N-CSRS 1 d582834dncsrs.htm MANAGED ACCOUNT SERIES Managed Account Series

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: 811-21763

 

Name of Fund:   Managed Account Series
       BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund
       BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

 

Fund Address:    100   Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809

Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, Managed Account Series,

    50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

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

Date of fiscal year end: 04/30/2024

Date of reporting period: 10/31/2023


Item 1 – Report to Stockholders

(a) The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.

 


 

LOGO

  OCTOBER 31, 2023

 

  

2023 Semi-Annual Report

(Unaudited)

 

 

Managed Account Series

·  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

·  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee     

 


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The combination of continued economic growth and cooling inflation provided a supportive backdrop for investors during the 12-month reporting period ended October 31, 2023. Significantly tighter monetary policy helped to rein in inflation, as the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index declined to its long-term average of approximately 3% in October 2023. Meanwhile, real economic growth proved more resilient than many investors anticipated. A moderating labor market also helped ease inflationary pressure, although wages continued to grow and unemployment rates touched the lowest levels in decades before rising slightly. This robust labor market powered further growth in consumer spending, backstopping the economy. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a horrific attack on Israel. The ensuing war will have a significant humanitarian impact and could lead to heightened economic and market volatility. We see geopolitics as a structural market risk going forward. See our geopolitical risk dashboard at blackrock.com for more details.

Equity returns were solid during the period, as the durability of consumer spending mitigated investors’ concerns about the economy’s trajectory. The U.S. economy continued to show strength, and growth further accelerated in the third quarter of 2023. However, equity returns were uneven, as the performance of a few notable technology companies supported gains among large-capitalization U.S. stocks, while small-capitalization U.S. stocks declined overall. Meanwhile, international developed market equities advanced, and emerging market equities posted solid gains.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose during the reporting period, driving its price down, as investors reacted to elevated inflation and attempted to anticipate future interest rate changes. The corporate bond market benefited from improving economic sentiment, although high-yield corporate bond prices fared significantly better than investment-grade bonds as demand from yield-seeking investors remained strong.

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), attempting to manage persistent inflation, raised interest rates six times during the 12-month period, but slowed and then paused its tightening later in the period. The Fed also wound down its bond-buying programs and incrementally reduced its balance sheet by not replacing securities that reach maturity.

Supply constraints appear to have become an embedded feature of the new macroeconomic environment, making it difficult for developed economies to increase production without sparking higher inflation. Geopolitical fragmentation and an aging population risk further exacerbating these constraints, keeping the labor market tight and wage growth high. Although the Fed has decelerated the pace of interest rate hikes and recently opted for several pauses, we believe that the new economic regime means that the Fed will need to maintain high rates for an extended period to keep inflation under control. Furthermore, ongoing structural changes may mean that the Fed will be hesitant to cut interest rates in the event of faltering economic activity lest inflation accelerate again.

While we favor an overweight position in developed market equities in the long term, we prefer an underweight stance in the near term. Expectations for corporate earnings remain elevated, which seems inconsistent with macroeconomic constraints. Nevertheless, we are overweight on Japanese stocks in the near term as shareholder-friendly policies generate increased investor interest. We also believe that stocks with an AI tilt should benefit from an investment cycle that is set to support revenues and margins. In credit, there are selective opportunities in the near term despite tightening credit and financial conditions. For fixed income investing with a six- to twelve-month horizon, we see the most attractive investments in short-term U.S. Treasuries, U.S. inflation-linked bonds, euro area government bonds and gilts, U.S. mortgage-backed securities, and hard-currency emerging market bonds.

Overall, our view is that investors need to think globally, position themselves to be prepared for a decarbonizing economy, 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, 2023

 

     
     6-Month     12-Month  
   

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

  1.39%   10.14%
   

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

  (5.29)     (8.56)  
   

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

  (7.88)     14.40   
   

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

  (4.78)     10.80   
   

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

  2.63      4.77   
   

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

  (9.70)     (3.25)  
   

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

  (6.13)     0.36   
   

Tax-exempt municipal bonds
(Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)

  (4.65)     2.64   
   

U.S. high yield bonds
(Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield 2%

Issuer Capped Index)

  0.02      6.23   

 

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

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

    

 

      Page  

The Markets in Review

     2  

Semi-Annual Report:

  

Fund Summary

     4  

About Fund Performance

     8  

Disclosure of Expenses

     8  

Derivative Financial Instruments

     8  

Financial Statements:

  

Schedules of Investments

     9  

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

     32  

Statements of Operations

     34  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     35  

Financial Highlights

     36  

Notes to Financial Statements

     40  

Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement

     50  

Additional Information

     53  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     55  

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

  3


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2023    BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

    

 

Investment Objective

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek to provide risk-adjusted total return.

Portfolio Management Commentary

How did the Fund perform?

For the six-month period ended October 31, 2023, all of the Fund’s share classes outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI Minimum Volatility (USD) Index. The following commentary and allocation percentages are based on the economic exposures of the Fund, which reflect adjustments for futures, swaps, options (except with respect to fixed-income securities), and convertible bonds, and may vary relative to the market value.

What factors influenced performance?

Positive contributions to the Fund’s performance relative to the benchmark over the six-month period were led by security selection within and overweights to the information technology and consumer staples sectors. Security selection within communication services was also additive. An underweight to utilities positively impacted performance although this contribution was partially offset by security selection within the sector. Exposure to cash and cash equivalents also contributed to performance over the period.

The largest detractor for the period was security selection within the consumer discretionary and financials sectors.

Describe recent portfolio activity.

During the reporting period, the Fund’s overall equity allocation decreased from 92% to 90% of net assets. On a sector basis, the Fund increased its exposure to information technology, consumer discretionary and communication services, and decreased exposure to industrials, utilities, healthcare, materials and consumer staples. From a regional perspective, the Fund increased exposure to the United States, and decreased exposure to developed Europe, Canada, Japan and select emerging markets.

Reflecting the changes in the Fund’s overall allocations to equity during the period, the Fund’s exposure to cash and cash equivalents increased from 8% to 10% of net assets. During the period, cash helped manage portfolio volatility and served as a source of funds for new investments. Exposure to cash and cash equivalents contributed to performance over the period.

The Fund used derivatives, which may include options, futures, indexed securities, inverse securities, swaps, credit default swaps, contracts for difference, and forward contracts both to seek to enhance returns of the Fund and to hedge (or protect) against adverse movements in currency exchange rates, interest rates, and movements in the securities markets. During the period, the use of derivatives modestly detracted from the Fund’s performance.

Describe portfolio positioning at period end.

Relative to its benchmark, the Fund ended the period overweight the information technology and consumer discretionary sectors and underweight communication services, utilities, healthcare, materials, financials, industrials, consumer staples and real estate. From a regional perspective, the Fund was overweight Europe and Latin America, and underweight the United States, Asia and the Middle East.

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

 

             

     Average Annual Total Returns(a)(b)     

 
     
6-Month
Total Returns

 
        1 Year           5 Years          
Since
Inception

(c) 

Institutional

    (2.91 )%        10.55       7.17       5.70

Class K

    (2.82       10.68         7.24         5.76  

MSCI ACWI Minimum Volatility (USD) Index(d)

    (4.74         3.57           4.35           4.48  

 

  (a) 

See “About Fund Performance” for a detailed description of share classes, including any related fees, and how performance was calculated for certain share classes.

 
  (b) 

The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities.

 
  (c) 

The Fund commenced operations on June 1, 2017.

 
  (d) 

An unmanaged index that aims to reflect the performance characteristics of a minimum variance strategy applied to large- and mid-cap equities across certain developed and emerging markets countries. The index is calculated by optimizing the MSCI ACWI Index, its parent index, in USD for the lowest absolute risk (within a given set of constraints).

 

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.

 

 

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Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2023 (continued)    BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

    

 

Expense Example

 

    Actual         Hypothetical 5% Return                
     

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a)  
       

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a)  
       

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 
 

Institutional

  $  1,000.00      $  970.90      $  2.73       $  1,000.00      $  1,022.37      $  2.80         0.55  

Class K

    1,000.00        971.80        2.48           1,000.00        1,022.62        2.54           0.50    

 

  (a) 

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 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year 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
 

Microsoft Corp.

    3.7

Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B

    2.0  

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

    2.0  

ASML Holding NV

    1.8  

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

    1.5  

Visa, Inc., Class A

    1.4  

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

    1.4  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C

    1.4  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    1.3  

Ferrari NV

    1.3  
GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

   
Country/Geographic Region   Percent of
Net Assets
 

United States

    65.4

China

    7.1  

Japan

    7.0  

Taiwan

    3.5  

India

    2.6  

South Korea

    2.6  

France

    2.2  

Netherlands

    2.1  

Denmark

    2.0  

Italy

    1.5  

United Kingdom

    1.3  

Hong Kong

    1.2  

Switzerland

    1.0  

Other#

    1.4  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

    (0.9
 
(a) 

Excludes short-term securities.

# 

Includes holdings within countries/geographic regions that are less than 1.0% of net assets. Please refer to the Consolidated Schedule of Investments for such countries/geographic regions.

 

 

U N D   S U M M A R Y

  5


Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2023    BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

    

 

Investment Objective

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek to provide total return.

Portfolio Management Commentary

How did the Fund perform?

For the six-month period ended October 31, 2023, all of the Fund’s share classes underperformed its benchmark, the MSCI World Index. The following commentary and allocation percentages are based on the economic exposures of the Fund, which reflect adjustments for futures, swaps, options (except with respect to fixed-income securities), and convertible bonds, and may vary relative to the market value.

What factors influenced performance?

The largest detractor from the Fund’s performance relative to the benchmark for the reporting period was security selection across several sectors, most notably communication services, information technology, industrials and utilities. An overweight to and security selection within healthcare also weighed on returns.

The largest contributor to performance over the period was the Fund’s modest exposure to cash and cash equivalents. Security selection within the financials, energy and consumer staples sectors positively impacted performance, as did an underweight to consumer staples and real estate.

The Fund used derivatives, which may include options, futures, indexed securities, inverse securities, swaps, credit default swaps, contracts for difference, and forward contracts both to seek to enhance returns of the Fund and to hedge (or protect) against adverse movements in currency exchange rates, interest rates and the securities markets. During the period, the Fund’s use of derivatives modestly detracted from the Fund’s performance.

Describe recent portfolio activity.

During the period, the Fund’s overall equity allocation decreased slightly from 100% to 99% of net assets. Within equities, the Fund increased exposure to the industrials and information technology sectors, and decreased exposure to communication services, healthcare and utilities. From a regional perspective, the Fund increased exposure to select developed European markets, Japan and the United States, and reduced exposure to Europe, China and Canada.

Describe portfolio positioning at period end.

Relative to its benchmark, the Fund ended the period overweight the healthcare, energy, industrials and consumer discretionary sectors, and was underweight financials, real estate, materials, consumer staples, utilities and information technology. From a regional perspective, the Fund was primarily overweight the United States, select developed European markets and Japan, and underweight Australia, Canada, South Korea and Taiwan.

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

 

             

     Average Annual Total Returns(a)(b)     

 
     
6-Month
Total Returns

 
        1 Year           5 Years          
Since
Inception
 
(c) 

Institutional

    (2.01 )%        7.33       8.02       7.00

Class K

    (1.93       7.44         8.08         7.06  

MSCI World Index(d)

    (1.59         10.48           8.27           7.64  

 

  (a) 

See “About Fund Performance” for a detailed description of share classes, including any related fees, and how performance was calculated for certain share classes.

 
  (b) 

The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities.

 
  (c) 

The Fund commenced operations on June 1, 2017.

 
  (d) 

A broad global equity index that captures large- and mid-cap representation across certain developed markets countries.

 

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 5% Return                
     

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
   

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
   

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a) 
       

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
   

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
   

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a)  
       

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 
 

Institutional

  $ 1,000.00     $  979.90     $  2.74       $  1,000.00     $  1,022.37     $  2.80         0.55  

Class K

    1,000.00       980.70       2.49           1,000.00       1,022.62       2.54           0.50    

 

  (a) 

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 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period shown).

 

 

 

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Fund Summary  as of October 31, 2023 (continued)    BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

    

 

Expense Example (continued)

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

Portfolio Information

 

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

 

   
Security(a)   Percent of
Net Assets
 

Microsoft Corp.

    4.9

Apple, Inc.

    3.7  

Amazon.com, Inc.

