SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
2014 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT (UNAUDITED) |
iShares Trust
Ø |
iShares iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | IBMD | NYSE Arca |
Ø |
iShares iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | IBME | NYSE Arca |
Ø |
iShares iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | IBMF | NYSE Arca |
Ø |
iShares iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | IBMG | NYSE Arca |
Ø |
iShares iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | IBMH | NYSE Arca |
Ø |
iShares iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | IBMI | NYSE Arca |
5 | ||||
11 | ||||
11 | ||||
12 | ||||
12 | ||||
29 | ||||
48 | ||||
67 | ||||
82 | ||||
95 | ||||
102 | ||||
109 | ||||
115 | ||||
122 | ||||
131 |
iSHARES® iBONDS ® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
Performance as of September 30, 2014
The iShares iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds maturing after May 31 and before September 2, 2015, as represented by the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2015 Index™ (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index. For the six-month reporting period ended September 30, 2014, the total return for the Fund was 0.03%, net of fees, while the total return for the Index was 0.16%.
Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
NAV | MARKET | INDEX | NAV | MARKET | INDEX | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 Year |
0.39% | 0.10% | 0.61% | 0.39% | 0.10% | 0.61% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since Inception |
2.20% | 2.18% | 2.53% | 10.84% | 10.74% | 12.56% |
The inception date of the Fund was 1/7/10. The first day of secondary market trading was 1/8/10.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” on page 11 for more information.
Shareholder Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses Paid During Period a |
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses Paid During Period a |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.30 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.00 | $ | 1.07 | 0.21% |
a | Expenses are calculated using the Fund’s annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (183 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). See “Shareholder Expenses” on page 11 for more information. |
1 | Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (“S&P”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. S&P credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change. |
2 | Excludes money market funds. |
FUND PERFORMANCE OVERVIEWS |
5 |
Fund Performance Overview
iSHARES® iBONDS ® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
Performance as of September 30, 2014
The iShares iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds maturing after May 31 and before September 2, 2016, as represented by the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2016 Index™ (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index. For the six-month reporting period ended September 30, 2014, the total return for the Fund was 0.32%, net of fees, while the total return for the Index was 0.45%.
Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
NAV | MARKET | INDEX | NAV | MARKET | INDEX | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 Year |
1.07% | 0.84% | 1.28% | 1.07% | 0.84% | 1.28% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since Inception |
3.08% | 3.10% | 3.42% | 15.41% | 15.52% | 17.25% |
The inception date of the Fund was 1/7/10. The first day of secondary market trading was 1/8/10.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” on page 11 for more information.
Shareholder Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period a |
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period a |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,003.20 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.00 | $ | 1.07 | 0.21% |
a | Expenses are calculated using the Fund’s annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (183 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). See “Shareholder Expenses” on page 11 for more information. |
1 | Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (“S&P”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. S&P credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change. |
2 | Excludes money market funds. |
6 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Fund Performance Overview
iSHARES® iBONDS ® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
Performance as of September 30, 2014
The iShares iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds maturing after May 31 and before September 2, 2017, as represented by the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2017 Index™ (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index. For the six-month reporting period ended September 30, 2014, the total return for the Fund was 0.86%, net of fees, while the total return for the Index was 1.03%.
Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
NAV | MARKET | INDEX | NAV | MARKET | INDEX | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 Year |
1.82% | 1.62% | 2.11% | 1.82% | 1.62% | 2.11% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since Inception |
3.78% | 3.80% | 4.09% | 19.17% | 19.27% | 20.90% |
The inception date of the Fund was 1/7/10. The first day of secondary market trading was 1/8/10.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” on page 11 for more information.
Shareholder Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period a |
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period a |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,008.60 | $ | 1.06 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.00 | $ | 1.07 | 0.21% |
a | Expenses are calculated using the Fund’s annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (183 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). See “Shareholder Expenses” on page 11 for more information. |
1 | Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (“S&P”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. S&P credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change. |
2 | Excludes money market funds. |
FUND PERFORMANCE OVERVIEWS |
7 |
Fund Performance Overview
iSHARES® iBONDS ® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
Performance as of September 30, 2014
The iShares iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds maturing after May 31 and before September 2, 2018, as represented by the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2018 Index™ (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index. For the six-month reporting period ended September 30, 2014, the total return for the Fund was 1.37%, net of fees, while the total return for the Index was 1.50%.
Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
NAV | MARKET | INDEX | NAV | MARKET | INDEX | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 Year |
3.11% | 2.86% | 3.14% | 3.11% | 2.86% | 3.14% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since Inception |
2.26% | 2.28% | 1.14% | 3.49% | 3.53% | 1.75% |
The inception date of the Fund was 3/19/13. The first day of secondary market trading was 3/21/13.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” on page 11 for more information.
Shareholder Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period a |
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period a |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,013.70 | $ | 1.06 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.00 | $ | 1.07 | 0.21% |
a | Expenses are calculated using the Fund’s annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (183 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). See “Shareholder Expenses” on page 11 for more information. |
1 | Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (“S&P”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. S&P credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change. |
2 | Excludes money market funds. |
8 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Fund Performance Overview
iSHARES® iBONDS ® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
Performance as of September 30, 2014
The iShares iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds maturing after May 31 and before September 2, 2019, as represented by the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2019 Index™ (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index. For the six-month reporting period ended September 30, 2014, the total return for the Fund was 2.13%, net of fees, while the total return for the Index was 2.07%.
Cumulative Total Returns | ||||||||||||
NAV | MARKET | INDEX | ||||||||||
Since Inception |
2.08% | 2.24% | 1.73% |
The inception date of the Fund was 2/4/14. The first day of secondary market trading was 2/6/14.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” on page 11 for more information.
Shareholder Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period a |
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period a |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,021.30 | $ | 1.01 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.10 | $ | 1.01 | 0.20% |
a | Expenses are calculated using the Fund’s annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (183 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). See “Shareholder Expenses” on page 11 for more information. |
1 | Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (“S&P”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. S&P credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change. |
2 | Excludes money market funds. |
FUND PERFORMANCE OVERVIEWS |
9 |
Fund Performance Overview
iSHARES® iBONDS ® SEP 2020 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
Performance as of September 30, 2014
The iShares iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds maturing after May 31 and before September 2, 2020, as represented by the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2020 Index™ (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index. For the period from August 12, 2014 (inception date of the Fund) through September 30, 2014, the total return for the Fund was 0.52%, net of fees, while the total return for the Index was 0.36%.
Cumulative Total Returns | ||||||||||||
NAV | MARKET | INDEX | ||||||||||
Since Inception |
0.52% | 0.76% | 0.36% |
The inception date of the Fund was 8/12/14. The first day of secondary market trading was 8/14/14.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” on page 11 for more information.
Shareholder Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Hypothetical 5% Return | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value (8/12/14) a |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses
Paid During Period b |
Beginning Account Value (4/1/14) |
Ending Account Value (9/30/14) |
Expenses Paid During Period b |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,005.20 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,024.20 | $ | 0.91 | 0.18% |
a | The beginning of the period (commencement of operations) is August 12, 2014. |
b | Expenses are calculated using the Fund’s annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (49 days for actual and 183 days for hypothetical expenses) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). See “Shareholder Expenses” on page 11 for more information. |
1 | Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (“S&P”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. S&P credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change. |
2 | Excludes money market funds. |
10 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at www.iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment management fees. Without such waiver, performance would have been lower.
Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. The price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not have traded in the secondary market until after the fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary trading, the NAV of the fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV, respectively.
An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike a fund, an index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does not incur the expenses incurred by a fund. These expenses negatively impact fund performance. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower.
As a shareholder of a Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested on April 1, 2014 (or commencement of operations, as applicable) and held through September 30, 2014, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in a Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
Actual Expenses — The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number for your Fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period.”
