As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 2009

File Nos. 333-92935 and 811-09729

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 303 [X]
and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. 303 [X]
(Check appropriate box or boxes)


iShares Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
(Address of Principal Executive Office)(Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (415) 597-2000

The Corporation Trust Company
1209 Orange Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)


With Copies to:

   MARGERY K. NEALE, ESQ.        BENJAMIN J. HASKIN, ESQ.          JESSICA BENTLEY, ESQ.
WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP   WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP   BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS, N.A.
     787 SEVENTH AVENUE             1875 K STREET, NW                400 HOWARD STREET
  NEW YORK, NY 10019-6099       WASHINGTON, DC 20006-1238         SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box):

[_] Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

[_] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

[X] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

[_] On (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

[_] On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

[_] On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

If appropriate, check the following box:

[_] The post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment



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THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH THE OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

2009 PROSPECTUS TO SHAREHOLDERS

iSHARES(Reg. TM) 2012 S&P AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL SERIES

________________, 2009

Ticker: ___
Stock Exchange: _______

>> WOULD YOU PREFER TO RECEIVE MATERIALS LIKE THIS ELECTRONICALLY?
SEE THE INSIDE BACK COVER FOR DETAILS.

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

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Table of Contents

iSHARES(Reg. TM) 2012 S&P AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL SERIES.......................   S-1
Introduction..............................................................     1
A Further Discussion of Principal Risks...................................     1
Portfolio Holdings Information............................................     6
Management................................................................     6
Shareholder Information...................................................     8
Distribution..............................................................    15
Financial Highlights......................................................    15
Index Provider............................................................    15
Disclaimers...............................................................    16

"Standard & Poor's(Reg. TM)," "S&P(Reg. TM)" and "S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2012 IndexTM" are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC (a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies) licensed for use for certain purposes by Barclays Global Investors, N.A. ("BGI"). iShares is a registered trademark of BGI.

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SUMMARY PROSPECTUS ________________, 2009

iSHARES(Reg. TM) 2012 S&P AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL SERIES
Ticker: ___ Stock Exchange: _______

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's Prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund's Prospectus and other information at no cost at www.ishares.com/___, by calling 1-800-474-2737 or by sending an email request to iSharesETFs@barclaysglobal.com. The Fund's Prospectus and statement of additional information dated _______, 2009 are all incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2012 Index (the "Underlying Index"). The Fund does not seek to return any predetermined amount at maturity. The Fund's investment objective and the Underlying Index may be changed without shareholder approval.

The Underlying Index is sponsored by an organization (the "Index Provider") that is independent of the Fund and Barclays Global Fund Advisors ("BGFA"). The Index Provider determines the composition and relative weightings of the securities in the Underlying Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Underlying Index. The Fund's Index Provider is Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC (a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies) ("S&P"). Additional information regarding the Index Provider is provided in the INDEX PROVIDER section of the Prospectus. The Fund is a series of iShares Trust (the "Trust").

FEES AND EXPENSES

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you will incur if you own shares of the Fund. You will also incur usual and customary brokerage commissions when buying or selling shares of the Fund, which are not reflected in the example that follows:

                           ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES/2/
                    (ON GOING EXPENSES THAT YOU PAY EACH YEAR AS A
                     PERCENTAGE OF THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS)
              ---------------------------------------------------------
                             DISTRIBUTION                  TOTAL ANNUAL
                                 AND                           FUND
SHAREHOLDER   MANAGEMENT   SERVICE (12B-1)      OTHER       OPERATING
  FEES/1/        FEES            FEES        EXPENSES/3/     EXPENSES
-----------   ----------   ---------------   -----------   ------------
                 ----%                         --------       ----%


/1/ [Fees paid directly from your investment.] /2/ [Expenses that are deducted from the Fund's assets, expressed as a percentage of average net assets.]

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/3/ The Trust's Investment Advisory Agreement provides that BGFA will pay all operating expenses of the Fund, except interest expense and taxes, any brokerage expenses, future distribution fees or expenses and extraordinary expenses.

EXAMPLE. This example is intended to help you compare the cost of owning shares of the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 1 YEAR    3 YEARS
--------  ---------
 $---     $---

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Underlying Index measures the performance of investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds maturing in 2012. As of October 8, 2009, there were 3,039 issues in the Underlying Index.

The Underlying Index includes municipal bonds from issuers that are primarily state or local governments or agencies (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and U.S. territories such as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) such that the interest on the bonds is exempt from U.S. federal income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax ("AMT") as determined by the Index Provider in accordance with its methodology. Each bond must have a rating of at least BBB- by Standard & Poor's, Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or BBB- by Fitch Inc. Each bond must have a minimum maturity par amount of $2 million to be eligible for inclusion. To remain in the Underlying Index, bonds must maintain a minimum par amount greater than or equal to $2 million as of each rebalancing date. All bonds in the Underlying Index will mature between June 1 and August 31 of the same year as noted in the name of the Underlying Index. When a bond matures in the Underlying Index, an amount representing its maturity value will be included in the Underlying Index throughout the remaining life of the Underlying Index, and any such amount will be assumed to earn a rate equal to the performance of the Standard & Poor's Weekly High Grade Index, which consists of Moody's Investment Grade-1 municipal tax-exempt notes that are not subject to AMT. By August 31, 2012, the Underlying Index is expected to consist entirely of cash carried in this manner. The Underlying Index is a market value weighted index, and the securities in the Underlying Index are updated after the close on the last business day of each month.

BGFA uses a "passive" or indexing approach to try to achieve the Fund's investment objective. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does not try to "beat" the index it tracks and

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does not seek temporary defensive positions when markets decline or appear overvalued.

Indexing may eliminate the chance that the Fund will substantially outperform its Underlying Index but also may reduce some of the risks of active management, such as poor security selection. Indexing seeks to achieve lower costs and better after-tax performance by keeping portfolio turnover low in comparison to actively managed investment companies.

The Fund generally invests at least 80% of its assets in the securities of its Underlying Index. The Fund may at times invest up to 20% of its assets in cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds, whether or not affiliated with BGFA), as well as in municipal bonds not included in its Underlying Index, but which BGFA believes will help the Fund track its Underlying Index. For example, the Fund may invest in municipal bonds not included in the Underlying Index in order to reflect prospective changes in the Underlying Index (such as index reconstitutions, additions and deletions). The Fund will generally hold municipal bond securities issued by state and local municipalities whose interest is exempt from federal income tax and the federal AMT. In addition, the Fund may invest any cash assets in one or more affiliated or non-affiliated tax- free money market funds. In the last year of operation, when the bonds held by the Fund mature, the Fund's portfolio will transition to cash and cash equivalents, including without limitation AMT-free tax-exempt municipal notes, variable rate demand notes and obligations, tender option bonds and municipal commercial paper. On or about August 31, 2012, the Fund will wind up and terminate, and its net assets will be distributed to then-current shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation.

BGFA uses a representative sampling indexing strategy to manage the Fund. "Representative sampling" is an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Underlying Index. The securities selected are expected to have, in the aggregate, investment characteristics (based on factors such as market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability, duration, maturity or credit ratings and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those of the Underlying Index. The Fund may or may not hold all of the securities in the Underlying Index.

TRACKING ERROR. An index is a theoretical financial calculation while the Fund is an actual investment portfolio. The performance of the Fund and its Underlying Index may vary due to transaction costs, foreign currency valuation, asset valuations, corporate actions (such as mergers and spin-offs), timing variances, and differences between the Fund's portfolio and the Underlying Index resulting from legal restrictions (such as diversification requirements) that apply to the Fund but not to the Underlying Index or the use of representative sampling. "Tracking error" is the difference between the performance (return) of the Fund's portfolio and that of its Underlying Index. BGFA expects that, over time, the Fund's tracking error will not exceed 5%. Because the Fund uses a representative sampling indexing

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strategy, it can be expected to have a larger tracking error than if it used a replication indexing strategy. "Replication" is an indexing strategy in which a fund invests in substantially all of the securities in its underlying index in approximately the same proportions as in the underlying index.

INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION POLICY. The Fund will concentrate its investments (I.E., hold 25% or more of its total assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index is concentrated. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, and securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL RISKS

As with any investment, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Fund, and the Fund's performance could trail that of other investments. The Fund is subject to the principal risks noted below, any of which may adversely affect the Fund's net asset value ("NAV"), trading price, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective, as well as numerous other risks that are described in greater detail in the FURTHER DISCUSSION OF PRINCIPAL RISKS section of the Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information.

ASSET CLASS RISK. Securities in the Underlying Index or the Fund's portfolio may underperform in comparison to the general securities markets or other asset classes.

CONCENTRATION RISK. To the extent that the Fund's investments are concentrated in a particular state, region, market, project type or asset class, the Fund will be susceptible to loss due to adverse occurences affecting that state, region, market, project type or asset class.

CREDIT RISK. The Fund is subject to the risk that debt issuers and other counterparties may not honor their obligations.

DECLINING YIELD RISK. During the final three months prior to the Fund's planned termination date, its yield will generally tend to move toward prevailing tax-exempt money market rates, and may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by the Fund and lower than prevailing yields for bonds in the market.

FLUCTUATION OF YIELD AND LIQUIDATION AMOUNT RISK. The Fund, unlike a direct investment in a municipal bond that has a level coupon payment and a fixed payment at maturity, will make distributions of income that vary over time. It is expected that an investment in the Fund, if held through maturity, will produce a total return comparable to a direct investment in municipal bonds of similar credit quality and maturity, but unlike a direct investment in municipal bonds, the breakdown of total return between Fund distributions and returns at maturity will not be predictable at the time of your investment. At times during the Fund's existence it may make distributions at a greater (or lesser) rate than the coupon payments received on the Fund's portfolio, which will result in the Fund returning a lesser (or greater) amount on liquidation than would otherwise be the case. The rate of Fund distribution payments may

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adversely affect the tax characterization of your returns from an investment in the Fund relative to a direct investment in municipal bonds. If the amount you receive as liquidation proceeds upon the Fund's termination is higher or lower than your cost basis, you may experience a gain or loss for tax purposes.

INTEREST RATE RISK. An increase in interest rates may cause the value of fixed-income securities held by the Fund to decline.

ISSUER RISK. Fund performance depends on the performance of individual issuers in which the Fund invests. The Fund invests in municipal bonds of issuers that are primarily state or local governments or agencies. Changes to the financial condition of any of those issuers may cause the value of their securities to decline.

LIQUIDITY RISK. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. This can reduce the Fund's returns because the Fund may be unable to transact at advantageous times or prices. The Fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal securities, which may be less liquid than taxable bonds.

MANAGEMENT RISK. The Fund is subject to the risk that BGFA's investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.

MARKET RISK. The Fund's NAV could decline over short periods due to short-term market movements and over longer periods during market downturns. The recent financial crisis has caused a decrease in the value and liquidity of many securities, including municipal securities, and has adversely affected many issuers of municipal securities and may continue to do so.

MARKET TRADING RISKS. The Fund faces numerous market trading risks, including the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares, losses from trading in secondary markets, and disruption in the creation/redemption process of the Fund. ANY OF THESE FACTORS MAY LEAD TO THE FUND'S SHARES TRADING AT A PREMIUM OR DISCOUNT TO NAV.

MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RISK. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political or economic changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes or the rights of municipal security holders. Municipal securities backed by current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets can be negatively affected by the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets.

NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund may invest a large percentage of its assets in securities issued by or representing a small number of issuers. As a result, Fund performance may depend on the performance of a small number of issuers.

PASSIVE INVESTMENT RISK. The Fund is not actively managed and BGFA does not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.

TAX RISK. There is no guarantee that the Fund's income will be exempt from federal income taxes or the federal AMT.

TRACKING ERROR RISK. The performance of the Fund may diverge from that of its Underlying Index.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

As of the date of the Prospectus, the Fund has been in operation for less

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than one full calendar year and therefore does not report its performance information.

MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT ADVISER. Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS. Lee Sterne and Joel Silva, each a Portfolio Manager, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Portfolio Manager functions as a member of a portfolio manager team. Mr. Sterne and Mr. Silva have been Portfolio Managers of the Fund since inception.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

THE FUND IS AN EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND (commonly referred to as an "ETF"). Individual Fund shares may only be purchased and sold on a national securities exchange through a broker-dealer. The price of Fund shares is based on market price, and because ETF shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (a premium) or less than NAV (a discount). Only authorized participants who have entered into agreements with the Fund's distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the "Distributor"), may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund will only issue or redeem shares that have been aggregated into blocks of [____] shares or multiples thereof ("Creation Units"). The Fund will issue or redeem Creation Units in return for a basket of assets that the Fund specifies each day.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund intends to make distributions that are exempt from federal income tax and federal AMT, but may also make distributions that are taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account ("IRA"). For more information regarding the tax consequences that may be associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS section of the Prospectus.

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Introduction

This Prospectus contains important information about investing in the Fund. Please read this Prospectus carefully before you make any investment decisions. Additional information regarding the Fund is available at www.iShares.com.

BGFA is the investment adviser to the Fund. Shares of the Fund are listed and trade at market prices on ____________. The market price for a share of the Fund may be different from the Fund's most recent NAV per share.

The Fund is an ETF. ETFs are funds that trade like other publicly-traded securities. The Fund is designed to track an index. Similar to shares of an index mutual fund, each share of the Fund represents a partial ownership in an underlying portfolio of securities intended to track a market index. Unlike shares of a mutual fund, which can be bought and redeemed from the issuing fund by all shareholders at a price based on NAV, shares of the Fund may be purchased or redeemed directly from the Fund at NAV solely by Authorized Participants. Also unlike shares of a mutual fund, shares of the Fund are listed on a national securities exchange and trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day.

The Fund will wind up and terminate on or about August 31, 2012. Upon its termination, the Fund will distribute substantially all of its net assets, after making appropriate provision for any liabilities of the Fund, to then-current shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation. In the final months of the Fund's operation, as the bonds it holds mature, its portfolio will transition to cash and cash-like instruments, including without limitation AMT-free tax-exempt municipal notes, variable rate demand notes and obligations, tender option bonds and municipal commercial paper. In accordance with the Trust's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated September 17, 2009, the Fund will terminate on the date above by approval of a majority of the Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board") without requiring additional approval by Fund shareholders. The Board may extend the termination date if a majority of the Board determines the extension to be in the best interest of the Fund.

The Fund invests in a particular segment of the securities markets and seeks to track the performance of a securities index that generally is not representative of the market as a whole. The Fund is designed to be used as part of broader asset allocation strategies. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund should not constitute a complete investment program.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, BGFA or any of its affiliates.

A Further Discussion of Principal Risks

The Fund is subject to the principal risks noted below, any of which may adversely affect the Fund's NAV, trading price, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective. You could lose all or part of your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could underperform other investments.

ASSET CLASS RISK. The securities in the Underlying Index or the Fund's portfolio may underperform the returns of other securities or indexes that track other countries, regions, industries, groups of industries, markets, asset classes or sectors. Various

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types of securities or indexes tend to experience cycles of outperformance and underperformance in comparison to the general securities markets.

CONCENTRATION RISK. To the extent that the Fund's portfolio reflects the Underlying Index's concentration in the securities of issuers in a particular state, region, market, project type, sector or asset class, the Fund may be adversely affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting that state, region, market, project type, sector or asset class.

CREDIT RISK. Credit risk is the risk that issuers or guarantors of debt instruments or the counterparty to a derivatives contract, repurchase agreement or loan of portfolio securities are unable or unwilling to make timely interest and/or principal payments or to otherwise honor their obligations. Debt instruments are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which may be reflected in credit ratings. There is the chance that any of the Fund's portfolio holdings will have its credit ratings downgraded or will default (fail to make scheduled interest or principal payments), potentially reducing the Fund's income level, share price and distribution amount at termination.

DECLINING YIELD RISK. During the final three months prior to the planned termination date of the Fund, the bonds held by the Fund will mature and the Fund's portfolio will convert to cash or cash equivalents. During these final three months, the Fund's yield will generally tend to move toward prevailing tax-exempt money market rates, and may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by the Fund and lower than prevailing yields for bonds in the market.

FLUCTUATION OF YIELD AND LIQUIDATION AMOUNT RISK. The Fund, unlike a direct investment in a municipal bond that has a level coupon payment and a fixed payment at maturity, will make distributions of income that vary over time. It is expected that an investment in the Fund, if held through maturity, will produce a total return comparable to a direct investment in municipal bonds of similar credit quality and maturity, but unlike a direct investment in municipal bonds, the breakdown of total return between Fund distributions and returns at maturity will not be predictable at the time of your investment. The Fund may make distributions at a greater (or lesser) rate than the coupon payments received on the Fund's portfolio, which will result in the Fund returning a lesser (or greater) amount on liquidation than would otherwise be the case. The breakdown between Fund distribution payments and the amount of liquidation proceeds may adversely affect the tax characterization of your returns from an investment in the Fund relative to a direct investment in municipal bonds. If the amount you receive as liquidation proceeds upon the Fund's termination is higher or lower than your cost basis, you may experience a gain or loss for tax purposes.

INTEREST RATE RISK. As interest rates rise, fixed-income securities held by the Fund are likely to decrease in value. Securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, usually making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations. To the extent the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in fixed-income securities with longer-term maturities, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly. Because the Fund holds a portfolio of securities set to mature at approximately the same time, the Fund

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generally will have greater exposure to interest rate risk earlier in its life than closer to its termination date.

ISSUER RISK. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular type of security or issuer, and changes in general economic or political conditions can affect a security's or instrument's credit quality or value.

The Underlying Index includes municipal bonds from issuers that are primarily state or local governments or agencies. The interest on the municipal bonds included in the Underlying Index is exempt from U.S. federal income taxes and the federal AMT as determined by the Index Provider in accordance with its methodology. The Index Provider relies on the bond issuer's prospectus disclosure of the opinion from its counsel as to the tax-exempt status of the investment. Similarly, for municipal bonds not represented in the Underlying Index, BGFA relies on prospectus disclosure of the tax opinion from the bond issuer's counsel. Neither BGFA nor the Fund guarantees that these opinions are correct, and there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") will agree with the bond counsel's opinion. Issuers or other parties generally enter into covenants requiring continuing compliance with federal tax requirements to preserve the tax-free status of interest payments over the life of the security. If at any time the covenants are not complied with, or if the IRS otherwise determines that the issuer did not comply with relevant tax requirements, interest payments from a security could become federally taxable, possibly retroactively to the date the security was issued. For municipal bonds not included in the Underlying Index, BGFA will generally seek to obtain bonds that pay interest that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxes and exempt from the federal AMT. The interest on any money market instruments held by the Fund may be subject to the federal AMT.

LIQUIDITY RISK. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. If the Fund invests in illiquid securities or securities that become illiquid, it may reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.

The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. There may also be less information available on the financial condition of issuers of municipal securities than for public corporations. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, and municipal securities may be more difficult for the Fund to value accurately than securities of public corporations. Since the Fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal securities, the Fund's portfolio may have greater exposure to liquidity risk than a fund that invests in non-municipal securities.

MANAGEMENT RISK. The Fund does not fully replicate its Underlying Index and may hold securities not included in its Underlying Index. As a result, the Fund is subject to the risk that BGFA's investment management strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results.

MARKET RISK. The Fund could lose money due to short-term market movements and over longer periods during market downturns. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions,

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economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or to factors that affect a particular project type or types. During a general economic downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Fixed-income securities with short-term maturities are generally less sensitive to such changes than fixed-income securities with longer-term maturities.

Recently, the equity and debt capital markets in the United States and internationally have experienced unprecedented volatility. This financial crisis has caused a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities, including municipal securities, and has adversely affected many issuers of municipal securities and may continue to do so. Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities. The value of a security may also decrease due to specific conditions that affect a particular sector of the securities market or a particular issuer. In addition, since many municipal securities are issued to finance similar projects, such as those relating to education, health care, housing, utilities, and water and sewer, conditions in these industries can affect the overall municipal market.

MARKET TRADING RISKS

ABSENCE OF ACTIVE MARKET. Although shares of the Fund are listed for trading on one or more stock exchanges, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such shares will develop or be maintained.

RISKS OF SECONDARY LISTINGS. The Fund's shares may be listed or traded on U.S. and non-U.S. stock exchanges other than the U.S. stock exchange where the Fund's primary listing is maintained. There can be no assurance that the Fund's shares will continue to trade on any such stock exchange or in any market or that the Fund's shares will continue to meet the requirements for listing or trading on any exchange or in any market. The Fund's shares may be less actively traded in certain markets than others, and investors are subject to the execution and settlement risks and market standards of the market where they or their broker direct their trades for execution. Certain information available to investors who trade Fund shares on a U.S. stock exchange during regular U.S. market hours may not be available to investors who trade in other markets, which may result in secondary market prices in such markets being less efficient.

SECONDARY MARKET TRADING RISKS. Shares of the Fund may trade in the secondary market at times when the Fund does not accept orders to purchase or redeem shares. At such times, shares may trade in the secondary market with more significant premiums or discounts than might be experienced at times when the Fund accepts purchase and redemption orders.

Secondary market trading in Fund shares may be halted by a stock exchange because of market conditions or other reasons. In addition, trading in Fund shares on a stock exchange or in any market may be subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to "circuit breaker" rules on the exchange or market. There can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing or trading of Fund shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

SHARES OF THE FUND MAY TRADE AT PRICES OTHER THAN NAV. Shares of the Fund trade on exchanges at prices at, above or below their most recent NAV. The per share NAV of

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the Fund is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of the Fund's holdings since the most recent calculation. The trading prices of the Fund's shares fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand rather than NAV. The trading prices of the Fund's shares may deviate significantly from NAV during periods of market volatility. ANY OF THESE FACTORS MAY LEAD TO THE FUND'S SHARES TRADING AT A PREMIUM OR DISCOUNT TO NAV. However, because shares can be created and redeemed in Creation Units at NAV (unlike shares of many closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their NAVs), BGFA believes that large discounts or premiums to the NAV of the Fund are not likely to be sustained over the long-term. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that the Fund's shares normally will trade on exchanges at prices close to the Fund's next calculated NAV, exchange prices are not expected to correlate exactly with the Fund's NAV due to timing reasons as well as market supply and demand factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from NAV. If a shareholder purchases at a time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV, the shareholder may sustain losses.

COSTS OF BUYING OR SELLING FUND SHARES. Buying or selling Fund shares involves two types of costs that apply to all securities transactions. When buying or selling shares of the Fund through a broker, you will incur a brokerage commission or other charges imposed by brokers as determined by that broker. In addition, you will also incur the cost of the "spread" - that is, the difference between what professional investors are willing to pay for Fund shares (the "bid" price) and the price at which they are willing to sell Fund shares (the "ask" price). Because of the costs inherent in buying or selling Fund shares, frequent trading may detract significantly from investment results and an investment in Fund shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.

MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RISK. Municipal securities are subject to the risk that litigation, legislation or other political events, local business or economic conditions or the bankruptcy of the issuer could have a significant effect on an issuer's ability to make payments of principal and/or interest or otherwise affect the value of such securities.

Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes or the rights of municipal security holders. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar projects, especially those relating to education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. In addition, changes in the financial condition of an individual municipal insurer can affect the overall municipal market.

Municipal securities backed by current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets can be negatively affected by the discontinuance of the taxation supporting the project or assets or the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets. If the IRS determines an issuer of a municipal security has not

5

complied with applicable tax requirements, interest from the security could become taxable and the security could decline significantly in value.

NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as "non-diversified." This means that the Fund may invest a large percentage of its assets in securities issued by or representing a small number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks associated with these particular issuers, or to a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting these issuers.

PASSIVE INVESTMENT RISK. The Fund is not actively managed and may be affected by a general decline in bond market segments relating to its Underlying Index. The Fund invests in securities included in, or representative of, its Underlying Index regardless of their investment merits. BGFA does not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.

TAX RISK. There is no guarantee that the Fund's income will be exempt from U.S. federal or state income taxes or the federal AMT. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Fund's acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax or federal AMT purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Fund to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or AMT rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to lose value.

TRACKING ERROR RISK. Imperfect correlation between the Fund's portfolio securities and those in its Underlying Index, rounding of prices, changes to the Underlying Index and regulatory requirements may cause tracking error, the divergence of the Fund's performance from that of its Underlying Index. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. Tracking error also may result because the Fund incurs fees and expenses while its Underlying Index does not.

Portfolio Holdings Information

A description of the Trust's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). The top holdings of the Fund can be found at www.iShares.com. Fund fact sheets provide information regarding the Fund's top holdings and may be requested by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737).

Management

INVESTMENT ADVISER. As investment adviser, BGFA has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Trust. BGFA provides an investment program for the Fund and manages the investment of the Fund's assets. In seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective, BGFA uses teams of portfolio managers, investment strategists and other investment specialists. This team approach brings together many disciplines and leverages BGFA's extensive resources.

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Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between BGFA and the Trust (entered into on behalf of the Fund), BGFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services except interest expense and taxes, brokerage expenses, future distribution fees or expenses and extraordinary expenses.

For its investment advisory services to the Fund, BGFA is entitled to receive a management fee from the Fund based on a percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets, at the annual rate of [___]%. Because the Fund has been in operation for less than one full fiscal year, this percentage reflects the rate at which BGFA will be paid.

BGFA is located at 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BGI, which in turn is a majority-owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC. As of ________, 2009, BGI and its affiliates, including BGFA, provided investment advisory services for assets in excess of $____ trillion. BGI, BGFA, Barclays Global Investors Services, Barclays Bank PLC and their affiliates deal, trade and invest for their own accounts in the types of securities in which the Fund may also invest.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board's approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement with BGFA will be available in the Fund's annual report for the 12-month period ending February 28.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS. Lee Sterne and Joel Silva (collectively, the "Portfolio Managers") are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Portfolio Manager is responsible for various functions related to portfolio management, including, but not limited to, investing cash inflows, coordinating with members of his team to focus on certain asset classes, implementing investment strategy, researching and reviewing investment strategy and overseeing members of his portfolio management team with more limited responsibilities.

Lee Sterne has been employed by BGFA and BGI as a senior portfolio manager since 2004 and was a portfolio manager with BGFA and BGI from 2001 to 2004. Mr. Sterne received a B.A. degree in German Language/Literature Studies with a minor concentration in History from Colgate University. Mr. Sterne has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception.

