The Alternative Investment Market grew for the first time in six years in the final quarter of 2013 thanks to an influx of initial public offerings (IPO) and a fall in companies leaving the market, according to research by Scottish accountancy firm Campbell Dallas.

The total money raised by IPOs in 2013 was £1.17 billion, a rise of 65% on 2012 and the highest since 2008, insolvencies were at their lowest since 2007, and only 75 companies delisted compared with 280 in 2009.