Clearstream
Clearstream Banking S.A. (CB) is the clearing and settlement division of Deutsche Börse, based in Luxembourg andFrankfurt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearstream
http://www.clearstream.com/ci/dispatch/en/kir/ci_nav/home
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http://www.clearstream.com/ci/dispatch/en/kir/ci_nav/home
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Clearstream was created in January 2000 through the merger of Cedel International and Deutsche Börse Clearing. Its main function is acting as International Central Securities Depository (ICSD). Clearstream also acts as the Central Securities Depository (CSD) for Germany and Clearing House for a number of securities. It is one of the biggest custodians and clearer of the eurobonds market.
Clearstream has been criticized for allowing banks to move money undetected and has been accused of involvements in a number of cases involving money laundering and tax evasion. Two notable cases have become known as theClearstream Affair which started with the release of the book Révélation$ in 2001 by the investigative reporter Denis Robert and ex-Clearstream banker Ernest Backes and the Second Clearstream Affair which started in 2004 when anonymous denunciations were sent to magistrate Renaud Van Ruymbeke accusing a number of major French political figures of having received kickbacks.