497 1 d238334d497.htm FORM 497 FOR ISHARES INC. Form 497 for iShares Inc.
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iShares®, Inc.

Statement of Additional Information

Dated January 1, 2011 (as revised September 29, 2011)

This combined Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the current prospectuses (each, a “Prospectus” and collectively, the “Prospectuses”) for the following funds of iShares, Inc. (the “Company”), as such Prospectuses may be revised or supplemented from time to time:

 

Funds

   Ticker      Stock Exchange

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     EWA       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     EWO       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     EWK       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     EWZ       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     BKF       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     EWC       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     ECH       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     ESR       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     EEM       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     EZU       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     EWQ       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     EWG       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     EWH       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     EIS       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     EWI       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     EWJ       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     SCJ       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     EWM       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     EWW       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     EWN       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     EPP       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     EWS       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     EZA       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     EWY       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     EWP       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     EWD       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     EWL       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     EWT       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     THD       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     TUR       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     EWU       NYSE Arca

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     EUSA       NYSE Arca

The Prospectuses for the above listed funds are dated January 1, 2011, as amended and supplemented from time to time (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the applicable Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. The Financial Statements and Notes contained in the Annual Reports of the Company for the above listed Funds are incorporated by reference into and are deemed to be part of this SAI. A copy of each Prospectus, Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report may be obtained without charge by writing to the Company’s distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”) at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456, calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) or visiting www.iShares.com.

iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”).


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

General Description of the Company and its Funds

     1   

Exchange Listing and Trading

     2   

Investment Strategies and Risks

     3   

Currency Transactions

     3   

Diversification Status

     3   

Futures and Options

     4   

Illiquid Securities

     4   

Lending Portfolio Securities

     4   

Non-U.S. Securities

     5   

Options on Futures Contracts

     5   

Repurchase Agreements

     6   

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

     6   

Securities of Investment Companies

     7   

Short-Term Instruments and Temporary Investments

     7   

Swap Agreements

     7   

Tracking Stocks

     7   

Future Developments

     7   

General Considerations and Risks

     8   

Dividend Risk

     8   

Risks of Derivatives

     8   

Risks of Equity Securities

     8   

Risks of Futures and Options Transactions

     8   

Risks of Investing in Non-U.S. Equity Securities

     9   

Risks of Investing in Russia

     10   

Risks of Swap Agreements

     10   

Securities Lending Risk

     10   

Proxy Voting Policy

     11   

Portfolio Holdings Information

     12   

Construction and Maintenance of the Underlying Indexes

     13   

The MSCI Indexes

     13   

MSCI Australia Index

     15   

MSCI Austria Investable Market Index

     15   

MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index

     15   

MSCI Brazil Index

     15   

MSCI BRIC Index

     15   

MSCI Canada Index

     15   

 

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     Page  

MSCI Chile Investable Market Index

     16   

MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index

     16   

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     16   

MSCI EMU Index

     16   

MSCI France Index

     16   

MSCI Germany Index

     16   

MSCI Hong Kong Index

     16   

MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index

     16   

MSCI Italy Index

     17   

MSCI Japan Index

     17   

MSCI Japan Small Cap Index

     17   

MSCI Korea Index

     17   

MSCI Malaysia Index

     17   

MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index

     17   

MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index

     17   

MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index

     17   

MSCI Singapore Index

     18   

MSCI South Africa Index

     18   

MSCI Spain Index

     18   

MSCI Sweden Index

     18   

MSCI Switzerland Index

     18   

MSCI Taiwan Index

     18   

MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index

     18   

MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index

     18   

MSCI United Kingdom Index

     18   

MSCI USA Index

     19   

Investment Limitations

     19   

Continuous Offering

     23   

Management

     23   

Directors and Officers

     23   

Committees of the Board of Directors

     29   

Remuneration of Directors

     32   

Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities

     33   

Potential Conflicts of Interest

     45   

Investment Advisory, Administrative and Distribution Services

     51   

Investment Adviser

     51   

Portfolio Managers

     54   

 

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     Page  

Codes of Ethics

     58   

Anti-Money Laundering Requirements

     58   

Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent

     58   

Distributor

     59   

Financial Intermediary Compensation

     60   

Brokerage Transactions

     61   

Additional Information Concerning the Company

     64   

Capital Stock

     64   

Termination of the Company or a Fund

     65   

DTC as Securities Depository for Shares of the Funds

     66   

Creation and Redemption of Creation Units

     67   

General

     67   

Fund Deposit

     67   

Role of the Authorized Participant

     68   

Purchase Order

     69   

Timing of Submission of Purchase Orders

     69   

Acceptance of Order for Creation Unit

     69   

Issuance of a Creation Unit

     70   

Cash Purchase Method

     70   

Costs Associated with Creation Transactions

     70   

Redemption of Creation Units

     71   

Costs Associated with Redemption Transactions

     72   

Taxation on Creation and Redemptions of Creation Units

     75   

Regular Holidays

     75   

Redemptions

     81   

Taxes

     85   

Regulated Investment Company Qualifications

     85   

Taxation of RICs

     85   

Excise Tax

     86   

Net Capital Loss Carryforwards

     86   

Taxation of U.S. Shareholders

     87   

Sales of Shares

     88   

Back-Up Withholding

     89   

Sections 351 and 362

     89   

Taxation of Certain Derivatives

     89   

Qualified Dividend Income

     90   

Corporate Dividends Received Deduction

     90   

 

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     Page  

Excess Inclusion Income

     93   

Non-U.S. Investments

     93   

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

     94   

Reporting

     94   

Other Taxes

     94   

Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders

     95   

Financial Statements

     96   

Miscellaneous Information

     96   

Counsel

     96   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     96   

Shareholder Communications to the Board

     96   

 

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General Description of the Company and its Funds

The Company currently consists of more than 30 investment series or portfolios. The Company was organized as a Maryland corporation on August 31, 1994 and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios. The Company is an open-end management investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The offering of the Company’s shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). This SAI relates to the following funds:

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

The investment objective of each Fund is to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of a specified benchmark index (each, an “Underlying Index”) representing publicly-traded equity securities of issuers in a particular country, region or group of countries. Each Fund is managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA” or the “Investment Adviser”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BTC, which in turn is indirectly wholly-owned by BlackRock, Inc.

 

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Each Fund offers and issues shares at their net asset value per share (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (“Creation Units”), generally in exchange for either cash or if permitted by applicable laws, for a basket of equity securities included in its Underlying Index (the “Deposit Securities”), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). Shares of the Funds are listed and trade on NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca” or the “Listing Exchange”), a national securities exchange. Shares trade in the secondary market and elsewhere at market prices that may be at, above or below NAV. Shares are redeemable only in Creation Units, and, generally, in exchange for portfolio securities and a Cash Component (other than the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund and iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund, which currently redeem Creation Units of iShares solely for cash and iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund which currently redeem Creation Units of iShares partially for cash). Creation Units typically are a specified number of shares, generally ranging from 40,000 to 600,000 shares or multiples thereof.

The Company reserves the right to offer a “cash” option for creations and redemptions of shares. Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including a requirement to maintain with the Company a cash deposit, equal to at least 110% and up to 115%, which BFA may change from time to time, of the market value of the omitted Deposit Securities. See the Creation and Redemption of Creation Units section of this SAI. Transaction fees for and other costs cash creations or redemptions may be higher than the transaction fees and other costs associated with in-kind creations or redemptions. In all cases, conditions and fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of SEC rules and regulations applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

Exchange Listing and Trading

A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in each Fund is contained in the Shareholder Information section of each Fund’s Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, that section of the applicable Prospectus.

Shares of each Fund are listed for trading and trade throughout the day on the Listing Exchange and other secondary markets. Shares of the Funds may also be listed on certain non-U.S. exchanges. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Listing Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of any Fund will continue to be met. The Listing Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the shares of a Fund from listing if (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of Fund shares, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of shares of the Fund for 30 or more consecutive trading days, (ii) the value of the Underlying Index on which a Fund is based is no longer calculated or available, (iii) the “indicative optimized portfolio value” (“IOPV”) of a Fund is no longer calculated or available or (iv) any other event shall occur or condition shall exist that, in the opinion of the Listing Exchange, makes further dealings on the Listing Exchange inadvisable. The Listing Exchange will also remove shares of a Fund from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund.

As in the case of other publicly-traded securities, when you buy or sell shares through a broker you will incur a brokerage commission determined by that broker.

In order to provide additional information regarding the indicative value of shares of the Funds, the Listing Exchange or a market data vendor disseminates information every 15 seconds through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape Association or other widely disseminated means an updated IOPV for the Funds as calculated by an information provider or market data vendor. The Company is not involved in or responsible for any aspect of the calculation or dissemination of the IOPVs and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the IOPVs.

An IOPV has an equity securities component and a cash component. The equity securities values included in an IOPV are the values of the Deposit Securities for a Fund. While the IOPV reflects the current market value of the Deposit Securities required to be deposited in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit, it does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of the current portfolio of securities held by the Fund at a particular point in time because the current portfolio of the Fund may include securities that are not a part of the current Deposit Securities. Therefore, a Fund’s IOPV disseminated during the Listing Exchange trading hours should not be viewed as a real-time update of the Fund’s NAV, which is calculated only once a day.

 

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The cash component included in an IOPV consists of estimated accrued interest, dividends and other income, less expenses. If applicable, each IOPV also reflects changes in currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the applicable currency.

The Company reserves the right to adjust the share prices of Funds in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the Funds or an investor’s equity interest in the Funds.

Investment Strategies and Risks

Each Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in securities issued by issuers that comprise its relevant Underlying Index and through transactions that provide substantially similar exposure to securities in the Underlying Index. Each Fund operates as an index fund and will not be actively managed. Adverse performance of a security in each Fund’s portfolio will ordinarily not result in the elimination of the security from a Fund’s portfolio.

Each of the iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund (the “BRIC Fund”) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (the “Emerging Markets Fund”) seeks to achieve its objective by investing all its assets that are invested in India in a wholly-owned subsidiary located in the Republic of Mauritius (the “Subsidiaries”). The remaining assets will be invested directly by the BRIC Fund and the Emerging Markets Fund. BFA will serve as investment adviser to the BRIC Fund, the Emerging Markets Fund and each Subsidiary. Unless otherwise indicated, references made herein to the BRIC Fund and the Emerging Markets Fund refer to each Subsidiary and/or Fund, as applicable.

Each Fund engages in representative sampling, which is investing in a sample of securities selected by BFA to have a collective investment profile similar to that of the Fund’s Underlying Index. Securities selected have aggregate investment characteristics (based on market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability, earnings valuation and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those of the Underlying Index. Funds that use representative sampling generally do not hold all of the securities that are in their relevant Underlying Indexes.

Currency Transactions.  The Funds do not expect to engage in currency transactions for the purpose of hedging against declines in the value of the Funds’ assets that are denominated in a non-U.S. currency. A Fund may enter into non-U.S. currency forward and non-U.S. currency futures contracts to facilitate local securities settlements or to protect against currency exposure in connection with its distributions to shareholders, but may not enter into such contracts for speculative purposes.

A forward currency contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency futures contract is a contract involving an obligation to deliver or acquire the specified amount of a specific currency, at a specified price and at a specified future time. Currency futures contracts may be settled on a net cash payment basis rather than by the sale and delivery of the underlying currency. To the extent required by law, liquid assets committed to futures contracts will be maintained.

Foreign exchange transactions involve a significant degree of risk and the markets in which foreign exchange transactions are effected are highly volatile, highly specialized and highly technical. Significant changes, including changes in liquidity and prices, can occur in such markets within very short periods of time, often within minutes. Foreign exchange trading risks include, but are not limited to, exchange rate risk, counterparty risk, maturity gap, interest rate risk, and potential interference by foreign governments through regulation of local exchange markets, foreign investment or particular transactions in non-U.S. currency. If BFA utilizes foreign exchange transactions at an inappropriate time or judges market conditions, trends or correlations incorrectly, foreign exchange transactions may not serve their intended purpose of improving the correlation of a Fund’s return with the performance of its Underlying Index and may lower the Fund’s return. Each Fund could experience losses if the value of its currency forwards, options and futures positions were poorly correlated with its other investments or if it could not close out its positions because of an illiquid market. In addition, each Fund could incur transaction costs, including trading commissions, in connection with certain non-U.S. currency transactions.

Diversification Status.  Each Fund is classified as “non-diversified.” A “non-diversified” fund is a fund that is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. The securities of a particular issuer (or securities of issuers in particular industries) may dominate the underlying index of such a

 

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fund and, consequently, the fund’s investment portfolio. This may adversely affect the fund’s performance or subject the fund’s shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by more diversified investment companies.

Each Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company (“RIC”) for purposes of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Internal Revenue Code”) and to relieve the Fund of any liability for U.S. federal income tax to the extent that its earnings are distributed to shareholders, provided that the Fund satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. Compliance with the diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code may limit the investment flexibility of the Funds and may make it less likely that such Funds will meet their investment objectives.

Futures and Options.  Each Fund may enter into futures contracts and options. These futures contracts and options will be used to simulate investment in each Fund’s respective Underlying Index, to facilitate trading or to reduce transaction costs. Each Fund may enter into futures contracts and options that are traded on a U.S. or non-U.S. exchange. No Fund will use futures or options for speculative purposes. Each Fund intends to use futures and options in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). The Company, on behalf of each Fund, has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 so that each Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific instrument or index at a specified future time and at a specified price. Stock index contracts are based on investments that reflect the market value of common stock of the firms included in the investments. Each Fund may enter into futures contracts to purchase securities indexes when BFA anticipates purchasing the underlying securities and believes prices will rise before the purchase will be made. To the extent required by law, liquid assets committed to futures contracts will be maintained.

A call option gives a holder the right to purchase a specific security at a specified price (“exercise price”) within a specified period of time. A put option gives a holder the right to sell a specific security at a specified exercise price within a specified period of time. The initial purchaser of a call option pays the “writer” a premium, which is paid at the time of purchase and is retained by the writer whether or not such option is exercised. Each Fund may purchase put options to hedge its portfolio against the risk of a decline in the market value of securities held and may purchase call options to hedge against an increase in the price of securities it is committed to purchase. Each Fund may write put and call options along with a long position in options to increase its ability to hedge against a change in the market value of the securities it holds or is committed to purchase. Investments in futures contracts and other investments that contain leverage may require each Fund to maintain liquid assets. Generally, each Fund maintains an amount of liquid assets equal to its obligations relative to the position involved, adjusted daily on a marked-to-market basis. With respect to futures contracts that are contractually required to “cash-settle,” each Fund maintains liquid assets in an amount at least equal to each Fund’s daily marked-to-market obligation (i.e., each Fund’s daily net liability, if any), rather than the contracts’ notional value (i.e., the value of the underlying asset). By maintaining assets equal to its net obligation under cash-settled futures contracts, the Fund may employ leverage to a greater extent than if each Fund set aside assets equal to the futures contracts’ full notional value. Each Fund bases its asset maintenance policies on methods permitted by the staff of the SEC and may modify these policies in the future to comply with any changes in the guidance articulated from time to time by the SEC or its staff.

Illiquid Securities.  Each Fund may invest up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities (calculated at the time of investment). Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available markets.

Lending Portfolio Securities.  Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain creditworthy borrowers, including borrowers affiliated with BFA. The borrowers provide collateral that is maintained in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned. No securities loan shall be made on behalf of a Fund if, as a result, the aggregate value of all securities loans of the particular Fund exceeds one-third of the value of such Fund’s total assets (including the value of the collateral received). A Fund may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the return of the securities loaned. Each Fund receives the value of any interest or cash or non-cash distributions paid on the loaned securities.

With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the borrower will be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. The Funds are compensated by the difference between the amount earned on the reinvestment of cash collateral and the fee paid to the borrower. In the case of collateral other than cash, a Fund is compensated by a fee paid by the borrower equal to a percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. Any cash collateral may be reinvested in

 

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certain short-term instruments either directly on behalf of each lending Fund or through one or more joint accounts or money market funds, including those affiliated with BFA; such reinvestments are subject to investment risk.

Securities lending involves exposure to certain risks, including operational risk (i.e., the risk of losses resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process), “gap” risk (i.e., the risk of a mismatch between the return on cash collateral reinvestments and the fees each Fund has agreed to pay a borrower), and credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. If a securities lending counterparty were to default, the Fund would be subject to the risk of possible delay in receiving collateral or in the recovery of the securities, or possible loss of rights in the collateral. In the event a borrower does not return a Fund’s securities as agreed, the Fund may experience losses if the proceeds received from liquidating the collateral does not at least equal the value of the loaned security at the time the collateral is liquidated plus the transaction costs incurred in purchasing replacement securities. This event could trigger adverse tax consequences for the Funds.

Each Fund pays a portion of the interest or fees earned from securities lending to a borrower as described above and to a securities lending agent who administers the lending program in accordance with guidelines approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board” or the “Directors”). To the extent that the Funds engage in securities lending, BTC acts as securities lending agent for the Funds subject to the overall supervision of BFA. BTC receives a portion of the revenues generated by securities lending activities as compensation for its services.

Non-U.S. Securities.  Each Fund intends to purchase publicly-traded common stocks of non-U.S. issuers. To the extent a Fund invests in stocks of non-U.S. issuers, certain of the Funds’ investments in such stocks may be in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), Non-Voting Depositary Receipts (“NVDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively, “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts are receipts, typically issued by a bank or trust issuer, which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer. For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a non-U.S. issuer. For other forms of Depositary Receipts, the depository may be a non-U.S. or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may be issued by a non-U.S. or a U.S. issuer. Depositary Receipts are not necessarily denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs, issued in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and EDRs, issued in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets. NVDRs are designed for use in the Thai securities market. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world.

The Funds will not invest in any unlisted Depositary Receipt or any Depositary Receipt that BFA deems illiquid at the time of purchase or for which pricing information is not readily available. In general, Depositary Receipts must be sponsored but a Fund may invest in unsponsored Depositary Receipts under certain limited circumstances. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States. Therefore there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may be no correlation between available information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts.

Investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. These include differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, political instability which could affect U.S. investments in non-U.S. countries, and potential restrictions on the flow of international capital. Non-U.S. issuers may be subject to less governmental regulation than U.S. issuers. Moreover, individual non-U.S. economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions.

Options on Futures Contracts.  An option on a futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the underlying futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option. Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account that represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. The potential for loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option plus transaction costs. Because the value of the option is fixed at the point of sale, there are no daily cash payments by the purchaser to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option changes daily and that change would be reflected in the NAV of each Fund. The potential for loss related to writing call options is unlimited. The potential for loss related to writing put options is limited to the agreed upon price per share, also known as the “strike price,” less the premium received from writing the put.

 

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Each Fund may purchase and write put and call options on futures contracts that are traded on an exchange as a hedge against changes in value of its portfolio securities, or in anticipation of the purchase of securities, and may enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing positions. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected.

Upon entering into a futures contract, a Fund will be required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents known as “initial margin,” which is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract and is returned to each Fund upon termination of the futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” to and from the broker will be made daily as the price of the index underlying the futures contract fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking-to-market.” At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, each Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position, which will operate to terminate a Fund’s existing position in the contract.

Repurchase Agreements.  The Funds may enter into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is an instrument under which the purchaser (i.e., a Fund) acquires the security and the seller agrees, at the time of the sale, to repurchase the security at a mutually agreed upon time and price, thereby determining the yield during the purchaser’s holding period. Repurchase agreements may be construed to be collateralized loans by the purchaser to the seller secured by the securities transferred to the purchaser. If a repurchase agreement is construed to be a collateralized loan, the underlying securities will not be considered to be owned by each Fund but only to constitute collateral for the seller’s obligation to pay the repurchase price, and, in the event of a default by the seller, each Fund may suffer time delays and incur costs or losses in connection with the disposition of the collateral.

In any repurchase transaction, the collateral for a repurchase agreement may include: (i) cash items; (ii) obligations issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities; or (iii) obligations that, at the time the repurchase agreement is entered into, are rated in the highest rating category generally by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSRO”), or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality by BFA. Collateral, however, is not limited to the foregoing and may include for example obligations rated below the highest category by NRSROs. Collateral for a repurchase agreement may also include securities that a Fund could not hold directly without the repurchase obligation. Irrespective of the type of collateral underlying the repurchase agreement, in the case of a repurchase agreement entered into by a non-money market fund, the repurchase obligation of a seller must be of comparable credit quality to securities which are rated in one of the two highest rating categories by any NRSRO.

Repurchase agreements pose certain risks for a Fund that utilizes them. Such risks are not unique to the Funds, but are inherent in repurchase agreements. The Funds seek to minimize such risks, but because of the inherent legal uncertainties involved in repurchase agreements, such risks cannot be eliminated. Lower quality collateral and collateral with longer maturities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than higher quality collateral and collateral with shorter maturities. If the repurchase agreement counterparty were to default, lower quality collateral may be more difficult to liquidate than higher quality collateral. Should the counterparty default and the amount of collateral not be sufficient to cover the counterparty’s repurchase obligation, the Fund would retain the status of an unsecured creditor of the counterparty (i.e., the position the Fund would normally be in if it were to hold, pursuant to its investment policies, other unsecured debt securities of the defaulting counterparty) with respect to the amount of the shortfall. As an unsecured creditor, a Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  Each Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. Generally the effect of such transactions is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while in many cases the Fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if the Fund has an opportunity to earn a rate of interest on the cash derived from these transactions that is greater than the interest cost of obtaining the same amount of cash. Opportunities to realize earnings from the use of the proceeds equal to or greater than the interest required to be paid may not always be available and each Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when BFA believes it will be advantageous to the Fund. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any interim increase or decrease in the value of each Fund’s assets. A Fund’s exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by liquid assets having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings.

 

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Securities of Investment Companies.  Each Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies (including money market funds) and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) to the extent allowed by law. Pursuant to the 1940 Act, a Fund’s investment in investment companies is limited to, subject to certain exceptions: (i) 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any one investment company; (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. To the extent allowed by law or regulation, each Fund may invest its assets in the securities of investment companies that are money market funds, including those advised by or otherwise affiliated with BFA, in excess of the limits discussed above. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund, in order to improve its portfolio liquidity and its ability to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, may invest up to 10% of its assets in shares of other iShares Funds that invest in securities in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. BFA will not charge advisory fees on that portion of the iShares MSCI Emerging Market Index Fund’s assets invested in shares of other iShares Funds. Other investment companies in which a Fund invests can be expected to incur fees and expenses for operations, such as investment advisory and administration fees, that would be in addition to those incurred by the Fund.

Short-Term Instruments and Temporary Investments.  Each Fund may invest in short-term instruments, including money market instruments, on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity or for other reasons. Money market instruments are generally short-term investments that may include but are not limited to: (i) shares of money market funds (including those advised by BFA or otherwise affiliated with BFA); (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises); (iii) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), bankers’ acceptances, fixed-time deposits and other obligations of U.S. and non-U.S. banks (including non-U.S. branches) and similar institutions; (iv) commercial paper rated, at the date of purchase, “Prime-1” by Moody’s® Investors Service, Inc., “F-1” by Fitch Inc., or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s® (a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.) (“S&P®”), or if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by BFA; (v) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of not more than 397 days and that satisfy the rating requirements set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act; (vi) repurchase agreements; and (vii) short-term U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of non-U.S. banks (including U.S. branches) that, in the opinion of BFA, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S. banks which may be purchased by a Fund. Any of these instruments may be purchased on a current or forward-settled basis. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions.

Swap Agreements.  Each Fund may engage in swap agreements. Swap agreements are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on the change in market value or level of a specified rate, index or asset. In return, the other party agrees to make periodic payments to the first party based on the return of a different specified rate, index or asset. Swap agreements will usually be performed on a net basis, with each Fund receiving or paying only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if any, of a Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap is accrued on a daily basis and an amount of liquid assets having an aggregate value at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained by each Fund.

The use of interest-rate and index swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. These transactions generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal.

Tracking Stocks.  A tracking stock is a separate class of common stock whose value is linked to a specific business unit or operating division within a larger company and which is designed to “track” the performance of such business unit or division. The tracking stock may pay dividends to shareholders independent of the parent company. The parent company, rather than the business unit or division, generally is the issuer of tracking stock. However, holders of the tracking stock may not have the same rights as holders of the company’s common stock.

Future Developments.  The Board may, in the future, authorize each Fund to invest in securities contracts and investments other than those listed in this SAI and in the applicable Prospectus, provided they are consistent with each Fund’s investment objective and do not violate any investment restrictions or policies.

 

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General Considerations and Risks

A discussion of some of the risks associated with an investment in a Fund is contained in the applicable Prospectus.

An investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of stocks in general, and other factors that affect the market.

Dividend Risk.  There is no guarantee that the issuer of the stocks held by a Fund will declare dividends in the future or that if declared, they will either remain at current levels or increase over time.

Risks of Derivatives.  A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset such as a security or an index. A Fund may invest in stock index futures contracts and other derivatives. Compared to conventional securities, derivatives can be more sensitive to changes in interest rates or to sudden fluctuations in market prices and thus a Fund’s losses may be greater if it invests in derivatives than if it invests only in conventional securities.

Risks of Equity Securities.  An investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in an investment in equity securities, including the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the portfolio securities and thus in the value of shares of a Fund). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions of their issuers change. These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors, including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or regional political, economic or banking crises. Holders of common stocks incur more risks than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders generally have rights to receive payments from stock issuers inferior to the rights of creditors, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks. Further, unlike debt securities, which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (the value of which, however, is subject to market fluctuations prior to maturity), or preferred stocks, which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity.

Although most of the securities in each Underlying Index are listed on a national securities exchange, the principal trading market for some may be in the over-the-counter market. The existence of a liquid trading market for certain securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in such securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made or maintained or that any such market will be or remain liquid. The price at which securities may be sold and the value of a Fund’s shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for a Fund’s portfolio securities are limited or absent, or if bid/ask spreads are wide.

Risks of Futures and Options Transactions.  There are several risks accompanying the utilization of futures contracts and options on futures contracts. First, a position in futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be closed only on the exchange on which the contract was made (or a linked exchange). While each Fund plans to utilize futures contracts only if an active market exists for such contracts, there is no guarantee that a liquid market will exist for the contract at a specified time. Furthermore, because, by definition, futures contracts project price levels in the future and not current levels of valuation, market circumstances may result in a discrepancy between the price of the stock index future and the movement in a Fund’s Underlying Index. In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if a Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, a Fund may be required to deliver the instruments underlying the future contracts it has sold.

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered stock index futures contracts) is potentially unlimited. The Funds do not plan to use futures and options contracts in this way. The risk of a futures position may still be large as traditionally measured due to the low margin deposits required. In many cases, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required margin deposit. The Funds, however, intend to utilize futures and options contracts in a manner designed to limit their risk exposure to levels comparable to a direct investment in the types of stocks in which they invest.

 

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Utilization of futures and options on futures by a Fund involves the risk of imperfect or even negative correlation to its Underlying Index if the index underlying the futures contract differs from the Underlying Index. There is also the risk of loss by a Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom a Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option. The purchase of put or call options will be based upon predictions by BFA as to anticipated trends, which predictions could prove to be incorrect.

Because the futures market generally imposes less burdensome margin requirements than the securities market, an increased amount of participation by speculators in the futures market could result in price fluctuations. Certain financial futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount by which the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. It is possible that futures contract prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting each Fund to substantial losses. In the event of adverse price movements, each Fund would be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin.

Risks of Investing in India.  India is an emerging market and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to more developed markets. Political, religious, and border disputes persist in India. India has recently and may continue to experience civil unrest and hostilities with certain of its neighboring countries, including Pakistan, and the Indian government has confronted separatist movements in several Indian states, including Kashmir. Government control over the economy, currency fluctuations or blockage, and the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets may offer higher potential for losses. Governmental actions could have a negative effect on the economic conditions in India, which could adversely affect the value and liquidity of investments made by a Fund. The securities markets in India are comparatively underdeveloped and with some exceptions, consist of a small number of listed companies with small market capitalization, greater price volatility and substantially less liquidity than more developed markets. Stockbrokers and other intermediaries in India may not perform as well as their counterparts in the U.S. or other, more developed countries. The limited liquidity of the Indian securities markets may also affect a Fund’s ability to acquire or dispose of securities at the price or time that it desires or a Fund’s ability to track its Underlying Index.

Global factors and foreign actions may inhibit the flow of foreign capital on which India is dependent to sustain its growth. In addition, the Reserve Bank of India has imposed limits on foreign ownership of Indian companies, which may decrease the liquidity of a Fund’s portfolio and result in extreme volatility in the prices of Indian securities. These factors, coupled with the lack of extensive accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices, as applicable in the U.S., may increase the risk of loss.

Securities laws in India are relatively new and unsettled and, as a result there is a risk of significant and unpredictable change in laws governing foreign investment, securities regulation, title to securities and shareholder rights. Foreign investors in particular may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations. Certain Indian regulatory approvals, including approvals from the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the central government and the tax authorities (to the extent that tax benefits need to be utilized), may be required before a Fund can make investments in Indian companies.

