Ground Rules. Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index v1.4

Transcription

1 Ground Rules Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index v1.4 ftserussell.com April 2016

2 Contents 1.0 Introduction Management Responsibilities Queries and Complaints Eligible Securities Index Qualification Criteria Changes to Constituent Shares Index Calculation Appendix A: Index Opening and Closing Hours Appendix B: Status of Index Appendix C: Further Information FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

3 Section 1 Introduction 1.0 Introduction 1.1 This document sets out the Ground Rules for the construction and management of the FTSE AIM Italia Index. Copies of the Ground Rules are available from FTSE, Borsa Italiana and on the websites and The FTSE AIM Italia Index is designed to represent the performance of Italian companies traded on AIM Italia of Borsa Italiana. 1.3 The FTSE AIM Italia Index is calculated in EUR, in Price and Total Return versions. Price Indexes are calculated in real time. Total Return Indexes are calculated at the end of the day. 1.4 The FTSE AIM Italia Index has been designed based on industry best practice and on FTSE s experience of design characteristics which are attractive to a broad range of investors and intermediaries seeking to develop structured products based on indices. As such the series represents a standard, transparent basis for investors to assess, measure and gain access to the AIM Italian equity market. 1.5 The FTSE AIM Italia Index has been designed as a measure of stock market performance. 1.6 FTSE Russell FTSE Russell is a trading name of FTSE International Limited (FTSE), Frank Russell Company (Russell), FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. and FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Limited (together, FTSE TMX ) and MTSNext Limited. FTSE, Russell and FTSE TMX are each benchmark administrators of indexes. References to FTSE Russell should be interpreted as a reference to the relevant benchmark administrator for the relevant index. 1.7 Statement of Principles Indexes need to keep abreast of changing markets and the Ground Rules cannot anticipate every eventuality. Where the Rules do not fully cover a specific event or development, FTSE Russell will determine the appropriate treatment by reference to the Statement of Principles which summarises the ethos underlying FTSE Russell s approach to index construction. The Statement of Principles is reviewed annually and any changes proposed by FTSE Russell are presented to the FTSE Russell Policy Group for discussion before approval by FTSE Russell s Governance Board. The Statement of Principles can be accessed using the following link: Statement_of_Principles.pdf FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

4 1.8 FTSE Russell hereby notifies users of the index that it is possible that circumstances, including external events beyond the control of FTSE Russell, may necessitate changes to, or the cessation of, the index and therefore, any financial contracts or other financial instruments that reference the index should be able to withstand, or otherwise address the possibility of changes to, or cessation of, the index. 1.9 Index users who choose to follow this index or to buy products that claim to follow this index should assess the merits of the index s rules-based methodology and take independent investment advice before investing their own or client funds. No liability whether as a result of negligence or otherwise is accepted by FTSE Russell for any losses, damages, claims and expenses suffered by any person as a result of: any reliance on these Ground Rules, and/or any errors or inaccuracies in these Ground Rules, and/or any non-application or misapplication of the policies or procedures described in these Ground Rules, and/or any errors or inaccuracies in the compilation of the Index or any constituent data. FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

5 Section 2 Management Responsibilities 2.0 Management Responsibilities 2.1 FTSE is responsible for the operation of the FTSE AIM Italia Index. FTSE will maintain records of the market capitalisation of all constituents and will make changes to the constituents and their weightings in accordance with the Ground Rules. FTSE will carry out reviews and implement the resulting constituent changes as required by the Ground Rules. 2.2 Changes to constituent weightings are made by FTSE in accordance with the Ground Rules FTSE is responsible for publicising and keeping a record of all changes to constituent weightings. The weightings of constituents in the real time indices shall be used in the calculation of the end of day indices. 2.3 FTSE is also responsible for monitoring the performance of the FTSE Index series throughout the day and will determine whether the status of each index should be Firm, Indicative or Held (see Appendix B). 2.4 FTSE Italia Index Series Advisory Committee The FTSE Italia Index Index Series Advisory Committee has been established to assist in the oversight of the index. In particular the committee will: Discuss proposed changes to the FTSE Italia Index Series Ground Rules, the FTSE MIB Ground Rules, the FTSE AIM Italia Ground Rules; Propose new indices/services FTSE Russell may develop in the Italian market. 2.5 FTSE Russell Policy Advisory Board The FTSE Russell Policy Advisory Board, whose membership is representative of users of FTSE Russell Indexes, is established by FTSE Russell as an independent committee. The FTSE Russell Policy Advisory Board provides strategic advice to FTSE Russell on the construction and maintenance of agreed indices (as stipulated in their terms of reference) and to oversee the external advisory committees established by FTSE Russell to assist in the management of the indices The Terms of Reference of the FTSE Russell Policy Advisory Board are set out on the FTSE Russell website. FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