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes — The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
ABOUT FUND PERFORMANCE / SHAREHOLDER EXPENSES |
11 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
12 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
13 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
14 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
15 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
16 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
17 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
18 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
19 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
20 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
21 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
22 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
23 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
24 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
25 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
26 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
27 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2015 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
28 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
29 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
30 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
31 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
32 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
33 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
34 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
35 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
36 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
37 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
38 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
39 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
40 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
41 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
42 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
43 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
44 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
45 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
46 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2016 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
47 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
48 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
49 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
50 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
51 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
52 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
53 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
54 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
55 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
56 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
57 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
58 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
59 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
60 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
61 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
62 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
63 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
64 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
65 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2017 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
66 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
67 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
68 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
69 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
70 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
71 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
72 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
73 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
74 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
75 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
76 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
77 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
78 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
79 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
80 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2018 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
81 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
82 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
83 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
84 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
85 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
86 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
87 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
88 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
89 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
90 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
91 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
92 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
93 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2019 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
94 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2020 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
95 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2020 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
96 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2020 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
97 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2020 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
98 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2020 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
99 |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2020 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
100 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® iBONDS® SEP 2020 AMT-FREE MUNI BOND ETF
September 30, 2014
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS |
101 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)
iSHARES® TRUST
September 30, 2014
iShares iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||
Investments, at cost: |
||||||||||||
Unaffiliated |
$ | 103,967,030 | $ | 125,527,164 | $ | 142,206,976 | ||||||
Affiliated (Note 2) |
201,081 | 226,803 | 396,728 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total cost of investments |
$ | 104,168,111 | $ | 125,753,967 | $ | 142,603,704 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Investments in securities, at fair value (Note 1): |
||||||||||||
Unaffiliated |
$ | 104,506,718 | $ | 126,787,493 | $ | 144,355,889 | ||||||
Affiliated (Note 2) |
201,081 | 226,803 | 396,728 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total fair value of investments |
104,707,799 | 127,014,296 | 144,752,617 | |||||||||
Receivables: |
||||||||||||
Interest |
1,109,677 | 1,260,070 | 1,432,823 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Assets |
105,817,476 | 128,274,366 | 146,185,440 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
LIABILITIES |
||||||||||||
Payables: |
||||||||||||
Investment advisory fees (Note 2) |
15,654 | 18,902 | 21,273 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Liabilities |
15,654 | 18,902 | 21,273 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET ASSETS |
$ | 105,801,822 | $ | 128,255,464 | $ | 146,164,167 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net assets consist of: |
||||||||||||
Paid-in capital |
$ | 105,216,250 | $ | 127,019,836 | $ | 144,172,420 | ||||||
Undistributed net investment income |
70,935 | 94,363 | 135,127 | |||||||||
Accumulated net realized loss |
(25,051 | ) | (119,064 | ) | (292,293 | ) | ||||||
Net unrealized appreciation |
539,688 | 1,260,329 | 2,148,913 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET ASSETS |
$ | 105,801,822 | $ | 128,255,464 | $ | 146,164,167 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Shares outstandinga |
2,000,000 | 2,400,000 | 2,650,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net asset value per share |
$ | 52.90 | $ | 53.44 | $ | 55.16 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
a | No par value, unlimited number of shares authorized. |
See notes to financial statements.
102 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
September 30, 2014
iShares iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||
Investments, at cost: |
||||||||||||
Unaffiliated |
$ | 65,035,102 | $ | 27,419,450 | $ | 7,436,024 | ||||||
Affiliated (Note 2) |
146,135 | 110,541 | 43,516 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total cost of investments |
$ | 65,181,237 | $ | 27,529,991 | $ | 7,479,540 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Investments in securities, at fair value (Note 1): |
||||||||||||
Unaffiliated |
$ | 65,634,288 | $ | 27,577,182 | $ | 7,432,044 | ||||||
Affiliated (Note 2) |
146,135 | 110,541 | 43,516 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total fair value of investments |
65,780,423 | 27,687,723 | 7,475,560 | |||||||||
Receivables: |
||||||||||||
Interest |
636,816 | 250,576 | 64,250 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Assets |
66,417,239 | 27,938,299 | 7,539,810 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
LIABILITIES |
||||||||||||
Payables: |
||||||||||||
Investment securities purchased |
— | 29,642 | — | |||||||||
Investment advisory fees (Note 2) |
9,616 | 3,627 | 965 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Liabilities |
9,616 | 33,269 | 965 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET ASSETS |
$ | 66,407,623 | $ | 27,905,030 | $ | 7,538,845 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net assets consist of: |
||||||||||||
Paid-in capital |
$ | 65,806,012 | $ | 27,724,070 | $ | 7,534,341 | ||||||
Undistributed net investment income |
58,181 | 23,116 | 8,484 | |||||||||
Undistributed net realized gain (accumulated net realized loss) |
(55,756 | ) | 112 | — | ||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
599,186 | 157,732 | (3,980 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET ASSETS |
$ | 66,407,623 | $ | 27,905,030 | $ | 7,538,845 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Shares outstandinga |
2,600,000 | 1,100,000 | 300,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net asset value per share |
$ | 25.54 | $ | 25.37 | $ | 25.13 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
a | No par value, unlimited number of shares authorized. |
See notes to financial statements.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
103 |
Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
iSHARES® TRUST
Six months ended September 30, 2014
iShares iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
||||||||||
NET INVESTMENT INCOME |
||||||||||||
Interest — unaffiliated |
$ | 444,433 | $ | 586,636 | $ | 828,756 | ||||||
Interest — affiliated (Note 2) |
31 | 49 | 78 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total investment income |
444,464 | 586,685 | 828,834 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
EXPENSES |
||||||||||||
Investment advisory fees (Note 2) |
156,349 | 184,461 | 204,621 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total expenses |
156,349 | 184,461 | 204,621 | |||||||||
Less investment advisory fees waived (Note 2) |
(45,321 | ) | (53,280 | ) | (59,685 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net expenses |
111,028 | 131,181 | 144,936 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net investment income |
333,436 | 455,504 | 683,898 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) |
||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) from: |
||||||||||||
Investments — unaffiliated |
— | — | (1,370 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net realized loss |
— | — | (1,370 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation |
(301,876 | ) | (81,101 | ) | 421,076 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
(301,876 | ) | (81,101 | ) | 419,706 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS |
$ | 31,560 | $ | 374,403 | $ | 1,103,604 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
104 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
Six months ended September 30, 2014
iShares iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETFa |
||||||||||
NET INVESTMENT INCOME |
||||||||||||
Interest — unaffiliated |
$ | 350,659 | $ | 112,208 | $ | 9,683 | ||||||
Interest — affiliated (Note 2) |
49 | 16 | 1 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total investment income |
350,708 | 112,224 | 9,684 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
EXPENSES |
||||||||||||
Investment advisory fees (Note 2) |
88,837 | 25,054 | 2,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total expenses |
88,837 | 25,054 | 2,000 | |||||||||
