The Quoted Companies Alliance, the independent membership organisation that champions the interests of small to mid-size quoted companies, recognised the resilience and tenacity of small and mid-size quoted companies through periods of uncertainty yesterday at its 2016 Annual Dinner.
Over 350 members of the small and mid-size quoted company community, including company directors, investors, market operators, policymakers and regulators, attended the Quoted Companies Alliance’s 22nd Annual Dinner. The event was sponsored by the London Stock Exchange Plc, with The Deal BoardEx as supporting sponsor and Winterflood Securities sponsoring the after-dinner drinks.
Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive Officer of the London Stock Exchange Group PLC, spoke at the 7 September event. He said: “The quality of the UK’s public companies, and the unique ecosystem of the City of London represented here tonight, gives us enormous grounds for optimism, despite the current uncertainty that the outcome of the EU Referendum has created. The success of these companies is the bedrock of growth in the British economy and has been built, in no small part on the foundation of London’s status as a global financial centre for international capital raising, trading, clearing and settlement. We must all work together to ensure that the fabric of our financial infrastructure, remains championed and protected, helping to channel capital to the exciting and ambitious growth companies across the UK.”
Michael Higgins, Chairman of the Quoted Companies Alliance, also addressed the attendees. He commented: “While our members face particularly turbulent times, never has the Quoted Companies Alliance been more relevant to ensuring that small and mid-size quoted companies are able to thrive and drive growth for the UK economy. Any future regulatory changes must be well-thought-out and ensure the best possible outcome for preserving our successful equity markets ecosystem. The Quoted Companies Alliance plays a vital role in this regard, voicing the concerns of the small and mid-size quoted companies’ community so that these are carefully considered by the Government in their negotiations with the European Union.”
Announcing that he would be stepping down as Chairman at the next Quoted Companies Alliance AGM, he added: “It has been a pleasure to chair this lively and effective organisation for the past three years. Now that my mandate is almost over, I am delighted to announce that Gervais Williams, Chief Executive of Miton Group plc, will be taking over as non-executive Chairman from October. As a champion of smaller companies, I am certain that he will bring much to the role and enjoy it as much as I have.”
He added on behalf of the Quoted Companies Alliance: “I must add a huge thank you from all of us to Brian Winterflood, one of our founders and our President for nearly seven years. He is retiring fully from the City after 25 years of being a tireless and vocal champion of the Unlisted Securities Market, its successor AIM, and of the small and mid-size quoted companies that have benefitted from these markets.”
Tim Ward, Chief Executive of the Quoted Companies Alliance, commented: “Earlier this year, the EU referendum was identified as the greatest potential risk by our membership, but business confidence remained high. Our latest sentiment survey showed that small and mid-cap quoted companies were forecasting strong growth whatever the outcome of the popular vote. This demonstrates the resilience of these companies. Regardless of political and economic uncertainty, they remain optimistic about their own business prospects. The mood at our dinner reflected this optimism. I would like to record my thanks to Brian Winterflood, the unrivalled champion of smaller quoted companies, who is stepping down as President of the Quoted Companies Alliance.”
