Multi Asset

MACV

BlackRock ESG Multi-Asset Conservative Portfolio UCITS ETF ACTIVE

Overview

Important Information: Capital at Risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.



All currency hedged share classes of this fund use derivatives to hedge currency risk. The use of derivatives for a share class could pose a potential risk of contagion (also known as spill-over) to other share classes in the fund. The fund’s management company will ensure appropriate procedures are in place to minimise contagion risk to other share class. Using the drop down box directly below the name of the fund, you can view a list of all share classes in the fund – currency hedged share classes are indicated by the word “Hedged” in the name of the share class. In addition, a full list of all currency hedged share classes is available on request from the fund’s management company
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Performance

Performance

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This chart shows the fund's performance as the percentage loss or gain per year over the last 3 years.

  2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total Return (%) 3.4 -13.7 5.1
  1y 3y 5y 10y Incept.
4.40 -1.86 - - -1.20
  YTD 1m 3m 6m 1y 3y 5y 10y Incept.
-0.19 -0.25 2.51 3.00 4.40 -5.48 - - -4.12
  From
31-Dec-2018
To
31-Dec-2019
From
31-Dec-2019
To
31-Dec-2020
From
31-Dec-2020
To
31-Dec-2021
From
31-Dec-2021
To
31-Dec-2022
From
31-Dec-2022
To
31-Dec-2023
Total Return (%)

as of 31/Dec/2023

- - 3.37 -13.74 5.10

The figures shown relate to past performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Markets could develop very differently in the future. It can help you to assess how the fund has been managed in the past

Share Class and Benchmark performance displayed in EUR, hedged share class benchmark performance is displayed in EUR.

Performance is shown on a Net Asset Value (NAV) basis, with gross income reinvested where applicable. Performance data is based on the net asset value (NAV) of the ETF which may not be the same as the market price of the ETF. Individual shareholders may realize returns that are different to the NAV performance.

The return of your investment may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations if your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation. Source: Blackrock

Key Facts

Key Facts

Net Assets as of 18/Mar/2024 EUR 13,602,925
Net Assets of Fund as of 18/Mar/2024 EUR 15,799,327
Inception Date 08/Sept/2020
Fund Launch Date 08/Sept/2020
Share Class Currency EUR
Base Currency EUR
Asset Class Multi Asset
SFDR Classification Article 8
Shares Outstanding as of 18/Mar/2024 2,832,895
Total Expense Ratio 0.25%
ISIN IE00BLP53M98
Use of Income Accumulating
Securities Lending Return as of 31/Dec/2023 0.01%
Domicile Ireland
UCITS Yes
Issuing Company iShares III plc
Fund Manager BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited
Administrator State Street Fund Services (Ireland) Limited
Custodian State Street Custodial Services (Ireland) Limited
Fiscal Year End 30 June
Bloomberg Ticker MACV GY
SIPP Available Yes
ISA Eligibility Yes
UK Reporting Status Yes

Portfolio Characteristics

Portfolio Characteristics

Number of Holdings as of 15/Mar/2024 17
Standard Deviation (3y) as of 29/Feb/2024 6.41%
P/E Ratio as of 15/Mar/2024 12.35
P/B Ratio as of 15/Mar/2024 0.77

Sustainability Characteristics

Sustainability Characteristics

Sustainability Characteristics provide investors with specific non-traditional metrics. Alongside other metrics and information, these enable investors to evaluate funds on certain environmental, social and governance characteristics. Sustainability Characteristics do not provide an indication of current or future performance nor do they represent the potential risk and reward profile of a fund. They are provided for transparency and for information purposes only. Sustainability Characteristics should not be considered solely or in isolation, but instead are one type of information that investors may wish to consider when assessing a fund.


The metrics are not indicative of how or whether ESG factors will be integrated into a fund. Unless otherwise stated in fund documentation and included within a fund’s investment objective, the metrics do not change a fund’s investment objective or constrain the fund’s investable universe, and there is no indication that an ESG or Impact focused investment strategy or exclusionary screens will be adopted by a fund. For more information regarding a fund's investment strategy, please see the fund's prospectus.


Review the MSCI methodologies behind Sustainability Characteristics using the links below.

MSCI ESG Fund Rating (AAA-CCC) as of 21/Feb/2024 A
MSCI ESG % Coverage as of 21/Feb/2024 99.82
MSCI ESG Quality Score (0-10) as of 21/Feb/2024 6.25
MSCI ESG Quality Score - Peer Percentile as of 21/Feb/2024 7.21
Fund Lipper Global Classification as of 21/Feb/2024 Mixed Asset EUR Cons - Global
Funds in Peer Group as of 21/Feb/2024 596
MSCI Weighted Average Carbon Intensity (Tons CO2E/$M SALES) as of 21/Feb/2024 73.83
MSCI Weighted Average Carbon Intensity % Coverage as of 21/Feb/2024 32.17
All data is from MSCI ESG Fund Ratings as of 21/Feb/2024, based on holdings as of 31/Jan/2024. As such, the fund’s sustainable characteristics may differ from MSCI ESG Fund Ratings from time to time.

