PLUS Stock Exchange (PLUS-SX), which delivers cash trading and listing services, reports its primary market showed significant levels of activity during 2010 with a high level of fundraising, admissions and acquisitions.
Fundraising – Fundraising by companies on PLUS-SX increased by 32% to £28.06m, and new companies joining the market raised £8.07m on admission, up from £5.04m in 2009.
New PLUS companies – PLUS-SX admitted 18 companies in 2010, the same number as 2009.
Acquisitions – Corporate activity grew in the second half of 2010; examples of companies completing acquisitions include:
- ANS Group, acquisition of Alpha Business Computers Limited
- Award International Holdings plc, acquisition of Delete Digital Marketing Ltd.
- Datum International Limited, acquisition of Root3 Limited
- Zeta Compliance, acquisition of The Fire Strategy Company Limite
Company news – In addition to market activity, a number of companies achieved milestones or public recognition for their work during 2010, including:
- Sprue Aegis – listed on The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 ("Fast Track 100") for the third successive year
- Good Energy – paid its maiden dividend of 2.5p to shareholders in December 2010
- Quercus Publishing Plc – Mark Smith, co-founder and Chief Executive, was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Growth Company Awards in January 2011. In the highly competitive publishing sector, the company’s annual revenues grew to over £30m, thanks in part to the overwhelming global success of the Stieg Larsson trilogy
- Avation, the aircraft leasing business which had successfully used its PLUS growth market listing to grow revenues and asset base, graduated to a standard listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in October 2010.
Events – PLUS-SX completed its first UK investor roadshow series in 2010, providing a new audience of private investors and retail brokers for PLUS-SX companies to deliver their investor presentations. The series showcases growth company investment opportunities on the exchange and supports liquidity. PLUS-SX’s second roadshow programme starts in May 2011 visiting London, Bristol, Manchester and Leeds.
Rachel Maguire, Business Development Director at PLUS-SX, said: “Despite the tough environment in 2010, PLUS-SX companies continued to make the most of their listings, raising funds and making acquisitions. PLUS-SX is well positioned at the beginning of 2011, with a pipeline of good quality companies wanting to be admitted to the market.”