OREANDA-NEWS. October 12, 2009. The architects of the landmark alliance between Standard Bank and Troika Dialog today set their vision for the future and explained why the organisation they have created is ideally placed to serve clients in Russia and in emerging markets at this time of change in the global economy.

Robert Leith, CEO of Corporate & Investment Banking at Standard Bank explains: “The emerging markets are playing a pivotal role in the global economy. The map has changed, and having sat at only one end of the world’s trade and investment flows, emerging markets are now transacting more freely with each other. Banks must always evolve to meet their clients’ needs and we have moved early to partner with Troika to create a solution that adds value in a connected world.”

Ruben Vardanian, Chairman and CEO of the Troika Dialog Group elaborates: "This is next generation banking, where regional specialists with neither problem assets nor emergency government support are emerging as local champions with a global reputation for knowledge and access in their home market. By uniting the complementary strengths of two emerging market champions, integrating Troika’s CIS stronghold with Standard Bank’s worldwide franchise, we have created the prototype for the future of tier-1 financial institutions, founded on our shared optimism in Russia’s potential.”

Senior executives of Standard Bank and Troika Dialog, which now operate under the Troika Dialog brand in Russia, believe the global reach and integrated product offering created by their alliance is good news for clients.

David Duffy, Chief Executive Corporate & Investment Banking - International, Standard Bank explains: “We now provide genuinely full service banking to the Russian market and beyond, leveraging Standard Bank’s global markets and structured lending businesses, with Troika Dialog’s equity brokerage, investment banking and asset management expertise. We believe that financial institutions need to blur the lines between products and need to have the skill-sets required to deliver integrated solutions for clients, across investment, commercial, private and retail banking.

Jacques der Megreditchian, Chief Business Officer at Troika Dialog concludes:

“This deal represents a milestone in the development of New Troika. By enhancing our product suite, whether in banking or capital markets products, we are adding strategic value to our clients by providing them with a broader array of financial solutions to meet their needs. This creates a unique combination of services, including market access, wealth management, commercial banking and financial advisory. Furthermore, by having increased substantially the capital base of New Troika through this deal, and because of our ability to access Standard Bank's global balance sheet, we can increase the size and amount of deals we can conclude on behalf of our clients. We believe that the net result of expanding our capabilities will allow us to remain Russia’s leading investment bank in the emerging markets arena in today's rapidly changing environment.”