In 2019, AIM companies contributed £33.5 billion to UK GDP, directly supporting more than 430,000 jobs and contributing £3.2 billion in tax revenue. Over the last 5 years the direct economic contribution made by AIM companies has grown by 35% from £24.8 billion while employment has grown by 22%.

In addition to this, direct contribution from AIM companies support further economic activity through both their supply chains and the expenditure of employees in their local economies. Through their supply chain expenditure AIM companies support a further 294,000 jobs and £20.3 billion of GVA. This indirect impact includes a broad range of suppliers to AIM companies such as financial services (nominated advisers and stock-brokers), business services (registrars, financial public relations, legal, tax, accounting and audit) as well as wider goods and services.

Both those employed directly by AIM companies as well as those employees supported through the supply chain will spend their wages on goods and services supplied by UK businesses. These induced effects generate further employment and GVA. The induced impact is estimated to support a further 181,000 jobs and a £13.4 billion GVA contribution to GDP.

Taken together, the overall economic impact is equivalent to £67.2 billion in GVA and over 900,000 jobs.

Improving productivity

AIM companies are, on average, more productive than the national average with productivity of £77,700 GVA per employee compared to £56,387. This is only marginally below the London average of £79,586 – the most productive region in the UK. Over the last 5 years, the productivity of AIM companies has improved by 11% compared to 10% nationally and 9% in London.

Regional spread

Unlike most businesses on the main market, AIM businesses are spread regionally across the UK in terms of their location, workforce and production lines. This helps support the UK government’s strategic goal of improving productivity and prosperity across all regions of the UK and helping balance regional disparities. Regional benefits are clear across areas where productivity is lower such as in the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East.

Encouraging exports

Exporting plays a vital role to the UK economy by raising additional revenue from overseas. Around 20% of the turnover of UK-incorporated AIM companies comes from overseas, twice as much as their private company comparators. This figure grew significantly from £7 billion in 2010 to £12.4 billion in 2019.

Supporting growth

AIM plays a key role in supporting growth in small and medium sized businesses by allowing them to raise external finance at different stages in their lifecycle. This enables them to raise equity capital supporting their innovation, driving productivity and creating employment. It is this access to appropriate financing options that allows a business to scale and reach their growth potential.

AIM has made a significant contribution to the UK economy and has a critical part to play in supporting the economic recovery and helping to support growth across the UK economy.

(Research Grant Thornton- June 2020)

Join us for our webinar at 2pm on 25^th February 2021 where we will be discussing just how valuable AIM is to the UK economy and the opportunities in 2021.

You can register from the link here.

You can find out more about Fundamental Asset Management’s high performing AIM IHT ISA and AIM Inheritance Tax portfolio service, which has been delivering exceptional investment returns for more than 16 years, from the link here. We also have an Adviser Centre with a wealth of information to support financial advisers including case studies, adviser webinars, guides and contact details.

Investing in well-established AIM listed companies has delivered significant outperformance relative to the UK main market, and indeed other international stock markets, over recent years.

The AIM index finished 2020 up 20% for the year, an amazing achievement in the circumstances, significantly outperforming the main UK index of 100 stocks which fell 15%. This represented the biggest one-year differential in AIM’s 26-year history. Our associates Investor’s Champion provided a review of AIM’s electrifying performance in 2020 in this update here.

AIM’s strong performance in 2020 was not just a flash in the pan and over the 5 years to the end of December 2020, the AIM All share index was up 60% whereas the main UK market was up only 11%.

We acknowledge that this excludes dividend income, and the main UK market has yielded over 4% per annum over this period, however, 2020 highlighted the fragility of dividends for highly geared companies on the main UK stock market, many of which were forced to cut or postpone dividend payments.

AIM’s outperformance over the past 5 years is all the more impressive considering the fall in the number of companies on AIM over this period with 816 companies on AIM at the end of January 2021 compared to 982 at the end of 2016. The net result is that the AIM of today consists of a far greater number of good quality businesses, many of which are delivering far more impressive growth than their peers on the main market and are also suitable for AIM Inheritance Tax portfolios.

As individuals own 25.1% of AIM companies, against just 11.3% of FTSE 100 companies, UK private investors will also have benefited very nicely from this outperformance and supported many fast growing UK businesses.

