With the participation of 20 small capitalization listed companies, the ATHEX SMALL CAP CONFERENCE 2024 was held today, organized by the Stock Exchange and which is part of the Athens Stock Exchange’s outreach initiatives to promote and highlight its companies in the domestic and international investment community.

Executives of these companies had meetings with institutional investors and presented their business plans.

The opening of the conference was announced by Messrs. Giannos Kontopoulos, CEO of the Athens Stock Exchange group and Panagiotis Antonopoulos, vice-president A of the Union of Institutional Investors.

Mr. Giannos Kontopoulos, managing director of the Athens Stock Exchange group, referred to the Alternative Market (EN.A), emphasizing that with a simplified process, it addresses dynamic small and medium-sized businesses with significant growth prospects who wish to: raise capital, strengthen corporate governance, market awareness and preparation to enter the Main Market of the Stock Exchange.

Mr. Giannos Kontopoulos emphasized that small and medium enterprises in Greece constitute 99.9% of enterprises in the non-financial sector, employ 83.5% of workers and produce 57% of added value.

Small Capitalization Companies on the Athens Stock Exchange make up 60% of all listed companies, while during the period 2021-2024 their capitalization has increased by 22% and liquidity by 50%.

The vice-president of the Union of Institutional Investors, Mr. P. Antonopoulos, at the opening of today’s Small Cap Conference, emphasized that the

Union has historically supported smaller listed companies, seeking to strengthen their relationships with investors. Since 2009, in collaboration with the Stock Exchange, we have invited Alternative Market companies to present their activities, recognizing their potential as innovative businesses with high growth prospects.

He noted that small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the Greek economy, creating jobs, enhancing innovation and promoting local development. Therefore, the development and financial support of SMEs has wider positive effects on the economy and society.

Our members, Mr. P. Antonopoulos pointed out, the Greek Collective Investment and Property Managers, are an important financial pillar for listed companies. Investments in smaller capitalization companies in particular offer diversification benefits, and the potential for high returns.

The following companies participated in the conference: ALPHA TRUST – ANDROMEDA, ALUMIL, AS COMPANY, CPI – COMPUTER PERIPHERALS INTERNATIONAL, ELTON GROUP, EUROCONSULTANTS, LOULIS FOOD INGREDIENTS, MED, MEDITERRA, MOTODYNAMICS, PAPOUTSANIS, PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, PETROS PETROPOULOS, QUALITY & RELIABILITY, REAL CONSULTING, REVOIL, SOFTWEB, TECHNICAL OLYMPIC GROUP, THRACE PLASTICS, UNIBIOS.

The institutions that participated in the ATHEX Small Cap Conference were the following: AMBROSIA CAPITAL, Elikonos Capital AIFM, Eurobank Equities, Pantelakis Securities, AXIA Ventures Group, MERIT SECURITIES, MESOGEAKI AEED, HPMF, ALPHA ASSET MANAGEMENT MFMC, ALLIANZ, EDISON INVESTMENT RESEARCH, Piraeus Securities, Fast Finance, PIRAEUS AEDAK, NN AEDAK, EUROXX Securities, EUROCAPITAL PARTNERS, OPTIMA BANK, TRITON ASSET MANAGEMENT AEDAK, ATTICA BANK, EUROBANK AM MFMC, Optima asset management AEDAK, Depolas Inv Services, KYKLOS HAEPEF, EUROTRUST INVESTMENT SERVICES SA, BETA SECURITIES, ETHNIKI Asset Management A.E.D.A.K., Vigor Finance, Nuntius Capital, 3K IP AEDAK, EUROCORP, KM CUBE AEPEF, N. Chrysochoides Securities, ATHOS ASSET MANAGEMENT A.E.D.A.K., MONEY SPOT, EUROBANK, ZOTOS AEPEF, HELLENOAMERICANIKI KHERMATISTIRIAKI AEPEF, KYKLOS KHRMATISTIRIAKI, ALPHA TRUST ANDROMEDA AEEX, EUROBANK ASSET MANAGEMENT, NBG Securities, ALPHA TRUST MONOPROSOPI AEDAKOEE and ALPHA FINANCE.