The Russian Trading System Stock Exchange Joins IPC's On-Net Community

LONDON, December 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Stock exchange to offer customers greater choice and flexibility in accessing global markets

IPC Systems, Inc., a leading provider of voice and electronic trading communications solutions to the world's top financial services firms and global enterprises, today announced the connection of the Russian Trading System Stock Exchange (RTS) to its on-net community via IPC's relationships with Cable & Wireless and Statel. This marks a continuation of IPC's growth in Russia and follows the recent extension of the IPC Financial Markets Network to Russia.

RTS, which when established in 1995 became Russia's first regulated stock market, plans to leverage IPC's well-established community of capital market participants to give its customers greater choice and flexibility in how they access global markets. IPC's global network encompasses more than 4,000 market participants and connects to more than 50 liquidity venues worldwide.

"Trade volumes both within and into Russian have skyrocketed over the past couple of years," Sergey Zamolotskikh, head of RTS Infrastructure department and executive board member, said. "Russia is now one of the fastest growing markets in EMEA and with this growth comes an increase in customer demand for more diverse trading services."

"This announcement positions IPC and its DirectConnect service as an ideal network infrastructure platform for traders who require a secure, high-speed solution for their Russian trading activities," said Richard Petrie, vice president, Network Services EMEA for IPC.  "We believe our suite of trader voice and electronic connectivity services to be one of the most competitive in the market. RTS is encouraging international investors to trade on its exchange, and is keen to develop increased interconnectivity with the global trading community."

IPC's global network interconnects the world's major financial centers across 700 cities in nearly 60 countries with secure, high-speed connectivity in support of all aspects of the trade lifecycle. The recent investment in more direct paths to key exchanges has been a key driver behind IPC's mission to extend network route capacity. This forms part of IPC's long-term strategic plan to deliver the optimum trading network to connect buy-side firms, sell-side firms, market data providers, interdealer brokers and liquidity venues globally.

About IPC

IPC Systems offers high and low touch trading communications solutions to the global financial trading community including the top investment banks, hedge funds and investment managers in established and emerging markets. With 100% focus on this sector and nearly 40 years of expertise and an unrivaled record of innovation, IPC provides customers with unified solutions that support collaborative voice trading and real-time electronic trading and market data connectivity.  IPC's market-leading offerings include the first unified communications/application platform, award-winning hard and soft turrets, electronic connectivity services including enhanced voice services, business continuity solutions, and follow-the-sun service and support. IPC's global reach extends to more than 58 countries - including a Financial Extranet of 4,000 on-net locations in over 700 cities and more than 115,000 turrets deployed worldwide. Headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, IPC has approximately 1,000 employees located throughout the Americas and the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. For more information, visit http://www.ipc.com.

About RTS

Established in 1995, as the first regulated stock market in Russia, RTS Stock Exchange now trades the full range of financial instruments from cash equities to commodity futures.

The RTS Index first calculated on September 1, 1995, has since become the main benchmark for the Russian securities industry and is based on the Exchange's 50 most liquid and capitalized shares.

Today RTS offers trading on:

• RTS Standard, a new front-rank equity market for the most liquid Russian securities. RTS Classica, the only cash equities trading platform in Russia that allows for settlement in both rubles and foreign currency. 
• RTS T+0 Market, securities trading for retail investors with full preliminary depositing of assets and ruble settlement.
• RTS Board, a bulletin board for indicative quotation of securities not admitted to trading on RTS markets
• FORTS, futures and options market with ruble settlement.

RTS Group includes a central counterparty, a settlement securities depository and a settlement house for rubles and foreign currencies.

International members of RTS include Deutsche Bank, CSFB, UBS, Morgan Stanley, etc.

Both the RTS Stock Market and its derivatives market FORTS operate on robust international standard electronic platforms which allow for direct market access and algorithmic trading. The core company of the RTS Group is RTS Stock Exchange that holds the license of the organizer of trading. For more information, please visit http://www.rts.ru/en/.

    Rob Thibault              Sophie Hemsworth
    IPC Systems, Inc.         Ruder Finn for IPC
    +1-201-253-2162           +44-207-462-8972
    robert.thibault@ipc.com   shemsworth@ruderfinn.co.uk