Avax Group

Avax Group
Native name
Όμιλος Άβαξ
FormerlyJ&P Avax (2002–2019)
TypePrivate
IndustryConstruction, Concessions, Energy
Founded1986
HeadquartersAthens, Greece
Area served
Europe, Middle East, Africa
Key people
  • Christos Ioannou
  • Konstantinos Mitzalis
Websitehttps://avax.gr/en/

The Avax Group (Greek: Όμιλος Άβαξ), stylised as AVAX and formerly known as J&P Avax, is one of the oldest and largest construction groups in Greece. It is mainly active in the field of constructions, concessions, and real estate development, in Greece and international markets. Avax has been listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, since 1994 and the projects it has undertaken to execute, currently amount to 2.2 billion Euros. Some prominent projects of the group are Attiki Odos, Athens Metro, Rio–Antirrio Bridge and The Mall Athens.

History

Founding and J&P era (1986–2018)

The Avax Group traces its origins back to 1941, with the establishment of J&P Overseas. In 1986, Avax S.A. was founded, while in 1993, J&P Hellas began operating in Greece. Avax S.A. has been listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, since 1994. In 2002, Avax merged with J&P Hellas to form J&P Avax.

Foundations of Subsidiaries - Acquisitions - Mergers

2000 -  Avax acquired ETETH S.A., established in 1961
2002 - J&P Avax founded AUTECO, active in the vehicle technical inspection sector
2007 - J&P Avax entered into a strategic and shareholding partnership with the construction company ATHENA S.A.
2007 - MONDO TRAVEL S.A. was established, operating in the field of organised tourist services
2008 - Task J&P Avax was founded, operating in facilities management
2017 - Completion of E-Construction S.A. and PROET SA absorption, by J&P Avax
2018 - AVAX S.A. announced the completion of the absorption of its 100% subsidiary ATHENA S.A.

In 2017, J&P Avax was fined €18.3 million ($20.67 million) for colluding with other major Greek construction companies for 23 years (1989–2012) to rig the tenders for public work projects in their favour, including projects that received funding from the European Union.

Post-J&P era (2018–present)

Avax Group's then-parent company J&P Overseas (Joannou & Paraskevaides) collapsed and entered liquidation on 24 October 2018, with a deficit of around $750 million (€635.06 million) and a lot of unpaid wages. Writing for Forbes shortly after its collapse, Antonis Antoniou observed that J&P Overseas suffered from a feud between the Joannou and Paraskevaides families after its founders died, resulting in mismanagement: shortly before collapse, J&P Overseas sold off its stake in Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, which according to the Financial Mirror in 2018 was expected to earn J&P at least $100 million (€84.67 million).

On 27 March 2019, J&P Avax returned to its original name (Avax) to distance itself from its bankrupt parent, while also approving a €20 million ($22.39 million) fundraising effort to increase its liquidity. On 10 December 2019, Avax announced that they bought J&P Energy & Industrial Projects, a former subsidiary of J&P Overseas.

Shareholders Structure

As of 17 May 2024, three people and three companies have a share of more than 5% in the Avax Group, owning a total of 59.6% of all shares:

Group Companies

Notable completed projects

J&P(O)Ltd's most notable completed projects include:


2001-2006 Rehabilitation road Woldiya -Addis Abeba (400 km) Ethiopia

Motorway concessions in Greece

As of January 2026, Avax has a stake in the following motorway concessions:

Avax used to own 34.21% of Attiki Odos S.A., the operator of the Attiki Odos motorway network until 6 October 2024, when the GEK Terna-led Nea Attiki Odos took over the concession: 10.02% of Avax's stake was held by their subsidiary ETETH.

Global International Contractor Rank

In 2009 the journal Engineering News-Record ranked J&P(O) Ltd as the 36th Largest International Contractor globally.

References

  1. ↑ "Vision & Mission". Avax Group. Marousi. 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 10 October 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Delevegkou, Dimitri (28 March 2019). "Άβαξ: Γιατί μετά από 17 χρόνια αποχωρίστηκε το J&P" [Avax: Why J&P separated after 17 years]. Capital.gr (in Greek). Athens. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "AVAX.GR | Avax S.A. Company Profile & Executives - WSJ". www.wsj.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  4. ↑ "Company - athexgroup.gr". www.athexgroup.gr. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  5. ↑ "Flagship infrastructure projects & impressive financial results ahead for AVAX Group". Ypodomes.com (in Greek). 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  6. ↑ "Conclusion of absorption of E-Construction SA and PROET SA by J&P-AVAX SA". Avax. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  7. ↑ "Conclusion of absorption of ATHENA SA by J&P-AVAX". Avax. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  8. ↑ Manifava, Dimitra (3 August 2017). "Construction firms fined for cartel practices". Kathimerini. Athens: Kathimerini Publishing. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Andreou, Evie (2 November 2018). "Board member reassures J&P staff they will be paid". Cyprus Mail. Nicosia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  10. 1 2 Antoniou, Antonis (17 November 2018). "Construction Giant J&P Overseas: Divided It Stands; Divided It Falls". Forbes. Jersey City. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "J&P Overseas goes under the hammer". Financial Mirror. Nicosia: Masis der Parthogh. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Conclusion of absorption of J&P Energy SA by AVAX SA". Avax. Marousi. 10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Shareholders Structure". Avax. Marousi. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  14. ↑ "InterContinental Hotels & Resorts | AL BUSTAN PALACE MUSCAT | Hotel Overview". Archived from the original on 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  15. ↑ "The Pearl - Qatar". Archived from the original on 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  16. ↑ "Ιστορικό" [History]. Aegean Motorway (in Greek). Larissa. 21 November 2025. Archived from the original on 25 March 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "Ποιοι είμαστε" [Who we are]. Olympia Odos (in Greek). Chalandri. Archived from the original on 21 July 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "Η Εταιρεία" [The Company]. Moreas (in Greek). Nestani. 3 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "Οι φορείς του έργου" [The project stakeholders]. Attiki Odos (in Greek). Paiania. 18 July 2023. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "Αττική Οδός: Τι αλλάζει στα διόδια από την Κυριακή – Πόσο θα πληρώνουν ΙΧ και φορτηγά" [Attiki Odos: What's changing in tolls from Sunday - How much will cars and trucks pay]. Ta Nea (in Greek). Athens: Alter Ego Media. 3 October 2024. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  21. ↑ "The 2015 Top 250 International Contractors". enr.construction.com.