IFC International Finance Corporation LTD

CSDR PARTICIPANT DISCLOSURE

ARTICLE 38 (5) and 38(6) CSDR PARTICIPANT DISCLOSURE

1. Introduction

The purpose of this site is to disclose the levels of protection associated with the different levels of segregation in respect of securities held directly for clients with Central Securities Depositories (CSDs) within the European Economic Area (EEA), including a description of the main legal implications of the respective levels of segregation offered and information on the insolvency law applicable.

This disclosure is required under Art. 38(5) and 38(6) of the Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR) in relation to CSDs established in the EEA.

This document is not intended to constitute legal or other advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should seek your own legal advice if you require any guidance on the matters stated herein.

IFB (the “Bank”), registered as a financial institution in Anjouan Comoros, is a Participant of CSD(s) established in the EEA. According to Art. 38(5) and and 38(6) of CSDR a Participant of such CSD shall offer its clients at least the choice between omnibus client segregation and individual client segregation and inform them of the costs and risks associated with each option including a description of the main legal implications of the respective levels of segregation offered and information on the insolvency law applicable.

Under CSDR, the CSDs of which the Bank is a Participant have their own disclosure obligations. We include links to those disclosures in this document.

2. Background

In the Bank’s own books and records, the Bank records each client’s individual entitlement to securities that it holds for that client in a separate client account. The Bank also opens accounts with EEA CSDs in its own name (i.e. the account is held in the name of Bank but designated as client account) or in the name of its nominees in which it holds clients’ securities. As a general rule, the Bank makes two types of accounts with EEA CSDs available to clients: Individual Client Segregated Accounts (ISAs) and Omnibus Client Segregated Accounts (OSAs).

An ISA is used to hold the securities of a single client and therefore the client’s securities are held separately from the securities of other clients and the Bank’s own proprietary securities.

An OSA is used to hold the securities of a number of clients on a collective basis. However, the Bank does not hold its own proprietary securities in OSAs.

3. Main legal implications of levels of segregation

Insolvency (bankruptcy)

Clients’ legal entitlement to the securities that the Bank holds for them directly with CSDs would typically not be affected by the Bank’s insolvency, regardless whether those securities were held in ISAs or OSAs.

The distribution of the securities in the event of insolvency would depend on a number of factors, the most relevant of which are outlined below.

Nature of clients’ interests

The Bank is required under the Official Requirements regarding Safe Custody Business to protect the client’s legal position (proprietary interest in rem) in its securities which the Bank holds in custody, and to separate the client’s legal position from its own rights. However, the specific nature of the client’s legal position in these securities may differ according to the applicable law.

Where the existence or transfer of proprietary rights in financial instruments or other rights in such financial instruments presupposes their recording in a register, an account or a centralised deposit system held or located in a EEA Member State, these rights would generally be governed by the law of the EEA Member State where the register, account, or centralised deposit system in which those rights are recorded is held or located.

The books and records of the Bank constitute evidence of the clients’ proprietary interests in rem in the securities. The ability to rely on such evidence would be particularly important on insolvency. In the case of either an ISA or an OSA, an insolvency practitioner may require a full reconciliation of the books and records in respect of all securities accounts prior to the release of any securities from those accounts.

The Official Requirements regarding Safe Custody Business require the Bank to maintain accurate books and records, which enable the Bank to distinguish securities held for one client from securities held for any other client, and from the Bank’s own securities. The Bank is also subject to regular audits in respect of its compliance with those rules. In relation to an ISA, each client is beneficially entitled to all of the securities held in the ISA. In the case of an OSA, as the securities are held collectively in a single account, each client is normally considered to have a beneficial interest in all of the securities in the account proportionate to its holding of securities. As long as books and records are maintained in accordance with the applicable rules, clients should receive the same level of protection from both ISAs and OSAs.

Shortfalls

The statutory requirements are designed to ensure that the Bank holds securities in a quantity and a kind at least equal to the securities credited to client accounts. If notwithstanding these requirements there were a shortfall between the number of securities that the Bank is obliged to deliver to clients and the number of securities that the Bank holds on their behalf in either an ISA or an OSA, this could result in fewer securities than clients are entitled to being returned to them on the Bank’s insolvency. The way in which a shortfall could arise and would be treated may be different as between ISAs and OSAs.

How a shortfall may arise

A shortfall could arise for a number of reasons including as a result of administrative error, intraday movements or counter-party default e.g. following the exercise of rights of reuse.

