Press releases 2004

15 March 2004

AIM Journalist of the Year 2004

The London Stock Exchange and Baker Tilly are looking for entries for AIM Journalist of the Year, which carries a £5,000 cash prize. AIM™ is the London Stock Exchange's international market for young and growing companies.

The award will be presented on 18 June 2004 to journalists who have made outstanding contributions to AIM-focused financial journalism over the last twelve months.

The award is split into four categories: National press, Regional press, Business magazines and Specialist AIM publications. The winner of each category will receive a £1000 cash prize. One overall winner, the AIM Journalist of the Year, will be chosen and will receive a further £4000, bringing total prize money for the AIM Journalist to £5000.

Journalists are invited to submit up to five pieces of work on AIM-related issues, including new companies admitted to AIM, features, reports on AIM companies and general coverage on the market.

Last year's winner was Andrew Hore, investment correspondent at ShareCast, published by Durlacher. This year Andrew will join the panel of judges, which includes representatives from Baker Tilly, London Stock Exchange, Seymour Pierce and Williams de Broë. The judges will look for entries that are professional, accurate and that offer an incisive, original view of AIM, allied with excellent research and written skills.

Martin Graham, Head of AIM at the London Stock Exchange said, "We are delighted to co-sponsor this annual award which extols excellent financial journalism to encourage further coverage of the smaller companies on AIM. The quality and quantity of last year’s entries was excellent. With a wider range of categories this year, we hope that even more financial journalists will be encouraged to submit their work for the AIM Journalist of the Year."

Chilton Taylor, corporate finance partner at Baker Tilly, and AIM specialist said, "AIM offers businesses around the world the opportunity to develop and expand. We hope that this award inspires excellent financial journalism and helps to raise awareness in the business community of the superb opportunities an AIM quotation brings."

Interested journalists should submit a selection of work (maximum five items) by 7 May 2004 to: Teresa Corcoran, Baker Tilly, 2 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3ST or e-mail: teresa.corcoran@bakertilly.co.uk

JOURNALIST ENQUIRIES

Teresa Corcoran
Baker Tilly
Direct Line: 020 7413 5430

Jamin Smith
London Stock Exchange
Direct Line: 020 7797 1222

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Judges will score on 5 key criteria

1. Outstanding writing/presenting ability
2. Depth and breadth of research
3. A unique approach which enhances awareness and understanding of AIM and/or AIM companies
4. Professionalism
5. Accuracy

Each criterion carries a maximum of 5 points, making it possible to earn a total of 25.

Journalists should submit a selection of their work in writing (max. of 5 items) to:

Teresa Corcoran
Baker Tilly
2 Bloomsbury Street
London, WC1B 3ST
teresa.corcoran@bakertilly.co.uk

Closing dates for entries: 7  May 2004

Memorandum of Understanding and Competition Rules

1. This competition is promoted by London Stock Exchange plc (Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HP) in conjunction with Baker Tilly (2 Bloomsbury Street, London, WC1B 3ST) (together the "Promoters").
2. The competition is split into four categories: National press, Regional press, Business Magazines and Specialist AIM publications. The winner of each category will receive a £1000 cash prize.  From the winners of these categories, one overall winner, the AIM Journalist of the Year, will be chosen. The winner will receive a further £4000.
3. The award will be given for the most outstanding journalist contributions over the preceding twelve months to awareness and understanding of the Alternative Investment Market, its constituent companies and to new listings.
4. The competition is open to journalists working in the UK in print, broadcast and online journalism. Each entrant may submit up to five pieces of work.
5. The deadline for entries will be 7 May 2004.
6. The preferred language for entries to be submitted is English. Entries submitted in other languages should be submitted as early as possible to allow time for translation.
7. Entries are to be sent to:  Teresa Corcoran, Baker Tilly, 2 Bloomsbury Street, London, WC1B 3ST (teresa.corcoran@bakertilly.co.uk)
8. The entries will be collated and given to the judges to review all at the same time.  All entries and the name of the winners will remain confidential until the official announcement of winners.
9. No responsibility will be accepted for entries that are lost, delayed or incomplete.
10. The panel of judges will consist of representatives from the following:
    - The London Stock Exchange
    - Baker Tilly
    - Williams de Broë
    - Seymour Pierce
    - TBC
11. The judges will meet to select the winners during May.
12. A judge may not vote for any nominee with whom he or she is connected.  For these purposes, a person is connected if:
    - They work in the same organisation.
    - They are employees of the same company or group of companies.
    - They are under permanent, freelance or temporary contract to the same employer.
13. The judges’ decision is final.
14. The winner will be announced by the Promoters on 18 June 2004.
15. The winner of each category will receive a cheque for £1000. From these winners, an overall AIM Journalist of the Year will be chosen and win a further £4000, bringing the total to £5000. These may be liable to tax.
16. Only the winners will be contacted personally.
17. The Promoters reserve the right to modify these terms and condition and/or rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the competition.
18. The Promoters reserve the right to cancel the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in their opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of their control. In such an event, the Promoters shall have not liability to any entrants.
19. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering the competition.
20. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
21. The Promoters will not pass on an entrant’s personal details to any other organisation without that entrant’s permission except for the purposes of running this competition.
22. It is a condition of entry that all entrants agree to allow the use of their names for publicity purposes by or on behalf of the Promoters.

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