Euronext
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Euronext N.V. (short for European New Exchange Technology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a European bourse that provides trading and post-trade services for a range of financial instruments. It is registered in Amsterdam but its operational headquarters are located in Paris.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It operates major stock exchanges in seven countries: France (Euronext Paris), the Netherlands (Euronext Amsterdam), Belgium (Euronext Brussels), Ireland (Euronext Dublin), Portugal (Euronext Lisbon), Italy (Borsa Italiana) and Norway (Euronext Oslo Børs). The present-day Euronext was spun off from the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in 2014,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> shortly after ICE's acquisition of NYSE Euronext the year before.
Traded assets include regulated equities, exchange-traded funds (ETF), warrants and certificates, bonds, derivatives, commodities, foreign exchange as well as indices. As of March 2025, Euronext operated nearly 1,800 listed issuers with a market capitalization of approximately €6.3 trillion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Euronext is the largest center for debt and funds listings in the world, and provides technology and managed services to third parties. In addition to its main regulated market, it operates Euronext Growth and Euronext Access, providing access to listing for small and medium-sized enterprises. Euronext Paris accounts for more than 80% of Euronext’s total market cap. It also plays a key role in commodities trading, offering markets for power through Nord Pool and for fish through Fish Pool, alongside other agricultural commodities such as milling wheat and rapeseed.
Post-trade services include clearing performed by Euronext's multi-asset clearing house, Euronext Clearing, headquartered in Rome, as well as custody and settlement performed by Euronext's central securities depository (CSD), Euronext Securities.
Euronext traces its origins back to some of the world's oldest bourses, formed in the Low Countries' shifting trade centres, Bruges, Antwerp and Amsterdam in 1285, 1485 and 1602, respectively, as well as to the foundation of the Paris Bourse in 1724. In its present form, Euronext was established in September 2000 through the merger of the bourses in Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris. The goal was to create a single, integrated, and liquid market for securities trading across Europe. Since its inception, Euronext has continued to expand, and now operates stock exchanges in several European countries, including France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, and Norway. Its creation was followed by the introduction of the single currency and harmonisation of financial markets.
In August 2023, the company formed EuroCTP as a joint venture with 13 other bourses, in an effort to provide a consolidated tape for the European Union, as part of the Capital Markets Union proposed by the European Commission.
History
Background: Exchange companies that merged into Euronext
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Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, now an events venue -
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Bourse Palace in Brussels, now an events venue -
Palais Brongniart in Paris, now an events venue -
Stock exchange building in Dublin -
Stock exchange building in Oslo -
2000–2007: Founding merger and early acquisitions
In 1998, the London Stock Exchange and Template:Lang announced their intention of forming an alliance to fend off competition from the United States, and take advantage from the European Union's (EU) single currency and harmonisation of financial markets.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In April 1999 the stock exchanges in Paris, Zurich, Madrid, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Milan signed a memorandum of understanding in Madrid, which formalised plans to include these bourses as well.
Ultimately, only three decided to proceed, and on 22 September 2000 Euronext was formed following a merger of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange,<ref name="NYSE Euronext">Template:Cite web</ref> Brussels Stock Exchange, and Paris Bourse.<ref name="foundation1" /><ref name="foundation2" /><ref name="foundation3" /><ref name="foundation4" />
In 2001, Euronext became a listed company itself after completing its initial public offering.<ref name="Grace Pownall">Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In December 2001, Euronext acquired the shares of the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE), forming Euronext.LIFFE.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2002, the group merged with the Portuguese stock exchange Bolsa de Valores de Lisboa e Porto (BVLP), renamed Euronext Lisbon.<ref name="foundation3" />
In 2003, Euronext cash products were integrated onto a single platform (NSC).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2004, Euronext derivatives products were integrated onto LIFFE CONNECT.
In 2005, Euronext introduced Alternext as a market segment to help finance small and mid-class companies in the Eurozone.
