CSE Reports Record Trading Volume, Total Listings as Growth Continues in 2015

CSE Reports Record Trading Volume, Total Listings as Growth Continues in 2015

January 13, 2016

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) announced today that it set new records in 2015 for annual trading volume and total listings. The value of financings conducted by its issuers was the second highest annual total since the launch of the exchange. These results show the exchange continues to lower the cost of Canadian public capital for early stage companies, supporting entrepreneurs as they make important contributions to innovation and economic development.

KEY STATISTICS

• Trading volume in CSE listed securities rose 6% to a record 2.47 billion shares;
• The exchange ended 2015 with 293 listed companies, representing an increase of 20% compared to the previous year (including debentures and other securities, CSE listings totaled 316);
• CSE companies conducted 273 financings, raising a total of $194 million, up 25% from 2014;
• Trading volume in shares listed on other Canadian exchanges was 2.73 billion

Operating highlights in 2015 included the completion of the CSE’s multi-year project to integrate Canadian online brokerages to the exchange’s trading platform. All major brokerages in Canada now provide the ability to place orders on the CSE, giving investors a wide variety of choices for trading shares and other products both online and through full service firms.

Responding to demand from the financial community, the exchange introduced the CSE Composite Index™ in February to provide a benchmark of overall share price performance for companies listed on the exchange. At the end of December, the capitalization-weighted index featured 74 companies with aggregate market capitalization of $1.55 billion.

A new international markets strategy designed to identify potential issuers and capital sources beyond Canada’s borders led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in November with the Taipei Exchange. The agreement will see the CSE and the Taipei Exchange work together on opportunities of mutual interest.

The CSE also saw trading debuts by several companies based in the United States that were listing their shares on a public market for the first time. These companies were primarily from the technology and biotechnology sectors.

A total of 138 companies raised capital on the CSE in 2015. Notable among these were Targeted Microwave Solutions (TMS), which raised $11.85 million, and Axios Mobile Assets (AXA), which conducted two equity raises for a total of $19.25 million. Technology companies raised $125 million, up 59% from 2014.

“The CSE is an independent exchange guided first and foremost by the needs of the entrepreneurs who turn to us for an efficient and cost-effective path to going public,” said Richard Carleton, CEO of the Canadian Securities Exchange. “Continued growth in listings and the success our issuers had raising capital during 2015 show we are providing an environment from which emerging companies derive considerable benefit.

“In 2016, the CSE will build upon an already strong base of support activities for issuers, explore policy enhancements that benefit listed companies and their investors, and continue working to provide opportunities to the broker-dealer community. Targeted outreach internationally will remain important to us as well, both to enhance the standing of the CSE in the global financial community and to open doors to capital and other opportunities for our issuers.”

About the Canadian Securities Exchange:

The Canadian Securities Exchange is the only exchange in Canada providing trading and market information services for all domestically listed instruments. Recognized as an exchange by the Ontario Securities Commission in 2004, the CSE is designed to facilitate the capital formation process for public companies through a streamlined approach to company regulation that emphasizes disclosure and the provision of efficient secondary market trading services for investors. The exchange is home to more than 300 issues covering a broad range of industry sectors.

For more information, please visit www.thecse.com and our blog at http://blog.thecse.com

Contact:

Richard Carleton, CEO

416-367-7360

richard.carleton@thecse.com