In 2009, BlackRock first became the No. 1 asset manager worldwide.[1] In April 2009, BlackRock acquired R3 Capital Management, LLC and took control of the $1.5 billion fund.[23] On 12 June 2009, Barclays sold its Global Investors unit (BGI), which included its exchange traded fund business, iShares, to BlackRock for US$13.5 billion.