BlackRock(R) Canada Announces Availability of PFIC Annual Information Statements for U.S. Tax Filers


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 23, 2015) - BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited ("BlackRock Canada"), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. ("BlackRock") (NYSE:BLK) and manager of the Canadian iShares suite of funds, announced today that Passive Foreign Investment Company ("PFIC") Annual Information Statements for the iShares Funds listed below will be available for the 2015 tax year. These statements contain reporting information that can enable investors classified as "U.S. Persons" for the purposes of U.S. tax laws to make the Qualified Electing Fund ("QEF") election for U.S. tax reporting purposes.

BlackRock Canada strongly recommends that impacted investors work with their financial advisor and a U.S. tax professional to discuss any PFIC-related tax implications.

The 2015 PFIC Annual Information Statements are expected to be posted to the iShares website on or about March 31, 2016.

"As PFIC rules can be complex, BlackRock Canada has opted to make these annual statements available to assist affected investors, in consultation with their tax and financial advisors, in making the appropriate elections," said Warren Collier, Managing Director, Head of iShares of BlackRock Canada.

Fund Ticker
iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF XIU
iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF XIC
iShares Canadian Fundamental Index ETF CRQ/CRQ.A
iShares S&P/TSX Completion Index ETF XMD
iShares S&P/TSX SmallCap Index ETF XCS
iShares MSCI Canada Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMV
iShares Jantzi Social Index ETF XEN
iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSP
iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF XUS
iShares US Fundamental Index ETF CLU/CLU.A/CLU.C/CLU.B
iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMU
iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XUH
iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF XUU
iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XQQ
iShares U.S. Small Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSU
iShares S&P U.S. Mid-Cap Index ETF XMC
iShares S&P U.S. Mid-Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XMH
iShares MSCI World Index ETF XWD
iShares MSCI All Country World Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMW
iShares MSCI EAFE Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIN
iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF XAW
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XFH
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF XEF
iShares International Fundamental Index ETF CIE/CIE.A
iShares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMI
iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XEH
iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF XEU
iShares Japan Fundamental Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CJP/CJP.A
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF XEM
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF XEC
iShares Emerging Markets Fundamental Index ETF CWO/CWO.A
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMM
iShares BRIC Index ETF CBQ/CBQ.A
iShares MSCI Brazil Index ETF XBZ
iShares India Index ETF XID
iShares China Index ETF XCH
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index ETF XFN
iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF CEW/CEW.A
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF XEG
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF XMA
iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF XBM
iShares Global Healthcare Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHC
iShares S&P Global Industrials Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XGI
iShares S&P Global Consumer Discretionary Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XCD
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology Index ETF XIT
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF XST
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Utilities Index ETF XUT
iShares Global Infrastructure Index ETF CIF/CIF.A
iShares Global Agriculture Index ETF COW/COW.A
iShares Global Water Index ETF CWW/CWW.A
iShares Canadian Value Index ETF XCV
iShares Canadian Growth Index ETF XCG
iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF XDV
iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF XHU
iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF CDZ/CDZ.A
iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHD
iShares S&P US Dividend Growers Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CUD/CUD.A
iShares Core S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF XEI
iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Preferred Share Index ETF CPD/CPD.A
iShares S&P/TSX North American Preferred Stock Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XPF
iShares Global Monthly Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CYH/CYH.A
iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF FIE/FIE.A
iShares Gold Bullion ETF CGL/CGL.C
iShares Silver Bullion ETF SVR/SVR.C
iShares Diversified Monthly Income ETF XTR
iShares Balanced Income CorePortfolio™ Index ETF CBD/CBD.A
iShares Balanced Growth CorePortfolio™ Index ETF CBN/CBN.A
iShares Alternatives Completion Portfolio Builder Fund XAL
iShares Conservative Core Portfolio Builder Fund XCR
iShares Growth Core Portfolio Builder Fund XGR
iShares Global Completion Portfolio Builder Fund XGC
iShares Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF XBB
iShares Core High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF XQB/XQB.A
iShares Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF XSB
iShares Core Short Term High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF XSQ
iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLF/CLF.A
iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBO/CBO.A
iShares Core Canadian Short Term Corporate + Maple Bond Index ETF XSH
iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLG/CLG.A
iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBH/CBH.A
iShares Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XCB
iShares Canadian Government Bond Index ETF XGB
iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF XLB
iShares Canadian Real Return Bond Index ETF XRB
iShares Canadian HYBrid Corporate Bond Index ETF XHB
iShares Convertible Bond Index ETF CVD/CVD.A
iShares Floating Rate Index ETF XFR
iShares Premium Money Market ETF CMR/CMR.A
iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIG
iShares Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSI
iShares Conservative Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSC
iShares Conservative Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSE
iShares U.S. High Yield Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHY
iShares U.S. High Yield Fixed income ETF (CAD-Hedged) CHB/CHB.A
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XEB

Further information on the iShares Funds can be found at www.blackrock.com/ca.

About BlackRock

BlackRock is a global leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients. At June 30, 2015, BlackRock's AUM was US$4.721 trillion. BlackRock helps clients around the world meet their goals and overcome challenges with a range of products that include separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares® (exchange-traded funds), and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions®. As of June 30, 2015, the firm had approximately 12,400 employees in more than 30 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.blackrock.com/ca / Twitter: @BlackRockCA / Blog: www.blackrockblog.com/can

About iShares

iShares is a global leader in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with more than a decade of expertise and commitment to individual and institutional investors of all sizes. With over 700 funds globally across multiple asset classes and strategies and more than US$1 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2015, iShares helps clients around the world build the core of their portfolios, meet specific investment goals and implement market views. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock, trusted to manage more money than any other investment firm.(1)

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares Funds. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. Fund securities are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or by any other government deposit insurer. There can be no assurances that the fund will be able to maintain its net asset value per security at a constant amount or that the full amount of your investment in the fund will be returned to you. The fund is not guaranteed, its values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

Units of the iShares funds have not been, and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or the securities laws of any of the states of the United States. Units of the Canadian iShares funds may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any "U.S. Person" as defined in the 1933 Act.

(1) Based on US $4.721 trillion in AUM as of 6/30/15.

Contact Information:

Contact for Media:
Maeve Hannigan
416-643-4058
Maeve.Hannigan@blackrock.com

Company ProfileBlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (iShares)