A unique forum bringing together all stakeholders of the Belgian and Dutch 'access to finance' ecosystem
Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp – 12 October 2015– Euronext today holds its first Benelux Capital Day in Kinepolis Antwerpen, gathering more than 200 professionals and 50 speakers for a new cross-border ‘access to finance’ conference, with a strong focus on tech and growth companies. To kick off the event, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Agenda and Telecom, Alexander De Croo, opened the European markets by ringing the Bell.
The Benelux Capital Day aims to fill a gap in the Benelux investor communities. On one hand, this event facilitates the cross-fertilization between Belgian and Dutch investor markets and, on the other hand, it strives to make technology and growth companies in the Benelux more attractive towards investors.
The Benelux Capital Day gathered all key stakeholders involved in the Benelux ecosystem (listed and non-listed companies, investors, banks, associations, law firms, accountants, advisors). Speakers included Philippe De Backer (Member of the European Parliament andPresident of the EU IPO Task Force), Petra Zijp (Partner and Head of Capital Markets at NautaDutilh), Robbert van Heekeren (CFO of Kiadis Pharma), Vincent Reuter (CEO of Union Wallonne des Entreprises), Jean-Pierre Blumberg (Partner at Linklaters LLP) and many others.
Vincent Van Dessel, CEO of Euronext Brussels: “Many technology driven and growth companies in Belgium and the Netherlands are insufficiently aware of how to obtain access to capital. By gathering professionals from all horizons with both financial and non-financial backgrounds we offer an annual networking forum, facilitating contacts between our growth companies and the investor markets.”
Maurice van Tilburg, CEO of Euronext Amsterdam: “The Benelux capital markets provide efficient access for companies of all sizes to both retail and institutional investors. This year nearly € 83 billion was raised in debt and equity on our markets. As an exchange, we want to bring the Benelux eco system together to combine diversity of financing options in order to finance Benelux and international enterprises, helped by professional intermediaries.”
Eric Forest, Chairman and CEO of EnterNext:“For over 18 months now, EnterNext has worked on initiatives to strengthen the clout and visibility of innovative small and medium-sized businesseson capital markets. The TechShare pre-IPO programme, the roll-out of the Tech 40 and the launch of Morningstar’s equity research programme are some of these.Today’s morning conferencefits in a series of EnterNext Tech conferences organized in Europe.Benelux is home to many innovative companies, and we are on hand to help them access the financing they need to pursue their projects and make best use of capital markets.”
Marc Lefèvre, Head of Listing of Euronext, concluded: “It is important for us to help Benelux listed and non-listed growth companies to improve access to capital. Euronext constantly strives to enrich its liquidity pool by offering new innovative products in the equity and bond worlds and by expanding its reach in new geographical areas such as China and Israel.”
For more information: www.benelux-capital-day.com