Press releases 2009

Xavier Rolet, London Stock Exchange’s Chief Executive, is today hosting a roundtable in Manchester, bringing together AIM companies and advisers from the region with senior management from the Exchange.  Xavier will then meet with Epistem plc, an AIM biotechnology company, at their laboratories in Manchester, before joining the North West Regional Advisory Group.

Speaking ahead of the AIM roundtable, Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive, London Stock Exchange Group, said:

“I am delighted to have the opportunity today to hear from local companies and advisers about their experience of our markets. In today’s challenging conditions for financial markets and business, keeping abreast of the latest developments in the market is more essential than ever, and forums such as this help us understand what we can do to support the companies on our markets. 

“We are committed to helping companies make the most of their AIM quotation, and are supporting the wider take-up of equity research, running a regional investor road show programme, and are continuing to urge the Government to give Venture Capital Trusts greater freedom in the investments they make in small cap companies”.

This morning’s roundtable will provide Xavier with the chance to meet with senior executives from four companies - Epistem plc from Manchester, Straight plc from Leeds, Vindon Healthcare plc from Rochdale and Zoo Digital plc from Sheffield - and five advisory firms - Brewin Dolphin Investment Banking, Shore Capital, Altium Capital Ltd, Hanson Westhouse and Evolution – and listen to their views on a broad range of AIM-related topics

Xavier will then travel to Epistem plc, where he will be given the opportunity to see the company’s research and development facilities.  The North West Regional Advisory Group will then provide Xavier with another forum to consider and debate Exchange initiatives with 14 local market participants.

AIM is the world’s most successful growth market, home to around 1450 companies, including 1156 UK-incorporated companies, which employ over 250,000 people.

Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of London Stock Exchange Group visits Epistem plc in Manchester

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For further information and photos of the event, please contact:

Alastair Fairbrother                           Press Office +44 (0)20 7797 1222

newsroom@londonstockexchange.com

Notes to editors

• About London Stock Exchange Group:

London Stock Exchange Group is Europe's leading diversified exchange business. It operates Europe's largest and most liquid equity market with over 500 member firms, holds the number one position in trading ETFs and securitised derivatives, and through its interest in MTS, is the leading platform for the trading of fixed income products. 

The London Stock Exchange itself is the world's most international exchange with nearly 700 overseas companies from over 70 countries on its markets. It has consolidated this position in the last three calendar years, having attracted 218 international companies which raised over £32 billion between them. These figures include international companies on AIM, the London Stock Exchange's growth market, which has grown to become the world's most successful market for small and medium sized enterprises.

Following its merger with Borsa Italiana in 2007, London Stock Exchange Group also now offers post-trade services such as netting, clearing and settlement on an efficient and competitive basis, and a comprehensive range of European bond trading services through MTS.