| Avax Group | |
|---|---|
Native name | Όμιλος Άβαξ |
| Formerly | J&P Avax (2002–2019) |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Construction, Concessions, Energy |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Athens, Greece |
Area served | Europe, Middle East, Africa |
| Key people |
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| Website | https://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.
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
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.
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.
As of 17 May 2024[update], 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:
J&P(O)Ltd's most notable completed projects include:
2001-2006 Rehabilitation road Woldiya -Addis Abeba (400 km) Ethiopia
As of January 2026[update], 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.
In 2009 the journal Engineering News-Record ranked J&P(O) Ltd as the 36th Largest International Contractor globally.