As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 6, 2024
File No. 333-280731
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-14
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
| THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | ☒ | |
| Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 | ☒ |
iShares Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
c/o BlackRock Fund Advisors
400 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(Address of Principal Executive Office)(Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (415) 670-2000
The Corporation Trust Company
1209 Orange Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With Copies to:
MARGERY K. NEALE, ESQ. BENJAMIN J. HASKIN, ESQ. ANNE C. CHOE, ESQ. WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP 787 SEVENTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10019-6099 | MARISA ROLLAND, ESQ. BLACKROCK FUND ADVISORS 400 HOWARD STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105 |
This post-effective amendment is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933 and will be effective upon filing.
Title of Securities Being Registered: Shares of Beneficial Interest.
Calculation of Registration Fee under the Securities Act of 1933: No filing fee is required because of reliance on Section 24(f) and Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
This Post-Effective Amendment consists of the following:
| 1. | Facing Sheet. |
| 2. | Explanatory Note. |
| 3. | Part C Information and Exhibits. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the iShares Trust (the “Trust”) Registration Statement on Form N-14 hereby incorporates Part A and Part B from the Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed on September 11, 2024. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 is being filed solely for the purpose of filing the final tax opinion as Exhibit 12 to Part C of the Registration Statement.
iShares Trust
File No. 333-92935
Part C
Other Information
| Item | 15. Indemnification |
The Trust (also referred to in this section as the “Fund”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is operated pursuant to an Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) that permits the Trust to indemnify its trustees and officers under certain circumstances. Such indemnification, however, is subject to the limitations imposed by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
Section 10.2 of the Declaration of Trust:
The Declaration of Trust provides that every person who is, or has been, a trustee or officer of the Trust (a “Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding in which he or she becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of being or having been a trustee or officer and against amounts paid as incurred in the settlement thereof. However, no indemnification shall be provided to a Covered Person:
(i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (a) to be liable to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or (b) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or
(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such trustee or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office: (a) by the court or other body approving the settlement; (b) by at least a majority of those trustees who neither are “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily-available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or (c) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily-available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); provided, however, that any shareholder, by appropriate legal proceedings, may challenge any such determination by the trustees or by independent counsel.
Article IX of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws:
The Amended and Restated By-Laws provides that the Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Covered Person or employee of the Trust, including any Covered Person or employee of the Trust who is or was serving at the request of the Trust as a trustee, officer, or employee of a corporation, partnership, association, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against and incurred by such Covered Person or employee in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the trustees would have the
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power to indemnify him or her against such liability. The Trust may not acquire or obtain a contract for insurance that protects or purports to protect any trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such trustee or officer otherwise would be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
1933 Act:
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Fund pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Fund has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Fund of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Fund in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Fund will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Section 21 of the Master Services Agreement between Registrant and Citibank, N.A.:
