Document ID: SEC-2006-0527-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Posted Date: 2006-04-24T04:00Z

[Federal Register: April 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 78)]
[Notices]               
[Page 21064-21074]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ap06-109]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-53658; File No. SR-NYSE-2006-20]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange, LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto to 
List and Trade Index-Linked Securities of Barclays Bank PLC Linked to 
the Performance of the GSCI[supreg] Total Return Index

April 14, 2006.
    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 March 13, 2006 the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the

[[Page 21065]]

Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'' or ``SEC'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. On March 27, 2006, NYSE filed 
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\3\ The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, 
as amended, from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange notes a proposed 
Supplementary Material to Rule 1301B in SR-NYSE-2006-17, which sets 
forth guidelines for specialists applicable to this product.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The NYSE proposes to list and trade Index-Linked Securities (the 
``Notes'') of Barclays Bank PLC (``Barclays'') linked to the 
performance of the GSCI[supreg] Total Return Index (the ``Index''). The 
text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web 
site (http://www.nyse.com), at the principal office of the Exchange, 

and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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 NYSE 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 IV below. The NYSE 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 the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
The Notes
    Under section 703.19 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (the 
``Manual''), the Exchange may approve for listing and trading 
securities not otherwise covered by the criteria of sections 1 and 7 of 
the Manual, provided the issue is suited for auction market trading.\4\ 
The Exchange proposes to list and trade, under section 703.19 of the 
Manual, the Notes, which are linked to the performance of the Index. 
Barclays intends to issue the Notes under the name ``iPath \SM\ 
Exchange-Traded Notes.'' \5\
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 28217 (July 18, 
1990), 55 FR 30056 (July 24, 1990) (SR-NYSE-90-30).
    \5\ Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Barclays have entered into a 
license agreement granting to Barclays a non-transferable, non-
exclusive license to use the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index[supreg] 
or any sub-indices (individually and collectively, the ``GSCI 
[supreg]'') in connection with the Notes. Goldman, Sachs & Co. or 
any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, individually or collectively, 
are referred to as the ``Index Sponsor.''
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    The Exchange believes that the Notes will conform to the initial 
listing standards for equity securities under section 703.19 of the 
Manual, as Barclays is an affiliate of Barclays PLC,\6\ an Exchange 
listed company in good standing, the Notes will have a minimum life of 
one year, the minimum public market value of the Notes at the time of 
issuance will exceed $4 million, there will be at least one million 
Notes outstanding, and there will be at least 400 holders at the time 
of issuance.
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    \6\ The issuer of the Notes, Barclays, is an affiliate of an 
Exchange-listed company (Barclays PLC) and not an Exchange-listed 
company itself. However, Barclays, though an affiliate of Barclays 
PLC, would exceed the Exchange's earnings and minimum tangible net 
worth requirements in section 102. Additionally, the Exchange states 
that the Notes when combined with the original issue price of all 
other Note offerings of the issuer that are listed on a national 
securities exchange (or association) does not exceed 25% of the 
issuer's net worth. Telephone conference between Florence E. Harmon, 
Senior Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation 
(``Division''), Commission, and John Carey, Assistant General 
Counsel, Exchange, on April 11, 2006 (``April 11 Telephone 
Conference'').
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    The Notes are a series of medium-term debt securities of Barclays 
that provide for a cash payment at maturity or upon earlier exchange at 
the holder's option, based on the performance of the Index subject to 
the adjustments described below. The principal amount of each Note is 
expected to be $50. The Notes will trade on the Exchange's equity 
trading floor, and the Exchange's existing equity trading rules will 
apply to trading in the Notes. The Notes will not have a minimum 
principal amount that will be repaid and, accordingly, payment on the 
Notes prior to or at maturity may be less than the original issue price 
of the Notes. In fact, the value of the Index must increase for the 
investor to receive at least the $50 principal amount per Note at 
maturity or upon exchange or redemption. If the value of the Index 
decreases or does not increase sufficiently to offset the investor fee 
(described below), the investor will receive less, and possibly 
significantly less, than the $50 principal amount per Note. In 
addition, holders of the Notes will not receive any interest payments 
from the Notes. The Notes are expected to have a term of 30 years. The 
Notes are not callable.\7\
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    \7\ April 11 Telephone Conference.
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    Holders who have not previously redeemed their Notes will receive a 
cash payment at maturity equal to the principal amount of their Notes 
times the index factor on the Final Valuation Date (as defined below) 
minus the investor fee on the Final Valuation Date. The ``index 
factor'' on any given day will be equal to the closing value of the 
Index on that day divided by the initial index level. The index factor 
on the Final Valuation Date will be equal to the final index level 
divided by the initial index level. The ``initial index level'' is the 
closing value of the Index on the date of issuance of the Notes (the 
``Trade Date''), and the ``final index level'' is the closing value of 
the Index on the Final Valuation Date. The investor fee is equal to 
0.75% per year times the principal amount of a holder's Notes times the 
index factor, calculated on a daily basis in the following manner: the 
investor fee on the Trade Date will equal zero. On each subsequent 
calendar day until maturity or early redemption, the investor fee will 
increase by an amount equal to 0.75% times the principal amount of a 
holder's Notes times the index factor on that day (or, if such day is 
not a trading day, the index factor on the immediately preceding 
trading day) divided by 365. The investor fee is the only fee holders 
will be charged in connection with their ownership of the Notes.
    Prior to maturity, holders may, subject to certain restrictions, 
redeem their Notes on any Redemption Date (defined below) during the 
term of the Notes provided that they present at least 50,000 Notes for 
redemption, or they act through a broker or other financial 
intermediaries (such as a bank or other financial institution not 
required to register as a broker-dealer to engage in securities 
transactions) that are willing to bundle their Notes for redemption 
with other investors' Notes. If a holder chooses to redeem such 
holder's Notes on a Redemption Date, such holder will receive a cash 
payment on such date equal to the principal amount of such holder's 
Notes times the index factor on the applicable Valuation Date minus the 
investor fee on the applicable Valuation Date. A ``Redemption Date'' is 
the third business day following a Valuation Date (other than the Final 
Valuation Date (defined below)). A ``Valuation Date'' is each Thursday 
from the first Thursday after issuance of the Notes until the last 
Thursday before maturity of the Notes (the ``Final Valuation Date'') 
inclusive (or, if such date is not a trading day,\8\

[[Page 21066]]

the next succeeding trading day), unless the calculation agent 
determines that a market disruption event, as described below, occurs 
or is continuing on that day.\9\ In that event, the Valuation Date for 
the maturity date or corresponding Redemption Date, as the case may be, 
will be the first following trading day on which the calculation agent 
determines that a market disruption event does not occur and is not 
continuing. In no event, however, will a Valuation Date be postponed by 
more than five trading days.
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    \8\ A ``trading day'' is a day on which (i) the value of the 
Index is published by the Index Sponsor, (ii) trading is generally 
conducted on the Exchange, and (iii) trading is generally conducted 
on the markets on which the futures contracts underlying the 
GSCI[supreg] are traded, in each case as determined by the 
calculation agent in its sole discretion.
    \9\ Barclays will serve as the initial calculation agent.
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    Any of the following will be a market disruption event: (i) A 
material limitation, suspension or disruption in the trading of any 
Index component that results in a failure by the trading facility on 
which the relevant contract is traded to report a daily contract 
reference price (i.e., the price of the relevant contract that is used 
as a reference or benchmark by market participants);\10\ (ii) the daily 
contract reference price for any Index component is a ``limit price,'' 
which means that the daily contract reference price for such contract 
has increased or decreased from the previous day's daily contract 
reference price by the maximum amount permitted under the applicable 
rules or procedures of the relevant trading facility; (iii) failure by 
the Index Sponsor to publish the closing value of the Index or of the 
applicable trading facility or other price source to announce or 
publish the daily contract reference price for one or more Index 
components; or (iv) any other event, if the calculation agent 
determines in its sole discretion that the event materially interferes 
with Barclays' ability or the ability of any of Barclays' affiliates to 
unwind all or a material portion of a hedge with respect to the Notes 
that Barclays or Barclays' affiliates have effected or may effect as 
described herein in connection with the sale of the Notes.\11\
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    \10\ The ``daily contract reference price'' with respect to each 
contract expiration and contract is the price of the relevant 
contract, expressed in U.S. dollars, that is generally used by 
participants in the related cash or over-the-counter market as a 
benchmark for transactions related to such contract. The daily 
contract reference price may, but is not required to, be the price 
(i) used by such trading facility or related clearing facility to 
determine the margin obligations (if any) of its members or 
participants or (ii) referred to generally as the reference, closing 
or settlement price of the relevant contract. If a trading facility 
publishes a daily settlement price for a particular contract 
expiration, such settlement price will generally serve as the daily 
contract reference price for such contract expiration unless, in the 
reasonable judgment of the Index Sponsor, in consultation with the 
Policy Committee, such settlement price does not satisfy the 
criteria set forth in this definition. The daily contract reference 
price of a contract may be determined and published either by the 
relevant trading facility or by one or more third parties.
    \11\ If a ``market disruption event'' is of more than a 
temporary nature, the Exchange will file a proposed rule change 
pursuant to Rule 19b-4 under the Act. Unless approved for continued 
trading, the Exchange would commence delisting proceedings. See 
``Continued Listing Criteria,'' infra. Telephone conference between 
Florence Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, Commission; John 
Carey, Assistant General Counsel, Exchange; and Michael Cavalier, 
Assistant General Counsel, Exchange, on April 10, 2006 (``April 10 
Telephone Conference'').
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    If a Valuation Date is postponed by five trading days, that fifth 
day will nevertheless be the date on which the value of the Index will 
be determined by the calculation agent. In such an event, the 
calculation agent will make a good faith estimate in its sole 
discretion of the value of the Index.
    To redeem their Notes, holders must instruct their broker or other 
person through whom they hold their Notes to take the following steps:
     Deliver a notice of redemption to Barclays via email by no 
later than 11 a.m. New York time on the business day prior to the 
applicable Valuation Date. If Barclays receives such notice by the time 
specified in the preceding sentence, it will respond by sending the 
holder a confirmation of redemption;
     Deliver the signed confirmation of redemption to Barclays 
via facsimile in the specified form by 4 p.m. New York time on the same 
day. Barclays must acknowledge receipt in order for the confirmation to 
be effective; and
     Transfer such holder's book-entry interest in its Notes to 
the trustee, The Bank of New York, on Barclays' behalf at or prior to 
10 a.m. New York time on the applicable Redemption Date (the third 
business day following the Valuation Date).\12\
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    \12\ April 10 Telephone Conference.
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    If holders elect to redeem their Notes, Barclays may request that 
Barclays Capital Inc. (a broker-dealer) purchase the Notes for the cash 
amount that would otherwise have been payable by Barclays upon 
redemption. In this case, Barclays will remain obligated to redeem the 
Notes if Barclays Capital Inc. fails to purchase the Notes. Any Notes 
purchased by Barclays Capital Inc. may remain outstanding.
    If an event of default occurs and the maturity of the Notes is 
accelerated Barclays will pay the default amount in respect of the 
principal of the Notes at maturity. The default amount for the Notes on 
any day will be an amount, determined by the calculation agent in its 
sole discretion, equal to the cost of having a qualified financial 
institution, of the kind and selected as described below, expressly 
assume all Barclays' payment and other obligations with respect to the 
Notes as of that day and as if no default or acceleration had occurred, 
or to undertake other obligations providing substantially equivalent 
economic value to the holders of the Notes with respect to the Notes. 
That cost will equal:
     The lowest amount that a qualified financial institution 
would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking, plus
     The reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys' 
fees, incurred by the holders of the Notes in preparing any 
documentation necessary for this assumption or undertaking.\13\
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    \13\ Additional information about the default provisions of the 
Notes is provided in the Exchange's Form 19b-4 and Barclays Bank PLC 
Registration Statement Form F-3 (333-126811), as amended by 
Amendment No. 1 on September 11, 2005.
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Indicative Value
    An intraday ``Indicative Value'' meant to approximate the intrinsic 
economic value of the Notes will be calculated and published via the 
facilities of the Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA'') every 15 
seconds throughout the NYSE trading day on each day on which the Notes 
are traded on the Exchange.\14\ Additionally, Barclays or an affiliate 
will calculate and publish the closing Indicative Value of the Notes on 
each trading day at http://www.ipathetn.com. In connection with the Notes, the 

term ``Indicative Value'' refers to the value at a given time 
determined based on the following equation:
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    \14\ The Indicative Value calculation will be provided for 
reference purposes only. It is not intended as a price or quotation, 
or as an offer or solicitation for the purchase, sale, redemption or 
termination of the Notes, nor does it reflect hedging or transaction 
costs, credit considerations, market liquidity, or bid-offer 
spreads. Published Index levels from the index sponsors may 
occasionally be subject to delay or postponement. Any such delays or 
postponements will affect the Current Index Level and therefore the 
Indicative Value of the Notes. Index levels provided by the index 
sponsors will not necessarily reflect the depth and liquidity of the 
underlying commodities markets. For this reason and others, the 
actual trading price of the Notes may be different from their 
Indicative Value.

Indicative Value = Principal Amount per Unit X (Current Index Level 
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Initial Index Level)--Current Investor Fee

where:

Principal Amount per Unit = $50.
Current Index Level = The most recent published level of the Index as 
reported by the Index Sponsor.
Initial Index Level = The Index level on the trade date for the Notes.

[[Page 21067]]

Current Investor Fee = The most recent daily calculation of the 
investor fee with respect to the Notes, determined as described above 
(which, during any trading day, will be the investor fee determined on 
the preceding calendar day).

    The Indicative Value will not reflect price changes to the price of 
an underlying commodity between the close of trading of the futures 
contract at the relevant futures exchange and the close of trading on 
the NYSE at 4 p.m. New York time.\15\ The value of the Notes may 
accordingly be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the 
NYSE and the various futures exchanges on which the futures contracts 
based on the Index commodities are traded. While the Notes will trade 
on the NYSE from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. New York time, the table below 
lists the trading hours for each of the Index components.\16\
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    \15\ April 10 Telephone Conference.
    \16\ Id.

CBOT:
  Corn....................................  10:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
  Soybeans................................  10:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
  Wheat...................................  10:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
CME:
  Feeder Cattle...........................  10:05 a.m.-2 p.m.
  Lean Hogs...............................  10:10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  Live Cattle.............................  10:05 a.m.-2 p.m.
COMEX:
  Gold....................................  8:20 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
  Silver..................................  8:25 a.m.-1:25 p.m.
CSCE:
  Coffee..................................  9:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  Cocoa...................................  8 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
  Sugar 11.......................  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
ICE Futures:
  Brent Crude Oil.........................  8 p.m.-5 p.m.
  Gas Oil.................................  8 p.m.-5 p.m.
KCBOT:
  Kansas Wheat............................  10:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
NYBOT:
  Cotton 2.......................  10:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
NYMEX:
  Heating Oil.............................  10:05 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  Natural Gas.............................  10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  Unleaded Gasoline.......................  10:05 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  WTI Crude Oil...........................  10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
LME:
  Aluminum................................  6:55 a.m.-12 p.m.
  Copper..................................  7 a.m.-12 p.m.
  Lead....................................  7:05 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
  Nickel..................................  7:15 a.m.-11:55 a.m.
  Zinc....................................  7:10 a.m.-11:55 a.m.

    While the market for futures trading for each of the Index 
commodities is open, the Indicative Value can be expected to closely 
approximate the redemption value of the Notes. However, during NYSE 
trading hours when the futures contracts have ceased trading, spreads 
and resulting premiums or discounts may widen, and therefore, increase 
the difference between the price of the Notes and their redemption 
value. The Indicative Value disseminated during NYSE trading hours 
should not be viewed as a real time update of the redemption value.
Description of the Index
    The Exchange states that all disclosure in this filing regarding 
the Index and the GSCI[supreg] is derived from publicly available 
information. The GSCI is a separate index from the Index; however, the 
value of the Index is derived from the GSCI, as described below.\17\
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    \17\ Telephone conference between Florence E. Harmon, Senior 
Special Counsel, Division, Commission, and John Carey, Assistant 
General Counsel, Exchange, on April 14, 2006 (``April 14 Telephone 
Conference with John Carey''). See also footnote 5, supra.
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    The Index was established in May 1991, and is designed to be a 
diversified benchmark for physical commodities as an asset class. The 
Index reflects the excess returns that are potentially available 
through an unleveraged investment in the contracts comprising the 
GSCI[supreg] plus the Treasury Bill rate of interest that could be 
earned on funds committed to the trading of the underlying 
contracts.\18\ The value of the Index, on any given day, reflects (i) 
the price levels of the contracts included in the GSCI[supreg] (which 
represents the value of the GSCI[supreg]); (ii) the ``contract daily 
return,'' which is the percentage change in the total dollar weight of 
the GSCI[supreg] from the previous day to the current day; and (iii) 
the Treasury Bill rate of interest that could be earned on funds 
committed to the trading of the underlying contracts.
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    \18\ The Treasury Bill rate of interest used for purposes of 
calculating the index on any day is the 91-day auction high rate for 
U.S. Treasury Bills, as reported on Telerate page 56, or any 
successor page, on the most recent of the weekly auction dates prior 
to such day.
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    Because the value of the Index reflects the futures contracts 
included in the GSCI, the Exchange below describes the index 
methodology for the GSCI. The GSCI[supreg], upon which the Index is 
based, is a proprietary index on a production-weighted basket of 
futures contracts on physical commodities traded on trading facilities 
in major industrialized countries.\19\ The GSCI[supreg] is designed to 
be a measure of the performance over time of the markets for these 
commodities. The only commodities represented in the GSCI[supreg] are 
those physical commodities on which active and liquid contracts are 
traded on trading facilities in major industrialized countries. The 
commodities represented in the GSCI[supreg] are weighted, on a 
production basis, to reflect their relative significance (in the view 
of the Index Sponsor, in consultation with the Policy Committee) to the 
world economy. The fluctuations in the value of the GSCI[supreg] are 
intended generally to correlate with changes in the prices of such 
physical commodities in global markets. The value of the GSCI[supreg] 
has been normalized such that its hypothetical level on January 2, 1970 
was 100. Futures contracts on the GSCI[supreg], and options on such 
futures contracts, are currently listed for trading on the Chicago 
Mercantile Exchange.
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    \19\ Futures contracts on physical commodities and commodity 
indices are traded on regulated futures exchanges. Futures exchanges 
in the United States are subject to regulation by the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'') and futures markets outside 
the United States are generally subject to regulation by comparable 
regulatory authorities.
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    The contracts to be included in the GSCI[supreg] at any given time 
must satisfy several sets of eligibility criteria established by the 
Index Sponsor.\20\ First, the Index Sponsor identifies those contracts 
that meet the general criteria for eligibility. Second, the contract 
volume and weight requirements are applied and the number of contracts 
is determined, which serves to reduce the list of eligible contracts. 
At that point, the list of designated contracts for the relevant period 
is complete. The composition of the GSCI[supreg] is also reviewed on a 
monthly basis by the Index Sponsor.\21\
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    \20\ Goldman, Sachs & Co. is the Index Sponsor for both the 
Index and the GSCI. Telephone conference between Florence E. Harmon, 
Senior Special Counsel, Division, Commission, and Michael Cavalier, 
Assistant General Counsel, Exchange, on April 13, 2006 (``April 13 
Telephone Conference'').
    \21\ The Index Sponsor, Goldman, Sachs & Co., who calculates the 
GSCI and thus the Index, is a broker-dealer. The Index Sponsor has 
represented to Barclays that it will (i) implement and maintain 
procedures reasonably designed to prevent the use and dissemination 
by officers and directors of the Index Sponsor, in violation of 
applicable laws, rules and regulations, of material non-public 
information relating to changes in the composition or method of 
computation or calculation of the Index and (ii) periodically check 
the application of such procedures as they relate to officers and 
directors of the Index Sponsor directly responsible for such 
changes. In addition, the Policy Committee members (as described 
below) are subject to written policies with respect to material, 
non-public information. Telephone conversation between Florence 
Harmon, Senior Special Counsel, Division, Commission; John Carey, 
Assistant General Counsel, Exchange; and Michael Cavalier, Assistant 
General Counsel, Exchange, on April 14, 2006 (``April 14 Telephone 
Conference with John Carey and Michael Cavalier'').
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    Set forth below is a summary of the composition of and the 
methodology used to calculate the GSCI[supreg] as of this date. The 
methodology for determining the composition and weighting of the 
GSCI[supreg] and for calculating its value is subject to modification 
in a manner consistent with the purposes of the GSCI[supreg], as 
described below. The Index Sponsor makes the official calculations of 
the GSCI[supreg]. At present, this calculation is performed 
continuously

[[Page 21068]]

and is reported on Reuters page GSCI[supreg] (or any successor or 
replacement page) and will be updated on Reuters at least every 15 
seconds during business hours on each day on which the offices of the 
Index Sponsor in New York City are open for business (a ``GSCI Business 
Day'').\22\ The settlement price for the Index is also reported on 
Reuters page GSCI[supreg] (or any successor or replacement page) on 
each GSCI Business Day between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., New York time.
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    \22\ Additionally, the intraday index value of the Index will be 
updated and disseminated at least every 15 seconds by a major market 
data vendor during the time the Notes trade on the Exchange. April 
13 Telephone Conference. The intraday information with respect to 
the Index reported on Reuters is derived solely from trading prices 
on the principal trading markets for the various Index components. 
For example, the Index currently includes contracts traded on ICE 
Futures (``ICE'') and the London Metal Exchange (the ``LME''), both 
of which are located in London and consequently have trading days 
that end several hours before those of the U.S.-based markets on 
which the rest of the Index components are traded. During the 
portion of the New York trading day when ICE and LME are closed, the 
last reported prices for Index Components traded on ICE or LME are 
used to calculate the intraday Index information disseminated on 
Reuters.
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    In light of the rapid development of electronic trading platforms 
and the potential for significant shifts in liquidity between 
traditional exchanges and such platforms, the Index Sponsor has 
undertaken a review of both the procedures for determining the 
contracts to be included in the GSCI[supreg], as well as the procedures 
for evaluating available liquidity on an intra-year basis in order to 
provide GSCI[supreg] market participants with efficient access to new 
sources of liquidity and the potential for more efficient trading. In 
particular, the Index Sponsor is examining the conditions under which 
an instrument traded on an electronic platform, rather than a 
traditional futures contract traded on a traditional futures exchange, 
should be permitted to be included in the GSCI[supreg] and how the 
composition of the GSCI[supreg] should respond to rapid shifts in 
liquidity between such instruments and contracts currently included in 
the GSCI[supreg]. Any changes made to the GSCI[supreg] composition or 
methodology as a result of this examination will be announced by the 
Index Sponsor and provided in a written statement to any investor upon 
request to the calculation agent. Barclays will not have any obligation 
to notify holders of the Notes if the Index Sponsor changes the 
composition of the GSCI[supreg], the methodology of calculating the 
value of the GSCI[supreg] or any other policies of the Index Sponsor 
relevant to the Index. However, the Exchange would have to file a 
proposed rule change pursuant to Rule 19b-4,\23\ seeking Commission 
approval to continue trading the Notes. Unless approved for continued 
listing, the Exchange would commence delisting proceedings.\24\
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    \23\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \24\ See ``Continued Listing Criteria,'' infra. April 10 
Telephone Conference.
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Index Disruptions
    The Index is determined, calculated and maintained solely by the 
Index Sponsor. If the Index Sponsor discontinues publication of the 
Index and it or any other person or entity publishes a substitute index 
that the calculation agent determines is comparable to the Index and 
approves as a successor index then the calculation agent will determine 
the value of the Index on the applicable Valuation Date and the amount 
payable at maturity or upon redemption by reference to such successor 
index.
    If the calculation agent determines that the publication of the 
Index is discontinued and that there is no successor index, or that the 
closing value of the Index is not available because of a market 
disruption event (as defined below) or for any other reason, on the 
date on which the value of the Index is required to be determined, or 
if for any other reason the Index is not available to Barclays or the 
calculation agent on the relevant date, the calculation agent will 
determine the amount payable by a computation methodology that the 
calculation agent determines will as closely as reasonably possible 
replicate the Index.\25\
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    \25\ In such case, the Exchange will file a proposed rule change 
pursuant to Rule 19b-4 under the Act. Unless approved for continued 
trading, the Exchange would commence delisting proceedings. See 
``Continued Listing Criteria,'' infra. April 10 Telephone 
Conference.
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    If the calculation agent determines that the Index, the Index 
components or the method of calculating the Index has been changed at 
any time in any respect--including any addition, deletion or 
substitution and any reweighting or rebalancing of Index components, 
and whether the change is made by the Index Sponsor under its existing 
policies or following a modification of those policies, is due to the 
publication of a successor index, is due to events affecting one or 
more of the Index components, or is due to any other reason--then the 
calculation agent will be permitted (but not required) to make such 
adjustments to the Index or method of calculating the Index as it 
believes are appropriate to ensure that the value of the Index used to 
determine the amount payable on the maturity date or upon redemption is 
equitable.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange states that all determinations and adjustments to be 
made by the calculation agent with respect to the value of the Index 
and the amount payable at maturity or upon redemption or otherwise 
relating to the value of the Index may be made by the calculation agent 
in its sole discretion.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Policy Committee
    The Index Sponsor has established a Policy Committee to assist it 
with the operation of the GSCI[supreg].\28\ The principal purpose of 
the Policy Committee is to advise the Index Sponsor with respect to, 
among other things, the calculation of the GSCI[supreg], the 
effectiveness of the GSCI[supreg] as a measure of commodity futures 
market performance and the need for changes in the composition or the 
methodology of the GSCI[supreg]. The Policy Committee acts solely in an 
advisory and consultative capacity. All decisions with respect to the 
composition, calculation and operation of the GSCI[supreg] and the 
Index are made by the Index Sponsor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ The component selections for the GSCI would obviously 
affect the Index. Telephone conference between Florence Harmon, 
Senior Special Counsel, Division, Commission, and Michael Cavalier, 
Assistant General Counsel, Exchange, on April 12, 2006 (``April 12 
Telephone Conference'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Policy Committee generally meets in October of each year. Prior 
to the meeting, the Index Sponsor determines the contracts to be 
included in the GSCI[supreg] for the following calendar year and the 
weighting factors for each commodity. The Policy Committee's members 
receive the proposed composition of the GSCI[supreg] in advance of the 
meeting and discuss the composition at the meeting. The Index Sponsor 
also consults the Policy Committee on any other significant matters 
with respect to the calculation and operation of the GSCI[supreg]. The 
Policy Committee may, if necessary or practicable, meet at other times 
during the year as issues arise that warrant its consideration.
    The Policy Committee currently consists of eight persons, three of 
whom are employees of the Index Sponsor or its affiliates and five of 
whom are not affiliated with the Index Sponsor.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ The current members of the Policy Committee who are 
affiliated with the Index Sponsor are Peter O'Hagan, Steven Strongin 
and Laurie Ferber, each of whom is a Managing Director of Goldman, 
Sachs & Co. The current non-affiliated members and their 
affiliations are: Richard Redding (Chicago Mercantile Exchange), 
Kenneth A. Froot (finance professor at the Harvard Business School), 
Dan Kelly (Harvard Management Company), Jelle Beenen (PGGM), and 
Tham Chiew Kit (GIC). As stated, the Policy Committee are subject to 
written policies with respect to material, non-public information. 
Telephone conference between Florence Harmon, Senior Special 
Counsel, Division, Commission, and Michael Cavalier, Assistant 
General Counsel, Exchange, on April 14, 2006 (``April 14 Telephone 
Conference with Michael Cavalier'').

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 21069]]

Composition of the GSCI[supreg]
    In order to be included in the GSCI[supreg], a contract must 
satisfy the following eligibility criteria:
    (1) The contract must:
     Be in respect of a physical commodity (rather than a 
financial commodity);
     Have a specified expiration or term, or provide in some 
other manner for delivery or settlement at a specified time, or within 
a specified period, in the future; and
     At any given point in time, be available for trading at 
least five months prior to its expiration or such other date or time 
period specified for delivery or settlement.
    (2) The commodity must be the subject of a contract that:
     Is denominated in U.S. dollars; and
     Is traded on or through an exchange, facility or other 
platform (referred to as a ``trading facility'') that has its principal 
place of business or operations in a country which is a member of the 
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development \30\ and:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 
has 30 member countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech 
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, 
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, 
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, 
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United 
States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Makes price quotations generally available to its members 
or participants (and, if the Index Sponsor is not such a member or 
participant, to the Index Sponsor) in a manner and with a frequency 
that is sufficient to provide reasonably reliable indications of the 
level of the relevant market at any given point in time;
     Makes reliable trading volume information available to the 
Index Sponsor with at least the frequency required by the Index Sponsor 
to make the monthly determinations;
     Accepts bids and offers from multiple participants or 
price providers; and
     Is accessible by a sufficiently broad range of 
participants.
    (3) The daily contract reference price for the relevant contract 
generally must have been available on a continuous basis for at least 
two years prior to the proposed date of inclusion in the GSCI[supreg]. 
In appropriate circumstances, however, the Index Sponsor may determine 
that a shorter time period is sufficient or that historical daily 
contract reference prices for such contract may be derived from daily 
contract reference prices for a similar or related contract. The daily 
contract reference price may be (but is not required to be) the 
settlement price or other similar price published by the relevant 
trading facility for purposes of margining transactions or for other 
purposes.
    (4) At and after the time a contract is included in the 
GSCI[supreg], the daily contract reference price for such contract must 
be published between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., New York time, on each 
GSCI[supreg] Business Day relating to such contract by the trading 
facility on or through which it is traded and must generally be 
available to all members of, or participants in, such facility (and, if 
the Index Sponsor is not such a member or participant, to the Index 
Sponsor) on the same day from the trading facility or through a 
recognized third-party data vendor. Such publication must include, at 
all times, daily contract reference prices for at least one expiration 
or settlement date that is five months or more from the date the 
determination is made, as well as for all expiration or settlement 
dates during such five-month period.
    (5) Volume data with respect to such contract must be available for 
at least the three months immediately preceding the date on which the 
determination is made.
    (6) A contract that is not included in the GSCI[supreg] at the time 
of determination and that is based on a commodity that is not 
represented in the GSCI[supreg] at such time must, in order to be added 
to the GSCI[supreg] at such time, have a total dollar value traded, 
over the relevant period, as the case may be and annualized, of at 
least U.S. $15 billion. The total dollar value traded is the dollar 
value of the total quantity of the commodity underlying transactions in 
the relevant contract over the period for which the calculation is 
made, based on the average of the daily contract reference prices on 
the last day of each month during the period.
    (7) A contract that is already included in the GSCI[supreg] at the 
time of determination and that is the only contract on the relevant 
commodity included in the GSCI[supreg] must, in order to continue to be 
included in the GSCI[supreg] after such time, have a total dollar value 
traded, over the relevant period, as the case may be and annualized, of 
at least U.S. $5 billion and at least U.S. $10 billion during at least 
one of the three most recent annual periods used in making the 
determination.
    (8) A contract that is not included in the GSCI[supreg] at the time 
of determination and that is based on a commodity on which there are 
one or more contracts already included in the GSCI[supreg] at such time 
must, in order to be added to the GSCI[supreg] at such time, have a 
total dollar value traded, over the relevant period, as the case may be 
and annualized, of at least U.S. $30 billion.
    (9) A contract that is already included in the GSCI[supreg] at the 
time of determination and that is based on a commodity on which there 
are one or more contracts already included in the GSCI[supreg] at such 
time must, in order to continue to be included in the GSCI[supreg] 
after such time, have a total dollar value traded, over the relevant 
period, as the case may be and annualized, of at least U.S. $10 billion 
and at least U.S. $20 billion during at least one of the three most 
recent annual periods used in making the determination.
    (10) A contract that is already included in the GSCI[supreg] at the 
time of determination must, in order to continue to be included after 
such time, have a reference percentage dollar weight of at least 0.10%. 
The reference percentage dollar weight of a contract is determined by 
multiplying the CPW (defined below) of a contract by the average of its 
daily contract reference prices on the last day of each month during 
the relevant period. These amounts are summed for all contracts 
included in the GSCI[supreg] and each contract's percentage of the 
total is then determined.
    (11) A contract that is not included in the GSCI[supreg] at the 
time of determination must, in order to be added to the GSCI[supreg] at 
such time, have a reference percentage dollar weight of at least 1.00%.
    (12) In the event that two or more contracts on the same commodity 
satisfy the eligibility criteria, such contracts will be included in 
the GSCI[supreg] in the order of their respective total quantity traded 
during the relevant period (determined as the total quantity of the 
commodity underlying transactions in the relevant contract), with the 
contract having the highest total quantity traded being included first, 
provided that no further contracts will be included if such inclusion 
would result in the portion of the GSCI[supreg] attributable to such 
commodity exceeding a particular level. If additional contracts could 
be included with respect to several commodities at the same time, that 
procedure is first applied with respect to the commodity that has the 
smallest portion of the GSCI[supreg] attributable to it at

[[Page 21070]]

the time of determination. Subject to the other eligibility criteria 
set forth above, the contract with the highest total quantity traded on 
such commodity will be included. Before any additional contracts on the 
same commodity or on any other commodity are included, the portion of 
the GSCI[supreg] attributable to all commodities is recalculated. The 
selection procedure described above is then repeated with respect to 
the contracts on the commodity that then has the smallest portion of 
the GSCI[supreg] attributable to it.
    Currently, 24 contracts meet the eligibility requirement for 
inclusion on the GSCI[supreg].

  Contracts Included in the GSCI[supreg] for 2006, as of March 2, 2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         2006 Reference
        Trading facility               Commodity          price dollar
                                       (contract)       weight (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBOT............................  Wheat (Chicago                    2.51
                                   Wheat).
KCBOT...........................  Wheat (Kansas                     1.00
                                   Wheat).
CBOT............................  Corn...............               2.35
CBOT............................  Soybeans...........               1.53
CSCE............................  Coffee ``C''.......               0.73
CSCE............................  Sugar 11..               2.06
CSCE............................  Cocoa..............               0.19
NYBOT...........................  Cotton 2..               0.93
CME.............................  Lean Hogs..........               1.49
CME.............................  Cattle (Live                      2.50
                                   Cattle).
CME.............................  Cattle (Feeder                     .68
                                   Cattle).
NYMEX...........................  Oil (No. 2 Heating                8.28
                                   Oil, NY).
ICE.............................  Oil (Gasoil).......               4.49
NYMEX...........................  Oil (Unleaded Reg                 7.55
                                   Gas, NY).
NYMEX...........................  Oil (WTI Crude Oil)              30.59
ICE.............................  Oil (Brent Crude                 14.79
                                   Oil).
NYMEX...........................  Natural Gas........               7.98
LME.............................  High Grade Primary                3.18
                                   Aluminum.
LME.............................  Copper--Grade A....               3.09
LME.............................  Standard Lead......               0.33
LME.............................  Primary Nickel.....               0.70
LME.............................  Special High Grade                0.88
                                   Zinc.
COMEX...........................  Gold...............               1.94
COMEX...........................  Silver.............              0.24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Used by permission.

    The quantity of each of the contracts included in the GSCI[supreg] 
is determined on the basis of a five-year average (referred to as the 
``world production average'') of the production quantity of the 
underlying commodity as published by the United Nations Statistical 
Yearbook, the Industrial Commodity Statistics Yearbook and other 
official sources. However, if a commodity is primarily a regional 
commodity, based on its production, use, pricing, transportation or 
other factors, the Index Sponsor may calculate the weight of such 
commodity based on regional, rather than world, production data.
    The five-year moving average is updated annually for each commodity 
included in the GSCI[supreg], based on the most recent five-year period 
(ending approximately two years prior to the date of calculation and 
moving backwards) for which complete data for all commodities is 
available. The contract production weights (the ``CPW'') used in 
calculating the GSCI[supreg] are derived from world or regional 
production averages, as applicable, of the relevant commodities, and 
are calculated based on the total quantity traded for the relevant 
contract and the world or regional production average, as applicable, 
of the underlying commodity.
    However, if the volume of trading in the relevant contract, as a 
multiple of the production levels of the commodity, is below specified 
thresholds, the CPW of the contract is reduced until the threshold is 
satisfied. This is designed to ensure that trading in each such 
contract is sufficiently liquid relative to the production of the 
commodity.
    In addition, the Index Sponsor performs this calculation on a 
monthly basis and, if the multiple of any contract is below the 
prescribed threshold, the composition of the GSCI[supreg] is 
reevaluated, based on the criteria and weighting procedure described 
above. This procedure is undertaken to allow the GSCI[supreg] to shift 
from contracts that have lost substantial liquidity into more liquid 
contracts during the course of a given year. As a result, it is 
possible that the composition or weighting of the GSCI[supreg] will 
change on one or more of these monthly Valuation Dates. In addition, 
regardless of whether any changes have occurred during the year, the 
Index Sponsor reevaluates the composition of the GSCI[supreg] at the 
conclusion of each year, based on the above criteria. Other commodities 
that satisfy such criteria, if any, will be added to the GSCI[supreg]. 
Commodities included in the GSCI[supreg] which no longer satisfy such 
criteria, if any, will be deleted.
    The Index Sponsor also determines whether modifications in the 
selection criteria or the methodology for determining the composition 
and weights of and for calculating the GSCI[supreg] are necessary or 
appropriate in order to assure that the GSCI[supreg] represents a 
measure of commodity market performance. The Index Sponsor has the 
discretion to make any such modifications.
Contract Expirations
    Because the GSCI[supreg] is comprised of actively traded contracts 
with scheduled expirations, it can only be calculated by reference to 
the prices of contracts for specified expiration, delivery or 
settlement periods, referred to as ``contract expirations.'' The 
contract expirations included in the GSCI[supreg] for each commodity 
during a given year are designated by the Index Sponsor, provided that 
each such contract must be an ``active contract.'' An ``active 
contract'' for this purpose is a liquid, actively traded contract 
expiration, as defined or identified by the relevant trading facility 
or, if no such definition or identification is provided by the relevant 
trading facility, as defined by standard custom and practice in the 
industry. The relative liquidity of the various active contracts is one 
of the factors that may be taken into consideration in determining 
which of them the Index Sponsor includes in the GSCI (and thus the 
Index).
    If a trading facility deletes one or more contract expirations, the 
GSCI[supreg] will be calculated during the remainder of the year in 
which such deletion occurs on the basis of the remaining contract 
expirations designated by the Index Sponsor. If a trading facility 
ceases trading in all contract expirations relating to a particular 
contract, the Index Sponsor may designate a replacement contract on the 
commodity. The replacement contract must satisfy the eligibility 
criteria for inclusion in the GSCI[supreg]. To the extent practicable, 
the replacement will be effected during the next monthly review of the 
composition of the index. If that timing is not practicable, the Index 
Sponsor will determine the date of the replacement and will consider a 
number of factors, including the differences between the existing 
contract and the replacement contract with respect to contractual 
specifications and contract expirations.
Value of the GSCI[supreg]
    The value of the GSCI[supreg] on any given day is equal to the 
total dollar weight of the GSCI[supreg] divided by a normalizing 
constant that assures the continuity of the GSCI[supreg] over time. The 
total dollar weight of the GSCI[supreg] is the sum of the dollar weight 
of each index component. The dollar weight of each such index component 
on any given day is equal to:
     The daily contract reference price,

[[Page 21071]]

     Multiplied by the appropriate CPWs, and
     During a roll period, the appropriate ``roll weights'' 
(discussed below).
    The daily contract reference price used in calculating the dollar 
weight of each index component on any given day is the most recent 
daily contract reference price made available by the relevant trading 
facility, except that the daily contract reference price for the most 
recent prior day will be used if the exchange is closed or otherwise 
fails to publish a daily contract reference price on that day. In 
addition, if the trading facility fails to make a daily contract 
reference price available or publishes a daily contract reference price 
that, in the reasonable judgment of the Index Sponsor, reflects 
manifest error, the relevant calculation will be delayed until the 
price is made available or corrected. However, if the price is not made 
available or corrected by 4 p.m. New York time, the Index Sponsor, if 
it deems such action to be appropriate under the circumstances, will 
determine the appropriate daily contract reference price for the 
applicable futures contract in its reasonable judgment for purposes of 
the relevant GSCI[supreg] calculation.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ If such actions by the Index Sponsor are implemented on 
more than a temporary basis, the Exchange will contact the 
Commission Staff and, as necessary, file a proposed rule change 
pursuant to Rule 19b-4 seeking Commission approval to continue to 
trade the Shares. Unless approved for continued trading, the 
Exchange would commence delisting proceedings. See ``Continued 
Listing Criteria,'' infra. April 10 Telephone Conference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contract Daily Return
    The contract daily return on any given day is equal to the sum, for 
each of the commodities included in the GSCI[supreg], of the applicable 
daily contract reference price on the relevant contract multiplied by 
the appropriate CPW and the appropriate ``roll weight,'' divided by the 
total dollar weight of the GSCI[supreg] on the preceding day, minus 
one.
    The ``roll weight'' of each commodity reflects the fact that the 
positions in contracts must be liquidated or rolled forward into more 
distant contract expirations as they approach expiration. If actual 
positions in the relevant markets were rolled forward, the roll would 
likely need to take place over a period of days. Since the GSCI[supreg] 
is designed to replicate the performance of actual investments in the 
underlying contracts, the rolling process incorporated in the 
GSCI[supreg] also takes place over a period of days at the beginning of 
each month (referred to as the ``roll period''). On each day of the 
roll period, the ``roll weights'' of the first nearby contract 
expirations on a particular commodity and the more distant contract 
expiration into which it is rolled are adjusted, so that the 
hypothetical position in the contract on the commodity that is included 
in the GSCI[supreg] is gradually shifted from the first nearby contract 
expiration to the more distant contract expiration.
    If on any day during a roll period any of the following conditions 
exists, the portion of the roll that would have taken place on that day 
is deferred until the next day on which such conditions do not exist:
     No daily contract reference price is available for a given 
contract expiration;
     Any such price represents the maximum or minimum price for 
such contract month, based on exchange price limits (referred to as a 
``Limit Price'');
     The daily contract reference price published by the 
relevant trading facility reflects manifest error, or such price is not 
published by 4 p.m., New York time. In that event, the Index Sponsor 
may, but is not required to, determine a daily contract reference price 
and complete the relevant portion of the roll based on such price; 
provided, that, if the trading facility publishes a price before the 
opening of trading on the next day, the Index Sponsor will revise the 
portion of the roll accordingly; or
     Trading in the relevant contract terminates prior to its 
scheduled closing time.
    If any of these conditions exist throughout the roll period, the 
roll with respect to the affected contract, will be effected in its 
entirety on the next day on which such conditions no longer exist.
Value of the Index
    The Exchange now describes the value of the Index (as opposed to 
the above description of the GSCI) which the Notes are designed to 
track. The value of the Index on any GSCI Business Day is equal to the 
product of (1) the value of the Index on the immediately preceding GSCI 
Business Day multiplied by (2) one plus the sum of the contract daily 
return and the Treasury Bill return on the GSCI Business Day on which 
the calculation is made multiplied by (3) one plus the Treasury Bill 
return for each non-GSCI Business Day since the immediately preceding 
GSCI Business Day. The Treasury Bill return is the return on a 
hypothetical investment in the GSCI[supreg] at a rate equal to the 
interest rate on a specified U.S. Treasury Bill. The initial value of 
the GSCI[supreg] was normalized such that the hypothetical level of the 
Index on January 2, 1970 was 100.
Historical Performance
    While the following historical performance table is based on the 
selection criteria and methodology described herein, the Index was not 
actually calculated and published prior to May 1, 1991. Accordingly, 
the following table illustrates:
    (i) On a hypothetical basis, how the Index would have performed 
from January 2, 1970 to January 2, 1991 based on the selection criteria 
and methodology described above; and
    (ii) On an actual basis, how the Index has performed from January 
2, 1992 onwards.

January 2, 1970..............................................     100.00
January 4, 1971..............................................     115.78
January 3, 1972..............................................     138.90
January 2, 1973..............................................     198.45
January 2, 1974..............................................     354.32
January 2, 1975..............................................     478.50
January 2, 1976..............................................     400.02
January 3, 1977..............................................     351.05
January 3, 1978..............................................     390.02
January 2, 1979..............................................     515.25
January 2, 1980..............................................     692.40
January 2, 1981..............................................     764.66
January 4, 1982..............................................     593.61
January 3, 1983..............................................     657.98
January 3, 1984..............................................     747.23
January 3, 1985..............................................     760.67
January 2, 1986..............................................     833.67
January 2, 1987..............................................     868.83
January 4, 1988..............................................   1,105.18
January 3, 1989..............................................   1,371.33
January 2, 1990..............................................   1,937.46
January 2, 1991..............................................   2,346.03
January 2, 1992..............................................   2,304.20
January 4, 1993..............................................   2,371.27
January 3, 1994..............................................   2,111.22
January 3, 1995..............................................   2,185.21
January 2, 1996..............................................   2,711.25
January 2, 1997..............................................   3,591.15
January 2, 1998..............................................   3,019.39
January 4, 1999..............................................   1,992.32
January 3, 2000..............................................   2,766.77
January 2, 2001..............................................   4,022.43
January 2, 2002..............................................   2,891.27
January 2, 2003..............................................   3,819.38
January 2, 2004..............................................   4,520.70
January 3, 2005..............................................   5,173.25
January 3, 2006..............................................   6,729.99

    The historical performance of the Index should not be taken as an 
indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given that 
the value of the Index will increase sufficiently to cause holders of 
the Note receive a payment at maturity or upon redemption equal to or 
in excess of the principal amount of such Notes.
Continued Listing Criteria
    The Exchange prohibits the initial and/or continued listing of any 
security

[[Page 21072]]

that is not in compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Act.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3; see also 15 U.S.C. 78a.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange will delist the Notes:
     If, following the initial twelve month period from the 
date of commencement of trading of the Notes, the Notes have more than 
60 days remaining until maturity and (i) there are fewer than 50 
beneficial holders of the Notes for 30 or more consecutive trading 
days; (ii) if fewer than 50,000 Notes remain issued and outstanding; or 
(iii) if the market value of all outstanding Notes is less than 
$1,000,000;
     If the Index value ceases to be calculated or available 
during the time the Notes trade on the Exchange on at least every 15 
second basis through one or more major market data vendors; \33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ The Exchange confirmed that the Index value (along with the 
GSCI index value) will be disseminated at least every 15 seconds by 
one or more major market data vendors during the time the Notes 
trade on the Exchange. The Exchange also confirmed these indexes 
have daily settlement values that are widely disclosed. April 13 
Telephone Conference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     If, during the time the Notes trade on the Exchange, the 
Indicative Value ceases to be available on a 15 second delayed basis; 
or
     If such other event shall occur or condition exists which 
in the opinion of the Exchange makes further dealings on the Exchange 
inadvisable.
    Additionally, the Exchange will file a proposed rule change 
pursuant to Rule 19b-4 under the Act \34\ seeking approval to continue 
trading the Notes and unless approved, the Exchange will commence 
delisting the Notes if:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The Index Sponsor substantially changes either the Index 
component selection methodology or the weighting methodology;
     If a new component is added to the Index (or pricing 
information is used for a new or existing component) that constitutes 
more than 10% of the weight of the Index with whose principal trading 
market the Exchange does not have a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement; \35\ or
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ April 10 Telephone Conference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     If a successor or substitute index is used in connection 
with the Notes. The filing will address, among other things the listing 
and trading characteristics of the successor or substitute index and 
the Exchange's surveillance procedures applicable thereto.

Trading Rules

    The Exchange's existing equity trading rules will apply to trading 
of the Notes. The Notes will trade between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4 
p.m. New York time and will be subject to the equity margin rules of 
the Exchange.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ See NYSE Rule 431.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Trading Halts
    The Exchange will cease trading the Notes if there is a halt or 
disruption in the dissemination of the Index value or the Indicative 
Value.\37\ The Exchange will also cease trading the Notes if a ``market 
disruption event'' occurs that is of more than a temporary nature.\38\ 
In the event that the Exchange is open for business on a day that is 
not a GSCI Business Day, the Exchange will not permit trading of the 
Notes on that day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ In the event the Index value or Indicative Value is no 
longer calculated or disseminated, the Exchange would immediately 
contact the Commission to discuss measures that may be appropriate 
under the circumstances.
    \38\ In the event a ``market disruption event'' occurs that is 
of more than a temporary nature, the Exchange would immediately 
contact the Commission to discuss measures that may be appropriate 
under the circumstances.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2) Specialist Trading Obligations
    Pursuant to new Supplementary Material .10 to NYSE Rule 1301B, the 
provisions of NYSE Rules 1300B(b) and 1301B would be applied to certain 
securities listed on the Exchange pursuant to section 703.19 (``Other 
Securities'') of the Exchange's Manual. Specifically, NYSE Rules 
1300B(b) and 1301B will apply to securities listed under section 703.19 
of the Manual where the price of such securities is based in whole or 
part on the price of (a) a commodity or commodities; (b) any futures 
contracts or other derivatives based on a commodity or commodities; or 
(c) any index based on either (a) or (b) above.
    As a result of application of NYSE Rule 1300B(b), the specialist in 
the Notes, the specialist's member organization and other specified 
persons will be prohibited under paragraph (m) of NYSE Rule 105 
Guidelines from acting as market maker or functioning in any capacity 
involving market-making responsibilities in the Index components, the 
commodities underlying the Index components, or options, futures or 
options on futures on the Index, or any other derivatives 
(collectively, ``derivative instruments'') based on the Index or based 
on any Index component or any physical commodity underlying an Index 
component. If the member organization acting as specialist in the Notes 
is entitled to an exemption under NYSE Rule 98 from paragraph (m) of 
NYSE Rule 105 Guidelines, then that member organization could act in a 
market making capacity in the Index components, the commodities 
underlying the Index components, or derivative instruments based on the 
Index or based on any Index component or commodity underlying an Index 
component, other than as a specialist in the Notes themselves, in 
another market center.
    Under NYSE Rule 1301B(a), the member organization acting as 
specialist in the Notes (1) will be obligated to conduct all trading in 
the Notes in its specialist account, (subject only to the ability to 
have one or more investment accounts, all of which must be reported to 
the Exchange), (2) will be required to file with the Exchange and keep 
current a list identifying all accounts for trading in the Index 
components or the physical commodities underlying the Index components, 
or derivative instruments based on the Index or based on the Index 
components or the physical commodities underlying the Index components, 
which the member organization acting as specialist may have or over 
which it may exercise investment discretion, and (3) will be prohibited 
from trading in the Index components or the physical commodities 
underlying the Index components, or derivative instruments based on the 
Index or based on the Index components or the physical commodities 
underlying the Index components, in an account in which a member 
organization acting as specialist, controls trading activities which 
have not been reported to the Exchange as required by NYSE Rule 1301B.
    Under NYSE Rule 1301B(b), the member organization acting as 
specialist in the Notes will be required to make available to the 
Exchange such books, records or other information pertaining to 
transactions by the member organization and other specified persons for 
its or their own accounts in the Index components or the physical 
commodities underlying the Index components, or derivative instruments 
based on the Index or based on the Index components or the physical 
commodities underlying the Index components, as may be requested by the 
Exchange. This requirement is in addition to existing obligations under 
Exchange rules regarding the production of books and records.
    Under NYSE Rule 1301B(c), in connection with trading the Index 
components or the physical commodities underlying the Index components, 
or derivative instruments based on the Index or based on the Index 
components or the physical commodities underlying the Index components, 
the specialist could not use any material nonpublic information

[[Page 21073]]

received from any person associated with a member or employee of such 
person regarding trading by such person or employee in the Index 
components or the physical commodities underlying the Index components, 
or derivative instruments based on the Index or based on the Index 
components or the physical commodities underlying the Index components.
Surveillance
    The Exchange represents that its surveillance procedures are 
adequate to properly monitor the trading of the Notes and the Index 
components. The Exchange will rely upon existing NYSE surveillance 
procedures governing equities with respect to surveillance of the 
Notes. The Exchange believes that these procedures are adequate to 
monitor Exchange trading of the Notes and to detect violations of 
Exchange rules, consequently deterring manipulation. In this regard, 
the Exchange currently has the authority under NYSE Rule 476 to request 
the Exchange specialist in the Notes to provide NYSE Regulation with 
information that the specialist uses in connection with pricing the 
Notes on the Exchange, including specialist proprietary or other 
information regarding securities, commodities, futures, options on 
futures or other derivative instruments. The Exchange believes it also 
has authority to request any other information from its members--
including floor brokers, specialists and ``upstairs'' firms--to fulfill 
its regulatory obligations.
    With regard to the Index components, the Exchange can obtain market 
surveillance information, including customer identity information, with 
respect to transactions occurring on the New York Mercantile Exchange 
(``NYMEX''), the Kansas City Board of Trade, ICE, and the LME, pursuant 
to its comprehensive information sharing agreements with each of those 
exchanges. All of the other trading venues on which current Index 
components are traded are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group 
(``ISG''), and the Exchange therefore has access to all relevant 
trading information with respect to those contracts without any further 
action being required on the part of the Exchange. All these 
surveillance arrangements constitute comprehensive surveillance sharing 
arrangements.\39\
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    \39\ April 14 Telephone Conference with John Carey.
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Suitability
    Pursuant to NYSE Rule 405, the Exchange will impose a duty of due 
diligence on its members and member firms to learn the essential facts 
relating to every customer prior to trading the Notes.\40\ With respect 
to suitability recommendations and risks, the Exchange will require 
members, member organizations and employees thereof recommending a 
transaction in the Notes: (1) To determine that such transaction is 
suitable for the customer, and (2) to have a reasonable basis for 
believing that the customer can evaluate the special characteristics 
of, and is able to bear the financial risks of, such transaction.
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    \40\ NYSE Rule 405 requires that every member, member firm or 
member corporation use due diligence to learn the essential facts 
relative to every customer and to every order or account accepted.
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Information Memorandum
    The Exchange will, prior to trading the Notes, distribute an 
information memorandum to the membership providing guidance with regard 
to member firm compliance responsibilities (including suitability 
recommendations) when handling transactions in the Notes. The 
information memorandum will note to members language in the prospectus 
used by Barclays in connection with the sale of the Notes regarding 
prospectus delivery requirements for the Notes. Specifically, in the 
initial distribution of the Notes,\41\ and during any subsequent 
distribution of the Notes, NYSE members will deliver a prospectus to 
investors purchasing from such distributors.\42\
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    \41\ The Registration Statement reserves the right to do 
subsequent distributions of these Notes.
    \42\ April 10 Telephone Conference.
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    The information memorandum will discuss the special characteristics 
and risks of trading this type of security. Specifically, the 
information memorandum, among other things, will discuss what the Notes 
are, how the Notes are redeemed, applicable Exchange rules, 
dissemination of information regarding the Index value and the 
Indicative Value, trading information and applicable suitability rules.
    The information memorandum will also notify members and member 
organizations about the procedures for redemptions of Notes and that 
Notes are not individually redeemable but are redeemable only in 
aggregations of at least 50,000 Notes.
    The information memorandum will also reference the fact that there 
is no regulated source of last sale information regarding physical 
commodities and that the SEC has no jurisdiction over the trading of 
physical commodities such as aluminum, gold, crude oil, heating oil, 
corn and wheat, or the futures contracts on which the value of the 
Notes is based, and that the CFTC has no regulatory jurisdiction over 
the trading of certain foreign based futures contracts.\43\
    The information memorandum will also discuss other exemptive or no-
action relief under the Act provided by the Commission staff.\44\
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    \43\ April 14 Telephone Conference with John Carey.
    \44\ April 10 Telephone Conference.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the basis under the Act for this 
proposed rule change is the requirement under section 6(b)(5) \45\ that 
an exchange have rules that are designed 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.
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    \45\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change, as 
amended, will 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. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may 
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to 
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the NYSE consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve such proposed rule change, or
    (B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.
    The Commission is considering granting accelerated approval of the

[[Page 21074]]

proposed rule change at the end of a 15-day comment period.\46\
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    \46\ The NYSE has requested accelerated approval of this 
proposed rule change prior to the 30th day after the date of 
publication of the notice of the filing thereof, following the 
conclusion of a 15-day comment period. April 10 Telephone 
Conference.
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change, as amended, 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 

File Number SR-NYSE-2006-20 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2006-20. 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 NYSE. 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-2006-20 and should be submitted on or before May 9, 
2006.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\47\
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    \47\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-6073 Filed 4-21-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P