The one that has just ended was a record year for AIM Italia, the segment of Piazza Affari where small and medium-sized enterprises are listed: in 2018, according to data published by Ir Top, listed companies exceeded the threshold of 100 and became 113, a good 26 more than at the end of 2017 (19 companies and 7 SPACs). Total deposits amounted to 1,32 billion euros (against 1,26 in 2017), more than 6 times the 2016 pre-PIR level. The total has exceeded 4 billion. The average funding from IPOs in 2018 was approximately 8 million euros (net of SPACs), since the birth of AIM Italia, the funding from IPOs (equity) is equal to 3,6 billion, while the total capitalization of the 113 companies listed today is equal to 6,7 billion euro.
The most important sectors in terms of number of companies are finance (21%), industry (16%) and media (14%), while the most represented region is Lombardy, which alone has half the capitalization, followed by from Emilia-Romagna (12%), Lazio (11%) and Veneto (7%). Also particularly interesting is the data on institutional and foreign investors: the market witnessed an 80% growth in 2018 (108 institutional investors compared to 60 in 2017) for an amount of 812 million euros invested, equal to approximately 12% of the market cap. The share of foreign investors, on the other hand, exceeded half of the total: today 52% of AIM's capital is in foreign hands, up by 21% (compared to a share of 43% according to the analysis of the 2017 AIM Observatory). Approximately 25% of the free float on AIM Italia is held by Fondi PIR.
Here is the list of the 26 new companies: Powersoft, EdiliziAcrobatica, Digital Value, Circle, Renergetica, Sciuker Frames, TheSpac, Vimi Fasteners, SosTravel.com, SG Company, Intred, Portobello, Monnalisa, Askoll EVA, Esautomotion, Longino & Cardenal, Grifal, Archimede SPAC, Somec, Gabelli Value for Italy, Fervi, Kolinpharma, Life Care Capital, VEI 1, ALP.I, Spaxs. “2018 – he commented Anna Lambiase, Chief Executive Officer of IR Top Consulting – represented the record year for AIM Italia which recorded the highest number of listings and capital raised since its inception, increasing the strategic role of financial support to the growth path of Italian SMEs looking for capital for their own plans development and internationalisation, also thanks to the tax credit on IPO costs introduced by the Government for the three-year period 18-20″.
“Lombardy – continued Lambiase – is confirmed as the driving region for new IPOs in 2018 with a percentage of 62%, followed by Lazio, Emilia Romagna, Veneto and Tuscany, while among the sectors, in addition to the financial sector, the industry, technology and lifestyle, totaling 38% of new listings. The average AIM company profile shows revenues of 40 million with an average free float from IPO of 22%. The total funding from IPOs on the market is equal to 3,6 billion. I believe that 2019 can continue the positive trend driven by a demand for quotations that we see in significant growth by SMEs, also thanks to the new Finance Law which introduced the investment obligation of PIRs to the extent of 3.5% of total assets on non-regulated markets such as AIM Italia. This measure could represent a real boost to the growth of the equity market at the service of the real economy and businesses”.
