IPO Journey Explorer
Explore the stages along your company’s growth journey to IPO and beyond – on AIM, the world’s leading international growth market, and part of London Stock Exchange Group.
Considering an IPO
Timescale: 3-6 months
"You can never start your homework too early. Having the systems in place before the IPO was time well spent."
Ed Molyneux, CEO, FreeAgent
Having the right strategy for growth is essential to ensure that your business continues to be a scaling success. A key ingredient needed to execute that growth, is having the right access to long-term patient capital in the form of equity. In this stage of your journey, consider an IPO on AIM as the growth market of choice to support your entrepreneurial and corporate ambitions.
"If you make up your mind to do this, you have to commit 100%. I enjoyed the challenge, but if I hadn’t been so interested it would have been tough."
Bobby Kalar, CEO, Yu Group
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Are you at the right stage for AIM?
Take the quick online assessment to get a clearer understanding of the next steps that may be right for your company’s expansion and development.
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The international business support and capital raising programme ELITE helps ambitious companies scale up and structure for growth.
How ELITE can help youPlanning your IPO
Timescale: 3-6 months
"Understand why you are going public. You have to explain why you are doing this and what you are going to do with it."
CEO, Hvivo
The key to a successful and smooth IPO process is often found in the planning completed before the transaction even begins. This stage is about assessing your readiness for IPO, choosing your advisers, defining your objectives and locking down a practical timeline and agenda.
"Make sure you choose good advisers – they are key. If we had chosen different lawyers, it could have been difficult."
Louis Hall, CEO, Cerillion
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A Guide for Entrepreneurs
Get IPO tips from companies like Mortgage Advice Bureau, Cerillion and Blue Prism.
Download the Guide for EntrepreneursFind your Nomad
Nominated advisers are vital partners in your IPO journey – find yours here.
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Preparing your IPO
Timescale: 3-6 months
"The most important thing to think about is the composition of the board and the management team. Having people around you who have been there and done it before is important, so that you can continue to run the business."
Russ Cummings, CEO, Touchstone Innovations
After the research and planning phase, your company reaches a key decision point. In the light of all information and factors, how should you now proceed with your IPO? During this focused phase of preparation, you should understand the key aspects of the IPO, such as timescale, financials, roles and required agreements.
"Spend time finding the right directors for you. You can leave it to the last minute and have someone foisted on you, or take the time to find someone who fits with your company and brings new skills. We were fortunate to find really good people."
Angus Thirlwell, CEO, Hotel Chocolat
Related Resources
A Guide for Entrepreneurs
Get IPO tips from companies like Mortgage Advice Bureau, Cerillion and Blue Prism.
Download the Guide for EntrepreneursAre you at the right stage for AIM?
Take the quick online assessment to get a clearer understanding of the next steps that may be right for your company’s expansion and development.
Take the AssessmentThe IPO process
Timescale: 1-2 months
"Don’t be overawed. An IPO is a well-trodden path and London Stock Exchange is very helpful. People tend to be put off, thinking it will be difficult, but it is a management process."
Louis Hall, CEO, Cerillion
The formal part of the IPO process consists of financial and legal due diligence, documentation – specifically, drafting the AIM admission document – the marketing process and then completion. Your advisers will lead you through the workstreams, but if you’ve used the preparation time effectively, you should be able to provide all the information and verification needed to ensure that the key milestones are reached on time.
"Project-manage the IPO. The bank gave us a high-level project plan, but I developed a detailed landing plan in order to hit our target date."
Kym Denny, CEO, hVIVO
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AIM – funding the companies of tomorrow
Hear from a range of entrepreneurs who are continuing to grow their organisation on AIM.
Discover AIM company storiesA Guide to AIM
Read this comprehensive overview of the world’s most successful growth market.
Download the Guide to AIMLife as a public company
Timescale: ongoing
"We were installing 2,000 meters a month when we were admitted to AIM. By December that year, we were installing 9,000 meters a month because we had the capital we needed. We received enhanced terms from the bank because we were a reduced risk to them"
Alan Foy, CEO, Smart Metering Systems
A new chapter begins for your business – life as a public company. Being quoted on AIM brings with it a number of ongoing obligations. AIM’s regulatory structure has been designed to ensure that it meets the needs of growing smaller businesses, allowing them to flourish once on market.
"It helped us to attract good people to the business and to look and think differently. Having non-executive directors on board gives you a different perspective. And everyone in the business, no matter how junior, has shares in the company."
Peter Brodnicki, CEO, Mortgage Advice Bureau
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Issuer services for AIM companies
Gain access to an exciting range of services and offers.
Explore our issuer servicesA Guide to AIM
Read this comprehensive overview of the world’s most successful growth market.
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