Switzerland

Logitech International

Industry
Software
Symbol
NASDAQ:LOGI
Country
Switzerland
Sources

In a correspondance with the SEC in 2009, Logitech International disclosed details of their business in Iran.

"The software and services that were downloaded or used by persons in Iran allow users to have access to: (1) streaming media hardware products to access Internet radio stations and stream their digital audio files from their personal computer to the product; (2) web cameras (or, in certain cases, those of other manufacturers) to initiate or receive video calls from personal computers; and (3) universal remote control products to select, from a database, the audio-visual devices used by the user, to download the infrared or radio-frequency codes associated with the remote controls for such devices, and to choose the order in which the devices are turned on or off, according to the user’s preferences." (CORRESP for LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL SA, 10/2/2009)

 

Foster Wheeler

Industry
Engineering and Construction
Value of USG Contracts
199
Value of USG Contract Source
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/06/world/iran-sanctions.html
Symbol
NASDAQ:FWLT
States
NJ
Country
Switzerland
Sources

"Foster Wheeler, an engineering and construction firm that provides services to the oil and gas industry, did business in Iran until 2006, when it told the Securities and Exchange Commission it was withdrawing. It used to be a United States-based company, but moved in 2001 to Bermuda, which allowed it to avoid United States corporate income taxes, and has since moved again to Switzerland."

While the company was performing business in Iran from 2000 to 2006, Foster Wheeler was the recipient of $199 million in U.S. federal funds. (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the U.S.", 3/6/10)

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The company is listed as subcontractor for the South Pars Field Phase 6.7. & 8 (Petropars website)

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"According to "Tehran Times", U.S.-based engineer Foster Wheeler is optimistic about business prospects in Iran, according to its executive president Gianni Bachiddu. According to Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), he said there was a "tremendous amount" of engineering and project management consultants coming from both the National Iranian Oil…" (IPR Strategic Business Information Database, "US's Foster Wheeler Optimistic over Iran's Prospects", 3/20/2002)

Response

The company has reportedly withdrawn from doing business in Iran.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)

Industry
Shipping
Value of USG Contracts
18
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fiscal_year=2008&contractorid=83392&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go
Country
Switzerland
Contact Information
Sources

"MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., like other major container shipping lines, has been taking bookings for Iran-related trade after the 2015 JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal) effectively lifted certain sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits to its nuclear program. In consideration of the impending U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, and corresponding re-enlargement of its sanctions program, we regret to inform you that MSC is ceasing to provide access to services to and from Iran. The U.S. government has outlined a wind-down period in the coming months and we will do our utmost to collaborate with you to conclude this period with the minimum disruption to your business and to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience. While MSC is not accepting bookings for shipments originating from Iran, or destined to Iran, we will continue to carry certain legally acceptable cargoes during the wind-down period, notably for importation of foodstuffs." (5/16/2018)

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“MSC is reviewing its services, operations and business relationships to understand if any are impacted and will comply with the timetable set out by the U.S. government,” the private Swiss-headquartered group said in a statement on Friday…A shipping source said MSC had already stopped taking bookings for certain cargoes that would be impacted by the sanctions programme.” (5/12/2018)

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"As a result of the nuclear deal, Iran’s marine activities are now completely back to normal,” the official was quoted as saying in January. Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s second-largest shipping line in terms of container vessel capacity, and Evergreen Line are among top shipping lines that have resumed cooperation with Iranian ports." (October 19, 2017)

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"So despite concerns over regulation and reputation, that opportunity explains the caravan of container carriers that started resuming service to Iran back in January. Mediterranean Shipping Co. has returned, as has CMA GGM [likely CMA CGM misspelled]. Panalpina began planning for a potential lifting of sanctions two years before it happened, and now offers regular air, ocean and road services to Iran." (Global Trade, "Transportation/Logistics:Iran is Back Open for Business," 11/1/2016).

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“Fourteen international shipping lines have returned to Iranian ports following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the formal name of the nuclear deal signed by Iran with the West), the deputy head of Ports and Marine Organization of Iran said. Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s second-largest shipping line in terms of container vessel capacity, and Evergreen Line are among the top shipping lines engaged in economic interactions with Iranian ports,” he said (Financial Tribune, "Int'l Shipping Lines Back to Iran," 9/27/2016).

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Operates as a liner & feeder in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

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Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow)

On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, because the IRGC owns it and uses it for illicit activities including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  The EU followed with its own sanctions against Tidewater on January 23, 2012. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Decision 2012/35/CFSP)

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Listed by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization as doing business with the Iranian Forogh Darya.  (Ports & Maritime Organization: Companies Affairs Department: Liners)

 

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MSC lists two agency offices in Iran in the cities of Tehran and Bandar Abbas. (Company Website)

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In the Persian 1384 (2005/2006), the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran awarded MSC's Agents in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sea Glow Shipping Agency LLC, the prestigious "Best Shipping Agency Company." In a statement, MSC said, "It is a matter of pride that the Sea Glow Shipping Agency LLC team in Iran have been able to get this prestigious award for the first full Persian year since we started commercial operations as agents for MSC in May 2004." ("Prestigious Award for MSC Agent in Iran," 8/22/06)

 

Glencore

Industry
Energy, Financial Services
Value of USG Contracts
20
Value of USG Contract Source
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/06/world/iran-sanctions.html
Symbol
LSE: GLEN
States
CA
CT
MT
PA
TN
TX
Country
Switzerland
Contact Information
Sources

Glencore was listed on Texas' 2021 List of Companies Engaging in Scrutinized Business Operations in Iran.

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As of June 8, 2020, Glencore is listed on the Pennsylvania Department of General Services Iran Free Procurement List. Entities included on this list are ineligible to enter into a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for goods and services worth at least $1,000,000 per sections 3501-3506 of the Commonwealth Procurement Code, 62 Pa. C.S. §§ 3501-3506.  

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In 2018 and 2019 Glencore was listed on the Texas Comptroller List of Companies Engaging in Scrutinized Business Operations in Iran.  

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In 2018 the U.S. state of Iowa listed Glencore on its Iran prohibited companies list rendering Glencore ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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“If the U.S. does decertify the nuclear deal, and raises the tension, then inevitably some people will say, well, maybe that is a business that I shouldn’t be involved in,” said Glencore’s (GLEN.L) global head of oil, Alex Beard.

He said dealing with Iran was complex enough without any new U.S. sanctions because of a lack of dollar clearing, as the global banking system is sensitive to the U.S. view on transacting with Iran.

Glencore and Vitol, the world’s No.2 and No.1 oil trading houses, have resumed dealings with Iran since last year." (Reuters, 10/13/2017).

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"A delegation from European commodities trading giant, Glencore, will visit Iran in the coming weeks to study grounds for mutual cooperation in the mining sector, Mehdi Karbasian, president of state-owned IMIDRO (Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization), said." (November 2017)

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"Glencore is seeking to increase oil trading with Libya, Iran and Iraq to beat what looks to be a much tougher trading environment compared with last year, Glencore's global head of oil Alex Beard told the Reuters Commodities Summit... Beard said Glencore would be seeking to trade more crude from the Middle East, including Iraq and Iran, as well as from Libya and Russia. "We are currently lifting products from (Iran's) NIOC and private firms and are looking to expand into crude," Beard said, adding he was looking into pre-financing Iranian exports." (Reuters, "Glencore pursues more deals wiht Libya, Iran to beat tough oil trading year," 10/12/2016). 

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Glencore is listed as an attendee at the Foucs Iran Summit & Exhibition that took place from September 26-27, 2016, in Tehran, Iran. (Participating Companies

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Glencore is listed as an attendee at the Iranian Base Metals Conference that took place from September 6-7, 2016 in Tehran, Iran. (Iranian Base Metals Conference Attendees, 2016).

