"Armenbrok" Investment Company OJSC has become the market-maker of Armswissbank's three debut USD issues (SWISB1, SWISB2, SWISB3 stock abbreviations) of denominated bonds. The Bank's press-office has informed ArmInfo that Armbrok was assigned the status on June 26 in accordance with stock rules of NASDAQ OMX Armenia. As the creator of Armswissbank's USD bonds market Armbrok will provide constant bilateral quotation of securities thus increasing their liquidity in the second market.
Armswissbank's bonds were listed at NASDAQ OMX Armenia on May 5 and were put on the Abond stock category secondary list. The bonds will be allowed to manual and REPO trading as well. Earlier on April 16, the bank placed the first and the second issues of foreign currency denominated bonds, worth $2 and $3 million respectively. As a result the bank attracted about 5 mln USD with the 5 mln USD of total volume of bond applications. Placement results for SWISB1 bonds: Purchase orders of 2000 bonds for a total of 2 mln USD were placed for the Company's bonds, as a result of which the bonds were fully placed. Cut price of the bonds was USD 1,000, weighted average yield and the cut yield was 7.5 % with a 3-year-circulation period. Placement results for SWISB2 bonds: Purchase orders of 3000 denominated bonds for a total of 3 mln USD were placed for the Company's bonds, as a result of which the bonds were fully placed. Cut price of the bonds was USD 1,000, weighted average yield and the cut yield was 8.0 % with a 5-year-circulation period. According to the Financial Rating of Armenian Banks, prepared by the Agency of Rating Marketing Information, as of 1 April 2015, Aemswissbank has retained its position in the top three in respect of t he Bank's investments in securities amounted to 24.1 bln AMD. Armswissbank's assets amounted to 74.3 bln AMD, total capital - 17.6 bln AMD, general obligations - 56.6 bln AMD. In Q1 2015, the Bank's net profit totaled 362.4 mln AMD. On April 27 the bank placed the third issue of its USD denominated bonds (the total volume: USD 5 million).
To note, ArmSwissBank was established on October 7, 2004 as a closed joint stock company by Mr. Vartan Sirmakes, CEO, founder and 100% owner of "Frank Muller Watchland" company. On February 25, 2005 ArmSwissBank was granted banking license by the Central Bank of Armenia. Vartan Sirmakes is the owner of the Bank's 11670 (80 %) ordinary shares, with the remaining 20% (2918 ordinary shares) belonging to "Belegingsmachepij Jongo" LLC.
To remind, NASDAQ OMX Armenia is the only stock exchange currently operating in Armenia. On January 26, 2009, "Armenian Stock Exchange" ojsc was officially renamed as "NASDAQ OMX Armenia" ojsc. On June 5, 2009, "NASDAQ OMX Armenia" ojsc became the owner of 100% of the shares of the "Central Depository of Armenia" ojsc. Nasdaq (NASDAQ: NDAQ) is a leading provider of trading, exchange technology, information and public company services across six continents. Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, Nasdaq enables customers to plan, optimize and execute their business vision with confidence, using proven technologies that provide transparency and insight for navigating today's global capital markets. As the creator of the world's first electronic stock market, its technology powers more than 80 marketplaces in 50 countries, and approximately 1 in 10 of the world's securities transactions. Nasdaq is home to more than 3,400 listed companies with a market value of over $8,5 trillion and more than 10,000 corporate clients.