Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change Relating to iShares ® MSCI Index Funds, 71574-71583 [E5-6626]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 29, 2005 / Notices
Afterwards, the member will need to
notify NASD of its continued reliance
on the exception on an annual basis.
Members must ensure that each ensuing
annual notification is effected no later
than on the anniversary date of the
previous year’s notification. If a member
determines that it no longer needs to
rely on the ‘‘limited size and resources’’
exception to Rule 3012 to conduct any
of its producing managers’ supervisory
reviews, the member must notify NASD
electronically (or through any other
process prescribed by NASD) within
thirty (30) days of ceasing to rely on the
exception.
NASD has recently designed an
electronic reporting system that will
enable members to notify NASD of their
reliance on the exception. Members will
be able to access this reporting system
on the effective date of this proposed
rule change.
NASD will announce the effective
date of the proposed rule change in a
Notice to Members to be published no
later than 60 days following
Commission approval. The effective
date will be 30 days following
publication of the Notice to Members
announcing Commission approval.
B. Comment Summary
The proposal was published for
comment in the Federal Register on
August 9, 2005.8 We received one
comment on the proposal. The
commenter, Lincoln Investment
Planning, Inc. (‘‘Lincoln’’), expressed
concern that the proposed annual
notification requirement for members
that rely on Rule 3012’s ‘‘Limited Size
and Resources’’ exception would
impose an undue burden on members to
remember the anniversary date of the
initial notification.9 Instead, Lincoln
stated that this burden could be reduced
by requiring members relying on this
exception to only provide an initial
notification of their reliance and a
second notification when they cease to
rely on it. Alternatively, Lincoln also
suggested that NASD consider making
the notification requirement a part of
the quarterly updated NASD Control
System.10
In response to the Lincoln letter,
NASD stated that ‘‘[t]he annual
notification requirement helps NASD to
provide the SEC with the most accurate
information possible. To aid members in
completing their annual notification
requirement, the electronic reporting
8 See
Notice, supra note 3.
9 See e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov from
Deidre B. Koerick, Lincoln Investment Planning,
Inc., dated Aug. 30, 2005.
10 Id.
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system that NASD has designed for
members to use, records and displays
the date of the member’s previous
notification.’’ 11 Furthermore, to
mitigate any concerns regarding a
member’s obligation to remember the
anniversary date of its reliance of the
exception, NASD stated that it ‘‘expects
to provide members with reminders,
electronic or otherwise, in advance of
the members’ anniversary date for
notification of continued reliance on the
exception.’’ 12
III. Discussion and Findings
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change, as
amended, is consistent with the
provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) 13 of the
Act, which require, among other things,
NASD’s rules to be designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, and, in general, to
protect investors and the public interest.
Rule 3012 requires independent
supervisory reviews of producing
managers. It is designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative practices
and to protect investors. In approving
the rule, the Commission said it
expected that Rule 3012
will reduce potential conflicts of interests in
situations where the producing branch
manager is responsible for generating
substantial revenues for the benefit of his
supervisor. The Commission believes that
such heightened supervisory procedures
should help address the potential conflicts of
interest with sufficient flexibility so as not to
create undue burdens and costs on
members.14
The rule recognizes, however, that
certain firms may conduct their
business with significant limitation in
size and resources, and accounted for
this limitation by approving a ‘‘Limited
Size and Resources’’ exception. The
Commission concluded that the
‘‘Limited Size and Resources’’ exception
was consistent with Section 15A(b)(6)
because it accommodated the smallest
NASD members that lack the resources
to implement a full scale program to
conduct supervisory reviews.15
However, in approving this exception,
the Commission expected NASD to
monitor closely the use of this exception
to prevent its abuse or use by members
11 See letter from Patricia M. Albrecht, Assistant
General Counsel, NASD, to Katherine A. England,
Assistant Director, Division of Market Regulation,
Commission, dated Oct. 4, 2005.
12 Id.
13 15 U.S.C. 78o–3(b)(6).
14 See Exchange Act Release No 49883 (June 17,
2004).
15 See Exchange Act Release No. 50477 (Sept. 30,
2004).
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other than those for which it was
intended.16
NASD proposed this amendment to
Rule 3012 to provide an efficient
measure for monitoring the use of the
exception. The Commission believes
that this proposed rule change, as
amended, accomplishes the goals of
Section 15(A)(b)(6) by enabling NASD
and the Commission to efficiently
monitor members that rely on the
‘‘Limited Size and Resources’’ exception
in Rule 3012.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 17 that the
proposed rule change, as amended (SR–
NASD–2005–084), be, and hereby is,
approved.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
authority.18
Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–6627 Filed 11–28–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–52816; File No. SR–NYSE–
2005–70]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
York Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Order Granting Accelerated
Approval of Proposed Rule Change
Relating to iShares MSCI Index
Funds
November 21, 2005.
Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on October
6, 2005, the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc. (‘‘NYSE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I and II below, which Items have
been prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons and is
approving the proposal on an
accelerated basis.
16 Id.
17 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
18 17
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 29, 2005 / Notices
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade the following iShares Index
Funds, which are Investment Company
Units (‘‘ICUs’’) under section 703.16 of
the Exchange Listed Company Manual:
iShares MSCI SM Belgium Index Fund,
iShares MSCI France Index Fund,
iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund, iShares
MSCI Netherlands Index Fund, iShares
MSCI Spain Index Fund, iShares MSCI
Sweden Index Fund, and iShares MSCI
Switzerland Index Fund.3
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item III below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange has adopted listing
standards applicable to ICUs, which are
consistent with the listing criteria
currently used by other exchanges, and
trading standards pursuant to which the
Exchange may trade ICUs on the
Exchange, including on an unlisted
trading privileges (‘‘UTP’’) basis.4 The
Exchange now proposes to list the
following iShares Index Funds
(‘‘Funds’’), which are ICUs under
section 703.16 of the Exchange Listed
Company Manual: iShares MSCI SM
Belgium Index Fund, iShares MSCI
France Index Fund, iShares MSCI Italy
Index Fund, iShares MSCI Netherlands
3 MSCI and MSCI Indices are registered service
marks of Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated.
4 In 1996, the Commission approved Section
703.16 of the Exchange Listed Company Manual
(the ‘‘Manual’’), which sets forth the rules related
to the listing of ICUs. See Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 36923 (March 5, 1996), 61 FR 10410
(March 13, 1996) (SR–NYSE–95–23). In 2000, the
Commission also approved the Exchange’s
‘‘generic’’ listing standards pursuant to Rule 19b–
4(e) of the Act for the listing and trading, or the
trading pursuant to UTP, of ICUs under Section
703.16 of the Manual and Exchange Rule 1100. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 43679
(December 5, 2000), 65 FR 77949 (December 13,
2000) (SR–NYSE–00–46).
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Index Fund, iShares MSCI Spain Index
Fund, iShares MSCI Sweden Index
Fund, and iShares MSCI Switzerland
Index Fund.5
The Funds are currently listed and
traded on the American Stock Exchange
(‘‘Amex’’) 6 and the issuer of the Funds,
iShares, Inc., intends to move the listing
of the Funds to the NYSE. The Funds
also trade on other securities
exchanges 7 and in the over-the-counter
market. The Exchange stated that the
information below is intended to
provide a description of how the Funds
were created and are traded.8
The shares of the Funds are issued by
iShares, Inc., an open-ended
management investment company.
Barclays Global Fund Advisors
(‘‘BGFA’’), a subsidiary of Barclays
Global Investors, N.A. (‘‘BGI’’), is the
investment advisor (‘‘Advisor’’) for each
Fund.9 BGI is a wholly owned indirect
5 iShares, Inc. is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a) (the
‘‘Investment Company Act’’). The current
registration statement for iShares, Inc. (the
‘‘Registration Statement’’) was filed with the
Commission on Form N–1A on December 29, 2004.
Telephone conversation between David Hsu,
Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation
(‘‘Division’’), Commission, and Michael Cavalier,
Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on October 20,
2005.
6 The Funds were formerly known as World
Equity Benchmark Shares or WEBS, and an initial
series of WEBS, including the Funds that are the
subject of the instant filing were initially approved
for listing and trading on the Amex in 1996. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36947 (March
8, 1996), 61 FR 10606 (March 14, 1996) (SR–Amex–
95–43). The Commission has previously approved
trading on the NYSE on an UTP basis of the iShares
MSCI Japan Index Fund. See Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 46298 (August 1, 2002), 67 FR
51614 (August 8, 2002) (SR–NYSE–2002–27). The
Commission also has approved trading on the NYSE
of the following iShares Funds on a UTP basis:
iShares MSCI EAFE; iShares S&P Europe 350;
iShares MSCI Taiwan; iShares MSCI Pacific exJapan; iShares MSCI Brazil; iShares MSCI United
Kingdom; iShares MSCI South Korea; iShares MSCI
Singapore; iShares MSCI Germany; iShares MSCI
Australia; iShares MSCI Mexico; iShares MSCI
Hong Kong; iShares MSCI South Africa; iShares
MSCI Emerging Markets Free; and iShares MSCI
Malaysia. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.
50142 (August 3, 2004), 69 FR 48539 (August 10,
2004) (SR–NYSE–2004–27).
7 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No.
39117 (September 22, 1997), 62 FR 50973
(September 29, 1997) (SR–CHX–96–14) (approving
the UTP trading of WEBS).
8 Much of the information in this filing was taken
from the Prospectus of iShares, Inc., dated January
1, 2005, as revised on September 23, 2005, and the
Statement of Additional Information (‘‘SAI’’) of
iShares, Inc., dated January 1, 2005, as revised on
September 23, 2005, and from the iShares Web site
(https://www.iShares.com). Fund information
relating to the net asset value (‘‘NAV’’), returns,
dividends, component stock holdings and other
information is updated on a daily basis on the
iShares Web site.
9 While the Advisor would manage the Funds, the
Funds’ Board of Directors would have overall
responsibility for the Funds’ operations. The
composition of the Board is, and would be, in
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subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC of the
United Kingdom. BGFA and its affiliates
are not affiliated with the index
provider (MSCI). Investors Bank and
Trust Company (‘‘IBT’’) serves as
administrator, custodian, and transfer
agent for the Funds, and SEI
Investments Distribution Co. is
distributor for the Funds. The
distributor is not affiliated with the
Exchange or BGFA.
The underlying indexes are compiled
by Morgan Stanley Capital International
(‘‘MSCI’’). MSCI is a partially-owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. MSCI and
Morgan Stanley do not share any
employees that are directly involved in
the index compilation. MSCI employees
directly involved in the index
compilation do not report directly to
any Morgan Stanley personnel. MSCI
has established policies and procedures
for the handling and monitoring the
dissemination of confidential, nonpublic information relating to the MSCI
indices. These policies and procedures
include specific ‘‘firewall’’ procedures
regulating the flow of information
between MSCI and Morgan Stanley
personnel. BGI and its affiliates have no
involvement in selection of component
stocks in the underlying indexes.
Operation of the Fund
Each Fund seeks investment results
that correspond generally to the price
and yield performance, before fees and
expenses, of the applicable underlying
index (‘‘Underlying Index’’). Each Fund
intends to qualify as a Regulated
Investment Company (‘‘RIC’’) under the
Internal Revenue Code (the ‘‘Code’’).
The Funds utilize representative
sampling to invest in a representative
sample of securities in the applicable
underlying index.
Each Fund seeks to achieve its
objective by investing primarily in
securities issued by companies that
comprise the relevant Underlying Index.
Each Fund operates as an index fund
and will not be actively managed.
Adverse performance of a security in a
Fund’s portfolio will ordinarily not
result in the elimination of the security
from a Fund’s portfolio.
Each Fund engages in representative
sampling, which is investing in a
representative sample of securities in
the Underlying Index, selected by BGFA
to have a similar investment profile as
the Underlying Index. Securities
selected have aggregate investment
compliance with the requirements of section 10 of
the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a–10).
The Funds are subject to and must comply with
section 303A.06 of the Manual, which requires that
the Funds have an audit committee that complies
with Commission Rule 10A–3.
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characteristics (based on market
capitalization and industry weightings),
fundamental characteristics (such as
return variability, earnings valuation,
and yield) and liquidity measures
similar to those of the relevant
Underlying Index. Funds that use
representative sampling generally do
not hold all of the securities that are
included in the relevant underlying
index.
From time to time, adjustments may
be made in the portfolio of a Fund in
accordance with changes in the
composition of the underlying index or
to maintain compliance with
requirements applicable to a RIC under
the Code.10 For example, if at the end
of a calendar quarter a Fund would not
comply with the RIC diversification
tests, the Advisor would make
adjustments to the portfolio to ensure
continued RIC status.