Technology and software sectors represent a significant portion of the total capitalization of the Indian securities markets. The value of these companies will generally fluctuate in response to technological and regulatory developments, and, as a result, a Fund’s holdings are expected to experience correlated fluctuations.

Natural disasters, such as tsunamis, flooding or droughts, could occur in India, Mauritius or surrounding areas and could negatively affect the Indian economy or operations of a Subsidiary, and, in turn, could negatively affect a Fund.

Risks of Investing in Non-U.S. Equity Securities.  An investment in a Fund involves risks similar to those of investing in a portfolio of equity securities traded on foreign exchanges. These risks include market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. Investing in securities issued by issuers domiciled in countries other than the domicile of the investor and denominated in currencies other than an investor’s local currency entails certain considerations and risks not typically encountered by the investor in making investments in its home country and in that country’s currency. These considerations include favorable or unfavorable changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations and the costs that may be incurred in connection with conversions between various currencies. Investing in any of these Funds also involves certain risks and

 

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considerations not typically associated with investing in a fund whose portfolio contains exclusively securities of U.S. issuers. These risks include generally less liquid and less efficient securities markets; generally greater price volatility; less publicly available information about issuers; the imposition of withholding or other taxes; the imposition of restrictions on the expatriation of funds or other assets of the Fund; higher transaction and custody costs; delays and risks attendant in settlement procedures; difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations; lower liquidity and significantly smaller market capitalization; different accounting and disclosure standards; lower levels of regulation of the securities markets; more substantial government interference with the economy; higher rates of inflation; greater social, economic, and political uncertainty; the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets; and the risk of war.

The tax laws and regulations in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) are subject to change, including the issuance of authoritative guidance or enforcement, possibly with retroactive effect. The interpretation, applicability and enforcement of such laws by PRC tax authorities are not as consistent and transparent as those of more developed nations, and may vary over time and from region to region. The application and enforcement of PRC tax rules could have a significant adverse effect on an applicable Fund and its investors, particularly in relation to capital gains withholding tax imposed upon non-residents.

Risks of Investing in Russia.  Investing in the Russian securities market involves a high degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in the U.S. securities markets, and should be considered highly speculative. Risks include the absence of developed legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property; the possibility of the loss of all or a substantial portion of the Fund’s assets invested in Russia as a result of expropriation; certain national policies which may restrict the Fund’s investment opportunities, including, without limitation, restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests; and potentially greater price volatility in, significantly smaller capitalization of, and relative illiquidity of, the Russian market. There can also be no assurance that the Fund’s investments in these companies would not be expropriated, nationalized or otherwise confiscated. In the event of the settlement of any such claims or such expropriation, nationalization or other confiscation, the Fund could lose its entire investment. In addition, it may be difficult and more costly to obtain and enforce a judgment in the Russian court system.

Russia may also be subject to a greater degree of economic, political and social instability than is the case in other developed countries. Such instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i) an authoritarian government or military involvement in political and economic decision-making, including changes in government through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; and (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection.

The Russian economy is heavily dependent upon the export of a range of commodities including most industrial metals, forestry products and oil and gas. Accordingly, it is strongly affected by international commodity prices and is particularly vulnerable to any weakening in global demand for these products. Any acts of terrorism or armed conflicts in Russia or internationally could have an adverse effect on the financial and commodities markets and the global economy. As Russia produces and exports large amounts of crude oil and gas, any acts of terrorism or armed conflict causing disruptions of Russian oil and gas exports could negatively affect the Russian economy and, thus, adversely affect, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

The Russian government may exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector and may own or control many companies. Future government actions could have a significant effect on the economic conditions in Russia, which could have a negative impact on private sector companies. There is also the possibility of diplomatic developments that could adversely affect investments in Russia. In recent years, the Russian government has begun to take bolder steps to re-assert its regional geopolitical influence (including military steps). Such steps may increase tensions between Russia and its neighbors and Western countries and may negatively affect economic growth.

Risks of Swap Agreements.  The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. Swap agreements are subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default occurs, a Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. However, such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect such Fund’s rights as a creditor (e.g., a Fund may not receive the net amount of payments that it contractually is entitled to receive).

Securities Lending Risk.  Each Fund may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the risk that a Fund may lose money because the borrower fails to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Funds could also lose money

 

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in the event of a decline in the value of the collateral provided for loaned securities or the value of investments made with cash collateral. These events could trigger adverse tax consequences for the Funds.

Tax Risk.  Each of the BRIC Fund and Emerging Markets Fund, through its Subsidiary, will seek to obtain benefits from favorable tax treatment by the Indian government pursuant to the treaty between India and the Republic of Mauritius (“DTAA”). The Supreme Court of India has upheld the validity of this DTAA in response to a challenge in a lower court contesting the DTAA’s applicability to entities such as the BRIC and Emerging Markets Funds or the Subsidiaries; however, there can be no assurance that any future challenge will result in a favorable outcome. Additionally, in a number of recent cases, the Indian tax authorities have been taking positions that have led to uncertainties in relation to the availability of DTAA benefits. Recently, there has been discussion in the Indian press that the DTAA may be re-negotiated. There can be no assurance that the terms of the DTAA will not be subject to re-negotiation in the future or subject to a different interpretation or that the Subsidiaries will continue to be deemed a tax resident by the Republic of Mauritius, allowing them favorable tax treatment. Any change in the provisions of this DTAA or in its applicability to the Subsidiaries could result in the imposition of withholding and other taxes on the Subsidiaries by India, which would reduce the return to a Fund on its investments.

The Direct Taxes Code, 2010 (“New Taxes Code”) was recently tabled before the Lok Sabha (Indian house of Parliament), which, if enacted, will replace the existing Income Tax Act, 1961 (“Income Tax Act”) with effect from April 1, 2012. Further, provisions of the New Taxes Code, if enacted, could change the manner in which the Subsidiaries are currently taxed in India, and could adversely impact the returns to each of the BRIC Fund/Subsidary or Emerging Markets Fund/Subsidiary and its shareholders. Hence, no assurance can be given that the interpretations described in this discussion will remain in effect. Any changes could also be applied retroactively, including to transactions entered into before the effective date of the New Taxes Code. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to their own tax situations and the tax consequences of an investment in a Fund. For a brief overview of matters in relation to Indian taxation, please see The Direct Taxes Code, 2010 section of this SAI.

Proxy Voting Policy

The Company has adopted, as its proxy voting policies for each Fund, the proxy voting guidelines of BFA, the investment adviser to each Fund. The Company has delegated to BFA the responsibility for voting proxies on the portfolio securities held by each Fund. The remainder of this section discusses each Fund’s proxy voting guidelines and BFA’s role in implementing such guidelines.

BFA votes (or refrains from voting) proxies for each Fund in a manner that BFA, in the exercise of its independent business judgment, concludes is in the best economic interests of such Fund. In some cases, BFA may determine that it is in the best economic interests of a Fund to refrain from exercising the Fund’s proxy voting rights (such as, for example, proxies on certain non-U.S. securities that might impose costly or time-consuming in-person voting requirements). With regard to the relationship between securities lending and proxy voting, BFA’s approach is also driven by our clients’ economic interests. The evaluation of the economic desirability of recalling loans involves balancing the revenue-producing value of loans against the likely economic value of casting votes. Based on our evaluation of this relationship, we believe that the likely economic value of casting a vote generally is less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by BFA recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. Periodically, BFA analyzes the process and benefits of voting proxies for securities on loan, and will consider whether any modification of its proxy voting policies or procedures are necessary in light of any regulatory changes. BFA will normally vote on specific proxy issues in accordance with its proxy voting guidelines. BFA’s proxy voting guidelines provide detailed guidance as to how to vote proxies on certain important or commonly raised issues. BFA may, in the exercise of its business judgment, conclude that the proxy voting guidelines do not cover the specific matter upon which a proxy vote is requested, or that an exception to the proxy voting guidelines would be in the best economic interests of a Fund. BFA votes (or refrains from voting) proxies without regard to the relationship of the issuer of the proxy (or any shareholder of such issuer) to a Fund, a Fund’s affiliates (if any), BFA or BFA’s affiliates, or the Distributor or the Distributor’s affiliates. When voting proxies, BFA attempts to encourage issuers to follow practices that enhance shareholder value and increase transparency and allow the market to place a proper value on their assets. With respect to certain specific issues:

 

   

Each Fund generally supports the board’s nominees in the election of directors and generally supports proposals that strengthen the independence of boards of directors;

 

   

Each Fund generally does not support proposals on social issues that lack a demonstrable economic benefit to the issuer and the Fund investing in such issuer; and

 

   

Each Fund generally votes against anti-takeover proposals and proposals that would create additional barriers or costs to corporate transactions that are likely to deliver a premium to shareholders.

 

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BFA maintains institutional policies and procedures that are designed to prevent any relationship between the issuer of the proxy (or any shareholder of the issuer) and a Fund, a Fund’s affiliates (if any), BFA or BFA’s affiliates (if any) or the Distributor or the Distributor’s affiliates, from having undue influence on BFA’s proxy voting activity. In certain instances, BFA may determine to engage an independent fiduciary to vote proxies as a further safeguard against potential conflicts of interest or as otherwise required by applicable law. The independent fiduciary may either vote such proxies or provide BFA with instructions as to how to vote such proxies. In the latter case, BFA votes the proxy in accordance with the independent fiduciary’s determination.

Information with respect to how BFA voted proxies relating to the Funds’ portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) or through the Funds’ website at www.iShares.com; and (ii)  on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Portfolio Holdings Information

The Board has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings information that requires that such information be disclosed in a manner that: (i) is consistent with applicable legal requirements and in the best interests of each Fund’s respective shareholders; (ii) does not put the interests of BFA, the Distributor or any affiliated person of BFA or the Distributor, above those of Fund shareholders; (iii) does not advantage any current or prospective Fund shareholders over any other current or prospective Fund shareholders, except to the extent that certain Entities (as described below) may receive portfolio holdings information not available to other current or prospective Fund shareholders in connection with the dissemination of information necessary for transactions in Creation Units, as contemplated by the iShares Exemptive Orders and as discussed below; and (iv) does not provide selective access to portfolio holdings information except pursuant to the procedures outlined below and to the extent appropriate confidentiality arrangements limiting the use of such information are in effect. The “Entities” referred to in sub-section (iii) above are generally limited to National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) members and subscribers to various fee-based subscription services, including those large institutional investors (known as “Authorized Participants”) that have been authorized by the Distributor to purchase and redeem large blocks of shares pursuant to legal requirements, including exemptive orders granted by the SEC pursuant to which the Funds offer and redeem their shares (“iShares Exemptive Orders”) and other institutional market participants and entities that provide information services.

Each business day, each Fund’s portfolio holdings information is provided to the Distributor or other agent for dissemination through the facilities of the NSCC and/or other fee-based subscription services to NSCC members and/or subscribers to those other fee-based subscription services, including Authorized Participants, and to entities that publish and/or analyze such information in connection with the process of purchasing or redeeming Creation Units or trading shares of Funds in the secondary market. This information typically reflects each Fund’s anticipated holdings on the following business day.

Daily access to information concerning the Funds’ portfolio holdings is permitted (i) to certain personnel of those service providers that are involved in portfolio management and providing administrative, operational, risk management, or other support to portfolio management, including affiliated broker-dealers and Authorized Participants, and (ii) to other personnel of the Investment Adviser and the Distributor, administrator, custodian and fund accountant who deal directly with or assist in, functions related to investment management, distribution, administration, custody and fund accounting, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with the iShares Exemptive Orders, agreements with the Funds and the terms of the Funds’ current registration statements. In addition, each Fund discloses its portfolio holdings and the percentages they represent of the Fund’s net assets at least monthly, and as often as each day the Fund is open for business, at www.iShares.com. More information about this disclosure is available at www.iShares.com.

Portfolio holdings information made available in connection with the creation/redemption process may be provided to other entities that provide services to the Funds in the ordinary course of business after it has been disseminated to the NSCC. From time to time, information concerning portfolio holdings other than portfolio holdings information made available in connection with the creation/redemption process, as discussed above, may be provided to other entities that provide services to the Funds, including rating or ranking organizations, in the ordinary course of business, no earlier than one business day following the date of the information.

Each Fund discloses its complete portfolio holdings schedule in public filings with the SEC within 70 days after the end of each fiscal quarter and will provide that information to shareholders as required by federal securities laws and regulations

 

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thereunder. A Fund may, however, voluntarily disclose all or part of its portfolio holdings other than in connection with the creation/redemption process, as discussed above, in advance of required filings with the SEC, provided that such information is made generally available to all shareholders and other interested parties in a manner that is consistent with the above policy for disclosure of portfolio holdings information. Such information may be made available through a publicly-available website or other means that make the information available to all likely interested parties contemporaneously.

The Company’s Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings information pursuant to the above policy and procedures.

The Board reviews the policy and procedures for disclosure of portfolio holdings information at least annually.

Construction and Maintenance of the Underlying Indexes

Descriptions of the Underlying Indexes are provided below.

The MSCI Indexes

The MSCI indexes were founded in 1969 by Capital International S.A. as the first international performance benchmarks constructed to facilitate accurate comparison of world equity markets. The MSCI standard equity indexes have covered the world’s developed markets since 1969 and in 1987 MSCI commenced coverage of emerging markets. In 2007, MSCI introduced coverage of frontier markets.

Local stock exchanges traditionally calculated their own indexes which were generally not comparable with one another due to differences in the representation of the local market, mathematical formulas, base dates and methods of adjusting for capital changes. MSCI, however, applies the same calculation methodology to all markets for all standard equity indexes: developed, emerging or frontier.

MSCI’s Global Investable Market Indexes (the “MSCI GIMI”) provide exhaustive coverage and non-overlapping market segmentation by market capitalization size and by style. The MSCI GIMI intends to target approximately 99% coverage of the free-float adjusted market capitalization in each market of large, mid and small cap securities.

 

 

MSCI Global Standard Indexes cover all investable large and mid cap securities by including approximately 85% of each market’s free-float adjusted market capitalization.

 

 

MSCI Global Small Cap Indexes provide coverage to all companies with a market capitalization below that of the companies in the MSCI Global Standard Indexes by including above and beyond the coverage of the MSCI Global Standard Indexes.

MSCI Global Investable Market Indexes

Selection Criteria.  MSCI’s index construction process involves: (i) defining the equity universe; (ii) determining the market investable equity universe for each market; (iii) determining market capitalization size segments for each market; (iv) applying final size segment investability requirements; and (v) applying index continuity rules for the MSCI Global Standard Index.

Defining the Equity Universe.  MSCI begins with securities listed in countries in the MSCI GIMI. Of these countries, as of December 2010, 24 are classified as developed markets, 21 as emerging markets, and 26 as frontier markets. All listed equity securities and listed securities that exhibit characteristics of equity securities, except mutual funds, exchange traded funds, equity derivatives, limited partnerships and most investment trusts, are eligible for inclusion in the equity universe. REITs in some countries and certain income trusts in Canada are also eligible for inclusion. Each company and its securities (i.e., share classes) are classified in only one country.

Determining the Market Investable Equity Universe for Each Market.  The equity universe in any market is derived by applying investability screens to individual companies and securities in the equity universe of that market. Some investability requirements are applied at the individual security level and some at the overall company level, represented by the aggregation of individual securities of the company. As a result, the inclusion or exclusion of one security does not imply the automatic inclusion or exclusion of other securities of the same company.

 

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Determining Market Capitalization Size Segments for Each Market.  In each market, MSCI creates an Investable Market Index, Standard Index, Large Cap Index, Mid Cap Index and Small Cap Index. The MSCI Global Standard Index is the aggregation of the Large Cap Index and Mid Cap Index. The MSCI GIMI is the aggregation of the MSCI Global Standard Index and MSCI Global Small Cap Index. In order to create size components that can be meaningfully aggregated into composites, individual market size segments balance the following two objectives:

 

 

Achieving global size integrity by ensuring that companies of comparable and relevant sizes are included in a given size segment across all markets in a composite index; and

 

 

Achieving consistent market coverage by ensuring that each market’s size segment is represented in its proportional weight in the composite universe.

Applying Final Size Segment Investability Requirements.  In order to enhance replicability of the indexes, additional size segment investability requirements are set for the MSCI GIMI and MSCI Global Standard Index. These investability requirements include minimum free float market capitalization, minimum liquidity, minimum foreign limits and minimum length of trading.

Applying Index Continuity Rules for the Standard Index.  In order to achieve index continuity as well as provide some basic level of diversification within a market index, notwithstanding the effect of other index construction rules contained herein, a minimum number of five constituents will be maintained for a developed market Standard Index and a minimum number of three constituents will be maintained for an emerging market Standard Index.

Weighting.  All indexes of the MSCI GIMI are free-float weighted, i.e., companies are included in the indexes at the value of their free public float (free float multiplied by security price).

Regional Weights.  Market capitalization weighting, combined with a consistent target of approximately 99% of free-float adjusted market capitalization, helps ensure that each country’s weight in regional and international indexes approximates its weight in the total universe of developing and emerging markets. A market is equivalent to a single country except for Europe, where all markets are aggregated into a single market for index construction purposes. Individual country indexes of the European developed markets are derived from the constituents of the MSCI GIMI Europe Index.

Free Float.  MSCI defines the free float of a security as the proportion of shares outstanding that are deemed to be available for purchase in the public equity markets by international investors. In practice, limitations on free float available to international investors include: (i) strategic and other shareholdings not considered part of available free float; and (ii) limits on share ownership for foreigners.

Under MSCI’s free-float adjustment methodology, a constituent’s inclusion factor is equal to its estimated free float rounded-up to the closest 5% for constituents with free float equal to or exceeding 15%. For example, a constituent security with a free float of 23.2% will be included in the index at 25% of its market capitalization. For securities with a free float of less than 15%, the estimated free float is adjusted to the nearest 1%.

Price and Exchange Rates

Prices.  The prices used to calculate all MSCI indexes are the official exchange closing prices or those figures accepted as such. MSCI reserves the right to use an alternative pricing source on any given day.

Exchange Rates.  As of July 2000, MSCI uses the WM/Reuters Closing Spot Rates taken at 4:00 p.m., London time. In case WM/Reuters does not provide rates for specific markets on given days (for example, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day), the previous business day’s rates are normally used. MSCI independently monitors the exchange rates on all its indices. MSCI may under exceptional circumstances elect to use alternative sources of exchange rates if the WM/Reuters rates are not available, or if MSCI determines that the WM/Reuters rates are not reflective of market circumstances for a given currency on a particular day. In such circumstances, an announcement would be sent to clients with the related information. If appropriate, MSCI may conduct a consultation with the investment community to gather feedback on the most relevant exchange rate.

Changes to the Indexes.  The MSCI GIMI is maintained with the objective of reflecting, on a timely basis, the evolution of the underlying equity markets. In maintaining the MSCI indexes, emphasis is also placed on continuity, replicability and minimizing turnover in the indexes. Maintaining the MSCI indexes involves many aspects, including (i) additions to, and deletions from, the indexes; (ii) changes in number of shares; and (iii) changes in inclusion factors as a result of updated free float estimates.

 

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Index maintenance can be described by three broad categories of changes:

 

 

Semi-Annual Index Reviews (“SAIRs”), conducted on a fixed semi-annual timetable that systematically reassess the various dimensions of the equity universe for all markets;

 

 

Quarterly Index Reviews (“QIRs”), aimed at promptly reflecting other significant market events; and

 

 

Ongoing event-related changes, such as mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, bankruptcies, reorganizations and other similar corporate events, which generally are implemented in the indexes as they occur.

Potential changes in the status of countries (stand-alone, frontier, emerging and developed) follow their own implementation time tables.

MSCI conducts SAIRs generally as of the close of the last business day of May and November. During the SAIRs, MSCI updates the investable equity universe and reassesses size segmentation investability requirements. MSCI also conducts QIRs generally as of the close of the last business day of February and August. During the QIRs, MSCI reflects changes in the index that were not captured at the time of their actual occurrence, but are significant enough to be included before the next SAIR. The results of the SAIR and QIR are generally announced at least ten business days in advance of implementation.

MSCI Australia Index

Number of Components: approximately 72

Index Description.  The MSCI Australia Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Australian Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, materials and consumer staples.

MSCI Austria Investable Market Index

Number of Components: approximately 30

Index Description.  The MSCI Austria Investable Market Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Vienna Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, industrials and energy.

MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index

Number of Components: approximately 50

Index Description.  The MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Brussels Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were consumer staples, financials and materials.

MSCI Brazil Index

Number of Components: approximately 75

Index Description.  The MSCI Brazil Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the BM&FBOVESPA (the Brazilian exchange). As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, materials and energy.

MSCI BRIC Index

Number of Components: approximately 288

Index Description.  The MSCI BRIC Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the combined equity market performance in Brazil, Russia, India and China (“BRIC”) and consists of stocks traded primarily on the BM&FBOVESPA, Russian Trading System Stock Exchange, Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange, National Stock Exchange of India, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzen Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, energy and materials.

MSCI Canada Index

Number of Components: approximately 98

Index Description.  The MSCI Canada Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Toronto Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010 the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, energy and materials.

 

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MSCI Chile Investable Market Index

Number of Components: approximately 30

Index Description.  The MSCI Chile Investable Market Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Santiago Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were utilities, materials and industrials.

MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index

Number of Components: approximately 58

Index Description.  The MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure the equity performance of companies domiciled in four Eastern European emerging market nations: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Russia.

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

Number of Components: approximately 754

Index Description.  The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index consisted of the following 21 emerging market country indexes: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey and the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, energy and materials.

MSCI EMU Index

Number of Components: approximately 267

Index Description.  The MSCI EMU Index consists of stocks from the following 11 markets: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, industrials and consumer discretionary.

MSCI France Index

Number of Components: approximately 77

Index Description.  The MSCI France Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Paris Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, consumer discretionary and industrials.

MSCI Germany Index

Number of Components: approximately 50

Index Description.  The MSCI Germany Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, consumer discretionary and industrials.

MSCI Hong Kong Index

Number of Components: approximately 40

Index Description.  The MSCI Hong Kong Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK). As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, utilities and consumer discretionary.

MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index

Number of Components: approximately 82

Index Description.  The MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, health care and materials.

 

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MSCI Italy Index

Number of Components: approximately 30

Index Description.  The MSCI Italy Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Milan Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, energy and utilities.

MSCI Japan Index

Number of Components: approximately 342

Index Description.  The MSCI Japan Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were industrials, consumer discretionary and financials.

MSCI Japan Small Cap Index

Number of Components: approximately 820

Index Description.  The MSCI Japan Small Cap Index targets a coverage range between 85% and 99% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization, which consists of stocks traded primarily on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were industrials, consumer discretionary and financials.

MSCI Korea Index

Number of Components: approximately 99

Index Description.  The MSCI Korea Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were information technology, industrials and financials.

MSCI Malaysia Index

Number of Components: approximately 39

Index Description.  The MSCI Malaysia Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, industrials and consumer staples.

MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index

Number of Components: approximately 45

Index Description.  The MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Mexican Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were telecommunication services, consumer staples and materials.

MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index

Number of Components: approximately 56

Index Description.  The MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were consumer staples, financials and industrials.

MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index

Number of Components: approximately 147

Index Description.  The MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index is designed to measure equity market performance in the Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore equity markets. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, materials and industrials.

 

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MSCI Singapore Index

Number of Components: approximately 30

Index Description.  The MSCI Singapore Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Singapore Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, industrials and telecommunication services.

MSCI South Africa Index

Number of Components: approximately 45

Index Description.  The MSCI South Africa Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, materials and telecommunication services.

MSCI Spain Index

Number of Components: approximately 28

Index Description.  The MSCI Spain Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Madrid Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, telecommunication services and utilities.

MSCI Sweden Index

Number of Components: approximately 33

Index Description.  The MSCI Sweden Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were industrials, financials and consumer discretionary.

MSCI Switzerland Index

Number of Components: approximately 37

Index Description.  The MSCI Switzerland Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Zurich Stock Exchange. As of September  30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were health care, consumer staples and financials.

MSCI Taiwan Index

Number of Components: approximately 118

Index Description.  The MSCI Taiwan Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were information technology, financials and materials.

MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index

Number of Components: approximately 79

Index Description.  The MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. As of September  30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, energy and consumer staples.

MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index

Number of Components: approximately 90

Index Description.  The MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE). As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, industrials and telecommunication services.

MSCI United Kingdom Index

Number of Components: approximately 105

Index Description.  The MSCI United Kingdom Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the London Stock Exchange. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index’s three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, energy and consumer staples.

 

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MSCI USA Index

Number of Components: approximately 591

Index Description. The MSCI USA Index is a market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the performance of equity securities in the top 85% by market capitalization of equity securities listed on stock exchanges in the United States. As of September 30, 2010, the Underlying Index had 591 constituents and its three largest industries by component weighting were information technology, financials and health care.

Additional Information. “MSCI,” “Morgan Stanley Capital International,” MSCI Australia Index, MSCI Austria Investable Market Index, MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index, MSCI Brazil Index, MSCI BRIC Index, MSCI Canada Index, MSCI Chile Investable Market Index, MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index, MSCI Emerging Markets Index, MSCI EMU Index MSCI France Index, MSCI Germany Index, MSCI Hong Kong Index, MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index, MSCI Italy Index, MSCI Japan Index, MSCI Japan Small Cap Index, MSCI Korea Index, MSCI Malaysia Index, MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index, MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index, MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index, MSCI Singapore Index, MSCI South Africa Index, MSCI Spain Index, MSCI Sweden Index, MSCI Switzerland Index, MSCI Taiwan Index, MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index, MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index, MSCI United Kingdom Index and MSCI USA Index are service marks of MSCI Inc. and have been licensed for use by BTC. The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MSCI Inc. Nor does MSCI Inc. make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in any of the Funds.

Investment Limitations

The Board has adopted as non-fundamental policies the investment objectives of the Funds discussed in this SAI. Therefore, each of these Funds may change its investment objective and its Underlying Index without a shareholder vote. The Board has adopted as fundamental policies for each Fund set forth below investment restrictions numbered 1 through 9 below. The restrictions for such Fund cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of that Fund’s outstanding voting securities. A vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a fund meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, and (b) more than 50% of outstanding voting securities.

The iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund, iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund, iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund, iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund, iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund, iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund, iShares Switzerland Index Fund and iShares Taiwan Index Fund, will not:

 

1. Lend any funds or other assets except through the purchase of all or a portion of an issue of securities or obligations of the type in which it is permitted to invest (including participation interests in such securities or obligations) and except that a Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets;

 

2. Issue senior securities or borrow money, except borrowings from banks for temporary or emergency purposes in an amount up to 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed), valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) valued at the time the borrowing is made, and the Fund will not purchase securities while borrowings in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets are outstanding, provided, that for purposes of this restriction, short-term credits necessary for the clearance of transactions are not considered borrowings;

 

3. Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets, except to secure permitted borrowings. (The deposit of underlying securities and other assets in escrow and collateral arrangements with respect to initial or variation margin for currency transactions and futures contracts will not be deemed to be pledges of the Fund’s assets);

 

4. Purchase a security (other than obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities) if as a result 25% or more of its total assets would be invested in a single issuer. (This restriction applies to each of the iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund and iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund only);

 

5. Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, or oil, gas or mineral interests or leases, but a Fund may purchase and sell securities that are issued by companies that invest or deal in such assets;

 

6. Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its portfolio;

 

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7. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, except that a Fund may make margin deposits in connection with transactions in currencies, options, futures and options on futures;

 

8. Sell securities short; or

 

9. Invest in commodities or commodity contracts, except that a Fund may buy and sell currencies and forward contracts with respect thereto, and may transact in futures contracts on securities, stock indices and currencies and options on such futures contracts and make margin deposits in connection with such contracts.

The Board has adopted as fundamental policies for each Fund set forth below investment restrictions numbered 1 through 8 below.

The restrictions for such Fund cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of that Fund’s outstanding voting securities. A vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a fund meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, and (b) more than 50% of outstanding voting securities.

The iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund, iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund, iShares MSCI France Index Fund, iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund, iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund, iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund, iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund and iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund will not:

 

1. Make loans, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

2. Issue any senior security, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

3. Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets, except to secure permitted borrowings. (The deposit of underlying securities and other assets in escrow and collateral arrangements with respect to initial or variation margin for currency transactions and futures contracts will not be deemed to be pledges of the Fund’s assets);

 

4. Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, or oil, gas or mineral interests or leases, but a Fund may purchase and sell securities that are issued by companies that invest or deal in such assets;

 

5. Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its portfolio;

 

6. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, except that a Fund may make margin deposits in connection with transactions in currencies, options, futures and options on futures;

 

7. Sell securities short; or

 

8. Invest in commodities or commodity contracts, except that a Fund may buy and sell currencies and forward contracts with respect thereto, and may transact in futures contracts on securities, stock indices and currencies and options on such futures contracts and make margin deposits in connection with such contracts.

The Board has adopted as fundamental policies for each Fund set forth below investment restrictions numbered 1 through 6 below.

The restrictions for such Fund cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of that Fund’s outstanding voting securities. A vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a fund meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, and (b) more than 50% of outstanding voting securities.

The iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund, iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund, iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund and iShares MSCI USA Index Fund will not:

 

1.

