Pricing Supplement dated February 23, 2007 | Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) | |
(To the Prospectus dated September 21, 2005 and | Registration No. 333-126811 | |
Prospectus Supplement dated November 1, 2006) |
$1,000,000 | ||
100% Principal Protected Notes due August 28, 2012 | ||
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Linked to the Performance of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM | |
Medium-Term Notes, Series A, No. C-022 |
Terms used in this pricing supplement, but not defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the prospectus supplement. | ||
Issuer: | Barclays Bank PLC | |
Initial Valuation Date: | February 23, 2007 | |
Issue Date: | February 28, 2007 | |
Final Valuation Date: | August 23, 2012* | |
Maturity Date: | August 28, 2012* (resulting in a term to maturity of 5.5 years) | |
Denominations: | Minimum denomination of $1,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. | |
Reference Asset: | Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM (the “Index”) (Bloomberg ticker symbol “DJAIG <Index>“). | |
Interest: | We will not pay you interest during the term of the Notes. | |
Participation Rate: | 120% | |
Payment at Maturity: | If you hold your Notes to maturity, you will receive a cash payment determined as follows:
• if the final level is less than or equal to the initial level, you will receive the principal amount of your Notes; or
• if the final level is greater than the initial level, you will receive payment per $1,000 principal amount Note calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Index Return x Participation Rate).
Your principal is only protected if you hold the Notes to maturity. | |
Index Return: | The performance of the Index from the initial level to the final level, calculated as follows:
Final Level – Initial Level Initial Level | |
Initial Level: | 173.38807624, the Index closing level on the initial valuation date. | |
Final Level: | The Index closing level on the final valuation date. | |
Calculation Agent: | Barclays Bank PLC | |
Business Day Convention: | Modified following | |
Settlement: | DTC; global notes | |
CUSIP/ISIN: | 06738C XS 3 and US06738CXS33 |
* | Subject to postponement in the event of a market disruption event and as described under “Reference Assets—Indices—Market Disruption Events for Notes with the Reference Asset Comprised of an Index or Indices” in the prospectus supplement. |
Investing in the Notes involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 of the prospectus supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-3 of this pricing supplement.
The Notes will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or quotation system. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this pricing supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of Notes. In addition, Barclays Capital Inc. or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market resale transactions in any Notes after their initial sale. Unless we or our agent informs you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a market resale transaction.
The Notes constitute our direct, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and are not deposit liabilities of Barclays Bank PLC and are not insured by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, the United Kingdom or any other jurisdiction.
Price to Public |
Agent’s Commission |
Proceeds to Barclays Bank PLC | ||||
Per Note |
100% | 3.50% | 96.50% | |||
Total |
$1,000,000 | $35,000 | $965,000 |
ADDITIONAL TERMS SPECIFIC TO THE NOTES
You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus dated September 21, 2005, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated November 1, 2006 relating to our Medium-Term Notes, Series A, of which these Notes are a part. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the Notes and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” in the prospectus supplement, as the Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Notes.
You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
• | Prospectus supplement dated November 1, 2006 and prospectus dated September 21, 2005: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/312070/000119312506219780/d424b2.htm
Our SEC file number is 1-10257. As used in this pricing supplement, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Barclays Bank PLC.
What is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity Assuming a Range of Performance for the Index?
The following table and graph illustrate the hypothetical total return at maturity on the Notes. The “total return” as used in this section is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount Note to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are based on the initial level of 173.38807624. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the Notes. The numbers appearing in the following table, graph and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.
Final Level | Index Return | Payment at Maturity | Total Return on the Notes | |||
346.776 | 100% | $2,200 | 120% | |||
329.437 | 90% | $2,080 | 108% | |||
312.098 | 80% | $1,960 | 96% | |||
294.760 | 70% | $1,840 | 84% | |||
277.421 | 60% | $1,720 | 72% | |||
260.082 | 50% | $1,600 | 60% | |||
242.743 | 40% | $1,480 | 48% | |||
225.404 | 30% | $1,360 | 36% | |||
208.066 | 20% | $1,240 | 24% | |||
190.727 | 10% | $1,120 | 12% | |||
173.388 | 0% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
156.049 | -10% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
138.710 | -20% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
121.372 | -30% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
104.033 | -40% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
86.694 | -50% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
69.355 | -60% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
52.016 | -70% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
34.678 | -80% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
17.339 | -90% | $1,000 | 0% | |||
0.000 | -100% | $1,000 | 0% |
Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity
The following examples illustrate how the total returns set forth in the table above are calculated.
