PLUS stock exchange targets China and Vietnam issuers

Over 400 growth companies seeking international listing attend seminars

London, 15 February 2010 - PLUS stock exchange recently headlined in three seminars targeting international companies considering listing in London.  The seminars, which took place in January, were attended by over 400 companies and their advisers in Dalian (China), Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).

Also in January the head of capital markets at PLUS, Paul Haddock, spoke by special invitation of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), at a forum in Beijing to discuss the ongoing development of the Chinese capital markets.

PLUS participated in similar events in China in the past year but the visit to Vietnam was a first for the stock exchange.  The delegations are part of PLUS’s strategy to expand its geographical reach in 2010 by proactively targeting international markets in China, South East Asia and the Middle East.

China and Vietnam are two of the most buoyant markets in the world and there is growing demand from companies based in these countries to hear from PLUS about accessing London, with its transparent and well regulated financial markets and the deepest and widest pool of capital in Europe.

PLUS stock exchange’s PLUS-quoted market is specifically designed for growth companies and around 25% of the companies on the market are international.  A listing on PLUS benefits companies in a number of ways including providing the opportunity to raise capital to support growth plans, to generate funds for acquisitions as well as to increase profile and visibility.  The exchange is also providing investors with an opportunity to take part in the future growth of some of the worlds fastest developing economies.

Commenting on the PLUS seminars, Paul Haddock, head of capital markets said:  “PLUS is already home to a diverse range of high growth companies based in and around China and South East Asia.  For example, China CDM, which provides brokerage, advisory and research services related to the reduction of greenhouse gases, has seen its market capitalisation grow by almost 250% since joining the market. Avation, a Singapore based supplier of aircraft and broadcasting equipment, has also enjoyed incredible growth of over 700%.”

Haddock continued: “Almost one quarter of companies listed on PLUS operate outside of the UK.  This year we plan to continue our geographic expansion by not only targeting companies in China and Vietnam but also those based in other high growth markets such as the Middle East.  As we continue to provide more access to our market in the UK to private investors, this is good news for them, as the listing and trading of international companies on PLUS gives them the chance to invest in companies that they would normally find very difficult to access.”

End.

Notes to editors:

PLUS Markets is a stock exchange in London with Recognised Investment Exchange status. Its offering includes the full range of stock exchange activities, namely: listing/quotation destinations, trading, and the provision of proprietary market data. As a listing and quotation destination, the PLUS primary market offers companies, funds, market professionals/issuers straightforward and cost-effective access to London’s capital markets. Growth companies can float on the PLUS-quoted market, an exchange-regulated market with clear, flexible and transparent entry criteria, while the PLUS-listed market offers a choice of admission options for companies or funds and provides access to the Official List of the FSA’s UK Listing Authority (Standard or Premium segments).