Page 149 - Puissance Euro 1

Three out of four Merit Capital shareholders are intertwined with equestrianism in one way or another.147As a keen fan of equestrian sport Merit Capital is one of the main sponsors of Antwerp Jumping once again this year. ‘It is a passion,’ says Eric Thoelen, CEO of Merit Capital and president of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Antwerp.Who is Merit Capital?Merit Capital is an asset managing company. We operatein Belgium running five offices, in Antwerp, Deurle, Hasselt, Courtrai and Louvain. We are internationally represented in Zurich, Switzerland. Merit Capital has been active since 2000. The company is growing at a fast rate in its sector, but it is still a family business. Merit Capital is completely independ- ent.Which is Merit Capital’s link with the equestrian world?The equestrian sport is our passion. Since its foundation Merit Capital has been sponsoring various equestrian events such as Antwerp Jumping. Three out of four Merit Capital sharehold- ers are intertwined with equestrianism in one way or another. Jan Tops was a team gold medal winner for the Netherlands with his horse Top Gun la Silla at the Barcelona Olympics andremained at the top of international jumping with this horse for some ten years. Leo De Backer is a veterinary surgeon of international renown and as such attends to the equestrian teams of several countries at the Olympic Games. Jacky Buchmann is president of the Royal Belgian Equestrian Federation.What makes Antwerp Jumping so special?Last year we decided to put Antwerp Jumping on the Longines Global Cham- pions Tour calendar. This revived the event entirely. Being part of Longines Global Champions Tour ensured the participation of 24 of the best horse rid- ers of the whole world, which is unique already. Together with the prize money of more than € 700,000 and the Ant- werp city appeal it enhances the special character of Antwerp Jumping.