Our markets

There are two primary markets to choose from:

• The Main Market 
• AIM -  the Exchange’s global market for growing companies

Your company’s size, objectives and funding needs will help you decide which market is right for you – the main differences in the admission criteria for the Main Market and AIM are listed below:

Main Market	AIM
Minimum 25% shares in public hands Normally 3 year trading record required Prior shareholder approval required for substantial acquisitions and disposals Pre-vetting of admission documents by the UKLA Sponsors needed for certain transactions Minimum market capitalisation	No minimum shares to be in public hands No trading record requirement No prior shareholder approval for transactions* Admission documents not pre-vetted by Exchange or UKLA Nominated adviser required at all times No minimum market capitalisation

Specialist market segments

The Exchange has developed specialist segments within the markets to highlight the potential of companies with similar attributes:

• techMARK and techMARK mediscience, two segments in the Main Market, are dedicated to the dynamic technology and healthcare sectors
• landMARK, a geographic grouping in both the Main Market and AIM, highlights companies by region in every area of the UK and Ireland.  
   
  

Issuing and listing bonds

The London Stock Exchange is also one of the world's major centres for the issuing and listing of bonds.

* Not applicable to reverse takeovers