Central securities depository

A Central Securities Depository (CSD) is an organization holding securities either in certificated or uncertificated (dematerialized) form, to enable book entry transfer of securities. In some cases these organizations also carry out centralized comparison, and transaction processing such as clearing and settlement of securities. The physical securities may be immobilised by the depository, or securities may be dematerialised (so that they exist only as electronic records).

International Central Securities Depository (ICSD) is a central securities depository that settles trades in international securities and in various domestic securities, usually through direct or indirect (through local agents) links to local CSDs. ClearStream International (earlier Cedel), Euroclear and SIX SIS are considered ICSDs. While some view The Depository Trust Company (DTC) as a national CSD rather than an ICSD, in fact DTC -- the largest depository in the world -- holds over $2 trillion in non-US securities and in American Depository Receipts from over 100 nations.

Functions

• Safekeeping Securities may be in dematerialized form, book-entry only form (with one or more "global" certificates), or in physical form immobilized within the CSD.
• Deposit and Withdrawal Supporting deposits and withdrawals involves the relationship between the transfer agent and/or issuers and the CSD. It also covers the CSD's role within the underwriting process or listing of new issues in a market.
• Dividend, interest, and principal processing, as well as corporate actions including proxy voting Paying and transfer agents, as well as issuers are involved in these processes, depending on the level of services provided by the CSD and its relationship with these entities.
• Other services CSDs offer additional services aside from those considered core services. These services include Securities Lending and Borrowing, Matching, and Repo Settlement
• Pledge - Central depositories provide pledging of share and securities. Every country require to provide legal framework to protect the interest of the pledgor and pledgee.

However, there are risks and responsibilities regarding these services that must be taken into consideration in analyzing and evaluating each market on a case-by-case basis.^[1]

See also

• Americas' Central Securities Depositories Association

Notes

References

• CSD Ratings and News Services

External links

• Asia Pacific Central Securities Depository Group
• European Central Securities Depository Group
• Australian CSD
• French CSD
• German CSD
• Turkish CSD
• Greek CSD
• Indian CSD 1
• Indian CSD 2
• Italian CSD
• Spanish CSD
• Portuguese CSD
• Polish CSD
• Slovenian CSD
• Austrian CSD
• Japanese CSD
• Macedonian CSD
• Russian CSD
• Serbian CSD
• Swedish and Finnish CSD
• Danish CSD
• Norwegian CSD
• Estonian CSD
• Latvian CSD
• Lithuanian CSD
• Icelandic CSD
• Mongolian CSD
• Swiss ICSD

Belgian CSDs : Euroclear Belgium (CIK - https://www.cik.be) and the Belgian National Bank (NBB - http://www.nbb.be/)