BlackRock Announces Share Splits for iShares ETFs

BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK) announced today that the Board of Trustees of iShares Trust has authorized share splits for a number of iShares ETFs. The Board has approved share splits for 11 iShares ETFs for shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 19, 2016, payable after the close of trading on July 22, 2016:

The share splits will lower the share price and increase the number of outstanding shares. The total value of shares outstanding is not affected by a split.

iShares Core ETFs were launched in October 2012 as a branded suite of ETFs for buy-and-hold investors looking for a simple, low cost way to invest over the long-term in stocks and bonds. Since launch, buy-and-hold investors ranging from global institutions to U.S. retail advisors have embraced iShares Core and its value proposition, as the suite has reached $203 billion1 in assets under management.

iBonds ETFs are investment grade bond funds that make it easier to build diversified, laddered bond portfolios. Each iBonds ETF holds a portfolio of investment grade bonds that mature within a specified range of dates and trades on an exchange. iBonds ETFs can be used to build laddered bond portfolios, which can help diversify a portfolio’s exposure to bonds with different maturities.

About BlackRock

BlackRock is a global leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients. At March 31, 2016, BlackRock’s AUM was $4.737 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 March 31, 2016, the firm had approximately 13,000 employees in more than 30 countries and a major presence in 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 | Twitter: @blackrock_news | Blog: www.blackrockblog.com | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

About iShares

iShares® is a global leader in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with more than a decade of expertise and commitment to individual and institutional investors of all sizes. With over 700 funds globally across multiple asset classes and strategies and more than $1 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2016, 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.2

Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.iShares.com or www.blackrock.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments.

Buying and selling shares of ETFs will result in brokerage commissions. Diversification may not protect against market risk or loss of principal.

Shares of ETFs trade at market price, which may be greater or less than net asset value. The iShares® iBonds® ETFs (“Funds”) will terminate within the month and year in each Fund’s name. An investment in the Fund(s) is not guaranteed, and an investor may experience losses and/or tax consequences, including near or at the termination date. In the final months of each Fund's operation, its portfolio will transition to cash and cash-like instruments. As a result, its yield will tend to move toward prevailing money market rates, and may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by the Fund and lower than prevailing yields in the bond market.

The Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).

The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.

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1 Source: BlackRock Global Business Intelligence as of 6/23/16.

2 Based on $4.737 trillion in AUM as of 3/31/16.

©2016 BlackRock. All rights reserved. iSHARES, iBONDS and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock. All other marks are those of their respective owners. iS-18591-0616

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