Announcement – Methodology Change | Several Solactive Indices | Effective date 05/24/2024

Today, on 04/15/2024, Solactive announces the following changes to the methodology of the following index/Indices (the ‘Affected Index/Indices’):

Rationale for Methodology Change

Solactive has determined to make adjustments on the current methodology wording to decrease ambiguities and further align with the standard wording of Solactive Indices and the way the selection procedure is performed. More specifically this relates to the definition of requirements a company must reflect to be in line with the thematic scope of the Indices as well as the inclusion of the Market Watch in the corresponding methodologies.

Please note that these changes do not alter the current selection procedure in any way but serve as a clarification of the methodologies.

The specific changes are as reflected below.

Changes to the Index Guideline

Solactive B-BRE Israel Infrastructure Index:

Section 2.1. INDEX UNIVERSE REQUIREMENTS

From:

[…]

2. Stocks need to be classified in any of the following FactSet industries: Air Freight/Couriers, Airlines,
Trucking, Railroads, Marine Shipping, Other Transportation, Electric Utilities, Gas Distributors,
Water Utilities, Alternative Power Generation, Electrical Products, Electronic
Equipment/Instruments, Oil & Gas Production, Integrated Oil, Oil Refining/Marketing, Coal,
Environmental Services, Oil & Gas Pipelines, Engineering & Construction, Miscellaneous
Commercial Services, Industrial conglomerates, Construction Materials, Major
Telecommunications, , Wireless Telecommunications, Computer Communications,
Miscellaneous, Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds. 

[…]

To:

Part of the MARKET WATCH for the B-BRE Israel Infrastructure Index which includes companies classified under any of the following FactSet Industries: : Air Freight/Couriers, Airlines,
Trucking, Railroads, Marine Shipping, Other Transportation, Electric Utilities, Gas Distributors,
Water Utilities, Alternative Power Generation, Electrical Products, Electronic
Equipment/Instruments, Oil & Gas Production, Integrated Oil, Oil Refining/Marketing, Coal,
Environmental Services, Oil & Gas Pipelines, Engineering & Construction, Miscellaneous
Commercial Services, Industrial conglomerates, Construction Materials, Major
Telecommunications, , Wireless Telecommunications, Computer Communications,
Miscellaneous, Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds.

Adding to Section 6. DEFINITIONS:

“MARKET WATCH” is an announcement of a list of companies/securities which are intended to contribute to the creation of the Index Universe. It is compiled by all companies deemed to have their operational focus in line with the Scope of the Index. The Market Watch will be officially published and communicated on the Solactive website ten to five Business Days before the Selection Day and may be subject to updates.

Solactive China Biotech Index:

Section 4. DEFINITIONS

From:

[…]

2. Should be from the following industries according to the FactSet Industries and Economic Sectors:
a) Biotechnology
b) Pharmaceuticals: Other
c) Pharmaceuticals: Major
d) Pharmaceuticals: Generic

[…]

To:

[…]

Part of the MARKET WATCH for the Solactive China Biotech Index which includes companies from the following industries according to the FactSet Industries and Economic Sectors:
a) Biotechnology
b) Pharmaceuticals: Other
c) Pharmaceuticals: Major

[…]

Adding to Section 4. DEFINITIONS:

“MARKET WATCH” is an announcement of a list of companies/securities which are intended to contribute to the creation of the Index Universe. It is compiled by all companies deemed to have their operational focus in line with the Scope of the Index. The Market Watch will be officially published and communicated on the Solactive website ten to five Business Days before the Selection Day and may be subject to updates.

Solactive China Consumer Brand Index:

Section 2.1. INDEX UNIVERSE REQUIREMENTS

From:

[…]

3. Should be from the following economies according to the FactSet Industries and Economic
Sectors:
a) Consumer Services
b) Consumer Non-Durables
c) Consumer Durables

4. Should not be from the following industries according to the FactSet Industries and Economic
Sectors:
a) Catalog/Specialty Distribution
b) Internet Retail
c) Electronics Distributors
d) Consumer Sundries
e) Department Stores
f) Drugstore Chains
g) Electronics/Appliance Stores

h) Wholesale Distributors
i) Medical Distributors
j) Automotive Aftermarket
k) Specialty Stores
l) Food Retail
m) Apparel/Footwear Retail

[…]

To:

[…]

3.

