MOSCOW – National Settlement Depository (NSD), Russia's only settlement depository servicing the full range of debt and equity securities of Russian issuers, kept enhancing its business continuity system in 2011. Within the framework of this task the company established priority businesses focused on settlements in the MICEX-RTS Group on-exchange markets, interactions with the Bank of Russia, correspondent banks and depository clearing banks, as well as on uninterrupted operating (depository# processes.
To confirm reliability of these operations the company planned measures related to testing the backup office and ability to hold a full complex of operations efficiently with minimal down time.
On 22 December NSD tested uninterrupted settlements in the MICEX-RTS Group on-exchange markets and interactions with the Bank of Russia. The testing program included a check of technical readiness of the backup office. In particular, the company conducted operations of depositing and charging off funds denominated in Russian rubles initiated from the backup office via NSD's correspondent account with the Bank of Russia's Moscow Main Territorial Directorate's Department #1 using Multi-batch payment processing system and BESP #Bank of Russia’s RTGS system#, as well as settlements on results of trading sessions in the GKO and OFZ-PK Section, and operations of depositing and charging off funds denominated in foreign currency through NSD's correspondent account with correspondent banks and depository-clearing banks.
On 29 December NSD tested uninterrupted operating #depository# processes, including registration, preparation and execution of service #correctional) orders. The testing program included a check of availability of processing inventory operations, service and information operations, and current interactions with registrars/depositories using EDI, initiated by the backup office.
The final stages of testing sessions carried out 22 and 29 December, as well as a testing session held 3 December, were conducted in the backup office.
The testing confirmed an operating capability of the company's backup office and NSD's capability to conduct uninterrupted operations in the event of an emergency or other "force majeure" circumstance.
The results of the testing program confirmed the reliability of NSD as a settlement depository.
About NSD
National Settlement Depository (NSD) is the largest settlement depository in Russia, a part of the MICEX-RTS Group, servicing on-exchange and OTC transactions with all types of debt and equity securities of Russian issuers and providing settlement services to participants in financial markets of the Russian Federation.
NSD provides storage of global certificates and depository accounting for 99% of corporate bond issues, sub-federal and municipal bond issues. It services 100% of transactions conducted in the federal bond and the Bank of Russia bond markets, more than 99% of transactions conducted in the corporate and regional bond markets, the majority of transactions with equities and also services UIT units and securities of foreign issuers.
In accordance with agreements concluded between NSD and the Bank of Russia, NSD acts as a settlement center for the organized securities market.
NSD is Russia's national numbering agency and the substitute numbering agency for the CIS, authorized to assign the international ISIN and CFI codes.
For further information about NSD: http://www.nsd.ru/ , or NSD Public Affairs Division: +7 495 232 0910,
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