The Master Services Agreement provides that, subject to Article 21 and Article 22 of the Master Services Agreement, Citibank, N.A. will indemnify, defend and hold harmless BFA and the Funds and their respective Affiliates, and their Affiliates’ respective officers, directors, employees, agents and permitted successors and assigns from any and all damages, fines, penalties, deficiencies, losses, liabilities (including judgments and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) and expenses (including interest, court costs, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other experts or other reasonable fees and expenses of litigation or other proceedings or of any claim, default or assessment) (“Losses”) arising from or in connection with any third party claim or threatened third party claim to the extent that such Losses are based on or arising out of any of the following: (a) material breach by Citibank, N.A. (in its capacity as Citibank, N.A., Foreign Custody Manager or any other capacity under this Agreement), any Citibank, N.A. Personnel or any Subcontractor of any of its obligations hereunder (including data protection, information security or confidentiality obligations), under any Sub-Custodian Agreement or under the Standard of Care; (b) other than as provided in Section 3.7(b) any action or omission to act by (i) a Sub-Custodian that is an Affiliate of Citibank, N.A. or (ii) a Sub-Custodian that is not an Affiliate of Citibank, N.A. and was selected, retained, monitored or used by Citibank, N.A. with the failure to exercise the required Standard of Care; (c) any third party claim of infringement or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property Rights (including any Independent Work) resulting from or alleged to have occurred because of the use or other exploitation of any deliverables provided by or on behalf of Citibank, N.A. (including by any of its Affiliates or Subcontractors), including any Citibank, N.A. Technology (including any derivatives thereof), Work Product, Independent Work (including any derivatives thereof) or other developments created by any Citibank, N.A. Personnel or based upon the performance of the Services (collectively, the “Citibank, N.A. Infringement Items”), except to the extent that such infringement or misappropriation relates to or results from: (i) changes made by any Fund or by a third party at the direction of a Fund to the Citibank, N.A. Infringement Items; (ii) changes to the Citibank, N.A. Infringement Items recommended by Citibank, N.A. and not made due to a request from any Fund, provided that Citibank, N.A. has notified such Fund that failure to implement such recommendation would result in infringement within a reasonable amount of time for such Fund to so implement following such notification; (iii) any Fund’s combination of the Citibank, N.A. Infringement Items with products or services not provided or approved in writing by Citibank, N.A., except to the extent such combination arises out of any Fund’s use of the Citibank, N.A. Infringement Items in a manner consistent with the applicable business requirements documentation; (iv) designs or specifications that in themselves infringe and that are provided by or at the direction of any Fund (except in the event that Citibank, N.A., at the time of receiving such direction, knows or reasonably should know that an infringement or misappropriation would occur if such designs or specifications are implemented); or (v) use or distribution by a Fund of any of the Citibank, N.A. Infringement Items in a manner that is not consistent with the applicable business requirements documentation or otherwise not permitted under the Master Services Agreement; (d) any employment-related claim or action by, on behalf of, or related to, any prospective, then-current or former Citibank, N.A. Personnel, arising from or in connection herewith, including: (i) any claim arising under occupational health and safety, worker’s compensation or other similar applicable Law; (ii) any claim arising from the interview
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or hiring practices, actions or omissions of employees of Citibank, N.A.; (iii) any claim relating to any violation by Citibank, N.A., its Affiliates, or their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives or agents of any Law or any common law protecting persons or members of protected classes or categories, such laws or regulations prohibiting discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic; and (iv) any claim based on a theory that such Fund is an employer or joint employer of any such prospective, then current or former employee of Citibank, N.A.; (e) the failure by Citibank, N.A. to obtain, maintain, or comply with any governmental approvals as required under this Agreement or Citibank, N.A. Laws; (f) such other failures as otherwise agreed by the Parties from time to time; (g) claims by any Governmental Authority against a Fund or a shareholder for fines, penalties, sanctions, late fees or other remedies to the extent arising from or in connection with Citibank, N.A.’s failure to perform its responsibilities under this Agreement, or claims by third parties arising from such claims by Governmental Authorities (except to the extent a Fund is not permitted as a matter of public policy to have such an indemnity for financial penalties arising from criminal actions); (h) claims by clients of Citibank, N.A. relating to services, products or systems provided by Citibank, N.A. or a Subcontractor to such client(s) in a shared or leveraged environment; (i) any claim relating to the handling and processing of any and all immigration and employment related issues and requirements arising in connection with the Citibank, N.A. Personnel (whether located in the United States or elsewhere); (j) any third party claim based on or arising out of negligence, fraud or willful acts or omissions of or by Citibank, N.A. or Citibank, N.A. Personnel with respect to the performance of the Services; (k) any claim initiated by an Affiliate or potential or actual Subcontractor of Citibank, N.A. asserting rights in connection herewith; or (l) other claims as otherwise agreed by the Parties from time to time.
Each Party will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other Party and its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns from any and all Losses arising from or in connection with any of the following, including Losses arising from or in connection with any third party claim or threatened third party claim: (a) the death or bodily injury of an agent, employee, customer, business invitee or business visitor or other person caused by the tortious or criminal conduct of the other Party; or (b) the damage, loss or destruction of real or tangible personal property caused by the tortious or criminal conduct of the other Party.
