BlackRock(R) Canada Announces Estimated 2015 Annual Reinvested Capital Gains Distributions for the iShares(R) ETFs


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 23, 2015) - A correction from source is being issued in regards to the release that was sent on November 20, 2015 at 4:30 pm ET. The paragraph for XIC has been updated. The corrected release follows.

(TSX:CBD) (TSX:CBD.A) (TSX:CBH) (TSX:CBH.A) (TSX:CBN) (TSX:CBN.A) (TSX:CBO) (TSX:CBO.A) (TSX:CBQ) (TSX:CBQ.A) (TSX:CDZ) (TSX:CDZ.A) (TSX:CEW) (TSX:CEW.A) (TSX:CGL) (TSX:CGL.C) (TSX:CGR) (TSX:CGR.A) (TSX:CHB) (TSX:CHB.A) (TSX:CIE) (TSX:CIE.A) (TSX:CIF) (TSX:CIF.A) (TSX:CJP) (TSX:CJP.A) (TSX:CLF) (TSX:CLF.A) (TSX:CLG) (TSX:CLG.A) (TSX:CLU) (TSX:CLU.A) (TSX:CLU.B) (TSX:CLU.C) (TSX:CMR) (TSX:CMR.A) (TSX:COW) (TSX:COW.A) (TSX:CPD) (TSX:CPD.A) (TSX:CRQ) (TSX:CRQ.A) (TSX:CSD) (TSX:CSD.A) (TSX:CUD) (TSX:CUD.A) (TSX:CVD) (TSX:CVD.A) (TSX:CWO) (TSX:CWO.A) (TSX:CWW) (TSX:CWW.A) (TSX:CYH) (TSX:CYH.A) (TSX:FIE) (TSX:FIE.A) (TSX:SVR) (TSX:SVR.C) (TSX:XAL) (TSX:XAW) (TSX:XBB) (TSX:XBM) (TSX:XBZ) (TSX:XCB) (TSX:XCD) (TSX:XCG) (TSX:XCH) (TSX:XCR) (TSX:XCS) (TSX:XCV) (TSX:XDV) (TSX:XEB) (TSX:XEC) (TSX:XEF) (TSX:XEG) (TSX:XEH) (TSX:XEI) (TSX:XEM) (TSX:XEN) (TSX:XEU) (TSX:XFA) (TSX:XFC) (TSX:XFF) (TSX:XFH) (TSX:XFI) (TSX:XFN) (TSX:XFR) (TSX:XFS) (TSX:XGB) (TSX:XGC) (TSX:XGD) (TSX:XGI) (TSX:XGR) (TSX:XHB) (TSX:XHC) (TSX:XHD) (TSX:XHU) (TSX:XHY) (TSX:XIC) (TSX:XID) (TSX:XIG) (TSX:XIN) (TSX:XIT) (TSX:XIU) (TSX:XLB) (TSX:XMA) (TSX:XMC) (TSX:XMD) (TSX:XMH) (TSX:XMI) (TSX:XMM) (TSX:XMU) (TSX:XMV) (TSX:XMW) (TSX:XPF) (TSX:XQB) (TSX:XQB.A) (TSX:XQQ) (TSX:XRB) (TSX:XRE) (TSX:XSB) (TSX:XSC) (TSX:XSE) (TSX:XSH) (TSX:XSI) (TSX:XSP) (TSX:XSQ) (TSX:XST) (TSX:XSU) (TSX:XTR) (TSX:XUH) (TSX:XUS) (TSX:XUT) (TSX:XUU) (TSX:XWD)

BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited ("BlackRock Canada"), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK), today announced the estimated annual reinvested capital gains distributions for the iShares ETFs listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the 2015 tax year. Please note that these are estimated amounts only as of October 15, 2015 and may reflect forward-looking assumptions made by management. As these are estimated amounts, the final capital gains distributions may change by the Funds' December 15, 2015 tax year-end.

These estimates are for the annual non-cash capital gains distributions, which are typically reinvested in additional units of the respective funds at the year-end, and do not include estimates of ongoing monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual cash distribution amounts. The additional units will be immediately consolidated with the previously outstanding units such that the number of outstanding units following the distribution will equal the number of units outstanding prior to the distribution.

We expect to announce the final annual reinvested distribution amounts, as well as the monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual cash distribution amounts, as applicable, for 2015, on or about December 18, 2015. The record date for the 2015 annual distributions will be December 31, 2015, payable on January 6, 2016. The actual taxable amounts of reinvested and cash distributions for 2015, including the tax characteristics of the distributions, will be reported to brokers (through CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. or "CDS") in early 2016.

