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FESE and EuropeanIssuers in cooperation with the European Commission (DG GROW) are delighted to announce the winners of the 5th European Small and Mid-Cap Awards.
The Awards aim to promote best practices and to highlight the best European Small and Mid-Sized Companies that have gained access to capital markets via an Initial Public Offering (IPO). These four companies, were chosen from amongst a very high standard of entries from across Europe.
International Star
ABEO is a strong and fast-growing company with turnover of €167 million for the year ended 31 March 2017, 70% of which is generated outside France. It boasts a portfolio of prominent brands in the world of sports and leisure (Gymnova, Janssen-Fritsen, Spieth, Entre-prises, Clip’nClimb, France Equipement, etc.) that are featured at major sporting events, including the Olympic Games.
ABEO is listed on Euronext.
Rising Star
Poulaillon is today an integrated family group in the baking, catering and snacking sectors with over 40 years of know-how and firmly established in Eastern France. Ever since the creation of the Moricette® in 1973, Poulaillon has continually innovated, offering a broad range of products that are marketed through its 45 sales outlets and through its large corporate clients. Poulaillon conducts business in France, Monaco, and Andorra. Capital raised at the IPO was to be used in the continued organic growth and entering in the mineral water sector.
Poulaillon is listed on Euronext.
Star of Innovation
Blue Prism is a pioneer and market leader in delivering Robotic Process Automation (“RPA”) software solutions. Blue Prism “invented” this new class of enterprise software in 2001. What makes Blue Prism so revolutionary is that it enables companies to create, deploy and manage their own “digital workforce” of software robots.
Blue Prism is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Star of 2017
Kotipizza Group consists of Kotipizza Oyj, operating the pizza chain Kotipizza, Mexican-style restaurant chain Chalupa Oy, and logistics company Helsinki Foodstock Oy. The Group’s mission is to make the world a better place one pizza at a time. Established in 1987, Kotipizza is the largest pizza chain in the Nordics and one of Finland’s best-known restaurant brands. It currently has some 270 restaurants and 260 franchisees.
KOTIPIZZA is listed on Nasdaq.
For the first time this year, the Awards also assigned a ‘Special Mention’. The objective of this new category is to prize an initiative, an individual or a company which has had a significant impact on small and mid-cap issuers accessing capital markets.
Special Mention
Foro Capital Pymes held its first investment forum on October 24, 2012. Since that time, 29 editions have allowed 224 companies to submit their growth proposals to private investors in face-to-face forums and at least 20 of them have obtained 25 million euros in equity financing or lending. The initiative is a pioneer in Spain, is aimed at a target of SME companies that invoice more than 2 million euros per year with the aim of taking them to public exchange markets.
The Federation of European Securities Exchnages, EuropeanIssuers and the European Commission are proud to have established these annual Awards together.
Deirdre Somers, President of FESE said said "The fifth edition of the Awards allows us to reflect on its results, we have seen a number of companies being showcased at this event which have gone from strength to strength from all parts of Europe. As exchanges we are focused more and more on helping smaller companies reach their goals by providing the infrastructure to help fund their growth on our dedicated markets. These smaller companies could well be the blue-chips of the future, supporting them along their journey is vital if Europe wants to compete on a global level."
Luc Vansteenkiste, Chairman of EuropeanIssuers said “We need vibrant public capital markets accessible and attractive to companies of all sizes, including the smaller ones. Studies from the US as well as Europe demonstrate the unique role of equity in providing permanent risk capital contributes to innovation, growth and jobs. Today’s awards ceremony showcases examples of successful small and mid-cap companies that recently went through an Initial Public Offering. We congratulate them for their performance and are happy to learn about their experience and how they contribute to the EU economy.”
Ciprian Cristea, Head of Unit for COSME Financial Instruments, DG GROW: "The impressive success and ambition of this year's winners shows the key importance of SMEs for creating growth and jobs in the EU. In its fifth year, the European Small and Mid-Cap Awards have established a widely visible brand that perfectly supports the European Commission's reinforced agenda to make Capital Markets Union a reality also for SMEs."
Background information
The runners-up were the following :
Category ‘International Star’
- Clever Global listed on MAB-BME (Spain)
- Songa Bulk listed on Oslo Børs (Norway)
Category ‘Rising Star’
- Induct listed on Oslo Børs (Norway)
- Pangaea Oncology listed on MAB-BME (Spain)
Category ‘Star of Innovation’
- Cellink listed on Nasdaq (Sweden)
- Gentian Diagnostics listed on Oslo Børs (Norway)
Category ‘Star of 2017’
- Garo listed on Nasdaq (Sweden)
- Hotel Chocolat listed on the London Stock Exchnage (United Kingdom)
The Awards Jury
The winners were chosen by an independent jury:
- Detlef Fechtner, EU Correspondent, Börsen-Zeitung
- Martin Hock, Finance Editor, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.)
- Jean-Pierre Paelinck, President and Secretary General, World Federation of Investors
- Phaedon Tamvakakis, Vice Chairman, Alpha Trust Investment Services
- James Wood, Small Cap Specialist, Winterflood Securities
