RE: AIM MARKET18 Mar 2022 14:17
Four Russia-linked companies including a steel group backed by Roman Abramovich have been ejected from FTSE indices.
Evraz, Petropavlovsk, Polymetal International and property group Raven – set up by British entrepreneur Anton Bilton – will be barred from holding positions on the FTSE 100, FTSE 250, FTSE 350 and FTSE All-Share Index from the end of this week.
The move is a blow for the four businesses as many investment funds track these indices and membership affords an air of respectability.
But critics said the move did not go far enough as the shares are still listed on the stock market in London despite their exclusion from the indices.
While shares in Evraz – where Chelsea owner Abramovich holds the biggest stake – are suspended, trading continues in the other companies.
And one of the companies, FTSE 100-listed Polymetal, said the expulsion will have no effect whatsoever.
A spokesman for the gold miner said: 'The recent exclusion of Polymetal shares from the series of FTSE equity indices does not impact the company's listing on the London Stock Exchange. Trading of Polymetal shares on LSE continues.'
FTSE Russell, the company behind the indices, said the decision was taken after brokers refused to trade the shares of Russian-linked companies.