The SME Pre-listing Support Programme helps Greek SMEs prepare for raising funds through the local capital market.

The Programme is offered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in cooperation with the Athens Stock Exchange ("ATHEX") and is funded by the Greek Government through the ‘Hellenic Republic / EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund - TCF', aiming to increase awareness of corporate bond listings and Initial Public Offerings ("IPOs") of private companies on the Athens Stock Exchange. The programme will support these companies in their preparation to access financing for future growth and expansion and allow them to tap into a wide pool of potential investors through equity or corporate bond issuance. This is particularly important after the unprecedented circumstances caused by the Covid-19 crisis with further uncertainty currently weighing on both economic activity and financing prospects. A growing number of Greek enterprises are now compelled to pursue strategic opportunities and broaden their funding options through access to capital markets.

SMEs participating in the Programme will benefit from a planned, comprehensive programme of technical assistance and advice tailored to their specific needs for capital market funding. The programme will include, depending on the company's individual needs, operational, managerial and technical advisory services aimed at creating a value proposition that will support the route to the capital market. It will also include measures to raise standards of corporate governance, ESG, financial management and reporting. In addition, we will deploy experts who can strengthen the SMEs' ability to develop targeted marketing campaigns to attract investors. These experts will also help SMEs to meet the technical requirements for the preparation of a corporate bond issuance and/or IPO. 

The general objective of the Programme is to increase the level of capital market activity in Greece by enhancing the capacity of investable local businesses to access investors and raising awareness of capital market opportunities for SMEs.

The specific objective of the Programme is the provision of pre-listing advisory services to a selected number of SMEs, which are willing to conduct an IPO or a corporate bond issuance on the ATHEX. The aim is to prepare SMEs for capital market funding adhering to the ATHEX listing rules.

Following their successful application, shortlisted companies along with EBRD will develop and receive a planned, comprehensive programme of technical assistance and advice tailored to their specific needs for capital market funding.

The advice will cover relevant technical, business and operational aspects of fulfilling the capital market requirements. Assistance will be provided over a period of up to 18 months and delivered by local and international advisers, selected by the EBRD in consultation with the company.

Beneficiary companies will have to contribute 15% of the cost of the provided advisory services.

The EBRD and the Athens Stock Exchange expect a strong commitment from firms selected to participate in the SME Pre-listing Support Programme. The Programme is independent of the official listing process. The company will be expected to cover the listing costs.

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When you complete your application, please send it, with the rest of the documents required (see at the end of the application), to prelistinggreece@ebrd.com

Companies interested in finding out more about how the capital markets can offer alternative ways of financing and how the Programme can assist them, can send an expression of interest at prelistinggreece@ebrd.com to arrange a one-to-one meeting or express their interest to participate in the Programme's informational session.

For any other inquiries, please also contact prelistinggreece@ebrd.com