Sagicor Financial Corporation has listed on the London Stock Exchange becoming the first Caribbean business to trade on the United Kingdom index, the company announced.

"A presence in the international capital markets is an integral part of our business strategy," said Dodridge Miller, president and CEO of the US$1.5 billion company, based in Barbados.

"This listing is a significant milestone, not just for our company, but the region, since it is the first from the Caribbean to be on the full list of the London Stock Exchange."

Sagicor in existence since 1840 has offered 266,985,336 of its common stock for trading.

The stock already trades in Barbados and Trinidad.

The listing Wednesday came three months after shareholders approved changes to the company's articles allowing for the listing.

The financial conglomerate's diversified interests cover mechant banking, insurance, pensions, asset management, securities brokerage and real estate development, with subsidiaries in 20 regional countries, and since 2005 the United States, but its principal business is life insurance.

Its Jamaican assets include local market leader in life insurance Life of Jamaica, and Pan Caribbean Financial Services.

business@gleanerjm.com