Example 1: The level of the Index increases from an initial level of 173.388 to a final level of 199.396.
Because the final level of 199.396 is greater than the initial level of 173.388, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,180 per $1,000 principal amount Note calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Index Return x Participation Rate)
= $1,000 + ($1,000 x 15% x 120%) = $1,180
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Example 2: The level of the Index decreases from the initial level of 173.388 to a final level of 158.360.
Because the final level of 158.360 is less than the initial level of 173.388, the investor will receive a payment at maturity of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount Note.
Example 3: The level of the Index does not increase from the initial level of 173.388.
Because the final level of 173.388 is equal to the initial level of 173.388, the investor will receive a payment at maturity of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount Note.
Selected Purchase Considerations
• | Market Disruption Events and Adjustments—The final valuation date, the maturity date and the payment at maturity are subject to adjustment as described in the following sections of the prospectus supplement: |
• | For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “Reference Assets—Indices—Market Disruption Events for Notes with the Reference Asset Comprised of an Index or Indices” with respect to the reference asset; and |
• | For a description of further adjustments that may affect the reference asset, see “Reference Assets—Indices—Adjustments Relating to Notes with the Reference Asset Comprised of an Index”. |
• | Appreciation Potential—The Notes provide the opportunity to enhance returns by multiplying a positive index return by 120%. |
• | Preservation of Capital at Maturity—You will receive at least 100% of the principal amount of your Notes if you hold your Notes to maturity, regardless of the performance of the Index. Because the Notes are our senior unsecured obligations, payment of any amount at maturity is subject to our ability to pay our obligations as they become due. |
• |
Exposure to the Agricultural Contracts of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM—The return on the Notes is linked to the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM. As presently constituted, contracts on 19 commodities (the “index components”) are used to calculate the Index: aluminum, coffee, copper, corn, cotton, crude oil, gold, heating oil, hogs, live cattle, natural gas, nickel, silver, soybeans, soybean oil, sugar, unleaded gasoline, wheat and zinc. For additional information about the Index, see the information set forth under “Description of the Reference Asset” in this pricing supplement. |
• | Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—In the opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, our special U.S. tax counsel, the following discussion (in conjunction with the discussion in the prospectus supplement) summarizes certain of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, beneficial ownership, and disposition of Notes. We intend to treat the Notes as contingent payment debt instruments subject to taxation as described under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment of the Notes as Indebtedness for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes—Contingent Payment Debt Instruments” in the prospectus supplement. Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, each Holder agrees to treat the Notes consistent with this treatment for all U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. Investing in the Notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the index components. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus supplement, including the risk factors discussed under the following headings:
• | “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to All Notes”; |
• | “Risk Factors—Additional Risks Relating to Notes Which Pay No Interest”; and |
• | “Risk Factors—Additional Risks Relating to Notes with Reference Assets That Are Commodities, an Index Containing Commodities or Based in Part on Commodities”. |
In addition to the risks described above, you should consider the following:
• | The Notes Might Not Pay More Than the Principal Amount—You may receive a lower payment at maturity than you would have received if you had invested in the index components directly. If the index return is negative, you will not receive a payment at maturity of more than the principal amount of your Notes. This will be true even if the closing Index level was higher than the initial level at some time during the term of the Notes but later falls below that initial level. |
• | No Interest—As a holder of the Notes, you will not receive interest payments. |
• | Certain Built-In Costs Are Likely to Adversely Affect the Value of the Notes Prior to Maturity—While the payment at maturity described in this pricing supplement is based on the full principal amount of your Notes, the original issue price of the Notes includes the agent’s commission and the cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes through one or more of our affiliates. As a result, the price, if any, at which Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC will be |
PS-3
willing to purchase Notes from you in secondary market transactions will likely be lower than the original issue price, and any sale prior to the maturity date could result in a substantial loss to you. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity. |
• | Lack of Liquidity—The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC intend to offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market but are not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the Notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the Notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your Notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC are willing to buy the Notes. |
• | Potential Conflicts—We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the Notes, including acting as calculation agent and hedging our obligations under the Notes. In performing these duties, the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes. |
• | Many Economic and Market Factors Will Impact the Value of the Notes—In addition to the level of the Index on any day, the value of the Notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including: |
• | the expected volatility of the Index; |
• | the expected demand or supply for agricultural commodities; |
• | the time to maturity of the Notes; |
• | interest and yield rates in the market generally; |
• | a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events; and |
• | our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings. |
Description of the Reference Asset
The following is a description of the Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components. The information in this description has been taken from (i) publicly available sources and (ii) the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Handbook (a document that provides a complete description of the Index). Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by the index sponsors, Dow Jones & Company, Inc. (“Dow Jones”) and AIG Financial Products Corp. (“AIG-FP”). We have not independently verified this information. You, as an investor in the Notes, should make your own investigation into the Index, AIG-FP, and Dow Jones. Dow Jones and AIG-FP are not involved in the offer of the Notes in any way and have no obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the Notes. Dow Jones and AIG-FP have no obligation to continue to publish the Index, and may discontinue publication of the Index at any time in their sole discretion.
