VEON Boosts Accessibility for Investors by Waiving Depositary Service Fees on American Depositary Shares

Rhea-AI Summary

VEON (NASDAQ: VEON) announced that, effective January 1, 2026, BNY Mellon will not collect depositary service fees on VEON American Depositary Shares (ADSs), reducing the cost of ownership by USD 0.05 per ADS per year. The company also outlined a capital allocation policy targeting at least USD 100 million annually for share buybacks and reiterated its strategy to become a consumer and enterprise service company with a telco license across five markets.

Positive

• DSF suspension reduces ADS ownership cost by USD 0.05 per ADS per year
• Share buyback target of at least USD 100 million annually

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – VEON

-3.21%

-3.21% Session close to close

In the Apr 24 session, VEON declined 3.21%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights VEON’s focus on investor accessibility and capital returns. Waiving dep...

Analysis

This announcement highlights VEON’s focus on investor accessibility and capital returns. Waiving depositary service fees lowers ADS ownership costs by USD 0.05 per share annually, while a capital allocation policy targets returning at least USD 100 million per year through buybacks. In the context of recent strategic partnerships and growth initiatives, investors may watch how these measures interact with VEON’s transformation into a multi-market digital operator.

Key Figures

DSF reduction: USD 0.05 per ADS per year Targeted capital return: At least USD 100 million annually Effective date: January 1, 2026 +1 more

4 metrics

DSF reduction USD 0.05 per ADS per year Annual reduction in depositary service fees for VEON ADS holders

Targeted capital return At least USD 100 million annually Capital allocation policy via share buybacks

Effective date January 1, 2026 Start of DSF waiver on VEON ADSs

Operating markets Five markets VEON strategy as a telco-licensed digital operator across five markets

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Apr 22 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Apr 22	Satellite partnership	Positive	+3.6%	Banglalink-Starlink Mobile deal to add satellite connectivity across Bangladesh.
Apr 17	Earnings scheduling	Neutral	+0.4%	Announcement of date and time for VEON’s 1Q26 earnings release and call.
Apr 14	M&A approval	Positive	-0.2%	Competition Commission of Pakistan clears Jazz’s acquisition of TPL Insurance.
Mar 31	AGM and board	Positive	+3.4%	2026 AGM date, director slate, and highlights of strong digital revenue growth.
Mar 30	Fintech milestone	Positive	-3.6%	JazzCash reaches 1 million Raast QR merchants and large 2025 transaction volumes.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Positive strategic and corporate updates often saw positive reactions, while some growth milestones and M&A news drew mixed or negative responses.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, VEON has reported multiple strategic updates. A Starlink Mobile agreement for Banglalink on Apr 22 and the 2026 AGM/board nominees news on Mar 31 both coincided with price gains above 3%. By contrast, approval for the TPL Insurance acquisition on Apr 14 and a major JazzCash merchant milestone on Mar 30 saw small to moderate declines. An earnings date announcement on Apr 17 had a modest positive impact. Today’s fee waiver and buyback-focused announcement fits into this broader investor-relations and strategic execution narrative.

Key Terms

american depositary shares, ads, depositary service fees, share buybacks

4 terms

american depositary shares financial

"BNY Mellon will not collect depositary service fees (“DSF”) from investors that hold VEON’s American Depositary Shares"

American depositary shares (ADSs) are a way for investors in the United States to buy shares of foreign companies without dealing with international markets directly. They represent ownership in a foreign company's stock and are traded on U.S. stock exchanges, making it easier for American investors to buy, sell, and own parts of companies from around the world.

ads financial

"reduces the cost of ownership by USD 0.05 per ADS per year and enhances accessibility"

Ads are paid promotional messages a company places across media — online, on TV, in print, or on social platforms — to attract customers, explain products, or shape public perception. For investors, ads matter because they drive sales growth, affect how much a company must spend to win customers, and influence brand strength and long-term value. Ads can also create regulatory or reputational risk if claims are misleading, which can affect profits and stock price.

depositary service fees financial

"BNY Mellon will not collect depositary service fees (“DSF”) from investors"

Depositary service fees are charges levied by a bank or agent that holds and administers securities on behalf of investors, such as processing dividends, exchanging currency, keeping custody of shares and managing depositary receipts. These fees reduce an investor’s net return and can be thought of like a safekeeping and service charge from a bank: small regular costs that quietly lower the money you actually receive from owning a stock.

share buybacks financial

"policy that targets to return at least USD 100 million annually through share buybacks"

Share buybacks occur when a company purchases its own shares from the market, reducing the number of outstanding shares. This can increase the value of each remaining share and signal confidence in the company's future. For investors, buybacks can lead to higher stock prices and potentially greater returns on their investments.

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Dubai and New York, April 24, 2026 – VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON), a global digital operator (the “Company” or “VEON”), announces that, effective January 1, 2026, BNY Mellon will not collect depositary service fees (“DSF”) from investors that hold VEON’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”). The suspension of DSF charges for investors effectively reduces the cost of ownership by USD 0.05 per ADS per year and enhances accessibility for both existing and prospective investors.

"VEON’s steps to reduce the cost of ownership of ADSs and introduce a capital allocation policy that targets to return at least USD 100 million annually through share buybacks are both responses to our ongoing dialogue with investors," said Kaan Terzioglu, Chief Executive Officer of VEON. "At the same time, we continue to execute on our strategy to transform VEON into a consumer and enterprise service company with a telco license across five dynamic markets, where we see significant growth opportunities."

About VEON  
VEON is a digital operator that provides connectivity and digital services to over 150 million connectivity customers and more than 205 million digital users. Operating across five countries that are home to more than 6% of the world’s population, VEON is transforming lives through technology-driven services that empower individuals and drive economic growth. VEON is listed on NASDAQ. For more information, visit: https://www.veon.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
This release contains “forward-looking statements”, within the meaning of the Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to statements relating to VEON’s strategic ambitions and other actions related to its American Depositary Shares. There are numerous risks, uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from those expressed by such statements, including risks relating to VEON’s strategic ambitions and other actions related to its American Depositary Shares, among others discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in VEON’s 2025 Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 16, 2026 and other public filings made by VEON with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release and VEON disclaims any obligation to update them, except as required by law.

Contact Information 
VEON media inquiries
pr@veon.com

FAQ

What change did VEON (VEON) announce about depositary service fees for ADSs?

VEON said BNY Mellon will not collect depositary service fees on ADSs effective January 1, 2026. According to the company, this suspension cuts ownership cost by USD 0.05 per ADS per year, aiming to make ADSs more accessible to investors.

How does VEON's announcement affect shareholder returns and buybacks for VEON (VEON)?

VEON targets returning at least USD 100 million annually through share buybacks. According to the company, this capital allocation policy is intended to boost shareholder returns alongside the ADS fee suspension.

When did VEON say the DSF suspension on ADSs became effective for VEON (VEON)?

The DSF suspension became effective on January 1, 2026. According to the company, BNY Mellon will not collect depositary service fees from that date, reducing per-ADS holding costs going forward.

What is the stated strategic focus VEON (VEON) described alongside the ADS fee change?

VEON described a strategy to transform into a consumer and enterprise service company with a telco license across five markets. According to the company, this strategy frames the capital allocation and investor-access actions.

Will the DSF suspension materially change dividend or EPS for VEON (VEON)?

The announcement does not state changes to dividends or EPS. According to the company, the change is a fee suspension reducing ownership cost by USD 0.05 per ADS per year and a separate buyback target.