N-CSRS 1 d41416dncsrs.htm BLACKROCK LONG-HORIZON EQUITY FUND BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-21759

 

Name of Fund:   BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

 

Fund Address:   100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809

Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer,
BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 441-7762

Date of fiscal year end: 04/30/2021

Date of reporting period: 10/31/2020


Item 1 – Report to Stockholders


 

LOGO

  OCTOBER 31, 2020

 

   2020 Semi-Annual Report
(Unaudited)

 

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of each Fund’s shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from BlackRock or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you hold accounts directly with BlackRock, you can call (800) 441-7762 to inform BlackRock that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you hold accounts through a financial intermediary, you can follow the instructions included with this disclosure, if applicable, or contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. Please note that not all financial intermediaries may offer this service. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC, BlackRock Fund Advisors or their affiliates, or all funds held with your financial intermediary, as applicable.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive electronic delivery of shareholder reports and other communications by: (i) accessing the BlackRock website at www.blackrock.com/edelivery and logging into your accounts, if you hold accounts directly with BlackRock, or (ii) contacting your financial intermediary, if you hold accounts through a financial intermediary. Please note that not all financial intermediaries may offer this service.

 

Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The 12-month reporting period as of October 31, 2020 has been a time of sudden change in global financial markets, as the emergence and spread of the coronavirus (or “COVID-19”) led to a vast disruption in the global economy and financial markets. Prior to the outbreak of the virus, U.S. equities and bonds both delivered solid returns, despite fears and doubts about the economy that were ultimately laid to rest with unprecedented monetary stimulus and a sluggish yet resolute performance from the U.S. economy. But as the threat from the coronavirus became more apparent throughout February and March 2020, countries around the world took economically disruptive countermeasures. Stay-at-home orders and closures of non-essential businesses became widespread, many workers were laid off, and unemployment claims spiked, causing a global recession and a sharp fall in equity prices.

After markets hit their lowest point of the reporting period in late March 2020, a steady recovery ensued, as businesses began to re-open and governments learned to adapt to life with the virus. Equity prices continued to rise throughout the summer, fed by strong fiscal and monetary support and improving economic indicators. Many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs in early September 2020 before retreating amid concerns about a second wave of infections. In the United States, large-capitalization stocks advanced, outperforming small-capitalization stocks, which declined marginally during the reporting period. International equities from developed economies declined, significantly lagging emerging market stocks, which rebounded sharply.

During the market downturn, the performance of different types of fixed-income securities initially diverged due to a reduced investor appetite for risk. U.S. Treasuries benefited from the risk-off environment, and posted solid returns, as the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) touched an all-time low. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) assuaged credit concerns and both investment-grade and high-yield bonds recovered to post positive returns.

The Fed took an accommodative monetary stance in late 2019 to support slowing economic growth. After the coronavirus outbreak, the Fed instituted two emergency interest rate cuts, pushing short-term interest rates close to zero. To stabilize credit markets, the Fed also implemented a new bond-buying program, as did several other central banks around the world, including the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan.

Looking ahead, while coronavirus-related disruptions have clearly hindered worldwide economic growth, we believe that the global expansion is likely to continue as economic activity resumes. Several risks remain, however, including a potential resurgence of the coronavirus amid loosened restrictions, policy fatigue among governments already deep into deficit spending, and structural damage to the financial system from lengthy economic interruptions.

Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, and in particular toward credit given the extraordinary central bank measures taken in recent months. This support extends beyond investment-grade corporates and into high-yield, leading to attractive opportunities in that end of the market. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments. We remain neutral on equities overall while favoring emerging market stocks and tilting toward the quality factor for its resilience.

In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit blackrock.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC

 

Total Returns as of October 31, 2020
     6-Month   12-Month

U.S. large cap equities
(S&P 500® Index)

  13.29%   9.71%

U.S. small cap equities
(Russell 2000® Index)

  18.13   (0.14)

International equities
(MSCI Europe, Australasia,
Far East Index)

  8.57   (6.86)

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

  20.96   8.25

3-month Treasury bills
(ICE BofA 3-Month
U.S. Treasury Bill Index)

  0.06   0.92

U.S. Treasury securities
(ICE BofA 10-Year
U.S. Treasury Index)

  (1.63)   8.92

U.S. investment grade bonds
(Bloomberg Barclays
U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)

  1.27   6.19

Tax-exempt municipal bonds
(S&P Municipal Bond Index)

  4.87   3.55

U.S. high yield bonds
(Bloomberg Barclays
U.S. Corporate High Yield
2% Issuer Capped Index)

  10.73   3.42

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

 

2  

THIS PAGE IS NOT PART OF YOUR FUND REPORT


Table of Contents

 

      Page  

The Markets in Review

     2  

Semi-Annual Report:

  

Fund Summary

     4  

About Fund Performance

     12  

Disclosure of Expenses

     12  

Derivative Financial Instruments

     13  

Financial Statements:

  

Schedules of Investments

     14  

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

     28  

Statements of Operations

     30  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     31  

Financial Highlights

     33  

Notes to Financial Statements

     50  

Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreements

     64  

Additional Information

     68  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     70  

 

 

LOGO

 

 

  3


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2020     BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

 

Investment Objective

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek to maximize total return.

Portfolio Management Commentary

How did the Fund perform?

For the six-month period ended October 31, 2020, the Fund underperformed its benchmark, the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Index.

What factors influenced performance?

During the period, stock selection in China represented the main detractor from Fund performance. At the individual security level, the Fund’s holdings in CNOOC Ltd. (China National Offshore Oil Corp.) detracted from relative performance on market concerns regarding the possible negative impact on energy prices from a second wave of COVID-19 in Europe. In addition, holdings in the Indian telecommunications company Bharti Airtel Ltd. weighed on relative returns. The stock disappointed based on investor worries over the potential for telecom companies in India to pay higher licensing fees, a reduction in the stock’s representation within the MSCI index following a rebalance, a possible delay of planned price hikes, and a new postpaid plan initiative from competitor Reliance Jio.

The principal contributions to relative performance during the period came from stock selection in South Korea and an underweight position in Malaysia. At the individual stock level, the Fund’s position in Chinese sportswear company Li Ning Co. Ltd. added to returns as the company benefited from continued recovery in the market for sportswear. Holdings in Indian information technology (“IT”) services company Tech Mahindra Ltd. also rallied as the company began to regain ground versus its competitors. Tech Mahindra is viewed as a beneficiary of the introduction of 5G networks to India, and the company has rolled out pilot programs ahead of a full scale 5G implementation planned for its 2022 fiscal year. Also in India, the Fund’s position in Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. performed well as global fiscal stimulus has supported steel demand. Jindal has also been undergoing a deleveraging process, and news of the sale of the company’s Oman assets was viewed positively.

Describe recent portfolio activity.

During the period, the Fund selectively increased exposure to China via financials, reducing its significant underweight in the segment. The investment adviser saw the possibility for gross domestic product growth in China to reaccelerate in the second half of 2020 and benefit some of the country’s banks. The Fund also moved from a slight overweight position in health care to an underweight, on concerns that the sector may be subject to profit taking.

Describe portfolio positioning at period end.

Relative to the MSCI AC Asia ex-Japan Index, at the country level the Fund was overweight in China and Indonesia, and underweight in Taiwan and South Korea. At the sector level, the Fund was most overweight in the IT and communication services sectors, and underweight in health care and consumer staples.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

Performance Summary for the Period Ended October 31, 2020

 

                Average Annual Total Returns(a)(b)  
                1 Year           5 Years           10 Years  
     6-Month
Total
Returns
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
 

Institutional

    17.85       9.72     N/A         6.09     N/A         5.47     N/A  

Investor A

    17.67         9.45       3.70       5.83       4.70       5.22       4.66

Investor C

    17.15         8.46       7.46         4.98       4.98         4.38       4.38  

Class K

    17.80         9.73       N/A         6.10       N/A         5.48       N/A  

Class R

    17.38         8.95       N/A         5.35       N/A         4.72       N/A  

MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Index(c)

    21.84               15.85       N/A               9.52       N/A               5.40       N/A  

 

  (a)

Assuming maximum sales charges, if any. Average annual total returns with and without sales charges reflect reductions for distribution and service fees. See “About Fund Performance” for a detailed description of share classes, including any related sales charges and fees, and how performance was calculated for certain share classes.

 
  (b) 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of companies located, or exercising the predominant part of their economic activity, in Asia, excluding Japan. The Fund’s total returns prior to October 31, 2017 are the returns of the Fund when it followed a different investment objective and different investment strategies under the name BlackRock Pacific Fund, Inc.

 
  (c)

A free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure equity market performance of the following 11 developed and emerging market countries or regions: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

 

N/A — Not applicable as the share class and index do not have a sales charge.

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

4  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2020 (continued)    BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

 

Expense Example

 

    Actual           Hypothetical(a)           
     

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
      

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 

Institutional

  $ 1,000.00      $ 1,178.50      $ 5.66       $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.01      $ 5.24          1.03

Investor A

    1,000.00        1,176.70        6.97         1,000.00        1,018.80        6.46          1.27  

Investor C

    1,000.00        1,171.50        11.28         1,000.00        1,014.82        10.46          2.06  

Class K

    1,000.00        1,178.00        5.76         1,000.00        1,019.91        5.35          1.05  

Class R

    1,000.00        1,173.80        8.93               1,000.00        1,016.99        8.29          1.63  

 

  (a) 

Hypothetical 5% annual return before expenses is calculated by prorating the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year divided by 365.

 
  (b)

For each class of the Fund, expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the six-month period shown).

 

See “Disclosure of Expenses” for further information on how expenses were calculated.

Portfolio Information

 

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

 

Security(a)   Percent of
Net Assets
 

Tencent Holdings Ltd.

    9

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

    7  

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

    5  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

    5  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

    4  

Meituan, Class B

    3  

China Construction Bank Corp., Class H

    3  

Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd.,
Class H

    2  

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

    2  

Li Ning Co. Ltd.

    2  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region   Percent of
Net Assets
 

China

    51

Taiwan

    12  

South Korea

    11  

India

    8  

United States

    5  

Indonesia

    3  

Hong Kong

    3  

Thailand

    3  

United Kingdom

    2  

Singapore

    1  

Macau

    1  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

    (— )(b) 
 

 

(a)

Excludes short-term securities.

 
(b) 

Rounds to less than 1% of net assets.

 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY

  5


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2020    BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

 

Investment Objective

BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation by investing in securities, principally equity securities, of issuers in countries having smaller capital markets.

Portfolio Management Commentary

How did the Fund perform?

For the six-month period ended October 31, 2020, the Fund underperformed its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

What factors influenced performance?

During the period, stock selection in Taiwan and India detracted from performance. In addition, an overweight to Russian energy company Lukoil PJSC detracted as oil prices tumbled in September 2020. The Fund’s position in Chinese cement producer Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd. also was subtractive as unusually strong seasonal rains in China weighed on short-term cement prices.

Conversely, performance was helped by the Fund’s allocation in Thailand and security selection within Indonesia. At the individual security level, an overweight to Chinese photovoltaics manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology benefited Fund performance following strong financial results during the first half of 2020 that were supported by LONGi’s successful price hike and cost reductions. Lastly, holdings in Chinese pharmaceutical company Walvax Biotechnology Co. Ltd. significantly contributed, supported by strong sales momentum and market share gains for the firm’s vaccine against the bacterium streptococcus pneumoniae.

At period end, the Fund held an elevated cash balance, which included committed funds against positions that had not yet settled. The Fund’s cash position contributed positively to Fund performance.

Describe recent portfolio activity.

The Fund remains positioned for relief from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic as well as an economic recovery across emerging markets. Through this lens, carry continues (countries with dual deficits that rely more on external financing) to be an area of focus for the investment adviser as global stimulus and signs of economic re-opening should help pave the way for a return of foreign capital flows to emerging market investments. Over the period, the Fund added to holdings within India, Indonesia and China to support this view. The Fund targeted cyclical stocks that are expected to benefit from fiscal stimulus such as cement names, and select gaming names that should be helped by the easing of lockdown measures. The Fund also targeted market leaders in sectors that have suffered severe price dislocations, such as travel and leisure. Conversely, the Fund reduced exposure to more defensive areas of the market such as consumer staples and telecommunication services. The Fund also notably reduced exposure to energy. While the investment adviser expects the oil market to recover, investor focus on environmental, social and governance ( or “ESG,” i.e., socially conscious) companies presents a new challenge for energy stocks, raising questions over what will be considered a “reasonable” earnings multiple over the longer term.

Describe portfolio positioning at period end.

Relative to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, the Fund ended the period overweight in India and Russia, and underweight in Taiwan and South Africa. At the sector level, the Fund was overweight in industrials and consumer discretionary, and underweight in consumer staples and health care.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

Performance Summary for the Period Ended October 31, 2020

 

                Average Annual Total Returns(a)(b)  
                1 Year           5 Years           10 Years  
     6-Month
Total
Returns
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
 

Institutional

    20.88       11.26     N/A         11.63     N/A         3.78     N/A  

Investor A

    20.71         10.95       5.12       11.26       10.07       3.43       2.87

Investor C

    20.23         10.11       9.11         10.39       10.39         2.59       2.59  

Class K

    20.88         11.31       N/A         11.67       N/A         3.80       N/A  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index(c)

    20.96               8.25       N/A               7.92       N/A               2.42       N/A  

 

  (a)

Assuming maximum sales charges, if any. Average annual total returns with and without sales charges reflect reductions for distribution and service fees. See “About Fund Performance” for a detailed description of share classes, including any related sales charges and fees, and how performance was calculated for certain share classes.

 
  (b)

Under normal conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities of issuers located in countries with developing capital markets.

 
  (c)

A free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index consists of 26 emerging market country indexes: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

 

N/A — Not applicable as the share class and index do not have a sales charge.

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

6  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2020 (continued)    BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

 

Expense Example

 

    Actual           Hypothetical(a)           
     

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
      

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 

Institutional

  $ 1,000.00      $ 1,208.80      $ 4.79       $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.87      $ 4.38          0.86

Investor A

    1,000.00        1,207.10        6.18         1,000.00        1,019.61        5.65          1.11  

Investor C

    1,000.00        1,202.30        10.32         1,000.00        1,015.83        9.45          1.86  

Class K

    1,000.00        1,208.80        4.51               1,000.00        1,021.12        4.13          0.81  

 

  (a) 

Hypothetical 5% annual return before expenses is calculated by prorating the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year divided by 365.

 
  (b) 

For each class of the Fund, expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the six-month period shown).

 

See “Disclosure of Expenses” for further information on how expenses were calculated.

Portfolio Information

 

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

 

Security(a)   Percent of
Net Assets
 

Tencent Holdings Ltd.

    8

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

    6  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

    5  

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

    4  

Meituan, Class B

    3  

ENN Energy Holdings Ltd.

    2  

LUKOIL PJSC

    2  

SK Hynix, Inc.

    2  

Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class H

    2  

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

    2  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region   Percent of
Net Assets
 

China

    39

India

    12  

South Korea

    9  

Taiwan

    9  

United States

    8  

Russia

    5  

Brazil

    4  

Mexico

    4  

Indonesia

    3  

Hong Kong

    2  

Chile

    1  

Kazakhstan

    1  

Panama

    1  

Italy

    1  

Canada

    1  

Other(b)

    (c) 

Other Assets Less Liabilities

    (c) 
 

 

(a) 

Excludes short-term securities.

 
(b)

Includes holdings within countries that are 1% or less of net assets. Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for such countries.

 
(c) 

Rounds to less than 1% of net assets.

 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY

  7


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2020    BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.

 

Investment Objective

BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in Latin American equity and debt securities.

Portfolio Management Commentary

How did the Fund perform?

For the six-month period ended October 31, 2020, the Fund underperformed its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Index.

What factors influenced performance?

At the country level, stock selection in Brazil detracted the most from relative performance during the period. At the security level, a lack of holdings in Brazilian retailer Magazine Luiza weighed on relative returns as the company announced strong second quarter 2020 results. In addition, the lack of a position in WEG Industries, a Brazilian company specializing in electrical engineering, power and automation technology, also detracted from relative performance as the company reported favorable earnings.

Conversely, security selection in Mexico and the Fund’s allocation to Chile were the largest contributors to relative returns. At the stock level, the Fund’s position in Argentinian e-commerce company MercadoLibre, Inc. contributed most as e-commerce stocks benefited from the stay-at-home trend throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Finally, a lack of holdings in the Peruvian financial holding company Credicorp Ltd. contributed on a relative basis amid Creditcorp’s weak quarterly performance.

At period end, the Fund held an elevated cash balance, which included committed funds against positions that had not yet settled. The Fund’s cash position did not have any material impact on performance.

Describe recent portfolio activity.

Over the period, the Fund’s positioning in Brazilian banks was increased by adding to holdings in Banco Bradesco SA and Banco do Brasil SA. For Brazilian banks, the investment adviser believes that provision charges (i.e., the setting aside of reserves against possible loan losses, which can impact revenues and earnings) should continue to trend down in coming quarters, as loan loss reserves there are well-above historical norms. The investment adviser estimates that the sector could deliver a strong return on equity, assuming a normalization of provision charges. The investment adviser remains bullish regarding the Brazilian banking sector, as valuations look reasonable as well as prospect for earnings growth to accelerate into 2021.

The Fund also increased its overweight in materials by adding to Mexican cement company Cemex SAB de CV, Chilean lithium producer SQM and Mexican copper miner Grupo Mexico. The investment adviser is optimistic that a weak U.S. dollar environment and improving demand for raw materials from the ongoing cyclical recovery should allow for high commodity prices to persist into 2021. In addition, the Fund initiated a position in Brazililan retailer Via Varejo SA as the investment adviser believes that the company’s initiatives to turn around its operations by focusing on improved store performance, increased online capacity, a better product mix, improved cost efficiency and expansion to online distribution channels should benefit its shareholders over the long term.

The Fund initiated a position in Brazilian rail logistics company Rumo SA, as the investment adviser sees solid long-term growth prospects for the company driven by structural trends, increasing exports of soft commodities from Brazil to China, and Rumo’s ability to transport grains from Brazil’s interior to its ports. The investment adviser also believes that as Rumo frees up bottlenecks in its network, it will be able to offer competitive prices for grain transport. To fund the additions to the Fund’s portfolio, profits were taken in Peruvian copper mining firm Southern Copper Corp. as the stock had produced strong returns, and the valuation multiple at the time of the sale reflected what the investment adviser considered as fair market value and diminished upside potential.

Describe portfolio positioning at period end.

At period end, the Fund was overweight in Mexico, Brazil and Chile, and underweight in Peru, Colombia and Argentina. At the sector level, the Fund was overweight in consumer discretionary and materials, and underweight in consumer staples and utilities.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

 

 

8  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI - ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2020 (continued)    BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.

 

Performance Summary for the Period Ended October 31, 2020

 

                Average Annual Total Returns(a)(b)  
                1 Year           5 Years           10 Years  
     6-Month
Total
Returns
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
 

Institutional

    7.14       (34.39 )%      N/A         0.60     N/A         (6.37 )%      N/A  

Investor A

    6.93         (34.60     (38.03 )%        0.29       (0.79 )%        (6.64     (7.15 )% 

Investor C

    6.44         (35.18     (35.82       (0.56     (0.56       (7.42     (7.42

Class K

    7.15         (34.36     N/A         0.62       N/A         (6.36     N/A  

MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Index(c)

    9.35               (33.14     N/A               0.62       N/A               (6.14     N/A  

 

  (a) 

Assuming maximum sales charges, if any. Average annual total returns with and without sales charges reflect reductions for distribution and service fees. See “About Fund Performance” for a detailed description of share classes, including any related sales charges and fees, and how performance was calculated for certain share classes.

 
  (b) 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes in Latin American securities.

 
  (c) 

A free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets in Latin America.

 

N/A — Not applicable as the share class and index do not have a sales charge.

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Expense Example

 

    Actual           Hypothetical(a)           
     

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
      

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 

Institutional

  $ 1,000.00      $ 1,071.40      $ 7.26       $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.20      $ 7.07          1.39

Investor A

    1,000.00        1,069.30        9.02         1,000.00        1,016.48        8.79          1.73  

Investor C

    1,000.00        1,064.40        13.74         1,000.00        1,011.90        13.39          2.64  

Class K

    1,000.00        1,071.50        7.21               1,000.00        1,018.25        7.02          1.38  

 

  (a) 

Hypothetical 5% annual return before expenses is calculated by prorating the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year divided by 365.

 
  (b) 

For each class of the Fund, expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the six-month period shown).

 

See “Disclosure of Expenses” for further information on how expenses were calculated.

Portfolio Information

 

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

 

Security(a)   Percent of
Net Assets
 

Vale SA

    8

Banco Bradesco SA

    5  

B3 SA - Brasil Bolsa Balcao

    5  

America Movil SAB de CV, Class L

    5  

Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV

    4  

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O

    4  

Itau Unibanco Holding SA

    4  

Petroleo Brasileiro SA

    4  

Grupo Mexico SAB de CV, Series B

    4  

Suzano SA

    3  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region   Percent of
Net Assets
 

Brazil

    63

Mexico

    27  

United States

    10  

Chile

    8  

Argentina

    1  

Cayman Islands

    1  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

    (10
 

 

(a) 

Excludes short-term securities.