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"Glencore PLC and Vitol Group, the world's two largest independent oil traders, are close to signing a long-term deal to purchase Iranian crude, a top Iranian official said. The potential deal would mark the return of two of Iran's biggest oil trading partners before Western sanctions over the country's nuclear program were tightened in 2012... Iran and the two Swiss-based companies are close to reaching separate agreements with state-owned National Iranian Oil Co., said Mohsen Ghamsari, the company's director of international affairs, in an interview. Mr. Ghamsari said one of the main issues to iron out is that the state company wants to choose the destination of the crude that it sells Glencore and Vitol. It isn't unusual for Iran's state oil company-or those in other countries --to dictate where oil traders market their crude. In a separate interview, Iran's deputy oil minister Amir Hossein Zamaninia said Glencore and Vitol have purchased mostly oil products from Iran until now. Glencore-which trades large quantities of oil in addition to the copper, coal and other commodities it mines and sells-became the first Western company to load Iranian oil products since the end of sanctions, but the cargo was made of fuel oil, rather than more expensive crude. It has struggled to find financing for the crude purchase, according to an Iranian trader involved in the deal.” (The Wall Street Journal, "Glencore, Vitol Near Deal to Buy Iranian Crude,” 5/12/2016)

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"The world's largest commodity trading houses are first in line to profit from the much expected return of Iran to global markets as Tehran and Washington enter into the final three-months of nuclear talks. While the global oil industry has been seen as the biggest beneficiary of a thaw, commodities traders including Cargill Inc. Glencore Plc, Vitol BV, Trafigura Beheer BV and Louis Dreyfus Commodities BV have a long history in Iran, helping to export its oil and import daily basics like gasoline, wheat and rice... 'We like other people have talked to the Iranians,' Vitol CEO Ian Taylor said in an interview. 'They used to be major players in the markets, but obviously none of us will do anything unless sanctions are actually lifted.'" (Bloomberg, "Top Commodity Trading House Line Up for Iran's Return to Market," 4/20/15)

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"While Western powers have identified a small group of sectors for Iranian sanction relief, a much wider set of European and U.S. companies—from pharmaceutical firms and medical-equipment makers to food companies and traders—also stands to regain lost Iranian trade as soon as relief measures are formally adopted next month…Affiliates of Switzerland-based commodities company Glencore Xstrata sold as much as $111 million in agricultural goods and metals to Iranian state entities in the second quarter of this year, according to disclosures by one of these affiliates to the SEC. A spokesman for Glencore Xstrata declined to comment on its Iranian plans." (Wall Street Journal, "Iran Deal Opens Door for Businesses," 12/1/13)

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"Glencore Xstrata Plc (GLEN), the largest publicly traded commodities supplier, is conducting business with Iran even as competitors abandon the country, potentially drawing scrutiny from regulators. Documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Century Aluminum Co. (CENX), in which Glencore owns 41.8 percent, show non-U.S. affiliates of Glencore 'entered into sales contracts for agricultural products as well as purchase contracts for metals with Iranian entities' last quarter…Foreign companies have abandoned Iran after the country’s nuclear program prompted U.S., European Union and United Nations trade sanctions. Glencore competitors Trafigura Beheer BV and Vitol SA have halted crude-oil purchases from Iran as regulators move to end transactions with the Islamic republic. The Iranian entities conducting business with affiliates of Glencore were either fully or majority owned by the government, according to the SEC filing, which was first reported by American Metal Market. Glencore said it’s not violating laws. 'Glencore Xstrata does comply with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions,' the Baar, Switzerland-based company said in a statement. 'We are closely monitoring all new legal developments to ensure that we continue to be in compliance.' Maintaining trading ties to Iran may draw scrutiny not only of Glencore but of its banks and insurers as well, according to Biersteker. 'They are taking a gamble,' he said. The company may face difficulty insuring transactions and shipping materials, he said…Glencore hasn’t disclosed the names of the companies it’s conducting business with in Iran." (Bloomberg, "Glencore Trades With Iran Even AS Competitors Depart," 8/30/13)

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"New York's top financial regulator has expanded a probe into whether reinsurance companies have written policies on international trade with Iran, which could potentially violate new U.S. sanctions. In a letter posted to its website on Wednesday, the state's Department of Financial Services asked reinsurers to explain their dealings with entities and people that have ties to Iran. The department also asked reinsurers to explain procedures in place to ensure compliance with the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, which took effect on July 1. Twenty reinsurers are getting the letter, including Hannover Re, Lloyd's of London and Swiss Re, a person familiar with the matter said. Those reinsurers were among those contacted last month by the regulator, whose superintendent is Benjamin Lawsky, over their dealings involving Iran. Lawsky opened his probe after news reports that Switzerland-based Glencore Xstrata Plc and Trafigura AG had supplied thousands of tons of alumina to an Iranian firm that provided aluminum for Iran's nuclear program. The new law bans financial services companies that do business in the United States, such as insurers and reinsurers, from providing services to companies that trade with Iran." (Reuters, "NY Regulator Expands Probe into Reinsurers' Iran Ties," 7/24/2013)

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"Glencore, a commodity trading house run by the billionaire Ivan Glasenberg, traded $659m (£430m) of goods, including aluminium oxide, to Iran last year, the Guardian has established... At the time of the Glencore and Trafigura trades with Iralco, it was not illegal or a breach of sanctions to supply Iran with alumina. It is unknown whether Glencore or Trafigura's alumina passed from Iralco to Tesa, or whether it was used in centrifuge construction... Glencore said it 'ceased transactions' with Iralco immediately when it learned of its links with Tesa, and the last trade was in October 2012. 'Prior to EU sanctions in December 2012, we were not aware of a link/contract between Iralco and Tesa,' the company said in a statement. Glencore said it is 'reliant on the relevant regulatory bodies/governments to advise us on developments in who we can/can't do business with'... The question surrounding Glencore's role in unintentionally potentially helping arm a nuclear Iran comes as Obama ramps up pressure on Tehran to end its atomic weapons programme... Mark Wallace, a former US ambassador to the UN, said Glencore's dealings with Iran were 'completely unacceptable', adding: 'We might expect this from a Russian or Chinese company, but the truth is that even those companies usually stay away from this sort of exposure.' Glencore said it 'complies with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions. We closely monitor all new legal developments to ensure that we continue to be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions.'... The Guardian has learned that Glencore traded $659m worth of metals, wheat and coal with Iranian entities during 2012. Buried deep in its annual report, one of Glencore's US affiliates, Century Aluminum 46% owned by Glencore, states: 'During 2012 non-US affiliates of the largest stockholder of the company [Glencore] entered into sales contracts for wheat and coal as well as sale and purchase contracts for metal oxides and metals with Iranian entities, which are either fully or majority owned by the GOI [government of Iran].' Glencore declined to state how much of the $659m it dealt with Iran in 2012 was related to alumina/aluminium. The trades were not illegal or against sanctions at the time. It is not the first time Glencore's activities have attracted controversy. Last year the head of its food trading business said the worst drought to hit the US since the 1930s would be 'good for Glencore' because it would lead to opportunities to exploit soaring prices." (The Guardian, "Glencore traded with Iranian supplier to nuclear weapon's programme," 4/21/2013) 

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"Affiliates of Glencore International PLC, the world’s largest publicly traded commodity supplier, entered into sales contracts last year with entities controlled by Iran, according to Century Aluminum Corp. Non-U.S. affiliates of Glencore, Century’s largest shareholder, entered into sales contracts for wheat and coal and sale and purchase contracts for metals and metal oxides, Monterey, California-based Century said today in filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission...  Century was spun off from Glencore in 1996. Glencore owned 47 percent of Century as of Dec. 31, according to the filing." (Bloomberg, "Glencore Affiliates Sold Commodities to Iran, Century Says," 3/18/2013)

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"Commodities giant Glencore had supplied thousands of tons of alumina to an Iranian firm that provided aluminum to Iran's nuclear program, Reuters reported last week, citing intelligence and diplomatic sources... Switzerland-based Glencore also said last week that its deal had ended when EU sanctions targeting Iralco came into force. It said its barter contract was legal and denied any wrongdoing by the firm or attempts to help Iran bypass sanctions." (Reuters, "Second trading firm says it supplied Iranian firm linked to atomic work," 3/5/2013)

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"Commodities giant Glencore supplied thousands of tons of alumina to an Iranian firm that has provided aluminum to Iran's nuclear program, intelligence and diplomatic sources told Reuters. The previously undisclosed barter arrangement between Glencore, the world's biggest commodities trader, and the Iranian Aluminum Company (Iralco) illustrates how difficult it is for Western powers to curb Iran's ability to trade with the rest of the world. Even as the West imposes stringent restrictions on banks that do business with Iran, United Nations diplomats say that Tehran keeps finding new ways to do business with willing partners. Reuters first learned about Glencore's barter deal with Iralco, and an aluminum supply contract that Iralco had with Iran Centrifuge Technology Co (TESA), from a Western diplomatic source in early November. That was about six weeks before the European Union's December 2012 decision to levy sanctions on Iralco for supplying aluminum metal to TESA, which is a subsidiary of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). The source showed Reuters a Western intelligence report concerning Glencore's arrangement with Iralco. It described how Baar, Switzerland-based Glencore provided Iralco with thousands of tons of alumina last year in exchange for a lesser amount of aluminum metal... It is not known whether any of the aluminum produced by Iralco from Glencore's alumina raw material actually ended up with TESA... In a statement to Reuters, Glencore said it first learned about the TESA-Iralco relationship in December and immediately 'ceased transactions' with Iralco. It said its last actual trade as part of the barter arrangement was in October 2012, two months before the EU move. Glencore acknowledged that it did sign the barter deal with Iralco in August 2011, saying it was perfectly legal and denied any wrongdoing by the firm or attempts to help Iran bypass sanctions. It declined to provide details about the barter deal, the value of which is unclear... Glencore had supplied Iralco with about five tons of alumina for every ton of aluminum that Glencore received in return, according to the intelligence report. Given that on average it takes only about two tons of alumina to produce one ton of aluminum, the barter deal may have left Iralco with more aluminum after processing the alumina than it supplied to Glencore. Iralco covered costs inside Iran, while all activity involving foreign currency payments was covered by Glencore, including shipping costs and insurance, according to the intelligence report. In its statement, Glencore said: 'Glencore complies with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions. We closely monitor all new legal developments to ensure that we continue to be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions.'... Swiss authorities said they saw no evidence of U.N. or Swiss sanctions violations by Glencore. Iralco is not under U.S. or U.N. sanctions. The intelligence report described the Glencore deal as a good way for Tehran to get around global financial restrictions, though it did not say that Glencore violated sanctions... United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based lobby group that puts pressure on companies to cut off business with Iran, said Glencore's Iran business was 'reckless and improper' and urged the U.S. government to take action against the trading firm. 'Foreign entities that engage in improper business in Iran should be barred from U.S. markets  and have any U.S. assets frozen,' said Nathan Carleton, the group's spokesman. A banker in London who declined to be identified said the news about Iralco was unlikely to have a direct effect on Glencore's financing... A source close to Glencore said that Iralco received its last alumina shipment from Glencore in September while Glencore received its last delivery of aluminum from Iralco in October. The source declined to comment when asked if the firm continued to do other business with Iran. Glencore announced an end to its fuel sales to Iran in January 2010 to avoid breaching U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department declined to comment specifically on Glencore's dealings with Iralco, though a Treasury official told Reuters anyone providing alumina to Iran can face U.S. sanctions under new rules taking effect on July 1... Glencore has been involved in controversies before. It was founded as ‘Marc Rich & Co' in 1974 by Marc Rich, who was charged by the U.S. authorities in the early 1980s with evading taxes and selling oil to Iran during the 1979-81 hostage crisis." (Reuters, "Exclusive: Glencore bartered with firm linked to Iran nuclear program," 3/1/2013)

