OREANDA-NEWS. National Settlement Depository (NSD), Russia’s central securities depository, after completion of the mass transfer of assets to its accounts has launched a program to inform the global investment community about the new configuration of Russia’s post-trading system. The program is aimed at investors interested in receiving detailed information about the fundamental change in the system of securities record keeping and settlements, including investment funds which have not been represented in the Russian market due to the high risks of Russia’s settlement infrastructure which existed prior to formation of the central securities depository.

The program is being developed and will be implemented jointly with global custodians operating in Russia and other institutions which are the members of International Consulting Committee (ICC), a committee of senior managers of global investment institutions formed by NSD in 2011. On 23 April, JPMorgan Chase will organize a meeting with London and New York investors as a part of the program; NSD representatives will take part in the event.

Eddie Astanin, Chairman of the Executive Board, NSD, said: “The central securities depository in Russia has been formed in only five months since the moment of its accreditation despite that fact that it should have been created within 12 months according to the law. We have opened the first accounts for international central depositors. The mass transfer of assets relating to approximately 20% of the market (based on capitalization) and over 1,000 of the biggest issuers has just been completed. These events reflect recognition of Russia’s post trading infrastructure as eligible by international financial institutions operating in our country. Russia has been making efforts to achieve this for twenty years, as this was a condition determining the country’s position in the global capital market in respect of risks and attractiveness of investment in local assets. One of our main tasks at this stage is to inform an expanded circle of global investors about the revaluation of risks by their colleagues operating in Russia.”