Euronext Group's ELITE ecosystem launches its first cohort of companies in France 

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  • Five companies join ELITE in France to accelerate their sustainable growth and to access funding and support in capital markets 
  • Eight partners already joined the ELITE ecosystem in France, including ESCP Business School 
  • Over 2,300 companies and 200 partners in Europe are part of the ELITE network

Paris – 1  October 2024 – ELITE, Euronext’s ecosystem supporting small and medium-sized companies to grow and to access funding and support within capital markets, today welcomes five French companies on the occasion of the launch of its first French cohort. 

ELITE continues to expand its network, surpassing 2,300 companies from 23 European countries since its launch in 2012. After welcoming companies from the Netherlands and Portugal in 2023, this first French cohort marks a new milestone in the development of the ELITE network. More than 100 companies joined ELITE since the beginning of 2024.

The five French companies joining the ELITE network have operations across Europe, North America and Asia, and operate in key sectors as energy and technology. They will benefit from the support of eight French partners, including ESCP Business School as academic partner. These French companies will undergo a structured program designed to support them in preparing for their next phase of growth. Combining education, business support and mentoring, ELITE also connects business owners to vital corporate finance and funding sources, whether through equity, debt, or capital markets. 

Launched in 2012, ELITE is the European network of private small and medium companies which accelerates the process to access capital markets. ELITE’s mission is to support companies by connecting them to capital, skills and network, to drive their sustainable growth in the long-term. ELITE companies’ management teams are guided on how to fast-track their development and how to access the most suitable funding options for their needs, whether the Basket Bonds®, institutional investors, private equity, venture capital or equity markets. About €22 billion have been raised by ELITE businesses through more than 2,000 corporate transactions, highlighting how dynamic SMEs are once they are provided with an efficient access to private and public markets.

ELITE is also part of the French-Italian Accelerator programme, launched in 2021 in collaboration with Bpifrance, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and Team France Export. This programme enables selected companies to participate in dedicated growth processes that include training activities and bilateral business matching meetings. After a successful first edition, it was renewed in 2023. The initiative allows Italian and French companies to identify and seize sustainable growth opportunities in both countries. About 70 French and Italian companies already took part in the program. To read the press release announcing the launch of the second edition of the French-Italian Accelerator programme, click here.

Marta Testi, CEO of ELITE, said: "Today, we celebrate an important milestone as we welcome five French companies into the ELITE ecosystem. This achievement reflects our commitment to empowering European small and medium-sized enterprises for sustainable growth. ELITE serves as a bridge, connecting companies with the knowledge, relationships, and funding necessary for their expansion. With the support of our partners, we continue to demonstrate the power of collective action in driving the growth of our real economy and supporting the success of our companies.” 

Professor Véronique Tran, Vice-President, Executive Education and Corporate Relations at ESCP Business School, said: "We are thrilled to support the latest deployment of Euronext’s ELITE programme, which reflects our shared commitment to sustainable, value-driven growth and responsible leadership. ESCP Custom Solutions will train SME CEOs, helping their organisations to set and implement strategic goals and plans. This partnership is part of a comprehensive approach to supporting high-potential businesses, which are the backbone of the economic ecosystem in France and Europe. By combining Euronext’s financial expertise with ESCP’s academic excellence, we aim to shape a new generation of leaders who can navigate complex environments with agility, while staying true to the principles of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.”

Selected French companies are: 

Company name Sector Offices Website
Almae Technologies Manufacturer of ultra-high speed integrated photonic chips Marcoussis, Ile-De-France almae-technologies.com
Marline Company specializing in motor oils and fuels Brieres Les Scelles, Ile-De-France www.marline.fr
Prodeval Company specializing in the recovery of biogas from the methanization of organic waste Chateauneuf Sur Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes www.prodeval.com

2 companies chose not to disclose their participation to the programme. 

 

Apart from ESCP Business School, the programme partners are:         

 
  Company name Sector Offices Website
  BCTG Avocats Business law firm Paris bctg-avocats.com
  Climate Partners Consulting firm specialized in climate action Paris www.climatepartner.com
  Colombus Consulting Business transformation consulting firm Paris, Nyon (Switzerland) colombus-consulting.com
  Largillière Finance Investment bank specialized in
small and mid-cap transactions
Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Geneva, Brussels largilliere-finance.com
  NG Audit Audit and financial consulting firm Paris, Nancy, Strasbourg www.ng-audit.fr
  PDGB Business law firm Paris pdgb.com
  Rochefort & Associés Investment bank providing advisory services in M&A and financing Paris, Shanghai rochefortassocies.com
   
CONTACTS media – mediateam@euronext.com  
Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella (Corporate, Paris) +33 1 70 48 24 45 parispressoffice@euronext.com  

 

About ELITE 

ELITE, launched in 2012 by Borsa Italiana and now part of Euronext Group, is the European network of private SMEs which accelerates the process to access private and public capital markets. ELITE’s mission is to support companies by connecting them to capital, skills and network to drive their sustainable growth in the long-term. Based on a unique offer of services and solutions, ELITE combines a calendar of workshops and coaching sessions, supporting entrepreneurs and executives upskilling and empowering their strategic plan and business opportunities. ELITE Companies’ management teams are also guided on how to fast-track their development and how to access the most suitable funding options for their needs, whether the Basket Bonds®, institutional investors, private equity, venture capital or equity markets. With over 2000 companies and 200 partners admitted since the launch, about €22 billion have been raised by ELITE businesses through 2000+ corporate transactions, highlighting how dynamic SMEs are once they are provided with an efficient access to private and public markets. For the latest news, go to elite-network.com or follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite_group/).

 

About ESCP Business School

ESCP Business School was founded in 1819. The School has chosen to teach responsible leadership, open to the world and based on European multiculturalism. Six campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw are the stepping stones that allow students to experience this European approach to management. Several generations of entrepreneurs and managers were thus trained in the firm belief that the business world may feed society in a positive way. This conviction and ESCP’s values - excellence, singularity, creativity and plurality - daily guide our mission and build its pedagogical vision. Every year, ESCP welcomes 10,000+ students and 6,000 managers from 135 different nationalities. Its strength lies in its many business training programmes, both general and specialised (Bachelor, Master, MBA, Executive MBA, PhD and Executive Education), all of which include a multi-campus experience.

It all starts here: www.escp.eu

Contact: Sera Royal, +33 1 49 23 27 66, sroyal@escp.eu 

 

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About Euronext 
Euronext is the leading pan-European market infrastructure, connecting European economies to global capital markets, to accelerate innovation and sustainable growth. It operates regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal. With nearly 1,900 listed issuers and around €6.5 trillion in market capitalisation as of end June 2024, it has an unmatched blue-chip franchise and a strong diverse domestic and international client base. Euronext operates regulated and transparent equity and derivatives markets, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets and is the largest centre for debt and funds listings in the world. Its total product offering includes Equities, FX, Exchange Traded Funds, Warrants & Certificates, Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and Indices. The Group provides a multi-asset clearing house through Euronext Clearing, and custody and settlement services through Euronext Securities central securities depositories in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal. Euronext also leverages its expertise in running markets by providing technology and managed services to third parties. In addition to its main regulated market, it also operates a number of junior markets, simplifying access to listing for SMEs.  
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