Joel Silva has been employed by BGFA and BGI as a portfolio manager since 2007. Prior to becoming a portfolio manager, Mr. Silva was employed as a Managing Director for Stone & Youngberg LLC where he traded and underwrote municipal securities from 2000 to 2007. Mr. Silva received a Master's degree in Business Administration from California State University, Hayward. Mr. Silva has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception.

The Fund's SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers and the Portfolio Managers' ownership (if any) of shares in the Fund.

ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT. State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") is the administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the Fund.

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Shareholder Information

ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION, INCLUDING HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES OF THE FUND, IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE BY CALLING TOLL-FREE: 1-800-ISHARES (1-800-474-2737) OR VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.ISHARES.COM.

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES. Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on a national securities exchange during the trading day. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like shares of other publicly-traded companies. The Trust does not impose any minimum investment for shares of the Fund purchased on an exchange. Buying or selling Fund shares involves two types of costs that may apply to all securities transactions. When buying or selling shares of the Fund through a broker, you will likely incur a brokerage commission or other charges determined by your broker. In addition, you may incur the cost of the "spread" - that is, any difference between the bid price and the ask price. The commission is frequently a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell small amounts of shares. The spread varies over time for shares of the Fund based on its trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if the Fund has a lot of trading volume and market liquidity and higher if the Fund has little trading volume and market liquidity. The Fund's shares trade under the trading symbol "___".

Shares of the Fund may be acquired or redeemed directly from the Fund only in Creation Units or multiples thereof, as discussed in the CREATIONS AND REDEMPTIONS section of this Prospectus. Only an Authorized Participant (as defined in the CREATIONS AND REDEMPTIONS section) may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. Once created, shares of the Fund generally trade in the secondary market in amounts less than a Creation Unit.

The Board has adopted a policy of not monitoring for frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares ("frequent trading") that appear to attempt to take advantage of a potential arbitrage opportunity presented by a lag between a change in the value of the Fund's portfolio securities after the close of the primary markets for the Fund's portfolio securities and the reflection of that change in the Fund's NAV ("market timing"), because the Fund sells and redeems its shares directly through transactions that are in-kind and/or for cash with a deadline for placing cash-related transactions no later than the close of the primary markets for the Fund's portfolio securities. The Board has not adopted a policy of monitoring for other frequent trading activity because shares of the Fund are listed and traded on national securities exchanges.

The national securities exchange on which the Fund's shares are listed is open for trading Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Fund's primary listing exchange is _______.

Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, restricts investments by registered investment companies in the securities of other investment companies. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund

8

beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.

BOOK ENTRY. Shares of the Fund are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding shares of the Fund and is recognized as the owner of all shares for all purposes.

Investors owning shares of the Fund are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for shares of the Fund. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other securities that you hold in book-entry or "street name" form.

SHARE PRICES. The trading prices of the Fund's shares in the secondary market generally differ from the Fund's daily NAV per share and are affected by market forces such as supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors. Information regarding the intraday value of shares of the Fund, also known as the "indicative optimized portfolio value" ("IOPV"), is disseminated every 15 seconds throughout the trading day by the national securities exchange on which the Fund's shares are listed or by market data vendors or other information providers. The IOPV is based on the current market value of the securities and/or cash required to be deposited in exchange for a Creation Unit. The IOPV does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of the current portfolio of securities held by the Fund at a particular point in time nor the best possible valuation of the current portfolio. Therefore, the IOPV should not be viewed as a "real-time" update of the NAV, which is computed only once a day. The IOPV is generally determined by using both current market quotations and/or price quotations obtained from broker-dealers that may trade in the portfolio securities held by the Fund. The quotations of certain Fund holdings may not be updated during U.S. trading hours if such holdings do not trade in the U.S. The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the IOPV and makes no representation or warranty as to its accuracy.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. The NAV of the Fund is generally determined once daily Monday through Friday generally as of the regularly scheduled close of business of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open for trading, based on prices at the time of closing, provided that (a) any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar shall be translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates on the date of valuation as quoted by one or more major banks or dealers that makes a two-way market in such currencies (or a data service provider based on quotations received from such banks or dealers) and
(b) U.S. fixed-income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments on any day that the

9

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association announces an early closing time. The NAV of the Fund is calculated by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund (I.E., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of outstanding shares of the Fund, generally rounded to the nearest cent.

The securities and other assets of the Fund are valued pursuant to the pricing policy and procedures approved by the Board. The Fund is subject to a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. Inputs may be based on independent market data ("observable inputs") or they may be internally developed ("unobservable inputs"). The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

o Level 1 - Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date;

o Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means; and

o Level 3 - Inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets and other characteristics particular to the security. Inputs may include price information, volatility statistics, specific and broad credit data, liquidity statistics and other factors. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The level of a value determined for a financial instrument within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The categorization of a value determined for a financial instrument within the hierarchy is based upon the pricing transparency of the instrument and does not necessarily correspond to the Fund's perceived risk of that instrument.

Valuing the Fund's investments using fair value pricing will result in using prices for those investments that may differ from current market valuations. Use of fair value prices and certain current market valuations could result in a difference between the

10

prices used to calculate the Fund's NAV and the prices used by the Underlying Index, which, in turn, could result in a difference between the Fund's performance and the performance of the Underlying Index.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

GENERAL POLICIES. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid monthly by the Fund. Distributions of net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Trust may make distributions on a more frequent basis for the Fund. The Trust reserves the right to declare special distributions if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve its status as a regulated investment company ("RIC") or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income or realized gains.

Dividends and other distributions on shares of the Fund are distributed on a PRO RATA basis to beneficial owners of such shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners then of record with proceeds received from the Fund.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT SERVICE. No dividend reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. Broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by beneficial owners of the Fund for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Beneficial owners should contact their broker to determine the availability and costs of the service and the details of participation therein. Brokers may require beneficial owners to adhere to specific procedures and timetables. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares of the Fund purchased in the secondary market.

TAXES. As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in shares of the Fund will be taxed. The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in shares of the Fund.

Unless your investment in Fund shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred retirement account, such as an IRA, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when the Fund makes distributions or you sell Fund shares.

TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS. Dividends paid by the Fund that are properly designated as exempt-interest dividends will not be subject to regular federal income tax. The Fund intends to invest its assets in a manner such that dividend distributions to its shareholders will generally be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation including the federal AMT. Dividends paid by the Fund will be exempt from federal income tax (though not necessarily exempt from state and local taxation) to the extent of the Fund's tax-exempt interest income as long as 50% or more of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of each quarter is invested in state, municipal and other bonds that are excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes and as long as the Fund properly designates such dividends as exempt-interest dividends. Exempt interest dividends from interest earned on municipal securities of a state, or its

11

political subdivisions may be exempt from income tax in that state. However, income from municipal securities of other states generally will not qualify for tax-free treatment.

Distributions from the Fund's net investment income other than from net tax-exempt income, including distributions of income from securities lending and distributions out of the Fund's net short-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to you as ordinary income. The Fund's distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, in excess of net short-term capital losses (capital gain dividends) are taxable to you as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held the Fund's shares. Distributions from the Fund are not expected to qualify as qualified dividend income. In general, any taxable distributions are subject to federal income tax for the year when they are paid. Certain distributions paid in January however, may be treated as paid on December 31 of the prior year.

Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund's disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

If you lend your Fund shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements, you may lose the ability to treat Fund dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as tax-exempt income. Consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor.

If the Fund's distributions exceed its net tax-exempt income, its taxable income and capital gains realized during a taxable year, all or a portion of the distributions made in the taxable year may be taxable to you to the extent of the Fund's undistributed current earnings and profits and then may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable but will reduce the shareholder's cost basis and result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

If you are a resident or a citizen of the United States, by law, back-up withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) will apply to your distributions and proceeds if you have not provided a taxpayer identification number or social security number and made other required certifications.

Shareholders will receive information after the end of each year setting forth the amount of dividends and long-term capital gains distributed to them by the Fund during the prior year. Likewise, the amount of tax-exempt income that the Fund distributes will be reported and such income must be reported on the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax return.

TAXES WHEN SHARES ARE SOLD. Currently, any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares is generally treated as a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares held for one year or less is generally treated as short-term gain or loss, except that any capital loss on the sale of shares held for six months or less is treated as

12

long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such shares.

THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION SUMMARIZES SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES UNDER CURRENT U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAW OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND. IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONAL TAX ADVICE. YOU MAY ALSO BE SUBJECT TO STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION ON FUND

DISTRIBUTIONS AND SALES OF SHARES. CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL TAX ADVISER ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN SHARES OF THE FUND UNDER ALL APPLICABLE TAX LAWS.

CREATIONS AND REDEMPTIONS. Prior to trading in the secondary market, shares of the Fund are "created" at NAV by market makers, large investors and institutions only in block-size Creation Units of [____] shares or multiples thereof. Each "creator" or "Authorized Participant" enters into an authorized participant agreement with the Distributor. Only an Authorized Participant may create or redeem Creation Units directly with the Fund. A creation transaction, which is subject to acceptance by the transfer agent, generally takes place when an Authorized Participant deposits into the Fund a portfolio of securities ("Deposit Securities") approximating the holdings of the Fund and a specified amount of cash in exchange for a specified number of Creation Units. To the extent practicable, the composition of such portfolio generally corresponds PRO RATA to the holdings of the Fund.

Similarly, shares can be redeemed only in Creation Units, generally in-kind for a portfolio of bonds held by the Fund ("Fund Securities") and a specified amount of cash. EXCEPT WHEN AGGREGATED IN CREATION UNITS, SHARES ARE NOT REDEEMABLE BY THE FUND. The prices at which creations and redemptions occur are based on the next calculation of NAV after an order is received in a form described in the authorized participant agreement.

The portfolio of securities required for purchase of a Creation Unit may be different than the portfolio of securities the Fund will deliver upon redemption of Fund shares. The Deposit Securities and Fund Securities, as the case may be, in connection with a purchase or redemption of a Creation Unit, will correspond PRO RATA, to the extent practicable, to the securities held by the Fund. As the planned termination date of the Fund approaches, the Fund may elect to accept create orders mostly or entirely in cash. As bonds held by the Fund begin to mature, both creations and redemptions will be effected increasingly in cash.

The Fund intends to comply with the U.S. federal securities laws in accepting securities for deposits and satisfying redemptions with redemption securities, including that the securities accepted for deposits and the securities used to satisfy redemption requests will be sold in transactions that would be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). Further, an Authorized Participant that is not a "qualified institutional buyer," as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act, will not be able to receive Fund Securities that are restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A.

Creations and redemptions must be made through a firm that is either a member of the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation or a DTC participant and has executed an agreement with the Distributor

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with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Unit aggregations. Information about the procedures regarding creation and redemption of Creation Units (including the cut-off times for receipt of creation and redemption orders) is included in the SAI.

Because new shares may be created and issued on an ongoing basis, at any point during the life of the Fund a "distribution," as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may be occurring. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner that could render them statutory underwriters and subject to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act. Any determination of whether one is an underwriter must take into account all the relevant facts and circumstances of each particular case.

Broker-dealers should also note that dealers who are not "underwriters" but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted to ordinary secondary transactions), and thus dealing with shares that are part of an "unsold allotment" within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the 1933 Act, would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by
Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act. For delivery of prospectuses to exchange members, the prospectus delivery mechanism of Rule 153 under the 1933 Act is available only with respect to transactions on a national securities exchange.

TRANSACTION FEES. Authorized Participants are charged standard creation and redemption transaction fees to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units. Purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units for cash are required to pay an additional variable charge (up to the maximum amount shown below) to compensate for brokerage and market impact expenses. The standard creation and redemption transaction fees are set forth below. The standard creation transaction fee is charged to each purchaser on the day such purchaser creates a Creation Unit. The standard creation transaction fee is the same regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased by an investor on the same day. BGFA may, from time to time, at its own expense, compensate purchasers of Creation Units who have purchased substantial amounts of Creation Units and other financial institutions for administrative or marketing services. Similarly, the standard redemption transaction fee is the same regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed on the same day. Creations and redemptions through DTC for cash (when cash creations and redemptions are available or specified) are also subject to an additional variable charge up to the maximum amount shown in the table below. In addition, purchasers of shares in Creation Units are responsible for payment of the costs of transferring securities to the Fund and redeemers of shares in Creation Units are responsible for the costs of transferring securities from the Fund. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may pay fees for such services.

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The following table also shows, as of _________, 2009, the approximate value of one Creation Unit, including standard and maximum additional creation and redemption transaction fees:

                                STANDARD      MAXIMUM ADDITIONAL   MAXIMUM ADDITIONAL
 APPROXIMATE                   CREATION/        VARIABLE CHARGE     VARIABLE CHARGE
  VALUE OF A     CREATION      REDEMPTION             FOR                 FOR
CREATION UNIT   UNIT SIZE   TRANSACTION FEE       CREATIONS*          REDEMPTIONS*
-------------   ---------   ---------------   ------------------   ------------------
     $           [____]         $ ____                3.0%                2.0%


* As a percentage of the amount invested.

HOUSEHOLDING. Householding is an option available to certain Fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.

Distribution

The Distributor distributes Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis. The Distributor does not maintain a secondary market in shares of the Fund. The Distributor has no role in determining the policies of the Fund or the securities that are purchased or sold by the Fund. The Distributor's principal address is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.

Financial Highlights

Financial highlights for the Fund are not available because, as of the effective date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not commenced operations, and therefore has no financial highlights to report.

Index Provider

S&P is the Index Provider for the Underlying Index. S&P is not affiliated with the Trust, BGI, BGFA, State Street, the Distributor or any of their respective affiliates.

S&P provides financial, economic and investment information and analytical services to the financial community. S&P calculates and maintains the S&P Global 1200 IndexTM, which includes the S&P 500(Reg. TM) for the U.S., the S&P Europe 350 IndexTM for Continental Europe and the U.K., the S&P/TOPIX 150 IndexTM for Japan, the S&P Asia 50 IndexTM, the S&P/TSX 60 IndexTM for Canada, the S&P/ASX All Australian 50 IndexTM, and the S&P Latin America 40 IndexTM. Sector indexes in the S&P Global 1200 IndexTM include the S&P Global Energy Sector IndexTM, the S&P Global Financials Sector IndexTM, the S&P Global Healthcare Sector IndexTM, the S&P Global Information Technology Sector IndexTM, and the S&P Global Telecommunications Sector IndexTM. S&P also publishes the S&P MidCap 400 IndexTM, S&P SmallCap 600

15

IndexTM, S&P Composite 1500(Reg. TM) and S&P REIT Composite IndexTM for the U.S. S&P calculates and maintains the S&P/Global BMI Equity IndexTM Series, a set of comprehensive rules-based benchmarks covering developed and emerging countries around the world. Company additions to and deletions from a S&P equity index do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the company.

BGI has entered into a license agreement with the Index Provider to use the Underlying Index. BGI is sub-licensing rights in the Underlying Index to the Trust at no charge.

Disclaimers

THE FUND IS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY S&P OR ITS AFFILIATES. S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF SHARES OF THE FUND OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN SECURITIES GENERALLY OR IN THE FUND PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX TO TRACK GENERAL STOCK MARKET

PERFORMANCE. S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES' ONLY RELATIONSHIP TO THE TRUST, BGI AND BGFA IS THE LICENSING OF CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES OF S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX WHICH IS DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES WITHOUT REGARD TO THE TRUST, BGI, BGFA OR THE FUND. S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF BGI, BGFA OR THE OWNERS OF SHARES OF THE FUND INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE UNDERLYING INDEX. S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND AMOUNT OF SHARES OF THE FUND, OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF SUCH SHARES OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH SHARES OF THE FUND ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES HAVE NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING OR TRADING OF THE FUND. S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN.

S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY BGI, BGFA, OWNERS OF SHARES OF THE FUND OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P AND ITS AFFILIATES HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, DIRECT, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED OR PROMOTED BY _______. _______ MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE SHARES OF THE FUND OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ABILITY OF THE FUND TO TRACK THE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR THE ABILITY OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX TO TRACK STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE. _______ IS NOT RESPONSIBLE

16

FOR, NOR HAS IT PARTICIPATED IN, THE DETERMINATION OF THE COMPILATION OR THE CALCULATION OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX, NOR IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE TIMING OF, PRICES OF, OR QUANTITIES OF SHARES OF THE FUND TO BE ISSUED, NOR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH THE SHARES ARE REDEEMABLE. _______ HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY TO OWNERS OF THE SHARES OF THE FUND IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING OR TRADING OF THE SHARES OF THE FUND.

_______ DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. _______ MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE TRUST ON BEHALF OF THE FUND AS LICENSEE, LICENSEE'S CUSTOMERS AND COUNTERPARTIES, OWNERS OF THE SHARES OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE SUBJECT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIGHTS LICENSED AS DESCRIBED HEREIN OR FOR ANY OTHER USE. _______ MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL _______ HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

BGFA DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND BGFA SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN.

BGFA MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF SHARES OF THE FUND OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE FUND FROM THE USE OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. BGFA MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL BGFA HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, DIRECT, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

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Dear iShares Shareholder:

Electronic delivery is the easiest, most convenient way to receive reporting on your iShares holdings. In addition, it's a way we can all care for our environment. To that end, we are pleased to offer shareholder reports and prospectuses online.

Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive shareholder reports and prospectuses in the mail. Instead, you will receive e-mail notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at www.iShares.com and is available to be viewed or downloaded.

To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow these simple steps:

1. Go to www.icsdelivery.com.

2. From the main page, select the first letter of your brokerage firm's name.

3. Select your brokerage institution from the list that follows. If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your brokerage firm or financial adviser.

4. Fill out the appropriate information and provide the e-mail address where you would like your notifications sent.

Your information and e-mail address will be kept confidential and only used to deliver documents to you. If at any time you are not satisfied, you can cancel electronic delivery at www.icsdelivery.com and once again receive physical delivery of your materials. If you have any questions, please contact your brokerage firm or financial adviser.

[GRAPHIC APPEARS HERE]

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

WWW.iSHARES.COM

1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737)

Copies of the Prospectus, SAI and other information can be found on our website at www.iShares.com. For more information about the Fund, you may request a copy of the SAI. The SAI provides detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

If you have any questions about the Trust or shares of the Fund or you wish to obtain the SAI free of charge, please:

Call:          1-800-iShares
(toll free)    1-800-474-2737
               Monday through Friday
               8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Eastern time)

E-mail:        iSharesETFs@barclaysglobal.com

Write:         c/o SEI Investments Distribution Co.
               One Freedom Valley Drive
               Oaks, PA 19456

Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE FUND AND ITS SHARES NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON ANY OTHER INFORMATION. READ AND KEEP THE PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

BGI-F-___-____

Investment Company Act File No.: 811-09729

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[GRAPHIC APPEARS HERE]

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THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH THE OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

ISHARES(Reg. TM) TRUST

Statement of Additional Information

Dated ________________, 2009

This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the current prospectus (the "Prospectus") for the following fund of iShares Trust (the "Trust"), as such Prospectus may be revised or supplemented from time to time:

FUND                                                      TICKER   STOCK EXCHANGE
-------------------------------------------------------   ------   --------------
iShares 2012 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series (the "Fund")     ___         _______

The Prospectus for the Fund is dated ________________, 2009. Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust's distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the "Distributor") at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456, calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) or visiting WWW.ISHARES.COM.

iShares(Reg. TM) is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. ("BGI").


TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
General Description of the Trust and the Fund                                 1
Exchange Listing and Trading                                                  1
Investment Strategies and Risks                                               2
   Diversification Status                                                     2
   Bonds                                                                      2
   Illiquid Securities                                                        3
   Investment Companies                                                       3
   Lending Portfolio Securities                                               3
   Municipal Securities                                                       4
   Tax Risks Associated with Municipal Securities                             5
   Municipal Insurance                                                        6
   Municipal Market Disruption Risk                                           6
   New or Unseasoned Municipal Issuers                                        6
   Ratings                                                                    6
   Repurchase Agreements                                                      7
   Reverse Repurchase Agreements                                              7
   Risks of Derivatives                                                       7
   Short-Term Instruments and Temporary Investments                           7
   Future Developments                                                        7
   General Considerations and Risks                                           8
Proxy Voting Policy                                                           8
Portfolio Holdings Information                                                9
Construction and Maintenance of the Underlying Index                         10
   S&P Fixed Income Indexes Generally                                        10
   S&P AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL SERIES 2012 INDEX                                  10
Investment Limitations                                                       11
Continuous Offering                                                          12
Management                                                                   13
   Trustees and Officers                                                     13
   Committees of the Board of Trustees                                       18
   Remuneration of Trustees                                                  18
   Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities                       19
Investment Advisory, Administrative and Distribution Services                19
   Investment Adviser                                                        19
   Portfolio Managers                                                        20
   Distributor                                                               22

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                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
   Codes of Ethics                                                           22
   Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent                               22
Brokerage Transactions                                                       23
Additional Information Concerning the Trust                                  23
   Shares                                                                    23
   Termination of the Trust or the Fund                                      24
   DTC as Securities Depository for Shares of the Fund                       24
Creation and Redemption of Creation Units                                    25
   General                                                                   25
   Fund Deposit                                                              25
   Procedures for Creation of Creation Units                                 26
   Placement of Creation Orders                                              27
   Acceptance of Orders for Creation Units                                   27
   Creation Transaction Fee                                                  28
   Redemption of Shares in Creation Units                                    28
   Redemption Transaction Fee                                                29
   Placement of Redemption Orders                                            29
   Taxation on Creation and Redemptions of Creation Units                    30
Taxes                                                                        30
   Regulated Investment Company Qualification                                30
   Taxation of RICs                                                          31
   Excise Tax                                                                31
   Taxation of U.S. Shareholders                                             31
   Sales of Shares                                                           32
   Back-Up Withholding                                                       33
   Sections 351 and 362                                                      33
   Tax-Exempt Interest Income                                                33
   Taxation of Certain Derivatives                                           33
   Market Discount                                                           34
   Original Issue Discount                                                   34
   Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders                                         34
   Reporting                                                                 35
   Net Capital Loss Carryforwards                                            35
Financial Statements                                                         35
Miscellaneous Information                                                    35
   Counsel                                                                   35
   Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                             35

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                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
   Shareholder Communications to the Board                                   35
Appendix A                                                                  A-1

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General Description of the Trust and the Fund

The Trust currently consists of more than [150] investment series or portfolios. The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on December 16, 1999 and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios. The Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The offering of the Trust's shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). This SAI relates solely to the Fund.

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of a specified benchmark index (the "Underlying Index") representing a segment of the U.S. bond market. The Fund is managed by Barclays Global Fund Advisors ("BGFA" or the "Investment Adviser"), a subsidiary of BGI.

The Fund offers and issues shares at their net asset value per share ("NAV") only in aggregations of a specified number of shares ("Creation Unit"), generally in exchange for a basket of securities included in its Underlying Index (the "Deposit Securities"), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the "Cash Component"). Shares of the Fund are listed and trade on ______, a ("Listing Exchange"), a national securities exchange. Shares trade in the secondary market and elsewhere at market prices that may be at, above or below NAV. Shares are redeemable only in Creation Units, and, generally, in exchange for portfolio securities and a Cash Component. Creation Units typically are a specified number of shares, generally ______ or multiples thereof.

The Trust reserves the right to offer a "cash" option for creations and redemptions of shares. Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including a requirement to maintain with the Trust a cash deposit equal to at least 110%, which BGFA may change from time to time, of the market value of the omitted Deposit Securities. See the CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS section of this SAI. Transaction fees for cash creations or redemptions may be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations or redemptions. In all cases, conditions and fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of SEC rules and regulations applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

Exchange Listing and Trading

A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in the Fund is contained in the SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION section of the Fund's Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, that section of the Prospectus.

Shares of the Fund are listed for trading and trade throughout the day on the Listing Exchange and other secondary markets. Shares of the Fund may also be listed on certain non-U.S. exchanges. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Listing Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of the Fund will continue to be met. The Listing Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the shares of the Fund from listing if (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of Fund shares, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of shares of the Fund for 30 or more consecutive trading days, (ii) the value of the Underlying Index on which the Fund is based is no longer calculated or available, (iii) the "indicative optimized portfolio value" ("IOPV") of the Fund is no longer calculated or available or (iv) any other event shall occur or condition shall exist that, in the opinion of the Listing Exchange, makes further dealings on the Listing Exchange inadvisable. The Listing Exchange will also remove shares of the Fund from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund.

As in the case of other publicly-traded securities, when you buy or sell shares through a broker you will incur a brokerage commission determined by that broker.

In order to provide additional information regarding the indicative value of shares of the Fund, the Listing Exchange or a market data vendor disseminates every 15 seconds through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape Association or other widely disseminated means an updated IOPV for the Fund as calculated by an information provider or market data vendor. The Trust is not involved in or responsible for any aspect of the calculation or dissemination of the IOPVs and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the IOPVs.

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An IOPV has a fixed-income securities component and a cash component. The fixed-income securities values included in an IOPV are the values of the Deposit Securities for the Fund. While the IOPV reflects the current market value of the Deposit Securities required to be deposited in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit, it does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of the current portfolio of securities held by the Fund at a particular point in time because the current portfolio of the Fund may include securities that are not a part of the current Deposit Securities. Therefore, the Fund's IOPV disseminated during the Listing Exchange trading hours should not be viewed as a real-time update of the Fund's NAV, which is calculated only once a day.

The cash component included in an IOPV consists of estimated accrued interest, dividends and other income, less expenses. If applicable, each IOPV also reflects changes in currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the applicable currency.

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the share prices of the Fund in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the Fund.

Investment Strategies and Risks

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in both fixed-income securities that comprise its Underlying Index and through transactions that provide substantially similar exposure to securities in the Underlying Index. The Fund operates as an index fund and will not be actively managed. Adverse performance of a security in the Fund's portfolio will ordinarily not result in the elimination of the security from the Fund's portfolio.

