TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 10/19/11 -- (TSX: XBB)(TSX: XCB)(TSX: XDV)(TSX: XEB)(TSX: XEI)(TSX: XFN)(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 October 2011 cash distributions for the seventeen iShares funds listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange which pay on a monthly basis. Unitholders of record on October 28, 2011 will receive cash distributions payable on October 31, 2011. Details of the "per unit" distribution amounts are as follows:

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                                                                        Cash
                                                                Distribution
Fund Name                                        Fund Ticker    Per Unit ($)
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iShares DEX Universe Bond Index Fund                     XBB         0.09302
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iShares DEX All Corporate Bond Index Fund                XCB         0.07621
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iShares Dow Jones Canada Select Dividend Index
 Fund                                                    XDV         0.12271
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iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond
 Index Fund (CAD-Hedged)                                 XEB         0.06998
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iShares S&P®/TSX® Equity Income Index Fund           XEI         0.11766
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iShares S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index Fund             XFN         0.10480
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iShares DEX All Government Bond Index Fund               XGB         0.05819
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iShares DEX HYBrid Bond Index Fund                       XHB         0.09145
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iShares U.S. High Yield Bond Index Fund (CAD-
 Hedged)                                                 XHY         0.12238
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iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index Fund (CAD-
 Hedged)                                                 XIG         0.07558
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iShares DEX Long Term Bond Index Fund                    XLB         0.07688
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iShares S&P/TSX North American Preferred Stock
 Index Fund (CAD-Hedged)                                 XPF         0.12116
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iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund                   XRE         0.06259
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iShares DEX Short Term Bond Index Fund                   XSB         0.07773
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iShares DEX Short Term Corporate Universe +
 Maple Bond Index Fund                                   XSH         0.06607
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iShares Diversified Monthly Income Fund                  XTR         0.06000
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iShares S&P/TSX Capped Utilities Sector Fund             XUT         0.05010
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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 June 30, 2011, BlackRock's AUM was US$3.659 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 June 30, 2011, the firm has approximately 9,700 employees in 26 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 410 funds globally across equities, fixed income and commodities, which trade on 16 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.