The average enterprise value for AIM listed tech stocks has increased 21.3% since the start of the year, according to new research.
The research, from global accountancy firm, Moore Stephens, revealed that the average value of these stocks is £88.9m and is in fact a 51% increase since the Brexit decision.
Key findings:
- Average enterprise value of AIM listed tech stocks is £88.9m
- Shows a 21.3% increase from start of year
- 51% increase since Brexit decision
- £275m raised from secondary fundraisings in 6 months to 30 June
When looking at the performance of these stocks, AIM is clearly still an attractive destination, as by comparison, the FTSE AIM All-share index increased by just 14%, and the FTSE All-share index by just 3%.
The study also revealed that the value growth has been underpinned by strong performance from hardware companies (35% value increase), support services (21%) and software by 20%.
Moore Stephens’ ‘Tech AIM Barometer’ revealed there was only one tech IPO on AIM over the six month period to 30 June 2017 – Ethernity Networks – down from eight in 2016 and seven the year before. Moore Stephens believes was due to a combination of factors, including the political and economic uncertainty caused by Brexit negotiations and, to a lesser extent, the recent General Election.
Commenting on the research, Dougie Hunter, Associate Director at Moore Stephens, said: “The fewer number of IPOs can be explained by a combination of factors that of course includes Brexit and a General Election, but also the fact that many private equity firms are choosing outright sales through secondary buyouts rather than exiting through IPO.”
Despite the lack of tech IPOs on AIM, Moore Stephens’ Tech AIM Barometer has revealed that more than £275m was raised from secondary fundraisings in the six month period – a higher figure than for the whole of 2016 (£224m) – and included the three largest individual company fundraises since 2015 (GBG, Learning Technologies Group and Telit).
By way of a sector-analysis, the dramatic growth shown in the past six months has been driven by:
- hardware companies – increasing by 35%;
- support services – increasing by 21%;
- software by 20%.
By comparison, the FTSE AIM All-share index increased by 14% and the FTSE All-share index by just 3%.
Although the majority (over 90%) of the businesses analysed are based here in the UK, the Ethernity Networks IPO was in fact the first overseas tech IPO on AIM since 2015. This, coupled with the high secondary fundraising levels, illustrates the fact that international investors view UK tech on AIM as value for money due to not only a favourable forex environment, but also the recent strong track-record.
Dougie Hunter continued: “The research shows not only the resilience of tech companies on the AIM market – outperforming the major UK share indices – but also that investors are expecting tech companies on AIM, the majority UK-based, to grow as a result of earning opportunities from the weaker pound rather than just benefiting from reporting international earnings.
“From our perspective, we are seeing an increasing pipeline as tech companies with IPO plans are waiting to see exactly what happens with the terms of Brexit. Our view is that as the landscape becomes clearer, there will be an increase in the number of tech companies that IPO in early 2018.
“Right now, tech businesses looking to IPO on AIM need to use this time to continue to develop their equity stories and prepare robust business plans that can withstand the turbulence that is inevitable as the UK looks to exit the EU, to take advantage of the continued buoyant market and faith from investors in their market.”