Section 21 of the Master Services Agreement between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A:
The Master Services Agreement provides that, subject to Article 21 and Article 22 of the Master Services Agreement, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will indemnify, defend and hold harmless BFA and the Funds and their respective Affiliates, and their Affiliates’ respective officers, directors, employees, agents and permitted successors and assigns from any and all damages, fines, penalties, deficiencies, losses, liabilities (including judgments and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) and expenses (including interest, court costs, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other experts or other reasonable fees and expenses of litigation or other proceedings or of any claim, default or assessment) (“Losses”) arising from or in connection with any third party claim or threatened third party claim to the extent that such Losses are based on or arising out of any of the following: (a) material breach by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (in its capacity as JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Foreign Custody Manager or any other capacity under this Agreement), any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Personnel or any Subcontractor of any of its obligations hereunder (including data protection, information security or confidentiality obligations), under any Sub-Custodian Agreement or under the Standard of Care; (b) other than as provided in Section 3.7(b) any action or omission to act by (i) a Sub-Custodian that is an Affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or (ii) a Sub-Custodian that is not an Affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and was selected, retained, monitored or used by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with the failure to exercise the required Standard of Care; (c) any third party claim of infringement or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property Rights (including any Independent Work) resulting from or alleged to have occurred because of the use or other exploitation of any deliverables provided by or on behalf of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (including by any of its Affiliates or Subcontractors), including any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Technology (including any derivatives thereof), Work Product, Independent Work (including any derivatives thereof) or other developments created by any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Personnel or based upon the performance of the Services (collectively, the “JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Infringement Items”), except to the extent that such infringement or misappropriation relates to or results from: (i) changes made by any Fund or by a third party at the direction of a Fund to the JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Infringement Items; (ii) changes to the JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Infringement Items recommended by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and not made due to a request from any Fund, provided that JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has notified such Fund that failure to implement such recommendation would result in infringement within a reasonable
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amount of time for such Fund to so implement following such notification; (iii) any Fund’s combination of the JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Infringement Items with products or services not provided or approved in writing by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., except to the extent such combination arises out of any Fund’s use of the JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Infringement Items in a manner consistent with the applicable business requirements documentation; (iv) designs or specifications that in themselves infringe and that are provided by or at the direction of any Fund (except in the event that JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., at the time of receiving such direction, knows or reasonably should know that an infringement or misappropriation would occur if such designs or specifications are implemented); or (v) use or distribution by a Fund of any of the JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Infringement Items in a manner that is not consistent with the applicable business requirements documentation or otherwise not permitted under the Master Services Agreement; (d) any employment-related claim or action by, on behalf of, or related to, any prospective, then-current or former JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Personnel, arising from or in connection herewith, including: (i) any claim arising under occupational health and safety, worker’s compensation or other similar applicable Law; (ii) any claim arising from the interview or hiring practices, actions or omissions of employees of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; (iii) any claim relating to any violation by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., its Affiliates, or their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives or agents of any Law or any common law protecting persons or members of protected classes or categories, such laws or regulations prohibiting discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic; and (iv) any claim based on a theory that such Fund is an employer or joint employer of any such prospective, then current or former employee of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; (e) the failure by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. to obtain, maintain, or comply with any governmental approvals as required under this Agreement or JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Laws; (f) such other failures as otherwise agreed by the Parties from time to time; (g) claims by any Governmental Authority against a Fund or a shareholder for fines, penalties, sanctions, late fees or other remedies to the extent arising from or in connection with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.’s failure to perform its responsibilities under this Agreement, or claims by third parties arising from such claims by Governmental Authorities (except to the extent a Fund is not permitted as a matter of public policy to have such an indemnity for financial penalties arising from criminal actions); (h) claims by clients of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. relating to services, products or systems provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or a Subcontractor to such client(s) in a shared or leveraged environment; (i) any claim relating to the handling and processing of any and all immigration and employment related issues and requirements arising in connection with the JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Personnel (whether located in the United States or elsewhere); (j) any third party claim based on or arising out of negligence, fraud or willful acts or omissions of or by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Personnel with respect to the performance of the Services; (k) any claim initiated by an Affiliate or potential or actual Subcontractor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. asserting rights in connection herewith; or (l) other claims as otherwise agreed by the Parties from time to time.
