Alternext Amsterdam Given Green Light - Broad Support For Exchange-Regulated Marketfor Small And Medium-Sized Companies

Euronext is happy to announce that the Dutch Ministry of Finance has granted a licence for the launch of Alternext Amsterdam, an exchange-regulated market aimed at small and medium-sized companies. All legal and technical matters have now been dealt with, enabling Alternext Amsterdam to welcome its first listings. A number of companies have already shown an interest in a listing on Alternext, and the first listing is expected in the second half of 2006.

Alternext is an exchange regulated-market, offering small and mid-sized companies from any sector a simplified access to the capital markets, while ensuring financial transparency and investor protection. Euronext has created this market to provide small and mid-caps with appropriate solutions to their financing needs and further growth in a context of a more stringent European regulatory environment on regulated markets.

The launch of Alternext Amsterdam is broadly supported by the Dutch financial sector. The major Dutch investment banks (ABN Amro Rothschild, Fortis Bank, ING Bank, Kempen & Co, Rabobank and SNS Securities) as well as Amsterdams Effecten Kantoor and First Dutch Capital agreed to advise and support companies seeking a listing on Alternext and therefore will act as a listing sponsor.

This Euronext initiative is also supported by various parties, including the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, MKB Nederland (Dutch association for small and medium-sized companies), the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW), and the Dutch Investors’ Association (VEB).

Euronext launched Alternext in Paris a year ago. The highly successful new market, which has already attracted 37listings with a combined market capitalisation of nearly €2 billion.

Joost van der Does de Willebois, member of the Managing Board and CFO of Euronext said: “Our core activity is to bring together supply and demand for capital in a transparent, objective way. I am very pleased that we can now extend this service to small and medium-sized companies in an efficient manner that appeals to them.”

Loek Hermans, chairman of MKB Nederland, said, “The new Alternext market will enhance the position of small and medium-sized companies. Fast growing entrepreneurs will be able to raise funds more quickly and easily through Alternext, and transfers to third parties will also be easier. MKB Nederland therefore expects that there will be a high demand for listings from the business community.”

Peter Paul de Vries, director of the Dutch Investors’ Association, said, “Euronext’s plan to set up an Alternext market in Amsterdam as well as in Paris and Brussels could provide a boost for Amsterdam. However, in order to protect investors, Euronext Amsterdam needs to make sure it pays close attention to the quality of the companies it lists, just as Euronext Paris does.”