More than 1,500 companies from across the globe are traded on AIM and represent a variety of industries, including information technology, leisure and hotels, healthcare and biotechnology stocks.
While there are no specific industry suitability requirements for companies seeking to be admitted to the AIM market, there are some key qualification criteria. The company must produce an admission document that gives potential investors information on, for example, directors, business activities and the company’s financial position.
The company must also get the support of a nominated adviser approved by the Stock Exchange. This adviser is responsible, amongst other duties, for ensuring the company is suitable for an AIM admission. Once the company has been admitted to AIM for two years it can seek admittance to the Main Market.
The introduction of the AIM market has enabled admitted companies to raise money from investors who, in turn, have the ability to invest in a wider range of companies. But investors must also recognise that the lighter regulation afforded these companies does make AIM a potentially riskier place to invest than the Main Market.
Click here to view all the companies admitted to AIM