iShares 529 Plan ® Earns High Marks From Morningstar

iShares, a global leader in Exchange Traded Funds, today announced it was one of five advisor-sold 529 plans to be given an “Above Average” rating among 23 advisor sold plans rated in Morningstar’s seventh annual 529 Industry Survey. Morningstar recently assigned an analyst rating of “Top,” “Above Average,” “Average,” “Below Average,” or “Bottom” to 53 of the largest 529 college-savings plans in the U.S.

“It is especially validating to see an industry expert like Morningstar recognize the appeal of the iShares 529 plan, particularly as the Plan is a relatively young entrant to the marketplace,” said Stephen Jobe, director of 529 Programs at BlackRock. “This rating can give advisors further confidence in their decision to recommend the iShares 529 Plan to their clients.”

The Plan -- available through financial advisors -- is the only 529 plan with all ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) as the underlying investments.

According to the survey’s findings, the iShares 529 Plan stands out for -- among other things -- its all-ETF core and low cost. “For those who prefer to use an advisor,” writes Morningstar, “this plan is one of the most cost-effective choices available.” The report adds, “The plan's fees look extremely cheap relative to its broker-sold peers.”

Asset-based fees of advisor-sold plans average 1.17%*, while fees for the iShares 529 Plan are just 0.63% on average.** The fees of the iShares Plan compare favorably even to direct-sold plans, which average 0.64% in asset-based fees.***

Morningstar’s survey also points out that the iShares 529 Plan offers a well-diversified range of investment options, and acknowledges the care taken in constructing its age-based portfolios. “BlackRock's asset-allocation team introduced a "liability-aware" framework to reduce risk, especially in the immediate years before college enrollment,” Morningstar writes. “Investors can be confident in the glide-path construction process.”

Jobe adds, “In the wake of some volatile years fraught with opacity and uncertainty investors in the iShares 529 Plan can take relative comfort in knowing that their money is invested in underlying passive instruments -- index funds -- with transparency of holdings and low cost access to the markets.”

The iShares 529 Plan is a college savings plan sponsored by the State of Arkansas, which offers additional tax benefits to account owners who are Arkansas taxpayers. For example, Arkansas taxpayers can deduct up to $5,000 (up to $10,000 for married couples) of their iShares 529 Plan contributions from their Arkansas adjusted gross income1.

For more information about iShares 529 Plan, please visit www.ishares529.com.

* Source: FRC, September 2010.

** Average of all iShares 529 Plan portfolios' total annual asset-based fees as of August 2010, including underlying investment expenses (varies), program management fee (up to 0.35%) and state administration fee (0.05%).

*** Source: FRC, September 2010

About iShares: iShares is the global product leader in exchange traded funds with over 430 funds globally across equities, fixed income and commodities, which trade on 16 exchanges worldwide. The iShares customer base consists of the institutional segment of pension plans and fund managers, as well as the retail segment of financial advisors and high net worth individuals.

About BlackRock: BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At September 30, 2010, BlackRock’s AUM was $3.446 trillion. BlackRock offers products that span the risk spectrum to meet clients’ needs, including active, enhanced and index strategies across markets and asset classes. Products are offered in a variety of structures including separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares® exchange traded funds, and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions®. Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2010, the firm has approximately 8,500 employees in 24 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.blackrock.com.

For more information about the iShares 529 Plan, contact your financial advisor, call 1-888-529-9552 or visit www.ishares529.com to obtain a Program Description and Participation Agreement which includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information; read and consider it carefully before investing or sending money. Upromise Investments, Inc., Co-Distributor and Underwriter; BlackRock Fund Distribution Company, Co-Distributor.

If you are not an Arkansas taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

The iShares 529 Plan is a college tuition savings program sponsored by the State of Arkansas and is administered by the Arkansas 529 Plan Review Committee. Upromise Investments, Inc., and Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, serve as the Program Manager and Recordkeeping and Servicing Agent, respectively, with overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations, including marketing and co-distribution of the Plan. BlackRock Fund Distribution Company also has responsibility for co-distribution of the Plan. BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., serves as Investment Manager for the Plan. The Plan’s portfolios, although they invest in exchange traded funds, are not exchange traded funds. Units of the Portfolios are municipal securities and the value of units will vary with market conditions.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation may not protect against market risk.

The information is for illustrative and educational purposes only. This information should not be relied upon as investment advice.

Neither BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., and its affiliates nor Upromise and its affiliates provide tax advice. Please note that (i) any discussion of U.S. tax matters contained in this communication cannot be used by you for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties; (ii) this communication was written to support the promotion or marketing of the matters addressed herein; and (iii) you should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., and BlackRock Fund Distribution Company are subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc., none of which is affiliated with Upromise.

© 2010 BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

* Not FDIC Insured * No Bank, State or Federal Guarantee * May Lose Value

1 Contributions to the Plan in a tax year are deductible from Arkansas state income tax, subject to recapture in subsequent years in which non-qualified withdrawals or a rollover out to another state’s 529 plan is made.