OCTOBER 27, 2023
 |
Summary Prospectus |
BlackRock
EuroFund | Class K Shares
Class K: MKEFX
Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s
prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus (including amendments and supplements), reports to shareholders and other information about the Fund, including the Fund’s
statement of additional information, online at http://www.blackrock.com/prospectus. You can also get this information at no cost by calling (800) 537-4942 or by sending an e-mail request to
prospectus.request@blackrock.com, or from your financial professional. The Fund’s prospectus
and statement of additional information, both dated October 27, 2023, as amended and supplemented from time to time, are incorporated by reference into (legally made a part of) this Summary Prospectus.
This
Summary Prospectus contains information you should know before investing, including information about risks. Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or
disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Summary Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank
Guarantee
Summary Prospectus
Key Facts About BlackRock EuroFund
Investment Objective
The investment objective of BlackRock EuroFund (the
“Fund”) is to seek capital appreciation primarily through investment in equities of corporations domiciled in European countries.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if
you buy, hold and sell Class K Shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to your financial professional or your selected securities dealer, broker, investment adviser,
service provider or industry professional (including BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BlackRock”) and its affiliates) (each, a “Financial Intermediary”), which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| Annual
Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
Class
K Shares | |
| Management Fee1 | 0.75% | |
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | None | |
| Other Expenses | 0.62% | |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.37% | |
| Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,2 | (0.11)% | |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,2 | 1.26% |
| 1 | As described in the “Management of the Fund” section of the Fund’s prospectus beginning on page 28, BlackRock has contractually agreed to waive the management fee with respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets estimated to be attributable to investments in other equity and fixed-income mutual funds and exchange-traded funds managed by BlackRock or its affiliates that have a contractual management fee, through June 30, 2025. In addition, BlackRock has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by the amount of investment advisory fees the Fund pays to BlackRock indirectly through its investment in money market funds managed by BlackRock or its affiliates, through June 30, 2025. The contractual agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested trustees of the Fund or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. |
| 2 | As described in the “Management of the Fund” section of the Fund’s prospectus beginning on page 28, BlackRock has contractually agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding Dividend Expense, Interest Expense, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to 0.99% of average daily net assets through June 30, 2025. The contractual agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested trustees of the Fund or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. |
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your
investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | |
| Class K Shares | $128 | $423 | $739 | $1,637 |
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual
fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 37% of the average value of its portfolio.
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Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80%
of its net assets in equity securities, including common stock and convertible securities, of companies located in Europe. For these purposes, “net assets” include any borrowings for investment purposes. Equity securities include common
stock, preferred stock, securities convertible into common stock or securities or other instruments whose price is linked to the value of common stock. Common stock are securities representing shares of ownership of a corporation. Convertible
securities are securities, such as corporate bonds or preferred stock, that are exchangeable for shares of common stock of the issuer or another company.
The Fund may invest in companies of any size. The Fund has no
limits on the geographic asset distribution of its investments within Europe. However, the Fund currently expects that a majority of the Fund’s assets will be invested in equity securities of companies located in countries participating in the
European Monetary Union (the “Eurozone”). Other exposure may include, without limitation, investments in companies located in European Union Member States that Fund management believes are likely to join the Eurozone in the foreseeable
future and in companies based elsewhere that exercise the predominant part of their economic activity in Eurozone countries.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your
investment in the Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as
other similar investments. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund. The relative significance of each risk factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.
| ■ | Equity Securities Risk — Stock markets are volatile. The price of equity securities fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. |
| ■ | Foreign Securities Risk — Foreign investments often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. These risks include: |
| ■ | The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight. |
| ■ | Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio. |
| ■ | The economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position. |
| ■ | The governments of certain countries, or the U.S. Government with respect to certain countries, may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions through capital controls and/or sanctions on foreign investments in the capital markets or certain industries in those countries, which may prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer currency, securities, derivatives or other assets. |
| ■ | Many foreign governments do not supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to the same extent as does the United States and may not have laws to protect investors that are comparable to U.S. securities laws. |
| ■ | Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets may result in delays in payment for or delivery of securities not typically associated with settlement and clearance of U.S. investments. |
| ■ | The Fund’s claims to recover foreign withholding taxes may not be successful, and if the likelihood of recovery of foreign withholding taxes materially decreases, due to, for example, a change in tax regulation or approach in the foreign country, accruals in the Fund’s net asset value for such refunds may be written down partially or in full, which will adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value. |
| ■ | The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries as well as acts of war in the region. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Fund’s investments. |
| ■ | Geographic Concentration Risk — From time to time the Fund may invest a substantial amount of its assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. If the Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, political and social conditions in those countries will have a significant |
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| impact on its investment performance. The Fund’s investment performance may also be more volatile if it concentrates its investments in certain countries, especially emerging market countries. | |
| ■ | Convertible Securities Risk — The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest, principal or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock, including the potential for increased volatility in the price of the convertible security. |