The Fund engages in representative sampling, which is investing in a sample of securities selected by BGFA to have a collective investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index. Securities selected have aggregate investment characteristics (based on market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as yield, credit rating, maturity and duration) and liquidity measures similar to those of the Underlying Index. Funds that use representative sampling generally do not hold all of the securities that are in the Underlying Index.

The Fund will generally invest at least 80% of its assets in the securities of its Underlying Index. The Fund may invest the remainder of its assets in securities not included in its Underlying Index, but which BGFA believes will help the Fund track its Underlying Index. The Fund also may invest its other assets in cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds advised by BGFA.

In addition, the Fund may invest any cash assets in one or more affiliated or non-affiliated tax-free money market funds. In the last year of operation, when the bonds held in the Fund mature, the Fund's portfolio will transition to cash and cash equivalents, including without limitation alternative minimum tax ("AMT")-free tax exempt municipal notes (tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, grant anticipation notes and bond anticipation notes); variable rate demand notes and obligations; tender option bonds; and municipal commercial paper. On or about August 31, 2012, the Fund will wind up and terminate. Upon its termination, the Fund will distribute substantially all of its net assets, after making appropriate provision for any liabilities of the Fund, to then-current shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation.

DIVERSIFICATION STATUS. The Fund is classified as "non-diversified." A non-diversified fund is a fund that is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. The securities of a particular issuer (or securities of issuers in particular industries) may dominate the underlying index of such a fund and, consequently, the fund's investment portfolio. This may adversely affect the fund's performance or subject the fund's shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by more diversified investment companies.

The Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company ("RIC") for purposes of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "IRC") and to relieve the Fund of any liability for U.S. federal income tax to the extent that its earnings are distributed to shareholders, provided that the Fund satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. Compliance with the diversification requirements of the IRC may limit the investment flexibility of the Fund and may make it less likely that the Fund will meet its investment objective.

BONDS. The Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated bonds. A bond is an interest-bearing security issued by a company, governmental unit or a non-U.S. entity. The issuer of a bond has a contractual obligation to pay

2

interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal (the bond's face value) periodically or on a specified maturity date. Bonds generally are used by corporations and governments to borrow money from investors.

An issuer may have the right to redeem or "call" a bond before maturity, in which case a fund may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower market rates. Similarly, a fund may have to reinvest interest income or payments received when bonds mature, sometimes at lower market rates. Most bonds bear interest income at a "coupon" rate that is fixed for the life of the bond. The value of a fixed-rate bond usually rises when market interest rates fall, and falls when market interest rates rise. Accordingly, a fixed-rate bond's yield (income as a percent of the bond's current value) may differ from its coupon rate as its value rises or falls. When an investor purchases a fixed-rate bond at a price that is greater than its face value, the investor is purchasing the bond at a premium. Conversely, when an investor purchases a fixed-rate bond at a price that is less than its face value, the investor is purchasing the bond at a discount. Fixed-rate bonds that are purchased at a discount pay less current income than securities with comparable yields that are purchased at face value, with the result that prices for such fixed-rate securities can be more volatile than prices for such securities that are purchased at face value. Other types of bonds bear income at an interest rate that is adjusted periodically. Because of their adjustable interest rates, the value of "floating-rate" or "variable-rate" bonds fluctuates much less in response to market interest rate movements than the value of fixed-rate bonds. The Fund may treat some of these bonds as having a shorter maturity for purposes of calculating the weighted average maturity of its investment portfolio. Generally, prices of higher quality issues tend to fluctuate less with changes in market interest rates than prices of lower quality issues and prices of longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices of shorter maturity issues. Bonds may be senior or subordinated obligations. Senior obligations generally have the first claim on a corporation's earnings and assets and, in the event of liquidation, are paid before subordinated obligations. Bonds may be unsecured (backed only by the issuer's general creditworthiness) or secured (backed by specified collateral).

ILLIQUID SECURITIES. The Fund may invest up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities (calculated at the time of investment). Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available markets.

INVESTMENT COMPANIES. The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies (including money market funds) to the extent allowed by law. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund's investment in investment companies is limited to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund's total assets with respect to any one investment company, and (iii) 10% of the Fund's total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. To the extent allowed by law or regulation, the Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are money market funds, including those advised by BGFA or otherwise affiliated with BGFA, in excess of the limits discussed above. Other investment companies in which the Fund invests can be expected to incur fees and expenses for operations, such as investment advisory and administration fees, that would be in addition to those incurred by the Fund.

LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Subject to approval of a securities lending agency agreement by the Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board" or the "Trustees"), the Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain creditworthy borrowers, including borrowers affiliated with BGFA. The borrowers provide collateral that is maintained in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned. No securities loan shall be made on behalf of the Fund if, as a result, the aggregate value of all securities loans of the Fund exceeds one-third of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the value of the collateral received). The Fund may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the return of the securities loaned. The Fund receives, by way of substitute payment, the value of any interest or cash or non-cash distributions paid on the loaned securities. Substitute payments received on tax-exempt securities loaned out will not be tax-exempt income.

With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the borrower will be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. The Fund is compensated by the difference between the amount earned on the reinvestment of cash collateral and the fee paid to the borrower. In the case of collateral other than cash, the Fund is compensated by a fee paid by the borrower equal to a percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. Any cash collateral may be reinvested in certain short-term instruments either directly on behalf of the Fund or through one or more joint accounts or money market funds, including those advised by BGFA; such reinvestments are subject to investment risk.

Securities lending involves exposure to certain risks, including operational risk (I.E., the risk of losses resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process), "gap" risk (I.E., the risk of a mismatch between the return on cash collateral reinvestments and the fees the Fund has agreed to pay a borrower), and credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. In the

3

event a borrower does not return the Fund's securities as agreed, the Fund may experience losses if the proceeds received from liquidating the collateral does not at least equal the value of the loaned security at the time the collateral is liquidated plus the transaction costs incurred in purchasing replacement securities.

The Fund pays a portion of the interest or fees earned from securities lending to a borrower as described above and to a securities lending agent who administers the lending program in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. To the extent that the Fund engages in securities lending, BGI acts as securities lending agent for the Fund subject to the overall supervision of BGFA. BGI receives a portion of the revenues generated by securities lending activities as compensation for its services.

MUNICIPAL SECURITIES. The Fund invests in securities issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. Municipal securities share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. The municipal securities which the Funds may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former U.S. federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer's general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax-exempt industrial development bonds generally are also revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer's general revenues. The credit and quality of industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor).

As the Fund approaches its termination date, it will transition its holdings to tax-free instruments including AMT-free tax-exempt municipal notes, including tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, grant anticipation notes and bond anticipation notes; variable rate demand notes and obligations; tender option bonds and municipal commercial paper.

Municipal notes are shorter-term municipal debt obligations. They may provide interim financing in anticipation of tax collection, receipt of grants, bond sales or revenue receipts. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, repayment on a municipal note may be delayed or the note may not be fully repaid, and the Fund may lose money.

Municipal commercial paper is generally unsecured and issued to meet short-term financing needs. The lack of security presents some risk of loss to the Fund since, in the event of an issuer's bankruptcy, unsecured creditors are repaid only out of the assets, if any, that remain after secured creditors are repaid.

Tender option bonds are synthetic floating or variable-rate securities issued when long-term bonds are purchased in the primary or secondary market and then deposited into a trust. Custodial receipts are then issued to investors, such as the Fund, evidencing ownership interests in the trust. The remarketing agent for the trust sets a floating or variable rate on typically a weekly basis. The sponsor of a highly leveraged tender option bond trust generally will retain a liquidity provider to purchase the short-term floating rate interests at their original purchase price upon the occurrence of certain specified events. However, the liquidity provider may not be required to purchase the floating rate interests upon the occurrence of certain other events, for example, the downgrading of the municipal bonds owned by the tender option bond trust below investment grade. The general effect of these provisions is to pass to the holders of the floating rate interests the most severe credit risks associated with the municipal bonds owned by the tender option bond trust and to leave with the liquidity provider the interest rate risk (subject to a cap) and certain other risks associated with the municipal bonds. Tender option bonds may be considered derivatives, and may expose the Fund to the same risks as investments in derivatives, as well as risks associated with leverage, especially the risk of increased volatility. To the extent it invests in tender option bonds, the Fund also is exposed to credit risk associated with the liquidity provider retained by the sponsor of a tender bond option trust.

Variable rate demand obligations ("VRDOs") are tax-exempt obligations that contain a floating or variable interest rate adjustment formula and a right of demand on the part of the holder thereof to receive payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest upon a short notice period not to exceed seven days. There is the possibility that because of default or insolvency the demand feature of VRDOs may not be honored. The interest rates are adjustable at intervals (ranging from daily to up to one year) to some prevailing market rate for similar investments, such adjustment formula being

4

calculated to maintain the market rate of the VRDOs at approximately the par value of the VRDOs on the adjustment date. The adjustments typically are based upon the Public Securities Association Index or some other appropriate interest rate adjustment index.

Because of the interest rate adjustment formula, VRDOs are not comparable to fixed rate securities. During periods of declining interest rates, the Fund's yield on a VRDO will decrease and its shareholders will forego the opportunity for capital appreciation. During periods of rising interest rates, however, the Fund's yield on a VRDO will increase and the Fund's shareholders will have a reduced risk of capital depreciation.

The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, than non-municipal securities. In addition, the municipal securities market is generally characterized as a buy and hold investment strategy. As a result, the accessibility of municipal securities in the market is generally greater closer to the original date of issue of the securities and lessens as the securities move further away from such issuance date.

Some longer-term municipal securities give the investor the right to "put" or sell the security at par (face value) within a specified number of days following the investor's request - usually one to seven days. This demand feature enhances a security's liquidity by shortening its effective maturity and enables it to trade at a price equal to or very close to par. If a demand feature terminates prior to being exercised, the Fund would hold the longer-term security, which could experience substantially more volatility.

Municipal securities are subject to credit and market risk. Generally, prices of higher quality issues tend to fluctuate more with changes in market interest rates than prices of lower quality issues and prices of longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices of shorter maturity issues.

Prices and yields on municipal securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money-market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal security market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. A number of these factors, including the ratings of particular issues, are subject to change from time to time. Information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal securities may not be as extensive as that which is made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. As a result, municipal securities may be more difficult to value than securities of public corporations.

Obligations of issuers of municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. Congress or state legislatures may seek to extend the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. In addition, municipal securities are subject to the risk that their tax treatment could be changed by Congress or state legislatures, thereby affecting the value of outstanding municipal securities. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions, such as passing of a referendum, the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their municipal securities may be materially affected or their obligations may be found to be invalid or unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for municipal securities or certain segments thereof, or of materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of the Fund's municipal securities in the same manner.

In response to the current national economic downturn, governmental cost burdens may be reallocated among federal, state and local governments. Also, as a result of the downturn, many state and local governments are experiencing significant reductions in revenues and are consequently experiencing difficulties meeting ongoing expenses. Certain of these state or local governments may have difficultly paying principal or interest on their outstanding debt and may experience ratings downgrades of their debt.

TAX RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MUNICIPAL SECURITIES. As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in shares of the Fund will be taxed. The tax information in the Fund's Prospectus and in this SAI is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in shares of the Fund.

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Unless your investment in shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred retirement account, such as an individual retirement account, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when the Fund makes distributions or you sell Fund shares.

MUNICIPAL INSURANCE. A municipal security may be covered by insurance that guarantees the bond's scheduled payment of interest and repayment of principal. This type of insurance may be obtained by either (i) the issuer at the time the bond is issued (primary market insurance), or (ii) another party after the bond has been issued (secondary market insurance). Both primary and secondary market insurance guarantee timely and scheduled repayment of all principal and payment of all interest on a municipal security in the event of default by the issuer, and cover a municipal security to its maturity, enhancing its credit quality and value.

Municipal security insurance does not insure against market fluctuations or fluctuations in the Funds' share price. In addition, a municipal security insurance policy will not cover: (i) repayment of a municipal security before maturity (redemption), (ii) nonpayment of principal or interest caused by negligence or bankruptcy of the paying agent, or (iii) prepayment or payment of an acceleration premium (except for a mandatory sinking fund redemption) or any other provision of a bond indenture that advances the maturity of the bond. A mandatory sinking fund redemption may be a provision of a municipal security issue whereby part of the municipal security issue may be retired before maturity.

Because a significant portion of the municipal securities issued and outstanding is insured by a small number of insurance companies, an event involving one or more of these insurance companies could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the securities insured by that insurance company and on the municipal markets as a whole.

MUNICIPAL MARKET DISRUPTION RISK. The value of municipal securities may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal securities holders in the event of a bankruptcy. Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal securities are introduced before Congress from time to time. Proposals also may be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal fund's distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of municipal securities and the value of the Fund's holdings would be affected, and the Trustees would re-evaluate the Fund's investment objective and policies. Municipal bankruptcies are relatively rare, and certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such bankruptcies are unclear and remain untested. Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state. These legal uncertainties could affect the municipal securities market generally, certain specific segments of the market, or the relative credit quality of particular securities. Any of these effects could have a significant impact on the prices of some or all of the municipal securities held by the Fund.

NEW OR UNSEASONED MUNICIPAL ISSUERS. The Fund may invest in municipal securities issued by entities that have not previously issued securities or that do not have an extensive history of issuing securities. Information regarding these issuers may be more limited than for other issuers. Securities of these issuers may be subject to volatility in their prices and may have a limited trading market, which could adversely affect the Fund's ability to dispose of them and can reduce the price the Fund might be able to obtain for them.

RATINGS. An investment-grade rating means the security or issuer is rated investment-grade by Moody's(Reg. TM) Investors Service ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's(Reg. TM) Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies ("S&P(Reg. TM)"), Fitch Inc. ("Fitch"), Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, or another credit rating agency designated as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO") by the SEC, or is unrated but considered to be of equivalent quality by BGFA. Bonds rated Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P and Fitch or above are considered "investment-grade" securities; bonds rated Baa are considered medium-grade obligations which lack outstanding investment characteristics and have speculative characteristics, while bonds rated BBB are regarded as having adequate capacity to pay principal and interest.

Subsequent to purchase by the Fund, a rated security may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below an investment-grade rating. Bonds rated lower than Baa3 by Moody's or BBB- by S&P are below investment-grade quality and are obligations of issuers that are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore, carry greater investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Such securities ("lower-rated securities") are commonly referred to as "junk bonds" and are subject to a substantial degree of credit risk. Lower-rated securities are often issued by smaller, less creditworthy companies or by highly leveraged (indebted) firms, which are generally less able than more financially stable firms to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. The risks posed by securities issued

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under such circumstances are substantial. Bonds rated below investment grade tend to be less marketable than higher-quality bonds because the market for them is less broad. The market for unrated bonds is even narrower. Please see Appendix A of this SAI for a description of each rating category of Moody's, S&P and Fitch.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with certain counterparties. Repurchase agreements involve an agreement to purchase financial instruments and to resell those instruments back to the same counterparty at an agreed-upon date and price, which price reflects a rate of interest unrelated to a coupon rate or maturity of the purchased instruments. The value of the instruments purchased may be more or less than the price at which the counterparty has agreed to repurchase them. As protection against the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation, the instruments are marked-to-market daily and are maintained at a value at least equal to the sale price plus the accrued incremental amount. Delays or losses could result if the counterparty to the repurchase agreement defaults or becomes insolvent. The Fund will engage in repurchase agreements only with counterparties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by BGFA.

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. Generally the effect of such transactions is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while in many cases the Fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if the Fund has an opportunity to earn a rate of interest on the cash derived from these transactions that is greater than the interest cost of obtaining the same amount of cash. Opportunities to realize earnings from the use of the proceeds equal to or greater than the interest required to be paid may not always be available and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when BGFA believes it will be advantageous to the Fund. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any interim increase or decrease in the value of the Fund's assets. The Fund's exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by assets having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. The Fund maintains liquid assets in connection with reverse repurchase agreements. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings.

RISKS OF DERIVATIVES. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset such as a security or an index. The Fund may invest in variable rate demand notes and obligations, and tender option bonds, which may be considered derivatives. Compared to conventional securities, derivatives can be more sensitive to changes in interest rates or to sudden fluctuations in market prices and thus the Fund's losses may be greater if it invests in derivatives than if it invests only in conventional securities.

SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS AND TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS. The Fund may invest in short-term instruments, including variable rate demand notes, short-term municipal securities, short-term municipal money market funds and other money market instruments, on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity, during the last year of its operation, or for other reasons. Money market instruments are generally short-term investments that may include but are not limited to: (i) shares of money market funds (including those advised by BGFA); (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises); (iii) negotiable certificates of deposit ("CDs"), bankers' acceptances, fixed-time deposits and other obligations of U.S. and non-U.S. banks (including non-U.S. branches) and similar institutions; (iv) commercial paper rated, at the date of purchase, "Prime-1" by Moody's, "F-1" by Fitch or "A-1" by S&P, or if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by BGFA; (v) non-convertible corporate debt securities (E.G., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of not more than 397 days and that satisfy the rating requirements set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act; (vi) repurchase agreements; and
(vii) short-term U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of non-U.S. banks (including U.S. branches) that, in the opinion of BGFA, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S. banks which may be purchased by the Fund. Any of these instruments may be purchased on a current or forward-settled basis. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers' acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS. The Board may, in the future, authorize the Fund to invest in securities contracts and investments other than those listed in this SAI and in the Prospectus, provided they are consistent with the Fund's investment objective and do not violate any investment restrictions or policies.

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GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS. A discussion of some of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund is contained in the Fund's Prospectus. An investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the Fund's portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of bonds in general, and other factors that affect the market.

Proxy Voting Policy

The Trust has adopted, as its proxy voting policies for the Fund, the proxy voting guidelines of BGFA, the investment adviser to the Fund. The Trust has delegated to BGFA the responsibility for voting proxies on the portfolio securities held by the Fund. The remainder of this section discusses the Fund's proxy voting guidelines and BGFA's role in implementing such guidelines.

BGFA votes (or refrains from voting) proxies for the Fund in a manner that BGFA, in the exercise of its independent business judgment, concludes is in the best economic interests of the Fund. In some cases, BGFA may determine that it is in the best economic interests of the Fund to refrain from exercising the Fund's proxy voting rights (such as, for example, proxies on certain non-U.S. securities that might impose costly or time-consuming in-person voting requirements). With regard to the relationship between securities lending and proxy voting, BGFA's approach is also driven by our clients' economic interests. The evaluation of the economic desirability of recalling loans involves balancing the revenue-producing value of loans against the likely economic value of casting votes. Based on our evaluation of this relationship, we believe that the likely economic value of casting a vote generally is less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by BGFA recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. Periodically, BGFA analyzes the process and benefits of voting proxies for securities on loan, and will consider whether any modification of its proxy voting policies or procedures are necessary in light of any regulatory changes. BGFA will normally vote on specific proxy issues in accordance with its proxy voting guidelines. BGFA's proxy voting guidelines provide detailed guidance as to how to vote proxies on certain important or commonly raised issues. BGFA may, in the exercise of its business judgment, conclude that the proxy voting guidelines do not cover the specific matter upon which a proxy vote is requested, or that an exception to the proxy voting guidelines would be in the best economic interests of the Fund. BGFA votes (or refrains from voting) proxies without regard to the relationship of the issuer of the proxy (or any shareholder of such issuer) to the Fund, the Fund's affiliates (if any), BGFA or BGFA's affiliates, or the Distributor or the Distributor's affiliates. When voting proxies, BGFA attempts to encourage issuers to follow practices that enhance shareholder value and increase transparency and allow the market to place a proper value on their assets. With respect to certain specific issues:

o The Fund generally supports the board's nominees in the election of directors and generally supports proposals that strengthen the independence of boards of directors;

o The Fund generally does not support proposals on social issues that lack a demonstrable economic benefit to the issuer and the Fund investing in such issuer; and

o The Fund generally votes against anti-takeover proposals and proposals that would create additional barriers or costs to corporate transactions that are likely to deliver a premium to shareholders.

BGFA maintains institutional policies and procedures that are designed to prevent any relationship between the issuer of the proxy (or any shareholder of the issuer) and the Fund, the Fund's affiliates (if any), BGFA or BGFA's affiliates (if any) or the Distributor or the Distributor's affiliates, from having undue influence on BGFA's proxy voting activity. In certain instances, BGFA may determine to engage an independent fiduciary to vote proxies as a further safeguard against potential conflicts of interest or as otherwise required by applicable law. The independent fiduciary may either vote such proxies or provide BGFA with instructions as to how to vote such proxies. In the latter case, BGFA votes the proxy in accordance with the independent fiduciary's determination.

Information with respect to how BGFA voted proxies relating to the Fund's portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) or through the Fund's website at WWW.ISHARES.COM; and (ii) on the SEC's website at WWW.SEC.GOV.

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Portfolio Holdings Information

The Board has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings information that requires that such information be disclosed in a manner that: (i) is consistent with applicable legal requirements and in the best interests of the Fund's shareholders; (ii) does not put the interests of BGFA, the Distributor or any affiliated person of BGFA or the Distributor, above those of Fund shareholders; (iii) does not advantage any current or prospective Fund shareholders over any other current or prospective Fund shareholders, except to the extent that certain Entities (as described below) may receive portfolio holdings information not available to other current or prospective Fund shareholders in connection with the dissemination of information necessary for transactions in Creation Units, as contemplated by the iShares Exemptive Orders and as discussed below and (iv) does not provide selective access to portfolio holdings information except pursuant to the procedures outlined below and to the extent appropriate confidentiality arrangements limiting the use of such information are in effect. The "Entities" referred to in sub-section (iii) above are generally limited to National Securities Clearing Corporation ("NSCC") members and subscribers to various fee-based subscription services, including those large institutional investors (known as "Authorized Participants") that have been authorized by the Distributor to purchase and redeem large blocks of shares pursuant to legal requirements, including exemptive orders granted by the SEC pursuant to which the Fund offers and redeems its shares ("iShares Exemptive Orders") and other institutional market participants and entities that provide information services.

Each business day, the Fund's portfolio holdings information is provided to the Distributor or other agent for dissemination through the facilities of the NSCC and/or other fee-based subscription services to NSCC members and/or subscribers to those other fee-based subscription services, including Authorized Participants, and to entities that publish and/or analyze such information in connection with the process of purchasing or redeeming Creation Units or trading shares of the Fund in the secondary market. This information typically reflects the Fund's anticipated holdings on the following business day.

Daily access to information concerning the Fund's portfolio holdings is permitted (i) to certain personnel of those service providers that are involved in portfolio management and providing administrative, operational, risk management, or other support to portfolio management, including affiliated broker-dealers and Authorized Participants, and (ii) to other personnel of the Investment Adviser and the Distributor, administrator, custodian and fund accountant who deal directly with or assist in, functions related to investment management, distribution, administration, custody and fund accounting, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with the iShares Exemptive Orders, agreements with the Fund and the terms of the Fund's current registration statement. In addition, the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings and the percentages they represent of the Fund's net assets at least monthly, and as often as each day the Fund is open for business, at WWW.ISHARES.COM. More information about this disclosure is available at WWW.ISHARES.COM.

Portfolio holdings information made available in connection with the creation/redemption process may be provided to other entities that provide services to the Fund in the ordinary course of business after it has been disseminated to the NSCC. From time to time, information concerning portfolio holdings other than portfolio holdings information made available in connection with the creation/redemption process, as discussed above, may be provided to other entities that provide services to the Fund, including rating or ranking organizations, in the ordinary course of business, no earlier than one business day following the date of the information.

The Fund discloses its complete portfolio holdings schedule in public filings with the SEC within 70 days after the end of each fiscal quarter and will provide that information to shareholders as required by federal securities laws and regulations thereunder. The Fund may, however, voluntarily disclose all or part of its portfolio holdings other than in connection with the creation/redemption process, as discussed above, in advance of required filings with the SEC, provided that such information is made generally available to all shareholders and other interested parties in a manner that is consistent with the above policy for disclosure of portfolio holdings information. Such information may be made available through a publicly-available website or other means that make the information available to all likely interested parties contemporaneously.

The Trust's Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings information pursuant to the above policy and procedures.

The Board reviews the policy and procedures for disclosure of portfolio holdings information at least annually.

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Construction and Maintenance of the Underlying Index

A description of the Fund's Underlying Index is provided below.

S&P FIXED INCOME INDEXES GENERALLY

ISSUE CHANGES. General oversight responsibility for the S&P Indexes, including overall policy guidelines and methodology, is handled by an S&P Index Committee. Maintenance of component investments, including additions and deletions to these investments, is the responsibility of separate regional index committees composed of S&P staff specialized in the various fixed income markets. Public announcements of index changes as the result of committee decisions will generally be made two business days in advance of the anticipated effective date whenever possible, although for exceptional corporate events announcements may be made earlier.

INDEX MAINTENANCE. Maintaining the S&P Fixed Income Indexes includes monitoring and completing the adjustments for bond additions and deletions, par amount changes, rating changes and corporate actions.

INDEX AVAILABILITY. Most S&P Indexes are calculated continuously with an exception for fixed income indexes which are calculated at the end of the business day. All S&P Indexes are available from major data vendors.

S&P AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL SERIES 2012 INDEX

NUMBER OF COMPONENTS: APPROXIMATELY 3,039

INDEX DESCRIPTION. The S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2012 Index is a broad, comprehensive, market value weighted index designed to measure the performance of the investment-grade U.S. municipal bond market with maturities in 2012. As of October 8, 2009, the Underlying Index consisted of 3,039 bonds, with a total market value of $35.4 billion.