Less investment advisory fees waived (Note 2) |
(26,488 | ) | (8,427 | ) | (800 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net expenses |
62,349 | 16,627 | 1,200 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net investment income |
288,359 | 95,597 | 8,484 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) |
||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) from: |
||||||||||||
Investments — unaffiliated |
— | 112 | — | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net realized gain |
— | 112 | — | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation |
461,920 | 179,033 | (3,980 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
461,920 | 179,145 | (3,980 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS |
$ | 750,279 | $ | 274,742 | $ | 4,504 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
a | For the period from August 12, 2014 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2014. |
See notes to financial statements.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
105 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
iSHARES® TRUST
iShares iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
|||||||||||||||
Six
months ended September 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Year ended March 31, 2014 |
Six months September 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Year ended March 31, 2014 |
|||||||||||||
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||
OPERATIONS: |
||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 333,436 | $ | 594,488 | $ | 455,504 | $ | 755,703 | ||||||||
Net realized loss |
— | (25,051 | ) | — | (119,064 | ) | ||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation |
(301,876 | ) | (165,604 | ) | (81,101 | ) | (3,791 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
31,560 | 403,833 | 374,403 | 632,848 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: |
||||||||||||||||
From net investment income |
(302,936 | ) | (596,029 | ) | (416,723 | ) | (748,534 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(302,936 | ) | (596,029 | ) | (416,723 | ) | (748,534 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: |
||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold |
5,302,762 | 42,482,143 | 10,707,237 | 61,445,714 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions |
5,302,762 | 42,482,143 | 10,707,237 | 61,445,714 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS |
5,031,386 | 42,289,947 | 10,664,917 | 61,330,028 | ||||||||||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
100,770,436 | 58,480,489 | 117,590,547 | 56,260,519 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
End of period |
$ | 105,801,822 | $ | 100,770,436 | $ | 128,255,464 | $ | 117,590,547 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Undistributed net investment income included in net assets at end of period |
$ | 70,935 | $ | 40,435 | $ | 94,363 | $ | 55,582 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
SHARES ISSUED |
||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
100,000 | 800,000 | 200,000 | 1,150,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net increase in shares outstanding |
100,000 | 800,000 | 200,000 | 1,150,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
106 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
iShares iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
|||||||||||||||
Six months ended September 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Year ended March 31, 2014 |
Six months September 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Year ended March 31, 2014 |
|||||||||||||
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||
OPERATIONS: |
||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 683,898 | $ | 1,102,114 | $ | 288,359 | $ | 229,900 | ||||||||
Net realized loss |
(1,370 | ) | (285,858 | ) | — | (55,756 | ) | |||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation |
421,076 | (482,425 | ) | 461,920 | 121,064 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
1,103,604 | 333,831 | 750,279 | 295,208 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: |
||||||||||||||||
From net investment income |
(634,528 | ) | (1,088,952 | ) | (260,703 | ) | (199,763 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(634,528 | ) | (1,088,952 | ) | (260,703 | ) | (199,763 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: |
||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold |
19,316,076 | 55,064,820 | 17,836,824 | 45,469,188 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions |
19,316,076 | 55,064,820 | 17,836,824 | 45,469,188 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS |
19,785,152 | 54,309,699 | 18,326,400 | 45,564,633 | ||||||||||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
126,379,015 | 72,069,316 | 48,081,223 | 2,516,590 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
End of period |
$ | 146,164,167 | $ | 126,379,015 | $ | 66,407,623 | $ | 48,081,223 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Undistributed net investment income included in net assets at end of period |
$ | 135,127 | $ | 85,757 | $ | 58,181 | $ | 30,525 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
SHARES ISSUED |
||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
350,000 | 1,000,000 | 700,000 | 1,800,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net increase in shares outstanding |
350,000 | 1,000,000 | 700,000 | 1,800,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
107 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
iShares iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
iShares iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
|||||||||||
Six months ended September 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Period from to March 31, 2014 |
Period from to (Unaudited) |
||||||||||
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS |
||||||||||||
OPERATIONS: |
||||||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 95,597 | $ | 7,926 | $ | 8,484 | ||||||
Net realized gain |
112 | — | — | |||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation |
179,033 | (21,301 | ) | (3,980 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
274,742 | (13,375 | ) | 4,504 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: |
||||||||||||
From net investment income |
(76,798 | ) | (3,609 | ) | — | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total distributions to shareholders |
(76,798 | ) | (3,609 | ) | — | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold |
20,216,852 | 7,507,218 | 7,534,341 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions |
20,216,852 | 7,507,218 | 7,534,341 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS |
20,414,796 | 7,490,234 | 7,538,845 | |||||||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
7,490,234 | — | — | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
End of period |
$ | 27,905,030 | $ | 7,490,234 | $ | 7,538,845 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Undistributed net investment income included in net assets at end of period |
$ | 23,116 | $ | 4,317 | $ | 8,484 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
SHARES ISSUED |
||||||||||||
Shares sold |
800,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net increase in shares outstanding |
800,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
a | Commencement of operations. |
See notes to financial statements.
108 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
iSHARES® TRUST
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
iShares iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six months ended Sep. 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Year ended Mar. 31, 2014 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2013 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2012 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2011 |
Period from to Mar. 31, 2010 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 53.04 | $ | 53.16 | $ | 53.12 | $ | 51.28 | $ | 50.63 | $ | 50.49 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Income from investment operations: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.17 | 0.39 | 0.59 | 0.78 | 0.89 | 0.21 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)c |
(0.16 | ) | (0.10 | ) | 0.05 | 1.85 | 0.63 | 0.06 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
0.01 | 0.29 | 0.64 | 2.63 | 1.52 | 0.27 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Less distributions from: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.15 | ) | (0.41 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.79 | ) | (0.87 | ) | (0.13 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.15 | ) | (0.41 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.79 | ) | (0.87 | ) | (0.13 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 52.90 | $ | 53.04 | $ | 53.16 | $ | 53.12 | $ | 51.28 | $ | 50.63 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total return |
0.03 | %d | 0.56 | % | 1.19 | % | 5.15 | % | 3.02 | % | 0.54 | %d | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental data: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000s) |
$ | 105,802 | $ | 100,770 | $ | 58,480 | $ | 37,181 | $ | 23,075 | $ | 5,063 | ||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assetse |
0.21 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to waived feese |
0.30 | % | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assetse |
0.64 | % | 0.73 | % | 1.11 | % | 1.48 | % | 1.74 | % | 1.84 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover ratef |
0 | % | 2 | % | 0 | %g | 0 | %g | 0 | % | 2 | % |
a | Commencement of operations. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding throughout each period. |
c | The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities. |
d | Not annualized. |
e | Annualized for periods of less than one year. |
f | Portfolio turnover rates exclude portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of processing capital share transactions in Creation Units. |
g | Rounds to less than 1%. |
See notes to financial statements.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
109 |
Financial Highlights (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
iShares iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six months ended Sep. 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2014 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2013 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2012 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2011 |
Period from to Mar. 31, 2010 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 53.45 | $ | 53.58 | $ | 53.19 | $ | 50.55 | $ | 49.72 | $ | 49.66 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Income from investment operations: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.20 | 0.48 | 0.70 | 0.98 | 1.11 | 0.26 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)c |
(0.03 | ) | (0.11 | ) | 0.41 | 2.65 | 0.83 | (0.04 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
0.17 | 0.37 | 1.11 | 3.63 | 1.94 | 0.22 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Less distributions from: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.18 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (0.72 | ) | (0.99 | ) | (1.11 | ) | (0.16 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.18 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (0.72 | ) | (0.99 | ) | (1.11 | ) | (0.16 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 53.44 | $ | 53.45 | $ | 53.58 | $ | 53.19 | $ | 50.55 | $ | 49.72 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total return |
0.32 | %d | 0.71 | % | 2.08 | % | 7.23 | % | 3.91 | % | 0.44 | %d | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental data: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000s) |
$ | 128,255 | $ | 117,591 | $ | 56,261 | $ | 34,573 | $ | 17,694 | $ | 4,972 | ||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assetse |
0.21 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to waived feese |
0.30 | % | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assetse |
0.74 | % | 0.89 | % | 1.31 | % | 1.87 | % | 2.17 | % | 2.25 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover ratef |
0 | % | 2 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | 4 | % | 0 | % |
a | Commencement of operations. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding throughout each period. |
c | The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities. |
d | Not annualized. |
e | Annualized for periods of less than one year. |
f | Portfolio turnover rates exclude portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of processing capital share transactions in Creation Units. |
See notes to financial statements.
