Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. (BSE), formerly the Securities Exchange of Barbados, was re-incorporated on August 2, 2001 in accordance with the Securities Act 2001-13, which also enabled the establishment of the Barbados Securities Commission which on April 1st, 2011 was subsumed by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The FSC is responsible for regulation of the Insurance sub-sector, Co-operative and Non-Banking Financial sectors and the entire Barbados Capital Market, including Self-Regulatory Organization and public companies whether listed or not.
The original trading facility, the Securities Exchange of Barbados, was established in 1987 under the Securities Exchange Act, Cap 318A, of 1982. The Securities Act 2001-13 repealed and replaced the original Act of 1982. However, the BSE remained a privately owned (by its Members), non-profit organization until December 22, 2015 when it became a shareholder-owned, for-profit organization after receiving the requisite approvals from its then Members, now new Shareholders, and by Order of the Supreme Court of Barbados approving the Scheme of Arrangement in accordance with section 224 (4) of the Companies Act thereby facilitating the demutualization of the BSE.
The strategic direction of the BSE is coordinated by a Board of Directors, through the Managing Director, which establishes By-Laws and Rules to regulate the role of the Exchange, licensed under the Securities Act, CAP 318A.
The Barbados Stock Exchange and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Barbados Central Securities Depository (BCSDI) are designated as Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) under the Securities Act and are regulated by the Financial Services Commission.
The Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges with Correspondent Status.
Vision
To be a vibrant and lasting Caribbean Institution by facilitating wealth creation through trading on an efficient and cost-effective Exchange.
Mission
We intend, through education, to foster an environment of confidence and trust in the activities of the capital markets, so that all Barbadians would participate in the trading of financial instruments.
Core Values
- Integrity
- Fairness
- Quality service
- Confidence
- Trust
- Accuracy
Barbados Central Securities Depository Inc
The Barbados Central Securities Depository Inc. (BCSDI) is a limited liability company incorporated on October 20th, 1998. It is a facility for holding securities and enables share transactions to be processed by book entry. A Book Entry System facilitates the change of ownership of Securities electronically, without the need for the movement of physical documents, i.e. the BCSDI is an electronic means of recording the ownership of shares.
The BCSDI facilitates the immobilization of securities, the clearance of trades and settlement of funds through the Central Bank of Barbados and also offers services as Registrar of public and listed companies and mutual funds.
The BCSDI registers the stock in the name of the beneficial owner. The certificates are physically held in our vault. The BCSDI also records the securities movements in the name of the beneficial owner using the National Identification Number. The BCSDI’s book entry system has shortened the settlement cycle, and ensures that investors receive payment for shares sold and ownership of shares purchased within a shorter time.
The BCSDI is a partner of the Association of National Numbering Agencies and is responsible for assigning all International Securities Identification Numbers or ISINs to all locally registered securities.
Services Provided
The BCSDI provides a varying number of services which can be divided into two broad categories:
- Depository Services
- Registrar Services
Depository Services
The BCSDI currently offers the following Depository services:
- Clearing and Settlement of Traded Securities
- Statement Printing
- Pledging of Securities
- Inter-CSD Transfers
- Trading and Registrar Services for Treasury Bills
- Certificate Deposits – Immobilization & Dematerialization
- Safekeeping
Registrar Services
The BCSDI currently offers the following Registrar Services:
- Share Register Management and Maintenance– This is essentially the core service/function of the BCSDI. Issuers of listed securities have the option of maintaining their Share Registers themselves or employing the services of the BCSDI. The Registrar services provided by the BCSDI include, but are not limited to:
- Name, Address and Warrant Address Changes
- Estate Transfers – Letters Testamentary/Letters of Administration
- Consolidation of Depository Client Accounts
- Payment and Distribution of Dividends
- Dividend Account Reconciliations
- Distribution of Annual Reports
- Provide Register Extracts
- Receiving New Registers