INDEX METHODOLOGY. In order for a bond to be classified as eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index, a bond must meet all of the following criteria: (i) the bond issuer is a state (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and U.S. territories such as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) or local government or agency such that interest on the bonds is exempt from U.S. federal income taxes and the federal AMT as determined by the Index Provider in accordance with its methodology; (ii) the bond must be denominated in U.S. dollars; (iii) the bond must have a rating of at least BBB- by Standard & Poor's, Baa3 by Moody's, or BBB- by Fitch. A bond must be rated by only one of these three rating agencies in order to qualify for the index. A bond with an "expected" rating, as denoted by data providers, of at least BBB- by Standard & Poor's, Baa3 by Moody's, or BBB- by Fitch will qualify for the index as well. For the avoidance of doubt, the lowest rating will be used in determining if a bond is investment grade; (iv) each bond in the Underlying Index must have a minimum maturity par amount of $2 million to be eligible for inclusion. To remain in the Underlying Index, bonds must maintain a minimum maturity par amount greater than or equal to $2 million as of each rebalancing date and must maintain a minimum maturity par amount greater than or equal to $2 million as of six days prior to last Business Day of each month ("Rebalancing Reference Date"). "Business Day" is defined as any day that U.S. municipal bonds are traded, as determined by The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and/or the NYSE. All bonds in the Underlying Index will mature between June 1 and August 31, 2012. When a bond that is included in the in the Underlying Index matures, its maturity value will be represented in the Underlying Index by cash throughout the remaining life of the Underlying Index. By August 31, 2012, the Underlying Index value will be represented by cash as no securities will remain in the Underlying Index. At each monthly rebalancing, no index constituent can represent more than 30% of the weight of the Underlying Index, and the five highest weighted index constituents do not account for more than 65% of the weight of the index in aggregate. The following types of bonds are specifically excluded from the Underlying Index: bonds subject to the AMT, bonds with early redemption dates (callable provisions), housing bonds, industrial bonds, tobacco bonds, health care bonds, conduit bonds where the obligor is a for-profit institution, non-rated bonds, notes, taxable municipals, variable rate debt, commercial paper, derivative securities (inverse floaters, forwards, and swaps).

COMPONENT SELECTION CRITERIA. Eligible bonds are approved by the S&P Index Committee who oversees the management of the Underlying index and are added to the Underlying Index on the next Rebalancing Date, subject to the schedule of the monthly rebalancing procedures.

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INDEX MAINTENANCE. The Underlying Index is a market value weighted index. Standard & Poor's pricing division, Standard & Poors Securities Evaluations, Inc., reports the price of each bond in the index each day. The prices used in the index calculation will add the accrued interest for each bond to the price reported by Standard & Poor's. The total return is calculated by aggregating the interest return, reflecting the return due to paid and accrued interest, and principal return, reflecting the capital gains or losses due to changes in Standard & Poor's end-of-day price and principal repayments and the reinvestment return, reflecting the reinvestment of related cash flows. The Underlying Index is generally reviewed and rebalanced on a monthly basis. The S&P Index Committee, nevertheless, reserves the right to make adjustments to the Underlying Index at any time that it believes appropriate. Additions, deletions and other changes to the Underlying Index arising from the monthly rebalancing are published three Business Days prior to the last business day of the month (the "Announcement Date"). Publicly available information, up to and including the close on the sixth Business Day preceding the Rebalancing Date, is considered in the rebalancing. Underlying Index changes published in the announcement will not normally be subject to revision and will become effective after the close. However, credit rating changes that occur on a Business Day prior to the Rebalancing Date will be reflected in the rebalancing, where such changes would cause any one of the following: (i) deletion of an index bond because it no longer meets the eligibility criteria; (ii) removal of a bond from the additions list because it is no longer an eligible bond; (iii) removal of an index bond from the deletions list because it is once again eligible. Users will be notified of any ratings-driven changes to the rebalancing.

Investment Limitations

The Fund has adopted its investment objective as a non-fundamental investment policy. Therefore, the Fund may change its investment objective and its Underlying Index without shareholder approval. The Board has adopted as fundamental policies the Fund's investment restrictions numbered one through six below. The restrictions for each Fund cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of that Fund's outstanding voting securities. A vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a fund meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of outstanding voting securities.

THE FUND WILL NOT:

1. Concentrate its investments (I.E., invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries), except that the Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index concentrates in the securities of such particular industry or group of industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, and securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.

2. Borrow money, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise require the untimely disposition of securities, and (ii) the Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, forward roll transactions and similar investment strategies and techniques. To the extent that it engages in transactions described in (i) and (ii), the Fund will be limited so that no more than 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) is derived from such transactions. Any borrowings which come to exceed this amount will be reduced in accordance with applicable law.

3. Issue any senior security, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

4. Make loans, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

5. Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this restriction shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities of companies engaged in the real estate business or securities or other instruments backed by real estate or mortgages), or commodities or commodity contracts (but this restriction shall not prevent the Fund from trading in futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including options on currencies to the extent consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies).

6. Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that the Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act, in disposing of portfolio securities.

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In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies, set forth above, the Fund has adopted a non-fundamental policy not to invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of exercising management or control or purchase or otherwise acquire any illiquid security, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, which currently permits up to 15% of the Fund's net assets to be invested in illiquid securities (calculated at the time of investment). Except with regard to investment limitation three above, if any percentage restriction described above is complied with at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction.

BGFA monitors the liquidity of restricted securities in the Fund's portfolio. In reaching liquidity decisions, BGFA considers the following factors:

o The frequency of trades and quotes for the security;

o The number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers;

o Dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and

o The nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace in which it trades (E.G., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer).

If any percentage restriction described above is complied with at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction.

The Fund has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy in accordance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities in the Fund's Underlying Index. The Fund also has adopted a policy to provide its shareholders with at least 60 days' prior written notice of any change in such policy. If, subsequent to an investment, the 80% requirement is no longer met, the Fund's future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this policy.

Continuous Offering

The method by which Creation Units are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, at any point a "distribution," as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner that could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.

For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent shares and sells such shares directly to customers or if it chooses to couple the creation of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not "underwriters" but are effecting transactions in shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of shares, generally are required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Fund are reminded that, pursuant to Rule 153 under the 1933 Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Listing Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available at the Listing Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is available only with respect to transactions on an exchange.

12

Management

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. The Board has responsibility for the overall management and operations of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed by BGFA and other service providers. Each Trustee serves until he or she resigns, is removed, dies, retires or becomes incapacitated. The President, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary shall each hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified and all other officers shall hold office until he or she resigns or is removed.

The Trust, iShares, Inc., Master Investment Portfolio ("MIP") and Barclays Global Investors Funds ("BGIF"), each an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act, are considered members of the same fund complex, as defined in Form N-1A under the 1940 Act. Each Trustee also serves as a Director for iShares, Inc. and, as a result, oversees a total of [179] funds within the fund complex. In addition, Lee T. Kranefuss serves as a Trustee for BGIF and MIP and, as a result, oversees an additional 26 portfolios within the fund complex. The address of each Trustee and Officer is c/o Barclays Global Investors, N.A., 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. The Board has designated George G.C. Parker as its Lead Independent Trustee.

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)                        OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
    NAME (AGE)             POSITION                  DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS                          HELD BY TRUSTEE
-------------------   -------------------   ----------------------------------------   ---------------------------------------------
Lee T. Kranefuss/1/   Trustee and           Global Chief Executive Officer,            Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2003);
(47)                  Chairman              iShares/Intermediary Groups of BGI         Trustee of BGIF and MIP (since 2001).
                      (since 2003).         (since 2008); Chief Executive Officer,

                                            iShares Intermediary Index and Market
                                            Group of BGI (2005-2008); Chief
                                            Executive Officer of the Intermediary
                                            Investor and Exchange Traded Products
                                            Business of BGI (2003-2005); Director of
                                            BGFA (since 2005); Director, President
                                            and Chief Executive Officer of Barclays
                                            Global Investors International, Inc.
                                            (since 2005); Director and Chairman of
                                            Barclays Global Investors Services
                                            (since 2005).


/1/ Lee T. Kranefuss is deemed to be an "interested person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust due to his affiliations with BGFA, the Fund's investment adviser, BGI, the parent company of BGFA, and Barclays Global Investors Services, an affiliate of BGFA and BGI.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)                        OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
    NAME (AGE)             POSITION                  DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS                          HELD BY TRUSTEE
-------------------   -------------------   ----------------------------------------   ---------------------------------------------
George G.C. Parker    Trustee (since        Dean Witter Distinguished Professor of     Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2002); Lead
(69)                  2000); Lead           Finance, Emeritus, Stanford University:    Independent Director of iShares, Inc. (since
                      Independent Trustee   Graduate School of Business (since         2006); Director of Continental Airlines, Inc.
                      (since 2006).         1994).                                     (since 1996); Director of Community First
                                                                                       Financial Group (since 1995); Director of
                                                                                       Tejon Ranch Company (since 1999); Director of
                                                                                       Threshold Pharmaceuticals (since 2004);
                                                                                       Director of NETGEAR, Inc. (since 2007).

13

                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)                        OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
    NAME (AGE)             POSITION                  DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS                          HELD BY TRUSTEE
-------------------   -------------------   ----------------------------------------   ---------------------------------------------
John E. Martinez      Trustee               Director of Real Estate Equity Exchange    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2003);
(47)                  (since 2003).         (since 2005).                              Chairman, Independent Review Committee,
                                                                                       Canadian iShares Funds (since 2007).

Cecilia H. Herbert    Trustee               Chair of Investment Committee,             Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005);
(59)                  (since 2005).         Archdiocese of San Francisco (1994-        Advisory Board Member of Forward Funds (since
                                            2005); Director (since 1998) and           2009).
                                            President (since 2007) of the Board of
                                            Directors, Catholic Charities CYO;
                                            Trustee of Pacific Select Funds
                                            (2004-2005); Trustee (since 2005) and
                                            Chair of the Finance and Investment
                                            Committees (since 2006) of the Thacher
                                            School.

Charles A. Hurty      Trustee               Retired; Partner, KPMG LLP (1968-2001).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005);
(65)                  (since 2005).                                                    Director of GMAM Absolute Return Strategy
                                                                                       Fund (1 portfolio)(since 2002); Director of
                                                                                       Citigroup Alternative Investments Multi-
                                                                                       Adviser Hedge Fund Portfolios LLC (1
                                                                                       portfolio)(since 2002); Director of CSFB
                                                                                       Alternative Investments Fund (6
                                                                                       portfolios)(since 2005).

John E. Kerrigan      Trustee               Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara      Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005).
(53)                  (since 2005).         University (since 2002).

Robert H. Silver      Trustee               President and Co-Founder of The Bravitas   Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2007).
(53)                  (since 2007).         Group, Inc. (since 2006); Member,
                                            Non-Investor Advisory Board of Russia
                                            Partners II, LP (since 2006); President
                                            and Chief Operating Officer (2003-2005)
                                            and Director (1999-2005) of UBS
                                            Financial Services, Inc.; President and
                                            Chief Executive Officer of UBS Services
                                            USA, LLC (1999-2005); Managing Director,
                                            UBS America, Inc. (2000- 2005); Director
                                            and Vice Chairman of the YMCA of Greater
                                            NYC (since 2001); Broadway Producer
                                            (since 2006); Co-Founder and Vice
                                            President of Parentgiving Inc. (since
                                            2008); Director and Member of the Audit
                                            and Compensation Committee of EPAM
                                            Systems, Inc. (2006-2009).

Darrell Duffie        Trustee               Professor, Stanford University:            Director of iShares, Inc. (since June 2008);
(54)                  (since 2008).         Graduate School of Business (since         Director of Moody's Corporation (since 2008).
                                            1984).

14

OFFICERS

                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
    NAME (AGE)             POSITION                  DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS
-------------------   -------------------   ----------------------------------------
Michael A. Latham     President             Head of Americas iShares (since 2007);
(43)                  (since 2007).         Chief Operating Officer of the
                                            Intermediary Investor and Exchange
                                            Traded Products Business of BGI
                                            (2003-2007); Director and Chief
                                            Financial Officer of Barclays Global
                                            Investors International, Inc. (since
                                            2005).

Geoffrey D. Flynn     Executive Vice        Chief Operating Officer, U.S. iShares,
(52)                  President and Chief   BGI (since 2008); Director, Mutual Fund
                      Operating Officer     Operations of BGI (2007-2008);
                      (since 2008).         President, Van Kampen Investors Services
                                            (2003-2007); Managing Director, Morgan
                                            Stanley (2002-2007); President, Morgan
                                            Stanley Trust, FSB (2002-2007).

Jack Gee              Treasurer and Chief   Director of Fund Administration of
(49)                  Financial Officer     Intermediary Investor Business of BGI
                      (since 2008).         (since 2004); Treasurer and Chief
                                            Financial Officer of Parnassus
                                            Investments (2004).

Eilleen M. Clavere    Secretary             Director of Legal Administration of
(56)                  (since 2007).         Intermediary Investor Business of BGI
                                            (since 2006); Legal Counsel and Vice
                                            President of Atlas Funds, Atlas
                                            Advisers, Inc. and Atlas Securities,
                                            Inc. (2005-2006); Counsel of Kirkpatrick
                                            & Lockhart LLP (2001-2005).

Ira P. Shapiro        Vice President and    Associate General Counsel, BGI (since
(45)                  Chief Legal Officer   2004); First Vice President, Merrill
                      (since 2007).         Lynch Investment Managers (1993-2004).

Amy Schioldager       Executive Vice        Global Head of Index Equity, BGI (since
(46)                  President             2008); Global Head of U.S. Indexing, BGI
                      (since 2007).         (2006-2008); Head of Domestic Equity
                                            Portfolio Management, BGI (2001-2006).

Patrick O'Connor      Vice President        Head of iShares Portfolio Management,
(41)                  (since 2007).         BGI (since 2006); Senior Portfolio
                                            Manager, BGI (1999- 2006).

Lee Sterne            Vice President        Head of U.S. Fixed Income Index and
(43)                  (since 2007).         iShares, BGI (since 2007); Senior
                                            Portfolio Manager, BGI (2004-2007);
                                            Portfolio Manager, BGI (2001-2004).

15

                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
    NAME (AGE)             POSITION                  DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS
-------------------   -------------------   ----------------------------------------
Matt Tucker           Vice President        Director of Fixed Income Investment
(36)                  (since 2007).         Strategy, BGI (since 2009); Head of U.S.
                                            Fixed Income Investment Solutions, BGI
                                            (2005-2008); Fixed Income Investment
                                            Strategist, BGI (2003-2005).

The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2008, the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Fund and in other registered investment companies overseen by the Trustee within the same family of investment companies as the Trust. If a fund is not listed below, the Trustee did not own any securities in that fund as of the date indicated above:

                                                                                                   AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE
                                                                                                OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN ALL
                                                                                                   REGISTERED INVESTMENT
                                                                                                   COMPANIES OVERSEEN BY
                                                                       DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY      TRUSTEE IN FAMILY OF
  NAME OF TRUSTEE                          FUND                        SECURITIES IN THE FUND      INVESTMENT COMPANIES
------------------   -----------------------------------------------   ----------------------   ---------------------------
Lee T. Kranefuss     iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Fund      $50,001-$100,000         Over $100,000

                     iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund                   $50,001-$100,000

John E. Martinez     iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund     Over $100,000            Over $100,000

                     iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund                      Over $100,000

                     iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund                   Over $100,000

                     iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund             Over $100,000

                     iShares S&P 500 Index Fund                        Over $100,000

George G.C. Parker   iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund      Over $100,000            Over $100,000

                     iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund           $50,001-$100,000

                     iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond   Over $100,000
                     Fund

                     iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund                      Over $100,000

                     iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index       $50,001-$100,000
                     Fund

                     iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund             $50,001-$100,000

                     iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund                   $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares Russell 2000 Value Index Fund             $50,001-$100,000

                     iShares S&P 100 Index Fund                        $50,001-$100,000

                     iShares S&P 500 Index Fund                        Over $100,000

                     iShares S&P 500 Value Index Fund                  Over $100,000

                     iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index Fund                 $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares S&P MidCap 400 Value Index Fund           $50,001-$100,000

                     iShares S&P Small Cap 600 Index Fund              $ 10,001-$50,000

Cecilia H. Herbert   iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Treasury Bond fund      $ 10,001-$50,000         Over $100,000

16

                                                                                                   AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE
                                                                                                OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN ALL
                                                                                                   REGISTERED INVESTMENT
                                                                                                   COMPANIES OVERSEEN BY
                                                                       DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY      TRUSTEE IN FAMILY OF
  NAME OF TRUSTEE                          FUND                        SECURITIES IN THE FUND      INVESTMENT COMPANIES
------------------   -----------------------------------------------   ----------------------   ---------------------------
                     iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund                   $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund           $50,001-$100,000

                     iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund                      $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund                      $50,001-$100,000

                     iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund          $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund                   $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund                   $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares S&P 500 Index Fund                        Over $100,000

                     iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index Fund                 $ 10,000-$50,000

Charles A. Hurty     iShares Dow Jones Financial Sector Index Fund     $      1-$10,000         Over $100,000

                     iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund      $      1-$10,000

                     iShares Dow Jones U.S. Energy Sector Index Fund   $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares Dow Jones U.S. Technology Sector Index    $      1-$10,000
                     Fund

                     iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund           $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund                      $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund                     $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares S&P 500 Index Fund                        $ 10,001-$50,000

John E. Kerrigan     iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Index Fund                Over $100,000            Over $100,000

Robert H. Silver     iShares Dow Jones U.S. Broker-Dealers Index Fund  Over $100,000            Over $100,000

                     iShares Dow Jones U.S. Financial Services Index   $ 10,001-$50,000
                     Fund

                     iShares Dow Jones U.S. Regional Banks Index       $50,001-$100,000
                     Fund

                     iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Index Fund                $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund                      $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund                      Over $100,000

                     iShares Russell 3000 Index Fund                   $50,001-$100,000

                     iShares S&P Europe 350 Index Fund                 $ 10,001-$50,000

                     iShares S&P 500 Index Fund                        Over $100,000

Darrell Duffie       None                                              None                     None

As of December 31, 2008, none of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust ("Independent Trustees") or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities of BGFA (the Fund's investment adviser), the Distributor or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with BGFA or the Distributor.

17

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Each Independent Trustee serves on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board. Mr. Martinez was not a member of these committees prior to August 13, 2009. The purposes of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board (i) in its oversight of the Trust's accounting and financial reporting principles and policies and related controls and procedures maintained by or on behalf of the Trust; (ii) in its oversight of the Trust's financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (iii) in selecting, evaluating and, where deemed appropriate, replacing the independent accountants (or nominating the independent accountants to be proposed for shareholder approval in any proxy statement);
(iv) in evaluating the independence of the independent accountants; (v) in complying with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Trust's accounting and financial reporting, internal controls and independent audits; and (vi) to assume such other responsibilities as may be delegated by the Board. The Audit Committee met ___ times during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009.

The Nominating and Governance Committee nominates individuals for Independent Trustee membership on the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee functions include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) reviewing the qualifications of any person properly identified or nominated to serve as an Independent Trustee; (ii) recommending to the Board and current Independent Trustees the nominee(s) for appointment as an Independent Trustee by the Board and current Independent Trustees and/or for election as Independent Trustees by shareholders to fill any vacancy for a position of Independent Trustee(s) on the Board; (iii) recommending to the Board and current Independent Trustees the size and composition of the Board and Board committees and whether they comply with applicable laws and regulations; (iv) recommending a current Independent Trustee to the Board and current Independent Trustees to serve as Lead Independent Trustee; (v) periodic review of the Board's retirement policy; and
(vi) recommending an appropriate level of compensation for the Independent Trustees for their services as Trustees, members or chairpersons of committees of the Board, Lead Independent Trustee, Chairperson of the Board and any other positions as the Nominating and Governance Committee considers appropriate. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not consider Board nomination(s) recommended by shareholders (acting solely in their capacity as a shareholder and not in any other capacity). The Nominating and Governance Committee is comprised of all members of the Board that are Independent Trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee met ___ times during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2009.

REMUNERATION OF TRUSTEES. The Trust pays each Independent Trustee and John Martinez (who was categorized as an Interested Trustee in 2008), an annual fee of $90,000 for meetings of the Board attended by the Trustee; also the Trust pays Charles Hurty an annual fee of $20,000 for service as the chairperson of the Board's Audit Committee and George G. C. Parker an annual fee of $25,000 for service as the Board's Lead Independent Trustee. The Trust also reimburses each Trustee for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him/her in connection with attending such meetings.

The table below sets forth the total compensation paid to each Interested Trustee for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008:

                                                 PENSION OR
                               AGGREGATE         RETIREMENT                                  TOTAL
                             COMPENSATION   BENEFITS ACCRUED AS   ESTIMATED ANNUAL      COMPENSATION
                               FROM THE        PART OF TRUST        BENEFITS UPON       FROM THE FUND
NAME OF INTERESTED TRUSTEE       TRUST          EXPENSES/1/         RETIREMENT/1/    AND FUND COMPLEX/2/
--------------------------   ------------   --------------------  ----------------   -------------------
Lee T. Kranefuss/3/             $     0        Not Applicable      Not Applicable        $      0
John E. Martinez/4/              90,000        Not Applicable      Not Applicable         180,000


/1/ No Trustee or Officer is entitled to any pension or retirement benefits from the Trust.
/2/ Includes compensation for service on the Board of Directors of iShares, Inc.
/3/ Lee T. Kranefuss was not compensated by the Trust due to his employment with BGI during the time period reflected in the table.
/4/ Prior to August 13, 2009, John E. Martinez was deemed to be an "interested person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust. As of August 13, 2009, John E. Martinez has been determined to be a non-interested person notwithstanding his former affiliation with BGI prior to 2002.

18

The table below sets forth the total compensation paid to each Independent Trustee for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008:

                                AGGREGATE              PENSION OR                                       TOTAL
                              COMPENSATION   RETIREMENT BENEFITS ACCRUED AS   ESTIMATED ANNUAL      COMPENSATION
                                FROM THE              PART OF TRUST             BENEFITS UPON       FROM THE FUND
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE       TRUST                EXPENSES/1/              RETIREMENT/1/    AND FUND COMPLEX/2/
---------------------------   ------------   ------------------------------   ----------------   -------------------
George G.C. Parker              $115,000              Not Applicable           Not Applicable         $230,000
John E. Kerrigan                  90,000              Not Applicable           Not Applicable          180,000
Charles A. Hurty                 110,000              Not Applicable           Not Applicable          220,000
Cecilia H. Herbert                90,000              Not Applicable           Not Applicable          180,000
Robert H. Silver                  90,000              Not Applicable           Not Applicable          180,000
Darrell Duffie*                   67,500              Not Applicable           Not Applicable          135,000


* Appointed to serve as Independent Trustee of the Trust effective June 18, 2008. /1/ No Trustee or Officer is entitled to any pension or retirement benefits from the Trust. /2/ Includes compensation for service on the Board of Directors of iShares, Inc.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES. Ownership information is not provided for the Fund as it had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI.

Investment Advisory, Administrative and Distribution Services

INVESTMENT ADVISER. BGFA serves as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and BGFA. BGFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by Barclays Bank PLC and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BGFA, subject to the supervision of the Board and in conformity with the stated investment policies of the Fund, manages and administers the Trust and the investment of the Fund's assets. BGFA is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of the Fund.

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between BGFA and the Trust (entered into on behalf of the Fund), BGFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, except interest expense and taxes, brokerage expenses and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio securities transactions, distribution fees and extraordinary expenses.

For its investment advisory services to the Fund, BGFA is entitled to receive management fees from the Fund, based on a percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets, at the annual rate of ___%. Because the Fund has been in operation for less than one full fiscal year, the percentage reflects the rate at which BGFA will be paid.

The Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Fund continues in effect for two years from its effective date, and thereafter is subject to annual approval by (i) the Board or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, provided that in either event such continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Fund is terminable without penalty, on 60 days' notice, by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Investment Advisory Agreement is also terminable upon 60 days' notice by BGFA and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

Current interpretations of U.S. federal banking laws and regulations (i) may prohibit Barclays Bank PLC, BGI and BGFA from controlling or underwriting the shares of the Fund, but (ii) do not prohibit Barclays Bank PLC or BGFA generally from acting as an investment adviser, administrator, transfer agent or custodian to the Fund or from purchasing shares as agent for and upon the order of a customer.

19

BGFA believes that it may perform advisory and related services for the Trust without violating applicable banking laws or regulations. However, the legal requirements and interpretations about the permissible activities of banks and their affiliates may change in the future. These changes could prevent BGFA from continuing to perform services for the Trust. If this happens, the Board would consider selecting other qualified firms. Any new investment advisory agreement would be subject to shareholder approval.

If current restrictions on bank activities with mutual funds were relaxed, BGFA, or its affiliates, would consider performing additional services for the Trust. BGFA cannot predict whether these changes will be enacted, or the terms under which BGFA, or its affiliates, might offer to provide additional services.

BGFA and/or BGI may pay certain broker-dealers and intermediaries for participating in activities that are designed to make registered representatives and other professionals more knowledgeable about exchange traded products, including the Fund, or for other activities, such as participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems. BGFA and/or BGI may also pay broker-dealers or intermediaries for certain printing, publishing and mailing costs associated with the Fund or materials relating to exchange traded products in general. Payments to a broker-dealer or intermediary may create potential conflicts of interest between the broker-dealer or intermediary and its clients. These amounts, which may be significant, are paid by BGFA and/or BGI from their own resources and not from the assets of the Fund.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS. The individuals named as Portfolio Managers in the Fund's Prospectus were also primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of other iShares funds and certain other types of portfolios and/or accounts as indicated in the tables below as of ______, 2009:

JOEL SILVA
TYPES OF ACCOUNTS                                  NUMBER    TOTAL ASSETS
------------------------------------------------  --------  -------------
Registered Investment Companies                                   $
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles                                  $
Other Accounts                                                    $
Accounts with Incentive-Based Fee Arrangements                    $

LEE STERNE
TYPES OF ACCOUNTS                                  NUMBER    TOTAL ASSETS
------------------------------------------------  --------  -------------
Registered Investment Companies                                   $
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles                                  $
Other Accounts                                                    $
Accounts with Incentive-Based Fee Arrangements                    $

Each of the portfolios or accounts for which the Portfolio Managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management seeks to track the rate of return, risk profile and other characteristics of independent third-party indexes by either replicating the same combination of securities that compose those indexes or through a representative sampling of the securities that compose those indexes based on objective criteria and data. Pursuant to BGI and BGFA policy, investment opportunities are allocated equitably among the Fund and other portfolios and accounts. For example, under certain circumstances, an investment opportunity may be restricted due to limited supply on the market, legal constraints or other factors, in which event the investment opportunity will be allocated equitably among those portfolios and accounts, including the Fund, seeking such investment opportunity. As a consequence, from time to time the Fund may receive a smaller allocation of an investment opportunity than they would have if the Portfolio Managers and BGFA and its affiliates did not manage other portfolios or accounts.

