TAIPED

Greece's privatisation agency TAIPED said on Monday it had extended the deadline for submission of expressions of interest in natural gas grid operator DESFA to August 7.

Greece is seeking a buyer for a 66 percent stake in the grid under a privatisation scheme it has agreed with international lenders.

Monday had been the deadline.

While more delays are holding up the privatization of Public Power Corporation (PPC) and gas grid operator DESFA, the concession of some of the country's marinas is moving on.

Next week will likely see the conclusion of the sale of railway service operator Trainose, while the contract for the sale of 67 percent of Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTH) has been put off until September.

Investors interested in the concession of a 627,000 square meter plot on Ververoda, near Porto Heli on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, are waiting for the area's forestry map to be drawn so that they know what and where they could build.

Greece's privatization agency took action on Wednesday to settle a legal case that could hold up the disbursement of vital fresh bailout loans to the deeply indebted country.

Athens last week secured an 8.5-billion-euro financial lifeline, the latest from its eurozone creditors, allowing it to avoid defaulting on debt repayments next month.

Following a significant delay, state sell-off fund TAIPED announced on Monday that the consortium of Deutsche Invest Equity Partners (DIEP) with the subsidiary of France's CMA CGM, Terminal Link SAS, and Belterra Investments of Ivan Savvidis is the preferred bidder for the concession of a 67 percent stake in Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTH).

The government has given the green light for the creation of a holiday village next to the famous Koukounaries beach on the northern Aegean island of Skiathos.

The project for the further privatization of Athens International Airport is proceeding, as its shareholders, the government and state sell-off fund TAIPED have reached an overall agreement which will be made public soon.

In a matter of days, AIA - representing its stakeholders - will table its offer to TAIPED for the extension of the existing concession agreement.

State sell-off fund TAIPED will retain control of 10 regional ports of international interest, with the aim of their privatization or other forms of utilization, according to the draft update of the bailout agreement.

The improved bid of 231.92 million euros sufficed for the consortium of Deutsche Invest Equity Partners (DIEP) with the subsidiary of France's CMA CGM (Terminal Link) and the Savvidis Group (Belterra Investments Ltd) to win the tender for a 67 percent stake in Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTH).