The Investment Industry Association of Canada (IIAC) announced Friday that 10 leading Canadian firms have joined IIAC as affiliates.

The association’s first affiliates are: Broadridge (formerly ADP Brokerage); egX Canada Inc.; Freedom International Brokerage Company; IBM Canada Ltd.; Montreal Exchange; Omgeo, PriceMetrix Inc.; Shorcan Brokers Ltd.; SS&C Technologies; and TSX Group Inc.

IIAC and its affiliates share information and address a range of issues affecting the broker/dealers serving Canadian institutional and retail investors.

Affiliates are firms that participate in the securities industry or that offer securities processing facilities or other services to IIAC members. IIAC and its affiliates have common interests in promoting Canadian capital markets efficiency and innovation.

“Canadian securities dealers cannot expect to compete truly effectively in Canadian or international capital markets by operating in isolation. Working together and with our affiliates, our members will be better informed, better prepared, better able to meet their clients’ needs in a constantly evolving world,” stated Ian Russell, president and CEO of the IIAC, in a release.

IIAC offers affiliates information, influence and member access. Affiliate benefits include invitations to association member-only events, personalized briefings, attendance at select meetings and other options.

“Success in today’s fast-paced markets is determined by how fast companies can obtain information and take advantage of it. The combination of our affiliates, the Association and our members speeds and expands information-sharing, providing synergies for us all. This will contribute to further achievements by the Canadian securities industry,” Russell added.

“egX Canada is very pleased to be one of the first affiliate members of the IIAC. egX Canada intends to work with the IIAC to better understand and serve member needs. We look forward to providing the members an innovative venue to transact real estate products,” said Mary Wong, vp – marketplace operations of egX Canada, the world’s first real estate securities exchange.

“Becoming an IIAC affiliate enables us to connect even more fully in the securities community,” commented Jim Magee, president of the inter-dealer broker Shorcan.