 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY

  9


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2020     BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

 

Investment Objective

BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide high total investment return.

Portfolio Management Commentary

How did the Fund perform?

For the six-month period ended October 31, 2020, the Fund outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index (“ACWI”).

What factors influenced performance?

The largest contributions to relative returns during the period came from stock selection within the industrials and consumer discretionary sectors, while a lack of exposure to energy stocks also was additive. At the individual security level, holdings in U.S. manufacturer Trane Technologies PLC, Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and German courier company Deutsche Post AG were the largest contributors to relative performance.

Conversely, an overweight to and negative stock selection within consumer staples detracted most from relative performance. An underweight to and stock selection within information technology (“IT”) and a lack of exposure to materials also detracted. At the individual security level, the Fund’s positions in British American Tobacco PLC, U.S. medical device company Boston Scientific Corp. and Spanish financial firm Bankinter SA were the largest detractors.

Describe recent portfolio activity.

The most significant change to the Fund’s active positioning during the period was an increase in its financials exposure, as the investment adviser initiated a new position in American Express Co., and raised position sizes within HDFC Bank Ltd. (based in India), U.S. financial firm Charles Schwab Corp., as well as Bankinter. Elsewhere, the Fund’s overweight to consumer staples was meaningfully decreased as the investment adviser sold its position in Nestle SA.

Describe portfolio positioning at period end.

As of period end, the Fund’s largest exposures were to the IT, communication services and financials sectors. The Fund had no exposure to the energy, materials, real estate or utilities sectors.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

Performance Summary for the Period Ended October 31, 2020

 

                Average Annual Total Returns(a)(b)  
                1 Year           5 Years           10 Years  
     6-Month
Total
Returns
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
           Without
Sales
Charge
    With
Sales
Charge
 

Institutional

    15.33       7.89     N/A         8.66     N/A         8.19     N/A  

Investor A

    15.24         7.63       1.98       8.38       7.21       7.90       7.32

Investor C

    14.68         6.69       5.77         7.52       7.52         7.06       7.06  

Class R

    15.11         7.36       N/A         7.97       N/A         7.46       N/A  

MSCI ACWI(c)

    13.61               4.89       N/A               8.11       N/A               7.90       N/A  

 

  (a) 

Assuming maximum sales charges, if any. Average annual total returns with and without sales charges reflect reductions for distribution and service fees. See “About Fund Performance” for a detailed description of share classes, including any related sales charges and fees.

 
  (b) 

The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. The Fund’s returns prior to October 15, 2012 are the returns of the Fund when it followed different investment strategies under the name “BlackRock Global Dynamic Equity Fund.”

 
  (c) 

This unmanaged index is a free float-adjusted, market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets. The MSCI ACWI consists of 49 country indexes comprising 23 developed and 26 emerging market country indexes.

 

N/A — Not applicable as the share class and index do not have a sales charge.

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Expense Example

 

    Actual           Hypothetical(a)           
     

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
      

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 

Institutional

  $ 1,000.00      $ 1,153.30      $ 5.48       $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.11      $ 5.14          1.01

Investor A

    1,000.00        1,152.40        6.84         1,000.00        1,018.85        6.41          1.26  

Investor C

    1,000.00        1,146.80        11.47         1,000.00        1,014.52        10.76          2.12  

 

 

10  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2020 (continued)    BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

 

Expense Example (continued)

 

    Actual           Hypothetical(a)           
     

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
      

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 

Class R

  $ 1,000.00      $ 1,151.10      $ 8.40             $ 1,000.00      $ 1,017.39      $ 7.88          1.55

 

  (a) 

Hypothetical 5% annual return before expenses is calculated by prorating the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year divided by 365.

 
  (b) 

For each class of the Fund, expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the six-month period shown).

 

See “Disclosure of Expenses” for further information on how expenses were calculated.

Portfolio Information

 

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

 

Security(a)   Percent of
Net Assets
 

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

    6

Walt Disney Co.

    6  

Mondelez International, Inc., Class A

    6  

Boston Scientific Corp.

    5  

Otis Worldwide Corp.

    5  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    5  

Charles Schwab Corp.

    4  

Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC

    4  

T-Mobile US, Inc.

    4  

Comcast Corp., Class A

    4  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region   Percent of
Net Assets
 

United States

    67

United Kingdom

    8  

China

    7  

India

    4  

Japan

    3  

Ireland

    3  

Spain

    3  

Sweden

    3  

Germany

    2  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

    (— )(b) 
 

 

(a)

Excludes short-term securities.

 
(b)

Rounds to less than 1% of net assets.

 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY

  11


About Fund Performance

 

Institutional and Class K Shares (Class K Shares are available only in BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc., BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. and BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.) are not subject to any sales charge. These shares bear no ongoing distribution or service fees and are available only to certain eligible investors. Class K Shares performance of BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc., BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. and BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. shown prior to the Class K Shares inception date of January 25, 2018 is that of Institutional Shares. The performance of BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc., BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. and BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. Class K Shares would be substantially similar to the performances of the applicable Fund’s Institutional Shares because Class K Shares and Institutional Shares of each Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities and performance would only differ to the extent that Class K Shares and Institutional Shares have different expenses. The actual returns of Class K Shares would have been higher than those of the Institutional Shares because Class K Shares have lower expenses than Institutional Shares.

Investor A Shares are subject to a maximum initial sales charge (front-end load) of 5.25% and a service fee of 0.25% per year (but no distribution fee). Certain redemptions of these shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) where no initial sales charge was paid at the time of purchase. These shares are generally available through financial intermediaries.

Class R Shares (available only in BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc. and BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund) are not subject to any sales charge. These shares are subject to a distribution fee of 0.25% per year and a service fee of 0.25% per year. These shares are available only to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Investor C Shares are subject to a 1.00% CDSC if redeemed within one year of purchase. In addition, these shares are subject to a distribution fee of 0.75% per year and a service fee of 0.25% per year. These shares are generally available through financial intermediaries. These shares automatically convert to Investor A Shares after approximately ten years. Effective November 23, 2020, the automatic conversion feature will be modified to reduce the conversion period from ten years to eight years.

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time, and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of the fund’s investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Refer to blackrock.com to obtain performance data current to the most recent month-end. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Figures shown in the performance tables on the previous pages assume reinvestment of all distributions, if any, at net asset value (“NAV”) on the ex-dividend date or payable date, as applicable. Investment return and principal value of shares will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Distributions paid to each class of shares will vary because of the different levels of service, distribution and transfer agency fees applicable to each class, which are deducted from the income available to be paid to shareholders.

BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”), each Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually and/or voluntarily agreed to waive and/or reimburse a portion of each Fund’s expenses. Without such waivers and/or reimbursements, each Fund’s performance would have been lower. With respect to each Fund’s voluntary waiver(s), if any, the Manager is under no obligation to waive and/or reimburse or to continue waiving and/or reimbursing its fees and such voluntary waiver(s) may be reduced or discontinued at any time. With respect to each Fund’s contractual waiver(s), if any, the Manager is under no obligation to continue waiving and/or reimbursing its fees after the applicable termination date of such agreement. See the Notes to Financial Statements for additional information on waivers and/or reimbursements.

Disclosure of Expenses

Shareholders of each Fund may incur the following charges: (a) transactional expenses, such as sales charges; and (b) operating expenses, including investment advisory fees, service and distribution fees, including 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, and other fund expenses. The expense examples shown (which are based on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 invested on May 1, 2020 and held through October 31, 2020) are intended to assist shareholders both in calculating expenses based on an investment in each Fund and in comparing these expenses with similar costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The expense examples provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. In order to estimate the expenses a shareholder paid during the period covered by this report, shareholders can divide their account value by $1,000 and then multiply the result by the number corresponding to their Fund and share class under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period.”

The expense examples also provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on a Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. In order to assist shareholders in comparing the ongoing expenses of investing in these Funds and other funds, compare the 5% hypothetical examples with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

The expenses shown in the expense examples are intended to highlight shareholders’ ongoing costs only and do not reflect transactional expenses, such as sales charges, if any. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing expenses only, and will not help shareholders determine the relative total expenses of owning different funds. If these transactional expenses were included, shareholder expenses would have been higher.

 

 

12  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Derivative Financial Instruments

The Funds may invest in various derivative financial instruments. These instruments are used to obtain exposure to a security, commodity, index, market, and/or other assets without owning or taking physical custody of securities, commodities and/or other referenced assets or to manage market, equity, credit, interest rate, foreign currency exchange rate, commodity and/or other risks. Derivative financial instruments may give rise to a form of economic leverage and involve risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of a derivative financial instrument and the underlying asset, possible default of the counterparty to the transaction or illiquidity of the instrument. The Funds’ successful use of a derivative financial instrument depends on the investment adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements accurately, which cannot be assured. The use of these instruments may result in losses greater than if they had not been used, may limit the amount of appreciation a Fund can realize on an investment and/or may result in lower distributions paid to shareholders. The investments in these instruments, if any, are discussed in detail in the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

DERIVATIVE  FINANCIAL  INSTRUMENTS

  13


        

 

Schedule of Investments  (unaudited)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security        Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

 

China — 48.5%  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.(a)

      160,392     $ 6,077,870  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., ADR(a)

      20,048       6,108,425  

Anhui Conch Cement Co. Ltd., Class H

      272,000       1,701,493  

China Construction Bank Corp., Class H

      5,310,000       3,659,190  

China Mengniu Dairy Co. Ltd.

      485,000       2,286,442  

China Mobile Ltd.

      371,000       2,269,236  

China Resources Land Ltd.

      522,000       2,134,805  

China Vanke Co. Ltd., Class H

      368,533       1,143,913  

CNOOC Ltd.

      2,068,000       1,892,128  

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

      49,500       1,818,957  

ENN Energy Holdings Ltd.

      171,800       2,174,318  

Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd.

      639,000       1,313,053  

Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group Co. Ltd., Class A

      250,400       1,508,449  

JD.com, Inc., ADR(a)

      18,278       1,490,023  

JD.com, Inc., Class A(a)

      36,800       1,501,016  

Lepu Medical Technology Beijing Co. Ltd., Class A

      64,295       296,425  

Li Ning Co. Ltd.

      525,082       2,736,695  

Meituan, Class B(a)

      120,100       4,477,227  

Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class H

      282,500       2,920,958  

Tencent Holdings Ltd.

      166,900       12,752,096  

Topsports International Holdings Ltd.(b)

      821,000       1,125,748  

Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd.

      802,000       1,465,130  

Yum China Holdings, Inc.

      40,856       2,174,765  
     

 

 

 
        65,028,362  
Hong Kong — 3.3%  

AIA Group Ltd.

      201,600       1,918,662  

Link REIT

      219,800       1,677,482  

SJM Holdings Ltd.

      782,000       811,958  
     

 

 

 
        4,408,102  
India — 8.2%  

Axis Bank Ltd.(a)

      240,027       1,591,049  

Bandhan Bank Ltd.(a)(b)

      363,783       1,414,554  

Bharti Airtel Ltd.

      415,715       2,430,699  

Godrej Industries Ltd.(a)

      125,885       621,453  

HDFC Bank Ltd.(a)

      97,588       1,558,474  

Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.(a)

      231,325       599,510  

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd.

      374,801       617,982  

Tech Mahindra Ltd.

      196,148       2,159,790  
     

 

 

 
        10,993,511  
Indonesia — 3.4%  

Bank Central Asia Tbk PT

      1,320,600       2,598,486  

Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk PT

      4,978,600       1,939,318  
     

 

 

 
        4,537,804  
Macau — 0.9%  

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.

      185,000       1,222,582  
     

 

 

 
Singapore — 1.0%  

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.

      934,000       1,388,412  
     

 

 

 
South Korea — 8.7%  

Doosan Bobcat, Inc.

      86,181       2,202,296  

NCSoft Corp.

      1,664       1,143,307  

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

      123,338       6,199,659  

Samsung SDI Co. Ltd.

      720       283,634  

SK Innovation Co. Ltd.

      16,437       1,837,220  
     

 

 

 
        11,666,116  
Security        Shares     Value  
Taiwan — 11.5%  

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd.

      678,000     $ 1,838,824  

Largan Precision Co. Ltd.

      13,000       1,380,585  

Nanya Technology Corp.

      694,000       1,406,351  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

      605,000       9,153,453  

Win Semiconductors Corp.

      155,000       1,690,941  
     

 

 

 
        15,470,154  
Thailand — 2.7%  

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PCL, NVDR

      2,235,800       1,254,501  

PTT Exploration & Production PCL, NVDR

      488,300       1,233,827  

Thai Beverage PCL

      2,556,600       1,087,239  
     

 

 

 
        3,575,567  
United Kingdom — 2.0%  

Prudential PLC

      105,840       1,294,476  

Standard Chartered PLC

      306,825       1,402,130  
     

 

 

 
        2,696,606  
United States — 0.7%  

Air Lease Corp.

      32,550       886,662  
     

 

 

 
Total Common Stocks — 90.9%  

(Cost: $93,484,598)

        121,873,878  
     

 

 

 

Preferred Securities

     
Preferred Stocks — 4.3%  
China(c)(d) — 2.2%  

Xiaoju Kuaizhi Inc., Series A-18 (Acquired
05/23/16, Cost: $592,482)

      15,499       772,315  

Xiaoju Kuaizhi, Inc., Series A-17 (Acquired 07/28/15,
Cost: $1,202,337)

      43,839       2,184,497  
     

 

 

 
        2,956,812  
South Korea — 2.1%  

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Preference Shares

      63,567       2,827,771  
     

 

 

 

Total Preferred Securities — 4.3%
(Cost: $4,270,779)

      5,784,583  
     

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 95.2%
(Cost: $97,755,377)

      127,658,461  
     

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

     

Money Market Funds — 4.8%

     

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class, 0.01%(e)(f)

      6,425,463       6,425,463  
     

 

 

 
          Par
(000)
        
Time Deposits — 0.1%  
Hong Kong — 0.1%  

Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp.
Ltd., 0.00%, 11/02/20

  HKD     582       75,072  
     

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 4.9%
(Cost: $6,500,535)

      6,500,535  
     

 

 

 

Total Investments — 100.1%
(Cost: $104,255,912)

      134,158,996  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.1)%

 

    (119,207
     

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $ 134,039,789  
     

 

 

 
 

 

 

14  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(c) 

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

(d) 

Restricted security as to resale, excluding 144A securities. The Fund held restricted securities with a current value of $2,956,812, representing 2.21% of its net assets as of period end, and an original cost of $1,794,819.

(e) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(f) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six-months ended October 31, 2020 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”), as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    Value at
04/30/20
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sales
     Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/20
     Shares
Held at
10/31/20
     Income      Capital Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class

   $ 5,454,244      $ 971,219 (a)     $      $      $      $ 6,425,463        6,425,463      $ 1,542      $  

SL Liquidity Series, LLC, Money Market Series(b)

            525 (a)              (525                           963 (c)        
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ (525    $      $ 6,425,463         $ 2,505      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

(b) 

As of period end, the entity is no longer held.

(c) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
       Expiration
Date
       Notional
Amount (000)
       Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Long Contracts

                 

Hang Seng Index

     9          11/27/20        $ 1,402        $ (26,817
                 

 

 

 

OTC Total Return Swaps

Reference Entity   

Payment

Frequency

     Counterparty(a)      Termination
Date
     Net
Notional
     Accrued
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Net Value of
Reference
Entity
     Gross
Notional
Amount
Net Asset
Percentage
 

Equity Securities Long

     Monthly        JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. (b)       02/08/23      $ 187,253      $ (33,888 )(c)     $ 153,432        0.1
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  (a) 

The Fund receives the total return on a portfolio of long positions underlying the total return swap. In addition, the Fund pays or receives a variable rate of interest, based on a specified benchmark. The benchmark and spread are determined based upon the country and/or currency of the individual underlying positions.

 
  (c) 

Amount includes $(67) of net dividends and financing fees.

 

The following are the specified benchmarks (plus or minus a range) used in determining the variable rate of interest:

 

(b)

Range:

 

60 basis points

Benchmarks:

 

USD - 1D Overnight Bank Funding Rate (OBFR01)

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

  15


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

 

The following table represents the individual long positions and related values of the equity securities underlying the total return swap with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as of period end, termination date February 8, 2023:

 

Security    Shares      Value      %of
Basket
Value
 

Reference Entity — Long

        

Common Stocks

        

United Kingdom

        

Prudential PLC

     12,545      $ 153,432        100.0
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Value of Reference Entity — JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A

 

   $ 153,432     
     

 

 

    
 

Balances Reported in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities for OTC Swaps

Description    Swap
Premiums
Paid
     Swap
Premiums
Received
     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

OTC Swaps

   $      $      $      $ (33,888

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 26,817      $      $      $      $ 26,817  

Swaps — OTC

                    

Unrealized depreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums received

                   33,888                             33,888  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 60,705      $      $      $      $ 60,705  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts and centrally cleared swaps, if any, are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ 48,361      $      $      $      $ 48,361  

Swaps

                   9,695                             9,695  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 58,056      $      $      $      $ 58,056  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (94,735    $      $      $      $ (94,735

Swaps

                   (33,888                           (33,888
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ (128,623    $      $      $      $ (128,623
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

Futures contracts        

Average notional value of contracts — long

   $ 1,762,561  

Total return swaps

  

Average notional value

   $ 172,426  

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

16  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments — Offsetting as of Period End

The Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:

 

      Assets      Liabilities  

Derivative Financial Instruments

     

Futures contracts

   $      $ 23,567  

Swaps — OTC(a)

            33,888  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities

            57,455  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

            (23,567
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA

   $      $ 33,888  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC swaps and swap premiums (paid/received) in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets (and liabilities) by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received (and pledged) by the Fund:

 

Counterparty    Derivative
Liabilities
Subject to
an MNA by
Counterparty
     Derivatives
Available
for Offset
     Non-Cash
Collateral
Pledged
     Cash
Collateral
Pledged
    

Net Amount

of Derivative
Liabilities(a)

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A

   $ 33,888      $      $      $      $ 33,888  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net amount represents the net amount payable due to counterparty in the event of default.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

                 

China

   $ 9,773,213        $ 55,255,149        $        $ 65,028,362  

Hong Kong

              4,408,102                   4,408,102  

India

              10,993,511                   10,993,511  

Indonesia

              4,537,804                   4,537,804  

Macau

              1,222,582                   1,222,582  

Singapore

              1,388,412                   1,388,412  

South Korea

              11,666,116                   11,666,116  

Taiwan

              15,470,154                   15,470,154  

Thailand

              3,575,567                   3,575,567  

United Kingdom

              2,696,606                   2,696,606  

United States

     886,662                            886,662  

Preferred Securities

                 

Preferred Stocks

              2,827,771          2,956,812          5,784,583  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     6,425,463                            6,425,463  

Time Deposits

              75,072                   75,072  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 17,085,338        $ 114,116,846        $ 2,956,812        $ 134,158,996  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

                 

Liabilities

                 

Equity Contracts

   $ (26,817      $ (33,888      $        $ (60,705
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are swaps and futures contracts. Swaps and futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

  17


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

 

A reconciliation of Level 3 financial instruments is presented when the Fund had a significant amount of Level 3 investments at the beginning and/or end of the period in relation to net assets. The following table is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining fair value:

 

      Preferred
Stocks
 

Assets

  

Opening balance, as of April 30, 2020

   $ 2,763,964  

Transfers into Level 3

      

Transfers out of Level 3

      

Accrued discounts/premiums

      

Net realized gain (loss)

  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(a)(b)

     192,848  

Purchases

      

Sales

      
  

 

 

 

Closing balance, as of October 31, 2020

   $     2,956,812  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 2020(a)(b)

   $ 192,848  
  

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Included in the related net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Statements of Operations.

 
  (b) 

Any difference between net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 2020 is generally due to investments no longer held or categorized as Level 3 at period end.

 

The following table summarizes the valuation approaches used and unobservable inputs utilized by the BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the “Global Valuation Committee”) to determine the value of certain of the Fund’s Level 3 financial instruments as of period end. A significant change in the third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of such Level 3 investments.

      Value      Valuation
Approach
     Unobservable
Inputs
     Range of
Unobservable
Inputs
Utilized(a)
 

Assets

           

Preferred Stocks

   $ 2,956,812        Market        Revenue Multiple        2.50x  
  

 

 

          

 

  (a) 

A significant change in unobservable input would have resulted in a correlated (inverse) significant change to value.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

18  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) 

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

 

Brazil — 3.1%  

Afya Ltd., Class A(a)

    21,822     $ 523,728  

B2W Cia Digital(a)

    809,197       10,610,755  

Petroleo Brasileiro SA, ADR

    2,295,910       15,221,883  

Suzano SA

    2,951,582       25,745,550  
   

 

 

 
      52,101,916  
Canada — 0.8%  

Eldorado Gold Corp.(a)(b)

    1,070,310       13,411,180  
   

 

 

 
Chile — 1.4%  

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA, ADR

    652,004       24,130,668  
   

 

 

 
China — 39.5%  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.(a)

    455,600       17,264,436  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., ADR(a)

    353,771       107,790,486  

Anhui Conch Cement Co. Ltd., Class H

    4,361,500       27,283,315  

Beijing New Building Materials PLC, Class A

    3,387,432       17,521,958  

China Construction Bank Corp., Class H

    42,252,000       29,116,405  

China Feihe Ltd.(c)

    4,655,000       10,591,215  

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

    659,200       24,223,364  

ENN Energy Holdings Ltd.

