset-backed securitisation of performing SME and corporate loans originated by Piraeus Bank SA.
Bernitsas Law advises Piraeus Bank on €1.92bn NPE securitisation
Bernitsas law acted as Greek counsel to Piraeus Bank in connection with its first public NPE securitisation in the Greek market, with a gross book value of €1.92bn comprised primarily of non-performing residential mortgage loans.
Bernitsas Law advises Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) on the acquisition of TERNA ENERGY
Bernitsas Law advised Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) on their agreement with GEK TERNA and other shareholders to acquire TERNA ENERGY. The deal represents the largest ever energy transaction on the Athens Exchange and one of the largest in the EU renewables industry.
Bernitsas Law advises Hoist Finance AB on Project Cell Portfolio of c.€1.5bn NPLs
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to Hoist Finance AB (publ) as purchaser in connection with the sale and purchase agreement entered into with Alpha Bank acting as seller of Project Cell, a portfolio of non-performing retail loans with a total outstanding balance of approximately €1.5bn.
Bernitsas Law advises Partners Group and Pharmathen on the financing of the acquisition of CBL Patra
Bernitsas Law advised Partners Group and Pharmathen in connection with the financing of the acquisition of CBL Patras by Pharmathen.
Bernitsas Law advises HelleniQ Energy Holdings on €400m refinancing
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to HelleniQ Energy Holdings in connection to the refinancing of a €400m common bond loan issued by its subsidiary, Hellenic Petroleum.
European Investment Bank financing for the Northern Cyclades Interconnection Extension by IPTO
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to the European Investment Bank (EIB) in connection with financing of the extension of the interconnection of Northern Cyclades by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO).
Bernitsas Law advises on multi-jurisdictional syndicated bond loan facility for refinancing
Bernitsas Law advises on multi-jurisdictional syndicated bond loan facility for refinancing a diverse asset portfolio
Bernitsas Law advises Hellenic Healthcare Group on €1bn bond refinancing and financing deal
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) in connection with the refinancing and financing of the HHG group of companies in Greece and Cyprus, through the issue of a common secured bond loan in the amount of up to €1bn
Bernitsas Law advises on Senna Securitisation of receivables
Bernitsas Law acted as a Greek law counsel to the Bank of New York Mellon acting as note trustee and security trustee in connection with the securitisation of a portfolio of non-performing loan receivables
Securitisation transaction amendment, restatement, and credit facility Agreement
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to an international investor in connection with the amendment and restatement of the transaction documents for a securitisation transaction for the replacement of the appointed servicer of the securitised portfolio
Refinancing and granting of new financing - Jupiter Portfolio of Securitised Receivables
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to National Bank of Greece SA as arranger, agent and bondholder in connection with a bond loan facility agreement for the refinancing of existing international bank financing and the financing of acquisition of real estate assets ...
Bernitsas Law advises HELLENiQ ENERGY HOLDINGS SA on the financing of Helpe Digital SA
Bernitsas Law advised HELLENiQ ENERGY HOLDINGS SA (ex Hellenic Petroleum Holdings SA) on the €33.5m joint financing of their subsidiary Hellenic Petroleum Digital SA by Alpha Bank and the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF).
Bernitsas Law advises GIC on strategic partnership with Sani/Ikos Group
Bernitsas Law advised GIC on their entry into a strategic partnership with Sani/Ikos Group, under which GIC will become the leading shareholder alongside Sani/Ikos Group’s management team.
Bernitsas Law advises Partners Group on the acquisition of Pharmathen from BC Partners
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to Partners Group on their acquisition of Pharmathen from the international investment firm BC Partners. The transaction values Pharmathen at an enterprise value of around €1.6bn. We also advised Partners Group in connection with various facilities agreements
Hoist Finance acquisition of c. €2.1bn NPL portfolio - Project Orbit
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to Hoist Finance AB as purchaser, in connection with a sale and purchase agreement entered into on 28 December 2021 with Alpha Bank as seller of a portfolio of non-performing retail loans with a total outstanding balance of approximately €2.1bn.
Bernitsas Law advises on Olympia Odos refinancing
Bernitsas Law advised Olympia Odos SA on the refinancing of its existing loans and advises on the financing for the construction of a 74.5km motorway extension between Patras and Pyrgos
Project Frontier €6bn securitisation of receivables
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek counsel to Morgan Stanley in the securitisation of a €6bn receivables portfolio originated by the National Bank of Greece, through the issue by Frontier Issuer DAC (an Irish securitisation SPV) of senior notes in the amount of €3bn (under the guarantee of the
Bernitsas Law advises Astir Group on €362m bond loan
Bernitsas Law advised the Astir Group on the issue of a €362m bond loan by Astir Palace Vouliagmenis for the refinancing of existing bank debt and financing of the development of the Astir marina located on the Athens Riviera.
Bernitsas Law advises on €214m Elpedison Power bond loans
Bernitsas Law advised BNP Paribas Securities Services, Intesa Sanpaolo SpA and UniCredit Bank SpA in relation to the syndication and extension of a c.€81m bond loan, Eurobank SA, Alpha Bank SA and Piraeus Bank SA in relation to the syndication and extension of c.€81m bond loan and Eurobank SA, Alpha
Bernitsas Law advises BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services on market first synthetic securitisation
Bernitsas Law advised BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Limited as Trustee on a market-first synthetic asset-backed securitisation of performing SME and corporate loans originated by Piraeus Bank SA.
Bernitsas Law advises Piraeus Bank on €1.92bn NPE securitisation
Bernitsas law acted as Greek counsel to Piraeus Bank in connection with its first public NPE securitisation in the Greek market, with a gross book value of €1.92bn comprised primarily of non-performing residential mortgage loans.
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