| 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers is the world’s largest professional services organisation. More than 120,000 people in 139 countries connect their thinking, experience and solutions to build public trust and enhance value for clients and their stakeholders.
We provide assurance, tax and advisory services to leading global, national and local companies and public institutions. Our services include audit; mergers & acquisitions, business recovery, project finance and litigation support; human resource consulting; tax and legal services.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is one of the UK’s foremost advisers to AIM listed companies and we are proud to have around 80 AIM companies within our client base. We offer dedicated corporate finance expertise in London, throughout the UK, across continental Europe and around the world. Our corporate finance practice is firmly committed to the public company advisory market where our experience is extensive. We advise on all aspects of corporate finance, including Official List and AIM flotations, takeover offers and defences, acquisitions, disposals, management and institutional buy-outs, valuation services, privatisation and PFI advice. We deliver quality services through the effective integration of skills in multi-disciplinary teams, drawing upon our extensive industry experience.
www.pwc.com
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is one of the world's leading equity exchanges and a provider of services that facilitate the raising of capital and the trading of shares.
Through the Exchange, companies can access London's substantial and diverse investor base, which represents the largest pool of capital globally.
AIM is the world’s leading market for smaller, growing companies from all over the world. Since its launch in 1995, over 1,500 companies have chosen to join AIM, creating a unique community of innovative and entrepreneurial companies. AIM’s success is built on a simplified regulatory environment which has been specifically designed for the needs of smaller companies.
On AIM you will find a wide range of companies from young, venture capital-backed businesses to more established businesses looking to expand. In 2004, a total of £2.7 billion has been raised and already 211 companies have been admitted to AIM including 29 international companies.
AIM is an integral part of the Exchange’s portfolio of markets and we will continue to promote and develop the market to the benefit of all its users.
If you would like more information please contact us on 020 7797 1000 or visit our website at www.londonstockexchange.com
AIM is a trademark of London Stock Exchange plc.
1.
Best Performing Share
Teather and Greenwood | http://www.teathers.com
Teather & Greenwood is an independent UK quoted stockbroker with a focus
on providing Corporate Finance & Broking services to UK small & mid-cap
companies. It has a dedicated smaller company analyst team in addition
to 11 industry sector analysts.
Teather & Greenwood has been a significant supporter of AIM since its
inception. Currently, we act for 52 AIM companies from a broad range of
sectors, which include Retail, Media, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology,
Electronic & Electrical Equipment, Speciality & Other Finance, Software &
Computer Services, Household Goods & Textiles, Beverages and Leisure & Hotels.
If you would like to discuss our services, contact Christopher Hardie/Jeff
Keating Tel: 020 7426 9000.
2. Best Communication
Sponsored by S J Berwin | http://www.sjberwin.com/
Since its establishment in 1982, the fundamental objective of SJ Berwin has been to provide outstanding legal advice in a dynamic environment. We take pride in our ability to devise innovative and commercially viable solutions to complex problems. We understand our clients' businesses and are always willing to challenge orthodox views. We operate in an open, accessible and fast-moving atmosphere that promotes progressive thinking and a creative approach to meeting our clients' needs. These skills and values have driven our success, and we are proud to have helped our clients to achieve their business goals through original, practical thinking.
Working from Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Munich, and Paris, the firm has the resources to handle major cross-border transactions, and has gained a reputation as a leading European firm in many fields including AIM, private equity, funds, M&A and MBOs. In fact, in the first half of 2004, we advised on more European buyouts that completed than any other law firm in the world. We are proud of our long-standing association with the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, and are delighted to have had another active year in the field.
3. Best Use of AIM
Sponsored by Winterflood Securities
Limited | http://www.wins.co.uk/
4. Best Technology
Sponsored by John East and Partners
Limited | http://www.johneastpartners.com
John East & Partners Limited was established in 1984 and acquired by its management in January 1992. The company, which is a member of the London Stock Exchange, regulated by The Financial Services Authority and a Nominated Adviser and Sponsor, specialises in providing corporate finance advice and raising capital for smaller public companies, typically capitalised at less than £50m. The company aims to provide innovative thought, coupled with traditional professional service and to translate this into meeting the requirements of its clients. The team, whose executives have, in aggregate, over 110 years of corporate finance experience, believes in personal service and has a very real commitment to the smaller public company sector, which is so vital to the health of the economy. In short, John East & Partners believes that it can help its clients to succeed, grow and achieve their corporate objectives, by providing personal, professional and cost effective services, tailored to meet individual requirements.
The firm's clients seem to like this approach. As a result of their votes, the company was shortlisted in 2003 and 2004 for the Growth Company AIM Adviser of the Year award.
5. AIM Transaction of the Year
Sponsored by Seymour Pierce
Seymour Pierce is one of London’s leading small-mid cap brokers providing corporate broking and corporate finance services to smaller quoted companies. With around 120 retained corporate clients. Seymour Pierce is both the largest Nomad and Broker on AIM, representing about 12% of all AIM companies. It provides a full service in equity research, sales and trading, servicing institutional and private clients spanning both the quoted and private equity markets.