2007–2014: Merger with the New York Stock Exchange and acquisition by Intercontinental Exchange
Due to apparent moves by NASDAQ to acquire the London Stock Exchange<ref name="wsj_20061212">Template:Cite news</ref> or Euronext itself,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> NYSE Group, owner of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), offered €8 billion (US$10.2b) in cash and shares for Euronext on 22 May 2006, outbidding a rival offer for the European Stock exchange operator from Template:Lang, the German stock market.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Contrary to statements that it would not raise its bid, on 23 May 2006, Template:Lang unveiled a merger bid for Euronext, valuing the pan-European exchange at €8.6 billion (US$11b), €600 million over NYSE Group's initial bid.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite this, NYSE Group and Euronext penned a merger agreement, subject to shareholder vote and regulatory approval. The initial regulatory response by SEC chief Christopher Cox (who was coordinating heavily with European counterparts) was positive, with an expected approval by the end of 2007.<ref name="online.wsj.com">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Lang dropped out of the bidding for Euronext on 15 November 2006, removing the last major hurdle for the NYSE Euronext transaction. A run-up of NYSE Group's stock price in late 2006 made the offering far more attractive to Euronext's shareholders.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 19 December 2006, Euronext shareholders approved the transaction with 98.2% of the vote. Only 1.8% voted in favour of the Template:Lang offer. Jean-François Théodore, the chief executive officer of Euronext, stated that they expected the transaction to close within three or four months.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Some of the regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over the merger had already given approval. NYSE Group shareholders gave their approval on 20 December 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The merger was completed on 4 April 2007, forming NYSE Euronext.
The new firm, NYSE Euronext, was headquartered in New York City, with European operations and its trading platform run out of Paris. Then-NYSE CEO John Thain, who was to head NYSE Euronext, intended to use the combination to form the world's first global stock market, with continuous trading of stocks and derivatives over a 21-hour time span. In addition, the two exchanges hoped to add Borsa Italiana (the Milan stock exchange) into the grouping.
In 2008 and 2009 Template:Lang made two unsuccessful attempts to merge with NYSE Euronext. Both attempts did not enter into advanced steps of merger.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2011, Template:Lang and NYSE Euronext confirmed that they were in advanced merger talks. Such a merger would create the largest exchange in history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The deal was approved by shareholders of NYSE Euronext on 7 July 2011,<ref name="online.wsj.com" /> and Template:Lang on 15 July 2011<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and won the antitrust approved by the US regulators on 22 December 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 1 February 2012, the deal was blocked by European Commission on the grounds that the new company would have resulted in a quasi-monopoly in the area of European financial derivatives traded globally on exchanges.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Lang unsuccessfully appealed this decision.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Fairless2015">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2012, Euronext announced the creation of Euronext London to offer listing facilities in the UK. As such, Euronext received in June 2014 Recognized Investment Exchange (RIE) status from Britain's Financial Conduct Authority.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 20 December 2012, the boards of directors of both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and the NYSE Euronext approved an $8 billion acquisition of NYSE Euronext. Under the terms shareholders of NYSE would receive either $33.12 in cash for each share or .2581 IntercontinentalExchange Inc. shares, or a combination of $11.27 in cash per share plus .1703 shares of stock.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The acquisition is subject to regulator approval, though since the operations of ICE and NYSE have little in common—ICE is largely devoted to trading commodities, as opposed to NYSE's business of trading stocks and securities—the deal is not expected to be blocked.<ref name="nytimes">Template:Cite news</ref> ICE said that after the deal closed it would sell the Euronext portion of the company, including stock exchanges in Amsterdam, Brussels, Lisbon and Paris.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The deal went through and Euronext is a sister division to NYSE and part of ICE. ICE CEO Jeffrey Sprecher would continue in that position at the combined company, while NYSE CEO Duncan Niederauer would serve as president.<ref name="nytimes" /> The future of the New York Stock Exchange's historic trading floor under ICE has not been announced. ICE closed the high profile and historic trading floors of its other earlier acquisitions, the International Petroleum Exchange and the New York Board of Trade in New York.<ref name="nytimes1">Template:Cite news</ref>
In May 2013, Euronext established Enternext as a subsidiary to help small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) listed on Euronext outline and apply a strategy most suited to support their growth.<ref name="Europeanequities.nyx">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The ICE's deal was approved by the shareholders of NYSE Euronext and Intercontinental Exchange on 3 June 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The European Commission approved the acquisition on 24 June 2013<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> and on 15 August 2013 the US regulator, SEC, granted approval of the acquisition.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> European regulators and ministries of Finance of the participating countries approved the deal and on 13 November 2013 the acquisition was completed.<ref name="ice1">Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name="ice2">Template:Cite news</ref>
2014–present: Spin-off from ICE and subsequent development
Template:Thumb Part of ICE's deal to acquire NYSE Euronext was a spin-off for Euronext, which was considered a positive element for European stakeholders.<ref name="ice1" /> After a complex series of operations, this occurred on 20 June 2014, through an initial public offering (IPO).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The former Euronext.LIFFE was retained by ICE and renamed ICE Futures Europe. In order to stabilise Euronext, a consortium of eleven investors decided to invest in the company as "reference shareholders". These investors owned 33.36% of Euronext's capital and have a 3 years lockup period: Euroclear, BNP Paribas, BNP Paribas Fortis, Société Générale, Caisse des Dépôts, BPI France, ABN Amro, ASR, Banco Espírito Santo, Banco BPI and Belgian holding public company Template:Interlanguage link (SFPI/FPIM).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They have 3 board seats.