To be included in MSCI ESG Fund Ratings, 65% (or 50% for bond funds and money market funds) of the fund’s gross weight must come from securities with ESG coverage by MSCI ESG Research (certain cash positions and other asset types deemed not relevant for ESG analysis by MSCI are removed prior to calculating a fund’s gross weight; the absolute values of short positions are included but treated as uncovered), the fund’s holdings date must be less than one year old, and the fund must have at least ten securities.

Business Involvement

Business Involvement

Business Involvement metrics can help investors gain a more comprehensive view of specific activities in which a fund may be exposed through its investments.


Business Involvement metrics are not indicative of a fund’s investment objective, and, unless otherwise stated in fund documentation and included within a fund’s investment objective, do not change a fund’s investment objective or constrain the fund’s investable universe, and there is no indication that an ESG or Impact focused investment strategy or exclusionary screens will be adopted by a fund. For more information regarding a fund's investment strategy, please see the fund's prospectus.


Review the MSCI methodology behind the Business Involvement metrics, using links below.

MSCI - Controversial Weapons as of 15/Mar/2024 0.00%
MSCI - UN Global Compact Violators as of 15/Mar/2024 0.00%
MSCI - Nuclear Weapons as of 15/Mar/2024 0.00%
MSCI - Thermal Coal as of 15/Mar/2024 0.00%
MSCI - Civilian Firearms as of 15/Mar/2024 0.00%
MSCI - Oil Sands as of 15/Mar/2024 0.00%
MSCI - Tobacco as of 15/Mar/2024 0.00%

Business Involvement Coverage as of 15/Mar/2024 30.63%
Percentage of Fund not covered as of 15/Mar/2024 69.37%
BlackRock business involvement exposures as shown above for Thermal Coal and Oil Sands are calculated and reported for companies that generate more than 5% of revenue from thermal coal or oil sands as defined by MSCI ESG Research. For the exposure to companies that generate any revenue from thermal coal or oil sands (at a 0% revenue threshold), as defined by MSCI ESG Research, it is as follows: Thermal Coal 0.06% and for Oil Sands 0.04%.

Business Involvement metrics are calculated by BlackRock using data from MSCI ESG Research which provides a profile of each company’s specific business involvement. BlackRock leverages this data to provide a summed up view across holdings and translates it to a fund's market value exposure to the listed Business Involvement areas above.


Business Involvement metrics are designed only to identify companies where MSCI has conducted research and identified as having involvement in the covered activity. As a result, it is possible there is additional involvement in these covered activities where MSCI does not have coverage. This information should not be used to produce comprehensive lists of companies without involvement. Business Involvement metrics are only displayed if at least 1% of the fund’s gross weight includes securities covered by MSCI ESG Research.

ESG Integration

ESG Integration

ESG integration is the practice of incorporating financially material environmental, social and governance (ESG) data or information into the investment decision process with the objective of enhancing risk-adjusted returns of our clients’ portfolios. Unless otherwise stated in Fund documentation or included within the Fund's investment objective, inclusion of this statement does not imply that the Fund has an ESG-aligned investment objective or strategy, but rather describes how ESG data or information is considered as part of the overall investment process.

The Fund manager includes ESG considerations in the research, monitoring and reporting phases of the investment process. This may include both BlackRock and third-party research and feeds into the initial investment decision. When making buy, hold and sell decisions, the team may take into consideration potential competitive advantages of allocating to vehicles that provide access to companies with stronger ESG characteristics, within a given industry. The Fund manager conducts regular portfolio risk reviews between the investment team and BlackRock's Risk and Quantitative Analysis group as well as portfolio reviews with Chief Investment Officers. These reviews include discussion, where appropriate, of the portfolio's exposure to material ESG risks, as well as exposure to sustainability-related business involvements, climate-related metrics, and other factors.

Sustainability-related Disclosure

Sustainability-related Disclosure

This section provides sustainability-related information about the Fund, pursuant to Article 10 SFDR.

A. Summary

This Fund promotes environmental or social characteristics, but does not have as its objective sustainable investment. The Fund does not commit to holding Sustainable Investments. The Fund seeks to promote environmental and social characteristics by investing at least 80% of its assets in UCITS exchange traded funds tracking indices incorporating ESG screens, or, in the case of government bond exposures, indices incorporating ESG requirements or comprised of bonds issued by governments that have an ESG sovereign rating of at least BB (as defined by third party data vendors such as MSCI) (together the “ESG Criteria”).

The Fund is actively managed and the Investment Manager has the discretion to select the Fund’s Investments. In order to achieve its investment objective, the investment policy of this Fund is to invest its assets predominantly in other EEA domiciled UCITS collective investment schemes including UCITS exchange traded funds which may be managed by the Investment Manager or an Affiliate. The underlying asset class exposure of UCITS exchange traded funds invested in by the Fund will comprise equities and fixed income.The Fund will seek to invest at least 80% of its assets in UCITS exchange traded funds tracking indices incorporating ESG screens, or, in the case of government bond exposures, indices incorporating ESG requirements or comprising bonds issued by governments that have an ESG sovereign rating of at least BB (as defined by third party data vendors such as MSCI).The Fund takes into consideration principal adverse impacts (PAIs) on sustainability factors by investing in UCITS exchange traded funds which track indices incorporating certain ESG criteria in the selection of index constituents and which in turn take into consideration such PAIs.

