The National Depository Center (NDC), Russia’s only settlement depository servicing the full range of Russian securities, and ING Wholesale Banking, Russia’s biggest custodian rendering services to foreign investors, announced today the start of their jointly-developed Speedy Settlement Scheme (SSS), designed to cut the time needed for the delivery of shares and to optimize settlements between NDC and ING Wholesale Banking clients. Trading using the scheme began Nov. 6.
Among issuers whose shares can be facilitated through SSS operations are OJSC Gazprom Neft, OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, LUKOIL, OJSC MTS, OJSC Polyus Gold, OJSC Rostelecom, OJSC Sibirtelecom, OJSC Surgutneftegaz, OAO Tatneft, OJSC Uralsvyazinform, OJSC Transneft, and RAO UES of Russia.
Shares transferred using SSS from ING Wholesale Banking to NDC can begin trading on the MICEX exchange on the same day. Shares bought on MICEX can be transferred to ING Wholesale Banking the same day, after the clearing session is over.
About NDC
Not-for-Profit Partnership “The National Depository Center” is the largest settlement depository in Russia, servicing the full range of equity securities of Russian issuers. It services 100% of transactions conducted in the federal bond and the Bank of Russia bond markets, 95% conducted in the corporate and regional bond markets, and 90% of stock exchange share transactions. NDC provides storage of global certificates and depository accounting for 99% of corporate bond issues, and 95% of sub-federal and municipal bond issues. The international rating agency Thomas Murray has assigned NDC an A+ rating as a central depository. In 2006 the value of assets in storage was RUR 3.3 billion, turnover was RUR 30.7 billion, and the total number of operations 1.9 million. NDC is the largest paying agent on behalf of corporate bond issuers. It is Russia's national numerating agency, the substituting numerating agency for the CIS, authorized to assign the international ISIN and CFI indexes. It is also a member of the international accounting infrastructure, providing settlements on the global financial markets using direct accounts at Clearstream Banking S.A. and Euroclear Bank. It also holds accounts at the Central Depository of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the NDC of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Among NDC’s founders are MICEX and Bank of Russia (the founders’ shares in the property are 46,7% and 39,3% respectively, and in the votes 50,2% and 42,3% respectively). Members include Gazprombank, Evrofinans Mosnarbank, Rosbank, VTB Bank (Vneshtorgbank), Bank of Moscow, Rossiysky Credit Bank, Vneshekonombank, ING Bank Eurasia, JP Morgan Bank International LLC, International Moscow Bank, Deutsche Bank, and Sberbank of Russia. The Partnership also has a stake in Depositary Clearing Company CJSC (36.96 %) and in Settlement Depository Company CJSC (29%).
For further information about NDC: www.ndc.ru, or NDC Public Affaires Department: +7 495 232 0910