The story of NCC Group’s move from AIM to the main market is a boring one, but finance director Paul Edwards wouldn’t have it any other way.
The company, which provides independent IT assurance, security and consultancy services, moved to the full list in July 2007 after spending about three years on AIM.
“As a quality, independent private company, we’d always done glossary accounts, we’d always followed good corporate governance and we’d always issued interim accounts so when we actually came to AIM it wasn’t a big shock to us because we were very organised in what we did,” Edwards says.
“As a good quality, AIM-listed company, when we came to the full market, what things were different? Well, we had to report four times a year but we already did that so things didn’t change a great deal, if I’m honest.”
Edwards reckons it’s all about being organised. NCC Group listed on AIM two days earlier than the original project date and moved to the main market on the planned date.
It helped that NCC Group had appointed another company to act as project manager of the listing process.
“At the end of the day, I have a day job to do, the chief executive has a day job to do, the company secretary has a day job to do and that’s running NCC Group.
"Our day job isn’t about project managing for this. Yes, it costs you a little bit more upfront because it’s another fee but ultimately it saves you money.”