    2.8  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C

    2.7  

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

    1.6  

Nestle SA

    1.6  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    1.5  

Humana, Inc.

    1.4  

Shell PLC

    1.4  

ING Groep NV, Series N

    1.4  
GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

   
Country/Geographic Region   Percent of
Net Assets
 

United States

    65.4

Japan

    6.7  

France

    4.7  

Netherlands

    4.3  

United Kingdom

    4.1  

Switzerland

    2.8  

Germany

    2.7  

Canada

    1.8  

China

    1.0  

Other#

    4.6  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

    1.9  
 
(a) 

Excludes short-term securities.

# 

Includes holdings within countries/geographic regions that are less than 1.0% of net assets. Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for such countries/geographic regions.

 

 

U N D   S U M M A R Y

  7


About Fund Performance                

    

 

Institutional and Class K Shares are not subject to any sales charge. These shares bear no ongoing distribution or service fees and are available only to certain eligible investors. On November 30, 2018, all issued and outstanding shares of each Fund were redesignated as Class K Shares. Institutional Shares performance shown prior to the Institutional Shares inception date of November 30, 2018 is that of Class K Shares (which have no distribution or service fees) and was restated to reflect Institutional Shares fees.

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 each 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 table(s) 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 waiver(s) and/or reimbursement(s), 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; 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 at the beginning of the period and held through the end of the period) 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. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. 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.

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. Pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, among other things, the Funds must either use derivative financial instruments with embedded leverage in a limited manner or comply with an outer limit on fund leverage risk based on value-at-risk. 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 Funds’ investments in these instruments, if any, are discussed in detail in the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

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Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) 

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

    

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

 

Canada — 0.1%  

Lululemon Athletica, Inc. (a)

    538     $ 211,692  
   

 

 

 
China — 7.1%  

Baidu, Inc., Class A (a)

    47,650       625,587  

Bank of China Ltd., Class H

      1,347,000       470,554  

Bank of Communications Co. Ltd., Class H

    231,000       136,638  

Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co. Ltd., Class A (a)

    102,000       146,635  

China Construction Bank Corp., Class H

    1,362,000       770,290  

China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd., Class H

    540,000       179,529  

China Overseas Property Holdings Ltd.

    260,000       225,805  

China Railway Group Ltd., Class H

    213,000       100,528  

China Resources Pharmaceutical Group
Ltd. (b)

    839,500       521,494  

China Tower Corp. Ltd., Class H (b)

    7,042,000       656,671  

COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co. Ltd., Class H

    642,000       652,938  

DaShenLin Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Class A

    72,500       235,204  

Fosun International Ltd.

    641,000       384,049  

Foxconn Industrial Internet Co. Ltd., Class A

    127,800       256,643  

Haidilao International Holding Ltd. (b)

    198,000       495,753  

Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co. Ltd., Class A

    162,200       321,879  

Huaneng Power International, Inc., Class A (a)

    72,300       74,935  

Huaneng Power International, Inc.,
Class H (a)

    810,000       379,041  

Hubei Jumpcan Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Class A

    69,100       255,150  

Hundsun Technologies, Inc., Class A

    50,000       212,209  

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Class H

    1,153,000       552,569  

JA Solar Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

    51,400       156,936  

Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd., Class H

    92,000       130,084  

Kingboard Holdings Ltd.

    163,000       396,950  

Li Auto, Inc., Class A (a)

    47,300       800,015  

NetEase, Inc.

    4,900       104,868  

Nongfu Spring Co. Ltd., Class H (b)

    60,000       341,744  

PetroChina Co. Ltd., Class H

    1,036,000       676,213  

Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd., Class H

    278,800       405,598  

Shenzhen Kstar Science And Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

    38,800       137,934  

Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co. Ltd., Class A

    7,700       299,957  

Shenzhen SC New Energy Technology Corp., Class A

    77,200       767,987  

Shenzhen Transsion Holdings Co. Ltd., Class A

    23,820       436,279  

Skshu Paint Co. Ltd., Class A (a)

    30,600       248,254  

Tencent Holdings Ltd.

    13,600       503,319  

Tongcheng Travel Holdings Ltd. (a)

    352,000       672,479  

Trip.com Group Ltd. (a)

    9,200       313,551  

Tsingtao Brewery Co. Ltd., Class H

    26,000       197,172  

Want Want China Holdings Ltd.

    192,000       119,301  

Wilmar International Ltd.

    170,700       443,783  

Yum China Holdings, Inc.

    12,990       682,754  

Yutong Bus Co. Ltd., Class A

    128,200       238,224  

Zhejiang Weixing New Building Materials Co. Ltd., Class A

    34,800       78,178  

Zhongji Innolight Co. Ltd., Class A

    25,900       310,980  

Zhongjin Gold Corp. Ltd., Class A

    107,200       158,840  
   

 

 

 
        16,275,501  
Denmark — 2.0%  

Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B

    47,486       4,581,269  
   

 

 

 
France — 2.2%  

Hermes International

    529       987,021  
Security   Shares     Value  
France (continued)  

L’Oreal SA

    1,910     $ 803,252  

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

    4,697       3,362,725  
   

 

 

 
      5,152,998  
Germany — 0.3%  

Commerzbank AG

    22,583       243,570  

Symrise AG, Class A

    4,225       431,750  
   

 

 

 
      675,320  
Hong Kong — 1.2%  

HKT Trust & HKT Ltd., Class SS

      1,389,000       1,438,705  

Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd.

    256,000       811,961  

MTR Corp. Ltd.

    69,000       257,935  

Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. Ltd.

    61,000       213,380  
   

 

 

 
          2,721,981  
India — 2.6%  

Asian Paints Ltd.

    18,197       655,478  

Bajaj Auto Ltd.

    16,013       1,021,482  

Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd.

    102,307       428,887  

Eicher Motors Ltd.

    12,170       481,664  

HCL Technologies Ltd.

    29,937       459,186  

Hindustan Unilever Ltd.

    3,508       104,691  

Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.

    421,385       453,932  

Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.

    19,037       397,965  

Sona Blw Precision Forgings Ltd. (b)

    22,720       147,861  

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

    13,112       171,428  

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.

    14,347       580,818  

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

    31,712       733,035  

UltraTech Cement Ltd.

    3,231       326,990  
   

 

 

 
      5,963,417  
Indonesia — 0.1%  

Bank Central Asia Tbk PT

    428,600       236,125  
   

 

 

 
Ireland — 0.4%            

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (a)

    1,128       143,279  

Kingspan Group PLC

    10,280       691,832  
   

 

 

 
      835,111  
Italy — 1.5%  

Ferrari NV

    9,881       2,991,017  

UniCredit SpA

    16,867       422,849  
   

 

 

 
      3,413,866  
Japan — 7.0%            

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

    22,600       285,887  

Bridgestone Corp.

    4,400       166,519  

East Japan Railway Co.

    8,400       436,273  

FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.

    28,000       1,531,537  

GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.

    7,100       283,569  

Japan Post Insurance Co. Ltd.

    17,200       331,204  

Keyence Corp.

    300       116,136  

Koei Tecmo Holdings Co. Ltd.

    34,700       453,101  

Kyocera Corp.

    3,800       187,307  

Kyushu Railway Co.

    12,100       247,400  

M3, Inc.

    10,100       155,552  

Makita Corp.

    20,600       532,445  

MEIJI Holdings Co. Ltd.

    13,200       324,905  

Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd.

    5,500       141,995  

MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.

    2,800       102,593  

NIDEC Corp.

    8,900       318,304  

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

    6,300       260,281  

Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Ltd.

    143,100       962,076  
 

 

 

O N S O L I D A T E D   C H E D U L  E   O F   I N V E S T M E N T S

  9


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

    

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Japan (continued)  

Nippon Steel Corp.

    9,200     $ 198,433  

Nomura Research Institute Ltd.

    27,600       724,498  

Oracle Corp. Japan

    8,600       610,081  

Otsuka Corp.

    34,500       1,383,264  

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

    10,500       244,979  

SCSK Corp.

    15,000       256,054  

Shiseido Co. Ltd.

    37,300       1,182,987  

SoftBank Corp.

    90,000       1,017,617  

Sompo Holdings, Inc.

    4,000       173,280  

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

    2,600       125,341  

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

    5,600       152,010  

TIS, Inc.

    33,100       708,831  

Tokyo Electron Ltd.

    4,900       647,475  

Trend Micro, Inc.

    6,700       252,487  

Welcia Holdings Co. Ltd.

    56,700       939,848  

Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd.

    7,900       186,163  

ZOZO, Inc.

         16,800       319,448  
   

 

 

 
        15,959,880  
Mexico — 0.2%  

Fibra Uno Administracion SA de CV

    179,054       271,824  

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O

    14,355       116,503  

Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV

    33,198       118,823  
   

 

 

 
      507,150  
Netherlands — 2.1%  

ASML Holding NV

    6,922       4,160,956  

BE Semiconductor Industries NV

    4,441       458,754  

Shell PLC

    6,387       208,648  
   

 

 

 
      4,828,358  
Singapore — 0.1%  

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd.

    13,500       125,160  
   

 

 

 
South Korea — 2.6%  

DB Insurance Co. Ltd.

    12,861       836,722  

Doosan Bobcat, Inc.

    17,072       490,496  

Hanon Systems

    21,273       108,550  

Hanwha Aerospace Co. Ltd.

    6,261       470,708  

Hyundai Glovis Co. Ltd.

    1,106       140,363  

Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd.

    2,402       371,985  

Hyundai Motor Co.

    1,372       172,850  

KB Financial Group, Inc.

    31,189       1,188,870  

Kia Corp.

    3,039       173,623  

Krafton, Inc. (a)

    1,174       142,914  

Meritz Financial Group, Inc.

    11,203       416,949  

Samsung C&T Corp.

    7,951       628,651  

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd.

    3,076       588,200  

Samsung Securities Co. Ltd.

    5,261       137,819  
   

 

 

 
      5,868,700  
Sweden — 0.2%  

Assa Abloy AB, Class B

    24,620       524,777  
   

 

 

 
Switzerland — 1.0%            

Lonza Group AG, Registered Shares

    4,310       1,509,379  

Nestle SA, Registered Shares

    4,335       467,481  

STMicroelectronics NV

    6,958       265,239  
   

 

 

 
      2,242,099  
Taiwan — 3.5%  

Acer, Inc.

    427,000       451,290  

Advantech Co. Ltd.

    17,898       183,808  

ASE Technology Holding Co. Ltd.

    144,000       504,141  

Asustek Computer, Inc.

    96,000       1,006,572  
Security   Shares     Value  
Taiwan (continued)            

Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. Ltd.

    192,000     $ 262,376  

Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd.

    242,000       865,523  

Compal Electronics, Inc.

    819,000       712,394  

Eva Airways Corp.

    691,000       585,977  

Far EasTone Telecommunications Co. Ltd.

    136,000       318,570  

Hua Nan Financial Holdings Co. Ltd.

        164,432       103,119  

Lite-On Technology Corp.

    196,000       610,248  

Novatek Microelectronics Corp.

    21,000       295,744  

Quanta Computer, Inc.

    238,000       1,405,225  

Taiwan Mobile Co. Ltd.

    46,000       135,942  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

    17,000       277,653  

Voltronic Power Technology Corp.

    4,000       160,416  

Wistron Corp.

    43,000       119,906  
   

 

 

 
          7,998,904  
United Kingdom — 1.3%  

Auto Trader Group PLC (b)

    49,951       377,842  

London Stock Exchange Group PLC

    11,917       1,202,366  

Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC

    15,103       1,507,484  
   

 

 

 
      3,087,692  
United States — 58.9%  

3M Co.

    1,564       142,246  

AbbVie, Inc.

    5,931       837,339  

Adobe, Inc. (a)

    598       318,172  

AES Corp.

    33,646       501,325  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C (a)

    24,681       3,092,529  

Altria Group, Inc.

    7,701       309,349  

Amazon.com, Inc. (a)

    1,317       175,280  

American Water Works Co., Inc.

    13,647       1,605,570  

Amgen, Inc.

    2,898       741,019  

ANSYS, Inc. (a)

    9,409       2,618,148  

Aon PLC, Class A

    1,791       554,135  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    1,888       249,877  

AT&T, Inc.

