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The Alternative Investment Market (AIM)

The driving philosophy behind the AIM is to offer young and developing companies access to new sources of finance, while providing investors with the opportunity to buy and sell shares in a trading environment which is run, regulated and marketed by the LSE. Efforts are made to keep the costs down and make the rules as simple as possible.

There is a long-recognised need for equity capital by small, young companies which are unable to afford the costs of full listing. Many stock exchanges around the world have alternative equity markets that set less stringent rules and regulations for joining or remaining quoted (often called second-tier markets).

Lightly regulated markets have a continuing dilemma. If ...