In June 2014, EnterNext launched two initiatives to boost SME equity research and support the technology sector. EnterNext partnered with Morningstar to increase equity research focusing on mid-size companies, especially in the telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) sector.
On 22 September 2014, Euronext announced a partnership with DEGIRO<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> regarding the distribution of retail services of Euronext. Upon publishing the third quarter results for 2014, the partnership was seen as a plan for Euronext to compete more effectively on the Dutch retail segment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In May 2017, Alternext was renamed to Euronext Growth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 14 August 2017, Euronext announced the completion of its acquisition of FastMatch, a currency trading platform.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 27 March 2018, Euronext announced the completion of its acquisition of the Irish Stock Exchange,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> rebranded as Euronext Dublin, to expand its reach into the debt and funds markets.
On 18 June 2019, Euronext announced the completion of its acquisition of the Oslo Stock Exchange.<ref>https://www.euronext.com/fr/oslo-bors-vps-joins-euronext Template:Dead link</ref>
On 5 December 2019, Euronext announced that it would acquire 66% of the European power exchange Nord Pool.<ref name="ReferenceB">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nordpoolgroup.com">Template:Cite web</ref> The acquisition was completed on 15 January 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 23 April 2020, Euronext announced that it would acquire ca. 70% of the Danish Central Securities Depository, VP Securities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The acquisition was completed on 4 August 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 18 September 2020, as part of regulatory remedies to see through its $27 billion purchase of data provider Refinitiv, the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) entered into exclusive talks to sell the Italian Bourse (formally 100% of London Stock Exchange Group Holdings Italia S.p.A.), situated in Milan, to Euronext.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite web</ref> As part of the deal, CDP Equity, 100% owned by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, and Intesa Sanpaolo would become Euronext reference shareholders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In April 2021, Euronext completed the acquisition of the Borsa Italiana Group for €4.4 billion, enhancing its leadership in the European financial markets. This acquisition integrated the Milan Stock Exchange (Borsa Italiana) and its subsidiary MTS, a leader in fixed income markets, into Euronext. As of 2024, Euronext has further consolidated its market position through technological advancements, partnerships, and sustainability initiatives.
On 23 August 2023, Euronext formed EuroCTP as a joint venture with 13 other bourses, in an effort to provide a consolidated tape for the European Union, as part of the Capital Markets Union proposed by the European Commission.
In November 2024, Euronext announced a new three-year strategic plan titled "Innovate for Growth 2027", aimed at accelerating revenue growth through innovation and business diversification. The plan focuses on three main priorities:
- Growth in non-volume-related activities: expansion of post-trade services, data solutions, and technology services, which currently account for 60% of total revenues.
- Expansion in fixed income, currencies, and commodities (FICC) markets: enhancing trading and clearing capabilities, with a particular focus on the energy market through Nord Pool.
- Leadership in equity trading: strengthening Euronext's dominant position in equity markets and becoming the leading ETF market in Europe.
The strategic plan reaffirms Euronext's commitment to sustainability and ESG by setting a Net Zero target for 2027. It also states a target of an annual revenue and income growth of over 5%, with capital expenditure (CAPEX) estimated between 4% and 6% of total revenues. In addition, Euronext announced a share buyback program of up to €300 million, set to be completed within a maximum of 12 months starting in November 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 1 July 2025, Euronext announced that it submitted a takeover offer in order to acquire Athens Stock Exchange.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Discussions focused on a potential all-share deal valued at approximately $470 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 6 October 2025, Euronext launched a voluntary exchange offer for all ATHEX shares<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and announced on 19 November 2025 that the offer was successful, with Euronext obtaining a controlling stake of 74,3% of ATHEX, thus resulting in the acquisition of Athens Stock Exchange by Euronext.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Operations
Trading services
Equity
Template:Pie chart Template:Location map+ Euronext operates its main regulated market, as well two types of multilateral trading facilities (MTFs) providing access to listing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), titled Euronext Growth and Euronext Access.