    72,624       1,118,410  

Aura Biosciences, Inc. (a)

    2,482       20,253  

Autodesk, Inc. (a)

    4,884       965,225  

AutoZone, Inc. (a)

    117       289,824  

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. (a)

    5,591       455,387  

Booking Holdings, Inc. (a)

    407       1,135,351  

Boston Scientific Corp. (a)

    2,093       107,141  

Builders FirstSource, Inc. (a)

    7,820       848,626  

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (a)

    18,935       4,541,560  

Campbell Soup Co.

    10,133       409,475  

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    4,870       443,170  

Centene Corp. (a)

    18,854       1,300,549  

CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

    6,898       564,463  

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

    1,592       264,941  

Chewy, Inc., Class A (a)

    44,006       850,636  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    38,309       1,997,048  

Citigroup, Inc.

    6,460       255,105  

Clorox Co.

    10,004       1,177,471  

CME Group, Inc., Class A

    964       205,775  

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

    11,000       965,690  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    5,530       3,054,993  

D.R. Horton, Inc.

    8,129       848,668  

Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C

    6,212       415,645  

DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc.

    7,227       219,773  

Dexcom, Inc. (a)

    3,024       268,622  

DocuSign, Inc. (a)

    7,230       281,102  

Domino’s Pizza, Inc.

    395       133,901  

Duke Energy Corp.

    5,662       503,295  

Ecolab, Inc.

    2,035       341,351  
 

 

 

10  

2 0 2 3  B L A C K O C K  E M I - A N N U A L E P O R T  T O H A R E H O L D E R S


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

    

 

Security   Shares     Value  
United States (continued)  

Edison International

    18,589     $ 1,172,222  

Electronic Arts, Inc.

    8,158       1,009,879  

Eli Lilly & Co.

    2,128       1,178,763  

Enterprise Products Partners LP

    9,206       239,724  

EOG Resources, Inc.

    1,342       169,427  

Essential Utilities, Inc.

    3,444       115,236  

Eversource Energy

    13,332       717,128  

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

    15,223       747,602  

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A (a)

    19,946       1,643,550  

Fortinet, Inc. (a)

    11,427       653,282  

Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.

    14,530       810,774  

Franklin Resources, Inc.

    17,656       402,380  

General Mills, Inc.

    6,961       454,136  

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

    28,054       2,203,361  

GoDaddy, Inc., Class A (a)

    5,674       415,507  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

    1,202       364,939  

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

    3,127       707,140  

Henry Schein, Inc. (a)

    2,354       152,963  

Hershey Co.

    6,354       1,190,422  

Home Depot, Inc.

    545       155,156  

Hormel Foods Corp.

    11,634       378,687  

Humana, Inc.

    3,785       1,982,167  

Incyte Corp. (a)

    15,175       818,388  

Insulet Corp. (a)

    6,037       800,325  

International Paper Co.

    25,387       856,303  

Intuit, Inc.

    5,743       2,842,498  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)

    7,749       2,031,943  

Invesco Ltd.

    42,005       544,805  

J M Smucker Co.

    5,966       679,169  

Johnson & Johnson

    3,692       547,671  

Kellanova

           24,780           1,250,647  

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a)

    12,503       1,525,991  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    8,411       1,006,292  

KLA Corp.

    897       421,321  

Kroger Co.

    6,208       281,657  

Lam Research Corp.

    399       234,700  

Leidos Holdings, Inc.

    2,280       225,994  

Lennar Corp., Class A

    10,144       1,082,162  

Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM (a)

    10,326       253,503  

Linde PLC

    712       272,098  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    2,727       1,239,803  

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    355       53,694  

MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.

    974       208,192  

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

    8,940       1,695,471  

Marvell Technology, Inc.

    24,779       1,170,064  

Masco Corp.

    7,150       372,443  

Masimo Corp. (a)

    3,203       259,859  

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

    8,344       3,140,264  

McCormick & Co., Inc.

    13,075       835,492  

McKesson Corp.

    1,227       558,727  

Merck & Co., Inc.

    17,276       1,774,245  

Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A (a)

    3,221       970,391  

Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a)

    1,303       1,283,716  

MGM Resorts International

    16,897       590,043  

Microsoft Corp. (c)

    25,012       8,456,807  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    2,929       815,609  
Security   Shares     Value  
United States (continued)  

MSCI, Inc.

    775     $ 365,451  

Nasdaq, Inc.

           17,298       857,981  

Netflix, Inc. (a)

    811       333,881  

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (a)

    2,228       247,174  

Newmont Corp.

    7,862       294,589  

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    10,127       590,404  

NIKE, Inc., Class B

    14,096           1,448,646  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

    1,513       713,274  

Nucor Corp.

    2,621       387,358  

NVIDIA Corp.

    710       289,538  

Okta, Inc., Class A (a)

    1,963       132,326  

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a)

    928       863,448  

Otis Worldwide Corp.

    1,631       125,930  

PACCAR, Inc.

    4,235       349,515  

Packaging Corp. of America

    2,029       310,538  

Paycom Software, Inc.

    1,629       399,056  

Paylocity Holding Corp. (a)

    606       108,716  

PepsiCo, Inc.

    17,483       2,854,624  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

    1,292       308,788  

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    2,606       238,293  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    1,512       1,179,194  

Rollins, Inc.

    41,953       1,577,852  

Roper Technologies, Inc.

    782       382,062  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (a)

    1,902       161,156  

Royalty Pharma PLC, Class A

    18,582       499,298  

S&P Global, Inc.

    8,358       2,919,533  

Salesforce, Inc. (a)

    6,472       1,299,772  

Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.

    88,607       379,238  

Snap-on, Inc.

    639       164,824  

Synchrony Financial

    14,015       393,121  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    2,755       1,225,341  

TJX Cos., Inc.

    4,565       402,040  

TransDigm Group, Inc. (a)

    1,714       1,419,346  

UiPath, Inc., Class A (a)

    32,618       506,558  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    4,445       2,380,564  

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B

    3,060       385,223  

VeriSign, Inc. (a)

    10,340       2,064,484  

Verisk Analytics, Inc.

    9,831       2,235,176  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    59,220       2,080,399  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    3,748       1,357,188  

Viatris, Inc.

    37,363       332,531  

VICI Properties, Inc.

    7,901       220,438  

Visa, Inc., Class A

    13,406       3,151,751  

Walmart, Inc.

    17,959       2,934,680  

Warner Bros Discovery, Inc. (a)

    606       6,024  

WEC Energy Group, Inc.

    9,834       800,389  

Williams Cos., Inc.

    4,233       145,615  

WK Kellogg Co. (a)

    1       8  

Workday, Inc., Class A (a)

    965       204,300  

Xcel Energy, Inc.

    17,822       1,056,310  

Yum! Brands, Inc.

    4,567       551,968  
 

 

 

O N S O L I D A T E D   C H E D U L  E   O F   N V E S T M E N T S

  11


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

    

 

Security   Shares     Value  
United States (continued)            

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    1,102     $ 18,029  

Zoetis, Inc., Class A

    380       59,660  
   

 

 

 
      134,806,773  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 94.4%
(Cost: $217,882,820)

      216,016,773  
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Securities            
Money Market Funds — 6.5%            

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class, 5.24%(d)(e)

    14,761,627       14,761,627  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 6.5%
(Cost: $14,761,627)

 

    14,761,627  
   

 

 

 

Options Purchased — 0.0%
(Cost: $12,046)

 

    2,052  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments Before Options Written — 100.9%
(Cost: $232,656,493)

 

    230,780,452  
   

 

 

 

Options Written — (0.0)%
(Premiums Received: $(7,097))

 

    (8,987
   

 

 

 

Total Investments, Net of Options Written — 100.9%
(Cost: $232,649,396)

 

    230,771,465  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.9)%

 

    (1,965,101
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $  228,806,364  
   

 

 

 
    

    

(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) 

All or a portion of the security has been pledged and/or segregated as collateral in connection with outstanding exchange-traded options written.

(d) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(e) 

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, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    Value at
04/30/23
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sales
     Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/23
     Shares
Held at
10/31/23
     Income      Capital Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class

   $ 3,818,942      $ 10,942,685 (a)     $      $      $      $ 14,761,627        14,761,627      $ 268,477      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Currency Purchased        Currency Sold      Counterparty      Settlement Date        Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
USD     1,253,880        CAD     1,659,840      Royal Bank of Canada        11/01/23        $ 56,952  
INR     66,825,035        USD     799,256      Deutsche Bank AG        12/20/23          2,054  
INR     41,611,927        USD     498,226      Royal Bank of Canada        12/20/23          750  
INR     53,394,681        USD     640,222      Royal Bank of Canada        12/20/23          43  
SGD     1,897,488        USD     1,386,355      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          2,470  
USD     769,554        CAD     1,065,525      Citibank N.A.        12/20/23          537  
USD     1,201,045        CAD     1,659,840      Deutsche Bank AG        12/20/23          3,096  
USD     640,962        DKK     4,482,636      Bank of America N.A.        12/20/23          3,725  
USD     679,515        DKK     4,772,015      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          1,140  
USD     1,246,753        DKK     8,611,266      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          22,602  
USD     1,581,396        EUR     1,486,439      Barclays Bank PLC        12/20/23          5,089  
USD     641,019        EUR     601,623      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          3,022  
USD     7,255,201        EUR     6,729,161      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          119,204  
USD     1,195,381        EUR     1,125,446      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          1,892  

 

 

12  

2 0 2 3   B L A C K O C K   S E M I - A N N U A L E P O R T  T O H A R E H O L D E R S


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

    

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (continued)

 

 

Currency Purchased        Currency Sold      Counterparty      Settlement Date        Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
USD     1,244,131        GBP     996,294      BNP Paribas SA        12/20/23        $ 32,729  
USD     777,106        GBP     639,093      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          27  
USD     502,566        SEK     5,560,485      Goldman Sachs International        12/20/23          3,248  
                     

 

 

 
                        258,580  
                     

 

 

 
CAD     1,659,840        USD     1,200,246      Deutsche Bank AG        11/01/23          (3,317
CAD     2,246,368        USD     1,638,706      BNP Paribas SA        12/20/23          (17,444
CAD     674,331        USD     499,410      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          (12,728
CHF     1,348,392        USD     1,516,828      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          (26,493
HKD     3,905,442        USD     500,027      Bank of America N.A.        12/20/23          (549
HKD     10,547,702        USD     1,349,213      Citibank N.A.        12/20/23          (238
HKD     7,496,722        USD     959,167      Goldman Sachs International        12/20/23          (390
HKD     4,995,044        USD     639,645      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          (815
HKD     37,270,731        USD     4,771,985      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          (5,326
HKD     3,888,922        USD     497,944      Societe Generale        12/20/23          (579
INR     183,636,093        USD     2,205,508      BNP Paribas SA        12/20/23          (3,495
INR     153,054,468        USD     1,836,793      Deutsche Bank AG        12/20/23          (1,490
JPY     125,767,073        USD     839,533      Barclays Bank PLC        12/20/23          (3,210
JPY     831,691,954        USD     5,728,581      Barclays Bank PLC        12/20/23          (198,017
JPY     147,019,390        USD     999,694      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          (22,048
JPY     73,129,959        USD     495,902      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          (9,605
JPY     94,124,213        USD     638,090      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          (12,185
JPY     194,543,097        USD     1,309,060      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          (15,393
SGD     433,072        USD     319,665      Royal Bank of Canada        12/20/23          (2,687
TWD     95,254,954        USD     3,002,142      Barclays Bank PLC        12/20/23          (59,543
TWD     24,742,369        USD     766,294      Royal Bank of Canada        12/20/23          (1,958
USD     491,354        AUD     777,026      Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          (2,346
USD     783,863        GBP     644,788      Barclays Bank PLC        12/20/23          (141
                     

 

 

 
                        (399,997
                     

 

 

 
                      $ (141,417
                     

 

 

 

Exchange-Traded Options Purchased

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Exercise Price      Notional
Amount (000)
     Value  

Call

                    

Marvell Technology, Inc.

     38        12/15/23        USD        57.50        USD        179      $   2,052  
                    

 

 

 

Exchange-Traded Options Written

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Exercise Price      Notional
Amount (000)
     Value  

Call

                    

Marvell Technology, Inc.

     38        12/15/23        USD        67.50        USD        179      $ (266
                    

 

 

 

Put

                    

Marvell Technology, Inc.

