Today (12.12.2024) the new company was officially presented to the public picture and Group identity Athens Stock Exchange, presence of representatives from each body of the business community and the capital market ecosystem.
The renewed corporate image draws inspiration from the long history of the Stock Exchange, maintaining the historical link with the symbol of Mercury and further exploiting the shape of its wings, as a connecting link of the institution’s long history with the future. The wings of Mercury also symbolize the dynamics and flexibility of the Athens Stock Exchange, and indicate the positive change, rise and development of the Organization.
The message of the broader development and transformation of the Athens Stock Exchange was conveyed in their speeches, in the context of the event, by both the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Giorgos Chandzinikolaou, and the CEO of the Group, Giannos Kontopoulos.
Mr. Khandzinikolaou, among others, underlined: “Recently, following international trends and imperatives, the Athens Stock Exchange Group has made remarkable progress in its operation, adopting digital transformation and modernizing its systems and services, issuing new Regulations, following sustainable practices, and becoming extroverted. Our new image highlights the commitment of our Group to adapt to the important challenges of today and to respond successfully to the opportunities emerging in the global environment”.
He pointed out that the Stock Exchange is a key pillar of the economy, stressing that over the last five years, funds amounting to 14.6 billion were raised through the stock market. euros, of which 10.7 billion from share issues and 3.9 billion from bond issues.
Mr. Yannos Kontopoulos, highlighting the main axes of the evolution of the Athens Stock Exchange in the last three years, noted: “The new identity of our Group reflects the gradual transformation of our Organization. It highlights the important steps we are taking towards modernisation, extroversion and further development. It reflects our substantial and multifaceted transformation, in response to the imperative need to adapt to the rapidly changing financial environment, as well as to the conditions of the global and Greek economy.
Through the many and important changes that we have already completed at the Athens Stock Exchange Group, we are redefining our role as an institution as well as a progress partner for investors and companies that trust us. In this way, we “sign” our commitment to innovation and sustainable development”.
The upgrade of the Stock Exchange in the developed markets is our big goal, as mentioned by Mr. Kontopoulos, during the presentation of the new corporate identity of HEXA, adding that the upgrade will strengthen the prestige and image of the AX, attracting more investment funds. Listed companies will have access to more funds, which invest in developed markets, strengthening the growth of the Greek economy.
For the last two years, the management of the AXA has been working on the goal of upgrading the Greek market, in order to achieve it in the next 12-18 months, in order to attract more investment funds, as the AXA is already on the watchlist for upgrades of the FTSE Russell and the S&P DJI for imminent reclassification to developed market category.
In the last four years, as underlined by Mr. Kontopoulos, the Stock Exchange has risen more than 60%, performing many times the average of international exchanges, the daily trading value increased from 74 million. euros in 2021 to 140 million euros today, while the capitalization of the Stock Exchange increased from 66 billion euros to 120 billion euros, while the participation of foreign investors has also increased significantly.
Mr. Kontopoulos pointed out that the positive course of the market in recent years reflects the good course of the Greek economy, while he also referred to the ranking of Greece in the third place among economies worldwide by the Economist.
The official presentation of the new corporate image and identity was followed by a panel discussion on “The Athens Stock Exchange as an expression of the growth dynamics of the Greek economy”.
The discussion, moderated by journalist Apostolos Maggiriadis, was attended by Alexis Patelis, former head of the Prime Minister’s Financial Office, Petros Tzannetakis, deputy CEO of Motor Oil, and the CEO of the Athens Stock Exchange Group, Giannos Kontopoulos.
Mr. Patelis reminded that in 2019 the government took over the country with the economy in capital controls, the banks had major problems, the PPC was almost bankrupt. And after five years, the banking system was cleaned up, there were tax cuts, but also important reforms related to digitization, the green transition, supplementary insurance, etc.
He emphasized that the upgrade of the Greek Stock Exchange to the developed markets will significantly benefit both the AX and the Greek economy in general.
He also referred to the bill for strengthening the capital market expected at the beginning of 2025, while underlining that Greece is in favor of completing the integration of the European capital markets.
Source: RES-MPE