    2,967,500       37,556,977  

Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group Co. Ltd., Class A

    4,196,071       25,277,785  

Huazhu Group Ltd., ADR

    447,815       17,746,909  

JD.com, Inc., ADR(a)

    318,354       25,952,218  

JD.com, Inc., Class A(a)

    553,050       22,558,072  

Jinyu Bio-Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

    5,247,684       18,595,912  

Jiumaojiu International Holdings Ltd.(a)(c)

    6,887,000       15,201,857  

LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

    2,155,869       24,525,832  

Meituan, Class B(a)

    1,391,200       51,862,764  

Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class H

    3,238,000       33,479,863  

Shandong Sinocera Functional Material Co. Ltd., Class A

    2,818,056       17,318,717  

Tencent Holdings Ltd.

    1,734,800       132,548,449  

Tencent Holdings Ltd., ADR

    137,436       10,491,864  
   

 

 

 
      666,908,398  
Egypt — 0.5%  

Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE

    2,092,799       8,180,394  
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong — 2.5%

   

Hang Lung Properties Ltd.

    10,844,000       26,399,594  

SJM Holdings Ltd.

    15,212,000       15,794,752  
   

 

 

 
      42,194,346  
India — 11.5%  

Axis Bank Ltd.(a)

    3,716,054       24,632,328  

Bandhan Bank Ltd.(a)(c)

    4,895,200       19,034,765  

ICICI Bank Ltd.

    5,428,114       28,552,083  

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd.(a)(c)

    3,397,018       18,479,034  

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

    343,792       32,290,239  

Petronet LNG Ltd.

    6,489,114       20,214,323  

Tech Mahindra Ltd.

    2,238,516       24,648,350  

Titan Co. Ltd.

    1,704,440       26,826,485  
   

 

 

 
      194,677,607  
Security   Shares     Value  
Indonesia — 2.8%  

Astra International Tbk PT

    65,923,600     $ 24,073,505  

Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk PT

    58,180,200       22,662,978  
   

 

 

 
      46,736,483  
Italy — 1.0%  

PRADA SpA

    4,070,500       16,110,740  
   

 

 

 
Kazakhstan — 1.1%  

Kaspi.KZ JSC, GDR(a)

    420,885       18,077,011  
   

 

 

 
Mexico — 3.5%  

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV

    154,736       698,269  

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, ADR

    122,222       10,166,426  

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, Class B(b)

    2,181,784       18,157,618  

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O(a)

    6,878,302       30,643,733  
   

 

 

 
      59,666,046  
Panama — 1.0%  

Copa Holdings SA, Class A

    360,267       17,753,958  
   

 

 

 
Russia — 4.7%  

LUKOIL PJSC, ADR

    677,015       34,638,214  

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC

    1,996,887       7,832,785  

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC, ADR

    1,141,211       8,924,270  

Sberbank of Russia PJSC

    4,310,459       10,924,676  

Sberbank of Russia PJSC, ADR

    1,774,381       17,923,775  
   

 

 

 
      80,243,720  
South Korea — 9.0%  

Coway Co. Ltd.

    92,888       5,687,763  

NCSoft Corp.

    31,534       21,666,501  

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

    1,346,899       67,702,698  

Samsung SDI Co. Ltd.

    58,778       23,154,785  

SK Hynix, Inc.

    479,606       34,024,616  
   

 

 

 
      152,236,363  
Taiwan — 8.6%  

Silicon Motion Technology Corp., ADR

    435,070       16,419,542  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

    5,278,000       79,854,417  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., ADR

    146,532       12,289,639  

Unimicron Technology Corp.

    7,987,000       19,084,231  

Wiwynn Corp.

    683,000       17,379,117  
   

 

 

 
      145,026,946  
United Kingdom — 0.5%  

Prudential PLC

    698,031       8,537,265  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks — 91.5%
(Cost: $1,351,552,440)

 

    1,545,993,041  
   

 

 

 
 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

  19


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Preferred Securities

   

Preferred Stocks — 0.5%

   

Brazil — 0.5%

   

Azul SA(a)

    2,163,666     $ 8,503,153  

Banco Nacional SA, Preference Shares(d)

    42,567,626       74  
   

 

 

 
      8,503,227  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Securities — 0.5%
(Cost: $9,707,636)

 

    8,503,227  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 92.0%
(Cost: $1,361,260,076)

 

    1,554,496,268  
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

   

Money Market Funds — 7.8%

   

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class, 0.21%(e)(f)

    121,217,811       121,217,811  

SL Liquidity Series, LLC, Money Market Series, 0.18%(e)(f)(g)

    10,114,701       10,118,747  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 7.8%
(Cost: $131,336,558)

 

    131,336,558  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 99.8%
(Cost: $1,492,596,634)

 

    1,685,832,826  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — 0.2%

      3,340,299  
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $ 1,689,173,125  
   

 

 

 
(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(c) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(d) 

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(e) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(f) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(g) 

All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six-months ended October 31, 2020 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    Value at
04/30/20
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sales
     Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/20
    

Shares

Held at
10/31/20

     Income      Capital Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class

   $ 130,852,320      $      $ (9,634,509 )(a)     $      $      $ 121,217,811        121,217,811      $ 37,070      $  

SL Liquidity Series, LLC, Money Market Series

     12,151,467               (2,027,691 )(a)       2,443        (7,472      10,118,747        10,114,701        31,934 (b)        
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ 2,443      $ (7,472    $ 131,336,558         $ 69,004      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 
  (b) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description   

Number of

Contracts

     Expiration
Date
     Notional
Amount (000)
     Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Long Contracts

           

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     558        12/18/20      $ 30,743      $ (161,906
           

 

 

 

 

 

20  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

 

OTC Total Return Swaps

 

Reference Entity    Payment
Frequency
   Counterparty(a)    Termination
Date
   Net Notional
    

Accrued
Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

     Net Value of
Reference
Entity
     Gross
Notional
Amount
Net Asset
Percentage
 
Equity Securities Long    Monthly    HSBC Bank PLC(b)    02/10/23    $ 14,707,020      $ (943,813 )(c)     $ 13,766,180        0.9
   Monthly    JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.(d)    02/08/23      50,215,486        (2,291,888 )(e)       47,925,455        3.0  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
            $ 64,922,506      $ (3,235,701    $ 61,691,635     
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  (a) 

The Fund receives the total return on a portfolio of long positions underlying the total return swap. In addition, the Fund pays or receives a variable rate of interest, based on a specified benchmark. The benchmark and spread are determined based upon the country and/or currency of the individual underlying positions.

 
  (c) 

Amount includes $(2,973) of net dividends and financing fees.

 
  (e) 

Amount includes $(1,857) of net dividends and financing fees.

 

The following are the specified benchmarks (plus or minus a range) used in determining the variable rate of interest:

 

            (b)

   

(d)

 

Range:

 

            25 basis points

   

55-95 basis points

 

                             

Benchmarks:

 

            USD - 1M US Dollar LIBOR BBA

 

                                 

 

HKD - 1M Hong Kong Interbank Offer rate (HIBOR)

     

USD - 1D Overnight Bank Funding Rate (OBFR01)

     

USD - 1M US Dollar LIBOR BBA

 

The following table represents the individual long positions and related values of the equity securities underlying the total return swap with HSBC Bank PLC as of period end, termination date February 10, 2023:

 

Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 

Reference Entity — Long

 

Common Stocks  
United Kingdom                  

Standard Chartered Plc

    3,012,423     $ 13,766,180       100.0
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Net Value of Reference Entity — HSBC Bank PLC         $13,766,180        
   

 

 

   

The following table represents the individual long positions and related values of the equity securities underlying the total return swap with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as of period end, termination date February 8, 2023:

 

Security   Shares      Value      % of
Basket
Value
 

Reference Entity — Long

       
Common Stocks                    
China                    

Tencent Holdings Ltd.

    193,600      $ 14,792,126        30.9
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
Egypt                  

Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE

    1,392,703     $ 5,443,838       11.4
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
India                  

ICICI Bank Ltd.

    1,464,342       15,448,808       32.2  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
United Kingdom                  

Prudential PLC

    1,000,833       12,240,683       25.5  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Net Value of Reference Entity — JPMorgan Chase Bank
N.A
        $47,925,455        
   

 

 

   
 

 

Balances Reported in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities for OTC Swaps

Description    Swap
Premiums
Paid
     Swap
Premiums
Received
     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

OTC Swaps

   $      $      $      $ (3,235,701

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

  21


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  
Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments                                            

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures
contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 161,906      $      $      $      $ 161,906  

Swaps — OTC

                    

Unrealized depreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums received

                   3,235,701                             3,235,701  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 3,397,607      $      $      $      $ 3,397,607  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts and centrally cleared swaps, if any, are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ 6,387,562      $      $      $      $ 6,387,562  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                          476,752                      476,752  

Swaps

                   9,960,913                             9,960,913  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 16,348,475      $ 476,752      $      $      $ 16,825,227  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on                                            

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (1,137,735    $      $      $      $ (1,137,735

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                          (685,803                    (685,803

Swaps

                   (5,769,834                           (5,769,834
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ (6,907,569    $ (685,803    $      $      $ (7,593,372
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

Futures contracts

        

Average notional value of contracts — long

   $ 25,262,530  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

  

Average amounts purchased — in USD

   $ 14,126,167  

Average amounts sold — in USD

   $ (a) 

Total return swaps

  

Average notional value

   $ 61,919,140  

 

  (a) 

Derivative not held at any quarter-end. The risk exposure table serves as an indicator of activity during the period.

 

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Derivative Financial Instruments — Offsetting as of Period End

The Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:

      Assets        Liabilities  

Derivative Financial Instruments

       

Futures contracts

   $        $ 385,058  

Swaps — OTC(a)

              3,235,701  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities

              3,620,759  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

              (385,058
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA

   $        $ 3,235,701  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC swaps and swap premiums (paid/received) in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

 

22  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

   BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets (and liabilities) by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received (and pledged) by the Fund:

Counterparty   Derivative
Liabilities
Subject to
an MNA by
Counterparty
     Derivatives
Available
for Offset
     Non-Cash
Collateral
Pledged
     Cash
Collateral
Pledged(a)
    Net
Amount of
Derivative
Liabilities(b)
 

HSBC Bank PLC

  $ 943,813      $      $      $ (943,813   $  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A

    2,291,888                      (1,060,000     1,231,888  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 3,235,701      $      $      $ (2,003,813   $ 1,231,888  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Excess of collateral pledged to the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes.

 
  (b) 

Net amount represents the net amount payable due to counterparty in the event of default.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

                 

Brazil

   $ 52,101,916        $        $        $ 52,101,916  

Canada

     13,411,180                            13,411,180  

Chile

     24,130,668                            24,130,668  

China

     161,981,477          504,926,921                   666,908,398  

Egypt

              8,180,394                   8,180,394  

Hong Kong

              42,194,346                   42,194,346  

India

              194,677,607                   194,677,607  

Indonesia

              46,736,483                   46,736,483  

Italy

              16,110,740                   16,110,740  

Kazakhstan

     18,077,011                            18,077,011  

Mexico

     59,666,046                            59,666,046  

Panama

     17,753,958                            17,753,958  

Russia

     8,924,270          71,319,450                   80,243,720  

South Korea

              152,236,363                   152,236,363  

Taiwan

     28,709,181          116,317,765                   145,026,946  

United Kingdom

              8,537,265                   8,537,265  

Preferred Securities

                 

Preferred Stocks

     8,503,153                   74          8,503,227  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     121,217,811                            121,217,811  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 514,476,671        $ 1,161,237,334        $ 74          1,675,714,079  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Investments Valued at NAV(a)

                    10,118,747  
                 

 

 

 
                  $ 1,685,832,826  
                 

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(b)

                 

Liabilities

                 

Equity Contracts

   $ (161,906      $ (3,235,701      $        $ (3,397,607
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Certain investments of the Fund were fair valued using NAV per share as no quoted market value is available and therefore have been excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

 
  (b) 

Derivative financial instruments are swaps and futures contracts. Swaps and futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

  23


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) 

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security

  Shares     Value  

 

Common Stocks

 

Argentina — 1.1%

 

MercadoLibre, Inc.(a)

    758     $ 920,250  
   

 

 

 
Brazil — 59.3%            

Afya Ltd., Class A(a)(b)

    61,612       1,478,688  

B2W Cia Digital(a)

    155,062       2,033,281  

B3 SA - Brasil Bolsa Balcao

    469,571       4,177,729  

Banco Bradesco SA, ADR

    1,333,460       4,667,110  

Banco do Brasil SA

    306,792       1,593,322  

BB Seguridade Participacoes SA

    364,349       1,503,635  

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA

    187,746       1,016,285  

Cia de Locacao das Americas

    294,448       1,290,081  

Cyrela Brazil Realty SA Empreendimentos e Participacoes

    375,629       1,491,924  

Fleury SA

    277,311       1,321,806  

Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA, ADR(a)(b)

    51,089       279,457  

Itau Unibanco Holding SA, ADR, Preference Shares

    896,544       3,666,865  

Light SA(a)

    127,158       427,483  

Lojas Americanas SA

    258,170       907,517  

Lojas Renner SA

    234,342       1,529,485  

Movida Participacoes SA

    201,706       637,675  

Multiplan Empreendimentos Imobiliarios SA

    224,456       742,065  

Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA

    108,902       1,247,886  

Pagseguro Digital Ltd., Class A(a)(b)

    40,506       1,482,925  

Petrobras Distribuidora SA

    285,601       954,666  

Petroleo Brasileiro SA, ADR

    331,173       2,195,677  

Petroleo Brasileiro SA, ADR, Preference Shares

    539,898       3,568,726  

Rumo SA(a)

    540,507       1,727,603  

StoneCo. Ltd., Class A(a)

    16,013       841,323  

Suzano SA(a)

    323,450       2,821,334  

Telefonica Brasil SA, ADR, Preference Shares

    62,219       457,932  

Vale SA, ADR

    622,975       6,584,846  

Via Varejo SA(a)

    392,287       1,173,179  
   

 

 

 
      51,820,505  
Cayman Islands — 1.0%  

Vasta Platform Ltd.(a)(b)

    78,766       910,535  
   

 

 

 
Chile — 7.9%  

Banco de Chile

    15,959,435       1,232,094  

Banco Santander Chile, ADR

    114,414       1,588,066  

Empresas CMPC SA

    754,345       1,568,683  

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA, ADR

    68,352       2,529,707  
   

 

 

 
      6,918,550  
Mexico — 27.4%  

America Movil SAB de CV, Class L, ADR

    347,654       4,144,036  

Cemex SAB de C.V., ADR

    648,718       2,692,180  

Corp. Inmobiliaria Vesta SAB de CV

    856,581       1,376,248  

Fibra Uno Administracion SA de CV(b)

    1,702,702       1,289,980  

Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV, ADR

    8,568       460,701  

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, ADR

    14,646       1,218,254  

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, Class B

    131,107       1,091,121  

Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua SAB de CV

    211,200       1,063,493  

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV,
Class O(a)

    858,667       3,825,474  

Grupo Mexico SAB de CV, Series B

    1,052,949       2,990,839  

Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV

    1,590,688       3,843,328  
   

 

 

 
      23,995,654  

Security

  Shares      Value  

 

United States — 0.2%

 

JBS SA

    58,289      $ 197,583  
    

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks — 96.9%
(Cost: $81,468,000)

 

     84,763,077  
    

 

 

 
     Par
(000)
         
Corporate Bonds  
Brazil — 0.0%  

Klabin SA, 1.00%, 06/15/22

  BRL  7        28,366  

Lupatech SA, 6.50%, 04/15/21(a)(c)(d)

    2,128         
    

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds — 0.0%
(Cost: $1,124,525)

 

     28,366  
    

 

 

 
     Shares          
Preferred Securities  

Preferred Stocks — 3.2%

 

Brazil — 3.2%  

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA, Preference B Shares

    98,319        531,009  

Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais, Preference Shares

    65,544        117,084  

Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA, Preference Shares(a)

    232,841        636,687  

Lojas Americanas SA, Preference Shares

    217,168        879,201  

Telefonica Brasil SA, Preference Shares

    81,139        601,548  
    

 

 

 
       2,765,529  
    

 

 

 

Total Preferred Securities — 3.2%
(Cost: $4,151,382)

 

     2,765,529  
    

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 100.1%
(Cost: $86,743,907)

 

     87,556,972  
    

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

 

Money Market Funds — 10.1%  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class, 0.01%(e)(f)

    6,479,442        6,479,442  

SL Liquidity Series, LLC, Money Market Series, 0.18%(e)(f)(g)

    2,301,400        2,302,320  
    

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 10.1%
(Cost: $8,781,374)

 

     8,781,762  
    

 

 

 

Total Investments — 110.2%
(Cost: $95,525,281)

 

     96,338,734  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (10.2)%

 

     (8,900,254
    

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

   $ 87,438,480  
    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(c) 

Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default.

(d) 

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(e) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(f) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(g) 

All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities.

 

 

 

24  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six-months ended October 31, 2020 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    Value at
04/30/20
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sales
     Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/20
     Shares
Held at
10/31/20
     Income      Capital Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class

   $ 1,030,200      $
 
 
5,449,242
 
(a) 
   $      $      $      $ 6,479,442        6,479,442      $ 609      $  

SL Liquidity Series, LLC, Money Market Series

     3,151,362               (847,645 )(a)       (125      (1,272      2,302,320        2,301,400        9,721 (b)        
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ (125    $ (1,272    $ 8,781,762         $ 10,330      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 
  (b) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s investments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets

 

Investments

 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

   $ 84,763,077        $        $        $ 84,763,077  

Corporate Bonds

              28,366                   28,366  

Preferred Securities

                 

Preferred Stocks

     2,765,529                            2,765,529  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     6,479,442                            6,479,442  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 94,008,048        $ 28,366        $          94,036,414  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Investments Valued at NAV(a)

                    2,302,320  
                 

 

 

 
                  $ 96,338,734  
                 

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Certain investments of the Fund were fair valued using NAV per share as no quoted market value is available and therefore have been excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

  25


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

    

Security

  Shares     Value  

 

Common Stocks

   
China — 6.8%  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.(a)

    232,232     $ 8,800,163  

Anta Sports Products Ltd.

    737,000       8,181,546  
   

 

 

 
      16,981,709  
Germany — 2.5%  

Deutsche Post AG, Registered Shares

    140,497       6,229,353  
   

 

 

 
India — 4.0%  

HDFC Bank Ltd.(a)

    620,283       9,905,880  
   

 

 

 
Ireland — 3.0%  

Trane Technologies PLC

    56,972       7,563,033  
   

 

 

 
Japan — 3.2%  

Sony Corp.

    95,500       7,961,493  
   

 

 

 
Spain — 2.9%  

Bankinter SA

    1,920,231       7,216,505  
   

 

 

 
Sweden — 2.8%  

Hexagon AB, B Shares(a)

    95,819       7,023,262  
   

 

 

 
United Kingdom — 7.5%  

British American Tobacco PLC

    269,774       8,550,587  

Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC

    116,779       10,286,888  
   

 

 

 
      18,837,475  
United States — 67.5%  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C(a)

    6,026       9,768,206  

American Express. Co.

    96,793       8,831,393  

Boston Scientific Corp.(a)

    377,539       12,938,262  

Charles Schwab Corp.

    258,476       10,625,948  

Cognex Corp.

    86,331       5,689,213  

Comcast Corp., Class A

    238,594       10,078,211  

Intuit, Inc.

    19,254       6,058,849  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

    5,481       3,656,265  

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

    55,539       16,030,777  

Microsoft Corp.

    49,288       9,979,341  

Mondelez International, Inc., Class A

    256,164       13,607,432  

Otis Worldwide Corp.

    193,670       11,868,098  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    15,091       7,139,854  

T-Mobile US, Inc.(a)

    93,857       10,283,911  

Tractor Supply Co.

    43,596       5,807,423  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    38,794       11,837,601  

Walt Disney Co.

    117,991       14,306,409  
   

 

 

 
      168,507,193  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks — 100.2%
(Cost: $190,558,307)

 

    250,225,903  
   

 

 

 
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

 

Corporate Bonds

 

China — 0.0%  

China Milk Products Group Ltd.,
0.00%, 01/15/49(a)(b)(c)(d)

  $ 1,000     $ 1,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds — 0.0%
(Cost: $1,000,000)

      1,000  
   

 

 

 
     Shares         

 

Preferred Securities

 

Preferred Stocks — 0.0%            
United States — 0.0%            

Proteus Digital Health (Acquired 07/22/14, Cost: $7,000,007)(a)(e)(f)

    532,725       6  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Securities — 0.0%
(Cost: $7,000,007)

 

    6  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 100.2%
(Cost: $198,558,314)

 

    250,226,909  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.2)%

 

    (454,995
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

  $ 249,771,914  
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Non-income producing security.