The Fund will seek to invest at least 80% of its assets in UCITS exchange traded funds tracking indices incorporating ESG screens, or, in the case of government bond exposures, indices incorporating ESG requirements or comprising bonds issued by governments that have an ESG sovereign rating of at least BB (as defined by third party data vendors) and which are therefore aligned with the environmental and/or social characteristics.This Fund does not currently commit to investing more than 0% of its assets in investments in environmentally sustainable economic activities within the meaning of the Taxonomy Regulation. The Fund does not currently commit to invest in fossil gas and/or nuclear energy related activities that comply with the EU Taxonomy.

BlackRock has developed a highly automated compliance process to help ensure that the Fund is managed in accordance with its stated investment guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements. This includes monitoring of the environmental or social characteristics of the Fund in accordance with the relevant methodology. BlackRock uses a number of methodologies to measure how the social or environmental characteristics promoted by the Fund are met.

BlackRock Portfolio Managers have access to research, data, tools, and analytics to integrate ESG insights into their investment process. ESG datasets are sourced from external third-party data providers, including but not limited to MSCI, Sustainalytics, Refinitiv, S&P and Clarity AI. BlackRock applies a comprehensive due diligence process to evaluate provider offerings with highly targeted methodology reviews and coverage assessments based on the sustainable investment strategy of the product. Data, including ESG data, received through our existing interfaces, and then processed through a series of quality control and completeness checks which seeks to ensure that data is high-quality data before being made available for use downstream within BlackRock systems and applications, such as Aladdin. BlackRock strives to capture as much reported data from companies via 3rd party data providers as practicable, however, industry standards around disclosure frameworks are still evolving, particularly with respect to forward looking indicators. As a result, in certain cases we rely on estimated or proxy measures from data providers to cover our broad investible universe of issuers.

BlackRock continues to monitor developments in the EU's ongoing implementation of its framework for sustainable investing and its investment methodologies seeking to ensure alignment as the regulatory environment changes. ESG data sets are constantly changing and improving as disclosure standards, regulatory frameworks and industry practice evolve. BlackRock continues to work with a broad range of market participants to improve data quality. Sustainable investing and understanding of sustainability is also evolving along with the data environment. Industry participants face challenges in identifying a single metric or set of standardized metrics to provide a complete view on a company or an investment. BlackRock has therefore established a framework to identify sustainable investments.

BlackRock applies a high standard of due diligence in the selection and ongoing monitoring of investments made by the Fund for the purpose of compliance with the investment, liquidity and risk guidelines of the Fund, as well as the sustainability risk and ESG criteria and general performance.

Engagement with companies in which we invest our clients’ assets occurs at multiple levels within BlackRock. Where investment teams chooses to leverage engagement, this can take a variety of forms but, in essence, the portfolio management team would seek to have regular and continuing dialogue with executives or board directors of engaged investee companies to advance sound governance and sustainable business practices targeted at the identified ESG characteristics and principal adverse indicators, as well as to understand the effectiveness of the company’s management and oversight of activities designed to address the identified ESG issues. Engagement also allows the portfolio management team to provide feedback on company practices and disclosures.

There is no specific index designated as a reference benchmark to determine whether this Fund is aligned with the environmental and/or social characteristics that it promotes.

B. No sustainable investment objective

This Fund promotes environmental or social characteristics, but does not have as its objective sustainable investment.

This Fund does not invest in Sustainable Investments. Please refer to the ‘Section D – Investment Strategy’ below, which describes how the Fund considers PAI on the sustainability factor.

C. Environmental or social characteristics of the financial product

The Fund is actively managed. The Fund seeks to promote environmental and social characteristics by investing at least 80% of its assets in UCITS exchange traded funds tracking indices incorporating ESG screens, or, in the case of government bond exposures, indices incorporating ESG requirements or comprised of bonds issued by governments that have an ESG sovereign rating of at least BB (as defined by third party data vendors such as MSCI) (together the “ESG Criteria”).

In relation to underlying UCITS exchange traded funds incorporating ESG screens, such ESG screens exclude issuers that are involved in business lines / activities (or related activities) that are contrary to ESG criteria. Examples of such business lines / activities include: controversial weapons (including landmines, cluster munitions, biological and chemical weapons, depleted uranium weapons, blinding lasers, incendiary weapons and non-detectable fragments), nuclear weapons, conventional weapons, civilian firearms, tobacco, adult entertainment, alcohol, gambling, nuclear power, genetically modified organisms, oil sands and thermal coal. The definition of “involvement” in each business line / activity may be based on percentage of revenue, a defined total revenue threshold, or any connection to a business line / activity regardless of the amount of revenue received.

