RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Santiago (Chile), Lima (Peru), and Bogotá (Colombia) stock exchanges have begun a process of “regional integration of the ownership of the three exchange entities” to create “a regional holding company” to “transform the Latin American exchange industry.”
Via Twitter, the Santiago Stock Exchange described the process as “an important step” that will “allow the integration of the three exchanges and their subsidiaries” and the provision of services through “a single trading, clearing and settlement platform.”
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“The objective of the regional integration is to transform the Latin American exchange industry, increase competitiveness with global players and be an attractive location for investors,” the statement released by the Santiago-based exchange continued.
The president of the Colombian Stock Exchange, Juan Pablo Córdoba, said in an interview with local media BluRadio that the integration with Chile and Peru will create a “combined market” that will include more than 500 companies, which he said, “opens a great opportunity for investors.”
“The idea is that every Colombian will have the list of companies from the three countries on their cell phones and will be able to invest in Colombian pesos and a globalized portfolio,” Córdoba said.
On the Peruvian side, the Lima Stock Exchange considered creating the “regional holding” as “an important step in the integration process.”
The head of the Santiago Stock Exchange, Juan Andrés Camus, told Colombian media W Radio that the three exchanges would work with the same system and technology, which would help simplify transactions.
“The merger will allow us to use the same technology and integrate the markets so that investors perceive us as one integrated market with three exchanges,” Camus said.