A self-made and insightful businessman, Dimitris Kopelouzos has for more than 50 years confirmed his ability to smell the profit, to take advantage of investment opportunities either with his own projects or by participating in syndicated schemes and then to reap the profits.
With a strategy similar to that of funds, Dimitris Kopelouzos builds investments, presents business ideas, attracts funds and after completing them by making profits, disinvests, throwing part of them into the next golden opportunity…
Dimitris Kopelouzos and the deal with PPC
The new investment target of the resourceful, as he is characterized in the market, Dimitris Kopelouzou is PPC.
The new acquisition announced yesterday by PPC under the management of Giorgos Stassis brought the businessman and the Kopelouzos group into the listed company. Dimitris Kopelouzos essentially divested from Renewable Energy Sources, selling a 1.7 GW project portfolio to the green transition-hungry PPC.
Wind and photovoltaic parks, which were gradually bought by the Kopelouzo group since 1997.
It acquired either permits or mature and operational projects through companies such as Elica, Enelco, etc. and even managed to commission and have 488 MW under construction today.
Kopelouzos sold to PPC his group’s portfolio as well as projects he had in collaboration with the Samaras group, receiving cash and also own shares of the public company. Thus he obtained a percentage of approximately 1.5%. The shares that came into his possession worth 70 million euros at a price of 12.21 euros per share, essentially show that the resourceful businessman expects a greater increase in the price, as estimated by market players.
In the context of the deal with PPC, the Kopelouzou Group will be the one to develop the RES projects, which will be transferred to the electricity company.
In addition to this agreement, the businessman Dimitris Kopelouzos also sold to his partner PPC and his 20% stake in the modern natural gas-fueled power plant under construction in Alexandroupolis.
It is worth noting that the “Alexandroupolis Power Generation” was Mr. Kopelouzos’ idea and started with PPC, Damco Energy and DEPA Emporias as shareholders.
The plant will also play a pivotal role in the export of electricity to South-East Europe, specifically to Bulgaria and North Macedonia and, by extension, to Serbia.
FSRU Alexandroupolis
Alexandroupoli is a landmark for the new investment opportunities seized by the Kopelouzo group, always following the same strategy of selling its shares and keeping a safe percentage in terms of investment risk and at the same time highly profitable for the immediate or distant future .
In 2013, almost ten years ago, Dimitris Kopelouzos had the inspiration to develop a floating natural gas storage and regasification unit (FSRU), securing community financing in the order of 200 million euros and also the inclusion of the project in those supported by the EU. E.
The Gastrade of the businessman who runs and operates the Alexandroupolis FSRU gradually acquired partners from 2017, who bought shares from the Kopelouzos group.
Thus the Kopelouzou family through Dimitris’ daughter Elmina Kopelouzou retained a 20% share with DEPA Emporias, Bulgartransgaz, DESFA and Gaslog also sharing 20% each.
The velvet divorce with Gazprom
In January 2023, with the war in Ukraine in progress, came the end of a multi-year business partnership of the Kopelouzos group.
A business relationship that had characterized Dimitris Kopelouzos since 1990 and was none other than the one with the Russian Gazprom.
The group announces the acquisition from “Prometheus Gas” of the share of Gazprom Export.
Kopelouzos’ business activities in the 1990s and 2000s were identified with the Kremlin and Russia.
It was the only Greek energy group that brought Russian gas to Greece by building the high-pressure network through “Prometheus Gas” for the transport of gas quantities from Gazprom. The company itself acted as the sole agent of the Russian giant in Greece and then in those years before the liberalization of the gas market, the Kopelouzou group tied and tied, as they said at the time, the penetration of the newly emerging alternative fuel in Greece.
The relationship with the Americans
Dimitris Kopelouzos, however, since the beginning of the 2010s, had gradually and elaborately, without disrupting his relations with the Russians, turned towards the American factor.
The FSRU’s work in Alexandroupolis was supported by the US, while during Ambassador Pyatt’s tenure in Greece relations were further strengthened with Mr Copelouzos and the US diplomat visiting the country’s critical region at regular intervals.
Kopelouzos was building a new deal, quietly and gradually leaving the arms of the Russian bear…
The investment in DESFA
The resourceful businessman saw another opportunity in 2019, again in his favorite field of energy.
When the European operators Snam, Enagas and Fluxys were acquiring 66% of DESFA, Damco Energy of Kopelouzos knocked on their door, subsequently acquiring a percentage of around 10%.
The assured dividend yields from the Administrator’s regulated income would not have gone unnoticed by Dimitris Kopelouzos, who at the same time, as mentioned above, was also building the Alexandroupolis FSRU.
The competition for the Alexandroupolis Port Organization
The war in Ukraine had already found the business interests of the Kopelouzos group on the side of the American agent.
At that time, the tender for the sale of the Alexandroupoli Port Organization was also underway.
The Kopelouzou group claimed ALL against also large business schemes of Greek, American and European interests.
The government’s decision in November 2022 to cancel the tender for national reasons had found the Kopelouzo group outside the final phase of the tender for the sale of 67%.
Source: ot.gr
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