Record amount raised on AIM in 2006

The small cap AIM stock exchange raise almost £10bn in new funds in 2006, according to to research by Grant Thornton Corporate Finance.

This was over 50% higher than last year (£6.46bn) and more than AIM's first 10 years of fundraising put together, the firm said.

The record fundraising came despite a significantly slowing rate of market growth by net company additions which fell by 74% (from 378 net in 2005 to an expected 217 by the end of the year).

‘Yet again AIM has exceeded all market expectations and reconfirmed itself as the most successful growth market the world over. Despite a slowdown in the rate of companies joining the market, the mountain of funds raised is showing no peak in sight - for the past four years now we have seen each year raise more and more money,’ said Philip Secrett, partner within Grant Thornton Corporate Finance.