European Small and Mid-Cap Awards 2017

On 22nd November, FESE and EuropeanIssuers, in cooperation with the European Commission (DG GROW), co-hosted the 5th edition of the European Small and Mid-Cap Awards.

The Awards aim to promote best practices and to highlight the best European Small and Mid-Sized Companies that have gained access to capital markets via an Initial Public Offering (IPO). These four companies, were chosen from amongst a very high standard of entries from across Europe.

For the first time this year, the Awards also assigned a ‘Special Mention’. The objective of this new category is to prize an initiative, an individual or a company which has had a significant impact on small and mid-cap issuers accessing capital markets.

The winners of the 2017 Awards are...

International Star

	ABEO is a strong and fast-growing company with turnover of €167 million for the year ended 31 March 2017, 70% of which is generated outside France. It boasts a portfolio of prominent brands in the world of sports and leisure (Gymnova, Janssen-Fritsen, Spieth, Entre-prises, Clip’nClimb, France Equipement, etc.) that are featured at major sporting events, including the Olympic Games. ABEO is listed on Euronext.

Rising Star

	Poulaillon is today an integrated family group in the baking, catering and snacking sectors with over 40 years of know-how and firmly established in Eastern France. Ever since the creation of the Moricette® in 1973, Poulaillon has continually innovated, offering a broad range of products that are marketed through its 45 sales outlets and through its large corporate clients. Poulaillon conducts business in France, Monaco, and Andorra. Capital raised at the IPO was to be used in the continued organic growth and entering in the mineral water sector. Poulaillon is listed on Euronext.

Star of Innovation

	Blue Prism is a pioneer and market leader in delivering Robotic Process Automation (“RPA”) software solutions. Blue Prism “invented” this new class of enterprise software in 2001. What makes Blue Prism so revolutionary is that it enables companies to create, deploy and manage their own “digital workforce” of software robots. Blue Prism is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Star of 2017

	Kotipizza Group consists of Kotipizza Oyj, operating the pizza chain Kotipizza, Mexican-style restaurant chain Chalupa Oy, and logistics company Helsinki Foodstock Oy. The Group’s mission is to make the world a better place one pizza at a time. Established in 1987, Kotipizza is the largest pizza chain in the Nordics and one of Finland’s best-known restaurant brands. It currently has some 270 restaurants and 260 franchisees. KOTIPIZZA is listed on Nasdaq.

Special Mention

	Foro Capital Pymes held its first investment forum on October 24, 2012. Since that time, 29 editions have allowed 224 companies to submit their growth proposals to private investors in face-to-face forums and at least 20 of them have obtained 25 million euros in equity financing or lending. The initiative is a pioneer in Spain, is aimed at a target of SME companies that invoice more than 2 million euros per year with the aim of taking them to public exchange markets.