Rival to AIM hits London

The European alternative to the Alternative Investment Market will be on a road show in London this week in search of new investors.

Alternext, which is owned by Euronext and hosts listings in four other European capitals, denied it will be trying to take business away from AIM.

However it will be targeting firms who wish to invest in London's less-regulated market.

Director of listings and issuers of Alternext, Martine Charbonnier, said the greatest potential sources of companies listings on Alternext were developing countries and the US, where smaller businesses have difficulty in listing due to the heavy regulation of Sarbanes-Oxley.

Alternext, which outperformed AIM in the last year as its share index rose by 28% while AIM was flat, will meet with fund managers, brokers and other investors at the Great Eastern Hotel on Thursday.

Further reading:

Indian companies eyeing AIM listing

AIM under fire as cash shells breach LSE rules

Junior markets head to head in battle for IPOs