BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (BlackRock Canada), an indirect,
wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc., today announced the launch of the
new iShares DEX Floating Rate Note Index Fund (XFR) with a commitment to waive
its management fees until June 30, 2012. The fund seeks to generate income and
limit potential interest rate risk by investing in a regularly rebalanced
portfolio of floating-rate bonds. The fund has closed the initial offering of
its units and will begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange today. 


"Markets are volatile. Investors' appetite for risk is low but they still want
to maximize yield," said Mary Anne Wiley, Managing Director, Head of iShares
Distribution at BlackRock Canada. "Our new fund is designed to capture yield in
low duration securities while managing interest rate risk. As a special
initiative, BlackRock Canada will not be charging any management fees for the
next six months so investors can feel comfortable putting their cash to work in
a product that is designed to deliver both income and stability."


XFR seeks to provide income by replicating, to the extent possible, the
performance of the DEX FRN Index, net of expenses. Floating-rate notes are
generally subject to less interest rate risk than fixed-rate bonds of similar
maturity and quality and may therefore be used to help investors insulate their
portfolios, and earn progressively higher income, in a rising interest rate
environment. With a management fee of 0.20 per cent (after the expiry of the
management fee waiver on June 30, 2012), the fund gives access to a diversified
bond portfolio and offers an alternative to cash. XFR's expected income
distribution frequency is monthly. 


XFR brings the iShares suite of fixed income products offered by BlackRock
Canada to 12 which cover many slices of the Canadian bond universe complemented
with US and international fixed income exposures. The iShares fixed income
exchange traded funds (ETFs) are engineered for quality, precision and are
designed to do what you expect fixed income to do - provide relative safety,
lower risk and capital preservation. There are currently $6.9 billion of assets
under management (AUM) in the TSX-listed iShares fixed income ETF suite.(1) The
funds benefit from BlackRock, Inc.'s combined strengths in fixed income
management (managing US$1.2 trillion AUM globally)(2) and its rigorous ETF
product development.


For more information about the new iShares fund, please visit www.iShares.ca.
All other inquiries: 1-866-iShares (1-866-474-2737) or email
iSharesCanada@blackrock.com. 


About BlackRock

BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory
services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At September 30, 2011,
BlackRock's AUM was US$3.345 trillion. BlackRock offers products that span the
risk spectrum to meet clients' needs, including active, enhanced and index
strategies across markets and asset classes. Products are offered in a variety
of structures including separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares(R)
(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(R).
Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2011, the firm has
approximately 10,200 employees in 27 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.


About iShares ETFs

The iShares business is a global product leader in ETFs with over 460 funds
globally across equities, fixed income and commodities, which trade on 19
exchanges worldwide. The iShares funds are bought and sold like common stocks on
securities exchanges. The iShares funds are attractive to many individual and
institutional investors and financial intermediaries because of their relative
low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and
sell securities through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker,
and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. The iShares customer base
consists of the institutional segment of pension plans and fund managers, as
well as the retail segment of financial advisors.


(1,2) BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, as of Nov 30, 2011
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