Overview
The Index was introduced in July 1998 to provide a unique, diversified, economically rational and liquid benchmark for commodities as an asset class. The Index currently is composed of the prices of 19 exchange-traded futures contracts on physical commodities. An exchange-traded futures contract is a bilateral agreement providing for the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity or financial instrument during a stated delivery month for a fixed price. The 19 index commodities selected for 2007 are as follows: aluminum, coffee, copper, corn, cotton, crude oil, gold, heating oil, hogs, live cattle, natural gas, nickel, silver, soybeans, soybean oil, sugar, unleaded gasoline, wheat and zinc. Futures contracts on the Index are currently listed for trading on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”). The Index is a proprietary index that AIG developed and that Dow Jones, in conjunction with AIG-FP, calculates. The methodology for determining the composition and weighting of the Index and for calculating its level is subject to modification by Dow Jones and AIG-FP, at any time. At present, Dow Jones disseminates the Index level approximately every fifteen (15) seconds (assuming the Index level has changed within such fifteen-second interval) from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, and publishes a daily Index level at approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on each DJ-AIG business day (as defined below) on Reuters, symbol DJAIG. The Index level can still be retrieved after 3:00 p.m., until the end of the New York Stock Exchange’s trading day but its level is static after 3:00 p.m. A “DJ-AIG business day” is a day on which the sum of the Commodity Index Percentages (as defined below in “—Annual Reweightings and Rebalancings of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM”) for the index commodities that are open for trading is greater than 50%. For example, based on the weighting of the index commodities for 2006, if the CBOT and the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) are closed for trading on the same day, a DJ-AIG business day will not exist. AIG-FP and its affiliates actively trade futures contracts and options on futures contracts on the commodities that underlie the Index, as well as commodities, including commodities included in the Index. AIG-FP and its affiliates also actively enter into or trade and market securities, swaps, options, derivatives, and related instruments which are linked to the performance of commodities or are linked to the performance of the Index. Certain of AIG-FP’s affiliates may underwrite or issue other securities or financial instruments indexed to the Index and related indices, and AIG-FP and Dow Jones and their respective affiliates may license the Index for publication or for use by unaffiliated third parties. These activities could present conflicts of interest and could affect the level of the Index. For instance, a market maker in a financial instrument linked to the performance of the
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Index may expect to hedge some or all of its position in that financial instrument. Purchase (or selling) activity in the underlying index components in order to hedge the market maker’s position in the financial instrument may affect the market price of the futures contracts included in the Index, which in turn may affect the level of the Index. With respect to any of the activities described above, none of AIG-FP, Dow Jones or their respective affiliates has any obligation to take the needs of any buyers, sellers or holders of the Notes into consideration at any time.
The Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee
Dow Jones and AIGI have established the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee to assist them in connection with the operation of the Index. The Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee includes prominent members of the financial and academic communities selected by AIG-FP and meets annually to consider any changes to be made to the Index for the coming year. The Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee may also meet at such other times as may be necessary. As described in more detail below, the Index is reweighted and rebalanced each year in January on a price-percentage basis. The annual weightings for the Index are determined each year in June or July by AIG-FP under the supervision of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee, announced after approval by the Committee and implemented the following January. The composition of the Index for 2007 was approved by the Dow-Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee following a meeting held in July 2006. Following are the target composition percentages calculated for the Index for 2007:
The Dow Jones AIG Commodity Index 2007 Commodity Index Percentages
Commodity Weightings
Commodity |
Weighting | |
Natural Gas |
12.546191% | |
Crude Oil |
12.723561% | |
Unleaded Gas |
3.940958% | |
Heating Oil |
3.789289% | |
Live Cattle |
6.141286% | |
Lean Hogs |
3.013524% | |
Wheat |
4.715495% | |
Corn |
5.627129% | |
Soybeans |
7.747790% | |
Soybean Oil |
2.845646% | |
Aluminum |
6.803820% | |
Copper |
6.187758% | |
Zinc |
2.798069% | |
Nickel |
2.715318% | |
Gold |
6.825901% | |
Silver |
2.288179% | |
Sugar |
3.122271% | |
Cotton |
3.146094% | |
Coffee |
3.021718% |
The current composition of the Index is described below in “—Composition of the Index.”
Four Main Principles Guiding the Creation of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM
The Index was created using the following four main principles:
Economic Significance. A commodity index should fairly represent the importance of a diversified group of commodities to the world economy. To achieve a fair representation, the Index uses both liquidity data and U.S. dollar weighted production data in determining the relative quantities of included commodities. The Index primarily relies on liquidity data, or the relative amount of trading activity of a particular commodity, as an important indicator of the value placed on that commodity by financial and physical market participants. The Index also relies on production data as a useful measure of the importance of a commodity to the world economy. Production data alone, however, may underestimate the economic significance of storable commodities (e.g., gold) relative to non-storable commodities (e.g., live cattle). Production data alone also may underestimate the investment value that financial market participants place on certain commodities, and/or the amount of commercial activity that is centered around various commodities. Additionally, production statistics alone do not necessarily provide as accurate a blueprint of economic importance as the pronouncements of the markets themselves. The Index thus relies on data that is both endogenous to the futures market (liquidity) and exogenous to the futures market (production) in determining relative weightings.
Diversification. A second major goal of the Index is to provide diversified exposure to commodities as an asset class. Disproportionate weightings of any particular commodity or sector increase volatility and negate the concept of a broad-based commodity index. Instead of diversified commodities exposure, the investor is unduly subjected to micro-economic shocks in one commodity or sector. As described further below, diversification rules have been established and are applied annually. Additionally, the Index is rebalanced annually on a price-percentage basis in order to maintain diversified commodities exposure over time.
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Continuity. The third goal of the Index is to be responsive to the changing nature of commodity markets in a manner that does not completely reshape the character of the Index from year to year. The Index is intended to provide a stable benchmark, so that end-users may be reasonably confident that historical performance data (including such diverse measures as correlation, spot yield, roll yield and volatility) is based on a structure that bears some resemblance to both the current and future composition of the Index.
Liquidity. Another goal of the Index is to provide a highly liquid benchmark. The explicit inclusion of liquidity as a weighting factor helps to ensure that the Index can accommodate substantial investment flows. The liquidity of an index affects transaction costs associated with current investments. It also may affect the reliability of historical price performance data.
These principles represent goals of the Index, its creators and owners and there can be no assurance that these goals will be reached by either Dow Jones or AIG-FP.
Composition of the Index
Commodities Available for Inclusion in the Index
A number of commodities have been selected that are believed to be sufficiently significant to the world economy to merit consideration for inclusion in the Index and which are the subject of a qualifying related futures contract. With the exception of several metals contracts (aluminum, lead, tin, nickel and zinc) that trade on the London Metal Exchange (“LME”), each of the potential commodities is the subject of a futures contract that trades on a U.S. exchange. The 23 potential commodities currently considered for inclusion in the Index are aluminum, cocoa, coffee, copper, corn, cotton, crude oil, gold, heating oil, lead, cattle, hogs, natural gas, nickel, platinum, silver, soybeans, soybean oil, sugar, tin, unleaded gasoline, wheat and zinc.