The iShares MSCI France Fund will at
all times invest at least 90% of its assets
in the securities of the Underlying Index
and ADRs representing the component
securities in the Underlying Index. Each
of the iShares Belgium, Italy,
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and
Switzerland Funds will at all times
invest at least 80% of its assets in
securities of the applicable Underlying
Index and ADRs based on the
component securities of its Underlying
Index, and at least 90% of its assets in
the securities and ADRs based on such
securities of its Underlying Index or in
securities or ADRs included in the
relevant market, but not in its
Underlying Index.11 Therefore, each of
the Funds will invest not more than
10% of fund assets in ADRs and other
securities,12 which are not included in
or based on the component securities of
its Underlying Index and are also not
included in the relevant market. Each of
10 In order for the Fund to qualify for tax
treatment as a RIC, it must meet several
requirements under the Code. Among these is a
requirement that, at the close of each quarter of the
Fund’s taxable year, (1) at least 50% of the market
value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented
by cash items, U.S. government securities,
securities of other RICs and other securities, with
such other securities limited for the purpose of this
calculation with respect to any one issuer to an
amount not greater than 5% of the value of the
Fund’s assets and not greater than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (2)
not more than 25% of the value of its total assets
may be invested in securities of any one issuer, or
two or more issuers that are controlled by the Fund
(within the meaning of section 851(b)(4)(B) of the
Code) and that are engaged in the same or similar
trades or business (other than U.S. government
securities of other RICs).
11 Telephone conversation between Florence
Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, and
Michael Cavalier, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE,
on November 15, 2005.
12 Id.
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the ADRs in which these Funds will
invest shall be listed on a national
securities exchange or the Nasdaq Stock
Market.
Index Descriptions and Methodology
Weighting. According to the Funds’
SAI effective May 31, 2002, all singlecountry MSCI Indices are free float
weighted, i.e., companies are included
in the indices at the value of their free
public float (free float, multiplied by
price). MSCI defines ‘‘free float’’ as total
shares excluding shares held by
strategic investors such as governments,
corporations, controlling shareholders
and management, and shares subject to
foreign ownership restrictions. In other
words, the free float of a security is the
proportion of shares outstanding that
are deemed to be available for purchase
in the public equity markets by
international investors. In practice,
limitations on free float available to
international investors include: (i)
Strategic and other shareholdings not
considered part of available free float;
and (ii) limits on share ownership for
foreigners. Under MSCI’s free floatadjustment methodology, a constituent
‘‘Inclusion Factor’’ is equal to its
estimated free float rounded-up to the
closest 5% for constituents with free
float equal to or exceeding 15%. For
example, a constituent security with a
free float of 23.2% will be included in
the index at 25% of its market
capitalization. For securities with a free
float of less than 15% that are included
on an exceptional basis, the estimated
free float is adjusted to the nearest 1%.
MSCI’s standard equity indices
generally seek to have 85% of the free
float-adjusted market capitalization of a
country’s stock market reflected in the
MSCI Index for such country. Market
capitalization weighting, combined with
a consistent target of 85% of free floatadjusted market capitalization, helps
ensure that each country’s weight in
regional and international indices
approximates its weight in the total
universe of developing and emerging
markets.
Selection Criteria. MSCI undertakes
an index construction process, which
involves: (i) Defining the equity
universe; (ii) adjusting the total market
capitalization of all securities in the
universe for free float available to
foreign investors; (iii) classifying the
universe of securities under the Global
Industry Classification Standard (the
‘‘GICS’’); and (iv) selecting securities for
inclusion according to MSCI’s index
construction rules and guidelines.
The index construction process starts
at the country level, with the
identification of all listed securities for
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that country. MSCI classifies each
company and its securities in only one
country. This allows securities to be
sorted distinctly by their respective
countries. In general, companies and
their respective securities are classified
as belonging to the country in which
they are incorporated. All listed equity
securities, or listed securities that
exhibit characteristics of equity
securities, except investment trusts,
mutual funds and equity derivatives, are
eligible for inclusion in the universe.
Shares of non-domiciled companies
generally are not eligible for inclusion
in the universe.
After identifying the universe of
securities, MSCI calculates the free
float-adjusted market capitalization of
each security in that universe using
publicly available information. The
process of free float adjusting market
capitalization involves (i) defining and
estimating the free float available to
foreign investors for each security, using
MSCI’s definition of free float; (ii)
assigning a free float-adjustment factor
to each security; and (iii) calculating the
free float-adjusted market capitalization
of each security.
Classifying Securities Under the GICS.
In addition to the free float-adjustment
of market capitalization, all securities in
the universe are assigned to an industrybased hierarchy that describes their
business activities. To this end, MSCI
has designed, in conjunction with
Standard & Poor’s, the GICS. This
comprehensive classification scheme
provides a universal approach to
industries worldwide and forms the
basis for achieving MSCI’s objective of
reflecting broad and fair industry
representation in its indices.
Selecting Securities for Index
Inclusion. In an attempt to ensure a
broad and fair representation in the
indices of the diversity of business
activities in the universe, MSCI follows
a ‘‘bottom-up’’ approach to index
construction, building indices up to the
industry group level. The bottom-up
approach to index construction requires
a thorough analysis and understanding
of the characteristics of the universe.
This analysis drives the individual
security selection decisions, which aim
to reflect the overall features of the
universe in the country index. MSCI
targets an 85% free float-adjusted
market representation level within each
industry group, within each country.
The security selection process within
each industry group is based on the
careful analysis of: (i) Each company’s
business activities and the
diversification that its securities would
bring to the index; (ii) the size (based on
free float-adjusted market capitalization)
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 29, 2005 / Notices
and liquidity of securities;13 (iii) the
estimated free float for the company and
its individual share classes. Only
securities of companies with estimated
free float greater than 15% are, in
general, considered for inclusion.
Exceptions to this general rule are made
only in significant cases, where not
including a security of a large company
would compromise the index’s ability to
fully and fairly represent the
characteristics of the underlying market.
Exchange Rates. The prices used to
calculate the MSCI Indices are the
official exchange closing prices or those
figure accepted as such. MSCI reserves
the right to use an alternative pricing
source on any given day.
For the MSCI Indices, MSCI uses the
foreign currency exchange rates
published by WM Reuters at 4 p.m.
London time. MSCI uses WM Reuters
rates for all developed and emerging
markets. Exchange rates are taken daily
at 4 p.m. London time by the WM
Company and are sourced whenever
possible from multi-contributor quotes
on Reuters. Representative currency
exchange rates are selected for each
currency based on a number of
‘‘snapshots’’ of the latest contributed
quotations taken from the Reuters
service at short intervals around 4 p.m.
London time. WM Reuters provides
closing bid and offer rates. MSCI uses
these to calculate the mid-point to five
decimal places.
MSCI continues to monitor currency
exchange rates independently and may,
under exceptional circumstances, elect
to use an alternative currency exchange
rate if the WM Reuters rate is believed
not to be representative for a given
currency on a particular day.
Changes to the Indices. According to
the Registration Statement, the MSCI
Indices are maintained with the
objective of reflecting, on a timely basis,
the evolution of the underlying equity
markets. In maintaining the MSCI
Indices, emphasis is also placed on
continuity, replicability, and
minimizing turnover in the Indices.
Maintaining the MSCI Indices involves
many aspects, including additions to
and deletions from the Indices and
changes in number of shares and
changes in Foreign Inclusion Factors
(‘‘FIFs’’) as a result of updated free float
estimates.
Potential additions are analyzed not
only with respect to their industry
group, but also with respect to their
13 All else being equal, MSCI targets for inclusion
the most sizable and liquid securities in an industry
group. In addition, securities that do not meet the
minimum size guidelines discussed below and/or
securities with inadequate liquidity are not
considered for inclusion.
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industry or sub-industry group, in order
to represent a wide range of economic
and business activities. All additions are
considered in the context of MSCI’s
methodology, including the index
constituent eligibility rules and
guidelines.
In assessing deletions, it is important
to emphasize that indices must
represent the full-investment cycle,
including bull as well as bear markets.
Out-of-favor industries and their
securities may exhibit declining prices,
declining market capitalization, and/or
declining liquidity, and yet are not
deleted because they continue to be
good representatives of their industry
group.
As a general policy, changes in
number of shares are coordinated with
changes in FIFs to accurately reflect the
investability of the underlying
securities. In addition, MSCI
continuously strives to improve the
quality of its free float estimates and the
related FIFs. Additional shareholder
information may come from better
disclosure by companies or more
stringent disclosure requirements by a
country’s authorities. It may also come
from MSCI’s ongoing examination of
new information sources for the purpose
of further enhancing free float estimates
and better understanding shareholder
structures. When MSCI identifies useful
additional sources of information, it
seeks to incorporate them into its free
float analysis.
Overall, index maintenance can be
described by three broad categories of
implementation of changes:
• Annual full country index reviews
that systematically re-assess the various
dimensions of the equity universe for all
countries and are conducted on a fixed
annual timetable;
• Quarterly index reviews, aimed at
promptly reflecting other significant
market events; and
• Ongoing event-related changes,
such as mergers and acquisitions, which
are generally implemented in the
indices rapidly as they occur.
Potential changes in the status of
countries (stand-alone, emerging,
developed) follow their own separate
timetables. These changes are normally
implemented in one or more phases at
the regular annual full country index
review and quarterly index review
dates.
The annual full country index review
for all the MSCI Standard Country
Indices is carried out once every 12
months and implemented as of the close
of the last business day of May. The
implementation of changes resulting
from a quarterly index review occurs on
only three dates throughout the year, as
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71577
of the close of the last business day of
February, August, and November. Any
country indices may be impacted at the
quarterly index review. MSCI Index
additions and deletions due to quarterly
index rebalancings are announced at
least two weeks in advance.
Index Holdings as of May 31, 2005. As
of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI
Belgium Index’s top three holdings were
Fortis, KBC Groupe, and Dexia. The
Index’s top three industries were
Financials, Consumer Staples, and
Utilities. The Index components had a
total market capitalization of
approximately $120.2 billion. The
average total market capitalization was
approximately $5.7 billion. The ten
largest constituents represented
approximately 87% of the Index weight.
The five highest weighted stocks, which
represented 66% of the Index weight,
had an average daily trading volume in
excess of 7.3 million shares during the
past two months. All of the component
stocks traded at least 55,000 shares in
each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI
France Index’s top three holdings were
Total, Sanofi-Aventis, and BNP Paribas.
The Index’s top three industries were
Financials, Energy, and Consumer
Discretionary. The Index components
had a total market capitalization of
approximately $829.2 billion. The
average total market capitalization was
approximately $39.5 billion. The ten
largest constituents represented
approximately 58% of the Index weight.
The five highest weighted stocks, which
represented 42% of the Index weight,
had an average daily trading volume in
excess of 52.3 million shares during the
past two months. All of the component
stocks traded at least 475,000 shares in
each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI
Italy Index’s top three holdings were
ENI, ENEL, and Assicurazioni Generali.
The Index’s top three industries were
Financials, Energy, and
Telecommunication Services. The Index
components had a total market
capitalization of approximately $348.8
billion. The average total market
capitalization was approximately $16.6
billion. The ten largest constituents
represented approximately 69% of the
index weight. The five highest weighted
stocks, which represented 51% of the
Index weight, had an average daily
trading volume in excess of 512.2
million shares during the past two
months. All of the component stocks
traded at least four million shares in
each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI
Netherlands Index’s top three holdings
were Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., ING
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Groep, and ABN AMRO Holding. The
Index’s top three industries were
Energy, Financials, and Consumer
Staples. The Index components had a
total market capitalization of
approximately $419.4 billion. The
average total market capitalization was
approximately $20.0 billion. The ten
largest constituents represented
approximately 84% of the index weight.
The five highest weighted stocks, which
represented 68% of the Index weight,
had an average daily trading volume in
excess of 66.3 million shares during the
past two months. All of the component
stocks traded at least 950,000 shares in
each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI
Spain Index’s top three holdings were
the Telefonica, BSCH BCO Santander
Centr, and BBVA. Index’s top three
industries were Financials,
Telecommunication Services, and
Utilities. The Index components had a
total market capitalization of
approximately $345.4 billion. The
average total market capitalization was
approximately $16.4 billion. The ten
largest constituents represented
approximately 85% of the index weight.
The five highest weighted stocks, which
represented 69% of the Index weight,
had an average daily trading volume in
excess of 283.6 million shares during
the past two months. All of the
component stocks traded at least 2.1
million shares in each of the previous
six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI
Sweden Index’s top three holdings were
Ericsson (LM) B, Nordea Bank, and
Hennes & Mauritz B. The Index’s top
three industries were Industrials,
Financials, and Information
Technology. The Index components had
a total market capitalization of
approximately $215.0 billion. The
average total market capitalization was
approximately $10.2 billion. The ten
largest constituents represented
approximately 61% of the index weight.