(b)

Convertible security.

(c) 

Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default.

(d) 

Zero-coupon bond.

(e)

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(f) 

Restricted security as to resale, excluding 144A securities. The Fund held restricted securities with a current value of $6, representing less than 0.05% of its net assets as of period end, and an original cost of $7,000,007.

 

 

 

26  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six-months ended October 31, 2020 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    Value at
04/30/20
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sales
     Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
    

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation

(Depreciation)

     Value at
10/31/20
     Shares
Held at
10/31/20
     Income      Capital Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class(a)

   $ 6,769,717      $      $ (6,769,717 )(b)     $      $      $             $ 310      $  

SL Liquidity Series, LLC, Money Market
Series(a)

            142 (b)              (142                           466 (c)        
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ (142    $      $         $ 776      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

 As of period end, the entity is no longer held.

 
  (b) 

 Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 
  (c) 

 All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s investments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

                 

China

   $        $ 16,981,709        $        $ 16,981,709  

Germany

              6,229,353                   6,229,353  

India

              9,905,880                   9,905,880  

Ireland

     7,563,033                            7,563,033  

Japan

              7,961,493                   7,961,493  

Spain

              7,216,505                   7,216,505  

Sweden

              7,023,262                   7,023,262  

United Kingdom

              18,837,475                   18,837,475  

United States

     168,507,193                            168,507,193  

Corporate Bonds

              1,000                   1,000  

Preferred Securities

                 

Preferred Stocks

                       6          6  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 176,070,226        $ 74,156,677        $ 6        $ 250,226,909  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

  27


Statements of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)

October 31, 2020

 

     BlackRock
Asian Dragon
Fund, Inc.
     BlackRock
Emerging
Markets
Fund, Inc.
     BlackRock
Latin America
Fund, Inc.
    BlackRock
Long-Horizon
Equity Fund
 

ASSETS

         

Investments at value — unaffiliated(a)(b)

  $ 127,733,533      $ 1,554,496,268      $ 87,556,972     $ 250,226,909  

Investments at value — affiliated(c)

    6,425,463        131,336,558        8,781,762        

Cash

    157                      

Cash pledged:

         

Collateral — OTC derivatives

           2,380,000               

Futures contracts

    130,000        2,958,000               

Foreign currency at value(d)

    160,190        1,101,661              42,385  

Receivables:

         

Investments sold

    85,762        5,817,376        1,172,603       6,309,827  

Securities lending income — affiliated

    31        2,016        1,543        

Swaps

           876,465               

Capital shares sold

    14,805        12,456,009        6,568,370       32,668  

Dividends — unaffiliated

    81,409        2,077,308        271,726       422,891  

Dividends — affiliated

    115        3,460        104       24  

Interest — unaffiliated

                  355        

Prepaid expenses

    37,480        112,277        31,639       41,638  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

    134,668,945        1,713,617,398        104,385,074       257,076,342  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

         

Bank overdraft

           1,025,345              146,788  

Cash collateral on securities loaned at value

           10,127,054        2,304,894        

Payables:

         

Investments purchased

                  7,640,981       6,331,884  

Swaps

           84,369               

Accounting services fees

    100,223        298,159        71,450       59,013  

Capital shares redeemed

    104,224        8,049,484        6,699,114       113,668  

Deferred foreign capital gain tax

    27,026                     208,411  

Investment advisory fees

    68,818        1,005,834        74,343       166,278  

Directors’ and Officer’s fees

    3,979        4,756        4,006       4,240  

Other accrued expenses

    150,473        83,176        61,313       131,750  

Other affiliates

    871        3,937        845       1,530  

Professional fees

    99,894        72,915        75,785       90,606  

Service and distribution fees

    16,193        68,485        13,863       47,912  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    23,567        385,058               

Unrealized depreciation on OTC swaps

    33,888        3,235,701               

Other liabilities

                        2,348  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    629,156        24,444,273        16,946,594       7,304,428  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 134,039,789      $ 1,689,173,125      $ 87,438,480     $ 249,771,914  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

       

Paid-in capital

  $ 110,754,428      $ 1,502,606,683      $ 120,136,405     $ 182,900,339  

Accumumlated earnings (loss)

    23,285,361        186,566,442        (32,697,925     66,871,575  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 134,039,789      $ 1,689,173,125      $ 87,438,480     $ 249,771,914  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) Investments at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 97,830,449      $ 1,361,260,076      $ 86,743,907     $ 198,558,314  

(b) Securities loaned at value

  $      $ 9,922,137      $ 2,235,683     $  

(c)  Investments at cost — affiliated

  $ 6,425,463      $ 131,336,558      $ 8,781,374     $  

(d) Foreign currency at cost

  $ 160,403      $ 1,101,194      $     $ 42,606  

 

 

28  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Statements of Assets and Liabilities  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2020

 

     BlackRock
Asian Dragon
Fund, Inc.
     BlackRock
Emerging Markets
Fund, Inc.
     BlackRock
Latin America
Fund, Inc.
     BlackRock
Long-Horizon
Equity Fund
 

NET ASSET VALUE

          
Institutional                           

Net assets

  $ 64,954,297      $ 1,185,786,990      $ 32,921,452      $ 42,211,899  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

    3,862,038        44,334,496        985,830        3,149,674  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 16.82      $ 26.75      $ 33.39      $ 13.40  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    100 million        100 million        100 million        Unlimited  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Par value

  $ 0.10      $ 0.10      $ 0.10      $ 0.10  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Investor A                           

Net assets

  $ 65,497,975      $ 266,485,389      $ 52,362,976      $ 204,290,015  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

    3,952,409        10,338,800        1,588,861        15,255,881  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 16.57      $ 25.78      $ 32.96      $ 13.39  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    100 million        100 million        100 million        Unlimited  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Par value

  $ 0.10      $ 0.10      $ 0.10      $ 0.10  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Investor C                           

Net assets

  $ 1,989,636      $ 12,854,794      $ 1,795,111      $ 2,938,112  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

    182,183        593,526        59,641        219,064  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 10.92      $ 21.66      $ 30.10      $ 13.41  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    100 million        100 million        100 million        Unlimited  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Par value

  $ 0.10      $ 0.10      $ 0.10      $ 0.10  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Class K                           

Net assets

  $ 830,601      $ 224,045,952      $ 358,941        N/A  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

    49,430        8,373,488        10,754        N/A  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 16.80      $ 26.76      $ 33.38        N/A  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    2 billion        2 billion        2 billion        N/A  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Par value

  $ 0.10      $ 0.10      $ 0.10        N/A  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Class R                           

Net assets

  $ 767,280        N/A        N/A      $ 331,888  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

    61,115        N/A        N/A        24,538  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 12.55        N/A        N/A      $ 13.53  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    200 million        N/A        N/A        Unlimited  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Par value

  $ 0.10        N/A        N/A      $ 0.10  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  29


Statements of Operations  (unaudited) 

Six Months Ended October 31, 2020

 

     BlackRock
Asian Dragon
Fund, Inc.
    BlackRock
Emerging Markets
Fund, Inc.
    BlackRock
Latin America
Fund, Inc.
    BlackRock
Long-Horizon
Equity Fund
 

INVESTMENT INCOME

       

Dividends — unaffiliated

  $ 1,944,170     $ 19,438,133     $ 1,232,998     $ 1,716,379  

Dividends — affiliated

    1,542       37,070       609       310  

Interest — unaffiliated

                14,341        

Securities lending income — affiliated — net

    963       31,934       9,721       466  

Foreign taxes withheld

    (212,099     (2,551,351     (70,031     (38,246
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

    1,734,576       16,955,786       1,187,638       1,678,909  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES

       

Investment advisory

    397,498       5,427,298       454,447       1,004,003  

Service and distribution — class specific

    93,948       403,112       83,135       279,428  

Transfer agent — class specific

    86,663       1,166,062       70,421       135,932  

Professional

    54,936       43,600       40,174       51,724  

Registration

    39,999       148,470       37,268       33,757  

Custodian

    37,849       258,021       35,143       14,358  

Printing and postage

    24,532       19,367       16,175       18,751  

Accounting services

    20,175       85,465       13,308       27,903  

Directors and Officer

    5,568       8,475       5,421       5,990  

Miscellaneous

    13,077       15,114       8,983       37,771  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    774,245       7,574,984       764,475       1,609,617  

Less:

       

Fees paid indirectly

          (608     (474      

Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager

    (1,479     (473,276     (20,187     (63,098

Transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed — class specific

          (869,279           (11
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    772,766       6,231,821       743,814       1,546,508  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

    961,810       10,723,965       443,824       132,401  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

       

Net realized gain (loss) from:

       

Investments — unaffiliated(a)

    (3,866,660     (6,908,321     (10,361,924     16,656,006  

Investments — affiliated

    (525     2,443       (125     (142

Foreign currency transactions

    (8,992     (336,649     (60,614     (50,006

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

          476,752              

Futures contracts

    48,361       6,387,562              

Swaps

    9,695       9,960,913              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (3,818,121     9,582,700       (10,422,663     16,605,858  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

       

Investments — unaffiliated(b)

    24,114,579       219,206,754       14,458,652       17,599,707  

Investments — affiliated

          (7,472     (1,272      

Foreign currency translations

    (2,230     25,415       6,054       38,843  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

          (685,803            

Futures contracts

    (94,735     (1,137,735            

Swaps

    (33,888     (5,769,834            
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    23,983,726       211,631,325       14,463,434       17,638,550  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

    20,165,605       221,214,025       4,040,771       34,244,408  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ 21,127,415     $ 231,937,990     $ 4,484,595     $ 34,376,809  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign capital gain tax

  $     $ (370   $     $ 25,925  

(b) Net of deferred foreign capital gain tax

  $ (27,026   $ 1,903     $     $ (208,411

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

30  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.           BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.  
     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
    

Period from
01/01/20

to 04/30/20

    Year Ended
12/31/19
           Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
    

Period from
11/01/19

to 04/30/20

    Year Ended
10/31/19
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

               

OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income (loss)

  $ 961,810      $ (317,275   $ 1,283,319       $ 10,723,965      $ 1,219,132     $ 7,553,653  

Net realized gain (loss)

    (3,818,121      2,885,697       (5,618,554       9,582,700        (5,444,803     (4,354,601

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    23,983,726        (21,236,708     33,574,598         211,631,325        (84,752,625     71,536,375  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    21,127,415        (18,668,286     29,239,363         231,937,990        (88,978,296     74,735,427  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

               

Institutional

    (171,837            (644,549       (3,129,540      (5,354,190     (1,031,885

Investor A

    (174,848            (482,547       (701,470      (2,821,044     (1,095,473

Investor C

    (9,883            (9,266       (21,438      (231,852      

Class K

    (2,470            (6,122       (590,123      (2,366,183     (15,478

Class R

    (3,382            (4,206                     
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (362,420            (1,146,690       (4,442,571      (10,773,269     (2,142,836
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    (8,675,270      (9,051,646     (23,939,472       413,297,461        494,421,747       281,188,608  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

               

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    12,089,725        (27,719,932     4,153,201         640,792,880        394,670,182       353,781,199  

Beginning of period

    121,950,064        149,669,996       145,516,795         1,048,380,245        653,710,063       299,928,864  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 134,039,789      $ 121,950,064     $ 149,669,996       $ 1,689,173,125      $ 1,048,380,245     $ 653,710,063  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  31


Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

 

    BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.           BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund  
     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
    

Period from
11/01/19

to 04/30/20

    Year Ended
10/31/19
           Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
    

Period from
11/01/19

to 04/30/20

    Year Ended
10/31/19
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

               

OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 443,824      $ 1,039,000     $ 2,598,929       $ 132,401      $ 560,859     $ 1,308,620  

Net realized gain (loss)

    (10,422,663      (4,571,422     4,660,110         16,605,858        9,559,325       28,166,694  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    14,463,434        (51,121,730     5,390,620         17,638,550        (26,670,282     18,109,634  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    4,484,595        (54,654,152     12,649,659         34,376,809        (16,550,098     47,584,948  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

               

Institutional

    (284,121      (1,064,724     (684,146       (1,940,258      (5,124,619     (3,291,922

Investor A

    (458,497      (1,606,497     (765,993       (9,021,012      (22,943,941     (14,323,962

Investor C

    (12,114      (44,901             (273,870      (811,756     (572,310

Class K

    (4,550      (16,700     (9,377                     

Class R

                         (17,276      (81,505     (69,381
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (759,282      (2,732,822     (1,459,516       (11,252,416      (28,961,821     (18,257,575
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    4,033,466        (11,897,940     (25,171,244       (1,857,462      7,998,054       (22,167,140
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

               

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    7,758,779        (69,284,914     (13,981,101       21,266,931        (37,513,865     7,160,233  

Beginning of period

    79,679,701        148,964,615       162,945,716         228,504,983        266,018,848       258,858,615  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 87,438,480      $ 79,679,701     $ 148,964,615       $ 249,771,914      $ 228,504,983     $ 266,018,848  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

32  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights  

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.  
    Institutional  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

   

Period from

01/01/20

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 14.31        $ 16.41     $ 13.58     $ 17.15     $ 16.06     $ 15.91     $ 17.14  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)(a)

               0.13          (0.03     0.15       0.15       0.21       0.19       0.23  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      2.42          (2.07     2.83       (3.00     4.25       0.21       (0.48
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      2.55          (2.10     2.98       (2.85     4.46       0.40       (0.25
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(b)

 

From net investment income

      (0.04              (0.15     (0.12     (0.47     (0.25     (0.27

From net realized gain

                           (0.60     (2.90           (0.71
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.04              (0.15     (0.72     (3.37     (0.25     (0.98
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 16.82        $ 14.31     $ 16.41     $ 13.58     $ 17.15     $ 16.06     $ 15.91  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      17.85 %(d)         (12.80 )%(d)      21.97     (16.73 )%      28.38     2.47     (1.49 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.03 %(e)(f)         1.14 %(e)(g)      0.99     1.06     1.22     1.00     0.94
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.03 %(e)         1.14 %(e)(g)      0.99     1.05     1.11     0.99     0.94
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

      1.59 %(e)         (0.56 )%(e)      1.02     0.94     1.14     1.19     1.29
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 64,954        $ 58,412     $ 71,202     $ 68,280     $ 112,064     $ 94,489     $ 113,185  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      23        13     55     44     123     81     89
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Annualized.

(f) 

Excludes 0.01% of expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(g) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.31%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  33


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    Investor A  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

   

Period from

01/01/20

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 14.12     $ 16.20     $ 13.41     $ 16.94     $ 15.89     $ 15.75     $ 16.96  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)(a)

      0.11       (0.04     0.11       0.11       0.17       0.15       0.19  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

               2.38       (2.04     2.78       (2.96     4.20       0.20       (0.46
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      2.49       (2.08     2.89       (2.85     4.37       0.35       (0.27
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(b)

 

From net investment income

      (0.04           (0.10     (0.08     (0.42     (0.21     (0.23

From net realized gain

                        (0.60     (2.90           (0.71
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.04           (0.10     (0.68     (3.32     (0.21     (0.94
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 16.57     $ 14.12     $ 16.20     $ 13.41     $ 16.94     $ 15.89     $ 15.75  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      17.67 %(d)      (12.84 )%(d)      21.63     (16.95 )%      28.15     2.23     (1.63 )% 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.27 %(e)(f)      1.40 %(e)(g)      1.25     1.31     1.43     1.20     1.17
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.27 %(e)      1.40 %(e)(g)      1.25     1.30     1.32     1.20     1.17
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

      1.34 %(e)      (0.83 )%(e)      0.75     0.72     0.94     0.99     1.07
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 65,498     $ 59,493     $ 73,416     $ 70,891     $ 109,600     $ 93,523     $ 112,036  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      23     13     55     44     123     81     89
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e)

Annualized.

(f)

Excludes 0.01% of expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(g) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.57%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

34  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    lnvestor C  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

   

Period from

01/01/20

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

             $ 9.36     $ 10.78     $ 8.95     $ 11.51     $ 11.62     $ 11.58     $ 12.73  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)(a)

      0.05       (0.06     0.00 (b)      0.00 (b)      0.02       0.02       0.04  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      1.55       (1.36     1.85       (2.01     3.03       0.15       (0.34
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      1.60       (1.42     1.85       (2.01     3.05       0.17       (0.30
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(c)

 

From net investment income

      (0.04           (0.02           (0.26     (0.13     (0.14

From net realized gain

                        (0.55     (2.90           (0.71
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.04           (0.02     (0.55     (3.16     (0.13     (0.85
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 10.92     $ 9.36     $ 10.78     $ 8.95     $ 11.51     $ 11.62     $ 11.58  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

 

Based on net asset value

      17.15 %(e)      (13.17 )%(e)      20.74     (17.61 )%      27.05     1.44     (2.44 )% 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      2.06 %(f)(g)      2.50 %(f)(h)      2.08     2.08     2.21     1.98     1.95
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      2.06 %(f)      2.50 %(f)(h)      2.08     2.08     2.11     1.98     1.95
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

      0.89 %(f)      (1.71 )%(f)      (0.01 )%      (0.01 )%      0.14     0.21     0.28
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 1,990     $ 2,392     $ 3,238     $ 3,838     $ 8,732     $ 18,236     $ 24,176  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      23     13     55     44     123     81     89
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Amount is less than $0.005 per share.

(c) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(d) 

Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e) 

Aggregate total return.

(f) 

Annualized.

(g) 

Excludes 0.01% of expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(h) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 2.67%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  35


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    Class K  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)

    Period from
01/01/20
to 04/30/20
   

Year Ended
December 31, 2019

    

Period from

01/25/18(a)

to 12/31/18

 
             

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 14.30     $ 16.40        $ 13.57      $ 18.69  
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)(b)

                   0.13       (0.02                     0.16        0.22  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      2.41       (2.08        2.82        (4.60
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      2.54       (2.10        2.98        (4.38
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions(c)

 

From net investment income

      (0.04              (0.15      (0.14

From net realized gain

                            (0.60
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.04              (0.15      (0.74
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 16.80     $ 14.30        $ 16.40      $ 13.57  
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

 

Based on net asset value

      17.80 %(e)      (12.80 )%(e)         22.05      (23.55 )%(e) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.05 %(f)(g)      1.10 %(f)(h)         0.96      1.00 %(f)(i) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.05 %(f)      1.10 %(f)(h)         0.96      1.00 %(f) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

      1.60 %(f)      (0.42 )%(f)         1.03      1.52 %(f) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 831     $ 809        $ 699      $ 446  
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      23     13        55      44
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(d) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e) 

Aggregate total return.

(f) 

Annualized.

(g) 

Excludes 0.01% of expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(h) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.27% and 1.27%, respectively.

(i) 

Offering costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses would have been 1.00%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

36  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    Class R  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

   

Period from

01/01/20

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 10.73        $ 12.33     $ 10.20     $ 13.07     $ 12.89     $ 12.81     $ 13.97  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)(a)

               0.06          (0.05     0.03       0.04       0.07       0.06       0.09  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      1.80          (1.55     2.12       (2.28     3.38       0.16       (0.37
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      1.86          (1.60     2.15       (2.24     3.45       0.22       (0.28
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(b)

 

From net investment income

      (0.04              (0.02     (0.03     (0.37     (0.14     (0.17

From net realized gain

                           (0.60     (2.90           (0.71
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.04              (0.02     (0.63     (3.27     (0.14     (0.88
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 12.55        $ 10.73     $ 12.33     $ 10.20     $ 13.07     $ 12.89     $ 12.81  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      17.38 %(d)         (12.98 )%(d)      21.14     (17.30 )%      27.53     1.70     (2.07 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.63 %(e)(f)         1.77 %(e)(g)      1.73     1.73     1.88     1.71     1.63
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed, as applicable

      1.63 %(e)         1.77 %(e)(g)      1.73     1.72     1.76     1.71     1.63
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

      1.07 %(e)         (1.21 )%(e)      0.27     0.30     0.50     0.50     0.60
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 767        $ 844     $ 1,115     $ 2,062     $ 2,967     $ 2,647     $ 3,712  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      23        13     55     44     123     81     89
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Annualized.

