In March 2009 the UNIASTRUM BANK bonds of the second issue were included in the CBR Lombard list.

From now on the bonds of UNIASTRUM BANK may serve as a security for the Lombard loan to be granted by the CBR to credit institutions.

In October 2008 the CBR changed its requirements set out for the rating of the issuers the bonds of which are used as a security for loans. Excess of the Moody’s Investors Service required credit rating level enabled UNIASTRUM BANK to be included in March 2009 in the CBR Lombard list. Earlier, on December 8, 2008, the CBR included UNIASTRUM BANK in the list of 52 credit institutions which may act as guarantors for the CBR loans. Therefore, UNIASTRUM BANK is taking part in refinancing of the Russian banking system.

According to the experts, due to the fact that the era of cheap ruble liquidity has passed (for a time, at least), inclusion in the CBR Lombard list is becoming one of the most important quality criteria for the ruble bonds.

At present UNIASTRUM BANK is very active in the Russian bank-to-bank market. The Bank cooperates with 250 Russian and foreign credit institutions. UNIASTRUM BANK is represented in the securities market in all the key trading floors. In the bond market, the bank successfully paid coupon rate of interest under the first bond issue in February 2008 and under the second bond issue in October 2008. All obligations were fulfilled punctually and in full. Total amount of coupon payments in 2008 exceeded RUR 220 mln.

Average monthly balance of investments in bonds in 2008 constituted about RUR 1.2 bln. (par value). Interest income from this investment type amounted to almost RUR 125 mln. “Speaking about securities ensuring for the Bank mid-term and long-term liabilities, we should emphasize a high-quality work of UNIASTRUM BANK both in the bill and bond market of Russia”, Treasury Directory Andrey Pugachev concluded.

For extra information please contact
Ms. Olga Kurganova, 783 58 10 ext. 1066
kurganova@uniastrum.com