How it started
EuropeanIssuers saw the light on 6 March 2008 when EALIC, the European Association of Listed Companies, and UNIQUE, the Union of Issuers Quoted in Europe, decided to join forces. For trade associations focusing at the European regulatory framework, it is important to have a large geographical coverage. The more member states are represented, the stronger their voice will be with the European institutions.
EuropeanIssuers now has that strong constituency.
EALIC and UNIQUE were not newcomers on the scene: both looked back on several years of activity of lobbying for listed companies:
EALIC was created in 2002 as a not for profit association by three national associations representing listed companies, namely VEUO from the Netherlands and AFEP and ANSA from France. After two years, in January 2005, EALIC decided to set up a permanent office in Brussels with a full time, experienced Secretary General and other staff. End December 2007, EALIC’s member base counted six national associations of listed companies, namely VEUO (Netherlands), ANSA and AFEP (France), ABSC-BVBV (Belgium), ASSONIME (Italy) and SEG (Poland) and some seventy leading publicly traded companies from these countries as well as from Portugal and Spain.
UNIQUE on the other hand was founded early 2003 as a network of national associations of listed companies. End December 2007, it grouped 9 associations from as many different European countries, who together represented the interests of c. 4,000 quoted companies (issuers) with more than 10,7 mill. employees and a capital stock of roughly 1.160 bill. € (Austria: Aktienforum; Bulgaria: Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association; Cyprus: SYDEK; Finland: Suomen Pörssisäätiö - Finnish Foundation for Share Promotion; France: Middlenext; Germany: Deutsches Aktieninstitut e.V.; Greece: The Union of Listed Companies; Switzerland: SwissHoldings; United Kingdom: The Quoted Companies Alliance).