Concentrate its investments (i.e., invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries), except that a Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index concentrates in the securities of such particular industry or group of industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities

 

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  of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, and securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry;

 

2. Borrow money, except that (i) each Fund may borrow from banks for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise require the untimely disposition of securities, and (ii) each Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, forward roll transactions and similar investment strategies and techniques;

 

     To the extent that it engages in transactions described in (i) and (ii), each Fund will be limited so that no more than 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) is derived from such transactions. Any borrowings which come to exceed this amount will be reduced in accordance with applicable law;

 

3. Issue any senior security, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

4. Make loans, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

5. Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments (but this restriction shall not prevent each Fund from investing in securities of companies engaged in the real estate business or securities or other instruments backed by real estate or mortgages), or commodities or commodity contracts (but this restriction shall not prevent each Fund from trading in futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including options on currencies to the extent consistent with each Fund’s investment objectives and policies); or

 

6. Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that each Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act, the disposing of portfolio securities.

Industry concentration.  Each of the iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund and iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund has the following concentration policy: With respect to the two most heavily weighted industries or groups of industries in its benchmark MSCI Index, a Fund will invest in securities (consistent with its investment objective and other investment policies) so that the weighting of each such industry or group of industries in the Fund does not diverge by more than 10% from the respective weighting of such industry or group of industries in its benchmark MSCI Index. An exception to this policy is that if investment in the stock of a single issuer would account for more than 25% of the Fund, the Fund will invest less than 25% of its net assets in such stock and will reallocate the excess to stock(s) in the same industry or group of industries, and/or to stock(s) in another industry or group of industries, in its benchmark MSCI Index. Each Fund will evaluate these industry weightings at least weekly, and at the time of evaluation will adjust its portfolio composition to the extent necessary to maintain compliance with the above policy. A Fund may not concentrate its investments except as discussed above. The Board has adopted this policy as fundamental, which means that it may not be changed with respect to a Fund without the approval of the holders of a majority of that Fund’s outstanding voting securities.

As of September 30, 2010, the following Fund was concentrated (that is, invested 25% or more of its total assets) in the specified industry:

 

Fund

  

Industry or Industries

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

   Banks

Each of the iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund, iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund, iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund, iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund, iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund, iShares MSCI France Index Fund, iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund, iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund, iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund, iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund, iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund, iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund, iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund, iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund, iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund, iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund, iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund and iShares MSCI USA Index Fund will not concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total assets in the stocks of a particular industry or group of industries), except that, to the extent practicable, the Fund will concentrate to

 

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approximately the same extent that its benchmark MSCI Index concentrates in the stocks of such particular industry or group of industries, provided that the Fund will comply with the diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to RICs, any underlying Treasury regulations or any successor provision.

As of September 30, 2010, each of the following Funds was concentrated (that is, held 25% or more of its total assets) in the specified industries:

 

Fund

  

Industry or Industries

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

   Banks

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

   Oil & Gas

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

   Real Estate

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

   Banks

iShares MSCI Malaysia Market Index Fund

   Banks

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

   Telecommunications

iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan Index Fund

   Banks

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

   Banks

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

   Banks

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

   Banks

In addition to the investment limitations adopted as fundamental as set forth above, each Fund observes the following restrictions, which may be changed by the Board without a shareholder vote. A Fund will not:

 

1. Invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of exercising management or control, or in any event purchase and hold more than 10% of the securities of a single issuer, provided that the Company may vote the investment securities owned by each Fund in accordance with its views; or

 

2. Hold illiquid assets in excess of 15% of its net assets. An illiquid asset is any asset which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the investment.

For purposes of the percentage limitation on each Fund’s investments in illiquid securities, foreign equity securities, though not registered under the 1933 Act, are not deemed illiquid with respect to each Fund if they are otherwise readily marketable. Such securities ordinarily are considered to be “readily marketable” if they are traded on an exchange or other organized market and are not legally restricted from sale by the Fund. BFA monitors the liquidity of restricted securities in each Fund’s portfolio. In reaching liquidity decisions, BFA considers the following factors:

 

1. The frequency of trades and quotes for the security;

 

2. The number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers;

 

3. Dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and

 

4. The nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace in which it trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer).

If any percentage restriction described above is complied with to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or total or net assets will not constitute in a violation of such restriction, except that certain percentage limitations will be observed continuously in accordance with applicable law.

Each Fund has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy in accordance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities, and in ADRs based on securities, in its Underlying Index. Each Fund also has adopted a policy to provide its shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any change in such policy. If, subsequent to an investment, the 80% requirement is no longer met, a Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this policy.

Each of the iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy such that each Fund may invest in shares of other open-end management investment companies or unit investment trusts subject to the limitations of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and exemptive

 

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orders obtained thereunder; provided, however, that if the Fund has knowledge that its shares are purchased by another investment company investor in reliance on the provisions of subparagraphs (G) or (F) of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, the Fund will not acquire any securities of other open-end management investment companies or unit investment trusts in reliance on the provisions of subparagraphs (G) or (F) of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.

Continuous Offering

The method by which Creation Units are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Funds on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner that could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.

For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent shares and sells such shares directly to customers or if it chooses to couple the creation of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of shares, generally are required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Funds are reminded that, pursuant to Rule 153 under the 1933 Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Listing Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available at the Listing Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is available only with respect to transactions on an exchange.

Management

Directors and Officers.  The Board has responsibility for the overall management and operations of the Funds, including general supervision of the duties performed by BFA and other service providers. Each Director serves until he or she resigns, is removed, dies, retires or becomes incapacitated. The President, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary shall each hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, and all other officers shall hold office until he or she resigns or is removed. Directors who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as Independent Directors.

The Company, iShares Trust, iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc., Master Investment Portfolio and BlackRock Funds III (formerly, Barclays Global Investors Funds), each an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act, are considered members of the same fund complex, as defined in Form N-1A under the 1940 Act. Each Director also serves as a Trustee of iShares Trust and a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. and, as a result, oversees a total of 216 funds within the fund complex. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, the address of each Director and officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. The address of Mr. Kapito is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. The Board has designated George G.C. Parker as its Independent Chairman.

 

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Interested Directors

 

Name (Age)

  

Position

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During the Past 5 Years

  

Other Directorships

Held by Director

Robert S. Kapito1

(53)

   Director (since 2009).    President and Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2006 and 2007, respectively); Vice Chairman of BlackRock, Inc. and Head of BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group (since its formation in 1998) and BlackRock’s predecessor entities (since 1988); Trustee, University of Pennsylvania (since 2009); Chairman, Hope & Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund (since 2002); President of the Board of Directors, Periwinkle Theatre for Youth (since 1983).    Trustee of iShares Trust (since 2009); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010); Director of BlackRock, Inc. (since 2007).

Michael Latham2

(45)

   Director (since 2010); President (since 2007).    Global Chief Executive Officer of iShares, BTC (since 2010); Managing Director, BTC (since 2009); Head of Americas iShares, Barclays Global Investors (“BGI”) (2007-2009); Director and Chief Financial Officer of Barclays Global Investors International, Inc. (2005-2009); Chief Operating Officer of the Intermediary Investor and Exchange Traded Products Business of BGI (2003-2007).    Trustee of iShares Trust (since 2010); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010).

 

 

  1 

Robert S. Kapito is deemed to be an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company due to his affiliations with BlackRock, Inc.

 

  2 

Michael Latham is deemed to be an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company due to his affiliations with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates.

Independent Directors

 

Name (Age)

  

Position

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years

  

Other Directorships

Held by Director

George G.C. Parker

(71)

   Director (since 2002); Independent Chairman (since 2010).    Dean Witter Distinguished Professor of Finance, Emeritus, Stanford University: Graduate School of Business (since 1994).    Trustee of iShares Trust (since 2000); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010); Independent Chairman of iShares Trust (since 2010); Independent Chairman of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010); Director of Continental Airlines, Inc. (since 1996); Director of Community First Financial Group (since 1995); Director of Tejon Ranch Company (since 1999); Director of Threshold Pharmaceuticals (since 2004); Director of NETGEAR, Inc. (since 2007).

 

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Name (Age)

  

Position

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years

  

Other Directorships

Held by Director

John E. Martinez

(49)

   Director
(since 2003).
   Director of Real Estate Equity Exchange (since 2005).    Trustee of iShares Trust (since 2003); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010); Chairman, Independent Review Committee, Canadian iShares Funds (since 2007).

Cecilia H. Herbert

(61)

   Director
(since 2005).
   Director (since 1998) and President (since 2007) of the Board of Directors, Catholic Charities CYO; Trustee of Pacific Select Funds (2004-2005); Trustee (since 2005) and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committees (since 2006) of the Thacher School; Chair of Investment Committee, Archdiocese of San Francisco (1994-2005).    Trustee of iShares Trust (since 2005); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010); Director, Forward Funds (34 portfolios) (since 2009).

Charles A. Hurty

(67)

   Director
(since 2005).
   Retired; Partner, KPMG LLP (1968-2001).    Trustee of iShares Trust (since 2005); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010); Director of GMAM Absolute Return Strategy Fund (1 portfolio) (since 2002); Director of Citigroup Alternative Investments Multi- Adviser Hedge Fund Portfolios LLC (1 portfolio) (since 2002).

John E. Kerrigan

(55)

   Director
(since 2005).
   Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002).    Trustee of iShares Trust (since 2005); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010).

Robert H. Silver

(55)

   Director
(since 2007).
   President and Co-Founder of The Bravitas Group, Inc. (since 2006); Member, Non-Investor Advisory Board of Russia Partners II, LP (since 2006); President and Chief Operating Officer (2003-2005) and Director (1999-2005) of UBS Financial Services, Inc.; President and Chief Executive Officer of UBS Services USA, LLC (1999-2005); Managing Director, UBS America, Inc. (2000- 2005); Director and Vice Chairman of the YMCA of Greater NYC (since 2001); Broadway Producer (since 2006); Co-Founder and Vice President of Parentgiving Inc. (since 2008); Director and Member of the Audit and Compensation Committee of EPAM Systems, Inc. (2006-2009).    Trustee of iShares Trust (since 2007); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2010).

 

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Name (Age)

  

Position

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years

  

Other Directorships

Held by Director

Madhav V. Rajan

(46)

   Trustee
(since 2011).
   Gregor G. Peterson Professor of Accounting and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Stanford University: Graduate School of Business (since 2001); Professor of Law (by courtesy), Stanford Law School (since 2005); Visiting Professor, University of Chicago (Winter 2007-2008).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2011); Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. (since 2011).

Officers

 

Name (Age)

       

Position

       

Principal Occupation(s)

During the Past 5 Years

Geoffrey D. Flynn

(54)

      Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
(since 2008).
      Managing Director, BTC (since 2009); Chief Operating Officer, U.S. iShares, BGI (2007-2009); President, Van Kampen Investors Services (2003- 2007); Managing Director, Morgan Stanley (2002-2007); President, Morgan Stanley Trust, FSB (2002- 2007).

Jack Gee

(51)

      Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(since 2008).
      Managing Director, BTC (since 2009); Senior Director of Fund Administration of Intermediary Investor Business of BGI (2009); Director of Fund Administration of Intermediary Investor Business of BGI (2004-2009).

Eilleen M. Clavere

(58)

      Secretary
(since 2007).
      Director, BTC (since 2009); Director of Legal Administration of Intermediary Investor Business of BGI (2006-2009); Legal Counsel and Vice President of Atlas Funds, Atlas Advisers, Inc. and Atlas Securities, Inc. (2005-2006); Counsel of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP (2001- 2005).

Ira P. Shapiro

(47)

      Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
(since 2007).
      Managing Director, BTC (since 2009); Associate General Counsel, BGI (2004-2009).

Amy Schioldager

(48)

      Executive Vice President
(since 2007).
      Managing Director, BTC (since 2009); Global Head of Index Equity, BGI (2008-2009); Global Head of U.S. Indexing, BGI (2006-2008); Head of Domestic Equity Portfolio Management, BGI (2001-2006).

Patrick O’Connor

(43)

      Vice President
(since 2007).
      Managing Director, BTC (since 2009); Head of iShares Portfolio Management, BGI (2006-2009); Senior Portfolio Manager, BGI (1999-2006).

 

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Name (Age)

       

Position

       

Principal Occupation(s)

During the Past 5 Years

Matt Tucker

(38)

      Vice President
(since 2007).
      Managing Director, BTC (since 2009); Director of Fixed Income Investment Strategy, BGI (2009); Head of U.S. Fixed Income Investment Solutions, BGI (2005-2008); Fixed Income Investment Strategist, BGI (2003-2005).

The Board has concluded that, based on each Director’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Directors, each Director should serve as a Director of the Board. Among the attributes common to all Directors are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the Funds’ investment adviser, other service providers, counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Directors. A Director’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through the Director’s educational background or professional training; business, consulting, public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member of the Funds and the other funds in the Company (and any predecessor funds), other investment funds, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. Also, set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Director that led the Board to conclude that he or she should serve as a Director.

Robert Kapito has been a Director of the Company since 2009. Mr. Kapito has served as a Trustee of iShares Trust since 2009, a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010 and a Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2007. In addition, he has over 20 years of experience as part of BlackRock, Inc. and BlackRock’s predecessor entities. Mr. Kapito serves as President and Director of BlackRock, Inc., and is the Chairman of the Operating Committee, a member of the Office of the Chairman, the Leadership Committee and the Corporate Council. He is responsible for day-to-day oversight of BlackRock’s key operating units, including the Account Management and Portfolio Management Groups, Real Estate Group and BlackRock Solutions®. Prior to assuming his current responsibilities in 2007, Mr. Kapito served as Head of BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing all portfolio management within BlackRock, including the Fixed Income, Equity, Liquidity, and Alternative Investment Groups. Mr. Kapito serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also Chairman of the Hope & Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund, since 2002, and President of the Board of Directors for Periwinkle Theatre for Youth, a national non-profit arts-in-education organization, since 1983. Mr. Kapito earned a BS degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1979, and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School in 1983.

Michael Latham has been a Director of the Company since 2010 and President of the Company since 2007. Mr. Latham served as Principal Financial Officer of the Company from 2002 until 2007. Mr. Latham has served as a Trustee of iShares Trust since 2010, President of iShares Trust since 2007, Principal Financial Officer of iShares Trust from 2002 until 2007, a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010 and President of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010. Mr. Latham is the global head of BlackRock’s iShares exchange-traded fund business. In addition, he has over 15 years of experience as part of BlackRock, Inc. and BlackRock’s predecessor entities. Prior to assuming his current responsibilities in April 2009 and July 2010, he was head of BlackRock’s iShares exchange-traded fund business for the U.S. and Canada and Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. iShares business. He previously held a variety of operating positions within the firm. Mr. Latham earned a BS degree in business administration from California State University at San Francisco in 1988.

George G.C. Parker has been a Director of the Company since 2002 and Chairman of the Company’s Board since 2010. Mr. Parker served as Lead Independent Director of the Company from 2006 until 2010 and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee for the Company from 2002 until 2010. Mr. Parker has served as a Trustee of iShares Trust since 2000, Chairman of iShares Trust’s Board since 2010, Lead Independent Director of iShares Trust from 2006 until 2010, Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee for iShares Trust from 2002 until 2010, a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010 and Chairman of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc.’s Board since 2010.

Mr. Parker also serves as Director on five other boards. Mr. Parker is the Dean Witter Distinguished Professor of Finance (Emeritus) at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He teaches courses in Corporate Finance in the MBA Program,

 

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Stanford Sloan Program for Executives, and in various other Executive Education Programs at the School. Mr. Parker’s teaching and research interests are primarily in the field of corporate finance, management of financial institutions, and corporate governance, and he has written numerous case studies related to these subjects. He has also authored several articles on capital structure, risk management, and corporate valuation. Mr. Parker holds an MBA and Ph.D. degree from the Stanford Business School.

John E. Martinez has been a Director of the Company since 2003. Mr. Martinez has served as a Trustee of iShares Trust since 2003 and a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010. Mr. Martinez is a Director of EquityRock, Inc. (previously Real Estate Equity Exchange, Inc), providing governance oversight and consulting services to this privately held firm that develops products and strategies for homeowners in managing the equity in their homes. Mr. Martinez previously served as Director of Barclays Global Investors (BGI) UK Holdings, where he provided governance oversight representing BGI’s shareholders (Barclays PLC, BGI management shareholders) through oversight of BGI’s worldwide activities. Since 2007, Mr. Martinez also serves as the Chairman of the Independent Review Committee for the Canadian iShares Funds. This committee provides guidance and oversight of potential conflicts of interest between the mutual fund advisor and shareholders. Since 2003, he is a Director and Executive Committee Member for Larkin Street Youth Services, providing governance oversight and strategy development to an agency that provides emergency and transitional housing, health care, education, job and life skills training to homeless youth. Mr. Martinez has an AB in economics from The University of California, Berkeley and holds an MBA in finance and statistics from the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago.

Cecilia H. Herbert has been a Director of the Company since 2005. Ms. Herbert has served as a Trustee of iShares Trust since 2005 and a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010. She is President of the Board of the Catholic Charities CYO, among the Bay Area’s largest, private social services organizations serving the homeless, poor, aged, families, children and AIDS/HIV victims, on which she has served since 1998. Ms. Herbert is a member of the Finance Council, Archdiocese of San Francisco since 1991, which she chaired from 1994 to 2006. She is a Trustee of the Thacher School, since 2002 and chairs its Investment Committee. She has served on numerous non-profit boards. Ms. Herbert is also a Director since 2010 and Advisory Board Member since 2009 of the Forward Funds. Ms. Herbert previously served as a Trustee for the Pacific Select Funds and The Montgomery Funds. Ms. Herbert previously served as Managing Director of J.P. Morgan/Morgan Guaranty Trust Company responsible for product development, marketing and credit for U.S. multinational corporations and as head of its San Francisco office and as Assistant Vice President, Signet Banking Corporation. Ms. Herbert has a BA in economics and communications from Stanford University and an MBA in finance from Harvard Business School.

Charles A. Hurty has been a Director of the Company since 2005 and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Company since 2006. Mr. Hurty has served as a Trustee of iShares Trust since 2005, Chairman of the Audit Committee of iShares Trust since 2006, a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010 and Chairman of the Audit Committee of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010. In addition, Mr. Hurty serves as Director of the GMAM Absolute Return Strategy Fund since 2002, Director of the Citigroup Alternative Investments Multi-Adviser Hedge Fund Portfolios LLC since 2002 and was a Director of the CSFB Alternative Investment Funds from 2005 to December 2009, when the funds were liquidated. Mr. Hurty was formerly a Partner at KPMG, LLP from 1968 to 2001. Mr. Hurty has a BS in accounting from University of Kansas.

John E. Kerrigan has been a Director of the Company since 2005 and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Company since 2010. Mr. Kerrigan has served as a Trustee of iShares Trust since 2005, Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee of iShares Trust since 2010, a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010 and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010. Mr. Kerrigan serves as Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University since 2002. Mr. Kerrigan was formerly a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch & Co, including the following responsibilities: Global Manager of Institutional Client Division eCommerce, Global Manager of Technology Specialists Sales and Chair, Performance Measurement, Evaluation & Compensation Task Force. Mr. Kerrigan is a Trustee, since 2008, of Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, CA, and Director, since 1999, of The BASIC Fund (Bay Area Scholarships for Inner City Children). Mr. Kerrigan has a BA from Boston College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Robert H. Silver has been a Director of the Company since 2007. Mr. Silver has served as a Trustee of iShares Trust since 2007 and a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2010. Mr. Silver is President and a co-founder of The Bravitas Group Inc., a firm dedicated to advising and investing in emerging business enterprises and to supporting philanthropic activities that benefit under-served urban youth. Previously, Mr. Silver served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of UBS Financial Services Inc., the registered broker dealer comprising the Wealth Management USA

 

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business unit of UBS AG. Mr. Silver also served on the Board of Directors of EPAM, a provider of software engineering outsourcing services in Central and Eastern Europe, the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”) and served as a governor of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. In addition, Mr. Silver is a Vice Chairman and a Member of the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater New York and chairs its Fund Development Committee, since 2001, and Co-Founder and Vice President of Parentgiving Inc., since 2008. Mr. Silver began his career as a CPA at KPMG LLP from 1983 until 1997. Mr. Silver has a BS in business administration from the University of North Carolina.

Madhav V. Rajan has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2011. Mr. Rajan has served as a Director of iShares, Inc. and a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, Inc. since 2011. Mr. Rajan is the Gregor G. Peterson Professor of Accounting at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has taught Accounting for over 20 years to undergraduate, MBA and law students, as well as to senior executives. Mr. Rajan serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and head of the MBA Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Mr. Rajan served as editor of “The Accounting Review” from 2002-2008 and is coauthor of “Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis,” a leading cost accounting textbook. Mr. Rajan holds an MS, MBA and Ph.D. in Accounting from Carnegie Mellon University.

Board – Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for oversight of the Funds rests with the Board. The Board has engaged BFA to manage the Funds on a day-to-day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing BFA and other service providers in the operations of the Funds in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Company’s charter. The Board is currently composed of nine members, seven of whom are Independent Directors (defined below). The Board currently conducts regular meetings four times a year. In addition, the Board frequently holds special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. The Independent Directors meet regularly outside the presence of management, in executive session or with other service providers to the Company.

The Board has appointed an Independent Director to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys, and other Directors generally between meetings. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board has established a Nominating and Governance Committee and an Audit Committee to assist the Board in the oversight and direction of the business and affairs of the Funds, and from time to time may establish ad-hoc committees or informal working groups to review and address the policies and practices of the Funds with respect to certain specified matters. The Board and each standing Committee conduct annual assessments of their oversight function and structure. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise independent judgment over management and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees of Independent Directors and the full Board to enhance effective oversight.

Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Funds is the responsibility of BFA or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), subject to the supervision of BFA. Each Fund is subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks, among others. While there are a number of risk management functions performed by BFA and other service providers, as applicable, it is not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to the Fund. The Directors have an oversight role in this area, satisfying themselves that risk management processes are in place and operating effectively. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of each Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and committee activities. The Board, directly or through a committee, also reviews reports from, among others, management and the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by each Fund and management’s risk functions. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who oversees the implementation and testing of the Company’s compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Company and its principal service providers. In testing and maintaining the compliance program, the Chief Compliance Officer assesses key compliance risks affecting each Fund, and addresses them in reports to the Board. The Independent Directors have engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

Committees of the Board of Directors.  Each Director who is not an interested person (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company (“Independent Director”) serves on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board. Mr. Martinez was not a member of these committees prior to August 13, 2009. The purposes of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board (i) in its oversight of the Company’s accounting and financial reporting principles and policies and related controls and procedures maintained by or on behalf of the Company; (ii) in its oversight of the Company’s financial

 

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statements and the independent audit thereof; (iii) in selecting, evaluating and, where deemed appropriate, replacing the independent accountants (or nominating the independent accountants to be proposed for shareholder approval in any proxy statement); (iv) in evaluating the independence of the independent accountants; (v) in complying with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Company’s accounting and financial reporting, internal controls and independent audits; and (vi) to assume such other responsibilities as may be delegated by the Board. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.

The Nominating and Governance Committee nominates individuals for Independent Director membership on the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee functions include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) reviewing the qualifications of any person properly identified or nominated to serve as an Independent Director; (ii) recommending to the Board and current Independent Directors the nominee(s) for appointment as an Independent Director by the Board and current Independent Directors and/or for election as Independent Directors by shareholders to fill any vacancy for a position of Independent Director(s) on the Board; (iii) recommending to the Board and current Independent Directors the size and composition of the Board and Board committees and whether they comply with applicable laws and regulations; (iv) recommending a current Independent Director to the Board and current Independent Directors to serve as Lead Independent Director; (v) periodic review of the Board’s retirement policy; and (vi) recommending an appropriate level of compensation for the Independent Directors for their services as Directors, members or chairpersons of committees of the Board, Lead Independent Director, Chairperson of the Board and any other positions as the Nominating and Governance Committee considers appropriate. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not consider Board nomination(s) recommended by shareholders (acting solely in their capacity as a shareholder and not in any other capacity). The Nominating and Governance Committee is comprised of all members of the Board that are Independent Directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.

The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2009, the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Funds and in other registered investment companies overseen by the Director within the same family of investment companies as the Company. If a fund is not listed below, the Director did not own any securities in that fund as of the date indicated above:

 

Name of Director1

  

Fund

   Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
   Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in all
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Director in Family of
Investment Companies

Robert Kapito

   None    None    None

John E. Martinez

   iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund    Over $100,000    Over $100,000
   iShares Barclays Short Treasury Bond Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares S&P 500 Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares S&P Global Consumer Staples Sector Index Fund    Over $100,000   

George G.C. Parker

   iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Fund    $1-$10,000    Over $100,000
   iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund    $50,001-$100,000   

 

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Name of Director1

  

Fund

   Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
   Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in all
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Director in Family of
Investment Companies
   iShares S&P 100 Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares S&P 500 Growth Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares S&P 500 Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares S&P California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares S&P Global 100 Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   

Cecilia H. Herbert

   iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Treasury Bond fund    $10,001-$50,000    Over $100,000
   iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares FTSE China 25 Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund    $50,001-$100,000   
   iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares S&P 500 Index Fund    $50,001-$100,000   
   iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   

Charles A. Hurty

   iShares Dow Jones Financial Sector Index Fund    $1-$10,000    Over $100,000
   iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund    $1-$10,000   
   iShares Dow Jones U.S. Energy Sector Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares Dow Jones U.S. Technology Sector Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares FTSE China 25 Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares S&P 500 Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares S&P Global Energy Sector Fund    $1-$10,000   

John E. Kerrigan

   iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Index Fund    Over $100,000    Over $100,000
  

iShares S&P Short Term National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund

   Over $100,000   

Robert H. Silver

   iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond Fund    Over $100,000    Over $100,000
   iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares Dow Jones U.S. Broker-Dealers Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares Dow Jones U.S. Financial Services Index Fund    $50,001-$100,000   
   iShares Dow Jones U.S. Regional Banks Index Fund    $50,001-$100,000   
   iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Index Fund    Over $100,000   

 

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Table of Contents

Name of Director1

  

Fund

   Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
   Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in all
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Director in Family of
Investment Companies
   iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund    $50,001-$100,000   
   iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund    $50,001-$100,000   
   iShares Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares Russell 2000 Value Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares Russell 3000 Index Fund    $50,001-$100,000   
   iShares S&P 500 Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares S&P Europe 350 Index Fund    $10,001-$50,000   
   iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund    Over $100,000   
   iShares S&P/Citigroup International Treasury Bond Fund    $1-$10,000   

Madhav V. Rajan2

   None    None    None

Darrell Duffie3

   None    None    None

 

  1 

Beneficial ownership is not shown for Michael Latham because he was appointed to serve as Director of the Company effective May 1, 2010.

 

  2 

Appointed to serve as Trustee effective May 16, 2011.

 

  3 

Served as Director through March 19, 2011.

As of December 31, 2009, none of the Independent Directors or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities of BFA (the Funds’ investment adviser), the Distributor or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with BFA or the Distributor.

Remuneration of Directors.  For the calendar year ended December 31, 2009, the Company paid each Independent Director $127,500 for meetings of the Board attended by the Director; the Company also paid Charles Hurty an annual fee of $20,000 for service as the Chairperson of the Board’s Audit Committee and George G.C. Parker an annual fee of $25,000 for service as the Board’s Lead Independent Director. For the calendar year ended December 31, 2009, John Martinez, John Kerrigan and Cecilia Herbert were also each entitled to $17,500 for his or her service on a committee of the Board that considered matters relating to securities lending, and $5,878 for his or her service as a director of a subsidiary of iShares Trust. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company pays each Independent Director $110,000 for meetings of the Board attended by the Director; also the Company pays Charles Hurty an annual fee of $20,000 for service as the Chairperson of the Board’s Audit Committee and George G.C. Parker an annual fee of $25,000 for service as the Board’s Lead Independent Director (now, Independent Chairman). Effective January 1, 2010, John Martinez, John Kerrigan and Cecilia Herbert are also each entitled to $10,000 for his or her service as a director of a subsidiary of iShares Trust. Effective April 30, 2010, the Company pays John Kerrigan an annual fee of $7,500 for service as the Chairperson of the Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee. The Company also reimburses each Director for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him/her in connection with attending such meetings.

The table below sets forth the total compensation paid to each Interested Director for the calendar year ended December 31, 2009:

 

Name of Interested Director1,2

     Aggregate
Compensation
from the
Company
       Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued As
Part of Company
Expenses3
       Estimated Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement3
       Total
Compensation
From the Funds
and Fund Complex4
 

Robert S. Kapito

     $ 0           Not Applicable           Not Applicable         $ 0   

 

 

  1 

Compensation is not shown for Michael Latham because he was appointed to serve as Director of the Company effective May 1, 2010.

 

  2 

Robert S. Kapito was not compensated by the Company due to his employment with BTC during the time period reflected in the table.

 

  3 

No Director or officer is entitled to any pension or retirement benefits from the Company.

 

  4 

Includes compensation for service on the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust.

