Special Rules for Purchases of ETFs to Support Firms Proactively Investing in Physical and Human Capital (Invalid)

March 15, 2016

Revision:January 31, 2017
March 19, 2021

1. Purpose

The Bank shall apply the special rules with regard to the Bank's purchases of beneficiary interests in index-linked exchange-traded funds (hereinafter referred to as "ETFs") with the aim of supporting firms that are proactively investing in physical and human capital, in addition to the "Principal Terms and Conditions for Purchases of ETFs and J-REITs" (Policy Board Decision on April 4, 2013).

2. ETFs to Be Purchased

ETFs that shall have no particular obstacles for purchase among those listed on a financial instruments exchange licensed in Japan (hereinafter referred to as "a financial instruments exchange"), those managed so that they track the indices the Bank deems eligible in accordance with the eligibility criteria stipulated in Annex 1, and those satisfy the eligibility criteria stipulated in Annex 2

3. Amount to Be Purchased

1. (1) The outstanding amount of each issue of ETF purchased by the Bank shall be, in principle, up to half of the total market value of that ETF.
2. (2) The Bank shall purchase ETFs under the special rules approximately at an even pace, and the maximum amount to be purchased shall be about 300 billion yen per annum and about 1,200 million yen per business day.

4. Procedures for Eligibility Assessment

The Bank shall assess the eligibility of the indices prescribed in 2. upon request pursuant to the relevant rules of the Bank. The Bank shall then announce the eligible indices.

Supplementary Provision

The special rules shall become effective on the date determined by the Governor after the date the Bank obtains authorization from the Minister of Finance and the Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency in accordance with Article 43, Paragraph 1 and Article 61-2 of the Bank of Japan Act, Act No. 89, 1997, provided that the Bank obtains such authorization.

Annex 1 : Eligibility Criteria for Indices

Eligible indices shall satisfy all the criteria below.

1. Evaluation of Firms' Investment in Physical and Human Capital

The portfolio tracking the index shall meet all the following requirements. Additionally, each constituent of the portfolio shall meet the requirements for stocks prescribed in either (1), (2), or both, while meeting the requirement prescribed in (3).

1. (1) Investment in Physical Capital
   The portfolio shall comprise stocks (stocks which are issued by firms set up based on Japanese law, and are listed on a financial instruments exchange, hereinafter the same) of firms whose capital expenditure or research and development expenditure demonstrates an uptrend.
2. (2) Investment in Human Capital
   The portfolio shall comprise stocks of firms whose expenditure on human capital demonstrates an uptrend as observed by indicators, such as the number of employees, wages and salaries expense, or spending on career development, or those who are objectively considered to be enhancing human resource development, such as improving working environment, providing childcare support, or expanding employee training programs.
3. (3) Growth Potential
   The portfolio shall comprise stocks of firms whose investment in physical and human capital is reasonably considered to enhance their growth potential through effective corporate governance, from the perspective of the firms' sales, profitability, productivity, corporate value, or other indicators.

2. Creditworthiness and Diversification

1. (1) The portfolio shall not comprise stocks of firms which demonstrate weak creditworthiness in light of their financial conditions.
2. (2) The number of constituents and the universe from which the constituents are selected shall be sufficiently large.
3. (3) The constituents shall not be concentrated in any particular industry. Additionally, the weight of any particular constituent shall not be overly high in light of the total market value of each constituent.

3. Marketability

The constituents shall demonstrate sufficient marketability in light of transaction conditions in the stock market.

4. Other Criteria

1. (1) The index, the calculation methodology, the constituents, and the weight of each constituent shall be appropriately disclosed.
2. (2) The index provider shall have experience of providing other indices.
3. (3) The index shall not be an enhanced, leveraged, or inverse index.

Annex 2 : Eligibility Criteria for ETFs to Be Purchased

Eligible ETFs shall satisfy all the criteria below.

1. ETF Provider and Related Parties

Each of the parties who lists the ETF or handles its offering shall have experience of such activities.

2. Other Criteria

1. (1) The ETF shall be issued in exchange for baskets of actual stocks.
2. (2) The ETF's price information shall be appropriately disclosed.