The five highest weighted stocks, which
represented 48% of the Index weight,
had an average daily trading volume in
excess of 312.9 million shares during
the past two months. All of the
component stocks traded at least
750,000 shares in each of the previous
six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI
Switzerland Index’s top three holdings
were Novartis, Nestle, and Roche
Holding Genuss. The Index’s top three
industries were Health Care, Financials,
and Consumer Staples. The Index
components had a total market
capitalization of approximately $602.3
billion. The average total market
capitalization was approximately $28.7
billion. The ten largest constituents
represented approximately 87% of the
Index weight. The five highest weighted
stocks, which represented 73% of the
Index weight, had an average daily
trading volume in excess of 41.4 million
shares during the past two months. All
of the component stocks traded at least
100,000 shares in each of the previous
six months.
Correlation
According to the Funds’ prospectus,
BGFA expects that over time, the
correlation between each Fund’s
performance and that of its underlying
index, before fees and expenses, will be
95% or better. A figure of 100% would
indicate perfect correlation. Any
correlation of less than 100% is called
‘‘tracking error.’’ A fund using a
representative sampling strategy (which
all of the Funds utilize) can be expected
to have a greater tracking error than a
fund using a replication strategy.
Replication is a strategy in which a fund
invests in substantially all of the
securities in its underlying index in
approximately the same proportions as
in the underlying index.
The Funds have chosen to pursue a
representative sampling strategy that, by
its very nature, entails some risk of
tracking error. (It should also be noted
that Fund expenses, the timing of cash
flows, and other factors all contribute to
tracking error.) The Web site for the
Funds, https://www.iShares.com,
contains detailed information on the
performance and the tracking error for
each Fund.14
The Funds investment objectives,
policies, and investment strategies will
be fully disclosed in the prospectus.15
The Funds’ Board of Directors will
review the tracking error of the Funds
on a quarterly basis and based its review
will consider whether any action may
be appropriate.16
Industry Concentration Policy
As disclosed in the Funds’
prospectus, each of the Underlying
Indexes for the Funds will not
concentrate its investments (i.e., hold
25% or more of its total assets in the
stocks of a particular industry or group
of industries), except that, to the extent
practicable, each Fund will concentrate
to approximately the same extent that
its underlying index concentrates in the
stocks of such particular industry or
group of industries.
Each Fund intends to maintain
regulated investment company
compliance, which requires, among
other things, that, at the close of each
quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, not
more than 25% of its total assets may be
invested in the securities of any one
issuer.
The Exchange believes that these
requirements and policies prevent any
Fund from being excessively weighted
in any single security or small group of
securities and significantly reduce
concerns that trading in an Index Fund
could become a surrogate for trading in
a single or a few unregistered securities.
Issuance of Creation Units
iShares, Inc. will issue and redeem
the shares of the Funds only in
aggregations (each aggregation a
‘‘Creation Unit’’) of substantial size,
which varies for the various Funds. The
size of a Creation Unit for each Fund
and estimated value of a Creation Unit
for each Fund as of September 28, 2005
is as follows.17
Shares per
creation unit
iShares
iShares
iShares
iShares
MSCI
MSCI
MSCI
MSCI
Belgium ................................................................................................................
France ..................................................................................................................
Italy .......................................................................................................................
Netherlands ..........................................................................................................
14 The price at which the Funds’ shares trade
should be disciplined by arbitrage opportunities
created by the ability to purchase or redeem shares
of the Funds in Creation Unit (defined below)
aggregations throughout the trading day. This
should help ensure that the Funds’ shares will not
trade at a material discount or premium to their net
asset value or redemption value.
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20:13 Nov 28, 2005
Jkt 208001
15 Telephone conversation between David Hsu,
Special Counsel, Division, and Michael Cavalier,
Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on October 20,
2005.
16 Id.
17 As noted, the MSCI Index methodology
generally seeks to have represented 85% of the free
float-adjusted market capitalization of a country’s
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
40,000
200,000
150,000
50,000
Price per
share
$19.17
26.12
26.38
19.15
Est. value per
creation unit
$766,800
5,224,000
3,957,000
957,500
stock market or regional market, which also makes
it unlikely that the Funds will become a surrogate
for trading a single or a few unregistered stocks.
Electronic mail exchange between Florence
Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, John
Carey, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on
November 9, 2005.
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Shares per
creation unit
iShares MSCI Spain ....................................................................................................................
iShares MSCI Sweden ................................................................................................................
iShares MSCI Switzerland ...........................................................................................................
The number of shares of each Fund
outstanding as of September 28, 2005
was 2.48 million (Belgium); 3.20 million
(France); 1.65 million (Italy); 3.35
million (Netherlands); 1.88 million
(Spain); 2.93 million (Sweden); and 4.50
million (Switzerland). These numbers
exceed the minimum number of shares
to be issued in connection with initial
listing of the Funds on the Amex in
1996.18 A minimum of two Creation
Units of the Funds were required to be
outstanding at the time of initial listing
on the Amex.
These number of shares outstanding
also exceeds the 100,000 minimum
number of shares required to be
outstanding in connection with listing
of ICUs Investment Company Units
under Rule 19b–4(e) under the Act
pursuant to the Exchange’s generic
listing standards in Section 703.16 of
the Manual. In addition, the Exchange
has required a minimum number of
100,000 shares of ICUs to be outstanding
in connection with initial listing of
iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index
Fund, which the Commission noted is
comparable to requirements previously
applied to listed series of ICUs.19
The consideration for purchase of a
Creation Unit of shares of a Fund
generally consists of the in-kind deposit
of a designated portfolio of equity
securities (the ‘‘Deposit Securities’’)
constituting an optimized
representation of the Fund’s benchmark
foreign securities index and an amount
of cash computed as described below
(the ‘‘Cash Component’’). Together, the
Deposit Securities and the Cash
Component constitute the ‘‘Portfolio
Deposit,’’ which represents the
minimum initial and subsequent
investment amount for shares of a Fund.
The Cash Component is an amount
equal to the Dividend Equivalent
Payment (as defined below), plus or
minus, as the case may be, a Balancing
Amount (as defined below). The deposit
of the requisite Deposit Securities and
the Balancing Amount are collectively
referred to herein as a ‘‘Fund Deposit.’’
The ‘‘Dividend Equivalent Payment’’
enables iShares, Inc. to make a complete
18 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36947
(March 8, 1996) 61 FR 10606 (March 14, 1996) (SR–
Amex–95–43).
19 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50505
(October 8, 2004), 69 FR 61280 (October 15, 2004)
(SR–NYSE–2004–55), note 51.
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20:13 Nov 28, 2005
Jkt 208001
distribution of dividends on the next
dividend payment date, and is an
amount equal, on a per Creation Unit
basis, to the dividends on all the
Securities held by the relevant Fund
with ex-dividend dates within the
accumulation period for such
distribution (the ‘‘Accumulation
Period’’), net of expenses and liabilities
for such period, as if all of the Portfolio
Securities had been held by iShares, Inc.
for the entire Accumulation Period. The
‘‘Balancing Amount’’ is an amount
equal to the difference between (x) the
NAV (per Creation Unit) of the Fund
and (y) the sum of (i) the Dividend
Equivalent Payment and (ii) the market
value (per Creation Unit) of the
securities deposited with iShares, Inc.
(the sum of (i) and (ii) is referred to as
the ‘‘Deposit Amount’’). The Balancing
Amount serves the function of
compensating for any differences
between the net asset value per Creation
Unit and the Deposit Amount.
BGFA makes available through the
National Securities Clearing Corporation
(‘‘NSCC’’) on each Business Day, prior
to the opening of business on the NYSE
(currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time),20 the
list of the names and the required
number of shares of each Deposit
Security to be included in the current
Portfolio Deposit (based on information
at the end of the previous Business Day)
for each Fund. Such Portfolio Deposit is
applicable, subject to any adjustments
as described below, in order to effect
purchases of Creation Units of iShares
of a given Fund until such time as the
next announced Portfolio Deposit
composition is made available.
The identity and number of shares of
the Deposit Securities required for a
Portfolio Deposit for each Fund changes
as rebalancing adjustments and
corporate action events are reflected
from time to time by BGFA with a view
to the investment objective of the Fund.
The composition of the Deposit
Securities may also change in response
to adjustments to the weighting or
20 Usually, NSCC disseminates the estimated
Portfolio Securities and Cash Amount (see below)
between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (Eastern time) on the
prior business day for both creation and redemption
requests placed the following day. Telephone
conversation between Florence Harmon, Senior
Special Counsel, Division, and Michael Cavalier,
Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on November 20,
2005.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
75,000
75,000
125,000
Price per
share
37.50
22.10
18.07
Est. value per
creation unit
2,812,500
1,657,500
2,258,750
composition of the securities
constituting the relevant securities
index.
In addition, iShares, Inc. reserves the
right to permit or require the
substitution of an amount of cash (i.e.,
a ‘‘cash in lieu’’ amount) to be added to
the Cash Component to replace any
Deposit Security which may not be
available in sufficient quantity for
delivery or for other similar reasons.
The adjustments described above will
reflect changes, known to BGFA on the
date of announcement to be in effect by
the time of delivery of the Portfolio
Deposit, in the composition of the
subject index being tracked by the
relevant Fund, or resulting from stock
splits and other corporate actions. Thus,
in addition to the list of names and
numbers of securities constituting the
current Deposit Securities of a Portfolio
Deposit, on each Business Day prior to
the opening of the market, NSCC will
make available the estimated Cash
Component effective through and
including the previous Business Day,
per outstanding iShares of each Fund.
Creation Units of shares may be
purchased only by or through a
Depository Trust Company (‘‘DTC’’)
Participant that has entered into an
Authorized Participant agreement with
the Distributor (‘‘Authorized
Participant’’). Authorized Participants
must submit an irrevocable Creation
Unit request before 4 p.m. (Eastern time)
on any business day in order to receive
that business day’s NAV (and applicable
Cash Component). Such Authorized
Participant will agree pursuant to the
terms of such Authorized Participant
Agreement on behalf of itself or any
investor on whose behalf it will act, as
the case may be, to certain conditions,
including that such Authorized
Participant will make available in
advance of each purchase of iShares an
amount of cash sufficient to pay the
Cash Component, once the net asset
value of a Creation Unit is next
determined after receipt of the purchase
order in proper form, together with the
transaction fee. A purchase transaction
fee payable to iShares, Inc. is imposed
to compensate iShares, Inc. for the
transfer and other transaction costs of a
Fund associated with the issuance of
Creation Units. The fee ranges from
$700 to $2,900 for the Funds.
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Redemption of Creation Units
Shares of a Fund may be redeemed
only in Creation Units at their net asset
value, NAV, next determined after
receipt of a redemption request in
proper form by the Distributor.
With respect to each Fund, BGFA
makes available through the NSCC
immediately prior to the opening of
business on the NYSE (currently 9:30
a.m., Eastern time) on each business
day, the Portfolio Securities that will be
applicable (subject to possible
amendment or correction) to
redemption requests received in proper
form on that day. Unless cash
redemptions are available or specified
for a Fund, the redemption proceeds for
a Creation Unit generally consist of
Deposit Securities as announced by
BGFA through the NSCC on the
Business Day of the request for
redemption, plus cash in an amount
equal to the difference between the NAV
of the shares being redeemed, as next
determined after a receipt of a request
in proper form, and the value of the
Deposit Securities, less the redemption
transaction fee. The redemption
transaction fee is deducted from such
redemption proceeds. A redemption
transaction fee payable to iShares, Inc.
is imposed to offset transfer and other
transaction costs that may be incurred
by the relevant Fund, including market
impact expenses relating to disposing of
portfolio securities. This fee ranges from
$700 to $2,900 for the Funds.
Redemption requests in respect of
Creation Units of any Fund must be
submitted to the Distributor by or
through an Authorized Participant. For
most Funds, an Authorized Participant
must submit an irrevocable redemption
request before 4 p.m. (Eastern time) on
any business day in order to receive that
business day’s NAV (and applicable
Cash Component).
Owners of iShares may sell them in
the secondary market, but, in order to
redeem the shares through the Funds,
an owner must accumulate enough
shares to constitute a creation unit.21
Availability of Information Regarding
iShares and the Underlying Indexes
The MSCI Indexes are calculated by
MSCI for each trading day in the
applicable foreign exchange markets
based on official closing prices in such
exchange markets.22 For each trading
21 Telephone conversation between David Hsu,
Special Counsel, Division, and Michael Cavalier,
Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on October 20,
2005.