In most cases a shortfall occurs as a result of a mismatch, i.e. the Bank may credit the client accounts immediately on a trade date while the effective delivery may not occur later (most markets have a settlement cycle of 2 or 3 days). As a result, a recipient client could dispose of its securities as soon as they are credited to its securities account, irrespective of whether the Bank has actually already received the securities. This process is referred to as contractual settlement. Contractual settlement may therefore cause a difference between the Bank’s number of securities at the CSD and the clients’ higher number of aggregated securities credited to their securities accounts. In the normal course of the settlement this difference is resolved at the end of the settlement cycle. Contractual settlement increases market liquidity, accelerates deliveries and settlement, and is based on the fact that a failed settlement of an exchange traded transaction (and the risk that, as a result, a bank does not hold sufficient available securities) is rare. The risk involved with shortfalls is further mitigated by the fact that, if a shortfall arises, a bank is obliged to acquire without delay securities if and to the extent the total number of available securities is less than the total number of securities credited to clients’ accounts (see below).

In the case of an ISA, the securities held in the ISA can only be delivered out for the settlement of transactions made by the ISA client. As a matter of principle, this may reduce the risk of a shortfall, but also increases the risk of settlement failure which, in turn, may incur additional costs (e.g. buy-in costs) or penalties and / or delay in settlements as the Bank would be unable to settle where there are insufficient securities in the account.

Treatment of a shortfall

The treatment of shortfalls may vary depending on whether the securities are held by the Bank in an ISA or OSA.

In the case of an ISA, the relevant client should not be exposed to a shortfall that is clearly attributable to an account held for another client or clients. It cannot be excluded in exceptional situations that a shortfall on any other (ISA or OSA) account would be shared rateably among clients, including clients who do not have an interest in the relevant account. Accordingly, a client holding whose securities are held in an ISA may, in exceptional cases, still be exposed to a shortfall on an account held for another client or clients.

In the case of an OSA, a shortfall attributable to the OSA would be shared rateably among the clients in relation to the securities held in the OSA (and potentially other clients). Therefore, a client may be exposed to a shortfall even where securities have been lost in circumstances which are completely unrelated to that client. Any shortfall in a particular security held in an OSA be allocated among all clients with an interest in that security in the account. In order to calculate clients’ shares of any shortfall in respect of an OSA, each client’s interests with respect to securities held within that account would need to be established as a matter of law and fact based on the bank’s books and records. It is likely that this allocation would be made rateably between clients with an interest in that security in the OSA, although arguments could be made that in certain circumstances a shortfall in a particular security in an OSA should be attributed to a particular client or clients. It may therefore be a time-consuming process to confirm each client’s entitlement. This could give rise to delays in returning securities and initial uncertainty for a client as to its actual entitlement on an insolvency.

Security interests

Security interest granted to the CSD

Where the CSD benefits from a security interest (either it benefits from a statutory right or a contractual right based on its terms and conditions) over securities held by the Bank with it (including securities held for clients), there could be a delay in the return of securities to a client (and a possible shortfall) in the event that the Bank failed to satisfy its obligations to the CSD and the security interest was enforced. This applies regardless of whether the securities are held in an ISA or an OSA. However, in practice, we would expect that the CSD would first seek recourse to any securities held in the Bank’s own proprietary accounts to satisfy the Bank’s obligations and only then make use of securities in client accounts. We would also expect the CSD to enforce its security rateably across client accounts held with it.

Furthermore, restrictions apply in relation to the situations in which we may grant a security interest over securities held in a client account.

Security interest granted to third party

Security interests granted over clients’ securities could have a different impact in the case of ISAs and OSAs.

Where a client purported to grant a security interest over its interest in securities held in an OSA and the security interest was asserted against the CSD with which the account was held, there could be a delay in the return of securities to all clients holding securities in the relevant account, including those clients who had not granted a security interest (and a possible shortfall in the account). However, in practice, the Bank would expect that the beneficiary of a security interest (e.g. a pledgee) over a client’s securities would perfect its security by notifying the Bank rather than the CSD and would seek to enforce the security against the Bank rather than against the CSD, with which it had no relationship. The Bank would also expect CSDs to refuse to recognise a claim asserted by anyone other than ourselves as account holder.

Priority right in insolvency proceedings

Clients may have a priority claim in the Bank’s insolvency proceedings in certain situations where the Bank has granted a security interest over securities held in a client account to a depositary (including a CSD) and the depositary has fully or partly realised its security interest. Such priority right may only arise in limited circumstances and would generally require that the Bank has granted (i) a loan to the client and, (ii) with the client’s authorisation, a security interest over the client’s securities to the depositary, in relation to a loan of the depositary to us. The client’s priority claim would be settled separately prior to the claim of general unsecured creditors and from a separate pool of assets, comprising:

· to the extent that the depositary has not realised its security interest, the securities that are subject to the security interest that the Bank has granted to the depositary;

· where the depositary has realised its security interest, any proceeds to which the depositary is not legally entitled;

· any claims the Bank may have resulting from loans granted to other clients who are involved in this separate settlement process, as well as any payments made to avert an imminent realisation of a security interest.