Like the Fund, the other portfolios or accounts for which the Portfolio Managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management generally pay an asset-based fee to BGFA or BGI, as applicable, for its advisory services. One or more of those other portfolios or accounts, however, may pay BGI an incentive-based fee in lieu of, or in addition to, an asset-based fee for its advisory services. A portfolio or account with an incentive-based fee would pay BGI a portion of that portfolio's or account's gains, or would pay BGI more for its services than would otherwise be the case if BGI meets or exceeds specified performance targets. By their very nature, incentive-based fee arrangements could present an incentive for BGI to devote greater resources, and allocate more investment opportunities, to the portfolios or accounts that have those fee

20

arrangements, relative to other portfolios or accounts, in order to earn larger fees. Although BGI has an obligation to allocate resources and opportunities equitably among portfolios and accounts and intends to do so, shareholders of the Fund should be aware that, as with any group of portfolios and accounts managed by an investment adviser and/or its affiliates pursuant to varying fee arrangements, including incentive-based fee arrangements, there is the potential for a conflict-of-interest, that may result in the Portfolio Managers' favoring those portfolios or accounts with incentive-based fee arrangements.

The table below shows, for each Portfolio Manager, the number of portfolios or accounts of the types set forth in the above table and the aggregate of total assets in those portfolios or accounts with respect to which the investment management fees are based on the performance of those portfolios or accounts as of ______, 2009:

JOEL SILVA
                                          NUMBER OF OTHER
                                           ACCOUNTS WITH            AGGREGATE
                                     PERFORMANCE FEES MANAGED    OF TOTAL ASSETS
                                    --------------------------  ----------------
Registered Investment Companies                                         $
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles                                        $
Other Accounts                                                          $

LEE STERNE
                                          NUMBER OF OTHER
                                           ACCOUNTS WITH            AGGREGATE
                                     PERFORMANCE FEES MANAGED    OF TOTAL ASSETS
                                    --------------------------  ----------------
Registered Investment Companies                                         $
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles                                        $
Other Accounts                                                          $

As of ______, 2009, with respect to all iShares funds and other portfolios and/or accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers, on behalf of BGFA, the Portfolio Managers receive a salary and are eligible to receive an annual bonus. Each Portfolio Manager's salary is a fixed amount generally determined annually based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Portfolio Manager's title, scope of responsibilities, experience and knowledge. Each Portfolio Manager's bonus is a discretionary amount determined annually based on the overall profitability of the various BGI companies worldwide, the performance of the Portfolio Manager's business unit, and an assessment of the Portfolio Manager's individual performance.

Each Portfolio Manager's salary and annual bonus are paid in cash. BGFA also operates a mandatory bonus deferral plan for employees whose bonuses exceed certain thresholds which generally becomes payable three years after grant. One half of the mandatory deferral award is "notionally invested" in funds managed by BGI, and the other half is provisionally allocated to shares in Barclays PLC (the ultimate parent company of BGFA). Thus, the value of the final award may be increased or decreased over the three-year period. In addition, a Portfolio Manager may be paid a signing bonus or other amounts in connection with initiation of employment with BGFA. If a Portfolio Manager satisfied the requirements for being part of a "select group of management or highly compensated employees (within the meaning of ERISA Section 401(a))" as so specified under the terms of BGI's Compensation Deferral Plan, the Portfolio Manager may elect to defer a portion of his or her bonus under that Plan.

If a Portfolio Manager is part of a select group of management or highly compensated employees and is designated by the plan administrators (in their discretion) to be eligible for participation in BGI's Voluntary Levered Alpha Participation Plan ("VLAPP"), the Portfolio Manager may elect to defer a portion of his or her bonus under VLAPP. Under this plan, the Portfolio Manager would receive an award corresponding to the deferred bonus portion if he or she voluntarily elects in advance to defer. VLAPP awards generally vest after three years. The award will be "notionally invested" in a fund(s) managed by BGI over the three-year period, and the return on that notional investment will determine the final award amount. If the referenced fund's return exceeds its benchmark, the excess return is multiplied by a factor of two (2) for the sole purpose of determining the return on the award's notional investment.

Portfolio Managers may be selected, on a fully discretionary basis, for awards under BGI's Levered Alpha Participation Plan ("LAPP"). Under LAPP, these awards are determined annually, and generally vest in three equal installments over three years. Each vested installment is paid out upon vesting. At the option of the plan administrators, the award may be "notionally invested" in a fund(s) managed by BGI. If notionally invested, the return on that notional investment during the relevant

21

vesting period will determine the award payout amount. If the referenced fund's return exceeds its benchmark, the excess return is multiplied by the factor specified by the plan administrators at the time of the award grant for the sole purpose of determining the return on the award's notional investment.

Prior to December 31, 2007, portfolio managers were eligible for selection, on a fully discretionary basis, for awards under BGI's Compensation Enhancement Plan ("CEP"). Under the CEP, these awards were determined annually, and were generally scheduled to vest after two years. At the option of the CEP administrators, the award may be "notionally invested" in funds managed by BGI, which means that the final award amount may be increased or decreased according to the performance of the BGI-managed funds over the two-year period. If the award was not notionally invested, the original award amount will be paid once vested.

A Portfolio Manager may be granted options to purchase shares in Barclays Global Investors UK Holdings Limited ("BGI UK Holdings"), a company organized under the laws of England and Wales that directly or indirectly owns all of the BGI companies worldwide, which options vest in three equal installments over three years and are generally exercisable during prescribed exercise windows. Shares purchased must generally be held 355 days prior to sale. For such purposes, the value of BGI UK Holdings is based on its fair value as determined by an independent public accounting firm.

As of ___, 2009, the Portfolio Managers did not beneficially own any shares of the Fund.

DISTRIBUTOR. The Distributor's principal address is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456. The Distributor has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes shares of the Fund. The Distribution Agreement will continue for two years from its effective date and is renewable annually. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Fund through the Distributor only in Creation Units, as described in the Prospectus and below in the CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS section of this SAI. Shares in less than Creation Units are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will deliver the Prospectus and, upon request, the SAI to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA").

The Distribution Agreement for the Fund provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days' prior written notice to the other party following (i) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers ("Soliciting Dealers") who will solicit purchases of Creation Units of Fund shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Authorized Participants (as defined below), DTC participants and/or Investor Services Organizations.

BGFA or BGI may, from time to time and from its own resources, pay, defray or absorb costs relating to distribution, including payments out of its own resources to the Distributor, or to otherwise promote the sale of shares.

CODES OF ETHICS. The Trust, BGFA and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. The Codes of Ethics permit personnel subject to the Codes of Ethics to invest in securities, subject to certain limitations, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. The Codes of Ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.

ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT. State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the Fund. State Street's principal address is 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116. Pursuant to an Administration Agreement with the Trust, State Street provides necessary administrative, legal, tax and accounting and financial reporting services for the maintenance and operations of the Trust and the Fund. In addition, State Street makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services. Pursuant to a Custodian Agreement with the Trust, State Street maintains in separate accounts cash, securities and other assets of the Trust and the Fund, keeps all necessary accounts and records and provides other services. State Street is required, upon the order of the Trust, to deliver securities held by State Street and to make payments for securities purchased by the Trust for the Fund. Also, pursuant to a Delegation Agreement with the Trust, State Street is authorized to appoint certain foreign custodians or foreign custody managers for Fund investments outside the United States. Pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement with the Trust, State Street acts as a transfer agent for the Fund's authorized and issued shares of

22

beneficial interest, and as dividend disbursing agent of the Trust. As compensation for these services, State Street receives certain out-of-pocket costs, transaction fees and asset-based fees which are accrued daily and paid monthly by BGFA from its management fee.

Brokerage Transactions

BGFA assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of the Fund for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. In selecting brokers or dealers for any transaction in portfolio securities, BGFA's policy is to make such selection based on factors deemed relevant, including but not limited to, the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the reasonableness of the commission or mark-up or mark-down, if any, execution capability, settlement capability, back office efficiency and the financial condition of the broker or dealer, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid is evaluated by BGFA based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable services. Brokers may also be selected because of their ability to handle special or difficult executions, such as may be involved in large block trades, less liquid securities, broad distributions, or other circumstances. BGFA does not consider the provision or value of research, products or services a broker or dealer may provide, if any, as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer or the determination of the reasonableness of commissions paid in connection with portfolio transactions. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of the Fund's shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or a dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.

Purchases and sales of fixed-income securities for the Fund usually are principal transactions and ordinarily are purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or broker-dealer. The Fund does not usually pay brokerage commissions in connection with such purchases and sales, but such transactions may be subject to mark-ups or mark-downs.

The Fund's purchase and sale orders for securities may be combined with those of other investment companies, clients or accounts that BGFA manages or advises and for which it has brokerage placement authority. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Fund and one or more other accounts managed or advised by BGFA are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the Fund and the other accounts in a manner deemed equitable to all by BGFA. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Fund is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower transaction costs will be beneficial to the Fund. BGFA may deal, trade and invest for its own account in the types of securities in which the Fund may invest. BGFA may, from time to time, effect trades on behalf of and for the account of the Fund with brokers or dealers that are affiliated with BGFA, in conformity with the 1940 Act and SEC rules and regulations. Under these provisions, any commissions paid to affiliated brokers or dealers must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions charged by other brokers or dealers in comparable transactions. The Fund will not deal with affiliates in principal transactions unless permitted by applicable SEC rule or regulation or by SEC exemptive order.

Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover rates may result in comparatively greater brokerage expenses.

Additional Information Concerning the Trust

SHARES. The Trust currently consists of more than [150] separate investment series or portfolios called funds. The Trust issues shares of beneficial interests in each fund with no par value. The Board may designate additional iShares funds.

Each share issued by a fund has a PRO RATA interest in the assets of that fund. Shares have no preemptive, exchange, subscription or conversion rights and are freely transferable. Each share is entitled to participate equally in dividends and distributions declared by the Board with respect to the relevant fund, and in the net distributable assets of such fund on liquidation.

Each share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Shares of all funds vote together as a single class except that if the matter being voted on affects only a particular fund, or if a matter affects a particular fund differently from other funds, that fund will vote separately on such matter.

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Under Delaware law, the Trust is not required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. The policy of the Trust is not to hold an annual meeting of shareholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. All shares (regardless of the fund) have noncumulative voting rights for the Board. Under Delaware law, Trustees of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders.

Following the creation of the initial Creation Unit(s) of shares of the fund and immediately prior to the commencement of trading in the fund's shares, a holder of shares may be a "control person" of the fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. The fund cannot predict the length of time for which one or more shareholders may remain a control person of the fund.

In accordance with the Trust's Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 24, 2008, the Board may, without shareholder approval (unless such shareholder approval is required by applicable law, including the 1940 Act), cause one or more funds commencing operations after September 24, 2008 (each, a "New Fund") to merge, reorganize, consolidate, sell all or substantially all of their assets, or take other similar actions with, to or into another New Fund.

Shareholders may make inquiries by writing to the Trust, c/o the Distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co., at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.

Absent an applicable exemption or other relief from the SEC or its staff, beneficial owners of more than 5% of the shares of the fund may be subject to the reporting provisions of Section 13 of the 1934 Act and the SEC's rules promulgated thereunder. In addition, absent an applicable exemption or other relief from the SEC staff, officers and trustees of the fund and beneficial owners of 10% of the shares of the fund ("Insiders") may be subject to the insider reporting, short-swing profit and short sale provisions of Section 16 of the 1934 Act and the SEC's rules promulgated thereunder. Beneficial owners and Insiders should consult with their own legal counsel concerning their obligations under Sections 13 and 16 of the 1934 Act.

TERMINATION OF THE TRUST OR THE FUND. The Trust or the Fund may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board or the affirmative vote of a supermajority of the holders of the Trust or the Fund entitled to vote on termination. Although the shares are not automatically redeemable upon the occurrence of any specific event, the Trust's organizational documents provide that the Board will have the unrestricted power to alter the number of shares in a Creation Unit. In the event of a termination of the Trust or the Fund, the Board, in its sole discretion, could determine to permit the shares to be redeemable in aggregations smaller than Creation Units or to be individually redeemable. In such circumstance, the Trust may make redemptions in kind, for cash or for a combination of cash or securities.

The Fund will wind up and terminate on or about August 31, 2012. Upon its termination, the Fund will distribute substantially all of its net assets, after making appropriate provision for any liabilities of the Fund, to then-current shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation. In accordance with the Trust's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated September 17, 2009, the Fund will terminate on or about the date above by approval of a majority of the Board without requiring additional shareholder approval. The Board may extend the termination date if a majority of the Board determines the extension to be in the best interest of the Fund.

DTC AS SECURITIES DEPOSITORY FOR SHARES OF THE FUND. Shares of the Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.

DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants ("DTC Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities' certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE, the NYSE Amex Equities and the FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants").

Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as "Beneficial Owners") is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares.

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Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the shares of the Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all shares of the Trust. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares of the Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a "street name," and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants. DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares of the Trust at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost.

Creation and Redemption of Creation Units

GENERAL. The Trust issues and sells shares of the Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at the NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined below), of an order in proper form.

The Board reserves the right to declare a split or consolidation in the number of shares outstanding of any Fund of the Trust, and to make a corresponding change in the number of shares constituting a Creation Unit, in the event that the per share price in the secondary market rises (or declines) to an amount that falls outside the range deemed desirable by the Board.

A "Business Day" with respect to the Fund is any day on which the Listing Exchange on which the Fund is listed for trading is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, each Listing Exchange observes the following holidays, (as observed): New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day (observed), Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of Creation Units of the Fund generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (I.E., the Deposit Securities), which constitutes an optimized representation of the securities of the Fund's Underlying Index, and the Cash Component computed as described below. Together, the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component constitute the "Fund Deposit," which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of any Fund.

The portfolio of securities required for purchase of a Creation Unit may be different than the portfolio of securities the Fund will deliver upon redemption of Fund shares. The Deposit Securities and Fund Securities (as defined below), as the case may be, in connection with a purchase or redemption of a Creation Unit, will correspond PRO RATA, to the extent practicable, to the securities held by the Fund. As the planned termination date of the Fund approaches, and particularly as the bonds held by the Fund begin to mature, the Fund expects to effect both creations and redemptions increasingly for cash.

The Cash Component is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares (per Creation Unit) and the "Deposit Amount," which is an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities, and serves to compensate for any difference between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount. Payment of any stamp duty or other similar fees and

25

expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant purchasing a Creation Unit.

BGFA, through the NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the (subject to amendments) Listing Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the identity and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security and the amount of the Cash Component to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day). Such Deposit Securities are applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of a given Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities is made available.

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities changes pursuant to the changes in the composition of the Fund's portfolio and as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by BGFA with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of the Fund's Underlying Index.

The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a "cash- in-lieu" amount to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security that may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or that may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process (as discussed below), or the Federal Reserve System for U.S. Treasury securities. The Trust also reserves the right to permit or require a "cash-in- lieu" amount where the delivery of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant (as described below) would be restricted under the securities laws or where the delivery of Deposit Securities to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws, and in certain other situations. The adjustments described above will reflect changes known to BGFA on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit, in the composition of the Underlying Index or resulting from certain corporate actions.

PROCEDURES FOR CREATION OF CREATION UNITS. To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor and to create a Creation Unit of the Fund, an entity must be:
(i) a "Participating Party," I.E., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the "Clearing Process"), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC, or (ii) a DTC Participant (see the BOOK-ENTRY section of the Prospectus), and must have executed an agreement with the Distributor, with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units ("Participant Agreement") (discussed below). A Participating Party or DTC Participant who has executed a Participant Agreement is referred to as an "Authorized Participant." Investors should contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants. All shares of the Fund, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant.

Except as noted below, all creation orders must be placed for one or more Creation Units and, whether through a Participating Party or a DTC Participant, must be received by the Distributor in proper form no later than the closing time of the regular trading session of the Listing Exchange ("Closing Time") (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) in each case on the date such order is placed in order for creation of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of shares of the Fund as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. Orders requesting substitution of a "cash-in-lieu" amount generally must be received by the Distributor no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. On days when the Listing Exchange or the bond markets close earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. For example, on days when the generally accepted close of the bond market occurs earlier than normal (such as the day before a holiday), orders requesting substitution of a "cash-in-lieu" amount must be received by the Distributor no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. The date on which an order to create Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as discussed below) is timely received in proper form is referred to as the "Transmittal Date." Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, as described below. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure, may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.

All orders to create Creation Units shall be placed with an Authorized Participant in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, an Authorized Participant may request that an investor make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to an order (E.G., to provide for payments of cash). Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and, therefore, orders to create Creation Units of the Fund will have to be placed by the investor's broker through an Authorized Participant. In such cases, there may be additional charges to such investor. A limited number of broker-dealers has executed a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants have international capabilities.

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Investors placing orders for Creation Units of the Fund should ascertain the applicable deadline for cash transfers by contacting the operations department of the broker or depositary institution making the transfer of the Cash Component. This deadline is likely to be significantly earlier than the closing time if the regular trading session on the applicable Listing Exchange. Investors should be aware that the Authorized Participant may require orders for Creation Units placed with it to be in the form required by the individual Authorized Participant, which form may not be the same as the form of purchase order specified by the Trust that the Authorized Participant must deliver to the Distributor.

PLACEMENT OF CREATION ORDERS. Fund Deposits must be delivered through the Federal Reserve System (for cash and government securities) and through DTC (for corporate and municipal securities) by an Authorized Participant. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities through DTC to the account of the Fund by no later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date. The "Settlement Date" is generally the third business day after the Transmittal Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The amount of cash equal to the Cash Component must be transferred directly to State Street through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by State Street no later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date. If the Cash Component and the Deposit Securities are not received by 3:00 p.m., the creation order may be canceled. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of the Fund. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the third Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.

Creation Units of the Fund may be created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since, in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) at least 110%, of the market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the "Additional Cash Deposit").

The order shall be deemed to be received on the Business Day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to the applicable cut-off time and the federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited with State Street by 3:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date. If the order is not placed in proper form as required, or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 3:00 p.m. on the Settlement Date, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be deposited with the Trust, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to 110%, of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. In the event of a failure to deliver the missing Deposit Securities the Trust may buy securities according to industry standards and procedures. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities, on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by State Street or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a transaction fee, as listed below, will be charged in all cases. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.

ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS FOR CREATION UNITS. The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject any creation order for shares of the Fund transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of the Fund if: (i) the order is not in proper form;
(ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of the Fund; (iii) the Deposit Securities delivered do not conform to the identity and number of shares disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by BGFA, as described above;
(iv) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (v) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (vi) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the discretion of the Trust or BGFA, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of Beneficial Owners; or (vii) circumstances outside the control of the Trust, State Street, the Distributor or BGFA would make it impossible or impracticable to process creation orders. Examples of such circumstances include acts of God; public service or utility problems resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, BGFA, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, State

27

Street, the sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process, and similar extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit of its rejection of the order. The Trust, State Street, the sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give such notification.

All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust's determination shall be final and binding.

CREATION TRANSACTION FEE. A standard creation transaction fee is imposed to offset the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units. The standard creation transaction fee will be the same regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased by a purchaser on the same day. Purchasers of Creation Units for cash are required to pay an additional variable charge to compensate for brokerage and market impact expenses. When the Trust permits an in-kind purchaser to substitute cash-in-lieu of depositing a portion of the Deposit Securities, the purchaser will be assessed the additional variable charge for cash purchases on the cash-in-lieu portion of its investment up to a maximum additional variable charge as indicated in the chart below. Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Deposit Securities to the Trust. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services.

The following table sets forth standard creation transaction fees and maximum additional variable charges:

 STANDARD CREATION    MAXIMUM ADDITIONAL
 TRANSACTION FEE*      VARIABLE CHARGE*
------------------   -------------------
       $_____               3.0%


* As a percentage of the amount invested.

REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through State Street and only on a Business Day. The Fund will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Units. Beneficial Owners must accumulate enough shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit by an investor who wishes to redeem a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.

BGFA and the Distributor make available through the NSCC, immediately prior to the opening of business on the Listing Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time) on each Business Day, the identity and number of shares that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as described below) on that day ("Fund Securities"). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units.

Unless cash redemptions are available or specified for the Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit generally consist of Fund Securities plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (such difference, the "Cash Redemption Amount"), less the redemption transaction fee set forth below. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares, a compensating cash payment equal to such difference is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder.

Redemptions of shares will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust cannot lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or cannot do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant, or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities, may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. This would specifically prohibit delivery of Fund Securities that are not registered in reliance upon Rule 144A under the 1933 Act to a redeeming Beneficial Owner that is not a "qualified institutional buyer," as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the 1933

28

Act. An Authorized Participant may request a redeeming Beneficial Owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment.

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the Fund: (i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the shares of the Fund or determination of the Fund's NAV is not reasonably practicable or (iv) in such other circumstances as is permitted by the SEC.

REDEMPTION TRANSACTION FEE. A standard redemption transaction fee is imposed to offset transfer and other transaction costs that may be incurred by the Fund. The standard redemption transaction fee will be the same regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed by an investor on the same day. The redeeming investor may be assessed an additional variable charge on the cash-in -lieu portion of its redemption proceeds, up to a maximum additional variable charge as indicated in the chart below. The standard redemption transaction fee and the additional variable charge for cash-in-lieu redemptions are set forth below. Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services.

The following table sets forth standard redemption transaction fees and maximum additional variable charges:

 STANDARD REDEMPTION    MAXIMUM ADDITIONAL
   TRANSACTION FEE       VARIABLE CHARGE*
--------------------   -------------------
        $_____                2.0%


* As a percentage of the value of amount invested.

PLACEMENT OF REDEMPTION ORDERS. To be eligible to place redemption orders for Creation Units of the Fund an entity must be a DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement and have the ability to transact through the Federal Reserve System. An order to redeem Creation Units is deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received no later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on such Transmittal Date, except as described below;
(ii) such order is accompanied or followed by the requisite number of shares of the Fund specified in such order, which delivery must be made through DTC to State Street no later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date; and
(iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. Orders requesting substitution of a "cash-in-lieu" amount generally must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. On days when a Listing Exchange or the bond markets close earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to redeem Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. For example, on days when the generally accepted close of the bond market occurs earlier than normal (such as the day before a holiday) orders to redeem a Creation Unit of the Fund and orders requesting substitution of a "cash-in-lieu" amount must be received by the Distributor no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. After the Trust has deemed an order for redemption received, the Trust will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to the Authorized Participant on behalf of the redeeming Beneficial Owner by the Settlement Date.

To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant's agreement, in the event the Authorized Participant has submitted a redemption request in proper form but is unable to transfer all or part of the Creation Unit to be redeemed to the Transfer Agent, on behalf of the Fund, the Distributor will nonetheless accept the redemption request in reliance on the undertaking by the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing shares as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by the Authorized Participant's delivery and maintenance of collateral having a value (marked to market daily) at least equal to 110% of the value of the missing shares. The current procedures for collateralization of missing shares require, among other things, that any collateral shall be in the form of U.S. dollars in immediately-available funds and shall be held by State Street and marked to market daily, and that the fees of State Street in respect of the delivery, maintenance and redelivery of the collateral shall be payable by the Authorized Participant. The Authorized Participant's agreement will permit the Trust, on behalf of the affected Fund, to purchase the missing shares or acquire the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component underlying such shares at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such shares, Deposit Securities or Cash Component and the value of the collateral.

The calculation of the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered upon redemption will be made by State Street according to the procedures set forth under Determination of NAV, computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the Trust. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to

29

the Distributor by a DTC Participant by the specified time on the Transmittal Date, and the requisite number of shares of the relevant Fund are delivered to State Street prior to 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Settlement Date, then the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered will be determined by State Street on such Transmittal Date. A redemption order must be submitted in proper form. If the requisite number of shares of the relevant Fund are not delivered by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Settlement Date, the Fund will not release the underlying securities for delivery unless collateral is posted in the amount of 110% of the missing shares (marked-to-market daily).

If it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming Beneficial Owner will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its shares based on the NAV of shares of the relevant Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Trust's brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). The Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities but does not differ in NAV.

Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming Beneficial Owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment.

TAXATION ON CREATION AND REDEMPTIONS OF CREATION UNITS. An Authorized Participant generally will recognize either gain or loss upon the exchange of Deposit Securities for Creation Units. This gain or loss is calculated by taking the market value of the Creation Units purchased over the Authorized Participant's aggregate basis in the Deposit Securities exchanged therefor. However, the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") may apply the wash sales rules to determine that any loss realized upon the exchange of Deposit Securities for Creation Units is not currently deductible. Authorized Participants should consult their own tax advisors.

Current federal tax laws dictate that capital gain or loss realized from the redemption of Creation Units will generally create long-term capital gain or loss if the Authorized Participant holds the Creation Units for more than one year, or short-term capital gain or loss if the Creation Units were held for one year or less.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations regarding the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of the Fund. This summary does not address all of the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to the Fund or to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special tax rules. Current and prospective shareholders are urged to consult their own tax adviser with respect to the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in the Fund. The summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this SAI and existing judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.

REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY QUALIFICATION. The Fund intends to qualify for and to elect treatment as a separate RIC under Subchapter M of the IRC. To qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must annually distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains) and meet several other requirements. Among such other requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Fund's annual gross income must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly-traded partnerships (I.E., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than a partnership that derives 90% of its income from interest, dividends, capital

30

gains and other traditionally permitted mutual fund income); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund's total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited for purposes of this calculation in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer, of two or more issuers of which 20% or more of the voting stock is held by the Fund and that are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses (other than the securities of other RICs) or the securities of one or more qualified publicly-traded partnerships.

Although in general the passive loss rules of the IRC do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly-traded partnership. The Fund's investments in partnerships, including in qualified publicly-traded partnerships, may result in that Fund being subject to state, local, or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.

