[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71574-71583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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[[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\
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    \3\ MSCI and MSCI Indices are registered service marks of Morgan 
Stanley & Co., Incorporated.
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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\
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    \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.
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    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\
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    \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 (http://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.
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    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.
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    \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.
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    \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).
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    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.
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    \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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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.
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    \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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    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, http://www.iShares.com, contains detailed information on the 
performance and the tracking error for each Fund.\14\
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    \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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    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\
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    \15\ Telephone conversation between David Hsu, Special Counsel, 
Division, and Michael Cavalier, Assistant General Counsel, NYSE, on 
October 20, 2005.
    \16\ Id.
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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\
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    \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.

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                                                                    Shares per       Price per    Est. value per
                                                                   creation unit       share       creation unit
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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
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    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 http://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 http://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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an e-mail to [email protected]. 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 (http://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 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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) (SR-Amex-95-43).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 71583]]

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, non-public 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 
http://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 (http://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 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \34\ See 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
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    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\37\
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    \37\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E5-6626 Filed 11-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P