22 March 2017
Opening of the trading session Wednesday March 22, 2017
Listing of the Corporate Bond of Organization of football games forecasts OPAP

The Athens Stock Exchange welcomed OPAP, in the ceremony of the Opening of the trading session of Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday, March 22, 2017, on the occasion of listing to trading in the Main Market of Athens Stock Exchange, of the Corporate Bond.

In total were disposed 200,000 ordinary bearer bonds of the Company, with nominal value of 1000 euro per bond, having as a result the funds raising of 200,000,000 euros. 

The issue was covered through Public Offering. Approximately 70% of the total of the issued bonds were allocated to Private Investors, while 30% to Qualified Investors.

Briefly, the data of the issuance of the Bond Loan are as follows: Ordinary Bond Loan, loan duration 5 years, number of bonds 200,000, nominal value 1000 euros per bond, price 1000 euros per bond, interest rate 3.50%. More information on the issuance can be found on the Athens Stock Exchange website at the link.

Coordinators Main Contractors were EUROBANK ERGASIAS BANK S.A. AND NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A. Contractors were EUROXX SECURITIES S.A., INVESTMENT BANK OF GREECE and PIRAEUS SECURITIES S.A. Issuance consultants were EUROBANK ERGASIAS S.A., NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A. and NBG SECURITIES S.A.

The bell for the opening of the trade session of Athens Stock Exchange rang the CEO of OPAP Mr Damian Cope.

During the ceremony of the Opening of the trading session, the Chairman of the Group of Athens Stock Exchange Mr. Iakovos Georganas, pointed out: "In Exchange Market today we feel great satisfaction that OPAP Organization had this achievement under bad conditions. We congratulate the company, the contractors, the securities companies and especially the investors.

Mr. Georganas continued, pointing out the "great importance of responsible management of the relations with the investors. All market factors we shall protect the operation of the statute of secondary market. Each investor shall find correspondence for information or any investment need he/she shall express."

The Chairman of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission Mr. Charalampos Gkotsis, on the listing of the corporate bond, stated: "The successful issuance of OPAP bond shows that the Greek market of corporate bonds takes shape gradually. Companies with good reviews have the possibility to take advantage of a new fund raising channel directly from the market. Remarkable is also the interest rate accepted by the investors, contributing to its disinflation and finally to the improvement of competition of Greek businesses."

OPAP CEO, Mr Damian Cope stated: "The issuance of our bong was very successful, as it was oversubscribed at least two times.  I believe this mirrors the high level of confidentiality shown both by statutory and private investors to OPAP, our vision for the company and our business plans serving our strategic goals. The bond has 5 years duration and 3.5% interest rate, which makes it attractive, given the current market circumstances and challenges. 

Guided by "2020 Vision" of OPAP and the clear strategic prospects serving it, this bond supports the important investment to the network of our agencies, the upgrade of our essential technology systems and infrastructure and the introduction of new products and services. We believe that all these together will create a real value for our company, clients and collaborators".

On the occasion of the admission to trading of the bonds of the company, the CEO of Athens Stock Exchange Mr. Sokratis Lazaridis, stated: "I shall thank the Administration of OPAP for being here today for the opening of trading session of corporate bond it issued, but mainly for the opportunity it gave to the Greek capital market to show that by acting jointly, its network has unlimited possibilities for funds raising, provided that the offered product exploits the offered infrastructure and mainly the abilities of its ecosystem."

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Opening Bell Ceremony of 22 March 2017
OPAP CEO, Mr Damian Cope
OPAP CEO, Mr Damian Cope and CEO of Athens Stock Exchange Mr. Sokratis Lazaridis

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Athens Exchange Group (ATHEX Group), provides support to the Greek Capital Market. ATHEX Group operates the organized Equities and Derivatves markets, the alternative market and performs clearing and settlement of trades.

The Athens Stock Exchange, through its markets, offers solutions and financing tools to businesses, expands investor choice by providing a safe, stable and easy environment in full alignment with international practices and the European regulatory framework.

In a period that the role of stock markets in exploring alternative ways of financing business, at a European level, is significantly enhanced, the Athens Exchange Group has taken a series of initiatives to highlight the attractiveness of the Greek Capital Market and the Greek companies to the international investment community and expand the variety of investment opportunities.

Its shares are traded on the Main Market of the Athens Exchange (Symbol: EXAE).

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