Executives at ETF giant Barclays Global Investors on Monday took the wraps off the first of what would be a quarterly publication for advisors seeking information on third-party managers offering model ETF portfolios. The debut issue of ETF Managed Solutions includes more than 30 managers that have a significant ETF allocation within their model portfolios, and the number of featured managers is expected to increase in subsequent editions, BGI executives said.

"Some advisors would prefer to spend more time with clients and utilize others' ETF portfolios, but learning who had those model portfolios was difficult," said Susan Thompson, managing director at BGI's iShares business. "We decided that one way we could help financial advisors was to gather this information for them."

Company Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Mar 9, 2009 -- Barclays Global Investors (BGI), one of the world's largest asset managers and exchange traded funds (ETFs) providers, announced today the industry's first "ETF Managed Solutions Guide" that will be a valuable resource for financial advisors in identifying third-party managers (TPMs) who offer model ETF portfolios. The book, to be published quarterly by BGI's iShares ETF Business, provides information about managers that have a significant ETF allocation within their model portfolios.

"The role of the financial advisor is more important than ever. There's a great need for closer communication with clients to help them navigate these turbulent markets," said Susan Thompson, managing director, iShares ETF Business at BGI. "Some advisors would prefer to spend more time with clients and utilize others' ETF portfolios, but learning who had those model portfolios was difficult. We decided that one way we could help financial advisors was to gather this information for them."

The "ETF Managed Solutions Guide" includes over 30 third-party managers and iShares expects to add more TPMs in each edition as more managers build these innovative portfolios. The guide provides information on each firm's investment philosophy, portfolio management team, portfolio objective, performance history, top holdings, and asset class and sector weights.

"More and more firms are building and actively managing ETF portfolios to help control risks and costs and to meet clients' investment goals," said Thompson. "The new 'ETF Managed Solutions Guide' helps financial advisors use ETFs and deliver ETFs' benefits of transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency to their clients."

iShares Funds are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on securities exchanges, and like common stocks, they are subject to investment risk and fluctuation in market value. The iShares Funds are intended to provide relative low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility to individual and institutional investors and financial intermediaries. However, trading in these funds may result in commissions or other costs that could offset any such savings. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

Carefully consider the funds' investment objectives, risk factors and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the funds' prospectuses, which may be obtained by calling 1-800-iShares or by visiting www.iShares.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

About Barclays Global Investors

Barclays Global Investors is one of the world's largest asset managers and a leading global provider of investment management products and services with more than 3,000 institutional clients and $1.5 trillion of assets under management as of December 31, 2008. BGI transformed the investment industry by creating the first index strategy in 1971 and the first quantitative active strategy in 1979. BGI is the global product leader in exchange traded funds (iShares� exchange traded funds) with over 360 funds for institutions and individuals globally.

Edited by: Armie Margaret Lee

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