The Fund does not use a reference benchmark for the purposes of attaining the ESG characteristics that it promotes.

D. Investment strategy

The Fund is actively managed and the Investment Manager has the discretion to select the Fund’s Investments. In order to achieve its investment objective, the investment policy of this Fund is to invest its assets predominantly in other EEA domiciled UCITS collective investment schemes including UCITS exchange traded funds which may be managed by the Investment Manager or an Affiliate. The underlying asset class exposure of UCITS exchange traded funds invested in by the Fund will comprise equities and fixed income.

The Fund may also invest in UCITS eligible exchange traded commodities. The issue of the exchange traded commodities invested in by the Fund may be arranged and advised by the Investment Manager or an Affiliate. The underlying asset class exposure of the exchange traded commodities invested in by the Fund will comprise precious metals.

The Fund’s investments will, at the time of purchase, comply with the Fund’s ESG criteria as outlined above. If any of the Fund’s investments cease to comply with the Fund’s ESG criteria, the Fund may continue to hold the investment until such time it is possible and practicable (in the Investment Manager’s view) to liquidate the position.

The Fund will seek to invest at least 80% of its assets in UCITS exchange traded funds tracking indices incorporating ESG screens, or, in the case of government bond exposures, indices incorporating ESG requirements or comprising bonds issued by governments that have an ESG sovereign rating of at least BB (as defined by third party data vendors such as MSCI).

Consideration of principal adverse impacts (PAIs) on sustainability factors

The Fund takes into consideration principal adverse impacts (PAIs) on sustainability factors by investing in UCITS exchange traded funds which track indices incorporating certain ESG criteria in the selection of index constituents and which in turn take into consideration such PAIs.

The Investment Manager has determined that the following principal adverse impacts (PAIs) are considered by the Fund:
1. Exposure to companies active in the fossil fuel sector.
2. Violations of UN Global Compact principles and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
3. Exposure to controversial weapons (anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions, chemical weapons and biological weapons).

The Fund's annual report will include information on the principal adverse impacts on sustainability factors set out above.

Good governance policy

BlackRock evaluates underlying investments in companies according to the good governance criteria outlined in SFDR where relevant data is available and as appropriate given the underlying investment type. These criteria relate to sound management structures, employee relations, remuneration of staff and tax compliance. BlackRock may consider additional factors relating to good governance in its assessment of the sustainability related characteristics of underlying issuers where appropriate.

In relation to those underlying index funds in which the Fund may invest which are BlackRock-managed and which are themselves SFDR Article 8 or Article 9 Funds, BlackRock carries out due diligence on index providers and engages with them on an ongoing basis with regard to the index methodologies of the benchmark indexes used by such underlying funds, including their assessment of good governance criteria set out by SFDR. This may include where the index providers of the benchmark indices of such underlying funds exclude issuers (1) based on an assessment of an issuer’s involvement in ESG related controversies, and/or (2) that are classified as violating United Nations Global Compact principles (which are widely accepted corporate sustainability principles that meet fundamental responsibilities in areas such as anti-corruption, human rights, labour and environmental).

E. Proportion of Investments

The Fund will seek to invest at least 80% of its assets in UCITS exchange traded funds tracking indices incorporating ESG screens, or, in the case of government bond exposures, indices incorporating ESG requirements or comprising bonds issued by governments that have an ESG sovereign rating of at least BB (as defined by third party data vendors) and which are therefore aligned with the environmental and/or social characteristics.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in other investments.

The Fund may use derivatives for investment purposes and for the purposes of efficient portfolio management in connection with the environmental or social characteristics promoted by the Fund. Where the Fund uses derivatives for promoting environmental or social characteristics, any ESG rating or analyses referenced above will apply to the underlying investment.

This Fund does not currently commit to investing more than 0% of its assets in investments in environmentally sustainable economic activities within the meaning of the Taxonomy Regulation. The Fund does not currently commit to invest in fossil gas and/or nuclear energy related activities that comply with the EU Taxonomy.

This Fund does not currently commit to investing more than 0% of its assets in investments in transitional and enabling activities within the meaning of the Taxonomy Regulation.

The Fund does not commit to investing in sustainable investments with an environmental objective.

This Fund does not currently commit to investing more than 0% of its assets in investments in socially sustainable investments.

Other holdings are limited to 20% and may include cash, money market funds, shares or units of collective investments schemes, UCITS-eligible exchange traded commodities and derivatives.

These investments may be used for investment purposes in pursuit of the Fund’s (non-ESG) investment objective, for the purposes of liquidity management and/or for hedging.

F. Monitoring of environmental or social characteristics

Ongoing product integrity monitoring

BlackRock has developed a highly automated compliance process to help ensure that the Fund is managed in accordance with its stated investment guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements. This includes monitoring of the environmental or social characteristics of the Fund in accordance with the relevant methodology as described in the “Methodologies for environmental or social characteristics” section.

Portfolio Managers have the primary responsibility for complying with the contractual terms of the prospectus and other governing documents for the Fund and are supported by Aladdin, BlackRock’s portfolio and risk management software.