6 2.6 Amendments to these Ground Rules These Ground Rules shall be subject to regular review (at least once a year) by FTSE Russell to ensure that they continue to meet the current and future requirements of investors and other index users. Any proposals for significant amendments to these Ground Rules will be subject to consultation with FTSE Russell advisory committees and other stakeholders if appropriate. The feedback from these consultations will be considered by the FTSE Russell Governance Board before approval is granted As provided for in Rule 1.7, where FTSE Russell determines that the Ground Rules are silent or do not specifically and unambiguously apply to the subject matter of any decision, any decision shall be based as far as practical on the Statement of Principles. After making any such determination, FTSE Russell shall advise the market of its decision at the earliest opportunity. Any such treatment will not be considered as an exception or change to the Ground Rules, or to set a precedent for future action, but FTSE Russell will consider whether the Ground Rules should subsequently be updated to provide greater clarity. FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

7 Section 3 Queries and Complaints 3.0 Queries and Complaints FTSE Russell s complaints procedure can be accessed using the following link: Queries_and_Complaints_Policy.pdf FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

8 Section 4 Eligible Securities 4.0 Eligible Securities 4.1 The universe of eligible constituents is all Italian shares admitted to AIM Italia of Borsa Italiana, subject to conforming to all other rules of eligibility. 4.2 Foreign shares are eligible for inclusion in the FTSE AIM Italia Index. 4.3 In case of companies with more than one class of shares listed, all shares are considered for inclusion in the FTSE AIM Italia Index. 4.4 Constituents are weighted by their investable market capitalisation (free float adjusted). FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

9 Section 5 Index Qualification Criteria 5.0 Index Qualification Criteria 5.1 Newly Admitted Securities Newly admitted shares will become immediately eligible for inclusion and will enter the index on their second day of trading. 5.2 Market Capitalisation The float-adjusted market capitalisation is determined through an Investable Weight Factor (IWF): IWF = 100% - Sum of the % of shareholdings held by restricted shareholders Investability Weighting Constituents of the FTSE AIM Italia Index Series are adjusted for free float. Further details on free float restrictions can be accessed using the following link: Free_Float_Restrictions.pdf A. Initial weighting Free float restrictions will be calculated using available published information. For equity shares of companies that have a free float greater than 5%, the actual free float will be rounded up to the next highest whole percentage number. Companies with a free float of 5% or below are excluded from the index. B. Percentage point thresholds Following the application of an initial free float restriction, a constituent s free float will only be changed if its rounded free float moves to more than 3 percentage points above or below the existing rounded free float. Where a company s actual free float moves to above 99%, it will not be subject to the 3 percentage points threshold and will be rounded to 100%. A constituent with a free float of 15% or below will not be subject to the 3 percentage points threshold. C. Changes in free float A constituent s free float will also be reviewed on publication of further information on restricted shareholdings. For changes resulting from a corporate event, refer to the Corporate Actions and Events Guide for further information. Where a change is not corporate event driven, the update in free float will be applied after the close of business on the third Friday of March, June, September FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

10 and December, whichever comes first. The data cut-off for these quarterly changes will be the close of business on the third Wednesday of the month prior to the review month. Any change in free float will be subject to Rule 5.1 B Treasury shares are always excluded from the shares in issue, independently from the size of their stake The primary sources of shareholder information for Italian companies are CONSOB (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa) and issuers official communication (annual report, quarterly reports, prospectuses) The analysis is based on the total stake held by the ultimate shareholder. In the case of stock lending contracts or nominee holdings, the analysis is based on the owner of shares and not on the person / entity having the voting rights. In the case of shares lent to banks, the analysis is based on the owner of the shares and not on the bank, and is independent of the allocation of voting rights. FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

11 Section 6 Changes to Constituent Shares 6.0 Changes to Constituent Shares 6.1 Corporate Actions and Events Full details of changes to constituent companies due to corporate actions and events can be accessed in the Corporate Actions and Events Guide using the following link: Corporate_Actions_and_Events_Guide.pdf A Corporate Action is an action on shareholders with a prescribed ex date. The share price will be subject to an adjustment on the ex date. These include the following: Capital Repayments Rights Issues/Entitlement Offers Stock Conversion Splits (sub-division) / Reverse splits (consolidation) Scrip issues (Capitalisation or Bonus Issue) A Corporate Event is a reaction to company news (event) that may impact the index depending on the index rules. For example, a company announces a strategic shareholder is offering to sell their shares (secondary share offer) this could result in a free float weighting change in the index. Where an index adjustment is required FTSE Russell will provide notice advising of the timing of the change. 6.2 New Issues Newly admitted shares to the AIM Italia market will enter the FTSE AIM Italia Index the day after the start of trading. 6.3 Deletions If a constituent is delisted from AIM Italia market of Borsa Italiana, or ceases to have a firm quotation, it will be removed from the list of constituents. 6.4 Suspension of Dealing Suspension of dealing rules can be found within the Corporate Actions and Events Guide. FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

