MSCI, INC. PRESS RELEASE
Results of MSCI 2015 Market Classification ReviewChina A‐Shares on Track for Inclusion
MSCI and CSRC Will Form Working Group to Address Remaining Issues
Geneva - June 9, 2015 - MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), the premier provider of global equity indexes, announced today that it expects to include China A‐shares in its global benchmarks after a few important remaining issues related to market accessibility have been resolved. MSCI and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) will form a working
group to contribute to the successful resolution of these issues.
"Substantial progress has been made toward the opening of the Chinese equity market to institutional investors," said Remy Briand, MSCI Managing Director and Global Head of Research. "In our 2015 consultation, we learned that major investors around the world are eager for further liberalization of the China A‐shares market, especially with regard to the quota allocation process, capital mobility restrictions and beneficial ownership of investments."
Briand continued, "Because MSCI's client base is so large and diverse, we have a strong interest in ensuring that remaining issues are addressed in an orderly and transparent way. We are honored that the CSRC has recognized MSCI's expertise regarding the requirements of international institutional investors. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration that will contribute to the further opening of the China A‐shares markets to international investors and the inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index."
MSCI stated that it may announce the decision to include China A‐shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index as soon as the issues it has outlined are resolved. This may happen outside the regular schedule of its annual Market Classification Review.
In today's announcement, MSCI also said that it will include the MSCI Pakistan Index in its 2016 Annual Market
Classification Review for a potential reclassification to emerging markets.
In addition, MSCI said that it will seek feedback from international institutional investors on the accessibility of the Saudi Arabia equity market following its opening on June 1, 2015 before considering adding the MSCI Saudi Arabia Index to the review list for a potential inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. MSCI always requires a period of monitoring in order to assess whether a policy change is effectively operating as intended.
Finally, MSCI released the 2015 Global Market Accessibility Review for the 82 markets under its coverage.
Each June, MSCI communicates its conclusions, based on discussions with the international investment community, about a list of countries under review. At that time, it also announces the identities of any new countries under review for potential market reclassification in the upcoming cycle.
MSCI will collaborate with the CSRC over coming months to facilitate discussions designed to lead to the implementation of policies that effectively resolve the remaining accessibility issues in the China A‐shares market.
1
PRESS RELEASE
Since its 2014 Annual Market Classification Review, MSCI has continued to observe significant positive market‐opening developments in the Chinese capital market. These developments include the successful launch of the Shanghai‐Hong Kong Stock Connect program ("Stock Connect"), the expansion of RQFII program from four cities to 12 cities and the clarification of the capital gains tax. In addition, the imminent launch of the Shenzhen‐Hong Kong Stock Connect program and potential further liberalization of the QFII program should further improve the accessibility of the China A‐ shares market.
The working group aims to facilitate discussion and understanding of accessibility concerns and potential solutions that were highlighted by international institutional investors in MSCI's 2015 consultation. The concerns include, but are not limited to, the quota allocation process, capital mobility restrictions and beneficial ownership of investments.
1. Quota allocation process. Global investors told MSCI that having reliable access to quota is a critical requirement.
They believe that large investors should be given access to quota commensurate with the size of their assets under management. This is especially important for passive investors, whose investment processes replicate benchmarks. In addition, all investors said that they need sufficient flexibility and assurance to secure additional quota should
the need arise. Most international investors have indicated a preference for a more streamlined, transparent and predictable quota allocation process.
2. Capital mobility restrictions. Liquidity is a critical component of the investment process. Regardless of the channel they use, investors say that they need access to daily liquidity. They believe that this access should apply to all investment vehicles, including open‐ended funds, ETFs and separate accounts. Some investors have continued to express concerns about restrictions on capital lock‐up and the limit on the amount of repatriation. Finally, in the context of Stock Connect, investors feel that the daily limit imposed on the "northbound access" (access to Shanghai‐listed A‐shares through the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) should be lifted because it is a great source of trading uncertainty for passive investors, who typically trade on market close.
3. Beneficial ownership. MSCI applauds CSRC's recent clarification on the Stock Connect beneficial ownership issue.
MSCI expects this clarification to make international investors more confident in using the Stock Connect scheme. Time and actual experience, however, are needed for investors to provide their final assessments. A large number of asset owners invest through separate accounts. Because they typically delegate investment and operational decisions to their fund managers, recognizing clear title to ownership for the ultimate beneficial owners is a crucial concern.
Recognizing the significant progress to date and ongoing reform efforts, China A‐shares will remain on the 2016 review list for potential inclusion into Emerging Markets.
