AIM

Since its inception in 1995, the Alternative Investment Market has made roughly £24 billion for more than 2500 companies. This makes it one of the most successful growth markets in the world. AIM is able to operate more freely than the Main Market due to less regulations and no requirements for capitalization or number of shares issued. Some of these companies have grown and moved onto the Main Market, but in the last few years more companies have transferred to AIM from the Main Market because AIM’s investors receive substantial tax advantages.

Due to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the United States, which put heavy regulatory costs on companies, AIM’s low regulatory burden has attracted many international companies.