In 2003, Seymour Pierce completed its own management buy out, backed by Alchemy Partners. This created a vibrant, employee owned business with a particular focus on servicing the entrepreneurial business community. In 2004 Seymour Pierce has raised so far over £250m for corporate clients.
6. Best Research
Sponsored by Canaccord Capital (Europe) Limited
Canaccord Capital (Europe) Limited was established in London in 1993 and is
a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada's largest independent investment firm,
Canaccord Capital Corporation. Canaccord is an approved Nominated Adviser
and Broker for AIM, a Sponsor and member of the London Stock Exchange, and a
registered stock broker. We offer a specialised range of investment banking
services including corprate finance and advisory services, focused equity
research, an institutional sales force with pan-European reach and
international trading. We also offer European companies exposure to North
American institutions through our 1,200 employees in 26 Canadian offices.
Specialising in small and mid-cap companies, we are committed to
establishing a strong partnership with each client to achieve long-term
corporate goals. Our competitive advantage lies in Canaccord's in-depth
knowledge and proven track record of equity financing and advisory services
across our chosen focus sectors: mining and metals, oil and gas, life
sciences and technology/media. Canaccord is a recognised leader across
these sectors and is able to offer our clients a unique perspective on the
European capital markets to UK and international companies.
7. International Company of the Year
Sponsored by W H Ireland Limited
| http://www.wh-ireland.co.uk
W.H.Ireland is pleased to continue to sponsor the Best Overseas Entrant
award for the second year.
W.H.Ireland is one of the leading sponsors of both U.K. and Overseas
companies to the AIM market, and has worked closely with the London Stock
Exchange in organising and presenting at conferences in Australia, New
Zealand and Russia.
In the first seven months of the year it has introduced 21 companies to the
AIM Market, including a number of overseas natural resource companies. In
December 2002 it acted as Nomad and Broker to Highland Gold, a Jersey based
company with extensive gold mining interests in Russia, which was the second
largest company on AIM at its introduction.
W.H.Ireland has Corporate Finance offices in London, Manchester and
Birmingham.
8. Best Newcomer
Sponsored by Singer & Friedlander
Investment Management Limited
| http://www.singer-friedlander.com/
Singer & Friedlander Investment Management Limited provides UK and international clients with both traditional and tax efficient investment services to preserve and grow their wealth. Our ability to combine the skills of both our banking and investment management divisions to meet the individual requirements of our clients is seen as giving a strategic edge in the current difficult investment market conditions.
As part of the independent British Merchant Banking Group, with its full array of financial services, we have built on experience gained over almost a hundred years to satisfy our clients’ increasing demands. These individuals, who derive their wealth from all backgrounds and industries, are attracted by our innovative yet conservative approach to the investment of their assets.
Disciplined, risk-controlled pooled and segregated portfolios are managed against traditional and individually tailored benchmarks, and we shelter investments in our market leading range of tax efficient vehicles using income, capital gains and inheritance tax reliefs. The services have made us a leading investor in AIM and OFEX companies on behalf of private investors. All our unconstrained clients’ portfolio returns are independently measured by the WM Company.
Our network of offices offers clients the choice of City based or local management of their portfolios.
Singer & Friedlander Investment Management Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
9. Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin Securities
Limited | http://www.brewindolphin.co.uk
Brewin Dolphin Securities specialises in advising “smaller” public companies. We are retained as financial adviser and corporate stockbroker to a wide range of industrial and commercial companies. Currently, we advise some 143 public companies, including 50 AIM companies, making us one of the largest financial advisers and corporate stockbrokers in the United Kingdom.
We have a strong track record with small and medium sized companies. We have been enthusiastic supporters of AIM since its inception in 1995, and were one of the first advisers to be registered as a Nominated Adviser and Broker.
Our professional team, which includes people with legal, accounting, stockbroking and business backgrounds, provide expert and strategic advice on strategic transactions including flotations, fund-raisings, mergers and acquisitions, disposals and financial restructuring from our corporate finance offices in Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Together with our institutional sales and research teams located in Newcastle upon Tyne and Glasgow, we provide a full service to our corporate and institutional clients.
Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd is a subsidiary of Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC. The group employs some 1,300 staff in 34 locations nationwide and manages client funds in excess of £14.5 billion.
10. Company of the Year
Sponsored by Close Investment Limited
Close Investment Limited is a leading institution investing in AIM having managed the flagship Close Beacon Investment Fund since 1994. Beacon has an impressive long term performance record derived from the growth of the companies in which it has invested. AIM remains the market of choice for UK growth companies. Increasingly it is becoming Europe’s growth company market and cementing that position is the London Stock Exchange’s challenge for AIM’s next decade. We believe AIM will continue to prosper. Close Investment remains committed to supporting winning companies. The funds managed and advised by Close Investment range from Beacon to two AIM VCT’s and a variety of portfolios providing tax benefits to clients. We will continue to build on our long experience of the market to produce innovative services for clients from investment in high quality AIM companies.
Again Close Investment is delighted to sponsor the Company of the Year Award and wishes the winner continued prosperity.
|
