SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Jun 19 (MARKET WIRE) --
Barclays Global Fund Advisors (the "Adviser") serves as the investment
adviser for each Master Portfolio, and Barclays Global Investors, N.A.
("BGI") serves as the administrator for each series of Barclays Global
Investors Funds (each, a "Fund") and each Master Portfolio in which the
Funds invest. On June 16, 2009, Barclays PLC, the ultimate parent company
of BGI and the Adviser, accepted a binding offer and entered into an
agreement to sell its interests in the Adviser, BGI and certain
affiliated companies, to BlackRock, Inc. (the "BlackRock Transaction").
The BlackRock Transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals, as
well as other conditions to closing.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, completion of the
BlackRock Transaction will cause the automatic termination of each Master
Portfolio's current investment advisory agreement with the Adviser. In
order for the investment management of each Master Portfolio and Fund to
continue uninterrupted, the Board of Trustees of the Master Portfolios
(the "Master Portfolios' Board") will be asked to approve a new investment
advisory agreement for each Master Portfolio. If approved by the Master
Portfolios' Board, the new investment advisory agreements will be
submitted for approval by the investors in the Master Portfolios,
including the Funds. Each Fund will in turn call a meeting of its
shareholders at which shareholders will vote to instruct the Fund how to
vote on the applicable Master Portfolio's new investment advisory
agreement.
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 approximately $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.
The Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SEI).
Barclays Global Fund Advisors is a subsidiary of Barclays Global
Investors, N.A., a majority-owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC, none
of which is affiliated with SEI. BlackRock, Inc. is not affiliated with
SEI.
For further information about Barclays Global Investors, please visit our
website www.barclaysglobal.com.
Copyright 2009 Barclays Global Investors, N.A. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.
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