Athens, 20 January 2012

Cooperation between Athens Exchange and the University of Piraeus

Yesterday, January 18th, an event was successfully held at the University of Piraeus, during which the operation of the Athens Exchange, its products and services, the XNET platform as well as the possibility of cooperation between the university community and Athens Exchange were presented to students of the University.

The aim of this coordinated effort, which begun through the Education Department of the Group and will be extended to include other universities, is to strengthen the bonds with the institutions of higher learning in our country, the promotion of the exchange idea to college students, as well as the improvement of relations with those responsible for the practical trading programs at those universities, through the hosting of their students at the Hellenic Exchanges Group.

The Chairman of the Banking and Financial Management Department at the University of Piraeus, Professor Nicholas Apergis, stated on the occasion of this inaugural presentation at the University: "Today's event affirms the excellent level of cooperation of our Department with Athens Exchange (ATHEX), a cooperation that is confirmed through ATHEX?s unwavering support in the scholarship program of our Department. ATHEX is one of the two pillars (the other being the banking sector), through which the educational and research connection of our Department with market participants takes place. We are hopeful that our cooperation will not only continue, but expand.

The Department honestly believes that, either during smooth economic periods, but also during periods of economic turbulence, the capital market is the future of the financial improvement of the real economy. Thus, our students must be appropriately "armed" with their educational tools in order to take advantage of the capital market to fulfill their carrier goals. We welcome today's event and hope that it is the preamble of a creating and long term relationship."