Russia: Update on actual DR conversions with Russian underlying securities - Update
13.07.2022
Note: This announcement, originally published on 6 June 2022 and updated on 14 June 2022, has been further updated to provide information on the National Settlement Depository (NSD). Changes have been highlighted.
Clearstream Banking1 informs customers that owing to the sixth package of EU sanctions published on 3 June 2022, that now designates the National Settlement Depository (NSD), the conversion programme for Depository Receipts (DRs) with Russian underlying securities is currently on-hold.
Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA) has provided their view through European Banking Federation (EBF) in relation to transactions involving NSD. It has been clarified that, with NSD as a designated entity in the Annex I of Council Regulation 269/2014, it is not possible to instruct any transaction which may, directly or indirectly, result in any charge payable to the NSD.
The NSD has released an announcement that until 31 July 2022 inclusive the NSD will charge no fees for the services of transferring Russian shares to or from custody accounts of DR agents. Considering that the NSD will not derive any economic benefit as a result of the conversion instruction, competent authorities deem DR conversion as permissible under current EU sanctions.
Impact on customers
Clearstream expects to resume processing of DR conversion instructions starting from 18 July 2022, which is subject to assurances received from the DR agents that there will be no economic benefit to the NSD.
Clearstream will provide updated notifications to the holders of applicable DRs based on the assurance received from the DR agents.
Further information
For further information, customers may contact Clearstream Banking Client Services or their Relationship Officer.
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1. Clearstream Banking refers collectively to Clearstream Banking S.A., registered office at 42, avenue John F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg, and registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register under number B-9248, and Clearstream Banking AG (for Clearstream Banking AG customers using Creation Accounts), registered office at 61, Mergenthalerallee, 65760 Eschborn, Germany, and registered in Register B of the Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under number HRB 7500.
Reference Number
A22079