 

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Table of Contents

The table below sets forth the total compensation paid to each Independent Director for the calendar year ended December 31, 2009:

 

Name of Independent Director1

   Aggregate
Compensation
from the
Company
     Pension or
Retirement Benefits
Accrued As Part of
Company
Expenses2
     Estimated Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement2
     Total
Compensation
From the Funds
and Fund Complex3
 

George G.C. Parker

   $ 152,500         Not Applicable         Not Applicable       $ 305,000   

John E. Kerrigan

     150,878         Not Applicable         Not Applicable         295,878   

Charles A. Hurty

     147,500         Not Applicable         Not Applicable         295,000   

Cecilia H. Herbert

     150,878         Not Applicable         Not Applicable         295,878   

Robert H. Silver

     127,500         Not Applicable         Not Applicable         255,000   

Darrell Duffie4

     127,500         Not Applicable         Not Applicable         255,000   

John E. Martinez

     150,878         Not Applicable         Not Applicable         295,878   

 

 

  1 

Compensation is not shown for Madhav V. Rajan because he was appointed to serve as Independent Trustee of the Trust effective May 16, 2011.

 

  2 

No Director or officer is entitled to any pension or retirement benefits from the Company.

 

  3 

Includes compensation for service on the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust.

 

  4 

Served as Director through March 19, 2011.

Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.

The Directors and Officers of the Company collectively owned less than 1% of each of the Funds’ outstanding shares as of November 30, 2010.

Although the Company does not have information concerning the beneficial ownership of shares held in the names of Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participants (as defined below), as of November 30, 2010, the name and percentage ownership of each DTC participant that owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund were as follows:

 

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      10.64
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      9.24
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association      8.91
   14201 Dallas Pkwy   
   12th Floor   
   Dallas, TX 75240   
   National Financial Services LLC      7.36
   200 Liberty Street   
   5th Floor   
   New York, NY 10281   
   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc./Cedear      7.18
   1251 Avenue of the Americas   
   New York, NY 10020   
   Bank of America, National Association      6.81
   411 N. Akard Street   
   5th Floor   
   Dallas, TX 75201   
   Bank of New York, The      5.42
   One Wall Street   
   New York, NY 10004   

 

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Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

   Curian Clearing, LLC      9.17
   8055 East Tufts Avenue   
   10th Floor   
   Denver, CO 80237   
   Bear, Stearns Securities Corp.      8.83
   One Metrotech Center North   
   Brooklyn, NY 11201   
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      7.76
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Citigroup Global Markets Inc.      7.00
   333 W 34th Street   
   New York, NY 10001-2402   
   Pershing LLC      6.63
   One Pershing Plaza   
   Jersey City, NJ 07399   
   Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith      5.96
   Safekeeping   
   101 Hudson Street   
   8th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07302   
   National Financial Services LLC      5.74
   200 Liberty Street   
   5th Floor   
   New York, NY 10281   

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

   JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association      15.63
   14201 Dallas Pkwy   
   12th Floor   
   Dallas, TX 75240   
   Curian Clearing, LLC      13.86
   8055 East Tufts Avenue   
   10th Floor   
   Denver, CO 80237   
   First Clearing, LLC      10.62
   901 East Byrd Street   
   Richmond, VA 23219   
   Bank of New York, The      8.34
   One Wall Street   
   New York, NY 10004   
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      6.60
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      13.08
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      7.49
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc./Cedear      6.85
   1251 Avenue of the Americas   
   New York, NY 10020   

 

34


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
   State Street Bank and Trust Company      6.53
   1776 Heritage Drive   
   North Quincy, MA 02171   
   National Financial Services LLC      6.50
   200 Liberty Street   
   5th Floor   
   New York, NY 10281   

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      12.23
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc./Cedear      8.25
   1251 Avenue of the Americas   
   New York, NY 10020   
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      7.43
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   National Financial Services LLC      6.70
   200 Liberty Street   
   5th Floor   
   New York, NY 10281   
   Citibank, N.A.      5.13
   3800 Citicorp Center Tampa   
   Building B/Floor 1   
   Tampa, FL 33610   

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      11.65
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      8.97
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Bank of New York, The      8.22
   One Wall Street   
   New York, NY 10004   
   National Financial Services LLC      7.33
   200 Liberty Street   
   5th Floor   
   New York, NY 10281   
   Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated      5.32
   One Pierrepont Plaza   
   8th Floor   
   Brooklyn, NY 11201   

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      12.12
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   National Financial Services LLC      9.94
   200 Liberty Street   
   5th Floor   
   New York, NY 10281   

 

35


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      8.51
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Bank of New York, The      7.25
   One Wall Street   
   New York, NY 10004   
   Pershing LLC      5.11
   One Pershing Plaza   
   Jersey City, NJ 07399   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index

   Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith      15.13

Fund

   Safekeeping   
   101 Hudson Street   
   8th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07302   
   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      14.33
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Citibank, N.A.      11.94
   3800 Citicorp Center Tampa   
   Building B/Floor 1   
   Tampa, FL 33610   
   National Financial Services LLC      7.38
   200 Liberty Street   
   5th Floor   
   New York, NY 10281   
   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith      6.41
   Incorporated   
   101 Hudson Street   
   9th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07302-3997   
   Pershing LLC      6.14
   One Pershing Plaza   
   Jersey City, NJ 07399   
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      5.89
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association      5.20
   14201 Dallas Pkwy   
   12th Floor   
   Dallas, TX 75240   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      14.14
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   State Street Bank and Trust Company      11.11
   1776 Heritage Drive   
   North Quincy, MA 02171   
   Mellon Trust of New England, National      8.56
   Association   
   Three Mellon Bank Center   
   Floor 1533700   
   Pittsburgh, PA 15259   

 

36


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      5.45
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Citibank, N.A.      5.04
   3800 Citicorp Center Tampa   
   Building B/Floor 1   
   Tampa, FL 33610   

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      20.36
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Curian Clearing, LLC      12.26
   8055 East Tufts Avenue   
   10th Floor   
   Denver, CO 80237   
   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.      8.27
   111 Pavonia Avenue   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated      8.05
   One Pierrepont Plaza   
   8th Floor   
   Brooklyn, NY 11201   
   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc./Cedear      6.32
   1251 Avenue of the Americas   
   New York, NY 10020   
   Pershing LLC      6.06
   One Pershing Plaza   
   Jersey City, NJ 07399   

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

   Citigroup Global Markets Inc.      13.06
   333 W 34th Street   
   New York, NY 10001-2402   
   Curian Clearing, LLC      11.80
   8055 East Tufts Avenue   
   10th Floor   
   Denver, CO 80237   
   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc./Cedear      8.89
   1251 Avenue of the Americas   
   New York, NY 10020   
   Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith      6.36
   Safekeeping   
   101 Hudson Street   
   8th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07302   
   Bank of New York, The      5.07
   One Wall Street   
   New York, NY 10004   

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc./Cedear      15.89
   1251 Avenue of the Americas   
   New York, NY 10020   
   Pershing LLC      7.40
   One Pershing Plaza   
   Jersey City, NJ 07399   

 

37


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
   Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.      7.07
   525 Washington Blvd.   
   11th Floor   
   Jersey City, NJ 07310   
   Citibank, N.A.      6.46
   3800 Citicorp Center Tampa   
   Building B/Floor 1   
   Tampa, FL 33610   
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     5.90
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     5.22

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     11.71
  

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     11.07
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     10.02
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     9.02
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     5.34
iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     13.23
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     9.24
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     8.11
  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith

Safekeeping

101 Hudson Street

8th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

     6.62
  

First Clearing, LLC

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

     5.91

 

38


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     5.15

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citicorp Center Tampa

Building B/Floor 1

Tampa, FL 33610

     14.69
  

Barclays Global Investors, N.A.

400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

     10.81
  

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     10.66
  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith

Safekeeping

101 Hudson Street

8th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

     8.87
  

Bank of New York, The

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10004

     7.99
  

First Clearing, LLC

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

     7.86
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     7.28
iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     11.36
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     8.47
  

Bank of New York, The

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10004

     7.97
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citicorp Center Tampa

Building B/Floor 1

Tampa, FL 33610

     7.83
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     6.64
iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     29.82

 

39


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citicorp Center Tampa

Building B/Floor 1

Tampa, FL 33610

     12.24
  

Bear, Stearns Securities Corp.

One Metrotech Center North

Brooklyn, NY 11201

     9.38
  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

101 Hudson Street

9th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302-3997

     7.66
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     5.56
iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     11.30
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     8.23
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     7.30
  

First Clearing, LLC

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

     6.64
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citicorp Center Tampa

Building B/Floor 1

Tampa, FL 33610

     6.16
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

Bellevue, NE 68005

     5.21
iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     13.52
  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

333 W 34th Street

New York, NY 10001-2402

     10.74
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     6.36
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     6.16

 

40


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
  

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

One Pierrepont Plaza

8th Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11201

     5.47

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

333 W 34th Street

New York, NY 10001-2402

     24.55
  

Curian Clearing, LLC

8055 East Tufts Avenue

10th Floor

Denver, CO 80237

     13.51
  

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     9.86
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citicorp Center Tampa

Building B/Floor 1

Tampa, FL 33610

     8.25
iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     18.78
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     9.16
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     5.40
  

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     5.09
iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     12.47
  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     11.22
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     7.62
  

Bank of America, National Association

411 N. Akard Street

5th Floor

Dallas, TX 75201

     7.36
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     6.13

 

41


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
  

First Clearing, LLC

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

     6.04

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

  

Northern Trust Company (The)

801 South Canal Street

Chicago, IL 60612

     12.37
  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     11.72
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     6.61
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     5.36
iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     20.14
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citicorp Center Tampa

Building B/Floor 1

Tampa, FL 33610

     7.51
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     7.50
  

Bank of New York, The

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10004

     6.81
  

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     5.31
iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund   

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

333 W 34th Street

New York, NY 10001-2402

     24.51
  

Bear, Stearns Securities Corp.

One Metrotech Center North

Brooklyn, NY 11201

     7.74
  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith

Safekeeping

101 Hudson Street

8th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

     6.94
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     6.27

 

42


Table of Contents

Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
  

Curian Clearing, LLC

8055 East Tufts Avenue

10th Floor

Denver, CO 80237

     5.56
iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund   

First Clearing, LLC

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

     16.42
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     9.43
  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     6.60
  

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     6.48
  

Curian Clearing, LLC

8055 East Tufts Avenue

10th Floor

Denver, CO 80237

     5.80
iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     17.01
  

First Clearing, LLC

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

     11.56
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     10.41
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     7.05
  

Bank of New York, The

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10004

     6.89
iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     21.38
  

Bank of New York, The

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10004

     9.93
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citicorp Center Tampa

Building B/Floor 1

Tampa, FL 33610

     8.64
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     8.21

 

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Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     5.89
iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund   

First Clearing, LLC

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

     10.32
  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

333 W 34th Street

New York, NY 10001-2402

     9.99
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     7.31
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     6.11
  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     6.04
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
14201 Dallas Pkwy

12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75240

     5.99
  

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

One Pierrepont Plaza

8th Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11201

     5.92
  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith Safekeeping

101 Hudson Street

8th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

     5.78
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     5.42
iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund   

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

333 W 34th Street

New York, NY 10001-2402

     10.37
  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     10.14
  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith Safekeeping

101 Hudson Street

8th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

     7.55
  

First Clearing, LLC

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

     7.38

 

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Fund

  

Name

   Percentage
of Ownership
 
  

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

5th Floor

New York, NY 10281

     6.39
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

111 Pavonia Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     5.69
  

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

One Pierrepont Plaza

8th Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11201

     5.53
iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     13.08
  

Bank of New York, The

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10004

     9.07
  

Curian Clearing, LLC

8055 East Tufts Avenue

10th Floor

Denver, CO 80237

     8.22
  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc./Cedear

1251 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

     5.85
iShares MSCI USA Index Fund   

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

30 Hudson Street

16th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

     36.05
  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

11th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     27.50
  

Bear, Stearns Securities Corp.

One Metrotech Center North

Brooklyn, NY 11201

     19.44
  

Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing, L.P.

30 Hudson Street

27th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

     5.00

Potential Conflicts of Interest.  Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”), through its subsidiary Merrill Lynch and Co., Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”), Barclays PLC (“Barclays”) and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”), each has a significant economic interest in BlackRock, Inc., the parent of BFA, the Funds’ investment adviser. PNC is considered to be an affiliate of BlackRock, Inc., under the 1940 Act. Certain activities of BlackRock Advisors, LLC, BlackRock, Inc. and their affiliates (collectively, “BlackRock”) and PNC and its affiliates (collectively, “PNC” and together with BlackRock, “Affiliates”), and those of BAC, Merrill Lynch and their affiliates (collectively, the “BAC Entities”) and Barclays and its affiliates (collectively, the “Barclays Entities”)(BAC Entities and Barclays Entities, collectively, the “BAC/Barclays Entities”), with respect to the Funds and/or other accounts managed by BlackRock, PNC or BAC/Barclays Entities, may give rise to actual or perceived conflicts of interest such as those described below.

 

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BlackRock is one of the world’s largest asset management firms. BAC is a national banking corporation, which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, including Merrill Lynch, provides a full range of financial services. Merrill Lynch is a full service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and financial services organization. PNC is a diversified financial services organization spanning the retail, business and corporate markets. Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in a range of activities, including retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, and wealth management. BlackRock and PNC are affiliates of one another under the 1940 Act. BlackRock, BAC, Merrill Lynch, PNC, Barclays and their respective affiliates (including, for these purposes, their directors, partners, trustees, managing members, officers and employees), including the entities and personnel who may be involved in the investment activities and business operations of a Fund, are engaged worldwide in businesses, including equity, fixed income, cash management and alternative investments, and have interests other than that of managing the Funds. These are considerations of which investors in a Fund should be aware, and which may cause conflicts of interest that could disadvantage the Fund and its shareholders. These activities and interests include potential multiple advisory, transactional, financial and other interests in securities and other instruments, and companies that may be purchased or sold by a Fund.

BlackRock and its Affiliates, as well as the BAC/Barclays Entities, have proprietary interests in, and may manage or advise with respect to, accounts or funds (including separate accounts and other funds and collective investment vehicles) that have investment objectives similar to those of a Fund and/or that engage in transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Fund. One or more Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities are also major participants in the global currency, equities, swap and fixed income markets, in each case both on a proprietary basis and for the accounts of customers. As such, one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities are or may be actively engaged in transactions in the same securities, currencies, and instruments in which a Fund invests. Such activities could affect the prices and availability of the securities, currencies, and instruments in which a Fund invests, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. Such transactions, particularly in respect of most proprietary accounts or customer accounts, will be executed independently of a Fund’s transactions and thus at prices or rates that may be more or less favorable than those obtained by the Fund. When BlackRock and its Affiliates or the BAC/Barclays Entities seek to purchase or sell the same assets for their managed accounts, including a Fund, the assets actually purchased or sold may be allocated among the accounts on a basis determined in their good faith discretion to be equitable. In some cases, this system may adversely affect the size or price of the assets purchased or sold for a Fund. In addition, transactions in investments by one or more other accounts managed by BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of a Fund, particularly, but not limited to, with respect to small capitalization, emerging market or less liquid strategies. This may occur when investment decisions regarding a Fund are based on research or other information that is also used to support decisions for other accounts. When BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity implements a portfolio decision or strategy on behalf of another account ahead of, or contemporaneously with, similar decisions or strategies for a Fund, market impact, liquidity constraints, or other factors could result in the Fund receiving less favorable trading results and the costs of implementing such decisions or strategies could be increased or the Fund could otherwise be disadvantaged. BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity may, in certain cases, elect to implement internal policies and procedures designed to limit such consequences, which may cause a Fund to be unable to engage in certain activities, including purchasing or disposing of securities, when it might otherwise be desirable for it to do so.

Conflicts may also arise because portfolio decisions regarding a Fund may benefit other accounts managed by BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity. For example, the sale of a long position or establishment of a short position by a Fund may impair the price of the same security sold short by (and therefore benefit) one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities or their other accounts, and the purchase of a security or covering of a short position in a security by a Fund may increase the price of the same security held by (and therefore benefit) one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities or their other accounts.

BlackRock and its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity and their clients may pursue or enforce rights with respect to an issuer in which a Fund has invested, and those activities may have an adverse effect on the Fund. As a result, prices, availability, liquidity and terms of the Fund’s investments may be negatively impacted by the activities of BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity or their clients, and transactions for the Fund may be impaired or effected at prices or terms that may be less favorable than would otherwise have been the case.

The results of a Fund’s investment activities may differ significantly from the results achieved by BlackRock and its Affiliates or the BAC/Barclays Entities for their proprietary accounts or other accounts (including investment companies or collective investment vehicles) managed or advised by them. It is possible that one or more Affiliate- or BAC/Barclays Entity-managed accounts and such other accounts will achieve investment results that are substantially more or less favorable than the

 

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results achieved by a Fund. Moreover, it is possible that a Fund will sustain losses during periods in which one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entity-managed accounts achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. The opposite result is also possible. The investment activities of one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities for their proprietary accounts and accounts under their management may also limit the investment opportunities for a Fund in certain emerging and other markets in which limitations are imposed upon the amount of investment, in the aggregate or in individual issuers, by affiliated foreign investors.

From time to time, a Fund’s activities may also be restricted because of regulatory restrictions applicable to one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As a result, there may be periods, for example, when BlackRock, and/or one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities, will not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions in certain securities or instruments with respect to which BlackRock and/or one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities are performing services or when position limits have been reached.

In connection with its management of a Fund, BlackRock may have access to certain fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models developed by one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities. BlackRock will not be under any obligation, however, to effect transactions on behalf of a Fund in accordance with such analysis and models. In addition, neither BlackRock nor any of its Affiliates, nor any BAC/Barclays Entity, will have any obligation to make available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of a Fund and it is not anticipated that BlackRock will have access to such information for the purpose of managing the Fund. The proprietary activities or portfolio strategies of BlackRock and its Affiliates and the BAC/Barclays Entities, or the activities or strategies used for accounts managed by them or other customer accounts could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by BlackRock in managing a Fund.

In addition, certain principals and certain employees of BlackRock are also principals or employees of Affiliates. As a result, the performance by these principals and employees of their obligations to such other entities may be a consideration of which investors in a Fund should be aware.

BlackRock may enter into transactions and invest in securities, instruments and currencies on behalf of a Fund in which customers of BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity, or, to the extent permitted by the SEC, BlackRock or another Affiliate or a BAC/Barclays Entity, serves as the counterparty, principal or issuer. In such cases, such party’s interests in the transaction will be adverse to the interests of the Fund, and such party may have no incentive to assure that the Fund obtains the best possible prices or terms in connection with the transactions. In addition, the purchase, holding and sale of such investments by a Fund may enhance the profitability of BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity. One or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities may also create, write or issue derivatives for their customers, the underlying securities, currencies or instruments of which may be those in which a Fund invests or which may be based on the performance of the Fund. A Fund may, subject to applicable law, purchase investments that are the subject of an underwriting or other distribution by one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities and may also enter into transactions with other clients of an Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity where such other clients have interests adverse to those of the Fund.

At times, these activities may cause departments of BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity to give advice to clients that may cause these clients to take actions adverse to the interests of the Fund. To the extent affiliated transactions are permitted, a Fund will deal with BlackRock and its Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities on an arms-length basis. BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity may also have an ownership interest in certain trading or information systems used by a Fund. A Fund’s use of such trading or information systems may enhance the profitability of BlackRock and its Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities.

One or more Affiliates or one of the BAC/Barclays Entities may act as broker, dealer, agent, lender or adviser or in other commercial capacities for a Fund. It is anticipated that the commissions, mark-ups, mark-downs, financial advisory fees, underwriting and placement fees, sales fees, financing and commitment fees, brokerage fees, other fees, compensation or profits, rates, terms and conditions charged by an Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity will be in its view commercially reasonable, although each Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity, including its sales personnel, will have an interest in obtaining fees and other amounts that are favorable to the Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity and such sales personnel.

Subject to applicable law, the Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities (and their personnel and other distributors) will be entitled to retain fees and other amounts that they receive in connection with their service to the Funds as broker, dealer, agent, lender, adviser or in other commercial capacities and no accounting to the Funds or their shareholders will be required, and

 

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no fees or other compensation payable by the Funds or their shareholders will be reduced by reason of receipt by an Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity of any such fees or other amounts.

When an Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity acts as broker, dealer, agent, adviser or in other commercial capacities in relation to the Funds, the Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity may take commercial steps in its own interests, which may have an adverse effect on the Funds. A Fund will be required to establish business relationships with its counterparties based on the Fund’s own credit standing. Neither BlackRock nor any of the Affiliates, nor any BAC/Barclays Entity, will have any obligation to allow their credit to be used in connection with a Fund’s establishment of its business relationships, nor is it expected that the Fund’s counterparties will rely on the credit of BlackRock or any of the Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities in evaluating the Fund’s creditworthiness.

Purchases and sales of securities for a Fund may be bunched or aggregated with orders for other BlackRock client accounts. BlackRock and its Affiliates and the BAC/Barclays Entities, however, are not required to bunch or aggregate orders if portfolio management decisions for different accounts are made separately, or if they determine that bunching or aggregating is not practicable, required or with cases involving client direction.

Prevailing trading activity frequently may make impossible the receipt of the same price or execution on the entire volume of securities purchased or sold. When this occurs, the various prices may be averaged, and the Funds will be charged or credited with the average price. Thus, the effect of the aggregation may operate on some occasions to the disadvantage of the Funds. In addition, under certain circumstances, the Funds will not be charged the same commission or commission equivalent rates in connection with a bunched or aggregated order.

BlackRock may select brokers (including, without limitation, Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities) that furnish BlackRock, the Funds, other BlackRock client accounts or other Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities or personnel, directly or through correspondent relationships, with research or other appropriate services which provide, in BlackRock’s view, appropriate assistance to BlackRock in the investment decision-making process (including with respect to futures, fixed-price offerings and over-the-counter transactions). Such research or other services may include, to the extent permitted by law, research reports on companies, industries and securities; economic and financial data; financial publications; proxy analysis; trade industry seminars; computer data bases; research-oriented software and other services and products. Research or other services obtained in this manner may be used in servicing any or all of the Funds and other BlackRock client accounts, including in connection with BlackRock client accounts other than those that pay commissions to the broker relating to the research or other service arrangements. Such products and services may disproportionately benefit other BlackRock client accounts relative to the Funds based on the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds and such other BlackRock client accounts. For example, research or other services that are paid for through one client’s commissions may not be used in managing that client’s account. In addition, other BlackRock client accounts may receive the benefit, including disproportionate benefits, of economies of scale or price discounts in connection with products and services that may be provided to the Funds and to such other BlackRock client accounts. To the extent that BlackRock uses soft dollars, it will not have to pay for those products and services itself.

BlackRock may receive research that is bundled with the trade execution, clearing, and/or settlement services provided by a particular broker-dealer. To the extent that BlackRock receives research on this basis, many of the same conflicts related to traditional soft dollars may exist. For example, the research effectively will be paid by client commissions that also will be used to pay for the execution, clearing, and settlement services provided by the broker-dealer and will not be paid by BlackRock.

BlackRock may endeavor to execute trades through brokers who, pursuant to such arrangements, provide research or other services in order to ensure the continued receipt of research or other services BlackRock believes are useful in its investment decision-making process. BlackRock may from time to time choose not to engage in the above described arrangements to varying degrees. BlackRock may also into commission sharing arrangements under which BlackRock may execute transactions through a broker-dealer, including, where permitted, an Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity, and request that the broker-dealer allocate a portion of the commissions or commission credits to another firm that provides research to BlackRock. To the extent that BlackRock engages in commission sharing arrangements, many of the same conflicts related to traditional soft dollars may exist.

BlackRock may utilize certain electronic crossing networks (“ECNs”) in executing client securities transactions for certain types of securities. These ECNs may charge fees for their services, including access fees and transaction fees. The transaction fees, which are similar to commissions or markups/markdowns, will generally be charged to clients and, like commissions

 

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and markups/markdowns, would generally be included in the cost of the securities purchased. Access fees may be paid by BlackRock even though incurred in connection with executing transactions on behalf of clients, including the Funds. In certain circumstances, ECNs may offer volume discounts that will reduce the access fees typically paid by BlackRock. This would have the effect of reducing the access fees paid by BlackRock. BlackRock will only utilize ECNs consistent with its obligation to seek to obtain best execution in client transactions.

BlackRock has adopted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing proxy voting decisions that it makes on behalf of advisory clients, including the Funds, and to help ensure that such decisions are made in accordance with BlackRock’s fiduciary obligations to its clients. Nevertheless, notwithstanding such proxy voting policies and procedures, actual proxy voting decisions of BlackRock may have the effect of favoring the interests of other clients or businesses of other divisions or units of BlackRock and/or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity, provided that BlackRock believes such voting decisions to be in accordance with its fiduciary obligations. For a more detailed discussion of these policies and procedures, see the Proxy Voting Policy section of this SAI.

It is also possible that, from time to time, BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity may, although they are not required to, purchase and hold shares of a Fund. Increasing a Fund’s assets may enhance investment flexibility and diversification and may contribute to economies of scale that tend to reduce the Fund’s expense ratio. BlackRock and its Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities reserve the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares of a Fund acquired for their own accounts. A large redemption of shares of a Fund by BlackRock or its Affiliates or by a BAC/Barclays Entity could significantly reduce the asset size of the Fund, which might have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investment flexibility, portfolio diversification and expense ratio. BlackRock will consider the effect of redemptions on a Fund and other shareholders in deciding whether to redeem its shares.

It is possible that a Fund may invest in securities of companies with which an Affiliate or a BAC/Barclays Entity has or is trying to develop investment banking relationships as well as securities of entities in which BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity has significant debt or equity investments or in which an Affiliate or BAC/Barclays Entity makes a market. A Fund also may invest in securities of companies to which an Affiliate or a BAC/Barclays Entity provides or may some day provide research coverage. Such investments could cause conflicts between the interests of a Fund and the interests of other clients of BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity. In making investment decisions for a Fund, BlackRock is not permitted to obtain or use material non-public information acquired by any division, department or Affiliate of BlackRock or of a BAC/Barclays Entity in the course of these activities. In addition, from time to time, the activities of an Affiliate or a BAC/Barclays Entity may limit a Fund’s flexibility in purchases and sales of securities. When an Affiliate is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of securities of an entity, BlackRock may be prohibited from purchasing or recommending the purchase of certain securities of that entity for a Fund.

BlackRock and its Affiliates and the BAC/Barclays Entities, their personnel and other financial service providers may have interests in promoting sales of the Funds. With respect to BlackRock and its Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities and their personnel, the remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of the Funds or other products may be greater than remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of certain funds or other products that might be provided or offered. BlackRock and its Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities and their sales personnel may directly or indirectly receive a portion of the fees and commissions charged to the Funds or their shareholders. BlackRock and its advisory or other personnel may also benefit from increased amounts of assets under management. Fees and commissions may also be higher than for other products or services, and the remuneration and profitability to BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity and such personnel resulting from transactions on behalf of or management of the Funds may be greater than the remuneration and profitability resulting from other funds or products.

BlackRock and its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity and their personnel may receive greater compensation or greater profit in connection with an account for which BlackRock serves as an adviser than with an account advised by an unaffiliated investment adviser. Differentials in compensation may be related to the fact that BlackRock may pay a portion of its advisory fee to its Affiliate or to a BAC/Barclays Entity, or relate to compensation arrangements, including for portfolio management, brokerage transactions or account servicing. Any differential in compensation may create a financial incentive on the part of BlackRock or its Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities and their personnel to recommend BlackRock over unaffiliated investment advisers or to effect transactions differently in one account over another.

BlackRock and its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity may provide valuation assistance to certain clients with respect to certain securities or other investments and the valuation recommendations made for their clients’ accounts may differ from

 

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the valuations for the same securities or investments assigned by a Fund’s pricing vendors, especially if such valuations are based on broker-dealer quotes or other data sources unavailable to the Fund’s pricing vendors. While BlackRock will generally communicate its valuation information or determinations to a Fund’s pricing vendors and/or fund accountants, there may be instances where the Fund’s pricing vendors or fund accountants assign a different valuation to a security or other investment than the valuation for such security or investment determined or recommended by BlackRock.

As disclosed in more detail in the Determination of Net Asset Value section of each Fund’s Prospectus, when market valuations are not readily available or such valuations do not reflect current market values, the affected investments will be valued using fair value pricing, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Funds’ Board. As a result, the Funds’ sale or redemption of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued by BlackRock (pursuant to Board-adopted procedures) at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, a Fund may invest all or some of its short term cash investments in any money market fund or similarly-managed private fund advised or managed by BlackRock. In connection with any such investments, a Fund, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, may pay its share of expenses of a money market fund in which it invests, which may result in a Fund bearing some additional expenses.

BlackRock and its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity and their directors, officers and employees, may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts, and may have conflicts of interest with respect to investments made on behalf of a Fund. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by directors, officers, employees and Affiliates of BlackRock or by BAC/Barclays Entities that are the same, different from or made at different times than positions taken for the Fund. To lessen the possibility that a Fund will be adversely affected by this personal trading, the Fund, BFA and BlackRock each has adopted a Code of Ethics in compliance with Section 17(j) of the 1940 Act that restricts securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. Each Code of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. Each Code of Ethics is also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by e-mail at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-1520.

