Winners of the European Small and Mid-cap Awards to Be Revealed on 19 November 2013 in Brussels

Brussels, Belgium (ots/PRNewswire) -

Sixteen small and medium-sized businesses from seven countries are
running for the European Small and Mid-cap Awards. The awards are a
part of a Europe-wide competition to highlight the best European
small and medium enterprises who have gained access to capital
markets via an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The Award winners will
be announced on 19 November in Brussels at an Award Ceremony
organised by the Federation of European Securities Exchanges and
EuropeanIssuers.

Potential winners range from a leading chemical distributor to a
free wireless access provider, biochemical specialist, an engineering
firm converting waterfalls into power plants and a company
reinventing the online lottery - to name only a few.

The full list and descriptions of all the sixteen competing
companies is available here [http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies
/finance/risk-capital/european-small-and-mid-cap-awards/winners-and-n
ominees/index_en.htm ] .

The Awards are a joint initiative by the European Commission,
leading European Stock Exchanges[1] and EuropeanIssuers. Companies
have been nominated by their listed exchanges in four categories:
Best new listed company, Most innovative newcomer, Most
internationally-minded newcomer and Rising star.

More information on the Awards together with a Factsheet and
Frequently Asked Questions about the competition and the advantages
of a stock exchange listing for small and medium-sized businesses is
available here [http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/finance/risk
-capital/european-small-and-mid-cap-awards/media/index_en.htm ] .

The aim of the European Small and Mid-cap Awards is to encourage
small and medium sized businesses to access capital markets via
Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). Benefits of an IPO include
continuing access to capital, diversification of one's investor base,
and increased visibility.

According to the Federation of European Securities Exchanges, IPO
activity in Europe is declining. Whereas in 2007 there were over 666
new listings, in 2012 there were only 165. In comparison, in the
United States IPO activity is accelerating, with 63 new listings in
the second quarter of this year alone. To put this in a global
context, according to Ernst & Young, 38% of second quarter IPOs
occurred in the Asia/Pacific Region, with North America trailing at
31%, Europe, Middle East and Africa at 28% and 3% Central and South
America[2].

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1. Including members of the Federation of European Securities
Exchanges

(http://www.fese.be/en/?inc=page&id=7) and the London Stock
Exchange Group

(http://www.londonstockexchange.com/home/homepage.htm)

2. Source Ernst&Young: http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/EY
-Global-IPO-Trends-Report-Q3-2013/$FILE/EY-Global-IPO-Trends-Report-Q
3-2013.pdf

ots Originaltext: Klenske Communications
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For more information or interview requests, please contact
Kristina Kiefer: Email: kki@mostra.com, Telephone: +32 (0)2 533 95
44.