| ■ | Focus Risk — Under normal circumstances, the Fund focuses its investments in the securities of a limited number of issuers. This may subject the Fund to greater issuer-specific risk and potential losses than a fund that invests in the securities of a greater number of issuers. |
| ■ | Industrials Sector Risk — Companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by changes in the supply of and demand for products and services, product obsolescence, claims for environmental damage or product liability and changes in general economic conditions, among other factors. |
| ■ | Investment in a Particular Geographic Region or Country Risk — France — The Fund’s investment in French issuers subjects the Fund to legal, regulatory, political, currency, security, and economic risks specific to France. Ongoing concerns in relation to the economic health of the European Union (the “EU”) continue to constrain the economic resilience of certain EU member states, including France. Interest rates on France’s debt may rise to levels that make it difficult for it to service high debt levels without significant financial help from, among others, the European Central Bank and could potentially result in default. In addition, the French economy is dependent to a significant extent on the economies of certain key trading partners, including Germany and other Western European countries. Reduction in spending on French products and services, or changes in any of the economies may cause economic adversity in France. In addition, France has been subject to acts of terrorism, which has created a climate of insecurity that has been detrimental to tourism and may lead to further adverse economic consequences. The French economy is dependent on exports from the agricultural sector. Leading agricultural exports include dairy products, meat, wine, fruit and vegetables, and fish.. As a result, the French economy is susceptible to fluctuations in demand for agricultural products. In addition, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The extent and duration of the military action, resulting sanctions and resulting future market disruptions in the region are impossible to predict, but could be significant and have a severe adverse effect on the region, including significant negative impacts on the economy and the markets for certain securities and commodities, such as oil and natural gas, as well as other sectors. |
| ■ | Investment in a Particular Geographic Region or Country Risk — Germany —Investment in German issuers subjects the Fund to legal, regulatory, political, currency, security, and economic risks specific to Germany. Ongoing concerns in relation to the economic health of the EU continue to constrain the economic resilience of certain EU member states, including Germany. Germany has a large export-reliant manufacturing and industrials sector, and the German economy is dependent to a significant extent on the economies of certain key trading partners, including the Netherlands, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and other European countries. A reduction in spending on German products and services or a decline in any of the economies may have an adverse impact on the German economy. Heavy regulation of labor, energy and product markets in Germany may have an adverse impact on German issuers. Such regulations may negatively impact economic growth or cause prolonged periods of recession. In addition, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The extent and duration of the military action, resulting sanctions and resulting future market disruptions in the region are impossible to predict, but could be significant and have a severe adverse effect on the region, including significant negative impacts on the economy and the markets for certain securities and commodities, such as oil and natural gas, as well as other sectors. |
| ■ | Investment in a Particular Geographic Region or Country Risk — Netherlands — Investment in Dutch issuers may subject the Fund to regulatory, political, currency, security, and economic risk specific to the Netherlands and the countries that use the euro. Among other things, the Netherlands’ economy is heavily dependent on trading relationships with certain key trading partners, including Germany, Belgium, the U.K., France and Italy. Future changes in the price or the demand for Dutch products or services by these countries or changes in these countries’ economies, trade regulations or currency exchange rates could adversely impact the Dutch economy and the issuers to which the Fund has exposure. The Dutch economy relies on export of financial services to other European countries. European financial markets have from time to time been adversely affected by fiscal crises in other European nations, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. As a result, the Netherlands may have trouble accessing capital markets and may be forced to pay higher interest rates on its debt than if it did not use the euro as its currency. In addition, the Netherlands may be indirectly exposed to the debt of the aforementioned countries through its banking sector. Any default by a country that uses the euro may therefore have a material |
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| adverse effect on the Dutch economy. In addition, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The extent and duration of the military action, resulting sanctions and resulting future market disruptions in the region are impossible to predict, but could be significant and have a severe adverse effect on the region, including significant negative impacts on the economy and the markets for certain securities and commodities, such as oil and natural gas, as well as other sectors. | |
| ■ | Market Risk and Selection Risk — Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, exchange, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues like pandemics or epidemics, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. Selection risk is the risk that the securities selected by Fund management will underperform the markets, the relevant indices or the securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies. This means you may lose money. |
| An outbreak of an infectious coronavirus (COVID-19) that was first detected in December 2019 developed into a global pandemic that has resulted in numerous disruptions in the market and has had significant economic impact leaving general concern and uncertainty. Although vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the duration of the pandemic and its effects cannot be predicted with certainty. The impact of this coronavirus, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. | |
| ■ | Preferred Securities Risk — Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. |
Performance
Information
The information shows you how the Fund’s performance has
varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The Fund’s returns prior to October 23, 2018 shown below are the returns of the Fund when it followed different investment strategies. Class K Shares
commenced operations on January 25, 2018. As a result, the returns shown below for Class K Shares prior to January 25, 2018 are those of the Fund’s Institutional Shares, which are not offered in this prospectus. The performance of Class K
Shares would be substantially similar to Institutional Shares because Class K Shares and Institutional Shares invest in the same portfolio of securities and performance would differ only to the extent that Institutional Shares and Class K Shares
have different expenses. The actual returns of Class K Shares would have been higher than those of Institutional Shares because Class K Shares have lower expenses than Institutional Shares. The table compares the Fund’s performance to that of
the MSCI EMU Index. To the extent that dividends and distributions have been paid by the Fund, the performance information for the Fund in the chart and table assumes reinvestment of the dividends and distributions. As with all such investments,
past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. The table includes all applicable fees. If the Fund’s investment manager and its affiliates had not waived or reimbursed certain Fund expenses during these
periods, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. Updated information on the Fund’s performance, including its current net asset value, can be obtained by visiting http://www.blackrock.com or can be obtained by phone at (800)
882-0052.
