independent research vendor(s) in determining whether to invest (or continue to invest) in securities issued or guaranteed by a particular entity. These independent research vendor(s) may consider one or more of the following factors: issuer or industry exposure to environmentally intensive activities, disclosures by an issuer around climate related issues and environmental matters or specific targets or plans by an issuer to manage environmental exposures. BlackRock may change an independent research vendor at any time in its discretion. BlackRock will consider factors such as emissions, energy and water intensity, waste generation, green revenues and environmental disclosure levels in evaluating the environmental performance of an issuer or guarantor.
◼
U.S. Government securities will be considered to have met the Fund's environmental criteria
◼
The Fund will not invest in securities issued or guaranteed by entities:
- that derive more than 5% of their revenue from fossil fuels mining, exploration or refinement; or
- that derive more than 5% of their revenue from thermal coal based power generation.
In determining the efficacy of an issuer's or guarantor's environmental practices, BlackRock may also employ a proprietary model it has developed to consider the impact of various actions of an issuer or guarantor. The model uses third party data as well as information obtained by BlackRock to assess whether particular environmental factors may be material to an issuer or guarantor and capture any momentum around these factors. The model also seeks to consider more current headline news around an issuer or guarantor. The model may employ different inputs and weigh the significance of those inputs differently than the third party data sources that are used. BlackRock will conduct, as appropriate, its environmental evaluation of issuers and guarantors relative to a specific sector or across multiple sectors.
In addition, the Fund may invest in mortgage- and asset-backed securities, short-term obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia, and their respective authorities, agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions and derivative securities such as tender option bonds, beneficial interests in municipal trust certificates and partnership trusts. The Fund may invest in "green" bonds where, in the opinion of BlackRock, the use of proceeds from the sale of these securities will be used to finance projects intended to generate an environmental benefit. The Fund may also invest in variable and floating rate instruments, and transact in securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis.
Under normal market conditions, at least 25% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in obligations of issuers in the financial services industry or in obligations, such as repurchase agreements, secured by such obligations.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of the value of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities whose issuer (and, if applicable, guarantor) have below average performance in environmental practices or whose issuer (and, if applicable, guarantor) are not evaluated by any independent research vendor(s) currently used by the Fund, and whose issuer (and, if applicable, guarantor) do not otherwise meet the Fund's environmental criteria.
The Fund seeks to maintain a net asset value ("NAV") of $1.00 per share.
The securities purchased by the Fund are subject to the quality, diversification, and other requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), and other rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The Fund may impose a fee upon the sale of your shares. An investment in the Fund is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund's sponsor is not required to reimburse the Fund for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time, including during periods of market stress.
The following is a summary description of principal risks of investing in the Fund. The relative significance of each risk factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.
◼
Credit Risk - Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a debt security (i.e., the borrower) will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest and principal when due or otherwise honor their obligations. Changes in an issuer's credit rating or the market's perception of an issuer's creditworthiness may also adversely affect the value of the Fund's investment in that issuer.
◼
Environmental Criteria Risk - The risk that because the Fund's environmental criteria exclude securities of certain issuers for nonfinancial reasons, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use