TAXATION OF RICS. As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its taxable investment income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders, provided that it satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. To satisfy the minimum distribution requirement, the Fund must distribute to its shareholders at least the sum of (i) 90% of its "investment company taxable income" (I.E., income other than its net realized long-term capital gain over its net realized short-term capital loss), plus or minus certain adjustments, and (ii) 90% of its net tax-exempt income for the taxable year. The Fund will be subject to income tax at regular corporation rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders. If the Fund fails to qualify for any taxable year as a RIC or fails to meet the distribution requirement, all of its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions generally will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. In such event, distributions to individuals should be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income and distributions to corporate shareholders generally should be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its capital gains for each taxable year, the Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. Moreover, if the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a RIC. If the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund may be required to recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets (I.E., the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets if the Fund had been liquidated) if it qualifies as a RIC in a subsequent year.

EXCISE TAX. The Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98% of its capital gain net income for the 12 months ended October 31 of such year. For this purpose, however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Fund that is subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed by year-end. In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any underdistribution or overdistribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. The Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of this 4% excise tax.

TAXATION OF U.S. SHAREHOLDERS. Dividends and other distributions by the Fund are generally treated under the IRC as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made. However, any dividend or capital gain distribution declared by the Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to have been received by each shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year and to have been paid by the Fund not later than such December 31, provided such dividend is actually paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year.

The Fund intends to distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its net tax-exempt income, investment company taxable income and any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers). However, if the Fund retains for investment an amount equal to all or a portion of its net long-term capital gains in excess of its net short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers), it will be subject to a corporate tax (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on the amount retained. In that event, the Fund will designate such retained amounts as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (a) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate shares of the

31

undistributed amount, (b) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the 35% tax paid by the Fund on the undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent their credits exceed their liabilities, if any, and (c) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in their shares by an amount equal to 65% of the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder's income. Organizations or persons not subject to U.S. federal income tax on such capital gains will be entitled to a refund of their PRO RATA share of such taxes paid by the Fund upon filing appropriate returns or claims for refund with the IRS.

Distributions of net realized long-term capital gains, if any, that the Fund designates as capital gain dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains, whether paid in cash or in shares and regardless of how long a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. All other dividends of the Fund (including dividends from short-term capital gains) from its current and accumulated earnings and profits ("regular dividends") are generally subject to tax as ordinary income.

If an individual receives a regular dividend qualifying for the long-term capital gain rates and such dividend constitutes an "extraordinary dividend," and the individual subsequently recognizes a loss on the sale or exchange of stock in respect of which the extraordinary dividend was paid, then the loss will be long-term capital loss to the extent of such extraordinary dividend. An "extraordinary dividend" on common stock for this purpose is generally a dividend (i) in an amount greater than or equal to 10% of the taxpayer's tax basis (or trading value) in a share of stock, aggregating dividends with ex-dividend dates within an 85-day period or (ii) in an amount greater than 20% of the taxpayer's tax basis (or trading value) in a share of stock, aggregating dividends with ex-dividend dates within a 365-day period.

Distributions in excess of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits will, as to each shareholder, be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a shareholder's basis in his shares of the Fund, and as a capital gain thereafter (if the shareholder holds his shares of the Fund as capital assets). Shareholders receiving dividends or distributions in the form of additional shares should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of money that the shareholders receiving cash dividends or distributions will receive and should have a cost basis in the shares received equal to such amount. No deduction would be allowed to an investor for interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry shares of the Fund to the extent the interest deduction would relate to exempt-interest dividends received.

Investors considering buying shares just prior to a dividend or capital gain distribution should be aware that, although the price of shares purchased at that time may reflect the amount of the forthcoming distribution, such dividend or distribution may nevertheless be taxable to them. If the Fund is the holder of record of any security on the record date for any dividends payable with respect to such security, such dividends will be included in the Fund's gross income not as of the date received but as of the later of (a) the date such security became ex-dividend with respect to such dividends (I.E., the date on which a buyer of the security would not be entitled to receive the declared, but unpaid, dividends); or (b) the date the Fund acquired such security. Accordingly, in order to satisfy its income distribution requirements, the Fund may be required to pay dividends based on anticipated earnings, and shareholders may receive dividends in an earlier year than would otherwise be the case.

SALES OF SHARES. Upon the sale or exchange of his shares, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and his basis in his shares. A redemption of shares by the Fund will be treated as a sale for this purpose. Such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder's hands and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced, including replacement through the reinvesting of dividends and capital gains distributions in the Fund, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be increased to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on the sale of the Fund share held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions or deemed distributions of long-term capital gains received by the shareholder with respect to such share.

If a shareholder incurs a sales charge in acquiring shares of the Fund, disposes of those shares within 90 days and then acquires shares in a mutual fund for which the otherwise applicable sales charge is reduced by reason of a reinvestment right (E.G., an exchange privilege), the original sales charge will not be taken into account in computing gain/loss on the original shares to the extent the subsequent sales charge is reduced. Instead, the disregarded portion of the original sales charge will be added to the tax basis of the newly acquired shares. Furthermore, the same rule also applies to a disposition of the newly

32

acquired shares made within 90 days of the second acquisition. This provision prevents a shareholder from immediately deducting the sales charge by shifting his or her investment within a family of mutual funds.

BACK-UP WITHHOLDING. In certain cases, the Fund will be required to withhold at the applicable withholding rate (currently 28%), and remit to the U.S. Treasury such amounts withheld from any distributions paid to a shareholder who: (i) has failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number; (ii) is subject to back-up withholding by the IRS; (iii) has failed to certify to a Fund that such shareholder is not subject to back-up withholding; or (iv) has not certified that such shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

SECTIONS 351 AND 362. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of the Fund if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of a given Fund and if, pursuant to Sections 351 and 362 of the IRC, that Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. If the Fund's basis in such securities on the date of deposit was less than market value on such date, the Fund, upon disposition of the securities, would recognize more taxable gain or less taxable loss than if its basis in the securities had been equal to market value. It is not anticipated that the Trust will exercise the right of rejection except in a case where the Trust determines that accepting the order could result in material adverse tax consequences to the Fund or its shareholders. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination.

TAX-EXEMPT INTEREST INCOME. Dividends paid by the Fund that are properly designated as exempt-interest dividends will not be subject to regular federal income tax. Dividends paid on Fund shares that are loaned out pursuant to securities lending arrangements will not be exempt from income tax. The Fund intends to invest its assets in a manner such that dividend distributions to its shareholders will generally be exempt from federal income taxation, including the federal AMT. In the last year of operation, when the Fund's target date is reached, the Fund may invest in AMT-free tax-exempt municipal notes, including tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, grant anticipation notes and bond anticipation notes; municipal commercial paper; tender option bonds and variable rate demand notes and obligations.

Dividends paid by the Fund designated as exempt-interest dividends will be exempt from federal income tax (though not necessarily exempt from state and local taxation) to the extent of the Fund's net tax-exempt income as long as 50% or more of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of each quarter is invested in state, municipal or other bonds that are excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes as long as the Fund properly designates such dividends as exempt-interest dividends. Exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund allocable to interest income from the municipal bonds of a particular state may be exempt from income taxation for shareholders who are residents of such state. Exempt-interest dividends from interest from municipal bonds of other states generally are not so exempt. However, the receipt of exempt- interest dividends may require a shareholder to recharacterize a portion of certain non-taxable social security and railroad retirement benefit payments as taxable income. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors.

TAXATION OF CERTAIN DERIVATIVES. The Fund's transactions will be subject to special provisions of the IRC (including provisions relating to "hedging transactions" and "straddles") that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (I.E., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer Fund losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (I.E., treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each year) and (b) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. The Fund will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC.

33

MARKET DISCOUNT. Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund's disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. Original issue discount ("OID") on tax-exempt bonds is recognized over the term of the bond and is tax-exempt to the holder of the bond.Special federal income tax rules apply to inflation-indexed bonds. Generally, all stated interest on such bonds is taken into income by the Fund under its regular method of accounting for interest income. The amount of a positive inflation adjustment, which results in an increase in the inflation-adjusted principal amount of the bond, is treated as original issue discount. The OID is included in the Fund's gross income ratably during the period ending with the maturity of the bond, under the general OID inclusion rules. The amount of the Fund's OID in a taxable year with respect to a bond will increase the Fund's taxable income for such year without a corresponding receipt of cash, until the bond matures. As a result, the Fund may need to use other sources of cash to satisfy its distributions for such year. The amount of negative inflation adjustment, which results in a decrease in the inflation-adjusted principal amount of the bond, reduces the amount of interest (including stated, interest, OID, and market discount, if any) otherwise includible in the Fund's income with respect to the bond for the taxable year.

TAXATION OF NON-U.S. SHAREHOLDERS. Dividends paid by the Fund to non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty to the extent derived from investment income and short-term capital gains. Dividends paid by the Fund from net tax-exempt income or long-term capital gains are generally not subject to such withholding tax. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a non-U.S. shareholder who provides a Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the non-U.S. shareholder were a U.S. shareholder. A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional "branch profits tax" imposed at a rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate). A non-U.S. shareholder who fails to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate.

For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010, properly-designated dividends are generally exempt from United States federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of a Fund's "qualified net interest income" (generally, the Fund's U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of a Fund's "qualified short-term capital gains" (generally, the excess of the Fund's net short-term capital gain over the Fund's long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, a Fund may designate all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if a Fund designates the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the

34

application of these rules to their accounts. Shares of a Fund held by a non-U.S. shareholder at death will be considered situated within the United States and subject to the U.S. estate tax for decedents dying after December 31, 2009.

REPORTING. If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund's shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not exempted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

The foregoing discussion is a summary only and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Purchasers of shares of a or the Fund should consult their own tax advisers as to the tax consequences of investing in such shares, including under state, local and foreign tax laws. Finally, the foregoing discussion is based on applicable provisions of the IRC, regulations, judicial authority and administrative interpretations in effect on the date of this SAI. Changes in applicable authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above, and such changes often occur.

NET CAPITAL LOSS CARRYFORWARDS. Net capital loss carryforwards may be applied against any net realized capital gains in each succeeding year, or until their respective expiration dates, whichever occurs first.

Financial Statements

Financial statements for the Fund are not available because, as of the date of this SAI, the Fund has no financial information to report.

Miscellaneous Information

COUNSEL. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, located at 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, is counsel to the Trust.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM. ________________________, serves as the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, audits the Fund's financial statements, and may perform other services.

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BOARD. The Board has established a process for shareholders to communicate with the Board. Shareholders may contact the Board by mail. Correspondence should be addressed to iShares Board of Trustees, c/o Barclays Global Investors, N.A. - Mutual Fund Administration, 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Shareholder communications to the Board should include the following information: (i) the name and address of the shareholder;
(ii) the number of shares owned by the shareholder; (iii) the Fund(s) of which the shareholder owns share; and (iv) if these shares are owned indirectly through a broker, financial intermediary or other record owner, the name of the broker, financial intermediary or other record owner. All correspondence received as set forth above shall be reviewed by the Secretary of the Trust and reported to the Board.

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Appendix A

DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS

Ratings are generally given to securities at the time of issuance. While the rating agencies may from time to time revise such ratings, they undertake no obligation to do so, and the ratings given to securities at issuance do not necessarily represent ratings which would be given to these securities on a particular subsequent date.

Bonds which are unrated expose the investor to risks with respect to capacity to pay interest or repay principal which are similar to the risks of lower-rated speculative bonds. Evaluation of these securities is dependent on the investment adviser's judgment, analysis and experience in the evaluation of such bonds.

Investors should note that the assignment of a rating to a bond by a rating service may not reflect the effect of recent developments on the issuer's ability to make interest and principal payments.

The descriptions below relate to corporate bonds and are not applicable to the other types of securities.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.

AAA: Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.

AA: Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long term risk appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities.

A: Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

BAA: Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (I.E., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

BA: Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during other good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

B: Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

CAA: Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

CA: Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C: Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

ABSENCE OF RATING: Where no rating has been assigned or where a rating has been suspended or withdrawn, it may be for reasons unrelated to the quality of the issue.

A-1

Should no rating be assigned, the reason may be one of the following:

1. An application for rating was not received or accepted.

2. The issue or issuer belongs to a group of securities or companies that are not rated as a matter of policy.

3. There is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer.

4. The issue was privately placed, in which case the rating is not published in Moody's publications.

Suspension or withdrawal may occur if new and material circumstances arise, the effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer available reasonable up-to-date data to permit a judgment to be formed; if a bond is called for redemption; or for other reasons.

NOTE: Moody's applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through B. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

SHORT-TERM DEBT

Moody's short-term debt ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to repay punctually promissory obligations not having an original maturity in excess of one year.

Issuers rated Prime-1 or P-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 or P-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics:

o Leading market positions in well established industries.

o High rates of return on funds employeds.

o Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.

o Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.

o Well established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Issuers rated Prime-2 or P-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP

AAA: An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA: An obligation rated AA differs from the highest rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment is very strong.

A: An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB: An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB: An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

A-2

B: An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC: An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC: An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C: A 'C' rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the 'C' rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument's terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

D: An obligation rated 'D' is in payment default. The 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

NR: NR indicates no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.

COMMERCIAL PAPER

A: S&P's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant market.

A-1: This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+) sign designation.

A-2: Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated "A-1."

A-3: Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely payment. They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.

FITCH RATINGS

INVESTMENT GRADE BOND RATINGS

AAA: Highest credit quality. "AAA" ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA: Very high credit quality. "AA" ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A: High credit quality. "A" ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

A-3

BBB: Good credit quality. "BBB" ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.

HIGH YIELD BOND RATINGS

BB: Speculative. "BB" ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

B: Highly speculative. "B" ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

CCC, CC, AND C: High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A "CC" rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. "C" ratings signal imminent default.

DDD, DD, AND D: Default. The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. "DDD" obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest. "DD" indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90% and "D" the lowest recovery potential, I.E., below 50%.

Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated "DDD" have the highest prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization process. Entities rated "DD" and "D" are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated "DD" are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated "D" have a poor prospect of repaying all obligations.

INVESTMENT GRADE SHORT-TERM RATINGS

Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment notes.

F-1: Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added "+" to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F-2: Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

F-3: Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.

B: Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C: High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

D: Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.

NOTES TO SHORT-TERM RATINGS

"+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the "AAA" long-term rating category, to categories below "CCC," or to short-term ratings other than "F-l."

"NR" indicates that Fitch does not rate the issuer or issue in question.

A-4

"Withdrawn": A rating is withdrawn when Fitch deems the amount of information available to be inadequate for rating purposes, or when an obligation matures, is called, or refinanced.

BGI-SAI-__-____

A-5

iShares Trust File Nos. 333-92935 and 811-09729

Part C
Other Information

Item 23. Exhibits:

PEA # 303

Exhibit
 Number   Description
-------   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
(a)       Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated
          September 17, 2009, is filed herein.

(a.1)     Restated Certificate of Trust, dated September 13, 2006, is
          incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53,
          filed September 19, 2006.

(b)       Amended and Restated By-Laws, dated August 13, 2009, is incorporated
          herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 274, filed August
          27, 2009 ("PEA No. 274").

(c)       Article II of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of
          Trust incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a) to PEA No. 175.

(d.1)     Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Barclays Global
          Fund Advisors ("BGFA") is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          (d) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2, filed May 12, 2000 ("PEA No.
          2").

(d.2)     Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and
          BGFA is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment
          No. 301, filed October 5, 2009 ("PEA No. 301").

(d.3)     Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement between iShares, Inc.
          and BGFA is incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 301.

(d.4)     Master Advisory Fee Waiver Agreement, dated June 17, 2009, between the
          Trust and BGFA is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective
          Amendment No. 261, filed July 24, 2009 ("PEA No. 261").

(d.5)     Schedule A, dated June 17, 2009, to the Master Advisory Fee Waiver
          Agreement between the Trust and BGFA is incorporated herein by
          reference to PEA No. 261.

(e.1)     Distribution Agreement between the Trust and SEI Investments
          Distribution Company ("SEI") is incorporated herein by reference to
          PEA No. 2.

(e.2)     Exhibit A to the Distribution Agreement between the Trust and SEI is
          incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 301.

(f)       Not applicable.

(g.1)     Custodian Agreement between the Trust and Investors Bank & Trust
          Company ("IBT")/1/ is incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 2.

(g.2)     Amendment, dated December 31, 2002, to the Custodian Agreement is
          incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45,
          filed June 28, 2006 ("PEA No. 45").

(g.3)     Amendment, dated May 21, 2002, to the Custodian Agreement is
          incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 45.

(g.4)     Amendment, dated January 1, 2006, to the Custodian Agreement is
          incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 45.

(g.5)     Appendix A to the Custodian Agreement is incorporated herein by
          reference to PEA No. 301.

(h.1)     Securities Lending Agency Agreement, dated April 2, 2007, between the
          Trust and iShares, Inc. and Barclays Global Investors ("BGI") is
          incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78,
          filed April 23, 2007.

(h.2)     Schedule A to Securities Lending Agency Agreement is incorporated
          herein by reference to PEA No. 301.

(h.3)     Delegation Agreement between the Trust and IBT/1/ is incorporated
          herein by reference to Exhibit (g.3) to PEA No. 2.

(h.4)     Administration Agreement between the Trust and IBT/1/ is incorporated
          herein by reference to Exhibit (h.1) to PEA No. 2.

(h.5)     Amendment, dated May 21, 2002, to the Administration Agreement is
          incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h.6) to PEA No. 45.

(h.6)     Amendment, dated January 1, 2006, to the Administration Agreement is
          incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h.7) to PEA No. 45.

(h.7)     Amendment, dated January 1, 2007, to the Administration Agreement is
          incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h.8) to Post-Effective
          Amendment No. 75, filed March 26, 2007.

(h.8)     Appendix A to the Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by
          reference to PEA No. 301.

(h.9)     Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and IBT/1/ is
          incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h.2) to PEA No. 2.

(h.10)    Amendment, dated May 21, 2002, to the Transfer Agency and Service
          Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 45.

(h.11)    Amendment, dated August 18, 2004, to the Transfer Agency and Service
          Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 45.

(h.12)    Amendment, dated January 1, 2006, to the Transfer Agency and Service
          Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 45.

(h.13)    Appendix A to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is
          incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 301.

(h.14)    Sublicense Agreement, dated April 25, 2000, between BGI and the Trust
          for iShares S&P Funds is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          (h.3.i) to PEA No. 2.

(h.15)    Amendment to Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for the
          iShares S&P Funds is incorporated herein by reference to
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 188, filed November 20, 2008 ("PEA No.
          188").

(h.16)    Sublicense Agreement, dated April 25, 2000, between BGI and the Trust
          for iShares Dow Jones Funds is incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit (h.7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 37, filed June 6, 2005
          ("PEA No. 37").

(h.17)    Exhibit A to the Sublicense Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between
          BGI and the Trust for iShares Dow Jones Funds is incorporated herein
          by reference to Exhibit (h.8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43,
          filed April 17, 2006.

(h.18)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares Dow Jones
          Funds to be filed by amendment.

(h.19)    Sublicense Agreement, dated April 25, 2000, between BGI and the Trust
          for iShares Russell Funds is incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit (h.8) to PEA No. 37.

(h.20)    Exhibit A to the Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for
          iShares Russell Funds is incorporated herein by reference to
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 114, filed November 9, 2007 ("PEA No.
          114").

(h.21)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares MSCI EAFE
          Index Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h.9) to
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 10, filed June 1, 2001.

(h.22)    Amendment to Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for the
          iShares MSCI Funds is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 188.

(h.23)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares Nasdaq
          Biotechnology Index Fund is incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit (h.10) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13, filed July 31,
          2001.

(h.24)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares Lehman
          Brothers 1-3 year Treasury Index Fund, iShares Lehman Brothers 7-10
          year Treasury Index Fund, iShares Lehman Brothers 20+ year Treasury
          Index Fund, iShares Lehman Brothers Treasury Index Fund, iShares
          Lehman Brothers Government/Credit Index Fund and iShares U.S. Credit
          Index Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h.12) to
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 16, filed July 31, 2002.

(h.25)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares iBoxx $
          High Yield Corporate Bond Fund and iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade
          Corporate Bond Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          (h.24) to PEA No. 114.

(h.26)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares Cohen &
          Steers Realty Majors Index Fund is incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit (h.15) to PEA No. 37.

(h.27)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares Dow Jones
          Transportation Average Index Fund and iShares Dow Jones Select
          Dividend Index Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          (h.17) to PEA No. 37.

(h.28)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares NYSE 100
          Index Fund and iShares NYSE Composite Index Fund is incorporated
          herein by reference to Exhibit (h.19) to PEA No. 37.

(h.29)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares FTSE/Xinhua
          China 25 Index Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          (h.20) to PEA No. 37.

(h.30)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares Morningstar
          Funds is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h.21) to PEA No.
          37.

(h.31)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares KLD Select
          SocialSM Index Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          (h.22) to PEA No. 37.

(h.32)    Exhibit A to the Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for
          iShares KLD 400 Social Index Fund is incorporated herein by reference
          to Exhibit (h.31) to PEA No. 114.

(h.33)    Exhibit A to the Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for
          iShares Lehman Brothers Funds is incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit (h.32) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67, filed January 5,
          2007.

(h.34)    Exhibit A to the Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for
          iShares Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index Fund is incorporated
          herein by reference to Exhibit (h.38) to Post-Effective Amendment No.
          93, filed July 30, 2007.

(h.35)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for FTSE/NAREIT Funds
          is incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 114.

(h.36)    Amendment to Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for
          FTSE/NAREIT Funds to be filed by amendment.

(h.37)    Sublicense Agreement between BGI and the Trust for iShares JPMorgan
          USD Emerging Markets Bond Fund is incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit (h.38) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101, filed September
          27, 2007.

(i)       Legal Opinion and Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger P.A. is filed
          herein.

(j)       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to be filed by amendment.

(k)       Not applicable.

(l.1)     Subscription Agreement between the Trust and SEI is incorporated
          herein by reference to PEA No. 2.

(l.2)     Letter of Representations between the Trust and Depository Trust
          Company is incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 2.

(l.3)     Amendment of Letter of Representations between the Trust and
          Depository Trust Company for iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund
          and iShares Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index Fund is incorporated
          herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 11, filed July 2,
          2001.

(m)       Not applicable.

(n)       Not applicable.

(o)       Not applicable.

(p.1)     iShares Trust Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, filed November 23, 2005.

(p.2)     BGI Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 39, filed July 28, 2005.

(p.3)     Code of Ethics for SEI is incorporated herein by reference to PEA No.
          45.

(q)       Powers of Attorney, each dated February 23, 2009, for Michael A.
          Latham, Lee T. Kranefuss, John E. Martinez, George G.C. Parker,
          Cecilia H. Herbert, John E. Kerrigan, Charles A. Hurty, Robert H.
          Silver and Darrell Duffie is incorporated herein by reference to PEA
          No. 226, filed April 22, 2009.


Item 24. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control with Registrant:

None.

Item 25. Indemnification:

The Trust (also referred to in this section as the "Fund") is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is operated pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust, (the "Declaration of Trust"), that permits the Trust to indemnify its trustees and officers under certain circumstances. Such indemnification, however, is subject to the limitations imposed by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). The Declaration of Trust provides that officers and trustees of the Trust shall be indemnified by the Trust against liabilities and expenses incurred or paid in connection with any claim, action, suit, or proceedings against them by reason of the fact that they each serve as an officer or trustee of the Trust or as an officer or trustee of another entity at the request of the entity. This indemnification is subject to the following conditions:

(a) no trustee or officer of the Trust is indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its security holders that was the result of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office; and

(b) officers and trustees of the Trust are indemnified only for actions taken in good faith that the officers and trustees believed were in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust.

The Declaration of Trust provides that if indemnification is not ordered by a court, indemnification may be authorized upon determination by shareholders, or by a majority vote of a quorum of the trustees who were not parties to the proceedings or, if this quorum is not obtainable, if directed by a quorum of disinterested trustees, or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that the persons to be indemnified have met the applicable standard.

The Administration Agreement provides that IBT/1/ shall indemnify and hold the Fund, its Board of Trustees, officers and employees and its agents harmless from and against any and all Claims to the extent any such Claim arises out of the negligent acts or omissions, bad faith, willful misconduct or material breach of the Administration Agreement by IBT/1/, its officers, directors or employees or any of its agents or subcustodians in connection with the activities undertaken pursuant to the Administration Agreement, provided that IBT's/1/ indemnification obligation with respect to the acts or omissions of its subcustodians shall not exceed the indemnification provided by the applicable subcustodian to IBT/1/.

The Custodian Agreement provides that IBT/1/ shall indemnify and hold the Fund, its Board of Trustees, officers and employees and its agents harmless from and against any and all Claims to the extent any such Claim arises out of the negligent acts or omissions, bad faith, willful misconduct or material breach of the Custodian Agreement by IBT/1/, its officers, directors or employees or any of its agents or subcustodians in connection with the activities undertaken pursuant to the Custodian Agreement, provided that IBT's/1/ indemnification obligation with respect to the acts or omissions of its subcustodians shall not exceed the indemnification provided by the applicable subcustodian to IBT/1/.

The Distribution Agreement provides that SEI agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Fund, its several officers and Board members, and any person who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Fund, its officers or Board members, or any such controlling person, may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, or under common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Fund, its officers or Board members, or such controlling person resulting from such claims or demands,
(a) shall arise out of or be based upon any information, statements or representations made or provided SEI in any sales literature or advertisements, or any Disqualifying Conduct by SEI in connection with the offering and sale of any Shares, (b) shall arise out of or be based upon any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement of a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by SEI to the Fund specifically for use in the Fund's registration statement and used in the answers to any of the items of the registration statement or in the corresponding statements made in the prospectus or statement of additional information, or shall arise out of or be based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by SEI to the Fund and required to be stated in such answers or necessary to make such information not misleading, (c) arising out of SEI's breach of any obligation, representation or warranty pursuant to this Agreement, or (d) SEI's failure to comply in any material respect with applicable securities laws.

The Authorized Participant Agreement provides that the Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (each an "Indemnified Party") from and against any loss, liability, cost and expense (including attorneys' fees) incurred by such Indemnified Party as a result of
(i) any breach by the Participant of any provision of the Authorized Participant Agreement that relates to the Participant; (ii) any failure on the part of the Participant to perform any of its obligations set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement; (iii) any failure by the Participant to comply with applicable laws, including rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations; or (iv) actions of such Indemnified Party in reliance upon any instructions issued in


accordance with Annex II, III or IV (as each may be amended from time to time) of the Authorized Participant Agreement reasonably believed by the distributor and/or the transfer agent to be genuine and to have been given by the Participant.

