The number of international companies on AIM, the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller, growing companies, reached 100 for the first time today with the admission of two new companies to the market.

The latest milestone was reached with the admissions of Circle Oil plc, a resources company based in the Republic of Ireland, and eServGlobal Ltd, an Australian technology company providing services to the telecommunications industry. eServGlobal Ltd used the ‘fast-track’ Designated Markets admission route.

So far this year, 44 international companies have joined AIM raising a total of £301 million. Excluding the UK, fourteen countries are now represented on AIM across 20 sectors and 28 sub-sectors.

Martin Graham, Head of AIM, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Circle Oil plc and eServGlobal Ltd to AIM. Exceeding 100 international companies for the first time emphasises the appeal of AIM, which continues to attract international companies from across a wide range of industries. AIM provides an effective way for international companies to access London’s equity markets, liquidity and respected regulatory standards.”

During the first nine months of 2004 a total of 237 companies (UK and International) joined AIM. The total amount of money raised by companies on AIM during the same period was over £2.9 billion. Of the 237 admissions in 2004, 157 were IPOs.

Since its launch in June 1995, companies on AIM have raised a total of £13.3 billion. The total market capitalisation of AIM at the end of September 2004 was £25.5 billion.

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Notes to editors:

About AIM:
AIM is the world’s most successful international market for young and growing companies. Launched in 1995, currently there are 952 AIM companies.

From January 2004 to the end of September 2004 a total of 237 new companies joined AIM, raising over £1.75 billion in total. In 2003, 162 new companies joined AIM, including 66 IPOs, with AIM alone accounting for 60% of all IPOs in Western Europe.

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