Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
iShares, Inc. (the “Company”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Company is organized as a Maryland corporation and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios.
These consolidated financial statements relate only to the following funds (each, a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”):
| | Diversification |
| iShares ETF | Classification |
| Core MSCI Emerging Markets | Diversified |
| MSCI BRIC | Diversified |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Asia | Diversified |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Small-Cap | Diversified |
Basis of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements for each Fund includes the accounts of its subsidiary in the Republic of Mauritius, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary (each, a “Subsidiary”) of the Fund that invests in Indian securities. Through this investment structure, each Fund expects to obtain certain benefits under a current tax treaty between Mauritius and India. Intercompany accounts and transactions, if any, have been eliminated.
| 2 | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by each Fund in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies.
Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign taxes withheld at source. Any taxes withheld that are reclaimable from foreign tax authorities are reflected in tax reclaims receivable. Distributions received by the Funds may include a return of capital that is estimated by management. Such amounts are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments or reclassified to capital gains. Upon notification from issuers, some of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be re-designated as a return of capital or capital gain. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recognized on the ex-dividend date and recorded as non-cash dividend income at fair value. Interest income is accrued daily.
Foreign Currency Translation: The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, as well as investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in non-U.S. currencies are translated to U.S. dollars using prevailing market rates as quoted by one or more data service providers. Purchases and sales of investments, income receipts and expense payments are translated into U.S. dollars on the respective dates of such transactions.
Each Fund does not isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates from the effect of fluctuations in the market prices of investments. Such fluctuations are reflected by the Funds as a component of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments for financial reporting purposes. Each Fund reports realized currency gain (loss) on foreign currency related transactions as components of net realized gain (loss) for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are generally treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Foreign Taxes: The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its consolidated statement of operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as “other foreign taxes”, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of February 29, 2020, if any, are disclosed in the consolidated statement of assets and liabilities.
Each Fund conducts its investment activities in India through its Subsidiary and expects to obtain benefits under the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (“DTAA”) between India and Mauritius. In order to be eligible to claim benefits under the DTAA, each Subsidiary must have commercial substance, on an annual basis, to satisfy certain tests and conditions, including the establishment and maintenance of valid tax residence in Mauritius and related requirements. Each Fund has obtained a current tax residence certificate issued by the Mauritian Revenue Authorities and the same covers the period of any exists.
Based upon current interpretation and practice of the current tax laws in India and Mauritius and the DTAA, each Subsidiary is subject to tax in Mauritius on its net income at the rate of 15%. However, each Subsidiary is entitled to a tax credit equivalent to the higher of the actual foreign tax incurred or 80% of the Mauritius tax on its foreign source income, thus reducing its maximum effective tax rate to 3% up to June 30, 2021. After June 30, 2021, under the new tax regime and subject to meeting the necessary substance requirements as required under the Financial Services Act 2007 (as amended by the Finance Act 2018) and such guidelines issued by the FSC, each Subsidiary is entitled to either (a) a foreign tax credit equivalent to the actual foreign tax suffered on its foreign income against each Subsidiary’s tax liability computed at 15% on such income, or (b) a partial exemption of 80% of some of the income derived, including interest income or foreign source dividends. Taxes on income, if any, are paid by each Subsidiary and are disclosed in its consolidated statement of operations. Any dividends paid by a Subsidiary to its Fund are not subject to tax in Mauritius. Each Subsidiary is currently exempt from tax in Mauritius on any gains from the sale of securities.
The DTAA provides that capital gains will be taxable in India with respect to the sale of shares acquired on or after April 1, 2017. Capital gains arising from shares acquired before April 1, 2017, regardless of when they are sold, will continue to be exempt from taxation under the amended DTAA, assuming requirements for eligibility under the DTAA are satisfied.
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