The Barbados Stock Exchange (BSE), formerly the Securities Exchange of Barbados, was re-incorporated on August 2, 2001 with the passage of 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 Commission is responsible for regulation of the Barbados Capital Market, including all public companies whether listed or not.

 

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 2001-13 but are regulated in turn as well by the Financial Services Commission.

 

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 The Securities Act 2001-13 repealed and replaced the original Act of 1982.

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PRESENT OPERATIONS

 

Prior to its demutualization – on December 22nd, 2015 – the BSE remained a privately owned (by its Members), non-profit organization. Now demutualized, the BSE moves forward as a shareholder-owned, for-profit company and the central marketplace for securities trading. There are currently 27 listed companies on the Board of the BSE including 4 cross-listed companies from within CARICOM but outside of Barbados.

 

Through a Managing Director, the strategic direction of the BSE is administered by a Board of Directors. The Board of the BSE consists of four designated members, four elected and one independent. The four designated members represent, the Central Bank of Barbados, the Bar Association, the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Institute of Bankers. The elected members are chosen from the Membership of the Stock Exchange.

 

The Board of Directors set By-Laws and Rules to regulate the affairs and business of the Exchange. Included in the By-Laws and Rules are standards and rules of conduct to which members must adhere. Only Registered Brokers, representing Members of the BSE are allowed to trade securities on the Exchange.

 

On April 2nd, 2019 the Barbados Stock Exchange was designated as a Recognized Stock Exchange by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in the United Kingdom.

The Barbados Stock Exchange Inc. is an Affiliate Member of the World Federation of Exchanges and has signed Memorandums of Cooperation (MoCs) with the:

• London Stock Exchange (LSE)

• Guyana Association of Securities Companies and Intermediaries Inc. (GASCI)

• Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).