The Securities Lending Agency Agreement provides that BGI shall indemnify and hold harmless each client, Lender, its Board of Trustees and its agents and BGFA from any and all loss, liability, costs, damages, actions, and claims ("Loss") to the extent that any such Loss arises out of the material breach of this Agreement by or negligent acts or omissions or willful misconduct of BGI, its officers, directors or employees or any of its agents or subcustodians in connection with the securities lending activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that BGI's indemnification obligation with respect to the acts or omissions of its subcustodians shall not exceed the indemnification provided by the applicable subcustodian to BGI.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1940 Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Trust pursuant to foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Trust has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1940 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for Fund expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Fund in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Trust will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1940 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Item 26. (a) Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser:

The Trust is advised by BGFA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BGI, 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. BGFA's business is that of a registered investment adviser to certain open-end, management investment companies and various other institutional investors.

The directors and officers of BGFA consist primarily of persons who during the past two years have been active in the investment management business. Each of the directors and executive officers of BGFA will also have substantial responsibilities as directors and/or officers of BGI. To the knowledge of the Registrant, except as set forth below, none of the directors or executive officers of BGFA is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.

Name and Position         Principal Business(es) During the Last Two Fiscal Years
-----------------------   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Blake Grossman Chairman   Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of BGFA and Chief
                          Executive Officer and Director of BGI, 400 Howard Street, San
                          Francisco, CA 94105

Anthony Spinale           Chief Financial Officer of BGFA and Chief Financial Officer and
Officer                   Cashier of BGI, 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

Rohit Bhagat              Director and Chief Operating Officer of BGFA and BGI, 400 Howard
Director                  Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

Item 27. Principal Underwriters:

(a) Furnish the name of each investment company (other than the Registrant) for which each principal underwriter currently distributing the securities of the Registrant also acts as a principal underwriter, distributor or investment adviser.

Registrant's distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. ("SEI") acts as distributor for:

SEI Daily Income Trust                                 July 15, 1982
SEI Liquid Asset Trust                                 November 29, 1982
SEI Tax Exempt Trust                                   December 3, 1982
SEI Institutional Managed Trust                        January 22, 1987
SEI Institutional International Trust                  August 30, 1988
The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund                        November 14, 1991
The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II                     January 28, 1993
Bishop Street Funds                                    January 27, 1995
SEI Asset Allocation Trust                             April 1, 1996
SEI Institutional Investments Trust                    June 14, 1996
Oak Associates Funds                                   February 27, 1998
CNI Charter Funds                                      April 1, 1999
iShares, Inc.                                          January 28, 2000
Optique Funds, Inc.                                    November 1, 2000

Causeway Capital Management Trust                      September 20, 2001
Barclays Global Investors Funds                        March 31, 2003
SEI Opportunity Fund, LP                               October 1, 2003
The Arbitrage Funds                                    May 17, 2005
The Turner Funds                                       January 1, 2006
ProShares Trust                                        November 14, 2005
Community Reinvestment Act Qualified Investment Fund   January 8, 2007
SEI Alpha Strategy Portfolios, LP                      June 29, 2007
TD Asset Management USA Funds                          July 25, 2007
SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP                         July 31, 2007
Wilshire Mutual Funds, Inc.                            July 12, 2008
Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust                      July 12, 2008
Forward Funds                                          August 14, 2008
Global X Funds                                         October 24, 2008
Veritas Funds                                          January 16, 2009

SEI provides numerous financial services to investment managers, pension plan sponsors, and bank trust departments. These services include portfolio evaluation, performance measurement and consulting services ("Funds Evaluation") and automated execution, clearing and settlement of securities transactions ("MarketLink").

(b) Furnish the information required by the following table with respect to each director, officer or partner of each principal underwriter named in the answer to Item 20 of Part B. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each director or officer is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.

                     Position and Office                                             Positions and Offices
Name                 with Underwriter                                                with Registrant
----                 -------------------                                             ---------------------
William M. Doran     Director                                                                 --
Edward D. Loughlin   Director                                                                 --
Wayne M. Withrow     Director                                                                 --
Kevin Barr           President & Chief Executive Officer                                      --
Maxine Chou          Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer & Treasurer            --
John Munch           General Counsel & Secretary                                              --
Karen LaTourette     Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering
                     Officer & Assistant Secretary                                            --
Mark J. Held         Senior Vice President                                                    --
Lori L. White        Vice President & Assistant Secretary                                     --
Robert Silvestri     Vice President                                                           --
John Coary           Vice President & Assistant Secretary                                     --
John Cronin          Vice President                                                           --

(c) Not applicable.

Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records:

(a) The Trust maintains accounts, books and other documents required by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules there under (collectively, the "Records") at the offices of State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116.

(b) BGFA maintains all Records relating to its services as investment adviser at 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105.

(c) SEI maintains all Records relating to its services as distributor at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.

(d) State Street maintains all Records relating to its services as transfer agent, fund accountant and custodian at 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116.

Item 29. Management Services:

Not applicable.

Item 30. Undertakings:

Not applicable.


/1/ On July 2, 2007, State Street Corporation acquired Investors Financial Services Corporation, the parent company of IBT which provides administrative, custodial and transfer agency services for the Trust.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 303 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of San Francisco and the State of California on the 16th day of October 2009.

By:
Michael A. Latham* President Date: October 16, 2009

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 303 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacity and on the dates indicated.

By:
Lee T. Kranefuss* Trustee Date: October 16, 2009


John E. Martinez* Trustee Date: October 16, 2009


George G. C. Parker* Trustee Date: October 16, 2009


Cecilia H. Herbert* Trustee Date: October 16, 2009


Charles A. Hurty* Trustee Date: October 16, 2009


John E. Kerrigan* Trustee Date: October 16, 2009


Robert H. Silver* Trustee Date: October 16, 2009


Darrell Duffie* Trustee Date: October 16, 2009


Michael A. Latham* President Date: October 16, 2009

      /s/ Jack Gee
      ----------------------------------
      Jack Gee
      Treasurer
Date: October 16, 2009

      /s/ Jack Gee
      ----------------------------------
      *By: Jack Gee
      Attorney-in-fact
Date: October 16, 2009


* Powers of Attorney, each dated February 23, 2009, for Michael A. Latham, Lee T. Kranefuss, John E. Martinez, George G.C. Parker, Cecilia H. Herbert, Charles A. Hurty, John E. Kerrigan, Robert H. Silver and Darrell Duffie are incorporated herein by reference to PEA No. 226, filed April 22, 2009.

Exhibit Index

(a)             Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
                dated September 17, 2009.

(i)             Legal Opinion and Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger P.A.


iSHARES TRUST

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

DATED September 17,2009

amending and restating that certain

Agreement and Declaration of Trust,

Dated September 24, 2008


iSHARES TRUST

Dated September 17, 2009

This AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST (hereinafter "Trust Instrument") is made September 17, 2009 by the trustees party hereto (together with all other persons from time to time duly elected, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with Article III hereof, the "Trustees") and amends and restates that certain amended and restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated September 24, 2008 (the "Second Amended Declaration"), which amended and restated that certain Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated September 13, 2006, which amended and restated that certain Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated December 16, 1999 (the "Original Declaration").

WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to continue the statutory trust formed pursuant to the Original Declaration for the investment and reinvestment of funds contributed thereto;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11.08 of the Second Amended Declaration, the Trustees desire to amend and restate the Second Amended Declaration as set forth herein and have determined that shareholder vote is not required to effect such amendment and restatement;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees declare that all money and property contributed to the trust hereunder shall be held and managed in trust under this Trust Instrument as herein set forth below.

ARTICLE I.

NAME AND DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Name. The name of the trust created hereby is the "iShares Trust."

Section 1.02. Definitions. Wherever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:

(a) The term "By-Laws" means the By-Laws referred to in Article IV, Section 4.01(e) hereof, as from time to time amended;

(b) The term "Commission" has the meaning given it in the 1940 Act (as defined below). The terms "Affiliated Person," "Assignment," "Interested Person," and "Principal Underwriter" shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted by or interpretive releases of the Commission thereunder;

(c) The term "Delaware Act" refers to Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code entitled "Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts," as it may be amended from time to time;

(d) The term "Net Asset Value" means the net asset value of each Series (as defined below) of the Trust (as defined below) determined in the manner provided in Article IX, Section 9.03 hereof;

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(e) The term "Outstanding Shares" means those Shares (as defined below) shown from time to time in the books of the Trust or its Transfer Agent as then issued and outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed or repurchased by the Trust and which are at the time held in the treasury of the Trust;

(f) The term "Series" means a series of Shares of the Trust established in accordance with the provisions of Article II, Section 2.05 hereof;

(g) The term "Shareholder" means a record owner of Outstanding Shares of the Trust;

(h) The term "Shares" means the equal proportionate transferable units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest of each Series of the Trust or class thereof shall be divided and may include fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;

(i) The term "Trust" refers to the iShares Trust and all Series of the iShares Trust, and reference to the Trust, when applicable to one or more Series of the Trust, shall refer to any such Series;

(j) The term "Trustee" or "Trustees" means the person or persons who has or have signed this Trust Instrument, so long as he, she or they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof and reference herein to a Trustee or to the Trustees shall refer to the individual Trustees in their capacity as Trustees hereunder;

(k) The term "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of one or more of the Trust or any Series, or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Series.

(l) The term "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE II.

BENEFICIAL INTEREST

Section 2.01. Shares of Beneficial Ownership Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into such transferable Shares of one or more separate and distinct Series or classes of a Series as the Trustees shall from time to time create and establish. The number of Shares of each Series, and class thereof, authorized hereunder is unlimited. Each Share shall have no par value. All Shares issued hereunder, including without limitation Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

Section 2.02. Issuance of Shares. The Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time, without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, subject to applicable law, including cash or securities, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares and Shares held in the treasury. The

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Trustees from time to time may divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. Contributions to the Trust may be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or 1/1,000th of a Share or integral multiples thereof.

Section 2.03. Ownership and Transfer of Shares. The Trust or a transfer agent for the Trust shall maintain a register containing the names and addresses of the Shareholders of each Series and class thereof, the number of Shares of each Series and class held by such Shareholders, and a record of all Share transfers. The register shall be conclusive as to the identity of Shareholders of record and the number of Shares held by them from time to time. The Trustees may authorize the issuance of certificates representing Shares and adopt rules governing their use. The Trustees may make rules governing the transfer of Shares, whether or not represented by certificates. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the books of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by his duly authorized agent upon delivery to the Trustees or the Trust's transfer agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with a Share certificate if one is outstanding, and such evidence or the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of such other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such delivery, and subject to any further requirements specified by the Trustees or contained in the By-laws, the transfer shall be recorded on the books of the Trust. Until a transfer is so recorded, the Shareholder of record of Shares shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent or registrar or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of a proposed transfer.

Section 2.04. Treasury Shares. Shares held in the treasury shall, until reissued pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof, not confer any voting rights on the Trustees, nor shall such Shares be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares.

Section 2.05. Establishment of Series. The Trust created hereby shall consist of one or more Series and separate and distinct records shall be maintained by the Trust of each Series and the assets associated with any such Series shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets of the Trust or any other Series. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, and without obtaining any prior authorization or vote of the Shareholders of any Series of the Trust, to establish and designate and to change in any manner such Series of Shares or any classes of initial or additional Series and to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges of such Series or classes thereof as the Trustees may from time to time determine, to divide and combine the Shares or any Series or classes thereof into a greater or lesser number, to classify or reclassify any issued Shares or any Series or classes thereof into one or more Series or classes of Shares, to abolish any one or more Series or classes of Shares or to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable. The establishment and designation of any Series shall be effective upon the adoption of a resolution by a majority of the Trustees setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such Series. A Series may issue any number of Shares and need not issue shares.

All references to Shares in this Trust Instrument shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all Series, or classes thereof, as the context may require. All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series of the Trust, and each class thereof, except as the context otherwise requires.

Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a Series shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains, if any, made with respect to such Series. Upon redemption of his Shares, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of such Series of the Trust.

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Section 2.06. Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments in any Series of the Trust from such persons and on such terms as they may from time to time authorize. At the Trustees' discretion, such investments, subject to applicable law, may be in the form of cash or securities in which the affected Series is authorized to invest, valued as provided in Article IX,
Section 9.03 hereof. Investments in a Series shall be credited to each Shareholder's account in the form of full or fractional Shares at the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the investment is received; provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, (a) fix the Net Asset Value per Share of the initial capital contribution or (b) impose a sales charge upon investments in the Trust in such manner and at such time as determined by the Trustees. The Trustees shall have the right to refuse to accept investments in any Series at any time without any cause or reason therefor whatsoever.

Section 2.07. Assets and Liabilities of Series. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be held and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Trust and of every other Series and may be referred to herein as "assets belonging to" that Series. The assets belonging to a particular Series shall belong to that Series for all purposes, and to no other Series, subject only to the rights of creditors of that Series. In addition, any assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds with respect thereto, which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated by the Trustees between and among one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes, and such assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds with respect thereto shall be assets belonging to that Series. The assets belonging to a particular Series shall be so recorded upon the books of the Trust, and shall be held by the Trustees in trust for the benefit of the holders of Shares of that Series. The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities of that Series and all expenses, costs, charges, and reserves attributable to that Series. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.

Without limitation of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, but subject to the right of the Trustees in their discretion to allocate general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, or reserves as herein provided, the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series only, and not enforceable against the assets of the Trust generally or any other Series thereof, and, unless otherwise provided in this Trust Instrument, none of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally or any other Series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series. Notice of this contractual limitation on inter-Series liabilities shall be set forth in the certificate of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment) as filed or to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Act, and upon the giving of such notice in the certificate of trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act relating to limitations on liabilities among Series (and the statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the certificate of trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any Series may look only to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, liability, obligation or expense incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to that Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series.

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Section 2.08. No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or the Trustees, whether of the same or other Series.

Section 2.09. Personal Liability of Shareholders. Each Shareholder of the Trust and of each Series shall not be personally liable for debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust or by or on behalf of any Series. The Trustees shall have no power to bind any Shareholder personally or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay by way of subscription for any Shares or otherwise. Every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees relating to the Trust or to a Series shall include a recitation limiting the obligation represented thereby to the Trust or to one or more Series and its or their assets (but the omission of such a recitation shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the Trust). Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended to shareholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated in the State of Delaware. Every written obligation of the Trust or any Series shall contain a statement to the effect that such obligation may only be enforced against the assets of the appropriate Series or all Series; however, the omission of such statement shall not operate to bind or create personal liability for any Shareholder or Trustee.

Section 2.10. Assent to Trust Instrument. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having purchased a Share shall become a Shareholder and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to be bound by the terms hereof.

ARTICLE III.

THE TRUSTEES

Section 3.01. Management of the Trust. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Trust Instrument. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia, in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, or possessions of the United States of America, and in any foreign jurisdiction and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Trust Instrument, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.

The enumeration of any specific power in this Trust Instrument shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.

Except for the Trustees named herein or appointed to fill vacancies pursuant to Section 3.04 of this Article III, the Trustees shall be elected by the Shareholders owning of record a plurality of the Shares voting at a meeting of Shareholders. Such a meeting shall be held on a date fixed by the Trustees. In the event that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by Shareholders, the Trustees then in office will call a Shareholders' meeting for the election of Trustees.

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Section 3.02. Initial Trustees. The initial Trustees shall be the persons named herein. On a date fixed by the Trustees, the Shareholders shall elect additional Trustees subject to Section 3.06 of this Article III.

Section 3.03. Term of Office of Trustees. The Trustees shall hold office during the lifetime of this Trust, and until its termination as herein provided, except that: (a) any Trustee may resign his trust by written instrument signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees, which shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; (b) any Trustee may be removed at any time by a vote of at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective; (c) any Trustee who requests in writing to be retired or who has died, becomes physically or mentally incapacitated by reason of disease or otherwise, or is otherwise unable to serve, may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the date of his retirement; and (d) a Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the Shareholders of the Trust by a vote of Shareholders owning at least two-thirds of the outstanding Shares.

Section 3.04. Vacancies and Appointment of Trustees. In case of the declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, physical or mental incapacity by reason of disease or otherwise, or a Trustee is otherwise unable to serve, or an increase in the number of Trustees, a vacancy shall occur. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled, the other Trustees shall have all the powers hereunder and the certificate of the other Trustees of such vacancy shall be conclusive. In the case of an existing vacancy, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy by appointing such other person as they in their discretion shall see fit consistent with the limitations under the 1940 Act. Such appointment shall be evidenced by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees in office or by resolution of the Trustees, duly adopted, which shall be recorded in the minutes of a meeting of the Trustees, whereupon the appointment shall take effect.

An appointment of a Trustee may be made by the Trustees then in office in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees effective at a later date, provided that said appointment shall become effective only at or after the effective date of said retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees. As soon as any Trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall have accepted this trust, the trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee or Trustees, together with the continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance, and he or she shall be deemed a Trustee hereunder. The power to appoint a Trustee pursuant to this
Section 3.04 is subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.

Section 3.05. Limitation on Delegation. No Trustee is empowered to delegate any duty required to be performed solely by a Trustee under the 1940 Act.

Section 3.06. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall be set initially at one (1), and thereafter shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be more than fifteen (15) or less than three (3).

Section 3.07. Effect of Death, Resignation, Etc., of a Trustee. The declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity, or inability of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to terminate the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Trust Instrument.

Section 3.08. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust and of each Series shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter held in any capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees or any successor Trustees. Legal title in and beneficial ownership of all of the assets of the Trust and the right to conduct any business shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees

- 7 -

on behalf of the Trust, except that the Trustees may cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by, or in the name of, the Trust, or in the name of any person as nominee. No Shareholder shall be deemed to have a severable ownership in any individual asset of the Trust or of any Series or any right of partition or possession thereof, but each Shareholder shall have, except as otherwise provided for herein, a proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the Trust or Series. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Trust Instrument. The Trust, or at the determination of the Trustees one or more of the Trustees or a nominee acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold legal title and beneficial ownership of any income earned on securities of the Trust issued by any business entities formed, organized, or existing under the laws of any jurisdiction, including the laws of any foreign country. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee, he or she shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of the resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, his legal representative shall execute and deliver on his behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.

Section 3.09. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust, and they may periodically fix the amount of such compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.

ARTICLE IV.

POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES

Section 4.01. Powers. The Trustees in all instances shall act as principals, and are and shall be free from the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust. The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by present or future laws or customs in regard to trust investments, but shall have full authority and power to make any and all investments which they, in their sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purpose of this Trust without recourse to any court or other authority. Subject to any applicable limitation in this Trust Instrument or the By-Laws of the Trust, the Trustees shall have power and authority;

(a) To invest and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash or other property uninvested, without in any event being bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by trustees, and to sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all the assets of the Trust;

(b) To operate as and carry on the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such operations;

(c) To borrow money and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Trust Property; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of an obligation or engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust Property;

(d) To provide for the distribution of interests of the Trust either through a principal underwriter in the manner hereinafter provided for or by the Trust itself, or both, or otherwise pursuant to a plan of distribution of any kind;

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(e) To adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Trust Instrument providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to the extent that they do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; such By-Laws shall be deemed incorporated and included in this Trust Instrument;

(f) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate;

(g) To employ one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national securities exchange or such other entities as the Commission may permit as custodians of any assets of the Trust subject to any conditions set forth in this Trust Instrument or in the By-laws;

(h) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing agents, or both;

(i) To set record dates in the manner provided herein or in the By-Laws;

(j) To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officers of the Trust and to any investment advisor, manager, custodian, underwriter or other agent or independent contractor;

(k) To sell or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to the provisions of Article XI, Section 11.04 hereof;

(l) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustee shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;

(m) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

(n) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in the name of the Trust or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees, subject in either case to proper safeguards according to the usual practice of Delaware statutory trusts or investment companies;

(o) To establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes in accordance with the provisions of Article II hereof and to establish classes of such Series having relative rights, powers and duties as they may provide consistent with applicable law;

(p) Subject to the provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act, to allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series or to apportion the same between or among two or more Series, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular Series shall be payable solely out of the assets belonging to that Series as provided for in Article II hereof;

(q) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or concern, any security of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation or concern, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;

(r) To compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any

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matter in controversy including, but not limited to, claims for taxes;

(s) To make distributions of income and of capital gains to Shareholders in the manner hereinafter provided;

(t) To establish, from time to time, a minimum investment for Shareholders in the Trust or in one or more Series or class, and to require the redemption of the Shares of any Shareholders whose investment is less than such minimum upon giving notice to such Shareholder;

(u) To establish one or more committees, to delegate any of the powers of the Trustees to said committees and to adopt a committee charter providing for such responsibilities, membership (including Trustees, officers or other agents of the Trust therein) and any other characteristics of said committees as the Trustees may deem proper. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article IV, and in addition to such provisions or any other provision of this Trust Instrument or of the By-Laws, the Trustees may by resolution appoint a committee consisting of less than the whole number of Trustees then in office, which committee may be empowered to act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, as if the acts of such committee were the acts of all the Trustees then in office, with respect to the institution, prosecution, dismissal, settlement, review or investigation of any action, suit or proceeding which shall be pending or threatened to be brought before any court, administrative agency or other adjudicatory body;

(v) To interpret the investment policies, practices, or limitations of any Series;

(w) To establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the state of Delaware;

(x) In general to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable, or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.

The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and power, and the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general powers of the Trustees. Any action by one or more of the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust or the applicable Series, and not an action in an individual capacity.

The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust.

No one dealing with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to make any inquiry concerning the authority of the Trustees, or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trustees or upon their order.

Section 4.02. Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, and otherwise deal in Shares and, subject to the provisions set forth in Article II and Article IX, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation, or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, or the particular Series of the Trust, with respect to which such Shares are issued.

Section 4.03. Trustees and Officers as Shareholders. Any Trustee, officer, or agent of the Trust may acquire, own, and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if he or she were not a Trustee, officer, or

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agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold Shares to and buy such Shares from any such person or any firm or company in which he or she is interested, subject only to the general limitations herein contained as to the sale and purchase of such Shares; and all subject to any restrictions which may be contained in the By-Laws.

Section 4.04. Action by the Trustees. The Trustees shall act by majority vote at a meeting duly called or by written consent of a majority of the Trustees without a meeting or by telephone meeting provided a quorum of Trustees participate in any such telephone meeting, unless the 1940 Act requires that a particular action be taken only at a meeting at which the Trustees are present in person. At any meeting of the Trustees, three (3) of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum. Meetings of the Trustees may be called orally or in writing by the Chairman or by any two (2) other Trustees. Notice of the time, date and place of all meetings of the Trustees shall be given by the party calling the meeting to each Trustee by telephone, telefax, or telegram sent to his home or business address at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting or by written notice mailed to his home or business address at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting. Notice need not be given to any Trustee who attends the meeting without objecting to the lack of notice or who executes a written waiver of notice with respect to the meeting. Any meeting conducted by telephone shall be deemed to take place at the principal office of the Trust, as determined by the By-Laws or by the Trustees. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees by majority vote may delegate to any one or more of their number their authority to approve particular matters or take particular actions on behalf of the Trust. Written consents or waivers of the Trustees may be executed in one or more counterparts. Execution of a written consent or waiver and delivery thereof to the Trust may be accomplished by telefax.

Section 4.05. Chairman of the Trustees. The Trustees shall appoint one of their number to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees, shall be responsible for the execution of policies established by the Trustees and the administration of the Trust, and may be (but is not required to be) the chief executive, financial, and/or accounting officer of the Trust.

Section 4.06. Principal Transactions. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, may, in a manner consistent with applicable legal requirements, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustees or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any investment advisor, distributor or transfer agent for the Trust or with any interested Person of such person; and the Trust may employ any such person, or firm or company in which such person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment advisor, distributor, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, or custodian, or in any other capacity upon customary terms.

ARTICLE V.

EXPENSES OF THE TRUST

Section 5.01. Payment of Expenses By The Trust. Subject to the provisions of Article II, Section 2.07 hereof, the Trust or a particular Series shall pay, or shall reimburse the Trustees from the assets belonging to all Series or the appropriate Series for their expenses (or the expenses of a Class of such Series) and disbursements, including, without limitation, fees and expenses of Trustees, interest expense, taxes, fees and commissions of every kind, expenses of pricing Trust portfolio securities, expenses of issue, repurchase and redemption of shares, including expenses attributable to a program of periodic repurchases or redemptions, expenses of registering and qualifying the Trust and its Shares under Federal and State laws and regulations or under the laws of any foreign jurisdiction, charges of third parties, including investment advisors, managers, custodians, transfer agents, portfolio accounting and/or pricing agents, and registrars, expenses of preparing and setting up in type prospectuses and

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statements of additional information and other related Trust documents, expenses of printing and distributing prospectuses sent to existing Shareholders, auditing and legal expenses, reports to Shareholders, expenses of meetings of Shareholders and proxy solicitations therefor, insurance expenses, association membership dues and for such non-recurring items as may arise, including litigation to which the Trust (or a Trustee acting as such) is a party, and for all losses and liabilities by them incurred in administering the Trust, and for the payment of such expenses, disbursements, losses and liabilities the Trustees shall have a lien on the assets belonging to the appropriate Series, on the assets of each such Series, prior to any rights or interests of the Shareholders thereto. This section shall not preclude the Trust from directly paying any of the aforementioned fees and expenses.

ARTICLE VI.

CONTRACTS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS

Section 6.01. Investment Advisor. The Trustees may in their discretion, from time to time, enter into an investment advisory or management contract or contracts with respect to the Trust or any Series; provided, however, that the initial approval and entering into of such contract or contracts shall be subject to a "majority shareholder vote," as defined by the 1940 Act. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Instrument, the Trustees may authorize any investment advisor (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees from time to time may adopt) to effect purchases, sales or exchanges of portfolio securities, other investment instruments of the Trust, or other Trust Property on behalf of the Trustees, or may authorize any officer, agent, or Trustee to effect such purchases, sales, or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of the investment advisor (and all without further action by the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, and exchanges shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees.

