Russian miner Peter Hambro Mining (POG:AIM) has come out top of a survey of Aim websites, scoring 74% in a report by research company Intendance. The review, which was carried out in May ahead of the new London Stock Exchange (LSE) rules for Aim websites which came into force last month, looked at content, usability and design.

Hambro was singled out for its content with the investors’ section described as ‘one of the best’ of the sample, which was made up for the top 25 companies by market cap in the FTSE Aim UK 50 index. Head of research at Intendance, James Tuke, says: ‘The uncluttered page layout make the site easy to read and there is a good sense of space.’

Researchers ranked websites on ‘content,’ ‘usability’ and ‘design’ with the 74% mark being an aggregate of the three scores. Peter Hambro scored 81% on content making it the clear winner with its service to subscribe for regular email updates noted in particular – just 36% of the 25 website surveyed had an email update function.

Behind Peter Hambro, insurance company Lancashire (LRE:AIM), African copper miner Nikanor (NKR:AIM), stockbroker Canaccord Capital (CCI:AIM) and Russian oil producer Sibir Energy (SBE:AIM) were all ranked in the top five. The bottom five websites belong to wind farm operator Clipper Windpower (CWP:AIM), real estate company Songbird Estates (SBDB:AIM), First Calgary Petroleums (FPL:AIM), online gaming software platform provider Playtech (PTEC:AIM) and African oil explorer White Nile (WNL:AIM).

Playtech was criticised for only providing an email address as contact details as was Songbird, which also failed to provide visitors with a stock quote or share price charts. Aim companies have had to provide key financial information and the admission document on their website following the introduction 20 August of new LSE rules, which, says the exchange, 98% of companies are now complying with.