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"Switzerland has previously expressed displeasure about sanctions against Iran, largely becaues it has represented U.S. interests in Iran for over 30 years. And, while Switzerland no longer imports Iranian oil, estimates show that one third of the world’s oil deals are brokered by five Swiss-based commodity-trading firms – Glencore GLEN.LN +1.25%, Gunvor, Vitol, Trafigura and Mercuria." (The Wall Street Journal, "Treasury’s Cohen Heads to Switzerland, Turkey for Sanctions Talks," 8/31/2012)

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"Open sources reported that Glencore sold gasoline to Iran in 2009, but subsequently stopped in 2009." (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report: "Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009 and June," September 3, 2010)

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"Glencore, a commodity trading house run by the billionaire Ivan Glasenberg, traded $659m (£430m) of goods, including aluminium oxide, to Iran last year, the Guardian has established... At the time of the Glencore and Trafigura trades with Iralco, it was not illegal or a breach of sanctions to supply Iran with alumina. It is unknown whether Glencore or Trafigura's alumina passed from Iralco to Tesa, or whether it was used in centrifuge construction... Glencore said it 'ceased transactions' with Iralco immediately when it learned of its links with Tesa, and the last trade was in October 2012. 'Prior to EU sanctions in December 2012, we were not aware of a link/contract between Iralco and Tesa,' the company said in a statement. Glencore said it is 'reliant on the relevant regulatory bodies/governments to advise us on developments in who we can/can't do business with'... The question surrounding Glencore's role in unintentionally potentially helping arm a nuclear Iran comes as Obama ramps up pressure on Tehran to end its atomic weapons programme... Mark Wallace, a former US ambassador to the UN, said Glencore's dealings with Iran were 'completely unacceptable', adding: 'We might expect this from a Russian or Chinese company, but the truth is that even those companies usually stay away from this sort of exposure.' Glencore said it 'complies with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions. We closely monitor all new legal developments to ensure that we continue to be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions.'... The Guardian has learned that Glencore traded $659m worth of metals, wheat and coal with Iranian entities during 2012. Buried deep in its annual report, one of Glencore's US affiliates, Century Aluminum 46% owned by Glencore, states: 'During 2012 non-US affiliates of the largest stockholder of the company [Glencore] entered into sales contracts for wheat and coal as well as sale and purchase contracts for metal oxides and metals with Iranian entities, which are either fully or majority owned by the GOI [government of Iran].' Glencore declined to state how much of the $659m it dealt with Iran in 2012 was related to alumina/aluminium. The trades were not illegal or against sanctions at the time. It is not the first time Glencore's activities have attracted controversy. Last year the head of its food trading business said the worst drought to hit the US since the 1930s would be 'good for Glencore' because it would lead to opportunities to exploit soaring prices." (The Guardian, "Glencore traded with Iranian supplier to nuclear weapon's programme," 4/21/2013) 

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"Affiliates of Glencore International PLC, the world’s largest publicly traded commodity supplier, entered into sales contracts last year with entities controlled by Iran, according to Century Aluminum Corp. Non-U.S. affiliates of Glencore, Century’s largest shareholder, entered into sales contracts for wheat and coal and sale and purchase contracts for metals and metal oxides, Monterey, California-based Century said today in filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission...  Century was spun off from Glencore in 1996. Glencore owned 47 percent of Century as of Dec. 31, according to the filing." (Bloomberg, "Glencore Affiliates Sold Commodities to Iran, Century Says," 3/18/2013)

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"Commodities giant Glencore had supplied thousands of tons of alumina to an Iranian firm that provided aluminum to Iran's nuclear program, Reuters reported last week, citing intelligence and diplomatic sources... Switzerland-based Glencore also said last week that its deal had ended when EU sanctions targeting Iralco came into force. It said its barter contract was legal and denied any wrongdoing by the firm or attempts to help Iran bypass sanctions." (Reuters, "Second trading firm says it supplied Iranian firm linked to atomic work," 3/5/2013)

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"Commodities giant Glencore supplied thousands of tons of alumina to an Iranian firm that has provided aluminum to Iran's nuclear program, intelligence and diplomatic sources told Reuters. The previously undisclosed barter arrangement between Glencore, the world's biggest commodities trader, and the Iranian Aluminum Company (Iralco) illustrates how difficult it is for Western powers to curb Iran's ability to trade with the rest of the world. Even as the West imposes stringent restrictions on banks that do business with Iran, United Nations diplomats say that Tehran keeps finding new ways to do business with willing partners. Reuters first learned about Glencore's barter deal with Iralco, and an aluminum supply contract that Iralco had with Iran Centrifuge Technology Co (TESA), from a Western diplomatic source in early November. That was about six weeks before the European Union's December 2012 decision to levy sanctions on Iralco for supplying aluminum metal to TESA, which is a subsidiary of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). The source showed Reuters a Western intelligence report concerning Glencore's arrangement with Iralco. It described how Baar, Switzerland-based Glencore provided Iralco with thousands of tons of alumina last year in exchange for a lesser amount of aluminum metal... It is not known whether any of the aluminum produced by Iralco from Glencore's alumina raw material actually ended up with TESA... In a statement to Reuters, Glencore said it first learned about the TESA-Iralco relationship in December and immediately 'ceased transactions' with Iralco. It said its last actual trade as part of the barter arrangement was in October 2012, two months before the EU move. Glencore acknowledged that it did sign the barter deal with Iralco in August 2011, saying it was perfectly legal and denied any wrongdoing by the firm or attempts to help Iran bypass sanctions. It declined to provide details about the barter deal, the value of which is unclear... Glencore had supplied Iralco with about five tons of alumina for every ton of aluminum that Glencore received in return, according to the intelligence report. Given that on average it takes only about two tons of alumina to produce one ton of aluminum, the barter deal may have left Iralco with more aluminum after processing the alumina than it supplied to Glencore. Iralco covered costs inside Iran, while all activity involving foreign currency payments was covered by Glencore, including shipping costs and insurance, according to the intelligence report. In its statement, Glencore said: 'Glencore complies with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions. We closely monitor all new legal developments to ensure that we continue to be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable sanctions.'... Swiss authorities said they saw no evidence of U.N. or Swiss sanctions violations by Glencore. Iralco is not under U.S. or U.N. sanctions. The intelligence report described the Glencore deal as a good way for Tehran to get around global financial restrictions, though it did not say that Glencore violated sanctions... United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based lobby group that puts pressure on companies to cut off business with Iran, said Glencore's Iran business was 'reckless and improper' and urged the U.S. government to take action against the trading firm. 'Foreign entities that engage in improper business in Iran should be barred from U.S. markets  and have any U.S. assets frozen,' said Nathan Carleton, the group's spokesman. A banker in London who declined to be identified said the news about Iralco was unlikely to have a direct effect on Glencore's financing... A source close to Glencore said that Iralco received its last alumina shipment from Glencore in September while Glencore received its last delivery of aluminum from Iralco in October. The source declined to comment when asked if the firm continued to do other business with Iran. Glencore announced an end to its fuel sales to Iran in January 2010 to avoid breaching U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department declined to comment specifically on Glencore's dealings with Iralco, though a Treasury official told Reuters anyone providing alumina to Iran can face U.S. sanctions under new rules taking effect on July 1... Glencore has been involved in controversies before. It was founded as ‘Marc Rich & Co' in 1974 by Marc Rich, who was charged by the U.S. authorities in the early 1980s with evading taxes and selling oil to Iran during the 1979-81 hostage crisis." (Reuters, "Exclusive: Glencore bartered with firm linked to Iran nuclear program," 3/1/2013)