The Trustees may authorize, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, including those relating to Shareholder approval, the investment advisor to employ, from time to time, one or more sub- advisors to perform such of the acts and services of the investment advisor, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the investment advisor and sub-advisor. Any reference in this Trust Instrument to the investment advisor shall be deemed to include such sub-advisors, unless the context otherwise requires.

Section 6.02. Principal Underwriter. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting contract or contracts providing for the sale of Shares, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such Shares. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions, if any, as may be prescribed in the By-Laws, and such further terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VI, or of the By-Laws; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase or sale of Shares by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust.

Section 6.03. Transfer Agent. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more transfer agency and shareholder service contracts whereby the other party or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with transfer agency and shareholder services. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this Trust Instrument or of the By-Laws.

Section 6.04. Administration Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an administration agreement or, if the Trustees establish multiple Series or classes, separate administration agreements with respect to each Series or class, whereby the other party to such

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agreement shall undertake to manage the business affairs of the Trust or of a Series or class thereof of the Trust and furnish the Trust or a Series or a class thereof with office facilities, and shall be responsible for the ordinary clerical, bookkeeping and recordkeeping services at such office facilities, and other facilities and services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.

Section 6.05. Service Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into service agreements with respect to one or more Series or Classes of Shares whereby the other parties to such Service Agreements will provide administration and/or support services pursuant to administration plans and service plans, and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees in their discretion may determine.

Section 6.06. Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character described in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04 and 6.05 of this Article VI or any contract of the character described in Article VIII hereof may be entered into with any corporation, firm, partnership, trust, or association, although one or more of the Trustees or officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered void or voidable by reason of the existence of any such relationship, nor shall any person holding such relationship be disqualified from voting on or executing the same in his capacity as Shareholder and/or Trustee, nor shall any person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VI or Article VIII hereof or of the By-Laws. The same person (including a firm, corporation, partnership, trust or association) may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04 and 6.05 of this Article VI or pursuant to Article VIII hereof, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated with persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 6.06.

Section 6.07. Provisions and Amendments. Any contract entered into pursuant to Sections 6.01 or 6.02 of this Article VI shall be consistent with and subject to the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act or other applicable Act of Congress hereafter enacted with respect to its continuance in effect, its termination, and the method of authorization and approval of such contract or renewal thereof, and no amendment to any contract, entered into pursuant to
Section 6.01 of this Article VI shall be effective unless assented to in a manner consistent with the requirements of said Section 15, as modified by any applicable rule, regulation or order of the Commission.

ARTICLE VII.

SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS

Section 7.01. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article III, Section 3.01 and 3.02 hereof, (ii) for the removal of Trustees as provided in Article III, Section 3.03(d) hereof, (iii) with respect to any investment advisory or management contract as provided in Article VI, Sections 6.01 and 6.07 hereof, and (iv) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law, by this Trust Instrument, or the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the Commission or any State, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.

On any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted separately by individual Series, except: (i) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual Series; and
(ii) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects the interests

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of more than one Series, then the Shareholders of all such affected Series shall be entitled to vote thereon. The Trustees also may determine that a matter affects only the interests of one (1) or more classes of a Series, in which case any such matter shall be voted on by such class or classes. Each whole share shall be entitled to one (1) vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote, and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.

Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any manner provided for in the By-Laws. A proxy may be given in writing. The By-Laws may provide that proxies may also, or may instead, be given by any electronic or telecommunications device or in any other manner. Notwithstanding anything else herein or in the By-Laws, in the event a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees of the Trust is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of one or more Series or of the Trust, or in the event of any proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers or Trustees of the Trust, Shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted by law, this Trust Instrument or any of the By-Laws of the Trust to be taken by Shareholders. Meetings of shareholders shall be called and notice thereof and record dates therefor shall be given and set as provided in the By-Laws.

Section 7.02. Quorum and Required Vote. One-third of Shares entitled to vote in person or by proxy shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders' meeting, except that where any provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits or requests that holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that holders of a class shall vote as a class), then one-third of the aggregate number of Shares of that Series (or that class) entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transactions of business by that Series (or that class). Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without the necessity of further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by law or by any provision of this Trust Instrument of the By-Laws, a majority of the Shares voted in person or by proxy shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits or requires that the holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that the holders of any class shall vote as a class), then a majority of the Shares present in person or by proxy of that Series or, if required by law, subject to a "majority shareholder vote", as defined by the 1940 Act, of that Series (or class), voted on the matter in person or by proxy shall decide matter insofar as that Series (or class) is concerned. Shareholders may act by unanimous written consent. Actions taken by Series (or class) may be consented to unanimously in writing by Shareholders of that Series.

ARTICLE VIII.

CUSTODIAN

Section 8.01. Appointment and Duties. The Trustees at all times shall employ a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company, each having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000), or any other entity satisfying the requirements of the 1940 Act, as custodian with authority as its agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations, and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the By-Laws of the Trust:

(1) to hold the securities and other assets of the Trust and deliver the same upon written order or oral order confirmed in writing;

(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust

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and deposit the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may direct; and

(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers; and the Trust also may employ such custodian as its agent:

(4) to keep the books and accounts of the Trust or of any Series or class and furnish clerical and accounting services; and

(5) to compute, if authorized to do so by the Trustees, the Net Asset Value of any Series, or class thereof, in accordance with the provisions hereof; all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.

The Trustees also may authorize the custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall be a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, a trust company or any other entity satisfying the requirements of the 1940 Act.

Section 8.02. Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules, regulations, and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust or its custodians, sub-custodians or other agents.

ARTICLE IX.

DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS

Section 9.01. Distributions.

(a) The Trustees from time to time may declare and pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any Series. No dividend or distribution, including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series (or class) with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series (or class) shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Trustees shall have full discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders. The amount of such dividends or distributions and the payment of them and whether they are in cash or any other Trust Property shall be wholly in the discretion of the Trustees.

(b) Dividends and other distributions may be paid or made to the Shareholders of record at the

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time of declaring a dividend or other distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such other date or time or dates or times as the Trustees shall determine, which dividends or distributions, at the election of the Trustees, may be paid pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees may determine. The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout plans, or related plans as the Trustees shall deem appropriate.

(c) Anything in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustees at any time may declare and distribute a stock dividend pro rata among the Shareholders of a particular Series, or class thereof, as of the record date of that Series fixed as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.01.

Section 9.02. Redemptions. The Trustees may specify conditions, prices, and places of redemption, may specify binding requirements for the proper form or forms of requests for redemption and may specify the amount of any deferred sales charge to be withheld from redemption proceeds. Payment of the redemption price may be wholly or partly in securities or other assets at the value of such securities or assets used in such determination of Net Asset Value, or may be in cash. Upon redemption, Shares may be reissued from time to time. The Trustees may require Shareholders to redeem Shares for any reason under terms set by the Trustees, including, but not limited to, the failure of a Shareholder to supply a taxpayer identification number if required to 'do so, or to have the minimum investment required, or to pay when due for the purchase of Shares issued to him. To the extent permitted by law, the Trustees may retain the proceeds of any redemption of Shares required by them for payment of amounts due and owing by a Shareholder to the Trust or any Series or class or any governmental authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may postpone payment of the redemption price and may suspend the right of the Shareholders to require any Series or class to redeem Shares during any period of time when and to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act. All authorized Shares shall be subject to redemption and redeemable in accordance with and pursuant to procedures or methods prescribed or approved by the Trustees. The Shares of any Series, if so determined by the Trustees, shall be redeemable only in aggregations of such number of Shares and on such days as may be determined by or determined pursuant to procedures or methods prescribed by or approved by the Trustees from time to time with respect to such Series. The number of Shares comprising an aggregation for purposes of redemption or repurchase shall be referred to as a "Creation Unit." The Trustees shall have the unrestricted power to alter the number of shares constituting a Creation Unit by resolution adopted by the Trustees, at any time including prior to the time the Trust commences operations. Each holder of a Creation Unit aggregation of shares of a Series, upon request to the Trust in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees, shall be entitled to require the Trust to redeem all or any number of such holder's Shares standing in the name of such holder on the books of the Trust, but in the case of the Shares of any Series as to which the Trustees have determined that such Shares shall be redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, only in such Creation Unit aggregations of shares of such Series as the Trustees may determine from time to time in accordance with this Article IX, at a redemption price per share equal to an amount determined by the Trustees in accordance with applicable laws.

Section 9.03. Determination of Net Asset Value and Valuation of Portfolio Assets. The term "Net Asset Value" of any Series shall mean that amount by which the assets of that Series exceed its liabilities, all as determined by or under the direction of the Trustees. Such value shall be determined separately for each Series and shall be determined on such days and at such times as the Trustees may determine. The Trustees may delegate any of their powers and duties under this Section 9.03 with respect to valuation of assets and liabilities. The resulting amount, which shall represent the total Net Asset Value of the particular Series, shall be divided by the total number of shares of that Series outstanding at the time and the quotient so obtained shall be the Net Asset Value per Share of that Series. At any time the trustees may cause the Net Asset Value per Share last determined to be determined again in similar manner and may fix the time when such redetermined value shall become effective. If, for any reason, the net

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income of any Series, determined at any time, is a negative amount, the Trustees shall have the power with respect to that Series: (i) to offset each Shareholder's pro rata share of such negative amount from the accrued dividend account of such Shareholder; or (ii) to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares of such Series by reducing the number of Shares in the account of each Shareholder by a pro rata portion of the number of full and fractional Shares which represents the amount of such excess negative net income; or (iii) to cause to be recorded on the books of such Series an asset account in the amount of such negative net income (provided that the same shall thereupon become the property of such Series with respect to such Series and shall not be paid to any Shareholder), which account may be reduced by the amount, of dividends declared thereafter upon the Outstanding Shares of such Series on the day such negative net income is experienced, until such asset account is reduced to zero; or (iv) to combine the methods described in clauses (i) and (ii) and (iii) of the sentence; or (v) to take any other action they deem appropriate, in order to cause (or in order to assist in causing) the Net Asset Value per Share of such Series to remain at a constant amount per Outstanding Share immediately after each such determination and declaration. The Trustees also shall have the power not to declare a dividend out of net income for the purpose of causing the Net Asset Value per share to be increased. The Trustees shall not be required to adopt, but at any time may adopt, discontinue, or amend the practice of maintaining the Net Asset value per Share of the Series at a constant amount. In the event that any Series are divided into classes, the provisions of this
Section 9.03, to the extent applicable as determined in the discretion of the Trustees and consistent with applicable law, may be equally applied to each such class. Section 9.04. Suspension of the Right of Redemption. The Trustees may declare a suspension of the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment as permitted under the 1940 Act. Such suspension shall take effect at such time as the Trustees shall specify but not later than the close of business on the business day next following the declaration of suspension, and thereafter there shall be no right of redemption or payment until the Trustees shall declare the suspension at an end. In the case of a suspension of the right of redemption, a Shareholder may either withdraw his request for redemption or receive payment based on the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the termination of the suspension.

ARTICLE X.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

Section 10.01. Limitation of Liability. All persons contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular Series shall look only to the assets of all Series or such particular Series for payment under such contract or claim; and neither the Trustees nor, when acting in such capacity, any of the Trust's officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Every written instrument or obligation on behalf of the Trust or any Series shall contain a statement to the foregoing effect, but the absence of such statement shall not operate to make any Trustee or officer of the Trust liable thereunder. Provided they have exercised reasonable care and have acted under the reasonable belief that their actions are in the best interest of the Trust, the Trustees and officers of the Trust shall not be responsible or liable for any act or omission or for neglect or wrongdoing of them or any officer, agent, employee, investment adviser or independent contractor of the Trust, but nothing contained in this Declaration or in the Delaware Act shall protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust against liability to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

Section 10.02. Indemnification.

(a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:

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(i) every Person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person") shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof; and

(ii) the words "claim," "action," "suit," or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, or proceedings (civil, criminal, or other, including appeals), actual or threatened, while in office or thereafter, and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include, without limitation, attorney's fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties, and other liabilities.

(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

(i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or

(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office:

(A) by the court or other body approving the settlement;

(B) by at least a majority of those Trustees who neither are Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily-available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or

(C) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily-available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); provided, however, that any Shareholder, by appropriate legal proceedings, may challenge any such determination by the Trustees or by independent counsel.

(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Covered Persons, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

(d) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding of the character

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described in paragraph (a) of this Section 10.02 may be paid by the Trust or Series from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of any undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or Series if it ultimately is determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02; provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking; (b) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments, or (c) either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily-available facts (as opposed to a trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is a reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02.

Section 10.03. Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of such Series and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives, or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable Series to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Series, shall assume, upon request by the Shareholder, the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the Series.

Section 10.04. No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.

Section 10.05. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, Etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or a Series thereof shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a Series thereof or undertaking, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust or a Series thereof. Every written obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a Series thereof or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees may recite that the same is executed or made by them not individually, but as Trustees under the Declaration, and that the obligations of the Trust or a Series thereof under any such instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders individually, but bind only the Trust Property or the Trust Property of the applicable Series, and may contain any further recital which they may deem appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not operate to bind the Trustees individually. The Trustees shall at all times maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property or the Trust Property of the applicable Series, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable.

Section 10.06. Reliance on Experts, Etc. Each Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust or a Series thereof shall, in the performance of his duties, powers and discretions hereunder be fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust or a Series thereof, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust or a Series thereof by any of its officers or employees or by the Investment Adviser, the Administrator, the Distributor, Transfer Agent, selected dealers, accountants,

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appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.

ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01. Trust Not a Partnership. It is hereby expressly declared that a trust and not a partnership is created hereby. No Trustee hereunder shall have any power to bind personally either the Trust's officers or any Shareholder. All persons extending credit to, contracting with, or having any claim against the Trust or the Trustees shall look only to the assets of the appropriate Series or (If the Trustees shall have yet to have established the Series) the Trust for payment under such credit, contract, or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of their agents, whether past, present, or future, shall be personally liable therefore. Nothing in this Trust Instrument shall protect a Trustee against any liability to which the Trustee otherwise would be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee hereunder.

Section 11.02. Trustee Action. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder in good faith and with reasonable care under the circumstances then prevailing shall be binding upon everyone interested. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof and to Section 11.01 of this Article XI, the Trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.

Section 11.03. Establishment of Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series (or class) who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series (or class) having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a record date, the Trustees may for distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for one or more Series (or classes) any time prior to the payment of a distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series (or classes). The Trustees may fix in advance a date, to be determined by the Trustees and no longer than that permitted by applicable law, before the date of any Shareholders' meeting, or the date for the payment of any dividends or other distributions, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect as a record date for the determination of the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of such dividend or other distribution, or to receive any such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of Shares.

Section 11.04. Termination of Trust.

(a) This Trust shall continue without limitation of time but subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 11.04.

(b) The Trustees, subject to a majority shareholder vote of each Series affected by the matter, or, if applicable, to a majority shareholder vote of the Trust, and subject to a vote of a majority of the Trustees, may:

(i) sell and convey all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or any affected Series to another trust, partnership, association, or corporation, or to a separate series of shares thereof, organized under the

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laws of any state, which trust, partnership, association, or corporation is an open-end management investment company as defined in the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, for adequate consideration which may include the assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes, and other liabilities, accrued or contingent, of the Trust or any affected Series, and which may include shares of beneficial interest, stock, or other ownership interests of such trust, partnership, association, or corporation or of a series thereof; or

(ii) at any time, sell and convert into money all of the assets of the Trust or any affected series.

Upon payment, or making reasonable provision, in the determination of the Trustees, for the payment of all such liabilities in either (i) or (ii) of this
Section 11.04(b) in accordance with the Delaware Act, by such assumption or otherwise, the Trustees shall distribute the remaining proceeds or assets (as the case may be) of each Series (or class) ratably among the holders of Shares of that Series then outstanding.

(c) The Trustees may take any of the actions specified in Section 11.04(b)(i) and (ii) above without obtaining the approval of shareholders if a majority of the Trustees determines that the continuation of the Trust or Series (or class) is not in the best interests of the Trust, such Series (or class), or their respective Shareholders as a result of factors or events adversely affecting the ability of the Trust or such Series (or class) to conduct its business and operations in an economically viable manner. Such factors and events may include the inability of the Trust or a Series (or class) to maintain its assets at an appropriate size, changes in laws or regulations governing the Trust or the Series (or class) or affecting assets of the type in which the Trust or Series (or class) invests, or economic developments or trends having a significant adverse impact on the business or operations of the Trust or such Series (or class).

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this Section 11.04, with respect to any Series established after September 16, 2009, the Trustees by majority vote of Trustees may take any actions specified in Section 11.04(b)(ii) in accordance with the registration statement (as supplemented) of such Series without obtaining a majority shareholder vote or other approval of shareholders of the Trust or any Series, whether affected thereby or not; provided that the registration statement (as supplemented) specifies (i) a termination date for such Series and (ii) that the Trustees may extend such termination date if a majority of the Trustees determines that an extension is in the best interest of such Series.

(e) Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or the remaining assets as provided in paragraph (b) or (d) of this Section 11.04, the Trust or any affected Series shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties hereunder and the right, title, and interest of all parties with respect to the Trust or Series shall be canceled and discharged.

Following completion of winding up of the Trust's business and affairs, the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of the Trust's certificate of trust to be filed in accordance with the Delaware Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee and the Trust shall thereby terminate.

Section 11.05. Reorganization.

(a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees, in order to change the form of organization

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of the Trust, may, without prior Shareholder approval, (i) cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into one (1) or more trusts, partnerships, associations, or corporations so long as the surviving or resulting entity is an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, that will succeed to or assume the Trust's registration under that Act and which is formed, organized, or existing under the laws of a state, commonwealth, territory, possession, or colony of the United States or (ii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of State of Delaware. Any agreement of merger or consolidation or certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of Trustees and facsimile signature conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.

(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Instrument, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance with Section 11.05(a) may effect any amendment to the Trust Instrument or effect the adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.

(c) The Trustees may, by vote of a majority of the Trustees, cause any Applicable Fund (as defined in Section 11.05(d) of this Trust Instrument) to (i) if permitted by the Delaware Act, merge or consolidate in accordance with the provisions thereof with or into, (ii) sell, convey and transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, or (iii) exchange its Shares for Shares of, one or more Applicable Funds, whether then existing or to be established in connection with such merger, consolidation, asset sale or Share exchange as provided in (i)-(iii) above. Any such merger, consolidation, asset sale or Share exchange shall not require the vote of the Shareholders unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act; provided, however, that the Trust shall provide at least 30 days' prior written notice to the Shareholders of the Applicable Fund of such merger, consolidation, asset sale or Share exchange. Unless the 1940 Act or other applicable law or regulation provides otherwise, the Trustees shall have the power to prescribe additional procedures or terms necessary or appropriate to accomplish any such merger, consolidation, asset sale or Share exchange, including the power (x) to create one or more Series or separate statutory trusts (or series thereof) or other business entities to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Applicable Fund may be transferred, (y) to provide for the conversion of Shares into beneficial interests in such Series or separate statutory trust or trusts (or series thereof) or other business entities and (z) to condition or not to condition any asset sale upon the assumption by the transferee of the liabilities associated with the Applicable Fund the assets of which are so transferred.

(d) The provisions of Section 11.05 (c) of this Trust Instrument are applicable to any Series commencing operations on or after September 24, 2008 (each, an "Applicable Fund" and collectively, the "Applicable Funds") and supersedes any conflicting or inconsistent provision(s) contained in Sections 11.05(a) and (b) of this Trust Instrument solely with respect to the Applicable Funds. Sections 11.05(a) and 11.05(b) of this Trust Instrument shall continue to apply in their entirety.

Section 11.06. Filing of Copies; References; Headings. The original or a copy of this Trust Instrument and the original or a copy of each amendment hereof or Trust Instrument supplemental hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer or Trustee of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments or supplements have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder, and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer or Trustee of the Trust to be a copy of this Trust Instrument or of any such amendment or supplemental Trust Instrument, and references to this Trust Instrument, and all expressions such as or similar to "herein," "hereof," and "hereunder" shall be deemed to refer to this Trust Instrument as amended or affected by any such supplemental Trust Instrument. All expressions such as or similar to "his," "he," and "him" shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter, as well as masculine, genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and, in case of any conflict, the text of this Trust

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Instrument, rather than the headings, shall control. This Trust Instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.

Section 11.07. Applicable Law. The trust set forth in this instrument is made in the State of Delaware, and the Trust and this Trust Instrument, and the rights and obligations of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be governed by and construed and administered according to the Delaware Act and the laws of said State; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the trust, the Trust, the Trustee or this Trust Instrument (a) the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or (b) any provisions of the laws
(statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act)
pertaining to trusts which relate to or regulate (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents, or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding, or disposition of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents, or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income and principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount, or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage, or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees, which are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Trust Instrument. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a "Delaware statutory trust," and, without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers or privileges afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by trusts under the Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power, privilege, or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.

Section 11.08. Amendments. Except as specifically provided herein, the Trustees, without shareholder vote, may amend or otherwise supplement this Trust Instrument by making an amendment, a Trust Instrument supplemental hereto, or an amended and restated trust instrument. Shareholders shall have the right to vote
(i) on any amendment which would affect their right to vote granted in Section 7.01 of the Article VII hereof, (ii) on any amendment to this Section 11.08,
(iii) on any amendment as may be required by law or by the Trust's registration statement filed with the Commission, and (iv) on any amendment submitted to the Shareholders by the Trustees. Any amendment required or permitted to be submitted to Shareholders which, as the Trustees determine, shall affect the Shareholders of one or more Series shall be authorized by vote of the Shareholders of each Series affected and no vote of Shareholders of a Series not affected shall be required. Notwithstanding anything else herein, any amendment to Article X hereof shall not limit the rights to indemnification or insurance provided therein with respect to action or omission of Covered Persons prior to such amendment.

Section 11.09. Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements set forth in
Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met:

(a) Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware Act who hold at least 10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust, or 10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Series or class to which such action relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and

(b) The Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.

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Section 11.10. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a specified date as set forth in the By-Laws, provided, however, that the Trustees, without Shareholder approval, may change the fiscal year of the Trust.

Section 11.11. Provisions in Conflict With Law. The provisions of this Trust Instrument are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, with the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed- never to have constituted a part of this Trust Instrument; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Trust Instrument or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any provision of this Trust Instrument shall be held invalid or improper, unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Trust Instrument in any jurisdiction.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the Trustees of the Trust, have executed this instrument this 17th day of September, 2009.

/s/ Lee T. Kranefuss                      /s/ John E. Kerrigan
--------------------------------------    --------------------------------------
Lee T. Kranefuss                          John E. Kerrigan
as Trustee and not individually           as Trustee and not individually


/s/ J. Darrell Duffie                     /s/ John E. Martinez
--------------------------------------    --------------------------------------
J. Darrell Duffie                         John E. Martinez
as Trustee and not individually           as Trustee and not individually


/s/ Cecilia H. Herbert                    /s/ George G.C. Parker
--------------------------------------    --------------------------------------
Cecilia H. Herbert                        George G.C. Parker
as Trustee and not individually           as Trustee and not individually


/s/ Charles A Hurty                       /s/ Robert H. Silver
--------------------------------------    --------------------------------------
Charles A. Hurty                          Robert H. Silver
as Trustee and not individually           as Trustee and not individually

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[LOGO OF RICHARDS LAYTON & FINGER]

October 16, 2009

iShares Trust
c/o Barclays Global Fund Advisors
45 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

RE: iShares 2012 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Delaware counsel for iShares Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you.

For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the following:

(a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust, as filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on December 16, 1999, as amended and restated by the Restated Certificate of Trust of the Trust (the "Certificate of Trust"), as filed with the office of the Secretary of State on September 15, 2006;

(b) The Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated December 16, 1999, made by the trustee named therein, as amended and restated by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated September 13, 2006, made by the trustees named therein, as further amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated September 24, 2008, made by the trustees named therein, as further amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the

. . .

One Rodney Square . 920 North King Street . Wilmington, DE 19801 .


Phone: 302-651-7700 . Fax: 302-651-7701

www.rlf.com

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"Trust Instrument"), dated September 17, 2009, made by the trustees named therein;

(c) Post-Effective Amendment No. 303 (the "Amendment"), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), to the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-92935 and 811-09729), filed with the SEC on December 16, 1999 (as amended by the Amendment, the "Registration Statement");

(d) The Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Trust in effect on the date hereof (the "By-laws") as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") on August 13, 2009;

(e) Copies of certain resolutions adopted by the Board at a meeting on March 3-4, 2008, with respect to delegation of naming determinations for series of the Trust to Barclays Global Fund Advisors or any Fund officer;

(f) Copies of certain resolutions (the "Resolutions") adopted by the Board at a meeting on September 16-17, 2009, with respect to the creation of that certain series of the Trust to be known as iShares 2012 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series (the "Fund") and the issuance of certain shares of beneficial interest in such Fund (each, a "Share," and collectively, the "Shares");

(g) A certificate of an officer of the Trust with respect to certain matters, dated October 16, 2009; and

(h) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated October 15, 2009, obtained from the Secretary of State.

Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Trust Instrument.

For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (h) above. In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (h) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects.

With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the

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originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust Instrument constitutes the entire agreement among the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, including with respect to the creation, operation and termination of the Trust, and that the Trust Instrument, the By-laws and the Certificate of Trust are in full force and effect and will not be amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its organization or formation, (iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties (other than the Trust) to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the payment by each Person to whom a Share is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the "Shareholders") for such Share, in accordance with the Trust Instrument and the Resolutions and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and
(vii) that the Shares are issued and sold to the Shareholders in accordance with the Trust Instrument and the Resolutions and as contemplated by the Registration Statement. We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder which are currently in effect.

Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. Section 3801, et. seq.

2. The Shares of the Trust have been duly authorized and, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable beneficial interests in the Trust.

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We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.

RJF/AXR/cac

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