Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) became the first foreign exchange to open its Representative Office in Ukraine. The WSE is the most dynamic market in Central and Eastern Europe in terms of capitalisation growth, turnover and variety of financial instruments offered as well as the number of new listings on both the regulated market and the alternative trading platform - NewConnect.
“WSE offers several advantages to Ukrainian companies seeking capital for development. We guarantee access to foreign capital at a significantly lower cost than other European exchanges,” stated Ludwik Sobolewski, WSE President. “We know the potential of the Ukrainian market and recognize that close cooperation will benefit both sides.”
Today the WSE lists almost 400 companies. WSE had the second highest number of new listings in Europe on its regulated market in 2007. Less than a year after it was founded, the NewConnect market lists almost 60 companies, which ranks it on the 5th place among alternative European markets.
Foreign investors account for more than 30% of equity trading on the WSE. A third of our investors are professional investment and pension funds who increase their market activity every year. We also have a high number of individual investors who know well the realities of the Ukrainian market.
There are many factors contributing to the success of the WSE: the potential of the Polish economy, a favourable legal environment, powerful institutional investors, a well-planned information infrastructure, and the professionalism of the Polish capital market institutions. Polish investors have a favourable attitude towards Ukrainian companies, as the market valuations of Astarta Holding and the Kernel Holding show.
Ukraine is perceived as one of Poland's most important political and economic partners. As the Warsaw bourse, we have been building bridges of cooperation and understanding between the economies and capital markets of Ukraine and Poland for the past two years. The WSE Representative Office in Kyiv, which is being opened today, is a means of strengthening this cooperation.