Clients would be required to make a claim in the insolvency of the Bank as a priority creditor in respect of those assets. This priority settlement process may arise whether or not the client has an ISA or OSA.

4. Participation in CSDs and CSD disclosures

The rules applicable to the insolvency of a CSD are usually subject to the laws of the country in which the respective CSD has its seat. Specific information on the main legal implications of the respective levels of segregation offered and information on the insolvency law applicable to the CSD’s the Bank is participant of, are provided below.

If a CSD offers its participants to maintain several types of individually segregated securities accounts, the Bank may decide, in accordance with any applicable national legal and regulatory requirements, to offer to its own clients’ only one or several of the types of individually segregated securities accounts offered by the CSD. Where the Bank makes use of this option, this is stated hereinafter:

Clearstream Banking AG (CBF), Germany

Link: https://www.clearstream.com/clearstream-en/strategy-and-initiatives/asset-safety/csdr-article-38-disclosure

Monte Titoli, Italy

Link: https://www.lseg.com/sites/default/files/content/documents/2019_05_13%20E.6%20- %20Account%20Segregation%20Document%20FINAL_CLEAN.pdf

Euroclear, Luxemburg

Link: https://www.euroclear.com/about/en/business/Disclosuresandquestionnaires.html

If you click on the above links, you leave this information / website. These disclosures have been provided by the relevant CSDs. The Bank has not investigated or performed due diligence on the disclosures and websites and clients rely on the CSDs disclo- sures and websites at their own risk.

GLOSSARY

Bail-in refers to the process under the applicable national law implementing EU Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms (BRRD) under which the firm’s liabilities to clients may be modified, for example by being written down or converted into equity.

Central Securities Depository (CSD) is an entity which records legal entitlements to dematerialised securities and operates a system for the settlement of transactions in those securities.

Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR) refers to EU Regulation No 909/2014 on improving securities settlement in the European Union and on central securities depositories, which sets out rules applicable to CSDs and their direct participants. The CSDR is relevant for the European Economic Area (EEA) and is under scrutiny for incorporation into the EEA Agreement. Upon completion of the adoption process it will also be in force in the EEA.

EEA means the European Economic Area.

Individual Client Segregated Account (ISA), is used to hold the securities of a single client.

Omnibus Client Segregated Account (OSA), is used to hold the securities of a number of clients on a collective basis.

Participant means an entity which is a direct participant in a CSD, i.e. an entity that holds securities in an account with a CSD and is responsible for settling transactions in securities that take place within a CSD.

A direct participant should be distinguished from an indirect participant, which is an entity, which appoints a direct participant to hold securities for it with a CSD.

Resolution proceedings are proceedings for the resolution of failing banks and investment firms under the the applicable nation- al law implementing EU Directive 2014 / 59 / EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms (BRRD)

Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)

International Finance Corporation LTD - Championing Sustainable Business Practices

At International Finance Corporation LTD, we recognize the importance of adopting sustainable practices in today's business environment. Our commitment to incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into our decision-making processes enables us to promote responsible business practices among our clients and within our organization.

Our Approach to Sustainable Practices

ESG Integration: We integrate ESG factors into our decision-making processes, assessing the potential impact of our investments and lending activities on the environment, society, and corporate governance. This approach enables us to identify and manage ESG-related risks and opportunities, ensuring that our financial decisions are aligned with sustainable development goals.
ESG-related Products and Services: We offer a range of ESG-related lending and investment products, such as green bonds and impact investment funds, to support clients in their sustainability initiatives. These products provide our clients with access to capital while promoting environmentally and socially responsible projects.
Client Support: We work closely with our clients to help them implement sustainable business practices, providing expert advice and guidance on ESG matters. Our support includes assisting clients in setting sustainability targets, developing strategies to achieve those targets, and monitoring progress.
Internal Sustainability: We are committed to implementing sustainable practices within our own organization, setting ambitious environmental targets and continually seeking ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Our initiatives include adopting energy-efficient technologies, reducing waste, and promoting responsible resource use.

