Chairman Wayne Fox told Ms. Stymiest, "My heartiest congratulations to you and all your colleagues who have worked so tirelessly and diligently over the past many months to bring us to this day. Without your leadership the TSX would not be enjoying the rebirth of public confidence and respect that is evidenced by the massive oversubscription of the IPO. This gives me renewed hope and confidence in a robust, independent, Canadian capital market for the future."
TSX Group Inc. becomes the first exchange in North America and the 8th stock exchange in the world to become a public company. "We believe that the addition of new shareholders to our shareholder base will position our organization well to serve the interest of everyone in the capital markets," said Stymiest." We continue to serve the interests of issuers, investors and intermediaries. Our IPO is a great step forward for the TSX."
"The TSX Group now joins an elite list of publicly traded exchanges," said Ontario Minister of Finance Janet Ecker. "This marks another milestone in the TSX history."
It is also the latest in a series of "firsts" attributed to the TSX Group. TSX Group's history spans 150 years and includes a number of events that have helped to shape the securities industry and the Canadian economy. Many of these events have positioned the TSX as a world leader and helped the exchange to break new ground.
For example:
- In 1937, the TSX moves to 234 Bay Street, the first building in Toronto to have air conditioning.
- 1977 - Toronto Stock Exchange launches one of the world's first computer assisted trading system, or CATS as it came to be known.
- 1990 - TSX introduces the first Exchange Traded Funds, known as TIPS.
- 1996 - TSX becomes the first exchange in North America to switch to the decimal system.
- 1997 - The Toronto Stock Exchange switches to a 100% electronic trading environment, becoming the first major North American exchange to close the trading floor.
- 1999 - Barbara G. Stymiest is names President of the Toronto Stock Exchange, becoming the first woman to head a North American Stock Exchange.
- And finally on November 12, 2002 - The common shares of TSX Group Inc. trade under the ticker symbol "X", becoming the first North American Stock Exchange to go public.
