“Efimerida ton Syntakton” passes into the hands of Dimitris Melissanidis, with reports stating that the preliminary agreement for the sale of 51% was signed at the end of last week. Earlier today, a General Assembly of employee-shareholders took place, where the sale of 51% of the newspaper to Dimitris Melissanidis was unanimously approved (also formally). The final signatures are expected within the next 15 days.

According to the same reports, the price exceeds 5 million euros, as there is also an investment program.

The reports also state that the businessman will undertake to pay the employees of EfSyn, who have been unpaid for 5.5 months, as well as to settle the newspaper’s debts. All financial audits (due diligence) have also been completed — the process by which one carefully examines all aspects of an agreement, investment, or company before making a decision. The changes will move forward immediately.

Who is Dimitris Melissanidis

Dimitris Melissanidis is one of the prominent figures in Greek business. His business career began with a taxi driving school in Korydallos, and in 2000 he founded Aegean Marine Petroleum, which he listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2014, he held a stake in OPAP for 8.5 years before selling his shares to Allwyn and Czech billionaire Karel Komarek. Melissanidis is also active in shipping through Hellenic Environmental Center, while together with his brother he owns Aegean Oil, which operates a sales network of more than 700 gas stations across Greece.

Since 2021, he has been the owner of Naftemporiki (the newspaper, its website, and its TV channel). He has also had significant involvement in football, starting with Ionikos in 1984, and later with AEK Athens in three separate periods — the first two in the 1990s and the third from 2013 onward. He was instrumental in the creation of the club’s new stadium, OPAP Arena, which he inaugurated himself on September 30, 2022.