     38        12/15/23        USD        45.00        USD        179        (8,721
                    

 

 

 
                     $ (8,987
                    

 

 

 

 

 

O N S O L I D A T E D C H E D U L E  O F  I N V E S T M E N T S

  13


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

    

    

 

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/Short

  Monthly   Citibank N.A.(b)     02/26/24 – 02/24/28     $  (1,788,731)     $ 287,995 (c)    $ (1,522,589     12.6
  Monthly   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.(d)     02/08/24 – 02/15/24       (9,911,591)       1,311,964 (e)      (8,693,297     16.3  
         

 

 

   

 

 

   
          $ 1,599,959     $ (10,215,886  
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

  (a) 

The Fund receives the total return on a portfolio of long positions underlying the total return swap. The Fund pays the total return on a portfolio of short 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 $21,853 of net dividends and financing fees.

 
  (e) 

Amount includes $93,670 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:      3-79 basis points      6-832 basis points
Benchmarks:      USD - 1D Overnight Bank Funding Rate (OBFR01)      USD - 1D Overnight Bank Funding Rate (OBFR01)

 

The following table represents the individual long and short positions and related values of the equity securities underlying the total return swap with Citibank N.A. as of period end, termination dates 02/26/24 - 02/24/28:

 

Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 

Reference Entity — Long

 

Common Stocks

     
Brazil                  

Ambev SA

    116,166     $         296,305       (19.5 )% 

B3 SA - Brasil Bolsa Balcao

    331,354       729,514       (47.9

Magazine Luiza SA

    753,365       198,736       (13.0

Telefonica Brasil SA

    34,388       308,566       (20.3
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,533,121    
Canada                  

Enbridge, Inc.

    40,458       1,296,523       (85.2
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Denmark                  

AP Moller - Maersk A/S, Class B

    229       381,567       (25.1
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Finland                  

Elisa OYJ

    25,181       1,067,892       (70.1
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
France                  

Dassault Systemes SE

    9,176       377,990       (24.8
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Germany                  

Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG

    149,679       254,466       (16.7

Zalando SE

    11,937       279,212       (18.3
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      533,678    
Italy                  

Coca-Cola HBC AG

    4,118       106,910       (7.0

Snam SpA

    24,786       113,657       (7.5
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      220,567    
Mexico                  

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV, Class B

    7,004       150,946       (9.9
Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
Mexico (continued)                  

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico SAB de CV

    87,445     $         160,300       (10.5 )% 

Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV

    178,570       639,144       (42.0
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      950,390    
Netherlands                  

ABN AMRO Bank NV, GDR, CVA

    69,642       937,981       (61.6

ING Groep NV

    21,579       276,654       (18.2
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,214,635    
Norway                  

Orkla ASA

    43,983       303,153       (19.9
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
South Africa                  

Vodacom Group Ltd.

    42,689       232,393       (15.3
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Spain                  

Aena SME SA, Class A

    797       115,645       (7.6
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Sweden                  

Assa Abloy AB

    23,302       496,684       (32.6

Evolution Ab

    2,478       220,803       (14.5

SKF AB

    34,975       567,031       (37.3
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,284,518    
Switzerland                  

Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Registered Shares

    1,869       504,002       (33.1

Novartis AG, Registered Shares

    26,613       2,491,497       (163.6
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      2,995,499    
United States                  

CSL Ltd.

    2,098       310,068       (20.4

Nestle SA

    1,134       122,289       (8.0
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      432,357    
   

 

 

   
Preferred Stocks                  
Brazil                  

Gerdau SA

    16,872       72,853       (4.8
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

 

 

14  

2 0 2 3   B L A C K O C K E M I - A N N U A L E P O R T  T O H A R E H O L D E R S


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

    

    

 

Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
Germany                  

Porsche Automobil Holding SE

    10,044     $         449,550       (29.5 )% 
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Total Reference Entity — Long     13,462,331        
   

 

 

   

Reference Entity — Short

 

   
Common Stocks                  
Brazil                  

Cia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP

    (22,641     (262,122     17.2  

Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos S/A

    (568,081     (415,772     27.3  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (677,894  
China                  

C&D International Investment Group Ltd.

    (78,543     (176,703     11.6  

China Hongqiao Group Ltd.

    (167,500     (156,816     10.3  

China Jinmao Holdings Group Ltd.

    (900,000     (110,391     7.2  

ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co. Ltd., Class H

    (118,300     (324,215     21.3  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (768,125  
Finland                  

Metso Corporation

    (18,005     (158,632     10.4  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
France                  

Sartorius Stedim Biotech

    (4,230     (791,953     52.0  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Germany                  

Hellofresh SE

    (30,307     (662,911     43.5  

Vonovia Se

    (32,302     (743,659     48.9  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (1,406,570  
Japan                  

Advantest Corp.

    (4,800     (123,641     8.1  

Lasertec Corp.

    (1,700     (280,806     18.5  

Rakuten Group, Inc.

    (95,200     (352,137     23.1  

SUMCO Corp.

    (17,400     (224,846     14.8  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (981,430  
Mexico                  

Industrias Penoles SAB de CV

    (37,002     (413,079     27.1  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Netherlands                  

ASM International NV

    (301     (124,217     8.2  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Norway                  

Salmar ASA

    (25,676     (1,217,425     80.0  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
South Korea                  

Delivery Hero SE

    (4,436     (113,367     7.4  

LG Energy Solution Ltd.

    (2,348     (673,098     44.2  

SK Innovation Co. Ltd.

    (1,112     (101,308     6.7  

Yuhan Corp.

    (8,753     (373,124     24.5  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (1,260,897  
Sweden                  

Beijer Ref AB, Class B

    (97,011     (922,219     60.6  

Fastighets AB Balder, Class B

    (99,862     (424,294     27.8  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (1,346,513  
Switzerland                  

Bachem Holding AG

    (6,682     (485,401     31.9  

DSM-Firmenich AG

    (4,390     (397,979     26.1  

Dufry AG

    (2,629     (92,158     6.1  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (975,538  
United States                  

Airbnb, Inc.

    (2,702     (319,620     21.0  
Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
United States (continued)                  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    (3,474   $ (323,534     21.3

Aspen Technology, Inc.

    (1,100     (195,525     12.8  

Coinbase Global, Inc., Class A

    (7,772     (599,377     39.4  

Enphase Energy, Inc.

    (3,309     (263,330     17.3  

Entegris, Inc.

    (8,383     (738,039     48.5  

Palantir Technologies, Inc., Class A

    (8,038     (118,962     7.8  

Rivian Automotive, Inc.

    (26,032     (422,239     27.7  

Southwest Airlines Co.

    (28,375     (630,776     41.4  

Unity Software, Inc.

    (11,685     (296,449     19.5  

VF Corp.

    (39,103     (575,987     37.8  

Vistra Corp.

    (3,718     (121,653     8.0  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (4,605,491  
   

 

 

   
Preferred Stocks                  
Germany                  

Sartorius AG

    (1,026     (257,156     16.9  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Reference Entity — Short

 

    (14,984,920  
   

 

 

   

Net Value of Reference Entity — Citibank N.A

 

  $ (1,522,589  
   

 

 

   

The following table represents the individual long and short positions and related values of the equity securities underlying the total return swap with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as of period end, termination dates 02/08/24 - 02/15/24:

 

 

Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 

Reference Entity — Long

 

   
Common Stocks                  
Australia                  

Brambles Ltd.

    44,094     $         367,998       (4.2 )% 

Medibank Pvt Ltd.

    187,964       410,190       (4.7

Northern Star Resources Ltd.

    46,596       341,212       (3.9

Woolworths Group Ltd.

    33,215       743,510       (8.6
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,862,910    
Brazil                  

Lojas Renner SA

    186,128       452,607       (5.2
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Canada                  

Franco-Nevada Corp.

    9,298       1,131,114       (13.0

Metro, Inc.

    24,927       1,266,168       (14.6

Pembina Pipeline Corp.

    4,375       134,649       (1.5

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

    8,611       581,146       (6.7
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      3,113,077    
France                  

La Francaise des Jeux SAEM

    3,422       110,383       (1.3
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Germany                  

Commerzbank AG

    10,349       111,620       (1.3

Rational AG

    422       240,658       (2.8

Scout24 Se

    3,692       227,132       (2.6

Siemens Energy AG

    12,344       109,635       (1.2
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      689,045    
Mexico                  

Grupo Mexico SAB de CV

    30,996       126,415       (1.5
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

 

 

O N S O L I D A T E D C H E D U L E  O F  I N V E S T M E N T S

  15


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

    

    

 

Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
Netherlands                  

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV

    47,610     $         1,409,817       (16.2 )% 

Nn Group Nv

    2,974       95,383       (1.1
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,505,200    
Norway                  

Telenor Asa

    26,552       271,407       (3.1
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Poland                  

Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA

    27,745       313,959       (3.6
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Saudi Arabia                  

Arabian Internet & Communications Services Co.

    4,185       349,311       (4.0

Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group Co.

    3,517       236,232       (2.7

Elm Co.

    928       173,450       (2.0

Mouwasat Medical Services Co.

    3,600       95,959       (1.1

Saudi Telecom Co.

    22,507       230,564       (2.7
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,085,516    
South Africa                  

Discovery Ltd.

    54,709       377,437       (4.3
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Sweden                  

Telia Co. AB

    359,416       761,942       (8.8
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Switzerland                  

SGS SA

    3,730       304,631       (3.5
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
United Kingdom                  

CNH Industrial NV

    25,848       286,447       (3.3
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
United States                  

Roche Holding AG

    205       55,865       (0.6

Roche Holding Par AG

    6,196       1,596,768       (18.4
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,652,633    
Zambia                  

First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

    11,662       135,142       (1.6
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks                  
Brazil                  

Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais

    103,046       239,949       (2.8
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Total Reference Entity — Long     13,288,700        
   

 

 

   

Reference Entity — Short

 

   
Common Stocks                  
Australia                  

Computershare Ltd.

    (21,415     (337,970     3.9  

Endeavour Group Ltd.

    (87,891     (276,105     3.2  

Lendlease Corp Ltd.

    (47,896     (189,691     2.2  

Mineral Resources Ltd.

    (17,574     (647,729     7.4  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (1,451,495  
   

 

 

   
Brazil                  

Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos S/A

    (970,958     (710,633     8.2  

Localiza Rent a Car SA

    (59,389     (599,220     6.9  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (1,309,853  
Canada                  

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., Class A

    (42,580     (313,804     3.6  

RB Global, Inc.

    (15,431     (1,009,817     11.6  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (1,323,621  
China                  

Country Garden Services Holdings Co. Ltd.

    (130,000     (113,565     1.3  
Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
China (continued)                  

Flat Glass Group Co. Ltd., Class H

    (316,000   $ (567,498     6.5

GDS Holdings Ltd., Class A

    (82,500     (105,100     1.2  

Genscript Biotech Corp.

    (122,000     (354,674     4.1  

Microport Scientific Corp.

    (508,700     (801,595     9.2  

XPeng, Inc., Class A

    (178,200     (1,294,939     14.9  

Xtep International Holdings Ltd.

    (135,500     (123,187     1.4  

Yuexiu Property Co. Ltd.

    (149,000     (154,984     1.8  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (3,515,542  
Hong Kong                  

Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Ltd.

    (993,000     (565,294     6.5  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Italy                  

Telecom Italia SpA

    (1,104,999     (285,712     3.3  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Japan                  

Olympus Corp.

    (42,700     (570,273     6.6  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Singapore                  

Sea Ltd., ADR

    (2,204     (91,907     1.1  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
South Africa                  

African Rainbow Minerals Ltd.

    (14,569     (120,054     1.4  

Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd.

    (80,718     (370,082     4.2  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (490,136  
South Korea                  

F&F Co., Ltd.

    (2,047     (141,906     1.6  

Kakao Corp.

    (3,192     (89,969     1.1  

L&F Co. Ltd.

    (2,157     (209,818     2.4  

Lotte Chemical Corp.

    (3,414     (370,750     4.3  

Lotte Energy Materials Corp.

    (11,842     (339,246     3.9  

POSCO Future M Co. Ltd.

    (3,852     (678,811     7.8  

POSCO Holdings, Inc.

    (2,734     (836,946     9.6  

Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd.

    (6,051     (106,647     1.2  

SKC Co. Ltd.

    (2,688     (157,199     1.8  

Yuhan Corp.

    (6,061     (258,369     3.0  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (3,189,661  
Switzerland                  

SIG Group AG

    (12,715     (280,324     3.2  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Taiwan                  

Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp.

    (385,000     (316,709     3.6  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
United Kingdom                  

Ocado Group PLC

    (39,284               (222,941     2.6  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
United States                  

Ares Management Corp., Class A

    (3,358     (331,065     3.8  

Celanese Corp., Class A

    (10,345     (1,184,606     13.6  

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.

    (4,074     (685,899     7.9  

Confluent, Inc.

    (19,645     (567,937     6.5  

Generac Holdings, Inc.

    (2,312     (194,370     2.2  

Haleon Plc

    (60,917     (244,160     2.8  

Legend Biotech Corp., ADR

    (4,826     (318,854     3.7  

Lucid Group, Inc.

    (152,256     (627,295     7.2  

Paramount Global, Class B

    (63,875     (694,960     8.0  

Revvity, Inc.

    (3,630     (300,745     3.5  

Super Micro Computer, Inc.

    (1,300     (311,311     3.6  

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.

    (5,644     (754,885     8.7  

Toast, Inc., Class A

    (20,738     (331,601     3.8  

Toro Co.

    (3,854     (311,557     3.6  

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

    (13,858     (292,127     3.4  

Webster Financial Corp.

    (5,814     (220,758     2.5  
 

 

 

16  

2 0 2 3   B L A C K O C K E M I - A N N U A L E P O R T  T O H A R E H O L D E R S


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

    

 

Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
United States (continued)                  

Western Digital Corp.

    (4,935   $        (198,140     2.3

Wolfspeed, Inc.

    (12,287     (415,792     4.8  

ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc., Class A

    (16,492     (213,736     2.4  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (8,199,798  
   

 

 

   
      (21,813,266  
Preferred Stocks                  
Germany                  

Sartorius AG

    (672     (168,430     2.0  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (168,430  
Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
Rights                  
Brazil                  

Localiza Rent A Car SA

    (217   $ (301     0.0
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (301  
   

 

 

   

Total Reference Entity — Short

 

    (21,981,997  
   

 

 

   

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

 

  $     (8,693,297  
   

 

 

   
 

 

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

 

Description    Swap
Premiums
Paid
       Swap
Premiums
Received
       Unrealized
Appreciation
       Unrealized
Depreciation
       Value  

OTC Swaps

   $        $        $ 1,599,959        $        $ —   

Options Written

     N/A          N/A          2,626          (4,516        (8,987)  

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

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

 

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

Assets — Derivative Financial Instruments

                                

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                                

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   $        $        $        $ 258,580        $        $        $ 258,580  

Options purchased

                                

Investments at value — unaffiliated(a)

                       2,052                                     2,052  

Swaps — OTC

                                

Unrealized appreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums paid

                       1,599,959                                     1,599,959  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $        $        $   1,602,011        $     258,580        $        $        $   1,860,591  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                                

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                                

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   $        $        $        $ 399,997        $        $        $ 399,997  

Options written

                                

Options written at value

                       8,987                                     8,987  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $        $        $ 8,987        $ 399,997        $        $        $ 408,984  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes options purchased at value as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

 

For the period ended October 31, 2023, 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

   $        $        $ 16,294        $        $        $        $ 16,294  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                                (585,596                          (585,596

Swaps

                       2,666,909                                     2,666,909  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $        $        $   2,683,203        $     (585,596      $        $        $   2,097,607  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

O N S O L I D A T E D  C H E D U L E   O F   I N V E S T M E N T S

  17


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

    

 

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

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:

                                

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   $        $        $        $ 119,339        $        $        $   119,339  

Options purchased(a)

                       (9,994                                   (9,994

Options written

                       (1,890                                   (1,890

Swaps

                       878,298                                     878,298  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $        $        $     866,414        $ 119,339        $        $        $ 985,753  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Options purchased are included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments — unaffiliated.

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Futures contracts:

        

Average notional value of contracts — long

   $ (a)  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts:

  

Average amounts purchased — in USD

   $ 16,060,141  

Average amounts sold — in USD

   $ 26,058,390  

Options:

  

Average value of option contracts purchased

   $ 1,026  

Average value of option contracts written

   $ 4,494  

Total return swaps:

  

Average notional value

   $ (9,054,707

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instrument 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

     

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   $ 258,580      $ 399,997  

Options

     2,052 (a)        8,987  

Swaps — OTC(b)

     1,599,959         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

     1,860,591        408,984  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

     (2,052      (8,987
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA

   $  1,858,539      $  399,997  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes options purchased at value which is included in Investments at value — unaffiliated in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities and reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

 
  (b) 

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

 

 

 

18  

2 0 2 3   B L A C K O C K  E M I - A N N U A L  E P O R T   T O   H A R E H O L D E R S


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

    

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

 

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
Assets
Subject to
an MNA by
Counterparty



 
 
    

Derivatives
Available
for Offset
 
 
(a) 
    

Non-Cash
Collateral
Received
 
 
 
    

Cash
Collateral
Received
 
 
(b)  
    

Net Amount
of Derivative
Assets
 
 
(c)(d)  

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 3,725      $ (549    $      $      $ 3,176  

Barclays Bank PLC

     5,089        (5,089                     

BNP Paribas SA

     32,729        (20,939                    11,790  

Citibank N.A.

     288,532        (238             (288,294       

Deutsche Bank AG

     5,150        (4,807                    343  

Goldman Sachs International

     3,248        (390                    2,858  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     1,437,800        (35,591             (1,402,209       

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     24,521        (24,521                     

Royal Bank of Canada

     57,745        (4,645                    53,100  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 1,858,539      $ (96,769    $      $   (1,690,503    $ 71,267  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
                                    
Counterparty     



Derivative
Liabilities
Subject to
an MNA by
Counterparty
 
 

 
 
    

Derivatives
Available
for Offset
 
 
(a)  
    

Non-Cash
Collateral
Pledged
 
 
 
    

Cash
Collateral
Pledged
 
 
 
    

Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities
 
 
(c)(e)  

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 549      $ (549    $      $      $  

Barclays Bank PLC

     260,911        (5,089                    255,822  

BNP Paribas SA

     20,939        (20,939                     

Citibank N.A.

     238        (238                     

Deutsche Bank AG

     4,807        (4,807                     

Goldman Sachs International

     390        (390                     

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     35,591        (35,591                     

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     71,348        (24,521                    46,827  

Royal Bank of Canada

     4,645        (4,645                     

Societe Generale

     579                             579  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 399,997      $ (96,769    $      $      $ 303,228  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA.

 
  (b) 

Excess of collateral received/pledged, if any, from the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes.

 
  (c) 

Net amount may also include forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not required to be collateralized.

 
  (d) 

Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.

 
  (e) 

Net amount represents the net amount payable due to counterparty in the event of default. Net amount may be offset further by the options written receivable/payable on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a 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 financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments above.

 

      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets

           

Investments

           

Long-Term Investments

           

Common Stocks

           

Canada

   $ 211,692      $      $               —      $ 211,692  

China

       757,689          15,517,812                 16,275,501  

Denmark

            4,581,269               4,581,269  

France

            5,152,998               5,152,998  

Germany

            675,320               675,320  

Hong Kong

            2,721,981               2,721,981  

India

            5,963,417                5,963,417   

 

 

O N S O L I D A T E D C H E D U L E  O F  I N V E S T M E N T S

  19


Consolidated Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

    

  

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Common Stocks (continued)

                 

Indonesia

   $        $ 236,125        $               —        $ 236,125  

Ireland

     143,279          691,832                   835,111  

Italy

              3,413,866                   3,413,866  

Japan

              15,959,880                   15,959,880  

Mexico

     507,150                            507,150  

Netherlands

              4,828,358                   4,828,358  

Singapore

              125,160                   125,160  

South Korea

              5,868,700                   5,868,700  

Sweden

              524,777                   524,777  

Switzerland

              2,242,099                   2,242,099  

Taiwan

              7,998,904                   7,998,904  

United Kingdom

              3,087,692                   3,087,692  

United States

     134,806,773                            134,806,773  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     14,761,627                            14,761,627  

Options Purchased

                 

Equity Contracts

     2,052                            2,052  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 151,190,262        $   79,590,190        $        $   230,780,452  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

                 

Assets

                 

Equity Contracts

   $        $ 1,599,959        $        $ 1,599,959  

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

              258,580                   258,580  

Liabilities

                 

Equity Contracts

     (8,987                          (8,987

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

              (399,997                 (399,997
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ (8,987      $ 1,458,542        $        $ 1,449,555  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are swaps, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and options written. Swaps and forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument and options written are shown at value.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

20  

2 0 2 3  B L A C K O C K  E M I - A N N U A L E P O R T  T O H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) 

October 31, 2023

    

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

   
Australia — 0.6%            

Glencore PLC

    283,169     $ 1,499,896  
   

 

 

 

Canada — 1.8%

   

Cameco Corp.

    24,023       982,781  

Enbridge, Inc.

    65,010           2,083,320  

Suncor Energy, Inc.

    37,558       1,216,319  

Teck Resources Ltd., Class B

    6,288       222,218  
   

 

 

 
      4,504,638  

China — 1.0%

   

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (a)

    20,800       214,137  

BYD Co. Ltd., Class H

    35,000       1,064,353  

Meituan, Class B (a)(b)

    2,610       36,997  

Tencent Holdings Ltd.

    28,600       1,058,450  
   

 

 

 
      2,373,937  

France — 4.7%

   

Accor SA

    16,753       534,464  

BNP Paribas SA

    45,215       2,600,044  

Cie de Saint-Gobain

    24,342       1,325,036  

EssilorLuxottica SA

    10,576       1,915,138  

Kering SA

    1,479       601,512  

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

    2,213       1,584,354  

Sanofi SA

    7,835       711,467  

TotalEnergies SE

    13,486       901,640  

Vinci SA

    13,527       1,495,740  
   

 

 

 
      11,669,395  

Germany — 2.5%

   

Commerzbank AG

    35,173       379,360  

Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Registered Shares

    16,092       946,761  

SAP SE

    16,586       2,224,719  

SAP SE, ADR

    1,101       147,534  

Siemens AG, Registered Shares

    18,357       2,435,953  
   

 

 

 
      6,134,327  

Hong Kong — 0.5%

   

AIA Group Ltd.

    139,800       1,213,996  
   

 

 

 

Israel — 0.6%

   

Nice Ltd., ADR (a)

    9,202       1,420,329  
   

 

 

 

Italy — 0.8%

   

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA

    460,257       1,199,333  

UniCredit SpA

    28,381       711,501  
   

 

 

 
      1,910,834  

Japan — 6.7%

   

FANUC Corp.

    51,700       1,283,008  

Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

    107,600       1,102,768  

Hoya Corp.

    9,378       902,807  

Japan Airlines Co. Ltd.

    106,100       1,950,519  

Keyence Corp.

    4,900       1,896,880  

Komatsu Ltd.

    28,300       650,232  

Kose Corp.

    7,700       510,132  

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

    358,900       3,010,865  

Mitsui & Co. Ltd.

    36,900       1,341,100  

SMC Corp.

    2,800       1,292,936  

Sysmex Corp.

    22,800       1,092,184  

Toyota Motor Corp.

    98,300       1,719,634  
   

 

 

 
      16,753,065  

Netherlands — 4.3%

   

ASML Holding NV

    4,127       2,480,824  
Security   Shares     Value  

Netherlands (continued)

   

ING Groep NV, Series N

    266,738     $ 3,419,721  

Shell PLC

    104,925       3,427,651  

Shell PLC, ADR

    20,691       1,347,812  
   

 

 

 
        10,676,008  

South Korea — 0.6%

   

Amorepacific Corp.

    5,560       521,895  

SK Hynix, Inc.

    11,393       989,392  
   

 

 

 
      1,511,287  

Spain — 0.8%

   

Cellnex Telecom SA (b)

    69,291       2,036,885  
   

 

 

 

Switzerland — 2.8%

   

Alcon, Inc.

    22,993       1,645,750  

Nestle SA, Registered Shares

    35,970       3,878,959  

TE Connectivity Ltd.

