19 July 2022 – PJSC ALROSA announces the launch of the
identification procedure for Eurobond holders whose rights are
recorded by Russian depositories.
As a result of the sanctions imposed on PJSC
ALROSA (the "Company") and Alrosa Finance S.A., the issuer
of two Note issues of Eurobonds in the amount of USD 500,000,000
each, maturing in 2024 and 2027, for which the Company acts as the
guarantor, as well as other sanctions imposed by the United States of
America, the European Union, and the United Kingdom in relation to
the Russian Federation and to Russian individuals, it has proven
technically impossible for the Company to fulfil its regular coupon
payment obligations on
9 April 2022 and 25
June 2022 under each of the Note issues.
In accordance with the Russian Federation
Presidential Decree No. 430 "On the repatriation by residents
participating in foreign economic activity of foreign currency and
Russian Federation currency" dated 5 July 2022 ("the
Decree"), the Company is required to fulfil its obligations to
Eurobond holders whose rights are recorded by Russian depositories by
transferring funds in accordance with the procedure determined by the
Board of Directors of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, or
by transferring to those holders the bonds placed.
The Company hereby announces that it plans, as
part of the execution of the Decree, to send a request to JSC NSD
(National Settlement Depository) to identify holders of ALROSA
Eurobonds, the rights to which are recorded in the accounts of JSC
NSD and Russian depositories. Based on the registers of Eurobond
holders received, the Company plans to instruct JSC NSD to arrange
the transfer of funds for the Eurobond coupon payments which came due
for payment 9 April 2022 and 25 April 2022 in Russian Federation
roubles, in accordance with the procedure stipulated in the Bank of
Russia official clarification No.6-OR dated 20 May 2022.
The Company calls upon depositors at Russian
depositories, who are owners of ALROSA Eurobonds with maturities in
2024 (ISIN: XS1843441731 / US02109TAD46) and in 2027 (ISIN:
XS2010030919 / US02109TAE29) to contact their depository to ensure
the sending of the necessary information as requested by JSC NSD.
The fulfilment of Eurobond coupon payment
obligations to holders whose rights are recorded in foreign
depository infrastructures (in particular through the Euroclear,
Clearstream, and DTC settlement and clearing systems) remains
technically impossible due to the sanctions imposed on the Company.
The Company notes that the Noteholders whose
rights are recorded in foreign depository infrastructures may wish to
consider to apply to the regulatory authorities of the United States
(OFAC) and the United Kingdom (OFSI) to request licenses that would
allow the Company and the principal paying agent (The Bank of New
York Mellon, London Branch) to fulfil their obligations to make the
coupon payments.
The Company fully committed to its Eurobond
payment obligations, is taking all possible steps and measures to
protect the interests of Noteholders, and is prepared to fulfil its
obligations in accordance with the terms of the Note issue
documentation to all Noteholders equally following the lifting of
regulatory restrictions.
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