The team behind the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards conducted a snap poll of 500 British business owners to uncover the true opinions of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) amongst business owners right now. None of the survey participants currently had a business listed on any stock exchange.

Initially, the research revealed that 81% of British business owners would opt for the London Stock Exchange if they were suddenly in a position to list their company on a stock exchange one day.

The top five reasons given for their desire to join the Main Market were found to be:

1. Creating a market for the company’s shares – 89%
2. Increasing the business profile – 83%
3. Creating opportunities to access capital – 71%
4. Allowing for an objective valuation of the business – 70%
5. Facilitating potential and future acquisitions – 52%

Asked why they would choose the LSE first and foremost as their stock exchange of choice, more than three quarters felt that the LSE was ‘well respected’ around the world (77%), while 60% felt that it’s one of the most stable over the course of time.

Additionally, 45% of all business owners were of the opinion that international markets present too many risks, from political and regulatory through to economic.

Sarah Austin, Director of the www.britishbusinessexcellenceawards.co.uk, commented:

“There’s a lot of noise right now about businesses moving from the LSE to the NYSE, but this is nothing new. It happens all time across the world. Business owners should always be looking to maximise opportunities, and just as we’re hearing that British businesses are leaving the LSE to join the NYSE, there are many businesses moving from the NYSE to the LSE to access our Main Market.

“Our research shows that businesses aren’t concerned about the news, and they still feel the London Stock Exchange is strong, stable and well respected.”