The 19 index commodities selected for 2007 are as follows: aluminum, coffee, copper, corn, cotton, crude oil, gold, heating oil, hogs, live cattle, natural gas, nickel, silver, soybeans, soybean oil, sugar, unleaded gasoline, wheat and zinc.
Designated Contracts for Each Commodity
A futures contract known as a designated contract is selected for each commodity. With the exception of several LME contracts, where the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee believes that there exists more than one futures contract with sufficient liquidity to be chosen as a designated contract for a commodity, the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee selects the futures contract that is traded in North America and denominated in dollars. If more than one such contract exists, the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee selects the most actively traded contract. Data concerning this designated contract will be used to calculate the Index. The termination or replacement of a futures contract on an established exchange occurs infrequently; if a designated contract were to be terminated or replaced, a comparable futures contract would be selected, if available, to replace that designated contract. The designated contracts for the commodities included in the Index for 2007 are as follows:
Index Breakdown by Commodity and Weights as of January 31, 2007
Commodity |
Designated Contract |
Exchange |
Unit |
Current Weighting |
|||||
Aluminum | High Grade Primary Aluminum | LME | 25 metric tons | 6.78 | % | ||||
Coffee | Coffee “C” | CSCE | 37,500 lbs | 2.80 | % | ||||
Copper | Copper | COMEX | 25,000 lbs | 6.01 | % | ||||
Corn | Corn | CBOT | 5,000 bushels | 5.92 | % | ||||
Cotton | Cotton | NYCE | 50,000 lbs | 2.95 | % | ||||
Crude Oil | Light, Sweet Crude Oil | NYMEX | 1,000 barrels | 12.21 | % | ||||
Gold | Gold | COMEX | 100 troy oz | 6.97 | % | ||||
Heating Oil | Heating Oil | NYMEX | 42,000 gallons | 3.79 | % | ||||
Live Cattle | Live Cattle | CME | 40,000 lbs | 5.81 | % | ||||
Lean Hogs | Lean Hogs | CME | 40,000 lbs | 3.23 | % | ||||
Natural Gas | Henry Hub Natural Gas | NYMEX | Gas 10,000 mmbtu | 13.90 | % | ||||
Nickel | Primary Nickel | LME | 6 metric tons | 3.09 | % | ||||
Silver | Silver | COMEX | 5,000 troy oz | 2.38 | % | ||||
Soybeans | Soybeans | CBOT | 5,000 bushels | 7.79 | % | ||||
Soybean Oil | Soybean Oil | CBOT | 60,000 lbs | 2.77 | % | ||||
Sugar | World Sugar No. 11 | CSCE | 112,000 lbs | 2.81 | % | ||||
Unleaded Gasoline | Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygen Blending |
NYMEX | 42,000 gal | 3.82 | % | ||||
Wheat | Wheat | CBOT | 5,000 bushels | 4.50 | % | ||||
Zinc | Special High Grade Zinc | LME | 25 metric tons | 2.48 | % |
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Commodity Group
For the purposes of applying the diversification rules discussed above and below, the commodities considered for inclusion in the Index are assigned to “Commodity Groups.” The Commodity Groups and their effective target rounded weightings for 2007 are as follows:
Index Breakdown by Commodity Group
Energy |
33.00000 | % | |
Livestock |
9.15481 | % | |
Grains |
20.93606 | % | |
Industrial Metals |
18.50497 | % | |
Precious Metals |
9.11408 | % | |
Softs |
9.29008 | % |
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Commodities Included in 2007 Are:
Energy:
Crude Oil
Heating Oil
Natural Gas
Unleaded Gasoline
Livestock:
Lean Hogs
Live Cattle
Grains:
Corn
Soybeans
Wheat
Soybean Oil
Industrial Metals:
Aluminum
Copper
Nickel
Zinc
Precious Metals:
Gold
Silver
Softs:
Coffee
Cotton
Sugar
Annual Reweightings and Rebalancings of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM
The Index is reweighted and rebalanced each year in January on a price-percentage basis. The annual weightings for the Index are determined each year in June or July by AIG-FP under the supervision of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee, announced following approval by the Committee and implemented the following January. The Index composition is set forth above in “—The Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Oversight Committee.”
