Record funds raised by companies across London Stock Exchange in 2008

LONDON, Dec. 29 (Chinese media) -- Companies across the London Stock Exchange (LSE) markets raised a record 63 billion pounds (92 billion U.S. dollars) in new and further issues of equity during the course of 2008, significantly ahead of the total for the whole of 2007.

"While the second half of 2008 has seen some of the most challenging IPO market conditions many of us can remember, the year has ended on a more positive note," said Martin Graham, director of markets at the London Stock Exchange.

He said that a stream of substantial further issues have continued right up to the end of the year, underlining the view that fundraising through secondary issues on LSE markets will become especially attractive in the coming year.

"During the year we continued to outperform the world's other major exchanges in attracting international IPOs, making very good progress in regions such as Latin America and the Middle East," he said. "We continue to pursue longer term prospects with the development of AIM Italia and our joint venture with the Tokyo Stock Exchange."

During the year to Dec. 15, 73 IPOs were conducted on the Main Market, Specialist Fund Market, Professional Securities Market and AIM of LSE, raising 7.2 billion pounds in total.

According to the statistics from LSE, the Exchange attracted 25international IPOs in 2008, raising 3.5 billion pounds. This compared with only 13 international IPOs on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq combined.

Specifically, the Exchange helped 8 companies from the Middle East to raise a combined 1.5 billion pounds, including 3 from Kuwait and 2 from Qatar, as well as one each from Dubai, Egypt and Bahrain.

In April, the number of companies from Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) quoted on LSE markets reached 100. In addition, On May 14, silver miner Fresnillo became the first company from Mexico to join the Exchange. KSK Emerging India Energy Fund joined AIM of the Exchange on June 10, becoming one of the largest AIM floats of the year.

As for investment entities, Da Vinci CIS Private Sector Growth Fund became the first investment entity to join the Specialist Fund Market, LSE's new market for alternative investment vehicles.