SGSS in Romania mandated by Fondul Proprietatea

Societe Generale Securities Services (SGSS) has been appointed by S.C. Fondul Proprietatea S.A. (“the fund”) to act as its custody and depositary agent bank in Romania.

The fund was established by the Romanian Government in 2005. Eligible claimants who lost property under former communist governments were awarded shares in the fund in lieu of compensation. It has been managed by Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited UK, Bucharest Branch, since September 2010.

Societe Generale, through its subsidiary BRD, has been providing securities services in Romania for over 13 years. This mandate reflects the group’s long-standing commitment to the Romanian market and, in particular, SGSS’ proven expertise and capacity to provide world-class services to a client-base of asset managers, pension funds, global custodians, investment banks and broker dealers in the country.

SGSS overall offering in Romania now includes both local and global custody, clearing & settlement services across all asset classes and depositary bank services. The high quality of its products and services was recognized in the 2012 Global Custodian magazine annual emerging markets survey, where it was “top rated” in the domestic client category.

Fondul Proprietatea is a joint stock company operating as a closed–end investment fund without a set lifetime, incorporated in Romania and trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange since January 2011. The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation via investments, primarily in Romanian equities, with strict adherence to the principles of value investing. The portfolio is heavily weighted in the power, oil and gas sectors through a number of listed and unlisted, privately-held and state-controlled entities.