TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 04/16/12 -- (TSX: XBB)(TSX: XCB)(TSX: XDV)(TSX: XEB)(TSX: XEI)(TSX: XFN)(TSX: XFR)(TSX: XGB)(TSX: XHB)(TSX: XHY)(TSX: XIG)(TSX: XLB)(TSX: XPF)(TSX: XRE)(TSX: XSB)(TSX: XSH)(TSX: XTR)(TSX: XUT)

BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK), today announced the April 2012 cash distributions for eighteen iShares funds listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange which pay on a monthly basis. Unitholders of record on April 25, 2012 will receive cash distributions payable on April 30, 2012. Details of the "per unit" distribution amounts are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Name                                                  Cash Distribution
                                             Fund Ticker        Per Unit ($)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares DEX Universe Bond Index Fund                 XBB            $0.08887
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares DEX All Corporate Bond Index
 Fund                                                XCB            $0.07214
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares Dow Jones Canada Select
 Dividend Index Fund                                 XDV           $ 0.07250
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging
 Markets Bond Index Fund (CAD-
 Hedged)                                             XEB            $0.06600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares S&P/TSX Equity Income Index
 Fund                                                XEI            $0.07500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Financials
 Index Fund                                          XFN            $0.06550
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares DEX Floating Rate Note Index
 Fund                                                XFR            $0.02437
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares DEX All Government Bond
 Index Fund                                          XGB            $0.05640
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares DEX HYBrid Bond Index Fund                   XHB            $0.08937
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares U.S. High Yield Bond Index
 Fund (CAD-Hedged)                                   XHY            $0.11400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index
 Fund (CAD-Hedged)                                   XIG            $0.06950
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares DEX Long Term Bond Index
 Fund                                                XLB            $0.07508
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares S&P/TSX North American
 Preferred Stock Index Fund (CAD-
 Hedged)                                             XPF            $0.07900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index
 Fund                                                XRE            $0.06150
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares DEX Short Term Bond Index
 Fund                                                XSB            $0.07261
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares DEX Short Term Corporate
 Universe + Maple Bond Index Fund                    XSH            $0.06102
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares Diversified Monthly Income
 Fund                                                XTR            $0.06000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Utilities
 Index Fund                                          XUT            $0.07050
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Further information on iShares funds can be found at www.iShares.ca.

About BlackRock

BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At December 31, 2011, BlackRock's AUM was US $3.513 trillion. BlackRock offers products that span the risk spectrum to meet clients' needs, including active, enhanced and index strategies across markets and asset classes. Products are offered in a variety of structures including separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares® (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®. Headquartered in New York City, as of December 31, 2011, the firm has approximately 10,100 employees in 27 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.blackrock.com.

About iShares® ETFs

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