BlackRock and its Affiliates will not purchase securities or other property from, or sell securities or other property to, a Fund, except that the Fund may in accordance with rules adopted under the 1940 Act engage in transactions with accounts that are affiliated with the Fund as a result of common officers, directors, or investment advisers or pursuant to exemptive orders granted to the Funds and/or BlackRock by the SEC. These transactions would be affected in circumstances in which BlackRock determined that it would be appropriate for the Fund to purchase and another client of BlackRock to sell, or the Fund to sell and another client of BlackRock to purchase, the same security or instrument on the same day. From time to time, the activities of a Fund may be restricted because of regulatory requirements applicable to BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity and/or BlackRock’s internal policies designed to comply with, limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. A client not advised by BlackRock would not be subject to some of those considerations. There may be periods when BlackRock may not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions, or may otherwise restrict or limit their advice in certain securities or instruments issued by or related to companies for which an Affiliate or a BAC/Barclays Entity is performing investment banking, market making or other services or has proprietary positions. For example, when an Affiliate is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of securities of, or advisory services for, a company, the Funds may be prohibited from or limited in purchasing or selling securities of that company. Similar situations could arise if personnel of BlackRock or its Affiliates or a BAC/Barclays Entity serve as directors of companies the securities of which the Funds wish to purchase or sell. However, if permitted by applicable law, the Funds may purchase securities or instruments that are issued by such companies or are the subject of an underwriting, distribution, or advisory assignment by an Affiliate or a BAC/Barclays Entity, or in cases in which personnel of BlackRock or its Affiliates or of BAC/Barclays Entities are directors or officers of the issuer.

The investment activities of one or more Affiliates or BAC/Barclays Entities for their proprietary accounts and for client accounts may also limit the investment strategies and rights of the Funds. For example, in regulated industries, in certain emerging or international markets, in corporate and regulatory ownership definitions, and in certain futures and derivative transactions, there may be limits on the aggregate amount of investment by affiliated investors that may not be exceeded without the grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate consent or, if exceeded, may cause BlackRock, the Funds or other client accounts to suffer disadvantages or business restrictions.

 

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If certain aggregate ownership thresholds are reached or certain transactions undertaken, the ability of BlackRock on behalf of clients (including the Funds) to purchase or dispose of investments, or exercise rights or undertake business transactions, may be restricted by regulation or otherwise impaired. As a result, BlackRock, on behalf of clients (including the Funds), may limit purchases, sell existing investments, or otherwise restrict or limit the exercise of rights (including voting rights) when BlackRock, in its sole discretion, deems it appropriate.

BlackRock and its Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities may maintain securities indices as part of their product offerings. Index based funds seek to track the performance of securities indices and may use the name of the index in the fund name. Index providers, including BlackRock and its Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities may be paid licensing fees for use of their index or index name. BlackRock and its Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities will not be obligated to license their indices to BlackRock, and BlackRock cannot be assured that the terms of any index licensing agreement with BlackRock and its Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities will be as favorable as those terms offered to other index licensees.

BlackRock and its Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities may serve as Authorized Participants in the creation and redemption of exchange-traded funds. As described in greater detail in the Creations and Redemptions section of the prospectus, BlackRock and its Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities may therefore be deemed to be participants in a distribution of iShares funds that could render them statutory underwriters.

Present and future activities of BlackRock and its Affiliates and BAC/Barclays Entities, including BlackRock Advisors, LLC, in addition to those described in this section, may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.

Investment Advisory, Administrative and Distribution Services

Investment Adviser. BFA serves as investment adviser to each Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Company, on behalf of each Fund, and BFA. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock, Inc., and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA, subject to the supervision of the Board and in conformity with the stated investment policies of each Fund, manages and administers the Company and the investment of each Fund’s assets. BFA is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of each Fund.

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA may from time to time, in its sole discretion to the extent permitted by applicable law, appoint one or more sub-advisers, including, without limitation, affiliates of BFA, to perform investment advisory or other services with respect to the Fund. In addition, BFA may delegate certain of its investment advisory functions under the Investment Advisory Agreement to one or more of its affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law. BFA may terminate any or all sub-advisers or such delegation arrangements in its sole discretion upon appropriate notice at any time to the extent permitted by applicable law.

For its investment advisory services BFA is entitled to receive a management fee from each Fund corresponding to the Fund’s allocable portion of an aggregate management fee based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the following iShares funds: iShares MSCI All Peru Capped Index Fund, iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI Brazil Small Cap Index Fund, iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI China Small Cap Index Fund, iShares MSCI Indonesia Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Philippines Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Poland Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund, iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund, iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund and iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund. The aggregate management fee is calculated as follows: 0.74% per annum of the aggregate net assets less than or equal to $2.0 billion, plus 0.69% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $2.0 billion, up to and including $4.0 billion, plus 0.64% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $4.0 billion, up to and including $8.0 billion, plus 0.57% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $8.0 billion, up to and including $16.0 billion, plus 0.51% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $16.0 billion, up to and including $32.0 billion and 0.45% per annum of the aggregate net assets in excess of $32.0 billion.

For its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund, BFA is paid a management fee based on a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets at an annual rate of 0.50%.

 

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For its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI USA Index Fund, BFA is paid a management fee based on a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets at an annual rate of 0.15%.

For its investment advisory services BFA is entitled to receive a management fee from each Fund corresponding to the Fund’s allocable portion of an aggregate management fee based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the following iShares funds: iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index Fund, iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Financials Sector Index Fund, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Materials Sector Index Fund and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index Fund. The aggregate management fee is calculated as follows: 0.75% per annum of the aggregate net assets less than or equal to $14.0 billion, plus 0.68% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $14.0 billion, up to and including $28.0 billion, plus 0.61% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $28.0 billion, up to and including $42.0 billion, plus 0.56% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $42.0 billion, up to and including $56.0 billion plus 0.50% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $56.0 billion, up to and including $70.0 billion plus 0.45% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $70.0 billion, up to and including $84.0 billion and 0.40% per annum of the aggregate net assets in excess of $84.0 billion.

For its investment advisory services BFA is entitled to receive a management fee from each Fund corresponding to the Fund’s allocable portion of an aggregate management fee based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the following iShares funds: iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund, iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund, iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund, iShares MSCI France Index Fund, iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund, iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund, iShares MSCI Ireland Capped Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund, iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund, iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund, iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI New Zealand Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund, iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund, iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund, iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund and iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund. The aggregate management fee is calculated as follows: 0.59% per annum of the aggregate net assets less than or equal to $7.0 billion, plus 0.54% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $7.0 billion, up to and including $11.0 billion, plus 0.49% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $11.0 billion, up to and including $24.0 billion, plus 0.44% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $24.0 billion, up to and including $48.0 billion, plus 0.40% per annum of the aggregate net assets in excess of $48.0 billion.

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for all expenses of the Funds, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, except interest expense, taxes, brokerage expenses, distribution fees or expenses and extraordinary expenses. For its investment management services to each Fund, BFA received a management fee at the annual rates (as a percentage of such Fund’s average net assets) set forth below for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.

The following table sets forth the management fees paid by each Fund to BFA for the fiscal years noted:

 

Fund

   Management
Fee for the
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2010
    Fund
Inception
Date
     Management
Fees Paid

For
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2010
     Management
Fees Paid

For
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2009
     Management
Fees Paid

For
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2008
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96       $ 12,339,948       $ 4,365,698       $ 8,205,849   

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     0.54     03/12/96         822,617         527,579         1,803,461   

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     0.54     03/12/96         389,142         339,987         1,386,685   

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     0.61     07/10/00         62,208,369         37,144,779         47,028,502   

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     0.69     11/12/07         5,634,510         1,342,844         578,683   

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         17,081,917         8,045,646         10,043,541   

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     0.61     11/12/07         2,148,159         1,223,935         272,532   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     0.69     09/30/09         67,428         N/A         N/A   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund1

     0.68     04/07/03         246,844,312         160,371,985         174,932,398   

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     0.54     07/25/00         4,463,524         3,909,074         13,126,393   

 

52


Table of Contents

Fund

   Management
Fee for the
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2010
    Fund
Inception
Date
     Management
Fees Paid

For
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2010
     Management
Fees Paid

For
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2009
     Management
Fees Paid

For
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2008
 

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         1,568,843         900,092         2,443,788   

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         5,468,927         2,369,432         8,738,608   

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         9,797,546         7,779,500         11,183,414   

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     0.61     03/26/08         1,106,791         692,048         265,058   

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     0.54     03/12/96         623,082         570,682         1,220,048   

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     0.54     03/12/96         27,202,065         29,763,035         47,063,599   

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     0.53     12/20/07         177,474         151,508         51,470   

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         3,134,564         2,012,558         4,929,062   

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         6,401,000         2,962,618         7,064,281   

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         599,732         594,140         1,322,904   

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     0.50     10/25/01         18,876,847         11,437,463         19,183,343   

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         7,922,869         5,088,402         9,514,088   

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     0.61     02/03/03         3,137,352         2,109,421         3,789,441   

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     0.61     05/09/00         18,891,270         10,039,046         18,749,352   

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     0.54     03/12/96         1,298,278         1,236,278         3,129,000   

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         1,105,743         754,249         1,842,608   

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         1,783,191         1,439,437         1,995,890   

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     0.61     06/20/00         19,597,924         12,738,136         19,861,527   

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     0.61     03/26/08         1,524,281         257,410         153,669   

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     0.61     03/26/08         2,492,426         680,004         148,727   

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     0.53     03/12/96         4,977,068         3,150,913         5,668,706   

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     0.15     05/05/10         1,127         N/A         N/A   

 

  1 BFA has contractually agreed to waive its management fees in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of the fees and expenses attributable to the Fund’s investments in other iShares funds, “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” through June 30, 2012. Effective June 13, 2011, BFA has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in order to limit the management fee to 0.68%. The voluntary waiver may be reduced or discontinued at any time without notice.

The Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund continues in effect for two years from its effective date, and thereafter is subject to annual approval by (i) the Board or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the applicable Fund, provided that in either event such continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the applicable Fund, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund is terminable without penalty, on 60 days’ notice, by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the applicable Fund’s outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Investment Advisory Agreement is also terminable upon 60 days’ notice by BFA and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

Current interpretations of U.S. federal banking laws and regulations (i) may prohibit BlackRock, Inc., BTC and BFA from controlling or underwriting the shares of the Funds, but (ii) do not prohibit BlackRock, Inc. or BFA generally from acting as an investment adviser, administrator, transfer agent or custodian to the Funds or from purchasing shares as agent for and upon the order of a customer.

BFA believes that it may perform advisory and related services for the Company without violating applicable banking laws or regulations. However, the legal requirements and interpretations about the permissible activities of banks and their affiliates may change in the future. These changes could prevent BFA from continuing to perform services for the Company. If this

 

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happens, the Board would consider selecting other qualified firms. Any new investment advisory agreement would be subject to shareholder approval.

If current restrictions on bank activities with mutual funds were relaxed, BFA, or its affiliates, would consider performing additional services for the Company. BFA cannot predict whether these changes will be enacted, or the terms under which BFA, or its affiliates, might offer to provide additional services.

For each of the BRIC Fund and Emerging Markets Fund, the applicable Subsidiary has entered into a separate contract with BFA whereby BFA provides investment advisory services to the Subsidiary. BFA does not receive separate compensation from the Subsidiaries for providing them with investment advisory services. Each Fund pays BFA a management fee based on their respective Fund’s assets, including the assets invested in the applicable Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary has also entered into separate arrangements that provide for the provision of other services to the Subsidiary (including administrative, custody, transfer agency and other services), and BFA shall pay the costs and expenses related to the provision of those services.

Portfolio Managers.  As of August 31, 2010, the individuals named as Portfolio Managers in the Funds’ Prospectuses were also primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of other iShares funds and certain other types of portfolios and/or accounts as indicated in the tables below:

Rene Casis

 

Types of Accounts

   Number      Total Assets  

Registered Investment Companies

     0         N/A   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     0         N/A   

Other Accounts

     8       $ 272,581,000   

Accounts with Incentive-Based Fee Arrangements

     0         N/A   

Diane Hsiung

 

Types of Accounts

   Number      Total Assets  

Registered Investment Companies

     177       $ 277,820,000   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     0         N/A   

Other Accounts

     8       $ 272,835,000   

Accounts with Incentive-Based Fee Arrangements

     0         N/A   

Greg Savage

 

Types of Accounts

   Number      Total Assets  

Registered Investment Companies

     177       $ 277,820,000   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     0         N/A   

Other Accounts

     10       $ 272,908,000   

Accounts with Incentive-Based Fee Arrangements

     0         N/A   

Each of the portfolios or accounts for which the Portfolio Managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management seeks to track the rate of return, risk profile and other characteristics of independent third-party indexes by either replicating the same combination of securities that constitute those indexes or through a representative sampling of the securities that constitute those indexes based on objective criteria and data. Pursuant to BTC and BFA policy, investment opportunities are allocated equitably among the Funds and other portfolios and accounts. For example, under certain circumstances, an investment opportunity may be restricted due to limited supply on the market, legal constraints or other factors, in which event the investment opportunity will be allocated equitably among those portfolios and accounts, including the Funds seeking such investment opportunity. As a consequence, from time to time the Funds may receive a smaller allocation of an investment opportunity than they would have if the Portfolio Managers and BFA and its affiliates did not manage other portfolios or accounts.

Like the Funds, the other portfolios or accounts for which the Portfolio Managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management generally pay an asset-based fee to BFA or BTC, as applicable, for its advisory services. One or more of those other portfolios or accounts, however, may pay BTC an incentive-based fee in lieu of, or in addition to, an asset-based fee for its advisory services. A portfolio or account with an incentive-based fee would pay BTC a portion of that portfolio’s or account’s gains, or would pay BTC more for its services than would otherwise be the case if BTC meets or exceeds specified performance targets. By their nature, incentive-based fee arrangements could present an incentive for BTC to devote greater

 

54


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resources, and allocate more investment opportunities, to the portfolios or accounts that have those fee arrangements, relative to other portfolios or accounts, in order to earn larger fees. Although BTC has an obligation to allocate resources and opportunities equitably among portfolios and accounts and intends to do so, shareholders of the Funds should be aware that, as with any group of portfolios and accounts managed by an investment adviser and/or its affiliates pursuant to varying fee arrangements, including incentive-based fee arrangements, there is the potential for a conflict of interest that may result in the Portfolio Managers’ favoring those portfolios or accounts with incentive-based fee arrangements.

The tables below show, for each Portfolio Manager, the number of portfolios or accounts of the types set forth in the above tables and the aggregate of total assets in those portfolios or accounts with respect to which the investment management fees are based on the performance of those portfolios or accounts as of August 31, 2010:

Rene Casis

 

Types of Accounts

  

Number of Other
Accounts with
Performance-Based Fees
Managed by Portfolio  Manager

  

Aggregate
of Total Assets

Registered Investment Companies

   N/A    N/A

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   N/A    N/A

Other Accounts

   N/A    N/A

Diane Hsiung

 

Types of Accounts

  

Number of Other
Accounts with
Performance-Based Fees
Managed by Portfolio Manager

  

Aggregate
of Total Assets

Registered Investment Companies

   N/A    N/A

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   N/A    N/A

Other Accounts

   N/A    N/A

Greg Savage

 

Types of Accounts

  

Number of Other
Accounts with
Performance-Based Fees
Managed by Portfolio Manager

  

Aggregate
of Total Assets

Registered Investment Companies

   N/A    N/A

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   N/A    N/A

Other Accounts

   N/A    N/A

The discussion below describes the Portfolio Managers’ compensation as of August 31, 2010.

Portfolio Manager Compensation Overview

Base compensation.  Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation based on their seniority and/or their position with the firm. Senior portfolio managers who perform additional management functions within the portfolio management group or within BlackRock may receive additional compensation for serving in these other capacities.

Discretionary Incentive Compensation.  Discretionary incentive compensation is a function of several components: the performance of BlackRock, Inc., the performance of the portfolio manager’s group within BlackRock, the investment performance, including risk-adjusted returns, of the firm’s assets under management or supervision by that portfolio manager relative to predetermined benchmarks, and the individual’s seniority, role within the portfolio management team, teamwork and contribution to the overall performance of these portfolios and BlackRock.

Distribution of Discretionary Incentive Compensation.  Discretionary incentive compensation is distributed to portfolio managers in a combination of cash and BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units which vest ratably over a number of years. The BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units, if properly vested, will be settled in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. Typically, the cash bonus, when combined with base salary, represents more than 60% of total compensation for the portfolio managers. Paying a portion of annual bonuses in stock puts compensation earned by a portfolio manager for a given year “at risk” based on BlackRock’s ability to sustain and improve its performance over future periods.

From time to time, long-term incentive equity awards are granted to certain key employees to aid in retention, align their interests with long-term shareholder interests and motivate performance. Equity awards are generally granted in the form of BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units that, once vested, settle in BlackRock, Inc. common stock.

 

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Table of Contents

As of August 31, 2010, the Portfolio Managers beneficially owned shares of the Funds in the amounts reflected in the following tables:

Rene Casis

 

 

   Dollar Range
Fund    None      $1 to $10k    $10,001
to $50k
   $50,001
to $100k
   $100,001
to $500k
   $500,001
to $1m
   over
$1m

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     X                     

Diane Hsiung

 

      Dollar Range
Fund    None      $1 to $10k      $10,001
to $50k
   $50,001
to $100k
   $100,001
to $500k
   $500,001
to $1m
   over
$1m

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

        X                  

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     X                     

 

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Diane Hsiung

 

      Dollar Range
Fund    None      $1 to $10k    $10,001
to $50k
   $50,001
to $100k
   $100,001
to $500k
   $500,001
to $1m
   over
$1m

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     X                     

Greg Savage

 

      Dollar Range
Fund    None      $1 to $10k      $10,001
to $50k
     $50,001
to $100k
   $100,001
to $500k
   $500,001
to $1m
   over
$1m

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

           X               

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

        X                  

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

           X               

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

           X               

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

        X                  

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     X                     

 

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Greg Savage

 

      Dollar Range
Fund    None      $1 to $10k    $10,001
to $50k
   $50,001
to $100k
   $100,001
to $500k
   $500,001
to $1m
   over
$1m

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     X                     

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     X                     

Codes of Ethics.  The Company, BFA and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. The Codes of Ethics permit personnel subject to the Codes of Ethics to invest in securities, subject to certain limitations, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds. The Codes of Ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.

Anti-Money Laundering Requirements. The Funds are subject to the USA PATRIOT Act (the “Patriot Act”). The Patriot Act is intended to prevent the use of the U.S. financial system in furtherance of money laundering, terrorism or other illicit activities. Pursuant to requirements under the Patriot Act, a Fund may request information from Authorized Participants to enable it to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of its Authorized Participants. This information will be used to verify the identity of Authorized Participants or, in some cases, the status of financial professionals; it will be used only for compliance with the requirements of the Patriot Act.

The Funds reserve the right to reject purchase orders from persons who have not submitted information sufficient to allow the Fund to verify their identity. Each Fund also reserves the right to redeem any amounts in a Fund from persons whose identity it is unable to verify on a timely basis. It is the Funds’ policy to cooperate fully with appropriate regulators in any investigations conducted with respect to potential money laundering, terrorism or other illicit activities.

Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent.  State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the Funds. State Street’s principal address is 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116.

Pursuant to an Administration Agreement with the Company, State Street provides necessary administrative, legal, tax and accounting and financial reporting services for the maintenance and operations of the Company and each Fund. In addition, State Street makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services. Pursuant to a Custodian Agreement with the Company, State Street maintains in separate accounts cash, securities and other assets of the Company and each Fund, keeps all necessary accounts and records and provides other services. State Street is required, upon the order of the Company, to deliver securities held by State Street and to make payments for securities purchased by the Company for each Fund. Also, pursuant to a Delegation Agreement with the Company, State Street is authorized to appoint certain foreign custodians or foreign custody managers for Fund investments outside the United States. Pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement with the Company, State Street acts as a transfer agent for each Fund’s authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest, and as dividend disbursing agent of the Company. As compensation for these services, State Street receives certain out-of-pocket costs, transaction fees and asset-based fees which are accrued daily and paid monthly by BFA from its management fee. International Financial Services Limited (“IFS”) will serve as each Subsidiary’s Mauritius administrator. Pursuant to an agreement with IFS, each Subsidiary will pay a fee for administrative, legal, tax and accounting services to IFS, for certain shareholder services and for providing office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services to the Subsidiary.

 

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The following table sets forth the administration, transfer agency and custodian expenses of each Fund paid by BFA to State Street for the fiscal years noted:

 

Fund

   Fund
Inception
Date
     Custody,
Administration,
Transfer  Agency
Expenses

Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended August 31,
2010
     Custody,
Administration,
Transfer  Agency
Expenses

Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended August 31,
2009
     Custody,
Administration,
Transfer  Agency
Expenses

Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended August 31,
2008
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     03/12/96       $ 254,789       $ 109,442       $ 278,040   

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         41,110         30,029         97,413   

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         20,736         23,940         62,330   

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     07/10/00         2,856,615         1,644,774         5,577,639   

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     11/12/07         235,239         62,435         49,596   

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     03/12/96         252,407         123,276         194,366   

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     11/12/07         795,458         419,431         136,959   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     09/30/09         11,860         N/A         N/A   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     04/07/03         8,113,964         4,064,849         6,109,897   

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     07/25/00         106,995         103,543         445,211   

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     03/12/96         48,247         33,179         87,619   

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     03/12/96         109,518         50,349         197,848   

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     03/12/96         191,807         202,609         282,733   

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         154,344         91,287         43,748   

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     03/12/96         16,317         17,547         35,405   

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     03/12/96         252,341         274,212         573,182   

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     12/20/07         4,931         9,436         6,582   

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     03/12/96         283,792         193,270         555,721   

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         245,591         111,771         469,019   

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         15,666         17,653         42,891   

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     10/25/01         435,461         310,375         657,164   

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     03/12/96         221,345         200,363         602,037   

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     02/03/03         105,530         75,320         188,842   

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     05/09/00         715,573         376,845         1,480,317   

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     03/12/96         25,178         25,868         90,546   

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     03/12/96         32,224         25,535         67,251   

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     03/12/96         36,466         30,968         62,910   

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     06/20/00         1,186,654         710,609         1,922,252   

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         48,341         16,198         8,818   

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         255,152         79,482         20,918   

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     03/12/96         28,196         23,114         67,659   

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     05/05/10         2,694         N/A         N/A   

Distributor.  The Distributor’s principal address is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456. The Distributor has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Company pursuant to which it distributes shares of each Fund. The Distribution Agreement will continue for two years from its effective date and is renewable annually. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Funds through the Distributor only in Creation Units, as described in the applicable Prospectus and below in the Creation and Redemption of Creation Units section of this SAI. Shares in less than Creation Units are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will deliver the applicable Prospectus and, upon request, the SAI to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

The Distribution Agreement for each Fund provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days’ prior written notice to the other party following (i) the vote of a majority of the Independent Directors, or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the relevant Fund. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

 

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The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Units of Fund shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Authorized Participants (as defined below), DTC participants and/or investor services organizations.

BFA or BTC may, from time to time and from its own resources, pay, defray or absorb costs relating to distribution, including payments out of its own resources to the Distributor, or to otherwise promote the sale of shares.

The following table sets forth the compensation paid by BFA to the Distributor for certain services, not primarily intended to result in the sale of Fund shares, provided to each Fund during the fiscal years noted:

 

Fund

   Fund Inception
Date
     Distributor
Compensation
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31,
2010
     Distributor
Compensation
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31,
2009
     Distributor
Compensation
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31,
2008
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     03/12/96       $ 13,367       $ 10,603       $ 36,898   

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     07/10/00         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     11/12/07         13,367         10,603         28,067   

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     11/12/07         13,367         10,603         28,067   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     09/30/09         13,367         N/A         N/A   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     04/07/03         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     07/25/00         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         13,367         10,603         10,398   

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     12/20/07         13,367         10,603         18,386   

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     10/25/01         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     02/03/03         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     05/09/00         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     06/20/00         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         13,367         10,603         10,398   

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         13,367         10,603         10,398   

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,367         10,603         36,898   

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     05/05/10         3,718         N/A         N/A   

Financial Intermediary Compensation.  BFA and/or BTC and/or their respective subsidiaries (“BFA Entities”) pay certain broker-dealers, banks and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for certain activities related to the Funds, other iShares funds or exchange-traded products in general (“Payments”). BFA Entities make Payments from their own assets and not from the assets of the Funds. Although a portion of BFA Entities’ revenue comes directly or indirectly in part from fees paid by the Funds and other iShares funds, Payments do not increase the price paid by investors for the purchase of shares of, or the cost of owning, the Fund or other iShares funds. BFA Entities make Payments for Intermediaries’ participating in activities that are designed to make registered representatives, other professionals and individual investors more knowledgeable about exchange-traded products, including the Funds or for other activities, such as participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology

 

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platforms and reporting systems (“Education Costs”). BFA Entities also make Payments to Intermediaries for certain printing, publishing and mailing costs associated with the Funds or materials relating to exchange-traded products in general (“Publishing Costs”). In addition, BFA Entities make Payments to Intermediaries that make shares of the Funds and certain other iShares funds available to their clients or for otherwise promoting the Funds and other iShares funds. Payments of this type are sometimes referred to as revenue-sharing payments.

Payments to an Intermediary may be significant to the Intermediary, and amounts that Intermediaries pay to your salesperson or other investment professional may also be significant for your salesperson or other investment professional. Because an Intermediary may make decisions about which investment options it will recommend or make available to its clients or what services to provide for various products based on payments it receives or is eligible to receive, Payments create conflicts of interest between the Intermediary and its clients and these financial incentives may cause the Intermediary to recommend the Fund and other iShares funds over other investments. The same conflict of interest exists with respect to your salesperson or other investment professional if he or she receives similar payments from his or her Intermediary firm.

As of February 2, 2010, BFA Entities had arrangements to make Payments other than Education Costs or Publishing Costs only to Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (“FBS”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (“ML”). Pursuant to BFA Entities’ arrangement with FBS, FBS has agreed to promote iShares funds to FBS’s customers and not to charge certain of its customers any commissions when those customers purchase or sell shares of certain iShares funds online (the “Co-Branded Marketing Program”). BFA Entities have agreed to facilitate the Co-Branded Marketing Program by making payments to FBS during the term of the agreement in a fixed amount. Upon termination of the agreement the BFA Entities will make additional payments to FBS based upon a number of criteria, including the overall success of the Co-Branded Marketing program and the level of services provided by FBS during the wind-down period. Pursuant to BFA Entities’ arrangement with ML, BFA Entities have agreed to reimburse ML for a portion of certain fee waivers that ML may be required to implement with respect to accounts that hold “plan assets” within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), as a consequence of a technical ERISA affiliate relationship between BFA and ML.

Any additions, modifications, or deletions to Intermediaries listed above that have occurred since the date noted above are not included in the list. Further, BFA Entities make Education Costs and Publishing Costs Payments to other Intermediaries that are not listed above. BFA Entities may determine to make Payments based on any number of metrics. For example, BFA Entities may make Payments at year-end or other intervals in a fixed amount, an amount based upon an Intermediary’s services at defined levels or an amount based on the Intermediary’s net sales of one or more iShares funds in a year or other period, any of which arrangements may include an agreed-upon minimum or maximum payment, or any combination of the foregoing. As of the date of this SAI, BFA anticipates that the Payments paid by BFA Entities in connection with the Funds, iShares funds and exchange-traded products in general will be immaterial to BFA Entities in the aggregate for the next year.

Please contact your salesperson or other investment professional for more information regarding any Payments his or her Intermediary firm may receive. Any payments made by the BFA Entities to an Intermediary may create the incentive for an Intermediary to encourage customers to buy shares of iShares funds.

Brokerage Transactions

BFA assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of each Fund for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. In selecting brokers or dealers for any transaction in portfolio securities, BFA’s policy is to make such selection based on factors deemed relevant, including but not limited to, the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the reasonableness of the commission or mark-up or mark-down, if any, execution capability, settlement capability, back office efficiency and the financial condition of the broker or dealer, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid is evaluated by BFA based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable services. Brokers may also be selected because of their ability to handle special or difficult executions, such as may be involved in large block trades, less liquid securities, broad distributions, or other circumstances. BFA does not consider the provision or value of research, products or services a broker or dealer may provide, if any, as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer or the determination of the reasonableness of commissions paid in connection with portfolio transactions. The Company has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of a Fund’s shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or a dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.