Each Party will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other Party and its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns from any and all Losses arising from or in connection with any of the following, including Losses arising from or in connection with any third party claim or threatened third party claim: (a) the death or bodily injury of an agent, employee, customer, business invitee or business visitor or other person caused by the tortious or criminal conduct of the other Party; or (b) the damage, loss or destruction of real or tangible personal property caused by the tortious or criminal conduct of the other Party.
Section 8.02 of the Distribution Agreement between Registrant and BRIL:
The Distribution Agreement provides that the Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless, BRIL, each of its directors, officers, principals, representatives, employees and each person, if any, who controls BRIL within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “BRIL Indemnified Parties”) on an as-incurred basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities whatsoever (including any investigation, legal or other expenses incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted) (collectively, “Losses”) to which the BRIL Indemnified Parties become subject, arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) any breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made by the Trust in this Agreement; provided, however, that the Trust shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any Loss arises out of or is based upon (A) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
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made in the Prospectus about BRIL in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Trust by BRIL expressly for use therein; (B) BRIL’s own willful misfeasance, willful misconduct or gross negligence or BRIL’s reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement or arising out of the failure of BRIL to deliver a current Prospectus; or (C) BRIL’s material breach of this Agreement.
The Distribution Agreement also provides that BRIL agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, each of its trustees, officers, employees and each person, if any, who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Trust Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all losses to which the Trust Indemnified Parties become subject, arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Trust by BRIL about BRIL expressly for use therein; (ii) any breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made by BRIL in the Distribution Agreement; and (iii) the actions or omissions of any person acting under the supervision of BRIL in providing services under the Distribution Agreement; provided, however, that BRIL shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any loss arises out of or is based upon (A) the Trust’s own willful misfeasance, willful misconduct or gross negligence or the Trust’s reckless disregard of its obligations under the Distribution Agreement or (B) the Trust’s material breach of the Distribution Agreement.
The Authorized Participant Agreement:
The Authorized Participant Agreement provides that the Authorized Participant (the “Participant”) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (each an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any loss, liability, cost and expense (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such Indemnified Party as a result of (i) any breach by the Participant of any provision of the Authorized Participant Agreement that relates to the Participant; (ii) any failure on the part of the Participant to perform any of its obligations set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement; (iii) any failure by the Participant to comply with applicable laws, including rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations; or (iv) actions of such Indemnified Party in reliance upon any instructions issued in accordance with Annex II, III or IV (as each may be amended from time to time) of the Authorized Participant Agreement reasonably believed by the distributor and/or the transfer agent to be genuine and to have been given by the Participant.
Section 5.1 of the Fifth Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agency Agreement:
The Fifth Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agency Agreement provides that the Trust on behalf of each Fund agrees to indemnify BTC and to hold it harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which BTC may sustain or incur or which may be asserted against BTC by reason of or as a result of any action taken or omitted by BTC in connection with or arising out of BTC’s operating under and in compliance with this Agreement, except those costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims arising out of BTC’s negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. Actions taken or omitted in reasonable reliance upon Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, any Certificate, or upon any information, order, indenture, stock certificate, power of attorney, assignment, affidavit or other instrument reasonably believed by BTC to be genuine or bearing the signature of a person or persons reasonably believed by BTC to be genuine or bearing the signature of a person or persons reasonably believed to be authorized to sign, countersign or execute the same, shall be presumed to have been taken or omitted in good faith.
