Morgan Stanley

Plan Sponsors Continue to Adopt the MSCI US Equity Indices

Aug 1, 2006

Over USD 150 Billion Now Benchmarked to MSCI US Equity Indices

New York —

MSCI Barra, a leading provider of benchmark indices and risk management analytics products, announced today that Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) has selected the MSCI US Investable Market 2500 Index as the target benchmark for the passively managed US equity portion of its Nuclear Decommissioning Fund. State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) will continue to manage the fund.

"We are very pleased with Sempra Energy's decision to expand its use of the MSCI US Equity Indices to its Nuclear Decommissioning Fund," said Ken O'Keeffe, Executive Director at MSCI Barra. "This confirms the value that our US Equity Indices provide to asset owners who are seeking not only a precise representation of the US equity market but also a replicable benchmark for their passive strategies."

With a growing list of clients, which includes Sempra Energy, AARP Financial, Vanguard, SSgA, Allstate, Callan Associates and others, the MSCI US Equity Indices serve as benchmarks for investments totalling more than USD 150 billion, in defined benefit pension plans, 401K plans, 529 plans, ETFs, and mutual funds.

The MSCI US Equity Indices were launched in 2003 after extensive consultations with institutional investors. The indices aim to more broadly and precisely reflect the various size and style segments of the US market.

About MSCI Barra

MSCI Barra develops and maintains equity, fixed income, multi-asset class, REIT and hedge fund indices that serve as benchmarks for an estimated USD 3 trillion on a worldwide basis. MSCI Barra's risk models and analytics products help the world's largest investors analyze, measure and manage portfolio and firm-wide investment risk. MSCI Barra is headquartered in New York, with research and commercial offices around the world. Morgan Stanley, a global financial services firm and a market leader in securities, asset management, and credit services, is the majority shareholder of MSCI Barra, and Capital Group International, Inc. is the minority shareholder.

For further information on MSCI Barra, please visit our web site at www.mscibarra.com.

 

For media enquiries please contact:
Ben Curson/Clare Rowsell, Penrose Financial, London   + 44 20 7786 4888
Ann Taylor Reed/Sam Hollander, Abernathy MacGregor, New York   + 1 212 371 5999
 
MSCI Barra Global Client Service:
Cecile Distel, MSCI Barra, New York   + 1 212 762 5790
Aatish Suchak, MSCI Barra, London   + 44 20 7618.2222
Susanna Wu, MSCI Barra, Hong Kong   + 852 2848 6740
Pavithra Ramasubban, MSCI Barra, Sydney   + 61 2 9220 9333
Masao Ikeda, MSCI Barra, Tokyo   + 813 5424 5470

 


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