Greece completes transfer of 16% stake in Piraeus port to COSCO
Greece’s privatization agency transferred shares corresponding to a 16% stake in Piraeus Port Authority to Chinese port operator COSCO Shipping after an amendment to a previous concession agreement, it said on Thursday.
Last month Greek lawmakers amended a deal with COSCO allowing it to raise its stake in Greece’s biggest port of Piraeus, paving the way for Greece to secure a major investment.
Under a 2016 privatization deal, COSCO Shipping bought a 51% stake in Piraeus Port Authority for 280 million euros and committed to mandatory investments worth about 294 million euros over five years to buy an additional 16% stake.
The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) said it transferred the shares on the Athens Stock Exchange.
COSCO Shipping paid 88 million euros for the 16% stake plus 11.87 million euros in accrued interest and a letter of guarantee of 29 million.
Piraeus has grown into a major transhipment hub for goods destined for Mediterranean and Black Sea ports since COSCO took over its container operations in 2009 and upgraded its infrastructure. [Reuters]
