20 years of STAR: STAR Conference 2021

20 years of STAR: record numbers at the STAR Conference 2021 and a focus on sustainability themes

‒ Borsa Italiana celebrates 20 years of the STAR segment, created in 2001 with the aim of promoting excellent Small & Mid Cap firms amongst Italian and foreign investors

‒ From 23 to 25 March 2021, 65 STAR companies will come together in about 2,800 meetings with more than 320 investors representing 184 investment houses, 61% of which are foreign

‒ Since its creation in 2003, the FTSE Italia STAR index has recorded a performance of 495% (data as of 22 March 2021)

‒ This year, ESG themes will be at the centre of initiatives dedicated to STAR companies

The 20th edition of the STAR Conference gets going today and will run until 25 March. Also this year in a digital version, the conference is dedicated to bringing together companies listed on the STAR segment with Italian and international investors.

About 2,800 meetings have been organised for the 65 STAR companies present with more than 320 investors representing 184 investment houses, 61% of which are foreign (France 16%, Switzerland 8%, UK 14%, Germany 10%, Spain 4%, North America 3%, other 6%) and with more than 70 analysts.

The STAR Conference will have numerous speeches of financial analysts and experts regarding the market context as well as an examination of trends and performance of listed companies which will also be available for consultation on a dedicated section of the Borsa Italiana website.

Created in 2001 with the aim of promoting excellent Small & Mid Cap firms, today the STAR segment includes 76 listed companies with overall capitalisation equal to about 50 billion euros and total capital raised, over 20 years, of around 10 billion euros through listing or subsequent capital increases.

Since 2001, STAR has been synonymous with information transparency, liquidity of securities and good governance: the three pillars that form the foundation of the best practice proposal designed to give visibility to listed Italian medium-sized companies and to attract international investors.

The significant presence of international investors in the capital of STAR companies is confirmed: 87% of the share of capital held by institutional investors is represented by foreign investors. In order of Market Value per geographical area: continental Europe 35%, North America 28%, UK 16%, Italy 13%, Nordic Countries 7%, other 1%.

There are 16 represented sectors. In order of Market Cap, the main ones are: Industrial Goods & Services, Financial Services, Health Care and Technology.

Since its creation in 2003, the FTSE Italia STAR index has achieved a performance of 495% (data as of 22 March 2021).

In the year that marks the 20th anniversary of STAR, Borsa Italiana has launched a course of in-depth analysis on ESG themes with the companies, aimed at encouraging STAR firms to be protagonists amongst small & mid cap businesses.

"Since 2001, STAR has been synonymous with transparency, liquidity, good governance and entrepreneurial excellence both in the financial community as well as in the business community. STAR companies represent the excellences of the entrepreneurial fabric of our country, the engine that, especially in a complex moment at the macroeconomic level like the current one, can play a fundamental role in redesigning post-pandemic economic scenarios. Over the last 20 years, STAR has proven to be the ideal environment to be able to realise growth ambitions at the global level also thanks to the strong presence of international investors. With the STAR Conference, a key appointment in the agenda of the national and international financial community, Borsa Italiana wants to encourage dialogue between companies, investors, and the financial community to consolidate existing relations and to attract new pools of liquidity."

The companies from the STAR segment that are participating in the Conference are:

ABITARE IN - AEROPORTO DI BOLOGNA - ALKEMY - AQUAFIL - ARNOLDO MONDADORI EDITORE - ASCOPIAVE - AVIO - B&C SPEAKERS - BANCA IFIS - BB BIOTECH - BE -BIESSE

CAIRO COMMUNICATION - CAREL INDUSTRIES - CELLULARLINE - CEMBRE - CEMENTIR HOLDING - D'AMICO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - DATALOGIC - DEA CAPITAL- EL.EN.

ELICA - EMAK - EQUITA GROUP - ESPRINET - EUROTECH - F.I.L.A. - FALCK RENEWABLES

FIERA MILANO - GEFRAN - GRUPPO MUTUIONLINE - GUALA CLOSURES - IGD SIIQ – ILLIMITY BANK - IRCE-ISAGRO - ITALMOBILIARE - LA DORIA - LANDI RENZO - MARR

MONDO TV - NEODECORTECH - NEWLAT FOOD - OPENJOBMETIS - ORSERO - PHARMANUTRA - PIOVAN - PRIMA INDUSTRIE - RENO DE MEDICI - REPLY - RETELIT

SABAF - SAES GETTERS - SANLORENZO - SERVIZI ITALIA - SESA - SICIT GROUP

SOGEFI - TAMBURI INVESTMENT PARTNERS - TESMEC - TINEXTA - TXT E-SOLUTIONS

UNIEURO - WIIT - ZIGNAGO VETRO

Contributors to the organisation of the Virtual STAR Conference 2021 meetings – Spring Edition: Alantra, Banca Akros, Banca Finnat, Bestinver, BPER Banca, CFO SIM, Equita, Exane BNP Paribas, Intermonte, Intesa Sanpaolo – Divisione IMI Corporate & Investment Banking, Kepler Cheuvreux, Mediobanca, Stifel.

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