A new dataset from LSEG Risk Intelligence highlights how ownership and control relationships are a major source of hidden sanctions exposure across global securities markets.
LSEG Risk Intelligence has launched the Sanctioned Securities Data File, a new instrument-level dataset designed to help financial institutions identify securities that are directly or indirectly linked to sanctioned entities. Developed in partnership with advanced data analytics firm BIGTXN, the dataset aims to improve transparency and efficiency in sanctions compliance as regulatory regimes continue to expand and diverge worldwide.
Initial analysis of the dataset indicates that while many sanctions-linked instruments are associated with explicit legal designations, around one-third are connected through ownership or control structures. In these cases, securities may be issued by entities that are not themselves sanctioned but are owned or controlled by sanctioned parents, placing the instruments within regulatory scope.
The findings also show that the majority of sanctions-linked instruments remain active, underscoring that sanctions exposure is not limited to legacy assets. Based on current coverage, roughly six in ten affected instruments are still in circulation, presenting ongoing challenges for trading, investment, and post-trade operations.
At the instrument level, sanctions exposure is concentrated in areas closely tied to capital markets activity. Rights and entitlements, debt instruments, and structured products account for around 80% of sanctions-linked securities, reflecting how sanctions increasingly affect corporate actions, financing structures, and investment products rather than only primary equity issuance.
From a geographic perspective, Russia dominates the sanctions-linked securities landscape, accounting for approximately 60% of total issuance captured in the dataset. Measures imposed by the European Union, the United States, New Zealand, and Ukraine also contribute materially, highlighting the growing complexity of managing sanctions across multiple jurisdictions.
The Sanctioned Securities Data File links sanctions designations from the LSEG World-Check platform directly to real financial instruments, addressing gaps left by traditional name-based screening approaches. By mapping designations to specific securities and ownership structures, the dataset provides a more granular and systematic view of exposure at the instrument level.
LSEG Risk Intelligence indicated that the solution was designed to integrate seamlessly into existing compliance, risk, and trading workflows through a centralized and structured data feed. The dataset supports screening across a wide range of asset classes and is updated frequently to reflect changes in global sanctions regimes.
By revealing how deeply sanctions risk can be embedded within securities markets, the new dataset positions ownership and control analysis as a critical component of modern sanctions compliance.
