Courtesy of the Thames Valley Business Magazine
July/August 2011.
It has become increasingly commonplace for commentators to cast
doubt on the effectiveness of the AIM market. Since the start of
the current financial turmoil, prior to which the number of new
entrants to the market boomed, there has been a significant slump
in primary issues and fundraisings on AIM. This has of course
coincided with a downturn in the global economy and the resulting
drain on the cash available for investment in the UK, but does the
problem run deeper than that?
When AIM was launched in 1995 it sought to provide a platform
for smaller and growing companies, providing them with liquidity
and access to capital on a global scale. This made AIM a very
popular choice for small and medium sized companies looking for
growth and for investors looking for an exit route. Over the last
15 years the success of the AIM market has shown why it is
important to have a strong, functioning junior