(f) 

Excludes 0.01% of expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(g) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.94%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  37


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.  
    Institutional  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

   

Period from

11/01/19

   

Year Ended October 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

             $ 22.21        $ 24.51     $ 20.73     $ 22.74     $ 18.32     $ 16.51     $ 20.56  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.21          0.04       0.40       0.24       0.14       0.16       0.19  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      4.42          (1.94     3.58       (2.14     4.58       1.86       (4.13
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      4.63          (1.90     3.98       (1.90     4.72       2.02       (3.94
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(b)

      (0.09        (0.40     (0.20     (0.11     (0.30     (0.21     (0.11
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 26.75        $ 22.21     $ 24.51     $ 20.73     $ 22.74     $ 18.32     $ 16.51  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      20.88 %(d)         (7.95 )%(d)      19.39     (8.39 )%      26.35     12.47     (19.24 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(e)

 

Total expenses

      1.08 %(f)         1.04 %(f)      1.14     1.31     1.34     1.20     1.17
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      0.86 %(f)         0.86 %(f)      0.97     1.11     1.34     1.20     1.17
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      1.60 %(f)         0.34 %(f)      1.73     1.05     0.72     0.97     0.98
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 1,185,787        $ 660,315     $ 308,719     $ 98,990     $ 77,115     $ 120,939     $ 169,509  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      53        63     119     121     126     92     103
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Excludes expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
           Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended October 31,  
          2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  
                 

Investments in underlying funds

    0.01       0.02     0.01      0.01                0.01
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(f)

Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

38  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    Investor A  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

   

Period from

11/01/19

   

Year Ended October 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

             $ 21.42        $ 23.62     $ 19.96     $ 21.88     $ 17.62     $ 15.89     $ 19.81  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.17          0.02       0.29       0.16       0.07       0.08       0.10  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      4.26          (1.89     3.50       (2.04     4.42       1.79       (3.99
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      4.43          (1.87     3.79       (1.88     4.49       1.87       (3.89
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(b)

      (0.07        (0.33     (0.13     (0.04     (0.23     (0.14     (0.03
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 25.78        $ 21.42     $ 23.62     $ 19.96     $ 21.88     $ 17.62     $ 15.89  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      20.71 %(d)         (8.09 )%(d)      19.11     (8.62 )%      25.95     11.95     (19.67 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(e)

 

Total expenses

      1.31 %(f)         1.36 %(f)      1.45     1.60     1.68     1.68     1.62
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.11 %(f)         1.11 %(f)      1.22     1.40     1.68     1.68     1.62
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      1.41 %(f)         0.21 %(f)      1.31     0.72     0.39     0.51     0.56
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 266,485        $ 196,836     $ 204,061     $ 164,683     $ 210,355     $ 191,205     $ 193,165  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      53        63     119     121     126     92     103
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Excludes expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
           Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended October 31,  
          2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  
                 

Investments in underlying funds

    0.01       0.02     0.01      0.01                0.01
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(f)

Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  39


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    Investor C  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

   

Period from

11/01/19

   

Year Ended October 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 18.03        $ 19.83     $ 16.77     $ 18.50     $ 14.93     $ 13.48     $ 16.91  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)(a)

      0.11          (0.05     0.09       (0.02     (0.09     (0.04     (0.04

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

               3.54          (1.60     2.97       (1.71     3.76       1.53       (3.39
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      3.65          (1.65     3.06       (1.73     3.67       1.49       (3.43
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(b)

      (0.02        (0.15                 (0.10     (0.04      
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 21.66        $ 18.03     $ 19.83     $ 16.77     $ 18.50     $ 14.93     $ 13.48  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      20.23 %(d)         (8.42 )%(d)      18.25     (9.35 )%      24.84     11.07     (20.28 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(e)

 

Total expenses

      2.16 %(f)         2.22 %(f)      2.31     2.41     2.53     2.52     2.44
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.86 %(f)         1.86 %(f)      1.98     2.18     2.53     2.52     2.44
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

      1.13 %(f)         (0.51 )%(f)      0.50     (0.10 )%      (0.57 )%      (0.33 )%      (0.26 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 12,855        $ 24,639     $ 31,362     $ 34,756     $ 53,327     $ 99,170     $ 110,911  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      53        63     119     121     126     92     103
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Excludes expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds as follows:

 

       

 

    Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
           Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended October 31,  
          2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  
                   

Investments in underlying funds

      0.01       0.02     0.01      0.01                0.01
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(f) 

Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

40  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. (continued)
    Class K
    

Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)

       Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
        Year Ended
October 31, 2019
        

Period from

01/25/18(a)

to 10/31/18

Net asset value, beginning of period

          $    22.22         $ 24.52            $    20.74           $ 25.97
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

          0.22           0.06            0.48             0.32

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

          4.41           (1.95 )            3.52             (5.55 )
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

          4.63           (1.89 )            4.00             (5.23 )
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(c)

          (0.09 )           (0.41 )            (0.22 )            
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

          $    26.76         $ 22.22            $    24.52           $ 20.74
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

 

Based on net asset value

          20.88 %(e)           (7.91 )%(e)            19.48 %             (20.14 )%(e)
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(f)

 

Total expenses

          0.89 %(g)           0.92 %(g)            0.98 %             1.16 %(g)
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

          0.81 %(g)           0.81 %(g)            0.92 %             0.95 %(g)
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Net investment income

          1.74 %(g)           0.46 %(g)            2.08 %             1.82 %(g)
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

          $224,046         $ 166,590            $109,569           $ 1,500
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

          53 %           63 %            119 %             121 %
       

 

 

         

 

 

          

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(d) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e) 

Aggregate total return.

(f) 

Excludes expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
    Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
   

Year Ended October 31,
2019

    Period from
01/25/18(a)
to 10/31/18
 

Investments in underlying funds

                   0.01     0.02                     0.01     0.01
   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(g) 

Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  41


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.
    Institutional
    Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
      Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
  Year Ended October 31,
          2019    2018    2017    2016    2015

Net asset value, beginning of period

      $  31.44         $ 52.43     $ 48.89      $ 49.20      $ 45.22      $ 34.98      $ 54.16
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.22           0.44       0.94        0.56        0.40        0.56        0.49

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      2.06           (20.30 )       3.15        (0.29 )        4.15        9.95        (18.53 )
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      2.28           (19.86 )       4.09        0.27        4.55        10.51        (18.04 )
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(b)

      (0.33 )           (1.13 )       (0.55 )        (0.58 )        (0.57 )        (0.27 )        (1.14 )
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

      $  33.39         $ 31.44     $ 52.43      $ 48.89      $ 49.20      $ 45.22      $ 34.98
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      7.14 %(d)           (38.76 )%(d)(e)       8.53 %        0.58 %        10.37 %        30.32 %        (33.77 )%
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.44 %(f)           1.43 %(f)(g)       1.30 %        1.36 %        1.31 %        1.33 %        1.32 %
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.39 %(f)           1.43 %(f)(g)       1.30 %        1.35 %        1.31 %        1.33 %        1.32 %
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income

      1.21 %(f)           1.88 %(f)       1.85 %        1.13 %        0.88 %        1.52 %        1.14 %
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

      $32,921         $ 26,218     $ 52,123      $ 59,535      $ 64,009      $ 56,867      $ 45,472
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      94 %           54 %       70 %        48 %        56 %        58 %        35 %
   

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Includes payment received from a settlement of litigation which impacted the Fund’s total return. Excluding the payment from a settlement of litigation, the Fund’s total return would have been (39.40)%.

(f) 

Annualized.

(g) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.49%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

42  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    Investor A  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

          Period from
11/01/19
    Year Ended October 31,  
    (unaudited)           to 04/30/20     2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

      $  31.06       $ 51.70     $ 48.20      $ 48.49      $ 44.57      $ 34.45      $ 53.31  
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.16         0.36       0.78        0.40        0.26        0.42        0.35  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      2.02         (20.05     3.12        (0.27      4.10        9.83        (18.24
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      2.18         (19.69     3.90        0.13        4.36        10.25        (17.89
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(b)

                   (0.28       (0.95     (0.40      (0.42      (0.44      (0.13      (0.97
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

      $  32.96       $ 31.06     $ 51.70      $ 48.20      $ 48.49      $ 44.57      $ 34.45  
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      6.93 %(d)        (38.84 )%(d)(e)      8.20      0.29      10.03      29.91      (33.96 )% 
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.78 %(f)        1.74 %(f)(g)      1.60      1.66      1.62      1.65      1.61
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.73 %(f)        1.73 %(f)(g)      1.60      1.65      1.62      1.65      1.61
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income

      0.90 %(f)        1.56 %(f)      1.57      0.83      0.58      1.17      0.83
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

      $52,363       $ 50,074     $ 89,686      $ 90,613      $ 107,992      $ 105,414      $ 93,494  
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      94       54     70      48      56      58      35
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Includes payment received from a settlement of litigation which impacted the Fund’s total return. Excluding the payment from a settlement of litigation, the Fund’s total return would have been (39.49)%.

(f)

Annualized.

(g) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.80% and 1.79%, respectively.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  43


Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    Investor C  
    Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)
          Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended October 31,  
          2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  
                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  28.39       $ 46.95     $ 43.75      $ 43.98      $ 40.45      $ 31.41      $ 48.57  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)(a)

    (0.03       0.16       0.35        0.03        (0.06      0.12        (0.02

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    1.87         (18.38     2.85        (0.26      3.72        8.92        (16.64
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    1.84         (18.22     3.20        (0.23      3.66        9.04        (16.66
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(b)

    (0.13       (0.34                   (0.13             (0.50
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  30.10       $ 28.39     $ 46.95      $ 43.75      $ 43.98      $ 40.45      $ 31.41  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

    6.44 %(d)        (39.10 )%(d)(e)      7.31      (0.52 )%       9.12      28.78      (34.53 )% 
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

    2.68 %(f)        2.58 %(f)(g)      2.42      2.47      2.47      2.51      2.48
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    2.64 %(f)        2.57 %(f)(g)      2.42      2.46      2.47      2.51      2.47
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.18 )%(f)        0.74 %(f)      0.77      0.06      (0.16 )%       0.37      (0.04 )% 
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $1,795       $ 2,952     $ 6,397      $ 12,014      $ 16,746      $ 24,117      $ 22,787  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

    94       54     70      48      56      58      35
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Includes payment received from a settlement of litigation which impacted the Fund’s total return. Excluding the payment from a settlement of litigation, the Fund’s total return would have been (39.74)%.

(f) 

Annualized.

(g) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 2.64% and 2.63%, respectively.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

44  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. (continued)  
    Class K  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20
(unaudited)

   

Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20

   

Year Ended
October 31, 2019

   

Period from
01/25/18(a)

to 10/31/18

 
                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

                 $ 31.43                    $ 52.43                    $ 48.92                     $ 55.91  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

      0.22         0.44         0.96          0.31  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      2.06         (20.28       3.14          (7.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      2.28         (19.84       4.10          (6.99
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(c)

      (0.33       (1.16       (0.59         
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 33.38       $ 31.43       $ 52.43        $ 48.92  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

 

  

Based on net asset value

      7.15 %(e)        (38.74 )%(e)(f)        8.55        (12.50 )%(e) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

  

Total expenses

      1.43 %(g)        1.40 %(g)(h)        1.27        1.33 %(g) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.38 %(g)        1.40 %(g)(h)        1.27        1.32 %(g) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income

      1.22 %(g)        1.89 %(g)        1.90        0.84 %(g) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

  

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 359       $ 436       $ 758        $ 784  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      94       54       70        48
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a)

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. (d) Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e) 

Aggregate total return.

(f) 

Includes payment received from a settlement of litigation which impacted the Fund’s total return. Excluding the payment from a settlement of litigation, the Fund’s total return would have been (39.38)%.

(g) 

Annualized.

(h) 

Audit, printing and tax costs were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.46%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  45


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund  
    Institutional  
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/20

   

Period from

11/01/19

   

Year Ended October 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

                 $ 12.18        $ 14.58     $ 13.08     $ 13.09     $ 10.75     $ 12.80     $ 15.27  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.02          0.04       0.10       0.10       0.08       0.10       0.13  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      1.82          (0.80     2.38       0.42       2.36       (1.21     (0.22
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      1.84          (0.76     2.48       0.52       2.44       (1.11     (0.09
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(b)

 

From net investment income

      (0.04        (0.12     (0.10     (0.08     (0.10     (0.12     (0.19

From net realized gain

      (0.58        (1.52     (0.88     (0.45           (0.82     (2.19
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.62        (1.64     (0.98     (0.53     (0.10     (0.94     (2.38
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 13.40        $ 12.18     $ 14.58     $ 13.08     $ 13.09     $ 10.75     $ 12.80  
   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      15.33 %(d)         (6.45 )%(d)      20.73     4.04     22.89     (9.06 )%      (0.28 )% 
   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.06 %(e)         1.04 %(e)(f)      1.01     1.01     1.01     1.02     0.98
   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.01 %(e)         0.99 %(e)(f)      0.96     0.96     0.99     1.02     0.98
   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      0.33 %(e)         0.67 %(e)      0.76     0.75     0.68     0.88     0.95
   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 42,212        $ 38,428     $ 45,641     $ 44,879     $ 48,196     $ 44,983     $ 72,806  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      33        27     42     24.0     28     80     71
   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e) 

Annualized.

(f) 

Audit, printing and tax cost expenses were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.07% and 1.02%, respectively.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

46  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund (continued)  
    Investor A  
    Six Months Ended
10/31/20
   

Period from

11/01/19

   

Year Ended October 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

                 $ 12.17        $ 14.55     $ 13.05     $ 13.06     $ 10.72     $ 12.76     $ 15.23  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.01          0.03       0.07       0.07       0.05       0.07       0.09  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      1.82          (0.82     2.38       0.42       2.36       (1.21     (0.22
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      1.83          (0.79     2.45       0.49       2.41       (1.14     (0.13
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(b)

 

From net investment income

      (0.03        (0.07     (0.07     (0.05     (0.07     (0.08     (0.15

From net realized gain

      (0.58        (1.52     (0.88     (0.45           (0.82     (2.19
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.61        (1.59     (0.95     (0.50     (0.07     (0.90     (2.34
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 13.39        $ 12.17     $ 14.55     $ 13.05     $ 13.06     $ 10.72     $ 12.76  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      15.24 %(d)         (6.61 )%(d)      20.42     3.78     22.59     (9.32 )%      (0.55 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.31 %(e)         1.30 %(e)(f)      1.27     1.27     1.27     1.28     1.25
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      1.26 %(e)         1.25 %(e)(f)      1.22     1.22     1.25     1.28     1.25
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      0.08 %(e)         0.43 %(e)      0.50     0.49     0.40     0.60     0.69
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 204,290        $ 182,892     $ 211,071     $ 194,416     $ 214,372     $ 201,001     $ 273,185  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      33        27     42     24     28     80     71
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e)

Annualized.

(f) 

Audit, printing and tax cost expenses were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.33% and 1.28%, respectively.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  47


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund (continued)  
    Investor C  
    Six Months Ended
10/31/20
   

Period from

11/01/19

   

Year Ended October 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

                 $ 12.22        $ 14.50     $ 12.87     $ 12.94     $ 10.65     $ 12.68     $ 15.14  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment loss(a)

      (0.06        (0.03     (0.05     (0.04     (0.03     (0.02     (0.01

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      1.83          (0.82     2.40       0.42       2.32       (1.19     (0.21
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      1.77          (0.85     2.35       0.38       2.29       (1.21     (0.22
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(b)

 

From net investment income

                                             (0.05

From net realized gain

      (0.58        (1.43     (0.72     (0.45           (0.82     (2.19
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.58        (1.43     (0.72     (0.45           (0.82     (2.24
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 13.41        $ 12.22     $ 14.50     $ 12.87     $ 12.94     $ 10.65     $ 12.68  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

 

Based on net asset value

      14.68 %(d)         (6.97 )%(d)      19.54     2.96     21.50     (9.95 )%      (1.28 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      2.17 %(e)         2.13 %(e)(f)      2.07     2.03     2.07     2.05     2.01
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      2.12 %(e)         2.08 %(e)(f)      2.02     1.98     2.06     2.05     2.01
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income loss

      (0.85 )%(e)         (0.42 )%(e)      (0.35 )%      (0.27 )%      (0.26 )%      (0.16 )%      (0.08 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 2,938        $ 6,501     $ 8,502     $ 18,464     $ 25,518     $ 65,842     $ 99,939  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      33        27     42     24     28     80     71
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Aggregate total return.

(e)

Annualized.

(f) 

Audit, printing and tax cost expenses were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 2.16% and 2.11%, respectively.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

48  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund (continued)  
    Class R  
    Six Months Ended
10/31/20
   

Period from

11/01/19

   

Year Ended October 31,

 
     (unaudited)     to 04/30/20     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  
                   

Net asset value, beginning of period

                 $ 12.28        $ 14.60     $ 13.06     $ 13.08     $ 10.72     $ 12.76     $ 15.21  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)(a)

      (0.02        0.00 (b)      0.01       0.01       0.01       0.02       0.03  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      1.85          (0.82     2.40       0.42       2.36       (1.20     (0.22
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      1.83          (0.82     2.41       0.43       2.37       (1.18     (0.19
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(c)

 

From net investment income

                                 (0.01     (0.04     (0.07

From net realized gain

      (0.58        (1.50     (0.87     (0.45           (0.82     (2.19
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.58        (1.50     (0.87     (0.45     (0.01     (0.86     (2.26
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 13.53        $ 12.28     $ 14.60     $ 13.06     $ 13.08     $ 10.72     $ 12.76  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

 

Based on net asset value

      15.11 %(e)         (6.74 )%(e)      19.94     3.32     22.09     (9.68 )%      (0.99 )% 
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

      1.60 %(f)         1.71 %(f)(g)      1.67     1.65     1.70     1.71     1.78
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed, as applicable

      1.55 %(f)         1.64 %(f)(g)      1.62     1.60     1.65     1.69     1.70
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

      (0.26 )%(f)         0.03 %(f)      0.09     0.07     0.05     0.20     0.21
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 332        $ 683     $ 806     $ 1,100     $ 2,099     $ 2,816     $ 3,721  
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      33        27     42     24     28     80     71
   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Amount is less than $0.00005 per share.

(c) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(d) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e)

Aggregate total return.

(f) 

Annualized.

(g) 

Audit, printing and tax cost expenses were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed would have been 1.74% and 1.67%, respectively.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  49


Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)

 

1.  ORGANIZATION

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc., BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc., BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. and BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund are each registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as open-end management investment companies. BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc., BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. and BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. are each organized as a Maryland corporation and BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund is organized as a Delaware statutory trust. The following are referred to herein collectively as the “Funds” or individually as a “Fund”:

 

Fund Name   Herein Referred To As    Diversification
Classification

BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc.

  Asian Dragon    Diversified

BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.

  Emerging Markets    Non-diversified

BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.

  Latin America    Non-diversified

BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

  Long-Horizon Equity    Diversified

Each Fund offers multiple classes of shares. All classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and are subject to the same terms and conditions, except that certain classes bear expenses related to the shareholder servicing and distribution of such shares. Institutional and Class K Shares are sold only to certain eligible investors. Investor A, Investor C and Class R Shares bear certain expenses related to shareholder servicing of such shares, and Investor C and Class R Shares also bear certain expenses related to the distribution of such shares. Investor A and Investor C Shares are generally available through financial intermediaries. Class R Shares are sold only to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans. Each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its shareholder servicing and distribution expenditures (except that Investor C shareholders may vote on material changes to the Investor A Shares distribution and service plan).

 

Share Class   Initial Sales Charge        CDSC      Conversion Privilege

Institutional, Class K and Class R Shares

  No      No      None

Investor A Shares

  Yes      No (a)     None

Investor C Shares

  No      Yes (b)     To Investor A Shares after approximately 10 years(c)

 

  (a) 

Investor A Shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for certain redemptions where no initial sales charge was paid at the time of purchase.

 
  (b) 

A CDSC of 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of Investor C Shares made within one year after purchase.

 
  (c) 

Effective November 23, 2020, the automatic conversion feature will be modified to reduce the conversion period from ten years to eight years.

 

The Board of Directors of Asian Dragon, Emerging Markets and Latin America and the Board of Trustees of Long-Horizon Equity are collectively referred to throughout this report as the “Board of Directors” or the “Board,” and the directors/trustees thereof are collectively referred to throughout this report as “Directors”.

The Funds, together with certain other registered investment companies advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”) or its affiliates, are included in a complex of equity, multi-asset, index and money market funds referred to as the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex.

2.   SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis. Income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily to each class based on its relative net assets. For convertible securities, premiums attributable to the debt instrument are amortized, but premiums attributable to the conversion feature are not amortized.

Foreign Currency Translation: Each Fund’s books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Purchases and sales of investments are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the investments denominated in that currency will lose value; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value.

Each Fund does not isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates from the effect of fluctuations in the market prices of investments for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investments are not segregated in the Statements of Operations from the effects of changes in market prices of those investments, but are included as a component of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments. Each Fund reports realized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency related transactions as components of net realized gain (loss) for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are generally treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

 

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2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Foreign Taxes: Certain Funds may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which each Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by each Fund and are reflected in its Statements of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as “Foreign taxes withheld”, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of October 31, 2020, if any, are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and swaps) that would be treated as “senior securities” for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and records cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments. Doing so allows the investment to be excluded from treatment as a “senior security.” Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.

Distributions: Distributions paid by the Funds are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, a Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. A Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against a Fund, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

Other: Expenses directly related to a Fund or its classes are charged to that Fund or the applicable class. Expenses directly related to the Funds and other shared expenses prorated to the Funds are allocated daily to each class based on their relative net assets or other appropriate methods. Other operating expenses shared by several funds, including other funds managed by the Manager, are prorated among those funds on the basis of relative net assets or other appropriate methods.