The Portfolio Compliance Group (“PCG”), a group within BlackRock’s Business Operations, is responsible for the coding of the Fund’s investment restrictions, that are capable of being coded, within BlackRock’s pre and post trade compliance monitoring system in Aladdin. Where an investment restriction cannot be coded, a manual process is established for guidelines testing.

Pre-Trade & Post Trade Monitoring

When a trade or order is created, the transaction is reviewed against the Fund’s investment guidelines by the front-end compliance system on a real time basis prior to execution. If a non-compliant condition is detected, the trade or order will be unable to progress further.

Compliance tests are also run on a post trade basis overnight based on the end-of-day positions and reported on a T+1 basis. Compliance exceptions and warnings are identified and escalated for investigation to relevant investment professionals, who will engage with relevant subject matter experts as appropriate to resolve. Identification and investigation of potential items is recorded on an electronic system that contains a comprehensive workflow which provides an audit trail. Appropriate corrective action will be taken as needed to resolve exceptions.

The monitoring of certain ESG characteristics may not be able to be automated due to system functionality or data limitations. Such ESG characteristics are subject to periodic review and monitoring, to ensure that the product adheres to the related commitments.

Where BlackRock delegates part of the management of a Fund to a third-party manager, the third-party manager is responsible for ensuring compliance with the investment guidelines and investment restrictions as per the agreed Investment Manage Agreement in place, including those pertaining to the environmental or social characteristics for the Fund. The investment restrictions pertaining to the environmental or social characteristics are generally communicated to the third-party manager which may updated by BlackRock from time to time in line with the environmental and social characteristics of the Fund. When the third-party manager runs a passive strategy, the third-party manager may also monitor whether the environmental or social characteristics are met by tracking a benchmark index embedding these characteristics in its methodology. BlackRock receives a daily feed of the positions held by the third-party manager and runs post-trade compliance checks in accordance with the back-end compliance process previously described. BlackRock also undertakes periodic due diligence on third party manager to ensure the monitoring frameworks in place remain appropriate.

G. Methodologies

BlackRock has adopted the following methodologies in respect of this Fund:

The Fund seeks to promote environmental and social characteristics by investing at least 80% of its assets in UCITS exchange traded funds tracking indices incorporating ESG Screens, or, in the case of government bond exposures, indices incorporating ESG requirements or comprised of bonds issued by governments that have an ESG sovereign rating of at least BB (as defined by third party data vendors such as MSCI).

H. Data sources and processing

Data Sources

BlackRock Portfolio Managers have access to research, data, tools, and analytics to integrate ESG insights into their investment process. Aladdin is the operating system that connects the data, people, and technology necessary to manage portfolios in real time, as well as the engine behind BlackRock’s ESG analytics and reporting capabilities. BlackRock’s Portfolio Managers use Aladdin to make investment decisions, monitor portfolios and to access material ESG insights that can inform the investment process to attain ESG characteristics of the Fund.

ESG datasets are sourced from external third-party data providers, including but not limited to MSCI, Sustainalytics, Refinitiv, S&P and Clarity AI. These datasets may include headline ESG scores, carbon emissions data, business involvement metrics or controversies and have been incorporated into Aladdin tools that are available to Portfolio Managers and employed in BlackRock investment strategies. Such tools support the full investment process, from research, to portfolio construction and modelling, to reporting.

Measures taken to ensure Data Quality

BlackRock applies a comprehensive due diligence process to evaluate provider offerings with highly targeted methodology reviews and coverage assessments based on the sustainable investment strategy (and the environmental and social characteristics or sustainable objective) of the product. Our process entails both qualitative and quantitative analysis to assess the suitability of data products in line with regulatory standards as applicable.

We assess ESG providers and data across five core areas outlined below:
1. Data Collection: this includes but is not limited to assessing the data providers underlying data sources, technology used to capture data, process to identify misinformation and use of machine learning or human data collection approaches. We will also consider planned improvements
2.Data Coverage: our assessment includes but is not limited to the extent to which a data package provides coverage across our investible universe of issuers and asset classes. This will include consideration of the treatment of parent companies and their subsidiaries as well as use of estimated data or reported data
3. Methodology: our assessment includes but is not limited to consideration of the third-party providers methodologies employed, including considering the collection and calculation approaches, alignment to industry or regulatory standards or frameworks, materiality thresholds and their approach to data gaps.
4. Data Verification: our assessment includes but is not limited to the third party providers’ approaches to verification of data collected and quality assurance processes including their engagement with issuers
5. Operations: we assess a variety of aspects of a data vendors operations, including but not limited to their policies and procedures (including consideration of any conflicts of interest) the size and experience of their data research teams, their training programs, and their use of third-party outsourcers

Additionally, BlackRock, actively participates in relevant provider consultations regarding proposed changes to methodologies as they pertain to third party data sets or index methodologies and submits considered feedback and recommendations to data provider technical teams. BlackRock often has ongoing engagement with ESG data providers including index providers to keep abreast of industry developments.