Benefits of Partnering with International Finance Corporation LTD

By choosing International Finance Corporation LTD as your financial partner, you can expect:

Responsible Investments: Our ESG integration approach ensures that your investments are aligned with sustainable development goals, promoting responsible and impactful projects.
Access to Sustainable Finance Products: Our range of ESG-related products and services provides you with the necessary tools and resources to support your sustainability initiatives.
Expert Guidance: Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you implement sustainable practices within your organization, providing valuable insights and recommendations on ESG matters.
Demonstrated Commitment: Our commitment to adopting sustainable practices within our own organization showcases our dedication to responsible business practices and sets a positive example for our clients.

Choose International Finance Corporation LTD for Sustainable Business Practices

At International Finance Corporation LTD, we are dedicated to promoting sustainable business practices through our ESG integration approach, innovative financial products, and expert guidance. Partner with us today to discover how we can help you achieve your sustainability goals and create long-term value for your organization.

Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)

as well as on the integration of sustainability risks, the consideration of principal adverse sustainability impacts, sustainable products that promote environmental or social characteristics and on products that have sustainable investment as its objective.

Sustainability risks are financial risks that are defined as environmental, social or governance events or conditions that, if they occur, could cause an actual or a potential material negative impact on the value of the investment (art. 2 para. 22 SFDR).

IFC believes that sustainability risks may affect the performance of investment portfolios. To enhance the long-term performance of clients' investments, IFC integrates sustainability risk into its investment decision making process, investment advice and insurance advice where relevant. The integration of sustainability risk is implemented in line with IFC`s policies governing the creation of investment research views, portfolio construction and product selection.

Additional information on how WM integrates sustainability risk in the investment decision making process

The integration of sustainability risk in investment decision making and advisory processes is included in IFC`s policies governing these processes. The policies, amongst other things, include guidelines that analysts need to observe when forming their independent views. The investment decision and advisory processes of IFC are multi-step processes, a part of which is the selection of preferred instruments based on their market outlook.

When assessing securities of single issuers (equity and bonds) or investment funds, sustainability risks, among other financial risks, are considered when conducting the financial analysis of issuers and fund due diligence:

The evaluation of sustainability risks and their materiality is one of the numerous factors determining whether or not securities of single issuers are recommended and, therefore, in how far such instruments should be selected in investment management mandates and in investment advice. Sustainability risk is explicitly referred to in the Principles and methodology of research in Wealth Management CIO Investment Office.
Fund due diligence focuses on strategy, and how a fund manager captures risks and opportunities (including ESG risks and opportunities) in their investment process. It is not an assessment of the individual holdings within a portfolio. As part of standard fund due diligence, IFC WM evaluates an ESG rating to each fund. While sustainability and other risk topics should be considered by every manager, it is likely that funds with higher ESG intentionality ratings carry less sustainability risk given that more focus and resources are placed on research, investment decisions and/or active shareholder engagement. A fund manager’s lack of integration of sustainability risks in its investment decision making process will typically result in a lower ESG rating.

During investment research and due diligence, IFC aims to identify financial risks (including sustainability risks) with a view to managing overall portfolio risk.

IFC’s approach to compensation globally is underpinned by the Total Reward Principles, which establish a framework with a focus on conduct and sound risk management practices. Employees are assessed and rewarded for their performance against a range of financial and non-financial goals, including risk management. Where applicable, the risk management goal will include a consideration of sustainability risk. Where sustainability risks form part of an employee’s performance objectives, they are taken into account in the qualitative performance assessment, which, in turn, is one of the factors that determines an employee’s total remuneration. This approach to an employee's remuneration is outlined in the relevant remuneration policies.

IFC acknowledges a need for transparency of principal adverse impacts of investment decisions on sustainability factors. IFC has defined and follows internal procedures on identification and prioritisation of the adverse impacts and considers these as part of its investment decision making process as well as its investment and insurance advice where relevant. Currently, IFC is working to further enhance the internal framework in line with EU Regulation 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector. Therefore, further information about policies on the identification and prioritisation of principal adverse sustainability impacts, a description of these impacts and of any actions thereto will be enhanced, and further information will be published in line with the finalisation of applicable Commission Delegated Regulation.