22 As the Commission has previously stated,
when a broker-dealer, or a broker-dealer’s affiliate
such as MSCI, is involved in the development and
maintenance of a stock index upon which a product
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:13 Nov 28, 2005
Jkt 208001
day, MSCI publicly disseminates the
Index values for the previous day’s
close. The Index values are reported
periodically in major financial
publications and also are available
through vendors of financial
information. For all of the Funds, MSCI
or third-party major market data
vendors now makes available at least
every 60 seconds an updated index
value for the Indexes when foreign
trading market hours overlap with the
NYSE trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:15
p.m. Eastern Time. Otherwise, when the
foreign market is closed during NYSE
trading hours, the Funds provide
closing index values on https://
www.ishares.com. 23
iShares, Inc. will cause to be made
available daily the names and required
number of shares of each of the
securities to be deposited in connection
with the issuance of the Funds’ shares
in Creation Unit size aggregations for
the Funds, as well as information
relating to the required cash payment
representing, in part, the amount of
accrued dividends for the Funds. This
information will be made available to
the Funds’ Advisor and to any NSCC
participant requesting such information.
In addition, other investors can request
such information directly from the
Funds’ distributor. The NAV for the
Funds is calculated directly by the Fund
administrator (IBT) once a day,
generally at 4 p.m., Eastern Time.24 The
NAV will also be available to the public
on https://www.iShares.com, from the
Fund distributor by means of a toll-free
number, and to NSCC participants
through data made available from the
NSCC.
To provide current pricing
information for the Funds, there will be
disseminated through the facilities of
the Consolidated Tape Association
such as iShares is based, the broker-dealer or its
affiliate should have procedures designed
specifically to address the improper sharing of
information. See, Securities Exchange Act Release
No. 52178, July 29, 2005; 70 FR 46244, August 8,
2005; (SR–NYSE–2005–41). The Exchange notes
that MSCI has implemented procedures to prevent
the misuse of material, non-public information
regarding changes to component stocks in the MSCI
Indexes. The Commission has stated that it believes
that the information barrier procedures put in place
by MSCI address the unauthorized transfer and
misuse of material, non-public information.
Electronic mail exchange between Florence
Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, John
Carey, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on
November 9, 2005.
23 Electronic mail exchange between Florence
Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, John
Carey, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on
November 9, 2005.
24 Electronic mail exchange between Florence
Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, John
Carey, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on
November 9, 2005.
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(‘‘CTA’’) an amount per iShare
representing the sum of the estimated
Balancing Amount effective through and
including the previous business day
plus the current value of the Deposit
Securities in U.S. Dollars, on a per
iShare basis. This amount is referred to
herein as the ‘‘indicative optimized
portfolio value’’ (the ‘‘IOPV’’) and will
be calculated by an independent third
party such as Bloomberg L.P. The IOPV
will be disseminated every 15 seconds
during regular NYSE trading hours of
9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (New York time).
Because the Funds utilize a
representative sampling strategy, the
IOPV likely will not reflect the value of
all securities included in the applicable
indexes. In addition, the IOPV will not
necessarily reflect the precise
composition of the current portfolio of
securities held by the Funds at a
particular moment. The IOPV
disseminated during NYSE trading
hours should not be viewed as a realtime update of the NAV of the Funds,
which is calculated only once a day. It
is expected, however, that during the
trading day the IOPV will closely
approximate the value per share of the
portfolio of securities for the Funds
except under unusual circumstances.
For each of the Funds, there is an
overlap in trading hours between the
foreign and U.S. markets. Therefore, the
IOPV calculator will update the
applicable IOPV every 15 seconds to
reflect price changes in the applicable
foreign market or markets, and convert
such prices into U.S. dollars based on
the currency exchange rate. When the
foreign market or markets are closed but
U.S. markets are open, the IOPV will be
updated every 15 seconds to reflect
changes in currency exchange rates after
the foreign market closes. The IOPV will
also include the applicable cash
component for each Fund.
There will also be disseminated a
variety of data with respect to the Fund
on a daily basis by means of CTA and
CQ High Speed Lines, which will be
made available prior to the opening of
trading on the Exchange. Information
with respect to recent NAV, shares
outstanding, estimated cash amount and
total cash amount per Creation Unit
Aggregation will be made available prior
to the opening of the Exchange. In
addition, the Web site for the Funds,
which will be publicly accessible at no
charge, will contain the following
information, on a per iShare basis, for
the Funds: (i) The prior business day’s
NAV and the mid-point of the bid-ask
price at the time of calculation of such
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NAV (‘‘Bid/Ask Price’’) 25 and a
calculation of the premium or discount
of such price against such NAV; and (ii)
data in chart format displaying the
frequency distribution of discounts and
premiums of the Bid/Ask Price against
the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for
each of the four previous calendar
quarters.
The closing prices of the Funds’
Deposit Securities are readily available
from, as applicable, the relevant
exchanges, automated quotation
systems, published or other public
sources in the relevant country, or
online information services such as
Bloomberg or Reuters. The exchange
rate information required to convert
such information into U.S. dollars is
also readily available in newspapers and
other publications and from a variety of
on-line services. The Exchange believes
that dissemination of the IOPV based on
the Deposit Securities provides
additional information regarding the
Funds that is not otherwise available to
the public and is useful to professionals
and investors in connection with
trading shares of the Funds on the
Exchange or the creation or redemption
of Fund shares.
Dividends and Distributions
Dividends from net investment
income, including any net foreign
currency gains, are accrued and
declared and paid at least annually and
any net realized securities gains are
distributed at least annually. In order to
improve tracking error or comply with
distribution requirements of the Code,
dividends may be declared more
frequently than annually for certain
Funds. The final dividend amount is
also disseminated by the Funds to
Bloomberg and other sources. The
Funds will not make the DTC bookentry Dividend Reinvestment Service
(the ‘‘Service’’) available for use by
beneficial owners for reinvestment of
their cash proceeds but certain
individual brokers may make the
Service available to their clients.
Beneficial owners of iShares will
receive all of the statements, notices,
and reports required under the
Investment Company Act and other
applicable laws. They will receive, for
example, annual and semi-annual
reports, written statements
accompanying dividend payments,
proxy statements, annual notifications
detailing the tax status of distributions,
Internal Revenue Service Form 1099–
25 The Bid-Ask Price of the Funds is determined
using the highest bid and lowest offer on the
Exchange as of the time of calculation of the Funds’
NAV.
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20:13 Nov 28, 2005
Jkt 208001
DIVs, etc. Because iShares Inc.’s records
reflect ownership of iShares by DTC
only, iShares, Inc. will make available
applicable statements, notices, and
reports to the DTC Participants who, in
turn, will be responsible for distributing
them to the beneficial owners.
Other Issues
Information Memo. The Exchange
will distribute an Information Memo
(‘‘Information Memo’’) to its members in
connection with the trading of the
Funds. The Information Memo will
discuss the special characteristics and
risks of trading this type of security.
Specifically, the Information Memo,
among other things, will discuss what
the Funds are, how they are created and
redeemed, requirements regarding
delivery of a prospectus or Product
Description by members and member
firms to investors purchasing shares of
the Fund prior to or concurrently with
the confirmation of a transaction,
applicable Exchange rules,
dissemination information, trading
information and the applicability of
suitability rules (including NYSE Rule
405). The Information Memo will also
discuss exemptive, no-action and
interpretive relief granted by the
Commission from section 11(d)(1) and
certain rules under the Act, including
Rule 10a–1, Rule 10b–10, Rule 14e–5,
Rule 10b–17, Rule 11d1–2, Rules 15c1–
5 and 15c1–6, and Rules 101 and 102 of
Regulation M under the Act.
Purchases and Redemptions in
Creation Unit Size. In the Information
Memo referenced above, members and
member organizations will be informed
that procedures for purchases and
redemptions of iShares in Creation Unit
size are described in the Fund
prospectus and SAI, and that iShares are
not individually redeemable but are
redeemable only in Creation Unit size
aggregations or multiples thereof.
Original and Annual Listing Fees. The
original listing fee applicable to each
Fund for listing on the Exchange is
$5,000, and the continuing fee would be
$2,000 for each Fund, paid annually.
Stop and Stop Limit Orders.
Commentary .30 to Exchange Rule 13
provides that stop and stop limit orders
in an ICU shall be elected by a
quotation, but specifies that if the
electing bid or an offer is more than 0.10
points away from the last sale and is for
the specialist’s dealer account, prior
Floor Official approval is required for
the election to be effective. This rule
applies to ICUs generally.
Exchange Rule 460.10. Exchange Rule
460.10 generally precludes certain
business relationships between an
issuer and the specialist (or its affiliate)
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Sfmt 4703
71581
in the issuer’s securities. Exceptions in
Exchange Rule 460.10 permit specialists
in Fund shares to enter into Creation
Unit transactions through the
Distributor to facilitate the maintenance
of a fair and orderly market. A specialist
Creation Unit transaction may only be
effected on the same terms and
conditions as any other investor, and
only based on the net asset value of the
Fund shares. A specialist (or its affiliate)
may acquire a position in excess of 10%
of the outstanding issue of the Fund
shares, provided, however, that a
specialist registered in a security issued
by an investment company may
purchase and redeem the investment
company unit or securities that can be
subdivided or converted into such unit,
from the investment company as
appropriate to facilitate the maintenance
of a fair and orderly market in the
subject security.
Trading Hours and Trading
Increment. The trading hours for the
Funds on the Exchange will be 9:30 a.m.
to 4:15 p.m. The minimum trading
increment is $0.01.
Due Diligence/Suitability. The
Exchange represents that the Memo to
members will note, for example,
Exchange responsibilities including that
before an Exchange member, member
organization, or employee thereof
recommends a transaction in the Funds,
a determination must be made that the
recommendation is in compliance with
all applicable Exchange and Federal
rules and regulations, including due
diligence obligations under Exchange
Rule 405 (Diligence as to Accounts).
Trading Halts. In order to halt the
trading of the Fund, the Exchange may
consider, among other things, factors
such as the extent to which trading is
not occurring in underlying security(s)
and whether other unusual conditions
or circumstances detrimental to the
maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present. In addition, trading
in Fund shares is subject to trading halts
caused by extraordinary market
volatility pursuant to Exchange Rule
80B. The Exchange will halt trading in
a Fund if the Index value or IOPV
applicable to such Fund is no longer
calculated or disseminated.26
Prospectus or Product Description
Delivery. The Commission has granted
iShares, Inc. an exemption from certain
26 In the event an Index value or IOPV is no
longer calculated or disseminated, the Exchange
would immediately contact the Commission to
discuss appropriate measures that may be
appropriate under the circumstances. Telephone
conversation between Florence Harmon, Senior
Special Counsel, Division, and Michael Cavalier,
Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on November 20,
2005.
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prospectus delivery requirements under
section 24(d) 27 of the Investment
Company Act.28 Any product
description used in reliance on a section
24(d) exemptive order will comply with
all representations made therein and all
conditions thereto. The Exchange, in a
information memo to Exchange
members and member organizations,
will inform members and member
organizations, prior to commencement
of trading, of the prospectus or product
description delivery requirements
applicable to the Funds and will refer
members and member organizations to
Exchange Rule 1100(b). The information
memo will also advise members and
member organizations that delivery of a
prospectus to customers in lieu of a
product description would satisfy the
requirements of Exchange Rule 1100(b).
Surveillance Procedures
The Exchange will utilize its existing
surveillance procedures applicable to
ICUs to monitor trading in the Funds.
The Exchange believes that these
procedures are adequate to monitor
Exchange trading of the Funds.
Exchange surveillance procedures
applicable to trading in iShares are
comparable to those applicable to other
ICUs currently trading on the Exchange.
The Exchange’s surveillance
procedures, which the Exchange has
filed with the Commission, are adequate
to properly monitor the trading of the
Funds. The Exchange’s current trading
surveillances focus on detecting
securities trading outside their normal
patterns. When such situations are
detected, surveillance analysis follows
and investigations are opened, where
appropriate, to review the behavior of
all relevant parties for all relevant
trading violations. The Exchange is able
to obtain information regarding trading
in both the Fund shares and the
component securities through NYSE
members in connection with such
members’ proprietary or customer trades
that they effect on any relevant market.
In addition, the Exchange may obtain
trading information via the Intermarket
Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’) from other
exchanges who are members or affiliates
of the ISG.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
section 6(b)(5) of the Act 29 requiring
that an exchange have rules that are
designed, among other things, to
27 15
U.S.C. 80a–24(d).
In the Matter of iShares, Inc., et al.,
Investment Company Act Release No. 25623 (June
25, 2002).
29 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
28 See
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20:13 Nov 28, 2005
Jkt 208001
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to remove
impediments to, and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and, in general, to protect investors and
the public interest.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change does not impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited
nor received written comments on the
proposed rule change.
III. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR-NYSE–2005–70 on the
subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–9303.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSE–2005–70. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
PO 00000
Frm 00124
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
available for inspection and copying in
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room. Copies of such filing also will be
available for inspection and copying at
the principal office of the Exchange. All
comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You
should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSE–2005–70 and should
be submitted on or before December 20,
2005.
IV. Commission Findings
The Commission finds that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder,
applicable to a national securities
exchange.30 In particular, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section
6(b)(5) of the Act 31 and will promote
just and equitable principles of trade,
and facilitate transactions in securities,
and, in general, protect investors and
the public interest. The Commission
believes that the Exchange’s listing
standards, trading rules, suitability and
disclosure rules for the Funds are
consistent with the Act. The
Commission also believes that the
proposed rule change raises no issues
that have not been previously
considered by the Commission. The
Commission notes that it previously
approved the original listing and trading
of the Funds on the Amex.32 Further,
with respect to each of the following key
issues, the Commission believes that the
Funds satisfy established standards.
A. Surveillance
The Commission notes that the
Underlying Indexes are broad-based and
are composed of securities having
significant trading volumes and market
capitalization, thus impeding improper
trading practices in the Shares, the
ability to use the Shares to manipulate
the underlying securities, and the ability
to use the Shares as a surrogate to trade
one or a few unregistered securities.
Nevertheless, the NYSE represents that
its surveillance procedures applicable to
trading in the proposed iShares are
adequate to properly monitor the
trading of the Funds. The Exchange also
is able to obtain information regarding
30 In approving this proposal, the Commission has
considered its impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
31 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
32 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36947
(March 8, 1996), 61 FR 10606 (March 14, 1996) (SRAmex-95–43).
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 29, 2005 / Notices
trading in both the Fund shares and the
Component Securities by its members
on any relevant market; in addition, the
Exchange may obtain trading
information via the ISG from other
exchanges who are members or affiliates
of the ISG.
As stated, when a broker-dealer, or a
broker-dealer’s affiliate such as MSCI, is
involved in the development and
maintenance of a stock index upon
which a product such as iShares is
based, the broker-dealer or its affiliate
should have procedures designed
specifically to address the improper
sharing of information. The Commission
notes that the Exchange has represented
that MSCI has implemented procedures
to prevent the misuse of material, nonpublic information regarding changes to
component stocks in the MSCI Indices.
B. Dissemination of Information about
the Shares
In approving the Funds for listing and
trading on the NYSE, the Commission
notes that the Underlying Indexes are
broad-based indexes. If there is an
overlap between the foreign jurisdiction
and the NYSE trading hours, these
index values are disseminated through
various main market data vendors at
least every 60 seconds during such
overlap in trading hours. Otherwise, the
Funds provide the Index closing value
at https://www.iShares.com.
Additionally, the Commission notes that
the Exchange will disseminate through
the facilities of CTA during NYSE
trading hours at least every 15 seconds
a calculation of the IOPV (which will
reflect price changes in the applicable
foreign market and changes in currency
exchange rates), along with an updated
market value of the Shares. Comparing
these two figures will help investors to
determine whether, and to what extent,
the Shares may be selling at a premium
or discount to NAV and thus will
facilitate arbitrage of the Shares in
relation to the Index component
securities.
The Commission also notes that the
Web site for the Funds (https://
www.iShares.com), which is and will be
publicly accessible at no charge, will
contain the Shares’ prior business day
NAV, the reported closing price, and a
calculation of the premium or discount
of such price in relation to the closing
NAV.
C. Listing and Trading
The Commission finds that the
Exchange’s rules and procedures for the
proposed listing and trading of the
Funds are consistent with the Act.
Shares of the Funds will trade as equity
securities subject to NYSE rules
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20:13 Nov 28, 2005
Jkt 208001
including, among others, rules
governing trading halts, specialist
activities, stop and stop limit orders,
prospectus delivery, and customer
suitability requirements. In addition, the
Funds will be subject to NYSE listing
and delisting/halt rules and procedures
governing the trading of Index Fund
Shares on the Exchange. The
Commission believes that listing and
delisting criteria for the Shares should
help to maintain a minimum level of
liquidity and therefore minimize the
potential for manipulation of the Shares.
Finally, the Commission believes that
the Information Memo the Exchange
will distribute will inform members and
member organizations about the terms,
characteristics, and risks in trading the
Shares, including suitability and
prospectus delivery requirements.
D. Accelerated Approval
The Commission finds good cause,
pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act,33
for approving the proposed rule change
prior to the thirtieth day after the date
of publication of notice in the Federal
Register. The Commission notes that the
proposal is consistent with the listing
and trading standards in NYSE Rule
703.16 (ICUs), and the Commission has
previously approved the listing of these
securities on the Amex.34 In addition,
the Commission finds that this proposal
is similar to several instruments
currently listed and traded on the
exchange.35 Therefore, the Commission
does not believe that the proposed rule
change raises issues that have not been
previously considered by the
Commission.
V. Conclusion
It Is Therefore Ordered, pursuant to
section 19(b)(2) of the Act,36 that the
proposed rule change (SR–NYSE–2005–
70), is hereby approved on an
accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
authority.37
Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–6626 Filed 11–28–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
33 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36947
(March 8, 1996), 61 FR 10606 (March 14, 1996)
(approving the listing and trading of the ICUs for
trading on the Amex).
35 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No.
52178 (July 29, 2005), 70 FR 46244, (August 9,
2005) (SR–NYSE–2005–41).
36 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
37 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
34 See
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
71583
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–52822; File No. SR–NYSE–
2005–02]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
York Stock Exchange, Inc.; Order
Approving Proposed Rule Change and
Amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Thereto
and Notice of Filing and Order
Granting Accelerated Approval to
Amendment No. 4 to the Proposed
Rule Change Relating to Exchange
Rule 607
November 22, 2005.
I. Introduction
On January 4, 2005, the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. (‘‘NYSE’’ or
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to section
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 a proposed rule change
amending Exchange Rule 607
concerning the procedures for the
appointment of arbitrators to arbitration
cases administered by the NYSE. On
May 12, 2005, the NYSE filed
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule
change (‘‘Amendment No. 1’’).3 On May
13, 2005, the NYSE filed Amendment
No. 2 to the proposed rule change
(‘‘Amendment No. 2).4 On June 16,
2005, the NYSE filed Amendment No. 3
to the proposed rule change
(Amendment No. 3).5 The proposed rule
change was published for comment in
the Federal Register on June 23, 2005.6
The Commission received four
comments on the proposal, as
amended.7 On November 10, 2005, the
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 Amendment No. 1 was filed and withdrawn by
the NYSE on May 12, 2005.
4 See Amendment No. 2. Amendment No. 2
supplemented the initial filing.
5 See Amendment No. 3. Amendment No. 3
supplemented the initial filing and modified certain
statements in Amendment No. 2.
6 See Exchange Act Release No. 51863 (June 16,
2005), 70 FR 36451 (June 23, 2005) (the ‘‘Notice’’).
7 See Letters from Robert S. Clemente, Of
Counsel, Liddle and Robinson, to Jonathan G. Katz,
dated February 3, 2005 and July 7, 2005 (‘‘Clemente
Letters’’); Letter from Rosemary J. Shockman,
President, Public Investors Arbitration Bar
Association, to Jonathan G. Katz, dated July 14,
2005 (‘‘Shockman Letter’’); and Letter from Richard
P. Ryder, President, Securities Arbitration
Commentator, Inc. to Jonathan G. Katz, dated July
15, 2005 (‘‘Ryder Letter’’). Mr. Clemente filed two
letters in response to the filing, the first of which
was received after filing of the proposed rule
change but before publication in the Federal
Register. Mr. Clemente submitted a second letter,
similar to the first, after the proposed rule change
was noticed in the Federal Register, and attached
the first letter to the second.
2 17
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71574-71583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6626]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-52816; File No. SR-NYSE-2005-70]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange, Inc.;
Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed
Rule Change Relating to iShares [supreg] MSCI Index Funds
November 21, 2005.
Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on October 6, 2005, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (``NYSE'' or
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and
II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested persons and is approving the
proposal on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 71575]]
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to list and trade the following iShares
[supreg] Index Funds, which are Investment Company Units (``ICUs'')
under section 703.16 of the Exchange Listed Company Manual: iShares
MSCI \SM\ Belgium Index Fund, iShares MSCI France Index Fund, iShares
MSCI Italy Index Fund, iShares MSCI Netherlands Index Fund, iShares
MSCI Spain Index Fund, iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund, and iShares MSCI
Switzerland Index Fund.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ MSCI and MSCI Indices are registered service marks of Morgan
Stanley & Co., Incorporated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item III below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange has adopted listing standards applicable to ICUs,
which are consistent with the listing criteria currently used by other
exchanges, and trading standards pursuant to which the Exchange may
trade ICUs on the Exchange, including on an unlisted trading privileges
(``UTP'') basis.\4\ The Exchange now proposes to list the following
iShares Index Funds (``Funds''), which are ICUs under section 703.16 of
the Exchange Listed Company Manual: iShares MSCI \SM\ Belgium Index
Fund, iShares MSCI France Index Fund, iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund,
iShares MSCI Netherlands Index Fund, iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund,
iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund, and iShares MSCI Switzerland Index
Fund.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ In 1996, the Commission approved Section 703.16 of the
Exchange Listed Company Manual (the ``Manual''), which sets forth
the rules related to the listing of ICUs. See Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 36923 (March 5, 1996), 61 FR 10410 (March 13, 1996)
(SR-NYSE-95-23). In 2000, the Commission also approved the
Exchange's ``generic'' listing standards pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e)
of the Act for the listing and trading, or the trading pursuant to
UTP, of ICUs under Section 703.16 of the Manual and Exchange Rule
1100. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 43679 (December 5,
2000), 65 FR 77949 (December 13, 2000) (SR-NYSE-00-46).
\5\ iShares, Inc. is registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a) (the ``Investment Company Act''). The
current registration statement for iShares, Inc. (the ``Registration
Statement'') was filed with the Commission on Form N-1A on December
29, 2004. Telephone conversation between David Hsu, Special Counsel,
Division of Market Regulation (``Division''), Commission, and
Michael Cavalier, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on October 20,
2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Funds are currently listed and traded on the American Stock
Exchange (``Amex'') \6\ and the issuer of the Funds, iShares, Inc.,
intends to move the listing of the Funds to the NYSE. The Funds also
trade on other securities exchanges \7\ and in the over-the-counter
market. The Exchange stated that the information below is intended to
provide a description of how the Funds were created and are traded.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The Funds were formerly known as World Equity Benchmark
Shares or WEBS, and an initial series of WEBS, including the Funds
that are the subject of the instant filing were initially approved
for listing and trading on the Amex in 1996. See Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 36947 (March 8, 1996), 61 FR 10606 (March 14, 1996)
(SR-Amex-95-43). The Commission has previously approved trading on
the NYSE on an UTP basis of the iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 46298 (August 1, 2002), 67 FR
51614 (August 8, 2002) (SR-NYSE-2002-27). The Commission also has
approved trading on the NYSE of the following iShares Funds on a UTP
basis: iShares MSCI EAFE; iShares S&P Europe 350; iShares MSCI
Taiwan; iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan; iShares MSCI Brazil; iShares
MSCI United Kingdom; iShares MSCI South Korea; iShares MSCI
Singapore; iShares MSCI Germany; iShares MSCI Australia; iShares
MSCI Mexico; iShares MSCI Hong Kong; iShares MSCI South Africa;
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Free; and iShares MSCI Malaysia. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50142 (August 3, 2004), 69 FR
48539 (August 10, 2004) (SR-NYSE-2004-27).
\7\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39117
(September 22, 1997), 62 FR 50973 (September 29, 1997) (SR-CHX-96-
14) (approving the UTP trading of WEBS).
\8\ Much of the information in this filing was taken from the
Prospectus of iShares, Inc., dated January 1, 2005, as revised on
September 23, 2005, and the Statement of Additional Information
(``SAI'') of iShares, Inc., dated January 1, 2005, as revised on
September 23, 2005, and from the iShares Web site (https://
www.iShares.com). Fund information relating to the net asset value
(``NAV''), returns, dividends, component stock holdings and other
information is updated on a daily basis on the iShares Web site.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shares of the Funds are issued by iShares, Inc., an open-ended
management investment company. Barclays Global Fund Advisors
(``BGFA''), a subsidiary of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (``BGI''),
is the investment advisor (``Advisor'') for each Fund.\9\ BGI is a
wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC of the United
Kingdom. BGFA and its affiliates are not affiliated with the index
provider (MSCI). Investors Bank and Trust Company (``IBT'') serves as
administrator, custodian, and transfer agent for the Funds, and SEI
Investments Distribution Co. is distributor for the Funds. The
distributor is not affiliated with the Exchange or BGFA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ While the Advisor would manage the Funds, the Funds' Board
of Directors would have overall responsibility for the Funds'
operations. The composition of the Board is, and would be, in
compliance with the requirements of section 10 of the Investment
Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-10). The Funds are subject to and must
comply with section 303A.06 of the Manual, which requires that the
Funds have an audit committee that complies with Commission Rule
10A-3.
