Aim advisers continuing to lose custom
ADVISERS are continuing to lose Aim-listed clients, according to the latest report by Hemscott and Seymour Pierce, published today.
The Aim Advisers Rankings Guide for the quarter to 5 October shows auditors, financial PR advisers, solicitors, nominated advisers (Nomads), stockbrokers and registrars all experienced client shrinkage, though Seymour Pierce remained upbeat.
“I think this report is exactly as you would expect. In any small-cap market some constituents are going to be more susceptible at times like this,” said Richard Feigen, managing director of Seymour Pierce.
“I do not think the market is getting smaller. In 2010 you’ll see it increasing again.
“Aim will be successful again next year because, for the foreseeable future, there are always going to be companies which aren’t big enough to use the main market.”
The largest loss in Aim-registered clients came for registrars. Top-ranked Capita Registrars lost 29 clients, but still has more than the rest of the top five have between them, with 704 clients listed on Aim.
Grant Thornton now has 198 Aim clients, which is the first time the figure have been below 200, and they lead the way for auditors as the top five all lost clients.
Financial Dynamics maintains the top spot in financial PR which it achieved in July, gaining two clients to reach 89, finishing above former leader Buchanan Communications, who saw its client base dip to 72.
Seymour Pierce leads the lists for stockbrokers and Nomads, after experiencing no net change in client numbers. Arbuthnot Securities is second in each list, with 66 and 62 clients, respectively.
Pinsent Masons is the leading solicitors for the fifth time out of the last six quarters, gaining a client to bring its total to 56, while nearest competitor Lawrence Graham also gained one, and now has 51 clients listed on Aim.
This is Hemscott’s eighth quarterly Aim Advisers Rankings Guide. It is a Morningstar company, providing business and financial data.