2023年12月1日
 
(as 2024年3月1日修訂）
 
 
2023年招股說明書
iShares Trust
• IShares MSCI美國動能因子ETF | MTUM | Cboe BZX

  
 
 
美國證券交易委員會（“美國證券交易委員會”）尚未批准或不批准 這些證券或在本招股說明書充分性的情況下轉讓。任何代表 相反就是刑事犯罪。
 
目錄
“MSCI美國動量指數” 和 “MSCI美國動量SR變體指數” 是MSCI Inc.的服務標誌 並已獲得貝萊德基金顧問公司或其附屬公司的許可用於某些目的。iShares® 和 貝萊德® 是貝萊德基金顧問公司及其附屬公司的註冊商標。基金不是 由MSCI Inc.贊助、認可、出售或推廣，MSCI Inc.也沒有就以下事項做出任何陳述 投資該基金的可行性。
i
[本頁故意留空]
iShares® MSCI美國
MOMENTUM FACTOR ETF
報價：MTUM證券交易所：Cboe BZX
投資目標
iShares MSCI美國動量因子ETF（ “基金”）尋求追蹤 由美國大中型股組成的指數的投資結果 表現出相對較高的價格勢頭。
費用及開支
下表描述瞭如果您購買、持有將產生的費用和開支 並出售基金股份。iShares Trust之間的投資顧問協議 (“托拉斯”）和貝萊德基金顧問公司（“BFA”）（ “投資諮詢 協議”）規定BFA將支付基金的所有運營費用，但：（i） 管理費，（ii）利息費用，（iii）稅款，（iv）與 關於投資組合證券的收購和處置以及執行 投資組合交易，包括經紀佣金，（v）分銷費或 費用，以及（vi）訴訟費用和任何非常費用。
您可以支付其他費用，例如經紀佣金和其他費用 金融中介機構，未反映在表格和示例中 下面。
 
年度基金營運開支
（您每年作爲
您投資價值的百分比）1
管理
費
分佈
和服務
(120億.1）費用
其他
費用2
年度總
基金
操作
費用
0.15%
沒有一
0.00%
0.15%
1
BFA根據投資諮詢協議支付的運營費用不包括 獲得的基金費用和支出（如果有的話）。
2
金額四捨五入至0.00%。
舉例說明。此示例旨在幫助您比較擁有股票的成本 該基金與投資其他基金的成本。該示例假設您 在指定的時間段內向基金投資10，000美元，然後出售您的所有資產 這些時期結束時的股票。該示例還假設您的投資 每年有5%的回報率，並且基金的運營費用保持不變。 儘管您的實際成本可能更高或更低，但根據這些假設，您的 費用是：
 
1年
3年
5年
10年
$15
$48
$85
$192
S-1
投資組合週轉率。 基金可以支付 交易成本，例如佣金， 當它買賣證券時（或 “翻身” 其投資組合）。更高 投資組合週轉率可能表明 交易成本更高並可能導致 當基金股票被 持有在應稅帳戶中。這些成本， 這些沒有反映在年度 基金運營費用或在 例如，影響基金的 性能在最近一 本財年，基金的投資組合成交額 率爲 111佔平均值的% 它的投資組合。
主要投資 策略
該基金尋求跟蹤投資 MSCI USA Momentum SR的結果 變體指數（ “標的指數”), 其中包括展示的股票 相對較高的動能 比傳統的特點 市值加權母公司 指數，MSCI美國指數（ “父級指數”），由MSCI Inc.確定（ “索引提供程序”或“MSCI明晟”).母 指數包括美國大市值和中型市值 股票，定義如下 MSCI。基礎指數是設計的 衡量一個人的表現 股權動量策略 強調高價股 勢頭，同時保持 相當高的交易流動性， 投資能力和適度 指數成交量，各由以下因素決定 指數提供商。
MSCI使用算法來確定 基礎指數中的組成部分 根據選民數量 母指數。風險調整價格 動量指標，MSCI定義爲 超過無風險利率的超額回報 (i.e., 3個月國庫券利率）
除以年化標準 週迴報率與 過去三年，按每個計算 母指數中的證券超過6-和 12-月時間段。6個月和12個月 風險調整後的價格勢頭 然後將計算標準化 +/-3標準差和 轉化爲平均動量 得分MSCI精選125只證券 積極勢頭最高 包含在基礎中的分數 指數.每個底層的重量 指數成分股由以下因素確定 增強安全勢頭 按市值權重評分 在母指數中。此外，a 應用封頂方法， 每個發行人的上限爲5% 復溶時的重量。該指數 提供商還考慮到某些 多元化規則。復溶時，如果 股票總重量 佔重量超過4.5%的是 大於基礎的22.5% 指數權重，基礎指數是 重新平衡，使總量 股票權重大於4.5% 不超過基礎的22.5% 指數權重。重建之間 日期，如果股票總重量 代表超過5%重量的是 超過基礎的25% 指數權重，基礎指數是 重新平衡，使總量 股票權重大於4.5% 不超過基礎的22.5% 指數權重。
基礎指數重新構建 季刊確定成分 每個季度的變化 重組，指數提供商 應用迭代算法來限制 每次復溶的單向週轉率
S-2
30%。截至2023年11月30日， 標的有125份證券 指數.
截至2023年11月30日，一個重大的 基礎指數的一部分是 以公司證券爲代表 在技術、工業和 非必需消費品行業或 板塊的部件 基礎指數可能會發生變化 隨着時間
BFA使用索引方法嘗試 實現基金投資 objective.與許多投資不同 公司，基金不會試圖 “節拍” 它跟蹤而不跟蹤的索引 尋求臨時防禦陣地 當市場下跌或出現時 被高估了。
索引可能會消除以下機會 該基金的表現將大幅優於 基礎指數，但也可能 減少一些活躍的風險 管理，例如安全性差 選擇.索引旨在實現 更低的成本和更好的稅後 通過保持投資組合來提高績效 與積極相比，營業額較低 管理投資公司。
BFA使用代表性抽樣 管理基金的索引策略。 “代表性取樣”是一種涉及投資的索引策略 在代表性的證券樣本中 共同擁有投資 配置文件類似於適用的 基礎指數。證券 入選者預計將擁有，在 總量、投資特徵 （根據市場等因素 資本化和行業權重）， 基本特徵（例如 回報變異性和收益率）和流動性 措施類似於 適用的基礎指數。基金
可以或不可以持有所有證券 在基礎指數中。
基金一般至少會投資 其80%的資產屬於該組件 其基礎指數和 具有經濟效益的投資 本質上 與組成證券相同 其基礎指數並可能進行投資 其資產的20%用於某些期貨， 期權和掉期合同、現金和 現金等值物，包括股份 BFA建議的貨幣市場基金或 其附屬公司以及證券不 包括在基礎指數中，但 BFA認爲這將有助於基金組織 跟蹤基礎指數。現金及 相關現金等值投資 具有衍生品頭寸的將被處理 作爲該職位的一部分 計算百分比 包含在基礎中的投資 指數.該基金尋求追蹤 標的投資結果 扣除費用和開支前的指數 基金。
本基金可借出證券 最多代表價值的三分之一 基金總資產（包括 收到的任何抵押品的價值）。
基礎指數和母指數 由MSCI贊助，MSCI 是 獨立於基金和BFA。的 指數提供商確定 組成和相對權重 底層證券 指數 和母指數併發布 有關市場價值的信息 標的指數 和家長 索引。
行業集中政策。 的 基金將集中投資 (即，持有其總數的25%或以上 資產）在特定行業或集團 行業大致相同
S-3
基礎指數的程度 集中對於本 限制，美國證券 政府（包括其機構和 工具）和回購 由美國擔保的協議 政府證券不是 被認爲是由成員發佈的 任何行業。
主要風險總結
與任何投資一樣，您可能會失去對該基金的全部或部分投資，並且該基金的表現可能會落後於其他投資。 基金 存在一定的風險，包括 以下指出的主要風險，任何 這可能會對基金的 每股淨資產值（“NAV”), 交易價格、收益率、總回報和 有能力實現其投資目標。 以下列出了某些關鍵風險的優先順序 (with其他按字母順序排列 順序），但相對重要性 任何風險都難以預測，並且可能 隨着時間的推移而改變。您應該查看 仔細檢查每個風險因素。
投資美國的風險. 某些 美國經濟的變化，例如 當美國經濟疲軟或 當金融市場下滑時，可能 對證券產生不利影響 基金有風險敞口的。
勢頭 證券風險. 股票 此前表現出高 動量特徵可能不會 經歷積極的勢頭或可能 經歷比 整個市場。無論是基金還是 BFA可以保證該指數 提供商的模型將導致基金 實現其投資目標。
股票證券風險.權益證券可能會發生變化 價值，而且他們的價值可能更多
比其他資產波動 班相關指數是 由普通股組成， 一般主題 他們的持有者更多 比優先股和債務的風險 證券因爲常見 股東債權處於次要地位 對於優先股持有者來說 和破產時的債務證券 發行人的。
市場風險. 基金可能會虧損 由於短期而短期的錢 市場走勢及以上 在更長的時間內更長的時間 市場低迷。當地、區域或 全球事件，例如戰爭、 恐怖主義、公共衛生問題、 經濟衰退、前景或發生 主權違約或其他金融 危機或其他事件可能會產生 對基金產生重大影響 以及它的投資並可能導致 增加保費或折扣 基金資產淨值。
指數相關風險。 沒有保證基金的投資 結果將具有高度的 與底層的相關性 指數或基金將實現其 投資目標。市場 中斷 或高波動性，其他 異常的市場情況和 監管限制可能會產生 對基金的能力產生不利影響 將其暴露調整到所需的 級別以跟蹤底層 指數，並可能導致基金 暫時投資低於要求 其水平（正常情況下） 組成證券中的資產 基礎指數，特別是在 基礎指數的時期 重新平衡。指數數據錯誤，指數 計算或構造 基礎指數符合其 方法論可能會不時出現
S-4
時間，可能無法確定， 由指數提供商更正 一段時間或根本，這可能有 對基金及其組織的不利影響 股東不尋常的市場 條件或其他不可預見的 環境（例如自然 災難、政治動盪或戰爭）可能 影響指數提供商或第三方 數據提供者，並可能導致 指數提供商推遲預定 重新平衡。這可能導致 基礎指數與正常情況不同 或預期的成分。
資產類別風險。 證券等 基礎指數或 基金投資組合可能表現不佳 與一般財務相比 市場、特定金融市場或 其他資產類別。
授權參與者集中度 冒險。 僅限授權參與者（作爲 中定義 創作和 贖回 本招股說明書部分 (“招股說明書”））可能從事 創建或贖回交易 直接與基金合作，而不是 這些授權參與者是 有義務參與創造和/或 贖回交易。該基金 少數機構 可以作爲授權參與者 代理基礎（即， 代表其他 市場參與者）。的程度 授權參與者退出 業務或無法繼續進行 創建或贖回訂單 尊重基金而不是其他 授權參與者能夠步入 向前創建或贖回、基金 股票可能更有可能以A價交易 相對於資產淨值的溢價或折扣以及 可能面臨交易暫停或退市。
集中風險。 該基金可能是 容易受到損失風險增加的影響，
包括因不良事件造成的損失 這對基金的投資影響更大 比整個市場，對 基金投資的程度 集中在證券和/或 特定發行人的其他資產或 發行人、國家、國家組、 地區、市場、行業、群體 行業、部門、細分市場或 資產類別。
網絡安全風險. 故障或 電子系統的破壞 該基金、該基金的顧問、分銷商、 指數提供商和其他服務 提供商、做市商、授權 參與者或證券發行人 該基金投資的項目具有 造成負面干擾的能力 影響基金的業務運營 和/或可能導致財務損失 給基金及其股東帶來損失。 在基金已開展業務的同時 連續性計劃和風險管理 尋求解決系統的系統 違規或失敗，存在固有的 此類計劃和系統的侷限性。 此外，基金無法控制 網絡安全計劃和系統 基金的指數提供商和其他 服務提供商、做市商、 授權參與者或發行人 基金投資的證券。
醫療保健行業風險. 的 公司的盈利能力 醫療保健行業可能受到影響 政府法規和 政府醫療保健計劃， 成本的增加或減少 醫療產品和服務，以及 更加重視門診 服務、醫療產品需求 以及服務和產品責任 索賠等因素。許多 醫療保健公司嚴重 依賴於專利保護，並且 公司專利到期
S-5
可能會對該公司的 盈利醫療保健公司 受制於競爭力量， 導致價格折扣，並且可能 資本薄弱且容易受到 產品報廢。
高投資組合週轉風險。高投資組合週轉率（由 基金均值高於100% 每年）可能會導致增加 基金的交易成本，包括 經紀佣金、經銷商加價 和其他交易成本 出售證券和 對其他證券的再投資。 市場狀況可能會引發波動 基礎資產的臨時再平衡 指數，基金預期走高 在這種情況下的投資組合週轉率。
指數化投資風險. 基金 沒有積極管理，BFA一般 不試圖採取防禦措施 任何市場條件下的頭寸， 包括下跌的市場。
傳染病風險。 普遍 傳染病的爆發，例如 由於COVID-19大流行，可能會導致 在旅行限制、擾亂 醫療保健服務，長期 隔離、取消、供應鏈 中斷、企業關閉、降低 消費者需求、裁員、評級 降級、違約和其他 重要的經濟、社會和政治 影響。市場可能會經歷 臨時關閉，極端波動， 嚴重損失、流動性減少和 交易成本增加。此類事件 可能對基金及其附屬機構產生不利影響 投資並可能影響基金的 有能力購買或出售證券或 導致跟蹤誤差增加， 增加保費或折扣 基金資產淨值。儘管開發了 疫苗、COVID-19的持續時間
大流行及其影響不能 可以肯定地預測。
發行人風險. 的性能 基金取決於業績 基金持有的個人證券 有暴露。財務變化 發行人的條件或信用評級 這些證券可能會導致 證券下跌。
大盤股公司面臨風險。 大市值公司可能是 能力不如較小的資本 公司適應不斷變化的市場 條件大市值 公司可能會更加成熟， 增長潛力更加有限 與較小的資本相比 企業不同市場期間 週期、大市值的表現 公司已經落後於 更廣泛的整體表現 證券市場。
管理風險. 由於基金不會 它完全複製了基礎指數 受BFA的風險 投資策略可能不會產生 預期的結果。
市場交易風險. 基金面臨 大量的市場交易風險， 包括潛在缺乏活躍的 基金份額市場，損失來自 二級市場交易，期間 高波動性和中斷 創建/贖回過程。 中任一 這些因素，在其他人中， 可能導致基金股份 高級交易或 對導航的折扣.
操作風險. 基金暴露在外 因 多種因素，包括但不 僅限於人爲錯誤、處理和 溝通錯誤、錯誤 基金服務提供商、交易對手 或其他第三方，失敗或
S-6
流程和技術不足 或系統故障。基金和BFA 尋求降低這些運營風險 通過控制和程序。 然而，這些措施並不 解決每一種可能的風險 不足以解決重大問題 運營風險。
證券貸款風險。 本基金可 從事證券借貸。證券 貸款涉及基金的風險 可能會因爲借款人而賠錢 借出證券的比例未能歸還 及時或在 所有.該基金還可能賠錢 價值下降的事件 爲借出證券提供的抵押品 或任何價值下降 用現金抵押品進行的投資。 這些事件還可能引發不良反應 對基金的稅收後果。
技術部門風險.技術公司，包括信息 科技公司， 可以具有 產品線、市場、金融有限 資源或人員。技術 公司通常面臨着激烈的 競爭和潛在的快速 產品報廢。他們也是 嚴重依賴智力 財產權並可能不利 受損失或減損的影響 這些權利。公司 科技板塊可能面臨增加 政府和監管機構的審查以及 可能會受到政府的反對 或監管行動。
追蹤誤差風險. 該基金可能是 受制於“跟蹤誤差，” 這是 基金業績分歧 與基礎指數的關係。 可能會出現跟蹤錯誤，因爲 證券和 基金持有的其他工具 投資組合和包含在 基礎指數、定價差異、 基金產生的交易成本， 該基金持有的未投資現金， 應計時間差異或 股息或利息的估值 基金收到或分配 支付給基金股東的 保持傳遞的要求 稅務處理、投資組合交易 爲了最大限度地減少分佈而進行 股東的資本收益， 接受定製籃子、變更 相對於基礎指數或成本 基金遵守各種新的 或現有的監管要求， 除其他原因外。這種風險可能是 在增加期間增加 市場波動或其他異常 市場情況跟蹤誤差也 可能因爲基金產生費用而導致 和費用，而底層 指數不。 BFA期望如此 基金可能會經歷 比實際更高的跟蹤誤差 典型類似指數 交易所交易基金（“ETF”).
S-7
性能信息
下面的條形圖和表格顯示了基金在日曆上的表現 按年計算，並通過顯示投資基金的風險提供一些指示 基金1年和5年以及成立以來的平均年回報率如何比較 與基礎指數。 兩者都假設所有股息和分配都已 再投資於該基金。 過去的表現（稅前和稅後）不一定 表明基金未來的表現。
歷年回報1 
 
1
基金今年迄今回報 截至 2023年9月30日 是-3.08%.
這個最好的 上述期間的日曆季度回報爲 23.55% 2020年第二季度; 最糟糕 是-18.70% 2022年第二季度.
可能會獲得更新的業績信息，包括基金當前的資產淨值 請訪問我們的網站 Www.iShares.com 或致電 1-800-iShares（1-800-474-2737） (toll免費）.
S-8
平均年度總回報
(for截至2022年12月31日的期間） 
 
一年
五年
自成立以來
（開始日期： 4/16/2013)
 
 
 
稅前退貨
-18.23%
8.56%
12.70%
分配稅後退貨1
-18.58%
8.24%
12.36%
基金分銷和銷售稅後回報
股份1
-10.55%
6.72%
10.54%
MSCI美國動量SR變體指數2 （指數
回報不反映費用扣除，
費用或稅款）
-18.10%
8.78%
12.92%
1
上表中的稅後申報表是使用歷史最高個人計算的 美國聯邦邊際所得稅率並不反映州或地方稅的影響。 實際稅後回報取決於投資者的納稅情況，並且可能與投資者的納稅情況不同 所顯示的，以及所顯示的稅後申報表與免稅投資者或投資者無關 通過401（k）計劃或個人等遞延稅安排持有股份的人 退休帳戶（“IRAs”). 基金分配和銷售稅後基金回報 股票的計算假設投資者擁有足夠的資本收益 其他投資的特徵，以抵消出售基金股份的任何資本損失。 因此，基金份額的分配和銷售稅後回報可能超過 稅前基金回報和/或分配稅後回報。
2
截至2020年11月22日的指數回報反映了MSCI美國動量指數的表現。自2020年11月23日開始的指數回報反映了MSCI USA Momentum SR變體指數的表現，該指數自2020年11月23日生效，取代MSCI USA Momentum指數成爲基金的基礎指數。
S-9
管理
投資顧問。貝萊德基金顧問。
投資組合經理。徐珍妮，格雷格·薩維奇和保羅·懷特黑德(The“投資組合經理”)主要是對日常事務負責基金的管理。每個投資組合經理管理一個投資組合管理團隊。徐女士和李先生。薩維奇曾擔任過自2013年以來一直擔任該基金。懷特黑德先生 擔任基金的投資組合經理從2022年開始。
基金買賣 股份
該基金是ETF。個人股票 本基金只能在 通過經紀交易商進入二級市場。 由於ETF股票的交易價格爲 市場價格而不是資產淨值， 股票的交易價格可能高於 資產淨值（溢價）或低於資產淨值（a 折扣）。投資者可能會產生成本 歸因於兩者之間的差異 買家願意的最高價格 支付購買基金股份的費用（出價） 以及賣家願意的最低價格 接受基金股份（詢問） 當購買或出售 二級市場（ “買賣 展開”).
稅務信息
本基金打算進行分配 可能像普通一樣向您徵稅 收入或資本利得，除非您是 通過遞延稅投資 諸如401（k）計劃或 IRA，在這種情況下，您的分配 一般提取時會繳稅。
向經紀商付款 和其他金融 中介機構
如果您購買基金股份 通過經紀交易商或其他 金融中介（例如銀行）、 BFA或其他相關公司可能 向中介支付營銷費用 活動和演示，教育性 培訓計劃、會議、 技術平台開發 和報告系統或其他服務 與銷售或促銷有關 基金。這些付款可能會創建一個通過影響經紀-交易商或其他中介機構和您的銷售人員向您推薦而不是另一項投資。詢問您的銷售人員或訪問您的財務中介網站了解更多信息信息。
S-10
更多有關基金的資料
本招股說明書載有有關投資基金的重要資料。請在做出任何投資決定之前，請仔細閱讀本招股說明書。其他內容有關該基金的信息，請訪問www.iShares.com。
BFA是該基金的投資顧問。該基金的股份在網上掛牌交易Cboe BZX Exchange，Inc. (“Cboe BZX”)。基金股份的市價可與基金組織最新的資產淨值有所不同。
ETF是一種像其他公開交易證券一樣進行交易的基金。該基金旨在跟蹤索引。與指數共同基金的份額類似，基金的每一份份額表示對基礎證券和其他投資組合的所有權權益用來跟蹤市場指數的工具。與共同基金的股票不同，共同基金可由所有股東按以下價格從發行基金購買及贖回在資產淨值方面，基金的股份可直接從基金購買或贖回，地址爲資產淨值僅由授權參與者提供，且僅限於指定數量的集合股份(“創作單位”)。與共同基金的股份不同，基金的股份是在全國證券交易所上市，在二級市場交易價格一整天都在變化。
該基金投資於證券市場的一個特定部分，並尋求跟蹤不能代表市場的證券指數的表現完整的。該基金旨在作爲更廣泛的資產配置戰略的一部分。因此，對基金的投資不應構成完全投資程序。
指數是基於一組金融工具進行的財務計算，它是基金不是一種投資產品，而是一種實際的投資組合。這個基金和標的指數的表現可能因若干原因而有所不同，包括交易成本、非美國貨幣估值、資產估值、企業行動(如合併和剝離)、時間差異和基金的投資組合和標的指數，因基金使用代表性抽樣或不受法律限制(如多樣化要求)適用於基金，但不適用於標的指數。時不時地時間，指數提供商可能會對方法進行更改或進行其他調整添加到基礎指數。除非博鰲亞洲論壇另有決定，否則任何此類變更或調整將反映在基礎指數表現的計算中在該等變更或調整生效日期後的前瞻基礎。因此，的生效日期之前的期間顯示的基礎指數績效此類變化或調整一般不會重新計算或重述以反映這種變化或調整。
由於基金採用具有代表性的抽樣索引戰略，因此可以預期。具有比使用複製索引策略更大的跟蹤誤差。“複製”是一種指數化策略，一隻基金投資於幾乎所有證券在其標的指數中的比例與基礎指數。
1
本基金的投資不是銀行存款，也沒有受保險或擔保 聯邦存款保險公司或任何其他政府機構、BFA或 其任何附屬公司。
本基金的投資目標和基礎指數可能會發生變化 股東批准。
對主要風險的再探討
基金面臨各種風險，包括以下所述的主要風險、任何這可能對基金的資產淨值、交易價格、收益率、總回報和能力產生不利影響以達到其投資目標。您可能會損失全部或部分在基金，基金的表現可能會遜於其他投資。以下風險的順序這些因素並不表示任何特定風險因素的重要性。該基金每天在www.iShares.com上披露其投資組合持有量。
資產類別風險。證券 以及基礎指數或 與其他證券或指數相比，基金的投資組合可能表現不佳， 跟蹤其他國家、國家集團、地區、行業、行業集團， 市場、細分市場、資產類別或部門。各種類型的證券， 貨幣和指數可能會經歷表現優異的週期， 與一般金融市場相比，表現不佳取決於 許多因素包括通貨膨脹、利率、生產力、 全球對當地產品或資源的需求以及監管和政府 對照這可能導致基金的表現輸於其他投資工具， 投資不同的資產類別。
授權參與者集中風險。只有授權參與者才能直接與基金進行創設或贖回交易，且沒有這些授權參與者有義務參與創作和/或贖回交易記錄。該基金只有有限數量的機構可以按照授權行事。以機構爲單位的參與者(即，代表其他市場參與者)。發送到授權參與者退出業務或無法繼續進行的程度關於基金的設立或贖回令，但沒有其他經授權的參與者可以自行創建或贖回創建單位、基金份額可能更有可能以高於或低於資產淨值的價格交易，並可能面臨交易停止或退市。
集中風險。基金可能容易遭受更大的損失風險，包括影響基金投資的不利事件造成的損失整個市場，只要基金的投資集中在一個或多個特定發行人、國家、集團的證券和/或其他資產國家、地區、市場、行業、行業組、項目類型、項目組 類型、行業、市場細分或資產類別。基金可能會更不利 受這些證券和/或其他資產表現不佳的影響，可能會 經歷價格波動加劇，可能更容易受到不利影響 影響這些證券的經濟、市場、政治或監管事件和/或 不集中投資的基金以外的其他資產。
2
網絡安全風險。該基金： 授權參與者、服務提供商和相關上市交易所易受運營、信息安全和相關 “計算機的”風險既有直接的，也有通過服務提供商的。相似類型的基金所投資證券的發行人也面臨網絡安全風險，這可能會給此類發行人帶來實質性的不利後果，並可能導致基金對這類發行人的投資將失去價值。一般而言，網絡事件可能會由蓄意攻擊或非故意事件造成的。網絡事件包括，但不限於，未經授權訪問數字系統(例如：通過 “黑客攻擊” 或惡意軟件編碼)目的是挪用資產或敏感信息、損壞數據或導致操作中斷。網絡攻擊還可能以不需要獲得未經授權的訪問的方式執行，例如導致對網站的拒絕服務攻擊(即，努力做好網絡服務預期用戶不可用）。地緣政治緊張局勢可能會擴大規模， 蓄意攻擊的複雜性，特別是來自民族國家或來自 有民族國家支持的實體。
基金的顧問、分銷商的系統出現網絡安全故障或遭到破壞和其他服務提供商(包括但不限於指數和基準提供者、基金會計師、託管人、轉讓代理和管理人)、市場基金投資的證券的莊家、授權參與者或發行人有能力造成中斷並潛在地影響業務運營造成：財務損失，干擾基金計算其資產淨值的能力，披露機密交易資料、妨礙交易、呈交錯誤的交易或錯誤的創建或贖回令，基金無力或其服務提供商進行交易、侵犯適用隱私和其他法律、監管罰款、處罰、名譽損害、補償或其他補償成本或額外的合規成本。此外，網絡攻擊可能提供基金資產和交易記錄、基金份額的股東所有權、以及基金運作所必需的其他數據無法獲取、不準確或不完整。基金可能發生巨額費用，以解決或防止網絡事件。雖然基金已在 存在此類網絡事件的事件和預防此類網絡事件的風險管理系統 此類計劃和系統的固有侷限性，包括某些可能性 風險尚未確定，預防和補救工作不會 成功，或者網絡攻擊將無法被發現。此外，基金組織不能 控制服務提供商實施的網絡安全計劃和系統 基金、基金投資的發行人、指數提供商、做市商或 授權參與者。該基金及其股東可能會受到負面影響， 一個結果。
股權證券風險。該基金投資於股權證券，這些證券受可能歸因於市場對特定發行人或到影響所有發行人的普遍股市波動。股權投資證券可能比其他資產類別的投資波動性更大。的 標的指數由普通股組成，普通股一般以 其持有者比優先股和債務證券風險更大，因爲股東的債權排在優先股和優先債持有人的債權之後。發行人破產時的有價證券。
3
醫療保健行業的風險。醫療保健行業公司的盈利能力可能受到以下因素的不利影響：廣泛的政府法規，限制政府報銷醫療費用，正在上升醫療產品和服務的成本、定價壓力、對門診服務，醫療產品和服務需求的變化，a產品數量有限、行業創新、技術變化等市場動態。許多醫療保健公司嚴重依賴專利保護。一家公司的專利到期可能對該公司的盈利能力。許多醫療保健公司受到廣泛的訴訟，原因是產品責任和類似索賠。醫療保健公司受到競爭對手的影響可能使提價變得困難，實際上可能導致價格上漲的力量打折。《2022年美國通脹削減法案》允許就代表醫療保險接受者的處方藥價格，這可能會導致處方藥價格。這可能會降低一些醫療保健公司的整體盈利能力。醫療保健行業的許多新產品可能需要獲得監管部門的批准。獲得這種批准的過程可能是漫長而昂貴的，而這種努力最終可能不會成功。醫療保健行業的公司可能會很少大寫的，可能容易被產品淘汰。此外，還有一些美國已經考慮了有關醫療保健的立法提案。近幾年來，美國國會一直在努力。目前尚不清楚最終將通過哪些提案，如果有的話，以及它們可能對醫療保健行業的公司產生什麼影響。
高投資組合週轉風險。投資組合週轉率高(基金認爲平均每年高於100%)可能會導致基金，包括經紀佣金、交易商加價和其他交易成本證券的出售和對其他證券的再投資。動盪的市場情況可能引發標的指數和基金的臨時再平衡預計在這種情況下，投資組合的週轉率會更高。這些效果高於正常的投資組合週轉可能會對基金業績造成不利影響。
指數化投資風險。基金不是積極管理的，可能會受到與標的指數相關的細分市場普遍下滑。該基金進行投資包括在標的指數中或代表標的指數的證券，無論其投資價值。博鰲亞洲論壇一般不會試圖將基金的資產投資於在任何市場條件下的防禦性頭寸，包括下跌的市場。
指數相關風險。基金尋求實現的回報大體相當於未扣除費用和費用的標的指數的價格和收益表現爲由索引提供程序發佈。市場中斷或高波動性，其他不尋常的情況市場環境和監管限制可能會對基金將其風險敞口調整到所需水平的能力，以跟蹤標的指數，並可能導致基金暫時投資低於所需的(在正常情況下)其在該公司組成證券中的資產水平標的指數，特別是在標的指數重新平衡期間。不能保證索引提供商或可能代表其行事的任何代理將準確地編譯基礎指數，或者基礎指數將是準確地確定、合成或計算的。雖然索引提供程序提供了對基礎指數的設計目的的描述，以及指數
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提供商或其代理提供任何擔保或承擔與基礎指數或其相關數據的質量、準確性或完整性，以及不保證基礎索引將與索引提供程序的方法論。本招股說明書所述博鰲亞洲論壇的任務是管理該基金。與指數提供商向BFA提供的基礎指數保持一致。博鰲亞洲論壇做到了不對索引提供商或任何代理的錯誤。在數據的質量、準確性和完整性方面的錯誤編譯基礎索引可能會不時發生，並且可能無法識別並由索引提供程序更正一段時間或全部更正，尤其是在指數不太常被基金或基金經理用作基準。這樣的錯誤可能對基金及其股東產生負面或正面影響。例如，在如果標的指數包含不正確的組成部分，基金將對這些成分有市場敞口，並將對標的指數的其他成分。股東應該明白，任何收益來自指數提供商的錯誤將由基金及其股東保留，任何損失或因指數提供程序錯誤而產生的費用將由基金及其股東們。
不尋常的市場狀況或其他不可預見的情況(如自然情況災難、政治動盪或戰爭)可能會影響指數提供商或第三方數據提供程序，並可能導致指數提供程序將計劃的重新平衡推遲到基礎指數。這可能會導致基礎指數與其正常或預期的組成。推遲預定的再平衡可能意味着標的指數的成分，否則將在再平衡時被移除由於市值、發行人信用評級或其他原因的變化，可能保持不變，導致基礎指數的表現和成分與那些在正常情況下預期的。除了預定的再平衡外，該指數提供商或其代理人可以對基礎進行額外的臨時再平衡 由於達到一定的權重限制、異常的市場狀況或 企業事件，或者例如，糾正指數選擇中的錯誤 選民。市場波動期間也可能觸發臨時再平衡 條件當基礎指數重新平衡且基金反過來重新平衡時 其投資組合試圖增加基金投資組合與 基礎指數、由此產生的任何交易成本和市場風險 投資組合再平衡將由基金及其股東直接承擔。因此， 指數提供商或其代理人執行的錯誤和額外臨時再平衡 基礎指數可能會增加成本和跟蹤錯誤風險 基金。
傳染病風險。 傳染病的廣泛爆發，如傳染性疾病新冠肺炎大流行，可能會對許多國家的經濟和並可能以下列方式影響個人發行人和資本市場是不可預見的。
傳染病暴發可能導致旅行限制，關閉國際邊境，醫療服務中斷，長時間隔離，取消，供應鏈中斷，消費者需求下降，暫時和永久關閉
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企業、裁員、違約和其他重大的經濟、社會和政治問題影響，以及普遍的關切和不確定性。
傳染病的爆發可能會導致極端的波動、嚴重的損失、信貸發行人惡化和市場中斷，這可能會對基金及其投資，包括損害任何套期保值活動。
某些本地市場可能會關閉。市場的任何暫停交易將對基金及其投資產生影響，並將影響基金在這類市場買賣證券的能力。 市場或經濟中斷可能導致跟蹤誤差增加和保費增加或基金資產淨值的折扣。此外，疫情可能會損害這些行動。基金的服務提供者，包括BFA，可能對基金產生不利影響。
世界各地的政府和準政府當局和監管者可能通過各種不同的方式應對疫情和任何由此造成的經濟中斷財政和貨幣政策變化，包括向企業直接注資和其他發行人，新的貨幣政策工具，以及利率的變化。一次逆轉這些政策的無效，或這些政策的無效，可能會增加市場這可能會對基金的投資產生不利影響。
暴發可能加劇在#年存在的其他政治、社會和經濟風險。可能對基金及其投資產生不利影響的某些國家或全球並可能導致基金資產淨值的溢價或折扣增加。
儘管疫苗在開發，但新冠肺炎大流行的持續時間和它的影響不能確切地預測。
發行人風險。基金的表現取決於個人的表現基金有敞口的證券。這些證券的任何發行人都可以履行表現不佳，導致其證券價值下降。可能會導致性能不佳由於糟糕的管理決策、競爭壓力、技術變化，專利保護到期、供應中斷、勞動力問題或短缺，公司重組、欺詐性披露、發行人信用惡化或其他因素。發行人可在遇到困難時或自行決定減少或取消股息，這也可能導致其股價下跌。一個發行人還可能面臨與以下國家、州和地區相關的風險發行人居住、投資、銷售產品或以其他方式進行經營的地方。
大盤股公司面臨風險。大盤股公司可能會少一些能夠比小市值公司更能適應不斷變化的市場條件。大市值公司可能會更成熟，受到更多限制與市值較小的公司相比，增長潛力更大。在不同的在市場週期中，大盤股的表現落後於大盤的整體表現。
管理風險。因爲BFA使用代表性的採樣索引策略，基金將不會完全複製標的指數，並可能持有以下證券包括在基礎指數中。因此，該基金面臨博鰲亞洲論壇的風險投資戰略，該戰略的實施取決於若干限制，可能不會產生預期的結果。
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市場風險。由於短期市場，基金可能在短期內虧損在更長時間的市場低迷期間，在更長的時間內波動和更長的時間。這個金融工具或其他資產的價值可能會因總體變化而下降與市場狀況、經濟趨勢或事件無關的市場狀況、經濟趨勢或事件特定票據或資產，或影響一個或多個發行人的因素，交易對手、交易所、國家、地區、市場、行業、部門或資產類(如果適用)。局部、地區或全球事件，如戰爭、恐怖主義行爲、公共衛生問題、經濟衰退、主權違約的前景或發生或其他金融危機或其他事件可能對基金產生重大影響 和這可能會導致基金資產淨值的溢價或折扣增加。市場和經濟狀況的變化通常不會對所有類型的工具和資產。
市場交易風險。
缺乏活躍的市場。雖然基金的股份在一間或多間交易所掛牌交易更多的證券交易所，不能保證一個活躍的交易市場此類股票將由做市商或授權機構開發或維持與會者。
二次上市的風險。該基金的股票可以在美國和非美國上市或交易。除美國證券交易所外的其他證券交易所，該基金的主要保持上市，否則可能會向非美國投資者提供通過類似存託憑證的基金或結構性投資工具。那裏不能保證基金的股票將繼續在任何此類股票上交易或在任何市場，或基金的股票將繼續符合在任何交易所或任何市場上市或交易的要求。基金份額在某些市場的交易可能不像在其他市場那麼活躍，投資者受到對市場的執行和結算風險和市場標準或者他們的經紀人指導他們的交易進行執行。某些信息可用於在美國正常市場期間在美國證券交易所交易基金股票的投資者在其他市場交易的投資者可能無法獲得交易時間，這可能會導致在二級市場，這類市場的價格效率較低。
二級市場交易風險。基金的股份可在二級市場買賣在基金不接受購買或贖回股票的命令時。在這樣的情況下倍，股票可能在二級市場交易，溢價更高，或比基金接受購買和購買時可能經歷的折扣贖回令。
證券交易所可能會暫停基金股票的二級市場交易，原因是市場狀況或其他原因。此外，基金份額的交易證券交易所或任何市場可能因下列原因而被停牌超乎尋常的市場波動性“斷路器”關於股票的規則交易所或市場。
基金的股份，類似於在證券交易所上市的其他發行人的股份，可以被賣空，因此面臨波動性和價格上升的風險與賣空相關的減少。此外，衍生品的交易活動
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基於基金的產品可能會導致交易量和波動性增加基金股票的二級市場。
該基金的股票可能以資產淨值以外的價格交易。該基金的股票在以下市場交易以基金組織最新資產淨值、高於或低於基金資產淨值的價格進行股票交易。的資產淨值基金在每個營業日結束時計算，並隨基金所持資產的市場價值。基金股份的交易價格在整個交易時間內持續波動 基於和的市場供應對基金股份的需求和基金投資組合所持股份的基本價值或導航。因此，基金股票的交易價格可能大大偏離在市場波動期間的資產淨值。這些因素中的任何一個，以及其他因素，可能導致該基金的股票以溢價或折價交易NAV。但是，由於可以在以下位置的創建單位中創建和贖回股票資產淨值，BFA認爲，對基金資產淨值的大幅折扣或溢價不是可能會長期維持(與許多封閉式基金的股票不同，經常以相當大的折扣進行交易，有時還會溢價，他們的資產淨值)。雖然創建/贖回功能旨在使其更有可能基金的股票通常會在證券交易所以接近基金的下一個計算資產淨值，交易所價格預計不會與由於時機原因、供需失衡和其他原因造成的基金資產淨值各種因素。此外，對創作和贖回的干擾，包括做市商、授權參與者或其他市場參與者，以及在市場大幅波動的時期，可能導致股票的交易價格與其資產淨值顯著不同的基金。授權參與者可能不太願意創建或贖回基金股票，如果此類股票缺乏活躍市場或其基礎投資，這可能有助於基金的股票以資產淨值的溢價或折扣。
買賣基金股份的成本。在交易所買賣基金股份涉及兩種適用於所有證券交易的成本。在購買或透過經紀出售基金股份，你很可能會招致經紀公司佣金和其他費用。此外，您可能會產生以下費用：“展開”; 也就是說，投資者願意爲基金份額支付的價格(“出價”價格)和他們願意出售基金份額的價格(“問” 價格)。 根據交易情況，基金份額隨時間變化的利差交易量和市場流動性，如果基金有更多的交易量，通常會收窄和市場流動性，如果基金的交易量和市場流動性較少，則範圍更廣。此外，市場波動性增加可能會導致利差擴大。也可能會有因交易活動而產生的監管費用和其他費用。因爲在買賣基金股票的固有成本中，頻繁的交易可能會減損重大來自投資結果和基金份額的投資可能不會對於預期定期通過經紀帳戶。
勢頭 證券風險。 此前表現出高動能的股票 未來或可能不會經歷積極的勢頭 經歷比整個市場更大的波動性。指數提供商可能是 未能創建一個強調動量證券的指數。此外，
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有時候，動量投資風格可能會失寵， 本基金的投資業績可能會受到影響。基金和BFA都無法提供 保證指數提供商的模型將使基金符合其 投資目標。
操作風險。基金面臨的業務風險來自以下幾個方面因素，包括但不限於人爲錯誤、處理和溝通基金服務提供者、對手方或其他第三方的錯誤，失敗或不充分的流程和技術或系統故障。基金和博鰲亞洲論壇尋求通過控制和程序來降低這些操作風險。然而，這些措施並沒有解決所有可能的風險，可能不足以應對重大運營風險。
在美國投資的風險。進出口的減少、貿易的變化美國的法規、通貨膨脹和/或經濟衰退可能會對對美國經濟和在美國交易所上市的證券的不利影響。美國提議和通過的政策和立法變化正在改變許多金融、商業、公共衛生、環境和其他監管方面並可能對美國市場的總體以及對某些證券。政府機構預計，美國將繼續在可預見的未來維持較高的公共債務水平。儘管債務居高不下水平並不一定表明或導致經濟問題，公共債務增加服務成本可能會制約未來的經濟增長。可能會出現這樣的情況可能會阻止及時支付美國政府債務的利息或本金，比如到達立法機構“債務上限。”這種不付款將導致對美國經濟和全球金融的重大負面影響系統
如果美國與某些國家的關係惡化，可能會對美國發行人產生不利影響 以及依賴美國進行貿易的非美國發行人。美國還 經歷了內部動盪和不和加劇。如果這些趨勢繼續下去， 可能對美國經濟和基金所在發行人產生不利影響 投資。
證券借貸風險。本基金可從事證券借貸業務。證券貸款涉及基金可能虧損的風險，因爲基金的借款人借出的證券未能及時或根本不歸還證券。該基金在所提供的抵押品價值下降的情況下也可能虧損借出的證券或用現金進行的任何投資的價值下降抵押品。這些事件還可能給基金帶來不利的稅收後果。貝萊德機構信託公司(“BTC”）， 基金的證券借貸代理，將考慮替代支付對股東的稅務影響管理時的分紅 基金的證券借貸計劃。
科技行業的風險。技術公司，包括信息技術公司公司， 在國內和國際上面臨激烈的競爭，這可能對一家公司的利潤率有不利影響。科技公司可能產品線、市場、財力或人員有限。的產品科技公司可能會因快速的技術進步而面臨淘汰發展，頻繁的新產品推出，增長的不可預測的變化
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費率和對合格人員服務的競爭。世界上的公司技術部門嚴重依賴專利和其他知識產權權利。技術公司對這些權利的損失或減值可能會對公司的盈利能力。科技行業的公司可能面臨越來越多的政府和監管審查，並可能受到不利的政府或監管行動。技術部門也可能受到變化或商品價格的趨勢，可能受到以下因素的影響或表現不可預測的因素。
跟蹤錯誤風險。該基金可能會受到“跟蹤誤差，”這就是基金業績與標的指數的業績背離。跟蹤誤差可能是由於持有的證券和其他票據之間的差異基金的投資組合與標的指數中的投資組合、定價差異、基金產生的交易費用、基金持有的未投資現金、公司收到的股息或利息的計提時間或估值的差異向基金股東支付的基金或分派，要求維持直通稅處理，進行投資組合交易以最大限度地減少向股東分配資本收益、接受定製籃子、更改基礎指數或基金因遵守各種新的或現有的監管要求，以及其他原因。這種風險可能會增加。在市場波動加劇或其他不尋常的市場情況下。跟蹤錯誤也可能造成，因爲基金產生費用和開支，而基礎指數則不會。博鰲亞洲論壇預計，該基金可能會經歷跟蹤誤差高於類似指數ETF的典型跟蹤誤差。
對其他風險的進一步討論
基金還可能面臨與其投資有關的某些其他風險。和投資策略。以下風險因素的順序並不表示任何特定風險因素的重要性。
合格金融合同的平倉風險。全球通過的法規保誠監管機構要求交易對手是美國或外國全球具有系統重要性的銀行組織將合同限制包括在內在與合格金融合同有關的協議中結清和交叉違約。合格的金融合同包括與掉期、貨幣遠期有關的協議和其他衍生品以及回購協議和證券借貸協議。這些限制阻止了基金結清合格的金融機構如果對手方受到解決，則在規定的期限內簽訂合同並禁止基金因下列原因而行使違約權利對手方的關聯公司的接管或類似的程序。這些要求可能會增加基金的信用風險和其他風險。
通信服務部門風險。通信服務部門包括電信服務行業的兩家公司以及媒體和娛樂業。電信業公司的例子服務行業集團包括光纖、固話、蜂窩和無線提供商電信網絡。媒體和娛樂業的公司集團涵蓋多種服務和產品，包括電視廣播、
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遊戲產品、社交媒體、網絡平台、在線分類廣告、在線評論網站和互聯網搜索引擎。通信服務領域的公司行業可能受到行業競爭、大量資本要求、政府監管，以及通信產品和服務的過時由於技術的進步。國內外需求起伏不定，人口結構的變化和消費者品味的經常不可預測的變化可能會極大地影響了一家通信服務公司的盈利能力。此外，雖然所有公司都可能受到網絡安全漏洞的影響，某些公司在通信服務部門可能是黑客的特別目標和潛在目標專有或消費者信息被盜或服務中斷，這可能對他們的業務有實質性的不利影響。
一國經濟的通信服務部門往往受到廣泛的政府監管。遵守政府規定的成本法規、延誤或未能獲得所需的監管批准，或制定新的監管要求可能會對通信公司。世界各地的政府行動，特別是在產品上市前的清倉面積和價格，可以任意和變幻莫測。通信服務行業也可能受到重大影響通過激烈的市場份額競爭，包括與替代產品的競爭無線通信、產品兼容性和標準化、消費者偏好、快速淘汰產品、研究和開發新產品，缺乏標準化或與現有產品兼容技術，以及對專利和版權保護的依賴。中國的公司通信服務部門可能遇到不良現金流，因爲需要投入大量資金以滿足日益激烈的競爭，特別是在利用新技術開發新產品和新服務。工藝性創新可能會使某些通信的產品和服務公司已經過時了。
在美國有業務的電信提供商通常被要求獲得特許經營權或許可證，以便在特定地點提供服務。發牌和電信部門的特許經營權有限，這可能會提供對某些參與者來說是一種優勢。此類權利的可獲得性有限，高門檻市場準入和監管監管等因素導致了整合。該行業內的公司，這可能導致進一步的監管或其他負面影響對未來的影響。在非美國國家投資的電信提供商可能面臨類似的風險。其他風險包括與競爭對手有關的風險來自戰略合資企業的非美國競爭對手在美國的挑戰與美國公司以及來自美國和美國以外的非美國市場競爭對手。
媒體和娛樂業的公司可能會受到幾個因素，包括競爭，特別是在產品配方和使用新技術的服務、收入和收益的週期性、潛在的目標個人可自由支配收入的減少，改變了消費者品味和興趣，以及政府監管的潛在增加。公司在媒體和娛樂業可能很快就會過時。廣告
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支出可能是媒體和娛樂公司的重要收入來源。在經濟低迷時期，廣告支出通常會減少，因此，媒體和娛樂公司產生的收入往往較少。
消費者自由裁量部門風險。 消費品的成功 製造商和零售商與國內和零售商的表現密切相關 國際經濟、利率、匯率、供應鏈、競爭、 消費者信心、人口結構和消費者偏好的變化。 非必需消費品行業的公司嚴重依賴一次性消費品 家庭收入和消費者支出，並可能受到社會影響 趨勢和營銷活動。這些公司可能會受到嚴重的影響 競爭，這可能會對它們的盈利能力產生不利影響。
消費者必需品行業風險。消費品行業的公司可能會受各種產品成分和生產方法規範的影響，營銷活動和全球經濟的變化，消費者支出和消費需求菸草和菸草相關公司尤其可能 受到新法律、法規和訴訟的不利影響。消費者中的公司 大宗商品行業也可能受到大宗商品變化或趨勢的不利影響 價格，可能受到不可預測因素的影響。這些公司可能是 面臨激烈的競爭，可能會對其盈利能力產生不利影響。
派息股票風險。投資派息股票涉及風險這類股票可能會失去投資者的青睞，表現遜於大盤市場。發行派息股票的公司不需要支付或繼續爲這類股票支付股息。有可能這些股票的發行人持有基金將不會在未來宣佈派息或減少或取消支付股息(包括減少或消除預期的加速或增加股息的支付)。
能源部門風險。 能源公司發行證券的市值 該行業可能因以下原因而下降：變化和波動性 全球能源價格、能源供需以及勘探支出 能源生產;匯率、利率、經濟狀況和 稅收待遇;石油或其他資源的實際或感知可用性的變化 存款;貿易制裁或進口管制的頒佈或停止;戰爭或 其他地緣政治衝突;負面看法;訴訟增加;能源 節約努力；能源基礎設施發展或服務故障；以及競爭加劇和技術進步。這一領域的公司可能受大量政府監管和合同固定定價的約束，這可能增加做生意的成本，限制這些公司的收益。一個這些公司的很大一部分收入可能取決於相對少數客戶，包括政府實體和公用事業公司。結果,政府預算限制可能會對股票產生實質性的不利影響這一領域公司的價格。
能源公司也可能在國家經營或從事涉及這些國家的交易。監管制度欠發達或有徵用、沒收歷史的資產、外國投資限制、國有化或其他不利政策或政治和社會動盪、政變或勞工中斷的風險更大。能量
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公司還面臨着重大的事故責任風險，導致人員傷亡或生命或財產損失、污染或其他環境問題、設備材料故障或處理不當，以及恐怖主義、網絡等造成損失的風險事件、政治衝突或自然災害。任何這樣的事件都可能嚴重到對受影響地區的普通民衆造成的後果，並可能對對基金的投資組合和基金業績產生不利影響。能量公司的債務水平可能相對較高，而且可能比其他公司更有可能如果能源市場出現低迷，公司將重組業務在全球經濟中。能源生產公司，特別是石油和天然氣公司，可能還必須應對服務中斷、管道和設備泄漏以及破裂、爆炸、起火、計劃外停機、運輸中斷、排放、釋放有毒、有害氣體及其他環境風險的。
能源行業可能會經歷劇烈的市場波動。例如，俄羅斯的2022年2月24日對烏克蘭的大規模入侵導致中斷和增加由於實際和潛在原因，能源和商品期貨市場的波動某些商品的供需中斷，包括石油和天然氣汽油。作爲回應，美國和其他行爲者實施了各種制裁和對與俄羅斯進行商業往來的限制，其中包括限制進口石油、天然氣和煤炭。當前制裁和限制的影響，以及俄羅斯軍事行動的範圍和持續時間，額外的制裁和與能源行業相關的市場混亂，是不可能預測和這取決於許多因素。這些事件或任何相關事態發展的影響可能會產生重大影響，並可能對基金。
非流動性投資風險。在下列情況下，基金不得獲得任何非流動性投資：收購完成後，該基金立即將其15%以上的資金投入非流動性投資的淨資產。非流動性投資是指任何不符合合理預期的基金不能在當前市場條件下出售或處置七個日曆日或更少的時間，而不會顯著改變投資。在被基金購買後，流動投資可能會變得缺乏流動性，尤其是在市場動盪時期。不能保證一個安全或在購買時被視爲液體的儀器將繼續是液體的只要是由基金持有的，而由基金持有的任何證券或票據均可根據基金的流動性風險管理，應被視爲非流動性投資程序。在基金持有非流動性投資的範圍內，非流動性投資可以減少基金的回報，因爲基金可能無法在有利的時間或價格。一項投資可能由於以下原因而缺乏流動性事情，傳統市場參與者數量和能力的減少證券或工具市場 或此類證券缺乏活躍的市場 或儀器。如果基金投資於證券或工具 市場和/或信貸風險巨大，基金往往會面臨更多風險 與非流動性投資相關的風險。非流動性投資可能更難 價值，尤其是在不斷變化的市場中。儘管該基金主要尋求贖回 如果基金被迫出售標的，則以實物形式持有的基金股份 以降價或不利條件進行投資以滿足贖回 要求或其他現金需求，基金可能會遭受損失。這可能會被放大
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利率上升環境或其他情況下贖回 資金可能會高於正常水平。其他市場參與者可能正在試圖 與基金同時清算所持股份，導致基金供應增加 市場上的基礎投資並導致非流動性投資風險和 降價壓力。此外，如果基金出售非流動性的能力有限 本基金在股東贖回股份期間的投資 將需要出售流動性證券以滿足贖回請求，而非流動性證券將 成爲該基金持有的更大部分。在市場波動期間， 本基金股票市場流動性可能會受到市場流動性的影響 基金持有的基礎證券或工具的市場，這可能會導致 以高於基金資產淨值或折讓交易的基金股票。
工業板塊風險。工業企業發行的證券的價值行業可能受到與其相關的供需變化的不利影響具體產品或服務和工業部門產品的一般情況。產品的製造公司可能會因快速的技術進步而面臨淘汰開發和頻繁推出新產品。全球事件、貿易爭端而政府法規、經濟狀況和匯率的變化可能對工業部門的公司業績產生不利影響。中國的公司工業部門可能會受到環境損害賠償責任的不利影響和產品責任索賠。工業部門也可能受到以下不利影響商品價格的變化或趨勢，可能受到不可預測的影響因素工業領域的公司，特別是航空航天和國防 公司也可能受到政府支出政策的不利影響，因爲 該行業的公司往往在很大程度上依賴政府的需求 他們的產品和服務。
大股東和大規模贖回風險。某些股東，包括授權參與者、第三方投資者、基金顧問或基金顧問、做市商或其他實體的附屬公司可不時擁有或管理大量基金股份或可能投資於基金，以及在有限的時間內持有他們的投資。這些股東還可以承諾或貸款基金股份(以確保融資或其他方式)，這可能導致股票集中在另一個政黨。不能保證任何大型股東或一大群股東不會贖回他們的投資或基金的規模將保持不變。大量基金的贖回這些股東持有的股份可能會對基金的流動資金和淨資產產生不利影響。在基金允許以現金贖回的範圍內，這些贖回可能迫使基金在可能不會出售投資組合證券的情況下出售證券，這可能對基金的資產淨值產生負面影響，對市場價格產生實質性影響並增加基金的經紀費用和/或加速實現應納稅收入和/或收益，並促使基金向其股東們可能會比IMF更早採取行動。此外，在某些情況下，在這種情況下，非贖回股東可能被視爲收到了在該納稅年度內或與該納稅年度有關的應稅分配比例過大。基金還可能被要求出售其流動性較高的基金投資，以滿足贖回，在這種情況下，基金的剩餘資產可能流動性較差，較波動性大，更難定價。就這些大股東進行交易的程度而言
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股票在二級市場上，這類交易可能佔很大比例基金股票交易量的百分比，因此可能會有對基金股份市價的重大向上或向下影響。在……裏面此外，大量購買基金股票可能會對基金的業績產生不利影響在基金延遲投資新現金並需要維持的範圍內現金頭寸比通常情況下更大，稀釋了其投資回報。
中等市值的公司存在風險。中等市值公司的股價可能比大盤股更不穩定，因此，基金的股價可能比那些投資規模更大的基金的股價波動更大大市值公司發行的股票佔其資產的百分比。庫存中型股的股價也比大盤股更容易受到衝擊。公司不利的業務或經濟發展，以及中型公司的股票可能比大盤股的流動性更差公司，使基金難以買賣中等市值的股票公司。此外，中等市值公司通常擁有的資金較少產品線比大盤股公司更多樣化，更容易受到與其產品相關的不良發展。
門檻/投資不足風險。如果某些總所有權和/或基金級別所有權門檻是通過博鰲亞洲論壇、其附屬機構或基金，或由於發行人或監管機構的第三方交易或行動，博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬公司代表客戶(包括基金)購買或處置投資、行使權利或進行商業交易，可以是受法規限制或以其他方式受損的。國際貨幣基金組織的能力對某些證券的投資可能會受到相關門檻限制的影響，以及這些限制可能會對銀行的流動資金和業績產生不利影響基金的投資組合持有量 與基礎指數的表現相比。這 可能會增加基金對基礎指數投資不足的風險， 增加跟蹤錯誤的風險。
例如，在某些情況下，基金投資於由在某些受監管行業或某些新興或新興行業運營的公司國際市場，受到公司或監管機構所有權限制，或投資於某些期貨或其他衍生工具交易，可能會有限制博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬機構投資或投票的總金額和/或基金級別的金額專有帳戶和客戶帳戶(包括基金)在未經許可或其他監管或公司同意的情況下，或者如果超過，可能會導致博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬機構、基金或其他客戶帳戶受損劣勢或業務限制。
投資組合持有信息
信託有關披露的政策和程序的描述 基金的投資組合證券可在基金的額外聲明中查看 信息(“賽”).該基金每天在www.iShares.com上披露其投資組合持有情況。 提供有關基金頂級持股信息的基金概況表發佈在 www.iShares.com (1-800-474-2737).
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管理
投資顧問。作爲投資顧問，博鰲亞洲論壇全面負責基金的一般管理和行政。博鰲亞洲論壇提供了一項投資爲基金提供資金，並管理基金資產的投資。在管理中在該基金中，博鰲亞洲論壇可借鑑其資產管理的研究和專門知識與某些投資組合證券有關的附屬公司。在尋求實現基金的投資目標，博鰲亞洲論壇使用投資組合經理、投資策略師團隊和其他投資專家。這種團隊方法結合了許多學科並利用博鰲亞洲論壇的廣泛資源。
根據BFA與信託之間的投資諮詢協議（簽訂 代表基金），BFA負責基本上所有費用 基金，除管理費、利息費用、稅款、發生的費用外 關於投資組合證券的收購和處置以及執行 投資組合交易，包括經紀佣金、分銷費或費用， 以及訴訟費用和任何非常費用（由大多數人決定 非受託人 “利害關係人” 信託）。已支付的運營費用 BFA根據投資諮詢協議支付的費用不包括收購的基金費用， 費用（如果有的話）。
截至2023年7月31日的財年，BFA從 基金佔基金日均淨資產的百分比，按年率計算 0.15%.
BFA可不時自願放棄和/或報銷以下費用或開支 命令限制年度基金運營費用總額（不包括獲得的基金費用和 費用，如果有的話）。任何此類自願豁免或報銷均可通過以下方式取消： BFA隨時。
BFA位於加利福尼亞州舊金山霍華德街400號，郵編：94105。它是一家間接全資擁有的貝萊德股份有限公司(“貝萊德”).截至2023年9月30日，BFA 及其附屬公司爲約300萬美元的資產提供投資諮詢服務 9.1萬億美元。BFA及其附屬公司實際上爲自己的帳戶進行交易和投資 基金也可投資的證券和證券類型，這可能會影響此類證券的價格。
討論信託董事會批准的基礎（ “衝浪板”與博鰲亞洲論壇簽訂的《投資諮詢協議》的截至7月31日期間的年度報告。
投資組合經理。詹妮弗·徐、格雷格·薩維奇和保羅·懷特黑德主要是負責基金的日常管理工作。投資組合經理是負責與項目組合管理相關的各種職能，包括但不是僅限於，投資現金流入，協調各自的成員投資組合管理團隊專注於某些資產類別，實施投資戰略，研究和審查投資戰略並監督他們各自的投資組合管理團隊的成員責任
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Jennifer Hsui受聘於博鰲亞洲論壇或其附屬機構，擔任高級投資組合經理自2007年以來。在此之前，徐女士在2006至2007年間擔任巴克萊全球基金顧問公司(BGM.N：行情)“BGFA”)。徐女士一直擔任自2013年起基金。
格雷格·薩維奇受僱於博鰲亞洲論壇或其附屬公司，擔任高級投資組合經理從2006年開始。在此之前，Savage先生在2001至2006年間擔任BGFA。Savage先生自2013年以來一直擔任該基金的投資組合經理。
保羅·懷特黑德自1996年以來一直在貝萊德工作，包括他在巴克萊銀行的那幾年全球投資者(“華大基因”)，並於2009年與貝萊德合併。懷特黑德先生已經貝萊德自2010年起受聘爲董事董事總經理，並於從2009年到2010年。懷特黑德先生於2002至2009年間受聘於華大基因擔任校長。懷特黑德自2022年以來一直擔任該基金的投資組合經理。
基金的SAI提供了有關投資組合經理的補充信息薪酬，由投資組合經理和投資組合管理的其他帳戶基金經理對基金股份的擁有權(如有的話)。
管理員、託管人和轉移代理。 花旗銀行(“花旗銀行”）是 該基金的管理人、託管人和轉移代理人。摩根大通銀行，不適用 擔任基金與某些證券借貸有關的託管人 活動。
利益衝突。博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬機構的投資活動(包括貝萊德及其子公司(統稱爲“關聯公司”))，以及各自的董事、高級職員或僱員在管理他們自己或在他們自己的利益中的利益他們管理的帳戶和其他帳戶可能會出現利益衝突對基金及其股東不利。博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬機構提供投資向其他基金和酌情管理的帳戶提供管理服務，這些帳戶可能遵循與基金類似的投資計劃。博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬機構是在全球範圍內參與廣泛的金融服務和資產管理活動，並可在正常業務過程中從事其其客戶的利益或利益可能與基金的利益相沖突。BFA或一個或多個附屬公司充當或可能充當投資者、研究提供者、投資經理，大宗商品池運營商，大宗商品交易顧問，金融家，承銷商，顧問，交易員，貸款人， 索引提供商、代理和/或委託人，並有其他直接以及證券、貨幣、商品、衍生品和其他方面的間接利益基金可直接或間接投資的工具。該基金可投資於關聯公司的證券，或與之進行其他交易的公司有重大債務或股權投資或其他權益。基金亦可投資於在關聯公司爲其提供的實體發行的債券(如結構性票據)中補償與銷售所得款項有關的現金管理服務這樣的發行。本基金亦可投資於以下證券或從事其他與關聯公司的交易，關聯公司爲其提供或可能在未來提供的公司提供研究報道。附屬公司可能與以下公司有業務關係向分銷商、顧問購買、分銷或銷售服務或產品或推薦基金或與基金進行交易或爲基金進行交易的其他人，並可獲得此類服務的補償。博鰲亞洲論壇或一個或多個附屬機構可以從事自營交易，併爲有投資的帳戶和基金提供建議
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目標類似於基金的目標和/或參與和競爭的目標同類型的證券、貨幣及其他工具的交易基金。這可能包括其他開放式和封閉式發行的證券的交易。投資公司(可包括以下投資公司在投資允許的範圍內，與基金和博鰲亞洲論壇有關聯1940年經修訂的《公司法》(“1940年法案”))。博鰲亞洲論壇的貿易活動和這些附屬公司的執行不涉及直接或間接擔任的職位並可能導致博鰲亞洲論壇或附屬公司持有某些證券的頭寸優先於或低於證券，或具有與證券不同或不利的利益由該基金擁有的。
貝萊德及其任何關聯公司均無義務分享任何投資基金的機會、想法或戰略。因此，附屬公司可能會與爲基金尋找適當的投資機會。基金的結果因此，投資活動可能不同於一家附屬公司和其他公司的投資活動。由貝萊德或其關聯公司管理的帳戶，基金有可能在一個或多個附屬公司和其他帳戶期間遭受虧損通過自營帳戶或其他帳戶的交易獲得利潤。相反的結果是也有可能。
此外，基金可不時進行博鰲亞洲論壇或附屬公司或 其或其董事、高級管理人員、員工或客戶有不利利益。此外，由博鰲亞洲論壇建議或管理的客戶進行的交易或其附屬公司可能會對基金產生不利影響。一個或多個客戶的交易或 通過博鰲亞洲論壇或其附屬機構或其董事、官員或員工可能具有以下效果稀釋或以其他方式使投資者的價值、價格或投資策略處於不利地位基金。
基金的活動可能受到限制，因爲適用於以下方面的監管限制BFA或一個或多個附屬機構和/或其旨在遵守的內部政策這樣的限制。
根據董事會批准的一項證券借貸計劃，基金保留了BTC，博鰲亞洲論壇的聯屬機構，在一定程度上擔任基金的證券借貸代理該基金參與了證券借貸計劃。對於這些服務，證券借貸代理將從基金收取費用，包括根據基金貸款活動獲得的回報，包括現金投資 作爲借出證券的抵押品收到。此外，一個或多個附屬機構可以 是本基金可以根據 證券貸款計劃。
根據ETF服務協議，該基金保留了BlackRock Investments，LLC (“總代理商”或“布里爾”），BFA的附屬機構，執行某些訂單處理， 授權參與者通信以及與 基金創建單位的發行和贖回（“ETF服務”). BRIL將 保留從授權參與者處收到的部分標準交易費 授權參與者就ETF發出的每次創建或贖回訂單 提供的服務。貝萊德與花旗銀行合作並從花旗銀行收到付款， 關於ETF服務平台的設計和開發。花旗銀行可能有，或者
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可能會不時與貝萊德或基金建立額外的關係 由BFA及其附屬機構管理。
也有可能，貝萊德和/或其諮詢客戶(包括其他基金和單獨管理的帳戶)可在遵守的情況下在適用法律的情況下，購買和持有基金的股份。價格、可獲得性基金的流動資金和(在某些情況下)費用比率可能受到購買的影響以及貝萊德和/或其諮詢客戶對基金的銷售。
博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬機構及其各自的董事、官員或僱員可能會引起其他利益衝突，使基金處於不利地位以及它的股東。博鰲亞洲論壇通過了政策和程序，旨在解決這些潛在的利益衝突。有關詳細信息，請參閱SAI。
股東信息
其他股東信息，包括如何買賣基金的股票，是免費電話：1-800-iShares(1-800-474-2737)或訪問我們的網站www.iShares.com。
買賣股票。基金的股份可直接購入或贖回只能以創建單位或其倍數的形式從基金中提取，如創作和贖回本招股說明書的部分。只有授權參與者才能直接與基金進行創造或贖回交易。一旦被創建，基金的股票在二級市場的交易金額一般不到創造單位。
基金的股票在全國證券交易所掛牌交易，交易時間爲交易日。股票可以像股票一樣在整個交易日內買賣其他上市公司。本信託不設定任何最低投資額 對於在交易所或其他二級購買的基金股份 市場該基金股票以股票代碼進行交易 “MTUm。”
在交易所或其他二級市場買賣基金股票涉及兩個可能適用於所有證券交易的費用類型。買入或賣出時通過經紀基金的股票，您可能會產生經紀佣金和其他指控。佣金通常是固定的，而且可能是相當大的尋求買賣少量股票的投資者的比例成本。在……裏面此外，您可能會產生以下費用“散開，”也就是說，在買入價和賣出價。基金股票的價差隨着時間的推移而變化關於基金的成交量和市場流動性，如果基金普遍較低有很高的交易量和市場流動性，如果基金的交易量很少，就會更高成交量和市場流動性(這通常是新推出的基金的情況或尺寸較小)。基金的利差也可能受到流動性或非流動性的影響基金持有的標的證券，特別是新發行或規模較小的證券基金或在標的證券大幅波動的情況下。
本基金不對買入和贖回頻率進行限制 直接與基金分享基金份額。董事會決定不通過政策和旨在防止或監測頻繁購買和贖回基金份額，因爲基金一般直接通過
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實物和/或現金交易，與現金相關的配售截止日期不遲於基金投資組合一級市場收盤前的交易證券。不過，基金已採取若干措施(例如..、強制交易購買和贖回創造單位的費用和保留拒絕的權利在某些情況下購買創造單位)以將潛力降至最低授權參與者頻繁現金購買和贖回的後果，例如，跟蹤誤差增加，投資組合管理中斷，稀釋資金，和/或增加的交易成本。此外，基金的絕大多數交易股票在二級市場上發行，與基金沒有直接關係；這種交易不太可能造成頻繁現金帶來的許多有害影響購買或贖回基金份額。
該基金股票上市的國家證券交易所對週一至週五交易，週末和接下來的節假日休市(或慶祝節日的日子)：元旦，馬丁·路德·金。天,總統日、耶穌受難日、陣亡將士紀念日、6月19日、獨立日、勞動節日、感恩節和聖誕節。該基金的主要上市交易所是芝加哥期權交易所 BZX。
1940年法令第12(D)(1)條一般限制通過投資進行投資。公司，包括外國和未註冊的投資公司，在證券其他投資公司。例如，一家註冊投資公司(“收購基金”)，如基金，不得在知情的情況下出售或以其他方式處置被收購基金向任何投資公司(“收購基金”)或收購基金控制的任何一家或多家公司，如果立即在出售或處置後：(I)超過已發行的有表決權股票總數的3%收購基金歸收購基金和任何一家或多家公司所有由收購基金控制，或(Ii)超過未償還表決權總額的10%購入基金的股票歸購入基金和其他投資所有公司及其控制的公司。然而，註冊投資允許公司投資於該基金，超過第節規定的限制12(D)(1)，受美國證券交易委員會規則中規定的某些條款和條件的約束。爲了讓一個註冊投資公司可投資於超越限制的基金股份12(D)(1)根據1940年法令第12d1-4條，註冊的除其他事項外，投資公司必須與信任外國投資公司僅允許投資本基金，最高限額爲 第12（d）（1）條規定的限制，須遵守任何適用的SEC不採取行動救濟。
賬本分錄。基金的股份是以簿記形式持有的，這意味着沒有發行股票。存託信託公司(“直接轉矩”)或其被提名者是基金所有流通股的記錄擁有者和合法所有權。
擁有基金股份的投資者是實益擁有人，如DTC或其參與者。DTC是基金股票的證券託管人。DTC參與者包括證券經紀和交易商、銀行、信託公司、直接或間接維持與DTC的託管關係。作爲股份的實益所有人，您無權接收股票實物交付或將股票登記在您的名稱，並且您不被視爲股票的註冊所有者。因此，要鍛鍊身體
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作爲股份所有人的任何權利，您必須依賴於DTC及其參與者。這些程序與適用於任何其他你在記賬或記賬時持有的證券“街道名稱”形式。
股價。基金股票在二級市場的交易價格一般不同於基金的每日資產淨值，並受市場力量影響，例如持有的ETF份額和標的證券份額的供求情況基金、經濟狀況等因素。
資產淨值的確定。基金的資產淨值通常是由週一至週五每天一次，一般截至正常交易時間收盤時紐約證交所(NYSE：行情)“紐交所”)(通常爲東部時間下午4點)紐約證券交易所根據收盤時的價格開放交易，前提是任何以美元以外貨幣計價的基金資產或負債按估值當日的現行市場匯率折算成美元由一個或多個數據服務提供商報價。基金的資產淨值是按以下方式計算的將基金資產淨值(即，其總資產價值減去負債總額)一般爲基金流通股總數四捨五入到最接近的美分。
基金持有的證券及其他資產和負債的價值爲根據博鰲亞洲論壇的估值政策和程序確定。博鰲亞洲論壇一直以來被聯委會根據規則2a-5指定爲基金指定的估值對象根據1940年法案。
股權證券及其他容易獲得市場報價的股權工具可用價值是按市場價值估值的，這通常是使用最後一個報告的官方收盤價，如果沒有報告的收盤價，則爲最後一次證券或工具所在的交易所或市場的交易價格主要在估值時交易。基礎開放式基金份額(包括貨幣市場基金)按資產淨值估值。標的股份交易所交易封閉式基金或其他ETF的估值是以其最近的收盤價。
一般來說，非美國證券和貨幣市場工具的交易基本上是在每日正常交易時間結束前的不同時間完成紐約證券交易所。用於計算基金資產淨值的這類證券的價值如下在這樣的時候確定的。
當市場報價不是現成的或博鰲亞洲論壇認爲不可靠，博鰲亞洲論壇將根據其政策對基金的投資進行公平評估和程序。博鰲亞洲論壇可能會得出結論，認爲市場報價不是現成的，就是如果證券或其他資產或負債由於其價格來源而沒有價格來源，則不可靠缺乏交易或其他原因，如果市場報價與最近的報價或其他方面似乎不再反映公允價值，其中證券或其他資產或負債交易清淡，當隨後發生重大事件時到最近的市場報價，或者如果證券所在的交易市場上市公司停牌或關閉，沒有合適的替代交易市場可用。一個“重大事件”如果BFA在其合理的情況下確定在爲基金的資產或負債定價之前或之時的業務判斷，
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這一事件可能會導致上一次交易所收盤價的重大變化，或者基金持有的一項或多項資產或其負債的收市價。
公允價值代表資產或負債價值的善意近似值。這個基金持有的資產或負債的公允價值是基金可能合理預期從當前出售該資產中獲得的收益或在一筆公平交易中消除這一責任。評估基金的投資使用公允價值定價將導致價格可能與當前市場不同估值，這可能不是這些投資可能達到的價格在使用特定公允價值的期間出售。使用公允價值 價格和某些當前市場估值可能會導致 用於計算基金資產淨值的價格和基礎指數使用的價格， 這反過來又可能導致基金業績與 基礎指數的表現。
股息和分配。
總方針。來自淨投資收入的股息(如果有的話)一般都會申報。並由基金每年至少支付一次。已實現證券淨收益的分配，如果有的話，一般每年申報並支付一次，但信託可以 基金更頻繁地進行分配。信託保留權利 如果在其合理的酌情決定權下，有必要採取此類行動，或建議保留其作爲受監管投資公司的地位(“大米”)或避免對未分配收入或已實現收益徵收所得稅或消費稅。
基金股份的股息及其他分配按按比例 向該等股份的實益擁有人提供基本權益。股息支付是通過DTC支付的受益人的參與者和間接參與者，然後用收益記錄在案從基金收到的。
股息再投資服務。本公司並無提供股息再投資服務。信任經紀商可以提供DTC簿記股息再投資 供基金受益所有人用於股息再投資的服務 分佈。受益所有人應聯繫其經紀人以確定 服務的可獲得性和費用以及參與的細節。經紀人可能要求受益所有人遵守特定的程序和時間表。如果這個服務是可用的和使用的，紅利分配既有收入也有已實現的收益將自動再投資於購買的額外全部基金股份二級市場。
稅務信息註釋。 以下部分總結了一些後果 根據現行美國聯邦稅法，對該基金的投資。它不能替代 個人稅務建議。您還可能對基金繳納州和地方稅 股票的分配和銷售。某些州和地方可以免稅 歸因於美國聯邦政府債務利息的分配。諮詢 您的個人稅務顧問了解投資的潛在稅務後果 根據所有適用稅法持有的基金股份。
稅金。與任何投資一樣，您應該考慮如何投資於該基金將被徵稅。本招股說明書提供的稅務資料爲概括性資料
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信息，基於現行法律。你應該諮詢你自己的稅務專家關於投資於基金股票的稅務後果。
除非你的基金份額投資是通過免稅實體或遞延納稅的退休帳戶，如個人退休帳戶，在這種情況下，您的分發通常將在提取時納稅，您需要注意可能的稅收當基金進行分配或您出售基金股票時的後果。
分配稅。基金投資收入淨額的分配(其他超過合格股息收入)，包括 證券收益的分配基金短期資本利得淨額的貸款和分配(如果有的話)如下應按普通收入向你徵稅。基金對長期資本淨額的分配超過淨短期資本損失(資本利得股息)的收益(如有)爲作爲長期資本利得對你徵稅，無論你持有多久基金的份額。符合資格的股息收入的基金分配如下按長期資本利得稅向你徵稅。長期資本利得和合格股息收入一般有資格按15%或20%的最高稅率徵稅非法人股東，取決於他們的收入是否超過一定的門檻金額。此外，美國聯邦醫療保險繳費稅爲3.8%強加於“淨投資收益，”包括但不限於利息、股息、收入超過20萬美元(如果收入超過25萬美元，則爲25萬美元)的美國個人的淨收益結婚並共同提交)以及遺產和信託。
如果股息可歸因於合格股息收入，則股息將是你的合格股息收入基金收到的股息收入。一般來說，合格的股息收入包括來自應稅美國公司和符合條件的非美國公司的股息收入，但基金須符合下列各項的某些持有期規定該公司持有此類公司的股票，並且沒有以某些方式對沖其在股票中的頭寸。以基金收到的股息代替證券支付的股息借出的將不是合格的股息收入。爲此，合格的非美國公司是指任何有資格根據與美國的全面所得稅條約，其中包括交換信息計劃，或如果支付股息的股票是在成熟的美國證券市場上隨時可以交易。該術語不包括這是一家被動的外國投資公司。
基金從RIC收到的股息通常只是合格的股息收入在這種股息分配是從合格股息收入中進行的範圍內被這樣的RIC接收到。此外，預計基金收到的股息來自房地產投資信託基金並分配給股東的一般將向股東作爲普通收入。然而，在12月31日之後的納稅年度，2017年至2026年1月1日之前，基金可報告有資格獲得20%的股息“符合條件的營業收入”對非公司美國股東的扣除基金收入來自普通房地產投資信託基金股息，減去可分配股息基金開支。
要將股息視爲合格股利收入，股息必須是與未經基金對沖而持有的股票份額有關的收款；以及就未經你對沖而持有的基金份額而言，爲期61天自日期前60天起計的121天期間內
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就該股息而言，該等股份成爲除股息外，或如屬某些優先股，在之前90天開始的181天期間內91天這樣的日期。
基金分配，在一定程度上可歸因於美國公司的股息，將有資格獲得以下基金股東的股息扣減公司，受某些套期保值和持有要求的約束。
一般而言，您的分配應繳納以下年度的美國聯邦所得稅他們是有報酬的。然而，在一月份支付的某些分配可能被視爲在前一年的12月31日。
如果基金的分配超過當期和累積的收益和利潤，則全部或在課稅年度作出的一部分分配可重新定性爲向股東返還資本。超過基金最低限額的分配分配所需經費，但不得超過基金的收入和利潤應向股東征稅，不會構成免稅資本回報。一次回報資本分配的比例一般不會徵稅，但會減少股東的成本基礎，並導致更高的資本收益或更低的資本損失時，這些股票收到的分發內容都已售出。一旦股東的成本基礎是減少到零，進一步的分配將被視爲資本收益，如果股東持有基金股份作爲資本資產。
如果你既不是美國居民也不是美國公民，或者如果你不是美國實體(由美國人擁有的傳遞實體除外)，基金的普通收入股息(包括淨短期資本利得的分配)通常將被徵收30%的美國預扣稅，除非條約稅率較低適用，只要預扣稅一般不適用於任何收益或收入由非美國股東在任何長期資本分配方面變現收益或因出售或以其他方式處置基金股份而產生的收益。
另外，目前對來自美國的股息徵收30%的預扣稅，支付給(I)外國金融機構的利息和其他收入項目，包括非美國金融機構投資基金，除非他們同意收集並向美國國內收入服務處(“美國國稅局”)有關其直接和間接美國帳戶的信息持有者和(Ii)某些其他外國實體，除非他們證明某些信息關於它們在美國的直接和間接所有者。爲避免扣繳，外國金融機構將需要(I)與美國國稅局簽訂協議，聲明它們將提供國稅局的信息，包括姓名、地址和納稅人直接和間接美國帳戶持有人的身份識別號碼，遵守應有的關於識別美國帳戶的盡職調查程序，向美國國稅局關於維護的美國帳戶的某些信息，同意預扣稅款關於向不合規的外國金融機構或帳戶支付某些款項未能提供所需信息並確定某些其他信息的持有者有關其帳戶持有人的信息，或(Ii)如果適用的通過政府間協議和執行立法，提供當地具有類似帳戶持有人信息的稅務機關。其他外國實體可以需要報告每個人的姓名、地址和納稅人識別號主要美國擁有者或提供非主要美國所有權的證明，除非某些例外情況適用。
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如果你的基金股份是根據證券借貸安排借出的，你可能會失去處理基金在股票由借款人作爲合格股息收入。
如果您是美國居民或公民，根據法律，可按24%的比率預扣將適用於您的分配和收益，如果您沒有提供納稅人身份證號碼或社會安全號碼，並進行了其他必要的證明。
股票出售時的稅金。目前，在出售過程中實現的任何資本收益或損失基金份額的收益通常被視爲長期收益或損失，如果該份額持有一年多。因出售基金而變現的任何資本收益或虧損持有一年或以下的股票通常被視爲短期收益或虧損，但出售持有時間不超過六個月的股票造成的任何資本損失都被視爲長期損失。資本損失，指就以下項目支付資本收益股息的程度這樣的股份。任何該等資本收益，包括出售基金股份或資本利得股息，包括在“淨投資收益”爲了上面提到的3.8%的美國聯邦醫療保險繳費稅。
創造和救贖。在二級市場交易之前，該公司的股票基金是“vbl.創建”做市商的資產淨值，大型投資者和機構僅在塊大小的創建單位或其倍數。每個 “創造者” 或授權參與者 (一個“授權參與者”）已與基金簽訂協議 經銷商，BFA的附屬機構。授權參與者是成員或參與者 在美國證券交易委員會註冊的清算機構，該機構與 允許此類成員或參與者放置的基金或其服務提供商之一 購買和兌換創造單位的訂單。
創建交易須經分銷商和基金接受， 通常發生在授權參與者向基金存入一筆 指定的證券、資產或其他頭寸投資組合（a “創作籃”)，以及一筆現金(包括代表被替代證券價值的任何現金，資產或其他頭寸)，如果有的話，合計接近基金的持有量以換取指定數量的創造單位。同樣，股票也可以僅在創設單位中贖回，通常用於指定的證券組合，資產或其他頭寸(a“贖回籃子”)及一筆數額爲現金(包括這類證券中可用現金替代的任何部分)。這個在某些情況下，基金可以部分或僅以現金形式提供創建單位。 除非以創造單位彙總，否則本基金不得贖回股份。 設立和贖回籃子可能有所不同，基金可能接受 “自定義 籃子。” 有關自定義籃子的更多信息載於基金的SAI中。
創作和贖回發生的價格是基於下一次計算的在以可接受的形式收到資產淨值設定或贖回訂單後授權參與者協議。
只有獲授權的參與者才能在基金中創建或贖回創造單位。授權參與者可以爲他們自己的帳戶創建或贖回創建單位，或者客戶，包括但不限於基金的關聯公司。
在系統故障或其他中斷的情況下，包括市場中斷製造商或授權參與者，訂購或贖回創造單位
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不得根據基金的指示執行，或不得在全部，或者基金可能無法下單或更改訂單。
在基金從事實物交易的範圍內，基金打算遵守與美國聯邦證券法在接受證券存款和滿足以贖回證券進行贖回，方法包括確保任何接受存款的證券及任何用以滿足贖回要求的證券將在豁免根據證券註冊的交易中出售經修訂的1933年法令(“1933年法案”)。此外，授權參與者是不是“合格的機構買家，”該術語在規則第144A條中定義爲1933年法案，將不能收到根據規則有資格轉售的受限證券144A.
創作和贖回必須通過一家公司進行，該公司是國家證券結算公司連續淨額結算系統已與總代理商就以下事項簽署協議的DTC參與者創造單位集合的創造和贖回。有關的信息關於設立和贖回設立單位的程序(包括截止在基金的SAI中包括了收到創設和贖回指令的時間)。
因爲新股票可以在任何時候持續創建和發行在基金的存續期內“分銷，”由於1933年法案中使用了這樣的術語，可以正在發生。經紀-交易商和其他人被告誡，一些活動在根據情況，他們的部分可能會被視爲以一種可能使其成爲法定承銷商的方式參與分銷受制於1933年法案的招股說明書交付和責任條款。任何在確定某人是否爲承銷商時，必須考慮所有相關的每個特定案件的事實和情況。
經紀-交易商也應該注意到，不是“承銷商”但都是參與分銷(與普通二級交易不同)，以及因此，要處理屬於“未售出的配售”在…的意義內1933年法令第4(A)(3)(C)條，將不能利用《1933年法案》第4(A)(3)條規定的招股說明書交付豁免。爲向交易所會員交付招股章程，招股章程交付機制1933年法案下的第153條規則僅適用於國家證券交易所。
家政服務。持有房屋是某些基金投資者的一種選擇。家庭是一種基於個人喜好的分娩方式投資者，其中某些股東文件的單一副本可以交付給共用同一個地址的投資者，即使他們的帳戶是在不同的名字。如果您有興趣參加，請與您的經紀交易商聯繫持有及收取招股章程及其他股東的單一副本文檔，或者如果您目前正在註冊房屋管理並希望更改您的持家狀況。
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分佈
分銷商或其代理人在代理的基礎上爲基金分配創設單位。分銷商不維持基金股票的二級市場。這個分銷商在決定基金或以下證券的政策方面沒有任何作用由基金購買或出售。經銷商的主要地址是哈德遜碼50碼，紐約，NY 10001。
博鰲亞洲論壇或其附屬機構向經紀自營商、註冊投資顧問、銀行或其他中介機構(一起，“中介機構”)與市場營銷相關活動和演示、教育培訓方案、會議、開發技術平台和報告系統、數據提供服務、或他們將基金和某些其他iShares基金的股份提供給他們的一般客戶和某些投資項目的客戶。這類付款，可對中介機構有重大意義的，都不是由基金做出的。相反，這樣的付款由博鰲亞洲論壇或其附屬機構從自己的資源中製作，這些資源直接或間接部分來自iShares Funds Complex支付的費用。此類型的付款有時被稱爲收入分享支付。金融中介機構可以決定它推薦或提供哪些投資選擇，或者根據付款或其他條件向其客戶提供的服務級別它有資格獲得經濟獎勵。因此，這種付款或其他財務上的向中間人提供或作出的激勵會造成中間人與中間人之間的利益衝突中介機構及其客戶，並可促使中介機構推薦基金或其他iShares基金而不是另一項投資。有關以下內容的更多信息這些付款包含在基金的SAI中。請聯繫您的銷售人員或其他投資專業人士了解有關任何此類的更多信息 他或她的公司可能從BFA或其附屬公司收到的付款。
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財務摘要
財務亮點表旨在幫助投資者了解基金的 過去五年的財務表現。某些信息反映財務狀況 基金單一份額的結果。表中的總回報代表比率 假設投資者在基金投資中會盈利（或虧損） 所有股息和分配的再投資。此信息已由以下人員審核 普華永道會計師事務所（PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP）的報告以及該基金的財務狀況 聲明，見基金年度報告（可根據要求提供）。
財務摘要
(For每個時期的流通股）
 
 
IShares MSCI美國動能因子ETF
 
止年度
07/31/23
止年度
07/31/22
止年度
07/31/21
止年度
07/31/20
止年度
07/31/19
 
淨資產價值，開始
年份的
143.35
175.04
140.10
120.79
111.68
淨投資收入(a)
2.79
1.79
0.85
1.50
1.67
淨實現和未實現
得(損)(b)
3.83
(31.95
)
34.86
19.53
9.03
淨增加（減少）
投資運營
6.62
(30.16
)
35.71
21.03
10.70
 
淨分配
投資收益(c)
(3.21
)
(1.53
)
(0.77
)
(1.72
)
(1.59
)
資產淨值，年末
年
$146.76
$143.35
$175.04
$140.10
$120.79
總回報(d)
基於淨資產價值
4.80
%
(17.35
)%
25.57
%
17.71
%
9.71
%
與平均淨比率
資產(e)
總費用
0.15
%
0.15
%
0.15
%
0.15
%
0.15
%
淨投資收入
1.95
%
1.07
%
0.53
%
1.22
%
1.49
%
補充數據
淨資產，年底（000）
$9,113,598
$10,041,855
$14,493,017
$10,647,455
$10,176,170
投資組合流動率(f)
111
%
125
%
107
%
160
%
138
%
(a)
根據平均流通股計算。
(b)
已發行股票的報告金額可能與證券總損益的變化不一致 由於資本份額交易時間與基金市值波動相關而導致的財政期 基礎證券。
(c)
根據美國聯邦所得稅法規確定的年度分配。
(d)
在適用的情況下，假定分配的再投資。
(e)
不包括因投資基礎基金而間接產生的費用和開支。
(f)
投資組合週轉率不包括實物交易。
28
索引提供程序
MSCI是一家向全球投資者提供投資決策支持工具的公司。MSCI明晟產品和服務包括指數、投資組合風險和業績分析，以及治理工具。MSCI不隸屬於信託、BFA、分銷商或任何他們各自的分支機構。
博鰲亞洲論壇或其附屬公司已與指數提供商簽訂了許可協議，以使用基礎指數。博鰲亞洲論壇或其附屬公司在基礎指數中再許可權利免費贈送給信託基金。
聲明
該基金不是由MSCI或任何附屬公司贊助、背書、銷售或推廣MSCI的。摩根士丹利資本國際或任何其他各方均未作出任何陳述或向基金股份擁有人作出明示或默示保證公衆對一般投資基金是否可取的意見或特別是在基金或標的指數的跟蹤能力整體市場表現。MSCI是某些商標的許可方，MSCI和標的指數的服務標記和商品名稱，即由MSCI決定、組成和計算，而不考慮基金的證券或基金。MSCI沒有義務滿足以下需求基金證券的發行人或基金股份的持有者在確定、組成或計算標的指數時的考慮因素。MSCI不負責，也沒有參與確定發行或發行基金股份的時間、價格或數量基金份額方程式的確定或計算可以兌換成現金。摩根士丹利資本國際或任何其他各方都沒有義務或對基金股份擁有人所負的與基金股票的管理、營銷或交易。
儘管MSCI應獲取信息以納入或用於在MSCI來源指數計算中的應用認爲可靠，摩根士丹利資本國際或任何其他方都不擔保索引或任何數據的準確性和/或完整性包括在其中。摩根士丹利資本國際或其他任何一方都沒有做出任何對結果的明示或默示的保證被許可人、被許可人的客戶和交易對手、基金的份額，或任何其他個人或實體不受索引或其中包含的與根據本協議授權的權利或任何其他用途。摩根士丹利資本國際和任何其他方作出任何明示或默示保證，並且MSCI在此明確表示不對以下各項作出任何保證對某一特定目的的適銷性或適合性添加到索引或其中包含的任何數據。在不限制任何在上述任何情況下，MSCI或任何其他方均不得對任何直接、間接、特殊、懲罰性、由此產生的或任何其他損害(包括利潤損失)如果被告知這種損害的可能性。
29
基金的股票不是由CBOE BZX贊助、背書或推廣的。CBOE BZX對以下內容不作任何明示或暗示的陳述或擔保基金股份持有人或任何公衆人士是否有能力以追蹤標的指數的總回報表現或標的指數跟蹤市場表現的能力。CBOE BZX是不負責任，也沒有參與確定編制或計算標的指數，也不在確定中發行該基金股份的時間、價格或數量；或在確定或計算用來計算股票的方程式時可贖回的。CBOE BZX對以下股份的所有者不承擔義務或責任與股份的管理、推廣或交易有關的基金基金。
CBOE BZX不保證以下內容的準確性和/或完整性基礎指數或其中包括的任何數據。CBOE BZX不提供任何保修，明示或默示信託代表作爲持牌人的基金、持牌人的客戶和交易對手、基金或任何其他個人或實體不得使用標的指數或其中包括的與所述被許可的權利相關的任何數據在此或用於任何其他用途。CBOE BZX不作明示或默示保證並在此明確表示不對以下產品的適銷性或適用性作出任何保證與標的指數或所包括的任何數據有關的特定目的在那裏。在不限制上述任何規定的情況下，CBOE BZX在任何情況下都不應擁有對任何直接、間接、特殊、懲罰性、後果性或任何其他損害(包括利潤損失)，即使被告知可能發生損害賠償。
標的指數過去的表現並不是未來的指南性能。博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬公司不保證準確性或基礎指數或其中包括的任何數據和BFA的完整性及其附屬公司不對任何錯誤、遺漏或其中的中斷。博鰲亞洲論壇及其附屬公司不作任何擔保、明示或向基金股份擁有人或任何其他人士或實體默示，關於基金使用標的指數應取得的成果或其中包含的任何數據。在不限制上述任何內容的情況下，在任何情況下博鰲亞洲論壇或其附屬機構是否對任何特殊的、懲罰性的、直接的間接、後果性或任何其他損害(包括利潤損失)，即使被告知這種損害的可能性。
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關於基金的資產淨值、市場價格、溢價和折扣以及買賣情況的資料價差可在以下位置找到Www.iShares.com.招股說明書、SAI、股東報告副本 和其他信息（如適用且可用）可在我們的網站上找到 www.iShares.com.如需有關基金的更多信息，您可以索取SAI的副本。的 SAI提供了有關該基金的詳細信息，並通過引用納入本文件 招股說明書這意味着，出於法律目的，最高審計審計機構是本招股說明書的一部分。
有關基金投資的更多信息已或將在基金的 向股東提交的年度和半年度報告。在基金的年度報告中，您會發現 討論顯着影響 基金上一財年的表現。
如果您對信託或基金股份有任何疑問或希望獲得SAI， 免費半年度或年度報告，請： 
電話：
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寫：
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1 University Square Drive，Princeton，NY 08540
有關該基金的報告和其他信息可在EDGAR數據庫中獲取 SEC網站www.sec.gov，在支付 複製費，請通過以下電子郵件地址進行電子請求：publicinfo@sec.gov。
任何人均無權提供有關基金的任何信息或作出任何陳述 及其股份未包含在本招股說明書中，您不應依賴任何其他信息。 閱讀並保留本招股說明書，以供將來參考。
©2023貝萊德公司All rights reserved. iShares® 和 貝萊德®註冊 BFA及其附屬公司的商標。所有其他標記均爲其各自所有者的財產。
投資公司法檔案號：811-09729
IS-P-MTUm-0224
 
 

iShares® Trust
Statement of Additional Information
Dated December 1, 2023
(as revised March 1, 2024)
This combined Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the current prospectuses (each, a “Prospectus” and collectively, the “Prospectuses”) for the following series of iShares Trust (the “Trust”):
 
Fund
Ticker
Listing Exchange
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
FXI
NYSE Arca
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
ESMV
Nasdaq
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
INTF
NYSE Arca
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
ISCF
NYSE Arca
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
EFA
NYSE Arca
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
EFG
Cboe BZX
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
EFAV
Cboe BZX
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
SCZ
Nasdaq
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
EFV
Cboe BZX
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
EUFN
Nasdaq
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
IEUS
Nasdaq
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
IMTM
NYSE Arca
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
IQLT
NYSE Arca
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
ISZE
NYSE Arca
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
IVLU
NYSE Arca
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
USMV
Cboe BZX
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
MTUM
Cboe BZX
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
QUAL
Cboe BZX
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
SIZE
NYSE Arca
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
SMMV
Cboe BZX
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
VLUE
Cboe BZX
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
LRGF
NYSE Arca
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
SMLF
NYSE Arca
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
TECB
NYSE Arca
The Prospectuses for the above-listed funds (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) are dated December 1, 2023, as amended and supplemented from time to time. Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the applicable Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. The Financial Statements and Notes contained in the applicable Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report of the Trust for the Funds are incorporated by reference into and are deemed to be part of this SAI. Each Fund's Annual Report is located here1 or here2. Each Fund's Semi-Annual Report is located here1 or here2. A copy of each Fund's Prospectus, Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust's distributor, BlackRock Investments, LLC (the “Distributor” or “BRIL”), 1 University Square Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540, calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) or visiting www.iShares.com. Each Fund's Prospectus is incorporated by reference into this SAI.
References to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act” or the “1940 Act”), or other applicable law, will include any rules promulgated thereunder and any guidance, interpretations or modifications by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, including court interpretations, and exemptive, no action or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
iShares® and BlackRock® are registered trademarks of BlackRock Fund Advisors and its affiliates.

ICE® is a registered trademark of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. or its affiliates.
1
Annual and Semi-Annual Report for each of the below funds, for which Citibank serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent:
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares USA Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF and iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
2
Annual and Semi-Annual Report for each of the below funds, for which State Street serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent:
iShares China Large-Cap ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF, and iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF

TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
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A-1
v

General Description of the Trust and its Funds
The Trust currently consists of more than 330 investment series or portfolios. The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on December 16, 1999 and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act. The offering of the Trust’s shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). This SAI relates to the following Funds:
•
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
•
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
•
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
•
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF1
•
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
•
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
•
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
•
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
•
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
•
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
•
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
•
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
•
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
•
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF2
•
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
1
On March 1, 2023, the name of the Fund changed from the iShares MSCI Intl Small-Cap Multifactor ETF to the iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF. On March 1, 2023, the Fund’s Underlying Index changed from the MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Diversified Multiple-Factor Index to the STOXX International Small-Cap Equity Factor Index.
2
On March 1, 2023, the name of the Fund changed from the iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Multifactor ETF to the iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF. On March 1, 2023, the Fund’s Underlying Index changed from the MSCI USA Small Cap Diversified Multiple-Factor Index to the STOXX U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor Index.
Each Fund is managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc., and generally seeks to track the investment results of the specific benchmark index identified in the applicable Prospectus for that Fund (each, an “Underlying Index”).
Each Fund offers and issues shares at their net asset value per share (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (each, a “Creation Unit”), generally in exchange for a designated portfolio of securities, assets or other positions (including any portion of such securities for which cash may be substituted) included in its Underlying Index (the “Deposit
1

Securities” or “Creation Basket”), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). Shares of the Funds are listed for trading on national securities exchanges (a “Listing Exchange”) such as Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe BZX”), The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) or NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”). Shares of each Fund are traded in the secondary market and elsewhere at market prices that may be at, above or below the Fund's NAV. Shares are redeemable only in Creation Units by Authorized Participants (as defined in the Creation and Redemption of Creation Units-Role of the Authorized Participant section of this SAI) and, generally, in exchange for portfolio securities and a Cash Amount (as defined in the Redemption of Creation Units section of this SAI). Creation Units typically are a specified number of shares, generally ranging from 50,000 to 600,000 or multiples thereof.
The Trust reserves the right to permit or require that creations and redemptions of shares are effected fully or partially in cash and reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of cash. Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities, subject to various conditions, including a requirement that the Authorized Participant maintain with the Trust collateral as set forth in the Handbook for Authorized Participants. The Trust may use such collateral at any time to purchase Deposit Securities. See the Creation and Redemption of Creation Units section of this SAI. Transaction fees and other costs associated with creations or redemptions that include a cash portion may be higher than the transaction fees and other costs associated with in-kind creations or redemptions. In all cases, conditions with respect to creations and redemptions of shares and fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of SEC rules and regulations applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.
Exchange Listing and Trading
A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in each Fund is contained in the Shareholder Information section of each Fund's Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, that section of the applicable Prospectus.
Shares of each Fund are listed for trading, and trade throughout the day, on the applicable Listing Exchange and in other secondary markets. Shares of certain Funds may also be listed on certain non-U.S. exchanges. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Listing Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of any Fund will continue to be met. The Listing Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the shares of a Fund from listing if, among other things: (i) a Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the Investment Company Act; (ii) any of the other listing requirements are not continuously maintained; or (iii) any event shall occur or condition shall exist that, in the opinion of the Listing Exchange, makes further dealings on the Listing Exchange inadvisable. The Listing Exchange will also remove shares of a Fund from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund.
As in the case of other publicly-traded securities, when you buy or sell shares of a Fund through a broker, you may incur a brokerage commission determined by that broker, as well as other charges.
The Trust reserves the right to adjust the share price of the Funds in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the Funds or an investor's equity interest in the Funds.
Investment Strategies and Risks
Each Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in securities issued by issuers that compose its relevant Underlying Index and in investments that provide substantially similar exposure to securities in the Underlying Index. Each Fund operates as an index fund and is not actively managed. Adverse performance of a security in a Fund’s portfolio will ordinarily not result in the elimination of the security from the Fund’s portfolio.
Each Fund engages in representative sampling, which is investing in a sample of securities selected by BFA to have a collective investment profile similar to that of the Fund's Underlying Index. Securities selected have aggregate investment characteristics (based on market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability, earnings valuation and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those of the Fund’s Underlying Index. A fund that uses representative sampling generally does not hold all of the securities that are in its underlying index.
2

Although the Funds do not seek leveraged returns, certain instruments used by the Funds may have a leveraging effect as described below.
Borrowing.  Each Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes, including to meet payments due from redemptions or to facilitate the settlement of securities or other transactions.
The purchase of securities while borrowings are outstanding may have the effect of leveraging a Fund. The incurrence of leverage increases a Fund’s exposure to risk, and borrowed funds are subject to interest costs that will reduce net income. Purchasing securities while borrowings are outstanding creates special risks, such as the potential for greater volatility in the NAV of Fund shares and in the yield on a Fund’s portfolio. In addition, the interest expenses from borrowings may exceed the income generated by a Fund’s portfolio and, therefore, the amount available (if any) for distribution to shareholders as dividends may be reduced. BFA may determine to maintain outstanding borrowings if it expects that the benefits to a Fund’s shareholders will outweigh the current reduced return.
Certain types of borrowings by a Fund must be made from a bank or may result in a Fund being subject to covenants in credit agreements relating to asset coverage, portfolio composition requirements and other matters. It is not anticipated that observance of such covenants would impede BFA’s management of a Fund’s portfolio in accordance with a Fund’s investment objectives and policies. However, a breach of any such covenants not cured within the specified cure period may result in acceleration of outstanding indebtedness and require a Fund to dispose of portfolio investments at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
Currency Transactions.  A currency forward contract is an over-the-counter (“OTC”) obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days greater than two days from the date on which the contract is agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A non-deliverable currency forward is an OTC currency forward settled in a specified currency, on a specified date, based on the difference between the agreed-upon exchange rate and the market exchange rate. A currency futures contract is a contract that trades on an organized futures exchange involving an obligation to deliver or acquire a specified amount of a specific currency, at a specified price and at a specified future time. Currency futures contracts may be settled on a net cash payment basis rather than by the sale and delivery of the underlying currency. Each Fund does not engage in currency transactions for the purpose of hedging against declines in the value of each Fund's assets that are denominated in a non-U.S. currency. A Fund may enter into non-U.S. currency forward and non-U.S. currency futures transactions to facilitate local securities settlements or to protect against currency exposure in connection with its distributions to shareholders, but may not enter into such contracts for speculative purposes.
Foreign exchange transactions involve a significant degree of risk and the markets in which foreign exchange transactions are effected may be highly volatile, highly specialized and highly technical. Significant changes, including changes in liquidity and prices, can occur in such markets within very short periods of time, often within minutes. Foreign exchange trading risks include, but are not limited to, exchange rate risk, counterparty risk, maturity gap, interest rate risk, and potential interference by foreign governments through regulation of local exchange markets, foreign investment or particular transactions in non-U.S. currency. If BFA utilizes foreign exchange transactions at an inappropriate time or judges market conditions, trends or correlations incorrectly, foreign exchange transactions may not serve their intended purpose of improving the correlation of a Fund's return with the performance of its Underlying Index and may lower the Fund’s return. A Fund could experience losses if the value of its currency forwards, options or futures positions were poorly correlated with its other investments or if it could not close out its positions because of an illiquid market or otherwise. In addition, a Fund could incur transaction costs, including trading commissions, in connection with certain non-U.S. currency transactions.
Diversification Status.  The following table sets forth the diversification status of each Fund: 
Diversified Funds
Non-Diversified Funds
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
 
3

Diversified Funds
Non-Diversified Funds
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
 
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
 
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
 
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
 
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
 
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
 
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
 
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
 
A fund classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act may not purchase securities of an issuer (other than (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and (ii) securities of other investment companies) if, with respect to 75% of its total assets, (a) more than 5% of the fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer or (b) the fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer. With respect to the remaining 25% of its total assets, the fund may invest more than 5% of its assets in one issuer. Under the 1940 Act, a fund cannot change its classification from diversified to non-diversified without shareholder approval.
 A “non-diversified” fund is a fund that is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. The securities of a particular issuer (or securities of issuers in particular industries) may constitute a significant percentage of the underlying index of such a fund and, consequently, the fund’s investment portfolio. This may adversely affect a fund’s performance or subject the fund’s shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by more diversified investment companies.
Each Fund (whether diversified or non-diversified) intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) for purposes of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and to relieve the Fund of any liability for U.S. federal income tax to the extent that its earnings are distributed to shareholders, provided that the Fund satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. Compliance with the diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code may limit the investment flexibility of the Funds and may make it less likely that the Funds will meet their respective investment objectives.
Futures, Options on Futures and Securities Options.  Futures contracts, options on futures and securities options may be used by a Fund to simulate investment in its Underlying Index, to facilitate trading or to reduce transaction costs. Each Fund may enter into futures contracts and options on futures that are traded on a U.S. or non-U.S. futures exchange. Each Fund will not use futures, options on futures or securities options for speculative purposes. Each Fund intends to use futures and options on futures in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) promulgated under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). BFA, with respect to certain Funds, has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 so that BFA, with respect to such Funds, is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. See the Regulation Regarding Derivatives section of this SAI for more information.
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Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific instrument or index at a specified future time and at a specified price. Stock index contracts are based on investments that reflect the market value of common stock of the firms included in the investments. Each Fund may enter into futures contracts to purchase securities indexes when BFA anticipates purchasing the underlying securities and believes prices will rise before the purchase will be made. Upon entering into a futures contract, a Fund will be required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents known as “initial margin,” which is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract and is returned to the Fund upon termination of the futures contract if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” will be made to and from the broker daily as the price of the instrument or index underlying the futures contract fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking-to-market.” At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, each Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position, which will operate to terminate the Fund’s existing position in the contract. An option on a futures contract, as contrasted with a direct investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser the right, but no obligation, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the underlying futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option. Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account that represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract.
The potential for loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option plus transaction costs. Because the value of the option is fixed at the point of sale, there are no daily cash payments by the purchaser to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option changes daily and that change would be reflected in the NAV of each Fund. The potential for loss related to writing call options is unlimited. The potential for loss related to writing put options is limited to the agreed-upon price per share, also known as the “strike price,” less the premium received from writing the put. Certain of the Funds may purchase and write put and call options on futures contracts that are traded on an exchange as a hedge against changes in value of their portfolio securities or in anticipation of the purchase of securities, and may enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing positions. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected.
Securities options may be used by a Fund to obtain access to securities in its Underlying Index or to dispose of securities in its Underlying Index at favorable prices, to invest cash in a securities index that offers similar exposure to that provided by its Underlying Index or otherwise to achieve the Fund’s objective of tracking its Underlying Index. A call option gives a holder the right to purchase a specific security at a specified price (“exercise price”) within a specified period of time. A put option gives a holder the right to sell a specific security at an exercise price within a specified period of time. The initial purchaser of a call option pays the “writer” a premium, which is paid at the time of purchase and is retained by the writer whether or not such option is exercised. Each Fund may purchase put options to hedge its portfolio against the risk of a decline in the market value of securities held and may purchase call options to hedge against an increase in the price of securities it is committed to purchase. Each Fund may write put and call options along with a long position in options to increase its ability to hedge against a change in the market value of the securities it holds or is committed to purchase. Each Fund may purchase or sell securities options on a U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchange or in the OTC market through a transaction with a dealer. Options on a securities index are typically settled on a net basis based on the appreciation or depreciation of the index level over the strike price. Options on single name securities may be cash- or physically-settled, depending upon the market in which they are traded. Options may be structured so as to be exercisable only on certain dates or on a daily basis. Options may also be structured to have conditions to exercise (i.e., “Knock-in Events”) or conditions that trigger termination (i.e., “Knock-out Events”).
Lending Portfolio Securities.  Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain borrowers that BFA determines to be creditworthy, including borrowers affiliated with BFA. The borrowers provide collateral that is maintained in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned. No securities loan shall be made on behalf of a Fund if, as a result, the aggregate value of all securities loans of the particular Fund exceeds one-third of the value of such Fund's total assets (including the value of the collateral received). A Fund may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the return of the securities loaned. Each Fund receives, by way of substitute payment, the value of any interest or cash or non-cash distributions paid on the loaned securities that it would have otherwise received if the securities were not on loan.
With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the borrower may be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. The Funds are compensated by any positive difference between the amount earned on the reinvestment of
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cash collateral and the fee paid to the borrower. In the case of collateral other than cash, a Fund is compensated by a fee paid by the borrower equal to a percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. Any cash collateral received by the Fund for such loans, and uninvested cash, may be reinvested in certain short-term instruments either directly on behalf of each Fund or through one or more joint accounts or money market funds, including those affiliated with BFA; such investments are subject to investment risk.
Each Fund conducts its securities lending pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC permitting it to lend portfolio securities to borrowers affiliated with the Fund and to retain an affiliate of the Fund to act as securities lending agent. To the extent that a Fund engages in securities lending, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”) acts as securities lending agent for the Fund, subject to the overall supervision of BFA. BTC administers the lending program in accordance with guidelines approved by the Trust's Board of Trustees (the “Board,” the trustees of which are the “Trustees”). JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”) serves as custodian for certain Funds in connection with certain securities lending activities.
Securities lending involves exposure to certain risks, including operational risk (i.e., the risk of losses resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process), “gap” risk (i.e., the risk of a mismatch between the return on cash collateral reinvestments and the fees a Fund has agreed to pay a borrower), foreign exchange risk (i.e., the risk of a shortfall at default when a cash collateral investment is denominated in a currency other than the currency of the assets being loaned due to movements in foreign exchange rates), and credit, legal, counterparty and market risks (including the risk that market events, including but not limited to corporate actions, could lead the Fund to lend securities that are trading at a premium due to increased demand, or to recall loaned securities or to lend less or not at all, which could lead to reduced securities lending revenue). If a Fund were to lend out securities that are subject to a corporate action and commit to the borrower a particular election as determined by the Funds’ investment adviser, the benefit the Fund would receive in respect of committing to such election may or may not be less than the benefit the Fund would have received from making a different election in such corporate action. If a securities lending counterparty were to default, a Fund would be subject to the risk of a possible delay in receiving collateral or in recovering the loaned securities, or to a possible loss of rights in the collateral. In the event a borrower does not return a Fund’s securities as agreed, the Fund’s ability to participate in a corporate action event may be impacted, or the Fund may experience losses if the proceeds received from liquidating the collateral do not at least equal the value of the loaned security at the time the collateral is liquidated, plus the transaction costs incurred in purchasing replacement securities. This latter event could trigger adverse tax consequences for a Fund. A Fund could lose money if its short-term investment of the collateral declines in value over the period of the loan. Substitute payments received by a Fund representing dividends paid on securities loaned out by the Fund will not be considered qualified dividend income. BTC will take into account the tax effects on shareholders caused by this difference in connection with a Fund’s securities lending program. Substitute payments received on tax-exempt securities loaned out will not be tax-exempt income. There could also be changes in the status of issuers under applicable laws and regulations, including tax regulations, that may impact the regulatory or tax treatment of loaned securities and could, for example, result in a delay in the payment of dividend equivalent payments owed to a Fund (as permitted by applicable law).
Regulations adopted by global prudential regulators require certain bank-regulated counterparties and certain of their affiliates to include in certain financial contracts, including many securities lending agreements, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as the Fund, to terminate such agreements, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the counterparty and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. It is possible that these requirements, as well as potential additional government regulation and other developments in the market, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing securities lending agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Liquidity Risk Management.  Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act (the “Liquidity Rule”) requires open-end funds, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) such as the Funds, to establish a liquidity risk management program (the “Liquidity Program”) and enhance disclosures regarding fund liquidity. As required by the Liquidity Rule, the Funds have implemented a Liquidity Program, and the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, has appointed BFA as the administrator of the Liquidity Program. Under the Liquidity Program, BFA assesses, manages, and periodically reviews each Fund’s liquidity risk and classifies each investment held by a Fund as a “highly liquid investment,” “moderately liquid investment,” “less liquid investment” or “illiquid investment.” The Liquidity Rule defines “liquidity risk” as the risk that a Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by a Fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interest in a Fund. The liquidity of a Fund's portfolio investments is determined based on relevant market, trading
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and investment-specific considerations under the Liquidity Program. There are exclusions from certain portions of the liquidity risk management program requirements for “in-kind” ETFs, as defined in the Liquidity Rule. To the extent that an investment is deemed to be an illiquid investment or a less liquid investment, a Fund can expect to be exposed to greater liquidity risk.
Non-U.S. Securities.  Each Fund may purchase publicly traded common stocks of non-U.S. issuers. To the extent a Fund invests in stocks of non-U.S. issuers, certain of the Fund's investments in such stocks may be in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively, “depositary receipts”). Depositary receipts are receipts, typically issued by a bank or trust issuer, which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer. Depositary receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. ADRs typically are issued by a U.S. bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer. EDRs, which are sometimes referred to as continental depositary receipts, are receipts issued in Europe, typically by foreign banks and trust companies, that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic underlying securities. GDRs are depositary receipts structured like global debt issues to facilitate trading on an international basis. Generally, ADRs, issued in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and EDRs, issued in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the U.S. and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world.
Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. In addition to investment risks associated with the underlying issuer, depositary receipts expose a Fund to additional risks associated with the non-uniform terms that apply to depositary receipt programs, credit exposure to the depository bank and to the sponsors and other parties with whom the depository bank establishes the programs, currency risk and liquidity risk. Unsponsored programs, which are not sanctioned by the issuer of the underlying common stock, generally expose investors to greater risks than sponsored programs and do not provide holders with many of the shareholder benefits that come from investing in a sponsored depositary receipts.
Investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. These include differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards; the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation; adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations; political instability, which could affect U.S. investments in non-U.S. countries; and potential restrictions on the flow of international capital. Non-U.S. issuers may be subject to less governmental regulation than U.S. issuers. Moreover, individual non-U.S. economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product (“GDP”), rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions.
Regulation Regarding Derivatives.  The CFTC subjects advisers to registered investment companies to regulation by the CFTC if a fund that is advised by the adviser either (i) invests, directly or indirectly, more than a prescribed level of its liquidation value in CFTC-regulated futures, options and swaps (“CFTC Derivatives”) or (ii) markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. The CFTC also subjects advisers to registered investment companies to regulation by the CFTC if the registered investment company invests in one or more commodity pools. To the extent a Fund uses CFTC Derivatives, it intends to do so below such prescribed levels and intends not to market itself as a “commodity pool” or a vehicle for trading such instruments.
BFA has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the CEA pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA with respect to each of the Funds. BFA is not, therefore, subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA with respect to the Funds.
The iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF and iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF (the “No-Action Letter Funds”) may also have investments in “underlying funds” (and such underlying funds themselves may invest in underlying funds) not advised by BFA (the term “underlying fund” for purposes of the no-action letter referenced below may include, but is not limited to, certain securitized vehicles, mortgage or international real estate investment trusts, business development companies and, investment
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companies that may invest in CFTC Derivatives or in any of the foregoing), and therefore may be viewed by the CFTC as commodity pools. BFA may not have transparency into the holdings of these underlying funds because they are not advised by BFA. To address this issue of lack of transparency, the CFTC staff issued a no-action letter on November 29, 2012 permitting the adviser of a fund that invests in such underlying funds and that would otherwise have filed a claim of exclusion pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 to delay registration as a “commodity pool operator” until six months from the date on which the CFTC issues additional guidance on the treatment of CFTC Derivatives held by underlying funds. BFA, the adviser of the No-Action Letter Funds, has filed a claim with the CFTC for the Funds to rely on this no-action relief. Accordingly, BFA is not currently subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA in respect of the Funds.
Derivative contracts, including, without limitation, swaps, currency forwards, and non-deliverable forwards, are subject to regulation under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) in the U.S. and under comparable regimes in Europe, Asia and other non-U.S. jurisdictions. Swaps, non-deliverable forwards and certain other derivatives traded in the OTC market are subject to variation margin and initial margin requirements. Implementation of the margining and other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act regarding clearing, mandatory trading, reporting and documentation of swaps and other derivatives have impacted and may continue to impact the costs to a Fund of trading these instruments and, as a result, may affect returns to investors in a Fund.
Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act permits a Fund to enter into Derivatives Transactions (as defined below) and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the Investment Company Act. Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Funds, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).
Under Rule 18f-4, “Derivatives Transactions” include the following: (1) any swap, security-based swap (including a contract for differences), futures contract, forward contract, option (excluding purchased options), any combination of the foregoing, or any similar instrument, under which a Fund is or may be required to make any payment or delivery of cash or other assets during the life of the instrument or at maturity or early termination, whether as margin or settlement payment or otherwise; (2) any short sale borrowing; (3) reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions (e.g., recourse and non-recourse tender option bonds, and borrowed bonds), if a Fund elects to treat these transactions as Derivatives Transactions under Rule 18f-4; and (4) when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments, including to-be-announced (“TBA”) commitments, and dollar rolls) and non-standard settlement cycle securities, unless the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date (the “Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision”).
Unless a Fund is relying on the Limited Derivatives User Exception (as defined below), the Fund must comply with Rule 18f-4 with respect to its Derivatives Transactions. Rule 18f-4, among other things, requires a Fund to adopt and implement a comprehensive written derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and comply with a relative or absolute limit on Fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”). The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board, including a majority of Independent Directors/Trustees, and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.
Rule 18f-4 provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements if a Fund's “derivatives exposure” (as defined in Rule 18f-4) is limited to 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with Rule 18f-4) and the Fund adopts and implements written policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage its derivatives risks (the “Limited Derivatives User Exception”).
Repurchase Agreements.  A repurchase agreement is an instrument under which the purchaser (i.e., a Fund) acquires a security and the seller agrees, at the time of the sale, to repurchase the security at a mutually agreed-upon time and price, thereby determining the yield during the purchaser’s holding period. Repurchase agreements may be construed to be collateralized loans by the purchaser to the seller secured by the securities transferred to the purchaser. If a repurchase agreement is construed to be a collateralized loan, the underlying securities will not be considered to be owned by a Fund but only to constitute collateral for the seller’s obligation to pay the repurchase price, and, in the event of a default by the seller, the Fund may suffer time delays and incur costs or losses in connection with the disposition of the collateral.
In any repurchase transaction, the collateral for a repurchase agreement may include: (i) cash items; (ii) obligations issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities; or (iii) obligations that, at the time the repurchase agreement is
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entered into, are determined to (A) have exceptionally strong capacity to meet their financial obligations and (B) are sufficiently liquid such that they can be sold at approximately their carrying value in the ordinary course of business within seven days.
Repurchase agreements pose certain risks for a Fund that utilizes them. Such risks are not unique to the Funds, but are inherent in repurchase agreements. The Funds seek to minimize such risks, but because of the inherent legal uncertainties involved in repurchase agreements, such risks cannot be eliminated. Lower quality collateral and collateral with a longer maturity may be subject to greater price fluctuations than higher quality collateral and collateral with a shorter maturity. If the repurchase agreement counterparty were to default, lower quality collateral may be more difficult to liquidate than higher quality collateral. Should the counterparty default and the amount of collateral not be sufficient to cover the counterparty’s repurchase obligation, a Fund would likely retain the status of an unsecured creditor of the counterparty (i.e., the position a Fund would normally be in if it were to hold, pursuant to its investment policies, other unsecured debt securities of the defaulting counterparty) with respect to the amount of the shortfall. As an unsecured creditor, a Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. Generally, the effect of such transactions is that a Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while in many cases the Fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if a Fund has an opportunity to earn a rate of interest on the cash derived from these transactions that is greater than the interest cost of obtaining the same amount of cash. Opportunities to realize earnings from the use of the proceeds equal to or greater than the interest required to be paid may not always be available, and a Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when BFA believes it will be advantageous to the Fund. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any increase or decrease in the value of a Fund’s assets. The use of reverse repurchase agreements is a form of leverage, and the proceeds obtained by a Fund through reverse repurchase agreements may be invested in additional securities.
Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act permits a Fund to enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions (e.g., recourse and non-recourse tender option bonds, borrowed bonds) notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, provided that a Fund either (i) complies with the 300% asset coverage ratio with respect to such transactions and any other borrowings in the aggregate, or (ii) treats such transactions as Derivatives Transactions under Rule 18f-4. (See “Regulation Regarding Derivatives” above.)
Securities of Investment Companies.  Each Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies (including money market funds) and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) to the extent permitted by law. Pursuant to the 1940 Act, a Fund’s investment in registered investment companies is generally limited to, subject to certain exceptions: (i) 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any one investment company; (ii) 5% of a Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company; and (iii) 10% of a Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. Other investment companies in which a Fund may invest can be expected to incur fees and expenses for operations, such as investment advisory and administration fees, which would be in addition to those incurred by the Fund. Pursuant to guidance issued by the SEC staff, fees and expenses of money market funds used for cash collateral received in connection with loans of securities are not treated as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, which reflect a Fund’s pro rata share of the fees and expenses incurred by investing in other investment companies (as disclosed in the Prospectus, as applicable).
Short-Term Instruments and Temporary Investments.  Each Fund may invest in short-term instruments, including money market instruments, on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity or for other reasons. Money market instruments are generally short-term investments that may include, but are not limited to: (i) shares of money market funds (including those advised by BFA or otherwise affiliated with BFA); (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises); (iii) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), bankers’ acceptances, fixed-time deposits and other obligations of U.S. and non-U.S. banks (including non-U.S. branches) and similar institutions; (iv) commercial paper rated, at the date of purchase, “Prime-1” by Moody's® Investors Service, Inc., “F-1” by Fitch Ratings, Inc., or “A-1” by Standard & Poor's® Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global, Inc. (“S&P Global Ratings”), or if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by BFA; (v) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of not more than 397 days and that have been determined to present minimal credit risks, in accordance with the requirements set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act; (vi) repurchase agreements; and (vii) short-term U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of non-U.S. banks (including U.S.
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branches) that, in the opinion of BFA, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S. banks that may be purchased by a Fund. Any of these instruments may be purchased on a current or forward-settled basis. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions.
Swap Agreements.  Swap agreements are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on a pre-determined underlying investment or notional amount. In return, the other party agrees to make periodic payments to the first party based on the return (or a differential in rate of return) earned or realized on the underlying investment or notional amount. Swap agreements will usually be performed on a net basis, with a Fund receiving or paying only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if any, of a Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap is accrued on a daily basis.
Certain of the Funds may enter into swap agreements, including currency swaps, interest rate swaps and index swaps, and, for the iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, total return swaps (some of which may be referred to as contracts for difference or “CFDs”). The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. These transactions generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets.
Tracking Stocks.  A tracking stock is a separate class of common stock whose value is linked to a specific business unit or operating division within a larger company and is designed to “track” the performance of such business unit or division. The tracking stock may pay dividends to shareholders independent of the parent company. The parent company, rather than the business unit or division, generally is the issuer of tracking stock. However, holders of the tracking stock may not have the same rights as holders of the company’s common stock.
Future Developments.  The Board may, in the future, authorize each Fund to invest in securities contracts and investments, other than those listed in this SAI and in the applicable Prospectuses, provided they are consistent with each Fund's investment objective and do not violate any of its investment restrictions or policies.
General Considerations and Risks
A discussion of some of the principal risks associated with an investment in a Fund is contained in the applicable Prospectus.
An investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of stocks in general, and other factors that affect the market. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular risk factor.
Borrowing Risk.  Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the NAV of Fund shares and in the return on a Fund’s portfolio. Borrowing will cause a Fund to incur interest expense and other fees. The costs of borrowing may reduce a Fund’s return. Borrowing may cause a Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations.
Commodities Investment Risk.  Exposure to commodities markets may subject a Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The commodities markets have experienced periods of extreme volatility. Similar future market conditions may result in rapid and substantial valuation increases or decreases in a Fund’s holdings.
The commodities markets may fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors. Movements in commodity investment prices are outside of a Fund's control and may not be anticipated by BFA. Price movements may be influenced by, among other things: governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; changing market and economic conditions; market liquidity; weather and climate conditions, including droughts and floods; livestock disease; changing supply and demand relationships and levels of domestic production and imported commodities; changes in storage costs; the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems; energy conservation; the success of exploration projects; changes in international balances of payments and trade; domestic and foreign rates of inflation; currency devaluations and revaluations; domestic and foreign political and economic events; domestic and foreign interest rates and/or investor expectations concerning interest rates; foreign currency/exchange rates; domestic and foreign governmental regulation and taxation; war, acts of terrorism and other political upheaval and conflicts; governmental
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expropriation; investment and trading activities of mutual funds, hedge funds and commodities funds; and changes in philosophies and emotions of market participants. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted.
The prices of commodities can also fluctuate widely due to supply and demand disruptions in major producing or consuming regions. Certain commodities or natural resources may be produced in a limited number of countries and may be controlled by a small number of producers or groups of producers. As a result, political, economic, regulatory and supply-related events in such countries could have a disproportionate impact on the prices of such commodities.
A decrease in the production of a physical commodity or a decrease in the volume of such commodity available for transportation, mining, processing, storage or distribution may adversely impact the financial performance of a commodity or commodity-related company that devotes a portion of its business to that commodity. Production declines and volume decreases could be caused by various factors, including catastrophic events affecting production, depletion of resources, labor difficulties, environmental proceedings, increased regulations, equipment failures and unexpected maintenance problems, import supply disruption, governmental expropriation, political upheaval or conflicts or increased competition from alternative energy sources or commodity prices. Agricultural commodities may be adversely affected by weather or other natural phenomena, such as drought, floods and pests.
A sustained decline in demand for such commodities could also adversely affect the financial performance of commodity-related companies. Factors that could lead to a decline in demand include economic recession or other adverse economic conditions, higher taxes on commodities or increased governmental regulations, increases in fuel economy, consumer shifts to the use of alternative commodities or fuel sources, changes in commodity prices, or weather.
The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions and other disruptions due to, among other factors, lack of liquidity, the participation of speculators, and government regulation and other actions. U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices which may occur in a single business day (generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits”). The maximum or minimum price of a contract as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” If the limit price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made beyond the limit price. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices.
Custody Risk.  Custody risk refers to the risks inherent in the process of clearing and settling trades and to the holding of securities, cash and other assets by local banks, agents and depositories. Low trading volumes and volatile prices in less developed markets make trades harder to complete and settle, and governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that may not be subject to independent evaluation. Local agents are held only to the standards of care of their local markets, and thus may be subject to limited or no government oversight. Communications between the U.S. and emerging market countries may be unreliable, increasing the risk of delayed settlements or losses of security certificates. In general, the less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the likelihood of custody problems. Practices in relation to the settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed markets, in part because of the use of brokers and counterparties that are often less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable. The possibility of fraud, negligence or undue influence being exerted by the issuer or refusal to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets, and, along with other factors, could result in ownership registration being lost. In addition, the laws of certain countries may put limits on a Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank or depository or issuer of a security or an agent of any of the foregoing goes bankrupt. A Fund would absorb any loss resulting from such custody problems and may have no successful claim for compensation.
Dividend-Paying Stock Risk.  Investing in dividend-paying stocks involves the risk that such stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform the broader market. Companies that issue dividend-paying stocks are not required to pay or continue paying dividends on such stocks. It is possible that issuers of the stocks held by a Fund will not declare dividends in the future or will reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends (including reducing or eliminating anticipated accelerations or increases in the payment of dividends) in the future.
Illiquid Investments Risk.  Each Fund may not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without significantly changing the market value of the investment. The liquidity of an investment will be determined based on relevant market, trading and investment specific considerations as set out in the Liquidity Program as required by the
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Liquidity Rule. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount to comparable, more liquid investments and a Fund may not be able to dispose of illiquid investments in a timely fashion or at their expected prices. If illiquid investments exceed 15% of a Fund’s net assets, the Liquidity Rule and the Liquidity Program will require that certain remedial actions be taken.
Money Market Instruments Risk.  A Fund may hold money market instruments. The value of money market instruments may be affected by changes in interest rates or in the credit ratings of the investments, among other things. If a significant amount of a Fund's assets is invested in money market instruments, it may be more difficult for the Fund to achieve its investment objective. An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. It is possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund. Money market funds other than U.S. government money market funds and retail money market funds “float” their NAV instead of using a stable $1.00 per share price.
National Closed Market Trading Risk.  To the extent that the underlying securities held by a Fund trade on foreign exchanges or in foreign markets that are closed when the securities exchange on which a Fund’s shares trade is open, there are likely to be deviations between the current price of such an underlying security and the last quoted price for the underlying security (i.e., a Fund’s quote from the closed foreign market). The impact of a closed foreign market on a Fund is likely to be greater where a large portion of a Fund’s underlying securities and/or other assets trade on that closed foreign market or when the foreign market is closed for unscheduled reasons. These deviations may result in premiums or discounts to a Fund’s NAV that may be greater than those experienced by other ETFs.
Operational Risk.  BFA and a Fund's other service providers may experience disruptions or operating errors such as processing errors or human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, or systems or technology failures, that could negatively impact the Funds. While service providers are required to have appropriate operational risk management policies and procedures, their methods of operational risk management may differ from a Fund’s in the setting of priorities, the personnel and resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. BFA, through its monitoring and oversight of service providers, seeks to ensure that service providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to disruptions and operating errors. However, it is not possible for BFA or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the operational risks that may affect a Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects.
Reference Rate Replacement Risk.  A Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts. The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.
Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. A Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.
Risk of Derivatives.  A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, such as a security, a commodity (such as gold or silver), a currency or an index (a measure of value or rates, such as the S&P 500® or the prime lending rate). A Fund may invest in futures contracts, securities options, CFDs (for the iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF) and other derivatives. Compared to securities, derivatives can be more sensitive to
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changes in interest rates or to sudden fluctuations in market prices and thus a Fund’s losses may be greater if it invests in derivatives than if it invests only in conventional securities. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligations. Derivatives generally involve the incurrence of leverage.
When a derivative is used as a hedge against a position that a Fund holds or is committed to purchase, any loss generated by the derivative generally should be substantially offset by gains on the hedged investment, and vice versa. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains, and in some cases, hedging can cause losses that are not offset by gains, and a Fund will recognize losses on both the investment and the hedge. Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that a Fund's hedging transactions, which entail additional transaction costs, will be effective.
Risk of Equity Securities.  An investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in an investment in equity securities, including the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of stock markets may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the portfolio securities and thus in the value of shares of the Fund). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions of their issuers change. These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors, including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or regional political, economic or banking crises. Common stocks may experience extreme price volatility due to actions taken by particular investors or groups of investors (for example, retail investors influenced by social media activity or other media coverage or significant “short” positions taken by institutional investors).
Holders of common stocks incur more risks than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders generally have rights to receive payments from stock issuers that are inferior to the rights of creditors, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks. Further, unlike debt securities, which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (the value of which, however, is subject to market fluctuations prior to maturity), or preferred stocks, which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity date. In addition, issuers may, in times of distress or at their own discretion, decide to reduce or eliminate dividends, which may also cause their stock price to decline.
Although most of the securities in each Underlying Index are listed on a securities exchange, the principal trading market for some of the securities may be in the OTC market. The existence of a liquid trading market for certain securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in such securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made or maintained or that any such market will be or remain liquid. The price at which securities may be sold and the value of a Fund’s shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities are limited or absent, or if bid/ask spreads are wide.
Risk of Futures and Options on Futures Transactions.  There are several risks accompanying the utilization of futures contracts and options on futures contracts. A position in futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be closed only on the exchange on which the contract was made (or a linked exchange). While each Fund plans to utilize futures contracts only if an active market exists for such contracts, there is no guarantee that a liquid market will exist for the contract at a specified time. Futures contracts, by definition, project price levels in the future and not current levels of valuation; therefore, market circumstances may result in a discrepancy between the price of the future and the movement in a Fund's Underlying Index. In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if a Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, a Fund may be required to deliver the instruments underlying the futures contracts it has sold.
The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered stock index futures contracts) is potentially unlimited. The Funds do not plan to use futures and options contracts in this way. The risk of a futures position may still be large as traditionally measured due to the low margin deposits required. In many cases, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required margin deposit. The Funds, however, intend to utilize futures and options contracts in a manner designed to limit their risk exposure to levels comparable to a direct investment in the types of stocks in which they invest.
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Utilization of futures and options on futures by a Fund involves the risk of imperfect or even negative correlation to its Underlying Index if the index underlying the futures contract differs from the Underlying Index. There is also the risk of loss of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom a Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option. The purchase of put or call options will be based upon predictions by BFA as to anticipated trends, which predictions could prove to be incorrect.
Because the futures market generally imposes less burdensome margin requirements than the securities market, an increased amount of participation by speculators in the futures market could result in price fluctuations. Certain financial futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount by which the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. It is possible that futures contract prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting each Fund to substantial losses. In the event of adverse price movements, each Fund would be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin.
Risk of Investing in Non-U.S. Equity Securities.  An investment in any of the Funds that invest, directly or indirectly, in non-U.S. equity securities involves risks similar to those of investing in portfolios of equity securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges. These risks include market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments in those foreign countries, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. Investing in securities issued by issuers domiciled in countries other than the domicile of the investor and denominated in currencies other than an investor’s local currency entails certain considerations and risks not typically encountered by the investor in making investments in its home country and in that country’s currency. These considerations include favorable or unfavorable changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations and the costs that may be incurred in connection with conversions between various currencies. Investing in any of the Funds also involves certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in a fund whose portfolio contains exclusively securities of U.S. issuers. These risks include generally less liquid and less efficient securities markets; generally greater price volatility; less publicly available information about issuers; the imposition of withholding or other taxes; the imposition of restrictions on the expatriation of funds or other assets of the Funds; higher transaction and custody costs; delays and risks attendant in settlement procedures; difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations; lower liquidity and significantly smaller market capitalization; different accounting and disclosure standards; lower levels of regulation of the securities markets; more substantial government interference with the economy and businesses; higher rates of inflation; greater social, economic, and political uncertainty; the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets; and the risk of war.
Risk of Swap Agreements.  The risk of loss with respect to swaps is generally limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. Swap agreements are subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will default on its obligations to pay a Fund and the risk that a Fund will not be able to meet its obligations to pay the other party to the agreement. If such a default occurs, the parties will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. However, such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect such Fund’s rights as a creditor (e.g., a Fund may not receive the net amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). Swap agreements may also involve the risk that there is an imperfect correlation between the return on a Fund's obligation to its counterparty and the return on the referenced asset. In addition, swap agreements are subject to market and liquidity risk, leverage risk and hedging risk.
A Fund is required to post and collect variation margin and initial margin (comprised of specified liquid securities subject to haircuts) in connection with trading of OTC swaps. These requirements may raise the costs for a Fund’s investment in swaps.
Tracking Error Risk.  A Fund may be subject to tracking error, which is the divergence of a Fund’s performance from that of the applicable underlying index. Tracking error may occur because of differences between the securities and other instruments held in a Fund’s portfolio and those included in its applicable underlying index, pricing differences, transaction costs incurred by a Fund, a Fund’s holding of uninvested cash, differences in timing of the accrual of or the valuation of dividends or interest received by a Fund or distributions paid to a Fund’s shareholders, the requirements to maintain pass-through tax treatment, portfolio transactions carried out to minimize the distribution of capital gains to shareholders, acceptance of custom baskets, changes to the applicable underlying index or the costs to a Fund of complying with various new or existing regulatory requirements. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other
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unusual market conditions. Tracking error also may result because a Fund incurs fees and expenses, while its applicable underlying index does not. Tracking error may occur due to differences between the methodologies used in calculating the value of the applicable Underlying Index and determining a Fund’s NAV.
When an issuer is introduced by an index provider into an index tracked by a Fund, BFA may conduct an analysis on such issuer’s securities to identify and screen for outlier high risk behavior (such as rapid or unusual price growth that does not appear to be supported by publicly available information on the business and assets of the issuer, unusual or significant short interest or lending activity, negative sentiment, suspended trading or incorrect free-float calculations, which could be indicators of possible irregularities, miscalculations or even fraud). If it identifies such behavior, BFA may, where appropriate, alert the index provider as to the alleged issue. The index provider has sole discretion for the determination as to whether to continue to include the issuer’s securities in the rebalancing of its index. If the securities continue to be included in the index, BFA may underweight or exclude such securities from a Fund’s portfolio and, if it does so, such a fund will be subject to increased tracking error due to the divergence in the securities included in its portfolio from its underlying index. BFA’s underweighting or excluding such securities may result in a decline in a Fund’s net asset value. The application of the abovementioned analysis and screening to a Fund and its Underlying Index is in the sole discretion of BFA and its affiliates (without any guarantees). The analysis and screening may not exclude any or all high risk securities from an Underlying Index or a Fund’s portfolio, and the inclusion of such securities will result in an adverse impact to a Fund’s net asset value if one or more such securities declines in value.
Volatility Risk.  The value of a security may fluctuate due to factors affecting markets generally or particular industries. This volatility may affect a Fund's NAV. Although certain of the Underlying Indexes were created to seek lower absolute volatility, there is no guarantee that these strategies will be successful. An underlying index's index provider may be unsuccessful in creating an index that minimizes volatility, and there is a risk that each Fund may experience more than minimum volatility. Securities in the Funds' portfolios may be subject to price volatility and their prices may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. Events or financial circumstances affecting individual securities or sectors may increase the volatility of the Funds.
Risk of Investing in Asia.   Investments in securities of issuers in certain Asian countries involve risks not typically associated with investments in securities of issuers in other regions. Such heightened risks include, among others, expropriation and/or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, piracy of intellectual property, data and other security breaches (especially of data stored electronically), political instability, including authoritarian and/or military involvement in governmental decision-making, armed conflict and social instability as a result of religious, ethnic and/or socio-economic unrest. Certain Asian economies have experienced rapid rates of economic growth and industrialization in recent years, and there is no assurance that these rates of economic growth and industrialization will be maintained.
Certain Asian countries have democracies with relatively short histories, which may increase the risk of political instability. These countries have faced political and military unrest, and further unrest could present a risk to their local economies and securities markets. Indonesia and the Philippines have each experienced violence and terrorism, which has negatively impacted their economies. North Korea and South Korea each have substantial military capabilities, and historical tensions between the two countries present the risk of war. Escalated tensions involving the two countries and any outbreak of hostilities between the two countries, or even the threat of an outbreak of hostilities, could have a severe adverse effect on the entire Asian region. Certain Asian countries have also developed increasingly strained relationships with the U.S., and if these relations were to worsen, they could adversely affect Asian issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade. Political, religious, and border disputes persist in India. India has recently experienced and may continue to experience civil unrest and hostilities with certain of its neighboring countries. Increased political and social unrest in these geographic areas could adversely affect the performance of investments in this region.
Certain governments in this region administer prices on several basic goods, including fuel and electricity, within their respective countries. Certain governments may exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector in their respective countries and may own or control many companies. Future government actions could have a significant effect on the economic conditions in this region, which in turn could have a negative impact on private sector companies. There is also the possibility of diplomatic developments adversely affecting investments in the region.
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Corruption and the perceived lack of a rule of law in dealings with international companies in certain Asian countries may discourage foreign investment and could negatively impact the long-term growth of certain economies in this region. In addition, certain countries in the region are experiencing high unemployment and corruption, and have fragile banking sectors.
Some economies in this region are dependent on a range of commodities, including oil, natural gas and coal. Accordingly, they are strongly affected by international commodity prices and particularly vulnerable to any weakening in global demand for these products. The market for securities in this region may also be directly influenced by the flow of international capital, and by the economic and market conditions of neighboring countries. China is a key trading partner of many Asian countries and any changes in trading relationships between China and other Asian countries may affect the region as a whole. Adverse economic conditions or developments in neighboring countries may increase investors' perception of the risk of investing in the region as a whole, which may adversely impact the market value of the securities issued by companies in the region.
Risk of Investing in Australasia.  The economies of Australasia, which include Australia and New Zealand, are dependent on exports from the agricultural and mining sectors. This makes Australasian economies susceptible to fluctuations in the commodity markets. Australasian economies are also increasingly dependent on their growing service and tourism industries. Australia and New Zealand are located in a part of the world that has historically been prone to natural disasters, such as drought and flooding. Any such event in the future could have a significant adverse impact on the economies of Australia and New Zealand and affect the value of securities held by a relevant Fund. The economies of Australia and New Zealand are dependent on trading with certain key trading partners, including Asia and the U.S. Economic events in the U.S., Asia, or in other key trading countries can have a significant economic effect on the Australasian economies. The economies of Australia and New Zealand are heavily dependent on the mining sector. Passage of new regulations limiting foreign ownership of companies in the mining sector or imposition of new taxes on profits of mining companies may dissuade foreign investment, and as a result, have a negative impact on companies to which a Fund has exposure.
Risk of Investing in China.  Investments in securities of companies domiciled in China involve a high degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in the U.S. securities markets. Such heightened risks include, among others, an authoritarian government, popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions, the impact of regional conflict on the economy and hostile relations with neighboring countries.
Military conflicts, either in response to internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries, could disrupt economic development. The Chinese economy is vulnerable to the long-running disagreements and religious and nationalist disputes with Tibet and the Xinjiang region. Since 1997, there have been tensions between the Chinese government and many people in Hong Kong who perceive China as tightening control over Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous liberal political, economic, legal, and social framework. Recent protests and unrest have increased tensions even further. Due to the interconnected nature of the Hong Kong and Chinese economies, this instability in Hong Kong may cause uncertainty in the Hong Kong and Chinese markets. China has a complex territorial dispute regarding the sovereignty of Taiwan and has made threats of invasion. Taiwan-based companies and individuals are significant investors in China. Military conflict between China and Taiwan may adversely affect securities of Chinese issuers. In addition, China has strained international relations with Japan, India, Russia and other neighbors due to territorial disputes, historical animosities and other defense concerns. Additionally, China is alleged to have participated in state-sponsored cyberattacks against foreign companies and foreign governments. Actual and threatened responses to such activity and strained international relations, including purchasing restrictions, sanctions, tariffs or cyberattacks on the Chinese government or Chinese companies, may impact China’s economy and Chinese issuers of securities in which a Fund invests. China could be affected by military events on the Korean peninsula or internal instability within North Korea. These situations may cause uncertainty in the Chinese market and may adversely affect the performance of the Chinese economy.
The Chinese government has implemented significant economic reforms in order to liberalize trade policy, promote foreign investment in the economy, reduce government control of the economy and develop market mechanisms. However, the Chinese government still exercises substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector and may own or control many companies. Chinese companies, such as those in the financial services or technology sectors, and potentially other sectors in the future, are subject to the risk that Chinese authorities can intervene in their operations and structure. The Chinese government continues to maintain a major role in economic policymaking, and investing in China involves risk of loss due to expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested.
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A Fund may invest in securities issued by variable interest entities (“VIEs”), which are subject to the investment risks associated with the underlying Chinese operating company. A VIE enters into service contracts and other contracts with the Chinese operating company, which provide the VIE with exposure to the company. Although the VIE has no equity ownership of the Chinese operating company, the contractual arrangements permit the VIE to consolidate the Chinese operating company into its financial statements. Intervention by the Chinese government with respect to VIEs could significantly affect the Chinese operating company’s performance and the enforceability of the VIE’s contractual arrangements with the Chinese company.
In addition, there is less regulation and monitoring of Chinese securities markets and the activities of investors, brokers and other participants than in the U.S. Accordingly, issuers of securities in China, including Chinese companies that are listed on U.S. exchanges, are not subject to the same degree of regulation as are U.S. issuers with respect to such matters as insider trading rules, tender offer regulation, accounting standards or auditor oversight, stockholder proxy requirements and the requirements mandating timely and accurate disclosure of information. Securities markets in China are in the process of change and further development. This may lead to trading volatility, difficulty in the settlement and recording of transactions and difficulty in interpreting and applying the relevant regulation.
There may be significant obstacles to obtaining information necessary for investigations into or litigation against Chinese companies, and shareholders may have limited legal remedies. The Funds are not actively managed and do not select investments based on investor protection considerations.
While the Chinese economy has experienced past periods of rapid growth, there is no assurance that such growth rates will recur. China may experience substantial rates of inflation, significant indebtedness or economic recessions, causing a negative effect on the economy and securities market. China’s economy is heavily dependent on export growth. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, supply chain diversification, institution of additional tariffs, sanctions or other trade barriers (including as a result of heightened trade tensions between China and the U.S. or in response to actual or alleged Chinese cyber activity) or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy and the companies in which a Fund invests. Certain Chinese companies (which may change from time to time) are directly or indirectly subject to economic or trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments due to national security, human rights or other concerns of such government. For example, certain foreign technology companies are subject to U.S. export controls as those companies are believed to pose a risk to U.S. interests. The U.S. also bans imports of goods produced in certain regions of China or by certain Chinese companies due to concerns about forced labor. Such restrictions may have unanticipated and adverse effects on the Chinese economy and companies. Any action that targets Chinese financial markets or securities exchanges could interfere with orderly trading, delay settlement or cause market disruptions. The Underlying Index of a Fund may include companies that are subject to economic or trade restrictions (but not investment restrictions) imposed by the U.S. or other governments. So long as these restrictions do not include restrictions on investments, the Fund is generally expected to invest in such companies, consistent with its objective to track the performance of its Underlying Index.
The tax laws and regulations in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) are subject to change, including the issuance of authoritative guidance or enforcement, possibly with retroactive effect. The interpretation, applicability and enforcement of such laws by PRC tax authorities are not as consistent and transparent as those of more developed nations, and may vary over time and from region to region. The application and enforcement of PRC tax rules could have a significant adverse effect on a Fund and its investors, particularly in relation to capital gains withholding tax imposed upon non-residents. In addition, the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices applicable to Chinese companies may be less rigorous, and may result in significant differences between financial statements prepared in accordance with the PRC accounting standards and practice and those prepared in accordance with international accounting standards.
Risk of Investing in Developed Countries.  Many countries with developed markets have recently experienced significant economic pressures. These countries generally tend to rely on the services sectors (e.g., the financial services sector) as the primary source of economic growth and may be susceptible to the risks of individual service sectors. For example, companies in the financial services sector are subject to governmental regulation and, recently, government intervention, which may adversely affect the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and amount of capital they must maintain. Dislocations in the financial sector and perceived or actual governmental influence over certain financial companies may lead to credit rating downgrades and, as a result, impact, among other things, revenue growth for such companies. If financial companies experience a prolonged decline in revenue growth, certain developed countries that rely heavily on financial companies as an economic driver may experience a correlative slowdown. Concerns have emerged with respect to the
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economic health of certain developed countries. These concerns primarily stem from heavy indebtedness of many developed countries and their perceived inability to continue to service high debt loads without simultaneously implementing stringent austerity measures. Such concerns have led to tremendous downward pressure on the economies of these countries. As a result, it is possible that interest rates on debt of certain developed countries may rise to levels that make it difficult for such countries to service such debt. Spending on health care and retirement pensions in most developed countries has risen dramatically. Medical innovation, extended life expectancy and higher public expectations are likely to continue the increase in health care and pension costs. Any increase in health care and pension costs will likely have a negative impact on the economic growth of many developed countries. Certain developed countries rely on imports of certain key items, such as crude oil, natural gas, and other commodities. As a result, an increase in demand for, or price fluctuations of, certain commodities may negatively affect developed country economies. Developed market countries generally are dependent on the economies of certain key trading partners. Changes in any one economy may cause an adverse impact on several developed countries. In addition, heavy regulation of, among others, labor and product markets may have an adverse effect on certain issuers. Such regulations may negatively affect economic growth or cause prolonged periods of recession. Such risks, among others, may adversely affect the value of a Fund’s investments.
Risk of Investing in Emerging Markets.  Investments in emerging market countries may be subject to greater risks than investments in developed countries. These risks include: (i) less social, political, and economic stability; (ii) greater illiquidity and price volatility due to smaller or limited local capital markets for such securities, or low or non-existent trading volumes; (iii) companies, custodians, clearinghouses, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers may be subject to less scrutiny and regulation by local authorities; (iv) local governments may decide to seize or confiscate securities held by foreign investors and/or local governments may decide to suspend or limit an issuer's ability to make dividend or interest payments; (v) local governments may limit or entirely restrict repatriation of invested capital, profits, and dividends; (vi) capital gains may be subject to local taxation, including on a retroactive basis; (vii) issuers facing restrictions on standard payments imposed by local governments may attempt to make dividend or interest payments to foreign investors in the local currency; (viii) there may be significant obstacles to obtaining information necessary for investigations into or litigation against companies and investors may experience difficulty in enforcing legal claims related to the securities and/or local judges may favor the interests of the issuer over those of foreign parties; (ix) bankruptcy judgments may only be permitted to be paid in the local currency; (x) limited public information regarding the issuer may result in greater difficulty in determining market valuations of the securities; and (xi) lack of financial reporting on a regular basis, substandard disclosure and differences in accounting standards may make it difficult to ascertain the financial health of an issuer. The Funds are not actively managed and do not select investments based on investor protection considerations.
Emerging market securities markets are typically marked by a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of ownership of such securities by a limited number of investors. In addition, brokerage and other costs associated with transactions in emerging market securities can be higher, sometimes significantly, than similar costs incurred in securities markets in developed countries. Although some emerging markets have become more established and tend to issue securities of higher credit quality, the markets for securities in other emerging market countries are in the earliest stages of their development, and these countries issue securities across the credit spectrum. Even the markets for relatively widely traded securities in emerging market countries may not be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the securities markets of developed countries. The limited size of many of these securities markets can cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the soundness and competitiveness of the securities issuers. For example, prices may be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions in these markets. Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets. The limited liquidity of emerging market country securities may also affect a Fund's ability to accurately value its portfolio securities or to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so or in order to meet redemption requests.
Many emerging market countries suffer from uncertainty and corruption in their legal frameworks. Legislation may be difficult to interpret and laws may be too new to provide any precedential value. Laws regarding foreign investment and private property may be weak or non-existent. Sudden changes in governments may result in policies which are less favorable to investors such as policies designed to expropriate or nationalize “sovereign” assets. Certain emerging market countries in the past have expropriated large amounts of private property, in many cases with little or no compensation, and there can be no assurance that such expropriation will not occur in the future.
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Investment in the securities markets of certain emerging market countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may limit a Fund's investment in certain emerging market countries and may increase the expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging market countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer's outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals.
Many emerging market countries lack the social, political, and economic stability characteristic of the U.S. Political instability among emerging market countries can be common and may be caused by an uneven distribution of wealth, social unrest, labor strikes, civil wars, and religious oppression. Economic instability in emerging market countries may take the form of: (i) high interest rates; (ii) high levels of inflation, including hyperinflation; (iii) high levels of unemployment or underemployment; (iv) changes in government economic and tax policies, including confiscatory taxation; and (v) imposition of trade barriers.
A Fund's income and, in some cases, capital gains from foreign securities will be subject to applicable taxation in certain of the emerging market countries in which it invests, and treaties between the U.S. and such countries may not be available in some cases to reduce the otherwise applicable tax rates.
Emerging markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain of these emerging markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions.
In the past, certain governments in emerging market countries have become overly reliant on the international capital markets and other forms of foreign credit to finance large public spending programs, which in the past have caused huge budget deficits. Often, interest payments have become too overwhelming for a government to meet, representing a large percentage of total GDP. These foreign obligations have become the subject of political debate and served as fuel for political parties of the opposition, which pressure the government not to make payments to foreign creditors, but instead to use these funds for, among other things, social programs. Either due to an inability to pay or submission to political pressure, foreign governments have been forced to seek a restructuring of their loan and/or bond obligations, have declared a temporary suspension of interest payments or have defaulted. These events have adversely affected the values of securities issued by foreign governments and corporations domiciled in those countries and have negatively affected not only their cost of borrowing, but their ability to borrow in the future as well.
Risk of Investing in Europe.  Investing in European countries may expose a Fund to the economic and political risks associated with Europe in general and the specific European countries in which it invests. The economies and markets of European countries are often closely connected and interdependent, and events in one European country can have an adverse impact on other European countries. A Fund makes investments in securities of issuers that are domiciled in, have significant operations in, or that are listed on at least one securities exchange within member states of the European Union (the “EU”). A number of countries within the EU are also members of the Economic and Monetary Union (the “eurozone”) and have adopted the euro as their currency. Eurozone membership requires member states to comply with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Changes in import or export tariffs, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro and other currencies of certain EU countries which are not in the eurozone, the default or threat of default by an EU member state on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in an EU member state may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other EU member states and their trading partners. Although certain European countries are not in the eurozone, many of these countries are obliged to meet the criteria for joining the eurozone.
Consequently, these countries must comply with many of the restrictions noted above. The European financial markets have experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns, government debt levels and the possible default of government debt in several European countries, including, but not limited to, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Ukraine. In order to prevent further economic deterioration, certain countries, without prior warning, can institute “capital controls.” Countries may use these controls to restrict volatile movements of capital entering and exiting their country. Such controls may negatively affect a Fund’s investments. A default or debt restructuring by any European country would adversely impact holders of that country’s debt and sellers of credit default swaps linked to that country’s creditworthiness, which may be located in countries other than those listed above. In addition, the credit ratings of certain European countries were downgraded in the past. These events have adversely affected
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the value and exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the euro and non-EU member states. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching and could adversely impact the value of a Fund’s investments in the region.
The United Kingdom (the “U.K.”) left the EU (“Brexit”) on January 31, 2020. Brexit could adversely affect European or worldwide political, regulatory, economic or market conditions and could contribute to instability in global political institutions, regulatory agencies and financial markets.
Certain European countries have also developed increasingly strained relationships with the U.S., and if these relations were to worsen, they could adversely affect European issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade. The national politics of countries in Europe have been unpredictable and subject to influence by disruptive political groups and ideologies, including for example, secessionist movements. The governments of European countries may be subject to change and such countries may experience social and political unrest. Unanticipated or sudden political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. The occurrence of terrorist incidents throughout Europe or war in the region also could impact financial markets. The impact of these events is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching and could adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Fund's investments.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The extent and duration of the military action, resulting sanctions and resulting future market disruptions, including declines in its stock markets and the value of the ruble against the U.S. dollar, are impossible to predict, but could be significant. Disruptions caused by Russian military action or other actions (including cyberattacks and espionage) or resulting actual and threatened responses to such activity, including purchasing and financing restrictions, boycotts or changes in consumer or purchaser preferences, sanctions, import and export restrictions, tariffs or cyberattacks on the Russian government, Russian companies or Russian individuals, including politicians, may impact Russia's economy, Russian issuers of securities in which a Fund invests, or the economies of Europe as a whole. Actual and threatened responses to Russian military action may also impact the markets for certain Russian commodities, such as oil and natural gas, as well as other sectors of the Russian economy, and are likely to have collateral impacts on such sectors across Europe and globally.
Risk of Investing in Japan.  Japan may be subject to political, economic, labor and other risks. Any of these risks, individually or in the aggregate, can impact an investment made in Japan.
Currency Risk. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times and any increase in its value may cause a decline in exports that could weaken the Japanese economy. Japan has, in the past, intervened in the currency markets to attempt to maintain or reduce the value of the yen. Japanese intervention in the currency markets could cause the value of the yen to fluctuate sharply and unpredictably and could cause losses to investors.
Economic Risk. The growth of Japan’s economy has recently lagged that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies. Since 2000, Japan’s economic growth rate has generally remained low relative to other advanced economies, and it may remain low in the future. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent on international trade and has been adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies and the economic conditions of its trading partners. Japan is also heavily dependent on oil imports, and higher commodity prices could therefore have a negative impact on the Japanese economy.
Geographic Risk. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and tsunamis, could occur in Japan or surrounding areas and could negatively affect the Japanese economy, and, in turn, could negatively affect a Fund.
Labor Risk. Japan has an aging workforce and has experienced a significant population decline in recent years. Japan’s labor market appears to be undergoing fundamental structural changes, as a labor market traditionally accustomed to lifetime employment adjusts to meet the need for increased labor mobility, which may adversely affect Japan’s economic competitiveness.
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Large Government and Corporate Debt Risk. The Japanese economy faces several concerns, including a financial system with large levels of nonperforming loans, over-leveraged corporate balance sheets, extensive cross-ownership by major corporations, a changing corporate governance structure, and large government deficits. These issues may cause a slowdown of the Japanese economy.
Political Risk. Historically, Japan has had unpredictable national politics and may experience frequent political turnover. Future political developments may lead to changes in policy that might adversely affect a Fund’s investments. In addition, China has become an important trading partner with Japan. Japan’s political relationship with China, however, has been strained. Should political tension increase, it could adversely affect the Japanese economy and destabilize the region as a whole.
Security Risk. Japan's relations with its neighbors, particularly China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, have at times been strained due to territorial disputes, historical animosities and defense concerns. Most recently, the Japanese government has shown concern over the increased nuclear and military activity by North Korea and China. Strained relations may cause uncertainty in the Japanese markets and adversely affect the overall Japanese economy, particularly in times of crisis.
Risk of Investing in the Middle East.  Many Middle Eastern countries have little or no democratic tradition, and the political and legal systems in such countries may have an adverse impact on a Fund. Many economies in the Middle East are highly reliant on income from the sale of oil and natural gas or trade with countries involved in the sale of oil and natural gas, and their economies are therefore vulnerable to changes in the market for oil and natural gas and foreign currency values. As global demand for oil and natural gas fluctuates, many Middle Eastern economies may be significantly impacted.
In addition, many Middle Eastern governments have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In certain cases, a Middle Eastern country’s government may own or control many companies, including some of the largest companies in the country. Accordingly, governmental actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions in Middle Eastern countries. This could affect private sector companies and a Fund, as well as the value of securities in a Fund's portfolio.
Certain Middle Eastern markets are in the earliest stages of development. As a result, there may be a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries. Brokers in Middle Eastern countries typically are fewer in number and less capitalized than brokers in the U.S.
The legal systems in certain Middle Eastern countries also may have an adverse impact on a Fund. For example, the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation generally is limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment. However, the notion of limited liability is less clear in certain Middle Eastern countries. A Fund therefore may be liable in certain Middle Eastern countries for the acts of a corporation in which it invests for an amount greater than its actual investment in that corporation. Similarly, the rights of investors in Middle Eastern issuers may be more limited than those of shareholders of a U.S. corporation. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain or enforce a legal judgment in a Middle Eastern country. Some Middle Eastern countries prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on investments in their capital markets, particularly their equity markets, by foreign entities such as a Fund. For example, certain countries may require governmental approval prior to investment by foreign persons or limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular issuer. Certain Middle Eastern countries may also limit investment by foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the issuer available for purchase by nationals of the relevant Middle Eastern country.
The manner in which foreign investors may invest in companies in certain Middle Eastern countries, as well as limitations on those investments, may have an adverse impact on the operations of a Fund. For example, in certain of these countries, a Fund may be required to invest initially through a local broker or other entity and then have the shares that were purchased re-registered in the name of a Fund. Re-registration in some instances may not be possible on a timely basis. This may result in a delay during which a Fund may be denied certain of its rights as an investor, including rights as to dividends or to be made aware of certain corporate actions. There also may be instances where a Fund places a purchase order but is subsequently informed, at the time of re-registration, that the permissible allocation of the investment to foreign investors has already been filled and, consequently, a Fund may not be able to invest in the relevant company.
Substantial limitations may exist in certain Middle Eastern countries with respect to a Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital gains. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to a Fund of any restrictions on investment.
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Certain Middle Eastern countries may be heavily dependent upon international trade and, consequently, have been and may continue to be negatively affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. These countries also have been and may continue to be adversely impacted by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade. In addition, certain issuers located in Middle Eastern countries in which a Fund invests may operate in, or have dealings with, countries subject to sanctions and/or embargoes imposed by the U.S. government and the United Nations, and/or countries identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. As a result, an issuer may sustain damage to its reputation if it is identified as an issuer which operates in, or has dealings with, such countries. A Fund, as an investor in such issuers, will be indirectly subject to those risks.
Certain Middle Eastern countries have strained relations with other Middle Eastern countries due to territorial disputes, historical animosities, international alliances, defense concerns or other reasons, which may adversely affect the economies of these Middle Eastern countries. Certain Middle Eastern countries experience significant unemployment, as well as widespread underemployment. There has also been a recent increase in recruitment efforts and an aggressive push for territorial control by terrorist groups in the region, which has led to an outbreak of warfare and hostilities. Warfare in Syria has spread to surrounding areas, including many portions of Iraq and Turkey. Such hostilities may continue into the future or may escalate at any time due to ethnic, racial, political, religious or ideological tensions between groups in the region or foreign intervention or lack of intervention, among other factors.
Risk of Investing in the United Kingdom.  Investment in U.K. issuers may subject a Fund to regulatory, political, currency, security, and economic risks specific to the U.K. The U.K. economy relies heavily on the export of financial services to the U.S. and other European countries. A prolonged slowdown in the financial services sector may have a negative impact on the U.K.’s economy. In the past, the U.K. has been a target of terrorism. Acts of terrorism in the U.K. or against U.K. interests abroad may cause uncertainty in the U.K. financial markets and adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which a Fund has exposure. Secessionist movements, such as the Catalan movement in Spain and the independence movement in Scotland, may have an adverse effect on the U.K. economy.
On January 31, 2020, the U.K. officially left the EU (Brexit), subject to a transitional period that ended December 31, 2020. The U.K. and EU have reached an agreement on the terms of their future trading relationship effective January 1, 2021, which principally relates to the trading of goods rather than services, including financial services. Further discussions are to be held between the U.K. and the EU in relation to matters not covered by the trade agreement, such as financial services. A Fund will face risks associated with the potential uncertainty and consequences that may follow Brexit, including with respect to volatility in exchange rates and interest rates. Brexit could adversely affect European or worldwide political, regulatory, economic or market conditions and could contribute to instability in global political institutions, regulatory agencies and financial markets. Brexit has also led to legal uncertainty and could lead to politically divergent national laws and regulations as a new relationship between the U.K. and EU is defined and the U.K. determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Any of these effects of Brexit could adversely affect any of the companies to which a Fund has exposure and any other assets that a Fund invests in. The political, economic and legal consequences of Brexit are not yet known. In the short term, financial markets may experience heightened volatility, particularly those in the U.K. and Europe, but possibly worldwide. The U.K. and Europe may be less stable than they have been in recent years, and investments in the U.K. and the EU may be difficult to value or subject to greater or more frequent volatility. In the longer term, there is likely to be a period of significant political, regulatory and commercial uncertainty as the U.K. continues to negotiate the terms of its future trading relationships. Recently, the U.K.'s real estate sector has experienced significant volatility and declines in the value of many real estate securities, including real estate funds, REITs and real estate holding companies. Increased volatility and investor redemption requests in real estate funds may result in the continued decline in the value and liquidity of real estate securities, which may impair the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities.
U.S. Economic Trading Partners Risk.  The U.S. is a significant, and in some cases the most significant, trading partner of, or foreign investor in, certain countries in which a Fund invests. As a result, economic conditions of such countries may be particularly affected by changes in the U.S. economy. A decrease in U.S. imports or exports, new trade and financial regulations or tariffs, changes in the U.S. dollar exchange rate or an economic slowdown in the U.S. may have a material adverse effect on a country’s economic conditions and, as a result, securities to which a Fund has exposure. Circumstances could arise that could prevent the timely payment of interest or principal on U.S. government debt, such as reaching the legislative “debt ceiling.” Such non-payment would result in substantial negative consequences for the U.S. economy and the global financial system.
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There are strained relations between the U.S. and a number of foreign countries. If these relations were to worsen, it could adversely affect U.S. issuers as well as non-U.S. issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade. The U.S. has also experienced increased internal unrest and discord. If this trend were to continue, it may have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy and many of the issuers in which a Fund invests.
Risk of Investing in the Basic Materials Industry.  Issuers in the basic materials industry could be adversely affected by commodity price volatility, inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, social and political unrest, import controls and increased competition. Companies in the basic materials industry may be subject to swift fluctuations in supply and demand. Fluctuations may be caused by events relating to political and economic developments, the environmental impact of basic materials operations, and the success of exploration projects. Production of industrial materials often exceeds demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns. Issuers in the basic materials industry are at risk for environmental damage and product liability claims and may be adversely affected by depletion of resources, delays in technical progress, labor relations, tax and government regulations related to changes to, among other things, energy and environmental policies.
Risk of Investing in the Communication Services Sector.  The communication services sector consists of both companies in the telecommunication services industry as well as those in the media and entertainment industry. Examples of companies in the telecommunication services industry group include providers of fiber-optic, fixed-line, cellular and wireless telecommunications networks. Companies in the media and entertainment industry group encompass a variety of services and products including television broadcasting, gaming products, social media, networking platforms, online classifieds, online review websites, and Internet search engines. Companies in the communication services sector may be affected by industry competition, substantial capital requirements, government regulation, and obsolescence of communications products and services due to technological advancement. Fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. In addition, while all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.
The communication services sector of a country’s economy is often subject to extensive government regulation. The costs of complying with governmental regulations, delays or failure to receive required regulatory approvals, or the enactment of new regulatory requirements may negatively affect the business of communications companies. Government actions around the world, specifically in the area of pre-marketing clearance of products and prices, can be arbitrary and unpredictable. The communications services industry can also be significantly affected by intense competition for market share, including competition with alternative technologies such as wireless communications, product compatibility and standardization, consumer preferences, rapid product obsolescence, research and development of new products, lack of standardization or compatibility with existing technologies, and a dependency on patent and copyright protections. Companies in the communication services sector may encounter distressed cash flows due to the need to commit substantial capital to meet increasing competition, particularly in developing new products and services using new technology. Technological innovations may make the products and services of certain communications companies obsolete.
Telecommunications providers with exposure to the U.S. are generally required to obtain franchises or licenses in order to provide services in a given location. Licensing and franchise rights in the telecommunications sector are limited, which may provide an advantage to certain participants. Limited availability of such rights, high barriers to market entry and regulatory oversight, among other factors, have led to consolidation of companies within the sector, which could lead to further regulation or other negative effects in the future. Telecommunication providers investing in non-U.S. countries may be subject to similar risks. Additional risks include those related to competitive challenges in the U.S. from non-U.S. competitors engaged in strategic joint ventures with U.S. companies and in non-U.S. markets from both U.S. and non-U.S. competitors.
Companies in the media and entertainment industries can be significantly affected by several factors, including competition, particularly in formulation of products and services using new technologies, cyclicality of revenues and earnings, a potential decrease in the discretionary income of targeted individuals, changing consumer tastes and interests, and the potential increase in government regulation. Companies in the media and entertainment industries may become obsolete quickly. Advertising spending can be an important revenue source for media and entertainment companies. During economic downturns advertising spending typically decreases and, as a result, media and entertainment companies tend to generate less revenue.
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Risk of Investing in the Consumer Discretionary Sector.  Companies engaged in the design, production or distribution of products or services for the consumer discretionary sector (including, without limitation, television and radio broadcasting, manufacturing, publishing, recording and musical instruments, motion pictures, photography, amusement and theme parks, gaming casinos, sporting goods and sports arenas, camping and recreational equipment, toys and games, apparel, travel-related services, automobiles, hotels and motels, and fast food and other restaurants) are subject to the risk that their products or services may become obsolete quickly. The success of these companies can depend heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. During periods of an expanding economy, the consumer discretionary sector may outperform the consumer staples sector, but may underperform when economic conditions worsen. Moreover, the consumer discretionary sector can be significantly affected by several factors, including, without limitation, the performance of domestic and international economies, exchange rates, changing consumer preferences, demographics, marketing campaigns, cyclical revenue generation, consumer confidence, commodity price volatility, labor relations, interest rates, import and export controls, intense competition, technological developments and government regulation.
Risk of Investing in the Consumer Staples Sector.  Companies in the consumer staples sector may be adversely affected by changes in the global economy, consumer spending, competition, demographics and consumer preferences, and production spending. Companies in the consumer staples sector may also be affected by changes in global economic, environmental and political events, economic conditions, the depletion of resources, and government regulation. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. In addition, tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Companies in the consumer staples sector also may be subject to risks pertaining to the supply of, demand for and prices of raw materials. The prices of raw materials fluctuate in response to a number of factors, including, without limitation, changes in government agricultural support programs, exchange rates, import and export controls, changes in international agricultural and trading policies, and seasonal and weather conditions. Companies in the consumer staples sector may be subject to severe competition, which may also have an adverse impact on their profitability.
Risk of Investing in the Energy Sector.  Companies in the energy sector are strongly affected by the changes in and volatility of global energy prices, energy supply and demand, government regulations and policies, energy production and conservation efforts, technological change, development of alternative energy sources, and other factors that they cannot control. Energy companies may have relatively high levels of debt and may be more likely to restructure their businesses if there are downturns in energy markets or in the global economy. If an energy company in a Fund's portfolio becomes distressed, a Fund could lose all or a substantial portion of its investment. The energy sector is cyclical and is highly dependent on commodity prices. Prices and supplies of energy may fluctuate significantly over short and long periods of time due to, among other things, national and international political changes, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) policies, changes in relationships among OPEC members and between OPEC and oil-importing nations, the regulatory environment, taxation policies, the enactment or cessation of trade sanctions, war or other geopolitical conflicts, and the economies of key energy-consuming countries. Companies in the energy sector may be adversely affected by terrorism, cyber incidents, natural disasters or other catastrophes. Companies in the energy sector are at risk of liability from accidents resulting in injury, loss of life or property, pollution or other environmental damage claims. Significant oil and gas deposits are located in emerging markets countries where corruption and security may raise significant risks, in addition to the other risks of investing in emerging markets. Additionally, the Middle East, where many companies in the energy sector may operate, has experienced conflict and unrest. Companies in the energy sector may also be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates, interest rates, economic conditions, tax treatment, government regulation and intervention, negative perception, efforts at energy conservation and world events in the regions in which the companies operate (e.g., expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and repatriation of capital, military coups, social unrest, violence or labor unrest). Because a significant portion of revenues of companies in this sector is derived from a relatively small number of customers that are largely composed of governmental entities and utilities, governmental budget constraints may have a significant impact on companies in this sector. The energy sector is highly regulated. Entities operating in the energy sector are subject to significant regulation of nearly every aspect of their operations by governmental agencies. Such regulation can change rapidly or over time in both scope and intensity. Stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be enacted, which would likely increase compliance costs and may materially adversely affect the financial performance of companies in the energy sector.
The energy sector may experience significant market volatility. For example, Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 led to further disruptions and increased volatility in the energy and commodity futures markets due to actual and potential disruptions in the supply and demand for certain commodities, including oil and natural gas. The U.S.
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and other actors have enacted various sanctions and restrictions on business dealings with Russia, which include restrictions on imports of oil, natural gas and coal. The effect of the current sanctions and restrictions, as well as the extent and duration of the Russian military action, additional sanctions and associated market disruptions on the energy sector, are impossible to predict and depend on a number of factors. The effect of these events or any related developments could be significant and may have a severe adverse effect on the performance of a Fund.
Risk of Investing in the Financials Sector.  Companies in the financials sector include small, regional and money center banks, securities brokerage firms, asset management companies, savings banks and thrift institutions, specialty finance companies (e.g., credit card, mortgage providers), insurance and insurance brokerage firms, consumer finance firms, financial conglomerates and foreign banking and financial companies.
Most financial companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which limits their activities and may affect their ability to earn a profit from a given line of business. Government regulation may change frequently and may have significant adverse consequences for companies in the financials sector, including effects not intended by the regulation. Direct governmental intervention in the operations of financial companies and financial markets may materially and adversely affect the companies in which a Fund invests, including legislation in many countries that may increase government regulation, repatriation and other intervention. The impact of governmental intervention and legislative changes on any individual financial company or on the financials sector as a whole cannot be predicted. The valuation of financial companies has been and continues to be subject to unprecedented volatility and may be influenced by unpredictable factors, including interest rate risk and sovereign debt default. Certain financial businesses are subject to intense competitive pressures, including market share and price competition. Financial companies in foreign countries are subject to market-specific and general regulatory and interest rate concerns. In particular, government regulation in certain foreign countries may include taxes and controls on interest rates, credit availability, minimum capital requirements, bans on short sales, limits on prices and restrictions on currency transfers. Market conditions and regulation of the financial sector in China may be particularly subject to change based on government policy. In addition, companies in the financials sector may be the targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or customer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.
The profitability of banks, savings and loan associations and other financial companies is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change; for instance, when interest rates go up, the value of securities issued by many types of companies in the financials sector generally goes down. In other words, financial companies may be adversely affected in certain market cycles, including, without limitation, during periods of rising interest rates, which may restrict the availability and increase the cost of capital, and during periods of declining economic conditions, which may cause, among other things, credit losses due to financial difficulties of borrowers.
In addition, general economic conditions are important to the operations of these companies, and financial difficulties of borrowers may have an adverse effect on the profitability of financial companies. Companies in the financials sector are exposed directly to the credit risk of their borrowers and counterparties, who may be leveraged to an unknown degree, including through swaps and other derivatives products, and who at times may be unable to meet their obligations to the financial services companies. Financial services companies may have significant exposure to the same borrowers and counterparties, with the result that a borrower’s or counterparty’s inability to meet its obligations to one company may affect other companies with exposure to the same borrower or counterparty. This interconnectedness of risk, including cross-default risk, may result in significant negative impacts to the financial condition and reputation of companies with direct exposure to the defaulting counterparty as well as adverse cascading effects in the markets and the financials sector generally. Financial companies can be highly dependent upon access to capital markets, and any impediments to such access, such as adverse overall economic conditions or a negative perception in the capital markets of a financial company’s financial condition or prospects, could adversely affect its business. Deterioration of credit markets can have an adverse impact on a broad range of financial markets, causing certain financial companies to incur large losses. In these conditions, companies in the financials sector may experience significant declines in the valuation of their assets, take actions to raise capital and even cease operations. Some financial companies may also be required to accept or borrow significant amounts of capital from government sources and may face future government-imposed restrictions on their businesses or increased government intervention. In addition, there is no guarantee that governments will provide any such relief in the future. These actions may cause the securities of many companies in the financials sector to decline in value.
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Risk of Investing in the Healthcare Sector.  Companies in the healthcare sector are often issuers whose profitability may be affected by extensive government regulation, restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising or falling costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure, an increased emphasis on outpatient services, a limited number of products, industry innovation, changes in technologies and other market developments. Many healthcare companies are heavily dependent on patent protection and the actual or perceived safety and efficiency of their products.
Patents have a limited duration, and, upon expiration, other companies may market substantially similar “generic” products that are typically sold at a lower price than the patented product, which can cause the original developer of the product to lose market share and/or reduce the price charged for the product, resulting in lower profits for the original developer. As a result, the expiration of patents may adversely affect the profitability of these companies.
In addition, because the products and services of many companies in the healthcare sector affect the health and well-being of many individuals, these companies are especially susceptible to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. Healthcare companies are subject to competitive forces that may make it difficult to raise prices and, in fact, may result in price discounting. Many new products in the healthcare sector may be subject to regulatory approvals. The process of obtaining such approvals may be long and costly, which can result in increased development costs, delayed cost recovery and loss of competitive advantage to the extent that rival companies have developed competing products or procedures, adversely affecting the company’s revenues and profitability. In other words, delays in the regulatory approval process may diminish the opportunity for a company to profit from a new product or to bring a new product to market, which could have a material adverse effect on a company’s business. Healthcare companies may also be strongly affected by scientific biotechnology or technological developments, and their products may quickly become obsolete. Also, many healthcare companies offer products and services that are subject to governmental regulation and may be adversely affected by changes in governmental policies or laws. Changes in governmental policies or laws may span a wide range of topics, including cost control, national health insurance, incentives for compensation in the provision of healthcare services, tax incentives and penalties related to healthcare insurance premiums, and promotion of prepaid healthcare plans. In addition, a number of legislative proposals concerning healthcare have been considered by the U.S. Congress in recent years. It is unclear what proposals will ultimately be enacted, if any, and what effect they may have on companies in the healthcare sector.
Additionally, the expansion of facilities by healthcare-related providers may be subject to “determinations of need” by certain government authorities. This process not only generally increases the time and costs involved in these expansions, but also makes expansion plans uncertain, limiting the revenue and profitability growth potential of healthcare-related facilities operators and negatively affecting the prices of their securities. Moreover, in recent years, both local and national governmental budgets have come under pressure to reduce spending and control healthcare costs, which could both adversely affect regulatory processes and public funding available for healthcare products, services and facilities.
Risk of Investing in the Industrials Sector.  The value of securities issued by companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by supply of and demand for both their specific products or services and for industrials sector products in general. The products of manufacturing companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Government regulations, trade disputes, world events and economic conditions may affect the performance of companies in the industrials sector. The industrials sector may also be adversely affected by changes or trends in commodity prices, which may be influenced by unpredictable factors. For example, commodity price declines and unit volume reductions resulting from an over-supply of materials used in the industrials sector can adversely affect the sector. Furthermore, companies in the industrials sector may be subject to liability for environmental damage, product liability claims, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control.
Risk of Investing in the Materials Sector.  Companies in the materials sector may be adversely affected by commodity price volatility, exchange rate fluctuations, social and political unrest, war, import or export controls, increased competition, depletion of resources, technical progress, labor relations and government regulations, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control, among other factors. Such risks may adversely affect the issuers to which a Fund has exposure. Companies in the materials sector are also at risk of liability for environmental damage and product liability claims. Production of materials may exceed demand as a result of market imbalances or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns. These risks are heightened for companies in the materials sector located in foreign markets.
Risk of Investing in the Media Sub-Industry.  Companies in the media sub-industry may encounter distressed cash flows due to the need to commit substantial capital to meet increasing competition, particularly in formulating new products and services using new technology. Media companies are subject to risks that include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, a
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potential decrease in the discretionary income of targeted individuals, changing consumer tastes and interests, competition in the industry and the potential for increased state and federal regulation. Advertising spending is an important source of revenue for media companies. During economic downturns, advertising spending typically decreases and, as a result, media companies tend to generate less revenue.
Risk of Investing in the Real Estate Industry.  Companies in the real estate industry include companies that invest in real estate, such as REITs, real estate holding and operating companies or real estate development companies (collectively, “Real Estate Companies”). Investing in Real Estate Companies exposes investors to the risks of owning real estate directly, as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way in which Real Estate Companies are organized and operated. The real estate industry is highly sensitive to general and local economic conditions and developments, and characterized by intense competition and periodic overbuilding. Investing in Real Estate Companies involves various risks. Some risks that are specific to Real Estate Companies are discussed in greater detail below.
Concentration Risk. Real Estate Companies may own a limited number of properties and concentrate their investments in a particular geographic region or property type. Economic downturns affecting a particular region, industry or property type may lead to a high volume of defaults within a short period.
Distressed Investment Risk. Real Estate Companies may invest in distressed, defaulted or out-of-favor bank loans. Identification and implementation by a Real Estate Company of loan modification and restructure programs involves a high degree of uncertainty. Even successful implementation may still require adverse compromises and may not prevent bankruptcy. Real Estate Companies may also invest in other debt instruments that may become non-performing, including the securities of companies with higher credit and market risk due to financial or operational difficulties. Higher risk securities may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of companies not in distress.
Illiquidity Risk. Investing in Real Estate Companies may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small-capitalization companies. Real Estate Company securities, like the securities of small-capitalization companies, may be more volatile than, and perform differently from, shares of large-capitalization companies. There may be less trading in Real Estate Company shares, which means that buy and sell transactions in those shares could have a magnified impact on share price, resulting in abrupt or erratic price fluctuations. In addition, real estate is relatively illiquid, and, therefore, a Real Estate Company may have a limited ability to vary or liquidate properties in response to changes in economic or other conditions.
Interest Rate Risk. Rising interest rates could result in higher costs of capital for Real Estate Companies, which could negatively impact a Real Estate Company’s ability to meet its payment obligations. Declining interest rates could result in increased prepayment on loans and require redeployment of capital in less desirable investments.
Leverage Risk. Real Estate Companies may use leverage (and some may be highly leveraged), which increases investment risk and could adversely affect a Real Estate Company’s operations and market value in periods of rising interest rates. Real Estate Companies are also exposed to the risks normally associated with debt financing. Financial covenants related to a Real Estate Company’s leverage may affect the ability of the Real Estate Company to operate effectively. In addition, real property may be subject to the quality of credit extended and defaults by borrowers and tenants. If the properties do not generate sufficient income to meet operating expenses, including, where applicable, debt service, ground lease payments, tenant improvements, third-party leasing commissions and other capital expenditures, the income and ability of a Real Estate Company to make payments of any interest and principal on its debt securities will be adversely affected.
Loan Foreclosure Risk. Real Estate Companies may foreclose on loans that the Real Estate Company originated and/or acquired. Foreclosure may generate negative publicity for the underlying property that affects its market value. In addition to the length and expense of such proceedings, the validity of the terms of the applicable loan may not be recognized in foreclosure proceedings. Claims and defenses asserted by borrowers or other lenders may interfere with the enforcement of rights by a Real Estate Company. Parallel proceedings, such as bankruptcy, may also delay resolution and limit the amount of recovery on a foreclosed loan by a Real Estate Company even where the property underlying the loan is liquidated.
Management Risk. Real Estate Companies are dependent upon management skills and may have limited financial resources. Real Estate Companies are generally not diversified and may be subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and voluntary liquidation. In addition, transactions between Real Estate Companies and their affiliates may be subject to conflicts of interest, which may adversely affect a Real Estate Company’s shareholders. A Real Estate Company may also have joint venture investments in certain of its properties, and, consequently, its ability to control decisions relating to such properties may be limited.
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Property Risk. Real Estate Companies may be subject to risks relating to functional obsolescence or reduced desirability of properties; extended vacancies due to economic conditions and tenant bankruptcies; catastrophic events such as earthquakes, hurricanes and terrorist acts; and casualty or condemnation losses. Real estate income and values also may be greatly affected by demographic trends, such as population shifts or changes in consumer preferences and values, or increasing vacancies or declining rents resulting from legal, cultural, technological, global or local economic developments.
Regulatory Risk. Real estate income and values may be adversely affected by such factors as applicable domestic and foreign laws (including tax laws). Government actions, such as tax increases, zoning law changes, mandated closures or other commercial restrictions or environmental regulations, also may have a major impact on real estate income and values. In addition, quarterly compliance with regulations limiting the proportion of asset types held by a U.S. REIT may force certain Real Estate Companies to liquidate or restructure otherwise attractive investments. Some countries may not recognize REITs or comparable structures as a viable form of real estate funds.
Underlying Investment Risk. Real Estate Companies make investments in a variety of debt and equity instruments with varying risk profiles. For instance, Real Estate Companies may invest in debt instruments secured by commercial property that have higher risks of delinquency and foreclosure than loans on single family homes due to a variety of factors associated with commercial property, including the tie between income available to service debt and productive use of the property. Real Estate Companies may also invest in debt instruments and preferred equity that are junior in an issuer’s capital structure and that involve privately negotiated structures. Subordinated debt investments, such as B-Notes and mezzanine loans, involve a greater credit risk of default due to the need to service more senior debt of the issuer. Similarly, preferred equity investments involve a greater risk of loss than conventional debt financing due to their non-collateralized nature and subordinated ranking. Investments in commercial mortgage-backed securities may also be junior in priority in the event of bankruptcy or similar proceedings. Investments in senior loans may be effectively subordinated if the senior loan is pledged as collateral. The ability of a holder of junior claims to proceed against a defaulting issuer is circumscribed by the terms of the particular contractual arrangement, which vary considerably from transaction to transaction.
U.S. Tax Risk. Certain U.S. Real Estate Companies are subject to special U.S. federal tax requirements. A REIT that fails to comply with such tax requirements may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation, which may affect the value of the REIT and the characterization of the REIT’s distributions. The U.S. federal tax requirement that a REIT distribute substantially all of its net income to its shareholders may result in a REIT having insufficient capital for future expenditures. A REIT that successfully maintains its qualification may still become subject to U.S. federal, state and local taxes, including excise, penalty, franchise, payroll, mortgage recording, and transfer taxes, both directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries. Because REITs often do not provide complete tax information until after the calendar year-end, a Fund may at times need to request permission to extend the deadline for issuing your tax reporting statement or supplement the information otherwise provided to you.
Risk of Investing in the Technology Sector.  Technology companies are characterized by periodic new product introductions, innovations and evolving industry standards, and, as a result, face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on profit margins. Companies in the technology sector are often smaller and less experienced companies and may be subject to greater risks than larger companies; these risks may be heightened for technology companies in foreign markets. Technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of technology companies may face product obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction, changes in consumer and business purchasing patterns, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. In addition, a rising interest rate environment tends to negatively affect companies in the technology sector because, in such an environment, those companies with high market valuations may appear less attractive to investors, which may cause sharp decreases in the companies’ market prices. Companies in the technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Companies in the technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action. The technology sector may also be adversely affected by changes or trends in commodity prices, which may be influenced or characterized by unpredictable factors. Finally, while all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the technology sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.
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Risk of Investing in the Telecommunications Sector.  The telecommunications sector of a country’s economy is often subject to extensive government regulation. The costs of complying with governmental regulations, delays or failure to receive required regulatory approvals, or the enactment of new regulatory requirements may negatively affect the business of telecommunications companies. Government actions around the world, specifically in the area of pre-marketing clearance of products and prices, can be arbitrary and unpredictable. Companies in the telecommunications sector may experience distressed cash flows due to the need to commit substantial capital to meet increasing competition, particularly in developing new products and services using new technology. Technological innovations may make the products and services of certain telecommunications companies obsolete. Finally, while all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the telecommunications sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.
Risk of Investing in the Utilities Sector.  The utilities sector may be adversely affected by changing commodity prices, government regulation stipulating rates charged by utilities, increased tariffs, changes in tax laws, interest rate fluctuations and changes in the cost of providing specific utility services. The utilities industry is also subject to potential terrorist attacks, natural disasters and severe weather conditions, as well as regulatory and operational burdens associated with the operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities. Government regulators monitor and control utility revenues and costs, and therefore may limit utility profits. In certain countries, regulatory authorities may also restrict a company’s access to new markets, thereby diminishing the company’s long-term prospects.
There are substantial differences among the regulatory practices and policies of various jurisdictions, and any regulatory agency may make major shifts in policy from time to time. There is no assurance that regulatory authorities will, in the future, grant rate increases. Additionally, existing and possible future regulatory legislation may make it even more difficult for utilities to obtain adequate relief. Certain of the issuers of securities held in a Fund's portfolio may own or operate nuclear generating facilities. Governmental authorities may from time to time review existing policies and impose additional requirements governing the licensing, construction and operation of nuclear power plants. Prolonged changes in climate conditions can also have a significant impact on both the revenues of an electric and gas utility as well as the expenses of a utility, particularly a hydro-based electric utility.
The rates that traditional regulated utility companies may charge their customers generally are subject to review and limitation by governmental regulatory commissions. Rate changes may occur only after a prolonged approval period or may not occur at all, which could adversely affect utility companies when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, equity securities) tends to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. As a result, some companies may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable. Deregulation may also permit a utility company to expand outside of its traditional lines of business and engage in riskier ventures.
Proxy Voting Policy
For the Funds, the Board has delegated the voting of proxies for each Fund’s securities to BFA pursuant to the Funds' Proxy Voting Policy, and BFA has adopted policies and procedures (collectively, the “iShares ETFs Proxy Voting Policies”) governing proxy voting by accounts managed by BFA, including the Funds.
Under the iShares ETFs Proxy Voting Policies, BFA will vote proxies related to Fund securities in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders. From time to time, a vote may present a conflict between the interests of a Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of BFA, or any affiliated person of a Fund or BFA, on the other. BFA maintains policies and procedures that are designed to prevent undue influence on BFA’s proxy voting activity that might stem from any relationship between the issuer of a proxy (or any dissident shareholder) and BFA, BFA’s affiliates, a Fund or a Fund’s affiliates. Most conflicts are managed through a structural separation of BFA’s Corporate Governance Group from BFA’s employees with sales and client responsibilities. In addition, BFA maintains procedures to ensure that all engagements with corporate issuers or dissident shareholders are managed consistently and without regard to BFA’s relationship with the issuer of the proxy or the dissident shareholder. In certain instances, BFA may determine to engage an independent fiduciary to vote proxies as a further safeguard to avoid potential conflicts of interest or as otherwise required by applicable law.
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Copies of the iShares ETFs Proxy Voting Policies are attached as Appendix A.
Information with respect to how proxies relating to the Funds' portfolio securities were voted during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) or through the Funds' website at www.iShares.com; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Portfolio Holdings Information
On each Business Day (as defined in the Creation and Redemption of Creation Units section of this SAI), prior to the opening of regular trading on the Fund’s primary listing exchange, a Fund discloses on its website (www.iShares.com) certain information relating to the portfolio holdings that will form the basis of a Fund’s next net asset value per share calculation.
In addition, certain information may also be made available to certain parties:
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Communications of Data Files: A Fund may make available through the facilities of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) or through posting on the www.iShares.com, prior to the opening of trading on each business day, a list of a Fund’s holdings (generally pro-rata) that Authorized Participants could deliver to a Fund to settle purchases of a Fund (i.e. Deposit Securities) or that Authorized Participants would receive from a Fund to settle redemptions of a Fund (i.e. Fund Securities). These files are known as the Portfolio Composition File and the Fund Data File (collectively, “Files”). The Files are applicable for the next trading day and are provided to the NSCC and/or posted on www.iShares.com after the close of markets in the U.S.
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Communications with Authorized Participants and Liquidity Providers: Certain employees of BFA are responsible for interacting with Authorized Participants and liquidity providers with respect to discussing custom basket proposals as described in the Custom Baskets section of this SAI. As part of these discussions, these employees may discuss with an Authorized Participant or liquidity provider the securities a Fund is willing to accept for a creation, and securities that a Fund will provide on a redemption.
BFA employees may also discuss portfolio holdings-related information with broker/dealers, in connection with settling a Fund’s transactions, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with the disclosure in the Fund's current registration statement.
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Communications with Listing Exchanges: From time to time, employees of BFA may discuss portfolio holdings information with the applicable primary listing exchange for a Fund as needed to meet the exchange listing standards.
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Communications with Other Portfolio Managers: Certain information may be provided to employees of BFA who manage funds that invest a significant percentage of their assets in shares of an underlying fund as necessary to manage the fund’s investment objective and strategy.
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Communication of Other Information: Certain explanatory information regarding the Files is released to Authorized Participants and liquidity providers on a daily basis, but is only done so after the Files are posted to www.iShares.com.
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Third-Party Service Providers: Certain portfolio holdings information may be disclosed to Fund Trustees and their counsel, outside counsel for the Funds, auditors and to certain third-party service providers (i.e., fund administrator, custodian, proxy voting service) for which a non-disclosure, confidentiality agreement or other obligation is in place with such service providers, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with applicable policies, agreements with the Funds, the terms of the current registration statements and federal securities laws and regulations thereunder.
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Liquidity Metrics: “Liquidity Metrics,” which seek to ascertain a Fund’s liquidity profile under BlackRock’s global liquidity risk methodology, include but are not limited to: (a) disclosure regarding the number of days needed to liquidate a portfolio or the portfolio’s underlying investments; and (b) the percentage of a Fund’s NAV invested in a particular liquidity tier under BlackRock’s global liquidity risk methodology. The dissemination of position-level liquidity metrics data and any non-public regulatory data pursuant to the Liquidity Rule (including SEC liquidity tiering) is not permitted unless pre-approved. Disclosure of portfolio-level liquidity metrics prior to 60 calendar days after calendar quarter-end requires a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement and approval of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer. Portfolio-level liquidity metrics disclosure subsequent to 60 calendar days after calendar quarter-end requires the approval of portfolio management and must be disclosed to all parties requesting the information if disclosed to any party.
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The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer or his delegate may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings information pursuant to the above policy and procedures, subject to restrictions on selective disclosure imposed by applicable law. The Board reviews the policy and procedures for disclosure of portfolio holdings information at least annually.
Construction and Maintenance of the Underlying Indexes
Descriptions of the Underlying Indexes are provided below.
With respect to certain underlying indexes of the iShares funds, BFA or its affiliates have held discussions with the applicable index provider regarding their business interest in licensing an index to track a particular market segment and conveyed investment concepts and strategies that could be considered for the index. The index provider designed and constituted such indices using concepts conveyed by BFA or its affiliates. For certain of these indices, the relevant fund may be the first or sole user of the underlying index. In its sole discretion, the index provider determines the composition of the securities and other instruments in such underlying index, the rebalance protocols of the underlying index, the weightings of the securities and other instruments in the underlying index, and any updates to the methodology. From time to time, BFA or its affiliates may also provide input relating to possible methodology changes of such underlying index pursuant to the index provider’s consultation process or pursuant to other communications with the index provider.
The FTSE Global Equity Index Series
FTSE China 50 Index
Number of Components: 50
Index Description. The FTSE China 50 is designed to track the performance of the largest companies in the Chinese equity market that are available to international investors. The Underlying Index consists of 50 of the largest and most liquid Chinese companies. The securities in the Underlying Index are weighted based on the total market value of their shares. The Underlying Index constituents are screened for liquidity and individual constituent weights are capped at 9% to avoid over-concentration in any one stock. Additionally, constituents are capped such that all companies that individually have a weight greater than 4.5% in aggregate represent no more than 38% of the Underlying Index.
As of July 31, 2023, the Underlying Index consists of “Red Chip” shares, “H” shares and “P Chip” shares.
H Shares: Securities of companies incorporated in the PRC and nominated by the Central Government for listing and trading on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Specifically, they are the foreign shares of a PRC issuer which are listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
Red Chips: FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) defines Red Chips as companies incorporated outside the PRC that trade on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong which are substantially owned, directly or indirectly, by Mainland China state entities and with the majority of revenue or assets derived from Mainland China.
P Chips: FTSE defines P Chips as companies controlled by Mainland individuals, with the establishment and origin of the company in Mainland China. P Chips must be incorporated outside of the PRC and traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong with a majority of revenues or assets derived from Mainland China.
Component Selection Criteria. The Underlying Index is primarily rule-based, but is also monitored by a governing committee. The Secretary to the Underlying Index is responsible for conducting a quarterly review of constituents for the Underlying Index and for recommending to the governing committee any constituents to be inserted or deleted as part of the quarterly review. All eligible securities are ranked by their full market capitalizations.
Eligibility. Each security included in the Underlying Index is a current constituent of the FTSE All-World Index, an index of the FTSE Global Equity Index Series. All classes of equity securities in issue are eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index subject to conforming with free-float and liquidity restrictions.
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Liquidity. Stocks are screened to ensure there is sufficient liquidity to be traded. Factors in determining liquidity include the availability of current and reliable price information and the level of trading volume relative to shares outstanding. Value traded and float turnover are also analyzed on a monthly basis to review liquidity.
Index Maintenance and Issue Changes. The FTSE Global Classification Committee is responsible for the industry classification of constituents of the Underlying Index within the FTSE Global Classification System. The FTSE Global Classification Committee may approve changes to the FTSE Global Classification System and Management Rules. FTSE appoints the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Underlying Index. The Chairman, or in his absence Deputy Chairman, will chair meetings of the Committee and will represent that Committee outside meetings. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Index Committee are collectively responsible for approving constituent changes to the Underlying Index between meetings of the Committee on advice from the Secretary to the Committee and as permitted and as specified by the Underlying Index's Ground Rules.
Additions. A company is added to the Underlying Index at the periodic review if it rises to the 40th position or above when the eligible companies are ranked by full market value before the application of any investability weightings.
Deletions. A company in the Underlying Index is deleted at the periodic review if it falls to the 61st position or below when the eligible companies are ranked by full market value before the application of any investability weighting. Any deletion to the Underlying Index will simultaneously entail an addition to the Underlying Index in order to maintain 50 Index constituents at all times.
Revisions to the Float Adjustments. The Underlying Index is reviewed quarterly for changes in free float. These reviews coincide with quarterly reviews undertaken of the Underlying Index. Implementation of any changes takes place after the close of the Underlying Index calculation on the third Friday in March, June, September and December.
Quarterly Index Rebalancing. The quarterly review of the Underlying Index constituents takes place in March, June, September and December. Any constituent changes are implemented on the next trading day following the third Friday of the same month of the review meeting. Details of the outcome of the review and the dates on which any changes are to be implemented are published as soon as possible after the Index Committee meeting has concluded. Significant Underlying Index rebalancing may cause funds based on the Underlying Index to experience trading error.
Index Availability. The Underlying Index is calculated continuously during Hong Kong trading hours and is widely disseminated to major data vendors. The Underlying Index will not be calculated on Hong Kong public holidays.
Exchange Rates and Pricing. The Underlying Index uses Reuters' real-time foreign exchange spot rates and Reuters' real-time security prices. The Underlying Index is calculated in Hong Kong Dollars. Non-Hong Kong Dollar denominated constituent prices are converted to Hong Kong Dollars in order to calculate the Underlying Index. The foreign exchange rates and security prices received from Reuters at the closing time of the Underlying Index are used to calculate the final index levels.
The MSCI Indexes
The MSCI indexes were founded in 1969 by Capital International S.A. as international performance benchmarks constructed to facilitate comparison of world markets. The MSCI single country standard equity indexes have covered the world's developed markets since 1969 and in 1987 MSCI commenced coverage of emerging markets.
Local stock exchanges traditionally calculated their own indexes, which were generally not comparable with one another due to differences in the representation of the local market, mathematical formulas, base dates and methods of adjusting for capital changes. MSCI, however, applies the same calculation methodology to all markets for all single country standard equity indexes, both developed and emerging.
MSCI Global Investable Market Indexes
MSCI's Global Investable Market Indexes (the “MSCI GIMI”) provide coverage and non-overlapping market segmentation by market capitalization size and by style. The MSCI GIMI intend to target approximately 99% coverage of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each market of large-, mid- and small-cap securities. In each market, MSCI creates an Investable Market Index, Standard Index, Large Cap Index, Mid Cap Index and Small Cap Index. The Standard Index, Large Cap Index,
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Mid Cap Index and Small Cap Index are each subsets of the Investable Market Index for a market. The MSCI Global Standard Index is the aggregation of the Large Cap Index and Mid Cap Index and the MSCI GIMI is the aggregation of the MSCI Global Standard Index and MSCI Global Small Cap Index.
Selection Criteria. MSCI's index construction process involves: (i) defining the equity universe; (ii) determining the market investable equity universe for each market; (iii) determining market capitalization size segments for each market; (iv) applying final size segment investability requirements; and (v) applying index continuity rules for the MSCI Global Standard Index.
Defining the Equity Universe. MSCI begins with securities listed in countries in the MSCI GIMI. As of June 8, 2023, 23 are classified as developed markets, 24 as emerging markets, and 21 as frontier markets (frontier markets exclude the West African Economic and Monetary Union, which consists of securities classified in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo). All listed equity securities and listed securities that exhibit characteristics of equity securities, except mutual funds, ETFs, equity derivatives, limited partnerships and most investment trusts, are eligible for inclusion in the equity universe. REITs in some countries and certain income trusts in Canada are also eligible for inclusion. Each company and its securities (i.e., share classes) are classified in only one country.
Determining the Market Investable Equity Universe for Each Market. The equity universe in any market is derived by applying investability screens to individual companies and securities in that market. Some investability requirements are applied at the individual security level and some at the overall company level, represented by the aggregation of individual securities of the company. As a result, the inclusion or exclusion of one security does not imply the automatic inclusion or exclusion of other securities of the same company.
Determining Market Capitalization Size Segments for Each Market. In order to create size components that can be meaningfully aggregated into composites, individual market size segments balance the following two objectives:
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Achieving global size integrity by ensuring that companies of comparable and relevant sizes are included in a given size segment across all markets in a composite index; and
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Achieving consistent market coverage by ensuring that each market's size segment is represented in its proportional weight in the composite universe.
The Standard Indexes, Large Cap Indexes, Mid Cap Indexes, and Small Cap Indexes capture the following market capitalization size segments:
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MSCI Global Standard Indexes cover all investable large- and mid-cap securities by including the largest issuers comprising approximately 85% of each market’s free float-adjusted market capitalization.
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MSCI Global Large Cap Indexes provide coverage of all investable large-cap securities by including the largest issuers comprising approximately 70% of each market’s free float-adjusted market capitalization.
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MSCI Global Mid Cap Indexes provide coverage in each market by deriving the difference between the market coverage of the MSCI Global Standard Index and the MSCI Global Large Cap Index in that market.
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MSCI Global Small Cap Indexes provide coverage of companies with a market capitalization below that of the companies in the MSCI Global Standard Indexes.
Applying Final Size Segment Investability Requirements. In order to enhance replicability of the indexes, additional size segment investability requirements are set for the MSCI GIMI and MSCI Global Standard Index. These investability requirements include minimum free float-adjusted market capitalization, minimum liquidity, minimum foreign limits and minimum length of trading.
Applying Index Continuity Rules for the Standard Index. In order to achieve index continuity as well as provide some basic level of diversification within a market index, notwithstanding the effect of other index construction rules contained herein, a minimum number of five constituents will be maintained for a developed market Standard Index and a minimum number of three constituents will be maintained for an emerging market Standard Index.
Weighting. All indexes of the MSCI GIMI are free float weighted, i.e., companies are included in the indexes at the value of their free public float (free float multiplied by security price).
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Regional Weights. Market capitalization-weighting, combined with a consistent target of approximately 99% of free float-adjusted market capitalization, helps ensure that each country's weight in regional and international indexes approximates its weight in the total universe of developing and emerging markets. A market is equivalent to a single country except for developed Europe, where all markets are aggregated into a single market for index construction purposes. Individual country indexes of the European developed markets are derived from the constituents of the MSCI GIMI Europe Index.
Free Float. MSCI defines the free float of a security as the proportion of shares outstanding that are deemed to be available for purchase in the public equity markets by international investors. In practice, limitations on free float available to international investors include: (i) strategic and other shareholdings not considered part of available free float; and (ii) limits on share ownership for foreigners.
MSCI calculates the free float-adjusted market capitalization of each security in the equity index universe by (i) defining and estimating the free float available to foreign investors; (ii) assigning a free float-adjustment factor to each security; and (iii) calculating the free float-adjusted market capitalization of each security.
Under MSCI's free float-adjustment methodology, a constituent's inclusion factor is equal to its estimated free float, rounded up to the closest 5% for constituents with free float equal to or exceeding 15%. For example, a constituent security with a free float of 23.2% will be included in the index at 25% of its market capitalization. For securities with a free float of less than 15%, the estimated free float is adjusted to the nearest 1%.
Price and Exchange Rates
Prices. The prices used to calculate all MSCI indexes are the official exchange closing prices or those figures accepted as such. MSCI reserves the right to use an alternative pricing source on any given day.
Exchange Rates. MSCI uses the World Markets/Reuters Closing Spot Rates taken at 4:00 p.m. London time. In case World Markets/Reuters does not provide rates for specific markets on given days (for example, Christmas Day and New Year's Day), the previous business day's rates are normally used. MSCI independently monitors the exchange rates on all its indexes. MSCI may under exceptional circumstances elect to use alternative sources of exchange rates if the World Markets/Reuters rates are not available, or if MSCI determines that the World Markets/Reuters rates are not reflective of market circumstances for a given currency on a particular day. In such circumstances, an announcement would be sent to clients with the related information. If appropriate, MSCI may conduct a consultation with the investment community to gather feedback on the most relevant exchange rate.
Changes to the Indexes. The MSCI GIMI are maintained with the objective of reflecting, on a timely basis, the evolution of the underlying equity markets. In maintaining the MSCI indexes, emphasis is also placed on continuity, replicability and minimizing turnover in the indexes. Maintaining the MSCI indexes involves many aspects, including: (i) additions to, and deletions from, the indexes; (ii) changes in number of shares; and (iii) changes in inclusion factors as a result of updated free float estimates.
Index maintenance can be described by three broad categories of changes:
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Semi-Annual Index Reviews (“SAIRs”), conducted on a fixed semi-annual timetable that systematically reassess the various dimensions of the equity universe for all markets;
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Quarterly Index Reviews (“QIRs”), aimed at promptly reflecting other significant market events; and
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Ongoing event-related changes, such as mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, bankruptcies, reorganizations and other similar corporate events, which generally are implemented in the indexes as they occur.
Potential changes in the status of countries (stand-alone, frontier, emerging and developed) follow their own implementation time tables.
MSCI conducts SAIRs generally as of the close of the last business day of May and November. During the SAIRs, MSCI updates the investable equity universe and reassesses size segmentation investability requirements. MSCI also conducts QIRs generally as of the close of the last business day of February and August. During the QIRs, MSCI reflects changes in the index that were not captured at the time of their actual occurrence, but are significant enough to be included before the next SAIR. The results of the SAIR and QIR are generally announced at least ten business days in advance of implementation.
Creation of Sector and Industry Indexes using the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®)
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All securities in the Global Investable Equity Universe are assigned to the industry that best describes their business activities using the GICS. The GICS consists of sectors, industry groups, industries and sub-industries. Under the GICS, each company is assigned to one unique sub-industry according to its principal business activity (generally defined as the business activity that generates 60% or more of the company’s revenues). Narrower indexes may be derived based on industry classification, and may contain securities belonging to specific sectors, industry groups, industries, sub-industries or a combination thereof.
MSCI 25/50 Indexes
Each of the MSCI 25/50 Indexes (the “25/50 Indexes”) is a sub-index of either an MSCI Global Standard Index or an MSCI GIMI. Their construction reflects the diversification requirements applicable to RICs pursuant to Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. MSCI uses the concept of “group entities” for the concentration limits of the capping methodologies in the 25/50 Indexes. A group entity is a group of companies that operate as an affiliated corporate group but may separately issue listed securities. To determine “group entities,” MSCI analyzes financial accounts of listed companies holding stakes of 20% or more in other listed companies to determine whether these stakes are controlling in nature. In certain cases, even in the absence of consolidated accounts, MSCI may also consider two companies as belonging to the same group entity where there is reasonable evidence of control based on other information. The 25/50 Indexes are free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted indexes with a capping methodology applied to group entity weights so that no single group entity exceeds 25% of index weight, and all group entities with a weight above 5% do not cumulatively exceed 50% of the index weight. A buffer of 10% of the value of each of these caps is used in order to reduce the risk of noncompliance due to short term market movements between rebalances. As a result, at the point of constructing or rebalancing the 25/50 Indexes, the weight of any single group entity cannot exceed 22.5% of the index weight and all group entities with weight above 4.5% cannot exceed 45% of the index weight. A software application called the Barra Optimizer is utilized to calculate the capped index weights through an optimization function which is aimed at minimizing index turnover, tracking error and extreme deviation from the uncapped index.
MSCI EAFE Growth Index
Number of Components: approximately 429
Index Description. The MSCI EAFE Growth Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Underlying Index include securities from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. The Underlying Index generally represents approximately 50% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization of the MSCI EAFE Index and consists of those securities classified by MSCI as most representing the growth style. Securities classified in this style generally tend to have higher growth characteristics (i.e., higher long-term forward earnings-per-share (“EPS”) growth rate, short-term forward EPS growth rate, current internal growth rate and long-term historical EPS growth trend and long-term historical sales per share growth trend). MSCI uses a specialized framework to attribute both growth and value style characteristics to each security within the MSCI EAFE Index. Each security is evaluated based on certain value factors and growth factors, which are then used to calculate a growth score and value score. Based upon these two scores, MSCI determines the extent to which each security is assigned to the growth or value style. It is possible for a single security to have representation in both the growth and value style indexes, however, no more than 100% of a security’s float-adjusted market capitalization will be included within the combined style framework.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI EAFE Index
Number of Components: approximately 798
Index Description. The MSCI EAFE Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index is commonly used as a measure of international stock performance. Constituents of the Underlying Index include securities from Europe, Australasia and the Far East.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating
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the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) Index
Number of Components: approximately 226
Index Description. The MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index measures the performance of international equity securities from Europe, Australasia, the Middle East and the Far East that, in the aggregate, have lower relative volatility. Each security included in the Underlying Index is a current constituent of the MSCI EAFE Index.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index
Number of Components: approximately 2,261
The MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index is an MSCI Global Small Cap Index. The Underlying Index represents the small-cap universe (i.e., listed securities with a market capitalization in the range of $81 million - $9 billion) of the MSCI EAFE IMI Index, and consists of the securities of those companies whose securities are included in the MSCI GIMI but not the MSCI Global Standard Index in a particular market.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI EAFE Value Index
Number of Components: approximately 486
Index Description. The MSCI EAFE Value Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Underlying Index include securities from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. The Underlying Index targets approximately 50% coverage of the free float-adjusted market capitalization of the MSCI EAFE Index and consists of those securities classified by MSCI as most representing the value style. Securities classified in this style generally tend to have higher value characteristics (i.e., higher book value to price, 12-month forward earnings to price and dividend yield). Each security is evaluated based on certain value factors and growth factors, which are then used to calculate a growth score and value score. Based upon these two scores, MSCI determines the extent to which each security is assigned to the value or growth style. It is possible for a single security to have representation in both the value and growth style indexes; however, no more than 100% of a security’s float-adjusted market capitalization will be included within the combined style framework.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI Europe Financials Index
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Number of Components: approximately 83
Index Description. The MSCI Europe Financials Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure the combined equity market performance of the financials sector of developed market countries in Europe.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI Europe Small Cap Index
Number of Components: approximately 979
Index Description. The MSCI Europe Small Cap Index is an MSCI Global Small Cap Index. The Underlying Index is a free float-adjusted, market capitalization-weighted index that captures small-cap representation across the 15 developed market countries in Europe. The Index covers approximately 14% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in the European equity universe. As of July 31, 2023, the Index consisted of securities from the following countries or regions: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI USA Enhanced Value Index
Number of Components: approximately 150
Index Description. The MSCI USA Enhanced Value Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index is based on a traditional market capitalization-weighted parent index, the MSCI USA Index, which includes U.S. large- and mid- capitalization stocks. The Underlying Index is designed to measure the performance of securities in the parent index that exhibit higher value characteristics relative to their peers within the corresponding Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) sector. To construct the Underlying Index, the index provider determines the value weighting of each security in the parent index using three variables: price-to-book value, price-to-forward earnings and enterprise value-to-cash flow from operations. MSCI uses an algorithm to determine the number of components in the Underlying Index based on the number of constituents in the Parent Index. The number of components is evaluated semi-annually. MSCI assigns weights by multiplying a component's value score by its market capitalization. Weights in the Underlying Index are next normalized so that sectors in the Underlying Index represent the same weight as in the parent index.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with gross dividends reinvested. The use of gross dividends reflects the assumed reinvestment of the entire dividend distributed to holders of the underlying stock, without any adjustment for taxes or withholding.
MSCI USA Low Size Index
Number of Components: approximately 627
Index Description. The MSCI USA Low Size Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. As of July 31, 2023, the MSCI USA Low Size Index is based on a traditional market capitalization-weighted parent index, the MSCI USA Index, which includes U.S. large- and mid-capitalization stocks. The Underlying Index is constructed by applying a mathematical formula at each rebalancing that reweights the components of its market capitalization-weighted Parent Index, such that the representation of smaller capitalization companies is increased relative to larger capitalization companies. In addition, at each rebalancing, the Index Provider calculates a “constraint factor” for each component. The constraint factor is the ratio of the component’s
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weight in the Underlying Index to that component’s weight in the Parent Index. The constraint factor is held constant between each rebalancing, except in the case of corporate events (as defined by the Index Provider). Changes in the relative weight of an individual component in the Parent Index due to market appreciation/depreciation result in that component increasing/decreasing in weight in the Underlying Index to hold the constraint factor for that component constant between each rebalancing. The Underlying Index is rebalanced semiannually in May and November.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with gross dividends reinvested. The use of gross dividends reflects the assumed reinvestment of the entire dividend distributed to holders of the underlying stock, without any adjustment for taxes or withholding.
MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Extended ESG Reduced Carbon Target Index
Number of Components: approximately 151
Index Description. The MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Extended ESG Reduced Carbon Target Index is designed to maximize its exposure to favorable environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) characteristics (as defined by the Index Provider) while reflecting the performance of a minimum volatility strategy, as well as reducing carbon exposure and improving weighted-average, industry-adjusted ESG scores relative to the MSCI USA Index.
Index Methodology. The Index Provider begins with the MSCI USA Index and excludes securities of issuers that it identifies as being involved in any of the business activities summarized below:
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Companies that meet the Index Provider's determination of “tobacco involvement,” including companies classified as a producer or licensor, companies that own or are owned by a tobacco company, and companies that earn 15% or more of their revenue from tobacco products.
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Companies with any tie to controversial weapons (as defined by the Index Provider).
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Companies classified as a producer of civilian firearms (as defined by the Index Provider) as well as companies classified as retailers of civilian firearms if such retailers earn 5% or more, or more than $20 million, in revenue from civilian firearms-related products.
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Companies that derive 5% or more in revenue from the mining or sales to external parties of thermal coal (excluding metallurgical coal) or from thermal coal-based power generation (as defined by the Index Provider).
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Companies that own oil sands reserves and derive more than 5% in revenue from oil sands extraction.
The Index Provider also excludes companies involved in very severe business controversies, defined as an instance or ongoing situation in which company operations and/or products allegedly have a negative ESG impact, including alleged violations of laws, regulations, or accepted international norms (e.g., human rights violations or toxic emissions and waste). In each case, severe business controversies are determined by the Index Provider based on an MSCI ESG Controversy Score. The Index Provider also excludes companies that are not assessed by the Index Provider to determine their involvement in severe business controversies or their management of ESG risks and opportunities (“ESG Score,” in each case determined by the Index Provider). For ESG scoring, the Index Provider identifies, for each industry, key ESG issues that may generate unanticipated costs for a given company or industry (as determined by the Index Provider). The Index Provider has identified 35 key ESG issues across the following 10 themes: climate change, natural capital, pollution and waste, environmental opportunities, human capital, product liability, stakeholder opposition, social opportunities, corporate governance and corporate behavior. The Index Provider then calculates the size of each company’s exposure to each key issue based on the company’s business segment and geographic risk and analyzes the extent to which the company has developed robust strategies and programs to manage ESG risks and opportunities. Using a sector-specific weighting model, companies are rated and ranked in comparison to their industry peers. A higher rating indicates that a company exhibits more favorable ESG characteristics and greater resilience to long-term, material ESG risks specific to that industry.
The Index Provider then follows a quantitative process that is designed to determine the carbon exposure of a security in terms of its greenhouse gas emissions and its potential carbon emissions from fossil fuel reserves, such that the Index Provider can determine the level of climate-related risk exposure and management assessment of those companies. Greenhouse gas emissions data is collected by the Index Provider and includes company-specific direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions data from company public documents and/or the Carbon Disclosure Project. If a company does not report GHG emissions, then the Index Provider uses a proprietary methodology to estimate Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions. To determine a security’s potential carbon emissions from fossil fuel reserves, the Index Provider collects fossil fuel reserves data where relevant for companies that have reserves, typically in the oil and gas, coal
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mining and electric utilities industries. While fossil fuel reserves can be used for several applications, including energy or industrial (e.g., coking coal used for steel production), for the Underlying Index, only fossil fuel reserves used for energy are taken into account. Sources include company publications, other public records and third-party data providers.
The Index Provider further refines the Underlying Index through an optimization process that aims to achieve (1) the lowest volatility in light of certain replicability and investability constraints as defined by the Index Provider; (2) at least a 20% improvement in its weighted-average, industry-adjusted ESG score relative to the MSCI USA Index; and (3) a reduction in carbon exposure as represented by at least a 30% reduction in carbon emissions relative to the overall size of a company and in potential carbon emissions from fossil fuel reserves used for potential energy production per dollar of market capitalization relative to the MSCI USA Index. At each semi-annual index review, additional optimization constraints that aim to ensure replicability and investability are employed, including the following: (a) the weight of an index constituent will be restricted to the lower of 1.5% and 20 times the weight of the security in the MSCI USA Index; (b) the minimum weight of an index constituent will be 0.05%; (c) the sector weights of the Underlying Index will not deviate more than +/- 5% from the sector weights of the MSCI USA Index; (d) the one-way turnover of the Underlying Index is capped at 10% at each semi-annual index review. The Underlying Index is also optimized using Barra style factors, which aim to capture the systematic factors driving the risk and return of a security, including, but not limited to, size, momentum, leverage, profitability, dividend yield and investment quality. No constraint is applied on the exposure of the Underlying Index to the two Barra volatility style factors (as defined by the Index Provider), but exposure to the other 14 Barra style factors is restricted to +/-0.25 standard deviations relative to the MSCI USA Index.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with gross dividends reinvested. The use of gross dividends reflects the assumed reinvestment of the entire dividend distributed to holders of the underlying stock, without any adjustment for taxes or withholding. The Underlying Index will be rebalanced on a semi-annual basis. A constituent that is removed from the MSCI USA Index will be removed simultaneously from the Underlying Index, and its weight will be distributed pro rata among the remaining constituents. Additions to the MSCI USA Index will be considered for inclusion in the Underlying Index at the next review.
MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) Index
Number of Components: approximately 171
Index Description. The MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index aims to reflect the performance characteristics of a minimum volatility strategy applied to the large- and mid-capitalization U.S. equity universe. The Underlying Index is calculated by optimizing the MSCI USA Index, its Parent Index, in USD for the lowest absolute risk (within a given set of constraints). Historically, the Underlying Index has shown lower beta and volatility characteristics relative to the MSCI USA Index.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with gross dividends reinvested. The use of gross dividends reflects the assumed reinvestment of the entire dividend distributed to holders of the underlying stock, without any adjustment for taxes or withholding.
MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant Index
Number of Components: approximately 125
Index Description. The MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index consists of stocks exhibiting relatively higher momentum characteristics from the MSCI USA Index (the “Parent Index”), as determined by MSCI Inc. The MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant Index is a version of the MSCI USA Momentum Index, which rebalances quarterly and applies turnover caps at each rebalance.
A risk-adjusted price momentum, defined by MSCI as the excess return over the risk-free rate (i.e., the 3 Month Treasury Bill Rate) divided by the annualized standard deviation of weekly returns over the past 3 years, is calculated for each security in the Parent Index over 6- and 12- month time periods. The 6- and 12-month risk-adjusted price momentum calculations are then standardized at +/-3 standard deviations and translated into an average momentum score. The 125 securities with the highest positive momentum scores are predetermined for the Underlying Index at initial construction with an aim to attain a high exposure to the momentum factor while maintaining sufficient market capitalization and number of securities
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coverages. The weight of each Underlying Index constituent is determined based on the product of the security’s momentum score and its market capitalization weight in the Parent Index and further adjusted to, among others, mitigate the impact of stock-specific risk.
Additionally, a capping methodology is applied so that each individual issuer is capped at 5% weight at reconstitution. The Index Provider also takes into account certain diversification rules. At reconstitution, if the aggregate weight of stocks representing more than 4.5% weight is greater than 22.5% of the Underlying Index weight, the Underlying Index is rebalanced such that the aggregate weight of stocks greater than 4.5% does not exceed 22.5% of the Underlying Index weight. Between constitution dates, if the aggregate weight of stocks representing more than 5% weight is greater than 25% of the Underlying Index weight, the Underlying Index is rebalanced such that the aggregate weight of stocks greater than 4.5% does not exceed 22.5% of the Underlying Index weight.
The Underlying Index is reconstituted quarterly. To determine the constituent changes at each quarterly reconstitution, the Index Provider applies an iterative algorithm to cap the one-way turnover per reconstitution at 30%.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with gross dividends reinvested. The use of gross dividends reflects the assumed reinvestment of the entire dividend distributed to holders of the underlying stock, without any adjustment for taxes or withholding.
MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index
Number of Components: approximately 125
Index Description. The MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index is based on a traditional market capitalization-weighted parent index, the MSCI USA Index, which includes U.S. large- and mid-capitalization stocks. The Underlying Index seeks to measure the performance of securities in the parent index that exhibit higher quality characteristics relative to their peers within the corresponding Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) sector. To construct the Underlying Index, the quality score of each security in the parent index is determined based on three main fundamental variables: high return on equity, low earnings variability and low leverage. A fixed number of securities with the highest positive quality scores are predetermined for the Underlying Index at initial construction with an aim to attain a high exposure to the quality factor while maintaining sufficient index market capitalization and number of securities coverage. The weight of each Underlying Index constituent is determined based on the product of the security’s quality score and its market capitalization weight in the parent index and further adjusted to, among others, mitigate concentration risk. Weights in the Underlying Index are normalized so that sectors in the Underlying Index represent the same weight as in the Parent Index. Additionally, each individual issuer is capped at 5%.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with gross dividends reinvested. The use of gross dividends reflects the assumed reinvestment of the entire dividend distributed to holders of the underlying stock, without any adjustment for taxes or withholding.
MSCI USA Small Cap Minimum Volatility (USD) Index
Number of Components: approximately 324
Index Description. The MSCI USA Small Cap Minimum Volatility (USD) Index is an MSCI Global Small Cap Index. The Underlying Index aims to reflect the performance of small-capitalization U.S. equities that in the aggregate are expected to have lower volatility characteristics relative to the small-capitalization U.S. equity market. Each security included in the Underlying Index is a current constituent of the MSCI USA Small Cap Index, the parent index.
Index Methodology. The Underlying Index is designed to provide the lowest expected return variance using MSCI's multi-factor risk model, and then it is further refined by an optimization tool that seeks to optimize the parent index for the lowest absolute volatility with a certain set of constraints. These constraints help maintain Underlying Index replicability and investability and include Underlying Index turnover limits, for example, along with minimum and maximum constituent, sector and/or country weights relative to the parent index, and other factor constraints, as measured by MSCI, including those related to momentum, value, size, size non-linearity (i.e., the performance differential between mid-capitalization companies versus large- and small-capitalization companies), growth, liquidity and financial leverage. The Underlying Index is rebalanced (or is re-optimized) semi-annually in May and November.
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Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with gross dividends reinvested. The use of gross dividends reflects the assumed reinvestment of the entire dividend distributed to holders of the underlying stock, without any adjustment for taxes or withholding.
MSCI World ex USA Enhanced Value Index
Number of Components: approximately 350
Index Description. The MSCI World ex USA Enhanced Value Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The investment results of the MSCI World ex USA Enhanced Value Index are based on a traditional market capitalization-weighted parent index, the MSCI World ex USA Index, which as of July 31, 2023 included large- and mid- capitalization stocks across the following 20 developed market countries or regions: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. The Underlying Index is designed to represent the performance of securities that exhibit higher value style characteristics relative to their peers within the corresponding Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) sector.
Index Methodology. The Underlying Index is designed to represent the performance of securities that exhibit relatively higher value characteristics within the parent index. The value score for each security is calculated by combining the scores of three valuation descriptors based on publicly reported financial data: price-to-book value, price-to-forward earnings and enterprise value-to-cash flow from operations. The Underlying Index is constructed with a fixed number of securities constituting a subset of the parent index based on their final value scores. The fixed number of securities is evaluated semi-annually. MSCI assigns weights by multiplying a component's final value score by its market capitalization. Weights in the Underlying Index are next normalized so that sectors in the Underlying Index represent the same weight as in the Parent Index. Coinciding with the SAIRs of the parent index, the Underlying Index is rebalanced on the last business day of May and November.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI World ex USA Low Size Index
Number of Components: approximately 885
Index Description. The MSCI World ex USA Low Size Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index is based on a traditional market capitalization-weighted parent index, the MSCI World ex USA Index, which includes large- and mid-capitalization stocks across the following 22 developed market countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.
Index Methodology. The Underlying Index is constructed by applying a mathematical formula at each rebalancing that reweights the components of its market capitalization-weighted Parent Index, such that the representation of smaller capitalization companies is increased relative to larger capitalization companies. In addition, at each rebalancing, the Index Provider calculates a “constraint factor” for each component. The constraint factor is the ratio of the component’s weight in the Underlying Index to that component’s weight in the Parent Index. The constraint factor is held constant between each rebalancing, except in the case of corporate events (as defined by the Index Provider). Changes in the relative weight of an individual component in the Parent Index due to market appreciation/depreciation result in that component increasing/decreasing in weight in the Underlying Index to hold the constraint factor for that component constant between each rebalancing. The Underlying Index is rebalanced semiannually in May and November.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
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MSCI World ex USA Momentum Index
Number of Components: approximately 300
Index Description. The MSCI World ex USA Momentum Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The index consists of stocks exhibiting relatively higher momentum characteristics than the traditional market capitalization-weighted parent index, the MSCI World ex USA Index, which includes large- and mid-capitalization equity securities in developed market countries, excluding the U.S. It is designed to reflect the performance of an equity momentum strategy that emphasizes stocks with high price momentum, while maintaining reasonably high trading liquidity, investment capacity and moderate index turnover. As of July 31, 2023, the Underlying Index consisted of companies in the following 21 countries or regions: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K.
Index Methodology. The MSCI World ex USA Momentum Index holds a fixed number of securities that are chosen from constituents within the parent index. A risk-adjusted price momentum score, defined as the excess return over the risk-free rate divided by the annualized standard deviation of weekly returns over the past 3 years, is calculated for each security in the parent index over 6- and 12-month time periods. The 6- and 12- month risk-adjusted price momentum calculations are then standardized at +/-3 standard deviations and the standardized z-scores are translated into an average momentum score. A fixed number of securities with the highest positive momentum scores are predetermined for the Underlying Index at initial construction with an aim to attain a high exposure to the momentum factor while maintaining sufficient market capitalization and number of securities coverage. The weight of each Underlying Index constituent is determined based on the product of the security’s momentum score and its market capitalization weight in the parent index and each individual issuer is capped at 5%. MSCI uses an algorithm to determine the number of components in the Underlying Index based on the number of constituents in the Parent Index.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
MSCI World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality Index
Number of Components: approximately 300
Index Description. The MSCI World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality Index is an MSCI Global Standard Index. The Underlying Index is based on a traditional market capitalization-weighted parent index, the MSCI World ex USA Index, which includes large- and mid-capitalization equity securities in developed market countries, excluding the U.S. The Underlying Index seeks to capture the performance of quality stocks by identifying common stocks with high quality scores while maintaining reasonably high trading liquidity, investment capacity and moderate index turnover. As of July 31, 2023, the Underlying Index consisted of companies in the following 22 countries or regions: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K.
Index Methodology. The MSCI World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality Index holds a fixed number of securities that are chosen from constituents within the parent index. The MSCI World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality Index aims to capture the performance of high quality stocks by identifying common stocks with high “quality scores” based on three variables:
Return on equity: Trailing 12-month earnings per share divided by the latest book value per share.
Earnings variability: Standard deviation of year-over-year earnings per share growth over last five fiscal years.
Debt-to-equity: Latest fiscal year total debt-to-book value.
The methodology calculates a “quality score” for each security in the parent index by averaging the z-scores of the three fundamental variables above. A sector relative quality score is then derived by standardizing the composite quality z-scores within each sector. The sector-relative quality scores are then standardized at +/- 3 standard deviations and the standardized z-scores are translated into an average quality score. A fixed number of securities with the highest positive quality scores are
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predetermined for the Underlying Index at initial construction with an aim to attain a high exposure to the quality factor while maintaining sufficient index market capitalization and number of securities coverage. The weight of each Underlying Index constituent is determined based on the product of the security’s quality score and its market capitalization weight in the parent index. Weights in the Underlying Index are next normalized so that sectors in the Underlying Index represent the same weight as in the Parent Index. Additionally, each individual issuer is capped at 5%. The Underlying Index is rebalanced semi-annually.
Calculation Methodology. The Fund utilizes the Underlying Index calculated with net dividends reinvested. MSCI uses the index constituent companies’ country of incorporation to determine the relevant dividend withholding tax rates in calculating the net dividends. The regular cash dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax by applying the maximum rate of the company’s country of incorporation applicable to institutional investors. Net dividends means dividends after taxes withheld at the rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Such withholding rates may differ from those applicable to U.S. residents.
Additional Information. “MSCI,” MSCI EAFE® Index, MSCI EAFE® Growth Index, MSCI EAFE® Minimum Volatility Index, MSCI EAFE® Small Cap Index, MSCI EAFE® Value Index, MSCI Europe Financials Index, MSCI Europe Minimum Volatility (USD) Index, MSCI Europe Small Cap Index, MSCI Japan Minimum Volatility (USD) Index, MSCI USA Index, MSCI USA Low Size Index, MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Extended ESG Reduced Carbon Target Index, MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index, MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant Index, MSCI USA Sectoral Neutral Quality Index, MSCI USA Enhanced Value Index, MSCI World ex USA Enhanced Value Index, MSCI World ex USA Low Size Index, MSCI World ex USA Momentum Index, and MSCI World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality Index are servicemarks of MSCI Inc. and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by BFA or its affiliates. The Funds are neither sponsored, endorsed, sold nor promoted by MSCI Inc., and MSCI Inc. makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in any of the Funds.
ICE Data Indices®
Additional Information: ICE Data Indices, LLC is used with permission. ICE is a registered trademark of ICE Data Indices, LLC (“IDI”) or its affiliates. “NYSE” is a registered trademark of NYSE Group, Inc., an affiliate of IDI and is used by IDI with permission and under a license. “FactSet” is a registered trademark of FactSet Research Systems, Inc. These trademarks have been licensed for use, together with certain IDI indices, for certain purposes by BlackRock Fund Advisors and its affiliates.
NYSE® FactSet® U.S. Tech Breakthrough Index
Number of Components: approximately 167
Index Description. The NYSE® FactSet® U.S. Tech Breakthrough Index is provided by ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE Data”) and is designed to represent a broad universe of U.S. listed companies engaged in cutting edge research and development of products and services in the areas of robotics and artificial intelligence, cyber security, cloud and data tech, financial technology, and genomics and immunology. Constituents selected must belong to one of the five thematic segments and must meet the eligibility requirements of the segment the company is classified under as defined by FactSet Revere Business Industry Classification systems (“RBICS”).
Eligibility. The following rules are used for the initial constituent selection and ongoing reconstitution:
The starting universe are common stocks, American Depositary Receipts, or Global Depositary Receipts of companies that are primarily listed for trading and electronically quoted on a major stock market that is accessible by foreign investors in one of the following countries: Australia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Iceland, Portugal, Belgium, India, Singapore, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, Canada, Ireland, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Chile, Israel, Spain, Colombia, Italy, Sweden, Czech Republic, Japan, Switzerland, Denmark, Malaysia, Taiwan, Egypt, Mexico, Thailand, Finland, Netherlands, Turkey, France, New Zealand, the U.K., Germany, Norway, U.S., Greece, Peru, Hong Kong and Philippines. Companies are selected that belong to one of the five following thematic segments: (i) Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, (ii) Cyber Security, (iii) Cloud and Data Tech, (iv) Financial Technology, and (v) Genomics and Immunology.
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence:
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Companies must have a float-adjusted market capitalization of $500 million or greater, and a three-month Average Daily Trading Value (“ADTV”) of $2 million or greater on the Reference Date. “Reference Date” means the date on which data is used to reconstitute the Underlying Index, which is as of the close of business on the first Friday in
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December, and the date on which data is used to rebalance the Underlying Index, which is as of the close of business on the first Friday in June and December.
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Companies must also (1) be classified as deriving 50% or more revenues from one of 22 RBICS Focus Level 6 industries related to Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, or (2) have a 20% or more market share or generate $1 billion or more in absolute annual revenues from one of the 22 RBICS Level 6 industry classifications.
The 22 RBICS Level 6 industries discussed above are: Business Intelligence Software, Communication and Collaboration Content Sites, Diversified Customer Relationship Software, Media Download and Streaming Digital Content Sites, Mobile Platform Applications Software, Other Hosting Services, Other Programmable Logic and ASIC Semiconductors, Programmable Logic Device Semiconductors, Video Multimedia Semiconductors, Web Navigation Sites and Software, Web Search Sites and Software, 3D Modeling/Rapid Prototyping Automation Providers, Computer Aided Design (CAD) Software, Household Robots, Industrial Robots and Robotic Assembly Line Makers, Machine Vision and Quality Control Manufacturing, Microprocessor (MPU) Semiconductors, Motion Control and Precision Motors Manufacturing, Other Communications Semiconductors, Other Processor Semiconductors, Smart Phone Manufacturing and Surgical Robotic Systems.
Cyber Security:
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Companies must have a float-adjusted market capitalization of $300 million or greater, and a three-month ADTV of $2 million or greater on the Reference Date.
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Companies must also be classified as deriving 50% or more revenues from one of 12 RBICS Focus Level 6 industries related to Cyber Security, with additional screens applied to companies classified to “Multi-Type Home and Office Software.”
The 12 RBICS Level 6 industries discussed above are: Customer Premises Network Security Equipment, General Carrier Edge (Access) Equipment, Carrier Edge Network Management Equipment, Wireline Equipment, Network Security Access Policy Software, Network Security Software, Enterprise Security Management Software, Other Network Software, Government IT Services, Aerospace and Defense IT Services, Security and Management Consulting and Multi-Type Home and Office Software.
Cloud and Data Tech:
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Companies must have a float-adjusted market capitalization of $300 million or greater, and a three-month ADTV of $2 million or greater on the Reference Date.
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Companies must also be classified as deriving 50% or more revenues from one of 20 RBICS Focus Level 6 industries related to Cloud and Data Tech, with additional screens applied to companies classified to 4 RBICS Focus Level 6 industries: “Industrial and Warehouse Equity REITs”, “Multi-Type Equity REITs”, “General and Mixed-Type Software” or “General Information Technology (IT) Consulting.”
The 20 RBICS Level 6 industries discussed above are: Business Intelligence Software, Data Storage Drives and Peripherals, Data Storage Infrastructure Software, Disk Storage Systems, Diversified Customer Relationship Software, Diversified IT Infrastructure Software, General Enterprise Management Software, General and Mixed Type Software, General Information Technology (IT) Consulting, Internet Department Stores, Managed Hosting Services, Multi-Type Business and Personal Systems, Other Hosting Services, Other Network Software, Software Development Software, Web Navigation Sites and Software, Web Search Sites and Software, Colocation and Data Center Services, Industrial and Warehouse Equity REITs, and Multi-Type Equity REITs.
Financial Technology:
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Companies must have a float-adjusted market capitalization of $300 million or greater, and a three-month ADTV of $2 million or greater on the Reference Date.
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Companies must also be classified as deriving 50% or more revenues from one of 17 RBICS Focus Level 6 industries related to Financial Technology.
The 17 RBICS Level 6 industries discussed above are: Alternative Exchanges and ECNs, Blockchain Technology, Commercial Bank and Credit Union Software, Cryptocurrency Trading and Exchanges, Electronic Payment Processing, Financial and Compliance ERP Software, General Consumer Finance Services, Insurance Software, Investment Management/Brokerage
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Software, Market Makers and Specialists, Mixed Electronic Transaction Processing, Other Finance Industry Software, Payment Processing Software, Personal Loans, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal Manufacturing, Retail Industry Software, and Trading Software.
Genomics and Immunology:
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Companies must have a float-adjusted market capitalization of $300 million or greater, and a three-month ADTV of $2 million or greater on the Reference Date.
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Companies must also be classified as deriving 50% or more revenues from one of 60 RBICS Focus Level 6 industries related to Genomics and Immunology.
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A Genomics and Immuno Biopharmaceutical Composite Relationship Keyword score is then calculated by FactSet for each selected company based on the number of relationships mentioning keywords related to Genomics and Immuno Biopharmaceutical products and technologies. Companies are ranked in descending order and the top 50 ranked companies are selected for the Genomics and Immunology theme.
The 60 RBICS Level 6 industries discussed above are: Active and Intermediate Chemicals OEMs, Analytical and Bioanalytical Services, Autoimmune Disorders Biopharmaceuticals, Bacterial Vaccines, Bioanalytical Consumables, Biological Specimen Storage, Biologics OEMs, Breast Cancer Biopharmaceuticals, Broad Spectrum Antibacterial Agents, Cardiovascular System Biopharmaceuticals, Clinical and Preclinical Limited Service CROs, Clinical Limited Service CROs, Dermatology Biopharmaceuticals, Diversified Bioanalytical Instruments, Diversified Biopharmaceuticals, Diversified Contract Manufacturing Organizations, Diversified Contract Research Organizations, Diversified Development and Manufacturing Services, Drug Delivery Technology Development, Drug Development Software, Drug Lead Discovery, Validation and Optimization, Drug Target Discovery and Validation, Full Service CROs, General Clinical Diagnostics Devices, General Infectious Diseases Biopharmaceuticals, Genetic Molecular Diagnostic Test Kits, Heart Disorders Biopharmaceuticals, Hematological Oncology Biopharmaceuticals, Hematology Biopharmaceuticals, Home Testing Clinical Diagnostics Devices, Immune Deficiency Disorders Biopharmaceuticals, Immunoassays Clinical Diagnostics Devices, Intermediary Metabolism Biopharmaceuticals, Liver Disorders Biopharmaceuticals, Lower Respiratory Biopharmaceuticals, Multi-Type Diagnostic Patient Care, Multi-Type Drug Discovery Services, Musculoskeletal System Biopharmaceuticals, Narrow Spectrum Antibacterial Agents, Neurology Biopharmaceuticals, Ophthalmology Biopharmaceuticals, Other Bacterial Infections Biopharmaceuticals, Other Biopharmaceutical OEMs, Other Chemistry Clinical Diagnostics Devices, Other Drug Delivery Devices, Other Endocrinology/Metabolism Biopharmaceuticals, Other Immunology Biopharmaceuticals, Other Oncology Biopharmaceuticals, Other Respiratory System Biopharmaceuticals, Point of Care Testing Kits, Preclinical Limited Service CROs, Scientific Analytical Instruments, Specialized Clinical Laboratories, Surgical Biopharmaceuticals, Transplantation Biopharmaceuticals, Type 1 Diabetes Biopharmaceuticals, Type 2 Diabetes Biopharmaceuticals, Urology Biopharmaceuticals, Vascular Disorders Biopharmaceuticals, and Viral Biopharmaceuticals.
U.S. Securities Screen:
All eligible securities that have been assigned to one of the five aforementioned themes must also be primarily listed in one of the four U.S. exchanges: NYSE, NYSE American, Nasdaq or Cboe BZX. All eligible issuers must also be incorporated in the U.S. Finally, all remaining securities must also have a minimum float-adjusted market capitalization of $500 million or greater, and a three-month ADTV of $2 million or greater on the Reference Date.
Weighting Methodology:
The Underlying Index is weighted according to the component stocks’ float-adjusted market capitalization by dividing their individual float-adjusted market capitalization by the total float-adjusted market capitalization of all constituents, with individual security weights capped at 4% and individual thematic segment weights maintained at a minimum of 10%. The Underlying Index is reviewed and reconstituted annually in December. Constituent weights of the Underlying Index are rebalanced semiannually. The Underlying Index may include large-, mid- or small-capitalization companies. In addition, certain companies included in the Underlying Index may also operate in business lines other than the theme to which they are assigned that also generate revenue in other industries.
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The STOXX Indexes
STOXX Total Market Indexes
Each of the STOXX Total Market Indexes is a subset of the STOXX Global Total Market index (the “Global TMI”), which represents 95 percent of the free float market capitalization worldwide, with a variable number of components. The STOXX global equity universe includes all common stocks and equities with similar characteristics from financial markets that provide real-time and historical component and currency pricing. The Global TMI is the fraction of the STOXX investable universe listed on eligible stock exchanges. The STOXX Country Total Market indexes form the basis for all regional STOXX Total Market indexes (each, a “Regional TMI”). Each STOXX Country Total Market index aims to represent a broad market and covers at least 95 percent of the free float market capitalization of the respective country’s investable universe. Each of the STOXX Total Market Indexes is derived from its respective Regional TMI(s).
STOXX World Equity Indexes
The STOXX World Equity Indexes includes a number of regional, country and sector equity indexes which are modular components of the STOXX World AC All Cap Index (AC stand for All Countries). The STOXX World AC All Cap Index aims to provide a broad universe that includes all investable stocks, ADR’s and GDR’s from all developed and emerging markets in the world. Large Cap, Mid Cap and Small Cap Indexes provide coverage of approximately the top 70 percent, 85 percent and 95 percent of each respective countries’ free float-adjusted market capitalization. The universe for all countries besides China, is the combination of the respective STOXX Country Total Market Index, the respective country’s constituents in the STOXX GCC Total Market Index (a Regional TMI that aims to represent the Gulf Cooperation Council countries market, which consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) and the respective country’s constituents of the STOXX World DR Index (a free-float market capitalization-weighted index of depositary receipts whose universe includes ADRs and GDRs that are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, or the London Stock Exchange). For China the universe is the aggregate of the STOXX China Total Market Index, the STOXX China A Total Market Index, the STOXX China P-Chip Total Market Index, and the China constituents in the STOXX Global DR Index.
STOXX International Equity Factor Index
Number of Components: approximately 464
Index Description. The STOXX International Equity Factor Index is a rules-based equity index provided by STOXX Ltd. The Underlying Index is a subset of the STOXX Global 1800 ex-USA (the “Parent Index”). The Parent Index is a subset of the STOXX Global 1800, which is a fixed component index that measures the performance of the largest developed market stocks and is an aggregation of these indices: STOXX North America 600, STOXX Asia/Pacific 600 and STOXX Europe 600. The Parent Index is a free float market capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of the largest companies of the developed equity market excluding the U.S., as defined by STOXX. Free float market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the total market capitalization of a security by a free float factor, as determined by the Index Provider, to reflect the market capitalization of the number of shares available in the market (rather than that of the total number of shares outstanding).
The Underlying Index is composed of large- and mid-capitalization equity securities from the Parent Index that are selected and weighted using an optimization process designed to maximize exposure to five target factors: momentum, quality, value, low volatility and size. The Underlying Index also seeks to mitigate exposure to unintended systematic exposures, limit turnover and maintain a level of risk similar to that of the Parent Index.
Index Methodology. The momentum score is calculated from the following signals: price momentum, earnings momentum and earnings announcement drift (i.e., the difference between a stock’s performance on and immediately following an earnings announcement date).
The quality score is calculated from the following signals: gross profitability, share dilution, accruals, changes in net operating assets, carbon emissions intensity and greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction targets. Carbon emissions intensity is based on the issuer’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (i.e., direct emissions from sources that an issuer owns or controls and indirect emissions from the issuer’s purchase of energy) relative to peers in its Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”) Supersector, as reported by Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). The GHG targets signal is based on the robustness of an issuer's GHG reduction targets, including whether they are part of the Science Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”) framework; this is assessed by ISS based on its own ESG ratings data and SBTi data.
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The value score is calculated from the following signals: current book value-to-price ratio, dividend yield (i.e., 12-month trailing dividend divided by total market capitalization), earnings yield (i.e., 12-month net income divided by total market capitalization), cash flow yield (i.e., 12-month cash flow divided by total market capitalization) and time series normalized cash flow yield over the previous 36 months. The low volatility score is based on prior 12-month volatility, as calculated by the Index Provider. The size score seeks to measure an issuer’s market capitalization relative to other companies in the Parent Index.
The Index Provider derives a composite score based on a combination of the five factors at the following weights: momentum, 27%; quality, 36%; value, 27%; low volatility, 5%; and size, 5%. The composite score is an input to the optimization process through which the Index Provider selects securities from the Parent Index and assigns weights.
The optimization process seeks to maximize the overall exposure to the five factors while applying certain constraints, which include the following:
•
A constituent’s minimum weight is the greater of 0% and its weight in the Parent Index minus 2%.
•
A constituent’s maximum weight is the lesser of its weight in the Parent Index plus 2% and 20 times its Parent Index weight.
•
The maximum weight for a single issuer is 10% of the Underlying Index.
•
The sum of issuer weights that are individually greater than 4.5% must be less than 22.5% of the Underlying Index.
•
The maximum exposure to each ICB Industry (Level 1) (as defined by the Index Provider) must be within 2% of the exposure in the Parent Index.
•
The exposure to a particular country must be within 5% of the exposure in the Parent Index.
•
The maximum one-way turnover at each quarterly rebalance is 5%.
•
The maximum ex ante tracking error relative to the Parent Index is 1%.
•
Constraints are also applied for the minimum and maximum exposures to the five factors relative to the Parent Index.
The Underlying Index is reviewed and rebalanced each March, June, September and December.
STOXX International Small-Cap Equity Factor Index
Number of Components: approximately 1,055
Index Description. The STOXX International Small-Cap Equity Factor Index (the “Underlying Index”) is a subset of the STOXX International Developed Markets Small Cap Index (the “Parent Index”), which is a free float market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure the performance of small-capitalization companies from developed market countries excluding the U.S. Small-capitalization companies, as calculated by the Index Provider, represent approximately the bottom 15% of the investable market capitalization of each developed market country included in the Parent Index, as defined by STOXX. Free float market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the total market capitalization of a security by a free float factor, as determined by the Index Provider, to reflect the market capitalization of the number of shares available in the market (rather than that of the total number of shares outstanding). The Underlying Index is composed of small-capitalization equity securities from the Parent Index that are selected and weighted using an optimization process designed to maximize exposure to four target factors: momentum, quality, value, and low volatility. The Underlying Index also seeks to mitigate exposure to unintended systematic exposures, limit turnover and maintain a level of risk similar to that of the Parent Index.
Index Methodology. The momentum score is calculated from the following signals: price momentum, earnings momentum and earnings announcement drift (i.e., the difference between a stock’s performance on and immediately following an earnings announcement date).
The quality score is calculated from the following signals: gross profitability, share dilution, accruals, changes in net operating assets, carbon emissions intensity and greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction targets. Carbon emissions intensity is based on the issuer’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (i.e., direct emissions from sources that an issuer owns or controls and indirect emissions from the issuer’s purchase of energy) relative to peers in its Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”) Supersector, as reported by Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). The GHG targets signal is based on the robustness of an issuer’s GHG reduction targets, including whether they are part of the Science Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”) framework; this is assessed by ISS based on its own ESG ratings data and SBTi data.
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The value score is calculated from the following signals: current book value-to-price ratio, dividend yield (i.e., 12-month trailing dividend divided by total market capitalization), earnings yield (i.e., 12-month net income divided by total market capitalization), cash flow yield (i.e., 12-month cash flow divided by total market capitalization) and time series normalized cash flow yield over the previous 36 months.
The low volatility score is based on prior 12-month volatility, as calculated by the Index Provider.
The Index Provider derives a composite score based on a combination of the four factors at the following weights: momentum, 30%; quality, 35%; value, 30%; and low volatility, 5%. The composite score is an input to the optimization process through which the Index Provider selects securities from the Parent Index and assigns weights.
The optimization process seeks to maximize the overall exposure to the four factors while applying certain constraints, which include the following:
•
A constituent’s minimum weight is the greater of 0% and its weight in the Parent Index minus 2%.
•
A constituent’s maximum weight is the lesser of its weight in the Parent Index plus 2% and 20 times its Parent Index weight.
•
The maximum weight for a single issuer is 10% of the Underlying Index.
•
The sum of issuer weights that are individually greater than 4.5% must be less than 22.5% of the Underlying Index.
•
The maximum exposure to each ICB Industry (Level 1) (as defined by the Index Provider) must be within 2% of the exposure in the Parent Index.
•
The exposure to a particular country must be within 5% of the exposure in the Parent Index.
•
The maximum one-way turnover at each quarterly rebalance is 5%.
•
The maximum ex ante tracking error relative to the Parent Index is 1%.
•
Constraints are also applied for the minimum and maximum exposures to the four factors relative to the Parent Index.
•
A constituent’s maximum weight is also subject to liquidity constraints.
The Underlying Index is reviewed and rebalanced each March, June, September and December.
STOXX U.S. Equity Factor Index
Number of Components: approximately 305
Index Description. The STOXX U.S. Equity Factor Index is a rules-based equity index provided by STOXX Ltd. The Underlying Index is a subset of the STOXX USA 900 index (the “Parent Index”), which is a free float market capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of the largest 900 companies of the U.S. equity market, as defined by STOXX. Free float market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the total market capitalization of a security by a free float factor, as determined by the Index Provider, to reflect the market capitalization of the number of shares available in the market (rather than that of the total number of shares outstanding). The Underlying Index is composed of large- and mid-capitalization equity securities from the Parent Index that are selected and weighted using an optimization process designed to maximize exposure to five target factors: momentum, quality, value, low volatility and size. The Underlying Index also seeks to mitigate exposure to unintended systematic exposures, limit turnover and maintain a level of risk similar to that of the Parent Index.
Index Methodology. The momentum score is calculated from the following signals: price momentum, earnings momentum and earnings announcement drift (i.e., the difference between a stock’s performance on and immediately following an earnings announcement date).
The quality score is calculated from the following signals: gross profitability, share dilution, accruals, changes in net operating assets, carbon emissions intensity and greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction targets. Carbon emissions intensity is based on the issuer’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (i.e., direct emissions from sources that an issuer owns or controls and indirect emissions from the issuer’s purchase of energy) relative to peers in its Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”) Supersector, as reported by Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). The GHG targets signal is based on the robustness of an issuer's GHG reduction targets, including whether they are part of the Science Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”) framework; this is assessed by ISS based on its own ESG ratings data and SBTi data.
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The value score is calculated from the following signals: current book value-to-price ratio, dividend yield (i.e., 12-month trailing dividend divided by total market capitalization), earnings yield (i.e., 12-month net income divided by total market capitalization), cash flow yield (i.e., 12-month cash flow divided by total market capitalization) and time series normalized cash flow yield over the previous 36 months. The low volatility score is based on prior 12-month volatility, as calculated by the Index Provider. The size score seeks to measure an issuer’s market capitalization relative to other companies in the Parent Index.
The Index Provider derives a composite score based on a combination of the five factors at the following weights: momentum, 27%; quality, 36%; value, 27%; low volatility, 5%; and size, 5%. The composite score is an input to the optimization process through which the Index Provider selects securities from the Parent Index and assigns weights.
The optimization process seeks to maximize the overall exposure to the five factors while applying certain constraints, which include the following:
•
A constituent’s minimum weight is the greater of 0% and its weight in the Parent Index minus 2%.
•
A constituent’s maximum weight is the lesser of its weight in the Parent Index plus 2% and 20 times its Parent Index weight.
•
The maximum weight for a single issuer is 10% of the Underlying Index.
•
The sum of issuer weights that are individually greater than 4.5% must be less than 22.5% of the Underlying Index.
•
The maximum exposure to each ICB Industry (Level 1) (as defined by the Index Provider) must be within 2% of the exposure in the Parent Index.
•
The maximum one-way turnover at each quarterly rebalance is 5%.
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The maximum ex ante tracking error relative to the Parent Index is 1%.
•
Constraints are also applied for the minimum and maximum exposures to the five factors relative to the Parent Index.
The Underlying Index is reviewed and rebalanced each March, June, September and December.
STOXX U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor Index
Number of Components: approximately 857
Index Description. The STOXX U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor Index (the “Underlying Index”) is a subset of the STOXX US Small Cap Index (the “Parent Index”), which is a free float market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure the performance of small-capitalization companies in the U.S. Small-capitalization companies, as calculated by the Index Provider, represent approximately the bottom 15% of the investable market capitalization in the U.S. securities market, as defined by STOXX. Free float market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the total market capitalization of a security by a free float factor, as determined by the Index Provider, to reflect the market capitalization of the number of shares available in the market (rather than that of the total number of shares outstanding). The Underlying Index is composed of small-capitalization equity securities from the Parent Index that are selected and weighted using an optimization process designed to maximize exposure to four target factors: momentum, quality, value, and low volatility. The Underlying Index also seeks to mitigate exposure to unintended systematic exposures, limit turnover and maintain a level of risk similar to that of the Parent Index.
Index Methodology. The momentum score is calculated from the following signals: price momentum, earnings momentum and earnings announcement drift (i.e., the difference between a stock’s performance on and immediately following an earnings announcement date).
The quality score is calculated from the following signals: gross profitability, share dilution, accruals, changes in net operating assets, carbon emissions intensity and greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction targets. Carbon emissions intensity is based on the issuer’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (i.e., direct emissions from sources that an issuer owns or controls and indirect emissions from the issuer’s purchase of energy) relative to peers in its Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”) Supersector, as reported by Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). The GHG targets signal is based on the robustness of an issuer’s GHG reduction targets, including whether they are part of the Science Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”) framework; this is assessed by ISS based on its own ESG ratings data and SBTi data.
49

The value score is calculated from the following signals: current book value-to-price ratio, dividend yield (i.e., 12-month trailing dividend divided by total market capitalization), earnings yield (i.e., 12-month net income divided by total market capitalization), cash flow yield (i.e., 12-month cash flow divided by total market capitalization) and time series normalized cash flow yield over the previous 36 months.
The low volatility score is based on prior 12-month volatility, as calculated by the Index Provider.
The Index Provider derives a composite score based on a combination of the four factors at the following weights: momentum, 30%; quality, 35%; value, 30%; and low volatility, 5%. The composite score is an input to the optimization process through which the Index Provider selects securities from the Parent Index and assigns weights.
The optimization process seeks to maximize the overall exposure to the four factors while applying certain constraints, which
include the following:A constituent’s minimum weight is the greater of 0% and its weight in the Parent Index minus 2%.A constituent’s
maximum weight is the lesser of its weight in the Parent Index plus 2% and 20 times its Parent Index weight.The maximum
weight for a single issuer is 10% of the Underlying Index.The sum of issuer weights that are individually greater than 4.5% must
be less than 22.5% of the Underlying Index.The maximum exposure to each ICB Industry (Level 1) (as defined by the Index
Provider) must be within 2% of the exposure in the Parent Index.The maximum one way turnover at each quarterly rebalance
is 5%.The maximum ex ante tracking error relative to the Parent Index is 1%.Constraints are also applied for the minimum and
maximum exposures to the four factors relative to the Parent Index.A constituent’s maximum weight is also subject to liquidity
constraints.The Underlying Index is reviewed and rebalanced each March, June, September and December.
Investment Policies
The Board has adopted as fundamental policies the following numbered investment policies, which cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the applicable Fund’s outstanding voting securities. A vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a shareholder meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Each Fund has also adopted certain non-fundamental investment policies, including its investment objective. Non-fundamental investment policies may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. Therefore, each Fund may change its investment objective and its Underlying Index without shareholder approval.
Fundamental Investment Policies
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF will not:
1.
Concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total assets in the stocks of a particular industry or group of industries), except that each Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index concentrates in the stocks of such particular industry or group of industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, and securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.
2.
Borrow money, except that (i) each Fund may borrow from banks for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise require the untimely disposition of securities, and (ii) each Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, forward roll transactions and similar investment strategies and techniques. To the extent that it engages in transactions described in (i) and (ii), each Fund will be limited so that no more than 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) is derived from such transactions. Any borrowings which come to exceed this amount will be reduced in accordance with applicable law.
3.
Issue any senior security, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.
4.
Make loans, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.
5.
Purchase or sell real estate, real estate mortgages, commodities or commodity contracts, but this restriction shall not
50

prevent each Fund from trading in futures contracts and options on futures contracts (including options on currencies to the extent consistent with each Fund’s investment objective and policies).
6.
Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that each Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act, in disposing of portfolio securities.
The iShares China Large-Cap ETF will not:
1.
Concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total assets in the stocks of a particular industry or group of industries), except that the Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index concentrates in the stocks of such particular industry or group of industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, and securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.
2.
Borrow money, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise require the untimely disposition of securities, and (ii) the Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, forward roll transactions and similar investment strategies and techniques. To the extent that it engages in transactions described in (i) and (ii), the Fund will be limited so that no more than 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) is derived from such transactions. Any borrowings which come to exceed this amount will be reduced in accordance with applicable law.
3.
Issue “senior securities” as defined in the 1940 Act and the rules, regulations and orders thereunder, except as permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules, regulations and orders thereunder.
4.
Make loans. This restriction does not apply to: (i) the purchase of debt obligations in which the Fund may invest consistent with its investment objectives and policies; (ii) repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements; and (iii) loans of its portfolio securities, to the fullest extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
5.
Purchase or sell real estate, real estate mortgages, commodities or commodity contracts, but this restriction shall not prevent the Fund from trading in futures contracts and options on futures contracts (including options on currencies to the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies).
6.
Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that the Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act in disposing of portfolio securities.
Each of the iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF and iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF will not:
1.
Concentrate its investments (i.e., invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries), except that each Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index concentrates in the securities of such particular industry or group of industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, and securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.
2.
Borrow money, except that (i) each Fund may borrow from banks for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise require the untimely disposition of securities; and (ii) each Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, forward roll transactions and similar investment strategies and techniques. To the extent that it engages in transactions described in (i) and (ii), each Fund will be limited so that no more than 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) is derived from such transactions. Any borrowings which come to exceed this amount will be reduced in accordance with applicable law.
3.
Issue any senior security, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.
4.
Make loans, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.
5.
Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this restriction shall not prevent each Fund from investing in securities of companies engaged in the real estate business or
51

securities or other instruments backed by real estate or mortgages), or commodities or commodity contracts (but this restriction shall not prevent each Fund from trading in futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including options on currencies to the extent consistent with each Fund’s investment objective and policies).
6.
Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that each Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act, in disposing of portfolio securities.
Each of the iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF and iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF will not:
1. Concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the Investment Company Act, except that the Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index concentrates in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries.
2. Borrow money, except as permitted under the Investment Company Act.
3. Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate the Investment Company Act.
4. Purchase or hold real estate, except the Fund may purchase and hold securities or other instruments that are secured by, or linked to, real estate or interests therein, securities of REITs, mortgage-related securities and securities of issuers engaged in the real estate business, and the Fund may purchase and hold real estate as a result of the ownership of securities or other instruments.
5. Underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the sale of portfolio securities by the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriting or as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
6. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except as permitted by the Investment Company Act.
7. Make loans to the extent prohibited by the Investment Company Act.
Notations Regarding each of the iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, and iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF's Fundamental Investment Policies
The following notations are not considered to be part of each Fund’s fundamental investment policies and are subject to change without shareholder approval.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to concentration set forth in (1) above, the Investment Company Act does not define what constitutes “concentration” in an industry. The SEC staff has taken the position that investment of 25% or more of a fund’s total assets in one or more issuers conducting their principal activities in the same industry or group of industries constitutes concentration. It is possible that interpretations of concentration could change in the future. The policy in (1) above will be interpreted to refer to concentration as that term may be interpreted from time to time. The policy also will be interpreted to permit investment without limit in the following: securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities; securities of state, territory, possession or municipal governments and their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and repurchase agreements collateralized by any such obligations. Accordingly, issuers of the foregoing securities will not be considered to be members of any industry. There also will be no limit on investment in issuers domiciled in a single jurisdiction or country. Finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents. Each foreign government will be considered to be a member of a separate industry. With respect to each Fund's industry classifications, each Fund currently utilizes any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized
52

market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. The policy also will be interpreted to give broad authority to each Fund as to how to classify issuers within or among industries.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to borrowing money set forth in (2) above, the Investment Company Act permits each Fund to borrow money in amounts of up to one-third of the Fund's total assets from banks for any purpose, and to borrow up to 5% of the Fund's total assets from banks or other lenders for temporary purposes. (The Fund's total assets include the amounts being borrowed.) To limit the risks attendant to borrowing, the Investment Company Act requires each Fund to maintain at all times an “asset coverage” of at least 300% of the amount of its borrowings. Asset coverage means the ratio that the value of each Fund's total assets (including amounts borrowed), minus liabilities other than borrowings, bears to the aggregate amount of all borrowings. Borrowing money to increase portfolio holdings is known as “leveraging.” Certain trading practices and investments, such as reverse repurchase agreements, may be considered to be borrowings or involve leverage and thus are subject to the Investment Company Act restrictions. In accordance with Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act, when each Fund engages in reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, the Fund may either (i) maintain asset coverage of at least 300% with respect to such transactions and any other borrowings in the aggregate, or (ii) treat such transactions as “derivatives transactions” and comply with Rule 18f-4 with respect to such transactions. Short-term credits necessary for the settlement of securities transactions and arrangements with respect to securities lending will not be considered to be borrowings under the policy. Practices and investments that may involve leverage but are not considered to be borrowings are not subject to the policy.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to underwriting set forth in (5) above, the Investment Company Act does not prohibit a fund from engaging in the underwriting business or from underwriting the securities of other issuers; in fact, in the case of diversified funds, the Investment Company Act permits a fund to have underwriting commitments of up to 25% of its assets under certain circumstances. Those circumstances currently are that the amount of a fund’s underwriting commitments, when added to the value of a fund’s investments in issuers where a fund owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of those issuers, cannot exceed the 25% cap. A fund engaging in transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of portfolio securities may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act. Although it is not believed that the application of the 1933 Act provisions described above would cause a fund to be engaged in the business of underwriting, the policy in (5) above will be interpreted not to prevent a fund from engaging in transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of portfolio securities, regardless of whether a fund may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act or is otherwise engaged in the underwriting business to the extent permitted by applicable law.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to lending set forth in (7) above, the Investment Company Act does not prohibit each Fund from making loans (including lending its securities); however, SEC staff interpretations currently prohibit funds from lending more than one-third of their total assets (including lending its securities), except through the purchase of debt obligations or the use of repurchase agreements. In addition, collateral arrangements with respect to options, forward currency and futures transactions and other derivative instruments (as applicable), as well as delays in the settlement of securities transactions, will not be considered loans.
Non-Fundamental Investment Policies
Each Fund, except iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF and iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF, has adopted a non-fundamental policy not to invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of exercising management or control, or purchase or otherwise acquire any illiquid security, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, which currently permits up to 15% of each Fund's net assets to be invested in illiquid securities (calculated at the time of investment).
If any percentage restriction described above is complied with at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction, except that certain percentage limitations will be observed continuously in accordance with applicable law.
Each Fund has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy in accordance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in component securities of its Underlying Index or in Depositary Receipts representing component securities in the Underlying Index. Each Fund also has adopted a policy to provide its shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any change in such policy. If, subsequent to an investment, the 80% requirement is no longer met, a Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this policy.
53

Each Fund has adopted a non-fundamental policy not to purchase securities of other investment companies, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. As a matter of policy, however, a Fund will not purchase shares of any registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust, in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or (G) (the “fund of funds” provisions) of the 1940 Act, at any time the Fund has knowledge that its shares are purchased by another investment company investor in reliance on the provisions of subparagraph (G) of Section 12(d)(1).
Each Fund has adopted a non-fundamental policy not to make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except to the extent permitted by each Fund's Prospectus and SAI, as amended from time to time, and applicable law.
Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations under each Fund's fundamental or non-fundamental investment policies apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken. Any change in the percentage of each Fund's assets invested in certain securities or other instruments resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in each Fund’s total assets will not require each Fund to dispose of an investment until BFA determines that it is practicable to sell or close out the investment without undue market or tax consequences.
Continuous Offering
The method by which Creation Units are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Funds on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner that could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.
For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent shares and sells such shares directly to customers or if it chooses to couple the creation of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act must take into account all of the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.
Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of shares, generally are required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Funds are reminded that, pursuant to Rule 153 under the 1933 Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Listing Exchange generally is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available at the Listing Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is available only with respect to transactions on an exchange.
Management
Trustees and Officers.  The Board has responsibility for the overall management and operations of the Funds, including general supervision of the duties performed by BFA and other service providers. Each Trustee serves until he or she resigns, is removed, dies, retires or becomes incapacitated. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, resignation or removal. Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust are referred to as independent trustees (“Independent Trustees”).
The registered investment companies advised by BFA or its affiliates (the “BlackRock-advised Funds”) are organized into one complex of open-end equity, multi-asset, index and money market funds and ETFs (the “BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex”), one complex of closed-end funds and open-end non-index fixed-income funds (including ETFs) (the “BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex”) and one complex of ETFs (“Exchange-Traded Fund Complex”) (each, a “BlackRock Fund Complex”). Each Fund is included in the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex. Each Trustee also serves as a Director of iShares, Inc. and a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust and, as a result, oversees all of the funds within the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex, which consists of 404 funds as of December 1, 2023. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Dominik Rohé and Aaron Wasserman, the
54

address of each Trustee and officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. The address of Mr. Kapito, Mr. Rohé and Mr. Wasserman is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. The Board has designated John E. Kerrigan as its Independent Board Chair. Additional information about the Funds' Trustees and officers may be found in this SAI, which is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737).
Interested Trustees 
Name (Year of Birth)
Position
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
Robert S. Kapito1
(1957)
Trustee
(since 2009).
President, BlackRock, Inc. (since
2006); Vice Chairman of BlackRock,
Inc. and Head of BlackRock’s
Portfolio Management Group (since
its formation in 1998) and BlackRock,
Inc.’s predecessor entities (since
1988); Trustee, University of
Pennsylvania (since 2009); President
of Board of Directors, Hope & Heroes
Children’s Cancer Fund (since 2002).
Director of BlackRock, Inc. (since
2006); Director of iShares, Inc. (since
2009); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF
Trust (since 2011).
1
Robert S. Kapito is deemed to be an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust due to his affiliations with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates.
Independent Trustees 
Name (Year of Birth)
Position
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
John E. Kerrigan
(1955)
Trustee
(since 2005);
Independent Board
Chair
(since 2022).
Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara
University (since 2002).
Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005);
Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust
(since 2011); Independent Board
Chair of iShares, Inc. and iShares U.S.
ETF Trust (since 2022).
Jane D. Carlin
(1956)
Trustee
(since 2015); Risk
Committee Chair
(since 2016).
Consultant (since 2012); Member of
the Audit Committee (2012-2018),
Chair of the Nominating and
Governance Committee (2017-2018)
and Director of PHH Corporation
(mortgage solutions) (2012-2018);
Managing Director and Global Head
of Financial Holding Company
Governance & Assurance and the
Global Head of Operational Risk
Management of Morgan Stanley
(2006-2012).
Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2015);
Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust
(since 2015); Member of the Audit
Committee (since 2016), Chair of the
Audit Committee (since 2020) and
Director of The Hanover Insurance
Group, Inc. (since 2016).
Richard L. Fagnani
(1954)
Trustee
(since 2017); Audit
Committee Chair
(since 2019).
Partner, KPMG LLP (2002-2016);
Director of One Generation Away
(since 2021).
Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2017);
Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust
(since 2017).
55

Name (Year of Birth)
Position
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
Cecilia H. Herbert
(1949)
Trustee
(since 2005);
Nominating and
Governance and
Equity Plus
Committee Chairs
(since 2022).
Chair of the Finance Committee
(since 2019) and Trustee and
Member of the Finance, Audit and
Quality Committees of Stanford
Health Care (since 2016); Trustee of
WNET, New York's public media
company (since 2011) and Member
of the Audit Committee (since 2018),
Investment Committee (since 2011)
and Personnel Committee (since
2022); Member of the Wyoming
State Investment Funds Committee
(since 2022); Trustee of Forward
Funds (14 portfolios) (2009-2018);
Trustee of Salient MF Trust (4
portfolios) (2015-2018); Director of
the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts
(since 2021).
Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005);
Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust
(since 2011).
Drew E. Lawton
(1959)
Trustee
(since 2017); 15(c)
Committee Chair
(since 2017).
Senior Managing Director of New
York Life Insurance Company (2010-
2015).
Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2017);
Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust
(since 2017); Director of Jackson
Financial Inc. (since 2021).
John E. Martinez
(1961)
Trustee
(since 2003);
Securities Lending
Committee Chair
(since 2019).
Director of Real Estate Equity
Exchange, Inc. (since 2005); Director
of Cloudera Foundation (2017-2020);
and Director of Reading Partners
(2012-2016).
Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2003);
Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust
(since 2011).
Madhav V. Rajan
(1964)
Trustee
(since 2011); Fixed
Income Plus
Committee Chair
(since 2019).
Dean, and George Pratt Shultz
Professor of Accounting, University
of Chicago Booth School of Business
(since 2017); Advisory Board
Member (since 2016) and Director
(since 2020) of C.M. Capital
Corporation; Chair of the Board for
the Center for Research in Security
Prices, LLC (since 2020); Robert K.
Jaedicke Professor of Accounting,
Stanford University Graduate School
of Business (2001-2017); Professor of
Law (by courtesy), Stanford Law
School (2005-2017); Senior Associate
Dean for Academic Affairs and Head
of MBA Program, Stanford University
Graduate School of Business (2010-
2016).
Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2011);
Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust
(since 2011).
56

Officers 
Name (Year of Birth)
Position
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years
Dominik Rohé
(1973)
President (since
2023).
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc.
(since 2005); Head of Americas ETF
and Index Investments (since 2023);
Head of Latin America (2019-2023).
Trent Walker
(1974)
Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer
(since 2020).
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
(since September 2019); Chief
Financial Officer of iShares Delaware
Trust Sponsor LLC, BlackRock Funds,
BlackRock Funds II, BlackRock Funds
IV, BlackRock Funds V and BlackRock
Funds VI (since 2021); Executive Vice
President of PIMCO (2016-2019);
Senior Vice President of PIMCO
(2008-2015); Treasurer (2013-2019)
and Assistant Treasurer (2007-2017)
of PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable
Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust,
PIMCO Equity Series, PIMCO Equity
Series VIT, PIMCO Managed
Accounts Trust, 2 PIMCO-sponsored
interval funds and 21 PIMCO-
sponsored closed-end funds.
Aaron Wasserman
(1974)
Chief Compliance
Officer (since 2023).
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
(since 2018); Chief Compliance
Officer of the BlackRock Multi-Asset
Complex, the BlackRock Fixed-
Income Complex and the Exchange-
Traded Fund Complex (since 2023);
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer for
the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex,
the BlackRock Fixed-Income
Complex and the Exchange-Traded
Fund Complex (2014-2023).
Marisa Rolland
(1980)
Secretary (since
2022).
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc.
(since 2023); Director, BlackRock, Inc.
(2018-2022); Vice President,
BlackRock, Inc. (2010-2017).
Rachel Aguirre
(1982)
Executive Vice
President (since
2022).
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc.
(since 2018); Director, BlackRock, Inc.
(2009-2018); Head of U.S. iShares
Product (since 2022); Head of EII U.S.
Product Engineering (since 2021);
Co-Head of EII’s Americas Portfolio
Engineering (2020-2021); Head of
Developed Markets Portfolio
Engineering (2016-2019).
57

Name (Year of Birth)
Position
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years
Jennifer Hsui
(1976)
Executive Vice
President (since
2022).
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc.
(since 2009); Co-Head of Index
Equity (since 2022).
James Mauro
(1970)
Executive Vice
President (since
2021).
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc.
(since 2010); Head of Fixed Income
Index Investments in the Americas
and Head of San Francisco Core
Portfolio Management (since 2020).
The Board has concluded that, based on each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees, each Trustee should serve as a Trustee of the Board. Among the attributes common to all Trustees are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the Funds' investment adviser, other service providers, counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. A Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through the Trustee’s educational background or professional training; business, consulting, public service or academic positions; experience from service as a Board member of the Funds and the other funds in the Trust (and any predecessor funds), other investment funds, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. Also, set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Trustee that led the Board to conclude that he or she should serve (or continue to serve) as a Trustee.
Robert S. Kapito has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2009. Mr. Kapito has also served as a Director of iShares, Inc. since 2009, a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust since 2011 and a Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2006. Mr. Kapito served as a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF, Inc. from 2010 to 2015. In addition, he has over 20 years of experience as part of BlackRock, Inc. and BlackRock’s predecessor entities. Mr. Kapito serves as President of BlackRock, Inc., and is a member of the Global Executive Committee and Chairman of the Global Operating Committee. He is responsible for day-to-day oversight of BlackRock's key operating units, including Investment Strategies, Client Businesses, Technology & Operations, and Risk & Quantitative Analysis. Prior to assuming his current responsibilities in 2007, Mr. Kapito served as Vice Chairman of BlackRock, Inc. and Head of BlackRock's Portfolio Management Group. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing all portfolio management within BlackRock, including the Fixed Income, Equity, Liquidity, and Alternative Investment Groups. Mr. Kapito serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and the Harvard Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors. He has also been President of the Board of Directors for the Hope & Heroes Children's Cancer Fund since 2002. Mr. Kapito earned a BS degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1979, and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School in 1983.
John E. Kerrigan has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2005 and Chair of the Trust's Board since 2022. Mr. Kerrigan has also served as a Director of iShares, Inc. since 2005, a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust since 2011, Chair of the Equity Plus and Nominating and Governance Committees of each Board from 2019 to 2021, and as Chair of each Board since 2022. Mr. Kerrigan served as a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF, Inc. from 2010 to 2015. Mr. Kerrigan has served as Chief Investment Officer of Santa Clara University since 2002. Mr. Kerrigan was formerly a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch & Co., including the following responsibilities: Managing Director, Institutional Client Division, Western United States. Mr. Kerrigan has been a Director, since 1999, of The BASIC Fund (Bay Area Scholarships for Inner City Children). Mr. Kerrigan has a BA degree from Boston College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charterholder.
Jane D. Carlin has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2015 and Chair of the Risk Committee since 2016. Ms. Carlin has also served as a Director of iShares, Inc. and a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust since 2015, and Chair of the Risk Committee of each Board since 2016. Ms. Carlin has served as a consultant since 2012 and formerly served as Managing Director and Global Head of Financial Holding Company Governance & Assurance and the Global Head of Operational Risk Management of Morgan Stanley from 2006 to 2012. In addition, Ms. Carlin served as Managing Director and Global Head of the Bank Operational Risk Oversight Department of Credit Suisse Group from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, Ms. Carlin served as Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel of Morgan Stanley. Ms. Carlin has over 30 years of experience in the financial sector and has served in a number of legal, regulatory, and risk management positions. Ms. Carlin has served as a member of the Audit Committee and as a Director of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., each since 2016, and as Chair of the Audit
58

Committee since 2020. Ms. Carlin served as a member of the Audit Committee from 2012 to 2018, Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee from 2017 to 2018 and as an Independent Director on the Board of PHH Corporation from 2012 to 2018. She previously served as a Director on the Boards of Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Bank. Ms. Carlin was appointed by the United States Treasury to the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security, where she served as Chairperson from 2010 to 2012 and Vice Chair and Chair of the Cyber Security Committee from 2009 to 2010. Ms. Carlin has a BA degree in political science from State University of New York at Stony Brook and a JD degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Richard L. Fagnani has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2017 and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Trust since 2019. Mr. Fagnani has also served as a Director of iShares, Inc. and a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust since 2017, and Chair of the Audit Committee of each Board since 2019. Mr. Fagnani served as an Advisory Board Member of the Trust, iShares U.S. ETF Trust and iShares, Inc. from April 2017 to June 2017. Mr. Fagnani served as a Senior Audit Partner at KPMG LLP from 2002 to 2016, most recently as the U.S. asset management audit practice leader responsible for setting strategic direction and execution of the operating plan for the asset management audit practice. In addition, from 1977 to 2002, Mr. Fagnani served as an Audit Partner at Andersen LLP, where he developed and managed the asset management audit practice in the Philadelphia office. Mr. Fagnani served as a Trustee on the Board of the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia from 2009 to 2014 and as a member of the School of Business Advisory Board at LaSalle University from 2006 to 2014. Mr. Fagnani has also served as a Director of One Generation Away, a non-profit which works to bring healthy food directly to people in need, since 2021. Mr. Fagnani has a BS degree in Accounting from LaSalle University.
Cecilia H. Herbert has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2005 and Chair of the Equity Plus and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Trust since 2022. Ms. Herbert has also served as a Director of iShares, Inc. since 2005, a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust since 2011, Chair of the Trust's Board from 2016 to 2021, and Chair of the Equity Plus and Nominating and Governance Committees of each Board since 2022. Ms. Herbert served as a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF, Inc. from 2010 to 2015. Previously, Ms. Herbert served as Trustee of the Montgomery Funds from 1992 to 2003, the Pacific Select Funds from 2004 to 2005, the Forward Funds from 2009 to 2018, the Salient Funds from 2015 to 2018 and the Thrivent Church Loan and Income Fund from 2019 to 2022. She has served as a member of the Finance, Audit and Quality Committees and Trustee of Stanford Health Care since 2016 and became Chair of the Finance Committee of Stanford Health Care in 2019. She has served as a Trustee of WNET, New York’s public media station, since 2011 and a Member of its Audit Committee since 2018. She was appointed to the Wyoming State Investment Funds Committee in 2022. She became a member of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council in 2018. She has served as a Director of the Senior Center of Jackson Hole since 2020 and of the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts since 2021. She was President of the Board of Catholic Charities CYO, the largest social services agency in the San Francisco Bay Area, from 2007 to 2011 and a member of that board from 1992 to 2013. She worked from 1973 to 1990 at J.P. Morgan/Morgan Guaranty Trust doing international corporate finance and corporate lending, retiring as Managing Director and Head of the West Coast Office. Ms. Herbert has been on numerous non-profit boards, chairing investment and finance committees. She holds a double major in economics and communications from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Drew E. Lawton has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2017 and Chair of the 15(c) Committee of the Trust since 2017. Mr. Lawton has also served as a Director of iShares, Inc., a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust, and Chair of the 15(c) Committee of each Board since 2017. Mr. Lawton also served as an Advisory Board Member of the Trust, iShares, Inc. and iShares U.S. ETF Trust from 2016 to 2017. Mr. Lawton served as Director of Principal Funds, Inc., Principal Variable Contracts Funds, Inc. and Principal Exchange-Traded Funds from March 2016 to October 2016. Mr. Lawton has also served as a member of the Compensation and Finance and Risk Committees and Director of Jackson Financial Inc. since 2021. Mr. Lawton served in various capacities at New York Life Insurance Company from 2010 to 2015, most recently as a Senior Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of New York Life Investment Management. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Lawton was the President of Fridson Investment Advisors, LLC. Mr. Lawton previously held multiple roles at Fidelity Investments from 1997 to 2008. Mr. Lawton has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Texas since 2021. Mr. Lawton has a BA degree in Administrative Science from Yale University and an MBA from University of North Texas.
John E. Martinez has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2003 and Chair of the Securities Lending Committee of the Trust since 2019. Mr. Martinez has also served as a Director of iShares, Inc. since 2003, a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust since 2011, and Chair of the Securities Lending Committee of each Board since 2019. Mr. Martinez served as a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF, Inc. from 2010 to 2015. Mr. Martinez is a Director of Real Estate Equity Exchange, Inc., providing governance oversight and consulting services to this privately held firm that develops products and strategies for homeowners in managing the equity in their homes. From 2017 to 2020, Mr. Martinez served as a Board member for the
59

Cloudera Foundation. Mr. Martinez previously served as Director of Barclays Global Investors (“BGI”) UK Holdings, where he provided governance oversight representing BGI’s shareholders (Barclays PLC, BGI management shareholders) through oversight of BGI’s worldwide activities. Mr. Martinez also previously served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Global Index and Markets Group of BGI, Chairman of Barclays Global Investor Services and Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Markets Group of BGI. From 2003 to 2012, he was a Director and Executive Committee Member for Larkin Street Youth Services. He now serves on the Larkin Street Honorary Board. From 2012 to 2016, Mr. Martinez served as a Director for Reading Partners. Mr. Martinez has an AB degree in economics from The University of California, Berkeley and holds an MBA degree in finance and statistics from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Madhav V. Rajan has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2011 and Chair of the Fixed Income Plus Committee of the Trust since 2019. Mr. Rajan has also served as a Director of iShares, Inc. and a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust since 2011, and Chair of the Fixed Income Plus Committee of each Board since 2019. Mr. Rajan served as a Director of iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF, Inc. from 2011 to 2015. Mr. Rajan is the Dean and George Pratt Shultz Professor of Accounting at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and also serves as Chair of the Board for the Center for Research in Security Prices, LLC, an affiliate of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, since 2020. He has served on the Advisory Board of C.M. Capital Corporation since 2016 and as a Director of C.M. Capital Corporation since 2020. From 2001 to 2017, Mr. Rajan was the Robert K. Jaedicke Professor of Accounting at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. In April 2017, he received the school’s Robert T. Davis Award for Lifetime Achievement and Service. He has taught accounting for over 25 years to undergraduate, MBA and law students, as well as to senior executives. From 2010 to 2016, Mr. Rajan served as the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and head of the MBA Program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Mr. Rajan served as editor of “The Accounting Review” from 2002 to 2008 and is co-author of “Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis,” a leading cost accounting textbook. From 2013 to 2018, Mr. Rajan served on the Board of Directors of Cavium Inc., a semiconductor company. Mr. Rajan holds MS and PhD degrees in Accounting from Carnegie Mellon University.
Board – Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for oversight of the Funds rests with the Board. The Board has engaged BFA to manage the Funds on a day-to-day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing BFA and other service providers in the operations of the Funds in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Trust’s charter. The Board is currently composed of nine members, seven of whom are Independent Trustees. The Board currently conducts regular in person meetings four times a year. In addition, the Board frequently holds special in person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees meet regularly outside the presence of management, in executive session or with other service providers to the Trust.
The Board has appointed an Independent Trustee to serve in the role of Board Chair. The Board Chair’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys, and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Board Chair may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board has established seven standing Committees: a Nominating and Governance Committee, an Audit Committee, a 15(c) Committee, a Securities Lending Committee, a Risk Committee, an Equity Plus Committee and a Fixed Income Plus Committee to assist the Board in the oversight and direction of the business and affairs of the Funds, and from time to time the Board may establish ad hoc committees or informal working groups to review and address the policies and practices of the Funds with respect to certain specified matters. The Chair of each standing Committee is an Independent Trustee. The role of the Chair of each Committee is to preside at all meetings of the Committee and to act as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys and other Trustees between meetings. Each standing Committee meets regularly to conduct the oversight functions delegated to the Committee by the Board and reports its finding to the Board. The Board and each standing Committee conduct annual assessments of their oversight function and structure. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise independent judgment over management and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees of Independent Trustees and the full Board to enhance effective oversight.
Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Funds is the responsibility of BFA or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), subject to the supervision of BFA. Each Fund is subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational, reputational, counterparty and valuation risks, among others. While there are a number of risk management functions performed by BFA and other service providers, as applicable, it is not possible to identify and eliminate all of the risks applicable to the Funds. The Trustees have an oversight role in this area, satisfying themselves that
60

risk management processes and controls are in place and operating effectively. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of each Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and committee activities. In some cases, risk management issues are specifically addressed in presentations and discussions. For example, BFA has an independent dedicated Risk and Quantitative Analysis Group (“RQA”) that assists BFA in managing fiduciary and corporate risks, including investment, operational, counterparty credit and enterprise risk. Representatives of RQA meet with the Board to discuss their analysis and methodologies, as well as specific risk topics such as operational and counterparty risks relating to the Funds. The Board, directly or through a committee, also reviews reports from, among others, management and the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by each Fund and management’s risk functions. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who oversees the implementation and testing of the Trust's compliance program, including assessments by independent third parties, and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Trust and its principal service providers. In testing and maintaining the compliance program, the Chief Compliance Officer (and his or her delegates) assesses key compliance risks affecting each Fund, and addresses them in periodic reports to the Board. In addition, the Audit Committee meets with both the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm and BFA’s internal audit group to review risk controls in place that support each Fund as well as test results. Board oversight of risk is also performed as needed between meetings through communications between BFA and the Board. The Independent Trustees have engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities. From time to time, the Board may modify the manner in which it conducts risk oversight. The Board’s oversight role does not make it a guarantor of the Funds' investment performance or other activities.
Committees of the Board of Trustees.  The members of the Audit Committee are Richard L. Fagnani (Chair), Cecilia H. Herbert and Madhav V. Rajan, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The purposes of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board (i) in its oversight of the Trust's accounting and financial reporting principles and policies and related controls and procedures maintained by or on behalf of the Trust; (ii) in its oversight of the Trust's financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (iii) in selecting, evaluating and, where deemed appropriate, replacing the independent accountants (or nominating the independent accountants to be proposed for shareholder approval in any proxy statement); (iv) in evaluating the independence of the independent accountants; (v) in complying with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Trust's accounting and financial reporting, internal controls, compliance controls and independent audits; and (vi) to assume such other responsibilities as may be delegated by the Board. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
The members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Cecilia H. Herbert (Chair), Madhav V. Rajan and Drew E. Lawton, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The Nominating and Governance Committee nominates individuals for Independent Trustee membership on the Board and recommends appointments to the Advisory Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee functions include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) reviewing the qualifications of any person properly identified or nominated to serve as an Independent Trustee; (ii) recommending to the Board and current Independent Trustees the nominee(s) for appointment as an Independent Trustee by the Board and current Independent Trustees and/or for election as Independent Trustees by shareholders to fill any vacancy for a position of Independent Trustee(s) on the Board; (iii) recommending to the Board and current Independent Trustees the size and composition of the Board and Board committees and whether they comply with applicable laws and regulations; (iv) recommending a current Independent Trustee to the Board and current Independent Trustees to serve as Board Chair; (v) periodic review of the Board's retirement policy; and (vi) recommending an appropriate level of compensation for the Independent Trustees for their services as Trustees, members or chairpersons of committees of the Board, Board Chair and any other positions as the Nominating and Governance Committee considers appropriate. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not consider Board nominations recommended by shareholders (acting solely in their capacity as a shareholder and not in any other capacity). The Nominating and Governance Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
Each Independent Trustee serves on the 15(c) Committee. The Chair of the 15(c) Committee is Drew E. Lawton. The principal responsibilities of the 15(c) Committee are to support, oversee and organize on behalf of the Board the process for the annual review and renewal of the Trust's advisory and sub-advisory agreements. These responsibilities include: (i) meeting with BlackRock, Inc. in advance of the Board meeting at which the Trust's advisory and sub-advisory agreements are to be considered to discuss generally the process for providing requested information to the Board and the format in which information will be provided; and (ii) considering and discussing with BlackRock, Inc. such other matters and information as may be necessary and appropriate for the Board to evaluate the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements of the Trust. The 15(c) Committee met two times during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
61

The members of the Securities Lending Committee are John E. Martinez (Chair), Jane D. Carlin and Drew E. Lawton, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The principal responsibilities of the Securities Lending Committee are to support, oversee and organize on behalf of the Board the process for oversight of the Trust's securities lending activities. These responsibilities include: (i) requesting that certain information be provided to the Committee for its review and consideration prior to such information being provided to the Board; (ii) considering and discussing with BlackRock, Inc. such other matters and information as may be necessary and appropriate for the Board to oversee the Trust's securities lending activities and make required findings and approvals; and (iii) providing a recommendation to the Board regarding the annual approval of the Trust's Securities Lending Guidelines and the required findings with respect to, and annual approval of, the Trust's agreement with the securities lending agent. The Securities Lending Committee met five times during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
The members of the Equity Plus Committee are Cecilia H. Herbert (Chair), John E. Martinez and Drew E. Lawton, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The principal responsibilities of the Equity Plus Committee are to support, oversee and organize on behalf of the Board the process for oversight of Trust performance and related matters for equity funds. These responsibilities include: (i) reviewing quarterly reports regarding Trust performance, secondary market trading and changes in net assets to identify any matters that should be brought to the attention of the Board; and (ii) considering any performance or investment related matters as may be delegated to the Committee by the Board from time to time and providing a report or recommendation to the Board as appropriate. The Equity Plus Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
The members of the Fixed Income Plus Committee are Madhav V. Rajan (Chair), Jane D. Carlin and Richard L. Fagnani, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The principal responsibilities of the Fixed Income Plus Committee are to support, oversee and organize on behalf of the Board the process for oversight of Trust performance and related matters for fixed-income or multi-asset funds. These responsibilities include: (i) reviewing quarterly reports regarding Trust performance, secondary market trading and changes in net assets to identify any matters that should be brought to the attention of the Board; and (ii) considering any performance or investment related matters as may be delegated to the Committee by the Board from time to time and providing a report or recommendation to the Board as appropriate. The Fixed Income Plus Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
The members of the Risk Committee are Jane D. Carlin (Chair), Richard L. Fagnani and John E. Martinez, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The principal responsibility of the Risk Committee is to consider and organize on behalf of the Board risk related matters of the Funds so the Board may most effectively structure itself to oversee them. The Risk Committee commenced on January 1, 2016. The Risk Committee met six times during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
As the Chair of the Board, John E. Kerrigan may serve as an ex-officio member of each Committee.
The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2022, the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Funds and in other registered investment companies overseen by the Trustee within the same family of investment companies as the Trust. If a fund is not listed below, the Trustee did not own any securities in that fund as of the date indicated above: 
Name
Fund
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in Named Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in all
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Trustee
in Family of
Investment Companies
Robert S. Kapito
None
None
None
 
 
 
 
John E. Kerrigan
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Over $100,000
Over $100,000
 
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF
$1-$10,000
 
 
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF
$1-$10,000
 
 
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF
$1-$10,000
 
62

Name
Fund
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in Named Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in all
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Trustee
in Family of
Investment Companies
 
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF
$1-$10,000
 
 
iShares Exponential Technologies ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare
ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Global Infrastructure ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy
ETF
$1-$10,000
 
 
iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor
ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF
$1-$10,000
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares U.S. Energy ETF
$1-$10,000
 
 
iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF
$1-$10,000
 
 
iShares U.S. Technology ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
 
 
 
Jane D. Carlin
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF
Over $100,000
Over $100,000
 
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers
ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares Select Dividend ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
 
 
 
Richard L. Fagnani
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
$50,001-$100,000
Over $100,000
 
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
iShares Core MSCI International Developed
Markets ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
Over $100,000
 
63

Name
Fund
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in Named Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in all
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Trustee
in Family of
Investment Companies
 
iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
iShares Morningstar Growth ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Value ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
 
 
 
Cecilia H. Herbert
iShares California Muni Bond ETF
Over $100,000
Over $100,000
 
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares National Muni Bond ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF
$1-$10,000
 
 
 
 
 
Drew E. Lawton
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond BuyWrite Strategy
ETF
$50,001-$100,000
Over $100,000
 
iShares Biotechnology ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF
$50,001-$100,000
 
 
iShares Exponential Technologies ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Global Financials ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares iBonds Dec 2023 Term Treasury ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares U.S. Financials ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
 
 
 
John E. Martinez
iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate
Bond ETF
Over $100,000
Over $100,000
 
iShares Core MSCI International Developed
Markets ETF
$10,001-$50,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
Over $100,000
 
64

Name
Fund
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in Named Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in all
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Trustee
in Family of
Investment Companies
 
iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Russell 1000 ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
Over $100,000
 
 
 
 
 
Madhav V. Rajan
iShares Core MSCI International Developed
Markets ETF
Over $100,000
Over $100,000
 
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Over $100,000
 
As of December 31, 2022, none of the Independent Trustees or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities of BFA (the Funds' investment adviser), the Distributor or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with BFA or the Distributor.
Remuneration of Trustees and Advisory Board Members.  Effective January 1, 2023, each current Independent Trustee is paid an annual retainer of $440,000 for his or her services as a Board member to the BlackRock-advised Funds in the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex, together with out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with the Board’s policy on travel and other business expenses relating to attendance at meetings. The annual retainer for services as an Advisory Board Member is
the same as the annual retainer for services as a Board member.  The Independent Chair of the Board is paid an additional annual retainer of $125,000. The Chair of each of the Equity Plus Committee, Fixed Income Plus Committee, Securities Lending Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and 15(c) Committee is paid an additional annual retainer of $30,000. The Chair of each of the Audit Committee and Risk Committee is paid an additional annual retainer of $45,000. Each Independent Trustee that served as a director of subsidiaries of the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex is paid an additional annual retainer of $10,000 (plus an additional $1,765 paid annually to compensate for taxes due in the Republic of Mauritius in connection with such Trustee’s service on the boards of certain Mauritius-based subsidiaries).
The table below sets forth the compensation earned by each Independent Trustee and Interested Trustee for services to each Fund for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 and the aggregate compensation paid to them for services to the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex for the calendar year ended December 31, 2022. 
Name
iShares China
Large-Cap ETF
iShares ESG
MSCI USA Min Vol
Factor ETF
iShares International
Equity Factor
ETF
iShares International Small-Cap
Equity Factor
ETF
Independent Trustees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jane D. Carlin
$1,062
$2
$192
$123
Richard L. Fagnani
1,062
2
192
123
Cecilia H. Herbert
1,091
2
197
127
John E. Kerrigan
1,203
2
218
140
Drew E. Lawton
1,028
2
186
119
John E. Martinez
1,028
2
186
119
Madhav V. Rajan
1,028
2
186
119
 
Interested Trustees:
 
Robert S. Kapito
$0
$0
$0
$0
Salim Ramji1
0
0
0
0
 
65

Name
iShares MSCI
EAFE ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Growth ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Small-Cap ETF
Independent Trustees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jane D. Carlin
$9,195
$2,576
$1,511
$2,178
Richard L. Fagnani
9,195
2,576
1,511
2,178
Cecilia H. Herbert
9,445
2,646
1,552
2,237
John E. Kerrigan
10,417
2,919
1,712
2,467
Drew E. Lawton
8,906
2,495
1,463
2,110
John E. Martinez
8,906
2,495
1,463
2,110
Madhav V. Rajan
8,906
2,495
1,463
2,110
 
Interested Trustees:
 
Robert S. Kapito
$0
$0
$0
$0
Salim Ramji1
0
0
0
0
 
Name
iShares MSCI
EAFE Value ETF
iShares MSCI
Europe Financials ETF
iShares MSCI Europe
Small-Cap ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Momentum Factor
ETF
Independent Trustees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jane D. Carlin
$3,404
$311
$26
$302
Richard L. Fagnani
3,404
311
26
302
Cecilia H. Herbert
3,496
319
26
310
John E. Kerrigan
3,856
352
29
342
Drew E. Lawton
3,297
301
25
293
John E. Martinez
3,297
301
25
293
Madhav V. Rajan
3,297
301
25
293
 
Interested Trustees:
 
Robert S. Kapito
$0
$0
$0
$0
Salim Ramji1
0
0
0
0
 
Name
iShares MSCI
Intl Quality Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Size Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Value Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Min Vol Factor ETF
Independent Trustees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jane D. Carlin
$1,369
$3
$348
$5,725
Richard L. Fagnani
1,369
3
348
5,725
Cecilia H. Herbert
1,406
3
358
5,880
John E. Kerrigan
1,551
4
395
6,485
Drew E. Lawton
1,326
3
337
5,544
John E. Martinez
1,326
3
337
5,544
Madhav V. Rajan
1,326
3
337
5,544
 
Interested Trustees:
 
Robert S. Kapito
$0
$0
$0
$0
Salim Ramji1
0
0
0
0
 
66

Name
iShares MSCI
USA Momentum
Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Quality
Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Size
Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
Independent Trustees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jane D. Carlin
$1,811
$6,276
$64
$165
Richard L. Fagnani
1,811
6,276
64
165
Cecilia H. Herbert
1,860
6,446
65
169
John E. Kerrigan
2,051
7,110
72
186
Drew E. Lawton
1,754
6,079
62
159
John E. Martinez
1,754
6,079
62
159
Madhav V. Rajan
1,754
6,079
62
159
 
Interested Trustees:
 
Robert S. Kapito
$0
$0
$0
$0
Salim Ramji1
0
0
0
0
 
Name
iShares MSCI
USA Value
Factor ETF
iShares U.S.
Equity Factor ETF
iShares U.S. Small-Cap
Equity Factor ETF
iShares U.S.
Tech Breakthrough
Multisector ETF
Independent Trustees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jane D. Carlin
$1,373
$284
$162
$63
Richard L. Fagnani
1,373
284
162
63
Cecilia H. Herbert
1,410
292
166
65
John E. Kerrigan
1,555
322
183
71
Drew E. Lawton
1,330
275
157
61
John E. Martinez
1,330
275
157
61
Madhav V. Rajan
1,330
275
157
61
 
Interested Trustees:
 
Robert S. Kapito
$0
$0
$0
$0
Salim Ramji1
0
0
0
0
 
Name
Pension or
Retirement Benefits
Accrued As Part
of Trust Expenses2
Estimated
Annual Benefits
Upon Retirement2
Total Compensation
From the Funds
and Fund Complex3
Independent Trustees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jane D. Carlin
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
465,000
Richard L. Fagnani
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
476,764
Cecilia H. Herbert
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
475,000
John E. Kerrigan
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
505,000
Drew E. Lawton
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
461,764
John E. Martinez
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
450,000
Madhav V. Rajan
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
450,000
 
 
 
Interested Trustees:
 
 
Robert S. Kapito
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
$0
Salim Ramji1
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
0
1
Served as an Interested Trustee through January 31, 2024.
67

2
No Trustee or officer is entitled to any pension or retirement benefits from the Trust.
3
Also includes compensation for service on the Board of Trustees of iShares U.S. ETF Trust and the Board of Directors of iShares, Inc.
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.
The Trustees and officers of the Trust collectively owned less than 1% of each Fund's outstanding shares as of October 31, 2023.
Although the Trust does not have information concerning the beneficial ownership of shares held in the names of Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participants (as defined below), as of October 31, 2023, the name and percentage ownership of each DTC participant that owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund were as follows:
 
Fund
Name
Percentage
of Ownership
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
One Pierrepont Plaza
8th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
11.55
%
 
The Bank of New York Mellon
111 Sanders Creek Parkway
2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
10.15
%
 
The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10286
9.59
%
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
1111 Polaris Parkway
Columbus, OH 43240
5.83
%
 
 
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
State Street Bank and Trust Company
1776 Heritage Drive
North Quincy, MA 02171
36.25
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
32.25
%
 
ABN AMRO Clearing Chicago LLC
175 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604
14.35
%
 
The Bank of New York Mellon
111 Sanders Creek Parkway
2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
8.87
%
 
 
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
50.57
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
12.20
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
10.99
%
68

Fund
Name
Percentage
of Ownership
 
LPL Financial Corporation
9785 Towne Centre Drive
San Diego, CA 92121-1968
5.68
%
 
 
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
40.10
%
 
The Bank of New York Mellon
111 Sanders Creek Parkway
2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
36.74
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
10.00
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
5.04
%
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
13.95
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
10.48
%
 
BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.
400 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
8.73
%
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
1111 Polaris Parkway
Columbus, OH 43240
5.43
%
 
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
30 Hudson Street
16th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07302
5.37
%
 
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
One New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004
5.23
%
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
23.95
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
22.52
%
 
Edward D. Jones & Co.
12555 Manchester Road
Saint Louis, MO 63131
10.37
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
7.73
%
69

Fund
Name
Percentage
of Ownership
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated - TS Sub
101 Hudson Street
9th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07302-3997
26.33
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
20.05
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
14.80
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
5.69
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
25.75
%
 
Edward D. Jones & Co.
12555 Manchester Road
Saint Louis, MO 63131
19.44
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
12.87
%
 
State Street Bank and Trust Company
1776 Heritage Drive
North Quincy, MA 02171
6.35
%
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
22.83
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
18.70
%
 
Edward D. Jones & Co.
12555 Manchester Road
Saint Louis, MO 63131
7.30
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
7.05
%
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
25.14
%
 
UBS Financial Services Inc.
1000 Harbor Blvd.
Weehawken, NJ 07086
12.62
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
12.18
%
70

Fund
Name
Percentage
of Ownership
 
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
One New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004
9.38
%
 
The Bank of New York Mellon
111 Sanders Creek Parkway
2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
5.77
%
 
Citibank, N.A.
3800 CitiBank Center Tampa
Building B/1st Floor Zone 8
Tampa, FL 33610-9122
5.58
%
 
J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC/JPMC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10179
5.15
%
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
1717 Arch Street
17th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
16.18
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
15.23
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
14.69
%
 
J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC/JPMC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10179
6.72
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
6.64
%
 
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
One New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004
6.57
%
 
UBS Financial Services Inc.
1000 Harbor Blvd.
Weehawken, NJ 07086
6.53
%
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
61.76
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
18.39
%
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
26.72
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
18.78
%
71

Fund
Name
Percentage
of Ownership
 
PNC Bank, National Association
Institutional Service Group
8800 Tinicum Blvd.
Attn: Trade Sett. Dept
Philadelphia, PA 19153
7.47
%
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated - TS Sub
101 Hudson Street
9th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07302-3997
6.70
%
 
Ameriprise Enterprise Investment Services, Inc.
901 3rd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55474
5.58
%
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
30 Hudson Street
16th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07302
73.54
%
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
1111 Polaris Parkway
Columbus, OH 43240
14.86
%
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
33.18
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
24.62
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
23.97
%
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
18.55
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
12.55
%
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated - TS Sub
101 Hudson Street
9th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07302-3997
10.14
%
 
Raymond, James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway
P.O. Box 12749
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
7.92
%
 
Ameriprise Enterprise Investment Services, Inc.
901 3rd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55474
5.71
%
72

Fund
Name
Percentage
of Ownership
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
5.35
%
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
35.73
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
18.57
%
 
Raymond, James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway
P.O. Box 12749
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
7.44
%
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
27.27
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
19.15
%
 
LPL Financial Corporation
9785 Towne Centre Drive
San Diego, CA 92121-1968
6.42
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
6.06
%
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated - TS Sub
101 Hudson Street
9th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07302-3997
31.23
%
 
State Street Bank and Trust Company
1776 Heritage Drive
North Quincy, MA 02171
20.50
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
12.72
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
10.29
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
8.40
%
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
Raymond, James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway
P.O. Box 12749
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
59.13
%
73

Fund
Name
Percentage
of Ownership
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
16.53
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
8.73
%
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
33.47
%
 
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
14.71
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
7.78
%
 
State Street Bank and Trust Company
1776 Heritage Drive
North Quincy, MA 02171
6.57
%
 
U.S. Bank N.A.
1555 North Rivercenter Dr.
Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI 53212
5.41
%
 
 
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
38.59
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
21.95
%
 
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC
2801 Market Street
St Louis, MO 63103
11.13
%
 
Pershing LLC
One Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
9.18
%
 
 
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
57.22
%
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
11.98
%
 
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC
2801 Market Street
St Louis, MO 63103
8.04
%
 
 
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
77.86
%
74

Fund
Name
Percentage
of Ownership
 
National Financial Services LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
7.48
%
Conflicts of Interest.  Certain activities of BFA, BlackRock, Inc. and the other subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (collectively referred to in this section as “BlackRock”) and their respective directors, officers and employees, with respect to the Funds and/or other accounts managed by BlackRock, may give rise to actual or perceived conflicts of interest such as those described below.
BlackRock is one of the world's largest asset management firms. BlackRock, its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees, including the business units or entities and personnel who may be involved in the investment activities and business operations of a Fund, are engaged worldwide in businesses, including managing equities, fixed-income securities, cash and alternative investments, and have interests other than that of managing the Funds. These are considerations of which investors in a Fund should be aware, and which may cause conflicts of interest that could disadvantage a Fund and its shareholders. These businesses and interests include potential multiple advisory, financial and other relationships with, or interests in, companies and interests in securities or other instruments that may be purchased or sold by a Fund.
BlackRock has proprietary interests in, and may manage or advise with respect to, accounts or funds (including separate accounts and other funds and collective investment vehicles) that have investment objectives similar to those of a Fund and/or that engage in transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Funds. BlackRock is also a major participant in the global currency, equities, swap and fixed-income markets, in each case, for the accounts of clients and, in some cases, on a proprietary basis. As such, BlackRock is or may be actively engaged in transactions in the same securities, currencies, and instruments in which a Fund invests. Such activities could affect the prices and availability of the securities, currencies, and instruments in which a Fund invests, which could have an adverse impact on a Fund's performance. Such transactions, particularly in respect of most proprietary accounts or client accounts, will be executed independently of a Fund's transactions and thus at prices or rates that may be more or less favorable than those obtained by the Funds.
When BlackRock seeks to purchase or sell the same assets for managed accounts, including a Fund, the assets actually purchased or sold may be allocated among the accounts on a basis determined in its good faith discretion to be equitable. In some cases, this system may adversely affect the size or price of the assets purchased or sold for a Fund. In addition, transactions in investments by one or more other accounts managed by BlackRock may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of a Fund, particularly, but not limited to, with respect to small-capitalization, emerging market or less liquid strategies. This may occur with respect to BlackRock-advised accounts when investment decisions regarding a Fund are based on research or other information that is also used to support decisions for other accounts. When BlackRock implements a portfolio decision or strategy on behalf of another account ahead of, or contemporaneously with, similar decisions or strategies for a Fund, market impact, liquidity constraints, or other factors could result in the Fund receiving less favorable trading results and the costs of implementing such decisions or strategies could be increased or the Fund could otherwise be disadvantaged. BlackRock may, in certain cases, elect to implement internal policies and procedures designed to limit such consequences, which may cause a Fund to be unable to engage in certain activities, including purchasing or disposing of securities, when it might otherwise be desirable for it to do so.
Conflicts may also arise because portfolio decisions regarding a Fund may benefit other accounts managed by BlackRock. For example, the sale of a long position or establishment of a short position by a Fund may impair the price of the same security sold short by (and therefore benefit) BlackRock or its other accounts or funds, and the purchase of a security or covering of a short position in a security by a Fund may increase the price of the same security held by (and therefore benefit) BlackRock or its other accounts or funds. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, certain Funds may invest their assets in other funds advised by BlackRock, including funds that are managed by one or more of the same portfolio managers, which could result in conflicts of interest relating to asset allocation, timing of Fund purchases and sales, and increased remuneration and profitability for BlackRock, and/or its personnel, including portfolio managers.
75

In certain circumstances, BlackRock, on behalf of the Funds, may seek to buy from or sell securities to another fund or account advised by BlackRock. BlackRock may (but is not required to) effect purchases and sales between BlackRock clients (“cross trades”), including the Funds, if BlackRock believes such transactions are appropriate based on each party's investment objectives and guidelines, subject to applicable law and regulation. There may be potential conflicts of interest or regulatory issues relating to these transactions which could limit BlackRock’s decision to engage in these transactions for the Funds. BlackRock may have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to the parties in such transactions. On any occasion when a Fund participates in a cross trade, BlackRock will comply with procedures adopted under applicable rules and SEC guidance.
BlackRock and its clients may pursue or enforce rights with respect to an issuer in which a Fund has invested, and those activities may have an adverse effect on the Fund. As a result, prices, availability, liquidity and terms of a Fund's investments may be negatively impacted by the activities of BlackRock or its clients, and transactions for the Fund may be impaired or effected at prices or terms that may be less favorable than would otherwise have been the case.
The results of a Fund’s investment activities may differ significantly from the results achieved by BlackRock for its proprietary accounts or other accounts (including investment companies or collective investment vehicles) which it manages or advises. It is possible that one or more accounts managed or advised by BlackRock and such other accounts will achieve investment results that are substantially more or less favorable than the results achieved by a Fund. Moreover, it is possible that a Fund will sustain losses during periods in which one or more proprietary or other accounts managed or advised by BlackRock achieve significant profits. The opposite result is also possible.
From time to time, a Fund may be restricted from purchasing or selling securities, or from engaging in other investment activities because of regulatory, legal or contractual requirements applicable to BlackRock or other accounts managed or advised by BlackRock, and/or the internal policies of BlackRock designed to comply with such requirements. As a result, there may be periods, for example, when BlackRock will not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions in certain securities or instruments with respect to which BlackRock is performing services or when position limits have been reached. For example, the investment activities of BlackRock for its proprietary accounts and accounts under its management may limit the investment opportunities for a Fund in certain emerging and other markets in which limitations are imposed upon the amount of investment, in the aggregate or in individual issuers, by affiliated foreign investors.
In connection with its management of a Fund, BlackRock may have access to certain fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models developed by BlackRock. BlackRock will not be under any obligation, however, to effect transactions on behalf of a Fund in accordance with such analysis and models. In addition, BlackRock will not have any obligation to make available any information regarding its proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of a Fund and it is not anticipated that BlackRock will have access to such information for the purpose of managing the Fund. The proprietary activities or portfolio strategies of BlackRock, or the activities or strategies used for accounts managed by BlackRock or other client accounts could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by BlackRock in managing a Fund.
The Funds may be included in investment models developed by BlackRock for use by clients and financial advisors. To the extent clients invest in these investment models and increase the assets under management of the Funds, the investment management fee amounts paid by the Funds to BlackRock may also increase. The price, availability and liquidity of a Fund may be impacted by purchases and sales of the Fund by model-driven investment portfolios, as well as by BlackRock itself and by its advisory clients.
In addition, certain principals and certain employees of a Fund’s investment adviser are also principals or employees of other business units or entities within BlackRock. As a result, these principals and employees may have obligations to such other business units or entities or their clients and such obligations to other business units or entities or their clients may be a consideration of which investors in a Fund should be aware.
BlackRock may enter into transactions and invest in securities, instruments and currencies on behalf of a Fund in which clients of BlackRock or, to the extent permitted by the SEC and applicable law, BlackRock serves as the counterparty, principal or issuer. In such cases, such party's interests in the transaction will be adverse to the interests of the Fund, and such party may have no incentive to assure that the Fund obtains the best possible prices or terms in connection with the transactions. In addition, the purchase, holding and sale of such investments by a Fund may enhance the profitability of BlackRock.
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BlackRock may also create, write or issue derivatives for clients based on the underlying securities, currencies or instruments in which a Fund may invest or on the performance of the Fund. An entity in which BlackRock has a significant minority interest will create, write or issue options which may be based on the performance of certain Funds. BlackRock has the right to receive a portion of the gross revenue earned by such entity. Options writing by such entity on a Fund could potentially lead to increased purchase activity with respect to the Fund and increased assets under management for BlackRock.
BlackRock has entered into an arrangement with Markit Indices Limited, the index provider for underlying fixed-income indexes used by certain iShares funds, related to derivative fixed-income products that are based on such iShares funds. BlackRock may receive certain payments for licensing intellectual property belonging to BlackRock and for facilitating the provision of data in connection with such derivative products, which may include payments based on the trading volumes of, or revenues generated by, the derivative products. However, BlackRock will not receive any such payments on those derivative products utilized by the Funds or other BlackRock funds or accounts. Other funds and accounts managed by BlackRock may from time to time transact in such derivative products, which could contribute to the viability or success of such derivative products by making them more appealing to funds and accounts managed by third parties, and in turn lead to increased payments to BlackRock. Trading activity in such derivative products could also potentially lead to increased purchase activity with respect to these iShares funds and increased assets under management for BlackRock.
A Fund may, subject to applicable law, purchase investments that are the subject of an underwriting or other distribution by BlackRock and may also enter into transactions with other clients of BlackRock where such other clients have interests adverse to those of the Fund.
At times, these activities may cause business units or entities within BlackRock to give advice to clients that may cause these clients to take actions adverse to the interests of a Fund. To the extent such transactions are permitted, a Fund will deal with BlackRock on an arm’s-length basis.
To the extent authorized by applicable law, BlackRock may act as broker, dealer, agent, lender or adviser or in other commercial capacities for a Fund. It is anticipated that the commissions, mark-ups, mark-downs, financial advisory fees, underwriting and placement fees, sales fees, financing and commitment fees, brokerage fees, other fees, compensation or profits, rates, terms and conditions charged by BlackRock will be in its view commercially reasonable, although BlackRock, including its sales personnel, will have an interest in obtaining fees and other amounts that are favorable to BlackRock and such sales personnel, which may have an adverse effect on the Funds. Index based funds may use an index provider that is affiliated with another service provider of a Fund or BlackRock that acts as a broker, dealer, agent, lender or in other commercial capacities for a Fund or BlackRock.
Subject to applicable law, BlackRock (and its personnel and other distributors) will be entitled to retain fees and other amounts that they receive in connection with their service to the Funds as broker, dealer, agent, lender, adviser or in other commercial capacities. No accounting to the Funds or their shareholders will be required, and no fees or other compensation payable by the Funds or their shareholders will be reduced by reason of receipt by BlackRock of any such fees or other amounts.
When BlackRock acts as broker, dealer, agent, adviser or in other commercial capacities in relation to the Funds, BlackRock may take commercial steps in its own interests, which may have an adverse effect on the Funds. A Fund will be required to establish business relationships with its counterparties based on the Fund's own credit standing. BlackRock will not have any obligation to allow its credit to be used in connection with a Fund's establishment of its business relationships, nor is it expected that the Fund's counterparties will rely on the credit of BlackRock in evaluating the Fund's creditworthiness.
BTC, an affiliate of BFA pursuant to SEC exemptive relief, acts as securities lending agent to, and receives a share of securities lending revenues from, the Funds. BlackRock will also receive compensation for managing the reinvestment of the cash collateral from securities lending. There are potential conflicts of interests in managing a securities lending program, including but not limited to: (i) BlackRock as securities lending agent may have an incentive to, among other things, increase or decrease the amount of securities on loan or to lend particular securities in order to generate additional risk-adjusted revenue for BlackRock and its affiliates; and (ii) BlackRock as securities lending agent may have an incentive to allocate loans to clients that would provide more revenue to BlackRock. As described further below, BlackRock seeks to mitigate this conflict by providing its securities lending clients with equal lending opportunities over time in order to approximate pro rata allocation.
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As part of its securities lending program, BlackRock indemnifies the Funds and certain other clients and/or funds against a shortfall in collateral in the event of borrower default. On a regular basis, BlackRock calculates the potential dollar exposure of collateral shortfall resulting from a borrower default (“shortfall risk”) in the securities lending program. BlackRock establishes program-wide borrower limits (“credit limits”) to actively manage borrower-specific credit exposure. BlackRock oversees the risk model that calculates projected collateral shortfall values using loan-level factors such as loan and collateral type and market value as well as specific borrower credit characteristics. When necessary, BlackRock may adjust securities lending program attributes by restricting eligible collateral or reducing borrower credit limits. As a result, the management of program-wide exposure as well as BlackRock-specific indemnification exposure may affect the amount of securities lending activity BlackRock may conduct at any given point in time by reducing the volume of lending opportunities for certain loans (including by asset type, collateral type and/or revenue profile).
BlackRock uses a predetermined systematic process in order to approximate pro rata allocation over time. In order to allocate a loan to a portfolio: (i) BlackRock as a whole must have sufficient lending capacity pursuant to the various program limits (i.e., indemnification exposure limit and borrower credit limits); (ii) the lending portfolio must hold the asset at the time a loan opportunity arrives; and (iii) the lending portfolio must also have enough inventory, either on its own or when aggregated with other portfolios into one single market delivery, to satisfy the loan request. In doing so, BlackRock seeks to provide equal lending opportunities for all portfolios, independent of whether BlackRock indemnifies the portfolio. Equal opportunities for lending portfolios does not guarantee equal outcomes. Specifically, short and long-term outcomes for individual clients may vary due to asset mix, asset/liability spreads on different securities, and the overall limits imposed by the firm.
BlackRock may decline to make a securities loan on behalf of a Fund, discontinue lending on behalf of a Fund or terminate a securities loan on behalf of a Fund for any reason, including but not limited to regulatory requirements and/or market rules, liquidity considerations, or credit considerations, which may impact Funds by reducing or eliminating the volume of lending opportunities for certain types of loans, loans in particular markets, loans of particular securities or types of securities, or for loans overall.
Purchases and sales of securities and other assets for a Fund may be bunched or aggregated with orders for other BlackRock client accounts, including with accounts that pay different transaction costs solely due to the fact that they have different research payment arrangements. BlackRock, however, is not required to bunch or aggregate orders if portfolio management decisions for different accounts are made separately, or if they determine that bunching or aggregating is not practicable or required, or in cases involving client direction.
Prevailing trading activity frequently may make impossible the receipt of the same price or execution on the entire volume of securities purchased or sold. When this occurs, the various prices may be averaged, and the Funds will be charged or credited with the average price. Thus, the effect of the aggregation may operate on some occasions to the disadvantage of the Funds. In addition, under certain circumstances, the Funds will not be charged the same commission or commission equivalent rates in connection with a bunched or aggregated order.
Subject to applicable law, BlackRock may select brokers that furnish BlackRock, the Funds, other BlackRock client accounts or personnel, directly or through correspondent relationships, with research or other appropriate services which provide, in BlackRock's view, appropriate assistance to BlackRock in the investment decision-making process (including with respect to futures, fixed-price offerings and OTC transactions). Such research or other services may include, to the extent permitted by law, research reports on companies, industries and securities; economic and financial data; financial publications; proxy analysis; trade industry seminars; computer data bases; research-oriented software and other services and products. Research or other services obtained in this manner may be used in servicing any or all of the Funds and other BlackRock client accounts, including in connection with BlackRock client accounts other than those that pay commissions to the broker relating to the research or other service arrangements. Such products and services may disproportionately benefit other BlackRock client accounts relative to the Funds based on the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds and such other BlackRock client accounts. For example, research or other services that are paid for through one client's commissions may not be used in managing that client's account. In addition, other BlackRock client accounts may receive the benefit, including disproportionate benefits, of economies of scale or price discounts in connection with products and services that may be provided to the Funds and to such other BlackRock client accounts. To the extent that BlackRock uses soft dollars, it will not have to pay for those products and services itself.
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BlackRock does not currently enter into arrangements to use the Funds' assets for, or participate in, soft dollars, although BlackRock may receive research that is bundled with the trade execution, clearing, and/or settlement services provided by a particular broker-dealer. To the extent that BlackRock receives research on this basis, many of the same conflicts related to traditional soft dollars may exist. For example, the research effectively will be paid by client commissions that also will be used to pay for the execution, clearing, and settlement services provided by the broker-dealer and will not be paid by BlackRock. BlackRock, unless prohibited by applicable law, may endeavor to execute trades through brokers who, pursuant to such arrangements, provide research or other services in order to ensure the continued receipt of research or other services BlackRock believes are useful in its investment decision-making process. BlackRock may from time to time choose not to engage in the above described arrangements to varying degrees. BlackRock, unless prohibited by applicable law, may also enter into commission sharing arrangements under which BlackRock may execute transactions through a broker-dealer, and request that the broker-dealer allocate a portion of the commissions or commission credits to another firm that provides research to BlackRock. To the extent that BlackRock engages in commission sharing arrangements, many of the same conflicts related to traditional soft dollars may exist.
BlackRock may utilize certain electronic crossing networks (“ECNs”) (including, without limitation, ECNs in which BlackRock has an investment or other interest, to the extent permitted by applicable law) in executing client securities transactions for certain types of securities. These ECNs may charge fees for their services, including access fees and transaction fees. The transaction fees, which are similar to commissions or markups/markdowns, will generally be charged to clients and, like commissions and markups/markdowns, would generally be included in the cost of the securities purchased. Access fees may be paid by BlackRock even though incurred in connection with executing transactions on behalf of clients, including the Funds. In certain circumstances, ECNs may offer volume discounts that will reduce the access fees typically paid by BlackRock. BlackRock will only utilize ECNs consistent with its obligation to seek to obtain best execution in client transactions.
BlackRock owns a minority interest in, and is a member of, Members Exchange (“MEMX”), a newly created U.S. stock exchange. Transactions for a Fund may be executed on MEMX if third party brokers select MEMX as the appropriate venue for execution of orders placed by BlackRock traders on behalf of such Funds. In addition, transactions in Fund shares may be executed on MEMX if third party brokers select MEMX as the appropriate venue for the execution of such orders.
BlackRock has adopted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing proxy voting decisions that it makes on behalf of advisory clients, including the Funds, and to help ensure that such decisions are made in accordance with BlackRock's fiduciary obligations to its clients. Nevertheless, notwithstanding such proxy voting policies and procedures, actual proxy voting decisions of BlackRock may have the effect of favoring the interests of other clients or businesses of other divisions or units of BlackRock, provided that BlackRock believes such voting decisions to be in accordance with its fiduciary obligations. For a more detailed discussion of these policies and procedures, see the Proxy Voting Policy section of this SAI.
It is also possible that, from time to time, BlackRock and/or its advisory clients (including other funds and separately managed accounts) may, subject to compliance with applicable law, purchase and hold shares of a Fund. Increasing a Fund’s assets may enhance liquidity, investment flexibility and diversification and may contribute to economies of scale that tend to reduce the Fund's expense ratio. BlackRock reserves the right, subject to compliance with applicable law, to sell into the market or redeem in Creation Units through an Authorized Participant at any time some or all of the shares of a Fund acquired for its own accounts or the account of a BlackRock advisory client. A large sale or redemption of shares of a Fund by BlackRock itself or a BlackRock advisory client could significantly reduce the asset size of the Fund, which might have an adverse effect on the Fund's liquidity, investment flexibility, portfolio diversification, expense ratio or ability to comply with the listing requirements for the Fund.
It is possible that a Fund may invest in securities of, or engage in transactions with, companies in which BlackRock has significant debt or equity investments or other interests. A Fund may also invest in issuances (such as structured notes) by entities for which BlackRock provides and is compensated for cash management services relating to the proceeds from the sale of such issuances. In making investment decisions for a Fund, BlackRock is not permitted to obtain or use material non-public information acquired by any unit of BlackRock in the course of these activities. In addition, from time to time, the activities of BlackRock may limit a Fund's flexibility in purchases and sales of securities. As indicated below, BlackRock may engage in transactions with companies in which BlackRock-advised funds or other clients of BlackRock have an investment.
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BlackRock, its personnel and other financial service providers may have interests in promoting sales of the Funds. With respect to BlackRock and its personnel, the remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of the Funds or other products may be greater than remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of certain funds or other products that might be provided or offered. BlackRock and its sales personnel may directly or indirectly receive a portion of the fees and commissions charged to the Funds or their shareholders. BlackRock and its advisory or other personnel may also benefit from increased amounts of assets under management. Fees and commissions may also be higher than for other products or services, and the remuneration and profitability to BlackRock and such personnel resulting from transactions on behalf of or management of the Funds may be greater than the remuneration and profitability resulting from other funds or products.
Third parties, including service providers to BlackRock or a Fund, may sponsor events (including, but not limited to, marketing and promotional activities and presentations, educational training programs and conferences) for registered representatives, other professionals and individual investors. There is a potential conflict of interest as such sponsorships may defray the costs of such activities to BlackRock, and may provide an incentive to BlackRock to retain such third parties to provide services to a Fund.
BlackRock may provide valuation assistance to certain clients with respect to certain securities or other investments and the valuation recommendations made for such clients' accounts may differ from the valuations for the same securities or investments assigned by a Fund's pricing vendors, especially if such valuations are based on broker-dealer quotes or other data sources unavailable to the Fund's pricing vendors. While BlackRock will generally communicate its valuation information or determinations to a Fund's pricing vendors and/or fund accountants, there may be instances where the Fund's pricing vendors or fund accountants assign a different valuation to a security or other investment than the valuation for such security or investment determined or recommended by BlackRock.
As disclosed in more detail in the Determination of Net Asset Value section in this SAI, when market quotations are not readily available or are believed by BFA to be unreliable, each Fund’s investments are valued at fair value by BFA. BFA has been designated as each Fund’s valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act and acts through BFA’s Rule 2a-5 Committee (the “2a-5 Committee”), with assistance from other BFA pricing committees and in accordance with BFA’s policies and procedures (the “Valuation Procedures”). When determining a “fair value price,” the 2a-5 Committee seeks to determine the price that a Fund might reasonably expect to receive from the current sale of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. The price generally may not be determined based on what a Fund might reasonably expect to receive for selling an asset or liability at a later time or if it holds the asset or liability to maturity. While fair value determinations will be based upon all available factors that BFA deems relevant at the time of the determination, and may be based on analytical values determined by BFA using proprietary or third-party valuation models, fair value represents only a good faith approximation of the value of an asset or liability. The fair value of one or more assets or liabilities may not, in retrospect, be the price at which those assets or liabilities could have been sold during the period in which the particular fair values were used in determining a Fund’s NAV. As a result, a Fund’s sale or redemption of its shares at NAV, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued by the 2a-5 Committee at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders and may affect the amount of revenue received by BFA with respect to services for which it receives an asset-based fee.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, a Fund may invest all or some of its short-term cash investments in any money market fund or similarly-managed private fund advised or managed by BlackRock. In connection with any such investments, a Fund, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, may pay its share of expenses of a money market fund or other similarly-managed private fund in which it invests, which may result in a Fund bearing some additional expenses.
BlackRock and its directors, officers and employees, may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts and may have conflicts of interest with respect to investments made on behalf of a Fund. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by directors, officers and employees that are the same, different from or made at different times than positions taken for a Fund. To lessen the possibility that a Fund will be adversely affected by this personal trading, each Fund, BFA and BlackRock have each adopted a code of ethics in compliance with Section 17(j) of the 1940 Act that restricts securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding a Fund's portfolio transactions. Each code of ethics is available by contacting BlackRock at the telephone number on the back cover of each Fund’s Prospectus or by accessing the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by e-mail at publicinfo@sec.gov.
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BlackRock will not purchase securities or other property from, or sell securities or other property to, a Fund, except that a Fund may in accordance with rules or guidance adopted under the 1940 Act engage in transactions with another Fund or accounts that are affiliated with a Fund as a result of common officers, directors, or investment advisers or pursuant to exemptive orders granted to the Funds and/or BlackRock by the SEC. These transactions would be effected in circumstances in which BlackRock determined that it would be appropriate for a Fund to purchase and another client of BlackRock to sell, or a Fund to sell and another client of BlackRock to purchase, the same security or instrument on the same day. From time to time, the activities of a Fund may be restricted because of regulatory requirements applicable to BlackRock and/or BlackRock's internal policies designed to comply with, limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. A client not advised by BlackRock would not be subject to some of those considerations. There may be periods when BlackRock may not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions, or may otherwise restrict or limit its advice in certain securities or instruments issued by or related to companies for which BlackRock is performing advisory or other services or has proprietary positions. For example, when BlackRock is engaged to provide advisory or risk management services for a company, BlackRock may be prohibited from or limited in purchasing or selling securities of that company on behalf of a Fund, particularly where such services result in BlackRock obtaining material non-public information about the company (e.g., in connection with participation in a creditors’ committee). Similar situations could arise if personnel of BlackRock serve as directors of companies the securities of which a Fund wishes to purchase or sell. However, if permitted by applicable law, and where consistent with BlackRock’s policies and procedures (including the necessary implementation of appropriate information barriers), the Funds may purchase securities or instruments that are issued by such companies, are the subject of an advisory or risk management assignment by BlackRock, or where personnel of BlackRock are directors or officers of the issuer.
The investment activities of BlackRock for its proprietary accounts and for client accounts may also limit the investment strategies and rights of the Funds. For example, in certain circumstances where the Funds invest in securities issued by companies that operate in certain regulated industries or in certain emerging or international markets, or are subject to corporate or regulatory ownership restrictions, or invest in certain futures or other derivative transactions, there may be limits on the aggregate amount invested by BlackRock for their proprietary accounts and for client accounts (including the Funds) that may not be exceeded without the grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate consent or, if exceeded, may cause BlackRock, the Funds or other client accounts to suffer disadvantages or business restrictions.
If certain aggregate ownership thresholds are reached either through the actions of BlackRock or a Fund or as a result of third-party transactions, the ability of BlackRock, on behalf of clients (including the Funds), to purchase or dispose of investments, or exercise rights or undertake business transactions, may be restricted by regulation or otherwise impaired. As a result, BlackRock, on behalf of its clients (including the Funds), may limit purchases, sell existing investments, or otherwise restrict, forgo or limit the exercise of rights (including transferring, outsourcing or limiting voting rights or forgoing the right to receive dividends) when BlackRock, in its sole discretion, deems it appropriate in light of potential regulatory or other restrictions on ownership or other consequences resulting from reaching investment thresholds.
In those circumstances where ownership thresholds or limitations must be observed, BlackRock seeks to allocate limited investment opportunities equitably among clients (including the Funds), taking into consideration benchmark weight and investment strategy. BlackRock has adopted certain controls designed to prevent the occurrence of a breach of any applicable ownership threshold or limits, including, for example, when ownership in certain securities nears an applicable threshold, BlackRock may remove such securities from the list of Deposit Securities to be delivered to the Fund in connection with purchases of Creation Units of such Fund and may limit purchases in such securities to the issuer's weighting in the applicable benchmark used by BlackRock to manage such Fund. If client (including Fund) holdings of an issuer exceed an applicable threshold and BlackRock is unable to obtain relief to enable the continued holding of such investments, it may be necessary to sell down these positions to meet the applicable limitations. In these cases, benchmark overweight positions will be sold prior to benchmark positions being reduced to meet applicable limitations.
In addition to the foregoing, other ownership thresholds may trigger reporting requirements to governmental and regulatory authorities, and such reports may entail the disclosure of the identity of a client or BlackRock’s intended strategy with respect to such security or asset.
BlackRock may not serve as an Authorized Participant in the creation and redemption of iShares ETFs.
Under an ETF Services Agreement, certain Funds have retained BRIL, an Affiliate of BFA, to perform certain order processing, Authorized Participant communications, and related services in connection with the issuance and redemption of Creation
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Units of the Funds (“ETF Services”). BRIL will retain a portion of the standard transaction fee received from Authorized Participants on each creation or redemption order from the Authorized Participant for the ETF Services provided. BlackRock collaborated with, and received payment from, Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”) on the design and development of the ETF Services platform. Citibank may have, or from time to time may develop, additional relationships with BlackRock or funds managed by BFA and its affiliates.
BlackRock may maintain securities indices. To the extent permitted by applicable laws, the Funds may seek to license and use such indices as part of their investment strategy. Index based funds that seek to track the performance of securities indices also may use the name of the index or index provider in the fund name. Index providers, including BlackRock (to the extent permitted by applicable law), may be paid licensing fees for use of their index or index name. In instances where BlackRock charges a unitary management fee, BlackRock may have a financial incentive to use a BlackRock index that is less costly to BlackRock than a third party index. BlackRock may benefit from the Funds using BlackRock indices by creating increasing acceptance in the marketplace for such indices. BlackRock is not obligated to license its indices to a Fund and the Funds are under no obligation to use BlackRock indices. Any Fund that enters into a license for a BlackRock index cannot be assured that the terms of any index licensing agreement with BlackRock will be as favorable as those terms offered to other licensees.
BlackRock may enter into contractual arrangements with third-party service providers to a Fund (e.g., custodians, administrators and index providers) pursuant to which BlackRock receives fee discounts or concessions in recognition of BlackRock’s overall relationship with such service providers. BlackRock may also enter into contractual arrangements with such service providers pursuant to which BlackRock incurs additional costs if the service provider’s services are terminated with respect to a Fund. To the extent that BlackRock is responsible for paying service providers out of its fees that it receives from the Funds, the benefits of lower fees, including any fee discounts or concessions, or any additional savings, may accrue, in whole or in part, to BlackRock, which could result in conflicts of interest relating to the use or termination of service providers to a Fund. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise with respect to contractual arrangements with third-party service providers to a Fund, or the selection of such providers, particularly in circumstances where BlackRock is negotiating on behalf of both funds that have a unitary management fee and those that do not or different service providers have different fee structures.
Conflicts of interest may arise as a result of simultaneous investment management of multiple client accounts by the BlackRock’s investment professionals. For example, differences in the advisory fee structure may create the appearance of actual or potential conflicts of interest because such differences could create pecuniary incentives for BlackRock to favor one client account over another.
BlackRock owns or has an ownership interest in certain trading, portfolio management, operations and/or information systems used by Fund service providers. These systems are, or will be, used by a Fund service provider in connection with the provision of services to accounts managed by BlackRock and funds managed and sponsored by BlackRock, including the Funds, that engage the service provider (typically the custodian). A Fund’s service provider remunerates BlackRock for the use of the systems. A Fund service provider’s payments to BlackRock for the use of these systems may enhance the profitability of BlackRock.
BlackRock’s receipt of fees from a service provider in connection with the use of systems provided by BlackRock may create an incentive for BlackRock to recommend that a Fund enter into or renew an arrangement with the service provider.
In recognition of a BlackRock client’s overall relationship with BlackRock, BlackRock may offer special pricing arrangements for certain services provided by BlackRock. Any such special pricing arrangements will not apply to the client’s investment in a Fund.
Present and future activities of BlackRock (including BFA), its directors, officers and employees, in addition to those described in this section, may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.
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Investment Advisory, Administrative and Distribution Services
Investment Adviser.  BFA serves as investment adviser to each Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, and BFA. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock, Inc. and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Under the investment advisory agreement, BFA, subject to the supervision of the Board and in conformity with the stated investment policies of each Fund, manages and administers the Trust and the investment of each Fund’s assets. BFA is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of each Fund.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, BFA may, from time to time, in its sole discretion and to the extent permitted by applicable law, appoint one or more sub-advisers, including, without limitation, affiliates of BFA, to perform investment advisory or other services with respect to a Fund. In addition, BFA may delegate certain of its investment advisory functions under the investment advisory agreement to one or more of its affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law. BFA may terminate any or all sub-advisers or such delegation arrangements in its sole discretion upon appropriate notice at any time to the extent permitted by applicable law.
BFA is responsible, under the investment advisory agreement, for substantially all expenses of the Funds, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services. BFA is not responsible for, and the Funds will bear, the management fees, interest expenses, taxes, expenses incurred with respect to the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities and the execution of portfolio transactions, including brokerage commissions, distribution fees or expenses, and litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees).
The following describes the calculation of the management fee for each Fund whose management fee is subject to breakpoints. The management fee for all Funds is set forth in the table that follows the description of breakpoints.
For its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, BFA is paid a management fee from the Fund calculated based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the following iShares funds: iShares Europe ETF, iShares International Select Dividend ETF and iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF. The management fee for the iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF equals the ratio of the Fund’s net assets over the aggregate net assets of the above iShares funds multiplied by the amount calculated as follows: 0.4000% per annum of the aggregate net assets less than or equal to $12 billion, plus 0.3800% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $12 billion, up to and including $18 billion, plus 0.3610% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $18 billion, up to and including $24 billion, plus 0.3430% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $24 billion, up to and including $30 billion, plus 0.3259% per annum of the aggregate net assets in excess of $30 billion.
Effective June 30, 2022 and through July 31, 2023, for its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF and the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, BFA is paid a management fee from each Fund corresponding to the Fund’s allocable portion of an aggregate management fee calculated based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the following iShares funds: iShares MSCI ACWI ETF, iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF and iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF.
The aggregate management fee for the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is calculated as follows: 0.3500% per annum of the aggregate net assets less than or equal to $30.0 billion, plus 0.3200% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $30.0 billion, up to and including $60.0 billion, plus 0.2800% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $60.0 billion, up to and including $90.0 billion, plus 0.2520% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $90.0 billion, up to and including $120.0 billion, plus 0.2270% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $120.0 billion, up to and including $150.0 billion, plus 0.2040% per annum of the aggregate net assets in excess of $150.0 billion.
Prior to June 30, 2023, the aggregate management fee for the iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF was calculated as follows: 0.3500% per annum of the aggregate net assets less than or equal to $30.0 billion, plus 0.3200% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $30.0 billion, up to and including $60.0 billion, plus 0.2800% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $60.0 billion, up to and including $90.0 billion, plus 0.2520% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $90.0 billion, up to and including $120.0 billion, plus 0.2270% per annum of the aggregate net assets over $120.0 billion, up to and including $150.0 billion, plus 0.2040% per annum of the aggregate net assets in excess of $150.0 billion. Effective June 30,
83

2023, the aggregate management fee for the iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF equals the ratio of the Fund’s net assets over the aggregate net assets of the above iShares funds multiplied by 0.20% per annum of the aggregate net assets.
For its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, BFA was paid a management fee from the iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF calculated based on the average daily net assets of the iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF as follows: 0.4000% per annum of net assets less than or equal to $3.0 billion, plus 0.3800% per annum of net assets over $3.0 billion, up to and including $4.5 billion, plus 0.3610% per annum of net assets over $4.5 billion, up to and including $6.0 billion, plus 0.3430% per annum of net assets over $6.0 billion, up to and including $7.5 billion, plus 0.3258% per annum of net assets over $7.5 billion, up to and including $9.0 billion, plus 0.3096% per annum of net assets over $9.0 billion, up to and including $10.5 billion, plus 0.2941% per annum of net assets over $10.5 billion, up to and including $12.0 billion, plus 0.2793% per annum of net assets over $12.0 billion, up to and including $13.5 billion, plus 0.2653% per annum of net assets in excess of $13.5 billion.
For its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, BFA is paid a management fee from the iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF calculated based on the average daily net assets of the iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF as follows: 0.4000% per annum of net assets less than or equal to $3.0 billion, plus 0.3800% per annum of net assets over $3.0 billion, up to and including $4.5 billion, plus 0.3610% per annum of net assets over $4.5 billion, up to and including $6.0 billion, plus 0.3430% per annum of net assets over $6.0 billion, up to and including $7.5 billion, plus 0.3258% per annum of net assets over $7.5 billion, up to and including $9.0 billion, plus 0.3096% per annum of net assets over $9.0 billion, up to and including $10.5 billion, plus 0.2941% per annum of net assets over $10.5 billion, up to and including $12.0 billion, plus 0.2793% per annum of net assets over $12.0 billion, up to and including $13.5 billion, plus 0.2653% per annum of net assets over $13.5 billion, up to and including $15.0 billion, plus 0.2520% per annum of net assets in excess of $15.0 billion.
For its investment advisory services to the iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF, BFA is paid a management fee from the iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF calculated based on the average daily net assets of the iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF as follows: 0.4000% per annum of net assets less than or equal to $3.0 billion, plus 0.3800% per annum of net assets over $3.0 billion, up to and including $4.5 billion, plus 0.3610% per annum of net assets over $4.5 billion, up to and including $6.0 billion, plus 0.3430% per annum of net assets over $6.0 billion, up to and including $7.5 billion, plus 0.3258% per annum of net assets over $7.5 billion, up to and including $9.0 billion, plus 0.3095% per annum of net assets over $9.0 billion, up to and including $10.5 billion, plus 0.2940% per annum of net assets in excess of $10.5 billion.
For its investment advisory services to the iShares China Large-Cap ETF, BFA is paid a management fee from the Fund based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The management fee is calculated as follows: 0.74% per annum of net assets less than or equal to $6.0 billion, plus 0.67% per annum of net assets over $6.0 billion, up to and including $9.0 billion, plus 0.60% per annum of net assets over $9.0 billion, up to and including $12.0 billion, plus 0.54% per annum of the net assets in excess of $12.0 billion.
BFA may from time to time voluntarily waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses to reduce the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, if any). Any such voluntary waiver or reimbursement may be eliminated by BFA at any time.
The following table sets forth the management fee (net of any applicable waivers) at the annual rate (as a percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets) BFA received from each Fund for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 and the management fees (net of any applicable waivers) each Fund paid BFA for the fiscal years noted:
 
Fund
Management
Fees Paid
Net of Waivers
for
Fiscal Year Ended
July 31, 2023
Management
Fees Paid
Net of Waivers
for
Fiscal Year Ended
July 31, 2022
Management
Fees Paid
Net of Waivers
for
Fiscal Year Ended
July 31, 2021
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
$38,791,801
$38,759,462
$30,150,465
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
9,965
6,441
N/A
iShares International Equity Factor ETF(1)
1,332,663
2,220,435
2,724,162
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor
ETF(2)
1,432,676
824,301
635,000
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
150,599,004
170,044,238
167,870,692
84

Fund
Management
Fees Paid
Net of Waivers
for
Fiscal Year Ended
July 31, 2023
Management
Fees Paid
Net of Waivers
for
Fiscal Year Ended
July 31, 2022
Management
Fees Paid
Net of Waivers
for
Fiscal Year Ended
July 31, 2021
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
39,872,029
39,210,640
35,547,408
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (3)
14,282,545
14,822,959
19,845,933
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
42,265,386
52,747,904
46,430,413
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
50,252,212
51,236,794
35,428,874
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
6,634,007
7,353,685
5,353,031
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
451,568
1,127,782
788,157
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
2,895,643
2,527,890
2,033,775
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
14,308,907
12,151,659
8,137,115
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
64,454
49,682
78,162
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
4,757,823
3,802,861
2,180,049
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
43,504,275
42,010,317
46,640,825
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
15,798,180
19,781,761
20,388,160
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
33,589,792
34,195,364
30,863,547
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
480,275
758,991
1,304,962
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor
ETF
1,566,407
1,614,284
1,751,862
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
11,235,567
20,473,942
16,859,088
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF(4)
969,481
1,910,731
1,849,289
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF(5)
1,952,512
3,080,500
2,314,330
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector
ETF(6)
1,022,069
1,175,743
1,079,016
1
Effective March 31, 2022, the management fee for the iShares International Equity Factor ETF is 0.15%. Prior to March 31, 2022, the management fee for the iShares International Equity Factor ETF was 0.30%.
2
Effective December 16, 2022, the management fee for the iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF is 0.23%. Prior to December 16, 2022, the management fee for the iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF was 0.40%.
3
Effective June 30, 2023, the management fee for the iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF is 0.20%. Prior to June 30, 2023, BFA had contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in order to limit the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses after the fee waiver to 0.20%. The contractual waiver was terminated as of June 30, 2023, by written agreement of the Trust and BFA. For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2023, July 31, 2022 and July 31, 2021, BFA waived $7,846,105, $8,804,453 and $11,713,593, respectively of its management fees.
4
Effective March 31, 2022, the management fee for the iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF is 0.08%. Prior to March 31, 2022, the management fee for the iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF was 0.20%.
5
Effective December 16, 2022, the management fee for the iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF is 0.15%. Prior to December 16, 2022, the management fee for the iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF was 0.30%.
6
For the iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF, BFA has elected to implement a voluntary fee waiver in order to limit the Fund's total annual operating expenses after the fee waiver to 0.30% and currently intends to keep such voluntary fee waiver for the Fund in place through December 31, 2024. Any such voluntary waiver or reimbursement may be eliminated by BFA at any time. For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2023, July 31, 2022, and July 31, 2021, BFA waived $340,690, $391,915, and $359,672, respectively of its management fees.
The investment advisory agreement with respect to each Fund continues in effect for two years from its effective date, and thereafter is subject to annual approval by (i) the Board, or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the applicable Fund, provided that in either event such continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board members who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the applicable Fund, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The investment advisory agreement with respect to each Fund is terminable without penalty, on 60 days’ notice, by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the applicable Fund’s outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act). The investment advisory agreement is also terminable upon 60 days’ notice by BFA and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
85

Portfolio Managers.  As of July 31, 2023, the individuals named as Portfolio Managers in the Funds' Prospectuses were also primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of other iShares funds and certain other types of portfolios and/or accounts as follows:
 
Jennifer Hsui
 
 
Types of Accounts
Number
Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies
310
$1,820,905,000,000
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
1
4,461,000,000
Other Accounts
19
34,143,000,000
 
Greg Savage
 
 
Types of Accounts
Number
Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies
263
$1,707,497,000,000
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
37
9,687,000,000
Other Accounts
54
4,289,000,000
 
Paul Whitehead
 
 
Types of Accounts
Number
Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies
318
$1,822,913,000,000
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
337
1,014,501,000,000
Other Accounts
165
666,598,000,000
Pursuant to BFA’s policy, investment opportunities are allocated equitably among the Funds and other portfolios and accounts. For example, under certain circumstances, an investment opportunity may be restricted due to limited supply in the market, legal constraints or other factors, in which event the investment opportunity will be allocated equitably among those portfolios and accounts, including the Funds, seeking such investment opportunity. As a consequence, from time to time each Fund may receive a smaller allocation of an investment opportunity than it would have if the Portfolio Managers and BFA and its affiliates did not manage other portfolios or accounts.
Like the Funds, the other portfolios or accounts for which the Portfolio Managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management generally pay an asset-based fee to BFA or its affiliates, as applicable, for its advisory services. One or more of those other portfolios or accounts, however, may pay BFA or its affiliates a performance-based fee in lieu of, or in addition to, an asset-based fee for its advisory services. A portfolio or account with a performance-based fee would pay BFA or its affiliates a portion of that portfolio’s or account’s gains, or would pay BFA or its affiliates more for its services than would otherwise be the case if BFA or any of its affiliates meets or exceeds specified performance targets. Performance-based fee arrangements could present an incentive for BFA or its affiliates to devote greater resources, and allocate more investment opportunities, to the portfolios or accounts that have those fee arrangements, relative to other portfolios or accounts, in order to earn larger fees. Although BFA and each of its affiliates have an obligation to allocate resources and opportunities equitably among portfolios and accounts and intend to do so, shareholders of the Funds should be aware that, as with any group of portfolios and accounts managed by an investment adviser and/or its affiliates pursuant to varying fee arrangements, including performance-based fee arrangements, there is the potential for a conflict of interest, which may result in the Portfolio Managers favoring those portfolios or accounts with performance-based fee arrangements.
The tables below show, for each Portfolio Manager, the number of portfolios or accounts of the types set forth in the above tables and the aggregate of total assets in those portfolios or accounts with respect to which the investment management fees are based on the performance of those portfolios or accounts as of July 31, 2023:
 
Jennifer Hsui
 
 
Types of Accounts
Number of Other Accounts
with Performance Fees
Managed by Portfolio Manager
Aggregate
of Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies
0
N/A
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
0
N/A
86

Jennifer Hsui
 
 
Types of Accounts
Number of Other Accounts
with Performance Fees
Managed by Portfolio Manager
Aggregate
of Total Assets
Other Accounts
0
N/A
 
Greg Savage
 
 
Types of Accounts
Number of Other Accounts
with Performance Fees
Managed by Portfolio Manager
Aggregate
of Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies
0
N/A
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
0
N/A
Other Accounts
0
N/A
 
Paul Whitehead
 
 
Types of Accounts
Number of Other Accounts
with Performance Fees
Managed by Portfolio Manager
Aggregate
of Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies
0
N/A
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
0
N/A
Other Accounts
1
$2,396,000,000
Portfolio Manager Compensation Overview
The discussion below describes the Portfolio Managers' compensation as of July 31, 2023.
BlackRock, Inc.'s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary, a performance-based discretionary bonus, participation in various benefits programs and one or more of the incentive compensation programs established by BlackRock, Inc.
Each portfolio manager receives base compensation based on their position with the firm, as well as retirement and other benefits offered to all BlackRock employees. Additionally, each portfolio manager receives discretionary incentive compensation, determined based on several components, including: the performance of BlackRock, Inc., the performance of the portfolio manager’s group within BlackRock, the performance of portfolios managed by the portfolio manager and the team relative to the portfolios’ investment objectives (which in the case of index ETFs would be how closely the ETF tracks its Underlying Index), and the individual’s performance and contribution to the overall performance of these portfolios and BlackRock. Discretionary incentive compensation is paid in cash up to a certain threshold with the remaining portion represented by deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards. In some cases, additional deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock may be granted to certain key employees as part of a long-term incentive award to aid in retention, align interests with long-term shareholders and motivate performance.
As of July 31, 2023, the Portfolio Managers beneficially owned shares of the Funds, for which they are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management, in the amounts reflected in the following tables:
 
Jennifer Hsui
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dollar Range
Fund
None
$1 to $10k
$10,001
to $50k
$50,001
to $100k
$100,001
to $500k
$500,001
to $1m
over
$1m
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
87

Jennifer Hsui
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dollar Range
Fund
None
$1 to $10k
$10,001
to $50k
$50,001
to $100k
$100,001
to $500k
$500,001
to $1m
over
$1m
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Greg Savage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dollar Range
Fund
None
$1 to $10k
$10,001
to $50k
$50,001
to $100k
$100,001
to $500k
$500,001
to $1m
over
$1m
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
88

Greg Savage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dollar Range
Fund
None
$1 to $10k
$10,001
to $50k
$50,001
to $100k
$100,001
to $500k
$500,001
to $1m
over
$1m
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Whitehead
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dollar Range
Fund
None
$1 to $10k
$10,001
to $50k
$50,001
to $100k
$100,001
to $500k
$500,001
to $1m
over
$1m
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
Codes of Ethics.  The Trust, BFA and the Distributor have adopted codes of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. The codes of ethics permit personnel subject to the codes of ethics to invest in securities, subject to certain limitations, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds. Each code of ethics is available by contacting BlackRock at the telephone number on the back cover of each Fund’s Prospectus or by accessing the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by e-mail at publicinfo@sec.gov.
Anti-Money Laundering Requirements.  The Funds are subject to the USA PATRIOT Act (the “Patriot Act”). The Patriot Act is intended to prevent the use of the U.S. financial system in furtherance of money laundering, terrorism or other illicit activities. Pursuant to requirements under the Patriot Act, a Fund may request information from Authorized Participants to enable it to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of its Authorized Participants. This information will be used to verify the identity of Authorized Participants or, in some cases, the status of financial professionals; it will be used only for compliance with the requirements of the Patriot Act.
89

The Funds reserve the right to reject purchase orders from persons who have not submitted information sufficient to allow the Fund to verify their identity. Each Fund also reserves the right to redeem any amounts in a Fund from persons whose identity it is unable to verify on a timely basis. It is the Funds' policy to cooperate fully with appropriate regulators in any investigations conducted with respect to potential money laundering, terrorism or other illicit activities.
Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent.
iShares China Large-Cap ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF and iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the above-listed Funds under the Master Services Agreement and related Service Schedule (the “Service Module”). State Street’s principal address is One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, MA 02114-2016. Pursuant to the Service Module for Fund Administration and Accounting Services with the Trust, State Street provides necessary administrative, legal, tax and accounting and financial reporting services for the maintenance and operations of the Trust and each Fund. In addition, State Street makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services. Pursuant to the Service Module for Custodial Services with the Trust, State Street maintains, in separate accounts, cash, securities and other assets of the Trust and each Fund, keeps all necessary accounts and records and provides other services. State Street is required, upon the order of the Trust, to deliver securities held by State Street and to make payments for securities purchased by the Trust for each Fund. State Street is authorized to appoint certain foreign custodians or foreign custody managers for Fund investments outside the U.S. Pursuant to the Service Module for Transfer Agency Services with the Trust, State Street acts as a transfer agent for each Fund’s authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest, and as dividend disbursing agent of the Trust. As compensation for these services, State Street receives certain out-of-pocket costs, transaction fees and asset-based fees which are accrued daily and paid monthly by BFA from its management fee.
The following table sets forth the administration, custodian and transfer agency expenses of each Fund paid by BFA to State Street for the fiscal years noted:
 
Fund
Fund
Inception
Date
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2023
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2022
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2021
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
10/05/04
$436,694
$365,317
$356,674
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
04/28/15
102,266
112,998
95,996
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor
ETF
04/28/15
160,160
124,030
101,530
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
08/14/01
2,426,127
2,828,692
2,908,068
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
08/01/05
625,105
640,984
615,866
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
10/18/11
456,108
498,697
653,636
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
12/10/07
902,491
1,097,440
1,034,172
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
08/01/05
848,819
886,304
637,354
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
01/20/10
103,749
112,410
88,113
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
11/12/07
85,686
102,856
98,530
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
01/13/15
105,451
110,182
106,394
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
01/13/15
288,032
263,167
220,073
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
06/16/15
71,111
68,168
57,753
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
06/16/15
127,584
117,778
96,465
 
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares USA Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF and iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
90

Citibank serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the above-listed Funds under the Master Services Agreement (the “Master Services Agreement”). Citibank’s principal address is 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013. Pursuant to the Master Services Agreement with the Trust, Citibank provides necessary administrative, tax and accounting and financial reporting services for the maintenance and operations of the Trust and each Fund. In addition, Citibank makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services. Pursuant to the Master Services Agreement with the Trust, Citibank maintains, in separate accounts, cash, securities and other assets of the Trust and each Fund, keeps all necessary accounts and records and provides other services. Citibank is required, upon the order of the Trust, to deliver securities held by Citibank and to make payments for securities purchased by the Trust for each Fund. Citibank is authorized to appoint certain foreign custodians or foreign custody managers for Fund investments outside the U.S. Pursuant to the Master Services Agreement with the Trust, Citibank acts as a transfer agent for each Fund’s authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest, and as dividend disbursing agent of the Trust. As compensation for these services, Citibank receives certain out-of-pocket costs, transaction fees and asset-based fees which are accrued daily and paid monthly by BFA from its management fee.
The following table sets forth the administration, custodian and transfer agency expenses of each Fund paid by BFA to Citibank for the periods noted: 
Fund
Fund
Inception
Date
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid During Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2023
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid to Citibank from
July 11, 2022
to July 31, 2022
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
11/02/21
$98,604
$22,261
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
10/18/11
567,662
24,918
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
04/16/13
251,958
14,971
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
07/16/13
488,821
29,797
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
04/16/13
37,425
1,669
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
04/16/13
193,539
17,598
Prior to July 11, 2022, State Street served as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the Funds. The following table sets forth the administration, custodian and transfer agency expenses of each Fund paid by BFA to State Street for the periods noted: 
Fund
Fund
Inception
Date
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid to State Street
from August 1, 2021
to July 10, 2022
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid to State Street
During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2021
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
11/02/21
$16,827
N/A
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
10/18/11
365,418
411,755
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
04/16/13
180,304
189,129
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
07/16/13
294,305
277,524
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
04/16/13
36,409
35,921
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
04/16/13
186,353
161,444
91

 iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF and iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
 JPMorgan serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the above-listed Funds under the Master Services Agreement. JPMorgan’s principal address is 383 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10179. Pursuant to the Master Services Agreement with the Trust, JPMorgan provides necessary administrative, tax and accounting and financial reporting services for the maintenance and operations of the Trust and each Fund. In addition, JPMorgan makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services. Pursuant to the Master Services Agreement with the Trust, JPMorgan maintains, in separate accounts, cash, securities and other assets of the Trust and each Fund, keeps all necessary accounts and records and provides other services. JPMorgan is required, upon the order of the Trust, to deliver securities held by JPMorgan and to make payments for securities purchased by the Trust for each Fund. JPMorgan is authorized to appoint certain foreign custodians or foreign custody managers for Fund investments outside the U.S. Pursuant to the Master Services Agreement with the Trust, JPMorgan acts as a transfer agent for each Fund’s authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest, and as dividend disbursing agent of the Trust. As compensation for these services, JPMorgan receives certain out-of-pocket costs, transaction fees and asset-based fees which are accrued daily and paid monthly by BFA from its management fee.
 The following table set forth the administration, custodian and transfer agency expenses of the Funds paid by BFA to JPMorgan for the period noted:  
Fund
Fund
Inception
Date
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid to JPMorgan from
August 15, 2022 to July 31, 2023
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor
ETF
09/07/16
$54,474
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
04/28/15
78,895
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
04/28/15
92,288
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector
ETF
01/08/20
32,869
 Prior to August 15, 2022, State Street served as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the Funds. The following table sets forth the administration, custodian and transfer agency expenses of the Funds paid by BFA to State Street for the fiscal years noted: 
Fund
Fund
Inception
Date
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid from
August 1, 2022 to
August 14, 2022
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2022
Custody,
Administration,
Transfer Agency
Expenses
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2021
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor
ETF
09/07/16
$1,346
$47,787
$46,499
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
04/28/15
1,515
43,543
30,432
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
04/28/15
1,586
65,685
54,488
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector
ETF
01/08/20
1,446
30,646
24,266
JPMorgan serves as custodian for certain Funds in connection with certain securities lending activities under a Custody Services Agreement. JPMorgan’s principal address is 383 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10179. Pursuant to the Custody Services Agreement with BTC and the Trust, JPMorgan provides custody and related services required to facilitate securities lending by each Fund. JPMorgan maintains custody as may be necessary to facilitate Fund securities lending activity in coordination with other funds, maintains custodial records and provides other services. As compensation for these services, JPMorgan receives certain fees and expenses paid by BTC from its compensation for its services as securities lending agent.
92

Distributor.  The Distributor's principal address is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Funds through the Distributor or its agent only in Creation Units, as described in the applicable Prospectus and below in the Creation and Redemption of Creation Units section of this SAI. Fund shares in amounts less than Creation Units are generally not distributed by the Distributor or its agent. The Distributor or its agent will arrange for the delivery of the applicable Prospectus and, upon request, this SAI to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of both orders placed with it or its agents and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it or its agents. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). The Distributor is also licensed as a broker-dealer in all 50 U.S. states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.
The Distribution Agreement for each Fund provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days' prior written notice to the other party following (i) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the relevant Fund. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Units of Fund shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Authorized Participants (as described below), DTC participants and/or investor services organizations.
BFA or its affiliates may, from time to time and from its own resources, pay, defray or absorb costs relating to distribution, including payments out of its own resources to the Distributor, or to otherwise promote the sale of shares.
Securities Lending.  To the extent that a Fund engages in securities lending, each Fund conducts its securities lending pursuant to SEC exemptive relief, and BTC acts as securities lending agent for the Funds, subject to the overall supervision of BFA, pursuant to a written agreement (the “Securities Lending Agency Agreement”).
Each Fund retains a portion of the securities lending income and remits the remaining portion to BTC as compensation for its services as securities lending agent. Securities lending income is generally equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral (and excludes collateral investment fees as defined below), and any fees or other payments to and from borrowers of securities. As securities lending agent, BTC bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending, including custodial costs of JPMorgan. Each Fund is responsible for fees in connection with the investment of cash collateral received for securities on loan in a money market fund managed by BFA (the “collateral investment fees”); however, BTC has agreed to reduce the amount of securities lending income it receives in order to effectively limit the collateral investment fees a Fund bears to an annual rate of 0.04%. Such money market fund shares will not be subject to a sales load, redemption fee, distribution fee or service fee.
Under the securities lending program, the Funds are categorized into one of several specific asset classes. The determination of a Fund’s asset class category (fixed-income, domestic equity, international equity or fund-of-funds), each of which may be subject to a different fee arrangement, is based on a methodology agreed to by the Trust and BTC.
Pursuant to the current Securities Lending Agency Agreement:
(i) domestic equity funds, such as the iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF and iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF (“Domestic Equity Funds”), retain 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and (ii) this amount could never be less than 70% of the sum of securities lending income plus collateral investment fees
(i) international equity funds, such as iShares China Large-Cap ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF, and iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF (“International Equity Funds”), retain 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and (ii) this amount can never be less than 70% of the sum of securities lending income plus collateral investment fees.
93

In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income (which includes, for this purpose, collateral investment fees) earned across the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex (as defined in the Management—Trustees and Officers section of this SAI) in a calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, each applicable Fund, pursuant to the current Securities Lending Agency Agreement, will receive for the remainder of that calendar year securities lending income as follows:
Domestic Equity Funds
(i) 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees); and (ii) this amount can never be less than 70% of the sum of securities lending income plus collateral investment fees.
International Equity Funds
(i) 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees); and (ii) this amount can never be less than 70% of the sum of securities lending income plus collateral investment fees.
The services provided to the Funds by BTC in the most recent fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 primarily included the following:
(1) selecting borrowers from an approved list of borrowers and executing a securities lending agreement as agent on behalf of the Funds with each such borrower;
(2) negotiating the terms of securities loans, including the amount of fees;
(3) directing the delivery of loaned securities;
(4) monitoring the daily value of the loaned securities and directing the payment of additional collateral or the return of excess collateral, as necessary;
(5) investing cash collateral received in connection with any loaned securities;
(6) monitoring distributions on loaned securities (for example, interest and dividend activity);
(7) in the event of default by a borrower with respect to any securities loan, using the collateral or the proceeds of the liquidation of collateral to purchase replacement securities of the same issue, type, class and series as that of the loaned securities; and
(8) terminating securities loans and arranging for the return of loaned securities to the Funds at loan termination.
The following tables show the dollar amounts of income and fees/compensation related to the securities lending activities of each Fund during its most recent fiscal year ended July 31, 2023. 
Fund
iShares China
Large-Cap ETF
iShares ESG
MSCI USA Min Vol
Factor ETF
iShares International
Equity Factor
ETF
iShares International
Small-Cap Equity Factor
ETF
Gross income from
securities
lending activities
$1,584,483
$761
$258,678
$557,530
Fees and/or compensation
for securities lending
activities and
related services
Securities lending
income paid to
BTC for services as
securities
lending agent
73,151
70
30,694
51,466
94

Fund
iShares China
Large-Cap ETF
iShares ESG
MSCI USA Min Vol
Factor ETF
iShares International
Equity Factor
ETF
iShares International
Small-Cap Equity Factor
ETF
Cash collateral
management
expenses not included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
15,669
5
1,380
3,426
Administrative fees not
included in securities
lending income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Indemnification fees not
included
in securities lending
income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Rebates (paid to
borrowers)
1,144,791
383
82,257
264,692
Other fees not
included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
0
0
0
0
Aggregate
fees/compensation for
securities lending
activities
$1,233,611
$458
$114,331
$319,584
Net income from securities
lending activities
$350,872
$303
$144,347
$237,946
 
Fund
iShares MSCI
EAFE ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Growth ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Small-Cap ETF
Gross income from
securities
lending activities
$9,977,583
$2,839,265
$1,388,229
$31,197,036
Fees and/or compensation
for securities lending
activities and
related services
Securities lending
income paid to
BTC for services as
securities
lending agent
371,038
87,015
128,992
3,473,972
Cash collateral
management
expenses not included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
83,084
24,032
7,233
187,678
Administrative fees not
included in securities
lending income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
95

Fund
iShares MSCI
EAFE ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Growth ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
EAFE Small-Cap ETF
Indemnification fees not
included
in securities lending
income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Rebates (paid to
borrowers)
7,772,973
2,322,693
663,369
11,376,013
Other fees not
included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
0
0
0
0
Aggregate
fees/compensation for
securities lending
activities
$8,227,095
$2,433,740
$799,594
$15,037,663
Net income from securities
lending activities
$1,750,488
$405,525
$588,635
$16,159,373
 
Fund
iShares MSCI
EAFE Value ETF
iShares MSCI
Europe Financials ETF
iShares MSCI Europe
Small-Cap ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Momentum Factor
ETF
Gross income from
securities
lending activities
$2,202,265
$121,662
$386,112
$108,829
Fees and/or compensation
for securities lending
activities and
related services
Securities lending
income paid to
BTC for services as
securities
lending agent
120,274
7,007
42,956
4,309
Cash collateral
management
expenses not included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
17,770
1,044
2,256
866
Administrative fees not
included in securities
lending income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Indemnification fees not
included
in securities lending
income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Rebates (paid to
borrowers)
1,495,133
81,125
141,515
83,861
96

Fund
iShares MSCI
EAFE Value ETF
iShares MSCI
Europe Financials ETF
iShares MSCI Europe
Small-Cap ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Momentum Factor
ETF
Other fees not
included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
0
0
0
0
Aggregate
fees/compensation for
securities lending
activities
$1,633,177
$89,176
$186,727
$89,036
Net income from securities
lending activities
$569,088
$32,486
$199,385
$19,763
 
Fund
iShares MSCI
Intl Quality Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Size Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Value Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Min Vol Factor ETF
Gross income from
securities
lending activities
$112,688
$7,435
$194,200
$14,255,460
Fees and/or compensation
for securities lending
activities and
related services
Securities lending
income paid to
BTC for services as
securities
lending agent
2,166
392
9,480
183,823
Cash collateral
management
expenses not included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
917
57
1,572
130,684
Administrative fees not
included in securities
lending income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Indemnification fees not
included
in securities lending
income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Rebates (paid to
borrowers)
99,328
5,108
139,174
13,126,065
Other fees not
included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
0
0
0
0
Aggregate
fees/compensation for
securities lending
activities
$102,411
$5,557
$150,226
$13,440,572
97

Fund
iShares MSCI
Intl Quality Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Size Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
Intl Value Factor
ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Min Vol Factor ETF
Net income from securities
lending activities
$10,277
$1,878
$43,974
$814,888
 
Fund
iShares MSCI
USA Momentum
Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Quality
Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Size
Factor ETF
iShares MSCI
USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
Gross income from
securities
lending activities
$2,986,159
$8,043,410
$790,354
$2,054,900
Fees and/or compensation
for securities lending
activities and
related services
Securities lending
income paid to
BTC for services as
securities
lending agent
36,301
188,600
36,757
180,589
Cash collateral
management
expenses not included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
26,857
74,390
6,530
12,249
Administrative fees not
included in securities
lending income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Indemnification fees not
included
in securities lending
income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Rebates (paid to
borrowers)
2,763,312
6,946,506
587,220
1,093,910
Other fees not
included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
0
0
0
0
Aggregate
fees/compensation for
securities lending
activities
$2,826,470
$7,209,496
$630,507
$1,286,748
Net income from securities
lending activities
$159,689
$833,914
$159,847
$768,152
 
Fund
iShares MSCI
USA Value
Factor ETF
iShares U.S.
Equity Factor ETF
iShares U.S.
Small-Cap Equity
Factor ETF
iShares U.S.
Tech Breakthrough
Multisector ETF
Gross income from
securities
lending activities
$2,861,939
$828,766
$3,280,201
$636,091
98

Fund
iShares MSCI
USA Value
Factor ETF
iShares U.S.
Equity Factor ETF
iShares U.S.
Small-Cap Equity
Factor ETF
iShares U.S.
Tech Breakthrough
Multisector ETF
Fees and/or compensation
for securities lending
activities and
related services
Securities lending
income paid to
BTC for services as
securities
lending agent
35,902
50,596
153,620
20,649
Cash collateral
management
expenses not included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
29,401
6,339
24,502
5,114
Administrative fees not
included in securities
lending income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Indemnification fees not
included
in securities lending
income paid
to BTC
0
0
0
0
Rebates (paid to
borrowers)
2,631,278
555,571
2,449,942
522,350
Other fees not
included in
securities lending
income paid to BTC
0
0
0
0
Aggregate
fees/compensation for
securities lending
activities
$2,696,581
$612,506
$2,628,064
$548,113
Net income from securities
lending activities
$165,358
$216,260
$652,137
$87,978
Payments by BFA and its Affiliates.  BFA and/or its affiliates (“BFA Entities”) may pay certain broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, banks and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for certain activities related to the Funds, other iShares funds or exchange-traded products in general. BFA Entities make these payments from their own assets and not from the assets of the Funds. Although a portion of BFA Entities’ revenue comes directly or indirectly in part from fees paid by the Funds, other iShares funds (including, if applicable, any underlying iShares funds held by a Fund) or exchange-traded products, these payments do not increase the price paid by investors for the purchase of shares of, or the cost of owning, the Funds, other iShares funds or exchange-traded products. BFA Entities make payments for Intermediaries’ participation in activities that are designed to make registered representatives, other professionals and individual investors more knowledgeable about exchange-traded products, including the Funds and other iShares funds, or for other activities, such as participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems (“Education Costs”). BFA Entities also make payments to Intermediaries for certain printing, publishing and mailing costs or materials relating to the Funds, other iShares funds or exchange-traded products (“Publishing Costs”). In addition, BFA Entities make payments to Intermediaries that make shares of the Funds, other iShares funds or exchange-traded products available to their clients, in some cases at a waived or reduced commission rate or ticket charge, develop new products that feature iShares, create educational content about the Fund, other iShares
99

funds or exchange-traded products that is featured on an Intermediary’s platform, or otherwise promote the Funds, other iShares funds and exchange-traded products. BFA Entities may also reimburse expenses or make payments from their own assets to Intermediaries or other persons in consideration of services or other activities that the BFA Entities believe may benefit the iShares business or facilitate investment in the Funds, other iShares funds or exchange-traded products. Payments of the type described above are sometimes referred to as revenue-sharing payments.
Payments to an Intermediary may be significant to the Intermediary, and amounts that Intermediaries pay to your salesperson or other investment professional may also be significant for your salesperson or other investment professional. Because an Intermediary may make decisions about which investment options it will recommend or make available to its clients, what services to provide for various products, or what marketing content to make available to its clients based on payments it receives or is eligible to receive, such payments may create conflicts of interest between the Intermediary and its clients. These financial incentives may cause the Intermediary to recommend the Funds, other iShares funds or exchange-traded products, or otherwise promote the Fund, other iShares funds or exchange-traded products over other investments. The same conflicts of interest and financial incentives exist with respect to your salesperson or other investment professional if he or she receives similar payments from his or her Intermediary firm.
In addition to the payments described above, BFA Entities have developed proprietary tools, calculators and related interactive or digital content that is made available through the www.BlackRock.com website at no additional cost to Intermediaries. BlackRock may configure these tools and calculators and localize the content for Intermediaries as part of its customary digital marketing support and promotion of the Funds, other iShares funds, exchange-traded products and BlackRock mutual funds.
As of March 1, 2013, BFA Entities have contractual arrangements to make payments (in addition to payments for Education Costs or Publishing Costs) to one Intermediary, Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (“FBS”). Effective June 4, 2016, this relationship was expanded to include National Financial Services, LLC (“NFS”), an affiliate of FBS. Pursuant to this special, long-term and significant arrangement (the “Marketing Program”), FBS, NFS and certain of their affiliates (collectively “Fidelity”) have agreed, among other things, to actively promote iShares funds to customers, investment professionals and other intermediaries and in advertising campaigns as the preferred exchange-traded product, to offer certain iShares funds in certain Fidelity platforms and investment programs, in some cases at a waived or reduced commission rate or ticket charge, and to provide marketing data to BFA Entities. BFA Entities have agreed to facilitate the Marketing Program by, among other things, making certain payments to FBS and NFS for marketing and implementing certain brokerage and investment programs. Upon termination of the arrangement, the BFA Entities will make additional payments to FBS and/or NFS based upon a number of criteria, including the overall success of the Marketing Program and the level of services provided by FBS and NFS during the wind-down period.
In addition, BFA Entities may enter into other contractual arrangements with Intermediaries and certain other third parties that the BFA Entities believe may benefit the iShares business or facilitate investment in iShares funds. Such agreements may include payments by BFA Entities to such Intermediaries and third parties for data collection and provision, technology support, platform enhancement, or educational content, co-marketing and cross-promotional efforts. Payments made pursuant to such arrangements may vary in any year and may be different for different Intermediaries and third parties. In certain cases, the payments to Intermediaries are subject to certain minimum payment levels or tiered payments. As of the date of this SAI, the Intermediaries and other third parties receiving one or more types of the contractual payments described above include (in addition to FBS and NFS): Advisor Credit Exchange, Avantax Investment Services, Inc., BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, BNY Mellon Performance & Risk Analytics, LLC, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Clearstream Fund Centre AG, Commonwealth Equity Services, LLC, Dorsey Wright and Associates, LLC, E*Trade Securities LLC, Envestnet Asset Management, Inc., eToro USA Securities Inc., LPL Financial LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, Orion Portfolio Solutions, LLC, Pershing LLC, Public Holdings, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Riskalyze, Inc., Sanctuary Wealth Group, LLC, Stash Investments LLC, TD Ameritrade, Inc., UBS Financial Services Inc., Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC. Any additions, modifications, or deletions to Intermediaries and other third parties listed above that have occurred since the date of this SAI are not included in the list.
Further, BFA Entities make Education Costs and Publishing Costs payments to other Intermediaries that are not listed in the immediately preceding paragraph. BFA Entities may determine to make such payments based on any number of metrics. For example, BFA Entities may make payments at year-end or other intervals in a fixed amount, an amount based upon an Intermediary’s services at defined levels or an amount based on the Intermediary’s net sales of one or more iShares funds in a
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year or other period, any of which arrangements may include an agreed-upon minimum or maximum payment, or any combination of the foregoing. As of the date of this SAI, BFA anticipates that the payments paid by BFA Entities in connection with the Funds, iShares funds and exchange-traded products in general will be immaterial to BFA Entities in the aggregate for the next year. Please contact your salesperson or other investment professional for more information regarding any such payments or financial incentives his or her Intermediary firm may receive. Any payments made, or financial incentives offered, by the BFA Entities to an Intermediary may create the incentive for the Intermediary to encourage customers to buy shares of the Funds, other iShares funds or other exchange-traded products.
The Funds may participate in certain market maker incentive programs of a national securities exchange in which an affiliate of the Funds would pay a fee to the exchange used for the purpose of incentivizing one or more market makers in the securities of a Fund to enhance the liquidity and quality of the secondary market of securities of a Fund. The fee would then be credited by the exchange to one or more market makers that meet or exceed liquidity and market quality standards with respect to the securities of a Fund. Each market maker incentive program is subject to approval from the SEC. Any such fee payments made to an exchange will be made by an affiliate of a Fund solely for the benefit of a Fund and will not be paid from any Fund assets. Other funds managed by BFA may also participate in such programs.
Determination of Net Asset Value
Valuation of Shares. The NAV for each Fund is generally calculated as of the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each business day the NYSE is open. Valuation of assets held by a Fund is as follows:
Equity Investments. Equity securities traded on a recognized securities exchange (e.g., NYSE), on separate trading boards of a securities exchange or through a market system that provides contemporaneous transaction pricing information (each an “Exchange”) are valued using information obtained via independent pricing services, generally at the closing price or, if an Exchange closing price is not available, the last traded price on that Exchange prior to the time as of which the assets or liabilities are valued. However, under certain circumstances, other means of determining current market value may be used. If an equity security is traded on more than one Exchange, the current market value of the security where it is primarily traded generally will be used. In the event that there are no sales involving an equity security held by a Fund on a day on which a Fund values such security, the prior day’s price will be used, unless BFA determines that such prior day’s price no longer reflects the fair value of the security, in which case such asset would be treated as a Fair Value Asset (as defined below).
Options, Futures, Swaps and Other Derivatives. Exchange-traded equity options (except those that are customized) for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices as quoted on the Exchange or the board of trade on which such options are traded. In the event that there is no mean price available for an exchange traded equity option held by a Fund on a day on which a Fund values such option, the last bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price, if available, will be used as the value of such option. If no bid or ask price is available on a day on which a Fund values such option, the prior day’s price will be used, unless BFA determines that such prior day’s price no longer reflects the fair value of the option, in which case such option will be treated as a Fair Value Asset (as defined below). Customized exchange-traded equity options, as well as OTC derivatives, may be valued using a mathematical model which may incorporate a number of market data factors. Financial futures contracts and options thereon, which are traded on exchanges, are valued at their last sale price or settle price as of the close of such exchanges. Swap agreements and other derivatives are generally valued daily based upon quotations from market makers or by a pricing service in accordance with the Valuation Procedures.
Underlying Funds. Shares of underlying open-end funds (including money market funds) are valued at NAV. Shares of underlying exchange-traded closed-end funds or other ETFs will be valued at their most recent closing price.
General Valuation Information. Prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services, broker-dealers or market makers to value a Fund’s securities and other assets and liabilities are based on information available at the time a Fund values its assets and liabilities. In the event that a pricing service quotation is revised or updated subsequent to the day on which a Fund valued such security, the revised pricing service quotation generally will be applied prospectively. Such determination will be made considering pertinent facts and circumstances surrounding the revision.
The price a Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from a Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for assets that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology
101

or a price provided by an independent pricing service. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by a Fund, and a Fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. A Fund’s ability to value its investment may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.
All cash, receivables and current payables are carried on a Fund’s books at their fair value.
In the event that application of the methods of valuation discussed above result in a price for a security which is deemed not to be representative of the fair market value of such security, the security will be valued by, under the direction of or in accordance with a method approved by BFA, each Fund’s valuation designee, as reflecting fair value. All other assets and liabilities (including securities for which market quotations are not readily available) held by a Fund (including restricted securities) are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by BFA pursuant to the Valuation Procedures. Any assets and liabilities which are denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates.
Use of fair value prices and certain current market valuations could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a Fund’s NAV and the prices used in the Underlying Index, which, in turn, could result in a difference between a Fund’s performance and the performance of the Underlying Index.
Fair Value. When market quotations are not readily available or are believed by BFA to be unreliable, a Fund’s investments are valued at fair value (“Fair Value Assets”). Fair Value Assets are valued by BFA in accordance with the Valuation Procedures. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act, the Board of Trustees has designated BFA as the valuation designee for the respective Funds for which it serves as investment adviser. BFA may reasonably conclude that a market quotation is not readily available or is unreliable if, among other things, a security or other asset or liability does not have a price source due to its complete lack of trading, if BFA believes a market quotation from a broker-dealer or other source is unreliable (e.g., where it varies significantly from a recent trade, or no longer reflects the fair value of the security or other asset or liability subsequent to the most recent market quotation), or where the security or other asset or liability is only thinly traded or due to the occurrence of a significant event subsequent to the most recent market quotation. For this purpose, a “significant event” is deemed to occur if BFA determines, in its reasonable business judgment, that an event has occurred after the close of trading for an asset or liability but prior to or at the time of pricing a Fund’s assets or liabilities, is likely to cause a material change to the last exchange closing price or closing market price of one or more assets held by, or liabilities of, a Fund. On any day the NYSE is open and a foreign market or the primary exchange on which a foreign asset or liability is traded is closed, such asset or liability will be valued using the prior day’s price, provided that BFA is not aware of any significant event or other information that would cause such price to no longer reflect the fair value of the asset or liability, in which case such asset or liability would be treated as a Fair Value Asset.
For certain foreign assets, a third-party vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value pricing based upon the movement of a proprietary multi-factor model after the relevant foreign markets have closed. This systematic fair value pricing methodology is designed to correlate the prices of foreign assets in one or more non-U.S. markets following the close of the local markets to the prices that might have prevailed as of a Fund’s pricing time.
BFA’s Rule 2a-5 Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving methodologies by investment type and significant inputs used in the fair valuation of Fund assets or liabilities. In addition, a Fund’s accounting agent assists BFA by periodically endeavoring to confirm the prices it receives from all third-party pricing services, index providers and broker-dealers and regularly evaluating the values assigned to the securities and other assets and liabilities of a Fund. The pricing of all Fair Value Assets is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof.
When determining the price for a Fair Value Asset, BFA will seek to determine the price that a Fund might reasonably expect to receive from the current sale of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction on the date on which the asset or liability is being valued, and does not seek to determine the price a Fund might reasonably expect to receive for selling an asset or liability at a later time or if it holds the asset or liability to maturity. Fair value determinations will be based upon all available factors that BFA deems relevant at the time of the determination, and may be based on analytical values determined by BFA using proprietary or third-party valuation models.
Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of an asset or liability. When determining the fair value of an investment, one or more fair value methodologies may be used (depending on certain factors, including the asset type). For example, the investment may be initially priced based on the original cost of the investment or, alternatively, using proprietary or third-party models that may rely upon one or more unobservable inputs. Prices of actual, executed or historical
102

transactions in the relevant investment (or comparable instruments) or, where appropriate, an appraisal by a third-party experienced in the valuation of similar instruments, may also be used as a basis for establishing the fair value of an investment.
The fair value of one or more assets or liabilities may not, in retrospect, be the price at which those assets or liabilities could have been sold during the period in which the particular fair values were used in determining a Fund’s NAV. As a result, a Fund’s sale or redemption of its shares at NAV, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.
Each Fund’s annual audited financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”), follow the requirements for valuation set forth in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”), which defines and establishes a framework for measuring fair value under US GAAP and expands financial statement disclosure requirements relating to fair value measurements.
Generally, ASC 820 and other accounting rules applicable to funds and various assets in which they invest are evolving. Such changes may adversely affect a Fund. For example, the evolution of rules governing the determination of the fair market value of assets or liabilities, to the extent such rules become more stringent, would tend to increase the cost and/or reduce the availability of third-party determinations of fair market value. This may in turn increase the costs associated with selling assets or affect their liquidity due to a Fund’s inability to obtain a third-party determination of fair market value.
Brokerage Transactions
Subject to policies established by the Board, BFA is primarily responsible for the execution of a Fund’s portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage. BFA does not execute transactions through any particular broker or dealer, but seeks to obtain the best net results for the Funds, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, operational facilities of the firm and the firm’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities. While BFA generally seeks reasonable trade execution costs, a Fund does not necessarily pay the lowest spread or commission available, and payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions. Subject to applicable legal requirements, BFA may select a broker based partly upon brokerage or research services provided to BFA and its clients, including a Fund. In return for such services, BFA may cause a Fund to pay a higher commission than other brokers would charge if BFA determines in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.
In selecting brokers or dealers to execute portfolio transactions, BFA seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for a Fund and may take into account a variety of factors including: (i) the size, nature and character of the security or instrument being traded and the markets in which it is purchased or sold; (ii) the desired timing of the transaction; (iii) BFA’s knowledge of the expected commission rates and spreads currently available; (iv) the activity existing and expected in the market for the particular security or instrument, including any anticipated execution difficulties; (v) the full range of brokerage services provided; (vi) the broker’s or dealer’s capital; (vii) the quality of research and research services provided; (viii) the reasonableness of the commission, dealer spread or its equivalent for the specific transaction; and (ix) BFA’s knowledge of any actual or apparent operational problems of a broker or dealer. Brokers may also be selected because of their ability to handle special or difficult executions, such as may be involved in large block trades, thinly traded securities, or other circumstances.
Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act (“Section 28(e)”) permits a U.S. investment adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause an account to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in securities that exceeds the amount another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the same transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by that broker or dealer. This includes commissions paid on riskless principal transactions in securities under certain conditions.
From time to time, a Fund may purchase new issues of securities in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the broker may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide BFA with research services. FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the broker will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).
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The Funds anticipate that brokerage transactions involving foreign equity securities generally will be conducted primarily on the principal stock exchanges of the applicable country. Foreign equity securities may be held by the Funds in the form of depositary receipts, or other securities convertible into foreign equity securities. Depositary receipts may be listed on stock exchanges, or traded in OTC markets in the U.S. or Europe, as the case may be. ADRs, like other securities traded in the U.S., will be subject to negotiated commission rates.
OTC issues, including most fixed-income securities such as corporate debt and U.S. Government securities, are normally traded on a “net” basis without a stated commission, through dealers acting for their own account and not as brokers. The Funds will primarily engage in transactions with these dealers or deal directly with the issuer unless a better price or execution could be obtained by using a broker. Prices paid to a dealer with respect to both foreign and domestic securities will generally include a “spread,” which is the difference between the prices at which the dealer is willing to purchase and sell the specific security at the time, and includes the dealer’s normal profit.
Under the 1940 Act, persons affiliated with a Fund and persons who are affiliated with such affiliated persons are prohibited from dealing with the Fund as principal in the purchase and sale of securities unless a permissive order allowing such transactions is obtained from the SEC. Since transactions in the OTC market usually involve transactions with the dealers acting as principal for their own accounts, the Funds will not deal with affiliated persons and affiliated persons of such affiliated persons in connection with such transactions. The Funds will not purchase securities during the existence of any underwriting or selling group relating to such securities of which BFA, BRIL or any affiliated person (as defined in the 1940 Act) thereof is a member except pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board in accordance with Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act.
Purchases of money market instruments by the Funds are made from dealers, underwriters and issuers. The Funds do not currently expect to incur any brokerage commission expense on such transactions because money market instruments are generally traded on a “net” basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission. The price of the security, however, usually includes a profit to the dealer.
BFA may, from time to time, effect trades on behalf of and for the account of the Funds with brokers or dealers that are affiliated with BFA, in conformity with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act and SEC rules and regulations. Under these provisions, any commissions paid to affiliated brokers or dealers must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions charged by other brokers or dealers in comparable transactions.
Securities purchased in underwritten offerings include a fixed amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s concession or discount. When securities are purchased or sold directly from or to an issuer, no commissions or discounts are paid.
Investment decisions for the Funds and for other investment accounts managed by BFA and the other Affiliates are made independently of each other in light of differing conditions. A variety of factors will be considered in making investment allocations. These factors include: (i) investment objectives or strategies for particular accounts, including sector, industry, country or region and capitalization weightings; (ii) tax considerations of an account; (iii) risk or investment concentration parameters for an account; (iv) supply or demand for a security at a given price level; (v) size of available investment; (vi) cash availability and liquidity requirements for accounts; (vii) regulatory restrictions; (viii) minimum investment size of an account; (ix) relative size of account; and (x) such other factors as may be approved by BlackRock’s general counsel. Moreover, investments may not be allocated to one client account over another based on any of the following considerations: (i) to favor one client account at the expense of another; (ii) to generate higher fees paid by one client account over another or to produce greater performance compensation to BlackRock; (iii) to develop or enhance a relationship with a client or prospective client; (iv) to compensate a client for past services or benefits rendered to BlackRock or to induce future services or benefits to be rendered to BlackRock; or (v) to manage or equalize investment performance among different client accounts. BFA and the other Affiliates may deal, trade and invest for their own respective accounts in the types of securities in which the Funds may invest.
Initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of securities may be over-subscribed and subsequently trade at a premium in the secondary market. When BFA is given an opportunity to invest in such an initial offering or “new” or “hot” issue, the supply of securities available for client accounts is often less than the amount of securities the accounts would otherwise take. In order to allocate these investments fairly and equitably among client accounts over time, each portfolio manager or a member of his or her respective investment team will indicate to BFA’s trading desk their level of interest in a particular offering with respect to eligible clients’ accounts for which that team is responsible. IPOs of U.S. equity securities will be identified as eligible for
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particular client accounts that are managed by portfolio teams who have indicated interest in the offering based on market capitalization of the issuer of the security and the investment mandate of the client account and in the case of international equity securities, the country where the offering is taking place and the investment mandate of the client account. Generally, shares received during the IPO will be allocated among participating client accounts within each investment mandate on a pro rata basis. This pro rata allocation may result in a Fund receiving less of a particular security than if pro-rating had not occurred. All allocations of securities will be subject, where relevant, to share minimums established for accounts and compliance constraints. In situations where supply is too limited to be allocated among all accounts for which the investment is eligible, portfolio managers may rotate such investment opportunities among one or more accounts so long as the rotation system provides for fair access for all client accounts over time. Other allocation methodologies that are considered by BFA to be fair and equitable to clients may be used as well.
Because different accounts may have differing investment objectives and policies, BFA may buy and sell the same securities at the same time for different clients based on the particular investment objective, guidelines and strategies of those accounts. For example, BFA may decide that it may be entirely appropriate for a growth fund to sell a security at the same time a value fund is buying that security. To the extent that transactions on behalf of more than one client of BFA or the other Affiliates during the same period increase the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold, there may be an adverse effect on price. For example, sales of a security by BlackRock on behalf of one or more of its clients may decrease the market price of such security, adversely impacting other BlackRock clients that still hold the security. If purchases or sales of securities arise for consideration at or about the same time that would involve the Funds or other clients or funds for which BFA or another Affiliate act as investment manager, transactions in such securities will be made, insofar as feasible, for the respective funds and clients in a manner deemed equitable to all.
In certain instances, BFA may find it efficient for purposes of seeking to obtain best execution, to aggregate or “bunch” certain contemporaneous purchases or sale orders of its advisory accounts and advisory accounts of affiliates. In general, all contemporaneous trades for client accounts under management by the same portfolio manager or investment team will be bunched in a single order if the trader believes the bunched trade would provide each client with an opportunity to achieve a more favorable execution at a potentially lower execution cost. The costs associated with a bunched order will be shared pro rata among the clients in the bunched order. Generally, if an order for a particular portfolio manager or management team is filled at several different prices through multiple trades, all accounts participating in the order will receive the average price (except in the case of certain international markets where average pricing is not permitted). While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value of the security as far as the Funds are concerned, in other cases it could be beneficial to the Funds. Transactions effected by BFA or the other Affiliates on behalf of more than one of its clients during the same period may increase the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold, causing an adverse effect on price. The trader will give the bunched order to the broker-dealer that the trader has identified as being able to provide the best execution of the order. Orders for purchase or sale of securities will be placed within a reasonable amount of time of the order receipt and bunched orders will be kept bunched only long enough to execute the order.
The table below sets forth the brokerage commissions paid by each Fund for the fiscal years noted. Any differences in brokerage commissions paid by a Fund from year to year are principally due to increases or decreases in that Fund’s assets over those periods or the magnitude of changes to the components of a Fund's Underlying Index:
 
Fund
Fund
Inception
Date
Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2023
Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2022
Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2021
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
10/5/2004
$665,859
$1,208,922
$1,729,493
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
04/16/13
196
177
N/A
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
4/28/2015
70,519
297,836
152,448
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor
ETF
4/28/2015
370,774
56,324
32,672
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
8/14/2001
722,071
1,099,497
1,027,972
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
8/1/2005
265,408
481,222
575,503
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
10/18/2011
658,324
583,925
864,479
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
12/10/2007
506,582
795,844
856,163
105

Fund
Fund
Inception
Date
Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2023
Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2022
Brokerage
Commissions
Paid During
Fiscal Year
Ended July 31, 2021
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
8/1/2005
741,049
930,382
666,707
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
1/20/2010
62,466
50,341
24,533
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
11/12/2007
6,427
21,257
13,833
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
1/13/2015
252,242
236,280
254,671
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
1/13/2015
435,784
457,812
400,173
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
6/16/2015
1,764
2,168
2,919
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
6/16/2015
62,565
60,580
59,568
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
11/02/21
975,611
927,861
1,134,027
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
10/18/11
1,332,382
1,988,276
1,732,044
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
04/16/13
1,512,732
1,134,578
1,462,853
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
04/16/13
15,091
17,949
33,430
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor
ETF
9/7/2016
206,434
215,399
220,868
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
07/16/13
431,934
642,844
805,891
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
4/28/2015
52,338
112,173
54,817
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
4/28/2015
551,652
184,609
142,343
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector
ETF
1/8/2020
13,051
6,819
4,085
None of the Funds paid any brokerage commissions to BRIL, an affiliate of BFA, or to any other broker-dealer that is part of the BlackRock group of companies, during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
The following table sets forth the names of the Funds’ “regular” broker-dealers, as defined under Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act, which derive more than 15% of their gross revenues from securities-related activities and in which the Funds invest, together with the market value of each investment as of the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023:
 
Fund
Issuer
Market Value of
Investment
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
CITIC Securities Co. Ltd.
$28,622,954
 
 
 
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
BNP Paribas
$6,857,516
 
UBS Group AG
6,089,403
 
Nomura Holdings Inc.
3,046,052
 
Societe Generale SA
2,003,148
 
Barclays PLC
1,034,149
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
UBS Group AG
$231,996,441
 
Barclays PLC
97,954,180
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
Close Brothers Group PLC
7,520,715
 
 
 
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
UBS Group AG
$155,003,451
 
Barclays PLC
65,547,172
 
Nomura Holdings Inc.
25,787,814
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
HSBC Holdings PLC
$139,518,982
 
BNP Paribas
61,592,473
 
UBS Group AG
61,355,249
106

Fund
Issuer
Market Value of
Investment
 
Barclays PLC
25,967,046
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
Close Brothers Group PLC
$171,569
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
UBS Group AG
$8,444,264
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
Nomura Holdings Inc.
$21,099
 
Societe Generale SA
19,337
 
UBS Group AG
18,750
 
ABN Amro Bank
18,601
 
HSBC Holdings PLC
17,834
 
Royal Bank of Canada
16,358
 
Barclays PLC
16,121
 
 
 
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
HSBC Holdings PLC
$36,806,877
 
UBS Group AG
9,870,853
 
Nomura Holdings Inc.
3,580,963
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
Bank of America Corp.
$486,688
 
Citigroup Inc.
465,352
 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
474,670
 
Morgan Stanley
484,810
 
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
483,271
 
Wells Fargo & Company
504,206
 
 
 
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
Citigroup Inc.
$140,303,605
 
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
91,451,828
 
Wells Fargo & Company
149,565,370
 
 
 
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
$19,087,413
 
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
5,276,840
 
BofA Securities, Inc.
5,011,008
 
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
4,552,102
 
State Street Bank and Trust Company
3,230,172
 
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
2,291,105
The Funds' purchase and sale orders for securities may be combined with those of other investment companies, clients or accounts that BlackRock manages or advises. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Funds and one or more other accounts managed or advised by BlackRock are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the Funds and the other accounts in a manner deemed equitable to all by BlackRock. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Funds are concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower transaction costs will be beneficial to the Funds. BlackRock may deal, trade and invest for its own account in the types of securities in which the Funds may invest. BlackRock may, from time to time, effect trades on behalf of and for the account of the Funds with brokers or dealers that are affiliated with BFA, in conformity with the 1940 Act and SEC rules and regulations. Under these provisions, any commissions paid to affiliated brokers or dealers must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions charged by other brokers or dealers in comparable transactions. The Funds will not deal with affiliates in principal transactions unless permitted by applicable SEC rules or regulations, or by SEC exemptive order.
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Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover rates may result in comparatively greater brokerage expenses. The table below sets forth the portfolio turnover rates of each Fund for the fiscal years noted:
 
Fund
Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 2023
Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 2022
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
23%
29%
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
21%
31%1,2
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
23%
113%
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
120%
52%
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
2%
5%
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
19%
25%
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
25%
23%
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
11%
15%
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
22%
26%
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
12%
7%
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
13%
16%
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
101%
100%
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
28%
32%
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
23%
25%
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
14%
17%
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
23%
20%
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
111%
125%
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
58%
41%
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
22%
25%
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
58%
51%
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
23%
17%
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
21%
95%
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
108%
46%
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
21%
10%
1
The inception date for the iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF was November 2, 2021.
2
The portfolio turnover for the iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF relates to the period of November 2, 2021 to July 31, 2022 and is not annualized.
Additional Information Concerning the Trust
Shares.  The Trust issues shares of beneficial interests in the funds with no par value. The Board may designate additional iShares funds.
Each share issued by a fund has a pro rata interest in the assets of that fund. Shares have no preemptive, exchange, subscription or conversion rights and are freely transferable. Each share is entitled to participate equally in dividends and distributions declared by the Board with respect to the relevant fund, and in the net distributable assets of such fund on liquidation.
Each share has one vote with respect to matters upon which the shareholder is entitled to vote. In any matter submitted to shareholders for a vote, each fund shall hold a separate vote, provided that shareholders of all affected funds will vote together when: (i) required by the 1940 Act, or (ii) the Trustees determine that the matter affects the interests of more than one fund.
Under Delaware law, the Trust is not required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. The policy of the Trust is not to hold an annual meeting of shareholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. All shares (regardless of the fund) have noncumulative voting rights in the election of members of the Board. Under Delaware law, Trustees of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders.
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Following the creation of the initial Creation Unit(s) of shares of a fund and immediately prior to the commencement of trading in such fund’s shares, a holder of shares may be a “control person” of the fund, as defined in Rule 0-1 under the 1940 Act. A fund cannot predict the length of time for which one or more shareholders may remain a control person of the fund.
Shareholders may make inquiries by writing to iShares Trust, c/o BlackRock Investments, LLC, 1 University Square Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Absent an applicable exemption or other relief from the SEC or its staff, beneficial owners of more than 5% of the shares of a fund may be subject to the reporting provisions of Section 13 of the 1934 Act and the SEC’s rules promulgated thereunder. In addition, absent an applicable exemption or other relief from the SEC or its staff, officers and trustees of a fund and beneficial owners of 10% of the shares of a fund (“Insiders”) may be subject to the insider reporting, short-swing profit and short sale provisions of Section 16 of the 1934 Act and the SEC’s rules promulgated thereunder. Beneficial owners and Insiders should consult with their own legal counsel concerning their obligations under Sections 13 and 16 of the 1934 Act and existing guidance provided by the SEC staff.
In accordance with the Trust's current Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”), the Board may, without shareholder approval (unless such shareholder approval is required by the Declaration of Trust or applicable law, including the 1940 Act), authorize certain funds to merge, reorganize, consolidate, sell all or substantially all of their assets, or
take other similar actions with, to or into another fund.  The Trust or a fund may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board, subject to the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders of the Trust or such fund entitled to vote on termination; however, in certain circumstances described in the Declaration of Trust, only a majority vote of the Board is required. Although the shares are not automatically redeemable upon the occurrence of any specific event, the Declaration of Trust provides that the Board will have the unrestricted power to alter the number of shares in a Creation Unit. Therefore, in the event of a termination of the Trust or a fund, the Board, in its sole discretion, could determine to permit the shares to be redeemable in aggregations smaller than Creation Units or to be individually redeemable. In such circumstance, the Trust or a fund may make redemptions in-kind, for cash or for a combination of cash or securities. Further, in the event of a termination of the Trust or a fund, the Trust or a fund might elect to pay cash redemptions to all shareholders, with an in-kind election for shareholders owning in excess of a certain stated minimum amount.
DTC as Securities Depository for Shares of the Funds.  Shares of each Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.
DTC was created in 1973 to enable electronic movement of securities between its participants (“DTC Participants”), and NSCC was established in 1976 to provide a single settlement system for securities clearing and to serve as central counterparty for securities trades among DTC Participants. In 1999, DTC and NSCC were consolidated within The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”) and became wholly-owned subsidiaries of DTCC. The common stock of DTCC is owned by the DTC Participants, but NYSE and FINRA, through subsidiaries, hold preferred shares in DTCC that provide them with the right to elect one member each to the DTCC board of directors. Access to the DTC system is available to entities, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”).
Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability of certain investors to acquire beneficial interests in shares of the Fund.
Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the shares of each Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In
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addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all shares of the Trust. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares of each Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.
The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants. DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares of the Trust at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost.
Distribution of Shares.  In connection with each Fund's launch, each Fund was seeded through the sale of one or more Creation Units by each Fund to one or more initial investors. Initial investors participating in the seeding may be Authorized Participants, a lead market maker or other third party investor or an affiliate of each Fund or each Fund’s adviser. Each such initial investor may sell some or all of the shares underlying the Creation Unit(s) held by them pursuant to the registration statement for each Fund (each, a “Selling Shareholder”), which shares have been registered to permit the resale from time to time after purchase. Each Fund will not receive any of the proceeds from the resale by the Selling Shareholders of these shares.
Selling Shareholders may sell shares owned by them directly or through broker-dealers, in accordance with applicable law, on any national securities exchange on which the shares may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, through trading systems, in the OTC market or in transactions other than on these exchanges or systems at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected through brokerage transactions, privately negotiated trades, block sales, entry into options or other derivatives transactions or through any other means authorized by applicable law. Selling Shareholders may redeem the shares held in Creation Unit size by them through an Authorized Participant.
Any Selling Shareholder and any broker-dealer or agents participating in the distribution of shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the 1933 Act, in connection with such sales.
Any Selling Shareholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Creation and Redemption of Creation Units
General.  The Trust issues and sells shares of each Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor or its agent, without a sales load, at a price based on the Fund’s NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined below), of an order received by the Distributor or its agent in proper form. On days when the applicable Listing Exchange closes earlier than normal, the Funds may require orders to be placed earlier in the day. The following table sets forth the number of shares of a Fund that constitute a Creation Unit for such Fund and the approximate value of such Creation Unit as of August 31, 2023:
 
Fund
Shares Per
Creation Unit
Approximate
Value Per
Creation
Unit (U.S.$)
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
150,000
$4,112,256.30
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Fund
Shares Per
Creation Unit
Approximate
Value Per
Creation
Unit (U.S.$)
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
50,000
1,209,203.25
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
100,000
2,665,126.10
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
100,000
3,096,392.40
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
600,000
42,872,769.60
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
400,000
36,768,727.60
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
100,000
6,716,137.30
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
200,000
11,827,193.80
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
400,000
19,733,189.60
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
50,000
961,613.70
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
50,000
2,615,763.40
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
100,000
3,252,685.10
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
100,000
3,495,542.50
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
200,000
5,120,314.20
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
100,000
2,561,214.60
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
100,000
7,533,016.20
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
50,000
7,337,840.20
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
50,000
6,995,747.05
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
50,000
6,400,462.50
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
50,000
1,758,569.90
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
50,000
4,863,428.15
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
50,000
2,304,364.90
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
50,000
2,829,404.30
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
50,000
1,970,123.70
In its discretion, the Trust reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of a Fund’s shares that constitute a Creation Unit. The Board reserves the right to declare a split or a consolidation in the number of shares outstanding of any Fund, and to make a corresponding change in the number of shares constituting a Creation Unit, in the event that the per share price in the secondary market rises (or declines) to an amount that falls outside the range deemed desirable by the Board.
A “Business Day” with respect to each Fund is any day the Fund is open for business, including any day when it satisfies redemption requests as required by Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Each Fund is open for business any day on which the Listing Exchange on which the Fund is listed for trading is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, each Listing Exchange observes the following holidays, as observed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Fund Deposit.  The consideration for purchase of Creation Units of a Fund generally consists of Deposit Securities and the Cash Component computed as described below. Together, the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which, when combined with a Fund's portfolio securities, is designed to generate performance that has a collective investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index. The Fund Deposit represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of any Fund. Such Fund Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, to purchases of Creation Units of shares of a given Fund until such time as the next-announced Fund Deposit is made available.
The “Cash Component” is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares (per Creation Unit) and the “Deposit Amount,” which is an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities, and serves to compensate for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount. Payment of any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities are the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant purchasing a Creation Unit.
The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities change pursuant to changes in the composition of a Fund's portfolio and as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by BFA with a view to
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the investment objective of the Fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities constituting the relevant Underlying Index.
The Fund Deposit may also be modified to minimize the Cash Component by redistributing the cash to the Deposit Securities portion of the Fund Deposit through “systematic rounding.” The rounding methodology “rounds up” position sizes of securities in the Deposit Securities (which in turn reduces the cash portion). However, the methodology limits the maximum allowed percentage change in weight and share quantity of any given security in the Fund Deposit.
Fund Deposits may also be modified to position a fund towards a forward index rebalance to reflect revisions that account for index additions, deletions, and re-weights.
The Trust may, in its sole discretion, substitute a “cash in lieu” amount to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security in certain circumstances, including: (i) when instruments are not available in sufficient quantity for delivery; (ii) when instruments are not eligible for transfer through DTC or the clearing process (as discussed below); (iii) when instruments that the Authorized Participant (or an investor on whose behalf the Authorized Participant is acting) are not able to be traded due to a trading restriction; (iv) when delivery of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant (or by an investor on whose behalf the Authorized Participant is acting) would be restricted under applicable securities or other local laws; (v) in connection with distribution payments to be made by a Fund; or (vi) in certain other situations.
Cash Purchase Method.  Although the Trust does not generally permit partial or full cash purchases of Creation Units of its funds, when partial or full cash purchases of Creation Units are available or specified for a Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind purchases thereof. In the case of a partial or full cash purchase, the Authorized Participant must pay the cash equivalent of the Deposit Securities it would otherwise be required to provide through an in-kind purchase, plus the same Cash Component required to be paid by an in-kind purchaser.
Procedures for Creation of Creation Units.  To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor and to create a Creation Unit of the Funds, an entity must be: (i) a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC, or (ii) a DTC Participant, and must have executed an agreement with the Distributor, with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units (“Authorized Participant Agreement”) (discussed below). A member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC which has a written agreement with the Funds or one of their service providers that allows such member or participant to place orders for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units is referred to as an “Authorized Participant.” All shares of the Funds, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant.
Role of the Authorized Participant.  Creation Units may be purchased only by or through a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC, which has a written agreement with the Funds or one of their service providers that allows such member or participant to place orders for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units (an “Authorized Participant”). Such Authorized Participant will agree, pursuant to the terms of such Authorized Participant Agreement and on behalf of itself or any investor on whose behalf it will act, to certain conditions, including that such Authorized Participant will make available in advance of each purchase of shares an amount of cash sufficient to pay the Cash Component, once the NAV of a Creation Unit is next determined after receipt of the purchase order in proper form, together with the transaction fees described below. An Authorized Participant, acting on behalf of an investor, may require the investor to enter into an agreement with such Authorized Participant with respect to certain matters, including payment of the Cash Component. Investors who are not Authorized Participants must make appropriate arrangements with an Authorized Participant. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not be a DTC Participant or may not have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement and that orders to purchase Creation Units may have to be placed by the investor's broker through an Authorized Participant. As a result, purchase orders placed through an Authorized Participant may result in additional charges to such investor. The Trust does not expect to enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with more than a small number of DTC Participants. A list of current Authorized Participants may be obtained from the Distributor. The Distributor has adopted guidelines regarding Authorized Participants’ transactions in Creation Units that are made available to all Authorized Participants. These guidelines set forth the processes and standards for Authorized Participants to transact with the Distributor and its agents in connection with creation and redemption transactions. In addition, the Distributor may be appointed as the proxy of the Authorized Participant and may be granted a power of attorney under its Authorized Participant Agreement.
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Purchase Orders.   To initiate an order for a Creation Unit, an Authorized Participant must submit to the Distributor or its agent an irrevocable order to purchase shares of a Fund, in proper form, generally before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on any Business Day to receive that day’s NAV. The Distributor or its agent will notify BFA and the custodian of such order. The custodian will then provide such information to any appropriate sub-custodian. Procedures and requirements governing the delivery of the Fund Deposit are set forth in the procedures handbook for Authorized Participants and may change from time to time. Investors, other than Authorized Participants, are responsible for making arrangements for a creation request to be made through an Authorized Participant. The Distributor or its agent will provide a list of current Authorized Participants upon request. Those placing orders to purchase Creation Units through an Authorized Participant should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the purchase order to the Distributor or its agent by the Cutoff Time (as defined below) on such Business Day.
The Authorized Participant must also make available on or before the contractual settlement date, by means satisfactory to the Funds, immediately available or same day funds estimated by the Funds to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component next determined after acceptance of the purchase order, together with the applicable purchase transaction fees. Those placing orders should ascertain the applicable deadline for cash transfers by contacting the operations department of the broker or depositary institution effectuating the transfer of the Cash Component. This deadline is likely to be significantly earlier than the Cutoff Time of the Funds. Investors should be aware that an Authorized Participant may require orders for purchases of shares placed with it to be in the particular form required by the individual Authorized Participant.
The Authorized Participant is responsible for any and all expenses and costs incurred by a Fund, including any applicable cash amounts, in connection with any purchase order.
Timing of Submission of Purchase Orders.  An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable order to purchase shares of a Fund generally before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on any Business Day in order to receive that day's NAV. Creation Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant in the form required by the Funds to the Distributor or its agent pursuant to procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure, may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or its agent or an Authorized Participant. Orders to create shares of a Fund that are submitted on the Business Day immediately preceding a holiday or a day (other than a weekend) when the equity markets in the relevant non-U.S. market are closed may not be accepted. Each Fund's deadline specified above for the submission of purchase orders is referred to as that Fund's “Cutoff Time.” The Distributor or its agent, in their discretion, may permit the submission of such orders and requests by or through an Authorized Participant at any time (including on days on which the Listing Exchange is not open for business) via communication through the facilities of the Distributor's or its agent's proprietary website maintained for this purpose. Purchase orders and redemption requests, if accepted by the Trust, will be processed based on the NAV next determined after such acceptance in accordance with a Fund's Cutoff Times as provided in the Authorized Participant Agreement and disclosed in this SAI.
Acceptance of Orders for Creation Units.   Subject to the conditions that (i) an irrevocable purchase order has been submitted by the Authorized Participant (either on its own or another investor's behalf) and (ii) arrangements satisfactory to the Funds are in place for payment of the Cash Component and any other cash amounts which may be due, the Funds will accept the order, subject to each Fund's right (and the right of the Distributor and BFA) to reject any order until acceptance, as set forth below.
Once a Fund has accepted an order, upon the next determination of the NAV of the shares, the Fund will confirm the issuance of a Creation Unit, against receipt of payment, at such NAV. The Distributor or its agent will then transmit a confirmation of acceptance to the Authorized Participant that placed the order.
Each Fund reserves the right to reject or revoke a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor or its agent provided that a rejection or revocation of a creation order does not violate Rule 6c-11 under the Investment Company Act. For example, a Fund may reject or revoke a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor or its agent if (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of the Fund; (iii) the Deposit Securities delivered do not conform to the identity and number of shares specified, as described above; (iv) acceptance of the Deposit Securities is not legally required or would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful or have an adverse effect on the Fund or its shareholders (e.g., jeopardize the Fund's tax status); or (v) circumstances outside the control of the Fund, the Distributor or its agent and BFA make it impracticable to process purchase orders. The Distributor or its agent shall notify a prospective purchaser of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such purchaser of its rejection of such order. The Funds, State Street, Citibank or JPMorgan, as applicable, the sub-custodian and
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the Distributor or its agent are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give such notification.
Issuance of a Creation Unit.   Except as provided herein, a Creation Unit will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the applicable Fund of the Deposit Securities and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When the sub-custodian has confirmed to the custodian that the securities included in the Fund Deposit (or the cash value thereof) have been delivered to the account of the relevant sub-custodian or sub-custodians, the Distributor or its agent and BFA shall be notified of such delivery and the applicable Fund will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Unit. Creation Units are generally issued on a “T+2 basis” (i.e., two Business Days after trade date). However, each Fund reserves the right to settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than T+2, including a shorter settlement period, if necessary or appropriate under the circumstances and compliant with applicable law. For example, certain Funds reserve the right to settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than T+2, in order to accommodate non-U.S. market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among non-U.S. and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (i.e., the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security), and in certain other circumstances.
To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Distributor, each Fund will issue Creation Units to such Authorized Participant, notwithstanding the fact that the corresponding Fund Deposits have not been received in part or in whole, in reliance on the undertaking of the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing Deposit Securities as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by such Authorized Participant's delivery and maintenance of collateral as set forth in the handbook for Authorized Participants. The Trust may use such collateral at any time to buy Deposit Securities for the Funds. Such collateral must be delivered no later than the time specified by a Fund or its custodian on the contractual settlement date. Information concerning the Funds' current procedures for collateralization of missing Deposit Securities is available from the Distributor or its agent. The Authorized Participant Agreement will permit the Funds to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Funds of purchasing such securities and the collateral including, without limitation, liability for related brokerage, borrowings and other charges.
In certain cases, Authorized Participants may create and redeem Creation Units on the same trade date and in these instances, the Funds reserve the right to settle these transactions on a net basis or require a representation from the Authorized Participants that the creation and redemption transactions are for separate beneficial owners. All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by each Fund and the Fund's determination shall be final and binding.
Costs Associated with Creation Transactions.
iShares China Large-Cap ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF, and iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
A standard creation transaction fee is imposed to offset the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units. The standard creation transaction fee is charged to the Authorized Participant on the day such Authorized Participant creates a Creation Unit, and is the same, regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased by the Authorized Participant on the applicable Business Day.
If a purchase consists solely or partially of cash, the Authorized Participant may also be required to cover (up to the maximum amount shown below) certain brokerage, tax, foreign exchange, execution, price movement and other costs and expenses related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction (which may, in certain instances, be based on a good faith estimate of transaction costs). Authorized Participants will also bear the costs of transferring the Deposit Securities to the Funds. Certain fees/costs associated with creation transactions may be waived in certain circumstances. Investors who use the services of a broker or other financial intermediary to acquire Fund shares may be charged a fee for such services.
The following table sets forth each Fund's standard creation transaction fees and maximum additional charge (as described above):
 
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Fund
Standard Creation
Transaction Fee
Maximum Additional
Charge*
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
$1300
7.0
%
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
3,500
7.0
%
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
11,600
7.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
15,000
7.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
12,800
7.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
2,600
7.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
10,000
7.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
13,200
7.0
%
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
1,700
3.0
%
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
3,300
3.0
%
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
4,400
7.0
%
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
4,800
7.0
%
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
15,000
7.0
%
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
5,000
7.0
%
*
As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit.
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF and iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
A standard creation transaction fee is imposed to offset the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units. Under an ETF Services Agreement, the Funds have retained BRIL, an affiliate of BFA, to perform certain ETF Services. BRIL will receive from an Authorized Participant a standard transaction fee on each creation order, which consists of (1) a fee for providing the ETF Services (the “ETF Servicing Fee”) and (2) transfer, processing and other transaction costs charged by a Fund custodian in connection with the issuance of Creation Units for such creation order (“Custody Transaction Costs”). BRIL is entitled to retain the ETF Servicing Fee pursuant to the ETF Services Agreement, but BRIL will reimburse any Custody Transaction Costs to the applicable Fund custodian according to the amounts invoiced by such custodian.
The ETF Servicing Fee is a flat fee per order regardless of the number of Creation Units being purchased, which amount will vary among different Funds based on a number of factors, including the complexity of the order and the types of securities or instruments included in a Fund’s Creation Basket, among other variables. The actual Custody Transaction Costs vary per order based on the number of trades, underlying markets and settlement locations associated with the issuance of a Creation Unit. The following table sets forth, for each Fund, either the actual creation transaction fee that was charged on October 31, 2023 or an estimate of the creation transaction fee that would have been charged if the Fund had issued a Creation Unit on that date. The actual fee that was or would have been charged to an Authorized Participant in connection with a creation order will vary over time depending on the factors discussed above, and may be higher than the fee set forth below.
If a purchase consists solely or partially of cash, the Authorized Participant may also be required to cover (up to the maximum amount shown below) certain brokerage, tax, foreign exchange, execution, price movement and other costs and expenses related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction (which may, in certain instances, be based on a good faith estimate of transaction costs). Authorized Participants will also bear the costs of transferring the Deposit Securities to the Funds. Certain fees/costs associated with creation transactions may be waived in certain circumstances. Investors who use the services of a broker or other financial intermediary to acquire Fund shares may be charged a fee for such services.
The following table sets forth each Fund’s actual or estimated creation transaction fee, as applicable, as of October 31, 2023 and maximum additional charge (as described above): 
Fund
Standard Creation
Transaction Fee
Maximum Additional
Charge*
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
$333.75
**
3.0
%
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Fund
Standard Creation
Transaction Fee
Maximum Additional
Charge*
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
357.50
3.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
303.75
3.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
303.75
3.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
926.25
**
3.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
530.00
3.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
331.25
**
3.0
%
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
516.25
3.0
%
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
1,162.50
**
3.0
%
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
347.50
3.0
%
*
As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit.
**
Estimated fees.
Redemption of Creation Units.  Shares of a Fund may be redeemed by Authorized Participants only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Distributor or its agent and only on a Business Day. The Funds will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Units. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the secondary market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a Creation Unit that could be redeemed by an Authorized Participant. Beneficial owners also may sell shares in the secondary market.
Each Fund generally redeems Creation Units for Fund Securities (as defined below). Please see the Cash Redemption Method section below and the following discussion summarizing the in-kind method for further information on redeeming Creation Units of the Funds.
Each Fund publishes the designated portfolio of securities (including any portion of such securities for which cash may be substituted) that will be applicable to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities” or “Redemption Basket”), and an amount of cash (the “Cash Amount,” as described below) in order to effect redemptions of Creation Units of a Fund. Such Fund Securities and Cash Amount will remain in effect until such time as the next announced composition of the Fund Securities and Cash Amount is made available. The Fund Securities and Cash Amount are subject to possible amendment or correction. Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units. Procedures and requirements governing redemption transactions are set forth in the handbook for Authorized Participants and may change from time to time.
Unless cash redemptions are available or specified for a Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit generally consist of Fund Securities, plus the Cash Amount, which is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after the receipt of a redemption request in proper form, and the value of Fund Securities, less a redemption transaction fee (as described below).
The Trust may, in its sole discretion, substitute a “cash in lieu” amount to replace any Fund Security in certain circumstances, including: (i) when the delivery of a Fund Security to the Authorized Participant (or to an investor on whose behalf the Authorized Participant is acting) would be restricted under applicable securities or other local laws or due to a trading restriction; (ii) when the delivery of a Fund Security to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of the Fund Security by the Authorized Participant due to restrictions under applicable securities or other local laws; (iii) when the delivery of a Fund Security to the Authorized Participant would result in unfavorable tax treatment; (iv) when a Fund Security cannot be settled or otherwise delivered in time to facilitate an in-kind redemption; or (v) in certain other situations. The amount of cash paid out in such cases will be equivalent to the value of the substituted security listed as a Fund Security. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the difference is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Each Fund generally redeems Creation Units for Fund Securities, but each Fund reserves the right to utilize a cash option for redemption of Creation Units. Each Fund may, in its sole discretion, provide such redeeming Authorized Participant a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities, but does not differ in NAV. The Redemption Basket may also be modified to minimize the Cash Component by redistributing the cash to the Fund Securities portion of the Redemption Basket through systematically rounding. The rounding methodology allows position sizes of securities in the Fund Securities
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to be “rounded up,” while limiting the maximum allowed percentage change in weight and share quantity of any given security in the Redemption Basket. Redemption Baskets may also be modified to position a fund towards a forward index
rebalance to reflect revisions that account for index additions, deletions, and re-weights.
Cash Redemption Method.   Although the Trust does not generally permit partial or full cash redemptions of Creation Units of its funds, when partial or full cash redemptions of Creation Units are available or specified for a Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind redemptions thereof. In the case of partial or full cash redemption, the Authorized Participant receives the cash equivalent of the Fund Securities it would otherwise receive through an in-kind redemption, plus the same Cash Amount to be paid to an in-kind redeemer.
Costs Associated with Redemption Transactions.
iShares China Large-Cap ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF, and iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
A standard redemption transaction fee is imposed to offset transfer and other transaction costs that may be incurred by the relevant Fund. The standard redemption transaction fee is charged to the Authorized Participant on the day such Authorized Participant redeems a Creation Unit, and is the same regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed by an Authorized Participant on the applicable Business Day. If a redemption consists solely or partially of cash, the Authorized Participant may also be required to cover (up to the maximum amount shown below) certain brokerage, tax, foreign exchange, execution, price movement and other costs and expenses related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction (which may, in certain instances, be based on a good faith estimate of transaction costs). Authorized Participants will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from a Fund to their account on their order. Certain fees/costs associated with redemption transactions may be waived in certain circumstances. Investors who use the services of a broker or other financial intermediary to dispose of Fund shares may be charged a fee for such services.
The following table sets forth each Fund's standard redemption transaction fees and maximum additional charge (as described above):
 
Fund
Standard Redemption
Transaction Fee
Maximum Additional
Charge*
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
$1,300
2.0
%
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
3,500
2.0
%
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
11,600
2.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
15,000
2.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
12,800
2.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
2,600
2.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
10,000
2.0
%
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
13,200
2.0
%
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
1,700
2.0
%
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
3,300
2.0
%
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF
4,400
2.0
%
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
4,800
2.0
%
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
15,000
2.0
%
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
5,000
2.0
%
*
As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit, inclusive of the standard redemption transaction fee.
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF, iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF and iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
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A standard redemption transaction fee is imposed to offset transfer and other transaction costs that may be incurred by the relevant Fund. As described above, under an ETF Services Agreement, the Funds have retained BRIL, an affiliate of BFA, to perform certain ETF Services. BRIL will receive from an Authorized Participant a standard transaction fee on each redemption order, which consists of (1) the ETF Servicing Fee and (2) Custody Transaction Costs. BRIL is entitled to retain the ETF Servicing Fee pursuant to the ETF Services Agreement, but BRIL will reimburse any Custody Transaction Costs to the applicable Fund custodian according to the amounts invoiced by such custodian.
The ETF Servicing Fee is a flat fee per order regardless of the number of Creation Units being redeemed, which amount will vary among different Funds based on a number of factors, including the complexity of the order and the types of securities or instruments included in a Fund’s Redemption Basket, among other variables. The actual Custody Transaction Costs vary per order based on the number of trades, underlying markets, and settlement locations associated with the redemption of a Creation Unit. The following table sets forth, for each Fund, either the actual redemption transaction fee that was charged on October 31, 2023 or an estimate of the redemption transaction fee that would have been charged if the Fund had redeemed a Creation Unit on that date. The actual fee that was or would have been charged to an Authorized Participant in connection with a redemption order will vary over time depending on the factors discussed above, and may be higher than the fee set forth below.
If a redemption consists solely or partially of cash, the Authorized Participant may also be required to cover (up to the maximum amount shown below) certain brokerage, tax, foreign exchange, execution, price movement and other costs and expenses related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction (which may, in certain instances, be based on a good faith estimate of transaction costs). Authorized Participants will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from a Fund to their account on their order. Certain fees/costs associated with redemption transactions may be waived in certain circumstances. Investors who use the services of a broker or other financial intermediary to dispose of Fund shares may be charged a fee for such services.
The following table sets forth each Fund’s actual or estimated redemption transaction fee, as applicable, that would have been charged, as of October 31, 2023 and maximum additional charge (as described above): 
Fund
Standard Redemption
Transaction Fee
Maximum Additional
Charge*
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
$333.75
**
2.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
357.50
2.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
303.75
2.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
303.75
2.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
926.25
**
2.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
530.00
2.0
%
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
331.25
**
2.0
%
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
516.25
2.0
%
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
1,162.50
**
2.0
%
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETF
347.50
2.0
%
*
As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit, inclusive of the standard redemption transaction fee.
**
Estimated fees.
Placement of Redemption Orders.  Redemption requests for Creation Units of the Funds must be submitted to the Distributor or its agent by or through an Authorized Participant. An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable request to redeem shares of a Fund generally before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on any Business Day in order to receive that day's NAV. On days when the Listing Exchange closes earlier than normal, a Fund may require orders to redeem Creation Units to be placed earlier that day. Investors, other than Authorized Participants, are responsible for making arrangements for a redemption request to be made through an Authorized Participant. The Distributor or its agent will provide a list of current Authorized Participants upon request.
The Authorized Participant must transmit the request for redemption in the form required by the Funds to the Distributor or its agent in accordance with procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement and that, therefore, requests to redeem Creation Units may have to be placed by the investor's broker through an Authorized Participant who has executed an
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Authorized Participant Agreement. At any time, only a limited number of broker-dealers will have an Authorized Participant Agreement in effect. Investors making a redemption request should be aware that such request must be in the form specified by such Authorized Participant. Investors making a request to redeem Creation Units should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the request by an Authorized Participant and transfer of the shares to the Funds' transfer agent; such investors should allow for the additional time that may be required to effect redemptions through their banks, brokers or other financial intermediaries if such intermediaries are not Authorized Participants.
A redemption request is considered to be in “proper form” if: (i) an Authorized Participant has transferred or caused to be transferred to the Funds' transfer agent the Creation Unit redeemed through the book-entry system of DTC so as to be effective by the Listing Exchange closing time on any Business Day on which the redemption request is submitted; (ii) a request in form satisfactory to the applicable Fund is received by the Distributor or its agent from the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself or another redeeming investor within the time periods specified above; and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement are properly followed.
Upon receiving a redemption request, the Distributor or its agent shall notify the applicable Fund and the Fund's transfer agent of such redemption request. The tender of an investor's shares for redemption and the distribution of the securities and/or cash included in the redemption payment made in respect of Creation Units redeemed will be made through DTC and the relevant Authorized Participant to the Beneficial Owner thereof as recorded on the book-entry system of DTC or the DTC Participant through which such investor holds, as the case may be, or by such other means specified by the Authorized Participant submitting the redemption request.
A redeeming Authorized Participant, whether on its own account or acting on behalf of a Beneficial Owner, must maintain appropriate security arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the portfolio securities are customarily traded, to which account such portfolio securities will be delivered.
Deliveries of redemption proceeds are generally made within two Business Days (i.e., “T+2”). However, each Fund reserves the right to settle deliveries of redemption proceeds on a basis other than T+2, including a shorter settlement period, if necessary or appropriate under the circumstances and compliant with applicable law. For example, certain Funds reserve the right to settle redemption transactions on a basis other than T+2 to accommodate non-U.S. market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among non-U.S. and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and dividend ex-dates (i.e., the last date the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security sold) and in certain other circumstances consistent with applicable law.
If neither the Authorized Participant nor the Beneficial Owner on whose behalf the Authorized Participant is acting has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of Fund Securities in the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of Fund Securities in such jurisdiction, a Fund may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the Beneficial Owner will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In such case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the net asset value of its shares based on the NAV of the relevant Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charges specified above to offset the Fund's brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and each Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Fund cannot lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or cannot do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws.
Although the Trust does not ordinarily permit cash redemptions of Creation Units, in the event that cash redemptions are permitted or required by the Trust, proceeds will be paid to the Authorized Participant redeeming shares as soon as practicable after the date of redemption (within seven calendar days thereafter). If a Fund includes a foreign investment in its basket, and if a local market holiday, or series of consecutive holidays, or the extended delivery cycles for transferring foreign investments to redeeming Authorized Participants prevents timely delivery of the foreign investment in response to a redemption request, the Fund may delay delivery of the foreign investment more than seven days if the Fund delivers the foreign investment as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 days.
To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant's agreement with the Distributor or its agent, in the event an Authorized Participant has submitted a redemption request in proper form but is unable to transfer all or part of the Creation Unit to be redeemed to a Fund, at or prior to the time specified by the Fund or its custodian on the Business Day after the date of submission of such redemption request, the Distributor or its agent will accept the redemption request in reliance on
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the undertaking by the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing shares as soon as possible. Such undertaking shall be secured by the Authorized Participant's delivery and maintenance of collateral as set forth in the handbook for Authorized Participants. Such collateral must be delivered no later than the time specified by a Fund or its custodian on the Business Day after the date of submission of such redemption request and shall be held by State Street, Citibank or JPMorgan, as applicable, and marked-to-market daily. The fees of State Street, Citibank or JPMorgan, as applicable, and any sub-custodians in respect of the delivery, maintenance and redelivery of the collateral shall be payable by the Authorized Participant. The Authorized Participant Agreement permits the Funds to acquire shares of the Funds at any time and subjects the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the aggregate of the cost to the Funds of purchasing such shares, plus the value of the Cash Amount, and the value of the collateral together with liability for related brokerage and other charges.
Because the portfolio securities of a Fund may trade on exchange(s) on days that the Listing Exchange is closed or are otherwise not Business Days for such Fund, shareholders may not be able to redeem their shares of such Fund or purchase or sell shares of such Fund on the Listing Exchange on days when the NAV of such a Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant non-U.S. markets.
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to any Fund: (i) for any period during which the applicable Listing Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the applicable Listing Exchange is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the shares of the Fund's portfolio securities or determination of its NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.
Custom Baskets.  Creation and Redemption baskets may differ and each Fund may accept “custom baskets.” A custom basket may include any of the following: (i) a basket that is composed of a non-representative selection of a Fund's portfolio holdings; (ii) a representative basket that is different from the initial basket used in transactions on the same business day; or (iii) a basket that contains bespoke cash substitutions for a single Authorized Participant. Each Fund has adopted policies and procedures that govern the construction and acceptance of baskets, including heightened requirements for certain types of custom baskets. Such policies and procedures provide the parameters for the construction and acceptance of custom baskets that are in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders, establish processes for revisions to, or deviations from, such parameters, and specify the titles and roles of the employees of BFA who are required to review each custom basket for compliance with those parameters. In addition, when constructing custom baskets for redemptions, the tax efficiency of a Fund may be taken into account. The policies and procedures distinguish among different types of custom baskets that may be used for each Fund and impose different requirements for different types of custom baskets in order to seek to mitigate against potential risks of conflicts and/or overreaching by an Authorized Participant. BlackRock has established a governance process to oversee basket compliance for the Funds, as set forth in each Fund's policies and procedures.
Taxation on Creations and Redemptions of Creation Units.   An Authorized Participant generally will recognize either gain or loss upon the exchange of Deposit Securities for Creation Units. This gain or loss is calculated by taking the market value of the Creation Units purchased over the Authorized Participant’s aggregate basis in the Deposit Securities exchanged therefor. However, the IRS may apply the wash sales rules to determine that any loss realized upon the exchange of Deposit Securities for Creation Units is not currently deductible. Authorized Participants should consult their own tax advisors.
Current U.S. federal income tax laws dictate that capital gain or loss realized from the redemption of Creation Units will generally create long-term capital gain or loss if the Authorized Participant holds the Creation Units for more than one year, or short-term capital gain or loss if the Creation Units were held for one year or less, if the Creation Units are held as capital assets.
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Taxes
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations regarding the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of a Fund. This summary does not address all of the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to a Fund or to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special tax rules. Current and prospective shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the specific U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of investing in a Fund. The summary is based on the laws and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof in effect on the date of this SAI, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.
Regulated Investment Company Qualifications.  Each Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a separate RIC under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify for treatment as a RIC, each Fund must annually distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains) (and 90% of net tax-exempt income for each of the iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF and iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF), and meet several other requirements. Among such other requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of each Fund’s annual gross income must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or non-U.S. currencies, other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly-traded partnerships (i.e., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive at least 90% of their income from interest, dividends, capital gains and other traditionally permitted RIC income); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of each Fund's taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the market value of each Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited for purposes of this calculation in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of each Fund's total assets may be invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, of two or more issuers of which 20% or more of the voting stock is held by the Fund and that are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly-traded partnerships.
A Fund may be able to cure a failure to derive at least 90% of its income from the sources specified above or a failure to diversify its holdings in the manner described above by paying a tax and/or by disposing of certain assets. If, in any taxable year, a Fund fails one of these tests and does not timely cure the failure, that Fund will be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and distributions to its shareholders will not be deductible by that Fund in computing its taxable income.
Although, in general, the passive loss rules of the Internal Revenue Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to interests in qualified publicly-traded partnerships. A Fund's investments in partnerships, including in qualified publicly-traded partnerships, may result in the Fund being subject to state, local, or non-U.S. income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.
Taxation of RICs.  As a RIC, a Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its taxable investment income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders, provided that it satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. To satisfy the minimum distribution requirement, a Fund must distribute to its shareholders at least the sum of (i) 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (i.e., income other than its net realized long-term capital gain over its net realized short-term capital loss), plus or minus certain adjustments, and (ii) 90% of its net tax-exempt income for the taxable year. A Fund will be subject to income tax at regular corporate rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders. If a Fund fails to qualify for any taxable year as a RIC or fails to meet the distribution requirement, all of its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions generally will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. In such event, distributions to individuals should be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income and distributions to corporate shareholders generally should be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Although each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its capital gains for each taxable year, a Fund may decide to retain a portion of its income or gains if the Fund determines that doing so
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is in the interest of its shareholders. Each Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. If a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a RIC. If a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund may be required to recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets (i.e., the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets if the Fund had been liquidated) if it qualifies as a RIC in a subsequent year.
Excise Tax.  A Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year plus at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the 12 months ended October 31 of such year. For this purpose, however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by a Fund that is subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed by year-end. In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any underdistribution or overdistribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. Each Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of this 4% excise tax.
Net Capital Loss Carryforwards.  Net capital loss carryforwards may be applied against any net realized capital gains in each succeeding year, until they have been reduced to zero.
In the event that a Fund were to experience an ownership change as defined under the Internal Revenue Code, the loss carryforwards and other favorable tax attributes of a Fund, if any, may be subject to limitation.
The following Funds had net capital loss carryforwards as set forth in the table below as of July 31, 2023, the tax year-end for the Funds listed:
 
Fund
Non-Expiring
Capital Loss
Carryforward
iShares China Large-Cap ETF
$3,429,917,973
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor
ETF
375,364
iShares International Equity Factor ETF
162,907,834
iShares International Small-Cap Equity
Factor ETF
11,482,387
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
8,112,401,820
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF
991,427,803
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF
907,199,877
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
549,772,709
iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF
1,169,804,663
iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF
195,271,680
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF
15,892,116
iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor
ETF
138,466,058
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF
192,006,726
iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF
1,536,561
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
88,143,448
iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF
2,711,240,772
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor
ETF
4,084,116,161
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF
2,395,144,859
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF
57,475,306
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol
Factor ETF
119,139,198
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
736,816,445
iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF
103,335,460
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Fund
Non-Expiring
Capital Loss
Carryforward
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF
107,699,072
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough
Multisector ETF
20,026,677
Taxation of U.S. Shareholders.   Dividends and other distributions by a Fund are generally treated under the Internal Revenue Code as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made. However, any dividend or distribution declared by a Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to have been received by each shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year and to have been paid by the Fund not later than such December 31, provided such dividend is actually paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year.
Each Fund intends to distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers). However, if a Fund retains for investment an amount equal to all or a portion of its net long-term capital gains in excess of its net short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers), it will be subject to a corporate tax (at a flat rate of 21%) on the amount retained. In that event, the Fund will designate such retained amounts as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (a) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount, (b) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on the undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent their credits exceed their liabilities, if any, and (c) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in their shares by an amount equal to the excess of the amount in clause (a) over the amount in clause (b). Organizations or persons not subject to U.S. federal income tax on such capital gains will be entitled to a refund of their pro rata share of such taxes paid by the Fund upon filing appropriate returns or claims for refund with the IRS.
Distributions of net realized long-term capital gains, if any, that a Fund reports as capital gains dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains, whether paid in cash or in shares and regardless of how long a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. All other dividends of a Fund (including dividends from short-term capital gains) from its current and accumulated earnings and profits (“regular dividends”) are generally subject to tax as ordinary income, subject to the discussion of qualified dividend income below. Long-term capital gains are eligible for taxation at a maximum rate of 15% or 20% for non-corporate shareholders, depending on whether their income exceeds certain threshold amounts.
If an individual receives a regular dividend qualifying for the long-term capital gains rates and such dividend constitutes an “extraordinary dividend,” and the individual subsequently recognizes a loss on the sale or exchange of stock in respect of which the extraordinary dividend was paid, then the loss will be long-term capital loss to the extent of such extraordinary dividend. An “extraordinary dividend” on common stock for this purpose is generally a dividend (i) in an amount greater than or equal to 10% of the taxpayer’s tax basis (or trading value) in a share of stock, aggregating dividends with ex-dividend dates within an 85-day period, or (ii) in an amount greater than 20% of the taxpayer’s tax basis (or trading value) in a share of stock, aggregating dividends with ex-dividend dates within a 365-day period.
Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will, as to each shareholder, be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in shares of the Fund, and as a capital gain thereafter (if the shareholder holds shares of the Fund as capital assets). Distributions in excess of a Fund’s minimum distribution requirements, but not in excess of a Fund’s earnings and profits, will be taxable to shareholders and will not constitute nontaxable returns of capital. Shareholders receiving dividends or distributions in the form of additional shares should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of money that the shareholders receiving cash dividends or distributions will receive and should have a cost basis in the shares received equal to such amount.
A 3.8% U.S. federal Medicare contribution tax is imposed on net investment income, including, but not limited to, interest, dividends, and net gain from investments, of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married and filing jointly) and of estates and trusts.
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Investors considering buying shares just prior to a dividend or capital gain distribution should be aware that, although the price of shares purchased at that time may reflect the amount of the forthcoming distribution, such dividend or distribution may nevertheless be taxable to them. If a Fund is the holder of record of any security on the record date for any dividends payable with respect to such security, such dividends will be included in the Fund’s gross income not as of the date received but as of the later of (a) the date such security became ex-dividend with respect to such dividends (i.e., the date on which a buyer of the security would not be entitled to receive the declared, but unpaid, dividends); or (b) the date the Fund acquired such security. Accordingly, in order to satisfy its income distribution requirements, a Fund may be required to pay dividends based on anticipated earnings, and shareholders may receive dividends in an earlier year than would otherwise be the case.
In certain situations, a Fund may, for a taxable year, defer all or a portion of its net capital loss (or if there is no net capital loss, then any net long-term or short-term capital loss) realized after October and its late-year ordinary loss (defined as the sum of (i) the excess of post-October foreign currency and passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) losses over post-October foreign currency and PFIC gains and (ii) the excess of post-December ordinary losses over post-December ordinary income) until the next taxable year in computing its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, which will defer the recognition of such realized losses. Such deferrals and other rules regarding gains and losses realized after October (or December) may affect the tax character of shareholder distributions.
Sales of Shares.  Upon the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s basis in shares of the Fund. A redemption of shares by a Fund will be treated as a sale for this purpose. Such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced, including replacement through the reinvesting of dividends or capital gains distributions, or by an option or contract to acquire substantially identical shares, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be increased to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on the sale of Fund shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions or deemed distributions of long-term capital gains received by the shareholder with respect to such share. The Medicare contribution tax described above will apply to the sale of Fund shares.
If a shareholder incurs a sales charge in acquiring shares of a Fund, disposes of those shares within 90 days and then, on or before January 31 of the following calendar year, acquires shares in a mutual fund for which the otherwise applicable sales charge is reduced by reason of a reinvestment right (e.g., an exchange privilege), the original sales charge will not be taken into account in computing gain/loss on the original shares to the extent the subsequent sales charge is reduced. Instead, the disregarded portion of the original sales charge will be added to the tax basis of the newly acquired shares. Furthermore, the same rule also applies to a disposition of the newly acquired shares made within 90 days of the second acquisition. This provision prevents shareholders from immediately deducting the sales charge by shifting their investments within a family of mutual funds.
Backup Withholding.  In certain cases, a Fund will be required to withhold at a 24% rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury such amounts withheld from any distributions paid to a shareholder who: (i) has failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS; (iii) has failed to certify to a Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has not certified that such shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability.
Sections 351 and 362.  The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of the Fund if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of a given Fund and if, pursuant to Sections 351 and 362 of the Internal Revenue Code, that Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. If a Fund’s basis in such securities on the date of deposit was less than market value on such date, the Fund, upon disposition of the securities, would recognize more taxable gain or less taxable loss than if its basis in the securities had been equal to market value. It is not anticipated that the Trust will exercise the right of rejection except in a case where the Trust determines that accepting the order could result in material adverse tax consequences to a Fund or its shareholders. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination.
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Taxation of Certain Derivatives.  A Fund’s transactions in zero coupon securities, non-U.S. currencies, forward contracts, options and futures contracts (including options and futures contracts on non-U.S. currencies), to the extent permitted, will be subject to special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (including provisions relating to “hedging transactions” and “straddles”) that, among other consequences, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer Fund losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each year) and (b) may cause a Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. Each Fund will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any zero coupon security, non-U.S. currency, forward contract, option, futures contract or hedged investment in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of a Fund as a RIC.
A Fund’s investments in so-called “Section 1256 contracts,” such as regulated futures contracts, most non-U.S. currency forward contracts traded in the interbank market and options on most security indexes, are subject to special tax rules. All Section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of its taxable year are required to be marked to their market value, and any unrealized gain or loss on those positions will be included in a Fund’s income as if each position had been sold for its fair market value at the end of the taxable year. The resulting gain or loss will be combined with any gain or loss realized by a Fund from positions in Section 1256 contracts closed during the taxable year. Provided such positions were held as capital assets and were not part of a “hedging transaction” nor part of a “straddle,” 60% of the resulting net gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and 40% of such net gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss, regardless of the period of time the positions were actually held by a Fund.
As a result of entering into swap contracts, a Fund may make or receive periodic net payments. A Fund may also make or receive a payment when a swap is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or other closing transaction. Periodic net payments will generally constitute ordinary income or deductions, while termination of a swap will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if a Fund has been a party to the swap for more than one year). With respect to certain types of swaps, a Fund may be required to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or may elect under certain circumstances to mark such swaps to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss.
Qualified Dividend Income.  Distributions by a Fund of investment company taxable income (including any short-term capital gains), whether received in cash or shares, will be taxable either as ordinary income or as qualified dividend income, which is eligible to be taxed at long-term capital gain rates to the extent a Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and a Fund reports the distribution as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable U.S. corporations (but generally not from U.S. REITs) and certain non-U.S. corporations (e.g., non-U.S. corporations that are not PFICs and which are incorporated in a possession of the U.S. or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the U.S., or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S. (where the dividends are paid with respect to such stock)). Under current IRS guidance, the U.S. has appropriate comprehensive income tax treaties with the following countries: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China (but not with Hong Kong, which is treated as a separate jurisdiction for U.S. tax purposes), Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, the U.K. and Venezuela. Substitute payments received by a Fund for securities lent out by a Fund will not be qualified dividend income.
A dividend from a Fund will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for 61 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or a Fund fails to satisfy those holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder (or, in the case of certain preferred stocks, the holding requirement of 91 days during the 181-day period beginning on the date that is 90 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend); (ii) a Fund or the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property; or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under Section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT or another RIC may be treated
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as qualified dividend income only to the extent the dividend distributions are attributable to qualified dividend income received by such REIT or other RIC. It is expected that dividends received by a Fund from a REIT and distributed to a shareholder generally will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. However, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, a non-corporate taxpayer who is a direct REIT shareholder may claim a 20% “qualified business income” deduction for ordinary REIT dividends, and a RIC may report dividends as eligible for this deduction to the extent the RIC’s income is derived from ordinary REIT dividends (reduced by allocable RIC expenses). A shareholder may treat the dividends as such provided the RIC and the shareholder satisfy applicable holding period requirements. Distributions by a Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income.
Corporate Dividends Received Deduction.  Dividends paid by a Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations may qualify for the U.S. federal dividends received deduction for corporations. A 46-day minimum holding period during the 90-day period that begins 45 days prior to ex-dividend date (or 91-day minimum holding period during the 180 period beginning 90 days prior to ex-dividend date for certain preference dividends) during which risk of loss may not be diminished is required for the applicable shares, at both the Fund and shareholder level, for a dividend to be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Restrictions may apply if indebtedness, including a short sale, is attributable to the investment.
Excess Inclusion Income.  Under current law, the Funds serve to block unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Section 514(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Certain types of income received by a Fund from REITs, real estate mortgage investment conduits, taxable mortgage pools or other investments may cause the Fund to report some or all of its distributions as “excess inclusion income.” To Fund shareholders, such excess inclusion income may: (i) constitute taxable income, as UBTI for those shareholders who would otherwise be tax-exempt such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, Keogh plans, pension plans and certain charitable entities; (ii) not be offset by otherwise allowable deductions for tax purposes; (iii) not be eligible for reduced U.S. withholding for non-U.S. shareholders even from tax treaty countries; and (iv) cause the Fund to be subject to tax if certain “disqualified organizations,” as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, are Fund shareholders. If a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable remainder unitrust (each as defined in Section 664 of the Internal Revenue Code) has UBTI for a taxable year, a 100% excise tax on the UBTI is imposed on the trust.
A Fund tries to avoid investing in REITs that are expected to generate excess inclusion income, but a Fund may not always be successful in doing so. Because information about a REIT’s investments may be inadequate or inaccurate, or because a REIT may change its investment program, a Fund may not be successful in avoiding the consequences described above. Avoidance of investments in REITs that generate excess inclusion income may require a Fund to forego otherwise attractive investment opportunities.
Non-U.S. Investments.  Under Section 988 of the Internal Revenue Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time a Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a non-U.S. currency and the time a Fund actually collects such income or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. In general, gains (and losses) realized on debt instruments will be treated as Section 988 gain (or loss) to the extent attributable to changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which the instruments are denominated. Similarly, gains or losses on non-U.S. currency, non-U.S. currency forward contracts and certain non-U.S. currency options or futures contracts denominated in non-U.S. currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss unless a Fund was to elect otherwise.
Each Fund may be subject to non-U.S. income taxes withheld at the source. Each Fund, if permitted to do so, may elect to “pass through” to its investors the amount of non-U.S. income taxes paid by the Fund provided that the Fund held the security on the dividend settlement date and for at least 15 additional days immediately before and/or thereafter, with the result that each investor with respect to shares of the Fund held for a minimum 16-day holding period at the time of deemed distribution will (i) include in gross income, even though not actually received, the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes, and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S. taxable income, but only for investors who itemize their deductions on their personal tax returns) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal income tax) the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes. Withholding taxes on dividends on non-U.S. securities while such securities are lent out by a Fund are not eligible for non-U.S. tax credit pass through. Taxes not “passed through” for tax purposes will not be available to
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shareholders for foreign tax credit purposes. A non-U.S. person invested in a Fund in a year that the Fund elects to “pass through” its non-U.S. taxes may be treated as receiving additional dividend income subject to U.S. withholding tax. A non-U.S. tax credit may not exceed the investor’s U.S. federal income tax otherwise payable with respect to the investor’s non-U.S. source income. For this purpose, shareholders must treat as non-U.S. source gross income (i) their proportionate shares of non-U.S. taxes paid by the Fund and (ii) the portion of any dividend paid by the Fund that represents income derived from non-U.S. sources; the Fund’s gain from the sale of securities will generally be treated as U.S.-source income. Certain limitations will be imposed to the extent to which the non-U.S. tax credit may be claimed. If your Fund shares are loaned pursuant to securities lending arrangements, you may lose the ability to use any non-U.S. tax credits passed through by a Fund or to treat Fund dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividends. Regarding a short sale with respect to shares of a Fund, substitute payments made to the lender of such shares may not be deductible under certain circumstances. Consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor.
Certain of the Funds have filed refund claims in various EU countries to recover taxes withheld on dividend income received during past years based upon certain provisions in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. Whether or when a Fund will receive a tax refund is within the control of the individual country. Pending confirmatory guidance from the IRS, the refunds received may reduce a Fund’s pass-through of foreign tax credits in such year and potentially future years or may result in the Funds paying an IRS compliance fee to cover the effect of the tax credits previously passed through to shareholders on refunded foreign taxes.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies.  If a Fund purchases shares in PFICs, it may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.
If a Fund were to invest in a PFIC and elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” under the Internal Revenue Code, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, a Fund might be required to include in income each year a portion of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the qualified electing fund, even if not distributed to a Fund, and such amounts would be subject to the 90% and excise tax distribution requirements described above. In order to make this election, a Fund would be required to obtain certain annual information from the PFICs in which it invests, which may be difficult or impossible to obtain.
Alternatively, a Fund may make a mark-to-market election that would result in a Fund being treated as if it had sold and repurchased its PFIC stock at the end of each year. In such case, a Fund would report any such gains as ordinary income and would deduct any such losses as ordinary losses to the extent of previously recognized gains. The election must be made separately for each PFIC owned by a Fund and, once made, would be effective for all subsequent taxable years, unless revoked with the consent of the IRS. By making the election, a Fund could potentially ameliorate the adverse tax consequences with respect to its ownership of shares in a PFIC, but in any particular year may be required to recognize income in excess of the distributions it receives from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock. A Fund may have to distribute this “phantom” income and gain to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax.
A Fund will make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effects of these rules.
Reporting.  If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to a Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not exempted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Other Taxes.  Dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds may also be subject to additional state, local and non-U.S. taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders.  Dividends paid by a Fund to non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty to the extent derived from investment income and short-term capital gains. Dividends paid by a Fund from net tax-exempt income or long-term capital gains are generally
127

not subject to such withholding tax. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a non-U.S. shareholder who provides an IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the non-U.S. shareholder were a U.S. shareholder. A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate). A non-U.S. shareholder who fails to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other applicable form may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate.
Properly-reported dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of the Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, the Fund’s U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is at least a 10% shareholder or partner, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of the Fund’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital gain over the Fund’s long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, the Fund may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.
Special rules may apply to a foreign shareholder receiving a Fund distribution if at least 50% of the Fund's assets consist of interests in U.S. real property interests, including certain REITs and U.S. real property holding corporations (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations). Fund distributions that are attributable to gain from the disposition of a U.S. real property interest will be taxable as ordinary dividends and subject to withholding at a 30% or lower treaty rate if the foreign shareholder held no more than 5% of the Fund's shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution. If the foreign shareholder held at least 5% of the Fund's shares, the distribution would be treated as income effectively connected with a trade or business within the U.S. and the foreign shareholder would be subject to withholding tax at a rate of 21% and would generally be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return.
Similar consequences would generally apply to a foreign shareholder's gain on the sale of Fund shares unless the Fund is domestically controlled (meaning that more than 50% of the value of the Fund's shares is held by U.S. shareholders) or the foreign shareholder owns no more than 5% of the Fund's shares at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of sale. Finally, a domestically controlled Fund may be required to recognize a portion of its gain on the in-kind distribution of certain U.S. real property interests. Shareholders that are nonresident aliens or foreign entities are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.
The rules laid out in the previous two paragraphs, other than the withholding rules, will apply notwithstanding a Fund's participation in a wash sale transaction or its payment of a substitute dividend.
Shareholders that are nonresident aliens or foreign entities are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund.
Separately, a 30% withholding tax is currently imposed on U.S.-source dividends, interest and other income items paid to: (i) foreign financial institutions, including non-U.S. investment funds, unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders; and (ii) certain other foreign entities, unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. To avoid withholding, foreign financial institutions will need to: (i) enter into agreements with the IRS that state that they will provide the IRS information, including the names, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of direct and indirect U.S. account holders; comply with due diligence procedures with respect to the identification of U.S. accounts; report to the IRS certain information with respect to U.S. accounts maintained; agree to withhold tax on certain payments made to non-compliant foreign financial institutions or to account holders who fail to provide the required information; and determine certain other information concerning their account holders, or (ii) in the event an intergovernmental agreement and implementing legislation are adopted, provide local revenue authorities with similar account holder information. Other foreign entities may need to report the name, address,
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and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner or provide certifications of no substantial U.S. ownership unless certain exceptions apply.
Shares of a Fund held by a non-U.S. shareholder at death will be considered situated within the U.S. and subject to the U.S. estate tax.
The foregoing discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations only and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Purchasers of shares should consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investing in such shares, including consequences under state, local and non-U.S. tax laws. Finally, the foregoing discussion is based on applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, judicial authority and administrative interpretations in effect on the date of this SAI. Changes in applicable authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above, and such changes often occur.
Financial Statements
Each Fund's audited Financial Statements, including the Financial Highlights, appearing in the applicable Annual Report to Shareholders and the report therein of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, are hereby incorporated by reference in this SAI. Each Fund's Annual Report is located here1 or here2. The applicable Annual Report to Shareholders, which contains the referenced audited financial statements, is available upon request and without charge.
1
Annual Report for each of the below funds, for which Citibank serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent:
iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares USA Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF and iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF
2
Annual Report for each of the below funds, for which State Street serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent:
iShares China Large-Cap ETF, iShares International Equity Factor ETF, iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF, iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF, iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF and iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF
Miscellaneous Information
Counsel.  Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, located at 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, is counsel to the Trust.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, audits the Funds' financial statements, and may perform other services.
Shareholder Communications to the Board.  The Board has established a process for shareholders to communicate with the Board. Shareholders may contact the Board by mail. Correspondence should be addressed to iShares Board of Trustees, c/o BlackRock Fund Advisors, iShares Fund Administration, 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Shareholder communications to the Board should include the following information: (i) the name and address of the shareholder; (ii) the number of shares owned by the shareholder; (iii) the Fund(s) of which the shareholder owns shares; and (iv) if these shares are owned indirectly through a broker, financial intermediary or other record owner, the name of the broker, financial intermediary or other record owner. All correspondence received as set forth above shall be reviewed by the Secretary of the Trust and reported to the Board.
Regulation Under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive.  The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”) imposes detailed and prescriptive obligations on fund managers established in the EU (“EU Operative Provisions”). These do not currently apply to managers established outside of the EU, such as BFA. Rather, non-EU managers are only required to comply with certain disclosure, reporting and transparency obligations of AIFMD (“AIFMD Disclosure Provisions”) if such managers market a fund to EU investors.
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Where the AIFMD Disclosure Provisions relate to EU Operative Provisions that do not apply to BFA, no meaningful disclosure can be made. These EU Operative Provisions include prescriptive rules on: measuring and capping leverage in line with known European standards; the treatment of investors; the use of “depositaries”; and coverage for professional liability risks.
AIFMD imposes certain conditions on the marketing of funds, such as the Funds, to EU investors. AIFMD requires that an ‘alternative investment fund manager’ (“AIFM”) be identified to meet such conditions where such marketing is sought. For these purposes BFA, as the legal entity responsible for performing the portfolio and risk management of the Funds, shall be the AIFM.
AIFMD requires disclosure on an ongoing basis of certain information relating to the use of special arrangements, leverage, rights of reuse of collateral, guarantees granted under leverage arrangements and the use of gates, side pockets and similar liquidity management tools. Given that the Funds do not use any special arrangements or allow for collateral reuse, it is not intended that such disclosures will need to be made by the Funds. Each Fund will, however, to the extent relevant and appropriate, disclose in its annual report information on the Fund's leverage, risk profile and risk management systems employed by BFA. Each Fund will also disclose material changes, if any, to the liquidity management systems and procedures employed in respect of the Fund.
BFA has registered the following Funds for marketing to investors in the respective countries listed below:
iShares China Large-Cap ETF: Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K.
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF: Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K.
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF: Finland, Sweden, and the U.K.
Investors’ Rights.  Each Fund relies on the services of BFA and its other service providers, including the Distributor, administrator, custodian and transfer agent. Further information about the duties and roles of these service providers is set out in this SAI. Investors who acquire shares of a Fund are not parties to the relevant agreement with these service providers and do not have express contractual rights against the Fund or its service providers, except certain institutional investors that are Authorized Participants may have certain express contractual rights with respect to the Distributor under the terms of the relevant Authorized Participant Agreement. Investors may have certain legal rights under federal or state law against a Fund or its service providers. In the event that an investor considers that it may have a claim against a Fund, or against any service provider in connection with its investment in a Fund, such investor should consult its own legal advisor.
By contract, Authorized Participants irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or U.S. federal court sitting in New York City over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Authorized Participant Agreement. Jurisdiction over other claims, whether by investors or Authorized Participants, will turn on the facts of the particular case and the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceeding is brought.
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Appendix A - iShares ETFs Proxy Voting Policies
Open-End Fund Proxy Voting Policy
Procedures Governing Delegation of Proxy Voting to Fund Advisers
Effective Date: August 1, 2021
Last Review Date: August 25, 2023
Open-End Mutual Funds (including money market funds)
Exchange-Traded Funds
Objective and Scope
Set forth below is the Open-End Fund Proxy Voting Policy.
Policy/Document Requirements and Statements
The Boards of Trustees/Directors (“Directors”) of open-end funds (the “Funds”) advised by BlackRock Fund Advisors or BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BlackRock”), have the responsibility for the oversight of voting proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Funds, and have determined that it is in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders to delegate the responsibility to vote proxies to BlackRock, subject to the principles outlined in this Policy, as part of BlackRock’s authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account assets, all as contemplated by the Funds’ respective investment management agreements.
BlackRock has adopted guidelines and procedures (together and as from time to time amended, the “BlackRock proxy voting guidelines”) governing proxy voting by accounts managed by BlackRock.
BlackRock will cast votes on behalf of each of the Funds on specific proxy issues in respect of securities held by each such Fund (or may refrain from voting) in accordance with the BlackRock proxy voting guidelines.
BlackRock will report on an annual basis to the Directors on (1) a summary of the proxy voting process as applicable to the Funds in the preceding year together with a representation that all votes were in accordance with the BlackRock proxy voting guidelines, and (2) any changes to the BlackRock proxy voting guidelines that have not previously been reported.
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BlackRock Investment Stewardship
Global Principles
Effective as of January 2024
BlackRock
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Contents
 
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The purpose of this document is to provide an overarching explanation of BlackRock’s approach globally to our responsibilities as a shareholder on behalf of our clients, our expectations of companies, and our commitments to clients in terms of our own governance and transparency.
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Introduction to BlackRock
BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. We manage assets on behalf of institutional and individual clients, across a full spectrum of investment strategies, asset classes, and regions. Our client base includes pension plans, endowments, foundations, charities, official institutions, insurers, and other financial institutions, as well as individuals around the world.
Philosophy on investment stewardship
As part of our fiduciary duty to our clients, we consider it one of our responsibilities to promote sound corporate governance as an informed, engaged shareholder on their behalf. At BlackRock, this is the responsibility of the BlackRock Investment Stewardship (BIS) team.
In our experience, sound governance is critical to the success of a company, the protection of investors’ interests, and long-term financial value creation. We take a constructive, long-term approach with companies and seek to understand how they are managing the drivers of risk and financial value creation in their business models. We have observed that well-managed companies will effectively evaluate and address risks and opportunities relevant to their businesses, which supports durable, long-term financial value creation. As one of many minority shareholders, BlackRock cannot – and does not try to – direct a company’s strategy or its implementation.
Shareholder rights
We believe that there are certain fundamental rights attached to shareholding. Shareholders should have the right to:
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Elect, remove, and nominate directors, approve the appointment of the auditor, and amend the corporate charter or by-laws.
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Vote on key board decisions that are material to the protection of their investment, including but not limited to, changes to the purpose of the business, dilution levels and pre-emptive rights, and the distribution of income and capital structure.
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Access sufficient and timely information on material governance, strategic, and business matters to make informed decisions.
In our view, shareholder voting rights should be proportionate to economic ownership—the principle of “one share, one vote” helps to achieve this balance.
Consistent with these shareholder rights, BlackRock monitors and provides feedback to companies in our role as stewards of our clients’ assets. Investment stewardship is how we use our voice as an investor to promote sound corporate governance and business practices that support the ability of companies to deliver long-term financial performance for our clients. We do this through engagement with companies, proxy voting on behalf of those clients who have given us authority, and participating in market-level dialogue to improve corporate governance standards.
Engagement is an important mechanism for providing feedback on company practices and disclosures, particularly where our observations indicate that they could be enhanced to support a company’s ability to deliver financial performance. Similarly, it provides us with an opportunity to hear directly from company boards and management on how they believe their actions are aligned with the long-term economic interests of shareholders. Engagement with companies may also inform our proxy voting decisions.
As a fiduciary, we vote in the long-term economic interests of our clients. Generally, we support the recommendations of the board of directors and management. However, there may be instances where we vote against the election of directors or other management proposals, or support shareholder proposals. For instance, we may vote against management recommendations where we are concerned that the board may not be acting in the long-term economic interests of shareholders, or disclosures do not provide sufficient information to assess how material, strategic risks and opportunities are being managed. Our regional proxy voting guidelines are informed by our market-specific approach and standards of corporate governance best practices.
Key Themes
While accepted standards and norms of corporate governance can differ between markets, in our experience, there are certain globally-applicable fundamental elements of governance that contribute to a company’s ability to create long-term financial value for shareholders. These global themes are set out in this overarching set of principles (the “Principles”), which are anchored in transparency and accountability. At a minimum, it is our view that companies should observe the accepted
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corporate governance standards in their domestic market and we ask that, if they do not, they explain how their approach better supports durable, long-term financial value creation.
These Principles cover seven key subjects:
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Boards and directors
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Auditors and audit-related issues
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Capital structure, mergers, asset sales, and other special transactions
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Executive compensation
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Material sustainability-related risks and opportunities
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Other corporate governance matters and shareholder protections
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Shareholder proposals
Our regional and market-specific voting guidelines explain how these Principles inform our voting decisions in relation to common ballot items for shareholder meetings in those markets. Alongside the Principles and regional voting guidelines, BIS publishes our engagement priorities which reflect the five themes on which we most frequently engage companies, where they are relevant, as these can be a source of material business risk or opportunity. Collectively, these BIS policies set out the core elements of corporate governance that guide our investment stewardship efforts globally and within each market, including when engaging with companies and voting at shareholder meetings. The BIS policies are applied on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the context within which a company is operating.
Boards and directors
We believe that an effective and well-functioning board that has appropriate governance structures to facilitate oversight of a company's management and strategic initiatives is critical to the long-term financial success of a company and the protection of shareholders’ economic interests. In our view, a strong board can be a competitive advantage to a company, providing valuable oversight of and perspectives to management on the most important decisions in support of long-term financial performance. As part of their responsibilities, board members have a fiduciary duty to shareholders to oversee the strategic direction, operations, and risk management of a company. For this reason, BIS sees engagement with and the election of directors as one of our most important responsibilities. Disclosure of material risks that may affect a company’s long-term strategy and financial value creation, including material sustainability-related factors when relevant, is essential for shareholders to appropriately understand and assess how effectively management is identifying, managing, and mitigating such risks.
The board should establish and maintain a framework of robust and effective governance mechanisms to support its oversight of the company’s strategy and operations consistent with the long-term economic interests of investors. There should be clear descriptions of the role of the board and the committees of the board and how directors engage with and oversee management. We look to the board to articulate the effectiveness of these mechanisms in overseeing the management of business risks and opportunities and the fulfillment of the company’s purpose and strategy.
Where a company has not adequately disclosed and demonstrated that its board has fulfilled these corporate governance and risk oversight responsibilities, we will consider voting against the election of directors who, on our assessment, have particular responsibility for the issues. We assess director performance on a case-by-case basis and in light of each company’s circumstances, taking into consideration their governance, business practices that support durable, long-term financial value creation, and performance. Set out below are ways in which boards and directors can demonstrate a commitment to acting in the long-term economic interests of all shareholders.
Regular accountability through director elections
It is our view that directors should stand for election on a regular basis, ideally annually. In our experience, annual director elections allow shareholders to reaffirm their support for board members and/or hold them accountable for their decisions in a timely manner. When board members are not elected annually, in our experience, it is good practice for boards to have a rotation policy to ensure that, through a board cycle, all directors have had their appointment re-confirmed, with a proportion of directors being put forward for election at each annual general meeting.
Effective board composition
Regular director elections also give boards the opportunity to adjust their composition in an orderly way to reflect developments in the company’s strategy and the market environment. In our view, it is beneficial for new directors to be
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brought onto the board periodically to refresh the group’s thinking, while supporting both continuity and appropriate succession planning. We consider the average overall tenure of the board, and seek a balance between the knowledge and experience of longer-serving directors and the fresh perspectives of directors who joined more recently. We encourage companies to regularly review the effectiveness of their board (including its size), and assess directors nominated for election in the context of the composition of the board as a whole. In our view, the company’s assessment should consider a number of factors, including each director’s independence and time commitments, as well as the diversity and relevance of director experiences and skillsets, and how these factors may contribute to the financial performance of the company.
Similarly, there should be a sufficient number of independent directors, free from conflicts of interest or undue influence from connected parties, to ensure objectivity in the decision-making of the board and its ability to oversee management. Common impediments to independence may include but are not limited to:
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Current or recent employment at the company or a subsidiary
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Being, or representing, a shareholder with a substantial shareholding in the company
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Interlocking directorships
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Having any other interest, business, or other relationship which could, or could reasonably be perceived to, materially interfere with a director’s ability to act in the best interests of the company and shareholders.
In our experience, boards are most effective at overseeing and advising management when there is a senior, independent board leader. This director may chair the board, or, where the chair is also the CEO (or is otherwise not independent), be designated as a lead independent director. The role of this director is to enhance the effectiveness of the independent members of the board through shaping the agenda, ensuring adequate information is provided to the board, and encouraging independent director participation in board deliberations. The lead independent director or another appropriate director should be available to meet with shareholders in those situations where an independent director is best placed to explain and contextualize a company’s approach.
There are matters for which the board has responsibility that may involve a conflict of interest for executives or for affiliated directors, or require additional focus. It is our view that objective oversight of such matters is best achieved when the board forms committees comprised entirely of independent directors. In many markets, these committees of the board specialize in audit, director nominations, and compensation matters. An ad hoc committee might also be formed to decide on a special transaction, particularly one involving a related party, or to investigate a significant adverse event.
When nominating directors to the board, we look to companies to provide sufficient information on the individual candidates so that shareholders can assess the capabilities and suitability of each individual nominee and their fit within overall board composition. These disclosures should give an understanding of how the collective experience and expertise of the board, as well as the particular skill-sets of individual directors, aligns with the company’s long-term strategy and business model. Highly qualified, engaged directors with professional characteristics relevant to a company’s business and strategy enhance the ability of the board to add value and be the voice of shareholders in board discussions.
It is in this context that we are interested in diversity in the board room. We see it as a means to promoting diversity of thought and avoiding “group think” when the board advises and oversees management. This position is based on our view that diversity of perspective and thought – in the board room, in the management team, and throughout the company – leads to better long-term economic outcomes for companies. Academic research has revealed correlations between specific dimensions of diversity and effects on decision-making processes and outcomes.1 In our experience, greater diversity in the board room can contribute to more robust discussions and more innovative and resilient decisions. Over time, greater diversity in the board room can also promote greater diversity and resilience in the leadership team, and the workforce more broadly. That diversity can enable companies to develop businesses that better address the needs of the customers and communities they serve.
We ask boards to disclose how diversity is considered in board composition, including professional characteristics, such as a director’s industry experience, specialist areas of expertise and geographic location; as well as demographic characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity, and age.
We look to understand a board’s diversity in the context of a company’s domicile, market capitalization, business model, and strategy. Increasingly, we see the most effective boards nominating directors from diverse backgrounds which helps ensure boards can more effectively understand the company's customers, employees, and communities. We note that in many markets, policymakers have set board gender diversity goals which we may discuss with companies, particularly if there is a
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For a discussion on the different impacts of diversity see: McKinsey, “Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters,” May 2022; Harvard Business Review, “Diverse Teams Feel Less Comfortable – and That’s Why They Perform Better,” September 2016; “Do Diverse Directors Influence DEI Outcomes,” September 2022.
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risk their board composition may be misaligned. Self-identified board demographic diversity can usefully be disclosed in aggregate, consistent with local law. We encourage boards to aspire to meaningful diversity of membership, while recognizing that building a strong, diverse board can take time.
Sufficient capacity
As the role and expectations of a director are increasingly demanding, directors must be able to commit an appropriate amount of time to board and committee matters. It is important that directors have the capacity to meet all of their responsibilities - including when there are unforeseen events – and therefore, they should not take on an excessive number of roles that would impair their ability to fulfill their duties.
Auditors and audit-related issues
BlackRock recognizes the critical importance of financial statements, which should provide a true and fair picture of a company’s financial condition. Accordingly, the assumptions made by management and reviewed by the auditor in preparing the financial statements should be reasonable and justified.
The accuracy of financial statements, inclusive of financial and non-financial information as required or permitted under market-specific accounting rules, is of paramount importance to BlackRock. Investors increasingly recognize that a broader range of risks and opportunities have the potential to materially impact financial performance. Over time, we anticipate investors and other users of company reporting will increasingly seek to understand and scrutinize the assumptions underlying financial statements, particularly those that pertain to the impact of the transition to a low-carbon economy on a company’s business model and asset mix. We recognize that this is an area of evolving practice and note that international standards setters, such as the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Board and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), continue to develop their guidance to companies.2
In this context, audit committees, or equivalent, play a vital role in a company’s financial reporting system by providing independent oversight of the accounts, material financial and, where appropriate to the jurisdiction, non-financial information and internal control frameworks. Moreover, in the absence of a dedicated risk committee, these committees can provide oversight of Enterprise Risk Management systems.3 In our view, effective audit committee oversight strengthens the quality and reliability of a company’s financial statements and provides an important level of reassurance to shareholders.
We hold members of the audit committee or equivalent responsible for overseeing the management of the audit function. Audit committees or equivalent should have clearly articulated charters that set out their responsibilities and have a rotation plan in place that allows for a periodic refreshment of the committee membership to introduce fresh perspectives to audit oversight. We recognize that audit committees will rely on management, internal audit, and the independent auditor in fulfilling their responsibilities but look to committee members to demonstrate they have relevant expertise to monitor and oversee the audit process and related activities.
We take particular note of unexplained changes in reporting methodology, cases involving significant financial restatements, or ad hoc notifications of material financial weakness. In this respect, audit committees should provide timely disclosure on the remediation of Key and Critical Audit Matters identified either by the external auditor or internal audit function.
The integrity of financial statements depends on the auditor being free of any impediments to being an effective check on management. To that end, it is important that auditors are, and are seen to be, independent. Where an audit firm provides services to the company in addition to the audit, the fees earned should be disclosed and explained. Audit committees should have in place a procedure for assessing annually the independence of the auditor and the quality of the external audit process.
Comprehensive disclosure provides investors with a sense of the company’s long-term operational risk management practices and, more broadly, the quality of the board’s oversight. The audit or risk committee, should periodically review the company’s risk assessment and risk management policies and the significant risks and exposures identified by management, the internal auditors or the independent auditors and management’s steps to address them. In the absence of detailed disclosures, we may reasonably conclude that companies are not adequately managing risk.
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IFRS, “IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information”, June 2023, and IAASB, “IAASB Launches Public Consultation on Landmark Proposed Global Sustainability Assurance Standard”, August 2023.
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Enterprise risk management is a process, effected by the entity’s board of directors, management, and other personnel, applied in strategy setting and across the enterprise, designed to identify potential events that may affect the entity, and manage risk to be within the risk appetite, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives. (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Enterprise Risk Management — Integrated Framework, September 2004, New York, NY, updated in 2017. Please see: https://www.coso.org/SitePages/Home.aspx).
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Capital structure, mergers, asset sales, and other special transactions
The capital structure of a company is critical to shareholders as it impacts the value of their investment and the priority of their interest in the company relative to that of other equity or debt investors. Pre-emptive rights are a key protection for shareholders against the dilution of their interests.
Effective voting rights are basic rights of share ownership and a core principle of effective governance. Shareholders, as the residual claimants, have the strongest interest in protecting the financial value of the company, and voting rights should match economic exposure, i.e. one share, one vote.
In principle, we disagree with the creation of a share class with equivalent economic exposure and preferential, differentiated voting rights. In our view, this structure violates the fundamental corporate governance principle of proportionality and results in a concentration of power in the hands of a few shareholders, thus disenfranchising other shareholders and amplifying any potential conflicts of interest. However, we recognize that in certain markets, at least for a period of time, companies may have a valid argument for listing dual classes of shares with differentiated voting rights. In our view, such companies should review these share class structures on a regular basis or as company circumstances change. Additionally, they should seek shareholder approval of their capital structure on a periodic basis via a management proposal at the company’s shareholder meeting. The proposal should give unaffiliated shareholders the opportunity to affirm the current structure or establish mechanisms to end or phase out controlling structures at the appropriate time, while minimizing costs to shareholders.
In assessing mergers, asset sales, or other special transactions, BlackRock’s primary consideration is the long-term economic interests of our clients as shareholders. Boards proposing a transaction should clearly explain the economic and strategic rationale behind it. We will review a proposed transaction to determine the degree to which it can enhance long-term shareholder value. We find long-term investors like our clients typically benefit when proposed transactions have the unanimous support of the board and have been negotiated at arm’s length. We may seek reassurance from the board that the financial interests of executives and/or board members in a given transaction have not adversely affected their ability to place shareholders’ interests before their own. Where the transaction involves related parties, the recommendation to support should come from the independent directors, a best practice in most markets, and ideally, the terms should have been assessed through an independent appraisal process. In addition, it is good practice that it be approved by a separate vote of the non-conflicted parties.
As a matter of sound governance practice, shareholders should have a right to dispose of company shares in the open market without unnecessary restriction. In our view, corporate mechanisms designed to limit shareholders’ ability to sell their shares are contrary to basic property rights. Such mechanisms can serve to protect and entrench interests other than those of the shareholders. In our view, shareholders are broadly capable of making decisions in their own best interests. We encourage any so-called “shareholder rights plans” proposed by a board to be subject to shareholder approval upon introduction and periodically thereafter.
Executive compensation
In most markets, one of the most important roles for a company’s board of directors is to put in place a compensation structure that incentivizes and rewards executives appropriately. There should be a clear link between variable pay and operational and financial performance. Performance metrics should be stretching and aligned with a company’s strategy and business model. BIS does not have a position on the use of sustainability-related criteria in compensation structures, but in our view, where companies choose to include these components, they should be adequately disclosed, material to the company’s strategy, and as rigorous as other financial or operational targets. Long-term incentive plans should encompass timeframes that 1) are distinct from annual executive compensation structures and metrics, and 2) encourage the delivery of strong financial results over a period of years. Compensation committees should guard against contractual arrangements that would entitle executives to material compensation for early termination of their employment. Finally, pension contributions and other deferred compensation arrangements should be reasonable, in light of market practices.
We are not supportive of one-off or special bonuses unrelated to company or individual performance. Where discretion has been used by the compensation committee or its equivalent, we expect disclosure relating to how and why the discretion was used, and how the adjusted outcome is aligned with the interests of shareholders. We acknowledge that the use of peer group evaluation by compensation committees can help ensure competitive pay; however, we are concerned when the rationale for increases in total compensation at a company is solely based on peer benchmarking, rather than a rigorous measure of outperformance. We encourage companies to clearly explain how compensation outcomes have rewarded performance.
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We encourage boards to consider building clawback provisions into incentive plans such that companies could clawback compensation or require executives to forgo awards when compensation was based on faulty financial statements or deceptive business practices. We also favor recoupment from or the foregoing of the grant of any awards by any senior executive whose behavior caused material financial harm to shareholders, material reputational risk to the company, or resulted in a criminal investigation, even if such actions did not ultimately result in a material restatement of past results.
Non-executive directors should be compensated in a manner that is commensurate with the time and effort expended in fulfilling their professional responsibilities. Additionally, these compensation arrangements should not risk compromising directors’ independence or aligning their interests too closely with those of the management, whom they are charged with overseeing.
We use third party research, in addition to our own analysis, to evaluate existing and proposed compensation structures. BIS may signal concerns through not supporting management’s proposals to approve compensation, where they are on the agenda. We may also vote against members of the compensation committee or equivalent board members for poor compensation practices or structures.
Material sustainability-related risks and opportunities
It is our view that well-managed companies will effectively evaluate and manage material sustainability-related risks and opportunities relevant to their businesses. As with all risks and opportunities in a company's business model, appropriate oversight of material sustainability considerations is a core component of having an effective governance framework, which supports durable, long-term financial value creation.
Robust disclosure is essential for investors to effectively evaluate companies’ strategy and business practices related to material sustainability-related risks and opportunities. Long-term investors like our clients can benefit when companies demonstrate that they have a resilient business model through disclosures that cover governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets, including industry-specific metrics. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards, IFRS S1 and S2,4 provide companies with a useful guide to preparing this disclosure. The standards build on the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework and the standards and metrics developed by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), which have converged under the ISSB. We recognize that companies may phase in reporting aligned with the ISSB standards over several years. We also recognize that some companies may report using different standards, which may be required by regulation, or one of a number of voluntary standards. In such cases, we ask that companies highlight the metrics that are industry- or company-specific.
We note that climate and other sustainability-related disclosures often require companies to collect and aggregate data from various internal and external sources. We recognize that the practical realities of data collection and reporting may not line up with financial reporting cycles and companies may require additional time after their fiscal year-end to accurately collect, analyze, and report this data to investors.
That said, to give investors time to assess the data, we encourage companies to produce climate and other sustainability-related disclosures sufficiently in advance of their annual meeting, to the best of their abilities.
Companies may also choose to adopt or refer to guidance on sustainable and responsible business conduct issued by supranational organizations such as the United Nations or the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Further, industry initiatives on managing specific operational risks may provide useful guidance to companies on best practices and disclosures. We find it helpful to our understanding of investment risk when companies disclose any relevant global climate and other sustainability-related standards adopted, the industry initiatives in which they participate, any peer group benchmarking undertaken, and any assurance processes to help investors understand their approach to sustainable and responsible business practices. We will express any concerns through our voting where a company’s actions or disclosures do not seem adequate in light of the materiality of the business risks.
Climate and nature-related risk
While companies in various sectors and geographies may be affected differently by climate-related risks and opportunities, the low-carbon transition is an investment factor that can be material for many companies and economies around the globe.
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The objective of IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information is to require an entity to disclose information about its sustainability-related risks and opportunities that is useful to primary users of general-purpose financial reports in making decisions relating to providing resources to the entity. The objective of IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures is to require an entity to disclose information about its climate-related risks and opportunities that is useful to primary users of general-purpose financial reports in making decisions relating to providing resources to the entity.
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We seek to understand, from company disclosures and engagement, the strategies companies have in place to manage material risks to, and opportunities for, their long-term business model associated with a range of climate-related scenarios, including a scenario in which global warming is limited to well below 2°C, considering global ambitions to achieve a limit of 1.5°C. As one of many shareholders, and typically a minority one, BlackRock does not tell companies what to do. It is the role of the board and management to set and implement a company's long-term strategy to deliver long-term financial returns.
Our research shows that the low-carbon transition is a structural shift in the global economy that will be shaped by changes in government policies, technology, and consumer preferences, which may be material for many companies.5 Yet the path to a low-carbon economy is deeply uncertain and uneven, with different parts of the economy moving at different speeds. BIS recognizes that it can be challenging for companies to predict the impact of climate-related risk and opportunity on their businesses and operating environments. Many companies are assessing how to navigate the low-carbon transition while delivering long-term value to investors. In this context, we encourage companies to publicly disclose, consistent with their business model and sector, how they intend to deliver long-term financial performance through the transition to a low-carbon economy. Where available, we appreciate companies publishing their transition plan.6
Consistent with the ISSB standards, we are better able to assess preparedness for the low-carbon transition when companies disclose short-, medium- and long-term targets, ideally science-based where these are available for their sector, for scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reductions and to demonstrate how their targets are consistent with the long-term financial interests of their investors.
While we recognize that regulators in some markets are moving to mandate certain disclosures, at this stage, we view scope 3 emissions differently from scopes 1 and 2, given methodological complexity, regulatory uncertainty, concerns about double-counting, and lack of direct control by companies. We welcome disclosures and commitments companies choose to make regarding scope 3 emissions and recognize these are provided on a good-faith basis as methodology develops. Our publicly available commentary provides more information on our approach to climate-related risks and opportunities.
In addition to climate-related risks and opportunities, the management of nature-related factors is increasingly a component of some companies’ ability to generate durable, long-term financial returns for shareholders, particularly where a company’s strategy is heavily reliant on the availability of natural capital, or whose supply chains are exposed to locations with nature-related risks. We look for such companies to disclose how they manage any reliance and impact on, as well as use of, natural capital, including appropriate risk oversight and relevant metrics and targets, to understand how these factors are integrated into strategy. We will evaluate these disclosures to inform our view of how a company is managing material nature-related risks and opportunities, as well as in our assessment of relevant shareholder proposals. Our publicly available commentary provides more information on our approach to natural capital.7
Key stakeholder interests
In order to advance long-term shareholders’ interests, companies should consider the interests of the various parties on whom they depend for their success over time. It is for each company to determine their key stakeholders based on what is material to their business and long-term financial performance. For many companies, key stakeholders include employees, business partners (such as suppliers and distributors), clients and consumers, regulators, and the communities in which they operate.
As a long-term shareholder on behalf of our clients, we find it helpful when companies disclose how they have identified their key stakeholders and considered their interests in business decision-making. In addition to understanding broader stakeholder relationships, BIS finds it helpful when companies consider the needs of their workforce today, and the skills required for their future business strategy. We are also interested to understand the role of the board, which is well positioned to ensure that the approach taken is informed by and aligns with the company’s strategy and purpose.
5
BlackRock Investment Institute, “Tracking the low-carbon transition”, July 2023.
6
We have observed that more companies are developing such plans, and public policy makers in a number of markets are signaling their intentions to require them. We view transition plans (TPs) as a method for a company to both internally assess and externally communicate long-term strategy, ambition, objectives, and actions to create financial value through the global transition towards a low-carbon economy. While many initiatives across jurisdictions outline a framework for TPs, there is no consensus on the key elements these plans should contain. We view useful disclosure as that which communicates a company’s approach to managing financially material, business relevant risks and opportunities – including climate-related risks – to deliver long-term financial performance, thus enabling investors to make more informed decisions.
7
Given the growing awareness of the materiality of these issues for certain businesses, enhanced reporting on a company's natural capital dependencies and impacts would aid investors’ understanding. In our view, the final recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures may prove useful to some companies. We recognize that some companies may report using different standards, which may be required by regulation, or one of a number of other private sector standards.
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Companies should articulate how they address material adverse impacts that could arise from their business practices and affect critical relationships with their stakeholders. We encourage companies to implement, to the extent appropriate, monitoring processes (often referred to as due diligence) to identify and mitigate potential adverse impacts and grievance mechanisms to remediate any actual adverse material impacts. In our view, maintaining trust within these relationships can contribute to a company’s long-term success.
Other corporate governance matters and shareholder protections
In our view, shareholders have a right to material and timely information on the financial performance and viability of the companies in which they invest. In addition, companies should publish information on the governance structures in place and the rights of shareholders to influence these structures. The reporting and disclosure provided by companies help shareholders assess the effectiveness of the board’s oversight of management and whether investors’ economic interests have been protected. We believe shareholders should have the right to vote on key corporate governance matters, including changes to governance mechanisms, to submit proposals to the shareholders’ meeting, and to call special meetings of shareholders.
Corporate form
In our view, it is the responsibility of the board to determine the corporate form that is most appropriate given the company’s purpose and business model.8 Companies proposing to change their corporate form to a public benefit corporation or similar entity should put it to a shareholder vote if not already required to do so under applicable law. Supporting documentation from companies or shareholder proponents proposing to alter the corporate form should clearly articulate how the interests of shareholders and different stakeholders would be impacted as well as the accountability and voting mechanisms that would be available to shareholders. As a fiduciary on behalf of clients, we generally support management proposals if our analysis indicates that shareholders’ economic interests are adequately protected. Relevant shareholder proposals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Shareholder proposals
In most markets in which BlackRock invests on behalf of clients, shareholders have the right to submit proposals to be voted on by shareholders at a company’s annual or extraordinary meeting, as long as eligibility and procedural requirements are met. The matters that we see put forward by shareholders address a wide range of topics, including governance reforms, capital management, and improvements in the management or disclosure of sustainability-related risks.
BlackRock is subject to legal and regulatory requirements in the U.S. that place restrictions and limitations on how BlackRock can interact with the companies in which we invest on behalf of our clients, including our ability to submit shareholder proposals. We can vote, on behalf of clients who authorize us to do so, on proposals put forth by others.
When assessing shareholder proposals, we evaluate each proposal on its merit, with a singular focus on its implications for long-term financial value creation by that company. We believe it is helpful for companies to disclose the names of the proponent or organization that has submitted or advised on the proposal. We consider the business and economic relevance of the issue raised, as well as its materiality and the urgency with which our experience indicates it should be addressed. We would not support proposals that we believe would result in over-reaching into the basic business decisions of the company. We take into consideration the legal effect of the proposal, as shareholder proposals may be advisory or legally binding depending on the jurisdiction, while others may make requests that would be deemed illegal in a given jurisdiction.
Where a proposal is focused on a material business risk that we agree needs to be addressed and the intended outcome is consistent with long-term financial value creation, we will look to the board and management to demonstrate that the company has met the intent of the request made in the shareholder proposal. Where our analysis and/or engagement indicate an opportunity for improvement in the company’s approach to the issue, we may support shareholder proposals that are reasonable and not unduly prescriptive or constraining on management.
We recognize that some shareholder proposals bundle topics and/or specific requests and include supporting statements that explain the reasoning or objectives of the proponent. In voting on behalf of clients, we do not submit or edit proposals or the supporting statements – we must vote yes or no on the proposal as phrased by the proponent. Therefore, when we vote in support of a proposal, we are not necessarily endorsing every element of the proposal or the reasoning, objectives, or supporting statement of the proponent. We may support a proposal for different reasons from those put forth by the proponent, when we believe that, overall, it can advance our clients' long-term financial interests. We would normally explain to the company our rationale for supporting such proposals.
8
Corporate form refers to the legal structure by which a business is organized.
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Alternatively, or in addition, we may vote against the election of one or more directors if, in our assessment, the board has not responded sufficiently or with an appropriate sense of urgency. We may also support a proposal if management is on track, but we believe that voting in favor might accelerate efforts to address a material risk.
BlackRock’s oversight of its investment stewardship activities
Oversight
BlackRock maintains three regional advisory committees (Stewardship Advisory Committees) for a) the Americas; b) Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and c) Asia-Pacific, generally consisting of senior BlackRock investment professionals and/or senior employees with practical boardroom experience. The regional Stewardship Advisory Committees review and advise on amendments to BIS regional proxy voting guidelines (the Guidelines) covering markets within each respective region. The advisory committees do not determine voting decisions, which are the responsibility of BIS.
In addition to the regional Stewardship Advisory Committees, the Investment Stewardship Global Oversight Committee (Global Oversight Committee) is a risk-focused committee, comprised of senior representatives from various BlackRock investment teams, a senior legal representative, the Global Head of Investment Stewardship (Global Head), and other senior executives with relevant experience and team oversight. The Global Committee does not determine voting decisions, which are the responsibility of BIS.
The Global Head has primary oversight of the activities of BIS, including voting in accordance with the Guidelines, which require the application of professional judgment and consideration of each company’s unique circumstances. The Global Committee reviews and approves amendments to these Principles. The Global Committee also reviews and approves amendments to the regional Guidelines, as proposed by the regional Stewardship Advisory Committees.
In addition, the Global Committee receives and reviews periodic reports regarding the votes cast by BIS, as well as updates on material process issues, procedural changes, and other risk oversight considerations. The Global Committee reviews these reports in an oversight capacity as informed by the Guidelines.
BIS carries out engagement with companies, executes proxy votes, and conducts vote operations (including maintaining records of votes cast) in a manner consistent with the relevant Guidelines. BIS also conducts research on corporate governance issues and participates in industry discussions to contribute to and keep abreast of important developments in the corporate governance field. BIS may utilize third parties for certain of the foregoing activities and performs oversight of those third parties. BIS may raise complicated or particularly controversial matters for internal discussion with the relevant investment teams and governance specialists for discussion and guidance prior to making a voting decision.
Vote execution
BlackRock votes on proxy issues when our clients authorize us to do so. When BlackRock has been authorized to vote on behalf of our clients, we carefully consider proxies submitted to funds and other fiduciary account(s) (Fund or Funds) for which we have voting authority. BlackRock votes (or refrains from voting) proxies for each Fund for which we have voting authority based on our evaluation of the alignment of the voting items with the long-term economic interests of our clients, in the exercise of our independent business judgment, and without regard to the relationship of the issuer of the proxy (or any shareholder proponent or dissident shareholder) to the Fund, the Fund’s affiliates (if any), BlackRock or BlackRock’s affiliates, or BlackRock employees (see “Conflicts management policies and procedures,” below).
When exercising voting rights, BIS will normally vote on specific proxy issues in accordance with the Guidelines for the relevant market, as well as the Global Principles. The Guidelines are reviewed annually and are amended consistent with changes in the local market practice, as developments in corporate governance occur, or as otherwise deemed advisable by the applicable Stewardship Advisory Committees. BIS analysts may, in the exercise of their professional judgment, conclude that the Guidelines do not cover the specific matter upon which a proxy vote is required or that an exception to the Guidelines would be in the long-term economic interests of BlackRock’s clients.
In the uncommon circumstance of there being a vote with respect to fixed income securities or the securities of privately held issuers, the decision generally will be made by a Fund's portfolio managers and/or BIS based on an assessment of the particular transactions or other matters at issue.
In certain markets, proxy voting involves logistical issues which can affect BIS’ ability to vote such proxies, as well as the desirability of voting such proxies. These issues include, but are not limited to: i) untimely notice of shareholder meetings; ii) restrictions on a foreigner’s ability to exercise votes; iii) requirements to vote proxies in person; iv) “share-blocking” (requirements that investors who exercise their voting rights surrender the right to dispose of their holdings for some specified period in proximity to the shareholder meeting); v) potential difficulties in translating the proxy; vi) regulatory
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constraints; and vii) requirements to provide local agents with unrestricted powers of attorney to facilitate voting instructions. We are not supportive of impediments to the exercise of voting rights such as share-blocking or overly burdensome administrative requirements.
As a consequence, BlackRock votes proxies in these situations on a “best-efforts” basis. In addition, BIS may determine that it is generally in the interests of BlackRock’s clients not to vote proxies (or not to vote our full allocation) if the costs (including but not limited to opportunity costs associated with share-blocking constraints) associated with exercising a vote are expected to outweigh the benefit the client would derive by voting on the proposal.
Active portfolio managers have full discretion to vote the shares in the Funds they manage based on their analysis of the economic impact of a particular ballot item on their investors. Portfolio managers may, from time to time, reach differing views on how to maximize economic value with respect to a particular investment. Therefore, portfolio managers may, and sometimes do, vote shares in the Funds under their management differently from BIS or from one another. However, because BlackRock’s clients are mostly long-term investors with long-term economic goals, ballots are generally cast in a uniform manner.
Voting Choice
BlackRock offers a Voting Choice program, which provides eligible clients with more opportunities to participate in the proxy voting process where legally and operationally viable. BlackRock Voting Choice aims to make proxy voting easier and more accessible for eligible clients.
Voting Choice is currently available for eligible clients invested in certain institutional pooled funds in the U.S., UK, Ireland, and Canada that utilize equity index investment strategies, as well as eligible clients in certain institutional pooled funds in the U.S., UK, and Canada that use systematic active equity (SAE) strategies. Currently, this includes over 650 pooled investment funds, including equity index funds and SAE investment funds. In addition, institutional clients in separately managed accounts (SMAs) continue to be eligible for BlackRock Voting Choice regardless of their investment strategies.9
As a result, the shares attributed to BlackRock in company share registers may be voted differently depending on whether our clients have authorized BIS to vote on their behalf, have authorized BIS to vote in accordance with a third-party policy, or have elected to vote shares in accordance with their own policy. Agreements with our clients to allow them greater control over their voting, including which policies they have selected, will be treated confidentially consistent with our treatment of similar client agreements.
Conflicts management policies and procedures
BIS maintains policies and procedures that seek to prevent undue influence on BlackRock’s proxy voting activity. Such influence might stem from any relationship between the investee company (or any shareholder proponent or dissident shareholder) and BlackRock, BlackRock’s affiliates, a Fund or a Fund’s affiliates, or BlackRock employees. The following are examples of sources of perceived or potential conflicts of interest:
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BlackRock clients who may be issuers of securities or proponents of shareholder resolutions
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BlackRock business partners or third parties who may be issuers of securities or proponents of shareholder resolutions
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BlackRock employees who may sit on the boards of public companies held in Funds managed by BlackRock
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Significant BlackRock, Inc. investors who may be issuers of securities held in Funds managed by BlackRock
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Securities of BlackRock, Inc. or BlackRock investment funds held in Funds managed by BlackRock
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BlackRock, Inc. board members who serve as senior executives or directors of public companies held in Funds managed by BlackRock
BlackRock has taken certain steps to mitigate perceived or potential conflicts including, but not limited to, the following:
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Adopted the Guidelines which are designed to advance our clients’ long-term economic interests in the companies in which BlackRock invests on their behalf
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Established a reporting structure that separates BIS from employees with sales, vendor management, or business partnership roles. In addition, BlackRock seeks to ensure that all engagements with corporate issuers, dissident shareholders or shareholder proponents are managed consistently and without regard to BlackRock’s relationship with such parties. Clients or business partners are not given special treatment or differentiated access to BIS. BIS prioritizes engagements based on factors including, but not limited to, our need for additional information to make a voting
9
Read more about BlackRock Voting Choice on our website.
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decision or our view on the likelihood that an engagement could lead to positive outcome(s) over time for the economic value of the company. Within the normal course of business, BIS may engage directly with BlackRock clients, business partners and/or third parties, and/or with employees with sales, vendor management, or business partnership roles, in discussions regarding our approach to stewardship, general corporate governance matters, client reporting needs, and/or to otherwise ensure that proxy-related client service levels are met
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Determined to engage, in certain instances, an independent third-party voting service provider to make proxy voting recommendations as a further safeguard to avoid potential conflicts of interest, to satisfy regulatory compliance requirements, or as may be otherwise required by applicable law. In such circumstances, the independent third-party voting service provider provides BlackRock with recommendations, in accordance with the Guidelines, as to how to vote such proxies. BlackRock uses an independent third-party voting service provider to make proxy voting recommendations for shares of BlackRock, Inc. and companies affiliated with BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock may also use an independent third-party voting service provider to make proxy voting recommendations for:
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public companies that include BlackRock employees on their boards of directors
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public companies of which a BlackRock, Inc. board member serves as a senior executive or a member of the board of directors
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public companies that are the subject of certain transactions involving BlackRock Funds
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public companies that are joint venture partners with BlackRock, and
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public companies when legal or regulatory requirements compel BlackRock to use an independent third-party voting service provider
In selecting an independent third-party voting service provider, we assess several characteristics, including but not limited to: independence, an ability to analyze proxy issues and make recommendations in the economic interest of our clients in accordance with the Guidelines, reputation for reliability and integrity, and operational capacity to accurately deliver the assigned recommendations in a timely manner. We may engage more than one independent third-party voting service provider, in part to mitigate potential or perceived conflicts of interest at a single voting service provider. The Global Committee appoints and reviews the performance of the independent third-party voting service providers, generally on an annual basis.
Securities lending
When so authorized, BlackRock acts as a securities lending agent on behalf of Funds. Securities lending is a well-regulated practice that contributes to capital market efficiency. It also enables funds to generate additional returns while allowing fund providers to keep fund expenses lower.
With regard to the relationship between securities lending and proxy voting, BlackRock cannot vote shares on loan and may determine to recall them for voting, as guided by our fiduciary responsibility to act in our clients’ financial interests. While this has occurred in a limited number of cases, the decision to recall securities on loan as part of BlackRock’s securities lending program in order to vote is based on an evaluation of various factors that include, but are not limited to, assessing potential securities lending revenue alongside the potential long-term financial value to clients of voting those securities (based on the information available at the time of recall consideration).10 BIS works with colleagues in the Securities Lending and Risk and Quantitative Analysis teams to evaluate the costs and benefits to clients of recalling shares on loan.
In almost all instances, BlackRock anticipates that the potential long-term financial value to the Fund of voting shares would be less than the potential revenue the loan may provide the Fund. However, in certain instances, BlackRock may determine, in our independent business judgment as a fiduciary, that the value of voting outweighs the securities lending revenue loss to clients and would therefore recall shares to be voted in those instances.
Periodically, BlackRock reviews our process for determining whether to recall securities on loan in order to vote and may modify it as necessary.
Voting guidelines
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Recalling securities on loan can be impacted by the timing of record dates. In the U.S., for example, the record date of a shareholder meeting typically falls before the proxy statements are released. Accordingly, it is not practicable to evaluate a proxy statement, determine that a vote has a material impact on a fund and recall any shares on loan in advance of the record date for the annual meeting. As a result, managers must weigh independent business judgement as a fiduciary, the benefit to a fund’s shareholders of recalling loaned shares in advance of an estimated record date without knowing whether there will be a vote on matters which have a material impact on the fund (thereby forgoing potential securities lending revenue for the fund’s shareholders) or leaving shares on loan to potentially earn revenue for the fund (thereby forgoing the opportunity to vote).
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The voting guidelines published for each region/country in which we vote are intended to summarize BlackRock’s general philosophy and approach to issues that may commonly arise in the proxy voting context in each market where we invest. The Guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive. BIS applies the Guidelines on a case-by-case basis, in the context of the individual circumstances of each company and the specific issue under review. As such, the Guidelines do not indicate how BIS will vote in every instance. Rather, they reflect our view about corporate governance issues generally, and provide insight into how we typically approach issues that commonly arise on corporate ballots. As previously discussed, the Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Principles and engagement priorities. Collectively, these “BIS policies” set out the core elements of corporate governance that guide our investment stewardship efforts globally and within each market, including when engaging with companies and voting at shareholder meetings. The BIS policies are applied on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the context within which a company is operating.
Reporting and vote transparency
We are committed to transparency in the stewardship work we do on behalf of clients. We inform clients about our engagement and voting policies and activities through direct communication and through disclosure on our website. Each year we publish an annual report that provides a global overview of our investment stewardship engagement and voting activities and a voting spotlight that summarizes our voting over a proxy year.11 Additionally, we make public our regional proxy voting guidelines for the benefit of clients and the companies in which we invest on their behalf. We also publish commentaries to share our perspective on market developments and emerging key themes.
At a more granular level, on a quarterly basis, we publish our vote record for each company that held a shareholder meeting during the period, showing how BIS voted on each proposal and providing our rationale for any votes against management proposals or on shareholder proposals. For shareholder meetings where a vote might be high profile or of significant interest to clients, we may publish a vote bulletin after the meeting, disclosing and explaining our vote on key proposals. We also publish a quarterly list of all companies with which we engaged and the key topics addressed in the engagement meeting.
In this way, we help inform our clients about the work we do on their behalf in promoting the governance and business practices that support durable, long-term financial value creation.
11
The proxy year runs from July 1 to June 30.
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IS-SAI-07-0224