The British Columbia Securities Commission is asking the public if it has any information about a company that is calling itself Vancouver Stock Exchange Corp. (VSEC).
In a July 19 notice, the BCSC said the organization appears to be holding itself out as being the old Vancouver Stock Exchange (VSE).
“In fact, the VSE no longer exists, as it merged with another stock exchange in 1999,” the release said.
“VSEC claims that, in June of 2016, the old Vancouver Stock Exchange was reinstated as an independent exchange.”
The commission has issued an official investor alert, warning that the company appears to have been issuing stock exchange listings to companies in both B.C. and China. It has a list of companies that it purports to have received approval to list and raise capital for on its website (www.vcvse.com).
The company lists Kitimat as its headquarters and appears to have an enquiry centre in Shenzhen, China.
The BCSC said VSEC is not authorized to operate as an exchange in the province, and that any company that would do so would need to apply for recognition as an exchange or be granted an exemption.
According to the provincial government registry at BCLaws.ca, VSEC previously operated as Vancouver Equity Exchange Corp. The name was changed June 19, 2016. Prior to January 26, 2016, the company operated as 0980874 B.C. Ltd., which was incorporated September 19, 2013.
@EmmaHampelBIV