Euronext maintains a single order book at its proprietary market platform Optiq.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Topology | EU regulated | Multilateral trading facilities | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market | Euronext | Euronext Growth | Euronext Access | |
| Number of issuers | 776 | 229 | 180 | |
| Avg. valuation at initial public offering (€m) |
Size | 278.1 | 22.8 | 0.1 |
| Market cap. | 5,514 | 97 | 51 | |
| Availability at listing venues (operating market identifier code) | ||||
| Amsterdam | Template:Ya XAMS | Template:Na | Template:Na | |
| Brussels | Template:Ya XBRU | Template:Ya ALXB | Template:Ya MLXB | |
| Lisbon | Template:Ya XLIS | Template:Ya ALXL | Template:Ya ENXL | |
| Dublin | Template:Ya XMSM | Template:Ya XESM | Template:Na | |
| Milan | Template:Ya XMIL | Template:Ya EXGM | Template:Na | |
| Oslo | Template:Ya XOSL | Template:Ya MERK | Template:Na | |
| Paris | Template:Ya XPAR | Template:Ya ALXP | Template:Ya XMLI | |
Euronext manages various country (national), as well as pan-European regional and sector and strategy indices.<ref name="indices">Template:Cite web</ref>
| Name | Symbol | Trading Currency |
|---|---|---|
| European | ||
| Template:Flagicon Euronext 100 | N100 | EUR |
| National | ||
| Template:Flagicon AEX | AEX | EUR |
| Template:Flagicon BEL 20 | BEL20 | EUR |
| Template:Flagicon CAC 40 | PX1 | EUR |
| Template:Flagicon ISEQ 20 | ISEQ20 | EUR |
| Template:Flagicon FTSE MIB | MIB | EUR |
| Template:Flagicon PSI 20 | PSI20 | EUR |
| Template:Flagicon OBX 25 | OBX | NOK |
Foreign exchange
Euronext FX is a global foreign exchange trading platform, known as FastMatch until 2019.
Commodities
Euronext offers trading in a number of physical commodities such as Electric power (Nord Pool), salmon futures (Fish Pool), milling wheat, rapeseed, corn, durum wheat, and wood pellets.
Derivatives
Euronext operates derivatives markets.
Debt and funds listings
Euronext is the largest centre for debt and funds listings in the world.
Exchange-traded funds
Euronext's product range also includes exchange-traded funds.
Warrants and certificates
Bonds
Post-trade services
Central securities depository
Template:Main Euronext provides custody and settlement services through its central securities depository (CSD), Euronext Securities, based on Euronext's ownership of previous national CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.
Clearing
Template:Main Between 2016 and 2019 Euronext owned a 20% share in European Central Counterparty N.V. (EuroCCP).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
As of December 2019, Euronext owns an 11.1% share in LCH SA.
As part of its acquisition of the Italian Bourse in 2021, Euronext obtained the multi-asset clearing house Cassa di Compensazione e Garanzia S.p.A. (CC&G). CC&G was renamed Euronext Clearing.
Corporate services
Template:Main Euronext Corporate Services (ECS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Euronext. Founded in 2016, ECS provides solutions and services to more than 4,000 organisations, ranging from corporates to the public sector.
It has acquired a number of companies, including Company Webcast (webcasting)Template:Cn, iBabs (board portal),<ref name="ibabs.com">Template:Cite web</ref> InsiderLog (compliance software)Template:Cn.
Financial information
| Year<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Revenue | EBITDA | Net result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | €458,5 | €225,4 | €118,2 |
| 2015 | €518,5 | €283,8 | €172,7 |
| 2016 | €496,4 | €283,9 | €197,0 |
| 2017 | €532,3 | €297,8 | €241,3 |
| 2018 | €615,0 | €354,3 | €216,0 |
| 2019 | €679,1 | €399,4 | €222,0 |
| 2020 | €884,3 | €520,0 | €315,5 |
| 2021 | €1298,7 | €752,8 | €413,3 |
| 2022 | €1418,8 | €861,6 | €437,8 |
| 2023 | €1474,7 | €864,7 | €555,3 |
| 2024 | €1626,9 | €1006,5 | €585,6 |
See also
- Bourse of Antwerp, the world's first financial exchange
- Economy of the European Union
- Euroclear
- List of European stock exchanges
- List of stock exchanges
References
External links
Template:Euronext topics Template:World Federation of Exchanges Template:Stock exchanges top 20 Template:CAC Next 20 companies Template:Authority control