The new charter of the merged MICEX-RTS exchange has become effective. The company will be transformed from a closed joint-stock company into an open one. The merged infrastructure will become functional at the beginning of 2012.

Trading in three new sectors began on December 19, 2011, but they are only nominally new so far. The first one is the Basic market, which comprises all regimes of the MICEX stock market; the Standard market is the former RTS Standard transferred to the MICEX; and the Classica sector is the RTS classic market, also moved to the MICEX.

The MICEX forward market (trading in foreign currency and interest rates) and Forts (trading in stock market, currency, and commodities derivatives) have remained unchanged. The merged exchange will continue publishing the MICEX and RTS indices.

The united exchange plans to hold an IPO at the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013.