Euronext: New Intermediary Obtains Midcap Expert Status

Euronext is pleased to announce that MIA Tradition Mid & Small Caps has been granted midcap expert status for stocks listed on Euronext Paris.

It thus joins an initial group made up of Arkeon Finance, Aurel Leven Securities, Crédit Agricole Cheuvreux, CM-CIC Securities, Euroland Finance¹, Société de Bourse Gilbert Dupont, Ixis Midcaps, Oddo & Cie, Portzamparc Société de Bourse and Banque Privée Fideuram Wargny. Others may be added to this list; applications for midcap expert status will be accepted until 31 March 2005.

This new status is designed to stimulate and promote analysis of SMEs and will be launched on 21 February 2005 for stocks listed on Euronext Paris.

Midcap experts are required to offer a research and sales team specializing in midcaps. They must also undertake to issue regular reports and promote 60 midcaps, including 20 with capitalisations under EUR 150 million and 10 with fewer than 2,500 trades a year. Finally, they must publish an annual review, half-yearly reviews, and special updates for major events affecting each stock covered.

¹Pending final approval as an operational member of Euronext