Part of the MARKET WATCH for the Solactive China Consumer Brand Index which includes companies from the following industries according to the FactSet Industries and Economic Sectors:
a) Consumer Services
b) Consumer Non-Durables
c) Consumer Durables

Companies from the following industries according to the FactSet Industries and Economic Sectors will be excluded at this stage:

a) Catalog/Specialty Distribution

b) Internet Retail
c) Electronics Distributors
d) Consumer Sundries
e) Department Stores
f) Drugstore Chains
g) Electronics/Appliance Stores
h) Wholesale Distributors
i) Medical Distributors
j) Automotive Aftermarket
k) Specialty Stores
l) Food Retail
m) Apparel/Footwear Retail

Adding to Section 6. DEFINITIONS:

“MARKET WATCH” is an announcement of a list of companies/securities which are intended to contribute to the creation of the Index Universe. It is compiled by all companies deemed to have their operational focus in line with the Scope of the Index. The Market Watch will be officially published and communicated on the Solactive website ten to five Business Days before the Selection Day and may be subject to updates.

Solactive China Cloud Computing Index:

Section 4. DEFINITIONS

From:

[…]

2. Should be from the following industries according to the FactSet Industries and Economic Sectors:
a) Internet Retail
b) Internet Software/Services
c) Information Technology Services
d) Packaged Software
e) Data Processing Services

[…]

To:

[…]

2. Part of the MARKET WATCH for the Solactive China Cloud Computing Index which includes companies from the following industries according to the FactSet Industries and Economic Sectors:
a) Internet Retail
b) Internet Software/Services
c) Information Technology Services
d) Packaged Software
e) Data Processing Services

[…]

Adding to Section 4. DEFINITIONS:

“MARKET WATCH” is an announcement of a list of companies/securities which are intended to contribute to the creation of the Index Universe. It is compiled by all companies deemed to have their operational focus in line with the Scope of the Index. The Market Watch will be officially published and communicated on the Solactive website ten to five Business Days before the Selection Day and may be subject to updates.

Solactive China Clean Energy Index:

Section 2.1. INDEX UNIVERSE REQUIREMENTS

From:

[…]

3. Must be classified in one of the following subindustries based on FactSet Revere Business Industry
Classification System (“RBICS”):
Wind Energy Equipment Manufacturing, Photovoltaic and Solar Cells and Systems Providers, Fuel
Cell Equipment and Technology Providers, Smart Grid Technology and Smart Meter Products,
Mixed Renewable Energy Generation Manufacturing, China Mixed Alternative Wholesale Power,
China Biomass Wholesale Power, China Decentralized Wholesale Power, China Geothermal
Wholesale Power, China Hydroelectric Wholesale Power, China Solar Wholesale Power, China
Wind Wholesale Power, Process Plants, Utilities and Energy Construction, Electronic Materials
Manufacturing, Other Front End Processing Equipment Makers, Flat Panel Display-Specific
Equipment Makers, Hazardous/Industrial Waste Disposal, Wires and Cables Manufacturing,
Machine Tools Manufacturing, Lasers and Optical Instrument Manufacturing, Backup, Emergency
and Standby Power Products, Architectural Glass Manufacturing, Other Industrial Electrical
Product Manufacturing, Transportation Construction, Power Generation/Support Products Manufacturing, Stamping and Forging Shops, Ball and Roller Bearings Products, Electrical
Systems and Equipment Manufacturing 

[…]

To:

[…]

3. Part of the MARKET WATCH for the Solactive China Clean Energy Index which includes companies from the following subindustries based on FactSet Revere Business Industry
Classification System (“RBICS”):
Wind Energy Equipment Manufacturing, Photovoltaic and Solar Cells and Systems Providers, Fuel
Cell Equipment and Technology Providers, Smart Grid Technology and Smart Meter Products,
Mixed Renewable Energy Generation Manufacturing, China Mixed Alternative Wholesale Power,
China Biomass Wholesale Power, China Decentralized Wholesale Power, China Geothermal
Wholesale Power, China Hydroelectric Wholesale Power, China Solar Wholesale Power, China
Wind Wholesale Power, Process Plants, Utilities and Energy Construction, Electronic Materials
Manufacturing, Other Front End Processing Equipment Makers, Flat Panel Display-Specific
Equipment Makers, Hazardous/Industrial Waste Disposal, Wires and Cables Manufacturing,
Machine Tools Manufacturing, Lasers and Optical Instrument Manufacturing, Backup, Emergency
and Standby Power Products, Architectural Glass Manufacturing, Other Industrial Electrical
Product Manufacturing, Transportation Construction, Power Generation/Support Products
Manufacturing, Stamping and Forging Shops, Ball and Roller Bearings Products, Electrical
Systems and Equipment Manufacturing

[…]

Adding to Section 6. DEFINITIONS:

“MARKET WATCH” is an announcement of a list of companies/securities which are intended to contribute to the creation of the Index Universe. It is compiled by all companies deemed to have their operational focus in line with the Scope of the Index. The Market Watch will be officially published and communicated on the Solactive website ten to five Business Days before the Selection Day and may be subject to updates.

