(Ξένη δημοσίευση)- ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ ΤΥΠΟΥ - ALPHA BANK - Alpha Services and Holdings S.A. announces the agreement on the key commercial and legal terms for the acquisition of AXIA Ventures Group Ltd
ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΕΙΣ ΤΥΠΟΥ / Δευτέρα 31 Μαρτίου 2025, 10:28 / Πηγή: ALPHA BANK
Athens, March 31, 2025
Alpha Services and Holdings S.A. announces the agreement on the key
commercial and legal terms for the acquisition of AXIA Ventures Group Ltd
With the aim of establishing the leading full-service Investment Bank platform in Greece and
Cyprus, Alpha Services and Holdings S.A. (“Alpha Holdings” or the “Group”), 100% parent
company of Alpha Bank S.A. (the “Bank”), has reached an agreement with the founding and other
main shareholders of AXIA Ventures Group Ltd (“ΑΧΙΑ”) on the key commercial and legal terms for
the acquisition of the entire (and in any case not less than 95%) issued share capital of AXIA (the
“Transaction”).
The Transaction will lead to the combination of AXIA with Alpha Finance Investment Services
S.M.S.A. (“Alpha Finance”), the Investment Services subsidiary of Alpha Holdings, as well as the
Bank’s Investment Banking unit (the “Combined Entity”). The Combined Entity will establish the
most dominant Investment Banking & Capital Markets (“IBCM”) services provider in Greece and
Cyprus. As part of the Transaction, AXIA’s senior management has made a long-term commitment
to lead and steer the Combined Entity.
AXIA is a leading regional IBCM boutique, offering financial advisory and capital market
services to corporates, governments and institutional clients. AXIA’s leading position is evidenced
through numerous landmark transactions executed in recent years, and by its recognition as the
“Best Investment Bank in Greece” and the “Market Leader in Greece” by Euromoney on four
occasions in recent years. AXIA’s credentials include transactions in a wide range of industries,
products and clients, executed by a talented pool of finance professionals with international
experience and exposure and deep local knowledge.
Alpha Finance is a comprehensive Capital Markets firm offering services to a diverse clientele,
encompassing both retail and professional customers. It provides flexible investment solutions
executed across public markets, multilateral trading facilities, and over-the-counter transactions, in
Greece and internationally. In addition, to broaden and enhance its client services, Alpha Finance
recently formed a strategic partnership in equity research with Kepler Cheuvreux, a leading
European financial services firm widely recognized for its research, execution, fixed income / credit
and structured solutions capabilities.
The Combined Entity will be able to leverage its extensive expertise in Mergers and Acquisitions
and Capital Markets to support institutions, including Greek and foreign corporate clients,
international financial sponsors and shipping companies in achieving strategic growth and
international expansion. IBCM activities in Greece1 are poised for exceptional growth, underpinned
by robust domestic GDP expansion and a continuous influx of foreign direct investment. A new
wave of Greek companies is emerging, eager to expand their geographic reach and scale
operations, both organically and through M&A, while accessing international markets. These trends
offer a dynamic environment for IBCM services, as the demand to support these developments
should increase materially. As a result, strong growth momentum is anticipated, where the
1 This is in line with the findings from the Pissarides report. The report underscores the necessity for Greek
corporates to scale up to enhance productivity and competitiveness, and in full alignment with Alpha Bank’s
purpose to enable progress in life and business for a better tomorrow. Christopher Pissarides, Costas
Meghir, Dimitri Vayanos, Nikos Vettas. "A Growth Strategy for the Greek Economy." ISBN: 978-1-912179-
81-7. Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)
combined forces can capitalize and build on.
The Combined Entity will be vertically integrated, offering top-tier, customized and holistic
IBCM services including capital markets, financing, M&A advisory and brokerage services.
It will seek to leverage on the Group’s current strong position in Greek Capital Markets and
established relationships with the majority of Greek large corporates and SMEs, while
incorporating AXIA’s entrepreneurial mindset and talented team of professionals. These new
initiatives will be bolstered internationally through the Group’s current partnership with UniCredit,
spanning across many European countries.
The Transaction fully aligns with the Group’s disclosed set of M&A criteria. It accelerates the
delivery on the Group’s strategy and enhances fee and commission income generation, further
diversifying revenue streams while also significantly strengthening the product offering for
corporate clients. Specifically, the Transaction is projected to boost the Group’s revenues from
relevant Investment Banking and Capital Markets activities, is estimated to be EPS accretive by
approximately 1.4% for the Group and is expected to yield a return on invested capital (RoI) in
excess of 20% in addition to being RoCET1 accretive. Finally, the Transaction is expected to have
a limited effect on the Group’s CET1 ratio, below 20bps, and does not impact the Group’s future
capital distribution commitments.
The Transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025, subject to the finalization
of the Transaction documentation and its terms and conditions, including the purchase price, and
to the satisfaction of customary conditions precedent, which includes obtaining all necessary
regulatory approvals and consents. Alpha Services and Holdings S.A. will keep investors informed
on the developments and the final terms and conditions of the Transaction in accordance with all
applicable laws.
Alpha Bank’s CEO, Mr. Vassilios Psaltis stated:
“We are excited to welcome the talented team of AXIA to the Alpha Bank family. With AXIA, we
share the same passion in offering the best quality services and delivering outmost value to our
clients. By bringing AXIA and Alpha Finance under the same roof, we will be the first in the Greek
market to offer such a powerful, integrated Investment Banking & Capital Markets platform.
The benefits for our corporate clientele are unparallel as we will be able to support their growth
plans with an integrated financing and advisory offering, both in Greece and Cyprus, but also in
other parts of Europe, based on the ongoing support of our UniCredit partnership. To conclude,
this acquisition perfectly aligns with our management’s commitment to pursuing new attractive
opportunities for strategic growth that will enhance our corporate fee-based business and
ultimately benefit our shareholders and clients.”
AΧΙΑ’s CEO and Founding Partner, Mr. Georgios Linatsas stated:
“Seventeen years ago, my partners and I founded AXIA with a vision to establish Greece’s pre-
eminent Investment Banking boutique to drive the recovery and long-term growth of the Greek
economy. Over the years, Greece reclaimed investment-grade status and soon will re-establish
itself as a core developed status European market. AXIA played a strategic role in this
transformation. As the landscape evolves, we continue to provide market-leading advisory and
sophisticated financial solutions to our clients, navigating them through an increasingly complex
and demanding environment. In creating new opportunities for our key stakeholders, investors, and
partners, we enter our next chapter and join forces with Alpha Bank—a dynamic institution that
shares our forward-looking approach and commitment. By combining our strengths with Alpha
Bank, along with the partnership of UniCredit, we are poised to redefine Investment Banking &
Capital Markets in Southeast Europe and deliver an expanded suite of products and services,
positioning AXIA as the region’s first true bulge bracket firm. AXIA, boosted by Alpha Bank’s
existing platform, will continue to deliver to its clients the high-quality services that distinguish it as
the leading investment bank in Greece, as well as to reinforce its role as a catalyst for growth in the
region.”
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