.jpg)
MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of research‐based indexes and analytics, is pleased to announce that it plans to launch MSCI Saudi Arabia Indexes as Standalone Market Indexes effective June 1, 2015, coinciding with the expected opening of the Saudi Arabia equity market to foreign direct investments.
On May 4, 2015, the Saudi Arabia Capital Market Authority (CMA) adopted the “Rules for Qualified Foreign Financial Institutions Investment in Listed Shares” which are expected to become effective on June 1, 2015. Under these rules, Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) will be allowed to own a maximum of 20% of the shares of any listed company.
In addition to the MSCI Saudi Arabia Indexes, MSCI will launch on June 1, 2015 a series of related regional and capped indexes including the MSCI GCC Countries International Index and the MSCI Saudi Arabia IMI 25‐50 Index. The MSCI GCC Countries International Index will represent the full investable opportunity set available to international institutional investors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and will cover all the countries in the GCC region: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.
The MSCI Saudi Arabia Indexes will be transitioned from the existing MSCI Provisional Saudi Arabia Indexes. The pro forma constituents and weights for the MSCI Saudi Arabia Indexes will be announced on May 12, 2015 as part of the May 2015 Semi‐Annual Index Review announcement.