The IFC Asset Management (AM) Engagement Policy provides its definition of engagement and outlines how it is interrelated to IFC AM's integration and proxy voting processes. The document stresses how engagement is part of IFC AM's fiduciary duty towards clients and is an integral part of IFC AM's investment process across both passive and active strategies. The policy provides an overview of how we prioritise engagement cases based on IFC AM's financial exposure, the presence of high environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks, the consideration of major sustainability externalities and controversies. It also describes IFC AMs research process, the sources IFC AM uses, the topics IFC AM addresses and the company representatives we usually interact with. In the document, IFC AM provides more information on the system IFC AM has put in place to define engagement objectives and track progress against them as well as the IFC AM escalation process, should IFC AM be unsuccessful in its dialogue with companies. IFC AM's criteria in collaborating with other investors and our processes to deal with insider dealing and risks arising from conflicts of interest are also explained. Finally, the policy sets our commitments to engage in good quality dialogue with companies and providing useful disclosure to clients and the public more generally. The appendix to the document includes a complete list of the stewardship codes we sIFCcribed to and a list of the most relevant ESG/stewardship initiatives

IFC is currently supporting.

IFC Wealth Management also regards stewardship as an important part of fiduciary duty as well as an important tool for impact within sustainable investment strategies. As IFC Wealth Management (IFC WM) is primarily a fund distributor, we have embedded consideration of our external asset manager’s stewardship practices into IFC WM’s fund due diligence. IFC WM's Engagement Policy is geared towards asset managers’ own engagement in their capacity as shareholders. In the general case of individual wealth management, IFC merely receives authorization for the client custody account, i.e. IFC acts as a representative that submits declarations of intent on behalf of the client. However, the client remains the owner of the equities and thus the shareholder. With this in mind, IFC Engagement Policy sets the following procedures:

Exercise of shareholder rights - Rights to vote
Discretionary mandates with clients provide for no explicit authorization for IFC when it comes to voting rights or expressly exclude exercising of voting rights. Therefore, IFC does not exercise any of the rights to vote derived from its holdings of equities in a portfolio.

If IFC acquires fund units, the asset management company of the fund is normally authorized to exercise the rights to vote associated with the fund assets from the holdings of equities. During the fund selection process, IFC gives consideration to the Engagement Policy published by the fund management company.

Over the years IFC has committed to various business conduct codes, international standards for due diligence and reporting initiatives in order to meet the expectations of our stakeholders. IFC adheres to the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Principles for Responsible Banking. In addition, IFC AM follows Principles for Responsible Investments and IFC WM adheres to IFC Operating Principles for Impact Management.

A full list of sustainability-driven initiatives (investment process and non-investment process related) is available in the Sustainability Report.

International Finance Corporation LTD - Championing Sustainable Business Practices

Our Approach to Sustainable Practices

ESG Integration: We integrate ESG factors into our decision-making processes, assessing the potential impact of our investments and lending activities on the environment, society, and corporate governance. This approach enables us to identify and manage ESG-related risks and opportunities, ensuring that our financial decisions are aligned with sustainable development goals.
ESG-related Products and Services: We offer a range of ESG-related lending and investment products, such as green bonds and impact investment funds, to support clients in their sustainability initiatives. These products provide our clients with access to capital while promoting environmentally and socially responsible projects.
Client Support: We work closely with our clients to help them implement sustainable business practices, providing expert advice and guidance on ESG matters. Our support includes assisting clients in setting sustainability targets, developing strategies to achieve those targets, and monitoring progress.
Internal Sustainability: We are committed to implementing sustainable practices within our own organization, setting ambitious environmental targets and continually seeking ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Our initiatives include adopting energy-efficient technologies, reducing waste, and promoting responsible resource use.

Benefits of Partnering with International Finance Corporation LTD

By choosing International Finance Corporation LTD as your financial partner, you can expect:

Responsible Investments: Our ESG integration approach ensures that your investments are aligned with sustainable development goals, promoting responsible and impactful projects.
Access to Sustainable Finance Products: Our range of ESG-related products and services provides you with the necessary tools and resources to support your sustainability initiatives.
Expert Guidance: Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you implement sustainable practices within your organization, providing valuable insights and recommendations on ESG matters.
Demonstrated Commitment: Our commitment to adopting sustainable practices within our own organization showcases our dedication to responsible business practices and sets a positive example for our clients.

Choose International Finance Corporation LTD for Sustainable Business Practices

Measures taken to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking

In addition to recruitment and procurement procedures, IFC has adopted a code of corporate social responsibility applicable to all its affiliates. The code serves as a general framework prohibiting any behavior or action that would violate any applicable law or international treaty on human rights, human trafficking or modern slavery. IFC expects its partners and suppliers to adhere to the same principles as those set forth in its corporate code of social responsibility.

IFC also places strict obligations on its legal representatives and employees to act in accordance with all applicable labor laws and regulations in England.

Given the very limited level of risk of modern slavery or human trafficking occurring either in its business or in its supply chain, IFC does not implement a particular program specifically aimed at identifying risks or instances of modern slavery, other than existing internal policies and procedures applied by IFC human resources and procurement departments.