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The underlying indexes are compiled by Morgan Stanley Capital
International (``MSCI''). MSCI is a partially-owned subsidiary of
Morgan Stanley. MSCI and Morgan Stanley do not share any employees that
are directly involved in the index compilation. MSCI employees directly
involved in the index compilation do not report directly to any Morgan
Stanley personnel. MSCI has established policies and procedures for the
handling and monitoring the dissemination of confidential, non-public
information relating to the MSCI indices. These policies and procedures
include specific ``firewall'' procedures regulating the flow of
information between MSCI and Morgan Stanley personnel. BGI and its
affiliates have no involvement in selection of component stocks in the
underlying indexes.
Operation of the Fund
Each Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the
price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the
applicable underlying index (``Underlying Index''). Each Fund intends
to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company (``RIC'') under the
Internal Revenue Code (the ``Code''). The Funds utilize representative
sampling to invest in a representative sample of securities in the
applicable underlying index.
Each Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in
securities issued by companies that comprise the relevant Underlying
Index. Each Fund operates as an index fund and will not be actively
managed. Adverse performance of a security in a Fund's portfolio will
ordinarily not result in the elimination of the security from a Fund's
portfolio.
Each Fund engages in representative sampling, which is investing in
a representative sample of securities in the Underlying Index, selected
by BGFA to have a similar investment profile as the Underlying Index.
Securities selected have aggregate investment
[[Page 71576]]
characteristics (based on market capitalization and industry
weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability,
earnings valuation, and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those
of the relevant Underlying Index. Funds that use representative
sampling generally do not hold all of the securities that are included
in the relevant underlying index.
From time to time, adjustments may be made in the portfolio of a
Fund in accordance with changes in the composition of the underlying
index or to maintain compliance with requirements applicable to a RIC
under the Code.\10\ For example, if at the end of a calendar quarter a
Fund would not comply with the RIC diversification tests, the Advisor
would make adjustments to the portfolio to ensure continued RIC status.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ In order for the Fund to qualify for tax treatment as a
RIC, it must meet several requirements under the Code. Among these
is a requirement that, at the close of each quarter of the Fund's
taxable year, (1) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund's
total assets must be represented by cash items, U.S. government
securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such
other securities limited for the purpose of this calculation with
respect to any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the
value of the Fund's assets and not greater than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (2) not more than
25% of the value of its total assets may be invested in securities
of any one issuer, or two or more issuers that are controlled by the
Fund (within the meaning of section 851(b)(4)(B) of the Code) and
that are engaged in the same or similar trades or business (other
than U.S. government securities of other RICs).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The iShares MSCI France Fund will at all times invest at least 90%
of its assets in the securities of the Underlying Index and ADRs
representing the component securities in the Underlying Index. Each of
the iShares Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland
Funds will at all times invest at least 80% of its assets in securities
of the applicable Underlying Index and ADRs based on the component
securities of its Underlying Index, and at least 90% of its assets in
the securities and ADRs based on such securities of its Underlying
Index or in securities or ADRs included in the relevant market, but not
in its Underlying Index.\11\ Therefore, each of the Funds will invest
not more than 10% of fund assets in ADRs and other securities,\12\
which are not included in or based on the component securities of its
Underlying Index and are also not included in the relevant market. Each
of the ADRs in which these Funds will invest shall be listed on a
national securities exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Telephone conversation between Florence Harmon, Senior
Special Counsel, Division, and Michael Cavalier, Assistant General
Counsel, NYSE, on November 15, 2005.
\12\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Index Descriptions and Methodology
Weighting. According to the Funds' SAI effective May 31, 2002, all
single-country MSCI Indices are free float weighted, i.e., companies
are included in the indices at the value of their free public float
(free float, multiplied by price). MSCI defines ``free float'' as total
shares excluding shares held by strategic investors such as
governments, corporations, controlling shareholders and management, and
shares subject to foreign ownership restrictions. In other words, the
free float of a security is the proportion of shares outstanding that
are deemed to be available for purchase in the public equity markets by
international investors. In practice, limitations on free float
available to international investors include: (i) Strategic and other
shareholdings not considered part of available free float; and (ii)
limits on share ownership for foreigners. Under MSCI's free float-
adjustment methodology, a constituent ``Inclusion Factor'' is equal to
its estimated free float rounded-up to the closest 5% for constituents
with free float equal to or exceeding 15%. For example, a constituent
security with a free float of 23.2% will be included in the index at
25% of its market capitalization. For securities with a free float of
less than 15% that are included on an exceptional basis, the estimated
free float is adjusted to the nearest 1%.
MSCI's standard equity indices generally seek to have 85% of the
free float-adjusted market capitalization of a country's stock market
reflected in the MSCI Index for such country. Market capitalization
weighting, combined with a consistent target of 85% of free float-
adjusted market capitalization, helps ensure that each country's weight
in regional and international indices approximates its weight in the
total universe of developing and emerging markets.
Selection Criteria. MSCI undertakes an index construction process,
which involves: (i) Defining the equity universe; (ii) adjusting the
total market capitalization of all securities in the universe for free
float available to foreign investors; (iii) classifying the universe of
securities under the Global Industry Classification Standard (the
``GICS''); and (iv) selecting securities for inclusion according to
MSCI's index construction rules and guidelines.
The index construction process starts at the country level, with
the identification of all listed securities for that country. MSCI
classifies each company and its securities in only one country. This
allows securities to be sorted distinctly by their respective
countries. In general, companies and their respective securities are
classified as belonging to the country in which they are incorporated.
All listed equity securities, or listed securities that exhibit
characteristics of equity securities, except investment trusts, mutual
funds and equity derivatives, are eligible for inclusion in the
universe. Shares of non-domiciled companies generally are not eligible
for inclusion in the universe.
After identifying the universe of securities, MSCI calculates the
free float-adjusted market capitalization of each security in that
universe using publicly available information. The process of free
float adjusting market capitalization involves (i) defining and
estimating the free float available to foreign investors for each
security, using MSCI's definition of free float; (ii) assigning a free
float-adjustment factor to each security; and (iii) calculating the
free float-adjusted market capitalization of each security.
Classifying Securities Under the GICS. In addition to the free
float-adjustment of market capitalization, all securities in the
universe are assigned to an industry-based hierarchy that describes
their business activities. To this end, MSCI has designed, in
conjunction with Standard & Poor's, the GICS. This comprehensive
classification scheme provides a universal approach to industries
worldwide and forms the basis for achieving MSCI's objective of
reflecting broad and fair industry representation in its indices.
Selecting Securities for Index Inclusion. In an attempt to ensure a
broad and fair representation in the indices of the diversity of
business activities in the universe, MSCI follows a ``bottom-up''
approach to index construction, building indices up to the industry
group level. The bottom-up approach to index construction requires a
thorough analysis and understanding of the characteristics of the
universe. This analysis drives the individual security selection
decisions, which aim to reflect the overall features of the universe in
the country index. MSCI targets an 85% free float-adjusted market
representation level within each industry group, within each country.
The security selection process within each industry group is based on
the careful analysis of: (i) Each company's business activities and the
diversification that its securities would bring to the index; (ii) the
size (based on free float-adjusted market capitalization)
[[Page 71577]]
and liquidity of securities;\13\ (iii) the estimated free float for the
company and its individual share classes. Only securities of companies
with estimated free float greater than 15% are, in general, considered
for inclusion. Exceptions to this general rule are made only in
significant cases, where not including a security of a large company
would compromise the index's ability to fully and fairly represent the
characteristics of the underlying market.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ All else being equal, MSCI targets for inclusion the most
sizable and liquid securities in an industry group. In addition,
securities that do not meet the minimum size guidelines discussed
below and/or securities with inadequate liquidity are not considered
for inclusion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange Rates. The prices used to calculate the MSCI Indices are
the official exchange closing prices or those figure accepted as such.
MSCI reserves the right to use an alternative pricing source on any
given day.
For the MSCI Indices, MSCI uses the foreign currency exchange rates
published by WM Reuters at 4 p.m. London time. MSCI uses WM Reuters
rates for all developed and emerging markets. Exchange rates are taken
daily at 4 p.m. London time by the WM Company and are sourced whenever
possible from multi-contributor quotes on Reuters. Representative
currency exchange rates are selected for each currency based on a
number of ``snapshots'' of the latest contributed quotations taken from
the Reuters service at short intervals around 4 p.m. London time. WM
Reuters provides closing bid and offer rates. MSCI uses these to
calculate the mid-point to five decimal places.
MSCI continues to monitor currency exchange rates independently and
may, under exceptional circumstances, elect to use an alternative
currency exchange rate if the WM Reuters rate is believed not to be
representative for a given currency on a particular day.
Changes to the Indices. According to the Registration Statement,
the MSCI Indices are maintained with the objective of reflecting, on a
timely basis, the evolution of the underlying equity markets. In
maintaining the MSCI Indices, emphasis is also placed on continuity,
replicability, and minimizing turnover in the Indices. Maintaining the
MSCI Indices involves many aspects, including additions to and
deletions from the Indices and changes in number of shares and changes
in Foreign Inclusion Factors (``FIFs'') as a result of updated free
float estimates.
Potential additions are analyzed not only with respect to their
industry group, but also with respect to their industry or sub-industry
group, in order to represent a wide range of economic and business
activities. All additions are considered in the context of MSCI's
methodology, including the index constituent eligibility rules and
guidelines.
In assessing deletions, it is important to emphasize that indices
must represent the full-investment cycle, including bull as well as
bear markets. Out-of-favor industries and their securities may exhibit
declining prices, declining market capitalization, and/or declining
liquidity, and yet are not deleted because they continue to be good
representatives of their industry group.
As a general policy, changes in number of shares are coordinated
with changes in FIFs to accurately reflect the investability of the
underlying securities. In addition, MSCI continuously strives to
improve the quality of its free float estimates and the related FIFs.
Additional shareholder information may come from better disclosure by
companies or more stringent disclosure requirements by a country's
authorities. It may also come from MSCI's ongoing examination of new
information sources for the purpose of further enhancing free float
estimates and better understanding shareholder structures. When MSCI
identifies useful additional sources of information, it seeks to
incorporate them into its free float analysis.
Overall, index maintenance can be described by three broad
categories of implementation of changes:
Annual full country index reviews that systematically re-
assess the various dimensions of the equity universe for all countries
and are conducted on a fixed annual timetable;
Quarterly index reviews, aimed at promptly reflecting
other significant market events; and
Ongoing event-related changes, such as mergers and
acquisitions, which are generally implemented in the indices rapidly as
they occur.
Potential changes in the status of countries (stand-alone,
emerging, developed) follow their own separate timetables. These
changes are normally implemented in one or more phases at the regular
annual full country index review and quarterly index review dates.
The annual full country index review for all the MSCI Standard
Country Indices is carried out once every 12 months and implemented as
of the close of the last business day of May. The implementation of
changes resulting from a quarterly index review occurs on only three
dates throughout the year, as of the close of the last business day of
February, August, and November. Any country indices may be impacted at
the quarterly index review. MSCI Index additions and deletions due to
quarterly index rebalancings are announced at least two weeks in
advance.
Index Holdings as of May 31, 2005. As of May 31, 2005, the iShares
MSCI Belgium Index's top three holdings were Fortis, KBC Groupe, and
Dexia. The Index's top three industries were Financials, Consumer
Staples, and Utilities. The Index components had a total market
capitalization of approximately $120.2 billion. The average total
market capitalization was approximately $5.7 billion. The ten largest
constituents represented approximately 87% of the Index weight. The
five highest weighted stocks, which represented 66% of the Index
weight, had an average daily trading volume in excess of 7.3 million
shares during the past two months. All of the component stocks traded
at least 55,000 shares in each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI France Index's top three
holdings were Total, Sanofi-Aventis, and BNP Paribas. The Index's top
three industries were Financials, Energy, and Consumer Discretionary.
