Paris – 9 December 2013 – EnterNext, the Euronext N.V. subsidiary dedicated to promoting and growing its SME market, today congratulated the Entreprendre-Lafont Presse group, France’s top publisher of specialised magazines, on its transfer from the Free Market to Alternext in Paris.
Entreprendre-Lafont Presse is France’s leading independent magazine publisher with over 80 titles that are market leaders in their specialty areas and mainstays of newsagents around the country. The group got its start in 1984 when it launched Entreprendre, the first business magazine focusing on SMEs and entrepreneurship.
Today it draws on over 20 years’ experience with titles ranging from Création d’entreprise and Maison Décoration to Jour de France and Stop Arnaques. Structured around 10 main themes, these cover all specialist areas and are regularly updated, bringing both variety and choice to main national titles. The group is also a pioneer in non-print formats, offering digital versions of its titles via the internet, mobile devices and tablets.
Entreprendre-Lafont Presse (new ticker symbol: ALENR) was listed through the admission to trading of the company’s 611,310 existing shares via the direct listing process. This followed its transfer from the Free Market. Market capitalisation on the day of listing came to around €25.4 million.
“We are delighted to welcome Entreprendre-Lafont Presse to Alternext, our market tailored to SMEs’ needs,”said Eric Forest, Chairman and CEO of EnterNext. “This transfer means the group will be able to harness all of the benefits of its listing on Alternext, including liquidity, excellent execution and visibility, to finance its growth and deploy its strategy.”
Robert Lafont, Chairman and CEO of Entreprendre-Lafont Presse, added: “Our transfer to Alternext opens a new stage in our experience on the stock market. In today’s economy, it not only boosts our credibility, it also gives us the clout and support we need to face the new challenges in our sector. Being listed on a regulated market offering greater visibility and improved liquidity means Entreprendre-Lafont Presse is also likely to attract a broader range of shareholders.”