Determination of Relative Weightings
The relative weightings of the component commodities included in the Index are determined annually according to both liquidity and U.S. dollar-adjusted production data in 2/3 and 1/3 shares, respectively. Each June, for each commodity designated for potential inclusion in the Index, liquidity is measured by the Commodity Liquidity Percentage (“CLP”) and production by the Commodity Production Percentage (“CPP”). The CLP for each commodity is determined by taking a five-year average of the product of trading volume and the historic dollar value of the designated contract for that commodity, and dividing the result by the sum of such products for all commodities which were designated for potential inclusion in the Index. The CPP is determined for each commodity by taking a five-year average of annual world production figures, adjusted by the historic dollar value of the designated contract, and dividing the result by the sum of such production figures for all the commodities which were designated for potential inclusion in the Index. The CLP and the CPP are then combined (using a ratio of 2:1) to establish the Commodity Index Percentage (“CIP”) for each commodity. This CIP is then adjusted in accordance with certain diversification rules in order to determine the commodities which will be included in the Index and their respective percentage weights.
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Diversification Rules
The Index is designed to provide diversified exposure to commodities as an asset class. To ensure that no single commodity or commodity sector dominates the Index, the following diversification rules are applied to the annual reweighting and rebalancing of the Index as of January of the applicable year:
• | No related group of commodities designated as a “Commodity Group” (e.g., energy, precious metals, livestock, or grains) may constitute more than 33% of the Index. |
• | No single commodity may constitute more than 15% of the Index. |
• | No single commodity, together with its derivatives (e.g., crude oil, together with heating oil and unleaded gasoline), may constitute more than 25% of the Index. |
• | No single commodity that is in the Index may constitute less than 2% of the Index. |
Following the annual reweighting and rebalancing of the Index in January, the percentage of any single commodity or group of commodities at any time prior to the next reweighting or rebalancing will fluctuate and may exceed or be less than the percentages set forth above.
Commodity Index Multipliers
Following application of the diversification rules discussed above, CIPs are incorporated into the Index by calculating the new unit weights for each index commodity. Near the beginning of each new calendar year (the “CIM Determination Date”), the CIPs, along with the settlement prices on that date for Designated Contracts included in the Index, are used to determine a “Commodity Index Multiplier” or “CIM” for each index commodity. This CIM is used to achieve the percentage weightings of the index commodities, in U.S. dollar terms, indicated by their respective CIPs. After the CIMs are calculated, they remain fixed throughout the year. As a result, the observed price percentage of each index commodity will float throughout the year, until the CIMs are reset the following year based on new CIPs.
The Index Is a Rolling Index
The Index is composed of futures contracts on physical commodities. Unlike equities, which typically entitle the holder to a continuing stake in a corporation, commodity futures contracts normally specify a certain date for the delivery of the underlying physical commodity. In order to avoid delivering the underlying physical commodities and to maintain exposure to the underlying physical commodities, periodically futures contracts on physical commodities specifying delivery on a nearby date must be sold and futures contracts on physical commodities that have not yet reached the delivery period must be purchased. The rollover for each contract occurs over a period of five DJ-AIG business days each month according to a pre-determined schedule. This process is known as “rolling” a futures position. The Index is a “rolling index.”
Calculations
The Index is calculated by Dow Jones, in conjunction with AIG-FP, by applying the impact of the changes to the futures prices of commodities included in the Index (based on their relative weightings). Once the CIMs are determined as discussed above, the calculation of the Index is a mathematical process whereby the CIMs for the index commodities are multiplied by the prices in U.S. dollars for the applicable designated contracts. These products are then summed. During the rollover period, the sum includes both nearby and deferred contracts weighted according to the specified roll percentage. The percentage change in this sum from the prior day is then applied to the prior Index level to arrive at the current Index level. Dow Jones disseminates the Index level approximately every fifteen (15) seconds (assuming the Index level has changed within such fifteen-second interval) from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, and publishes a daily Index level at approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on each DJ-AIG business day on its website at http://www.djindexes.com.
