NEW YORK – BlackRock has launched the BlackRock Impact Bond Fund (‘the Fund’), a mutual fund that aims to generate competitive financial returns while investing in measurable social and environmental outcomes. The Fund will trade under the ticker BIIIX.

“The BlackRock Impact Bond Fund seeks to leverage the firm’s renowned analytics capabilities and with its deep knowledge of the bond markets to create something truly differentiated for sustainable investors.”

 

The Fund will be the first broadly available U.S. fixed income fund launched by BlackRock since the formation of BlackRock Impact, the firm’s $200 billion sustainable investing platform.

“Impact investing seeks to enable investors to achieve competitive returns while targeting transparent, measurable social and environmental goals,” said Deborah Winshel, Managing Director and Global Head of Impact Investing at BlackRock. “BlackRock continues to leverage the breadth of its investing and risk management skill to create innovative portfolios that seek to combine social purpose and investment performance.”

The Fund

The Fund seeks to provide income and capital growth by investing in a portfolio of fixed income including corporate bonds of companies with positive aggregate societal impact outcomes such as corporate citizenship, high impact disease research, greenhouse gas emissions, ethics controversies, and litigation, as determined by BlackRock, compared to the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the “Benchmark”). The Fund is run by BlackRock’s Model Based Fixed Income team, who seeks to employ a unique research and investment approach and aims for compelling absolute and risk-adjusted performance with low correlation to the broader fixed income market. Financial results are driven by a combination of asset allocation and security selection strategies in which aggregate positive societal outcomes of the security selection process are incorporated using the BlackRock Scientific Active Equity (“SAE”) Impact Methodology. The portfolio focuses on measurable impact and consistent alpha.

“We believe this new investment strategy will address a growing demand for fixed income impact solutions in the public markets,” said Scott Radell, Managing Director and portfolio manager of the Fund. “The BlackRock Impact Bond Fund seeks to leverage the firm’s renowned analytics capabilities and with its deep knowledge of the bond markets to create something truly differentiated for sustainable investors.”

BlackRock Impact

In February 2015, BlackRock appointed Deborah Winshel to help unify its approach to impact investing through the launch of BlackRock Impact, the Firm’s global platform catering to investors with social or environmental objectives. The development of the BlackRock Impact Bond Fund further highlights BlackRock’s commitment within this space and enables public market investors to access the platform which currently manages $200 billion of assets across impact investing, environmental, social and governance (ESG) portfolios, and screened portfolios. For more information about BlackRock Impact, please visit blackrockimpact.com.

About BlackRock

BlackRock is a global leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients. At June 30, 2016, BlackRock’s AUM was $4.890 trillion. BlackRock helps clients around the world meet their goals and overcome challenges with a range of products that include separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares^® (exchange-traded funds), and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions^®. As of June 30, 2016, the firm had approximately 12,700 employees in more than 30 countries and a major presence in global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com | Twitter: @blackrock_news | Blog:www.blackrockblog.com | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

Important Risks: The fund is actively managed and its characteristics will vary. Bond values fluctuate in price so the value of your investment can go down depending on market conditions. Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments. Principal of mortgage- or asset-backed securities normally may be prepaid at any time, reducing the yield and market value of those securities. Obligations of U.S. gov’t agencies are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. gov’t. The fund may use derivatives to hedge its investments or to seek to enhance returns. Derivatives entail risks relating to liquidity, leverage and credit that may reduce returns and increase volatility. International investing involves special risks including, but not limited to political risks, currency fluctuations, illiquidity and volatility. These risks may be heightened for investments in emerging markets.

You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the fund carefully before investing. The prospectus and, if available, the summary prospectus contain this and other information about the fund and are available, along with information on other BlackRock funds, by calling 800-882-0052 or from your financial professional. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.

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