How data is processed

At BlackRock, our internal processes are focused on delivering high-quality standardized and consistent data to be used by investment professionals and for transparency and reporting purposes. Data, including ESG data, received through our existing interfaces, and then processed through a series of quality control and completeness checks which seeks to ensure that data is of a high-quality before being made available for use downstream within BlackRock systems and applications, such as Aladdin. BlackRock’s integrated technology enables us to compile data about issuers and investments across a variety of environmental, social and governance metrics and a variety of data providers and make those available to investment teams and other support and control functions such as risk management.

Use of Estimated Data

BlackRock strives to capture as much reported data from companies via 3rd party data providers as practicable, however, industry standards around disclosure frameworks are still evolving, particularly with respect to forward looking indicators. As a result, in certain cases we rely on estimated or proxy measures from data providers to cover our broad investible universe of issuers. Due to current challenges in the data landscape, while BlackRock relies on material amount of estimated data across our investible universe, the levels of which may vary from data set to data set, we seek to ensure that use of estimates is in line with regulatory guidance and that we have necessary documentation and transparency from data providers on their methodologies. BlackRock recognizes the importance in improving its data quality and data coverage and continues to evolve the data sets available to its investment professionals and other teams. Where required by local country-level regulations, funds may state explicit data coverage levels

I. Limitations to methodologies and data

Limitations to Methodology

Sustainable investing is an evolving space, both in terms of industry understanding but also the regulatory frameworks on both a regional and global basis. BlackRock continues to monitor developments in the EU's ongoing implementation of its framework for sustainable investing and is seeking to evolve its investment methodologies to ensure alignment as the regulatory environment changes. As a result, BlackRock may update these disclosures, and the methodologies and sources of data used, at any time in the future as market practice evolves or further regulatory guidance becomes available.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals and sub-targets are used by BlackRock as a list of environmental and/or social objectives. Any assessment will be undertaken strictly in accordance with the methodology set out in the Prospectus. Assumptions associated with the conventional use of the SDGs are not considered as part of the assessment including but not limited to applicable geographical limitations and those commitments that may be limited by time or scope, such as goals that may be applicable only to governments.

Limitations in relation to the data sources are noted below.

Limitations to Data

ESG data sets are constantly changing and improving as disclosure standards, regulatory frameworks and industry practice evolve. BlackRock continues to work with a broad range of market participants to improve data quality.

Whilst each ESG metric may come with its own individual limitations, data limitations may broadly be considered to include, but not be limited to:
• Lack of availability of certain ESG metrics due to differing reporting and disclosure standards impacting issuers, geographies or sectors
• Nascent statutory corporate reporting standards regarding sustainability leading to differences in the extent to which companies themselves can report against regulatory criteria and therefore some metric coverage levels may be low
• Inconsistent use and levels of reported vs estimated ESG data across different data providers, taken at varied time periods which makes comparability a challenge.
• Estimated data by its nature may vary from realized figures due to the assumptions or hypothesis employed by data providers.
• Differing views or assessments of issuers due to differing provider methodologies or use of subjective criteria
• Most corporate ESG reporting and disclosure takes place on an annual basis and takes significant time to produce meaning that this data is produced on a lag relative to financial data. There may also inconsistent data refresh frequencies across different data providers incorporating such data into their data sets.
• Coverage and applicability of data across asset classes and indicators may vary
• Forward looking data, such as climate related targets may vary significantly from historic and current point in time metrics

For more information about how metrics that are presented with sustainability indicators are calculated, please see the Fund's annual report.

Sustainable Investments and Environmental and Social criteria

Sustainable investing and understanding of sustainability is evolving along with the data environment. Industry participants face challenges in identifying a single metric or set of standardized metrics to provide a complete view on a company or an investment. BlackRock has therefore established a framework to identify sustainable investments, taking into account the regulatory requirements.

BlackRock uses third-party vendor data in assessing whether investments cause significant harm and have good governance practices. There may be some circumstances where data is unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate, in which case fundamental assessments may be undertaken, taking a proportionate approach and using reasonable efforts, to identify issues likely to have a significant impact. Despite reasonable efforts, information may not always be available in which case a subjective assessment will be made based on BlackRock's knowledge of the investment or industry. In certain cases data may reflect actions that issuers may have taken only after the fact, and do not reflect all potential instances of significant harm.

J. Due Diligence

BlackRock applies a high standard of due diligence in the selection and ongoing monitoring of investments made by the Fund for the purpose of compliance with the investment, liquidity and risk guidelines of the Fund, as well as the sustainability risk and ESG criteria and general performance. Portfolio Managers are subject to pre and post trade controls within the investment platform where the funds promote environmental or social characteristics, integrate sustainability into the investment process in a binding manner or have a sustainable investment objective. The Investment Oversight team conducts due diligence engagement with the portfolio managers and oversees internal restrictions that may expand upon requirements set out in the fund prospectus. The Portfolio Managers also comply with related EMEA policies, including Investment Due Diligence policies which have been updated to integrate sustainability risk. Legal and Compliance have implemented a framework to ensure that the relevant policies and procedures are adopted and complied with by all employees, including Portfolio Managers.

