PrimaryBid partners with Euronext to launch in France
PrimaryBid, the fintech that allows retail investors access to public company fundraisings, announce the launch of its service in France in partnership with Euronext, the leading pan-European exchange.
Retail investors directly own 12% of listed shares in France. PrimaryBid’s unique proposition, which enhances fairness, inclusivity and transparency in capital markets, will make it easier for retail investors to participate in French corporates’ new share issues. The service launches with direct integration across three leading French retail trading platforms: Bourse Direct, Boursorama and EasyBourse.
PrimaryBid has already delivered retail access to more than 140 transactions in the UK on behalf of small and large-cap companies in the UK’s FTSE indices including Croda, Ocado, Compass, Aston Martin and Severn Trent.
As a regulated platform working alongside investment banks, PrimaryBid allows retail investors to participate in capital markets offerings on equal terms with institutional investors, unlocking a large and important source of liquidity and long-term share ownership. French companies that use PrimaryBid will be able to access a valuable new source of funding, whilst demonstrating strong corporate governance by treating all investors equally.
A key objective for Euronext and PrimaryBid is to allow pan-European retail investors seamless access to pan-European public equity offerings. Whether a publicly listed company is issuing new equity or the government is selling down its holdings, the partners believe technology can allow retail investors to participate alongside institutions.
Anand Sambasivan, CEO of PrimaryBid, commented, “We launch in France at a time when companies have a strategic need for financing and when French people want to contribute directly to the country’s post-Covid economic recovery. Our overarching ambition is to democratise capital markets, making them accessible to retail investors on equal terms as institutions. We are delighted to be working with Euronext and three leading retail platforms to achieve this. We have been delighted by the early reception to PrimaryBid in France and look forward to working with leading companies to offer retail investors the ability to participate in equity offerings.”
Anthony Attia, Global Head of Primary Markets and Post Trade at Euronext, added, “We are delighted to help launch PrimaryBid’s service in France. We believe retail involvement in capital markets is beneficial to the entire financial system. A record-breaking 500,000 retail investors participated in the listing of Française des Jeux on Euronext Paris in November 2020, which led to a marked revival of retail interest in equity investment. By enabling retail participation in listed companies’ capital raises under the same conditions as institutional investors, PrimaryBid is bridging the gap which excluded these investors from taking part in certain transactions. PrimaryBid’s technology delivers this access, and is aligned with Euronext’s mission to promote the financing of the real economy through capital markets.”
