Poland's GPW Acquires 65% Stake in Armenia's Only Stock Exchange

The Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW), a stock exchange in Warsaw, Poland, has completed its 65.03% majority shares acquisition of the Armenia Securities Exchange (AMX), which is the only stock exchange in Armenia.

Marek Dietl, the President of the Management Board of the GPW, signed a share purchase agreement as the buyer of the exchange on Tuesday.

The agreement, which was signed in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, was ratified by the Central Bank of Armenia (CBoA) as the seller.

In addition, both parties signed a shareholders’ agreement for the acquisition.

Apart from GPW’s 65.3% controlling shares, CBoA owns 25.02% stake while AMX’s Treasury controls 9.95% shares in AMX.

The GPW Management Board in September 2020 signed an agreement with CBoA to launch negotiation on the acquisition.

Last month, GPW's Management and Supervisory Boards approved the exchange’s planned acquisition of the majority shares.

‘A Turning Point’

Dietl explained that GPW considers the acquisition as 'a long-term partnership'.

The President noted that the Polish exchange’s goal with the acquisition is to “recreate with joint efforts the capital markets of Armenia.”

Furthermore, he noted that the exchange wants to expand its business in the region.

“We firmly believe that this transaction lays new foundations in Polish-Armenian relations as a clear expression of the 700-year history of mutual trust and respect that binds our two nations,” Dietl said.

“Poland and the Warsaw Stock Exchange are helping Armenia to build economic relations with the West in small steps,” he added.

Martin Galstyan, the Governor of CBoA, described the acquisition as “a turning point in the chronicles of capital markets in Armenia.”

“Under the leadership of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, with their experience and knowledge, AMX has the full potential to expand and become the robust stock market ready to take up the challenges of the 21st century and lead the region,” Galstyan explained.