Fund Name Fund Ticker Net asset value (NAV) per unit at Nov 13, 2015 Estimated annual reinvested capital gains as % of NAV at Nov 13, 2015
iShares Balanced Income CorePortfolio™ Index ETF CBD 20.621035 2.63%
CBD.A 20.497556 2.59%
iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBH 19.623990 0.00%
CBH.A 19.561043 0.00%
iShares Balanced Growth CorePortfolio™ Index ETF CBN 17.956461 2.40%
CBN.A 18.052801 2.40%
iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBO 19.175276 0.00%
CBO.A 19.117068 0.00%
iShares BRIC Index ETF CBQ 17.860960 0.00%
CBQ.A 17.779458 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF CDZ 23.576111 5.10%
CDZ.A 23.421415 5.38%
iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF CEW 9.877447 2.39%
CEW.A 7.595266 0.00%
iShares Gold Bullion ETF CGL 9.569431 0.00%
CGL.C 12.814760 0.00%
iShares Global Real Estate Index ETF CGR 27.752686 1.39%
CGR.A 27.587870 1.42%
iShares U.S. High Yield Fixed Income Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CHB 18.480260 0.00%
CHB.A 18.425208 0.00%
iShares International Fundamental Index ETF CIE 17.968191 3.26%
CIE.A 17.976701 3.26%
iShares Global Infrastructure Index ETF CIF 22.572907 1.29%
CIF.A 22.560904 1.86%
iShares Japan Fundamental Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CJP 14.740960 0.00%
CJP.A 14.447927 0.00%
iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLF 19.103276 0.00%
CLF.A 19.015691 0.00%
iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLG 19.515691 0.00%
CLG.A 19.403714 0.00%
iShares US Fundamental Index ETF CLU 26.271695 0.00%
CLU.A 26.043316 0.00%
CLU.B 29.086626 0.00%
CLU.C 29.339640 0.00%
iShares Premium Money Market ETF CMR 50.007326 0.00%
CMR.A 49.999484 0.00%
iShares Global Agriculture Index ETF COW 31.062638 2.44%
COW.A 30.386137 2.44%
iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Preferred Share Index ETF CPD 13.354516 0.00%
CPD.A 13.338403 0.00%
iShares Canadian Fundamental Index ETF CRQ 12.273186 0.00%
CRQ.A 12.212155 0.00%
iShares Advantaged Short Duration High Income ETF (CAD-Hedged) CSD 18.540552 0.00%
CSD.A 18.482712 0.00%
iShares US Dividend Growers Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CUD 31.351299 0.00%
CUD.A 31.142172 0.00%
iShares Convertible Bond Index ETF CVD 18.104936 0.00%
CVD.A 18.078194 0.00%
iShares Emerging Markets Fundamental Index ETF CWO 26.780194 0.00%
CWO.A 26.670798 0.00%
iShares Global Water Index ETF CWW 27.947818 0.00%
CWW.A 27.913701 0.00%
iShares Global Monthly Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CYH 16.568803 0.00%
CYH.A 16.429592 0.00%
iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF FIE 6.617309 0.00%
FIE.A 6.220655 0.00%
iShares Silver Bullion ETF SVR 8.195634 0.00%
SVR.C 7.734179 0.00%
iShares Alternatives Completion Portfolio Builder Fund XAL 26.979116 0.00%
iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF XAW 20.390459 0.00%
iShares Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF XBB 31.192220 0.56%
iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF XBM 7.655197 0.00%
iShares MSCI Brazil Index ETF XBZ 8.598924 0.00%
iShares Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XCB 21.094619 0.19%
iShares S&P Global Consumer Discretionary Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XCD 28.574544 0.00%
iShares Canadian Growth Index ETF XCG 27.387188 0.00%
iShares China Index ETF XCH 23.923825 0.00%
iShares Conservative Core Portfolio Builder Fund XCR 23.020901 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX SmallCap Index ETF XCS 12.379186 0.00%
iShares Canadian Value Index ETF XCV 21.355166 0.00%
iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF XDV 21.576252 0.00%
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XEB 20.718354 0.00%
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF XEC 21.291084 0.00%
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF XEF 26.883427 0.28%
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF XEG 11.115775 0.00%
iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XEH 21.013174 0.00%
iShares Core S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF XEI 18.303912 0.00%
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF XEM 25.255842 0.15%
iShares Jantzi Social Index ETF XEN 19.432050 0.00%
iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF XEU 21.734861 0.23%
iShares FactorSelect™ MSCI USA Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XFA 20.817800 0.00%
iShares FactorSelect™ MSCI Canada Index ETF XFC 19.265242 0.00%
iShares FactorSelect™ MSCI EAFE Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XFF 21.456295 0.00%
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XFH 19.697954 0.00%
iShares FactorSelect™ MSCI EAFE Index ETF XFI 20.811409 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index ETF XFN 29.864410 0.00%
iShares Floating Rate Index ETF XFR 20.025387 0.00%
iShares FactorSelect™ MSCI USA Index ETF XFS 20.475923 0.00%
iShares Canadian Government Bond Index ETF XGB 21.777437 0.98%
iShares Global Completion Portfolio Builder Fund XGC 28.937806 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF XGD 7.774767 0.00%
iShares S&P Global Industrials Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XGI 25.309072 0.00%
iShares Growth Core Portfolio Builder Fund XGR 26.584358 0.00%
iShares Canadian HYBrid Corporate Bond Index ETF XHB 20.218347 0.00%
iShares Global Healthcare Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHC 40.383447 0.00%
iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHD 23.689438 0.00%
iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF XHU 19.866099 0.00%
iShares U.S. High Yield Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHY 19.283576 0.00%
iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF XIC 20.752693 2.19%
iShares India Index ETF XID 27.244730 0.00%
iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIG 22.699258 0.00%
iShares MSCI EAFE® Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIN 23.102471 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology Index ETF XIT 12.302487 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF XIU 19.330618 0.74%
iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF XLB 23.056796 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF XMA 9.181772 0.00%
iShares S&P U.S. Mid-Cap Index ETF XMC 14.382837 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX Completion Index ETF XMD 21.222442 0.00%
iShares S&P U.S. Mid-Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XMH 14.118128 0.00%
iShares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMI 33.161188 0.00%
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMM 24.472873 0.00%
iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMU 37.184909 1.78%
iShares MSCI Canada Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMV 25.156520 0.00%
iShares MSCI All Country World Minimum Volatility Index ETF XMW 32.914361 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX North American Preferred Stock Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XPF 17.996174 0.00%
iShares Core High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF XQB 20.694315 0.00%
XQB.A 20.642912 0.00%
iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XQQ 37.203437 0.00%
iShares Canadian Real Return Bond Index ETF XRB 23.759855 0.30%
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index ETF XRE 14.738023 0.24%
iShares Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF XSB 28.484698 0.00%
iShares Conservative Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSC 19.892658 0.00%
iShares Conservative Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSE 19.887510 0.00%
iShares Core Canadian Short Term Corporate + Maple Bond Index ETF XSH 19.680375 0.00%
iShares Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSI 19.235830 0.00%
iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSP 23.409822 0.00%
iShares Core Short Term High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF XSQ 20.012418 0.00%
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF XST 46.601127 2.59%
iShares U.S. Small Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSU 24.832399 0.00%
iShares Diversified Monthly Income ETF XTR 10.866628 0.00%
iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XUH 19.269075 0.00%
iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF XUS 33.866252 0.13%
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Utilities Index ETF XUT 19.119212 0.00%
iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF XUU 20.773983 0.00%
iShares MSCI World Index ETF XWD 40.476226 0.33%