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"Switzerland has previously expressed displeasure about sanctions against Iran, largely becaues it has represented U.S. interests in Iran for over 30 years. And, while Switzerland no longer imports Iranian oil, estimates show that one third of the world’s oil deals are brokered by five Swiss-based commodity-trading firms – Glencore GLEN.LN +1.25%, Gunvor, Vitol, Trafigura and Mercuria." (The Wall Street Journal, "Treasury’s Cohen Heads to Switzerland, Turkey for Sanctions Talks," 8/31/2012)

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"Open sources reported that Glencore sold gasoline to Iran in 2009, but subsequently stopped in 2009." (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report: "Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009 and June," September 3, 2010)

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"Glencore, a commodities trader, was a large supplier of gasoline to Iran, but stopped last year in the face of threatened new economic sanctions by the U.S. government.  The company, and its predecessor, Marc Rich and Co., had done business with Iran for more than three decades. It also has provided the United States military with transporation services, among other things."  From 2000-2009, the company has been the recipient of $20.2 million US federal funds.  They have withdrawn their activities in Iran. (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the US," 3/6/2010)

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"Swiss commodities trader Glencore International AG halted gasoline shipments to Iran two to three months ago, people familiar with the matter said, a response in part to the rising prospect of heftier sanctions against the Islamic Republic for its nuclear program. Glencore declined to comment. Glencore has long been one of the biggest gasoline providers to Iran, and the move could frustrate Iran's ability to meet its country's fuel needs…The halt of Glencore's Iran business could also help the company prepare for an anticipated initial public offering. The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed legislation that bars any company that does more than $20 million in oil and gas business with Iran from doing business in the U.S. The Senate is expected to pass the bill early this year." (The Wall Street Journal, "Swiss Firm Halts Its Sales of Gas to Iran," 1/9/09)

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"Iran typically gets the bulk of its gasoline from the following five firms: Vitol (Switzerland/Netherlands), Trafigura (Switzerland/Netherlands), Reliance Industries Ltd. (India), Glencore (Switzerland) and Total (France)." (Stratfor, "Special Series:Iran Sanctions," September 2009)

 --

"Due to limited refining capabilities, Iran imports approximately 40% of its domestic gasoline consumption. Iran is the second-largest importer of gasoline in the world. That gasoline is supplied primarily by five companies: the Swiss-Dutch energy trading giants Vitol and Trafigura, the Indian multinational Reliance Industries, the Swiss trader Glencore and the French energy firm Total." (The Wall Street Journal, "Hitting Tehran Where It Hurts," 7/13/09)

 --

"Because of a lack of domestic refining capacity, oil-rich Iran is dependent on gasoline imports to meet about 40 percent of domestic consumption. Iran gets most of its gasoline imports from the Swiss firm Vitol, the Swiss/Dutch firm Trafigura, France's Total, the Swiss firm Glencore and British Petroleum, as well as the Indian firm Reliance." (Agence-France Press, "US lawmakers target Iran gasoline imports," 6/23/09)

Vitol

Industry
Energy
Value of USG Contracts
15
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&fiscal_year=2004&contractorid=296807&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go
States
FL
KS
TX
Country
Switzerland
Sources

“Business with Iran or anything to do with Iran has to come to an end,” said Mike Muller, who handles business development for Vitol. (Reuters, "Vitol to halt business with Iran after US sanctions start," 9/24/18).

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“For us it’s a real challenge…I personally think none of us will be able to get around it. Vitol CEO." (5/25/18)

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"The world's largest oil trader, Vitol, has clinched a deal with the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) to loan it an equivalent of $1 billion in euros guaranteed by future exports of refined products, four sources familiar with the matter said. The pre-finance deal is the first such major contract signed between Iran and a trading house since sanctions were lifted in early 2016... Traders have increasingly turned to pre-finance in recent years to secure long-term access to large volumes of oil and products - the system of pre-finance by large traders including Vitol has for example kept the Iraqi region of Kurdistan afloat during its war with Islamic State in the last two years. The Vitol Iranian deal was signed in October and will come into effect this month, one of the sources who is based in Tehran said. 'It is in euro...with the interest rate of around 8 percent in exchange for oil products,' the source said, adding that some products could be supplied by the private sector rather than NIOC." (Reuters, "Vitol clinches $1 billion pre-finance oil deal with Iran: sources," 1/4/2017).

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According to an Annual Report filed by its affiliate Blueknight, in 2016, Vitol: "Following the relaxation of Iran related sanctions on January 16, 2016 an affiliate of Blueknight, Vitol Bahrain (VBA), has undertaken transactions with Iranian state controlled companies. During the period from the date on which the Iran sanctions were relaxed and December 31, 2016,  VBA bought fuel, gasoil and naphtha from the National Iranian Oil Company (“NIOC”) for a total cost of Emirati Dirham (AED) 2,121,532,898.95. During the same period, VBA also bought (1)fuel and gasoil from the Naftiran Intertrade Co (NICO) Ltd for a total cost of AED 904,751,835.19; (2) gasoil, LPG and naphta from the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry Trading Co for a cost of AED 751,876,785.61; and (3) naphta from  the Kharg Petrochemical Company for a total cost of AED 38,963,698.22 . In addition, during the same period, VBA sold gasoline to NIOC for a total cost of AED 392,952,507.48. VBA does not calculate net profits on a per-customer transactional basis; however, Vitol estimates that the net profits attributable to the disclosed activity would not exceed 1% of Vitol’s annual profits. VBA anticipates that it will continue to do business with the Iranian entities referred to above provided that such activity continues to be permitted by applicable sanctions regimes. Vitol ceased being an affiliate on October 5, 2016 pursuant to the Ergon Change of Control."

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Northwest Europe has opened its doors to the first shipments of Iranian gasoil after a 10-year hiatus, and these nascent flows are adding to the desulfurization opportunities within the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp refining hub... The latest fixture to Northwest Europe was on board the Glorious, a 60,000 mt cargo, which discharged into Amsterdam on November 26, having left Bandar Mahshahr, Iran, on November 12, S&P Global trade flow software CFlow showed... The first gasoil shipment from Iran since its trade sanctions were removed was chartered by trading company Vitol, according to shipping sources and broker reports. (Platts, "Analysis: Iran emerges as high sulfur gasoil supplier for ARA refining hub," 12/14/2016

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“Multiple companies currently exploring new business ventures in Iran are also cashing in on highly lucrative contracts with the U.S. Defense Department, raising questions about whether their dealings with Iran could run afoul of U.S. law. At least 13 major international companies have said in recent weeks that they aim to reenter the Iranian marketplace over the next several months. The companies have received Pentagon contracts totaling well over $107 billion, according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis that tracked DoD contracts awarded since fiscal year 2009. Many of the companies, which include carmaker Renault and oil giants such as BP, have already sent high-level trade delegations to Tehran to meet with Iranian officials about striking new business deals…These companies include Boeing and General Electric—which have DoD contracts worth $87 and $12 billion respectively—as well as the Italian oil company EniMerck, Safran, Vitol, Bosch RexrothSanofi Pastuer, and AVL.” (Washington Free Beacon, “Pentagon Contractors Exploring Business with Iran,” 2/25/14)

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"Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Vitol Group SA met Thursday with Iran's oil minister in Vienna, the minister said, as Tehran takes its first steps toward reopening its energy industry following decades of sanctions. As it tries to lure back oil companies, Iran also signaled it could offer production-sharing agreements in the Caspian Sea. Such deals are considered attractive to companies but haven't been awarded in Iran since the 1970s. Bijan Zanganeh, who was in Vienna for the meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said he had met with executives from Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell, the world's largest oil trader Vitol, Austria's and Italy's Eni SpA…In recent weeks, Tehran has resumed preliminary talks with European oil giants to invest in its oil fields in the event that the sanctions are eased…'A various range of cooperation' was discussed with Vitol, [Mr. Zanganeh] said. Vitol, which declined to comment, is discussing possible purchases of condensates once sanctions are lifted, according to people familiar with the situation." (Wall Street Journal, "European Energy Companies Meet With Iranian Oil Minister," 12/5/13)

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"Iraq's Kurdistan region is exporting crude oil by truck to an Iranian port for shipping to Asia, industry sources say, using a trade route that is likely to anger both Baghdad and Washington . . . For the past two months, crude has been trucked from Kurdish fields over the border to Iran's Bandar Imam Khomeini (BIK) terminal, 900 km (560 miles) to the south on the Gulf. Amounts are unclear but could be as much as 30,000 bpd, they said . . . At Iran's BIK terminal, the truckloads of crude are pooled in storage tanks and then pumped onto ships for export. The tankers sail directly to Asia or to storage facilities at Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere in the Gulf, where the crude is kept in tank farms part-owned by European companies, AIS Live ship tracking data shows and industry sources say. At least a dozen tankers have loaded crude or fuels at BIK over the past few months and unloaded them at the Vopak Horizon terminal in Fujairah - part-owned by Dutch Royal Vopak - and at VTTI Fujairah, a nearby terminal which is 50 percent-owned by Swiss trader Vitol, according to ship tracking data and terminal operators. EU sanctions prohibit European companies from dealing in Iranian oil and any crude and oil products, regardless of origin, that have been exported from Iranian ports. But the joint ventures running the terminals are not incorporated in the European Union . . . 'the Vitol group of companies has ceased all business dealings with Iran; including the sales of refined product to Iran and all purchases of crude oil from Iran,' a spokeswoman said." (Reuters, "Iraqi Kurdistan opens official crude oil trade route via Iran-sources," 7/10/12).

