FTSE Index Policy June FTSE Index Policy in the Event Clients are Unable to Trade a Market

Transcription

1 FTSE Index Policy June 2015 FTSE Index Policy in the Event Clients are Unable to Trade a Market

2 FTSE Index Policy in the Event Clients are Unable to Trade a Market Introduction External events can on occasion make it difficult or even impossible for FTSE clients to trade securities on certain markets. Such events include the temporary closure of a stock exchange, government, central bank or monetary authority imposed restrictions on the repatriation of foreign capital, and the imposition of sanctions preventing new investment in a country. This paper sets out how FTSE would typically look to respond in the light of such events. It should be stressed however that, by their very nature, the course of such events will be uncertain. FTSE s chosen course of action will depend on its analysis of the circumstances pertaining at the time and no commitment can be given that FTSE will follow the proposed actions set out below. FTSE will always seek to communicate decisions regarding the inclusion or suspension of countries within its indices, or the choice of reference prices for a particular index or security to its clients, in as timely manner as events allow. Relevant technical notices will be sent directly to our clients, and information will be provided on our website. Our client servicing teams globally will also be available to answer any specific queries clients may have. Possible Scenarios 1. Restrictions are imposed on the repatriation of foreign capital Should a government, central bank or monetary authority impose restrictions that prevent or hinder foreigner investors repatriating their capital, FTSE will first consult with members of its oversight committees, including the FTSE Country Classification Committee, on the perceived impact and likely duration of such restrictions. If following consultation, FTSE determines that the impact of the restrictions is likely to be severe and/or to last longer than 20 local business days, FTSE will remove stocks in the affected country from the Global Equity Index Series. 2

3 If however FTSE determines that the restrictions will be limited in their impact, or are likely to be of short duration - less than 20 business days (as measured by normal trading days for the local market) - the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (GEIS) will continue to calculate as normal. Should the restrictions persist beyond 20 business days, FTSE will give consideration to removing the stocks from GEIS. If at that stage FTSE decides to retain the affected securities in GEIS, the decision will be revisited after a further 10 business days, and - if the stocks are again retained - after a further period of 10 business days. If restrictions still remain in place 40 business days after their original imposition, FTSE will delete the stocks from GEIS. The process of removing the affected securities would typically be completed in two days. If the local stock exchange is functioning normally, sales can be settled and repatriation is slow but feasible, FTSE will remove the affected securities at market price with two days notice. If those conditions are not in place, FTSE will remove the stocks from GEIS indices at zero value. To assist existing investors in benchmarking their performance if securities from the affected country are removed from GEIS, a standalone country index will be created based on local exchange prices. FTSE will look to create custom combinations of the revised GEIS indices ex the affected country and the standalone country index. New investors will be able to benchmark their funds against the revised GEIS index. Once the restrictions have been lifted, the market will not automatically be re-included in the standard GEIS indices, but rather the status of the market in FTSE s country classification system will be re-evaluated. This process will follow FTSE s standard country classification procedure and timetable for a new market, and the country may be required to spend a period of time on the watch-list before its status is confirmed. 2. A national stock market closes for an extended period In the event of a national stock market closing unexpectedly, and investors are unable to trade at alternative venues, FTSE will look to follow its policy for the treatment of suspended stocks. Under this policy, stocks in the country index will be held at their last traded price for a period of up to 20 business days (as measured by normal trading days for the local market). 3

4 During this period, FTSE will consult with members of its Country Classification and Regional Equity committee as to the likelihood of the exchange reopening. If the consensus is that the exchange is likely to reopen in the near future, the suspension period may be extended by a further 10 business days. After expiry of this period, the situation will be revisited and the suspension period may be extended for a further 10 business days. If the original consensus is that the closure is likely to be for an extended period, or if after the expiry of the second 10 day suspension period (i.e. 40 business days after the original announcement) the exchange has not provided a firm date at which trading is expected to recommence, FTSE will delete the stocks from GEIS at zero value or, if FTSE determines a valid price for a stock can be obtained on grey markets, that price may be used in preference. The national index will cease calculation. Should the stock market reopen after the country constituents have been removed from GEIS but within three months of the original closure, stocks that recommence trading will be evaluated for GEIS inclusion as if they were new constituents. Once a minimum of three eligible stocks have become eligible, FTSE will recommence calculation of the country index and reinclude the country in GEIS with effect from the next quarterly review. If the stock exchange remains closed for a period greater than three months, individual stocks will not be readmitted to the GEIS indices and instead the country will have its status within FTSE s country classification system reassessed. The procedure that FTSE will follow in these circumstances will be the same as that summarised above for countries where repatriation restrictions have been imposed. 3. Sanctions are imposed that restrict investment into foreign jurisdictions As sanctions will usually vary according to the domicile of the investor, the situation is more nuanced than with the imposition of repatriation restrictions or exchange closures. Sanctions may not be universally enacted, and the investment restrictions that 4