 

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The table below sets forth the brokerage commissions paid by each Fund for the fiscal years noted. Any differences in brokerage commissions paid by a Fund from year to year are due to increases or decreases in that Fund’s assets over those periods:

 

Fund

   Fund
Inception
Date
     Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended August 31,
2010
     Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended August 31,
2009
     Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended August 31,
2008
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     03/12/96       $ 101,452       $ 86,032       $ 190,106   

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         13,937         21,249         150,770   

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         11,638         16,284         95,026   

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     07/10/00         1,601,458         1,089,260         2,382,012   

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     11/12/07         60,875         20,463         9,606   

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     03/12/96         61,232         63,764         318,661   

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     11/12/07         48,961         22,401         19,335   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     09/30/09         2,692         N/A         N/A   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     04/07/03         12,161,035         2,645,556         4,360,370   

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     07/25/00         30,678         45,240         589,966   

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     03/12/96         9,652         6,845         30,916   

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     03/12/96         27,512         38,682         118,584   

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     03/12/96         39,826         64,339         101,228   

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         39,519         61,045         19,216   

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     03/12/96         10,810         13,412         62,742   

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     03/12/96         172,772         169,576         226,491   

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     12/20/07         1,893         1,651         1,121   

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     03/12/96         71,874         64,467         289,931   

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         191,950         109,935         237,428   

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     03/12/96         3,913         14,865         78,349   

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     10/25/01         149,896         188,666         507,720   

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     03/12/96         83,246         88,823         366,027   

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     02/03/03         37,270         93,568         336,694   

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     05/09/00         213,823         186,355         712,192   

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     03/12/96         20,964         40,977         173,721   

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     03/12/96         5,978         7,727         66,278   

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     03/12/96         26,875         41,294         44,826   

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     06/20/00         226,077         440,425         562,575   

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         48,858         9,733         27,267   

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     03/26/08         114,341         67,382         48,787   

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     03/12/96         37,958         42,669         95,464   

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     05/05/10         34         N/A         N/A   

The following table sets forth the names of the Funds’ “regular broker dealers,” as defined under the 1940 Act, which derive more than 15% of their gross revenues from securities-related activities and in which the Funds invest, together with the market value of each investment as of the applicable Fund’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.

 

Fund

  

Issuer

   Market Value
of Investment
 

MSCI EMU Index Fund

   Deutsche Bank AG    $ 11,551,168   

MSCI Germany Index Fund

   Deutsche Bank AG    $ 72,902,756   

MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

   Credit Suisse Group AG    $ 19,056,288   

MSCI USA Index Fund

   JPMorgan Chase & Co.    $ 32,651   
   Bank of America Corp.      28,212   
   Citigroup Inc.      20,706   
   Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      15,063   
   Morgan Stanley      7,061   

 

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None of the Funds paid any brokerage commissions to BlackRock, an affiliate of BFA, and a subsidiary of BTC, during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.

Each Fund’s purchase and sale orders for securities may be combined with those of other investment companies, clients or accounts that BFA or its affiliates manage or advise and for which they have brokerage placement authority. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of a Fund and one or more other Funds or accounts managed or advised by BFA or its affiliates are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the Fund and the other Funds or accounts in a manner deemed equitable to all by BFA and its affiliates. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as a Fund is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower transaction costs will be beneficial to a Fund. BFA and its affiliates may deal, trade and invest for its own account in the types of securities in which the Funds may invest. BFA and its affiliates may, from time to time, effect trades on behalf of and for the account of the Funds with brokers or dealers that are affiliated with BFA, in conformity with the 1940 Act and SEC rules and regulations. Under these provisions, any commissions paid to affiliated brokers or dealers must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions charged by other brokers or dealers in comparable transactions. The Funds will not deal with affiliates in principal transactions unless permitted by applicable SEC rule or regulation or by SEC exemptive order.

Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year as well as within a year. High turnover rates may result in comparatively greater brokerage expenses.

The table below sets forth the portfolio turnover rates of each Fund for the fiscal years noted:

 

Fund

   Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2010
    Fiscal Year
Ended
August 31, 2009
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     8     14

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     11     26

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     17     33

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     13     30

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     9     7

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     6     6

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     42     53

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     13     N/A   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     14     5

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     5     8

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     6     6

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     5     15

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     5     9

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     21     27

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     12     18

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     5     4

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     7     7

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     29     52

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     11     13

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     9     15

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     7     10

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     9     15

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     5     16

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     14     62

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     9     19

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     10     9

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     7     16

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     9     52

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     14     15

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     13     16

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     7     11

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     1     N/A   

 

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Creation or redemption transactions, to the extent consisting of cash, may require a Fund to contemporaneously transact with broker-dealers for purchases of Deposit Securities (as defined below under Fund Deposit) or sales of Fund Securities (as defined below under Redemption of Creation Units), as applicable. Such transactions may be agreed to at guaranteed price levels in order to reduce transaction costs a Fund would otherwise incur as a consequence of settling creation or redemption baskets in cash rather than in-kind.

Following a Fund’s receipt of an order to purchase or redeem creation or redemption baskets, to the extent such purchases or redemptions consist of a cash portion, the Fund will enter an order with a broker or dealer to purchase or sell the Deposit Securities or Fund Securities, as applicable. The terms of such order will typically require the broker or dealer to guarantee that a Fund will achieve execution of its order at a price at least as favorable to the Fund as the Fund’s valuation of the Deposit Securities/Fund Securities used for purposes of calculating the NAV applied to the creation or redemption transaction giving rise to the order (the “Execution Performance Guarantee”). Such orders may be placed with the purchasing or redeeming Authorized Participant in its capacity as a broker-dealer or its affiliated broker-dealer. The amount payable to a Fund in respect of any Execution Performance Guarantee will depend on the results achieved by the executing firm and will vary depending on market activity, timing and a variety of other factors.

To ensure that an Execution Performance Guarantee will be honored on orders arising from creation transactions executed by an Authorized Participant or its affiliate as broker-dealer, an Authorized Participant is required to deposit an amount with a Fund (the “Execution Performance Deposit”). If the broker-dealer executing the order achieves executions in market transactions at a price equal to or more favorable than a Fund’s valuation of the Deposit Securities, the Fund receives the benefit of the favorable executions and returns to the Authorized Participant the Execution Performance Deposit. If, however, the broker-dealer executing the order is unable to achieve executions in market transactions at a price at least equal to the Fund’s valuation of the securities, the Fund retains the portion of the Execution Performance Deposit equal to the full amount of the execution shortfall (including any taxes, brokerage, commissions or other costs).

To ensure that an Execution Performance Guarantee will be honored for brokerage orders arising from redemption transactions executed by an Authorized Participant or its affiliate as broker-dealer, an Authorized Participant agrees to pay the shortfall amount (the “Execution Performance Offset”). If the broker-dealer executing the order achieves executions in market transactions at a price equal to or more favorable than a Fund’s valuation of the Fund Securities, the Fund receives the benefit of the favorable executions and the Authorized Participant is not called upon to honor the Execution Performance Offset. If, however, the broker-dealer is unable to achieve executions in market transactions at a price at least equal to the Fund’s valuation of the securities, the Fund will be entitled to the portion of the Execution Performance Offset equal to the full amount of the execution shortfall (including any taxes, brokerage, commissions or other costs).

The expected amount of any Execution Performance Deposit or Execution Performance Offset for each Fund will be disclosed in the procedures handbook for Authorized Participants and may change from time to time based on the actual experience of the Fund.

Additional Information Concerning the Company

Capital Stock.  The Company currently is comprised of 32 series referred to as funds. Each series issues shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The Company has authorized and issued the following funds as separate series of capital stock: the iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, the iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund, the iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund, the iShares MSCI France Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index, the iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund, the iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund, the iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund, the iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund, the iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund and the iShares MSCI USA Index Fund. The Company has authorized for issuance, but is not currently offering for sale to the public, eight additional series of shares of common stock. The Board may designate additional series of common stock and classify shares of a particular series into one or more

 

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classes of that series. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation confers upon the Board the power to establish the number of shares which constitute a Creation Unit or by resolution, restrict the redemption right to Creation Units.

Each share issued by a fund has a pro rata interest in the assets of that fund. The Company is currently authorized to issue 18.35 billion shares of common stock. The following number of shares is currently authorized for each of the funds: the iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund, 627.8 million shares; the iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund, 100 million shares; the iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund, 136.2 million shares; the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, 500 million shares; the iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund, 500 million shares; the iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund, 340.2 million shares; the iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, 200 million shares; the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund, 2 billion shares; the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund, 200 million shares; the iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund, 1 billion shares; the iShares MSCI France Index Fund, 340.2 million shares; the iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund, 382.2 million shares; the iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund, 250 million shares; the iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund, 500 million; the iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund, 63.6 million shares; the iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund, 2,124.6 million shares; the iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund, 500 million shares; the iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, 300 million shares; the iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund, 255 million shares; the iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund, 255 million shares; the iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund, 1 billion shares; the iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund, 300 million shares; the iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund, 400 million shares; the iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund, 200 million shares; the iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund, 127.8 million shares; the iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund, 63.6 million shares; the iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund, 318.625 million shares; the iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund, 900 million shares; the iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund, 200 million; the iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund, 200 million; the iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund, 934.2 million shares; and the iShares MSCI USA Index Fund, 500 million shares. Fractional shares will not be issued. Shares have no preemptive, exchange, subscription or conversion rights and are freely transferable. Each share is entitled to participate equally in dividends and distributions declared by the Board with respect to the relevant fund, and in the net distributable assets of such fund on liquidation. Shareholders are entitled to require the Company to redeem Creation Units of their shares. The Articles of Incorporation confer upon the Board the power, by resolution, to alter the number of shares constituting a Creation Unit or to specify that shares of common stock of the Company may be individually redeemable.

Each share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a stockholder vote is required consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder and the Maryland General Corporation Law. Stockholders have no cumulative voting rights with respect to their shares. Shares of all funds vote together as a single class except that, if the matter being voted on affects only a particular fund or, if a matter affects a particular fund differently from other funds, that fund will vote separately on such matter.

Under Maryland law, the Company is not required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. The policy of the Company is not to hold an annual meeting of stockholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. Under Maryland law, Directors of the Company may be removed by vote of the stockholders.

Following the creation of the initial Creation Unit(s) of shares of a fund and immediately prior to the commencement of trading in such fund’s shares, a holder of shares may be a “control person” of the fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. A fund cannot predict the length of time for which one or more stockholders may remain a control person of the fund.

Shareholders may make inquiries by writing to iShares, Inc., c/o SEI Investments Distribution Co., One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.

Absent an applicable exemption or other relief from the SEC or its staff, beneficial owners of more than 5% of the shares of a fund may be subject to the reporting provisions of Section 13 of the 1934 Act and the SEC’s rules promulgated thereunder. In addition, absent an applicable exemption or other relief from the SEC or its staff, officers and directors of a fund and beneficial owners of 10% of the shares of a fund (“Insiders”) may be subject to the insider reporting, short-swing profit and short sale provisions of Section 16 of the 1934 Act and the SEC’s rules promulgated thereunder. Beneficial owners and Insiders should consult with their own legal counsel concerning their obligations under Sections 13 and 16 of the 1934 Act.

Termination of the Company or a Fund.  The Company or a Fund may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board or the affirmative vote of a supermajority of the holders of the Company or such Fund entitled to vote on termination. Although the shares are not automatically redeemable upon the occurrence of any specific event, the Company’s organizational

 

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documents provide that the Board will have the unrestricted power to alter the number of shares in a Creation Unit. In the event of a termination of the Company or a Fund, the Board, in its sole discretion, could determine to permit the shares to be redeemable in aggregations smaller than Creation Units or to be individually redeemable. In such circumstance, the Company may make redemptions in kind, for cash or for a combination of cash or securities.

DTC as Securities Depository for Shares of the Funds.  Shares of each Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.

DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants (“DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities’ certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE, the NYSE Amex Equities and FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”).

Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability of certain investors to acquire beneficial interests in shares.

Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Company and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Company upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Company a listing of the shares of each Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Company shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Company shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Company shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all shares of the Company. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares of each Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

The Company has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants. DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares of the Company at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Company and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Company shall take action to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost.

 

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Creation and Redemption of Creation Units

General.  The Company issues and sells shares of each Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at the Fund’s NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined herein), of an order in proper form. The following table sets forth the number of shares of a Fund that constitute a Creation Unit for such Fund and the value of such Creation Unit as of September 30, 2010:

 

Fund

   Shares Per
Creation Unit
     Value Per
Creation
Unit ($U.S.)
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

     200,000         4,754,000   

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     100,000         1,974,000   

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     40,000         532,000   

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     50,000         3,774,000   

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     50,000         2,363,000   

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     100,000         2,811,000   

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     50,000         3,706,000   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     50,000         1,388,000   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     450,000         20,115,000   

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     100,000         3,475,000   

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     200,000         4,812,000   

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     300,000         6,609,000   

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     75,000         1,368,750   

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     50,000         2,760,500   

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     150,000         2,521,500   

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     600,000         5,910,000   

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     100,000         4,240,000   

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     75,000         1,028,250   

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     100,000         5,329,000   

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     50,000         1,017,000   

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     300,000         13,290,000   

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     100,000         1,318,000   

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     100,000         6,731,000   

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     50,000         2,669,500   

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     75,000         3,069,750   

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     75,000         2,173,500   

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     125,000         2,868,750   

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     200,000         2,698,000   

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     50,000         3,089,500   

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     50,000         3,503,000   

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     200,000         3,268,000   

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     50,000         1,217,000   

The Board reserves the right to declare a split or a consolidation in the number of shares outstanding of any Fund of the Company, and to make a corresponding change in the number of shares constituting a Creation Unit, in the event that the per share price in the secondary market rises (or declines) to an amount that falls outside the range deemed desirable by the Board.

A “Business Day” with respect to each Fund is any day on which the Listing Exchange on which the Fund is listed for trading is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, each Listing Exchange observes the following holidays, as observed: New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Fund Deposit.  The consideration for purchase of Creation Units of a Fund (except for the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

 

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and iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund, which are currently offered in Creation Units solely for cash, and iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund which are currently offered in Creation Units partially for cash), generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of equity securities (including any portion of such securities for which cash may be substituted) (i.e., the “Deposit Securities”), which constitutes an optimized representation of the securities of the relevant Fund’s Underlying Index and the Cash Component computed as described below. Together, the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of any Fund.

For the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund, the portfolio of securities required for purchase of a Creation Unit may not be identical to the portfolio of securities the Fund will deliver upon redemption of Fund shares (“Fund Securities”). The Deposit Securities and Fund Securities, as the case may be, in connection with a purchase or redemption of a Creation Unit, will correspond pro rata, to the extent practicable, to the securities held by the Fund.

The Cash Component is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares (per Creation Unit) and the “Deposit Amount,” which is an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities, and serves to compensate for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount. Payment of any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant purchasing a Creation Unit.

BFA makes available through the NSCC on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the Listing Exchange, the list of names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for each Fund. Such Fund Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of shares of a given Fund until such time as the next-announced Fund Deposit is made available.

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities pursuant to changes in composition of the Fund’s portfolio and changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by BFA with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities constituting the relevant Underlying Index.

If permitted by applicable laws to offer Creation Units of a Fund in exchange for the Fund Deposit, the Company reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security that may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or that may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC of the Clearing Process (discussed below). The Company also reserves the right to permit or require a “cash in lieu” amount where the delivery of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant (as described below) would be restricted under applicable securities laws or where the delivery of the Deposit Security to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under applicable securities laws, or in certain other situations. The adjustments described above will reflect changes, known to BFA on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit, in the composition of the subject index being tracked by the relevant Fund, or resulting from stock splits and other corporate actions.

Role of the Authorized Participant.  Creation Units may be purchased only by or through a DTC Participant that has entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Distributor (an “Authorized Participant”). Such Authorized Participant will agree, pursuant to the terms of such Authorized Participant Agreement and on behalf of itself or any investor on whose behalf it will act, to certain conditions, including that such Authorized Participant will make available in advance of each purchase of shares an amount of cash sufficient to pay the Cash Component, once the NAV of a Creation Unit is next determined after receipt of the purchase order in proper form, together with the transaction fee described below. The Authorized Participant may require the investor to enter into an agreement with such Authorized Participant with respect to certain matters, including payment of the Cash Component. Investors who are not Authorized Participants must make appropriate arrangements with an Authorized Participant. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not be a DTC Participant or may not have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement and that orders to purchase Creation Units may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant. As a result, purchase orders placed through an Authorized Participant may result in additional charges to such investor. The Company does not expect to enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with more than a small number of DTC Participants. A list of current Authorized Participants may be obtained from the Distributor.

 

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Purchase Order.  To initiate an order for a Creation Unit, an Authorized Participant must submit to the Distributor an irrevocable order to purchase shares of a Fund. The Distributor will notify BFA and the Custodian of such order. The Custodian will then provide such information to the appropriate subcustodian. For each Fund, the Custodian shall cause the subcustodian to maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, the securities included in the designated Fund Deposit (or the cash value of all or a part of such securities, in the case of a permitted or required cash purchase or “cash in lieu” amount), with any appropriate adjustments as advised by the Company. Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local subcustodian. Those placing orders to purchase Creation Units through an Authorized Participant should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the purchase order to the Distributor by the cut-off time on such Business Day.

The Authorized Participant must also make available on or before the contractual settlement date, by means satisfactory to the Company, immediately available or same day funds estimated by the Company to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component next determined after acceptance of the purchase order, together with the applicable purchase transaction fee. Any excess funds will be returned following settlement of the issue of the Creation Unit. Those placing orders should ascertain the applicable deadline for cash transfers by contacting the operations department of the broker or depositary institution effectuating the transfer of the Cash Component. This deadline is likely to be significantly earlier than the closing time of the regular trading session on the Listing Exchange.

The Authorized Participant shall be responsible for any and all expenses and costs incurred by a Fund, including any applicable cash amounts, in connection with any purchase order.

Investors should be aware that an Authorized Participant may require orders for purchases of shares placed with it to be in the particular form required by the individual Authorized Participant.

Timing of Submission of Purchase Orders.  For most Funds, an Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable purchase before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on any Business Day in order to receive that day’s NAV. An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable order to purchase shares of the iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund and iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund by 11:59 p.m., Eastern time on any Business Day in order to receive the next Business Day’s NAV. Orders to purchase shares of the iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund or iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund that are submitted on the Business Day immediately preceding a holiday or a day (other than a weekend) when the equity markets in the relevant foreign market are closed will not be accepted. An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable order to purchase shares of the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund and iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund before 3:00 p.m., Eastern time on any Business Day in order to receive that day’s NAV. In addition, orders to purchase shares of the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund and iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund will not be accepted on any day when the equity markets in the relevant foreign market are closed. An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable request to purchase shares of the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund by 5:00 p.m., Eastern time (or by one hour after the close of the Listing Exchange, if earlier) on any Business Day in order to receive the next Business Day’s NAV. The Distributor in its discretion may permit the submission of such orders and requests by or through an Authorized Participant at any time (including on days on which the Listing Exchange is not open for business) via communication through the facilities of the Distributor’s proprietary website maintained for this purpose. Purchase orders and redemption requests, if accepted by the Company, will be processed based on the NAV next determined after such acceptance in accordance with the Company’s standard cut-off times as provided in the Authorized Participant Agreement and disclosed in this SAI.

Acceptance of Order for Creation Unit.  Subject to the conditions that (i) an irrevocable purchase order has been submitted by the Authorized Participant (either on its own or another investor’s behalf ) and (ii) arrangements satisfactory to the Company are in place for payment of the Cash Component and any other cash amounts which may be due, the Company will accept the order, subject to its right (and the right of the Distributor and BFA) to reject any order until acceptance.

Once the Company has accepted an order, upon next determination of the NAV of the shares, the Company will confirm the issuance of a Creation Unit, against receipt of payment, at such NAV. The Distributor will then transmit a confirmation of acceptance to the Authorized Participant that placed the order.

The Company reserves the absolute right to reject or revoke a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of any Fund if (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s) upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of any Fund; (iii) the Deposit Securities delivered do not conform to the identity and number of shares specified by BFA, as described above; (iv) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse

 

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tax consequences to the Fund; (v) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (vi) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the discretion of the Company or BFA, have an adverse effect on the Company or the rights of beneficial owners; or (vii) circumstances outside the control of the Company, the Distributor and BFA make it impracticable to process purchase orders. The Company shall notify a prospective purchaser of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such purchaser of its rejection of such order. The Company, State Street, the subcustodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Portfolio Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

Issuance of a Creation Unit.  Except as provided herein, a Creation Unit will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Company of the Deposit Securities and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When the subcustodian has confirmed to the Custodian that the securities included in the Fund Deposit (or the cash value thereof ) have been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian or subcustodians, the Distributor and the Adviser shall be notified of such delivery and the Company will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Unit. Creation Units typically are issued on a “T+3 basis” (i.e., three Business Days after trade date). However, as discussed in the Regular Holidays section, each Fund reserves the right to settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than T+3 in order to accommodate non-U.S. market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among non-U.S. and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (i.e., the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security) and in certain other circumstances.

To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant’s agreement with the Distributor, the Company will issue Creation Units to such Authorized Participant notwithstanding the fact that the corresponding Portfolio Deposits have not been received in part or in whole, in reliance on the undertaking of the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing Deposit Securities as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by such Authorized Participant’s delivery and maintenance of collateral having a value at least equal to, equal to at least 105% and up to 115%, which BFA may change from time to time, of the value of the missing Deposit Securities in accordance with the Company’s theneffective procedures. The only collateral that is acceptable to the Company is cash in U.S. dollars or an irrevocable letter of credit in form, and drawn on a bank, that is satisfactory to the Company. The cash collateral posted by the Authorized Participant may be invested at the risk of the Authorized Participant, and income, if any, on invested cash collateral will be paid to that Authorized Participant. Information concerning the Company’s current procedures for collateralization of missing Deposit Securities is available from the Distributor. The Authorized Participant Agreement will permit the Company to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Company of purchasing such securities and the cash collateral or the amount that may be drawn under any letter of credit.

In certain cases, Authorized Participants may create and redeem Creation Units on the same trade date and in these instances, the Company reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis or require a representation from the Authorized Participants that the creation and redemption transactions are for separate beneficial owners. All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Company and the Company’s determination shall be final and binding.

Cash Purchase Method.  Although the Company does not ordinarily permit cash purchases of Creation Units of iShares funds, when Creation Units are available or specified for a Fund (Creation Units of the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund and iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund are currently offered only for cash and Creation Units of the iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund are currently offered partially for cash), they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind purchases thereof. In the case of a cash purchase, the investor must pay the cash equivalent of the Deposit Securities it would otherwise be required to provide through an in-kind purchase, plus the same Cash Component required to be paid by an in-kind purchaser.

Costs Associated with Creation Transactions.  A standard creation transaction fee is imposed to offset the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units. The standard creation transaction fee will be the same regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased by an investor on the applicable Business Day. If a purchase consists of a cash portion, the Authorized Participant may also be required to cover certain brokerage, tax, foreign exchange, execution, market impact and other costs and expenses related to the execution of trades resulting from the cash portion of such transaction, as further described in the Brokerage Transactions section of this SAI. The Authorized Participants may

 

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also be required to pay an additional charge (up to the maximum amount shown below) to cover costs related to the creation transaction. Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Deposit Securities to the Trust. Investors who use the services of a broker or other financial intermediary may be charged a fee for such services.

The following table sets forth each Fund’s standard creation transaction fees and maximum additional charges (as described above):

 

Fund

   Standard Creation
Transaction Fee
     Maximum Additional
Charge*
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

   $ 2,400         3.0

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     600         3.0

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     700         3.0

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     2,400         7.0

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     5,900         7.0

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     1,900         3.0

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     3,000         3.0

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     800         3.0

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     7,700         3.0

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     7,500         3.0

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     2,900         3.0

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     1,500         3.0

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     2,000         3.0

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     3,300         3.0

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     1,400         3.0

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     5,000         3.0

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     6,000         3.0

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     5,000         3.0

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     1,400         3.0

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     1,000         3.0

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     6,000         3.0

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     2,000         3.0

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     1,200         3.0

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     4,000         3.0

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     1,500         3.0

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     1,300         3.0

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     1,500         3.0

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     4,500         3.0

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     1,700         3.0

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     1,600         3.0

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     3,500         3.0

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     1,700         3.0

 

 

  * As a percentage of the NAV per Creation Unit.

Redemption of Creation Units.  Shares of a Fund may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Distributor and only on a Business Day. The Company will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Units. Beneficial owners also may sell shares in the secondary market but must accumulate enough shares to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Company. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.

With respect to each Fund (other than the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund and iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund, which currently redeem Creation Units of iShares solely for cash and iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund and iShares MSCI Emerging

 

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Markets Index Fund which currently redeem Creation Units of iShares partially for cash), BFA makes available through the NSCC, prior to the opening of business on the Listing Exchange on each Business Day, the identity and number of shares that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units.

Unless cash redemptions are available or specified for a Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit generally consist of Fund Securities plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities, less the redemption transaction fee described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a resident Australian or New Zealand holder is entitled only to receive cash upon redemption of Creation Units.

The Authorized Participant shall be responsible for any and all expenses and costs incurred by a Fund, including any applicable cash amounts, in connection with any redemption request.

Costs Associated with Redemption Transactions.  A standard redemption transaction fee is imposed to offset transfer and other transaction costs that may be incurred by the Fund. The standard redemption transaction fee will be the same regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed by an investor on the applicable Business Day. If a redemption consists of a cash portion, the Authorized Participant may also be required to cover certain brokerage, tax, foreign exchange, execution, market impact and other costs and expenses related to the execution of trades resulting from the cash portion of such transaction, as further described in the Brokerage Transactions section of this SAI. The Authorized Participants may also be required to pay an additional charge (up to the maximum amount shown below) to cover other costs related to the redemption transaction. Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order. Investors who use the services of a broker or other financial intermediary may be charged a fee for such services.

The following table sets forth each Fund’s standard redemption transaction fees and maximum additional charges (as described above):

 

Fund

   Standard Redemption
Transaction Fee
     Maximum Additional
Charge*
 

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

   $ 2,400         2.0

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

     600         2.0

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

     700         2.0

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

     2,400         2.0

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

     5,900         2.0

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

     1,900         2.0

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

     3,000         2.0

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

     800         2.0

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

     7,700         2.0

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

     7,500         2.0

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

     2,900         2.0

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

     1,500         2.0

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

     2,000         2.0

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

     3,300         2.0

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

     1,400         2.0

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

     5,000         2.0

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

     6,000         2.0

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

     5,000         2.0

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

     1,400         2.0

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

     1,000         2.0

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

     6,000         2.0

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

     2,000         2.0

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

     1,200         2.0

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

     4,000         2.0

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

     1,500         2.0

iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

     1,300         2.0

 

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Fund

   Standard Redemption
Transaction Fee
     Maximum Additional
Charge*
 

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

     1,500         2.0

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

     4,500         2.0

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

     1,700         2.0

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

     1,600         2.0

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

     3,500         2.0

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

     1,700         2.0

 

 

  * As a percentage of the NAV per Creation Unit, inclusive of the standard transaction fee.

Redemption requests for Creation Units of any Fund must be submitted to the Distributor by or through an Authorized Participant. For most Funds, an Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable redemption request before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on any Business Day in order to receive that day’s NAV. An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable request to redeem shares of the iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund or iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund by 11:59 p.m., Eastern time on any Business Day in order to receive the next Business Day’s NAV. Orders to redeem shares of the iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund or iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund that are submitted the Business Day immediately preceding a holiday or a day (other than a weekend) that the equity markets in the relevant foreign market are closed will not be accepted. An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable request to redeem shares of the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund or iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund before 3:00 p.m., Eastern time in order to receive that day’s NAV. An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable request to redeem shares of the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund by 5:00 p.m., Eastern time (or by one hour after the close of the Listing Exchange, if earlier) on any Business Day in order to receive the next Business Day’s NAV. Orders to redeem shares of the Fund that are submitted on the Business Day immediately preceding a holiday or day (other than a weekend) when the equity markets in the relevant foreign market are closed may not be accepted. Investors other than through Authorized Participants are responsible for making arrangements for a redemption request to be made through an Authorized Participant. The Distributor will provide a list of current Authorized Participants upon request.

The Authorized Participant must transmit the request for redemption in the form required by the Company to the Distributor in accordance with procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement and that, therefore, requests to redeem Creation Units may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant who has executed an Authorized Participant Agreement in effect. At any time, only a limited number of broker-dealers will have an Authorized Participant Agreement. Investors making a redemption request should be aware that such request must be in the form specified by such Authorized Participant. Investors making a request to redeem Creation Units should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the request by an Authorized Participant and transfer of the shares to the Company’s Transfer Agent; such investors should allow for the additional time that may be required to effect redemptions through their banks, brokers or other financial intermediaries if such intermediaries are not Authorized Participants.

A redemption request is considered to be in “proper form” if (i) an Authorized Participant has transferred or caused to be transferred to the Company’s Transfer Agent the Creation Unit being redeemed through the book-entry system of DTC so as to be effective by the Listing Exchange closing time on any Business Day, (ii) a request in form satisfactory to the Company is received by the Distributor from the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself or another redeeming investor within the time periods specified above and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. If the Transfer Agent does not receive the investor’s shares through DTC’s facilities by 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the Business Day next following the day that the redemption request is received, the redemption request shall be rejected. Investors should be aware that the deadline for such transfers of shares through the DTC system may be significantly earlier than the close of business on the Listing Exchange. Those making redemption requests should ascertain the deadline applicable to transfers of shares through the DTC system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depositary institution effecting the transfer of the shares.

