Nottingham, UK, 02 MARCH 2015 – The volume and value of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) on London’s junior market increased last year as SMEs sought funding for growth, according to data from global information services company Experian.
There were 75 IPO transactions on London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) AIM last year worth a total of £2.5 billion, an increase in value of 134 per cent on 2013.
IPOs on AIM provide an opportunity for SMEs to seek growth funding, while the increased activity will also encourage business owners looking for an alternative to a sale.
Wholesale and Retail was the most active sector, contributing 41 per cent to the overall value of transactions, followed by Manufacturing (34 per cent) and the Information and Communication sector (24 per cent). Finance and Insurance services was the third most active sector on London’s junior market in 2013, contributing 30 per cent of the value, but only ranked in fifth place last year, accounting for 12 per cent of the total transaction value.
The volume and value of IPOs on the LSE’s main market also increased last year. The number of IPOs went up by 43 per cent from 40 to 57, while the total value rose to £12 billion, up 12 per cent on the £10.6 billion recorded in 2013. This was the highest level of volume and value recorded on London’s main market since 2007. Large IPOs worth more than £100 million dominated the main market, and private equity investors were involved in 20 of the large transactions, accounting for £7 billion of the total.
Financial and Insurance services was the most active sector on the London Stock Exchange last year, raising £5.5 billion through 39 deals, followed by the Wholesale and Retail sector, which completed 32 transactions worth £5.5 billion combined, while the Information and Communication sector completed 27 transactions worth £3.3 billion.
Wendy Driver, Business Development Manager at Experian UK&I, said: “The growing number of IPOs on the AIM suggests smaller businesses are increasingly considering listing as an option to secure the funding they need to take their company to the next level. Business owners may be curious about what their company could be floated for and should look back at IPOs of companies similar in size and sector in previous years to decide whether it’s an option they wish to explore further.”
Top tips for companies preparing for an IPO:
Download the ‘IPO Transactions 2014 – European Overview Deal Volume and Value’ report here. It includes additional information on the accountants, brokers, legal and financial companies who advised on the IPOs on the LSE.
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Notes to the editor:
Data has been compiled based on any announced or completed Initial Public Offering, which was announced between the dates of January 1st 2014 and December 31st, 2014 on European Stock Exchanges.
Experian Corpfin covers all IPO transactions with any deal value, with values converted from local currencies to GB£ using the exchange rates from 1st of the month that the transaction was announced. Deals with undisclosed consideration are also included.
AIM is the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller, growing companies. Both early stage and established companies use join AIM to access growth capital. The main market is for larger businesses.
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We are the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to our clients around the world. We help businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. We also help people to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft. In 2014, we were named by Forbes magazine as one of the ‘World’s Most Innovative Companies’.
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