To benefit from the Inheritance Tax planning reliefs, individuals need to own the qualifying AIM shares directly in a segregated portfolio in their own name i.e. the tax benefit cannot be gained through investing via a collective/fund structure.  In support of this, a growing number of financial advisors embrace AIM and AIM Inheritance Tax portfolios, which can also be accessed through a number of advisor wrap platforms.

Inheritance Tax relief is clearly a key attraction for many private investors in AIM, but we urge prospective investors to focus on the investment benefits, which have proven to be even more compelling reasons to invest in AIM over recent years.

The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on jobs, businesses and livelihoods. As the vaccination program rolls out, attention is beginning to shift towards rebuilding and getting the UK economy back on track.

AIM is one of the most successful growth markets in the world and makes a huge contribution to the UK economy, with research suggesting that AIM companies contribute over £33bn Gross Value Added directly to the UK economy, and just as much indirectly. It is a market for young, dynamic and innovative companies and provides a market-place for them to raise equity capital supporting their innovation, driving productivity and creating employment.

Join us for our webinar at 2pm on 25^th February 2021 where we will be discussing just how valuable AIM is to the UK economy and the opportunities in 2021.

You can register from the link here.

You can find out more about Fundamental Asset Management’s high performing AIM IHT ISA and AIM Inheritance Tax portfolio service, which has been delivering exceptional investment returns for more than 16 years, from the link here. We also have an Adviser Centre with a wealth of information to support financial advisers including case studies, adviser webinars, guides and contact details

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) were launched in 1999 and have become one of the most popular saving tools for investors at all stages of investing whether saving for a first home or for retirement. 11.2 million adults subscribed to ISAs in 2018-19, up from 10.1 million the year before (Source: HM Revenue & Customs).

So why are so many people interested in ISAs?

There are several benefits of using an ISA allowance.

Subscribers can invest up to £20,000 each year, free from income and capital gains tax on investment growth. In addition to this, ISAs benefit from instant access, which is particularly useful for those who do not want to lock away their savings using other methods such as through a pension. ISAs can be held on platform which allows investors to take advantage of wider investment options. This explains why ISAs are one of the most popular ways for retail investors to benefit from tax-efficient investing.

How can ISAs help my client’s intergenerational tax planning?

The tax year for 2020/2021 will end on 5th April at which point next year’s allowance will apply and any allowance not used from the previous year will be lost.

We have heard from advisers that many clients are reluctant to invest due to uncertainty stemming from the current market environment. The tax incentives for an ISA investor can give an extra level of incentive which goes a long way to reassure clients on whether subscribing into an ISA before this year’s cut off is a sensible decision to make. Furthermore, it is not necessary to invest the ISA subscription immediately and cash can be held on account if clients are reluctant to commit to the stock market at this point.

Investing in rapidly growing companies on AIM

Since 2013 ISAs have been permitted to hold shares in companies listed on AIM.

AIM has developed into one of the most successful growth markets in the world, with the AIM index significantly outperforming the main UK stock market over recent years.

The shares of qualifying AIM companies can also benefit from 100% relief from Inheritance Tax, offering a further tax planning attraction.

Making sure clients are taking advantage of their annual ISA allowances is one of the best methods for a client to protect their legacy in a tax efficient way for the next generation.

Derek McLay

Business Development Manager

Fundamental Asset Management Ltd.

You can find out more about Fundamental Asset Management’s high performing AIM IHT ISA and AIM Inheritance Tax portfolio service, which has been delivering exceptional investment returns for more than 16 years, from the link here. We also have an Adviser Centre with a wealth of information to support financial advisers including case studies, adviser webinars, guides and contact details.

Listen to the Capital Employed Podcast where for this episode they talk to Chris Boxall from Fundamental Asset Management and Investors Champion. Chris specialises in investing in small high quality companies listed on London’s AIM stock exchange.

Chris explains why he thinks the AIM stock exchange is a great place to invest. He also talks about two quality compounders he feels, despite the high valuations, have great long term potential.

You can find out more about Fundamental’s AIM portfolio service, including the latest fact sheets, from the link here.

Fundamental Asset Management has delivered exceptional investment returns for more than 16 years.