Upon receiving a redemption request, the Distributor shall notify the Company and the Company’s Transfer Agent of such redemption request. The tender of an investor’s shares for redemption and the distribution of the cash redemption payment in respect of Creation Units redeemed will be made through DTC and the relevant Authorized Participant to the beneficial

 

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owner thereof as recorded on the book-entry system of DTC or the DTC Participant through which such investor holds, as the case may be, or by such other means specified by the Authorized Participant submitting the redemption request.

A redeeming Beneficial Owner or Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such Beneficial Owner must maintain appropriate security arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the Portfolio Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Portfolio Securities will be delivered.

Deliveries of redemption proceeds by the Funds generally will be made within three Business Days (i.e., “T+3”). However, as discussed in the Regular Holidays section, each Fund reserves the right to settle redemption transactions and deliver redemption proceeds on another basis to accommodate non-U.S. market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among non-U.S. and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and dividend ex-dates (i.e., the last date the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security sold) and in certain other circumstances. The Regular Holidays section hereto identifies the instances, if any, where more than seven days would be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Pursuant to an order of the SEC, the Company will make delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds within the number of days stated in the Regular Holidays section to be the maximum number of days necessary to deliver redemption proceeds.

If neither the redeeming Beneficial Owner nor the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such redeeming Beneficial Owner has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of Fund Securities in the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of Fund Securities in such jurisdiction, the Company may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming Beneficial Owner will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In such case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the net asset value of its shares based on the NAV of shares of the relevant Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional variable charge for cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Company’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Portfolio Securities of the Fund). Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and each Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Fund cannot lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or cannot do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws.

Although the Company does not ordinarily permit cash redemptions of Creation Units (except that, as noted above, Creation Units of the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund and iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund may be redeemed only for cash, and resident Australian and New Zealand holders may redeem solely for cash, and Creation Units of iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund may be redeemed partially for cash), in the event that cash redemptions are permitted or required by the Company proceeds will be paid to the Authorized Participant redeeming shares on behalf of the redeeming investor as soon as practicable after the date of redemption (within seven calendar days thereafter, except for the instances listed in the Regular Holidays section hereto where more than seven calendar days would be needed).

To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant’s agreement with the Distributor, in the event an Authorized Participant has submitted a redemption request in proper form but is unable to transfer all or part of the Creation Unit to be redeemed to the Company, at or prior to 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the Listing Exchange business day after the date of submission of such redemption request, the Distributor will accept the redemption request in reliance on the undertaking by the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing shares as soon as possible. Such undertaking shall be secured by the Authorized Participant’s delivery and maintenance of collateral consisting of cash, in U.S. dollars in immediately available funds, having a value at least equal to, equal to at least 105% and up to 115%, which BFA may change from time to time, of the value of the missing shares. Such cash collateral must be delivered no later than 10:00 a.m., Eastern time on the day after the date of submission of such redemption request and shall be held by State Street and marked to market daily. The fees of State Street and any subcustodians in respect of the delivery, maintenance and redelivery of the cash collateral shall be payable by the Authorized Participant. The cash collateral posted by the Authorized Participant may be invested at the risk of the Authorized Participant, and income, if any, on invested cash collateral will be paid to that Authorized Participant. The Authorized Participant Agreement permits the Company to acquire Fund Securities and the Cash Component underlying such shares at any time and subjects the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Company of purchasing such shares, Fund Securities or Cash Component and the value of the cash collateral.

 

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Because the Portfolio Securities of a Fund may trade on exchange(s) on days that the Listing Exchange is closed or are otherwise not Business Days for such Fund, shareholders may not be able to redeem their shares of such Fund, or purchase or sell shares of such Fund on the Listing Exchange on days when the NAV of such a Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant non-U.S. markets.

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to any Fund (i) for any period during which the NYSE Arca is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (ii) for any period during which trading on the NYSE Arca is suspended or restricted, (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the shares of the Fund’s portfolio securities or determination of its net asset value is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.

Taxation on Creation and Redemptions of Creation Units.  An Authorized Participant generally will recognize either gain or loss upon the exchange of Deposit Securities for Creation Units. This gain or loss is calculated by taking the market value of the Creation Units purchased over the Authorized Participant’s aggregate basis in the Deposit Securities exchanged therefor. However, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) may apply the wash sales rules to determine that any loss realized upon the exchange of Deposit Securities for Creation Units is not currently deductible. Authorized Participants should consult their own tax advisors.

Current U.S. federal tax laws dictate that capital gain or loss realized from the redemption of Creation Units will generally create long-term capital gain or loss if the Authorized Participant holds the Creation Units for more than one year, or short-term capital gain or loss if the Creation Units were held for one year or less, if the Creation Units are held as capital assets.

Regular Holidays.  For every occurrence of one or more intervening holidays in the applicable non-U.S. market that are not holidays observed in the U.S. equity market, the redemption settlement cycle will be extended by the number of such intervening holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a non-U.S. market due to emergencies may also prevent the Company from delivering securities within normal settlement period.

The securities delivery cycles currently practicable for transferring portfolio securities to redeeming investors, coupled with non-U.S. market holiday schedules, will require a delivery process longer than seven calendar days, in certain circumstances. The holidays applicable to each Fund during such periods are listed below, as are instances where more than seven days will be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Although certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years, the number of days required to deliver redemption proceeds in any given year is not expected to exceed the maximum number of days listed below for each Fund. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays, or changes in local securities delivery practices, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future.

In calendar years 2011 and 2012, the dates of regular holidays affecting the relevant securities markets in which the Funds invest are as follows (please note these holiday schedules are subject to potential changes in the relevant securities markets):

2011

 

Australia

January 3

  April 25   June 13   November 1

January 26

  April 26   August 1   December 26

March 7

  May 2   August 17   December 27

March 14

  May 16   September 26  

April 22

  June 6   October 3  

Austria

January 6

  June 13   November 1  

April 22

  June 23   December 8  

April 25

  August 15   December 26  

June 2

  October 26   December 30  

Belgium

April 22

  June 13   November 11  

April 25

  July 21   December 26  

June 2

  August 15    

June 3

  November 1    

Brazil

January 20

  April 21   October 12  

January 25

  April 22   November 2  

March 7

  June 23   November 15  

March 8

  September 7   December 30  
 

 

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Canada

January 3

  May 23   September 5   December 27

January 4

  June 24   October 10  

February 21

  July 1   November 11  

April 22

  August 1   December 26  

Chilé

April 22

  September 19    

June 20

  October 10    

June 27

  November 1    

August 15

  December 8    

China

January 3   February 7   May 5   October 5
January 17   February 8   May 6   October 6
January 31   February 9   May 30   October 7
February 1   February 21   July 4   October 10
February 2   May 2   September 5   November 11
February 3   May 3   October 3   November 24
February 4   May 4   October 4   December 26

Colombia

January 10

  June 6   August 15   December 8

March 21

  June 27   October 17   December 30

April 21

  July 4   November 7  

April 22

  July 20   November 14  

The Czech Republic

April 25

  October 28    

July 5

  November 17    

July 6

  December 26    

September 28

  December 30    

Egypt

February 15

  August 31   November 7  

April 24

  September 1    

April 25

  October 6    

May 1

  November 6    
The Egyptian market is closed every Friday.

Finland

January 6

  June 24    

April 22

  December 6    

April 25

  December 26    

June 2

     

France

April 22

  August 15    

April 25

  November 1    

June 2

  November 11    

July 14

  December 26    

Germany

January 6

  June 2   October 3  

March 7

  June 13   November 1  

April 22

  June 23   December 26  

April 25

  August 15    

Greece

January 6

  April 25   December 26  

March 7

  June 13    

March 25

  August 15    

April 22

  October 28    

Hong Kong

February 2

  April 22   June 6   December 26

February 3

  April 25   July 1   December 27

February 4

  May 2   September 13  

April 5

  May 10   October 5  

Hungary

March 14

  October 31    

March 15

  November 1    

April 25

  December 26    

June 13

     

India

January 26

  April 14   August 15   October 6

February 16

  April 16   August 19   October 26

March 2

  April 22   August 23   October 28

April 1

  May 17   August 31   November 7

April 4

  June 30   September 1   November 10
April 12   July 1   September 30   December 6

Indonesia

February 3

  June 2   August 31   December 26

February 14

  June 27   September 1   December 30

April 4

  August 17   September 2  

April 22

  August 29   November 7  

May 17

  August 30   November 28  
 

 

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Ireland

January 3   May 2   December 26  
March 17   June 6   December 27  
April 22   August 1   December 28  
April 25   October 31    

Israel

March 20

  May 8   September 28   October 13

April 18

  May 9   September 29   October 19

April 19

  June 7   September 30   October 20

April 24

  June 8   October 7  

April 25

  August 9   October 12  
The Israeli market is closed every Friday.

Italy

January 6

  June 29   December 26  

April 22

  August 15    

April 25

  November 1    

June 2

  December 8    

Japan

January 3

  April 29   July 18   November 3

January 10

  May 3   September 19   November 23

February 11

  May 4   September 23   December 23

March 21

  May 5   October 10  

Malaysia

January 1

  February 15   June 4   October 26

February 1

  May 2   August 29   November 7

February 2

  May 17   August 30   November 28

February 3

  May 30   August 31   December 26

February 4

  May 31   September 1  

Mexico

February 7

  September 16    

March 21

  November 2    

April 21

  November 21    

April 22

  December 12    

Morocco

January 11

  September 1    

February 16

  November 7    

February 17

  November 8    

August 31

  November 18    

The Netherlands

April 22

  June 13    

April 25

  December 26    

June 2

     

New Zealand

January 3

  April 22   December 26  

January 4

  April 25   December 27  

January 24

  June 6    

January 31

  October 24    

Peru

April 21

  July 29    

April 22

  August 30    

June 29

  November 1    

July 28

  December 8    

The Philippines

February 25

  August 31   December 30  

April 21

  November 1    

April 22

  November 2    

August 30

  November 30    

Poland

April 22

  August 15    

April 25

  November 1    

May 3

  November 11    

June 23

  December 26    

Portugal

March 8

  June 13   November 1  

April 22

  June 23   December 1  

April 25

  August 15   December 8  

June 10

  October 5   December 26  

Russia

January 3

  January 7   March 8   June 13

January 4

  January 10   May 2   November 4

January 5

  February 23   May 9  

January 6

  March 7   May 10  

Singapore

January 1

  May 2   October 26  

February 3

  May 17   November 7  

February 4

  August 9   December 26  

April 22

  August 30    
 

 

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South Africa

March 21

  May 2   December 26  

April 22

  June 16    

April 25

  August 9    

April 27

  December 16    

South Korea

February 2

  April 5   August 15   December 30

February 3

  May 5   September 12  

February 4

  May 10   September 13  

March 1

  June 6   October 3  

Spain

January 6

  May 2   September 9   December 6

April 21

  May 3   October 12   December 8

April 22

  July 25   November 1   December 26

April 25

  August 15   November 9  

Sweden

January 6

  June 6    

April 22

  June 24    

April 25

  December 26    

June 2

     

Switzerland

January 6

  June 13   August 15   December 26

April 22

  June 23   September 8  

April 25

  June 29   November 1  

June 2

  August 1   December 8  

Taiwan

January 31

  February 4   May 2  

February 1

  February 7   June 6  

February 2

  February 28   September 12  

February 3

  April 5   October 10  

Thailand

January 3

  April 14   May 17   October 24

February 17

  April 15   July 1   December 5

April 6

  May 2   July 18   December 12

April 13

  May 5   August 12  

Turkey

May 19

  September 1   November 8  

August 29

  September 2   November 9  

August 30

  October 28    

August 31

  November 7    

The United Kingdom

January 3

  May 30    

April 22

  August 29    

April 25

  December 26    

May 2

  December 27    
2012      

Australia

January 2

  April 9   June 11   December 25

January 26

  April 25   August 6   December 26

March 5

  May 7   August 15  

March 12

  May 21   October 1  

April 6

  June 6   November 6  

Austria

January 6

  May 17   October 26   December 26

April 6

  May 28   November 1   December 31

April 9

  June 7   December 24  

May 1

  August 15   December 25  

Belgium

April 6

  May 18   December 25  

April 9

  May 28   December 26  

May 1

  August 15    

May 17

  November 1    

Brazil

January 20

  April 6   October 12   December 24

January 25

  May 1   November 2   December 25

February 20

  July 9   November 15   December 31

February 21

  September 7   November 20  

Canada

January 2

  May 21   September 3   December 26

January 3

  June 25   October 8  

February 20

  July 2   November 12  

April 6

  August 6   December 25  

Chilé

April 6

  July 2   October 15  

May 1

  August 15   November 1  

May 21

  September 18   December 25  

June 4

  September 19   December 31  
 

 

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China

January 2

  January 30   May 7   October 4

January 16

  January 31   May 28   October 5

January 23

  February 20   July 4   October 8

January 24

  May 1   September 3   November 12

January 25

  May 2   October 1   November 22
January 26   May 3   October 2   December 25
January 27   May 4   October 3  

Colombia

January 9

  May 21   August 7   December 25

March 19

  June 11   August 20   December 31

April 5

  June 18   October 15  

April 6

  July 2   November 5  

May 1

  July 20   November 12  

The Czech Republic

April 9

  July 6   December 26  

May 1

  September 28   December 31  

May 8

  December 24    

July 5

  December 25    

Egypt

January 1

  May 1   August 20   November 15

April 15

  July 1   August 21  

April 16

  July 23   October 25  

April 25

  August 19   October 28  

The Egyptian market is closed every Friday.

Finland

January 6

  May 17   December 25  

April 6

  June 22   December 26  

April 9

  December 6   December 31  

May 1

  December 24    

France

April 6   May 17   December 26  
April 9   August 15    
May 1   November 1    
May 8   December 25    

Germany

January 6

  May 1   August 15   December 25

February 20

  May 17   October 3   December 26

April 6

  May 28   November 1   December 31

April 9

  June 7   December 24  

Greece

January 6

  April 13   June 4  

February 27

  April 16   August 15  

April 6

  August 15   December 25  

April 9

  May 1   December 26  

Hong Kong

January 2

  April 6   October 1   December 25

January 23

  April 9   October 2   December 26

January 24

  May 1   October 23   December 31

April 4

  July 2   December 24  

Hungary

March 15

  May 1   October 23   December 25

March 16

  May 28   November 1   December 26

April 9

  August 20   November 2   December 31

April 30

  October 22   December 24  

India

January 26

  April 6   August 18   October 24

February 20

  April 14   August 20   October 27

March 8

  May 1   August 22   November 13

March 23

  June 30   September 19   November 15
April 2   July 2   September 29   November 28
April 4   August 15   October 2   December 25

Indonesia

January 23

  June 18   August 23   December 24

February 6

  August 17   August 24   December 25

March 23

  August 20   October 26   December 26

April 6

  August 21   November 15   December 31
May 17   August 22   November 16  

Ireland

January 2

  May 1   October 29   December 27

March 19

  May 7   December 24  

April 6

  June 4   December 25  

April 9

  August 6   December 26  

Israel

March 8

  April 27   September 18   October 7

April 12

  May 27   September 25   October 8

April 13

  July 29   September 26  

April 25

  September 16   September 30  
April 26   September 17   October 1  

The Israeli market is closed every Friday.

 

 

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Italy

January 6

  May 1   December 24  

April 6

  June 29   December 25  

April 9

  August 15   December 26  

April 25

  November 1   December 31  

Japan

January 2

  April 30   July 16   December 24

January 3

  May 3   September 17   December 31

January 9

  May 4   October 8  

March 20

  May 5   November 23  

Malaysia

January 2

  May 1   August 20   November 15

January 23

  May 7   August 21   December 25

January 24

  May 30   August 31  

February 1

  May 31   October 26  
February 6   June 2   November 13  

Mexico

February 6   April 6   November 20  
March 19   May 1   December 12  
March 21   November 2   December 25  
April 5   November 19    

Morocco

January 11   August 14   November 6  
February 6   August 20   November 15  
May 1   August 21    
July 30   October 26    

The Netherlands

April 6   May 1   December 25  
April 9   May 17   December 26  
April 30   May 28    

New Zealand

January 2   April 6   October 22  
January 3   April 9   December 25  
January 30   April 25   December 26  
February   June 4    

Peru

April 5   August 30   December 25  
April 6   October 8   December 31  
May 1   November 1    
June 29   December 24    

The Philippines

April 5   June 12   November 2   December 31
April 6   August 20   November 30  
April 9   August 21   December 24  
May 1   November 1   December 25  

Poland

April 6

  June 7   December 26  

April 9

  August 15    

May 1

  November 1    

May 3

  December 25    

Portugal

February 21

  May 1   October 5   December 26

April 6

  June 7   November 1  

April 9

  June 13   December 24  

April 25

  August 15   December 25  

Russia

January 2

  January 9   April 30   November 5

January 3

  February 23   May 1   December 31

January 4

  February 24   May 9  

January 5

  March 8   June 11  
January 6   March 9   June 12  

Singapore

January 2

  May 5   October 26  

January 23

  May 7   November 13  

April 6

  August 9   December 25  

May 1

  August 20    

South Africa

January 2

  April 27   December 17  

March 21

  May 1   December 25  

April 6

  August 9   December 26  

April 9

  September 24    

South Korea

January 23

  April 12   August 15   December 25

January 24

  May 1   October 1   December 31

March 1

  May 28   October 3  

April 5

  June 6   December 19  
April 11   July 17   December 20  
 

 

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Spain

January 6

  April 9   August 15   December 6

March 20

  May 1   October 12   December 25

April 5

  May 2   November 1   December 26

April 6

  May 15   November 9  

Sweden

January 6

  May 17   December 25  

April 6

  June 6   December 26  

April 9

  June 22   December 31  

May 1

  December 24    

Switzerland

January 2

  May 1   August 1   December 25

January 6

  May 17   August 15   December 26

March 19

  May 28   September 6   December 31

April 6

  June 7   November 1  
April 9   June 29   December 24  

Taiwan

January 19

  January 25   May 1  

January 20

  January 26   October 10  

January 23

  February 28    

January 24

  April 4    

Thailand

January 2

  April 16   August 3   December 10

March 8

  May 1   August 13   December 31

April 6

  May 7   October 23  

April 13

  June 4   December 5  

Turkey

April 23

  October 25    

August 20

  October 26    

August 21

  October 28    
August 30   October 29    

The United Kingdom

January 2

  May 28    

April 6

  August 27    

April 9

  December 25    
May 7   December 26    
 

 

Redemptions.  The longest redemption cycle for a Fund is a function of the longest redemption cycle among the countries whose stocks comprise the Funds. In the calendar year 2011* and 2012*, the dates of regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case redemption cycle for a Fund as follows:

 

2011                     

Country

   Trade
Date
     Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle
 

Australia

     04/19/11         04/27/11         8   
     04/20/11         04/28/11         8   
     04/21/11         04/29/11         8   

China

     01/26/11         02/10/11         15   
     01/27/11         02/11/11         15   
     01/28/11         02/14/11         17   
     04/27/11         05/09/11         12   
     04/28/11         05/10/11         12   
     04/29/11         05/11/11         12   
     09/28/11         10/11/11         13   
     09/29/11         10/12/11         13   
     09/30/11         10/13/11         13   

Indonesia

     08/24/11         09/05/11         12   
     08/25/11         09/06/11         12   
     08/26/11         09/07/11         12   

Ireland

     12/21/11         12/29/11         8   
     12/22/11         12/30/11         8   
     12/23/11         01/03/12         11   

 

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2011                   

Country

   Trade
Date
     Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle

Japan

     04/27/11         05/06/11       9
     04/28/11         05/09/11       11
     05/02/11         05/10/11       8

Malaysia

     01/26/11         02/07/11       12
     01/27/11         02/08/11       12
     01/28/11         02/09/11       12
     08/24/11         09/02/11       9
     08/25/11         09/05/11       11
     08/26/11         09/06/11       11

Russia

     12/28/11         01/10/12       13
     12/29/11         01/11/12       13
     12/30/11         01/12/12       13

South Africa

     03/14/11         03/22/11       8
     03/15/11         03/23/11       8
     03/16/11         03/24/11       8
     03/17/11         03/25/11       8
     03/18/11         03/28/11       10
     04/15/11         04/26/11       11
     04/18/11         04/28/11       10
     04/19/11         04/29/11       10
     04/20/11         05/03/11       13
     04/21/11         05/04/11       13
     04/26/11         05/05/11       9
     04/28/11         05/06/11       8
     04/29/11         05/09/11       10
     06/09/11         06/17/11       8
     06/10/11         06/20/11       10
     06/13/11         06/21/11       8
     06/14/11         06/22/11       8
     06/15/11         06/23/11       8
     08/02/11         08/10/11       8
     08/03/11         08/11/11       8
     08/04/11         08/12/11       8
     08/05/11         08/15/11       10
     08/08/11         08/16/11       8
     12/09/11         12/19/11       10
     12/12/11         12/20/11       8
     12/13/11         12/21/11       8
     12/14/11         12/22/11       8
     12/15/11         12/23/11       8
     12/19/11         12/27/11       8
     12/20/11         12/28/11       8
     12/21/11         12/29/11       8
     12/22/11         12/30/11       8
     12/23/11         01/03/12       11
     12/27/11         01/04/12       8
     12/28/11         01/05/12       8
     12/29/11         01/06/12       8
     12/30/11         01/09/12       10

 

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2011                   

Country

   Trade
Date
     Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle

Spain

     04/18/11         04/26/11       8
     04/19/11         04/27/11       8
     04/20/11         04/28/11       8

Taiwan

     01/28/11         02/08/11       11
     01/29/11         02/09/11       11

Thailand

     04/08/11         04/18/11       10
     04/11/11         04/19/11       8
     04/12/11         04/20/11       8

Turkey

     08/25/11         09/05/11       11
     08/26/11         09/06/11       11
2012                   

Country

   Trade
Date
     Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle

Austria

     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         01/01/13       11

China

     01/18/12         02/01/12       14
     01/19/12         02/02/12       14
     01/20/12         02/03/12       14
     04/26/12         05/08/12       12
     04/27/12         05/09/12       12
     04/30/12         05/10/12       10
     09/26/12         10/09/12       13
     09/27/12         10/10/12       13
     09/28/12         10/11/12       13

The Czech Republic

     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         01/01/13       11

Egypt

     08/14/12         08/22/12       8
     08/15/12         08/23/12       8
     08/16/12         08/24/12       8

Finland

     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         01/01/13       11

Hungary

     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         01/01/13       11

Indonesia

     08/14/12         08/27/12       13
     08/15/12         08/28/12       13
     08/16/12         08/29/12       13
     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         01/01/13       11

Ireland

     12/19/12         12/28/12       9
     12/20/12         12/31/12       11
     12/21/12         01/01/13       11

 

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2012                   

Country

   Trade
Date
     Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle

Italy

     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         01/01/13       11

The Philippines

     04/02/12         04/10/12       8
     04/03/12         04/11/12       8
     04/04/12         04/12/12       8

Portugal

     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         12/31/12       10

South Africa

     03/14/12         03/22/12       8
     03/15/12         03/23/12       8
     03/16/12         03/26/12       10
     03/19/12         03/27/12       8
     03/20/12         03/28/12       8
     03/30/12         04/10/12       11
     04/02/12         04/11/12       9
     04/03/12         04/12/12       9
     04/04/12         04/13/12       9
     04/05/12         04/16/12       11
     04/20/12         04/30/12       10
     04/23/12         05/02/12       9
     04/24/12         05/03/12       9
     04/25/12         05/04/12       9
     04/26/12         05/07/12       11
     04/30/12         05/08/12       8
     08/02/12         08/10/12       8
     08/03/12         08/13/12       10
     08/06/12         08/14/12       8
     08/07/12         08/15/12       8
     08/08/12         08/16/12       8
     09/17/12         09/25/12       8
     09/18/12         09/26/12       8
     09/19/12         09/27/12       8
     09/20/12         09/28/12       8
     09/21/12         10/01/12       10
     12/10/12         12/18/12       8
     12/11/12         12/19/12       8
     12/12/12         12/20/12       8
     12/13/12         12/21/12       8
     12/14/12         12/24/12       10
     12/18/12         12/27/12       9
     12/19/12         12/28/12       9
     12/20/12         12/31/12       11
     12/21/12         01/01/13       11
     12/24/12         01/02/13       9

Spain

     04/02/12         04/10/12       8
     04/03/12         04/11/12       8
     04/04/12         04/12/12       8

Sweden

     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         12/31/12       10

 

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2012                   

Country

   Trade
Date
     Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle

Switzerland

     12/19/12         12/27/12       8
     12/20/12         12/28/12       8
     12/21/12         12/31/12       10

Taiwan

     01/17/12         01/27/12       10
     01/18/12         01/30/12       12

 

  * These worst-case redemption cycles are based on information regarding regular holidays, which may be out of date. Based on changes in holidays, longer (worse) redemption cycles are possible.

Taxes

Regulated Investment Company Qualifications.  Each Fund intends to continue to qualify for treatment as a separate RIC under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify for treatment as a RIC, each Fund must annually distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains) and meet several other requirements. Among such other requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of each Fund’s annual gross income must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or non-U.S. currencies, other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly-traded partnerships (i.e., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive 90% of their income from interest, dividends, capital gains and other traditionally permitted mutual fund income); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of each Fund’s taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the market value of each Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited for purposes of this calculation in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of each Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, of two or more issuers of which 20% or more of the voting stock is held by the Fund and that are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly-traded partnerships.

Although in general the passive loss rules of the Internal Revenue Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly-traded partnership. A Fund’s investments in partnerships, including in qualified publicly-traded partnerships, may result in a Fund being subject to state, local, or non-U.S. income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.

Taxation of RICs.  As a RIC, a Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its taxable investment income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders, provided that it satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. To satisfy the minimum distribution requirement, a Fund must distribute to its shareholders at least the sum of (i) 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (i.e., income other than its net realized long-term capital gain over its net realized short-term capital loss), plus or minus certain adjustments, and (ii) 90% of its net tax-exempt income for the taxable year. A Fund will be subject to income tax at regular corporation rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders. If a Fund fails to qualify for any taxable year as a RIC or fails to meet the distribution requirement, all of its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions generally will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. In such event, distributions to individuals should be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income and distributions to corporate shareholders generally should be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Although each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its capital gains for each taxable year, each Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. If a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a RIC. If a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund

 

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may be required to recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets (i.e., the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets if the Fund had been liquidated) if it qualifies as a RIC in a subsequent year.

Excise Tax.  A Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98% of its capital gain net income for the 12 months ended October 31 of such year. For this purpose, however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by a Fund that is subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed by year-end. In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any underdistribution or overdistribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. Each Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of this 4% excise tax.

Net Capital Loss Carryforwards.  Net capital loss carryforwards may be applied against any net realized capital gains in each succeeding year, until they have been reduced to zero or until their respective expiration dates, whichever occurs first.

The following Funds had tax basis net capital loss carryforwards as of August 31, 2010, the tax year-end for the Funds listed:

 

Fund

  Expiring
2011
    Expiring
2012
    Expiring
2013
    Expiring
2014
    Expiring
2015
    Expiring
2016
    Expiring
2017
    Expiring
2018
    Total  

iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund

  $ 650,082      $ 596,240      $ 384,424             $ 7,066      $ 529,868      $ 24,006,125      $ 23,348,244      $ 49,522,049   

iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market Index Fund

    370,948        855,364                      9,795,917        2,587,916        7,102,366        16,657,011        37,369,522   

iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index Fund

    117,767        175,781        33,969                      1,698,444        5,953,120        10,826,174        18,805,255   

iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund

                                              29,287,453        215,311,884        244,599,337   

iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund

                                              1,540,740        11,268,086        12,808,826   

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund

                  2,931,648               5,363,291        5,107,471        27,886,883        68,928,677        110,217,970   

iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund

                                              1,886,881        11,712,090        13,598,971   

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund

                                                              

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund

           840,778        20,296,564        11,239,258        29,973,301        13,844,901        228,196,854        228,196,854        1,201,366,175   

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund

           659,648        1,873,963                             26,644,200        68,035,542        97,213,353   

iShares MSCI France Index Fund

    236,944        2,400,550                      158,472        335,795        3,408,374        7,008,530        13,548,665   

 

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Fund

  Expiring
2011
    Expiring
2012
    Expiring
2013
    Expiring
2014
    Expiring
2015
    Expiring
2016
    Expiring
2017
    Expiring
2018
    Total  

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund

    5,469,732        8,656,712        2,241,687               4,227,713        3,394,735        27,790,050        28,490,949        80,271,578   

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund

    2,870,602        2,330,414        468,716        425,440        2,899,247        3,185,408        29,235,556        114,836,904        156,252,287   

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

                                              784,479        10,801,191        11,585,670   

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund

    848,408        541,980        527,327                      472,268        2,743,650        18,169,627        23,303,260   

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund

    3,621,148        5,594,562        8,733,802        68,122,871        27,817,841        44,443,527        116,295,478        173,577,101        448,206,330   

iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund

                                              131,718        541,322        673,040   

iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund

    2,898,105        775,477        6,820,474        1,543,708        3,357,786        1,127,892        40,223,530               56,746,972   

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund

    2,329,290        3,136,171        12,912        632,766               853,150        8,973,988        2,789,471        18,727,748   

iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund

    1,497,810        2,481,175        129,137        403,525        260,715        1,195,162        5,819,153        22,256,170        34,042,847   

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund

                                              66,207,828        104,799,503        171,007,331   

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund

    4,428,316        4,256,421        2,558,348                      807,115        15,680,510        132,420,824        160,151,534   

iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund

           527,613               260,738        1,607,845        972,024        15,339,464        14,856,365        33,564,049   

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund

    504,041        3,363,449        11,590,303        3,172,573        38,097,223               178,889,302        226,591,665        462,208,556   

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund

           995,671                                    5,946,927        15,120,672        22,063,270   

IShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund

    1,577,551        1,149,514               107,613               100,015        13,686,746        8,483,510        25,104,949   

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund

    1,018,305        2,149,171        354,252                             2,837,786        22,569,380        28,928,894   

iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund

    8,689,663        9,129,874        12,022,719        14,435,986        64,999,586        16,734,578        343,375,145        363,052,013        832,439,564   

iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund

                                              555,444        2,321,428        2,876,872   

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

                                              720,636        5,982,737        6,703,373   

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index Fund

    6,448,554        4,272,059        1,517,783        7,063,063               261,754        16,140,312        23,559,917        59,263,442   

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund

                                                              

Taxation of U.S. Shareholders.  Dividends and other distributions by a Fund are generally treated under the Internal Revenue Code as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made. However, any dividend or distribution declared by a Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to have been received by each shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year and to have been paid by the Fund not later than such December 31, provided such dividend is actually paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year.