The Funds have an arrangement with their custodian whereby credits are earned on uninvested cash balances, which could be used to reduce custody fees and/or overdraft charges. The Funds may incur charges on overdrafts, subject to certain conditions.

3.   INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: The Funds’ investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Fund is open for business and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price the Funds would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Funds determine the fair values of their financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the “Global Valuation Committee”) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.

Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Fund’s assets and liabilities:

 

   

Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day may be valued at the last available bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price.

Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the Fund’s listing exchange. Occasionally, events affecting the values of such instruments may occur between the foreign market close and the close of trading on the Fund’s listing exchange that may not be reflected in the computation of the Funds’ net assets. Each business day, the Funds use a pricing service to assist with the valuation of certain foreign exchange-traded equity securities and foreign exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options (the “Systematic Fair Value Price”). Using current market factors, the Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities and foreign options at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.

 

   

Fixed-income investments for which market quotations are readily available are generally valued using the last available bid prices or current market quotations provided by independent dealers or third party pricing services. Pricing services generally value fixed-income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but a fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. The pricing services may use matrix pricing or valuation models that utilize certain inputs and assumptions to derive values, including transaction data (e.g., recent representative bids and offers), market data, credit quality information, perceived market movements, news, and other relevant information. Certain fixed-income securities, including asset-backed and mortgage related securities may be valued based on valuation models that consider the estimated cash flows of each tranche of the entity, establish a benchmark yield and develop an estimated tranche specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche. The amortized cost method of valuation may be used with respect to debt obligations with sixty days or less remaining to maturity.

 

   

Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that day’s published net asset value (“NAV”).

 

   

The Funds value their investment in SL Liquidity Series, LLC, Money Market Series (the “Money Market Series”) at fair value, which is ordinarily based upon their pro rata ownership in the underlying fund’s net assets.

 

   

Futures contracts are valued based on that day’s last reported settlement price on the exchange where the contract is traded.

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  51


Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited) (continued)   

 

   

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the mean between the bid and ask prices and are determined as of the close of trading on the NYSE based on that day’s prevailing forward exchange rate for the underlying currencies.

 

   

Swap agreements are valued utilizing quotes received daily by independent pricing services or through brokers, which are derived using daily swap curves and models that incorporate a number of market data factors, such as discounted cash flows, trades and values of the underlying reference instruments.

If events (e.g., a market closure, market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that the application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee will include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.

For investments in equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds (“Private Company” or collectively, the “Private Companies”) and other Fair Valued Investments, the fair valuation approaches that are used by the Global Valuation Committee and third party pricing services utilize one or a combination of, but not limited to, the following inputs.

 

Standard Inputs Generally Considered By Third Party Pricing Services

Market approach

 

(i)  recent market transactions, including subsequent rounds of financing, in the underlying investment or comparable issuers;

(ii) recapitalizations and other transactions across the capital structure; and

(iii)   market multiples of comparable issuers.

Income approach

 

(i)  future cash flows discounted to present and adjusted as appropriate for liquidity, credit, and/or market risks;

(ii) quoted prices for similar investments or assets in active markets; and

(iii)   other risk factors, such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, recovery rates, liquidation amounts and/or default rates.

Cost approach

 

(i)  audited or unaudited financial statements, investor communications and financial or operational metrics issued by the Private Company;

(ii) changes in the valuation of relevant indices or publicly traded companies comparable to the Private Company;

(iii)   relevant news and other public sources; and

(iv)   known secondary market transactions in the Private Company’s interests and merger or acquisition activity in companies comparable to the Private Company.

Investments in series of preferred stock issued by Private Companies are typically valued utilizing market approach in determining the enterprise value of the company. Such investments often contain rights and preferences that differ from other series of preferred and common stock of the same issuer. Valuation techniques such as an option pricing model (“OPM”), a probability weighted expected return model (“PWERM”) or a hybrid of those techniques are used in allocating enterprise value of the company, as deemed appropriate under the circumstances. The use of OPM and PWERM techniques involve a determination of the exit scenarios of the investment in order to appropriately allocate the enterprise value of the company among the various parts of its capital structure.

The Private Companies are not subject to the public company disclosure, timing, and reporting standards applicable to other investments held by a Fund. Typically, the most recently available information by a Private Company is as of a date that is earlier than the date a Fund is calculating its NAV. This factor may result in a difference between the value of the investment and the price a Fund could receive upon the sale of the investment.

Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that each Fund has the ability to access

 

   

Level 2 – Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market–corroborated inputs)

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the Global Valuation Committee’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments)

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by Private Companies that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.

 

 

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2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

As of October 31, 2020, certain investments of the Emerging Markets and Latin America were fair valued using NAV as no quoted market value is available and therefore have been excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

4.   SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Zero-Coupon Bonds: Zero-coupon bonds are normally issued at a significant discount from face value and do not provide for periodic interest payments. These bonds may experience greater volatility in market value than other debt obligations of similar maturity which provide for regular interest payments.

Preferred Stocks: Preferred stock has a preference over common stock in liquidation (and generally in receiving dividends as well), but is subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer in all respects. As a general rule, the market value of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk, while the market price of convertible preferred stock generally also reflects some element of conversion value. Because preferred stock is junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends are payable only if declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Preferred stock also may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.

Securities Lending: Certain Funds may lend their securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Funds collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. The initial collateral received by each Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund, or excess collateral returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, the Funds are entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities, but do not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.

The market value of any securities on loan, all of which were classified as common stocks in the Funds’ Schedules of Investments, and the value of any related collateral are shown separately in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as a component of investments at value - unaffiliated, and collateral on securities loaned at value, respectively. As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested by the securities lending agent, BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BIM”), if any, is disclosed in the Schedules of Investments.

Securities lending transactions are entered into by the Funds under Master Securities Lending Agreements (each, an “MSLA”), which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency), for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate a net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. In the event that a borrower defaults, the Funds, as lender, would offset the market value of the collateral received against the market value of the securities loaned. When the value of the collateral is greater than that of the market value of the securities loaned, the lender is left with a net amount payable to the defaulting party. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of an MSLA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Under the MSLA, absent an event of default, the borrower can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities, and a Fund can reinvest cash collateral received in connection with loaned securities. Upon an event of default, the parties’ obligations to return the securities or collateral to the other party are extinguished, and the parties can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities or the collateral received in connection with the loaned securities in order to satisfy the defaulting party’s net payment obligation for all transactions under the MSLA. The defaulting party remains liable for any deficiency.

As of period end, the following table is a summary of the Funds’ securities on loan by counterparty which are subject to offset under an MSLA:

 

Fund Name/Counterparty   Securities
Loaned at Value
     Cash Collateral
Received(a)
    Net
Amount(b)
 

Emerging Markets

      

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

  $ 2,707,978      $ (2,707,978   $  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

    3,832,427        (3,832,427      

National Financial Services LLC

    3,381,732        (3,381,732      
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 9,922,137      $ (9,922,137   $  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Latin America

      

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

  $ 257,763      $ (257,763   $  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    852,423        (850,819     1,604  

Goldman Sachs & Co.

    101,065        (101,065      

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

    1,024,432        (1,024,432      
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 2,235,683      $ (2,234,079   $ 1,604  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Collateral received in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by each Fund is disclosed in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

  (b) 

The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of October 31, 2020. Additional collateral is delivered to each Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by the counterparty.

 

The risks of securities lending include the risk that the borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or may not return the securities when due. To mitigate these risks, the Funds benefit from a borrower default indemnity provided by BIM. BIM’s indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value on the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. Each Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  53


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

collateral falls below the market value of loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by the Funds.

5.   DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Funds engage in various portfolio investment strategies using derivative contracts both to increase the returns of the Funds and/or to manage their exposure to certain risks such as credit risk, equity risk, interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk or other risks (e.g., inflation risk). Derivative financial instruments categorized by risk exposure are included in the Schedules of Investments. These contracts may be transacted on an exchange or OTC.

Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contract’s size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedules of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are entered into to gain or reduce exposure to foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set exchange rate on a specified date. These contracts help to manage the overall exposure to the currencies in which some of the investments held by the Funds are denominated and in some cases, may be used to obtain exposure to a particular market. The contracts are traded OTC and not on an organized exchange.

The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Non-deliverable forward foreign currency exchange contracts are settled with the counterparty in cash without the delivery of foreign currency. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts involves the risk that the value of a forward foreign currency exchange contract changes unfavorably due to movements in the value of the referenced foreign currencies, and such value may exceed the amount(s) reflected in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Cash amounts pledged for forward foreign currency exchange contracts are considered restricted and are included in cash pledged as collateral for OTC derivatives in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. A Fund’s risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally limited to the aggregate unrealized gain netted against any collateral held by the Fund.

Swaps: Swap contracts are entered into to manage exposure to issuers, markets and securities. Such contracts are agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or a net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the OTC market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract (“OTC swaps”) or centrally cleared (“centrally cleared swaps”).

For OTC swaps, any upfront premiums paid and any upfront fees received are shown as swap premiums paid and swap premiums received, respectively, in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and amortized over the term of the contract. The daily fluctuation in market value is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC Swaps in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Payments received or paid are recorded in the Statements of Operations as realized gains or losses, respectively. When an OTC swap is terminated, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Funds’ basis in the contract, if any. Generally, the basis of the contract is the premium received or paid.

In a centrally cleared swap, immediately following execution of the swap contract, the swap contract is novated to a central counterparty (the “CCP”) and the CCP becomes the Funds’ counterparty on the swap. Each Fund is required to interface with the CCP through the broker. Upon entering into a centrally cleared swap, each Fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on the size and risk profile of the particular swap. Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedules of Investments and cash deposited is shown as cash pledged for centrally cleared swaps in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted cash, are included in cash pledged for centrally cleared swaps in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, each Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on centrally cleared swaps in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Payments received from (paid to) the counterparty are amortized over the term of the contract and recorded as realized gains (losses) in the Statements of Operations, including those at termination.

 

 

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2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

   

Total return swaps — Total return swaps are entered into to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in such market or to exchange the risk/return of one security or market (e.g., fixed-income) with another security or market (e.g., equity or commodity prices) (equity risk, commodity price risk and/or interest rate risk).

Total return swaps are agreements in which there is an exchange of cash flows whereby one party commits to make payments based on the total return (distributions plus capital gains/losses) of an underlying instrument, or basket of underlying instruments, in exchange for fixed or floating rate interest payments. If the total return of the instrument(s) or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting fixed or floating interest rate obligation, the Funds receive payment from or make a payment to the counterparty.

Certain total return swaps are designed to function as a portfolio of direct investments in long and short equity positions. This means that the Fund has the ability to trade in and out of these long and short positions within the swap and will receive the economic benefits and risks equivalent to direct investment in these positions, subject to certain adjustments due to events related to the counterparty. Benefits and risks include capital appreciation (depreciation), corporate actions and dividends received and paid, all of which are reflected in the swap’s market value. The market value also includes interest charges and credits (“financing fees”) related to the notional values of the long and short positions and cash balances within the swap. These interest charges and credits are based on a specified benchmark rate plus or minus a specified spread determined based upon the country and/or currency of the positions in the portfolio.

Positions within the swap and financing fees are reset periodically. During a reset, any unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on positions and accrued financing fees become available for cash settlement between the Funds and the counterparty. The amounts that are available for cash settlement are recorded as realized gains or losses in the Statements of Operations. Cash settlement in and out of the swap may occur at a reset date or any other date, at the discretion of the Funds and the counterparty, over the life of the agreement. Certain swaps have no stated expiration and can be terminated by either party at any time.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreements, and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates and/or market values associated with these transactions.

Master Netting Arrangements: In order to define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help it mitigate its counterparty risk, a Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, a Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events.

Collateral Requirements: For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Fund and the counterparty.

Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Funds and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral and cash received as collateral, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Funds, if any, is noted in the Schedules of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty is subject to a certain minimum transfer amount threshold before a transfer is required, which is determined at the close of business of the Funds. Any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Funds on the next business day. Typically, the counterparty is not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use cash and non-cash collateral it receives. A Fund generally agrees not to use non-cash collateral that it receives but may, absent default or certain other circumstances defined in the underlying ISDA Master Agreement, be permitted to use cash collateral received. In such cases, interest may be paid pursuant to the collateral arrangement with the counterparty. To the extent amounts due to the Funds from the counterparties are not fully collateralized, each Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. Likewise, to the extent the Funds have delivered collateral to a counterparty and stand ready to perform under the terms of their agreement with such counterparty, each Fund bears the risk of loss from a counterparty in the amount of the value of the collateral in the event the counterparty fails to return such collateral. Based on the terms of agreements, collateral may not be required for all derivative contracts.

For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

6.   INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Investment Advisory: Each Fund entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Manager, the Funds’ investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), to provide investment advisory and administrative services. The Manager is responsible for the management of each Fund’s portfolio and provides the personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operations of each Fund.

For such services, each Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee at an annual rate equal to the following percentages of the average daily value of each Fund’s net assets.

 

     Investment Advisory Fees  
Average Daily Net Assets   Asian Dragon      Emerging Markets      Latin America      Long-Horizon Equity  

First $1 billion

    0.60      0.81      1.00      0.80

$1 billion — $3 billion

    0.56        0.76        0.94        0.75  

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  55


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

     Investment Advisory Fees  
Average Daily Net Assets   Asian Dragon      Emerging Markets      Latin America      Long-Horizon Equity  

$3 billion — $5 billion

    0.54      0.73      0.90      0.72

$5 billion — $10 billion

    0.52        0.70        0.87        0.70  

Greater than $10 billion

    0.51        0.69        0.85        0.68  

For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the Funds reimbursed the Manager for certain accounting services, which is included in accounting services in the Statements of Operations. The reimbursements were as follows:

 

Fund Name   Amounts Reimbursed  

Asian Dragon

  $ 831  

Emerging Markets

    5,098  

Latin America

    742  

Long-Horizon Equity

    1,478  

With respect to Asian Dragon and Emerging Markets, the Manager entered into separate sub-advisory agreements with BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited (“BAMNA”) and with respect to Long-Horizon Equity, the Manager entered into a sub-advisory agreement with BlackRock International Limited (“BIL”), each an affiliate of the Manager. The Manager pays BAMNA and BIL for services they provide for that portion of each Fund for which BAMNA and BIL, as applicable, acts as sub-adviser, a monthly fee that is equal to a percentage of the investment advisory fees paid by each Fund to the Manager.

Service and Distribution Fees: The Funds entered into a Distribution Agreement and Distribution and Service Plans with BlackRock Investments, LLC (“BRIL”), an affiliate of the Manager. Pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plans and in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, each Fund pays BRIL ongoing service and distribution fees. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly at annual rates based upon the average daily net assets of the relevant share class of each Fund as follows:

 

     Asian Dragon      Emerging Markets      Latin America      Long-Horizon Equity  
Share Class           Service Fees      Distribution Fees      Service Fees      Distribution Fees      Service Fees      Distribution Fees      Service Fees      Distribution Fees  

Investor A

    0.25      N/A        0.25      N/A        0.25      N/A        0.25      N/A  

Investor C

    0.25        0.75      0.25        0.75      0.25        0.75      0.25        0.75

Class R

    0.25        0.25        N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A        0.25        0.25  

BRIL and broker-dealers, pursuant to sub-agreements with BRIL, provide shareholder servicing and distribution services to the Funds. The ongoing service and/or distribution fee compensates/reimburses BRIL and each broker-dealer for providing shareholder servicing and/or distribution related services to shareholders.

For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the following table shows the class specific service and distribution fees borne directly by each share class of each Fund:

 

Fund Name   Investor A      Investor C      Class R      Total  

Asian Dragon

  $ 80,688      $ 11,040      $ 2,220      $ 93,948  

Emerging Markets

    303,144        99,968               403,112  

Latin America

    69,848        13,287               83,135  

Long-Horizon Equity

    254,189        24,201        1,038        279,428  

Transfer Agent: Pursuant to written agreements, certain financial intermediaries, some of which may be affiliates, provide the Funds with sub-accounting, recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency and other administrative services with respect to servicing of underlying investor accounts. For these services, these entities receive an asset-based fee or an annual fee per shareholder account, which will vary depending on share class and/or net assets. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the Funds did not pay any amounts to affiliates in return for these services.

The Manager maintains a call center that is responsible for providing certain shareholder services to the Funds. Shareholder services include responding to inquiries and processing purchases and sales based upon instructions from shareholders. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, each Fund reimbursed the Manager the following amounts for costs incurred in running the call center, which are included in transfer agent — class specific in the Statements of Operations:

 

Fund Name   Institutional      Investor A      Investor C      Class K      Class R      Total  

Asian Dragon

  $ 3,210      $ 1,595      $ 184      $ 28      $ 6      $ 5,023  

Emerging Markets

    1,042        4,724        1,411        160               7,337  

Latin America

    433        4,479        368        9               5,289  

Long-Horizon Equity

    186        1,902        368               8        2,464  

For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the following table shows the class specific transfer agent fees borne directly by each share class of each Fund:

 

Fund Name   Institutional      Investor A      Investor C      Class R      Class K      Total  

Asian Dragon

  $ 42,373      $ 40,769      $ 1,787      $ 1,030      $ 704      $ 86,663  

Emerging Markets

    919,730        216,678        27,472               2,182        1,166,062  

Latin America

    14,922        50,926        4,380               193        70,421  

Long-Horizon Equity

    22,380        107,959        5,293        300               135,932  

 

 

56  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Other Fees: For the six months ended October 31, 2020, affiliates earned underwriting discounts, direct commissions and dealer concessions on sales of each Fund’s Investor A Shares as follows:

 

Share Class   Asian Dragon      Emerging Markets      Latin America      Long-Horizon Equity  

Investor A

  $ 303      $ 3,819      $ 140      $ 287  

For the six months ended October 31, 2020, affiliates received CDSCs as follows:

 

Share Class   Asian Dragon      Emerging Markets      Latin America      Long-Horizon Equity  

Investor A

  $      $ 3,508      $      $  

Investor C

    180        828        165        19  

Expense Limitations, Waivers and Reimbursements: With respect to Latin America, effective June 1, 2020, the Manager voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fees equal to the annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This amount is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statements of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the Manager waived $19,535 pursuant to this agreement.

With respect to Long-Horizon Equity, the Manager voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fees equal to the annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This amount is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statements of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the Manager waived $62,750 pursuant to this agreement.

The Manager contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fees by the amount of investment advisory fees each Fund pays to the Manager indirectly through its investment in affiliated money market funds (the “affiliated money market fund waiver”) through August 31, 2021. These contractual agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the directors who are not “interested persons” of a Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Directors”), or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. With respect to Emerging Markets and Long-Horizon Equity, the amount of waivers and/or reimbursements of fees and expenses made pursuant to the expense limitation described below will be reduced by the amount of the affiliated money market fund waiver. These amounts are included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statements of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the amounts waived were as follows:

 

Fund Name   Amounts Waived  

Asian Dragon

  $ 1,479  

Emerging Markets

    37,833  

Latin America

    652  

Long-Horizon Equity

    348  

The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee with respect to any portion of each Fund’s assets invested in affiliated equity and fixed-income mutual funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds that have a contractual management fee through August 31, 2021. These contractual agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the Independent Directors or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. For the six months ended October 31, 2020 there were no fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager pursuant to these arrangements.

With respect to Emerging Markets and Long-Horizon Equity, the Manager contractually agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit expenses, excluding interest expense, dividend expense, tax expense, acquired fund fees and expenses, and certain other fund expenses, which constitute extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of each Fund’s business (“expense limitation”). The expense limitations as a percentage of average daily net assets are as follows:

 

Fund Name   Institutional      Investor A      Investor C      Class K      Class R  

Emerging Markets

    0.86      1.11      1.86      0.81     

Long-Horizon Equity

    1.15        1.43        2.29               1.70  

The Manager has agreed not to reduce or discontinue these contractual expense limitations through August 31, 2021, unless approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the Manager waived and/or reimbursed amounts as follows, which is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statements of Operations.

 

Fund Name   Amounts Waived  

Emerging Markets

  $ 435,443  

These amounts waived and/or reimbursed are included in transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed—class specific in the Statements of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, class specific expense waivers and/or reimbursements are as follows:

 

Fund Name   Institutional      Investor A      Investor C      Class K      Total  

Emerging Markets

  $ 688,576      $ 156,049      $ 22,473      $ 2,181      $ 869,279  

Long-Horizon Equity

                  11               11  

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  57


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Securities Lending: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued an exemptive order which permits BIM, an affiliate of the Manager, to serve as securities lending agent for the Funds, subject to applicable conditions. As securities lending agent, BIM bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending. The Funds are responsible for expenses in connection with the investment of cash collateral received for securities on loan (the “collateral investment expenses”). The cash collateral is invested in a private investment company, SL Liquidity Series, LLC (“Money Market Series”), managed by the Manager or its affiliates. However, BIM has agreed to cap the collateral investment expenses of the Money Market Series to an annual rate of 0.04%. The investment adviser to the Money Market Series will not charge any advisory fees with respect to shares purchased by the Funds. The Money Market Series may, under certain circumstances, impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% of the value withdrawn or temporarily restrict withdrawals for up to 10 business days during a 90 day period, in the event that the private investment company’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds. The Money Market Series seeks current income consistent with maintaining liquidity and preserving capital. Although the Money Market Series is not registered under the 1940 Act, its investments may follow the parameters of investments by a money market fund that is subject to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

Securities lending income is equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral, net of fees and other payments to and from borrowers of securities, and less the collateral investment expenses. Each Fund retains a portion of securities lending income and remits a remaining portion to BIM as compensation for its services as securities lending agent.

