BlackRock Announces Share Split of iShares® COMEX® Gold Trust

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100611005549/en

SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) today announced that the Board of Directors of
BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., sponsor of the iShares® COMEX®
Gold Trust (NYSE Arca:IAU) (TSX:IGT) (the "Trust") has authorized a 10-for-1
split for shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 21, 2010,
payable after the close of trading on June 23, 2010. The Trust shares will begin
trading with split-adjusted pricing on the NYSEArca on June 24, 2010. The Trust,
which is cross-listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, will commence trading on a
split adjusted basis on TSX on June 17, 2010. Post-split shares are expected to
be distributed to shareholders` accounts on June 28 2010, and shareholders are
expected to see the change in their holdings sometime after June 28, depending
upon their brokerage firm`s procedures.

The 10-for-1 split will lower the share price and increase the number of
outstanding shares. The total value of shares outstanding is not affected by a
split.

Hypothetical example of 10-for-1 split:

Period Number of Shares Owned Hypothetical Market Total Value
Price/Share (U.S.$) (U.S.$)
Pre-split 100 $120 $12,000
Post split 1,000 $12 $12,000

Shares of the iShares® COMEX® Gold Trust are expected to reflect, at any given
time, the price of the gold owned by the Trust, less the Trust`s expenses and
liabilities. As of June 10, 2010, the Trust had U.S. $3.3 billion in total net
assets.

About BlackRock

BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory
services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At March 31, 2010,
BlackRock`s AUM was $3.364 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 March 31, 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.

iShares COMEX Gold Trust ("Trust") has filed a registration statement (including
a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates.
Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and other documents the Trust
has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this
offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting www.iShares.com or
EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Trust will arrange
to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling toll-free
1-800-474-2737.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The iShares COMEX
Gold Trust ("Trust") is not an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 or a commodity pool for purposes of the Commodity
Exchange Act. Shares of the Trust are not subject to the same regulatory
requirements as mutual funds. Because shares of the Trust are created to reflect
the price of the gold held by the Trust, the market price of the shares will be
as unpredictable as the price of gold has historically been. Additionally,
shares of the Trust are bought and sold at market price (not NAV). Brokerage
commissions will reduce returns.

Shares of the Trust are created to reflect, at any given time, the market price
of gold owned by the trust at that time less the trust`s expenses and
liabilities. The price received upon the sale of the shares, which trade at
market price, may be more or less than the value of the gold represented by
them. If an investor sells the shares at a time when no active market for them
exists, such lack of an active market will most likely adversely affect the
price received for the shares. For a more complete discussion of the risk
factors relative to the Trust, carefully read the prospectus.

Following an investment in shares of the Trust, several factors may have the
effect of causing a decline in the prices of gold and a corresponding decline in
the price of the shares. Among them: (i) Large sales by the official sector. A
significant portion of the aggregate world gold holdings is owned by
governments, central banks and related institutions. If one or more of these
institutions decides to sell in amounts large enough to cause a decline in world
gold prices, the price of the shares will be adversely affected. (ii) A
significant increase in gold hedging activity by gold producers. Should there be
an increase in the level of hedge activity of gold producing companies, it could
cause a decline in world gold prices, adversely affecting the price of the
shares. (iii) A significant change in the attitude of speculators and investors
towards gold. Should the speculative community take a negative view towards
gold, it could cause a decline in world gold prices, negatively impacting the
price of the shares.

The amount of gold represented by shares of the Trust will decrease over the
life of the trust due to sales necessary to pay the sponsor's fee and trust
expenses. Without increase in the price of gold sufficient to compensate for
that decrease, the price of the shares will also decline, and investors will
lose money on their investment. The Trust will have limited duration. The
liquidation of the trust may occur at a time when the disposition of the trust`s
gold will result in losses to investors.

Although market makers will generally take advantage of differences between the
NAV and the trading price of Trust shares through arbitrage opportunities, there
is no guarantee that they will do so. There is no guarantee an active trading
market will develop for the shares, which may result in losses on your
investment at the time of disposition of your shares. The value of the shares of
the Trust will be adversely affected if gold owned by the trust is lost or
damaged in circumstances in which the trust is not in a position to recover the
corresponding loss. The Trust is a passive investment vehicle. This means that
the value of your shares may be adversely affected by trust losses that, if the
trust had been actively managed, it might have been possible to avoid.

Shares of the iShares COMEX Gold Trust are not deposits or other obligations of
or guaranteed by BlackRock, Inc., and its affiliates, and are not insured by the
Federal deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. (BAMII) is the sponsor of the
Trust. BlackRock Fund Distribution Company (BFDC), a subsidiary of BAMII,
assists in the promotion of the Trust. BAMII is an affiliate of BlackRock, Inc.

Although shares of the iShares COMEX Gold Trust may be bought or sold on the
exchange through any brokerage account, shares of the Trust are not redeemable
from the Trust except in large aggregated units called Baskets.

"Commodity Exchange, Inc.," and "COMEX" are trademarks of Commodity Exchange,
Inc., and have been licensed for use for certain purposes to BlackRock, Inc.,
and the iShares COMEX Gold Trust. The Trust is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or
promoted by Commodity Exchange, Inc., nor does Commodity Exchange, Inc., make
any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Trust.

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

BlackRock, Inc.
Media Relations
Christine Hudacko, 415-670-2687
christine.hudacko@blackrock.com
Lance Berg, 415-670-2045
lance.berg@blackrock.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010