Company Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 04/01/09 -- Barclays Global Investors, one of the world's largest asset managers and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) providers, announced today the appointment of Stephen Jobe as Director of iShares 529 Programs. He is leading the execution of iShares' business strategy in the 529 college savings plan market. He began in his new role on March 30th.

Mr. Jobe joins iShares from Morgan Stanley, where he had responsibility for the firm's retail 529 college savings plan business as Director of Education Strategies. Previously, Mr. Jobe was with Allianz Global Investors (AKA, PIMCO) for 10 years, where, in 2002, he launched the CollegeAccess 529 Plan, a 529 college savings plan, sponsored by the State of South Dakota and managed and distributed by Allianz Global Investors Distributors. Prior to that, he oversaw the retail mutual fund group's brand and advertising efforts, as well as other broker and investor communications and was responsible for developing and implementing the online marketing strategy for Allianz' retail mutual funds.

Mr. Jobe is a Board member and Chairman of the Legislative Committee for the College Savings Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of 529 college savings programs. CSF's mission is to help American families achieve their education savings goals by working with public policy makers, media representatives and financial services industry executives in support of education savings programs.

About Barclays Global Investors

Barclays Global Investors is one of the world's largest asset managers and a leading global provider of investment management products and services with more than 3,000 institutional clients and $1.5 trillion of assets under management as of December 31, 2008. BGI transformed the investment industry by creating the first index strategy in 1971 and the first quantitative active strategy in 1979. BGI is the global product leader in exchange traded funds (iShares® exchange traded funds) with over 360 funds for institutions and individuals globally.