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, each Fund retains 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment expenses), and this amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment expenses.

In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income earned across the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex in a calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, each Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year securities lending income in an amount equal to 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment expenses), and this amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment expenses.

The share of securities lending income earned by each Fund is shown as securities lending income — affiliated – net in the Statements of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, each Fund paid BIM the following amounts for securities lending agent services:

 

Fund Name   Amounts  

Asian Dragon

  $ 181  

Emerging Markets

    5,967  

Latin America

    1,787  

Long-Horizon Equity

    85  

Interfund Lending: In accordance with an exemptive order (the “Order”) from the SEC, each Fund may participate in a joint lending and borrowing facility for temporary purposes (the “Interfund Lending Program”), subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the Order, and to the extent permitted by each Fund’s investment policies and restrictions. Asian Dragon and Long-Horizon Equity are currently permitted to borrow and lend under the Interfund Lending Program. Emerging Markets and Latin America are currently permitted to borrow under the Interfund Lending Program.

A lending BlackRock fund may lend in aggregate up to 15% of its net assets, but may not lend more than 5% of its net assets to any one borrowing fund through the Interfund Lending Program. A borrowing BlackRock fund may not borrow through the Interfund Lending Program or from any other source more than 33 1/3% of its total assets (or any lower threshold provided for by the fund’s investment restrictions). If a borrowing BlackRock fund’s total outstanding borrowings exceed 10% of its total assets, each of its outstanding interfund loans will be subject to collateralization of at least 102% of the outstanding principal value of the loan. All interfund loans are for temporary or emergency purposes and the interest rate to be charged will be the average of the highest current overnight repurchase agreement rate available to a lending fund and the bank loan rate, as calculated according to a formula established by the Board.

During the period ended October 31, 2020, the Funds did not participate in the Interfund Lending Program.

Directors and Officers: Certain directors and/or officers of the Fund are directors and/or officers of BlackRock or its affiliates. The Funds reimburse the Manager for a portion of the compensation paid to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, which is included in Directors and Officer in the Statements of Operations.

7.   PURCHASES AND SALES

For the six months ended October 31, 2020, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

 

Fund Name   Purchases      Sales  

Asian Dragon

  $ 29,307,394      $ 38,172,661  

Emerging Markets

    1,065,132,072        648,738,262  

Latin America

    87,922,334        81,658,152  

Long-Horizon Equity

    81,393,344        86,668,863  

8.   INCOME TAX INFORMATION

It is each Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.

 

 

58  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Each Fund files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The statute of limitations on each Fund’s U.S. federal tax returns generally remains open for a period of three fiscal years after they are filed. The statutes of limitations on each Fund’s state and local tax returns may remain open for an additional year depending upon the jurisdiction.

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of October 31, 2020, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds’ financial statements.

As of April 30, 2020, the Funds had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains as follows:

 

     Asian Dragon   Emerging Markets      Latin America      Long-Horizon Equity  
  $3,108,637   $ 7,727,444      $ 19,278,651      $  
 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of October 31, 2020, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

     Asian Dragon      Emerging Markets      Latin America      Long-Horizon Equity  

Tax cost

  $ 104,822,553      $ 1,503,930,647      $ 99,804,399      $ 199,924,433  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 38,771,931      $ 241,297,745      $ 8,052,823      $ 67,553,091  

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (9,496,193      (62,793,173      (11,518,488      (17,250,615
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  $ 29,275,738      $ 178,504,572      $ (3,465,665    $ 50,302,476  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

9.   BANK BORROWINGS

The Funds, along with certain other funds managed by the Manager and its affiliates (“Participating Funds”), are a party to a 364-day, $2.25 billion credit agreement with a group of lenders. Under this agreement, the Funds may borrow to fund shareholder redemptions. Excluding commitments designated for certain individual funds, the Participating Funds, including the Funds, can borrow up to an aggregate commitment amount of $1.75 billion at any time outstanding, subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the agreement. The credit agreement has the following terms: a fee of 0.10% per annum on unused commitment amounts and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) one-month LIBOR (but, in any event, not less than 0.00%) on the date the loan is made plus 0.80% per annum or (b) the Fed Funds rate (but, in any event, not less than 0.00%) in effect from time to time plus 0.80% per annum on amounts borrowed. The agreement expires in April 2021 unless extended or renewed. These fees were allocated among such funds based upon portions of the aggregate commitment available to them and relative net assets of Participating Funds. During the six months ended October 31, 2020, the Funds did not borrow under the credit agreement.

10.   PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, certain Funds invest in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject each Fund to various risks, including among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate and price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Funds and their investments. Each Fund’s prospectus provides details of the risks to which each Fund is subject.

The Funds may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.

Market Risk: Investments in the securities of issuers domiciled in countries with emerging capital markets involve certain additional risks that do not generally apply to investments in securities of issuers in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or nonexistent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities; (ii) uncertain national policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments; and (iii) possible fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or U.S. governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments.

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a fund’s investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.

Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A Fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A Fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause each Fund’s NAV to experience significant

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  59


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a Fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a Fund invests.

The price a Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from a Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation technique or a price provided by an independent pricing service. Changes to significant unobservable inputs and assumptions (i.e., publicly traded company multiples, growth rate, time to exit) due to the lack of observable inputs may significantly impact the resulting fair value and therefore a Fund’s results of operations. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by a Fund, and a Fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. A Fund’s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third party service providers.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds’ exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.

A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing broker’s customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.

Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a fund’s objectives, minimizes the risk that a price change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of a fund. The investment concentrations within certain Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

Certain Funds invest a substantial amount of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in those countries may have a significant impact on their investment performance and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the Fund’s portfolio. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Investment percentages in specific countries are presented in the Schedules of Investments.

Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Asia or with significant exposure to Asian issuers or countries. The Asian financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns in several Asian countries regarding monetary policy, government intervention in the markets, rising government debt levels or economic downturns. These events may spread to other countries in Asia and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds’ investments.

Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in China or with significant exposure to Chinese issuers or countries. Investments in Chinese securities, including certain Hong Kong-listed securities, involves risks specific to China. China may be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to developed markets. Chinese markets generally continue to experience inefficiency, volatility and pricing anomalies resulting from governmental influence, a lack of publicly available information and/or political and social instability. Internal social unrest or confrontations with other neighboring countries may disrupt economic development in China and result in a greater risk of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation. Incidents involving China’s or the region’s security may cause uncertainty in Chinese markets and may adversely affect the Chinese economy and the Fund’s investments. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of tariffs or other trade barriers, or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy.

LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) by the end of 2021, and it is expected that LIBOR will cease to be published after that time. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.

 

 

60  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited) (continued)   

 

11.   CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
    Period from
01/01/20
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended
12/31/19
 
Asian Dragon   Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts  

Institutional

           

Shares sold

    67,862     $ 1,066,573       86,928     $ 1,355,589       196,867     $ 3,023,898  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    9,260       148,619                   36,072       560,420  

Shares redeemed

    (295,851     (4,734,854     (344,534     (5,246,645     (921,993     (13,971,847
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (218,729   $ (3,519,662     (257,606   $ (3,891,056     (689,054   $ (10,387,529
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor A

           

Shares sold and automatic conversion of shares

    110,930     $ 1,764,195       126,670     $ 1,898,480       375,024     $ 5,571,428  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    9,861       156,016                   28,556       437,705  

Shares redeemed

    (381,937     (5,978,613     (444,065     (6,727,230     (1,159,298     (17,160,527
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (261,146   $ (4,058,402     (317,395   $ (4,828,750     (755,718   $ (11,151,394
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor C

           

Shares sold

    5,294     $ 56,564       6,652     $ 65,829       29,195     $ 289,229  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    913       9,548                   879       8,856  

Shares redeemed and automatic conversion of shares

    (79,719     (824,005     (51,435     (513,924     (158,296     (1,560,152
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (73,512   $ (757,893     (44,783   $ (448,095     (128,222   $ (1,262,067
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class K

           

Shares sold

    5,847     $ 91,731       24,265     $ 400,047       20,011     $ 305,724  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    125       2,010                   288       4,475  

Shares redeemed

    (13,084     (215,670     (10,348     (148,979     (10,529     (156,550
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (7,112   $ (121,929     13,917     $ 251,068       9,770     $ 153,649  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class R

           

Shares sold

    7,730     $ 91,940       11,837     $ 124,539       27,941     $ 315,254  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    283       3,382                   366       4,206  

Shares redeemed

    (25,552     (312,706     (23,660     (259,352     (139,917     (1,611,591
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (17,539   $ (217,384     (11,823   $ (134,813     (111,610   $ (1,292,131
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (578,038   $ (8,675,270     (617,690   $ (9,051,646     (1,674,834   $ (23,939,472
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
    Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended
10/31/19
 
Emerging Markets   Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts  

Institutional

           

Shares sold

    21,948,747     $ 559,181,381       23,561,590     $ 556,563,618       12,088,561     $ 278,694,896  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    109,028       2,768,226       173,542       4,361,104       36,673       763,179  

Shares redeemed

    (7,451,361     (187,940,476     (6,600,213     (153,705,073     (4,307,217     (98,532,465
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    14,606,414     $ 374,009,131       17,134,919     $ 407,219,649       7,818,017     $ 180,925,610  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor A

           

Shares sold and automatic conversion of shares

    2,365,408     $ 58,197,387       1,574,412     $ 35,871,783       2,162,003     $ 47,765,956  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    26,395       646,405       106,562       2,585,191       49,886       1,002,228  

Shares redeemed

    (1,242,811     (30,670,909     (1,132,079     (25,247,600     (1,823,297     (40,087,204
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    1,148,992     $ 28,172,883       548,895     $ 13,209,374       388,592     $ 8,680,980  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor C

           

Shares sold

    43,746     $ 900,391       91,323     $ 1,827,114       197,076     $ 3,588,726  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    971       20,032       10,549       215,929              

Shares redeemed and automatic conversion of shares

    (818,040     (17,087,268     (316,858     (6,110,969     (687,693     (12,548,184
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (773,323   $ (16,166,845     (214,986   $ (4,067,926     (490,617   $ (8,959,458
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  61


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
    Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended
10/31/19
 
Emerging Markets (continued)   Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts  

Class K

           

Shares sold

    2,559,150     $ 68,501,156       4,505,117     $ 108,687,600       4,575,144     $ 104,690,393  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    23,233       590,123       94,033       2,363,049       662       13,780  

Shares redeemed

    (1,707,434     (41,808,987     (1,568,879     (32,989,999     (179,827     (4,162,697
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    874,949     $ 27,282,292       3,030,271     $ 78,060,650       4,395,979     $ 100,541,476  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    15,857,032     $ 413,297,461       20,499,099     $ 494,421,747       12,111,971     $ 281,188,608  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
    Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended
10/31/19
 
Latin America   Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts  

Institutional

           

Shares sold

    1,630,318     $ 58,448,596       126,931     $ 6,313,371       397,884     $ 20,090,723  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    6,964       259,188       18,242       970,126       13,576       627,207  

Shares redeemed

    (1,485,223     (53,095,369     (305,518     (12,577,223     (635,011     (32,333,395
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    152,059     $ 5,612,415       (160,345   $ (5,293,726     (223,551   $ (11,615,465
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor A

           

Shares sold and automatic conversion of shares

    258,417     $ 9,266,710       51,824     $ 2,261,436       246,309     $ 12,263,903  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    10,653       391,700       26,051       1,370,008       14,495       662,163  

Shares redeemed

    (292,616     (9,636,441     (200,342     (8,833,078     (405,893     (20,258,538
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (23,546   $ 21,969       (122,467   $ (5,201,634     (145,089   $ (7,332,472
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor C

           

Shares sold

    6,004     $ 184,167       1,215     $ 43,097       7,139     $ 329,235  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    322       10,852       849       40,958              

Shares redeemed and automatic conversion of shares

    (50,667     (1,681,942     (34,341     (1,461,933     (145,500     (6,472,095
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (44,341   $ (1,486,923     (32,277   $ (1,377,878     (138,361   $ (6,142,860
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class K

           

Shares sold

    1,549     $ 54,258       1,091     $ 50,058       2,386     $ 120,960  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    91       3,371       236       12,536       157       7,260  

Shares redeemed

    (4,769     (171,624     (1,910     (87,296     (4,107     (208,667
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (3,129   $ (113,995     (583   $ (24,702     (1,564   $ (80,447
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    81,043     $ 4,033,466       (315,672   $ (11,897,940     (508,565   $ (25,171,244
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
    Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended
10/31/19
 
Long-Horizon Equity   Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts  

Institutional

           

Shares sold

    242,280     $ 3,213,633       167,207     $ 2,178,422       329,372     $ 4,388,186  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    123,900       1,594,579       299,458       4,090,593       215,933       2,550,211  

Shares redeemed

    (371,639     (4,944,785     (442,182     (5,616,059     (846,997     (11,019,854
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (5,459   $ (136,573     24,483     $ 652,956       (301,692   $ (4,081,457
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor A

           

Shares sold and automatic conversion of shares

    404,797     $ 5,336,667       248,776     $ 3,323,518       1,013,115     $ 13,500,578  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    606,060       7,800,002       1,441,457       19,704,712       1,036,950       12,246,708  

Shares redeemed

    (777,165     (10,308,068     (1,175,273     (15,071,500     (2,445,095     (32,180,457
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    233,692     $ 2,828,601       514,960     $ 7,956,730       (395,030   $ (6,433,171
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor C

           

Shares sold

    17,591     $ 238,900       15,103     $ 197,951       31,364     $ 392,633  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    19,407       250,743       54,732       753,108       45,316       536,990  

Shares redeemed and automatic conversion of shares

    (350,052     (4,629,980     (124,238     (1,568,723     (924,605     (12,189,498
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (313,054   $ (4,140,337     (54,403   $ (617,664     (847,925   $ (11,259,875
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

62  

2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

     Six Months Ended
10/31/20
    Period from
11/01/19
to 04/30/20
    Year Ended
10/31/19
 
Long-Horizon Equity (continued)   Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts  

Class R

           

Shares sold

    5,835     $ 78,467       7,349     $ 101,069       13,260     $ 179,086  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    1,307       16,999       5,850       80,788       5,796       68,967  

Shares redeemed

    (38,247     (504,619     (12,718     (175,825     (48,087     (640,690
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (31,105   $ (409,153     481     $ 6,032       (29,031   $ (392,637
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (115,926   $ (1,857,462     485,521     $ 7,998,054       (1,573,678   $ (22,167,140
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of October 31, 2020, shares owned by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., an affiliate of the Funds, were as follows:

 

Fund Name   Class K  

Asian Dragon

    10,701  

Latin America

    3,577  

12.   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  63


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory  Agreements

 

The Board of Directors of BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. (“Emerging Markets Fund”) met on April 7, 2020 and May 11-13, 2020 to consider the approval of the investment advisory agreement (the “Emerging Markets Advisory Agreement”) between Emerging Markets Fund and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”), its investment advisor. The Board of Directors of Emerging Markets Fund also considered the approval of the sub-advisory agreement (the “Emerging Markets Sub-Advisory Agreement”) between the Manager and BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited (“BAMNA”) with respect to Emerging Markets Fund.

The Board of Directors of BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. (“Latin America Fund”) met on April 7, 2020 and May 11-13, 2020 to consider the approval of the investment advisory agreement (the “Latin America Fund Advisory Agreement”) between Latin America Fund and the Manager, its investment advisor.

The Board of Directors of BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc. (“Asian Dragon Fund”) met on April 7, 2020 and May 11-13, 2020 to consider the approval of the investment advisory agreement (the “Asian Dragon Fund Advisory Agreement”) between Asian Dragon Fund and the Manager, its investment advisor. The Board of Asian Dragon Fund also considered the approval of the sub-advisory agreement (the “Asian Dragon Fund Sub-Advisory Agreement”) between the Manager and BAMNA with respect to Asian Dragon Fund.

The Board of Trustees of BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund (the “Long-Horizon Equity Fund”) met on April 7, 2020 and May 11-13, 2020 to consider the approval of the investment advisory agreement (the “Long-Horizon Equity Fund Advisory Agreement”) between Long-Horizon Equity Fund and Manager, its investment advisor. The Board also considered the approval of the sub-advisory agreement (the “Long-Horizon Equity Fund Sub-Advisory Agreement”) between the Manager and BlackRock International Limited (“BIL”) with respect to Long-Horizon Equity Fund.

Emerging Markets Fund, Latin America Fund, Asian Dragon Fund and Long-Horizon Equity Fund are referred to herein individually as a “Fund” or collectively as the “Funds.” The Manager, BAMNA and BIL are referred to herein as “BlackRock.” The Emerging Markets Advisory Agreement, the Emerging Markets Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Latin America Fund Advisory Agreement, the Asian Dragon Fund Advisory Agreement, the Asian Dragon Fund Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Long-Horizon Equity Fund Advisory Agreement and the Long-Horizon Equity Fund Sub-Advisory Agreement are referred to herein individually as an “Agreement” or collectively as the “Agreements.” For simplicity: (a) the Board of Directors of Emerging Markets Fund, the Board of Directors of Latin America Fund, the Board of Directors of Asian Dragon Fund and the Board of Trustees of Long-Horizon Equity Fund are referred to herein individually as the “Board” and collectively as the “Boards” and the members are referred to as “Board Members”; and (b) the meetings held on April 7, 2020 are referred to as the “April Meeting” and the meetings held on May 11-13, 2020 are referred to as the “May Meeting.”

Activities and Composition of the Boards

On the date of the May Meeting, each Board consisted of fourteen individuals, twelve of whom were not “interested persons” of the pertinent Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Board Members”). The Board Members are responsible for the oversight of the operations of the pertinent Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Board Members have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chair of each Board is an Independent Board Member. Each Board has established five standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Governance and Nominating Committee, a Compliance Committee, a Performance Oversight Committee and an Ad Hoc Topics Committee, each of which is chaired by an Independent Board Member and composed of Independent Board Members (except for the Ad Hoc Topics Committee, which also has one interested Board Member).

The Agreements

Consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, each Board considers the continuation of the pertinent Agreement(s) on an annual basis. The Boards have four quarterly meetings per year, each typically extending for two days, and additional in-person and telephonic meetings throughout the year, as needed. While the Boards also have a fifth one-day meeting to consider specific information surrounding the renewal of the pertinent Agreement(s), each Board’s consideration entails a year-long deliberative process whereby the Board and its committees assess BlackRock’s services to the Fund. In particular, each Board assessed, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the pertinent Fund by BlackRock, BlackRock’s personnel and affiliates, including (as applicable): investment management services; accounting oversight, administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the pertinent Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; and legal, regulatory and compliance services. Throughout the year, including during the contract renewal process, the Independent Board Members were advised by independent legal counsel, and met with independent legal counsel in various executive sessions outside of the presence of BlackRock’s management.

During the year, the Boards, acting directly and through their committees, consider information that is relevant to their annual consideration of the renewal of the pertinent Agreement(s), including the services and support provided by BlackRock to the pertinent Fund and its shareholders. BlackRock also furnished additional information to the Boards in response to specific questions from the Boards. This additional information is discussed further in the section titled “Board Considerations in Approving the Agreements.” Among the matters each Board considered, with respect to the pertinent Fund, were: (a) investment performance for one-year, three-year, five-year and/or since inception periods, as applicable, against peer funds, an applicable benchmark, and other performance metrics, as applicable, as well as BlackRock senior management’s and portfolio managers’ analyses of the reasons for any outperformance or underperformance relative to its peers, benchmarks, and other performance metrics, as applicable; (b) fees, including advisory, administration, if applicable, and other amounts paid to BlackRock and its affiliates by the Fund for services; (c) Fund operating expenses and how BlackRock allocates expenses to the Fund; (d) the resources devoted to risk oversight of, and compliance reports relating to, implementation of the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and meeting regulatory requirements; (e) BlackRock’s and the Fund’s adherence to applicable compliance policies and procedures; (f) the nature, character and scope of non-investment management services provided by BlackRock and its affiliates and the estimated cost of such services; (g) BlackRock’s and other service providers’ internal controls and risk and compliance oversight mechanisms; (h) BlackRock’s implementation of the proxy voting policies approved by the Board; (i) the use of brokerage commissions and execution quality of portfolio transactions; (j) BlackRock’s implementation of the Fund’s valuation and liquidity procedures; (k) an analysis of management fees for products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, exchange-traded fund (“ETF”), closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund, separately managed account, collective investment trust, and institutional separate account product channels, as applicable, and the similarities and differences between these products and the services provided as compared to the Fund; (l) BlackRock’s compensation methodology for its investment professionals and the incentives and accountability it creates, along with investment professionals’ investments in the fund(s) they manage; and (m) periodic updates on BlackRock’s business.