The Investment Manager integrates sustainability risks into the investment due diligence process of the Fund. The portfolio managers of the Fund are primarily responsible for considering sustainability risks. They are subject to an oversight framework within the Investment Manager and BlackRock's risk management function, RQA group also provides independent reviews of sustainability risks and the compliance team provides further oversight and monitors the ESG requirements relevant to each fund and the investment restrictions for each fund. RQA, serves as the second line of defence in BlackRock’s risk management framework. RQA is responsible for BlackRock’s Investment and Enterprise risk management framework which includes oversight of sustainability-related investment risks. RQA Investment Risk conducts regular reviews with portfolio managers to ensure investment teams are advised of relevant sustainability risks, complementing the first-line monitoring and oversight of sustainability considerations across our investment platform. RQA also has a dedicated Sustainability Risk Team that partners with risk managers and businesses to reinforce this constructive engagement. RQA collaborates with working groups throughout the Investments Platform and with Aladdin Sustainability Lab to advance the firm’s sustainability toolkit through consultation on firmwide data, modelling, methodologies, and analytics. For further information on sustainability risks, please refer to BlackRock's sustainability risk disclosure available here. In addition, BlackRock makes data relating to principal adverse impacts available to all portfolio managers and BlackRock integrates consideration of the principle adverse impacts of investment decisions on sustainability factors in the investment due diligence process. For further information, please see ‘Section D – Investment strategy’ above.

K. Engagement Policies

The Fund

The Fund does not use engagement as a means of meeting its binding commitments to environmental or social characteristics or sustainable investment objectives.

General

Engagement with companies in which we invest our clients’ assets occurs at multiple levels within BlackRock.

Where engagement is specifically identified by a particular portfolio management team as one of the means by which they seek to demonstrate a commitment to environment, social and governance issues within the context of SFDR, the methods by which the effectiveness of such engagement policy and the ways in which such an engagement policy may be adapted in the event that they do not achieve the desired impact (usually expressed as a reduction in specified principal adverse indicators) would be described in the prospectus and website disclosures particular to that fund.

Where investment teams chooses to leverage engagement, this can take a variety of forms but, in essence, the portfolio management team would seek to have regular and continuing dialogue with executives or board directors of engaged investee companies to advance sound governance and sustainable business practices targeted at the identified ESG characteristics and principal adverse indicators, as well as to understand the effectiveness of the company’s management and oversight of activities designed to address the identified ESG issues. Engagement also allows the portfolio management team to provide feedback on company practices and disclosures.

Where a relevant portfolio management team has concerns about a company’s approach to the identified ESG characteristics and/or principal adverse indicators, they may choose to explain their expectations to the company’s board or management and may signal through voting at general meetings that they have outstanding concerns, generally by voting against the re-election of directors they view as having responsibility for improvements in the identified ESG characteristics or principal adverse indicators.

Separate from the activities of any particular portfolio management team, at the highest level, as part of its fiduciary approach, BlackRock has determined that it is in the best long-term interest of its clients to promote sound corporate governance as an informed, engaged shareholder. At BlackRock, this is the responsibility of BlackRock Investment Stewardship. Principally through the work of BIS team, BlackRock meets the requirements in the Shareholder Rights Directive II (SRD II) relating to engagement with public companies and other parties in the investment ecosystem. A copy of BlackRock’s SRD II engagement policy can be found at https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/blk-shareholder-rights-directiveii-engagement-policy-2022.pdf.

BlackRock’s approach to investment stewardship is outlined in the BIS Global Principles and market-level voting guidelines. The BIS Global Principles set out our stewardship philosophy and our views on corporate governance and sustainable business practices that support long-term value creation by companies. We recognize that accepted standards and norms of corporate governance differ between markets; however, we believe there are certain fundamental elements of governance practice that are intrinsic globally to a company’s ability to create long-term value. Our market-specific voting guidelines provide detail on how BIS implements the Global Principles – taking into consideration local market standards and norms – and inform our voting decisions in relation to specific ballot items for shareholder meetings. BlackRock’s overall approach to investment stewardship and engagement can be found at: https://www.blackrock.com/uk/professionals/solutions/shareholder-rights-directive and https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/investment-stewardship

In undertaking its engagement, BIS may focus on particular ESG themes, which are outlined in BlackRock’s voting priorities https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/blk-stewardship-priorities-final.pdf

L. Designated reference benchmark

There is no specific index designated as a reference benchmark to determine whether this financial product is aligned with the environmental and/or social characteristics that it promotes.