    11,606       1,367,767  
   

 

 

 
      6,892,476  

Taiwan — 0.7%

   

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

    108,000       1,763,911  
   

 

 

 

United Arab Emirates — 0.0%

   

NMC Health PLC (a)(c)

    504        
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom — 4.1%

   

AstraZeneca PLC

    14,620       1,830,477  

AstraZeneca PLC, ADR

    12,262       775,326  

BAE Systems PLC

    166,877       2,243,889  

Compass Group PLC

    45,103       1,137,108  

Genius Sports Ltd. (a)

    7,645       37,308  

RELX PLC

    35,953       1,255,755  

Unilever PLC

    63,073       2,987,176  
   

 

 

 
      10,267,039  

United States — 57.0%

   

Abbott Laboratories

    25,261       2,388,427  

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a)

    16,337       1,609,194  

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

    6,515       1,840,097  

Albemarle Corp.

    6,407       812,279  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C (a)

    53,511       6,704,928  

Amazon.com, Inc. (a)

    52,820       7,029,814  

American Tower Corp.

    9,329       1,662,334  

Apple, Inc. (d)

    54,197       9,255,222  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    11,105       1,469,747  

Aptiv PLC (a)

    10,867       947,602  

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

    21,114       1,511,129  

Atlas Energy Solutions, Inc.

    522       9,506  

Ball Corp.

    136       6,548  

BOK Financial Corp.

    73       4,783  

Boston Scientific Corp. (a)

    55,460       2,838,997  

Boyd Gaming Corp.

    163       9,006  

Bunge Ltd.

    14,630       1,550,487  

California Resources Corp.

    600       31,554  

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

    18,296       1,459,655  

Charter Communications, Inc., Class A (a)

    2,822       1,136,702  

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

    406       67,567  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

    399       34,346  

Chubb Ltd.

    10,450       2,242,779  

Citigroup, Inc.

    840       33,172  

Comcast Corp., Class A

    30,349       1,253,110  

ConocoPhillips

    15,562       1,848,766  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    3,231       1,784,934  

Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A (a)

    4,047       715,388  

Crown Holdings, Inc.

    79       6,367  
 

 

 

C H E D U L E  O F I N V E S T M E  N T S

  21


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

    

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

United States (continued)

   

Customers Bancorp, Inc. (a)

    68     $ 2,734  

Datadog, Inc., Class A (a)

    11,983       976,255  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

    16,989       530,906  

Dexcom, Inc. (a)

    5,576       495,316  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (a)

    12,611       803,573  

Element Solutions, Inc.

    875       15,951  

Eli Lilly & Co.

    3,079           1,705,550  

EQT Corp.

    5,273       223,470  

F5, Inc. (a)

    9,146       1,386,442  

First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A

    26       35,899  

Fortinet, Inc. (a)

    11,945       682,896  

Fortive Corp.

    34,146       2,229,051  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

    41,008       1,385,250  

Green Plains, Inc. (a)

    130       3,819  

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

    157       35,504  

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

    3,529       534,749  

Humana, Inc.

    6,594       3,453,212  

Ingersoll Rand, Inc.

    22,277       1,351,768  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)

    3,468       909,379  

Johnson & Johnson

    10,792       1,600,885  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    24,175       3,361,775  

Kenvue, Inc.

    39,446       733,696  

KLA Corp.

    902       423,669  

Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Live, Class A

    3,386       105,779  

Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Live, Class C (a)

    3,224       102,749  

LKQ Corp.

    15,250       669,780  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    3,184       1,447,574  

LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.

    12,796       2,872,958  

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    479       72,449  

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

    20,712       3,928,031  

Masco Corp.

    2,826       147,206  

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

    8,894       3,347,257  

McDonald’s Corp.

    5,657       1,483,096  

Merck & Co., Inc.

    24,278       2,493,351  

Micron Technology, Inc.

    17,732       1,185,739  

Microsoft Corp. (d)

    36,075       12,197,319  

Mirion Technologies, Inc., Class A (a)

    3,697       25,620  

Mr. Cooper Group, Inc. (a)

    405       22,895  

New York Community Bancorp, Inc.

    1,470       13,936  

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    27,379       1,596,196  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

    5,170       2,437,293  

NVIDIA Corp.

    6,221       2,536,924  

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (a)

    3,939       957,256  

Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    1,815       20,927  

Peloton Interactive, Inc., Class A (a)

    10,820       51,503  

Pfizer, Inc.

    34,964       1,068,500  

Phillips 66

    282       32,168  

Progressive Corp.

    11,298       1,786,101  

Roche Holding AG

    2,074       534,490  

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

    4,199       1,103,539  

Salesforce, Inc. (a)

    7,754       1,557,236  

Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.

    19       10  

Schlumberger NV

    2,525       140,541  

Sempra

    44,931       3,146,518  

Starbucks Corp.

    9,554       881,261  

Tesla, Inc. (a)

    11,502       2,310,062  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    4,508       2,005,023  

TJX Cos., Inc.

    15,330       1,350,113  

Transocean Ltd. (a)

    11,967       79,222  

U.S. Steel Corp.

    1,585       53,716  
Security   Shares     Value  

United States (continued)

   

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (a)

    18,301     $ 640,718  

United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B

    8,604       1,215,315  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    7,081       3,792,300  

Valero Energy Corp.

    12,666       1,608,582  

Veralto Corp. (a)

    6,599       455,331  

Visa, Inc., Class A

    2,300       540,730  

Vulcan Materials Co.

    5,901       1,159,487  

Walmart, Inc.

    13,023       2,128,088  

Walt Disney Co. (a)

    22,686       1,850,951  

Zoetis, Inc., Class A

    3,827       600,839  

Zscaler, Inc. (a)

    3,108       493,208  
   

 

 

 
      141,396,076  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks — 89.5%
(Cost: $222,425,078)

      222,024,099  
   

 

 

 
     Par
(000)
        

Corporate Bonds

   
United States — 0.0%            

Stem, Inc., 0.50%, 12/01/28(b)

  $ 1       523  
   

 

 

 

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

      523  
   

 

 

 
     Shares         

Investment Companies

   
United States — 0.4%            

iShares MSCI China ETF (e)

    19,824       828,841  
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies — 0.4%
(Cost: $1,061,580)

      828,841  
   

 

 

 

Preferred Securities

   

Preferred Stocks — 0.2%

   
Germany — 0.2%            

Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG(b)

    5,851       512,811  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Securities — 0.2%
(Cost: $592,345)

      512,811  
   

 

 

 

Warrants

   
Israel — 0.0%            

Innovid Corp., (Issued/Exercisable 01/28/21, 1 Share for 1 Warrant, Expires 12/31/27, Strike Price USD 11.50)(a)

    22       1  
   

 

 

 

United States(a) — 0.0%

   

Cano Health, Inc., (Issued 07/06/20, Exercisable 07/06/21, 1 Share for 1 Warrant, Expires 06/03/26, Strike Price USD 11.50)

    121       4  

EVgo, Inc., (Issued/Exercisable 11/10/20, 1 Share for 1 Warrant, Expires 09/15/25, Strike Price USD 11.50)

    60       11  
 

 

 

22  

2 0 2 3   B L A C K O C K E M I - A N N U A L E P O R T  T O H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

    

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

United States (continued)

   

Hippo Holdings, Inc., (Issued/Exercisable 01/04/21, 0.04 Share for 1 Warrant, Expires 08/02/26, Strike Price USD 287.50)

    57     $ 1  

Offerpad Solutions, Inc., (Issued/Exercisable 10/13/20, 1 Share for 1 Warrant, Expires 09/01/26, Strike Price USD 11.50)

    107       1  

Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp., Class A, (Issued/Exercisable 12/21/20, 1 Share for 1 Warrant, Expires 09/24/26, Strike Price USD 11.50)

    354       4  
   

 

 

 
      21  
   

 

 

 

Total Warrants — 0.0%
(Cost: $1,487)

      22  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 90.1%
(Cost: $224,081,490)

      223,366,296  
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

   

Money Market Funds — 8.0%

   

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class, 5.24%(e)(f)

    19,907,971       19,907,971  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 8.0%
(Cost: $19,907,971)

      19,907,971  
   

 

 

 

Options Purchased — 0.2%
(Cost: $749,382)

      390,272  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments Before Options Written — 98.3%
(Cost: $244,738,843)

 

    243,664,539  
   

 

 

 

Options Written — (0.1)%
(Premiums Received: $(288,283))

      (209,540
   

 

 

 

Total Investments, Net of Options Written — 98.2%
(Cost: $244,450,560)

 

    243,454,999  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — 1.8%

      4,552,873  
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $ 248,007,872  
   

 

 

 

 

(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) 

All or a portion of the security has been pledged and/or segregated as collateral in connection with outstanding exchange-traded options written.

(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, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer   Value at
04/30/23
    Purchases
at Cost
    Proceeds
from Sales
    Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
    Value at
10/31/23
    Shares
Held at
10/31/23
    Income     Capital Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class

  $ 13,956,763     $ 5,951,208 (a)    $     $     $     $ 19,907,971       19,907,971     $ 438,507     $  

iShares MSCI China ETF

    946,001                         (117,160     828,841       19,824       8,508        
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        $     $ (117,160   $ 20,736,812       $ 447,015     $  
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 

 

 

C H E D U L E  O F I N V E S T M E  N T S

  23


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

    

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

 

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

                 

NSE IFSC Nifty 50 Index

     9          11/30/23        $ 345        $ (5,679

Nikkei 225 Yen-Denominated

     4          12/07/23          414          9,386  

S&P/TSE 60 Index

     7          12/14/23          1,146          (37,492

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     129          12/15/23          27,169          (1,795,398
                 

 

 

 
                    (1,829,183
                 

 

 

 

Short Contracts

                 

CAC 40 Index

     20          11/17/23          1,463          28,094  

FTSE Taiwan Index

     70          11/29/23          3,869          15,493  

KOSPI 200 Index

     63          12/14/23          3,596          305,998  

Euro Stoxx 50 Index

     1          12/15/23          43          (376

FTSE 100 Index

     34          12/15/23          3,035          97,763  

NASDAQ 100 E-Mini Index

     1          12/15/23          290          8,328  

SPI 200 Index

     4          12/21/23          432          29,561  
                 

 

 

 
                    484,861  
                 

 

 

 
                  $ (1,344,322
                 

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Currency Purchased        Currency Sold        Counterparty      Settlement Date        Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     982,684        USD     621,402        Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23        $ 2,967  
USD     271,869        CHF     239,959        Royal Bank of Canada        12/20/23          6,650  
USD     11,750,572        EUR     10,898,594        JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          193,064  
USD     746,521        GBP     597,810        BNP Paribas SA        12/20/23          19,639  
USD     392,219        HKD     3,065,529        Goldman Sachs International        12/20/23          160  
USD     554,239        HKD     4,327,981        JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          721  
USD     1,136,080        HKD     8,873,149        Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          1,268  
USD     264,475        JPY     39,619,974        Barclays Bank PLC        12/20/23          1,011  
USD     285,792        JPY     41,492,146        Barclays Bank PLC        12/20/23          9,879  
USD     660,691        JPY     98,187,140        Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          7,769  
USD     1,287,286        KRW     1,735,686,141        Bank of America N.A.        12/20/23          962  
USD     477,207        KRW     629,574,616        BNP Paribas SA        12/20/23          10,627  
                       

 

 

 
                          254,717  
                       

 

 

 
AUD     6,283,199        USD     4,054,550        BNP Paribas SA        12/20/23          (62,384
CAD     1,870,904        USD     1,364,808        BNP Paribas SA        12/20/23          (14,528
CAD     4,086,140        USD     3,023,912        JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          (74,840
CHF     618,261        USD     686,874        HSBC Bank PLC        12/20/23          (3,530
DKK     5,877,160        USD     842,777        JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.        12/20/23          (7,298
DKK     3,345,160        USD     484,318        Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          (8,780
EUR     1,230,794        USD     1,309,420        Barclays Bank PLC        12/20/23          (4,214
SEK     15,342,458        USD     1,391,343        BNP Paribas SA        12/20/23          (13,628
SEK     6,212,713        USD     561,456        Natwest Markets PLC        12/20/23          (3,570
USD     917,852        CNY     6,626,643        Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC        12/20/23          (955
                       

 

 

 
                          (193,727
                       

 

 

 
                        $ 60,990  
                       

 

 

 

Exchange-Traded Options Purchased

 

           
Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Exercise Price     

Notional

Amount (000)

     Value  
Call                                             

InvesCo QQQ Trust, Series 1

     26        11/10/23      USD      375.00      USD      912      $ 169  

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

     41        11/17/23      USD      105.00      USD      404            10,352  

 

 

24  

2 0 2 3   B L A C K O C K E M I - A N N U A L E P O R T  T O H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

    

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

 

Exchange-Traded Options Purchased (continued)

 

           
Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Exercise Price     

Notional

Amount (000)

     Value  
Call (continued)                                             

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     34        11/17/23      USD      140.00      USD      426      $ 272  

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     26        11/17/23      USD      135.00      USD      326        845  

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     62        11/17/23      USD      145.00      USD      777        310  

Amazon.com, Inc.