 

 

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2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreements  (continued)

 

Board Considerations in Approving the Agreements

The Approval Process: Prior to the April Meeting, the Boards requested and received materials specifically relating to the Agreements. The Independent Board Members are continuously engaged in a process with their independent legal counsel and BlackRock to review the nature and scope of the information provided to each Board to better assist its deliberations. The materials provided in connection with the April Meeting included, among other things: (a) information independently compiled and prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), based on either a Lipper classification or Morningstar category, regarding the pertinent Fund’s fees and expenses as compared with a peer group of funds as determined by Broadridge (“Expense Peers”) and the investment performance of each Fund as compared with a peer group of funds (“Performance Peers”); (b) information on the composition of the Expense Peers and Performance Peers and a description of Broadridge’s methodology; (c) information on the estimated profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates pursuant to the Agreements and a discussion of fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates; (d) a general analysis provided by BlackRock concerning investment management fees received in connection with other types of investment products, such as institutional accounts, sub-advised mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, open-end funds, and separately managed accounts under similar investment mandates, as well as the performance of such other products, as applicable; (e) a review of non-management fees; (f) the existence, impact and sharing of potential economies of scale, if any, with the Funds; (g) a summary of aggregate amounts paid by each Fund to BlackRock; (h) sales and redemption data regarding each Fund’s shares; and (i) various additional information requested by the Boards as appropriate regarding BlackRock’s and the Funds’ operations.

At the April Meeting, each Board reviewed materials relating to its consideration of the pertinent Agreements. As a result of the discussions that occurred during the April Meeting, and as a culmination of each Board’s year-long deliberative process, the Boards presented BlackRock with questions and requests for additional information. BlackRock responded to these questions and requests with additional written information in advance of the May Meeting.

At the May Meeting, each Board concluded, with respect to the pertinent Fund, its assessment of, among other things: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BlackRock; (b) the investment performance of the Fund as compared to its Performance Peers and other metrics, as applicable; (c) the advisory fee and the estimated cost of the services and estimated profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates from their relationship with the Fund; (d) the Fund’s fees and expenses compared to its Expense Peers; (e) the existence and sharing of potential economies of scale; (f) any fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates as a result of BlackRock’s relationship with the Fund; and (g) other factors deemed relevant by the Board Members.

Each Board also considered other matters it deemed important to the approval process, such as other payments made to BlackRock or its affiliates relating to securities lending and cash management, and BlackRock’s services related to the valuation and pricing of the portfolio holdings of the pertinent Fund. Each Board noted the willingness of BlackRock’s personnel to engage in open, candid discussions with the Board. The Boards did not identify any particular information as determinative, and each Board Member may have attributed different weights to the various items considered.

A. Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services Provided by BlackRock

Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the nature, extent and quality of services provided by BlackRock, including the investment advisory services, and the resulting performance of the applicable Fund. Throughout the year, each Board compared Fund performance to the performance of a comparable group of mutual funds, relevant benchmark, and performance metrics, as applicable. The Boards met with BlackRock’s senior management personnel responsible for investment activities, including the senior investment officers. Each Board also reviewed the materials provided by the applicable Fund’s portfolio management team discussing the pertinent Fund’s performance, investment strategies and outlook.

Each Board considered, among other factors, with respect to BlackRock: the number, education and experience of investment personnel generally and the applicable Fund’s portfolio management team; research capabilities; investments by portfolio managers in the funds they manage; portfolio trading capabilities; use of technology; commitment to compliance; credit analysis capabilities; risk analysis and oversight capabilities; and the approach to training and retaining portfolio managers and other research, advisory and management personnel. The Boards also considered BlackRock’s overall risk management program, including the continued efforts of BlackRock and its affiliates to address cybersecurity risks and the role of BlackRock’s Risk & Quantitative Analysis Group. Each Board engaged in a review of BlackRock’s compensation structure with respect to the applicable Fund’s portfolio management team and BlackRock’s ability to attract and retain high-quality talent and create performance incentives.

In addition to investment advisory services, the Boards considered the nature and quality of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services provided to the Funds. BlackRock and its affiliates provide the Funds with certain administrative, shareholder and other services (in addition to any such services provided to the Funds by third parties) and officers and other personnel as are necessary for the operations of the Funds. In particular, BlackRock and its affiliates provide each Fund with administrative services including, among others: (i) responsibility for disclosure documents, such as the prospectus, the summary prospectus (as applicable), the statement of additional information and periodic shareholder reports; (ii) oversight of daily accounting and pricing; (iii) responsibility for periodic filings with regulators; (iv) overseeing and coordinating the activities of third-party service providers, including, among others, the Fund’s custodian, fund accountant, transfer agent, and auditor; (v) organizing Board meetings and preparing the materials for such Board meetings; (vi) providing legal and compliance support; (vii) furnishing analytical and other support to assist the Board in its consideration of strategic issues such as the merger, consolidation or repurposing of certain open-end funds; and (viii) performing or managing administrative functions necessary for the operation of the Fund, such as tax reporting, expense management, fulfilling regulatory filing requirements, overseeing the Fund’s distribution partners, and shareholder call center and other services. The Boards reviewed the structure and duties of BlackRock’s fund administration, shareholder services, and legal & compliance departments and considered BlackRock’s policies and procedures for assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

B. The Investment Performance of the Funds and BlackRock

Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, also reviewed and considered the performance history of the applicable Fund. In preparation for the April Meeting, the Boards were provided with reports independently prepared by Broadridge, which included an analysis of each Fund’s performance as of December 31, 2019, as compared to its Performance Peers. Broadridge ranks funds in quartiles, ranging from first to fourth, where first is the most desirable quartile position and fourth is the least desirable. In

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND  SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

  65


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreements  (continued)

 

connection with its review, each Board received and reviewed information regarding the investment performance of the pertinent Fund as compared to its Performance Peers. Each Board and its Performance Oversight Committee regularly review, and meet with Fund management to discuss, the performance of the pertinent Fund throughout the year.

In evaluating performance, the Boards focused particular attention on funds with less favorable performance records. The Board also noted that while it found the data provided by Broadridge generally useful, it recognized the limitations of such data, including in particular, that notable differences may exist between a fund and its Performance Peers (for example, the investment objectives and strategies). Further, the Boards recognized that the performance data reflects a snapshot of a period as of a particular date and that selecting a different performance period could produce significantly different results. The Board also acknowledged that long-term performance could be impacted by even one period of significant outperformance or underperformance, and that a single investment theme could have the ability to disproportionately affect long-term performance.

The Board noted that for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, Emerging Markets Fund ranked in the first quartile against its Performance Peers.

The Board noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, Long-Horizon Equity Fund ranked in the first, first and third quartiles, respectively, against its Performance Peers. The Board and BlackRock reviewed the Fund’s underperformance relative to its Performance Peers during the applicable periods.

The Board noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, Asian Dragon Fund ranked in the second, fourth and third quartiles, respectively, against its Performance Peers. The Board and BlackRock reviewed the Fund’s underperformance relative to its Performance Peers during the applicable periods.

The Board noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, Latin America Fund ranked in the fourth, third and fourth quartiles, respectively, against its Performance Peers. The Board and BlackRock reviewed the Fund’s underperformance relative to its Performance Peers during the applicable period.

C. Consideration of the Advisory/Management Fees and the Estimated Cost of the Services and Estimated Profits Realized by BlackRock and its Affiliates from their Relationship with the Funds

Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the applicable Fund’s contractual management fee rate compared with those of its Expense Peers. The contractual management fee rate represents a combination of the advisory fee and any administrative fees, before taking into account any reimbursements or fee waivers. Each Board also compared the applicable Fund’s total expense ratio, as well as its actual management fee rate, to those of its Expense Peers. The total expense ratio represents a fund’s total net operating expenses, including any 12b-1 or non-12b-1 service fees. The total expense ratio gives effect to any expense reimbursements or fee waivers, and the actual management fee rate gives effect to any management fee reimbursements or waivers. The Boards considered the services provided and the fees charged by BlackRock and its affiliates to other types of clients with similar investment mandates, as applicable, including institutional accounts and sub-advised mutual funds (including mutual funds sponsored by third parties).

The Boards received and reviewed statements relating to BlackRock’s financial condition. The Boards reviewed BlackRock’s profitability methodology and were also provided with an estimated profitability analysis that detailed the revenues earned and the expenses incurred by BlackRock for services provided to the Funds. The Boards reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to the Funds and other funds the Boards currently oversees for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to available aggregate estimated profitability data provided for the prior two years. The Boards reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to certain other U.S. fund complexes managed by BlackRock and/or its affiliates. The Boards reviewed BlackRock’s assumptions and methodology of allocating expenses in the estimated profitability analysis, noting the inherent limitations in allocating costs among various advisory products. The Boards recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors including, among other things, fee waivers and expense reimbursements by BlackRock, the types of funds managed, precision of expense allocations and business mix. The Boards thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at the individual fund level is difficult.

The Boards noted that, in general, individual fund or product line profitability of other advisors is not publicly available. The Boards reviewed BlackRock’s overall operating margin, in general, compared to that of certain other publicly traded asset management firms. The Boards considered the differences between BlackRock and these other firms, including the contribution of technology at BlackRock, BlackRock’s expense management, and the relative product mix.

Each Board considered whether BlackRock has the financial resources necessary to attract and retain high quality investment management personnel to perform its obligations under the pertinent Agreement(s) and to continue to provide the high quality of services that is expected by the Board. The Boards further considered factors including but not limited to BlackRock’s commitment of time, assumption of risk, and liability profile in servicing the Funds, including in contrast to what is required of BlackRock with respect to other products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, ETF, closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund, separately managed account, collective investment trust, and institutional separate account product channels, as applicable.

The Board noted that Emerging Markets Fund’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the first quartile relative to the Fund’s Expense Peers. The Board also noted that the Fund has an advisory fee arrangement that includes breakpoints that adjust the fee rate downward as the size of the Fund increases above certain contractually specified levels. The Board noted that if the size of the Fund were to decrease, the Fund could lose the benefit of one or more breakpoints. The Board also noted that BlackRock proposed, and the Board agreed to, a contractual adjustment to reduce specified levels within the breakpoint schedule. This adjustment was implemented on September 19, 2019. The Board further noted that BlackRock and the Board have contractually agreed to a cap on the Fund’s total expenses as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets on a class-by-class basis. In addition, the Board noted that BlackRock proposed, and the Board agreed to, a lower contractual expense cap on a class-by-class basis. This expense cap reduction was implemented on September 19, 2019.

The Board noted that Asian Dragon Fund’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio ranked in the third and first quartiles, respectively, relative to the Fund’s Expense Peers. The Board also noted that the Fund has an advisory fee arrangement that includes breakpoints that adjust the fee rate downward as the size of the Fund increases above certain contractually specified levels. The Board noted that if the size of the Fund were to decrease, the Fund could lose the benefit of one or more breakpoints.

 

 

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2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreements  (continued)

 

The Board noted that Long-Horizon Equity Fund’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the second quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the second quartile relative to the Fund’s Expense Peers. The Board also noted that the Fund has an advisory fee arrangement that includes breakpoints that adjust the fee rate downward as the size of the Fund increases above certain contractually specified levels. The Board noted that if the size of the Fund were to decrease, the Fund could lose the benefit of one or more breakpoints. The Board further noted that BlackRock and the Board have contractually agreed to a cap on the Fund’s total expenses as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets on a class-by-class basis. In addition, the Board noted that BlackRock has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of the advisory fee payable by the Fund. After discussions between the Board, including Independent Board Members, and BlackRock, the Board and BlackRock agreed to a continuation of the voluntary advisory fee waiver.

The Board noted that Latin America Fund’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the second quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio ranked in the fourth and third quartiles, respectively, relative to the Fund’s Expense Peers. The Board also noted that the Fund has an advisory fee arrangement that includes breakpoints that adjust the fee rate downward as the size of the Fund increases above certain contractually specified levels. The Board noted that if the size of the Fund were to decrease, the Fund could lose the benefit of one or more breakpoints. In addition, after discussion between the Board, including the Independent Board Members, and BlackRock, the Board and BlackRock agreed to a voluntary advisory fee waiver. This waiver was implemented on June 1, 2020. This waiver may be discontinued at any time without notice.

D. Economies of Scale

Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the pertinent Fund increase, including the existence of fee waivers and/or expense caps, as applicable, noting that any contractual fee waivers and contractual expense caps had been approved by the Board. In its consideration, each Board further considered the continuation and/or implementation of fee waivers and/or expense caps, as applicable. Each Board also considered the extent to which the applicable Fund benefits from such economies of scale in a variety of ways and whether there should be changes in the advisory fee rate or breakpoint structure in order to enable the Fund to more fully participate in these economies of scale. Each Board considered the applicable Fund’s asset levels and whether the current fee schedule was appropriate.

E. Other Factors Deemed Relevant by the Board Members

Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, also took into account other ancillary or “fall-out” benefits that BlackRock or its affiliates may derive from BlackRock’s respective relationships with the applicable Fund, both tangible and intangible, such as BlackRock’s ability to leverage its investment professionals who manage other portfolios and its risk management personnel, an increase in BlackRock’s profile in the investment advisory community, and the engagement of BlackRock’s affiliates as service providers to the Fund, including for administrative, distribution, securities lending and cash management services. The Board also considered BlackRock’s overall operations and its efforts to expand the scale of, and improve the quality of, its operations. The Board also noted that, subject to applicable law, BlackRock may use and benefit from third-party research obtained by soft dollars generated by certain registered fund transactions to assist in managing all or a number of its other client accounts.

In connection with their consideration of the Agreements, the Boards also received information regarding BlackRock’s brokerage and soft dollar practices. The Boards received reports from BlackRock which included information on brokerage commissions and trade execution practices throughout the year.

The Boards noted the competitive nature of the open-end fund marketplace, and that shareholders are able to redeem their Fund shares if they believe that the pertinent Fund’s fees and expenses are too high or if they are dissatisfied with the performance of the Fund.

Conclusion

The Board of Emerging Markets Fund, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Emerging Markets Fund Advisory Agreement between the Manager and Emerging Markets Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2021, and the Emerging Markets Fund Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Manager and BAMNA with respect to Emerging Markets Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2021.

The Board of Latin America Fund, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Latin America Fund Advisory Agreement between the Manager and Latin America Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2021.

The Board of Asian Dragon Fund, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Asian Dragon Fund Advisory Agreement between the Manager and Asian Dragon Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2021, and the Asian Dragon Fund Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Manager and BAMNA with respect to Asian Dragon Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2021.

The Board of Long-Horizon Equity Fund, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Long-Horizon Equity Fund Advisory Agreement between the Manager and Long-Horizon Equity Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2021, and the Long-Horizon Equity Fund Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Manager and BIL with respect to Long-Horizon Equity Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2021.

Based upon their evaluation of all of the aforementioned factors in their totality, as well as other information, the Boards, including the Independent Board Members, were satisfied that the terms of the Agreements were fair and reasonable and in the best interest of each Fund, as pertinent, and its shareholders. In arriving at its decision to approve the Agreements, the Boards did not identify any single factor or group of factors as all-important or controlling, but considered all factors together, and different Board Members may have attributed different weights to the various factors considered. The Independent Board Members were also assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel in making this determination.

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND  SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

  67


Additional Information

 

General Information

Householding

The Funds will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports and proxy statements, to shareholders with multiple accounts at the same address. This practice is commonly called “householding” and is intended to reduce expenses and eliminate duplicate mailings of shareholder documents. Mailings of your shareholder documents may be householded indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call the Funds at (800) 441-7762.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to their reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available upon request and without charge (1) by calling (800) 441-7762; (2) at blackrock.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

Availability of Proxy Voting Record

Information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to securities held in the Funds’ portfolios during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available upon request and without charge (1) at blackrock.com; or by calling (800) 441-7762 and (2) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

BlackRock’s Mutual Fund Family

BlackRock offers a diverse lineup of open-end mutual funds crossing all investment styles and managed by experts in equity, fixed-income and tax-exempt investing. Visit blackrock.com for more information.

Shareholder Privileges

Account Information

Call us at (800) 441-7762 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET on any business day to get information about your account balances, recent transactions and share prices. You can also visit blackrock.com for more information.

Automatic Investment Plans

Investor class shareholders who want to invest regularly can arrange to have $50 or more automatically deducted from their checking or savings account and invested in any of the BlackRock funds.

Systematic Withdrawal Plans

Investor class shareholders can establish a systematic withdrawal plan and receive periodic payments of $50 or more from their BlackRock funds, as long as their account balance is at least $10,000.

Retirement Plans

Shareholders may make investments in conjunction with Traditional, Rollover, Roth, Coverdell, Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs and 403(b) Plans.

BlackRock Privacy Principles

BlackRock is committed to maintaining the privacy of its current and former fund investors and individual clients (collectively, “Clients”) and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information BlackRock collects, how we protect that information and why in certain cases we share such information with select parties.

If you are located in a jurisdiction where specific laws, rules or regulations require BlackRock to provide you with additional or different privacy-related rights beyond what is set forth below, then BlackRock will comply with those specific laws, rules or regulations.

BlackRock obtains or verifies personal non-public information from and about you from different sources, including the following: (i) information we receive from you or, if applicable, your financial intermediary, on applications, forms or other documents; (ii) information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; (iii) information we receive from a consumer reporting agency; and (iv) from visits to our websites.

 

 

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2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Additional Information  (continued)

 

BlackRock does not sell or disclose to non-affiliated third parties any non-public personal information about its Clients, except as permitted by law or as is necessary to respond to regulatory requests or to service Client accounts. These non-affiliated third parties are required to protect the confidentiality and security of this information and to use it only for its intended purpose.

We may share information with our affiliates to service your account or to provide you with information about other BlackRock products or services that may be of interest to you. In addition, BlackRock restricts access to non-public personal information about its Clients to those BlackRock employees with a legitimate business need for the information. BlackRock maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that are designed to protect the non-public personal information of its Clients, including procedures relating to the proper storage and disposal of such information.

Fund and Service Providers

 

Investment Adviser

BlackRock Advisors, LLC

Wilmington, DE 19809

Sub-Adviser

BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited(a)

Hong Kong

BlackRock International Limited(b)

Edinburgh, EH3 8BL

United Kingdom

Accounting Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company

Boston, MA 02111

Custodian

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

Boston, MA 02109

 

(a)  

For Asian Dragon and Emerging Markets.

(b)   

For Long-Horizon Equity.

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

Wilmington, DE 19809

Distributor

BlackRock Investments, LLC

New York, NY 10022

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, MA 02116

Legal Counsel

Sidley Austin LLP

New York, NY 10019

Address of the Funds

100 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  69


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Currency Abbreviation
BRL    Brazilian Real
HKD    Hong Kong Dollar
USD    United States Dollar
  
Portfolio Abbreviation
ADR    American Depositary Receipt
GDR    Global Depositary Receipt
GOL    General Obligation Ltd.
JSC    Joint Stock Company
MSCI    Morgan Stanley Capital International
NVDR    Non-Voting Depositary Receipt
PCL    Public Company Limited
PJSC    Public Joint Stock Company
REIT    Real Estate Investment Trust
SAB    Special Assessment Bonds

 

 

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2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


 

 

 

Want to know more?

blackrock.com | 800-441-7762

This report is intended for current holders. It is not authorized for use as an offer of sale or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Funds unless preceded or accompanied by the Funds’ current prospectus. Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance. Investment returns and principal value of shares will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Statements and other information herein are as dated and are subject to change.

GLEQ4-10/20-SAR

LOGO

  LOGO


Item 2 –

Code of Ethics – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report

 

Item 3 –

Audit Committee Financial Expert – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report

 

Item 4 –

Principal Accountant Fees and Services – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report

 

Item 5 –

Audit Committee of Listed Registrant – Not Applicable

 

Item 6 –

Investments

(a) The registrant’s Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

(b) Not Applicable due to no such divestments during the semi-annual period covered since the previous Form N-CSR filing.

 

Item 7 –

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not Applicable

 

Item 8 –

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not Applicable

 

Item 9 –

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not Applicable

 

Item 10 –

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders –There have been no material changes to these procedures.

 

Item 11 –

Controls and Procedures

(a) The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12 –

Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment

Companies – Not Applicable

 

Item 13 –

Exhibits attached hereto

(a)(1) Code of Ethics – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report

(a)(2) Section 302 Certifications are attached

(a)(3) Not Applicable

(a)(4) Not Applicable

(b) Section 906 Certifications are attached

 

2


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

 

  By:     

/s/ John M. Perlowski                            

       John M. Perlowski
       Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
       BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

Date: December 31, 2020

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

  By:     

/s/ John M. Perlowski                            

       John M. Perlowski
       Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
       BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

Date: December 31, 2020

 

  By:     

/s/ Neal J. Andrews                            

       Neal J. Andrews
       Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of
       BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund

Date: December 31, 2020

 

3