Ratings

Registered Locations

Registered Locations

  • Austria

  • Czech Republic

  • Denmark

  • Estonia

  • Finland

  • France

  • Germany

  • Hungary

  • Ireland

  • Italy

  • Latvia

  • Lithuania

  • Luxembourg

  • Netherlands

  • Norway

  • Poland

  • Portugal

  • Slovak Republic

  • Spain

  • Sweden

  • United Kingdom

Holdings

Holdings

Issuer Ticker Name Sector Asset Class Market Value Weight (%) Notional Value Nominal Par Value ISIN Price Location Exchange Duration YTM (%) Maturity Coupon (%) Yield to Call (%) Yield to Worst (%) Real Duration Real YTM (%) Market Currency Accrual Date Effective Date
Ticker Name Sector Asset Class Market Value Weight (%) Notional Value Nominal Par Value ISIN Price Location Exchange Duration YTM (%) Maturity Coupon (%) Mod. Duration Yield to Call (%) Yield to Worst (%) Real Duration Real YTM (%) Market Currency Accrual Date Effective Date
Detailed Holdings and Analytics contains detailed portfolio holdings information and select analytics.

Exposure Breakdowns

Exposure Breakdowns

as of 15/Mar/2024

% of Market Value

Type Fund
as of 15/Mar/2024

% of Market Value

Type Fund
Geographic exposure relates principally to the domicile of the issuers of the securities held in the product, added together and then expressed as a percentage of the product’s total holdings. However, in some instances it can reflect the location where the issuer of the securities carries out much of their business.
as of 15/Mar/2024

% of Market Value

Type Fund
Allocations are subject to change.

Securities Lending

Securities Lending

Securities lending is an established and well regulated activity in the investment management industry. It involves the transfer of securities (such as shares or bonds) from a Lender (in this case, the iShares fund) to a third-party (the Borrower). The Borrower will give the Lender collateral (the Borrower’s pledge) in the form of shares, bonds or cash, and will also pay the Lender a fee. This fee provides additional income for the fund and thus can help to reduce the total cost of ownership of an ETF.

 

At BlackRock, securities lending is a core investment management function with dedicated trading, research and technology capabilities. The lending programme is designed to deliver superior absolute returns to clients, whilst maintaining a low risk profile. Funds participating in securities lending retain 62.5% of the income, while BlackRock receives 37.5% of the income and covers all the operational costs resulting from securities lending transactions.

 

  From
31-Dec-2018
To
31-Dec-2019
From
31-Dec-2019
To
31-Dec-2020
From
31-Dec-2020
To
31-Dec-2021
From
31-Dec-2021
To
31-Dec-2022
From
31-Dec-2022
To
31-Dec-2023
Securities Lending Return (%) 0.00 0.01
Average on-loan (% of AUM) 0.28 2.92
Maximum on-loan (% of AUM) 1.92 9.97
Collateralisation (% of Loan) 116.49 111.32
The above table summarises the lending data available for the fund.

The information in the Lending Summary table will not be displayed for the funds that have participated in securities lending for less than 12 months. The figures shown relate to past performance. Past performance is not a reliable indication of current or future results.
BlackRock’s policy is to disclose performance information quarterly subject to a one-month delay. This means that returns from 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2019 can be publicly disclosed from 01/02/2020.

Maximum on-loan figure may increase or decrease over time.

With securities lending there is a risk of loss should the borrower default before the securities are returned, and due to market movements, the value of collateral held has fallen and/or the value of the securities on loan has risen.
as of 09/Feb/2024
Ticker Name Asset Class Weight % ISIN SEDOL Exchange Location
Collateral Holdings shown on this page are provided on days where the fund participating in securities lending had an open loan.

The information in the Collateral Holdings table relates to securities obtained in the collateral basket under the securities lending programme for the fund in question. The information contained in this material is derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable, is not necessarily all inclusive and is not guaranteed as to accuracy. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. The primary risk in securities lending is that a borrower will default on their commitment to return lent securities while the value of the liquidated collateral does not exceed the cost of repurchasing the securities and the fund suffers a loss in respect of the short-fall.

The below table shows the Loan/Collateral Combinations and Collateral Levels for our European Lending funds.

Collateral Types
Loan Type Equities Government, Supranational and Agency Bonds Cash (Not for Reinvestment)
Equities 105%-112% 105%-106% 105%-108%
Government Bonds 110%-112% 102.5%-106% 102.5%-105%
Corporate Bonds 110%-112% 104%-106% 103.5%-105%

We also accept selected physically replicating Equity, Government Bond, Credit and Commodity ETFs as collateral.

Collateral parameters depend on the collateral and the loan combination, and the over collateralisation level may range from 102.5% to 112%. In this context, “Over Collateralisation” means that the aggregate market value of collateral taken will exceed the overall on-loan value. Collateral parameters are reviewed on an ongoing bases and are subject to change.
With securities lending there is a risk of loss should the borrower default before the securities are returned, and due to market movements, the value of collateral held has fallen and/or the value of the securities on loan has risen.

Listings

Listings

Exchange Ticker Currency Listing Date SEDOL Bloomberg Ticker RIC
Xetra MACV EUR 10/Sept/2020 BM7T070 MACV GY MACV.DE
Borsa Italiana MAGR EUR 08/Nov/2023 BM7T081 MAGR BI MAGR.MI

Portfolio Managers

Portfolio Managers

Rafael Iborra
Rafael Iborra
Claire Gallagher
Claire Gallagher

Literature

Literature