M&A Activity • Oct 6, 2025
M&A Activity
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Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris – 6 October 2025 – Euronext, the leading European capital market infrastructure, announces that all required regulatory approvals have been received for the commencement of the voluntary share exchange tender offer ("Tender Offer") to acquire all common registered shares of HELLENIC EXCHANGES-ATHEX STOCK EXCHANGE S.A. ("ATHEX") in consideration for ordinary shares newly issued by Euronext ("Consideration Shares") at an exchange ratio of one (1) Consideration Share for twenty (20) ATHEX shares in accordance with Greek Law 3461/2006 ("Law").
ATHEX's integration into Euronext's Group would allow Greek financial market participants to join a network of over 1,800 listed companies with a combined market capitalisation exceeding €6 trillion. The interest of Euronext in ATHEX reflects Euronext's strong confidence in the positive development of the Greek economy and the growth potential resulting from further integration of Greek capital markets into the Eurozone and improved access to international investors. The combination would:
NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN OFFER OF OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SUBSCRIBE FOR, EXCHANGE OR BUY, ANY ORDINARY SHARES TO ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN SUCH JURISDICTION SUCH AS, INTER ALIA, IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, JAPAN, KUWAIT OR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.
The Board of Directors of ATHEX stated to ATHEX shareholders its unanimous support for the Tender Offer, and entered into a cooperation agreement with Euronext on 30 July 2025. All Directors of the Board owning shares, including the CEO of ATHEX, have signed undertakings to tender their shares, subject to the issuance of a reasoned opinion by the Board in favour of the Tender Offer as mandated by Greek law.
Stéphane Boujnah, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext, said: "Europe is entering a new strategic phase in building more integrated European capital markets that serve local economies within the framework of a Savings and Investments Union. Greece's robust economic growth, supported by rising investment, growing international confidence, and solid fundamentals, makes this the right moment to strengthen its market. Through the integration of ATHEX into Euronext's ecosystem, Greece will play a key role in this European project.
This move will enhance the visibility and international appeal of the Greek market, supporting the shared European goal of stronger, integrated and more efficient capital markets. The initiative has received strong and positive feedback from leading stakeholders who recognise the value of combining best-in-class infrastructures, technologies, and practices across Europe to convey investments to the real economy."
Commencing on 6 October 2025, at 08:00 (EEST) and ending on 17 November 2025, at 14:00 (EEST) ("Acceptance Period"), holders of ATHEX Shares may accept the Tender Offer by submitting a relevant written declaration of acceptance to the participant or their intermediary that is a certified member of the Greek Dematerialised Securities System (the "DSS Participant" and the "DSS", respectively) with which their ATHEX Shares are registered.
The closing of the Tender Offer is subject to the prerequisite that, as at the end of the Acceptance Period, at least a minimum number of shares must have been lawfully and validly tendered to Euronext, namely 38,759,500 ATHEX Shares, corresponding to 67.0% of ATHEX's total voting rights whose exercise is not subject to suspension (the "Minimum Number of Shares"). This condition may be amended in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
The completion of the Tender Offer is also subject to the customary regulatory approvals linked to the change of control of ATHEX and its subsidiaries.
If, at the end of the Acceptance Period and subject to the fulfilment of the conditions, the relevant threshold is reached and, consequently, at closing, Euronext holds at least 52,065,000 ATHEX Shares representing at least 90.0% of ATHEX's voting rights, Euronext will exercise its squeeze-out right by filing an application to the Hellenic Capital Market Commission ("HCMC") in accordance with the Law. Those shareholders who have not accepted the Tender Offer will, in such scenario, have the right to exercise their sell-out rights in accordance with the Law.
The Consideration Shares carry the right to dividends, capital returns, distributions from distributable reserves or other distributions that may be made by Euronext after the date on which settlement of the Tender Offer is completed. Detailed information in relation to, among other matters, Consideration Shares and the rights of the holders of Consideration Shares is included in the Information Circular (www.euronext.com/en/athex-offer).
Euronext expects to deliver significant synergies from the integration of ATHEX into its European market infrastructure. Annual run-rate cash synergies of €12 million are targeted by the end of 2028, notably through (i) the migration of Greek trading to Optiq, and (ii) the harmonisation of central functions. Implementation costs to deliver those synergies are expected to amount to €25 million. The transaction is expected to be accretive for Euronext shareholders after the delivery of synergies in year 1.
The transaction is in line with Euronext's investment criteria of ROCE above WACC in years 3 to 5 after the acquisition. The proposed Tender Offer enables Euronext to preserve spare debt capacity to finance further diversification deals and to enhance the free float liquidity of the stock.
In line with Euronext's federal model, the CEO of ATHEX would be proposed to join the Managing Board of Euronext N.V., and an independent representative from the Greek financial ecosystem would be proposed for the Supervisory Board of Euronext at the 2026 annual general meeting, replacing one of the current independent members of the Supervisory Board. The HCMC would remain the primary supervisory authority for Greek markets and would be invited to join Euronext's College of Regulators, becoming part of the supervision of the Euronext Group.
3 October 2025: Approval of the Information Circular by the HCMC.
6 October 2025: Commencement of the Acceptance Period.
17 November 2025: End of the Acceptance Period.
19 November 2025: Announcement by Euronext of the results of the Tender Offer.
24 November 2025: Subject to (i) the prerequisite that at least the Minimum Number of Shares have been lawfully and validly tendered to Euronext, and (ii) receipt of the customary change of control regulatory approvals of ATHEX and its subsidiaries:
For further information and news about the Tender Offer, please visit our dedicated webpage: www.euronext.com/en/athex-offer
Capitalised terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to it in the Information Circular.
| ANALYSTS & INVESTORS – [email protected] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Investor Relations | Judith Stein | +33 6 15 23 91 97 |
| Margaux Kurver | +33 6 84 16 85 03 | |
| MEDIA – [email protected] | ||
| Europe | Andrea Monzani | +39 02 72 42 62 13 |
| Sandra Machado | +351 9 17 77 68 97 | |
| Belgium | Marianne Aalders | +32 26 20 15 01 |
| France, Corporate | Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella | +33 1 70 48 24 45 |
| Ireland | Catalina Augspach | +33 6 82 09 99 70 |
| Italy | Ester Russom | +39 2 72 42 67 56 |
| The Netherlands | Marianne Aalders | +31 20 721 41 33 |
| Norway | Cathrine Lorvik Segerlund | +47 41 69 59 10 |
| Portugal | Sandra Machado | +351 9 17 77 68 97 |
| GREECE – V+O Communication | ||
| [email protected] | Argyro Oikonomou | +30 69 36 02 63 35 |
| [email protected] | Ioanna Alexopoulou | +30 69 77 40 30 50 |
Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe's leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.
As of June 2025, Euronext's regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with €6.3 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.
For the latest news, go to euronext.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.
This press release is for information purposes only: it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided "as is", without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext's subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is available at www.euronext.com/terms-use.
The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the "Purpose"). With regard to the processing of this personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, "GDPR"), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR, as provided in its privacy statement available at: www.euronext.com/privacy-policy. In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights with regard to the processing of your personal data: for more information on your rights, please refer to: www.euronext.com/data\_subjects\_rights\_request\_information. To make a request regarding the processing of your data or to unsubscribe from this press release service, please use our data subject request form at connect2.euronext.com/form/datasubjects-rights-request or email our Data Protection Officer at [email protected].
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