Wealth & Finance International - Fintech Awards 2017

2017 Fintech Awards 12 Most Innovative Capital Markets Listing The International Stock Exchange (TISE), is an independent exchange providing a responsive, innovative approach to its clients. Fiona Le Poidevin, CEO of The International Stock Exchange Group Limited (TISEG), explains how becoming home to the world’s first listed regulated bitcoin fund is illustrative of this strategy. Address: PO Box 623, Helvetia Court, Block B, 3rd Floor, Les Echelons, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1AR Phone: +44 (0) 1481 753000 Twitter: @tisegroup Email: [email protected] Web: www.tisegroup.com TISE aims to be a leading independent exchange for a wide range of companies by providing pragmatic regulation and a responsive, innovative listing and trading venue. This approach is demonstrated by the fact that last year the Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment Fund plc – since renamed GABI plc – was admitted to the Official List and in doing so, became the first regulated bitcoin fund to be listed on any exchange globally. Fiona outlines the importance of the fund and how it is helping drive TISE to even greater success. “Personally, I had followed GABI since its prominent launch in 2014 as the world’s first regulated bitcoin fund when it received certification as an Expert Fund from the Jersey Financial Services Commission and so it was very exciting for the Exchange to be able to play a part in the next chapter of this innovative structure. “GABI’s listing was not only a ‘world first’ but it was also the first digital asset-related listing on our Exchange. It is this responsive, innovative approach which is helping attract new business to TISE, including listings from the Fintech sector.” GABI was one of 502 securities listed in 2016, which was growth of 19% on the previous year and there have been 331 securities listed on TISE in the first half of 2017, which itself is a rise of 45% year on year. At the end of June 2017, there were 2,411 listed securities with a total market value of £400 billion and these include debt issues where companies are raising money for investment into Fintech. This demonstrates the way in which an open minded, risk based approach is attracting new listings to the Exchange FIN17006 which was established in the Channel Islands in 1998 and was rebranded from the Channel Islands Securities Exchange (CISE) to The International Stock Exchange (TISE) earlier this year. Fiona discusses the rebranding decision and how this has helped the Exchange to adapt to the ever changing financial market. “We chose to rebrand predominantly to reflect the fact that much of our existing business is global in nature, for example with listings this year including a high yield bond from Netflix. Indeed, we are seeing increased geographical diversification and we are growing our international recognition, with approval from the German regulator, BaFin, earlier this year. “Changing our name also made sense because we had already amended the membership rules to allow for listing sponsors from beyond the Channel Islands and the fact that we have opened an office in the Isle of Man.” Discussing the market currently and how developments have affected the Exchange, Fiona highlights how Brexit has impacted on TISE. “Last June’s unexpected vote for Brexit led to an immediate loss of confidence in the UK real estate market but fast forward a couple of months and we began to see groups of international investors seeking to take advantage of new (largely exchange rate driven) opportunities. This has provided a catalyst for foreign investment into UK property and we have seen evidence of this through the applications and enquiries we have seen in both debt and REITs.