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"A group of seven members of the Swiss Social Democrats Party raised the issue in September after Reuters revealed that the Bahraini branch of top Geneva-based oil trader Vitol was buying and selling Iranian fuel oil." (Reuters, "Swiss govt. rejects proposal to widen Iran oil reporting rules," 11/16/2012)

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"Danish oil and shipping group A.P. Moller Maersk says it will talk to Vitol to determine whether one of its tankers was used by the trading house to ship Iranian fuel oil. The Maersk Producer, a tanker chartered by Vitol from Maersk, received a fuel oil cargo of Iranian origin on Sept. 8, according to a document seen by Reuters. The cargo was transferred aboard the Danish tanker from Vitol's floating storage off Malaysia, the document shows, and shipped to storage in Singapore. Vitol admitted last week its Bahrain office had bought the Iranian fuel oil but said it had now ordered a stop to all trade with Iran, which is under European and U.S. oil and financial sanctions. Based in Switzerland and trading the oil from Bahrain, Vitol did not contravene sanctions... 'Not at any point did we know that the vessel would be used to transport oil under embargo and we will bring this up for discussion with Vitol at the highest level,' said Per Juul, managing director of the agent for Maersk, in an e-mail response to questions. 'If it is confirmed that it was Iranian oil the consequences will have to be discussed with Vitol...we have contacted our insurance company about this issue.' A spokesman for Vitol said the company would 'cooperate fully' in any talks with Maersk." (Reuters, "Danish shipper asks Vitol if tanker used for Iran oil," 10/3/2012)

 

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"Vitol, the world's largest oil trader, is buying and selling Iranian fuel oil, undermining Western efforts to choke the flow of petrodollars to Tehran and put pressure on Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program. Vitol last month bought 2 million barrels of fuel oil, used for power generation, from Iran and offered it to Chinese traders, Reuters established in interviews with 10 oil trading, industry and shipping sources in Southeast Asia, China and the Middle East. The Swiss-based firm issued a statement saying Vitol Group is in compliance with all international laws on trade with Iran. 'A Bahraini subsidiary company purchased a spot cargo of fuel oil from a non Iranian counterparty in July 2012. The fuel oil delivered under contract was of Iranian origin. Vitol Group companies no longer purchase any product of Iranian origin,' Vitol said, without elaborating. Vitol is not obliged to comply with a ban imposed in July by the European Union on trading oil with Iran because Switzerland decided not to match EU and U.S. sanctions against Tehran...  Privately-held Vitol SA is led by its long-time CEO Ian Taylor, a Briton. Taylor was among leading donors to Britain's ruling Conservative Party named in March by the Prime Minister's office as having dined with David Cameron at his private apartment in Downing Street amid the fall-out from a 'cash for access' party funding scandal... Vitol has said previously it is in compliance with sanctions against Iran, but has declined to say whether or not it would follow the strict EU regulations rather than Switzerland's... A spokeswoman for Switzerland's federal department responsible for sanctions, SECO, said Vitol's Swiss branch had confirmed it was not involved in the purchase of Iranian fuel oil in July. She said EU and Swiss law did not apply to Vitol's trading branch in Bahrain. She declined to say if Vitol was on a list of companies that had sought permission to trade Iranian oil, citing commercial secrecy... Vitol last year earned record revenue of $297 billion, a near-five-fold increase since 2004. It does not reveal profits... Vitol acquired the Iranian fuel oil early this month in a ship-to-ship transfer off Malaysia from a National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) vessel, the Leadership, onto a Vitol-chartered tanker, the Ticen Ocean... Industry sources in Tanjung Pelepas who monitor shipping transfer operations in Malaysian waters said Vitol later brought alongside another tanker, the Speranza, to replace the Ticen Ocean as floating storage... Vitol also transferred some of its fuel oil from the Ticen Ocean between September 11-12 to another vessel, the Kamari I, according to Reuters data. That cargo was delivered to Vitol's storage terminal on the Malaysian island of Tanjung Bin, inside Tanjung Pelepas port, one trading source said... Vitol first asked a $30 premium to Singapore's benchmark 180-centistoke fuel oil price, said a Chinese industry executive who manages some of China's many small, independent refineries, known as teapots... 'Because the offer was too high, our people didn't really carry on the talks," the Chinese executive said. "Vitol also appeared not in a hurry to sell, so was not being aggressive.'... 'Vitol is offering the cargo as a special blend to teapot refiners in Shandong,' said a China-based trader. 'No one's agreed to buy the Vitol cargo. I declined because I wasn't sure of the quality and specifications.' At the time of publication it is not known whether Vitol had agreed a deal to sell the oil... Vitol's use of the Ticen Ocean to store Iranian oil could put the tanker's insurance at risk. The vessel is insured by the North of England P&I Association." (Reuters, "Vitol trades Iranian fuel oil, skirting sanctions," 9/26/2012)

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"The Vitol Group on Wednesday said it ceased all sales of refined product to Iran ahead of sanctions imposed on July 1 by the European Union. Vitol's comments came after a Reuters report said the world's largest oil trader is buying and selling Iranian crude oil. In a statement on its Web site, Vitol said a Bahraini subsidiary purchased a spot cargo of fuel oil from a non-Iranian counterparty in July and that the fuel delivered under the contract was of Iranian origin. 'Vitol Group companies no longer purchase any product of Iranian origin,' the company said." (MarketWatch, "Vitol says it ceased Iran oil trade ahead of ban," 9/26/12)

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"Switzerland has previously expressed displeasure about sanctions against Iran, largely becaues it has represented U.S. interests in Iran for over 30 years. And, while Switzerland no longer imports Iranian oil, estimates show that one third of the world’s oil deals are brokered by five Swiss-based commodity-trading firms – Glencore GLEN.LN +1.25%, Gunvor, Vitol, Trafigura and Mercuria." (The Wall Street Journal, "Treasury’s Cohen Heads to Switzerland, Turkey for Sanctions Talks," 8/31/2012)

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"Iran's fuel oil exports fell nearly 50 percent from May to June, according to industry sources, adding to declines earlier this year and to the strain on Tehran's finances as sanctions have hit its oil trade…Western sanctions do not specifically ban the purchase of Iran's fuel oil but instead target the financing and shipping insurance needed to buy and transport Iranian cargoes, creating difficulties for would-be customers that effectively have slashed trade with Iran.

No one is willing to insure any Iran-related oil cargo,' a Gulf-based trader said. 'Plus the trade has to be in any other currency than the dollar.'

More than half of Iran's June fuel oil exports were lifted by oil trader Vitol. Syrian refiner Sytrol received around 75,000 tonnes, while China's ZhenRong lifted around 83,000 tonnes, according to the data." (Reuters, "Iran fuel oil exports plummet in June-industry data," 7/12/12)

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"International trading house Vitol will resume Caspian oil swaps with Iran after a year-long suspension of operations, industry and trade sources said on Thursday. 'Vitol is resuming Iranian swaps. I think there there's really good money in it,' a Mediterranean trader told Reuters. Vitol has already signed a swap agreement with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) but the swap operations, under which Vitol supplies Iran with Caspian oil in exchange for Iranian crude volumes for loading on the Persian Gulf, will most likely start up again toward the end of the year, another source close to the deal said."(Reuters, "Vitol to resume Caspian oil swaps with Iran," 6/23/2011)

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"Open sources reported that Vitol sold gasoline to Iran in 2009 and 2010, but subsequently stopped in 2010." (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report: "Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009 and June," September 3, 2010)

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"Due to limited refining capabilities, Iran imports approximately 40% of its domestic gasoline consumption. Iran is the second-largest importer of gasoline in the world. That gasoline is supplied primarily by five companies: the Swiss-Dutch energy trading giants Vitol and Trafigura, the Indian multinational Reliance Industries, the Swiss trader Glencore and the French energy firm Total." (The Wall Street Journal, "Hitting Tehran Where It Hurts," 7/13/09)

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"Because of a lack of domestic refining capacity, oil-rich Iran is dependent on gasoline imports to meet about 40 percent of domestic consumption. Iran gets most of its gasoline imports from the Swiss firm Vitol, the Swiss/Dutch firm Trafigura, France's Total, the Swiss firm Glencore and British Petroleum, as well as the Indian firm Reliance." (Khaleej Times, "US house approves Iran energy sector sanctions," 12/16/09)

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"State Sen. Ted Deutch has a vision where Florida puts a stop to Iran's nuclear ambitions. His weapon: public opinion. His ammunition: a $125-million fuel depot being built in Port Canaveral by one of the worlds largest oil traders. Deutch has asked Gov. Charlie Crist to broker a meeting with executives from Vitol, the Swiss company that supplies one quarter of Irans fuel and is building the largest private investment in Port Canaverals history. Deutch hopes to leverage public opinion to persuade Vitol to stop selling gasoline to Iran. (St. Petersburg Times, "Business with Iran May Mean None in Florida," 12/07/08)

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"In recent months, Iran has, according to the respected trade publication International Oil Daily and other sources including the U.S. government, purchased nearly all of this gasoline from just five companies, four of them European: the Swiss firm Vitol; the Swiss/Dutch firm Trafigura; the French firm Total; British Petroleum; and one Indian company, Reliance Industries." (The Wall Street Journal, "How To Put The Squeeze On Iran," 11/13/08)

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"Swiss trading giant Vitol Group has continued dealing in Iranian oil products even after buying millions of barrels of crude oil from U.S. strategic reserves last year, but some U.S. lawmakers aim to prevent the company from having it both ways in the future. Vitol, the world's largest independent oil trader, received fuel from Iran earlier this month, an Iranian document obtained by Dow Jones Newswires shows. The Vitol shipment doesn't violate current U.S. or European Union sanctions on Iran, which are designed to eventually choke off activities with the Islamic Republic from banking to shipping oil. Yet a bill with some bipartisan support from key U.S. senators would bar companies which engage in trading activity with Iran from buying oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, if it's passed into law... Vitol is a rare example of a large company in the western European oil industry that hasn't announced a voluntary end to trades with Iran, despite having strong U.S. ties. It has a large oil trading operation in the U.S. and has announced plans to build a crude oil terminal and loading facilities in Midland, Texas."  (Wall Street Journal.  "US Bill Could Create Clash Between Vitol's Iran And US Business," 3/23/12)

Response

"The Vitol Group confirmed today the following concerning trade in Iranian crude oil and oil products: 1. The Vitol Group ceased all sales of refined product to Iran and all purchases of crude oil from Iran in advance of all applicable international sanctions legislation. 2. A Bahraini subsidiary company purchased a spot cargo of fuel oil from a non Iranian counterparty in July 2012. The fuel oil delivered under contract was of Iranian origin. Vitol Group companies no longer purchase any product of Iranian origin. 3. Trade with Iran never constituted a material part of Vitol’s international business. 4. The Vitol Group is in compliance with all applicable international laws and regulations governing trade with Iran." (Vitol website, "Vitol statement concerning trade in Iranian crude oil and oil products," 9/26/12)

UBS

Industry
Banking
Value of USG Contracts
7
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&fiscal_year=2000&contractorid=259915&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go
Symbol
NYSE:UBS
States
CT
IL
NJ
NY
Country
Switzerland
Sources

According to its Iran Notice filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2019: UBS has a Group Sanctions Policy that prohibits transactions involving sanctioned countries, including Iran, and sanctioned individuals and entities. However, UBS maintains one account involving the Iranian government under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva after agreeing with the Swiss government that it would do so only under certain conditions. These conditions include that payments involving the account must: (1) be made within Switzerland; (2) be consistent with paying rent, salaries, telephone and other expenses necessary for its operations in Geneva; and (3) not involve any Specially designated Nationals blocked or otherwise restricted under U.S. or Swiss law. In 2017, the gross revenues for this UN related account were approximately USD 15,580. UBS AG does not allocate expenses to specific client accounts in a way that tables it to calculate net profits with respect to any individual account. UBS AG intends to continue maintaining this account pursuant to the conditions it has established and consistent with the conditions it has established with the Swiss Government and its Group Sanctions Policy. UBS also maintains a rental surety (effectively a rental security deposit) account in relation to the Government of Iran’s UN Mission premises in Geneva; there were no revenues associated with this account."

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UBS has a Group Sanctions Policy that prohibits transactions involving sanctioned countries, including Iran, and sanctioned individuals and entities. However, UBS maintains one account involving the Iranian government under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva after agreeing with the Swiss government that it would do so only under certain conditions. These conditions include that payments involving the account must: (1) be made within Switzerland; (2) be consistent with paying rent, salaries, telephone and other expenses necessary for its operations in Geneva; and (3) not involve any Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) blocked or otherwise restricted under U.S. or Swiss law. In 2017, the gross revenues for this UN-related account were approximately USD 15,580.  We do not allocate expenses to specific client accounts in a way that enables us to calculate net profits with respect to any individual account.  UBS AG intends to continue maintaining this account pursuant to the conditions it has established with the Swiss Government and consistent with its Group Sanctions Policy. UBS also maintains a rental surety (effectively a rental security deposit) account in relation to the Government of Iran's UN Mission premises in Geneva; there were no revenues for this account.

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"When it comes to U.S. sanctions on Iran, no detail is too small to overlook these days. Since February, publicly traded companies have filed nearly 500 disclosure forms about their business ties to Iran…On Nov. 8, banking giant UBS said it had arranged trade financing for Swiss exporters involving four Iranian banks allegedly taking part in deals related to weapons of mass destruction. The bank said in its public filing that there had been no transactions since February 2012 but that it still maintained 'one existing account relationship' with one of the Iranian banks." (Washington Post, "Under new law, companies disclosing even tiniest dealings with Iran," 12/4/13)

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"In 2004 UBS, a Swiss bank, paid a $100m fine (without admitting any liability) for providing new banknotes to Cuba and Iran." (The Economist. "Patchy blockade; Cuba and the United States," 8/16/08)

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"US victims of attacks in Israel and their families are suing Swiss bank UBS for 500 million dollars, alleging it financed terrorism by doing business with Iran, their lawyer told AFP Tuesday." (AFP. "US families sue UBS over alleged terror links," 5/13/08)

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"In late 2005, Dutch bank ABN Amro agreed to pay $80 million in fines stemming in part from improper transactions with Iran through its subsidiary in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. UBS Bank and Credit Suisse of Switzerland recently announced they were suspending most new business with Iran, and British-based HSBC said it would no longer accept dollar transactions from within Iran." (Los Angeles Times, "U.S. Puts The Squeeze On Iran's Oil Fields," January 7, 2007) "Since January three European banks - UBS, Credit Suisse and ABN Amro - have curtailed their activities in Iran. The banks said that their decisions to cut back had been business ones." (The London Times, "American pressure threatens UK firms," May 27, 2006)

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UBS will no longer deal with individuals, companies or state institutions such as Iran's central bank, said company spokesman Serge Steiner. A similar policy is also being implemented in the case of Syria, he said.

All existing business with customers in Iran will be canceled, but Iranians in exile are not affected by the decision, Steiner said, confirming an article in Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung.

"It is a carefully prepared measure that has been under consideration since last fall," Steiner said.

Iran, under increasing international pressure over its nuclear program — and mindful of the freezing of its U.S. assets after the 1979 seizure of the American Embassy in Tehran — has already begun transferring its reserves from European banks to an undisclosed location.

Steiner declined to specify the volume of business affected by the bank's decision. (Fox News. "UBS Halts Business with Iran," 1/22/06)

Response

No response at this time.

Trafigura

Industry
Energy
Value of USG Contracts
1
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&fiscal_year=2000&contractorid=350571&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go
States
CT
FL
TX
Country
Switzerland
Contact Information
Sources

"Trafigura Group Ltd., the second-biggest metals trader, wants to increase business with post-sanctions Iran. The Singapore-based trading house is seeking to hire a Persian-speaking executive for its refined metals division to work with its traders to “identify, analyze, assess and propose business opportunities in the Arabian Gulf, especially within the rapidly changing Iranian market,” according to a job posting on Trafigura’s website. The candidate will be expected to “understand the opportunities arising from the liberalization of the Iranian metals market,” Trafigura said in the ad. The job will “involve significant traveling to build relationships with key players in Iran,” it added. Trafigura and other commodity traders including Rotterdam’s Vitol Group, the largest independent oil trader, have re-entered Iran after the U.S. and European Union lifted sanctions imposed over the country’s nuclear program." (Bloomberg, "Trafigura Aims to Boost Metals Trading With Post-Sanctions Iran," 10/6/2016).

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Trafigura is listed as an attendee at the Iranian Base Metals Conference that took place from September 6-7, 2016 in Tehran, Iran. (Iranian Base Metals Conference Attendees, 2016).

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"Iran's state-run oil company is said to be in talks to sell more crude to oil trader Trafigura Group, including via a potential long-term deal, in a strategy that may help it break into the market to supply China's independent refiners. National Iranian Oil Co. may sell more of its heavy crude grade to Trafigura, according to people with knowledge of the matter... The supplies may then be resold to Chinese independent processors, known as teapots, they said, adding that the talks are ongoing and a deal hasn't been finalized... The potential sale of oil to teapots would help Iran's drive to expand market share in Asia after international sanctions were removed against the Persian Gulf state. The Middle East producer sells most of its crude via long-term contracts directly to refiners, and allows existing buyers to purchase additional spot cargoes. But it's now willing to reach Chinese private refiners via Trafigura because the trader would be better suited to supply the processors who typically buy shipments at short notice and in small quantities. Trafigura bought about 2 million barrels of Iranian Heavy crude from NIOC for June loading, with the tanker carrying the supply currently anchored off South Korea. Previously, the shipment floated for three weeks off the Chinese port of Qingdao, which is used by teapots to receive oil supplies. Earlier this year, Iran's rival producer Saudi Arabia broke from its usual practice of selling via long-term contracts to supply a cargo to a Chinese teapot refiner, in what Citigroup Inc. then said was a 'dramatic' shift in the Middle Eastern kingdom's oil-market strategy." (Bloomberg, "Iran said in Talks to Sell Crude to Trafigura for China Teapots," 8/8/2016).

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"A middle man may be necessary to facilitate crude oil deliveries from Iran to the international market, a national petroleum official said from Tehran. Mohsen Qamsari, the director of international affairs at the National Iranian Oil Company, said independent Chinese refiners made purchase orders for around 2 million barrels of crude oil. They have the permits, he said, but 'lack enough logistics and financial resources' to make further progress with Iranian transactions. 'We are now seeking a go-between for dealing with these refiners,' he said. Qamsari said that, so far, Dutch trader Trafigura was moving Iranian crude oil to the Chinese market. The director said talks are underway with the trader to move deeper into the Chinese market." (United Press International, "Iran looking for oil middle men," 8/2/2016).

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"An Iranian crude cargo loaded by trading house Trafigura is set to arrive in east China this week, heating up the race among oil suppliers to meet the rise in demand for imports from China's independent refineries, trade sources said... Now, Iran is eyeing the new group of Chinese buyers, located mainly in eastern Shandong province, as it rebuilds its global market share after western sanctions were lifted in January. The National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) sold a 2-million barrel Iranian Heavy crude cargo to Trafigura, which was loaded in late June onboard supertanker Olympic Target. Trade sources with knowledge of the deal say this cargo is heading to Shandong, putting Trafigura ahead of other major trading firms in being the first to sell Iranian oil to teapots... The Olympic Target, carrying Iranian crude, is expected to arrive later this week, shipping data on Thomson Reuters Eikon showed. Trafigura is expected to move the cargo into storage tanks and then sell it in smaller parcels to teapots, the sources said." (Reuters, "Iran targets oil sales to China teapots via Trafigura: sources," 7/18/2016).

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"Trading house Trafigura has loaded its first major cargo of Iranian crude oil for delivery to Asia, industry sources and ship tracking showed. Trafigura loaded the crude onto the Olympic Target tanker, capable of holding 2 million barrels of oil at the end of June, according to a shipping source. The tanker left Iran's main export terminal Kharg Island on June 26 and was now heading to Asia, according to Reuters shipping data. A spokeswoman for Trafigura said the company did not comment on day-to-day commercial activities. Iran's state oil firm is strict about the re-selling of its crude once it has reached an agreement with a buyer, which complicates deals with trading houses, industry sources said. With this cargo, Trafigura appears to have beaten its competitors Glencore and Vitol in securing a deal." (Reuters, "Trade house Trafigura loads first cargo of Iranian crude" 7/7/2016)

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"The world's largest commodity trading houses are first in line to profit from the much expected return of Iran to global markets as Tehran and Washington enter into the final three-months of nuclear talks. While the global oil industry has been seen as the biggest beneficiary of a thaw, commodities traders including Cargill Inc. Glencore Plc, Vitol BV, Trafigura Beheer BV and Louis Dreyfus Commodities BV have a long history in Iran, helping to export its oil and import daily basics like gasoline, wheat and rice... 'We like other people have talked to the Iranians,' Vitol CEO Ian Taylor said in an interview. 'They used to be major players in the markets, but obviously none of us will do anything unless sanctions are actually lifted.'" (Bloomberg, "Top Commodity Trading House Line Up for Iran's Return to Market," 4/20/15)

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"New York's top financial regulator has expanded a probe into whether reinsurance companies have written policies on international trade with Iran, which could potentially violate new U.S. sanctions. In a letter posted to its website on Wednesday, the state's Department of Financial Services asked reinsurers to explain their dealings with entities and people that have ties to Iran. The department also asked reinsurers to explain procedures in place to ensure compliance with the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, which took effect on July 1. Twenty reinsurers are getting the letter, including Hannover Re, Lloyd's of London and Swiss Re, a person familiar with the matter said. Those reinsurers were among those contacted last month by the regulator, whose superintendent is Benjamin Lawsky, over their dealings involving Iran. Lawsky opened his probe after news reports that Switzerland-based Glencore Xstrata Plc and Trafigura AG had supplied thousands of tons of alumina to an Iranian firm that provided aluminum for Iran's nuclear program. The new law bans financial services companies that do business in the United States, such as insurers and reinsurers, from providing services to companies that trade with Iran." (Reuters, "NY Regulator Expands Probe into Reinsurers' Iran Ties," 7/24/2013)

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"Switzerland-based Trafigura on Monday became the second major trading house to confirm that it had traded with an Iranian firm that the European Union says has links to Iran's nuclear program... Trafigura, the world's third-biggest trader in raw materials, confirmed it had supplied the Iranian Aluminum Company (Iralco) with alumina in exchange for aluminum, after an industry source said Glencore was not the only major firm sending such shipments. 'We can confirm that Trafigura has traded with Iralco in the past. In October 2011, a physical swap agreement was reached whereby Trafigura provided alumina to Iralco in return for aluminum for Trafigura to export worldwide,' the trader said in an emailed statement. 'No deliveries have been made or exports received since new EU sanctions were published in December 2012. The Trafigura Group companies are compliant with national and international law where applicable,' it added... A spokeswoman at the Swiss Economics Ministry declined to comment on the Trafigura contract, citing commercial secrecy. She said that Iralco was not currently subject to sanctions in Switzerland... Trafigura, which is currently considering listing subsidiary Puma Energy, is chaired by Claude Dauphin, who was a protege of veteran oil trader Marc Rich... In a settlement, Trafigura agreed to pay a $5 million fine after one of its tankers was intercepted on suspicion of carrying illegal Iraqi crude in 2001. It was not charged with smuggling and denied wrongdoing." (Reuters, "Second trading firm says it supplied Iranian firm linked to atomic work," 3/4/2013)

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"Switzerland has previously expressed displeasure about sanctions against Iran, largely becaues it has represented U.S. interests in Iran for over 30 years. And, while Switzerland no longer imports Iranian oil, estimates show that one third of the world’s oil deals are brokered by five Swiss-based commodity-trading firms – Glencore GLEN.LN +1.25%, Gunvor, Vitol, Trafigura and Mercuria." (The Wall Street Journal, "Treasury’s Cohen Heads to Switzerland, Turkey for Sanctions Talks," 8/31/2012)

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"Open sources reported that Trafigura sold gasoline to Iran in 2009 and 2010, but subsequently stopped in 2010." (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report: "Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009 and June," September 3, 2010)

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"Due to limited refining capabilities, Iran imports approximately 40% of its domestic gasoline consumption. Iran is the second-largest importer of gasoline in the world. That gasoline is supplied primarily by five companies: the Swiss-Dutch energy trading giants Vitol and Trafigura, the Indian multinational Reliance Industries, the Swiss trader Glencore and the French energy firm Total." (The Wall Street Journal, "Hitting Tehran Where It Hurts,"7/13/09)

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"Because of a lack of domestic refining capacity, oil-rich Iran is dependent on gasoline imports to meet about 40 percent of domestic consumption. Iran gets most of its gasoline imports from the Swiss firm Vitol, the Swiss/Dutch firm Trafigura, France's Total, the Swiss firm Glencore and British Petroleum, as well as the Indian firm Reliance." (Agence-France Press, "US lawmakers target Iran gasoline imports," 6/23/09)

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"In recent months, Iran has, according to the respected trade publication International Oil Daily and other sources including the U.S. government, purchased nearly all of this gasoline from just five companies, four of them European: the Swiss firm Vitol; the Swiss/Dutch firm Trafigura; the French firm Total; British Petroleum; and one Indian company, Reliance Industries." (The Wall Street Journal, "How To Put The Squeeze On Iran," 11/13/08)

Response

No response at this time.

Syngenta AG

Industry
Agriculture
Symbol
OTCMKTS: SYENF
States
CO
DE
ID
IL
IA
MN
NC
TN
Country
Switzerland
Sources

Syngenta officially lists that it runs an Iran office in Tehran. (Company Website)

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As part of Syngenta's SEC filings, the company's 2008 Annual Report on Form 20-F states:

"Syngenta conducts business in most countries of the world, and thus it has minor operations in high risk territories, including Cuba, Iran, Syria and the Sudan, some of which have been identified by the US government as state sponsors of terrorism.  Syngenta’s operations in these countries are quantitatively immaterial, and it is Syngenta’s belief that supporting agriculture in these countries is beneficial to their wider population, for whom food is often in short supply.  However, certain investors may choose not to hold investments in companies that have operations of any size in these countries and several US states have enacted, and others may in the future enact, legislation requiring public entities with investments in companies with operations in these countries to disclose this fact or in some cases to divest these investments.  Any such divestment is not currently expected to have a material impact on the value of Syngenta shares." (SEC, "Form 20-F," 2/18/09)

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"Last year, Obama said in a statement that he sold about $180,000 in his holdings in a different Vanguard fund, the Wellington Fund, because the fund owned shares in Schlumberger a French oil-services company that does business in Sudan. Wellington also owns shares in companies that do business in Iran, including Schlumberger, Royal Dutch Shell and Syngenta, a Switzerland-based agribusiness company." (USA Today, "McCain, Obama funds invest in firms working in Iran," 6/3/08)

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Listed by U.S. Government as doing business in Iran. (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, “List of Companies Doing Business With State Sponsors Of Terror,” Removed from the Internet in July 2007)

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"The Swiss agrochemical company, Syngenta, said on Sunday that it was disappointed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which suspected it of sponsoring terrorist states.... The blacklist is based on latest annual reports of the companies. They are mostly non-U.S. and include Unilever, Cadbury,HSBC, Nokia, Siemens and Total, as well as the second biggest Swiss bank, Credit Suisse, the agrochemical firm, Syngenta, and the engineering group, ABB. Syngenta said it was disappointed with the U.S. blacklist, while ABB and Credit Suisse played down their business links with the five named countries - Cuba, Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Sudan and Syria, Swissinfo said. According to Basel-based Syngenta, the company should not be punished for its transparency. It is currently active in four of the five countries designated by the U.S. State Department as 'sponsors of terrorism.' 'But we see no reason to change our policy,' said Syngenta spokesman Medard Schoenmaeckers. He added that the company's business activities in Sudan's agriculture sector were 'minimal.'"(Xinhua, "Swiss Company Irritated Over U.S. Blacklist," 7/2/07)

 

Response

No response at this time.

Nestle

Industry
Food and Beverage
Value of USG Contracts
1200
Value of USG Contract Source
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/06/world/iran-sanctions.html
Symbol
VTX:NESN
States
CO
IL
IA
KY
MN
MO
NJ
PA
WI
Country
Switzerland
Sources

"Nestle sees no direct fallout from renewed U.S. sanctions on Iran, the world’s biggest food company said on Tuesday."  ("Nestle sees no direct implications on business from Iran sanctions," Reuters, 8/7/2018.)

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Has a Nestle Iran website.

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"However, companies that had set up base earlier are now consolidating their foothold in Iran. One such company is Nestle that has footprints worldwide. After 15 years of activity in Iran, the world’s largest food company recently decided to share its experiences of working in the country with the media. “When it comes to Iran, this country is, I would say, a special market for us with considerable opportunities. We have here an 80 million population who have a lot of interest in premium-quality food. Iranians look for variety, which is what we can deliver,” Nestle’s Qazvin Factory Manager Faisal Haroon told Financial Tribune.Nestle started production in Iran in 2001 and has two factories in the country: one in Qazvin where seven kinds of infant formula, eight kinds of baby cereal and Nesquick are manufactured and Nescafe is packaged, and another in the northern Mazandaran Province’s Polur where mineral water is produced. The company’s central office is in Tehran." (December 2017).

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"Nestle lists two factories - for cereal and mineral water - in Iran. The company's annual reports show it has done business in Iran as far back as 2000. It also sells food to the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Nestle spokesman Ferhat Soygenis said 'by providing basic foods such as infant cereals and bottled water to the local Iranian population, we aim to meet the needs of that society's most vulnerable members.'"  From 2000-2009, the company was a recipient of $1.2 billion US federal funds.  Their investments in Iran are currently active.  (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the US," 3/6/2010)

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"While Western powers have identified a small group of sectors for Iranian sanction relief, a much wider set of European and U.S. companies—from pharmaceutical firms and medical-equipment makers to food companies and traders—also stands to regain lost Iranian trade as soon as relief measures are formally adopted next month…When the details are worked out, a handful of companies will be in a position to bulk up trading with Iran again—though it is unclear how quickly any of them will move…Swiss food company Nestlé SA also has been forced to scale down its Iran business after banks refused to transfer revenue back from Iran, according to Iranian traders and a banking official familiar with the matter. Since Nestlé doesn't have a U.S. listing, it isn't required to disclose its Iranian sales to the SEC. Without commenting specifically on any difficulty it has getting paid in Iran, a spokesman for the company said it was 'following closely the developments in this process, but it is too early to say how they will affect our operations.'" (Wall Street Journal, "Iran Deal Opens Door for Businesses," 12/1/13)

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"Nestle distributes coffee, Coffee-Mate, Nescafe and, more recently, mineral water in Iran." (BBC, January 18, 2009)

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"Nestle has been the target of protests by Islamists since the Gaza onslaught began, some Iranian websites said. It is among a small number of foreign companies which have factories in Iran, which notably also includes French automaker Renault. Others, such as South Korean group Samsung, market their products in the Islamic republic. Some, particularly in the oil and gas sector, have operated in the country for some time, such as France's Total and Anglo-Dutch Shell." (Agence France Presse, "Iran to punish firms trading with Israel," 1/12/09)

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"Nestle products are widely available in Iran." (Associated Press, "Iran bans with suspect Israel ties," 1/6/2009"

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"Nestle also has a factory in Iran." (Agence France Presse, "Iran TV urges boycott of 'Zionist' products," 7/19/06)

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"GIANTS WITH A FOOT IN TEHRAN: Total, Shell, Statoil, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, MTN, UPS, Linde, Technip, Nokia, Ericsson, Peugeot, Renault, OMV, Societe Generale, ENI, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Siemens, LG, Samsung, Bosch, Valeo, Nestle, Unilever, BAT, Japan Tobacco."(The London Times, "American pressure threatens UK firms," 5/27/06)

Response

No response at this time.

EGL

Industry
Energy
Symbol
SWF: EGL
Country
Switzerland
Contact Information
Sources

Company is now Axpo.

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"Western powers have already pointed the finger at Switzerland over its Iran policy in the recent past. In a 2007 official visit to Iran, Micheline Calmy-Rey, who then held the two posts of Swiss foreign minister and president, helped broker a 25-year gas contract for Swiss energy company EGL... EGL, which has been acquired by Axpo International, has since suspended the contract." (Reuters, "West raises pressure on neutral Switzerland over Iran," 11/5/2012)  

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BERLIN – Swiss energy giant EGL’s €18 billion gas contract with Iran prompted criticism on Tuesday from the US Embassy. “As we noted in the past when this deal was first announced, oil and gas deals with Iran send the wrong message when Iran continues to defy UN Security Council resolutions. We have raised our concerns with the Swiss government about this arrangement on multiple occasions,” a spokesman for the embassy in Bern told The Jerusalem Post in an e-mail.

“US law [the Iran Sanctions Act, as amended by the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act] provides for sanctions for certain investments that contribute to Iran’s ability to develop and transport its petroleum resources,” the spokesman noted. When asked about the US criticism of the EGL deal with the National Iranian Gas Export Company, Lilly Frei, head of corporate communications for EGL, told the Post on Wednesday, also by e-mail, that “EGL complies with legal regulations, including those of the international community of states, and will, of course, continue to adhere to them, should they be adjusted. It is not appropriate for EGL to comment [on] possible political developments. (The Jerusalem Post, “US: Swiss-Iran gas deal sends 'wrong message',” 08/19/10) 

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In July 2010, a New York Times article quoted an EGL spokesman as saying that new EU and US sanctions against Iran "have no impact" on EGL's procurement deal with the National Iranian Gas Export Company. 

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"The Swiss energy trading company EGL said it signed a multibillion-dollar contract to buy natural gas from Iran over the next 25 years." (The Washington Post, International Briefing,  3/8/08)

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"Switzerland's energy trading company EGL, with 431 employees, signed an agreement in June to buy 5.5 billion cubic meters of Iranian natural gas per year for the next 25 years. The gas will reach Western Europe through a pipeline EGL is building between Greece and Italy" (Fars News Agency, "European Companies brokering deals with Iran despite US sanctions," 7/12/2007)

Response

No response at this time.