MSCI has updated the consultation document that describes the proposed index inclusion roadmap for China A‐shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. This roadmap, which was introduced in March 2014, proposes to partially include China A‐shares in the pro forma MSCI China Index and its corresponding composite indexes, including the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, at 5% of its FIF‐adjusted market capitalization. The updated consultation document incorporates a revised implementation timeline and can be found on MSCI's web site at https://www.msci.com/index‐
consultations.
2
PakistanPRESS RELEASE
MSCI is adding the MSCI Pakistan Index to the review list for a potential reclassification to Emerging Markets as part of the 2016 Annual Market Classification Review.
The Pakistani equity market underwent a number of positive developments over the course of the past 12 to 18 months. Key developments are (1) improvements relating to the Launch of the Pakistan Unified Corporate Action Reporting System (PUCARS) at the Karachi Stock Exchange, (2) the introduction of restrictions on the Negotiated Deal Market (NDM) that aim to prevent unauthorized movement of client securities via NDM transactions and (3) the development of an online complaint management system. Most accessibility criteria of the Pakistani equity market meet the MSCI Emerging Markets standards, except for some potential issues with the stability of the institutional framework.
The Pakistani equity market has grown significantly and its liquidity has greatly improved. As a result, concerns about the potential for failing to meet size and liquidity criteria should there be a negative market event have receded.
Although the Pakistani equity markets meet most of MSCI's Emerging Markets classification criteria as per the MSCI Market Classification Framework, MSCI would like to highlight that in the event of a reclassification of the MSCI Pakistan Index to emerging markets status, the MSCI Pakistan Index may potentially see its number of constituents decrease. Based on a simulation using current data, the number of constituents would decrease from 16 to 6, representing a sharp drop in index market capitalization of 32%. This decrease is a direct result of the application of more stringent investability requirements for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. MSCI will actively seek feedback from investors on this point.
MSCI greatly welcomes the opening of the Saudi Arabia equity market to direct foreign investments. MSCI expects this important development to contribute to the further expansion of the global investment opportunity set available to institutional investors. Because this is a very recent development, however, MSCI will monitor the effectiveness of the opening of the market and gather feedback from international investors before considering a proposal to include the MSCI Saudi Arabia Index in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. MSCI reflects regulatory changes in its accessibility assessment only after investors have fully absorbed the changes and are able to provide meaningful feedback.
In particular, MSCI will be seeking feedback from market participants on (1) the newly introduced Rules for Qualified Foreign Financial Institutions Investment and the related registration process, (2) potential constraints resulting from the stringent 20% foreign ownership level applied to listed securities on the Saudi Stock Exchange, (3) prefunding requirements resulting from the T+0 settlement cycle imposed for equities on the Saudi Stock Exchange and (4) a requirement for investors to operate with segregated custody and trading accounts to mitigate the risk deriving from local brokers having unlimited access to trading accounts.
On June 1, 2015, MSCI launched MSCI Saudi Arabia Indexes as standalone indexes based on the MSCI Emerging Markets
Index construction methodology.
‐ Ends ‐
3
About MSCI
PRESS RELEASE
For more than 40 years, MSCI's research‐based indexes and analytics have helped the world's leading investors build and manage better portfolios. Clients rely on our offerings for deeper insights into the drivers of performance and risk in their portfolios, broad asset class coverage and innovative research. Our line of products and services includes indexes, analytical models, data, real estate benchmarks and ESG research. MSCI serves 98 of the top 100 largest money managers, according to the most recent P&I ranking. For more information, visit us at www.msci.com.
Media Inquiries
New York London | Kristin Meza Paul Griffin | + 1 212 804 5330 + 44 20 7618 2594 | pr@msci.com pr@msci.com |
Nick Denton Christian Pickel | + 44 20 3128 8754 + 44 20 3128 8208 | msci@mhpc.com msci@mhpc.com | |
Hong Kong | James Jarman | + 852 3768 4545 | ftimsci@fticonsulting.com |
Peony Lui | + 852 3768 4740 | ftimsci@fticonsulting.com |
MSCI Global Client Service
Americas + 1 888 588 4567 (toll free)
+ 1 212 804 3901
Asia Pacific + 852 2844 9333
EMEA + 44 20 7618 2222
This document and all of the information contained in it, including without limitation all text, data, graphs, charts (collectively, the "Information") is the property of MSCI Inc. or its subsidiaries (collectively, "MSCI"), or MSCI's licensors, direct or indirect suppliers or any third party involved in making or compiling any Information (collectively, with MSCI, the "Information Providers") and is provided for informational purposes only. The Information may not be modified, reverse‐engineered, reproduced or redisseminated in whole or in part without prior written permission from MSCI.
