IMPORTANT: concerns about possible internet access interruption for Russian residents

This notice is directed at all IBKR clients whose access to IBKR’s brokerage platform requires internet and/or telecommunications networks based in Russia. Based on publicly available information, we are alerted that restrictions on access from Russia (and perhaps its dependencies) to the broader global internet network are being considered. If any restriction is deployed that blocks access to the internet or IT services outside of Russia from its residents, this will likely impact IBKR clients’ ability to access their account and manage their portfolios. Since the commencement of the military actions in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, global markets have experienced extraordinary volatility. Without a substantial reduction in the scale of this conflict, we do not see market volatility decreasing, and therefore we reasonably expect the volatility of most financial portfolios to also remain high. We urge our clients to independently assess the impact of a broad technology restriction on Russian residents, including the ability to continue to access international financial services such as provided by IBKR. Furthermore, we urge IBKR clients to consider more specifically the risks to their IBKR portfolios in light of current events, and to consider the impact(s) of losing the ability to readily manage their investments and execute funds transfers. Lastly, Interactive Brokers has no way to confirm the degree of accuracy of the information that Russian internet access may be disrupted, nor to the scope or timing under consideration. We also have no way to mitigate these risks on behalf of our clients within a short time frame should restrictions be implemented in the next days,

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Dear IBKR Client,
With the outbreak of open military hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, and the announcement by governments around the world of sanctions and other retaliatory actions to be applied against Russia, we want to restate our prior warnings regarding assets and investments in your account that may be significantly impacted by either market and/or geopolitical events.
•    Investment products with sensitivity to the Russian securities and debt markets experienced extraordinary volatility in the past several days. Continued volatility of this extreme scale should be considered in your investment decisions. Ongoing volatility in energy and commodity markets can also be expected. Changes to the exchange/statutory or IBKR margin policies may occur with little or no advance notice.
•    Clients holding positions in Depository Receipts (ADR/GDR) or derivative securities (ETFs, closed end funds, etc) that are exposed to the Russian or Ukrainian markets may be prevented from any transactions in these instruments if sanctions are applied that impact the ability of these issuers of these securities to operate normally.
•    Clients with positions directly on the MOEX exchange are reminded of the possibility that sanctions will be applied within the international banking infrastructure that could interfere with an orderly exit of positions and delivery of sale proceeds back to their IBKR accounts. Sales proceeds could be frozen in Russia for an indeterminate period.
•    Clients with Russian residency (or residency in the parts of Ukraine subject to sanctions imposed by various governments) may be blocked from accessing their IBKR account, or effecting transactions (including deposits or withdrawals). Clients should also consider the possibility of a technical block applied to the international internet infrastructure impacting the ability to access your IBKR account(s).   

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