Reasons for some of the larger estimated annual reinvested capital gains distributions are as follows:

CIE

The iShares International Fundamental Index ETF ("CIE") experienced capital gains as a result of the appreciation of securities held in its portfolio, with gains realized on the sale of certain securities such as Novartis AG, Toyota Motor Corp and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.

XIC

The iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF ("XIC") experienced capital gains as a result of the appreciation of securities held in its portfolio. Some of the larger components of the gains were realized as a result of the acquisitions of Catamaran Corp and Tim Hortons Inc.

CDZ

The iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF ("CDZ") experienced capital gains in 2015 primarily due to the appreciation of securities held in the portfolio, and realized on the sale of securities in connection with the disposition of securities held as part of the normal course of operations. Some of the larger components of the gains were realized on the disposition of shares in Constellation Software Inc., which was deleted from the index due to lack of dividend increases and acquisition of Tim Hortons Inc.

CBD

The iShares Balanced Growth CorePortfolio™ Index ETF ("CBD") realized capital gains in 2015 in connection with the sale of securities on international equity exposures due to portfolio rebalancing.

CBN

The iShares Balanced Growth CorePortfolio™ Index ETF ("CBN") realized capital gains in 2015 through the sale of securities on international equity exposures as a result of portfolio rebalancing.

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

Forward-looking information

This notice contains forward-looking statements with respect to the annual reinvested capital gains distributions for the iShares Funds. By their nature, these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual distributions to differ materially from the estimated distributions set forth in this notice. Factors that could cause the actual distributions to differ from the estimated distributions between now and December 15, 2015 (the iShares Funds' tax year end) include, but are not limited to: the actual amounts of distributions received by the iShares Funds; the actual amounts of capital gains generated from sales of securities; trading activity within the iShares Funds, including buying and selling of securities; index changes which cause rebalancing within the iShares Funds; and subscription and redemption activity.

About BlackRock

BlackRock is a global leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients. At September 30, 2015, BlackRock's AUM was US $4.506 trillion. BlackRock helps clients around the world meet their goals and overcome challenges with a range of products that include separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares® (exchange-traded funds), and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions®. As of September 30, 2015, the firm had approximately 12,900 employees in more than 30 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.blackrock.com/ca / Twitter: @BlackRockCA / Blog: www.blackrockblog.com/can

About iShares ETFs

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

[1]Based on US $4.506 trillion in AUM as of 9/30/15.

iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

Contact Information:

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