Solactive China Electric Vehicle and Battery Index:

Section 2.1. INDEX UNIVERSE REQUIREMENTS

From:

[…]

3. Must be classified in one of the following subindustries based on FactSet Revere Business Industry
Classification System (“RBICS”):
Alternative Energy Car Manufacturers, Multi-Type Car Manufacturers, Electric Vehicle Charging
Stations, Battery Charging Equipment Manufacturing, Electric Vehicle Batteries Manufacturing,
Mixed Heavy-Duty and High-End Batteries Makers, Heavy-Duty Industrial Batteries Manufacturing,
Traditional Vehicle Batteries Manufacturing, Electric Motors Manufacturing, Lithium Compounds
Manufacturing, Lithium Ore Mining, Consumer Batteries Manufacturing, Other Industrial Electrical
Product Manufacturing, Multi-Industry-Specific Factory Machinery Makers, Electronic Materials
Manufacturing, Consumer Electronics Accessories Manufacturing, Diversified
Specialty/Performance Chemicals Makers, General Factory Automation Makers, Powertrain
Manufacturing, Motorcycle Manufacturing, Power Transmission and Distribution Products, Test,
Measurement and Metrology Equipment Makers, Other Interconnect Components, Diversified
Industrial Manufacturing, Automotive and Marine Electronics Manufacturing, Auto Interior
Comfort/Safety/Electronics Products, General and Mixed-Type Software, Heating, Ventilation and
Air Conditioning Products, Chassis and Body Manufacturing, Pan-Powertrain and Chassis
Manufacturing, Film Passive Capacitor Electronic Components, Other Specialty and Performance Chemicals Makers, Other Organic Chemical Manufacturers, Other Discrete Semiconductors, Rail
Equipment Manufacturers, Battery Production Equipment Manufacturing 

[…]

To:

[…]

Part of the MARKET WATCH for the Solactive China Electric Vehicle Index which includes companies from the following subindustries based on FactSet Revere Business Industry
Classification System (“RBICS”):
Alternative Energy Car Manufacturers, Multi-Type Car Manufacturers, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Battery Charging Equipment Manufacturing, Electric Vehicle Batteries Manufacturing, Mixed Heavy-Duty and High-End Batteries Makers, Heavy-Duty Industrial Batteries Manufacturing, Traditional Vehicle Batteries Manufacturing, Electric Motors Manufacturing, Lithium Compounds Manufacturing, Lithium Ore Mining, Africa Lithium Ore Mining, Pan-Americas Lithium Ore Mining, Latin America Lithium Ore Mining, North America Lithium Ore Mining, Pan-Asia/Pacific Lithium Ore Mining, Australia including Oceania Lithium Ore Mining, Rest of Asia/Pacific Lithium Ore Mining, Europe Lithium Ore Mining, Diversified Lithium Ore Mining Consumer Batteries Manufacturing, Other Industrial Electrical Product Manufacturing, Multi-Industry-Specific Factory Machinery Makers, Electronic Materials Manufacturing, Consumer Electronics Accessories Manufacturing, Diversified Specialty/Performance Chemicals Makers, General Factory Automation Makers, Powertrain Manufacturing, Motorcycle Manufacturing, Power Transmission and Distribution Products, Test, Measurement and Metrology Equipment Makers, Other Interconnect Components, Diversified Industrial Manufacturing, Automotive and Marine Electronics Manufacturing, Auto Interior Comfort/Safety/Electronics Products, General and Mixed-Type Software, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Products, Chassis and Body Manufacturing, Pan-Powertrain and Chassis Manufacturing, Film Passive Capacitor Electronic Components, Other Specialty and Performance Chemicals Makers, Other Organic Chemical Manufacturers, Other Discrete Semiconductors, Rail Equipment Manufacturers

[…]

Adding to Section 6. DEFINITIONS:

“MARKET WATCH” is an announcement of a list of companies/securities which are intended to contribute to the creation of the Index Universe. It is compiled by all companies deemed to have their operational focus in line with the Scope of the Index. The Market Watch will be officially published and communicated on the Solactive website ten to five Business Days before the Selection Day and may be subject to updates.

Solactive Global Technology Leaders:

Adding to Section 4. DEFINITIONS:

“MARKET WATCH” is an announcement of a list of companies/securities which are intended to contribute to the creation of the Index Universe. It is compiled by all companies deemed to have their operational focus in line with the Scope of the Index. The Market Watch will be officially published and communicated on the Solactive website ten to five Business Days before the Selection Day and may be subject to updates.

Defined terms used in this announcement, but not defined herein, have the meaning assigned to them in the respective index guideline of the Affected Indices. The amended version of the index guideline will be available on the effective date.