Each Fund intends to distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers). However, if a Fund retains for investment an amount equal to all or a portion of its net long-term capital gains in excess of its net short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers), it will be subject to a corporate tax (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on the amount retained. In that event, the Fund will designate such retained amounts

 

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as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (a) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount, (b) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the 35% tax paid by the Fund on the undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent their credits exceed their liabilities, if any, and (c) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in their shares by an amount equal to 65% of the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s income. Organizations or persons not subject to U.S. federal income tax on such capital gains will be entitled to a refund of their pro rata share of such taxes paid by the Fund upon filing appropriate returns or claims for refund with the IRS.

Distributions of net realized long-term capital gains, if any, that a Fund designates as capital gains dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains, whether paid in cash or in shares and regardless of how long a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. All other dividends of a Fund (including dividends from short-term capital gains) from its current and accumulated earnings and profits (“regular dividends”) are generally subject to tax as ordinary income, subject to the discussion of qualified dividend income below.

If an individual receives a regular dividend qualifying for the long-term capital gains rates and such dividend constitutes an “extraordinary dividend,” and the individual subsequently recognizes a loss on the sale or exchange of stock in respect of which the extraordinary dividend was paid, then the loss will be long-term capital loss to the extent of such extraordinary dividend. An “extraordinary dividend” on common stock for this purpose is generally a dividend (i) in an amount greater than or equal to 10% of the taxpayer’s tax basis (or trading value) in a share of stock, aggregating dividends with ex-dividend dates within an 85-day period or (ii) in an amount greater than 20% of the taxpayer’s tax basis (or trading value) in a share of stock, aggregating dividends with ex-dividend dates within a 365-day period.

Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will, as to each shareholder, be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in shares of the Fund, and as a capital gain thereafter (if the shareholder holds shares of the Fund as capital assets). Shareholders receiving dividends or distributions in the form of additional shares should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of money that the shareholders receiving cash dividends or distributions will receive and should have a cost basis in the shares received equal to such amount. Dividends paid by a Fund that are attributable to dividends received by a Fund from domestic corporations may qualify for the U.S. federal dividends received deduction for corporations.

Recent legislation will impose, beginning in 2013, a new 3.8% U.S. federal Medicare contribution tax on net investment income, including interest, dividends, and capital gain, of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married and filing jointly), and of estates and trusts.

Investors considering buying shares just prior to a dividend or capital gain distribution should be aware that, although the price of shares purchased at that time may reflect the amount of the forthcoming distribution, such dividend or distribution may nevertheless be taxable to them. If a Fund is the holder of record of any security on the record date for any dividends payable with respect to such security, such dividends will be included in the Fund’s gross income not as of the date received but as of the later of (a) the date such security became ex-dividend with respect to such dividends (i.e., the date on which a buyer of the security would not be entitled to receive the declared, but unpaid, dividends); or (b) the date the Fund acquired such security. Accordingly, in order to satisfy its income distribution requirements, a Fund may be required to pay dividends based on anticipated earnings, and shareholders may receive dividends in an earlier year than would otherwise be the case.

In certain situations, a Fund may, for a taxable year, defer all or a portion of its capital losses and currency losses realized after October until the next taxable year in computing its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, which will defer the recognition of such realized losses. Such deferrals and other rules regarding gains and losses realized after October may affect the tax character of shareholder distributions.

Sales of Shares.  Upon the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s basis in shares of the Fund. A redemption of shares by a Fund will be treated as a sale for this purpose. Such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced, including replacement through the reinvesting of dividends and capital gains distributions in the Fund, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of

 

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the shares. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be increased to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on the sale of Fund shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions or deemed distributions of long-term capital gains received by the shareholder with respect to such share. The Medicare contribution tax described above will apply to the sale of Fund shares.

If a shareholder incurs a sales charge in acquiring shares of a Fund, disposes of those shares within 90 days and then acquires shares in a mutual fund for which the otherwise applicable sales charge is reduced by reason of a reinvestment right (e.g., an exchange privilege), the original sales charge will not be taken into account in computing gain/loss on the original shares to the extent the subsequent sales charge is reduced. Instead, the disregarded portion of the original sales charge will be added to the tax basis of the newly acquired shares. Furthermore, the same rule also applies to a disposition of the newly acquired shares made within 90 days of the second acquisition. This provision prevents shareholders from immediately deducting the sales charge by shifting their investments within a family of mutual funds.

Back-Up Withholding.  In certain cases, a Fund will be required to withhold at the applicable withholding rate, and remit to the U.S. Treasury such amounts withheld from any distributions paid to a shareholder who: (i) has failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number; (ii) is subject to back-up withholding by the IRS; (iii) has failed to certify to a Fund that such shareholder is not subject to back-up withholding; or (iv) has not certified that such shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). Back-up withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.

Sections 351 and 362.  The Company, on behalf of each Fund, has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of the Fund if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of a given Fund and if, pursuant to Sections 351 and 362 of the Internal Revenue Code, that Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. If a Fund’s basis in such securities on the date of deposit was less than market value on such date, the Fund, upon disposition of the securities, would recognize more taxable gain or less taxable loss than if its basis in the securities had been equal to market value. It is not anticipated that the Company will exercise the right of rejection except in a case where the Company determines that accepting the order could result in material adverse tax consequences to a Fund or its shareholders. The Company also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination.

Taxation of Certain Derivatives.  A Fund’s transactions in zero coupon securities, non-U.S. currencies, forward contracts, options and futures contracts (including options and futures contracts on non-U.S. currencies), to the extent permitted, will be subject to special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (including provisions relating to “hedging transactions” and “straddles”) that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer Fund losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each year) and (b) may cause a Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. Each Fund will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any zero coupon security, non-U.S. currency, forward contract, option, futures contract or hedged investment in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC.

A Fund’s investment in so-called “Section 1256 contracts,” such as regulated futures contracts, most non-U.S. currency forward contracts traded in the interbank market and options on most security indexes, are subject to special tax rules. All Section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of its taxable year are required to be marked to their market value, and any unrealized gain or loss on those positions will be included in the Fund’s income as if each position had been sold for its fair market value at the end of the taxable year. The resulting gain or loss will be combined with any gain or loss realized by the Fund from positions in Section 1256 contracts closed during the taxable year. Provided such positions were held as capital assets and were not part of a “hedging transaction” nor part of a “straddle,” 60% of the resulting net gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and 40% of such net gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss, regardless of the period of time the positions were actually held by the Fund.

As a result of entering into swap contracts, a Fund may make or receive periodic net payments. A Fund may also make or receive a payment when a swap is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or other closing

 

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transaction. Periodic net payments will generally constitute ordinary income or deductions, while termination of a swap will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund has been a party to the swap for more than one year). With respect to certain types of swaps, a Fund may be required to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or may elect under certain circumstances to mark such swaps to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss. The tax treatment of many types of credit default swaps is uncertain.

Qualified Dividend Income.  Distributions by a Fund of investment company taxable income (including any short-term capital gains), whether received in cash or shares, will be taxable either as ordinary income or as qualified dividend income, eligible for the reduced maximum rate to individuals of 15% (0% for individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund designates the distribution as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable U.S. corporations (but generally not from U.S. REITs) and certain non-U.S. corporations (e.g., non-U.S. corporations that are not “passive foreign investment companies” and which are incorporated in a possession of the U.S. or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the U.S., or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S.). Under current IRS guidance, the United States has appropriate comprehensive income tax treaties with the following countries: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, China (but not with Hong Kong, which is treated as a separate jurisdiction for U.S. tax purposes), Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. Substitute payments received by a Fund for securities lent out by the Fund will not be qualified dividend income.

A dividend from a Fund will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for 61 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or the Fund fails to satisfy those holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder (or, in the case of certain preferred stocks, the holding requirement of 91 days during the 181-day period beginning on the date that is 90 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend); (ii) the Fund or the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property; or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under Section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT or another RIC may be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent the dividend distributions are attributable to qualified dividend income received by such REIT or other RIC. It is expected that dividends received by a Fund from a REIT and distributed to a shareholder generally will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. The maximum 15% rate on qualified dividend income will not apply to dividends received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. Distributions by a Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of a Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains.

If you lend your Fund shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements, you may lose the ability to use non-U.S. tax credits passed through by the Fund or to treat Fund dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividends. Consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor. If you enter into a short sale with respect to shares of the Fund, substitute payments made to the lender of such shares may not be deductible. Consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor.

Corporate Dividends Received Deduction.  Each Fund (with the exception of the iShares MSCI USA Index Fund) does not expect dividends that are paid to its corporate shareholders to be eligible, in the hands of such shareholders, for the corporate dividends received deduction. Dividends paid by the iShares MSCI USA Index Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations may qualify for the U.S. federal dividends received deduction for corporations. A 46-day minimum holding period during the 90-day period that begins 45 days prior to ex-dividend date (or 91-day minimum holding period during the 180 period beginning 90 days prior to ex-dividend date for certain preference dividends) during which risk of loss may not be diminished is required for the applicable shares, at both the Fund and shareholder level, for a dividend to be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Restrictions may apply if indebtedness, including a short sale, is attributable to the investment.

 

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Issues Related to India and Mauritius Taxes.  This discussion does not address the effect on investors, including residents of India, citizens of India (whether resident or non-resident in India or other countries, including the U.S.) of holding shares of the BRIC Fund or Emerging Markets Fund. Investors should consult their own tax advisors as to these issues based upon their own personal situations.

Indian tax matters discussed herein are based on the provisions of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961 (“ITA”), the provisions of the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between Mauritius and India (“the DTAA”) and other laws currently in force as of the date of this SAI. All such laws and the DTAA are subject to prospective and retrospective legislative amendment, administrative rulings and judicial review.

Each of the BRIC and Emerging Markets Funds invests in India through its Subsidiary. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each Subsidiary has elected to be treated as an entity disregarded from its owner; thus, for U.S. federal tax purposes any income or loss realized by a Subsidiary will be treated as realized by a Fund. Therefore, any investment made by a Fund into a Subsidiary and any distributions received by a Fund from a Subsidiary are disregarded for U.S. federal tax purposes. Furthermore, there is no tax on a Fund’s investment in a Subsidiary or on distributions made from a Subsidiary to a Fund.

No investor will be subject to taxation in India unless such investor is a resident of India or if a non-resident, has an Indian source income or income received (whether accrued or otherwise) in India. The taxation of a Subsidiary and a Fund in India is governed by the provisions of the ITA, read with the provisions of the DTAA. In order to claim the beneficial provisions of the DTAA, a Subsidiary must be a tax resident of Mauritius. Because each Subsidiary is a tax resident of Mauritius, only the Subsidiaries would be subject to Indian taxes.

It is expected that a Fund will not be subject to tax in India on any income distribution made to it. On the assumption that all investments of a Fund in India will be through its Subsidiary (entitled to DTAA benefits as described above) and will have no permanent establishment in India, a Fund should not be subject to any taxation in India on any gain realized on the disposal, repurchase or redemption of shares.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes in India in its Circular 789, issued on April 13, 2000, concluded that a valid residence certificate issued by the Mauritius authorities demonstrated Mauritian residency for purposes of establishing eligibility to qualify for benefits under the DTAA. The Circular was subject to judicial challenge in India by those asserting that the standards for establishing Mauritian residency for purposes of obtaining such a certificate were insufficient to establish residency for purposes of the DTAA. The Circular was successfully overturned in certain lower Indian courts but was eventually upheld by the highest applicable court, the Supreme Court of India, on October 7, 2003; accordingly each Subsidiary should be eligible for benefits under the DTAA. However, rulings recently issued suggest that a number of factors are being considered by the Indian tax administration when assessing whether a foreign entity is eligible for the benefit of the provisions of a tax treaty, including, among others, the place of management of the foreign resident company and the level of substance in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated. In addition, both the Indian tax administration and Indian courts seem to be very aggressive towards structures involving offshore funds investing directly or indirectly in India, in particular from Mauritius.

Each Subsidiary has been incorporated in Mauritius and has obtained a tax residency certificate from the Mauritius authorities that establishes its residency in Mauritius under the DTAA. The certificate must be renewed annually. Each of the BRIC and Emerging Markets Funds expects its Subsidiary to maintain its Mauritius tax residency, but it cannot be assured that the Mauritius authorities will successfully renew its certificate of tax residence annually and it will continue to be eligible to the DTAA benefits.

Each Subsidiary holds a Category 1 Global Business License issued by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius. Each Subsidiary is subject to tax in Mauritius on its net income at the rate of 15%. However, a system of foreign tax credits which allows a tax credit against Mauritian taxes for foreign tax on a Mauritian entity’s foreign source income effectively reduces the Mauritius income tax rate to a maximum of 3% because the system presumes, in the absence of evidence, that the foreign tax paid is equal to 80% of the Mauritian tax. Further, a Subsidiary is not subject to capital gains tax in Mauritius nor is it subject to tax in Mauritius on any gains from the sale of securities. Any dividends paid by a Subsidiary to a Fund will also be exempt from tax in Mauritius.

Each Subsidiary will attempt to abide by the requirements of the DTAA, to maintain its residency in Mauritius, and to ensure that management and control of the Subsidiary remain in Mauritius. Therefore, so long as the DTAA is in force, each Subsidiary expects to continue to enjoy the benefits provided under the DTAA but this cannot be assured. The Indian press has recently reported that India is seeking to renegotiate the DTAA. It is therefore uncertain whether the terms of this treaty

 

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will be renegotiated or subject to a different interpretation in the future. Any change in the provisions of the DTAA or in its applicability to a Subsidiary could result in a Subsidiary and indirectly a Fund being subject to Indian income taxes, withholding taxes, and other taxes, as well as being subject to administrative or judicial assertion of such tax liabilities by the tax authorities of India. This could significantly reduce the return of a Fund on its investments and the return received by Fund shareholders. Further, it is possible even with renegotiation of the DTAA that the Indian tax authorities may seek to take the position that a Fund is not entitled to the benefits of the DTAA.

Each Subsidiary is expected to have income in the form of capital gains, income from dividends and income from interest. The Indian tax consequences for a Subsidiary on account of the application of the DTAA, read with the provisions of the ITA would be as follows:

 

   

Capital gains resulting from the sale of Indian securities (including depositary receipts issued by Indian companies) will not be subject to tax in India, provided the Subsidiary does not have Permanent Establishments (“PE”) in India;

 

   

Dividends on shares received from an Indian company on which dividend distribution tax has been paid are exempt from tax in the hands of the shareholders. However, the Indian company distributing dividends is subject to a dividend distribution tax (“DDT”) at the rate of 16.609%; and

 

   

Interest paid to the Subsidiary in respect of the debt obligations of Indian issuers will be subject to Indian income tax. The tax rate in the case of rupee-denominated debt obligations is 42.23%. In the case of foreign currency-denominated debt obligations, the tax rate is 21.115%.

In the event that the benefits of the DTAA are not available to the Subsidiary, or if the Subsidiary is held to have PE in India, taxation of interest and dividend income of the Subsidiary would be the same as described above. The taxation of capital gains would be as follows:

 

   

Long-term capital gains (being gains on sale of securities held for a period of more than twelve months) listed on a recognized stock exchange would not be taxable in India provided Securities Transaction Tax (“STT”) has been paid on the same (as discussed below);

 

   

Short-term capital gains (being gains on sale of securities held for a period of twelve months or less) from the sale of Indian securities listed on a recognized stock exchange will be taxed at the rate of 15.836% provided STT has been paid on the same;

 

   

Capital gains realized on sale of listed equity shares not executed on a recognized stock exchange in India and other Indian-listed securities would be taxed at the rate of 10.558% for long-term gains and at 42.23% in the case of short-term gains;

 

   

Short-term capital gains arising to the Subsidiary from the sale of unlisted securities will be taxed at the rate of 42.23% and long-term capital gains will be taxed at the rate of 21.115%; and

 

   

Capital gains arising from the transfer of depositary receipts outside India between non-resident investors will not be subject to tax in India.

In a ruling issued by the Authority for Advance Rulings in India, gains earned by a private equity fund based in Mauritius were held to be “business income.” It is possible that the Indian tax authorities may take a similar view in the case of each Subsidiary. In that event, such gains will not be taxable in India so long as the BRIC Fund/Subsidiary or Emerging Markets Fund/Subsidiary do not have a PE in India. In the event that either the BRIC Fund/Subsidiary or Emerging Markets Fund/Subsidiary are held to have a PE in India, gains attributable to the PE would be taxable in India at the rate of 42.23%.

Indian Minimum Alternative Tax.  In the event that the benefits of the DTAA are not available to a Subsidiary, or if a Subsidiary is held to have PE in India, the Subsidiary may be subject to a Minimum Alternate Tax (“MAT”). In the event that a company’s tax liability is less than 18% of its book profits, then instead of paying income tax at rates provided otherwise under the Income Tax Act, the company will pay MAT on the adjusted book profits as prescribed below:

 

Companies

     For taxable income
exceeding INR 10
million
     For taxable income less
than or equal to INR 10
million
 

Indian company

       19.93      18.54
Foreign company having a permanent establishment in India (including a branch and a project office)        19.00      18.54

 

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Indian Securities Transaction Tax.  All transactions entered on a recognized stock exchange in India will be subject to STT levied on the transaction value. In the case of the purchase/sale of listed equity shares which is settled by way of actual delivery or transfer of the equity share, STT will be levied at the rate of 0.125% on both the buyer and seller of the equity share. For sale of equity shares settled otherwise than by way actual delivery or transfer of the equity share, STT will be levied at the rate of 0.025% on the seller of the equity share. A seller of derivatives would be subjected to an STT of 0.017%. The STT can be set off against business income tax calculated as per provisions of ITA.

The foregoing is based upon current interpretation and practice and is subject to future changes in the tax laws of India or Mauritius and in the DTAA. Any change in the DTAA’s application could have a material adverse affect on the returns of a Fund. Further, it is possible that the Indian tax authorities may seek to take the position that a Fund is not entitled to the benefits of the DTAA.

The Direct Taxes Code, 2010.  The Direct Taxes Code, 2010 (“New Taxes Code”) has been recently tabled before the Lok Sabha (Indian house of Parliament), which, if enacted, will replace the existing Income Tax Act with effect from April 1, 2012. The New Taxes Code proposes several changes in the tax regime and administration thereof. There are several provisions therein which may severely impact the proposed structure. They are as follows:

 

   

General anti-avoidance rules would apply (depending on rules yet to be framed by the Indian government) where foreign entities claiming the benefit of a tax treaty lack commercial substance in their country of incorporation. In cases where such anti-avoidance provisions are successfully invoked, the provisions of applicable tax treaties would be overridden.

 

   

Specific rules with respect to the documentation to be provided by a foreign entity which claims the benefit of a tax treaty into which India entered. In particular, the current draft of the New Taxes Code provides that a person shall be entitled to claim relief under the relevant tax treaty only upon receipt of a tax residency certificate in the “prescribed form.” Currently, there is no guidance on what the “prescribed form” is. This seems to suggest that a certificate of residence would be the minimum requirement for treaty entitlement.

 

   

A Subsidiary can be considered to be a resident in India if its place of effective management at any time in the year is in India. “Place of effective management” is defined in the New Taxes Code as (i) the place where the board of directors of the company or its executive directors, as the case may be, make their decisions; or (ii) in a case where the board of directors routinely approve the commercial and strategic decisions made by the executive directors or officers of the company, the place where such executive directors or officers of the company perform their functions.

Excess Inclusion Income.  Under current law, the Funds serve to block unrelated business taxable income from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize unrelated business taxable income by virtue of its investment in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Section 514(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Certain types of income received by a Fund from REITs, real estate mortgage investment conduits, taxable mortgage pools or other investments may cause the Fund to designate some or all of its distributions as “excess inclusion income.” To Fund shareholders, such excess inclusion income may (i) constitute taxable income, as unrelated business taxable income for those shareholders who would otherwise be tax-exempt such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, Keogh plans, pension plans and certain charitable entities; (ii) not be offset by otherwise allowable deductions for tax purposes; (iii) not be eligible for reduced U.S. withholding for non-U.S. shareholders even from tax treaty countries; and (iv) cause the Fund to be subject to tax if certain “disqualified organizations,” as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, are Fund shareholders. If a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable remainder unitrust (each as defined in Section 664 of the Internal Revenue Code) has unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) for a taxable year, a 100% excise tax on the UBTI is imposed on the trust.

Non-U.S. Investments.  Under Section 988 of the Internal Revenue Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time a Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a non-U.S. currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. In general, gains (and losses) realized on debt instruments will be treated as Section 988 gain (or loss) to the extent attributable to changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which the instruments are denominated. Similarly, gain or losses on non-U.S. currency, non-U.S. currency forward contracts and certain non-U.S. currency options or futures contracts denominated in non-U.S currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss unless the Fund were to elect otherwise.

 

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Each Fund may be subject to non-U.S. income taxes withheld at the source. Each Fund, if permitted to do so, may elect to “pass through” to its investors the amount of non-U.S. income taxes paid by the Fund provided that the Fund held the security on the dividend settlement date and for at least 15 additional days immediately before and/or thereafter, with the result that each investor with respect to shares of the Fund held for a minimum 16-day holding period at the time of deemed distribution will (i) include in gross income, even though not actually received, the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes, and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S. taxable income) but only for investors who itemize their deductions on their personal tax returns) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal income tax) the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes. A non-U.S. person invested in the Fund in a year that the Fund elects to “pass through” its non-U.S. taxes may be treated as receiving additional dividend income subject to U.S. withholding tax. A non-U.S. tax credit may not exceed the investor’s U.S. federal income tax otherwise payable with respect to the investor’s non-U.S. source income. For this purpose, shareholders must treat as non-U.S. source gross income (i) their proportionate shares of non-U.S. taxes paid by the Fund and (ii) the portion of any dividend paid by the Fund that represents income derived from non-U.S. sources; the Fund’s gain from the sale of securities will generally be treated as U.S.-source income. Certain limitations will be imposed to the extent to which the non-U.S. tax credit may be claimed.

With respect to Brazil, a 6% Imposto sobre Operacões Financeiras (IOF) tax, with the rate subject to change, applies to certain foreign exchange inflows into Brazil. Also, a 1.5% IOF tax applies to the creation of new American or Global Depositary Receipt issuances with respect to Brazilian equities and a 0.38% IOF tax applies to the cancellation of American or Global Depositary Receipts if the underlying equities are then issued in the Brazil (local) markets. If incurred by the Fund, an IOF tax would not be creditable against U.S. income tax liability.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies.  If a Fund purchases shares in “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”), it may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.

If a Fund were to invest in a PFIC and elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” under the Internal Revenue Code, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, the Fund might be required to include in income each year a portion of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the qualified electing fund, even if not distributed to the Fund, and such amounts would be subject to the 90% and excise tax distribution requirements described above. In order to make this election, the Fund would be required to obtain certain annual information from the PFICs in which it invests, which may be difficult or impossible to obtain.

Alternatively, a Fund may make a mark-to-market election that would result in the Fund being treated as if it had sold and repurchased its PFIC stock at the end of each year. In such case, the Fund would report any such gains as ordinary income and would deduct any such losses as ordinary losses to the extent of previously recognized gains. The election must be made separately for each PFIC owned by the Fund and, once made, would be effective for all subsequent taxable years, unless revoked with the consent of the IRS. By making the election, the Fund could potentially ameliorate the adverse tax consequences with respect to its ownership of shares in a PFIC, but in any particular year may be required to recognize income in excess of the distributions it receives from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock. The Fund may have to distribute this “phantom” income and gain to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax.

A Fund will make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effects of these rules.

Reporting.  If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to a Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not exempted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Other Taxes.  Dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds may also be subject to additional state, local and non-U.S. taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation.

 

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Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders.  Dividends paid by a Fund to non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty to the extent derived from investment income and short-term capital gains. Dividends paid by a Fund from net-tax exempt income or long-term capital gains are generally not subject to such withholding tax. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a non-U.S. shareholder who provides a Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the non-U.S. shareholder were a U.S. shareholder. A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate). A non-U.S. shareholder who fails to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form may be subject to back-up withholding at the appropriate rate.

In general, U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any gain or income realized by a non-U.S. shareholder in respect of any distributions of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, tax-exempt interest dividends, or upon the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund. If a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels, distributions to a non-U.S. shareholder from a Fund attributable to a REIT’s distribution to a Fund of gain from a sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest and, in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder owning more than 5% of the class of shares throughout either such person’s holding period for the redeemed shares or, if shorter, the previous five years, the gain on redemption will be treated as real property gain subject to additional taxes or withholding and may result in the non-U.S. shareholder having additional filing requirements.

For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012, distributions that a Fund designated as “short-term capital gain dividends” or “long-term capital gain dividends” would not have been treated as such to a recipient foreign shareholder if the distribution were attributable to gain received from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation and a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property exceeded certain levels. Instead, if the foreign shareholder had not owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a Fund at any time during the one year period ending on the date of distribution, such distributions were subject to 30% withholding by a Fund and were treated as ordinary dividends to the foreign shareholder; if the foreign shareholder owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a Fund at any time during the one year period ending on the date of the distribution, such distribution was treated as real property gain subject to 35% withholding tax and could subject the foreign shareholder to U.S. filing requirements. Additionally, if a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels, a foreign shareholder realizing gains upon redemption from a Fund on or before December 31, 2011 could be subject to the 35% withholding tax and U.S. filing requirements unless more than 50% of a Fund’s shares were owned by U.S. persons at such time or unless the foreign person had not held more than 5% of a Fund’s outstanding shares throughout either such person’s holding period for the redeemed shares or, if shorter, the previous five years.

For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012, properly-designated dividends were generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of a Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, a Fund’s U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which a Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of a Fund’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of a Fund’s net short-term capital gain over a Fund’s long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, a Fund may designate all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if a Fund designates the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.

Beginning in 2013, a withholding tax of 30% will apply to payments of Fund dividends and gross proceeds of Fund redemptions paid to non-U.S. shareholders, unless such non-U.S. shareholders comply with certain reporting requirements to the IRS and/or a Fund as to identifying information (including name, address and taxpayer identification number) of direct and indirect U.S. owners. Affected shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of these requirements on their own investment in a Fund.

 

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Shares of a Fund held by a non-U.S. shareholder at death will be considered situated within the United States and subject to the U.S. estate tax for decedents dying after December 31, 2012.

The foregoing discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations only and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Purchasers of shares should consult their own tax advisers as to the tax consequences of investing in such shares, including consequences under state, local and non-U.S. tax laws. Finally, the foregoing discussion is based on applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, judicial authority and administrative interpretations in effect on the date of this SAI. Changes in applicable authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above, and such changes often occur.

Financial Statements

Each Fund’s audited Financial Statements, including the Financial Highlights, appearing in the Annual Report to Shareholders and the report therein of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, are hereby incorporated by reference in this SAI. The applicable Annual Report to Shareholders, which contains the referenced audited financial statements, is available upon request and without charge.

Miscellaneous Information

Counsel.  Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, located at 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, is counsel to the Company.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at Three Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111, serves as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, audits the Funds’ financial statements, and may perform other services.

Shareholder Communications to the Board.  The Board has established a process for shareholders to communicate with the Board. Shareholders may contact the Board by mail. Correspondence should be addressed to iShares Board of Directors, c/o BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. – Mutual Fund Administration, 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Shareholder communications to the Board should include the following information: (i) the name and address of the shareholder; (ii) the number of shares owned by the shareholder; (iii) the Fund(s) of which the shareholder owns share; and (iv) if these shares are owned indirectly through a broker, financial intermediary or other record owner, the name of the broker, financial intermediary or other record owner. All correspondence received as set forth above shall be reviewed by the Secretary of the Company and reported to the Board.

 

 

IS-SAI-08i-1011

 

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