Some iShares ETFs Hang In The Balance As BlackRock/Barclays Deal Wraps Up

BlackRock's (NYSE: BLK) massive acquisition of Barclays Global Investors gave the asset manager access to BGI's highly profitable iShares ETF business, but a dozen iShares ETFs are at risk of closing down because certain terms of the deal have yet to be finalized. Existing investment advisory requirements for the iShares ETFs were terminated on December 1 and new agreements have yet to be ratified, and the ETFs now operate under interim agreements. The 12 ETFs at risk are: iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund (NYSE: EWZ) iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund (NYSE: EZU) iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund (NYSE: EWG) iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund (NYSE: EWW) iShares S&P Europe 350 Index Fund (NYSE: IEV) iShares S&P Global 100 Index Fund (NYSE: IOO) iShares S&P Global Consumer Discretionary Sector Index Fund (NYSE: RXI) iShares S&P Global Financials Sector Index Fund (NYSE: IXG) iShares S&P Global Industrial Sector Index Fund (NYSE: EXI) iShares Dow Jones U.S. Medical Devices Index Fund (NYSE: IHI) iShares FTSE China (HK Listed) Index Fund (NYSE: EWH) iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund (NYSE: FXI) Obviously, this list includes some heavily traded offerings with tens of billions in assets and closure of the funds isn't likely. And while it most be noted that just because shareholders haven't approved new agreements for the ETFs, that doesn't mean they oppose iShares proposals. Still, the costs aren't exactly cheap for BlackRock to continue soliciting votes on the agreements. In other words if you are an investor in any of these ETFs, fill out your ballots and send them in ASAP.