London Stock Exchange real estate conference

At the London Stock Exchange we are very proud of our success in providing a diverse range of companies from around the world with the opportunity to fund the growth of their business. Our markets are now home to over 680 international companies incorporated in more than 70 countries.

Among the growing contingent of international companies listed in London are 58 Russian companies.

London is home to an un-paralleled community of investors and advisers who are inherently outward-looking in their perspective and are committed to serving emerging markets. Through their London listing companies gain access to this investor community which is responsible for the world's largest international pool of equity funds under management.

Companies also choose London because our markets also offer companies the highest standards of regulation and corporate governance, a lower cost of capital and a choice of markets which are appropriate for different stages of a company's development. Our Alternative Investment Market (AIM) was specially designed to support the needs of small and growing companies by providing them with a more flexible regulatory framework.

Listing in London can significantly raise a company's global profile and give that firm added credibility when dealing with customers and suppliers. The Main Market in particular gives companies a globally recognised badge of quality where they are traded alongside some of the world's largest, most successful and most dynamic companies.

The cost of an IPO is also of crucial importance for companies considering a stock market float and London is highly competitive in this regard. IPO underwriting fees in the UK are typically 3 to 4 per cent of funding proceeds, compared with 6.5 to 7 per cent in the US. The ongoing cost of demonstrating compliance is also lower in London than in the US as a result of the UK's more principles-based regulatory system.

Last year 140 international companies from 33 countries came to London. We have helped more international companies to IPO than all our major competitors and we look forward to helping more international companies achieve their ambitions on the international stage both this year and in the years to come.