Euronext is taking another step towards connecting Greek businesses with European capital markets, announcing the official expansion of its ELITE programme into Greece in 2027, as part of the integration of the Athens Stock Exchange into the European group.
The announcement was made to coincide with the seventh ELITE Day, taking place today, 12 October, at the historic Palazzo Mezzanotte in Milan, bringing together more than 400 European entrepreneurs, executives and investors.
This year’s event, under the theme “Unstable World. Unstoppable Business”, includes Mari Daskalantonaki, CEO and Managing Director of Grecotel, and Dimitris Parthenis, Group CFO of THEON International, among its participants.
What ELITE will bring to the Greek market
ELITE is a European business-growth ecosystem, established in 2012 by the Italian stock exchange Borsa Italiana and now part of the Euronext group.
It is aimed primarily at unlisted small and medium-sized enterprises, offering strategic guidance, management training, networking with investors and access to alternative sources of finance.
Its goal is to support businesses seeking to grow, expand into new markets or raise capital, whether through private investment vehicles or public capital markets.
With its official launch in Greece in 2027, Greek businesses will be able to join a pan-European network, gaining access to specialised expertise, business partnerships and potential funding opportunities.
The initiative follows the recent launch of Euronext Athens’ IPOready programme, which aims to prepare growing companies for a potential stock market listing. Unlike IPOready, ELITE has a broader focus, as it is not limited to preparing companies for a stock market listing.
The CEO’s message on Greece
Marta Testi, CEO of ELITE, made particular reference to the Greek market, linking the programme’s expansion to the wider challenges facing European businesses.
She said that in an economic and financial environment marked by increasingly rapid change, growth depends not only on seizing new opportunities, but also on businesses’ ability to adapt, innovate and plan for the long term.
According to Testi, this is the common thread among the businesses at the heart of this year’s event: they are meeting change with vision, resilience and ambition, turning it into a driver of growth.
“ELITE’s mission is to build a bridge between businesses, capital and skills, supporting the sustainable growth of companies and Europe’s business fabric”, she said.
Referring specifically to Greece, she said the programme’s expansion marked another step in ELITE’s pan-European growth.
“Through collaboration with local partners, we want to help support a new generation of Greek businesses as they grow, internationalise and create long-term value”, she said.
A network of 2,100 businesses and billions in transactions
ELITE now has more than 2,100 businesses and 200 partners and organisations across 24 European countries, spanning 36 different sectors of the economy.
Businesses in the network generate combined annual revenue of €230 billion, while their activity to date has included significant capital markets transactions.
In total, 71 businesses have listed on the stock market, raising more than €5 billion, while 156 companies have issued 221 corporate bonds with a total value of €2.4 billion.
In addition, 611 businesses in the network have completed nearly 2,000 mergers and acquisitions transactions, with a total value of €63 billion.
Competitiveness, technology and finance in focus
This year’s ELITE Day focuses on the challenges posed by geopolitical uncertainty, changes in supply chains and the acceleration of technological advances.
The agenda includes strengthening Europe’s industrial and technological autonomy, finding new markets and sources of finance, and using artificial intelligence and data in business strategy.
The event brings together executives from major European businesses and organisations, including Borsa Italiana, McKinsey, BDO and Eurizon Capital, with a focus on the competitiveness and growth prospects of European businesses.