The Fifth Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agency Agreement also provides that BTC shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and each Fund, its Board of Trustees and its agents and BFA and any investment adviser for the Funds from any and all loss, liability, costs, damages, actions, and claims (“Loss”) to the extent that any such Loss arises out of the material breach of this Agreement by or negligent acts or omissions or willful misconduct of BTC, its officers, directors or employees or any of its agents or subcustodians in connection with the securities lending activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that BTC’s indemnification obligation with respect to the acts or omissions of its subcustodians shall not exceed the indemnification provided by the applicable subcustodian to BTC.
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The Participation Agreement:
The Form of Participation Agreement generally provides that each Investing Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the iShares Funds, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the iShares Funds, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from (i) a violation or alleged violation by such Investing Fund of any provision of this Agreement or (ii) a violation or alleged violation by such Investing Fund of the terms and conditions of the iShares Order, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims.
The iShares Funds agree to hold harmless and indemnify an Investing Fund, including any of its directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any Claims asserted against the Investing Fund, including any of its directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from (i) a violation or alleged violation by the iShares Fund of any provision of this Agreement or (ii) a violation or alleged violation by the iShares Fund of the terms and conditions of the iShares Order, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no iShares Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Investing Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Investing Fund to such iShares Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of the iShares Order or this Agreement.
Sublicense Agreements between the Registrant and BFA:
The Sublicense Agreements generally provide that the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless BFA, its officers, employees, agents, successors, and assigns against all judgments, damages, costs or losses of any kind (including reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees) resulting from any claim, action or proceeding (collectively “claims”) that arises out of or relates to (a) the creation, marketing, advertising, selling, and operation of the Trust or interests therein, (b) any breach by BFA of its covenants, representations, and warranties under the “License Agreement” caused by the actions or inactions of the Trust, or (c) any violation of applicable laws (including, but not limited to, banking, commodities, and securities laws) arising out of the offer, sale, operation, or trading of the Trust or interests therein, except to the extent such claims result from the negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of BFA or an affiliate of BFA. The provisions of this section shall survive termination of this Sublicense Agreement.
| Item | 16. Exhibits |
PEA # 2
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AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc.
AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
AB Multi-Manager Alternative Fund
AB Bond Fund, Inc.
AB Cap Fund, Inc.
AB Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.
AB Corporate Shares
AB Discovery Growth Fund, Inc.
AB Equity Income Fund, Inc.
AB Fixed-Income Shares, Inc.
AB Global Bond Fund, Inc.
AB Global Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc.
AB Global Risk Allocation Fund, Inc.
AB High Income Fund, Inc.
AB Institutional Funds, Inc.
AB Large Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
AB Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
AB Municipal Income Fund II
AB Relative Value Fund, Inc.
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund, Inc.
AB Sustainable International Thematic Fund, Inc.
AB Trust
AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
Sanford C. Bernstein Fund, Inc.
Sanford C. Bernstein Fund II, Inc.
Bernstein Fund, Inc.
The AB Portfolios
Allspring Funds Trust
Alpha Architect ETF Trust
American Century Strategic Asset Allocations, Inc.
AMG Funds
Franklin Fund Allocator Series
Franklin Templeton ETF Trust
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust
Legg Mason Partners Variable Equity Trust
FundX Investment Trust
The Glenmede Fund, Inc.
GMO Trust
GMO Benchmark-Free Fund
GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Fund
GMO Climate Change Fund
GMO Tax-Managed International Equities Fund
GMO Strategic Opportunities Allocation Fund
GPS Funds I
GPS Funds II
Savos Investments Trust
Goldman Sachs Trust
Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
Goldman Sachs Trust II
Goldman Sachs ETF Trust
Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II
Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund
Rydex Dynamic Funds
Rydex Series Funds
Rydex Variable Trust
Guggenheim Funds Trust
Guggenheim Variable Funds Trust
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AMG Funds I
AMG Funds II
AMG Funds III
AMG Funds IV Series
ETF Series Solutions
Aspiriant Trust
Old Westbury Funds, Inc.
BlackRock Allocation Target Shares
BlackRock Balanced Capital Fund, Inc.