110 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Financial Highlights (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
iShares iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six months ended Sep. 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2014 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2013 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2012 |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2011 |
Period from to Mar. 31, 2010 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 54.95 | $ | 55.44 | $ | 54.64 | $ | 51.10 | $ | 50.34 | $ | 50.13 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Income from investment operations: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.28 | 0.64 | 0.81 | 1.11 | 1.28 | 0.30 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)c |
0.19 | (0.48 | ) | 0.82 | 3.56 | 0.69 | 0.09 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
0.47 | 0.16 | 1.63 | 4.67 | 1.97 | 0.39 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Less distributions from: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.26 | ) | (0.65 | ) | (0.83 | ) | (1.13 | ) | (1.21 | ) | (0.18 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.26 | ) | (0.65 | ) | (0.83 | ) | (1.13 | ) | (1.21 | ) | (0.18 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 55.16 | $ | 54.95 | $ | 55.44 | $ | 54.64 | $ | 51.10 | $ | 50.34 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total return |
0.86 | %d | 0.31 | % | 2.98 | % | 9.22 | % | 3.91 | % | 0.78 | %d | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental data: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000s) |
$ | 146,164 | $ | 126,379 | $ | 72,069 | $ | 43,711 | $ | 22,996 | $ | 5,034 | ||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assetse |
0.21 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to waived feese |
0.30 | % | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assetse |
1.00 | % | 1.16 | % | 1.47 | % | 2.06 | % | 2.48 | % | 2.57 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover ratef |
0 | %g | 2 | % | 0 | %g | 4 | % | 2 | % | 0 | % |
a | Commencement of operations. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding throughout each period. |
c | The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities. |
d | Not annualized. |
e | Annualized for periods of less than one year. |
f | Portfolio turnover rates exclude portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of processing capital share transactions in Creation Units. |
g | Rounds to less than 1%. |
See notes to financial statements.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
111 |
Financial Highlights (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
iShares iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF |
Six months ended Sep. 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Year
ended Mar. 31, 2014 |
Period from to Mar. 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 25.31 | $ | 25.17 | $ | 25.00 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Income from investment operations: |
||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.12 | 0.25 | 0.00 | c | ||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gaind |
0.23 | 0.10 | 0.17 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total from investment operations |
0.35 | 0.35 | 0.17 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Less distributions from: |
||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.12 | ) | (0.21 | ) | — | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total distributions |
(0.12 | ) | (0.21 | ) | — | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 25.54 | $ | 25.31 | $ | 25.17 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total return |
1.37 | %e | 1.44 | % | 0.64 | %e | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Ratios/Supplemental data: |
||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000s) |
$ | 66,408 | $ | 48,081 | $ | 2,517 | ||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assetsf |
0.21 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.30 | % | ||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to waived feesf |
0.30 | % | n/a | n/a | ||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assetsf |
0.97 | % | 0.99 | % | 0.47 | % | ||||||
Portfolio turnover rateg |
0 | % | 1 | % | 0 | % |
a | Commencement of operations. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding throughout each period. |
c | Rounds to less than $0.01. |
d | The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities. |
e | Not annualized. |
f | Annualized for periods of less than one year. |
g | Portfolio turnover rates exclude portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of processing capital share transactions in Creation Units. |
See notes to financial statements.
112 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Financial Highlights (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
iShares iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF
Six months ended Sep. 30, 2014 (Unaudited) |
Period from Feb. 4, 2014a to Mar. 31, 2014 |
|||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 24.97 | $ | 25.00 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income from investment operations: |
||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.14 | 0.04 | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)c |
0.39 | (0.05 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total from investment operations |
0.53 | (0.01 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Less distributions from: |
||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.13 | ) | (0.02 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total distributions |
(0.13 | ) | (0.02 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 25.37 | $ | 24.97 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total return |
2.13 | %d | (0.05 | )%d | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Ratios/Supplemental data: |
||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000s) |
$ | 27,905 | $ | 7,490 | ||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assetse |
0.20 | % | 0.30 | % | ||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to waived feese |
0.30 | % | n/a | |||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assetse |
1.14 | % | 1.08 | % | ||||
Portfolio turnover ratef |
0 | %g | 0 | % |
a | Commencement of operations. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding throughout each period. |
c | The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities. |
d | Not annualized. |
e | Annualized for periods of less than one year. |
f | Portfolio turnover rates exclude portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of processing capital share transactions in Creation Units. |
g | Rounds to less than 1%. |
See notes to financial statements.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
113 |
Financial Highlights (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
(For a share outstanding throughout the period)
iShares iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF
Period from Aug. 12, 2014a to Sep. 30, 2014 |
||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 25.00 | ||
|
|
|||
Income from investment operations: |
||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.04 | |||
Net realized and unrealized gainc |
0.09 | |||
|
|
|||
Total from investment operations |
0.13 | |||
|
|
|||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 25.13 | ||
|
|
|||
Total return |
0.52 | %d | ||
|
|
|||
Ratios/Supplemental data: |
||||
Net assets, end of period (000s) |
$ | 7,539 | ||
Ratio of expenses to average net assetse |
0.18 | % | ||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to waived feese |
0.30 | % | ||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assetse |
1.27 | % | ||
Portfolio turnover ratef |
0 | % |
a | Commencement of operations. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding throughout the period. |
c | The amount reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities. |
d | Not annualized. |
e | Annualized for periods of less than one year. |
f | Portfolio turnover rate excludes portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of processing capital share transactions in Creation Units. |
See notes to financial statements.
114 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
iSHARES® TRUST
iShares Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust was established as a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated December 16, 1999.
These financial statements relate only to the following funds (each, a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”):
iShares ETF | Former Name a | Diversification Classification |
||||
iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
iShares 2015 AMT-Free Muni Term ETF | Diversified | ||||
iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
iShares 2016 AMT-Free Muni Term ETF | Diversified | ||||
iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
iShares 2017 AMT-Free Muni Term ETF | Diversified | ||||
iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
iShares 2018 AMT-Free Muni Term ETF | Non-diversified | ||||
iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
iShares 2019 AMT-Free Muni Term ETF | Non-diversified | ||||
iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bondb |
N/A | Non-diversified |
a | The Funds changed their names effective July 31, 2014. |
b | The Fund commenced operations on August 12, 2014. |
The investment objective of each Fund is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The investment adviser uses a “passive” or index approach to try to achieve each Fund’s investment objective.
Pursuant to the Trust’s organizational documents, the Funds’ officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of the performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred.
1. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 (ASC 946).
SECURITY VALUATION
Each Fund’s investments are valued at fair value each day that the Fund’s listing exchange is open and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date should the reporting period end on a day that the Fund’s listing exchange is not open. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the “Global Valuation Committee”) provides oversight of the valuation of investments for the Funds. The investments of each Fund are valued pursuant to policies and procedures developed by the Global Valuation Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”).
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
115 |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
• |
Fixed income investments are valued at the last available bid price received from independent pricing services. In determining the value of a fixed income investment, pricing services may use certain information with respect to transactions in such investments, quotations from dealers, pricing matrixes, market transactions in comparable investments, various relationships observed in the market between investments, and calculated yield measures. |
• |
Open-end U.S. mutual funds are valued at that day’s published net asset value (NAV). |
In the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment which is deemed not to be representative of the fair value of such investment or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued based upon other available factors deemed relevant by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with policies approved by the Board. These factors include but are not limited to (i) attributes specific to the investment; (ii) the principal market for the investment; (iii) the customary participants in the principal market for the investment; (iv) data assumptions by market participants for the investment, if reasonably available; (v) quoted prices for similar investments in active markets; and (vi) other factors, such as future cash flows, interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and/or default rates. Valuations based on such factors are reported to the Board on a quarterly basis.
