The Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA), the representative body for the UK’s small and mid-cap quoted companies, held its Annual Dinner on Wednesday 16 September 2009, sponsored by London Stock Exchange. Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of London Stock Exchange plc, speaking to an audience of 550 small and mid-cap company directors and their advisors, emphasised the impressive strength and closeness of the UK’s small cap community, and reaffirmed the London Stock Exchange’s commitment to smaller quoted companies, both on the Main Market and AIM, and to working with the QCA to further promote the sector.
Speaking at the event, Xavier Rolet said, “We firmly believe the solution to the debt fuelled binge of recent years is equity. Small and medium sized enterprises are a central part of our strategy, and essential to the UK. The future growth of the economy as a whole will be built in large part on the entrepreneurialism, dynamism and professionalism of quoted companies such as those represented here tonight.”
Also speaking at the dinner, Lord Strathclyde, President of the Quoted Companies Alliance, noted that the QCA looks forward to even closer cooperation with the London Stock Exchange and highlighted the QCA’s current top issues for small and mid-cap quoted companies. These include campaigning for changes to the Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) scheme, the review of the Combined Code and the Walker Review, and the Prospectus Directive.
He also spoke on the importance of shareholder engagement, saying “The QCA will be contributing actively to the debate on shareholder engagement over the coming year to explore ways in which investors and companies can work together to improve shareholder value and transparency for investors.”
A photograph of Xavier Rolet speaking at the QCA Annual Dinner is available by emailing the Quoted Companies Alliance at mail@theqca.com.