     36        11/17/23      USD      140.00      USD      479        3,924  

Amazon.com, Inc.

     27        11/17/23      USD      135.00      USD      359        7,668  

Apple, Inc.

     46        11/17/23      USD      180.00      USD      786        5,405  

ConocoPhillips

     96        11/17/23      USD      130.00      USD      1,140        2,304  

ConocoPhillips

     34        11/17/23      USD      125.00      USD      404        2,924  

Eli Lilly & Co.

     11        11/17/23      USD      620.00      USD      609        2,525  

Humana, Inc.

     7        11/17/23      USD      520.00      USD      628        11,095  

Humana, Inc.

     9        11/17/23      USD      515.00      USD      471        16,920  

Humana, Inc.

     10        11/17/23      USD      525.00      USD      524        13,000  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

     18        11/17/23      USD      435.00      USD      818        39,780  

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

     11        11/17/23      USD      420.00      USD      414        55  

Microsoft Corp.

     25        11/17/23      USD      330.00      USD      845        31,937  

NVIDIA Corp.

     22        11/17/23      USD      480.00      USD      897        1,177  

NVIDIA Corp.

     9        11/17/23      USD      440.00      USD      367        3,937  

salesforce.com, Inc.

     13        11/17/23      USD      220.00      USD      261        436  

salesforce.com, Inc.

     9        11/17/23      USD      210.00      USD      181        1,602  

Tesla, Inc.

     15        11/17/23      USD      260.00      USD      301        278  

Valero Energy Corp.

     27        11/17/23      USD      155.00      USD      343        594  

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

     86        12/15/23      USD      105.00      USD      847        39,130  

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     62        12/15/23      USD      150.00      USD      777        1,023  

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     39        12/15/23      USD      145.00      USD      489        1,170  

Amazon.com, Inc.

     96        12/15/23      USD      135.00      USD      1,278        51,360  

Apple, Inc.

     32        12/15/23      USD      180.00      USD      546        8,416  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     41        12/15/23      USD      140.00      USD      543        16,810  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     33        12/15/23      USD      145.00      USD      459        6,633  

Microsoft Corp.

     17        12/15/23      USD      345.00      USD      575        15,087  

Nice Ltd.

     22        12/15/23      USD      175.00      USD      340        6,545  

NVIDIA Corp.

     11        12/15/23      USD      440.00      USD      449        19,552  

NVIDIA Corp.

     13        12/15/23      USD      460.00      USD      530        15,600  

Tesla, Inc.

     25        12/15/23      USD      225.00      USD      502        14,312  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

     15        01/19/24      USD      295.00      USD      393        9,000  

Pfizer, Inc.

     59        01/19/24      USD      47.00      USD      180        148  

Pfizer, Inc.

     97        01/19/24      USD      50.00      USD      296        146  

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     31        01/19/24      USD      455.00      USD      1,296        3,488  
                    

 

 

 
                       365,929  
                    

 

 

 
Put                                             

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     2        11/17/23      USD      430.00      USD      84        2,620  

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     2        12/15/23      USD      420.00      USD      84        2,008  
                    

 

 

 
                       4,628  
                    

 

 

 
                     $   370,557  
                    

 

 

 

OTC Options Purchased

 

Description   Counterparty    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Exercise Price      Notional
Amount (000)
     Value  

Call

                      

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.

  Citibank N.A.      29,100        12/08/23        JPY        1,378.02        JPY        36,579      $ 1,871  

TOPIX Banks Index

  BNP Paribas SA      193,920        01/12/24        JPY        286.63        JPY        50,937        6,310  

TOPIX Banks Index

  Goldman Sachs International      323,071        01/12/24        JPY        286.49        JPY        84,861        8,243  

TOPIX Banks Index

  JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      129,408        01/12/24        JPY        286.55        JPY        33,992        3,291  
                      

 

 

 
                       $    19,715  
                      

 

 

 

 

 

C H E D U L E   O F   I N V E S T M  E N T S

  25


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

    

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

 

Exchange-Traded Options Written

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
       Expiration
Date
       Exercise Price        Notional
Amount (000)
       Value  

Call

                                

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

     41          11/17/23          USD          120.00          USD          404        $ (1,312

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     62          11/17/23          USD          160.00          USD          777          (620

ConocoPhillips

     96          11/17/23          USD          140.00          USD          1,140          (480

NVIDIA Corp.

     22          11/17/23          USD          540.00          USD          897          (77

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

     32          12/15/23          USD          125.00          USD          315          (2,336

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

     54          12/15/23          USD          120.00          USD          532          (6,426

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     62          12/15/23          USD          165.00          USD          777          (217

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     39          12/15/23          USD          170.00          USD          489          (156

Amazon.com, Inc.

     53          12/15/23          USD          150.00          USD          705          (4,611

Amazon.com, Inc.

     43          12/15/23          USD          155.00          USD          572          (1,828

Apple, Inc.

     32          12/15/23          USD          210.00          USD          546          (224

Applied Materials, Inc.

     41          12/15/23          USD          160.00          USD          543          (2,255

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     33          12/15/23          USD          155.00          USD          459          (957

Microsoft Corp.

     17          12/15/23          USD          395.00          USD          575          (434

Nice Ltd.

     22          12/15/23          USD          195.00          USD          340          (1,815

NVIDIA Corp.

     11          12/15/23          USD          530.00          USD          449          (2,766

NVIDIA Corp.

     13          12/15/23          USD          525.00          USD          530          (3,679

Tesla, Inc.

     25          12/15/23          USD          260.00          USD          502          (3,100

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

     15          01/19/24          USD          340.00          USD          393          (2,025
                                

 

 

 
                                   (35,318
                                

 

 

 
Put                                                             

InvesCo QQQ Trust, Series 1

     9          11/10/23          USD          325.00          USD          316          (365

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     46          11/17/23          USD          125.00          USD          576          (12,259

Amazon.com, Inc.

     46          11/17/23          USD          130.00          USD          612          (10,603

Amazon.com, Inc.

     36          11/17/23          USD          120.00          USD          479          (1,764

ConocoPhillips

     21          11/17/23          USD          110.00          USD          249          (1,334

ConocoPhillips

     48          11/17/23          USD          115.00          USD          570          (7,896

Eli Lilly & Co.

     5          11/17/23          USD          540.00          USD          277          (6,737

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

     11          11/17/23          USD          360.00          USD          414          (1,694

NVIDIA Corp.

     22          11/17/23          USD          400.00          USD          897          (25,245

Pfizer, Inc.

     91          11/17/23          USD          30.00          USD          278          (6,279

salesforce.com, Inc.

     13          11/17/23          USD          185.00          USD          261          (1,203

Tesla, Inc.

     8          11/17/23          USD          220.00          USD          161          (16,940

Valero Energy Corp.

     27          11/17/23          USD          120.00          USD          343          (3,645

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

     32          12/15/23          USD          85.00          USD          315          (6,432

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

     14          12/15/23          USD          90.00          USD          138          (4,620

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     46          12/15/23          USD          120.00          USD          576          (10,994

Alphabet Inc., Class C

     10          12/15/23          USD          125.00          USD          125          (4,175

Amazon.com, Inc.

     11          12/15/23          USD          115.00          USD          146          (1,122

Amazon.com, Inc.

     31          12/15/23          USD          120.00          USD          413          (5,223

Apple, Inc.

     8          12/15/23          USD          155.00          USD          137          (1,328

Applied Materials, Inc.

     10          12/15/23          USD          120.00          USD          132          (2,585

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     16          12/15/23          USD          130.00          USD          222          (2,216

Microsoft Corp.

     4          12/15/23          USD          295.00          USD          135          (658

NVIDIA Corp.

     11          12/15/23          USD          310.00          USD          449          (3,602

NVIDIA Corp.

     3          12/15/23          USD          395.00          USD          122          (6,802

Tesla, Inc.

     6          12/15/23          USD          195.00          USD          121          (6,585

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

     15          01/19/24          USD          235.00          USD          393          (10,950

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     13          01/19/24          USD          395.00          USD          544          (7,046
                                

 

 

 
                                   (170,302
                                

 

 

 
                                 $ (205,620
                                

 

 

 

 

 

26  

2 0 2 3   B L A C K O C K  E M I - A N N U A L  E P O R T   T O   H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

    

 

OTC Options Written

 

Description   Counterparty    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Exercise Price     

Notional

Amount (000)

     Value  

Call

                      

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.

  Citibank N.A.      58,200        12/08/23        JPY        1,509.26        JPY        73,157      $ (422

TOPIX Banks Index

  BNP Paribas SA      193,920        01/12/24        JPY        313.92        JPY        50,937        (1,043

TOPIX Banks Index

  Goldman Sachs International      323,071        01/12/24        JPY        313.77        JPY        84,861        (1,755

TOPIX Banks Index

  JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      129,408        01/12/24        JPY        313.85        JPY        33,992        (700
                      

 

 

 
                       $    (3,920
                      

 

 

 

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/Short

   Monthly    Citibank N.A.(b)      02/24/28      $ (97,683    $ 17,189 (c)     $ (81,028      0.0
   Monthly    JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.(d)      02/08/24        (1,110,252      104,255 (e)       (1,014,795      0.5  
              

 

 

    

 

 

    
               $ 121,444      $ (1,095,823   
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  (a) 

The Fund receives the total return on a portfolio of long positions underlying the total return swap. The Fund pays the total return on a portfolio of short 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 $534 of net dividends and financing fees.

 
  (e) 

Amount includes $8,798 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:

  15 basis points   15-57 basis points

Benchmarks:

  USD - 1D Overnight Bank Funding Rate (OBFR01)   USD - 1D Overnight Bank Funding Rate (OBFR01)

 

The following table represents the individual short positions and related values of the equity securities underlying the total return swap with Citibank N.A. as of period end, termination date 02/24/28:

The following table represents the individual long and short 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 02/08/24:

 

 

Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 

Reference Entity — Short

 

   
Common Stocks                  
United States                  

Southwest Airlines Co.

    (3,645   $ (81,028     100.0
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Value of Reference Entity — Citibank N.A.

 

  $ (81,028  
   

 

 

   
Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 

Reference Entity — Long

 

   
Common Stocks                  
United States                  

Banc of California, Inc.

    1,320     $     14,797       (1.5 )% 
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Reference Entity — Long

 

    14,797    
   

 

 

   

Reference Entity — Short

 

   
Common Stocks                  
United States                  

Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.

    (390     (11,236     1.1  

Bank of America Corp.

    (416     (10,957     1.1  

Bank of Hawaii Corp.

    (209     (10,322     1.0  

Charles Schwab Corp.

    (325     (16,913     1.7  

Cloudflare, Inc., Class A

    (4,364     (247,395     24.4  

Community Bank System, Inc.

    (319     (12,744     1.2  

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.

    (65     (5,914     0.6  

CVB Financial Corp.

    (700     (10,934     1.1  

First Merchants Corp.

    (328     (8,958     0.9  

Glacier Bancorp, Inc.

    (257     (7,759     0.8  
 

 

 

C H E D U L E   O F   I N V E S T M  E N T S

  27


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

 

Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
United States (continued)                  

Independent Bank Group, Inc.

    (430   $ (15,200     1.5

Marriott International, Inc.

    (1,140     (214,958     21.2  

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

    (272     (3,444     0.3  

PacWest Bancorp

    (2,010     (14,231     1.4  

Palantir Technologies, Inc.

    (12,266     (181,537     17.9  

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

    (130     (8,107     0.8  

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.

    (122     (6,654     0.6  

Simmons First National Corp., Class A

    (1,000     (14,210     1.4  

Snowflake, Inc.

    (952     (138,164     13.6  

SouthState Corp.

    (170     (11,237     1.1  

Truist Financial Corp.

    (379     (10,748     1.1  
Security   Shares     Value     % of
Basket
Value
 
United States (continued)                  

U.S. Bancorp

    (360   $ (11,477     1.1

Valley National Bancorp

    (2,691     (20,936     2.1  

Washington Federal, Inc.

