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The London Stock Exchange AIM Market |
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Written by Investor Guru
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Friday, 22 August 2008 |
The London Stock Exchange AIM Market
AIM is the London Stock Exchange's international market for smaller growing companies. Businesses from around the world who are looking to raise capital and expand their operations list on AIM. These businesses range from young, investor-backed start-ups to well-established, mature organizations.
Since its launch in 1995, over 2,500 companies have joined AIM − raising more than Ł34bn (US$ 68bn) in the process, both through initial public offerings (IPOs) and further capital raisings. This capital has helped AIM-quoted companies of all kinds to fund their development and pursue their ambitions. Many companies have made the transition to the London Stock Exchange's Main Market (LSE) following their success and positive experience on AIM.
Why AIM is unique?
When the London Stock Exchange created AIM, the objective was to offer smaller companies − from any country and any industry sector − the chance to raise capital on a market with a pragmatic and appropriate approach to regulation. With this in mind, AIM was designed to be a highly flexible public market offering many unique attributes both for companies and investors.
To join AIM, companies do not need a particular financial track record or trading history. There is also no minimum requirement in terms of size or number of shareholders. This more flexible approach reflects the fact that AIM was designed specifically for smaller growing companies, and has helped AIM to become the leading global growth market. With this in mind, AIM was designed to provide a balanced regulatory regime offering many unique attributes both for companies and investors.
Who is involved in AIM?
AIM has a large, diverse and committed community of stakeholders, made up of various market participants. Specialist advisers are crucial to the market’s success, and range from dedicated Nominated Advisers (Nomads) who play a central role in the life of an AIM company, through to lawyers, accountants and brokers. Other important participants and stakeholders include investors, public relations (PR) and investor relations (IR) agencies who help companies join the market and make the most of their AIM quotation, and market committees and publishers focused on AIM and its companies.
International companies on AIM
AIM is the world’s most successful growth market and the international companies quoted on it benefit from being at the heart of global finance community. International companies come to AIM for a variety of reasons, but they all gain the same wealth of capital-raising opportunities by having their securities quoted and traded in London.
AIM is specially designed to meet for the diverse needs of growing companies from around the world. Over 250 companies incorporated outside the UK are quoted on AIM, and the number is continuing to rise all the time. This strong international interest reflects the fact that AIM presents an ideal environment for young international companies looking to use a public market to fund further expansion and raise their global profile.
Companies from all around the world, of all sizes, and at every stage of development are able to join AIM. As an Exchange-regulated market, it enables this wide spectrum of international businesses to tap into the capital, liquidity and profile of the London capital markets through a simple and speedy admission route, few entry criteria and flexible regulation.
The figures speak for themselves. Since 2005 through July 31, 2008 there have 1,344 admissions to AIM. The total amount of money raised, both through new and further issues, was Ł44.2 billion (US$ 88.4 billion)― and the total market value of overseas companies on AIM has leapt by 181.6% in the last 12 months alone.
International companies joining AIM gain a wide range of advantages, including:
-Quick and cost-effective access to the world’s largest and deepest pool of capital for investment in international companies
-A quotation on one of worlds the most liquid capital markets for trading in the shares of small and growing international companies
-A higher profile among London’s unrivalled community of investment analysts specializing in sectors and regions worldwide
-Promotion of the company’s image and brand on an international scale among UK and European consumers and clients
-Support and advice from a dedicated team created to help international companies join AIM
-A flexible and responsive system of regulation specially geared to the needs of smaller and growing international companies.
To find out more about AIM, or discuss the opportunities offered by AIM please Contact one the AIM relationship managers or take a look at the AIM frequently asked questions section.
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