About Us

Introduction

Established in 1964 West Indies Stockbrokers Limited (WISE) with a market share of 40% (average 2000-03), is the largest of the six stockbroking firms in Trinidad and Tobago.

The firm’s activities span the individual to the institutional and corporate investor, offering services such as:

Buying and selling shares on the local stock and bond markets
Fixed Income Trading
International Equity Trading
New Share Issues
Financial and Investment Consultancy

WISE is a wholly owned subsidiary of RBTT Financial Holdings Limited

Experience

WISE is positioned to offer its clients an unparalleled level of service in any area of the equity market. The Company is the oldest and most experienced firm of stockbrokers in Trinidad and Tobago. Specifically WISE is the most experienced stockbroker firm in the area of capital market transactions as the following list details:-

1) Buying and Selling stocks

WISE commands the largest share of trades on the Stock Exchange.

2) Take-over Engagements

Since 1990, we have handled, either individually or jointly, take-overs of the following companies.

Date	Company
April 1990*	Take-over of Caribbean Development Co Ltd by McEnearney Alstons Limited
April 1990	Represented Valpark Shopping Plaza Ltd, which was being taken over by Colonial Life Insurance Company ( Trinidad) Ltd (CLICO)
August 1990	Take-over of Crown Life (Caribbean) Ltd by Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited
December 1990*	Take-over of Home Construction Ltd by CLICO
June 1991	Take-over of Valpark Shopping Plaza Ltd by Home Construction Ltd
August 1991	Take-over of T Geddes Grant Ltd by CLICO (subsequently withdrawn)
July 1992*	Take-over of T. Geddes Grant by Neal and Massy Holdings Ltd

* Jointly handled with another broker

3) New Share Issues

Since 1990, we have handled individually the following new issues:

Date	Company	Shares
April 1991	Caribbean Communications Network Ltd	7.5M shares at $1.10
December 2002	B WIA ( West Indies) Airways Limited	12 M shares at $7.85
December 2002	Sagicor Financial Corporation	85 M Shares at Bds$1.75

4) Offer For Sale

Date	Shares	Company
January 1990	Trinidad Cement Limited	21M shares at $0.85
June 1995	National Flour Mills Limited	12.02M shares at $2.10
November 1996	National Flour Mills Limited	9.015M shares at $2.50
February 1999	Prestige Holdings Limited	15M shares at $2.60
February 2001	National Enterprises Limited	50M Shares at $4.00
September 2002	National Enterprises Limited	75m Shares at $4.75

5) Rights Issues

Date	Company	Shares
July 1992	Flavorite Foods Limited of 1.5M ordinary shares	1,500,000
May 1994	The Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago Limited 1:3 Rights Issue	22,298,196
July 1994	Angostura Holdings Limited 1:5 Rights Issue	10,418,097
September 1995	Caribbean Communications Network Limited 1:2 Rights Issue	17,500,000
May 1995	The Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago Limited 2:7 Rights Issue	25,483,652
November 1998	RBTT Financial Holdings Limited 2:13 Rights Issue	22,681,305
June 2000	Trinidad Cement Limited 1:5.2 Rights Issue	40,284,699
June 2001	Guardian Holdings Limited 2:13 Rights Issue	19,373,077
November 2002	FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited 5:12 Rights Issue	58,674,509
June 2003	PLIPDECO 1:2 Rights	13,208,561

6) Cross-Listing

Date	Company
April 1999	Barbados Shipping and Trading Company Ltd

7) Corporation Sole

We were appointed by The Corporation Sole - Minister of Finance to sell Government’s remaining holding of shares in Trinidad Cement Limited in September 1998 (18,200,000).

8) Mutual Funds

WISE is a registered agent for a number of mutual funds. These include mutual funds offered by Roytrin, The Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation, Republic Bank Limited and Grace Kennedy Capital Services Limited.

Directors, Executives and Principal Officers

Board of Directors

Ruthven Jaggessar (Chairman)
George Sheppard (CEO)
Patricia Kong Ting
Gaston S Aguilera
Stephen Bayne

Executives and Principal Officers

George D. Sheppard – Chief Executive Officer

George Sheppard is a Chartered Financial Analyst who came to WISE from Republic Securities Limited. Prior to this, he gained diverse experience and knowledge in investment and corporate banking with BMO Nesbitt Burns, a major Canadian-based North American investment bank. Mr Sheppard’s career began in the corporate planning department at Republic Bank Limited.

Mr Sheppard will provide leadership, strategic direction and management expertise for WISE in the areas of equity and fixed income sales and trading, equity research, capital raising and investment advisory services. He will be responsible for ensuring WISE maintains its dominant position as a leading stockbroking firm, catering to the varied needs of its individual, corporate and institutional clients.

Mr Sheppard holds a BA (Honours) in Economics from Mc Gill University, Canada and a MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario also in Canada.

Traders

Claire Fletcher BSc (Honours), MBA - International Equity Trader

Mrs. Fletcher joined the firm in 2006 as our International Equity Trader. Prior to joining WISE, Claire gathered experience in the international markets working for a leading global information company in the UK providing content, analytics and trading capabilities used by financial professionals. In 2005, Claire spent 6 months on assignment in India and played an integral role in the successful migration of a core business function from the UK to Bangalore.

Mrs. Fletcher holds a BSc (Honours) in Environmental Science from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom and an MBA (specialising in Financial Management) from the University of Exeter, also in the UK.

Account Executives

Kisraj Balram MAAT - Account Executive and Stockbroker

Mr. Balram joined the firm in 1975 and for the last fifteen years has been the firm’s Accountant.

He is a graduate of the Association of Accounting Technicians (UK) and is currently studying for his Chartered Association of Certified Accountants exams. Mr. Balram was an authorised dealer on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange for ten years and has been a stockbroker for the past four years.

Daniel Youssef BA (IBA) – Account Executive (Institutional)

Mr. Youssef joined the firm in 2005 and is responsible for overseeing the institutional, ultra high net worth and specialised accounts. Prior to joining WISE he gathered his experience in the Insurance industry and subsequently, in Stockbroking.

Mr. Youssef holds a BA in International Business Administration, with honours, from the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom. He is currently seeking to commence an MBA with a specialisation in Finance.

Devanand Birju – ABE, CFP-Branch Manager (Chaguanas)

Mr. Birju is one of our most recent additions to the WISE Team. Prior to joining WISE Dave’s career has been with various units of our parent company RBTT Bank Limited. A career banker by profession Dave has over 15 years experience in all areas of banking and finance with his dominant strengths being in customer service marketing and business development.

Mr.Birju holds an advanced diploma with the Association of Business Executives (ABE) and has successfully completed the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) programme at ROYTEC. He is currently seeking to commence his MBA at UWI’S Arthur Lok Jack Institute of Business.

Stephen Burris B.Sc.(Econ) – Manager (San Fernando)

Mr. Burris joined the firm in 1995 and is currently working out of our San Fernando Office. Prior to joining WISE, he worked extensively in Banking, Insurance and Stockbroking.

Mr. Burris holds a B. Sc. in Economics, with Honours, from the University of the West Indies, and is presently reading for professional Actuarial and Securities exams. Mr. Burris is very active in the PTA, the Arts and community affairs in the county of Victoria. He is also a member of the Inter-Religious Organization (IRO).

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