London, April 18, 2023 -Wilshire Indexes, a leading global index provider, has received regulatory approval from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for its UK Benchmark Administration entity Wilshire OpCo UK Ltd, trading as "Wilshire Indexes", to be authorized as a Benchmark Administrator under the UK Benchmark Regulation(BMR).
The FCA authorization allows Wilshire Indexes to administer benchmarks for use in the UK. There is an ongoing transition arrangement in place post Brexit that allows Wilshire Indexes' benchmarks to be used throughout the EU until the end of 2025*.
BMR constitutes a common framework to ensure the accuracy and integrity of indexes used as benchmarks in the UK and European Union. Wilshire is firmly committed to ensuring the highest standards of index governance and the FCA authorization will cover all standard equity Wilshire Indexes' benchmarks, including the FT Wilshire Global Equity Market Series, FT Wilshire 5000 Index Series, FT Wilshire Pure Factor Index Series and FT Wilshire Climate Change Index Series. Wilshire Indexes is listed on the FCA register of administrators.
This is a significant step forward in building a global index offering for Wilshire. By demonstrating its commitment to meeting the highest standards of benchmark administration, Wilshire Indexes will continue to challenge the current index incumbents by assisting investors in their investment decisions through the technically advanced provision of robust, soundly governed indexes.
Mark Makepeace, CEO, Wilshire Indexes and Chairman, Wilshire OpCo UK Limited said, "We are delighted to have received approval from the FCA. We are committed to promoting the highest possible governance standards within our industry and fully embrace the requirements within the Benchmark Regulation in the UK and Europe."
Reza Ghassemieh, CEO, Wilshire OpCo UK Ltd, "This important milestone reflects our mission to offer innovative benchmark products underpinned by industry leading technology, governed to the highest standards."
About Wilshire Indexes
Wilshire Indexes is a global index provider offering more than 30 index series, including the market leading FT Wilshire 5000 and FT Wilshire Global Equity Markets indexes, as well as modular custom solutions tailored to meet the specific benchmarking needs of its customers.
Wilshire Indexes operates alongside Wilshire's investment management and consulting, OCIO, alternatives and analytics businesses, which are separately known as Wilshire.
More information on Wilshire and Wilshire Indexes can be found at?www.wilshire.com.
*The post-Brexit transition arrangement allows UK authorized benchmark administrators to continue to provide benchmarks for use in the EU until the end of 2023. An amendment supported by the Council of the European Union currently progressing through the EU Parliament will, if passed, extend the transition period to the end of 2025. Should the transition period not be extended, Wilshire Indexes will take the necessary steps to ensure its Benchmarks can continue to be used in the EU after 2023.
