The Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM) and the Central Depository & Settlement Co. Ltd (CDS) are pleased to announce the introduction of dual currency trading and settlement on foreign currency denominated financial instruments listed on SEM's platform.

The objective of dual currency trading is to offer investors the option to trade foreign currency denominated securities (USD, Euro, GBP and ZAR) in Mauritius Rupee (MUR) also. At the request of the respective issuers, SEM will allow securities that are denominated in foreign currencies, to be traded:

1. in their underlying primary currency, which is the currency in which the security is issued
2. and in the local currency, namely the Mauritius Rupee (MUR).

It is expected that the introduction of dual currency trading will boost trading and liquidity in foreign currency denominated securities that are listed on SEM, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of SEM as a listing and trading platform for these securities.

For each dual-currency traded security, there will be two Security Codes, namely the existing code for foreign currency trading and a new Security Code for MUR trading. Both Security Codes will be linked to the existing security in the CDS. Market Statistics will include quotes for both Security Codes. Corporate actions, such as dividend distribution, will always be given in the primary currency of the listed security.

Mara Delta Property Holdings Limited (Mara) will be the first company to use the dual currency trading facility and its shares will be traded in both USD and MUR as from the trading session of Monday 12th December 2016. 100,000 shares of Mara will be made available for trading in MUR.