Press releases 2001

05 March 2001

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE LAUNCHES MAJOR INTERNATIONAL MARKETING INITIATIVE

Delivering on its commitment to further internationalise its markets, Clara Furse, Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange today launches the first phase of a major international promotion of its techMARK and AIM markets.

As a precursor to greater international participation in these markets, the Exchange will be engaged in a combination of advertising, investor roadshows and Going Public seminars, which aim to build awareness and understanding of these markets.

Carrying the strapline 'Power to your thinking', the initiative begins with advertisements appearing in the UK, continental European and pan-European media including national newspapers, financial trade and online media. These advertisements feature innovative companies such as AIM-quoted Minorplanet Systems and techMARK-listed Antisoma plc and Autonomy plc.

During March and April, the Exchange will host a series of investor roadshows in key European financial centres, presenting a selection of companies from technology sectors on techMARK and AIM to fund managers and equity analysts. Subsequently, the Exchange will hold a number of events for issuers promoting the merits of joining techMARK and AIM and explaining innovations that will broaden access to those markets for international companies.

Commenting on the initiative, Clara Furse said: "The London Stock Exchange is committed to increasing international participation in its markets. This means more international issuers, more international intermediaries and more international investors. Repositioning AIM and techMARK is an integral part of that process.

"This initiative is a clear example of the London Stock Exchange actively supporting technology companies already listed here while also investing in our future as a premier international market."

London is already home to the largest pool of international investment capital (around 1.8 trillion/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 3.5 trillion/5.4 trillion) and number of companies (over 500 from 60 different countries). Internationalising AIM and techMARK is a logical extension of this that will augment that position, to the benefit of all market participants.

After completing this initial phase of the European marketing programme, the Exchange intends to extend the reach of the campaign globally with an initial emphasis on markets with high concentrations of growth companies, such as Israel, India and Japan.

For more information, visit:
www.londonstockexchange.com/tech2001

Notes to Editors

London Stock Exchange in Europe:
Investor roadshows will be held in Zurich (26 March), Frankfurt (29 March), Amsterdam (24 April) and Paris (26 April). These will be followed by Going Public seminars in Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Dublin, Stockholm, Milan and Munich in May and June 2001. The initiative will target Israel, India and Japan thereafter.

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 246 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 6.2bn (9.7bn) has been raised on the market.