Press Release iShares Launches Two New Target Date ETFs that Expand the iShares Target Date Series
SAN FRANCISCO - August, 18, 2011 - BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK) today announced that its iShares® Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) business, the world's largest manager of ETFs, has launched two new iShares ETFs on the NYSE Arca. The funds are the iShares S&P Target Date 2045 (NYSEArca: TZW) and iShares S&P Target Date 2050 (NYSEArca: TZY) Index Funds. The new funds provide a continuation of the existing iShares target series products, which are designed to provide investors with a diversified portfolio of iShares ETFs within an efficient ETF structure and can help investors prepare for an anticipated future need for funding a life event such as retirement. "Implementing target date funds in retirement portfolios can be an increasingly attractive strategy for investors," said Chip Castille, Managing Director and head of BlackRock's U.S. and Canada Defined Contribution Group. "Target date products each offer a diversified, cost-effective way to help investors meet their investment needs. They also help mitigate common investor pitfalls such as poor asset allocation and failure to make portfolio changes over time, two actions that can reduce portfolio returns." The two funds are benchmarked to the S&P Target Date 2045/2050 indices, which are designed to provide exposure to a diversified array of asset classes. The indices are rebalanced monthly, while on a yearly basis S&P conducts a survey of target date funds and derives an allocation strategy for the indices. S&P uses iShares ETFs to track each asset class. 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 $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: iShares is the global product leader in exchange traded funds 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 shares 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 and high net worth individuals.
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, which may be obtained by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) or by visiting www.iShares.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Asset allocation models and diversification do not promise any level of performance or guarantee against loss of principal. Investment in the Funds is subject to the risks of the underlying funds. Each fund has a number (a target date) at the end of the name that designates an approximate year when an investor plans to start withdrawing their money. The asset allocation of the Fund will become progressively more conservative as the specified target date approaches. An investment in the Funds is not guaranteed, and an investor may experience losses, including near, at or after the target date. Transactions in shares of the iShares Funds will result in brokerage commissions and will generate tax consequences. iShares Funds are obliged to distribute portfolio gains to shareholders. Shares of the iShares Funds may be sold throughout the day on the exchange through any brokerage account. However, shares may only be redeemed directly from a Fund by Authorized Participants, in very large creation/redemption units. The iShares Funds ("Funds") are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. ("SEI"). BlackRock Fund Advisors ("BFA") serves as the investment advisor to the Funds. BlackRock Fund Distribution Company ("BFDC") assists in the marketing of the Funds. BFA and BFDC are affiliates of BlackRock, Inc., none of which is affiliated with SEI. S&P® and Standard & Poor's® are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC (a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor', nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in iShares Funds. Neither SEI, nor BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., nor any of their affiliates, are affiliated with the companies listed above. ©2011 BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. All rights reserved. iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. * Not FDIC Insured * No Bank Guarantee * May Lose Value |
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