London Stock Exchange Group’s new platform for public companies, investor relations professionals, institutional investors and brokers goes live

• New digital platform for public companies, intermediaries and institutional investors
• ELITE Connect designed to simplify & lower cost of investor relations
• Beta testing with selected participants successfully completed
• Platform now open to accept new participants worldwide

LONDON, 26-11-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) today announces the go-live of ELITE Connect, its new platform for a wide range of market participants including public companies, investor relations professionals, institutional investors and brokers.

ELITE Connect is a unique open access technology platform allowing participants to efficiently engage in investor relations activity, manage local and worldwide IR relationships and discover global business opportunities. Its social network functionality allows users to connect easily and companies to find new investors worldwide, streamlining investor relations activity, saving time and costs.

For investors and intermediaries, the platform is an innovative marketing tool, allowing increased visibility and access to companies.

A six month beta testing phase with major listed European companies, investors and brokers has been successfully completed.

From today new participants can sign up to the platform at: www.elite-connect.com

ELITE Connect features include:

• A digital ‘meeting room’, with easy to use video conference technology, document sharing and note taking facilities
• A tailored participant profile page and set of social networking functionalities
• A company and investor search function, with advanced filters allowing searches on company, size, location and industry
• A fully embedded calendar to coordinate availability and schedule meetings between users

Xavier Rolet, CEO, LSEG, said:
“For over 200 years, we have been grounded in an unshakeable commitment to building markets based on transparency and trust. Now that new technologies are fundamentally impacting the way people interact and communicate, London Stock Exchange Group is offering a new solution that allows financial market participants to be the first movers in a rapidly changing environment.”

Raffaele Jerusalmi, CEO, Borsa Italiana, Director of Capital Markets, LSEG, said:
“We think there is a tremendous opportunity for a modern, digital approach to Investor Relations which offers companies, investors and intermediaries greater opportunities to engage and enhance visibility in a cost effective manner. After positive feedback during beta testing, we are excited to see how all users will adapt and shape ELITE Connect to their needs.

“Participants understand the power of ELITE Connect. It has the ability to unite people across the globe, making investor relations more efficient, more international and more valuable for all parties.”

Harriett Baldwin MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said:
“Digital initiatives like ELITE Connect are an innovative way of helping companies grow through greater and more efficient contact with investors. The UK is a world leader in FinTech and harnessing the power of technology to connect companies and finance is crucial to boosting productivity and economic growth. I’m delighted to see London Stock Exchange Group is bringing together the global business and investment community to give companies more tools to access new opportunities across the globe so they can innovate, grow and create jobs.”

Francesco Starace, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, ENEL SpA said:
“Elite Connect is a great example of how to leverage on technological innovation to reach new frontiers of engagement, opening new business opportunities, reaching new investors across all geographies and creating connections in a fast and efficient way. This is well aligned with Enel Group’s overall digitalization strategy.”

Alex Bolis, Head of Investor Relations, Telecom Italia said:
“The progress of technology is tangible among our customers as well as our investors. A pan-European platform is a good way of fostering growth and providing services to a qualified business community.”

John Gollifer, General Manager, IR Society said:
“In many ways, the use of digital investor communications is creating a more level playing field by enabling companies to extend their reach to existing and new target audiences, while at the same time potentially offering a more tailored solution to meet the needs of a larger and discerning audience, equally equipped with online tools.”

Further information on ELITE Connect can be found at:  www.elite-connect.com or please email eliteconnect@lseg.com

– Ends –

For further information:

Media

Alexandra Ritterman

+44 (0)20 7797 1222

newsroom@lseg.com

Notes to editors:

About London Stock Exchange Group:

London Stock Exchange Group (LSE.L) is a diversified international market infrastructure and capital markets business sitting at the heart of the world’s financial community. The Group can trace its history back to 1698.

The Group operates a broad range of international equity, bond and derivatives markets, including London Stock Exchange; Borsa Italiana; MTS, Europe’s leading fixed income market; and Turquoise, a pan-European equities MTF. It is also home to one of the world’s leading growth markets for SMEs, AIM. Through its platforms, the Group offers international business and investors unrivalled access to Europe’s capital markets.

Post trade and risk management services are a significant part of the Group’s business operations. In addition to majority ownership of multi-asset global CCP operator, LCH.Clearnet Group, LSEG operates CC&G, the Italian clearing house; Monte Titoli, the T2S-ready European settlement business; and globeSettle, the Group’s newly established CSD based in Luxembourg.

The Group is a global leader in indexing and analytic solutions. FTSE Russell offers thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets around the world. The Group also provides customers with an extensive range of real time and reference data products, including SEDOL, UnaVista, and RNS.

London Stock Exchange Group is a leading developer of high performance trading platforms and capital markets software for customers around the world. Currently, over 40 organisations and exchanges use the Group’s MillenniumIT trading, surveillance and post trade technology, including the Group’s own markets.

Headquartered in London, with significant operations in North America, Italy, France and Sri Lanka, the Group employs approximately 4,700 people.

Further information on London Stock Exchange Group can be found at www.lseg.com

SOURCE: London Stock Exchange Group plc.