The Index components had a total market capitalization of approximately
$829.2 billion. The average total market capitalization was
approximately $39.5 billion. The ten largest constituents represented
approximately 58% of the Index weight. The five highest weighted
stocks, which represented 42% of the Index weight, had an average daily
trading volume in excess of 52.3 million shares during the past two
months. All of the component stocks traded at least 475,000 shares in
each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI Italy Index's top three
holdings were ENI, ENEL, and Assicurazioni Generali. The Index's top
three industries were Financials, Energy, and Telecommunication
Services. The Index components had a total market capitalization of
approximately $348.8 billion. The average total market capitalization
was approximately $16.6 billion. The ten largest constituents
represented approximately 69% of the index weight. The five highest
weighted stocks, which represented 51% of the Index weight, had an
average daily trading volume in excess of 512.2 million shares during
the past two months. All of the component stocks traded at least four
million shares in each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI Netherlands Index's top three
holdings were Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., ING
[[Page 71578]]
Groep, and ABN AMRO Holding. The Index's top three industries were
Energy, Financials, and Consumer Staples. The Index components had a
total market capitalization of approximately $419.4 billion. The
average total market capitalization was approximately $20.0 billion.
The ten largest constituents represented approximately 84% of the index
weight. The five highest weighted stocks, which represented 68% of the
Index weight, had an average daily trading volume in excess of 66.3
million shares during the past two months. All of the component stocks
traded at least 950,000 shares in each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI Spain Index's top three
holdings were the Telefonica, BSCH BCO Santander Centr, and BBVA.
Index's top three industries were Financials, Telecommunication
Services, and Utilities. The Index components had a total market
capitalization of approximately $345.4 billion. The average total
market capitalization was approximately $16.4 billion. The ten largest
constituents represented approximately 85% of the index weight. The
five highest weighted stocks, which represented 69% of the Index
weight, had an average daily trading volume in excess of 283.6 million
shares during the past two months. All of the component stocks traded
at least 2.1 million shares in each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI Sweden Index's top three
holdings were Ericsson (LM) B, Nordea Bank, and Hennes & Mauritz B. The
Index's top three industries were Industrials, Financials, and
Information Technology. The Index components had a total market
capitalization of approximately $215.0 billion. The average total
market capitalization was approximately $10.2 billion. The ten largest
constituents represented approximately 61% of the index weight. The
five highest weighted stocks, which represented 48% of the Index
weight, had an average daily trading volume in excess of 312.9 million
shares during the past two months. All of the component stocks traded
at least 750,000 shares in each of the previous six months.
As of May 31, 2005, the iShares MSCI Switzerland Index's top three
holdings were Novartis, Nestle, and Roche Holding Genuss. The Index's
top three industries were Health Care, Financials, and Consumer
Staples. The Index components had a total market capitalization of
approximately $602.3 billion. The average total market capitalization
was approximately $28.7 billion. The ten largest constituents
represented approximately 87% of the Index weight. The five highest
weighted stocks, which represented 73% of the Index weight, had an
average daily trading volume in excess of 41.4 million shares during
the past two months. All of the component stocks traded at least
100,000 shares in each of the previous six months.
Correlation
According to the Funds' prospectus, BGFA expects that over time,
the correlation between each Fund's performance and that of its
underlying index, before fees and expenses, will be 95% or better. A
figure of 100% would indicate perfect correlation. Any correlation of
less than 100% is called ``tracking error.'' A fund using a
representative sampling strategy (which all of the Funds utilize) can
be expected to have a greater tracking error than a fund using a
replication strategy. Replication is a strategy in which a fund invests
in substantially all of the securities in its underlying index in
approximately the same proportions as in the underlying index.
The Funds have chosen to pursue a representative sampling strategy
that, by its very nature, entails some risk of tracking error. (It
should also be noted that Fund expenses, the timing of cash flows, and
other factors all contribute to tracking error.) The Web site for the
Funds, https://www.iShares.com, contains detailed information on the
performance and the tracking error for each Fund.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ The price at which the Funds' shares trade should be
disciplined by arbitrage opportunities created by the ability to
purchase or redeem shares of the Funds in Creation Unit (defined
below) aggregations throughout the trading day. This should help
ensure that the Funds' shares will not trade at a material discount
or premium to their net asset value or redemption value.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Funds investment objectives, policies, and investment
strategies will be fully disclosed in the prospectus.\15\ The Funds'
Board of Directors will review the tracking error of the Funds on a
quarterly basis and based its review will consider whether any action
may be appropriate.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ Telephone conversation between David Hsu, Special Counsel,
Division, and Michael Cavalier, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on
October 20, 2005.
\16\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry Concentration Policy
As disclosed in the Funds' prospectus, each of the Underlying
Indexes for the Funds will not concentrate its investments (i.e., hold
25% or more of its total assets in the stocks of a particular industry
or group of industries), except that, to the extent practicable, each
Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its
underlying index concentrates in the stocks of such particular industry
or group of industries.
Each Fund intends to maintain regulated investment company
compliance, which requires, among other things, that, at the close of
each quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of its total
assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer.
The Exchange believes that these requirements and policies prevent
any Fund from being excessively weighted in any single security or
small group of securities and significantly reduce concerns that
trading in an Index Fund could become a surrogate for trading in a
single or a few unregistered securities.
Issuance of Creation Units
iShares, Inc. will issue and redeem the shares of the Funds only in
aggregations (each aggregation a ``Creation Unit'') of substantial
size, which varies for the various Funds. The size of a Creation Unit
for each Fund and estimated value of a Creation Unit for each Fund as
of September 28, 2005 is as follows.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ As noted, the MSCI Index methodology generally seeks to
have represented 85% of the free float-adjusted market
capitalization of a country's stock market or regional market, which
also makes it unlikely that the Funds will become a surrogate for
trading a single or a few unregistered stocks. Electronic mail
exchange between Florence Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division,
John Carey, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on November 9, 2005.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares per Price per Est. value per
creation unit share creation unit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares MSCI Belgium............................................ 40,000 $19.17 $766,800
iShares MSCI France............................................. 200,000 26.12 5,224,000
iShares MSCI Italy.............................................. 150,000 26.38 3,957,000
iShares MSCI Netherlands........................................ 50,000 19.15 957,500
[[Page 71579]]
iShares MSCI Spain.............................................. 75,000 37.50 2,812,500
iShares MSCI Sweden............................................. 75,000 22.10 1,657,500
iShares MSCI Switzerland........................................ 125,000 18.07 2,258,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The number of shares of each Fund outstanding as of September 28,
2005 was 2.48 million (Belgium); 3.20 million (France); 1.65 million
(Italy); 3.35 million (Netherlands); 1.88 million (Spain); 2.93 million
(Sweden); and 4.50 million (Switzerland). These numbers exceed the
minimum number of shares to be issued in connection with initial
listing of the Funds on the Amex in 1996.\18\ A minimum of two Creation
Units of the Funds were required to be outstanding at the time of
initial listing on the Amex.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36947 (March 8,
1996) 61 FR 10606 (March 14, 1996) (SR-Amex-95-43).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
These number of shares outstanding also exceeds the 100,000 minimum
number of shares required to be outstanding in connection with listing
of ICUs Investment Company Units under Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act
pursuant to the Exchange's generic listing standards in Section 703.16
of the Manual. In addition, the Exchange has required a minimum number
of 100,000 shares of ICUs to be outstanding in connection with initial
listing of iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund, which the
Commission noted is comparable to requirements previously applied to
listed series of ICUs.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50505 (October 8,
2004), 69 FR 61280 (October 15, 2004) (SR-NYSE-2004-55), note 51.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of shares of a
Fund generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated
portfolio of equity securities (the ``Deposit Securities'')
constituting an optimized representation of the Fund's benchmark
foreign securities index and an amount of cash computed as described
below (the ``Cash Component''). Together, the Deposit Securities and
the Cash Component constitute the ``Portfolio Deposit,'' which
represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for
shares of a Fund. The Cash Component is an amount equal to the Dividend
Equivalent Payment (as defined below), plus or minus, as the case may
be, a Balancing Amount (as defined below). The deposit of the requisite
Deposit Securities and the Balancing Amount are collectively referred
to herein as a ``Fund Deposit.'' The ``Dividend Equivalent Payment''
enables iShares, Inc. to make a complete distribution of dividends on
the next dividend payment date, and is an amount equal, on a per
Creation Unit basis, to the dividends on all the Securities held by the
relevant Fund with ex-dividend dates within the accumulation period for
such distribution (the ``Accumulation Period''), net of expenses and
liabilities for such period, as if all of the Portfolio Securities had
been held by iShares, Inc. for the entire Accumulation Period. The
``Balancing Amount'' is an amount equal to the difference between (x)
the NAV (per Creation Unit) of the Fund and (y) the sum of (i) the
Dividend Equivalent Payment and (ii) the market value (per Creation
Unit) of the securities deposited with iShares, Inc. (the sum of (i)
and (ii) is referred to as the ``Deposit Amount''). The Balancing
Amount serves the function of compensating for any differences between
the net asset value per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount.
BGFA makes available through the National Securities Clearing
Corporation (``NSCC'') on each Business Day, prior to the opening of
business on the NYSE (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time),\20\ the list
of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security
to be included in the current Portfolio Deposit (based on information
at the end of the previous Business Day) for each Fund. Such Portfolio
Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below,
in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of iShares of a given
Fund until such time as the next announced Portfolio Deposit
composition is made available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ Usually, NSCC disseminates the estimated Portfolio
Securities and Cash Amount (see below) between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
(Eastern time) on the prior business day for both creation and
redemption requests placed the following day. Telephone conversation
between Florence Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, and
Michael Cavalier, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on November 20,
2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities
required for a Portfolio Deposit for each Fund changes as rebalancing
adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time
by BGFA with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The
composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to
adjustments to the weighting or composition of the securities
constituting the relevant securities index.
In addition, iShares, Inc. reserves the right to permit or require
the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a ``cash in lieu'' amount)
to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security which
may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or for other
similar reasons. The adjustments described above will reflect changes,
known to BGFA on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time
of delivery of the Portfolio Deposit, in the composition of the subject
index being tracked by the relevant Fund, or resulting from stock
splits and other corporate actions. Thus, in addition to the list of
names and numbers of securities constituting the current Deposit
Securities of a Portfolio Deposit, on each Business Day prior to the
opening of the market, NSCC will make available the estimated Cash
Component effective through and including the previous Business Day,
per outstanding iShares of each Fund.
Creation Units of shares may be purchased only by or through a
Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') Participant that has entered into an
Authorized Participant agreement with the Distributor (``Authorized
Participant''). Authorized Participants must submit an irrevocable
Creation Unit request before 4 p.m. (Eastern time) on any business day
in order to receive that business day's NAV (and applicable Cash
Component). Such Authorized Participant will agree pursuant to the
terms of such Authorized Participant Agreement on behalf of itself or
any investor on whose behalf it will act, as the case may be, to
certain conditions, including that such Authorized Participant will
make available in advance of each purchase of iShares an amount of cash
sufficient to pay the Cash Component, once the net asset value of a
Creation Unit is next determined after receipt of the purchase order in
proper form, together with the transaction fee. A purchase transaction
fee payable to iShares, Inc. is imposed to compensate iShares, Inc. for
the transfer and other transaction costs of a Fund associated with the
issuance of Creation Units. The fee ranges from $700 to $2,900 for the
Funds.
[[Page 71580]]
Redemption of Creation Units
Shares of a Fund may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their
net asset value, NAV, next determined after receipt of a redemption
request in proper form by the Distributor.
With respect to each Fund, BGFA makes available through the NSCC
immediately prior to the opening of business on the NYSE (currently
9:30 a.m., Eastern time) on each business day, the Portfolio Securities
that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction)
to redemption requests received in proper form on that day. Unless cash
redemptions are available or specified for a Fund, the redemption
proceeds for a Creation Unit generally consist of Deposit Securities as
announced by BGFA through the NSCC on the Business Day of the request
for redemption, plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between
the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after a
receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Deposit
Securities, less the redemption transaction fee. The redemption
transaction fee is deducted from such redemption proceeds. A redemption
transaction fee payable to iShares, Inc. is imposed to offset transfer
and other transaction costs that may be incurred by the relevant Fund,
including market impact expenses relating to disposing of portfolio
securities. This fee ranges from $700 to $2,900 for the Funds.
Redemption requests in respect of Creation Units of any Fund must
be submitted to the Distributor by or through an Authorized
Participant. For most Funds, an Authorized Participant must submit an
irrevocable redemption request before 4 p.m. (Eastern time) on any
business day in order to receive that business day's NAV (and
applicable Cash Component).