BlackRock Funds II
BlackRock Funds III
BlackRock Variable Series Funds, Inc.
BNY Mellon Absolute Insight Funds, Inc.
Brighthouse Funds Trust I
Calamos Investment Trust
Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust
Calvert Variable Products, Inc.
Calvert Social Investment Fund
Cambria ETF Trust
AdvisorOne Funds
Columbia Funds Series Trust
Columbia Funds Series Trust I
Columbia Funds Series Trust II
Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II
Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust
Direxion Shares ETF Trus
Direxion Funds
Eaton Vance Growth Trust
Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust
EQ ADVISORS TRUST
1290 FUNDS
Exchange Listed Funds Trust
ETF Series Solutions
E-Valuator Funds Trust
Fidelity Advisor Series
Fidelity Advisor Series VI
Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust
Transparent Value Trust
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund
Guggenheim Energy & Income Fund
Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund
Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust
Guggenheim Unit Investment Trusts (Guggenheim Defined Portfolios)
Horizon Funds
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST
Innealta Capital, LLC on behalf of Northern Lights Fund Trust II
Invesco Growth Series
Invesco Investment Funds
Invesco Unit Trusts
JNL Series Trust
James Advantage Funds
Janus Henderson Clayton Street Trust
Janus Investment Fund
John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust
John Hancock Funds II
JPMorgan Trust I
JPMorgan Trust II
J.P. Morgan Fleming Mutual Fund Group, Inc.
JPMorgan Institutional Trust
JPMorgan Insurance Trust
J.P. Morgan Mutual Fund Investment Trust
Undiscovered Managers Funds
J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
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Fidelity Advisor Series VII
Fidelity Beacon Street Trust
Fidelity Capital Trust
Fidelity Central Investment Portfolios LLC
Fidelity Concord Street Trust
Fidelity Congress Street Fund
Fidelity Contrafund
Fidelity Commonwealth Trust
Fidelity Commonwealth Trust I
Fidelity Covington Trust
Fidelity Destiny Portfolios
Fidelity Devonshire Trust
Fidelity Exchange Fund
Fidelity Financial Trust
Fidelity Hanover Street Trust
Fidelity Hastings Street Trust
Fidelity Investment Trust
Fidelity Magellan Fund
Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust
Fidelity Puritan Trust
Fidelity Securities Fund
Fidelity Select Portfolios
Fidelity Summer Street Trust
Fidelity Trend Fund
Variable Insurance Products Fund
Variable Insurance Products Fund II
Variable Insurance Products Fund III
Variable Insurance Products Fund IV
Fidelity Aberdeen Street Trust
Fidelity Advisor Series II
Fidelity Advisor Series IV
Fidelity Boylston Street Trust
Fidelity California Municipal Trust
Fidelity California Municipal Trust II
Fidelity Central Investment Portfolios II LLC
Fidelity Charles Street Trust
JPMorgan Trust IV
The Lazard Funds, Inc.
Lincoln Variable Insurance Products Trust
Litman Gregory Funds Trust
Delaware Group Equity Funds IV
Delaware Group Equity Funds V
Delaware Group Foundation Funds
Delaware Pooled Trust
Delaware VIP Trust
Ivy Variable Insurance Portfolio
InvestEd Portfolios
Ivy Funds
Madison Funds
Ultra Series Fund
Northern Lights Fund Trust II
MML Series Investment Fund II
Morningstar Funds Trust
Milliman Variable Insurance Trust
Nationwide Mutual Funds
Nationwide Variable Insurance Trust
Natixis Funds Trust IV
Natixis Funds Trust II
Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds
Neuberger Berman Equity Funds
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust
Neuberger Berman ETF Trust
North Square Funds
Northern Lights Fund Trust III
Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc.
