EQS-Adhoc: Deutsche Börse AG: US court grants judgment to plaintiffs group seeking turnover of assets attributed to Bank Markazi and held by Clearstream

Clearstream Banking S.A., Luxembourg (Clearstream), a 100 per cent subsidiary of Deutsche Börse AG, learned today that a US court in the so-called Peterson II case (see annual report of 2022, page 236 et seq.) awarded judgment to creditors of Iran who had brought a lawsuit seeking turnover of approximately USD 1.7 bn that are attributed to the Iranian central bank (Bank Markazi) and held in custody at Clearstream in Luxembourg in a client account. Clearstream is considering appealing the decision.

Since 2018, Bank Markazi also as part of an action filed in Luxembourg against (among others) Clearstream is asking for restitution of considerable amounts of assets including the abovementioned amount of approximately USD 1.7 bn (see ad hoc announcement of Deutsche Börse AG of 18 January 2018). This action is currently still being briefed in the first instance proceedings. Clearstream after legal consultation believes the claims made against it in Luxembourg to be without merit.

Clearstream, after comprehensive legal consultation and within the scope of its potential courses of action, will weigh all relevant interests and responsibilities as to how to deal with the assets at issue while complying with Clearstream's legal and regulatory obligations.

Based on the legal assessment of the mentioned cases, todays decision does not cause any material change to the overall risk that would require Clearstream or Deutsche Börse AG to make provisions in this context.
Contact:
Ingrid Haas
Group Communications
Deutsche Börse AG
Telefon: +49 69 211 1 32 17
Leticia Adam 
Group Communications
Deutsche Börse AG
Telefon: +49 69 211 1 27 66
E-Mail: media-relations@deutsche-boerse.com