Owners of iShares may sell them in the secondary market, but, in
order to redeem the shares through the Funds, an owner must accumulate
enough shares to constitute a creation unit.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ Telephone conversation between David Hsu, Special Counsel,
Division, and Michael Cavalier, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on
October 20, 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Availability of Information Regarding iShares and the Underlying
Indexes
The MSCI Indexes are calculated by MSCI for each trading day in the
applicable foreign exchange markets based on official closing prices in
such exchange markets.\22\ For each trading day, MSCI publicly
disseminates the Index values for the previous day's close. The Index
values are reported periodically in major financial publications and
also are available through vendors of financial information. For all of
the Funds, MSCI or third-party major market data vendors now makes
available at least every 60 seconds an updated index value for the
Indexes when foreign trading market hours overlap with the NYSE trading
hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Otherwise, when the
foreign market is closed during NYSE trading hours, the Funds provide
closing index values on https://www.ishares.com. \23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ As the Commission has previously stated, when a broker-
dealer, or a broker-dealer's affiliate such as MSCI, is involved in
the development and maintenance of a stock index upon which a
product such as iShares is based, the broker-dealer or its affiliate
should have procedures designed specifically to address the improper
sharing of information. See, Securities Exchange Act Release No.
52178, July 29, 2005; 70 FR 46244, August 8, 2005; (SR-NYSE-2005-
41). The Exchange notes that MSCI has implemented procedures to
prevent the misuse of material, non-public information regarding
changes to component stocks in the MSCI Indexes. The Commission has
stated that it believes that the information barrier procedures put
in place by MSCI address the unauthorized transfer and misuse of
material, non-public information. Electronic mail exchange between
Florence Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, John Carey,
Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on November 9, 2005.
\23\ Electronic mail exchange between Florence Harmon, Senior
Special Counsel, Division, John Carey, Assistant General Counsel,
NYSE, on November 9, 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares, Inc. will cause to be made available daily the names and
required number of shares of each of the securities to be deposited in
connection with the issuance of the Funds' shares in Creation Unit size
aggregations for the Funds, as well as information relating to the
required cash payment representing, in part, the amount of accrued
dividends for the Funds. This information will be made available to the
Funds' Advisor and to any NSCC participant requesting such information.
In addition, other investors can request such information directly from
the Funds' distributor. The NAV for the Funds is calculated directly by
the Fund administrator (IBT) once a day, generally at 4 p.m., Eastern
Time.\24\ The NAV will also be available to the public on https://
www.iShares.com, from the Fund distributor by means of a toll-free
number, and to NSCC participants through data made available from the
NSCC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ Electronic mail exchange between Florence Harmon, Senior
Special Counsel, Division, John Carey, Assistant General Counsel,
NYSE, on November 9, 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To provide current pricing information for the Funds, there will be
disseminated through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape
Association (``CTA'') an amount per iShare representing the sum of the
estimated Balancing Amount effective through and including the previous
business day plus the current value of the Deposit Securities in U.S.
Dollars, on a per iShare basis. This amount is referred to herein as
the ``indicative optimized portfolio value'' (the ``IOPV'') and will be
calculated by an independent third party such as Bloomberg L.P. The
IOPV will be disseminated every 15 seconds during regular NYSE trading
hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (New York time). Because the Funds
utilize a representative sampling strategy, the IOPV likely will not
reflect the value of all securities included in the applicable indexes.
In addition, the IOPV will not necessarily reflect the precise
composition of the current portfolio of securities held by the Funds at
a particular moment. The IOPV disseminated during NYSE trading hours
should not be viewed as a real-time update of the NAV of the Funds,
which is calculated only once a day. It is expected, however, that
during the trading day the IOPV will closely approximate the value per
share of the portfolio of securities for the Funds except under unusual
circumstances.
For each of the Funds, there is an overlap in trading hours between
the foreign and U.S. markets. Therefore, the IOPV calculator will
update the applicable IOPV every 15 seconds to reflect price changes in
the applicable foreign market or markets, and convert such prices into
U.S. dollars based on the currency exchange rate. When the foreign
market or markets are closed but U.S. markets are open, the IOPV will
be updated every 15 seconds to reflect changes in currency exchange
rates after the foreign market closes. The IOPV will also include the
applicable cash component for each Fund.
There will also be disseminated a variety of data with respect to
the Fund on a daily basis by means of CTA and CQ High Speed Lines,
which will be made available prior to the opening of trading on the
Exchange. Information with respect to recent NAV, shares outstanding,
estimated cash amount and total cash amount per Creation Unit
Aggregation will be made available prior to the opening of the
Exchange. In addition, the Web site for the Funds, which will be
publicly accessible at no charge, will contain the following
information, on a per iShare basis, for the Funds: (i) The prior
business day's NAV and the mid-point of the bid-ask price at the time
of calculation of such
[[Page 71581]]
NAV (``Bid/Ask Price'') \25\ and a calculation of the premium or
discount of such price against such NAV; and (ii) data in chart format
displaying the frequency distribution of discounts and premiums of the
Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of
the four previous calendar quarters.
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\25\ The Bid-Ask Price of the Funds is determined using the
highest bid and lowest offer on the Exchange as of the time of
calculation of the Funds' NAV.
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The closing prices of the Funds' Deposit Securities are readily
available from, as applicable, the relevant exchanges, automated
quotation systems, published or other public sources in the relevant
country, or online information services such as Bloomberg or Reuters.
The exchange rate information required to convert such information into
U.S. dollars is also readily available in newspapers and other
publications and from a variety of on-line services. The Exchange
believes that dissemination of the IOPV based on the Deposit Securities
provides additional information regarding the Funds that is not
otherwise available to the public and is useful to professionals and
investors in connection with trading shares of the Funds on the
Exchange or the creation or redemption of Fund shares.
Dividends and Distributions
Dividends from net investment income, including any net foreign
currency gains, are accrued and declared and paid at least annually and
any net realized securities gains are distributed at least annually. In
order to improve tracking error or comply with distribution
requirements of the Code, dividends may be declared more frequently
than annually for certain Funds. The final dividend amount is also
disseminated by the Funds to Bloomberg and other sources. The Funds
will not make the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service (the
``Service'') available for use by beneficial owners for reinvestment of
their cash proceeds but certain individual brokers may make the Service
available to their clients.
Beneficial owners of iShares will receive all of the statements,
notices, and reports required under the Investment Company Act and
other applicable laws. They will receive, for example, annual and semi-
annual reports, written statements accompanying dividend payments,
proxy statements, annual notifications detailing the tax status of
distributions, Internal Revenue Service Form 1099-DIVs, etc. Because
iShares Inc.'s records reflect ownership of iShares by DTC only,
iShares, Inc. will make available applicable statements, notices, and
reports to the DTC Participants who, in turn, will be responsible for
distributing them to the beneficial owners.
Other Issues
Information Memo. The Exchange will distribute an Information Memo
(``Information Memo'') to its members in connection with the trading of
the Funds. The Information Memo will discuss the special
characteristics and risks of trading this type of security.
Specifically, the Information Memo, among other things, will discuss
what the Funds are, how they are created and redeemed, requirements
regarding delivery of a prospectus or Product Description by members
and member firms to investors purchasing shares of the Fund prior to or
concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction, applicable
Exchange rules, dissemination information, trading information and the
applicability of suitability rules (including NYSE Rule 405). The
Information Memo will also discuss exemptive, no-action and
interpretive relief granted by the Commission from section 11(d)(1) and
certain rules under the Act, including Rule 10a-1, Rule 10b-10, Rule
14e-5, Rule 10b-17, Rule 11d1-2, Rules 15c1-5 and 15c1-6, and Rules 101
and 102 of Regulation M under the Act.
Purchases and Redemptions in Creation Unit Size. In the Information
Memo referenced above, members and member organizations will be
informed that procedures for purchases and redemptions of iShares in
Creation Unit size are described in the Fund prospectus and SAI, and
that iShares are not individually redeemable but are redeemable only in
Creation Unit size aggregations or multiples thereof.
Original and Annual Listing Fees. The original listing fee
applicable to each Fund for listing on the Exchange is $5,000, and the
continuing fee would be $2,000 for each Fund, paid annually.
Stop and Stop Limit Orders. Commentary .30 to Exchange Rule 13
provides that stop and stop limit orders in an ICU shall be elected by
a quotation, but specifies that if the electing bid or an offer is more
than 0.10 points away from the last sale and is for the specialist's
dealer account, prior Floor Official approval is required for the
election to be effective. This rule applies to ICUs generally.
Exchange Rule 460.10. Exchange Rule 460.10 generally precludes
certain business relationships between an issuer and the specialist (or
its affiliate) in the issuer's securities. Exceptions in Exchange Rule
460.10 permit specialists in Fund shares to enter into Creation Unit
transactions through the Distributor to facilitate the maintenance of a
fair and orderly market. A specialist Creation Unit transaction may
only be effected on the same terms and conditions as any other
investor, and only based on the net asset value of the Fund shares. A
specialist (or its affiliate) may acquire a position in excess of 10%
of the outstanding issue of the Fund shares, provided, however, that a
specialist registered in a security issued by an investment company may
purchase and redeem the investment company unit or securities that can
be subdivided or converted into such unit, from the investment company
as appropriate to facilitate the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market in the subject security.
Trading Hours and Trading Increment. The trading hours for the
Funds on the Exchange will be 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The minimum
trading increment is $0.01.
Due Diligence/Suitability. The Exchange represents that the Memo to
members will note, for example, Exchange responsibilities including
that before an Exchange member, member organization, or employee
thereof recommends a transaction in the Funds, a determination must be
made that the recommendation is in compliance with all applicable
Exchange and Federal rules and regulations, including due diligence
obligations under Exchange Rule 405 (Diligence as to Accounts).
Trading Halts. In order to halt the trading of the Fund, the
Exchange may consider, among other things, factors such as the extent
to which trading is not occurring in underlying security(s) and whether
other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the
maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. In addition,
trading in Fund shares is subject to trading halts caused by
extraordinary market volatility pursuant to Exchange Rule 80B. The
Exchange will halt trading in a Fund if the Index value or IOPV
applicable to such Fund is no longer calculated or disseminated.\26\
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\26\ In the event an Index value or IOPV is no longer calculated
or disseminated, the Exchange would immediately contact the
Commission to discuss appropriate measures that may be appropriate
under the circumstances. Telephone conversation between Florence
Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, and Michael Cavalier,
Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on November 20, 2005.
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Prospectus or Product Description Delivery. The Commission has
granted iShares, Inc. an exemption from certain
[[Page 71582]]
prospectus delivery requirements under section 24(d) \27\ of the
Investment Company Act.\28\ Any product description used in reliance on
a section 24(d) exemptive order will comply with all representations
made therein and all conditions thereto. The Exchange, in a information
memo to Exchange members and member organizations, will inform members
and member organizations, prior to commencement of trading, of the
prospectus or product description delivery requirements applicable to
the Funds and will refer members and member organizations to Exchange
Rule 1100(b). The information memo will also advise members and member
organizations that delivery of a prospectus to customers in lieu of a
product description would satisfy the requirements of Exchange Rule
1100(b).
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\27\ 15 U.S.C. 80a-24(d).
\28\ See In the Matter of iShares, Inc., et al., Investment
Company Act Release No. 25623 (June 25, 2002).
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Surveillance Procedures
The Exchange will utilize its existing surveillance procedures
applicable to ICUs to monitor trading in the Funds. The Exchange
believes that these procedures are adequate to monitor Exchange trading
of the Funds.
Exchange surveillance procedures applicable to trading in iShares
are comparable to those applicable to other ICUs currently trading on
the Exchange. The Exchange's surveillance procedures, which the
Exchange has filed with the Commission, are adequate to properly
monitor the trading of the Funds. The Exchange's current trading
surveillances focus on detecting securities trading outside their
normal patterns. When such situations are detected, surveillance
analysis follows and investigations are opened, where appropriate, to
review the behavior of all relevant parties for all relevant trading
violations. The Exchange is able to obtain information regarding
trading in both the Fund shares and the component securities through
NYSE members in connection with such members' proprietary or customer
trades that they effect on any relevant market. In addition, the
Exchange may obtain trading information via the Intermarket
Surveillance Group (``ISG'') from other exchanges who are members or
affiliates of the ISG.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with section 6(b)(5) of the Act \29\ requiring that an exchange have
rules that are designed, among other things, to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to remove impediments to, and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
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\29\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change does not impose
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on
the proposed rule change.
III. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-NYSE-2005-70 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-9303.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2005-70. This
file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used.
To help the Commission process and review your comments more
efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all
comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments,
all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that
are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating
to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person,
other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance
with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection
and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the
principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to
File Number SR-NYSE-2005-70 and should be submitted on or before
December 20, 2005.
IV. Commission Findings
The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, applicable to a national securities exchange.\30\ In
particular, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \31\ and will promote just
and equitable principles of trade, and facilitate transactions in
securities, and, in general, protect investors and the public interest.
The Commission believes that the Exchange's listing standards, trading
rules, suitability and disclosure rules for the Funds are consistent
with the Act. The Commission also believes that the proposed rule
change raises no issues that have not been previously considered by the
Commission. The Commission notes t
