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Swiss subsidiary of Sberbank finds unsanctioned buyer – newspaper

He is expected to resume operations under a new name in four to five weeks, swiss newspaper le Temps reported

GENEVA, June 2. /TASS/. Sberbank (Switzerland) AG, a Zurich-based subsidiary of Russia’s Sberbank, has found a buyer, which is not under sanctions, and is expected to resume operations under a new name in four to five weeks, Swiss newspaper le Temps reported on Wednesday referring to a letter from the bank, received by customers.

According to the publication, Sberbank (Switzerland) AG "has found a buyer and should resume its operations under a new name in four to five weeks." The bank informed its clients of this on Wednesday by letter. Buyer's details are not disclosed. It is emphasized that the operation to change the owner "should be specified in a week."

In the letter Sberbank (Switzerland) AG also specified that it had two options - acquisition by a new non-sanctioned owner, or default and liquidation.

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) announced earlier on Wednesday that it had extended protective measures against creditors of Sberbank (Switzerland) AG until August 2. In particular, it provides for a delay in the payment of deposits, as well as a ban on payments and transactions. This decision was driven by increased sanctions and continued risks to the bank's liquidity.

In early April, the United States imposed sanctions on Sberbank, which provide for a "freeze" of assets in the United States. The sanctions also ban American citizens from conducting any transactions with the bank. Similar restrictions apply to Sberbank in some other countries, including the UK.

On Monday, the heads of state and government of the European Union approved the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes, in particular, a partial embargo on the import of Russian oil and the disconnection of Sberbank from the international interbank system for transmitting information and making payments SWIFT.