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Fidelity Colchester Street Trust
Fidelity Court Street Trust
Fidelity Court Street Trust II
Fidelity Garrison Street Trust
Fidelity Hereford Street Trust
Fidelity Income Fund
Fidelity Massachusetts Municipal Trust
Fidelity Merrimack Street Trust
Fidelity Money Market Trust
Fidelity Municipal Trust
Fidelity Municipal Trust II
Fidelity Newbury Street Trust
Fidelity New York Municipal Trust
Fidelity New York Municipal Trust II
Fidelity Oxford Street Trust
Fidelity Oxford Street Trust II
Fidelity Phillips Street Trust
Fidelity Revere Street Trust
Fidelity Salem Street Trust
Fidelity School Street Trust
Fidelity Union Street Trust
Fidelity Union Street Trust II
Variable Insurance Products Fund V
Federated Hermes Fixed Income Securities, Inc.
Federated Hermes MDT Series
Federated Hermes Global Allocation Fund
Federated Hermes Insurance Series
Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II
FT Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII
FlexShares Trust
Northern Funds
MainStay Funds Trust
MainStay VP Funds Trust
Ohio National Fund, Inc.
Pax World Funds Series Trust I and Pax World Funds Series Trust III
PFM Multi-Manager Series Trust
PIMCO Equity Series
PIMCO Funds
PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust
Principal Variable Contracts Funds, Inc.
Principal Funds, Inc.
ProFunds
ProShares Trust
Prudential Investment Portfolios 3
Prudential Investment Portfolios 16
Advanced Series Trust
Salient MF Trust
Forward Funds
Salient Midstream & MLP Fund
Schwab Capital Trust
Schwab Annuity Portfolios
Securian Funds Trust
SEI Institutional Managed Trust
SEI Institutional Investments Trust
SEI Institutional International Trust
Adviser Managed Trust
SSGA Active Trust
Sterling Capital Funds
SunAmerica Series Trust
Symmetry Panoramic Trust
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII
First Trust Series Fund
First Trust Variable Insurance Trust
Thrivent Mutual Funds
Thrivent Series Fund, Inc.
Thrivent Core Funds
Transamerica Funds
Transamerica Series Trust
Transamerica ETF Trust
Northern Lights Fund Trust
Northern Lights Variable Trust
VanEck ETF Trust
Victory Portfolios
Victory Portfolios II
Victory Variable Insurance Funds
USAA Mutual Funds Trust
Virtus Strategy Trust
Voya Balanced Portfolio, Inc.
Voya Equity Trust
Voya Investors Trust
Voya Mutual Funds
Voya Partners, Inc.
Voya Separate Portfolios Trust
Voya Strategic Allocation Portfolios, Inc.
The Arbitrage Funds
AltShares Trust
Absolute Shares Trust
WesMark Funds
William Blair Funds
Wilmington Funds
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- 17 -
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Item 17. Undertakings:
| 1. | The undersigned registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is a part of the registration statement by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act, the reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form for reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form. |
| 2. | The undersigned registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering of them. |
| 3. | The undersigned registrant undertakes to file an opinion of counsel supporting the tax consequences to shareholders discussed in the combined proxy statement and prospectus in a post-effective amendment to this registration statement. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of the Registrant, in the City of San Francisco and the State of California, on the 6th day of December, 2024.
iSHARES TRUST
| By: |
| |
| Jessica Tan* | ||
| President | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| ||
| Stephen Cohen* | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| John E. Martinez* | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| Cecilia H. Herbert* | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| John E. Kerrigan* | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| Robert S. Kapito* | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| Madhav V. Rajan* | ||
| Trustee | ||
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| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| Jane D. Carlin* | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| Drew E. Lawton* | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| Richard L. Fagnani* | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| James Lam** | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| ||
| Laura F. Fergerson** | ||
| Trustee | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
/s/ Trent W. Walker | ||
| Trent W. Walker* | ||
| Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
/s/ Trent W. Walker | ||
| * | By: Trent W. Walker | |
| Attorney-in-fact | ||
| Date: | December 6, 2024 | |
| * |
| ** |
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Exhibit Index
| (12) | Tax Opinion and Consent of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, tax counsel for the Registrant. |
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