The Information may not be used to create derivative works or to verify or correct other data or information. For example (but without limitation), the Information may not be used to create indexes, databases, risk models, analytics, software, or in connection with the issuing, offering, sponsoring, managing or marketing of any securities, portfolios, financial products or other investment vehicles utilizing or based on, linked to, tracking or otherwise derived from the Information or any other MSCI data, information, products or services.
The user of the Information assumes the entire risk of any use it may make or permit to be made of the Information. NONE OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDERS MAKES ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION (OR THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE USE THEREOF), AND TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH INFORMATION PROVIDER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ORIGINALITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, NON‐INFRINGEMENT, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE) WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE INFORMATION.
Without limiting any of the foregoing and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall any Information Provider have any liability regarding any of the Information for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential (including lost profits) or any other damages even if notified of the possibility of such damages. The foregoing shall not exclude or limit any liability that may not by applicable law be excluded or limited, including without limitation (as applicable), any liability for death or personal injury to the extent that such injury results from the negligence or willful default of itself, its servants, agents or sub‐contractors.
Information containing any historical information, data or analysis should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of any future performance, analysis, forecast or prediction. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
4
PRESS RELEASE
The Information should not be relied on and is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment and other business decisions. All Information is impersonal and not tailored to the needs of any person, entity or group of persons.
None of the Information constitutes an offer to sell (or a solicitation of an offer to buy), any security, financial product or other investment vehicle or any trading strategy. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Exposure to an asset class or trading strategy or other category represented by an index is only available through third party
investable instruments (if any) based on that index. MSCI does not issue, sponsor, endorse, market, offer, review or otherwise express any opinion regarding any fund, ETF,
derivative or other security, investment, financial product or trading strategy that is based on, linked to or seeks to provide an investment return related to the performance of any MSCI index (collectively, "Index Linked Investments"). MSCI makes no assurance that any Index Linked Investments will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. MSCI Inc. is not an investment adviser or fiduciary and MSCI makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in any Index Linked Investments.
Index returns do not represent the results of actual trading of investible assets/securities. MSCI maintains and calculates indexes, but does not manage actual assets. Index returns do not reflect payment of any sales charges or fees an investor may pay to purchase the securities underlying the index or Index Linked Investments. The imposition of these fees and charges would cause the performance of an Index Linked Investment to be different than the MSCI index performance.
The Information may contain back tested data. Back‐tested performance is not actual performance, but is hypothetical. There are frequently material differences between back tested performance results and actual results subsequently achieved by any investment strategy.
Constituents of MSCI equity indexes are listed companies, which are included in or excluded from the indexes according to the application of the relevant index methodologies. Accordingly, constituents in MSCI equity indexes may include MSCI Inc., clients of MSCI or suppliers to MSCI. Inclusion of a security within an MSCI index is not a recommendation by MSCI to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.
Data and information produced by various affiliates of MSCI Inc., including MSCI ESG Research Inc. and Barra LLC, may be used in calculating certain MSCI equity indexes. More information can be found in the relevant standard equity index methodologies on www.msci.com.
MSCI receives compensation in connection with licensing its indexes to third parties. MSCI Inc.'s revenue includes fees based on assets in investment products linked to MSCI
equity indexes. Information can be found in MSCI's company filings on the Investor Relations section of www.msci.com.
MSCI ESG Research Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and a subsidiary of MSCI Inc. Except with respect to any applicable products or services from MSCI ESG Research, neither MSCI nor any of its products or services recommends, endorses, approves or otherwise expresses any opinion regarding any issuer, securities, financial products or instruments or trading strategies and neither MSCI nor any of its products or services is intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such. Issuers mentioned or included in any MSCI ESG Research materials may include MSCI Inc., clients of MSCI or suppliers to MSCI, and may also purchase research or other products or services from MSCI ESG Research. MSCI ESG Research materials, including materials utilized in any MSCI ESG Indexes or other products, have not been submitted to, nor received approval from, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory body.
Any use of or access to products, services or information of MSCI requires a license from MSCI. MSCI, Barra, RiskMetrics, IPD, FEA, InvestorForce, and other MSCI brands and product names are the trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of MSCI or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) was developed by and is the exclusive property of MSCI and Standard & Poor's. "Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)" is a service mark of MSCI and Standard & Poor's.
5
|
distributed by
|
