NSD (Russia) and OeKB (Austria) Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Moscow and Vienna – National Settlement Depository (NSD), the central securities depository of the Russian Federation and Oesterreichische Kontrollbank Aktiengesellschaft (OeKB), which operates the Central Securities Depository of Austria (CSD.Austria) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

OeKB and NSD will foster, under the terms of the MOU, the development of communication channels and a co-operative relationship for the purpose of supporting and advancing the development of both organizations.

The parties have agreed to put their best efforts into co-operating in the following securities clearing/settlement related matters:

• Mutual exchange of information, statistics, market updates and business operating models;
• Exchange staff for cross-training programs;
• Any other areas of co-operation as both parties see fit.

Eddie Astanin, Chairman of the Executive Board, NSD, said: “I am happy to point out that European central depositories are very interested in the Russian securities market. On 6 November 2012, NSD became Russia’s central securities depository, and it greatly expanded prospects and opportunities for further mutually beneficial cooperation. The memorandum signing will be the first step in the development of cooperation between the Russian and Austrian central securities depositories, i.e. between NSD and OeKB.”

Georg Zinner, Senior Director of Capital Market Services, OeKB, commented: “Our next step will be to open a foreign nominee holder account with NSD. This will allow Austrian investors to get direct access to Russian exchange and OTC markets in respect of the full range of Russian securities, as well as to information services and ruble settlements. We think that opening a foreign nominee holder account with NSD will have a positive impact on the volume of operations with Russian securities and contribute to Russia’s integration into the European post-trade space.”

About NSD

National Settlement Depository (NSD) is the central securities depository of the Russian Federation, a part of the Moscow Exchange Group. NSD is Russia's national numbering agency and the substitute numbering agency for the CIS, authorized to assign the international ISIN and CFI codes.

The status of central securities depository was assigned to NSD by the Russian Federal Financial Markets Service’s order on 6 November 2012.

NSD holds professional securities market participant license #177-12042-000100 for depository operations issued by the Russian Federal Financial Markets Service on 19 February 2009, and license #3294 for bank operations issued by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on 26 July 2012.

Registered office: Building 8, 1/13, Sredny Kislovsky Pereulok, Moscow 125009, Russia.

Supplementary office "Krasnye Vorota": 12, Spartakovskaya St., Moscow 105066, Russia

For further information about

 NSD: www.nsd.ru, or NSD Public Affairs Division: +7 495 232 0910, e-mail

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About OeKB

Oesterreichische Kontrollbank Aktiengesellschaft (OeKB) is Austria's main financial and information service provider for the export industry and the capital market. Since its foundation in 1946, OeKB has acted in the interest of the overall economy. OeKB offers a wide range of specialized services to companies across all sectors, financial institutions as well as agencies of the Republic of Austria. OeKB acts centrally, impartially and in accordance with the OeKB’s sustainability policy. Its shareholders are domestic commercial banks.

Since 1965, OeKB has operated Wertpapiersammelbank, the Austrian Central Securities Depository (CSD.Austria). In the CSD.Austria OeKB manages and holds securities in safekeeping in conformity with the latest standards. Tried-and-tested electronic systems as well as one-stop clearing and settlement of securities and cash amounts make transfers and custody extremely fast and cost-effective.
 www.oekb.at