Euronext expands ELITE's geographic footprint to Portugal

The Euronext network dedicated to fast-growing private companies is building up its network across Europe

Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris – 14 December 2022 – Euronext today announced the expansion of ELITE, its European SME ecosystem that supports private companies in financing their growth, to Portugal. The international expansion of ELITE is part of Euronext’s “Growth for Impact 2024” strategic plan. Portuguese private companies will benefit from ELITE’s international network, large skillset and expertise in training, to help them finance their sustainable growth on private and public capital markets.

Today, ELITE gathers a community of 1,300+ companies in 23 European countries and a large range of advisors and partners. Since its launch in 2012, ELITE companies have raised more than €15 billion through over 1,200 corporate transactions. Euronext acquired ELITE as part of the acquisition of the Borsa Italiana Group in 2021, and since then has been strongly committed to expanding ELITE in the Euronext countries. Portugal is the first step in this expansion strategy.

Associação Empresarial de Portugal (AEP), Banco Santander, Deloitte, Vieira de Almeida (VdA), and World Trade Center Lisboa will be the first group of ELITE network partners to contribute to developing ELITE in Portugal.

Stéphane Boujnah, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext, said:  “The international expansion of ELITE to Portugal is a key pillar of Euronext’s “Growth for Impact 2024” strategic plan. This new development will expand the current networks of ELITE and Euronext, and will improve the dynamic of the entire ecosystem. Portugal, where Euronext has a significant presence in capital markets, post trade and technology, is currently building a positive business momentum, with a strong commitment to supporting SMEs. With the support of the Portuguese Government and CMVM, the launch of ELITE in Portugal will allow us to create a bridge between private and public financing for Portuguese companies, leveraging on our large network and expertise in financing. Together with all our partners in Portugal, we are aiming to nurture a group of SMEs to increase their size, profitability, and impact in terms of employment, while supporting them to grow in a sustainable way and leveraging on the funding options offered by the market today.”

About ELITE, a Euronext company

The ELITE offer

ELITE supports companies by connecting them to skills, network and capital 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 in upskilling and empowering their strategic plan and business opportunities.

ELITE also helps guide the management teams of ELITE companies on how to fast-track their development and how to access the most suitable funding options for their growth needs, whether institutional investors, private equity, private debt or public markets, both equity and debt.

The ELITE offer is built on three main pillars:

• Access to skillsets and expertise, via a proprietary training programme covering a range of topics, from growth strategies to innovation and internationalisation, from risk management to corporate governance and to funding options;
• Access to an international network: ELITE members benefit from exposure to leading peers and advisors, as well as media coverage and access to exclusive events;
• Access to growth capital, via traditional or alternative funding solutions, acting as a bridge from private to public.

ELITE companies

Companies that choose to join ELITE follow a structured programme based on learning and coaching designed to help them grow, be more structured, explore funding options and access a network of partners, peers and investors.

ELITE’s goal is to nurture and to continuously assess and understand the strategic and financial needs of its members throughout the programme: when an SME is ready to evaluate alternative funding options, ELITE can bridge the connection with professional counterparties including advisors, intermediaries and institutional investors, both in equity and in debt, covering investors in both private and public capital.

After completing the programme, companies remain active members of ELITE, accessing its network for expertise and advice.

ELITE network partners

ELITE is an open ecosystem that anyone keen to invest in supporting SMEs can join. Partners become an integral part of the ELITE community, delivering sessions, showcasing thought leadership, and providing mentoring.

ELITE works with a range of approximately 100 advisors, including corporate advisors, auditors, commercial banks, brokers, financial advisors and law firms. Just like companies, advisors and partners can join the ELITE network by becoming members.

Associação Empresarial de Portugal (AEP), Banco Santander, Deloitte, Vieira de Almeida (VdA), and World Trade Center Lisboa will join Euronext as ELITE network partners in Portugal from the start. They have been selected for their strong alignment on how Euronext supports SMEs and by the type of contribution they can bring to the project, covering accounting to strategy, governance to funding, up to internationalisation and planning, as well as deep knowledge in tax and control systems.

ELITE showcase

Since ELITE’s launch, more than 2,000 companies have been part of the ELITE network, which today counts 1,300 companies with an aggregate revenue of €100 billion, representing 34 sectors and employing over 600,000 people. ELITE has been a success story, providing concrete support to many companies to accelerate their growth:

• €874 million has been raised with direct support from ELITE for over 240 companies, leveraging also on the Basket Bond^® model;
• 55 companies have been listed, raising €3.7 billion;
• 119 companies have issued 187 bonds, raising €2.8 billion;
• and 322 companies have managed over 1,000 M&A deals.