Euroclear Bank Expands Coverage Of Asian Securities With Japanese Government Debt

Euroclear Bank will offer cross--border settlement, custody and collateral management services for Japanese government bonds (JGBs)in 2007,subject to legal and regulatory approvals.Euroclear Bank ’s services for JGBs,a market valued at approximately EUR 6 trillion, completes its coverage for all of the world ’s major government debt securities.

In preparation for the launch,Euroclear Bank has appointed Mizuho Corporate Bank as its local depository for JGBs.Mizuho Corporate Bank,which is part of the Mizuho Financial Group,already serves as one of two Euroclear Bank local depositories for other Japanese securities.

Martine Dinne,Chief Executive Officer of Euroclear Bank,commented: “As a result of tax-law changes led by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, Euroclear Bank will play a key role in broadening the foreign ownership of these securities,which constitute the largest debt market in the world. The new service complements our existing offering for Samurai bonds, yen-denominated global bonds,Japanese equities and ETFs.Furthermore, Euroclear Bank is the only international central securities depository with a representative office in Tokyo,underscoring its long-term commitment to, and knowledge of,the Japanese market.”

Following a simplification of reporting requirements for JGBs,Euroclear Bank ’s services will be offered to foreign and Japanese resident holders that are exempt from Japanese withholding tax.Approximately EUR 300 billion of these securities are currently held by overseas investors.

Euroclear is the world ’s largest provider of domestic and cross-border settlement and related services for bond,equity and fund transactions.Market owned and market governed,the Euroclear group includes Euroclear Bank, based in Brussels,as well as Euroclear Belgium,Euroclear France,Euroclear Nederland and CRESTCo,the central securities depositories of Belgium, France,the Netherlands,and the UK and Ireland,respectively.The total value of securities transactions settled by Euroclear is in excess of EUR 350 trillion per annum,while assets held for clients are valued at more than EUR 15 trillion.Euroclear Bank is rated AA+by Standard &Poor ’s and Fitch Ratings.