SSE 50 China Tracker a Sub-Fund of the World Index Shares Etfs
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W.I.S.E. – SSE 50 China Tracker® a sub-fund of the World Index Shares ETFs (stock code : 03024) PROSPECTUS 30 October 2015 IMPORTANT : If you are in doubt about the contents of this Prospectus, you should seek independent professional financial advice. The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“SEHK”), the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) and the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this Prospectus, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this Prospectus. i IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS Investors should note that an investment in the W.I.S.E. – SSE 50 China Tracker® (the “Sub-Fund”) is not the same as an investment in the underlying A Shares of the SSE 50 Index. At present, the Sub-Fund invests, and has direct access to, certain eligible A Shares via the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (as defined in “Definition” section on page 10). The Sub-Fund’s returns may deviate from the SSE 50 Index due to factors such as the need for the Manager to adopt a representative sampling strategy, the fees and expenses of the Sub-Fund and currency conversion costs caused by the fact that the price of the constituent stocks of the SSE 50 Index is denominated in RMB whilst the base currency of the Sub-Fund may be in Hong Kong dollars. Investors’ attention is drawn to the “Investment Strategy of the Sub-Fund” section on pages 15 to 16. Investors should also read the “Risk Factors” section on pages 16 to 29 carefully. It is possible that the Units in the Sub-Fund may trade at a premium or at a discount to the Net Asset Value of the Units. Investors’ attention is drawn to paragraph (p) of the “Risk Factors” section on page 25. On 14 November 2014, the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, the State Administration of Taxation of the PRC and the CSRC issued “Caishui [2014] No. 79 - The Circular Concerning the issue of temporary exemption from the imposition of capital gain tax arising from gains from the transfer of equity investment assets such as PRC domestic stocks by QFII and RQFII” (the “PRC CGT Circular”) along with “Caishui [2014] No. 81 - The Circular on Issues Relating to the Tax Policy of the Pilot Inter-connected Mechanism for Trading on the Shanghai and Hong Kong Stock Markets” (the “PRC Tax Policy for Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Circular”). Pursuant to the PRC CGT Circular, effective from 17 November 2014, capital gains derived by a QFII or RQFII from dealings in A Shares are exempt from enterprise income tax; such exemption, however, will not apply to capital gains derived by a QFII or RQFII from transactions prior to 17 November 2014. Pursuant to the PRC Tax Policy for Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Circular, effective from 17 November 2014, Hong Kong market investors, both enterprises and individuals, investing in A Shares via Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, are exempt from income tax on capital gains derived from the sales of A Shares traded in the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Accordingly, (i) from 17 November 2014 onwards until further notice, the Sub-Fund would not set aside any provision for Capital Gain Tax derived from the gains from dealings in A Shares by a QFII in relation to the underlying A Shares to which an A Share access product (“AXP”) was linked (in the case where the Sub-Fund previously invested in A Shares through AXPs when it was a synthetic ETF) or by the Sub-Fund in investing in A Shares via the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect; and (ii) a QFII in relation to the underlying A Shares to which an AXP (previously acquired by the Sub-Fund when it was a synthetic ETF) was linked would be subject to tax on gains from dealings in A Shares derived up to and including 14 November 2014. The QFII would pass on the liability of such taxes to the Sub-Fund. In other words, the Sub-Fund would be the ultimate party which bears the tax liability of the QFII in relation to the underlying A Shares. In respect of the Sub-Fund’s previous investment in the AXPs (when it was a synthetic ETF) up to and including 14 November 2014, the Sub-Fund or the AXP issuer (depending on the tax arrangement between the Sub-Fund and the relevant AXP issuer) has set aside a provision of 10% to meet the Capital Gain Tax ii liability derived from the gains from dealings in A Shares by a QFII in relation to which an AXP (previously acquired by the Sub-Fund when it was a synthetic ETF) was linked. The Manager will assess the Capital Gain Tax provision approach on an on-going basis. Should the PRC tax policies in respect of the Capital Gain Tax change, the Manager may decide to set aside provision to meet any potential Capital Gain Tax liability in the future. Also, a QFII in relation to the underlying A Shares to which an AXP (previously acquired by the Sub-Fund when it was a synthetic ETF) was linked, and the Sub-Fund in investing in A Shares directly via the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, would be subject to a Distribution Tax of 10% on all cash dividends payment or cash proceeds which were referable to dividends or distributions arising from the A Shares. This Distribution Tax is levied by the PRC tax authority and deducted and withheld by the relevant PRC companies who issued the relevant A Shares from the amount of dividends or distributions paid by such PRC companies. The Sub-Fund is the ultimate party that bears this Distribution Tax. It may be possible for tax treaty residents to apply for exemption of Capital Gain Tax or reduction in Distribution Tax under applicable tax treaties and seek a tax refund. Any future changes in the taxation policies in respect of the Sub-Fund's investment in A Shares in the PRC will impact on the Sub-Fund’s returns. Investors’ attention is drawn to paragraphs (q) of “Risk Factors” section on pages 25 to 27. This Prospectus has been prepared in connection with the offer in Hong Kong of Units in the Sub-Fund, a sub-fund under the umbrella fund, World Index Shares ETFs (the “Fund”), and managed by BOCI-Prudential Asset Management Limited (the “Manager”). The Manager accepts full responsibility for the information contained in this Prospectus as being accurate at the date of publication and confirms, having made all reasonable enquiries, that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as at the date of publication, there are no other facts the omission of which would make any statement in this Prospectus misleading. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus or the latest available Product Key Facts Statement nor the offer or issue of Units in the Sub-Fund shall under any circumstances constitute a representation that the information contained in this Prospectus is correct as of any time subsequent to such date. This Prospectus and the Product Key Facts Statement may from time to time be updated. Intending applicants for Units of the Sub-Fund should ask the Manager if any supplements to this Prospectus or any later Prospectus or later Product Key Facts Statement have been issued. Investors should note that any amendment or addendum to this Prospectus and/or the Product Key Facts Statement will only be posted on the Manager’s website (www.boci-pru.com.hk/english/etf/intro.aspx (for English), or www.boci-pru.com.hk/chinese/etf/intro.aspx (for Chinese)). Distribution of this Prospectus must be accompanied by a copy of the latest available Product Key Facts Statement, the latest available annual report and accounts of the Fund and any subsequent interim report. Units are offered on the basis only of the information contained in this Prospectus, the latest available Product Key Facts Statement, and (where applicable) the above- mentioned annual reports and accounts and interim reports. Any information given or representations made by any dealer, salesman or other person and (in either case) not contained in this Prospectus or the latest available Product Key Facts Statement should be regarded as unauthorized and accordingly must not be relied upon. iii The Fund and the Sub-Fund have been authorized by the SFC in Hong Kong. SFC authorization is not a recommendation or endorsement of the Fund or the Sub-Fund, nor does it guarantee the commercial merits of the Fund or the Sub-Fund or their performance. It does not mean the Fund or the Sub-Fund is suitable for all investors nor is it an endorsement of the Fund or the Sub-Fund’s suitability for any particular investor or classes of investor. The SFC takes no responsibility for the financial soundness of the Fund and the Sub-Fund or for the accuracy of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this Prospectus. No action has been taken to permit an offering of units or the distribution of this Prospectus (or any Product Key Facts Statement) in any jurisdiction other than Hong Kong where action would be required for such purposes. Accordingly, this Prospectus and the Product Key Facts Statement may not be used for the purpose of an offer or solicitation in any jurisdiction or in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized.