Listing: TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange)
Symbol: XEG, XFN, XGD, XIC, XIU, XMA, XMD
TORONTO, July 16 /CNW/ - Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited
(Barclays Canada), a worldwide leader in exchange-traded funds, today
announced upcoming unit splits for the seven iShares funds set out below
(iShares Funds), each of which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).
Unitholders of record of the iShares Funds on August 8, 2008 will
automatically participate in the unit splits.
Barclays Canada is initiating these splits in response to investor
demand. The prices of certain iShares funds have increased significantly, so
the splits will allow investors access at a smaller initial investment to some
of the more popular iShares funds that have a relatively high unit price. The
"split ratios" shown below indicate the number of units that a unitholder of
an iShares Fund will hold after the split in relation to the number of units
held by the unitholder before the split.
Fund Splits
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Fund Name Ticker Split Ratio
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iShares CDN S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index Fund XEG 4:1
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iShares CDN S&P/TSX Global Gold Index Fund XGD 4:1
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iShares CDN S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index Fund XIC 4:1
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iShares CDN S&P/TSX 60 Index Fund XIU 4:1
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iShares CDN S&P/TSX Completion Index Fund XMD 4:1
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iShares CDN S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index Fund XFN 2:1
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iShares CDN S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index Fund XMA 2:1
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The iShares Funds will begin trading on the TSX on a split-adjusted basis
on August 6, 2008. The splits will become effective on August 8, 2008,
following which additional units will be distributed to unitholders' accounts.
We expect that unitholders will see a change in their holdings shortly after
this, depending on their broker's procedures.
Hypothetical Examples
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Net Asset Net Asset
Split Number of Units Number of Units Value per Unit Value per Unit
Ratio Pre-Split Post-Split Pre-Split Post-Split
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4:1 100 400 $100 $25
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3:1 100 300 $90 $30
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2:1 100 200 $40 $20
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For more information, please visit www.iShares.ca or call your iShares
representative.
About Barclays Canada
Barclays Canada is an indirect subsidiary of Barclays PLC and part of
Barclays Global Investors (BGI), a division of Barclays PLC and one of the
largest institutional investment managers in the world and the largest manager
of index funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). BGI leads the world in ETFs,
with over 200 iShares funds representing over $400 billion in assets. As at
March 31, 2008, Barclays Canada managed over $73 billion in Canadian assets
and in other assets for Canadian clients, including $17 billion in the
TSX-listed iShares funds. Barclays Canada has offices in Toronto and Montreal.
%SEDAR: 00015150E
