BGI Canada Announces Filing of iSHARES(R) Funds Tax Information for 2008

  Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited (TSX: XBB)(TSX: XCB)(TSX: XCG)(TSX: XCV)(TSX: XDV)(TSX: XEG)(TSX: XFN)(TSX: XGB)(TSX: XGD)(TSX: XIC)(TSX: XIN)(TSX: XIT)(TSX: XIU)(TSX: XLB)(TSX: XMA)(TSX: XMD)(TSX: XRB)(TSX: XRE)(TSX: XSB)(TSX: XSP)(TSX: XTR)(TSX: XSU)(TSX: XEN)(TSX: XCS)(TSX: XCR)(TSX: XGR)(TSX: XGC)(TSX: XAL) -

Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited (BGI Canada) announced today that the tax characteristics for all 2008 distributions for the iShares Funds have been finalized and provided to CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. (CDS) for use by brokers in preparing tax reports, including T3 slips, for their clients. This information replaces any estimated tax characteristics that were provided periodically by BGI Canada during 2008 to help investors in iShares Funds with preliminary tax planning.

The "per unit" tax characteristics for iShares Funds 2008 distributions are summarized below. A more detailed listing of tax characteristics by individual distribution period will be available shortly at www.iShares.ca (and have been provided to CDS as noted above). For more information about the tax efficiency of iShares Funds, please visit www.iShares.ca.

About BGI Canada

BGI 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 is the global product leader in exchange traded funds (iShares) with over 320 funds available for institutions and individuals globally. As at December 31, 2008, BGI Canada managed over $53 billion in Canadian assets and in other assets for Canadian clients, including $14 billion in the TSX-listed iShares Funds. BGI Canada has offices in Toronto and Montreal.

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                                                                      Total
                       Non                  Return          Foreign Taxable
        Eligible  Eligible   Other Capital      of Foreign      Tax Distrib-
Ticker Dividends Dividends  Income   Gains Capital  Income     Paid   ution
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XBB                        1.28483         0.03929                  1.32412
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XCB                        0.68750         0.26064                  0.94814
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XCG      0.06320                   0.00043 0.07885                  0.14248
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XCS      0.05187           0.32583         0.16811 0.01391 -0.00154 0.55818
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XCV      0.55836   0.00138 0.24970         0.02225 0.00387 -0.00047 0.83509
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XDV      0.66554                           0.12303                  0.78857
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XEG(i)   0.15227           0.43104 0.00038 0.04876                  0.63245
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XEN      0.37848                           0.02710                  0.40558
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XFN(i)   0.51630                   0.00313 0.29428                  0.81371
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XGB                        0.74311         0.10122                  0.84433
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XGD(i)                                     0.04460                  0.04460
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XIC(i)   0.31292   0.00006 0.14026 0.00218 0.09772 0.00203 -0.00031 0.55486
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XIN                                        0.04181 0.57730 -0.09078 0.52833
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XIT                                0.80222                          0.80222
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XIU(i)   0.35918           0.06041 0.14793 0.05221 0.00112 -0.00017 0.62068
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XLB                        0.91371         0.04026                  0.95397
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XMA(i)   0.03711                   0.08137 0.04761                  0.16609
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XMD(i)   0.24143           0.45815         0.01524 0.01027 -0.00106 0.72403
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XRB                        0.87337         0.12993                  1.00330
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XRE      0.02119           0.35327 0.03625 0.44572 0.02010          0.87653
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XSB                        1.21261         0.03073                  1.24334
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XSP                                        0.01307 0.25334 -0.04030 0.22611
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XSU                                        0.01382 0.19429 -0.03563 0.17248
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XTR      0.00735           1.04550 0.00413 0.23106 0.01355 -0.00137 1.30022
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XAL      0.00177           0.06826 0.00115 0.03689 0.14945 -0.01733 0.24019
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XCR      0.01302           0.12955 0.00023 0.01291 0.05420 -0.00537 0.20454
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XGC      0.00077           0.05426 0.00077 0.02871 0.15321 -0.01660 0.22112
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XGR      0.02078           0.10649 0.00047 0.02247 0.08873 -0.00912 0.22982
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(i) The amounts above are provided on a "per unit" basis. The amounts
    disclosed for each of XEG, XFN, XGD, XIC, XIU, XMA, and XMD have been
    adjusted to reflect unit splits that became effective on August 8, 2008.

Contacts: More Information, or to schedule an interview: Contact for Media: Karrie Van Belle [phone] Email: [e-mail] All other inquiries: 1-866-iShares (1-866-474-2737) Email: [e-mail] Website: www.iShares.ca