London floats surge to six year high The London stock market enjoyed its best year for flotations since 2007, with 105 companies raising a combined £15.7bn from initial public offerings in 2013. A host of companies, ranging from Royal Mail to Alton Towers-owner Merlin Entertainments, listed on the London Stock Exchange this year, with 43 businesses floating on the Main Market and a further 62 groups listing on the junior AIM market, the LSE said on Tuesday. The privatisation of Royal Mail, which raised £1.7bn but drew criticism that it was undervalued, was Europe's biggest float, according to the exchange. There was also a strong showing from the technology sector this year, with 36 tech businesses raising £1bn from investors through listings on the LSE. "We have seen a very healthy mix of UK and international companies using the London market as a platform for future growth," said Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the LSE. We have been particularly pleased to see the number of tech companies using AIM, raising over £350m in the process. This is confirmation that high growth companies, as well as their backers in the private equity and venture capital communities, are recognising the exceptional power of equity in driving growth.