Index Calculation Disruption Events
From time to time, disruptions can occur in trading futures contracts on various commodity exchanges. The daily calculation of the Index may be adjusted in the event that AIG-FP determines that any of the following Index calculation disruption events exists: (a) the termination or suspension of, or material limitation or disruption in the trading of any futures contract used in the calculation of the Index on that day; (b) the settlement price of any futures contract used in the calculation of the Index reflects the maximum permitted price change from the previous day’s settlement price; (c) the failure of an exchange to publish official settlement prices for any futures contract used in the calculation of the Index; or (d) with respect to any futures contract used in the calculation of the Index that trades on the LME, a business day on which the LME is not open for trading.
License Agreement
Dow Jones, AIG-FP, and Barclays Bank PLC have entered into a nonexclusive license agreement providing for the license to Barclays Bank PLC, and certain of its affiliated or subsidiary companies, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use the Index, which is published by Dow Jones.
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“Dow Jones,” “AIG®,” “Dow-Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM” and “DJAIGCISM” are service marks of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and American International Group, Inc. (“American International Group”), as the case may be, and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by Barclays Bank PLC.
The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Dow Jones, American International Group, AIG-FP or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates. None of Dow Jones, American International Group, AIG-FP or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of or counterparts to the Notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities or commodities generally or in the Notes particularly. The only relationship of Dow Jones, American International Group, AIG-FP or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to Barclays Bank PLC is the licensing of certain trademarks, trade names and service marks and of the DJ-AIGCISM, which is determined, composed and calculated by Dow Jones in conjunction with AIG-FP without regard to Barclays Bank PLC or the Notes. Dow Jones and AIG-FP have no obligation to take the needs of Barclays Bank PLC or the owners of the Notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating DJ-AIGCISM. None of Dow Jones, American International Group, AIG-FP or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates is responsible for or has participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Notes to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Notes are to be converted into cash. None of Dow Jones, American International Group, AIG-FP or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates shall have any obligation or liability, including, without limitation, to Notes customers, in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, American International Group, AIG-FP and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates may independently issue and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the Notes currently being issued by Licensee, but which may be similar to and competitive with the Notes. In addition, AIG, AIG-FP and their subsidiaries and affiliates actively trade commodities, commodity indexes and commodity futures (including the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM and Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Total ReturnSM), as well as swaps, options and derivatives which are linked to the performance of such commodities, commodity indexes and commodity futures. It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM, and the Notes.
This pricing supplement relates only to the Notes and does not relate to the exchange-traded physical commodities underlying any of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM components. Purchasers of the Notes should not conclude that the inclusion of a futures contract in the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM is any form of investment recommendation of the futures contract or the underlying exchange-traded physical commodity by Dow Jones, American International Group, AIG-FP or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates. The information in this pricing supplement regarding the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM components has been derived solely from publicly available documents. None of Dow Jones, American International Group, AIG-FP or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates has made any due diligence inquiries with respect to the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM components in connection with the Notes. None of Dow Jones, American International Group, AIG-FP or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates makes any representation that these publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity IndexSM components, including without limitation a description of factors that affect the prices of such components, are accurate or complete.
NONE OF DOW JONES, AMERICAN INTERNATION GROUP, AIG-FP OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES GUARANTEES THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE DOW JONES-AIG COMMODITY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND NONE OF DOW JONES, AIG, AIG-FP OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. NONE OF DOW JONES, AMERICAN INTERNATION GROUP, AIG-FP OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES MAKES ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY BARCLAYS BANK PLC, OWNERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DOW JONES-AIG COMMODITY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NONE OF DOW JONES, AMERICAN INTERNATION GROUP, AIG-FP OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES MAKES ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO DOW JONES-AIG COMMODITY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL DOW JONES, AMERICAN INTERNATION GROUP, AIG-FP OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS AMONG DOW JONES, AIG-FP AND BARCLAYS BANK PLC, OTHER THAN AMERICAN INTERNATION GROUP AND ITS AFFILIATES.
Historical Information
The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Index based on the daily Index closing level from January 1, 1991 through February 23, 2007 The Index closing level on February 23, 2007 was 173.38807624.
We obtained the Index closing levels below from Bloomberg, L.P. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg, L.P. The historical levels of the Index should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the Index closing level on the final valuation date. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Index will result in the return of any of your initial investment.
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
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