U.S. imposes sanctions against Metalloinvest, MegaFon, other USM holding companies

MOSCOW. April 12 (Interfax) - The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has included Metalloinvest, MegaFon and other companies of the group of Alisher Usmanov and his USM partners, including his Russian holding structure, in the specially designated nationals and blocked persons (SDN) list.

In addition to Metalloinvest, the SDN list also includes its Mikhailovsky GOK, Lebedinsky GOK, and OEMK production units, respectively, OFAC said in a statement.

"The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control is issuing Russia-related General License 62, 'Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Holdingovaya Kompaniya Metalloinvest AO, MegaFon PAO, Limited Liability Company USM Telecom, or Akkermann Cement Ca Limited Liability Company'; General License 63, 'Authorizing Transactions Related to Debt or Equity of, or Derivative Contracts Involving, Holdingovaya Kompaniya Metalloinvest AO'; General License 64, 'Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving Kommersant'; and General License 65, 'Authorizing Transactions Related to Telecommunications and Certain Internet-based Communications Involving MegaFon PAO or Digital Invest Limited Liability Company'. OFAC is revoking Russia-related General License 15, 'Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Blocked Entities Owned by Alisher Burhanovich Usmanov,'" OFAC posted on its website.