The Global Valuation Committee employs various methods for calibrating valuation approaches for investments where an active market does not exist, including regular due diligence of the Trust’s pricing vendors, a regular review of key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis to compare unrealized gains and losses to realized gains and losses, reviews of missing or stale prices, reviews of large movements in market values, and reviews of market related activity.
Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a Fund’s net asset value and the prices used by the Fund’s underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the Fund’s underlying index.
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. Inputs may be based on independent market data (“observable inputs”) or they may be internally developed (“unobservable inputs”). These inputs are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes. 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 is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in the instrument. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
• |
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; |
• |
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 (such as exchange rates, financing terms, interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market-corroborated inputs; and |
• |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including the Global Valuation Committee’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments. |
Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. In accordance with the Trust’s policy, transfers between different levels of the fair value hierarchy are deemed to have occurred as of the beginning of the reporting period.
116 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
The following table summarizes the value of each of the Funds’ investments according to the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2014. The breakdown of each Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in its respective schedule of investments.
iShares ETF and |
Investments | |||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds & Notes |
$ | — | $ | 104,506,718 | $ | — | $ | 104,506,718 | ||||||||
Money Market Funds |
201,081 | — | — | 201,081 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 201,081 | $ | 104,506,718 | $ | — | $ | 104,707,799 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds & Notes |
$ | — | $ | 126,787,493 | $ | — | $ | 126,787,493 | ||||||||
Money Market Funds |
226,803 | — | — | 226,803 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 226,803 | $ | 126,787,493 | $ | — | $ | 127,014,296 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds & Notes |
$ | — | $ | 144,355,889 | $ | — | $ | 144,355,889 | ||||||||
Money Market Funds |
396,728 | — | — | 396,728 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 396,728 | $ | 144,355,889 | $ | — | $ | 144,752,617 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds & Notes |
$ | — | $ | 65,634,288 | $ | — | $ | 65,634,288 | ||||||||
Money Market Funds |
146,135 | — | — | 146,135 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 146,135 | $ | 65,634,288 | $ | — | $ | 65,780,423 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds & Notes |
$ | — | $ | 27,577,182 | $ | — | $ | 27,577,182 | ||||||||
Money Market Funds |
110,541 | — | — | 110,541 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 110,541 | $ | 27,577,182 | $ | — | $ | 27,687,723 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds & Notes |
$ | — | $ | 7,432,044 | $ | — | $ | 7,432,044 | ||||||||
Money Market Funds |
43,516 | — | — | 43,516 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 43,516 | $ | 7,432,044 | $ | — | $ | 7,475,560 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
117 |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND INCOME RECOGNITION
Security transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on the accrual basis.
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds.
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARD
In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance to improve the financial reporting of reverse repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance will require expanded disclosure for entities that enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar transactions accounted for as secured borrowings, including securities lending. The guidance is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Funds’ financial statements and disclosures.
2. | INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES |
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) manages the investment of each Fund’s assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Funds, except interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution fees, litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses.
For its investment advisory services to each Fund, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee of 0.30% based on the average daily net assets of each Fund.
BFA has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fee for each Fund, through the termination date of such Fund in order to limit total annual operating expenses to 0.18% of the average daily net assets of each Fund. The waiver agreement became effective May 23, 2014 for each of the Funds, except for the the iShares iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF, whose waiver agreement became effective August 12, 2014 (the inception date of the Fund).
BlackRock Investments, LLC, an affiliate of BFA, is the distributor for each Fund. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, BFA is responsible for any fees or expenses for distribution services provided to the Funds.
Each Fund may invest its positive cash balances in certain money market funds managed by BFA or an affiliate. The income earned on these temporary cash investments is included in “Interest – affiliated” in the statements of operations.
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is the largest stockholder of BlackRock and is considered to be an affiliate of the Funds for 1940 Act purposes.
Certain trustees and officers of the Trust are also officers of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. and/or BFA.
118 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
3. | INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS |
Purchases and sales of investments (excluding in-kind transactions and short-term investments) for the six months ended September 30, 2014 were as follows:
iShares ETF | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
$ | 6,618,249 | $ | — | ||||
iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
12,804,796 | — | ||||||
iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
21,340,072 | 220,531 | ||||||
iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
18,631,931 | — | ||||||
iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
20,321,020 | 58,523 | ||||||
iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
7,451,201 | — |
There were no in-kind transactions for the six months ended September 30, 2014.
4. | CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
Capital shares are issued and redeemed by each Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”) at net asset value. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of each Fund are not redeemable. Transactions in capital shares for each Fund are disclosed in detail in the statements of changes in net assets.
The consideration for the purchase of Creation Units of a fund in the Trust generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities and a specified amount of cash. Certain funds in the Trust may be offered in Creation Units solely or partially for cash in U.S. dollars. Investors purchasing and redeeming Creation Units may pay a purchase transaction fee and a redemption transaction fee directly to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s administrator, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in “Proceeds from shares sold” in the statements of changes in net assets.
5. | MARKET AND CREDIT RISK |
In the normal course of business, each Fund’s investment activities exposes it to various types of risk associated with the financial instruments and markets in which it invests. The significant types of financial risks each Fund is exposed to include market risk and credit risk. Each Fund’s prospectus provides details of these and other types of risk.
BFA uses a “passive” or index approach to try to achieve each Fund’s investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.
MARKET RISK
Market risk arises mainly from uncertainty about future values of financial instruments influenced by price, currency and interest rate movements. It represents the potential loss each Fund may suffer through holding market positions in the face of market movements. Each Fund is exposed to market risk by virtue of its investment in fixed income instruments. The fair value of securities held by the Funds may decline due to general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuers of the securities including local, regional or global political, social or economic instability or to factors that
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
119 |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
affect a particular industry or group of industries. The extent of each Fund’s exposure to market risk is the market value of the investments held as shown in the Fund’s schedule of investments.
A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a fund’s objectives, minimizes the risk that a price change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of a fund. The investment concentrations within each Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its schedule of investments.
Each Fund invests a substantial amount of its assets in fixed-income securities. Changes in market interest rates or economic conditions, including the decision in December 2013 by the Federal Reserve Bank to taper its quantitative easing policy, may affect the value and/or liquidity of such investments. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will decrease as interest rates rise and increase as interest rates fall. Securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, usually making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations. Given the environment of historically low interest rates, each Fund may be subject to a greater risk of price losses if interest rates rise.
CREDIT RISK
Credit risk is the risk that an issuer or guarantor of debt instruments or the counterparty to a financial transaction, including derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities, is unable or unwilling to make timely interest and/or principal payments or to otherwise honor its obligations. BFA and its affiliates manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of each Fund’s exposure to credit and counterparty risks with respect to those financial assets is approximated by their value recorded in the statement of assets and liabilities.
Each Fund invests all or substantially all of its assets in municipal securities which are subject to the risk that litigation, legislation or other political events, local business or economic conditions, credit rating downgrades, 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 government regulation, taxation, legislative changes or the rights of municipal security holders. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar projects, such as those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, utilities, and water and sewer, conditions in these 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.
6. | INCOME TAX INFORMATION |
Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trust’s other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is the policy of each Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions applicable to regulated investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and to annually distribute substantially all of its ordinary income and any net capital gains (taking into account any capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income and excise taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required.
For purposes of U.S. GAAP, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Funds. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Funds and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the
120 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
iSHARES® TRUST
gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Funds’ tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share.
The tax character of current year distributions will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year.
As of March 31, 2014, the Funds’ fiscal year-end, the Funds had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains as follows:
iShares ETF | Non-Expiring | |||
iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
$ | 21,379 | ||
iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
79,747 |
As of September 30, 2014, gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation based on cost for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
iShares ETF | Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
$ | 104,168,111 | $ | 551,183 | $ | (11,495 | ) | $ | 539,688 | |||||||
iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
125,753,967 | 1,263,120 | (2,791 | ) | 1,260,329 | |||||||||||
iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
142,603,704 | 2,155,793 | (6,880 | ) | 2,148,913 | |||||||||||
iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
65,181,237 | 608,093 | (8,907 | ) | 599,186 | |||||||||||
iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
27,529,991 | 166,270 | (8,538 | ) | 157,732 | |||||||||||
iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
7,479,540 | 7,387 | (11,367 | ) | (3,980 | ) |
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of September 30, 2014, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds’ financial statements.
7. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
121 |
Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory
Contract
iSHARES® TRUST
I. iShares iBonds Sep 2015 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF, iShares iBonds Sep 2016 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF, iShares iBonds Sep 2017 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF and iShares iBonds Sep 2018 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Trustees”), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Contract between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Contract”) on behalf of the Funds. The Independent Trustees requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Trustees, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Contract. A committee of Independent Trustees (the “15(c) Committee”), with independent counsel, met with management on March 12, 2014, May 6, 2014, and May 12, 2014, to discuss the types of information the Independent Trustees required and the manner in which management would organize and present such information. At a meeting held on May 16, 2014, management presented preliminary information to the Board relating to the continuance of the Advisory Contract, and the Board, including the Independent Trustees, reviewed and discussed such information at length. The Independent Trustees requested from management certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 12-13, 2014, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests. After extensive discussions, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, approved the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the Funds, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA, including the additional information management provided at the request of the Independent Trustees. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Board also noted that the Board and BFA agreed to discuss potential enhancements and adjustments to the 15(c) process for the coming year. The Independent Trustees were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the Advisory Contract for the Funds, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors, no one of which was controlling, and reached the following conclusions:
Expenses and Performance of the Funds — The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including actual advisory fees, waivers/reimbursements, and gross and net total expenses of each Fund in comparison with the same information for other exchange traded funds (including funds sponsored by an “at cost” service provider) and, in the limited instances where no comparable ETFs existed and the comparison group would not otherwise be reasonable in Lipper’s judgment, pure index institutional mutual funds, objectively selected by Lipper as comprising such Fund’s applicable peer group pursuant to Lipper’s proprietary ETF methodology (the “Lipper Group”). The Board noted that, prior to 2014, Lipper had used a different methodology to determine a Fund’s Lipper group, which included mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange traded funds, and/or funds with differing investment objective classifications, investment focuses and other characteristics (e.g. actively managed funds and funds sponsored by “at cost” service providers), as applicable. The Board further noted that, after consideration by the 15(c) Committee, the Board determined to use instead Lipper’s proprietary ETF methodology to determine a Fund’s Lipper Group. This determination was based on, among other considerations, the increased number and types of ETFs available for comparative purposes than was the case in prior years. The Board was provided with a detailed description of Lipper’s proprietary ETF methodology used by Lipper to determine the applicable Lipper Groups and to prepare this information. At the Board’s request, Lipper provided, and the Board considered, information on the impact to the iShares funds’ comparative fee rankings that were attributable to the change from a pure index group methodology to Lipper’s proprietary ETF methodology. The Board further noted that due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the various Lipper Groups, the statistical information provided in Lipper’s report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Funds in all instances.
The Board also noted that the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses for the Funds were at the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses of the funds in their respective Lipper Group.
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In addition, the Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Lipper regarding the performance of each Fund for the one-, three-, five-, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and the “last quarter” period ended December 31, 2013, and a comparison of each Fund’s performance to its performance benchmark index for the same periods. To the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Lipper Group track the same index as any particular Fund, Lipper also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of such Fund’s performance to that of such relevant comparison funds for the same periods. The Board noted that the Funds generally performed in line with their respective performance benchmark indexes over the relevant periods. In considering this information, the Board noted that the Lipper Group may include funds that are not exchange traded funds or index funds, and that may have different investment objectives and/or benchmarks from the Funds. In addition, the Board noted that each Fund seeks to track its own benchmark index and that, during the prior year, the Board received periodic reports on the Funds’ performance in comparison with their relevant benchmark indexes. Such periodic comparative performance information, including detailed information on certain specific iShares funds requested by the Boards, was also considered.
Based on this review, the other factors considered at the meeting, and their general knowledge of ETF pricing, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fee rate and expense level and the historical performance of each Fund supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by BFA — Based on management’s representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to shareholder servicing and support, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Contract for the coming year as compared to the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFA’s investment philosophy and experience, noting that BFA and its affiliates have committed significant resources over time, including during the past year, to supporting the Funds and their shareholders. The Board acknowledged that resources to support the iShares funds and their shareholders have been added or enhanced in recent years, including in such areas as investor education, product management, customized portfolio consulting support, capital markets support, and proprietary risk and performance analytics tools. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Funds. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made appropriate officers available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Funds. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFA’s investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies provided at the June 12-13, 2014 meeting and throughout the previous year, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance policies and procedures. The Board noted that each Fund had met its investment objective consistently since its respective inception date.
Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by BFA to the Funds under the Advisory Contract supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
Costs of Services Provided to Funds and Profits Realized by BFA and Affiliates — The Board reviewed information about the profitability to BlackRock of the Funds based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Contract), and all other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Funds’ operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s profitability methodology for the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee had focused on the methodology and proposed presentation during its meetings. The Board discussed the sources of direct and ancillary revenue with management, including the revenues to BTC from securities lending by the Funds. The Board also discussed BFA’s profit margin as reflected in the Funds’ profitability analyses and reviewed information regarding potential
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economies of scale (as discussed below). Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Contract and from other relationships between the Funds and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors considered.
