Press releases 2001

1 May 2001

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL
"GOING PUBLIC" CAMPAIGN IN IRELAND

techMARK and AIM showcased at Dublin Seminar

On May 1, 2001, The London Stock Exchange will bring a selection of its listed companies to meet Ireland's business community in the Berkeley Court Hotel. The "Going Public" seminar is designed to build awareness and understanding of London's technology and growth markets: techMARK and AIM among potential issuing companies in Ireland.

The seminar is part of a wider marketing programme aimed at non-UK companies, investors, intermediaries and issuers, which was launched by the London Stock Exchange in early March with a substantial pan-European advertising campaign.

techMARK and AIM are already established success stories in the UK. By meeting and speaking with senior representatives from the Exchange, as well as listed companies, Irish companies will gain a first-hand insight into the benefits of listing on techMARK, the dedicated international technology market, and AIM, the global market for young and growing companies.

The Dublin "Going Public" seminar, which will be attended by a number of Irish companies, will comprise a debate between a panel of five invited guests from companies that have gone through the IPO process at the London Stock Exchange.

These guests include: John Nagle, CEO, ITG Group plc; Elaine Coughlan , CEO, Parthus Technologies plc; Paul Williams, Financial Director, Maelor plc; Ian Miller, CEO, Parity Group plc; J. Charles Halle, CFO, Vocalis Group plc.

Martin Wheatley, Deputy Chief Executive at the London Stock Exchange, commented: "By bringing some of our leading technology companies to Dublin we aim to demonstrate first-hand the competitive advantages of listing in London."

London is already home to the largest pool of international investment capital (IR2.3 trillion / EUR 2.8 trillion), with an unparalleled depth of supporting services including Europe's largest concentration of equity research analysts and specialist financial media. The Exchange itself is the world's most international equity market, both in terms of liquidity (annual international turnover of IR4.4 trillion / EUR 5.5 trillion) and number of companies (over 500 from 60 different countries).

Tim Ward, Head of Issuer Services and Institutions at the London Stock Exchange, who is hosting the Seminar, added: "London's markets are mature markets, driven by long term interest rather than speculation. Not only did we see new companies raise IR7544 million (EUR 9535 million) through IPOs on AIM and techMARK last year, but critically AIM and techMARK companies raised IR7619 million (EUR 9630 million) through further issues in 2000. This clearly demonstrates the longer term approach that prevails on our markets, which gives unrivalled stability and liquidity, making techMARK and AIM all the more attractive to issuing companies."

The "Going Public" seminars will take place in Dublin, Amsterdam (14 May), Stockholm (17 May), Munich (21 May), Milan (7 June), Paris (11 June) and Zurich (13 June). They follow investor roadshows, which took place in Zurich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris in March and April 2001. The programme of activity being undertaken by the Exchange will target Israel, India and Japan in the months ahead.

For further information, please contact:

Notes to Editors:

• For more information including statistics, see our Fact Sheet or visit: http://www.londonstockexchange.com/tech2001

   

• At the end of March 2001 there were a total of 70 Irish companies on the London Stock Exchange's markets, of which 5 were on techMARK and 7 on AIM.

   

• After completing the initial phases of the European campaign, the Exchange intends to extend the campaign reach globally with initial emphasis on markets with a high concentration of growth companies such as Israel, India and Japan

   

• About techMARK:
  techMARK is the London Stock Exchange's international market for innovative technology companies, which draws together companies of all sizes and from all industrial sectors which share a dependence on technological innovation as the driver of their business success. techMARK was launched in November 1999 and now comprises 245 companies, 12 of them from outside the UK.

   

• About AIM:
  AIM is the London Stock Exchange's global market for young and growing companies from all over the world. Since it was set up in 1995, over 850 companies have used AIM as a vehicle for growth - more than IR7.8bn (EUR 9.8bn) has been raised on the market.