5 are imposed may apply to certain countries, industries, named companies or companies with substantial ownership from named individuals. Should sanctions be imposed that prevent defined sets of FTSE clients from investing in particular countries, industries or named companies, FTSE will consider the creation of custom index variants that exclude the affected securities for those clients; FTSE may also create transition indices to stagger the necessary trades if warranted by the circumstances and client demand. In the case of sanctions being applied to individuals that restrict investment in companies associated with those individuals, FTSE will attempt to identify impacted companies from shareholder registers, but will also seek input from the affected clients. Because of the inherent difficulties in establishing the nature of links to named individuals, any modified indices created to exclude such securities can be provided on a best efforts basis only. Investors based in countries that have not imposed sanctions will be able to follow the standard index. The appropriate longer term response to the imposition of sanctions will be determined following consultation with the FTSE Country Classification Committee and the FTSE Policy Group. 4. Indices Composed of Depositary Receipts. Where an index includes Depositary Receipts (DRs) and trading of those DRs is suspended by the trading venue, FTSE will look to follow the same policy as for suspended stocks as outlined above. Should the suspension last beyond 20 business days (for the exchange on which the DRs are traded), following consultation with its Committees and depending on the fungibility of the DRs, FTSE may choose to remove the securities from the index at the equivalent price of the underlying local shares. In cases where the underlying local shares cease trading or capital repatriation of their sale proceeds becomes restricted, it may still be possible for the calculation of the DR index to continue, at least temporarily. FTSE will consult its Committees and those clients with products based on such indices to establish whether trading in the DRs is likely to remain viable, 5

6 and if the consensus is that it will not, FTSE will look to delete the constituents whilst adequate liquidity remains to facilitate investor exit. The future composition of such indices will be determined following consultation with the affected parties. If you have any questions and would like to speak to a client services individual directly, please do not hesitate to contact us on the numbers below, or via at info@ftse.com. Hong Kong London +44 (0) Milan New York FTSE (3873) Sydney +61 (2) Tokyo +81 (3) Toronto London Stock Exchange Group companies. All rights reserved. The FTSE Global Equity Index Series is calculated by FTSE International Limited FTSE or its agent. All rights in the Index Series vest in FTSE. London Stock Exchange Group companies includes FTSE International Limited ( FTSE ), Frank Russell Company ( Russell ), MTS Next Limited ( MTS ), and FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. ( FTSE TMX ). All rights reserved. FTSE, Russell, MTS, FTSE TMX and FTSE Russell and other service marks and trademarks related to the FTSE or Russell indexes are trade marks of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and are used by FTSE, MTS, FTSE TMX and Russell under licence. All information is provided for information purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure that all information given in this publication is accurate, but no responsibility or liability can be accepted by the London Stock Exchange Group companies nor its licensors for any errors or for any loss from use of this publication. Neither the London Stock Exchange Group companies nor any of their licensors make any claim, prediction, warranty or representation whatsoever, expressly or impliedly, either as to the results to be obtained from the use of the FTSE Global Equity Index Series or the fitness or suitability of the Indexes for any particular purpose to which they might be put. The London Stock Exchange Group companies do not provide investment advice and nothing in this document should be taken as constituting financial or investment advice. The London Stock Exchange Group companies make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in any asset. A decision to invest in any such asset should not be made in reliance on any information herein. Indexes cannot be invested in directly. Inclusion of an asset in an index is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that asset. The general information contained in this publication should not be acted upon without obtaining specific legal, tax, and investment advice from a licensed professional. No part of this information may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the London Stock Exchange Group companies. Distribution of the London Stock Exchange Group companies index values and the use of their indexes to create financial products require a licence with FTSE, FTSE TMX, MTS and/or Russell and/or its licensors. The Industry Classification Benchmark ( ICB ) is owned by FTSE. FTSE does not accept any liability to any person for any loss or damage arising out of any error or omission in the ICB. 6