Avoiding Sarbox: worth the reputation hit?

We've noted the London's Stock Exchange's AIM (Alternative Investment Market), whose rising popularity seems to be at the expense of the NASDAQ. By one measure, raising $50 million on NASDAQ costs roughly $5 million, thanks in part to Sarbox. Raising the same amount via AIM would cost about $3.5 million. Still, there are after-market concerns to be weighed. Quality is certainly an issue. It's fair to say that if AIM goes too far in its bid to attract companies, it runs the risk of developing an almost Pink Sheets sort of reputation. Depth of trading and liquidity must also be factored in. So, the calculus is really complex.

> Here's an article from The Daily Telegraph.
> Not even AIM, however, is immune to the economy. Article
> Speaking of the Pink Sheets, does it stand to get a boost from more companies choosing to delist? One company's story.

PLUS: This is a theme we hit often: the relative unattractiveness of the U.S.
capital markets in the eyes of foreign firms. The latest news on the subject is that the Bank of China says it will not list here, in part due to Sarbox concerns. Article