Economies of Scale — The Board reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale or other efficiencies that may result from increases in the Funds’ assets, noting that the issue of economies of scale had been focused on extensively by the 15(c) Committee during its meetings and addressed by management. The Board and the 15(c) Committee reviewed information provided by BFA regarding scale benefits shared with the iShares funds through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board and the 15(c) Committee received information regarding BlackRock’s historical profitability, including BFA’s and its affiliates’ costs in providing services. The cost information distinguished between fixed and variable costs, and explained how the level of fixed and variable costs, as well as the nature of such costs, may impact the existence or size of scale benefits. The Board noted that the Advisory Contract for the Funds did not provide for any breakpoints in the Funds’ investment advisory fee rates as the assets of the Funds increase. However, the Board noted that should material economies of scale exist in the future, a breakpoint structure for the Funds may be appropriate, and that it would continue to monitor the sharing of economies of scale to determine the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future. Based on this review, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, the Board, recognizing its responsibility to consider this issue at least annually, concluded that the investment advisory fee rates incorporate potential economies of scale and supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates — The Board received and considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end and closed-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, separately managed accounts, and institutional separate accounts (together, the “Other Accounts”), and acknowledged BFA’s assertion that the iShares funds are fundamentally different investment vehicles from the Other Accounts. The Board noted that BFA and its affiliates do not manage Other Accounts with substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Funds. The Board further noted that BFA provided the Board with detailed information regarding how the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) generally differ from the Funds, including in terms of the different, generally more extensive services provided to the Funds, as well as other significant differences in the approach of BFA and its affiliates to the Funds, on one hand, and Other Accounts, on the other. In that regard, the Board considered that the pricing of services to institutional clients is typically based on a number of factors beyond the nature and extent of the specific services to be provided and often depends on the overall relationship between the client and its affiliates and the adviser and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered the relative complexity and inherent risks and challenges of managing and providing other services to the Funds, as publicly traded exchange traded funds, as compared to the Other Accounts that are institutional clients in light of differing regulatory requirements and client-imposed mandates. The Board also considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Funds’ advisory fee structure, and the Fund expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rates under the Advisory Contract for the Funds were generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for the Other Accounts that are institutional clients of BFA (or its affiliates) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates — The Board reviewed the “fallout” benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Funds by BFA, such as payment of revenue to BTC, the Funds’ securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFA’s profitability methodology), and payment of advisory fees and/or administration fees to BFA and BTC (or their affiliates) in connection with any investments by the Funds in other funds for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory
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services and/or administration services. The Board noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Funds. The Board further noted that any portfolio transactions on behalf of the Funds placed through a BFA affiliate or purchased from an underwriting syndicate in which a BFA affiliate participates, are reported to the Board pursuant to Rule 17e-1 or Rule 10f-3, as applicable, under the 1940 Act. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Funds’ shareholders and thus would not alter the Board’s conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
Based on the considerations described above, the Board determined that each Fund’s investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Contract does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining, and concluded that it is in the best interest of each Fund and its shareholders to approve the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
II. iShares iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Trustees”), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Contract between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Contract”) on behalf of the Fund. The Independent Trustees requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Trustees, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Contract. A committee of Independent Trustees (the “15(c) Committee”), with independent counsel, met with management on March 12, 2014, May 6, 2014, and May 12, 2014, to discuss the types of information the Independent Trustees required and the manner in which management would organize and present such information. At a meeting held on May 16, 2014, management presented preliminary information to the Board relating to the continuance of the Advisory Contract, and the Board, including the Independent Trustees, reviewed and discussed such information at length. The Independent Trustees requested from management certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 12-13, 2014, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests. After extensive discussions, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, approved the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA, including the additional information management provided at the request of the Independent Trustees. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Board also noted that the Board and BFA agreed to discuss potential enhancements and adjustments to the 15(c) process for the coming year. The Independent Trustees were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the Advisory Contract for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors, no one of which was controlling, and reached the following conclusions:
Expenses and Performance of the Fund — The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including any advisory fees, waivers/reimbursements, and gross and net total expenses of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other exchange traded funds (including funds sponsored by an “at cost” service provider) and, in the limited instances where no comparable ETFs existed and the comparison group would not otherwise be reasonable in Lipper’s judgment, pure index institutional mutual funds, objectively selected by Lipper as comprising the Fund’s applicable peer group pursuant to Lipper’s proprietary ETF methodology (the “Lipper Group”). The Board noted that, prior to 2014, Lipper had used a different methodology to determine each iShares fund’s Lipper group, which included mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange traded funds, and/or funds with differing investment objective classifications, investment focuses and other characteristics (e.g. actively managed
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funds and funds sponsored by “at cost” service providers), as applicable. The Board further noted that, after consideration by the 15(c) Committee, the Board determined to use instead Lipper’s proprietary ETF methodology to determine the Fund’s Lipper Group. This determination was based on, among other considerations, the increased number and types of ETFs available for comparative purposes than was the case in prior years. The Board was provided with a detailed description of Lipper’s proprietary ETF methodology used by Lipper to determine the applicable Lipper Group and to prepare this information. At the Board’s request, Lipper provided, and the Board considered, information on the impact to the iShares funds’ comparative fee rankings that were attributable to the change from a pure index group methodology to Lipper’s proprietary ETF methodology. The Board further noted that due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Lipper Group, the statistical information provided in Lipper’s report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances.
The Board also noted that the investment advisory fee rate and overall expenses for the Fund were within range of the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses of the funds in its Lipper Group.
Because the Fund has not commenced operations as of December 31, 2013, the Board did not review any performance information for the Fund.
Based on this review, the other factors considered at the meeting, and their general knowledge of ETF pricing, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fee rate and expense level of the Fund supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services to be Provided by BFA — The Board noted that the Fund had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2013, and reviewed the scope of services to be provided by BFA under the Advisory Contract. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFA’s investment philosophy and experience, noting that BFA and its affiliates have committed significant resources over time, including during the past year, to supporting iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board acknowledged that resources to support the iShares funds and their shareholders have been added or enhanced in recent years, including in such areas as investor education, product management, customized portfolio consulting support, capital markets support, and proprietary risk and performance analytics tools. The Board considered representations by BFA, BTC, and BlackRock that the scope and quality of services to be provided to the Fund would be similar to the scope and quality of services provided to other iShares funds. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to other iShares funds. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made appropriate officers available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources that will be available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFA’s investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies provided at the June 12-13, 2014 meeting and throughout the previous year, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance policies and procedures.
Based on review of this information, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided by BFA to the Fund under the Advisory Contract supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
Costs of Services to be Provided to the Fund and Profits to be Realized by BFA and its Affiliates — While the Board reviewed information about the profitability of the iShares complex to BlackRock based on fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under advisory contracts with iShares funds), and all other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from iShares funds’ operations for the last calendar year, the Board did not consider the profitability of the Fund to BFA
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and its affiliates since the Fund had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2013. The Board noted that it expects to receive profitability information from BFA on at least an annual basis following the Fund’s launch and thus be in a position to evaluate whether any new or additional breakpoints or other adjustments in Fund fees would be appropriate.
Economies of Scale — The Board reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale or other efficiencies that may result from increases in the Fund’s assets, noting that the issue of economies of scale with respect to the iShares funds that are in operation was focused on extensively by the 15(c) Committee during its meetings and addressed by management. The Board and the 15(c) Committee reviewed information provided by BFA regarding scale benefits shared with the iShares funds through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board and the 15(c) Committee received information regarding BlackRock’s historical profitability, including BFA’s and its affiliates’ costs in providing services. The cost information distinguished between fixed and variable costs, and explained how the level of fixed and variable costs, as well as the nature of such costs, may impact the existence or size of scale benefits. The Board noted that the Advisory Contract for the Fund did not provide for any breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that should material economies of scale exist in the future, a breakpoint structure for the Fund may be appropriate, and that it would continue to monitor the sharing of economies of scale to determine the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future. Based on this review, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, the Board, recognizing its responsibility to consider this issue at least annually, concluded that the investment advisory fee rate incorporates potential economies of scale and supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates — The Board received and considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end and closed-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, separately managed accounts, and institutional separate accounts (together, the “Other Accounts”), and acknowledged BFA’s assertion that the iShares funds are fundamentally different investment vehicles from the Other Accounts. The Board further noted that BFA provided the Board with detailed information regarding how the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) generally differ from the Fund, including in terms of the different, generally more extensive services to be provided to the Fund, as well as other significant differences in the approach of BFA and its affiliates to the Fund, on one hand, and Other Accounts, on the other. In that regard, the Board considered that the pricing of services to institutional clients is typically based on a number of factors beyond the nature and extent of the specific services to be provided and often depends on the overall relationship between the client and its affiliates and the adviser and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered the relative complexity and inherent risks and challenges of managing and providing other services to the Fund, as a publicly traded exchange traded fund, as compared to the Other Accounts that are institutional clients in light of differing regulatory requirements and client-imposed mandates. The Board also considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund expenses to be borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Contract for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for the Other Accounts that are institutional clients of BFA (or its affiliates) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed. The Board considered the proposed investment advisory fee rate for the Fund in relation to that of certain other iShares funds that invest in municipal bonds but, unlike the fund, do not have a term structure. The Board noted that the Fund’s proposed investment advisory fee rate is higher than that of such other iShares funds, and concluded that the Fund’s higher relative fee rate is appropriate.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates — Except as noted below, the Board did not consider the “fallout” benefits or ancillary revenue to be received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services to be provided to the Fund by BFA, since the Fund has not commenced operations as of December 31, 2013. However, the Board noted that BFA generally does not
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use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board considered the potential payment of advisory fees and/or administration fees to BFA and BTC (or their affiliates) in connection with any investments by the Fund in other funds for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory services and/or administration services. The Board also considered the potential for revenue to BTC, the Fund’s securities lending agent, and its affiliates in the event of any loaning of portfolio securities of the Fund. The Board further noted that any portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund placed through a BFA affiliate or purchased from an underwriting syndicate in which a BFA affiliate participates, will be reported to the Board pursuant to Rule 17e-1 or Rule 10f-3, as applicable, under the 1940 Act. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund’s shareholders and thus would not alter the Board’s conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
Based on the considerations described above, the Board determined that the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Contract does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services to be rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining, and concluded that it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to approve the continuance of the Advisory Contract for the coming year.
