Bermuda Signs On for IOSCO World Investor Week

Hamilton, Bermuda – September 27^th, 2017: The Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) today announced that Bermuda will be participating in the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ (IOSCO) World Investor Week to be held October 2^nd to 8^th, 2017. 

In making the announcement BSX President & CEO Greg Wojciechowski noted, “World Investor Week is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the importance of investor education and protection, while highlighting the various initiatives being undertaken by securities regulators such as the BSX and Bermuda Monetary Authority, in these two critical areas. It is therefore a perfect complement to our ‘Own Your Share of Bermuda’ Investor Education programme.”

Mr. Wojciechowski went on to say, “WIW is an important opportunity for the BSX to collaborate with many of the world’s leading international securities regulators and exchanges and Bermuda will be joining 55 other countries in marking World Investor Week. Key among the messages that week will be the importance of investor due diligence, encouraging investors to do their homework before they invest and making sure they clearly understand and accept the risks and rewards of investing.   It is important in any market for investors to understand the associated risks, to avoid ‘get rich quick schemes’ and to plan and invest according to their future long-term goals.”   

While the BSX is taking the lead on the week-long activities the Exchange will be joined by a number of key stakeholders, including the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA), an ordinary member of IOSCO. Commenting on their participation BMA Managing Director of Banking, Trusts and Corporate Services and Investments, Marcia Woolridge–Allwood noted, “The BMA is delighted to be participating in IOSCO’s World Investor Week and congratulates the BSX who has taken the lead in publicizing and organizing events with our global peers on this very important initiative.”

To mark the week the BMA will be publicizing on its website and on social media tips aimed at helping the public to become better informed investors.

The BSX has also met with the Cabinet Office to advise them of the Island’s participation in WIW and have received support from the Premier and the Ministry of Finance.  Premier David Burt said, “The Government supports such focus on investor education and protection in Bermuda. We are encouraged by the BSX and other stakeholder participation in this global initiative.” 

To punctuate the importance of investor education and protection the BSX has partnered with The Royal Gazette to run the WIW Quiz Challenge in Bermuda’s daily paper.  Each day, Monday October 2^nd to Saturday October 7^th, the Business Section of the paper will feature a WIW related article and imbedded in the article will be a WIW Quiz Challenge question. Participants will be asked to email their answers to wiwqc@bsx.com and all those with six correct answers will be entered into a draw to win a Bermuda securities portfolio valued at $2,500. 

Mr. Wojciechowski explained further “Following on from the successful of our ‘Own Your Share of Bermuda’ investor education programme, we see the WIW Quiz Challenge as a great way to engage the public further and stimulate even more interest in the domestic market. The aim is to get people thinking, researching and ultimately talking about the BSX and its listed issuers, thus broadening their investor education.  We believe that the grand prize of a $2,500 Bermuda securities portfolio will be a big draw and stimulate interest in investing across the BSX, particularly for newcomers to the market.”

Entry details for the WIW Quiz Challenge can be found on the BSX website www.bsx.com.

Royal Gazette Business Editor Jonathan Kent adding, “We believe investor education can only strengthen our community and we are happy to support the BSX in this initiative. Our expert columnists, Martha Myron and Nathan Kowalski, will be among the contributors in a full week of articles that will discuss the opportunities and potential pitfalls of investing.

“Being more financially aware can make a huge difference in people’s lives and we hope our readers will enjoy and learn from this series of articles and try to win a very special prize. All of the articles with the quiz questions embedded will appear online on our website at www.royalgazette.com , as well as in our print edition.”

In addition to collaborating with the Island’s daily paper, the  BSX will once again be teaming up with the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Professionals Division (Bepro) to host a  CFA Society Bermuda lunch and learn entitled “What is Investing and Why Does It Matter?” to be held Thursday, October 5^th at Argus.  Co-Presenters for the Lunch & Learn will be Chartered Financial Analysts AFL Investments Limited, President & CEO Joel Schaefer and Anchor Investment Management Limited, Chief Financial Officer, Nathan Kowalski.

Commenting on the Lunch & Learn BEPRO Chair Meredith Lombardo noted, “We are very excited to be partnering with the BSX again and want to thank them for sharing their expertise and time with us.”

Ms. Lombardo went on to say, “The previous event with the BSX was well attended and I feel the attendees gained valuable insight into investing by coming.  We are thoroughly looking forward to the second installment and know the presenters have a wealth of additional knowledge about investing to share that you’re not going to want to miss.”

In conclusion Mr. Wojciechowski noted, “We are extremely encouraged by the level of stakeholder participation in WIW and we look forward to working with everyone to achieve our collective goal of increasing awareness of investor education and protection in Bermuda.” 

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MEDIA NOTES:

IOSCO is the international body that brings together the world's securities regulators and is recognized as the global standard setter for the securities sector. IOSCO develops, implements and promotes adherence to internationally recognized standards for securities regulation. It works intensively with the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) on the global regulatory reform agenda.