| USA
AIM Advisers helps growth-oriented SMEs complete IPOs on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
With a track record spanning 15 years as a consultant helping SMEs complete IPOs on AIM and as the CFO of a U.S.-based, AIM-listed company, Mr. McGowan has deep knowledge of AIM and extensive relationships in London, most notably with the 40 AIM Nominated Advisers and 80 AIM Nominated Brokers who act as the market’s primary gatekeepers.
Unlike IPOs on other markets, where there are short lists of similar investment banking firms, AIM Nominated Advisers and AIM Nominated Brokers are plentiful and do not form a homogenous group. Each Nominated Adviser and Nominated Broker tends to focus on certain sectors and on certain size companies where they have relevant connections within the London investment community and equity research analysts to support an AIM IPO.
The main risk to a company is that the Nominated Broker is only able to raise a fraction of the targeted capital, leaving the company with the unpleasant decision of ‘taking what it can’ or aborting their AIM IPO after having spent a lot of time and money on due diligence. The decision to take your company public on AIM is likely the most important decision you will make since formation. AIM Advisers saves companies time, money and, crucially, derisks the process of an AIM IPO.
A preliminary determination of suitability for AIM is the first step. Too many SMEs embark on an AIM IPO at the behest of lawyers and accountants who hope the company will be deemed suitable by a Nominated Adviser and hope a Nominated Broker will be able to raise the desired capital. Their business models are driven by charging hourly fees and relying on cross-referrals with the Nominated Advisers and Nominated Brokers.
AIM Advisers’ business model is financially driven by successful outcomes with a sharp focus on maintaining a positive reputation in London by introducing high-quality, very suitable companies to the most appropriate Nominated Advisers and Nominated Brokers.
AIM Advisers does not receive referred work from the Nominated Advisers and Nominated Brokers but rather remains agnostic with respect to their selection. The most appropriate Nominated Advisers and Nominated Brokers for a company’s sector, size and aspirations, are the ones they will be introduced to, whether it is as few as four or as many as ten.
Upon successfully securing a Nominated Adviser and Nominated Broker, AIM Advisers’ provides a range of hands-on services to assist SMEs through an AIM IPO and in the aftermarket.
Mr. McGowan previously worked for Grant Thornton in Los Angeles and Hong Kong. Mark earned his CPA license in 1993 and his MBA from UCLA Anderson in 2003.
