2023-05-23
The Capital Market Authority and Bank of Lebanon issued Notice No. 94 to repeal prior guidance and mandate licensed Lebanese banks to ensure Perpetual Preferred Shares held in client portfolios reflect prevailing market prices. The directive requires institutions to immediately suspend pricing and mark these shares as "unavailable" in client statements if prior valuation methods fail, pending a proper fair market value assessment. Additionally, banks must review the deposit fees charged on these shares to align with current economic conditions.
Notice No. 94 Addressed to Licensed Institutions Related to Perpetual Preferred Shares (Perpetual)
Based on Law No. 161 dated August 17, 2011 regarding Financial Markets, Based on the Financial Markets Rules of Operation System Series 3000 issued by the Capital Market Authority on November 10, 2016, Based on Capital Market Authority Board Decision No. 23/4/2 dated May 9, 2023, Given the safety of the banking system and public interest in the current exceptional circumstances currently passing through the country, We inform you as follows:
First: Notice No. 90 issued by the Capital Market Authority on February 15, 2023 is repealed and replaced by this notice.
Second: Subject to the provisions of Clause 4 of Article 3311 of the Financial Markets Rules - Series 3000, particularly regarding Perpetual Preferred Shares issued by Lebanese banks, licensed institutions, bearing full responsibility, shall undertake the following:
Third: This notice takes effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette.
Beirut, May 23, 2023 Chairman of the Capital Market Authority / Governor of Bank of Lebanon Riad Toufic Salameh