Euronext NV is expanding its alternative small cap market in Brussels and Amsterdam.

The exchange, which is being courted by the NYSE and Deutsche Borse, announced the effective launch of a new branch of its venture market, Alternext, in Brussels. It will open on June 20, with the admission of the company Evadix, a player in the fields of technological integration and e-business, printing, direct marketing production, and advanced logistics.

Alternext was launched in Paris a year ago and now lists 37 companies with a total market capitalization of almost €2 billion. Euronext says it has created this market as part of its long-standing commitment to provide small and mid-caps with appropriate solutions to their financing needs and further growth in a context of more stringent European regulatory environment on regulated markets.

Alternext is an exchange-regulated market with a lighter regulatory framework, offering small and mid-sized companies from any sector a simplified access to the capital markets, while ensuring investor protection and transparency and promoting liquidity.

“The launch of Alternext will complete the range of markets offered by Euronext Brussels,” said Olivier Lefebvre, member of the managing board and executive vice president of Euronext. “It has the ambition to become the reference market for small and medium sized companies. It will meet the needs of companies wanting to raise capital for their further development, while offering attractive opportunities for private and institutional investors to participate in financing growth.”

Also, the exchange announced that Alternext Amsterdam has been given the green light by the Dutch Ministry of Finance. It has granted a licence for the launch of Alternext Amsterdam, and the first listing is expected in the second half of 2006.

The launch of Alternext Amsterdam is broadly supported by the Dutch financial sector. The major Dutch investment banks (ABN Amro Rothschild, Fortis Bank, ING Bank, Kempen & Co, Rabobank and SNS Securities) as well as Amsterdams Effecten Kantoor and First Dutch Capital agreed to advise and support companies seeking a listing on Alternext and therefore will act as a listing sponsor.