12 6.5 Mergers / Takeovers Mergers / Takeovers between Constituents If the effect of a merger or takeover is that one constituent in the FTSE AIM Italia Index is absorbed by another constituent traded on AIM Italia, the resulting company will remain (or will become if simultaneously admitted to trading) a constituent of the index Mergers / Takeovers between a Constituent and a Non-Constituent If a constituent company in the FTSE AIM Italia Index is taken over by a non-constituent company, the original constituent will be removed from the index. 6.6 Splits/Demergers If a constituent company is split so as to form two or more companies, then the resulting companies will be eligible for inclusion as index constituents in the FTSE AIM Italia Index providing they qualify in all other respects. 6.7 Shares in Issue Changes to the number of shares in issue for constituent securities are covered in the Corporate Actions and Events Guide. FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

13 Section 7 Index Calculation 7.0 Index Calculation 7.1 Prices The FTSE AIM Italia Index will use the last price from actual trades on on Borsa Italiana electronic share trading platform, during Official Market Hours. 7.2 Index Calculation The FTSE AIM Italia Index will be displayed to two decimal points The FTSE AIM Italia Index is calculated using the following formula: Where, i=1, 2,, N N i= 1 N is the number of securities in the Index. ( p s f ) i i d p i is the latest trade price of the component security (or the price at the close of the Index on the previous day). s i is the number of shares in issue used by FTSE Russell for the security, as defined in these Ground Rules. f i is the Investability Weighting Factor to be applied to a security to allow amendments to its weighting, expressed as a number between 0 and 1, where 1 represents a 100% free float. This factor is published by FTSE Russell for each security in the underlying index. d is the divisor, a figure that represents the total issued share Capital of the Index at the base date. The divisor can be adjusted to allow changes in the issued share Capital of individual securities to be made without distorting the Index. 7.3 Index Base The base for the FTSE AIM Italia Index is set at 28 December 2012 at 10,000. End-of-day figures are available from the base date; real time figures are available from 1 July i FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

14 Appendix A: Index Opening and Closing Hours Index Open Close FTSE AIM Italia Index 09:01 17:36* Notes: * Subject to receipt of final closing prices. The index will not be calculated when Borsa Italiana markets are closed. Timings are CET. FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

15 Appendix B: Status of Index The FTSE AIM Italia Index may exist in the following states: A) Firm The Index is active and being calculated during Official Market hours (see Appendix A). B) Closed The Index has ceased all calculations for the day. The message 'CLOSE' will be displayed against the Index values calculated by FTSE Russell. C) Held During Official Index period, an Index has exceeded pre-set operating parameters and the calculation has been suspended pending resolution of the problem. The message 'HELD' will be displayed against the last Index value calculated by FTSE Russell. D) Indicative If there is a system problem or situation in the market that is judged to affect the quality of the constituent prices at any time when the Index is being calculated, the Index will be declared indicative. The message 'IND' will be displayed against the Index value calculated by FTSE Russell. The official opening and closing hours of the FTSE AIM Italia Index is aligned with those of Borsa Italiana markets and are set out in Appendix A. Variations to the official hours of the Indexes will be published by FTSE Russell. The FTSE AIM Italia Index is calculated and published on all days when Borsa Italiana is open for trading. FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

16 Appendix C: Further Information A Glossary of Terms used in FTSE Russell s Ground Rule documents can be found using the following link: Glossary.pdf Further information on the FTSE AIM Italia Index Series is available from FTSE Russell. For contact details please visit the FTSE Russell website or contact FTSE Russell client services at info@ftserussell.com. FTSE Russell website: Borsa Italiana can be contacted at:- Piazza degli Affari, Milan Italy Tel: Fax: info@borsaitaliana.it Website: FTSE Russell Methodology for the FTSE AIM Italia Index, v1.4, April of 17

17 2016 London Stock Exchange Group plc and its applicable group undertakings (the LSE Group ). The LSE Group includes (1) FTSE International Limited ( FTSE ), (2) Frank Russell Company ( Russell ), (3) FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. and FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Limited (together, FTSE TMX ) and (4) MTSNext Limited ( MTSNext ). All rights reserved. The FTSE AIM Italia Index is calculated by FTSE or its agent. All rights in the Index Series vest in FTSE. FTSE Russell is a trading name of FTSE, Russell, FTSE TMX and MTS Next Limited. FTSE, Russell, FTSE Russell MTS, FTSE TMX, FTSE4Good and ICB and all other trademarks and service marks used herein (whether registered or unregistered) are trade marks and/or service marks owned or licensed by the applicable member of the LSE Group or their respective licensors and are owned, or used under licence, by FTSE, Russell, MTSNext, or FTSE TMX. 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 any member of the LSE Group nor their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or licensors for any errors or for any loss from use of this publication or any of the information or data contained herein. No member of the LSE Group nor their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or 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 AIM Italia Index or the fitness or suitability of the Index for any particular purpose to which it might be put. No member of the LSE Group nor their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or licensors provide investment advice and nothing in this document should be taken as constituting financial or investment advice. No member of the LSE Group nor their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or licensors make any 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 applicable member of the LSE Group. Use and distribution of the LSE Group index data and the use of their data to create financial products require a licence with FTSE, Russell, FTSE TMX, MTSNext and/or their respective licensors. FTSE Russell 17