Brussels, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Paris – 15 July 2014: Today Euronext Brussels launches new ‘Spotlight Options’ on five companies that are admitted to listing on its regulated market: Telenet, as large capitalization, and four companies out of the EnterNext universe – EVS, Cardio3 Biosciences, Euronav and Ablynx.
Spotlight Options give more visibility to underlying assets such as medium and smaller sized companies and newly listed stocks through a unique combination of liquidity provider support and strong promotion by sponsoring brokers. Spotlight Options are a special segment on the Brussels and Amsterdam derivative markets of Euronext, dedicated to the development of new option classes requested by market participants. The options will have short-term maturities of one, two and three months. The liquidity in these option classes will be supported by B&Bt N.V. and Susquehanna International Securities Limited.
Dr Edwin Moses, Chief Executive Officer of Ablynx, commented: “Ablynx has made tremendous progress since the initial public listing of the company on Euronext Brussels in November 2007, both on an operational and financial level. Since its IPO, Ablynx has developed into one of the leading biopharmaceutical companies in Europe with more than 30 products in the R&D pipeline of which seven are in clinical development, partnerships with six major pharma companies, a strong cash position and a free float of 90%. We believe that the introduction of Spotlight Options will offer additional investment and trading possibilities, further increase the liquidity of our shares and improve the visibility of the company in the financial markets.”
Adam Rose, Head of Financial Derivatives at Euronext, said: “Spotlight Options will allow investors to enlarge their option portfolio in our transparent, regulated and cleared trading environment. This is another initiative from Euronext to diversify and build its derivative portfolio and offer attractive and innovative investment opportunities for its broad range of retail and institutional investors.”
The Spotlight Options will create additional investment and trading opportunities in family businesses and medium sized companies as well as in newly listed stocks. In a second phase Euronext will expand the segment via the introduction of Spotlight Options on other geographies and asset classes, responding to market demand. On Euronext Amsterdam, six Spotlight option classes were also introduced on July 11th.
Today the launch was celebrated with a special bell ceremony in Euronext Brussels in attendance of prominent representatives of the companies.