NEW YORK and LIMA, Peru, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices ("S&P DJI") announced today that, as part of its strategic growth plan to expand throughout Latin America, it has signed a landmark agreement with the Bolsa de Valores de Lima ("BVL") to license, distribute, and govern all of the BVL indices including a new version of their flagship index, IGBVL (Indice General de la Bolsa de Valores de Lima).

S&P DJI will be responsible for the marketing and commercial licensing of the BVL indices. The agreement also allows S&P DJI to eventually calculate all of the BVL indices, and to jointly create new indices with the Exchange to meet the evolving needs of investors inside and out of Peru. Each of these indices will be designed with an eye toward being liquid enough to serve as the basis for potential investment products.

"Interest in passive investing through index-based investment products is just beginning to take shape in Latin America," says Alex Matturri, CEO of S&P Dow Jones Indices. "With more ETF assets based upon our indices than any other index provider in the world, S&P Dow Jones Indices is in a unique position to help facilitate the growth of index-based investing in Peru by offering a deeper and more prolific lineup of benchmarks to its investors. By aligning with one of the premier exchanges in Latin America, the Bolsa de Valores de Lima, international and domestic investors will have the tools necessary to measure and potentially access opportunities in Peru, a country which has witnessed the fastest economic growth in South America over the past decade."

Francis Stenning, CEO of the Lima Stock Exchange said: "This strategic alliance of S&P DJI with the Lima Stock Exchange will generate greater worldwide exposure of our stock market. In addition to measuring Peruvian market behavior, this agreement should make the BVL a source of international investment." He also noted that a new blue chip index will be created for the local market, which shall include leading companies in terms of capitalization and liquidity.

According to the agreement, the BVL will transition index calculation of its indices to S&P DJI over time to ensure a smooth transition for existing clients. S&P DJI will be responsible for the commercial licensing of the indices, as well as the end-of-day data. In addition, all BVL indices will be co-branded "S&P".   

For more information on S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit: www.spdji.com. For more information on the BVL, please visit: www.bvl.com.pe.

About S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a part of McGraw Hill Financial, is the world's largest, global resource for index-based concepts, data and research. Home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average™, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC has over 115 years of experience constructing innovative and transparent solutions that fulfill the needs of investors. More assets are invested in products based upon our indices than any other provider in the world. With over 1,000,000 indices covering a wide range of asset classes across the globe, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC defines the way investors measure and trade the markets. To learn more about our company, please visit www.spdji.com.  

S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"), a part of McGraw Hill Financial. Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones").  These trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P and their respective affiliates (collectively "S&P Dow Jones Indices") do not sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote any investment fund or other investment vehicle that is offered by third parties and that seeks to provide an investment return based on the performance of any index. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P Dow Jones Indices does not have the necessary licenses. S&P Dow Jones Indices receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

About the BVL
The Bolsa de Valores de Lima, limited company with more than 156 years in the Peruvian financial market and more than 260 issuing companies, have the main purpose of facilitate the purchase and sale of securities, giving investors and issuers, services, systems and mechanisms for fair, competitive, orderly, continuous and transparent negotiations, all under the supervision of the SMV.

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices