Clearstream Facilitates LBBW and Vontobel to Issue First Digital Securities in Germany

Clearstream has reached the next level of digitisation of financial markets by creating the digital instrument on D7, Deutsche Börse's digital post-trade platform. European issuers can now leverage the new infrastructure to issue digital securities. The first automated issuances were performed by LBBW and Vontobel, and facilitated by Clearstream, Deutsche Börse's post-trade service provider. D7 is fully integrated within Clearstream's global infrastructure and works as a connector between established networks and digital capabilities.

Jens Hachmeister, Head of Issuer Services & New Digital Markets at Clearstream, said: "In line with our core mission to run innovative and future-proof infrastructures for our customers and the entire industry, we have now created the smart digital security. This moves issuance of structured products from days to minutes and enables our clients and partners to quickly adapt to the changing market environment. We are accelerating time to market and unlocking an entire new universe of product opportunities as we continue to venture towards fully digitised markets."

"In addition to a highly automated trading process, a digitalised and efficient issuance and settlement process is of great importance for the retail-certificate business. With the first pilot issue of an LBBW bonus certificate via the D7 platform, accompanied by Clearstream, we are taking the next technologically important step towards end-to-end digitalisation," said Jan Krüger, Head of Equity Markets at LBBW.

Markus Schenk, Head Issuance Europe, Vontobel, is convinced: "The launch of the Digital Instrument represents a milestone on the way to a fully digital market infrastructure in Germany. The ability to bring our structured securities to market faster and more cost-efficiently in the future will ultimately have a positive impact on the client experience. We at Vontobel are proud to accompany the project from the very beginning and to provide valuable input. It was important for us to play our part in this significant market infrastructure project."