III. iShares iBonds Sep 2020 AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF
Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Trustees”), is required to consider and approve the proposed Investment Advisory Contract between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Contract”) on behalf of the Fund. The Independent Trustees requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Trustees, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the proposed Advisory Contract.
At a meeting held on March 18-19, 2014, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, approved the selection of BFA as investment adviser and approved the proposed Advisory Contract for the Fund, based on its review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA. The Board also considered information previously provided by BFA, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”), and BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), as applicable, at prior Board meetings. The Independent Trustees were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process.
In selecting BFA and approving the Advisory Contract for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors, no one of which was controlling, and made the following conclusions:
Expenses of the Fund — The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including any proposed advisory fees, waivers/reimbursements, and gross and net total expenses of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other registered investment companies objectively selected by Lipper as comprising the Fund’s applicable peer group pursuant to Lipper’s proprietary methodology, and any registered funds that would otherwise have been excluded from Lipper’s comparison group because of the size, sponsor, inception date, or other differentiating factors included in Lipper’s proprietary selection methodology, but that were nonetheless included at the request of BFA (the “Lipper Group”). Because there are few, if any, exchange traded funds or index funds that track an index similar to that tracked by the Fund, the Lipper Group included, in part, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, or funds with differing investment objective classifications, investment focuses and other characteristics (e.g., actively managed funds and funds sponsored by an “at cost” service provider), as applicable. In support of its review of the statistical information, the Board was provided with a general description of the methodology used by Lipper to determine the applicable Lipper Group and to prepare this information. The Board also received a detailed explanation from BFA
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regarding its rationale for including funds that had been excluded from Lipper’s consideration due to Lipper’s methodology parameters, as well as information showing the effect of including these additional funds in the analysis. The Board further noted that due to the limitations in identifying comparable funds in the Lipper Group, the statistical information may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund.
The Board also noted that the proposed investment advisory fee rate and overall expenses for the Fund were at the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses of the funds in the Lipper Group.
Based on this review, the other factors considered at the meeting, and their general knowledge of fund pricing, the Board concluded that the proposed investment advisory fees and expense levels of the Fund supported the Board’s approval of the Advisory Contract.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services to be Provided by BFA — The Board reviewed the scope of services to be provided by BFA under the Advisory Contract. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFA’s investment philosophy and experience, noting that BFA and its affiliates have committed significant resources over time, including during the past year, to supporting iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that BFA is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock. The Board acknowledged that additional resources to support iShares funds and their shareholders have been added or enhanced since BlackRock’s acquisition of BFA in December 2009, including in such areas as risk management, investor education, product management, customized portfolio consulting support, and capital markets support. The Board considered representations by BFA, BTC, and BlackRock that the scope and quality of services to be provided to the Fund would be similar to the scope and quality of services provided to other iShares funds. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to other iShares funds. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made appropriate officers available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered BFA’s investment and risk management processes and strategies, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance policies and procedures.
Based on review of this information, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided by BFA to the Fund under the Advisory Contract supported the Board’s approval of the Advisory Contract.
Costs of Services to be Provided to the Fund and Profits to be Realized by BFA and Affiliates — The Board did not consider the profitability of the Fund to BFA based on the fees payable under the Advisory Contract or revenue to be received by BFA or its affiliates in connection with services to be provided to the Fund since the proposed relationship had not yet commenced. The Board noted that it expects to receive profitability information from BFA on at least an annual basis following the Fund’s launch and will thus be in a position to evaluate whether, following the expiration of the Advisory Contract’s initial two-year term, any adjustments in the Fund’s fees would be appropriate.
Economies of Scale — The Board reviewed information regarding economies of scale or other efficiencies that may result from increases in the Fund’s assets. The Board noted that the Advisory Contract for the Fund did not provide for any breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that should material economies of scale exist in the future, a breakpoint structure for the Fund may be appropriate. The Board noted that it would continue to monitor the sharing of economies of scale to determine the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.
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Based on this review, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, the Board, recognizing its responsibility to consider this issue at least annually following an initial two-year period, concluded that the investment advisory fee rate incorporates potential economies of scale and supported the Board’s approval of the Advisory Contract.
Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates — The Board considered certain information received at previous meetings regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end and closed-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds and institutional separate accounts (together, the “Other Accounts”). The Board noted that BFA and its affiliates do not manage Other Accounts that track the same underlying index as the Fund. The Board further noted that BFA previously provided the Board with detailed information regarding how Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) generally differ from the iShares funds, including in terms of the different, generally more extensive, services provided to the iShares funds, as well as other significant differences in the approach of BFA and its affiliates to the iShares funds, on one hand, and Other Accounts, on the other. In that regard, the Board considered that the pricing of services to institutional clients is typically based on a number of factors beyond the nature and extent of the specific services to be provided and often depends on the overall relationship between the client and its affiliates and the adviser and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered the relative complexity and inherent risks of managing and providing other services to the Fund, as a publicly traded exchange traded fund, as compared to Other Accounts that are institutional clients in light of differing regulatory requirements and client-imposed mandates. The Board also considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses to be borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rates under the Advisory Contract for investment companies, including the Fund, were generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for the Other Accounts that are institutional clients of BFA (or its affiliates) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.
Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates — Except as noted below, the Board did not consider ancillary revenue to be received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services to be provided to the Fund by BFA since the proposed relationship had not yet commenced. However, the Board noted that BFA generally would not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board considered the potential payment of advisory fees and/or administration fees to BFA and BTC (or their affiliates) in connection with any investments by the Fund in other funds for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory services and/or administration services. The Board also considered the potential for revenue to BTC, the Fund’s securities lending agent, and its affiliates, in the event of any lending of the Fund’s securities. The Board further noted that any portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund placed through a BFA affiliate or purchased from an underwriting syndicate in which a BFA affiliate participates, will be reported to the Board pursuant to Rule 17e-1 or Rule 10f-3, as applicable, under the 1940 Act. The Board concluded that the existence of any such ancillary benefits would not alter the Board’s conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the Advisory Contract.
Based on the considerations described above, the Board determined that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Contract does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services to be rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining and concluded that it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to approve the Advisory Contract.
130 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Supplemental Information (Unaudited)
iSHARES® TRUST
Section 19(a) Notices
The amounts and sources of distributions reported are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon each Fund’s investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on the tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year-to-Date |
% Breakdown of the Total
Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year-to-Date |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
iShares ETF | Net Investment Income |
Net Realized Capital Gains |
Return of Capital |
Total Per Share |
Net Investment Income |
Net Realized Capital Gains |
Return of Capital |
Total Per Share |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
iBonds Sep 2019 AMT-Free Muni Bond |
$ | 0.128674 | $ | — | $ | 0.001857 | $ | 0.130531 | 99 | % | — | % | 1 | % | 100 | % |
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION |
131 |
Notes:
132 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes:
NOTES |
133 |
Notes:
134 | 2014 iSHARES SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
For more information visit www.iShares.com or call 1-800-474-2737
This report is intended for the Funds’ shareholders. It may not be distributed to prospective investors unless it is preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).
The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.
A description of the policies that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ending June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1-800-474-2737; on the Funds’ website at www.iShares.com; and on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website at www.sec.gov.
The Funds file their complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website or may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Funds also disclose their complete schedules of portfolio holdings on a daily and monthly basis on the Funds’ website.
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iS-SAR-38-0914