Mr. Steven Leong of BlackRock reports

THE RBC ISHARES ALLIANCE EXPANDS LINEUP WITH TWO NEW ETFS

The RBC iShares alliance has expanded its exchange-traded fund (ETF) lineup with the launch of two new iShares ETFs.

The iShares funds are listed in the table below and are expected to begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange today; the iShares funds are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Ltd., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock Inc.

iShares Core MSCI All-International Equity Index ETF (XINT)

XINT is designed to be a low-cost, one-ticker portfolio building block for Canadian investors seeking exposure to broadly diversified global equities outside of Canada and the United States. XINT seeks to provide long-term capital growth by replicating, to the extent possible, the performance of the MSCI ACWI ex North America IMI Index, which captures over 5,000 large-, mid- and small-cap international companies across more than 40 developed and emerging market countries.

iShares Equity + Bitcoin ETF Portfolio (IBQT)

IBQT offers a convenient all-in-one solution for incorporating bitcoin exposure alongside a portfolio of globally diversified equity ETFs. IBQT is designed to provide investors access to Canadian, U.S., international, and emerging markets equities, complemented by a modest allocation to bitcoin exposure. IBQT seeks to provide long-term capital growth by investing primarily in one or more iShares ETFs that provide exposure to equity securities and/or bitcoin. In order to gain exposure to bitcoin, IBQT currently intends to hold the iShares Bitcoin ETF listed on Cboe Canada (ticker: IBIT).

This product marks the latest addition to iShares' expanding lineup of all-in-one ETFs, offering Canadian investors a simple, low-cost way to access globally diversified equities alongside the unique diversification properties of bitcoin.

"The launch of these two funds underscores our continued commitment to expanding access to investing for Canadians through low-cost, one-ticker solutions. We're proud to be adding XINT and IBQT to our ETF lineup to make global diversification easier and more accessible, supporting our clients as they seek to achieve their unique investment objectives," said Steven Leong, managing director, head of Canada product and iShares at BlackRock.

The RBC iShares alliance aims to help clients achieve their investment objectives by empowering them to build efficient portfolios and take control of their financial futures. The RBC iShares alliance is committed to delivering a truly differentiated ETF experience and positive outcomes for clients.