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BlackRock EuroFund
Class K Shares
Class K Shares
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
As of 12/31
As of 12/31
During the ten-year
period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 23.57% (quarter ended June 30, 2020) and the lowest return for a quarter was -23.22% (quarter ended March 31, 2020). The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2023 was
5.66%.
| For
the periods ended 12/31/22 Average Annual Total Returns |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
| BlackRock EuroFund — Class K Shares | |||
| Return Before Taxes | (23.82)% | 1.88% | 3.65% |
| Return After Taxes on Distributions | (23.85)% | 1.83% | 3.47% |
| Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | (13.85)% | 1.59% | 3.00% |
| MSCI
EMU Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
(17.86)% | 0.60% | 4.53% |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest
individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not
relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Investment Manager
The Fund’s investment manager is BlackRock Advisors, LLC
(previously defined as “BlackRock”). The Fund’s sub-adviser is BlackRock International Limited. Where applicable, the use of the term BlackRock also refers to the Fund’s sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers
| Name | Portfolio
Manager of the Fund Since |
Title |
| Andreas Zoellinger, CFA | 2018 | Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. |
| Tom Joy, CFA | 2019 | Director of BlackRock, Inc. |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class K Shares of the Fund are available only to (i) certain
employee benefit plans, such as health savings accounts, and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans (not including SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and SARSEPs) (collectively, “Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans”), (ii) collective trust
funds, investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles, each of which may purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to purchase such shares, (iii)
“Institutional Investors,” which include, but are not limited to, endowments, foundations, family offices, banks and bank trusts, local, city, and state governmental institutions, corporations and insurance company separate accounts,
each of which may purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to purchase such
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shares, (iv) clients of private banks that purchase shares of the Fund
through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to sell such shares, (v) fee-based advisory platforms of a Financial Intermediary that (a) has specifically acknowledged in a written agreement
with the Fund’s distributor and/or its affiliate(s) that the Financial Intermediary shall offer such shares to fee-based advisory clients through an omnibus account held at the Fund or (b) transacts in the Fund’s shares through another
intermediary that has executed such an agreement and (vi) any other investors who met the eligibility criteria for BlackRock Shares or Class K Shares prior to August 15, 2016 and have continually held Class K Shares of the Fund in the same account
since August 15, 2016.
You may purchase or redeem shares
of the Fund each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Purchase orders may also be placed by calling (800) 537-4942, by mail (c/o BlackRock, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15253-4429), or online at www.blackrock.com. Institutional
Investors are subject to a $5 million minimum initial investment requirement. Other investors, including Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans, have no minimum initial investment requirement. There is no minimum investment amount for additional
purchases.
Tax Information
Different income tax rules apply depending on whether you are
invested through a qualified tax-exempt plan described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If you are invested through such a plan (and Fund shares are not “debt-financed property” to the plan), then the
dividends paid by the Fund and the gain realized from a redemption or exchange of Fund shares will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes until you withdraw or receive distributions from the plan. If you are not invested through such
a plan, then the Fund’s dividends and gain from a redemption or exchange may be subject to U.S. federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are a tax-exempt investor.
Payments to Broker/Dealers and Other Financial
Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial
Intermediary, the Fund and BlackRock Investments, LLC, the Fund’s distributor, or its affiliates may pay the Financial Intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by
influencing the Financial Intermediary and your individual financial professional to recommend the Fund over another investment.
Class K Shares are only available through a Financial
Intermediary if the Financial Intermediary will not receive from Fund assets, or the Fund’s distributor’s or an affiliate’s resources, any commission payments, shareholder servicing fees (including sub-transfer agent and networking
fees), or distribution fees (including Rule 12b-1 fees) with respect to assets invested in Class K Shares.
Ask your individual financial professional or visit your
Financial Intermediary’s website for more information.
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INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE # 811-4612
SPRO-EF-K-1023
