1 October 2018

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF EXCHANGES & ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE LAUNCH GENERAL ASSEMBLY & ANNUAL MEETING IN ATHENS

Athens, Monday 1 October 2018 - The World Federation of Exchanges ("WFE"), the global industry group for exchanges and CCPs, and Athens Stock Exchange, today rang the opening bell at the exchange to formally launch the WFE's General Assembly & Annual Meeting (2-4 October, Athens).

Athens Stock Exchange is hosting the event, which will see more than 300 delegates gather for the WFE Annual Meeting, with a public programme of 14 speeches and panel sessions, in addition to member-only sessions for the Working Committee & Board and the Federation's 58^th General Assembly.

Speakers at the two-day public conference will include: Steven Maijoor, Chair, European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA); Chris Leslie, Member of Parliament, Labour and Cooperative Party, UK Parliament; Tajinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO); Masamichi Kono, Deputy Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and Samara Cohen, Managing Director & Head of iShares Global Markets, BlackRock.

The event will also include one Fireside Chat with Arunma Oteh, Treasurer of the World Bank, in conversation with Nandini Sukumar, CEO, WFE; and another with William Coen, Secretary General, Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, Bank for International Settlement (BIS), in conversation with Edward Tilly, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Cboe Global Markets.

Nandini Sukumar, CEO, WFE said: "The WFE would like to thank Athens Stock Exchange for its warm welcome and hospitality as the global leaders of the exchange and CCP industry meet in this historic city for the 58^th WFE General Assembly & Annual Meeting. Over the coming days we will debate the great issues impacting not only the market infrastructure industry, but the world more widely, such as Brexit and sustainability.  Part of our discussions will also focus on the key role of markets in driving renewal.  We are therefore delighted to be in Greece at this moment in time, as we simultaneously look back over the past decade of reform since the great financial crisis, and look ahead to a future of renewal."

Socrates Lazaridis, CEO, Athens Stock Exchange said: "Athens Stock Exchange is honored to host the 58^th WFE General Assembly & Annual Meeting in Athens, and on behalf of the ATHEX team I would like to thank the WFE for choosing Greece to accommodate this event. As sustainable growth is paramount for the future of our country, we are delighted to offer the opportunity to our local ecosystem to hear from the policymakers and our distinguished speakers on the key role of the capital markets in a rapidly challenging and competitive environment. At the same time, it is a great opportunity to exchange and share ideas and experiences with our colleagues on the financing of SMEs through capital markets for the implementation of their business plans, and the preservation and strengthening of their leading role to guarantee transparency, corporate governance and sustainable development."

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Photos of the event
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Giorgos Hantzinikolaou, Chairman of the Athens Exchange Group Socrates Lazaridis, CEO, Athens Stock Exchange Nandini Sukumar, CEO, WFE Rashid Al Mansoori, CEO, Qatar Stock Exchange Sunil Benimadhu, CEO, Mauritius Stock Exchange Dr. Pakorn Peetathawatchai, President, SET Dr. Urs Ruegsegger, Chairman, SIX Swiss Exchange		Dr. Urs Ruegsegger, Chairman, SIX Swiss Exchange Sunil Benimadhu, CEO, Mauritius Stock Exchange Giorgos Hantzinikolaou, Chairman of the Athens Exchange Group Nandini Sukumar, CEO, WFE Dr. Pakorn Peetathawatchai, President, SET Rashid Al Mansoori, CEO, Qatar Stock Exchange Socrates Lazaridis, CEO, Athens Stock Exchange
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Established in 1961, the WFE is the global industry association for exchanges and clearing houses. Headquartered in London, it represents over 200 market infrastructure providers, including standalone CCPs that are not part of exchange groups. Of our members, 36.8% are in Asia-Pacific, 42.6% in EMEA and 20.6% in the Americas.  WFE exchanges are home to nearly 45,000 listed companies, and the market capitalisation of these entities is over $82.5 trillion; around $81.8 trillion (EOB) in trading annually passes through the infrastructures WFE members safeguard (at end 2017).

The WFE is the definitive source for exchange-traded statistics, and publishes over 350 market data indicators.  Its free statistics database stretches back more than 40 years, and provides information and insight into developments on global exchanges. The WFE works with standard-setters, policy makers, regulators and government organisations around the world to support and promote the development of fair, transparent, stable and efficient markets. The WFE shares regulatory authorities' goals of ensuring the safety and soundness of the global financial system.  

With extensive experience of developing and enforcing high standards of conduct, the WFE and its members support an orderly, secure, fair and transparent environment for investors; for companies that raise capital; and for all who deal with financial risk. We seek outcomes that maximise the common good, consumer confidence and economic growth. And we engage with policy makers and regulators in an open, collaborative way, reflecting the central, public role that exchanges and CCPs play in a globally integrated financial system.

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