    (648     (15,993     1.6  

Western Alliance Bancorp

    (476     (19,564     1.9  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (1,029,592  
   

 

 

   

Total Reference Entity — Short

 

    (1,029,592  
   

 

 

   

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

 

  $   (1,014,795  
   

 

 

   
 

 

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

 

Description    Swap
Premiums
Paid
     Swap
Premiums
Received
     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
     Value  

OTC Swaps

   $      $      $ 121,444      $      $  

Options Written

     N/A        N/A        131,080        (52,337      (209,540

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  

Assets — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 494,623      $      $      $      $ 494,623  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                    

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                          254,717                      254,717  

Options purchased

                    

Investments at value — unaffiliated(b)

                   390,272                             390,272  
Swaps — OTC                     

Unrealized appreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums paid

                   121,444                             121,444  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 1,006,339      $ 254,717      $      $      $ 1,261,056  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 1,838,945      $      $      $      $ 1,838,945  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                          193,727                      193,727  

Options written

                    

Options written at value

                   209,540                             209,540  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $   2,048,485      $   193,727      $      $      $ 2,242,212  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (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).

 
  (b) 

Includes options purchased at value as reported in the Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

28  

2 0 2 3   B L A C K O C K  E M I - A N N U A L  E P O R T   T O   H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

    

 

For the period ended October 31, 2023, 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

   $      $      $ 1,611,713      $      $      $      $ 1,611,713  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                          (398,872                    (398,872

Options purchased(a)

                   226,181                             226,181  

Options written

                   328,869                             328,869  

Swaps

                   29,932                             29,932  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 2,196,695      $   (398,872    $      $      $ 1,797,823  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (2,290,162    $      $      $      $   (2,290,162

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                          450,918                      450,918  

Options purchased(b)

                   (243,504                           (243,504

Options written

                   6,728                             6,728  

Swaps

                   123,385                             123,385  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $   (2,403,553    $ 450,918      $      $      $ (1,952,635
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Options purchased are included in net realized gain (loss) from investments — unaffiliated.

 
  (b) 

Options purchased are included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments — unaffiliated.

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Futures contracts:

        

Average notional value of contracts — long

   $ 24,551,202  

Average notional value of contracts — short

   $ 13,003,788  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts:

  

Average amounts purchased — in USD

   $ 17,287,168  

Average amounts sold — in USD

   $ 12,391,053  

Options:

  

Average value of option contracts purchased

   $ 826,570  

Average value of option contracts written

   $ 298,616  

Total return swaps:

  

Average notional value

   $ (1,136,565

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

   $ 609,242      $ 17,359  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     254,717        193,727  

Options

     390,272 (a)        209,540  

Swaps — OTC(b)

     121,444         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

     1,375,675        420,626  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

     (979,799      (222,979
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA

   $ 395,876      $ 197,647  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes options purchased at value which is included in Investments at value — unaffiliated in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and reported in the Schedule of Investments.

 
  (b) 

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

 

 

 

C H E D U L E   O F   I N V E S T M  E N T S

  29


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

    

 

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

Assets

Subject to

an MNA by
Counterparty

 

 

 

 
 

      

Derivatives

Available

for Offset

 

 

(a)  

    

Non-Cash
Collateral
Received
 
 
 
      

Cash
Collateral
Received
 
 
 
      

Net Amount
of Derivative
Assets
 
 
(b)(c)  

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 962        $      $        $        $ 962  

Barclays Bank PLC

     10,890          (4,214                        6,676  

BNP Paribas SA

     36,576          (36,576                         

Citibank N.A.

     19,060          (422                        18,638  

Goldman Sachs International

     8,403          (1,755                        6,648  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A

     301,331          (82,838                        218,493  

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     12,004          (9,735                        2,269  

Royal Bank of Canada

     6,650                                   6,650  
  

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 395,876        $ (135,540    $        $        $ 260,336  
  

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

    

                    
           
Counterparty     

Derivative

Liabilities

Subject to

an MNA by

Counterparty

 

 

 

 

 

      

Derivatives

Available

for Offset

 

 

(a)  

    

Non-Cash

Collateral

Pledged

 

 

 

      

Cash

Collateral

Pledged

 

 

 

      

Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities
 
 
(b)(d) 

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 4,214        $ (4,214    $        $        $  

BNP Paribas SA

     91,583          (36,576                        55,007  

Citibank N.A.

     422          (422                         

Goldman Sachs International

     1,755          (1,755                         

HSBC Bank PLC

     3,530                                   3,530  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     82,838          (82,838                         

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     9,735          (9,735                         

Natwest Markets PLC

     3,570                                   3,570  
  

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 197,647        $ (135,540    $        $        $ 62,107  
  

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA.

 
  (b) 

Net amount may also include forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not required to be collateralized.

 
  (c) 

Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.

 
  (d) 

Net amount represents the net amount payable due to counterparty in the event of default. Net amount may be offset further by the options written receivable/payable on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a 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 financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments 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

                 

Australia

   $        $ 1,499,896        $            —        $ 1,499,896  

Canada

     4,504,638                            4,504,638  

China

              2,373,937                   2,373,937  

France

              11,669,395                   11,669,395  

Germany

     147,534          5,986,793                   6,134,327  

Hong Kong

              1,213,996                   1,213,996  

Israel

     1,420,329                            1,420,329  

Italy

              1,910,834                   1,910,834  

Japan

              16,753,065                   16,753,065  

Netherlands

     1,347,812          9,328,196                   10,676,008  

South Korea

              1,511,287                   1,511,287  

 

 

30  

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Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

    

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Common Stocks (continued)

                 

Spain

   $        $ 2,036,885        $            —        $ 2,036,885  

Switzerland

     1,367,767          5,524,709                   6,892,476  

Taiwan

              1,763,911                   1,763,911  

United Arab Emirates

                                 

United Kingdom

     812,634          9,454,405                   10,267,039  

United States

     140,861,586          534,490                   141,396,076  

Corporate Bonds

              523                   523  

Investment Companies

     828,841                            828,841  

Preferred Securities

                 

Preferred Stocks

              512,811                   512,811  

Warrants

     22                            22  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     19,907,971                            19,907,971  

Options Purchased

                 

Equity Contracts

     370,557          19,715                   390,272  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 171,569,691        $ 72,094,848        $        $ 243,664,539  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

 

Assets

 

Equity Contracts

   $ 17,714        $ 598,353        $        $ 616,067  

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

              254,717                   254,717  

Liabilities

 

Equity Contracts

     (2,044,189        (4,296                 (2,048,485

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

              (193,727                 (193,727
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ (2,026,475      $ 655,047        $        $ (1,371,428
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are swaps, futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and options written. Swaps, futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument and options written are shown at value.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

C H E D U L E   O F   I N V E S T M  E N T S

  31


Statements of Assets and Liabilities  (unaudited)

October 31, 2023

    

 

     

BlackRock GA
Disciplined Volatility
Equity Fund(a)
 
 
 
   

BlackRock GA
Dynamic Equity

Fund

 
 

 

ASSETS

        

Investments, at value — unaffiliated(b)

                 $  216,018,825        $  222,927,727  

Investments, at value — affiliated(c)

      14,761,627          20,736,812  

Cash pledged:

        

Collateral — exchange-traded options written

               955,000  

Futures contracts

               2,293,000  

Foreign currency, at value(d)

      286,778          234,399  

Receivables:

        

Investments sold

      3,667,765          951,763  

Swaps

      6,119,788                       100,339  

Capital shares sold

      2,109,424          2,231,994  

Dividends — unaffiliated

      240,563          216,047  

Dividends — affiliated

      68,332          98,064  

Variation margin on futures contracts

               609,242  

Unrealized appreciation on:

        

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

      258,580          254,717  

OTC swaps

      1,599,959          121,444  

Prepaid expenses

      38,286          39,815  
   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total assets

      245,169,927          251,770,363  
   

 

 

      

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

        

Bank overdraft

      1,721,949          800,343  

Cash received as collateral for OTC derivatives

      4,140,000           

Options written, at value(e)

      8,987          209,540  

Payables:

        

Investments purchased

      6,317,907          1,623,550  

Swaps

      3,007,816          45,881  

Accounting services fees

      15,061          9,861  

Capital shares redeemed

      478,726          583,133  

Custodian fees

      80,760          106,895  

Deferred foreign capital gain tax

      22,215           

Investment advisory fees

      60,707          67,541  

Trustees’ and Officer’s fees

      2,306          2,256  

Other accrued expenses

      15,249          15,490  

Professional fees

      91,883          86,915  

Variation margin on futures contracts

               17,359  

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

      399,997          193,727  
   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total liabilities

      16,363,563          3,762,491  
   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

        

NET ASSETS

    $  228,806,364        $  248,007,872  
   

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

        

Paid-in capital

    $  233,266,539        $  254,738,854  

Accumulated loss

      (4,460,175        (6,730,982
   

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    $  228,806,364        $  248,007,872  
   

 

 

      

 

 

 

(a)   Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

        

(b)   Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

    $  217,894,866        $  223,769,292  

(c)   Investments, at cost — affiliated

    $    14,761,627        $    20,969,551  

(d)   Foreign currency, at cost

    $         287,591        $         237,439  

(e)   Premiums received

    $             7,097        $         288,283  

 

 

32  

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Statements of Assets and Liabilities  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

    

 

     BlackRock GA
Disciplined Volatility
Equity Fund(a)
     BlackRock GA
Dynamic Equity
Fund
 

NET ASSET VALUE

      
Institutional                   

Net assets

                 $  228,472,905      $  247,673,514  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

      19,493,149        19,281,760  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value

    $             11.72      $             12.84  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares authorized

      Unlimited        Unlimited  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Par value

    $ 0.01      $ 0.01  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 
Class K                   

Net assets

    $         333,459      $         334,358  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

      28,415        26,006  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value

    $             11.74      $             12.86  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares authorized

      Unlimited        Unlimited  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Par value

    $               0.01      $               0.01  
   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L  T A T E M E N T S

  33


Statements of Operations  (unaudited)

Six Months Ended October 31, 2023

    

 

     BlackRock GA
Disciplined Volatility
Equity Fund(a)
    BlackRock GA
Dynamic Equity
Fund
 

INVESTMENT INCOME

     

Dividends — unaffiliated

    $   1,655,010     $ 1,691,527  

Dividends — affiliated

      268,477       447,015  

Foreign taxes withheld

                   (95,670     (104,621
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

      1,827,817       2,033,921  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES

     

Investment advisory

      321,523       388,301  

Transfer agent — class specific

      87,485       101,687  

Professional

      63,093       70,462  

Custodian

      53,047       38,092  

Accounting services

      33,121       27,829  

Registration

      29,898       32,197  

Printing and postage

      13,101       13,302  

Trustees and Officer

      3,615       3,678  

Miscellaneous

      7,373       7,200  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      612,256       682,748  

Less:

     

Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager

      (122,698     (95,627

Transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager — class specific

      (47,377     (53,233
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      442,181       533,888  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      1,385,636       1,500,033  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

     

Net realized gain (loss) from:

     

Investments — unaffiliated(b)

      (1,405,368     (1,413,492

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

      (585,596     (398,872

Foreign currency transactions

      (2,540     (20,979

Futures contracts

      16,294       1,611,713  

Options written

            328,869  

Swaps

      2,666,909       29,932  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      689,699       137,171  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

     

Investments — unaffiliated(c)

      (9,297,326     (7,371,217

Investments — affiliated

            (117,160

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

      119,339       450,918  

Foreign currency translations

      (3,333     (5,406

Futures contracts

            (2,290,162

Options written

      (1,890     6,728  

Swaps

      878,298       123,385  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (8,304,912     (9,202,914
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

      (7,615,213     (9,065,743
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

    $  (6,229,577   $ (7,565,710
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a)   Consolidated Statement of Operations.

     

(b)   Net of foreign capital gain tax and capital gain tax refund, if applicable of

    $       (22,134   $               —  

(c)   Net of increase in deferred foreign capital gain tax of

    $       (16,615   $               —  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

34  

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Statements of Changes in Net Assets

    

 

 

    BlackRock GA Disciplined
Volatility Equity Fund(a)
    BlackRock GA
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
     Six Months Ended
10/31/23
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
04/30/23
    Six Months Ended
10/31/23
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
04/30/23
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

       

OPERATIONS

       

Net investment income

  $      1,385,636     $      1,258,651     $      1,500,033     $      1,341,181  

Net realized gain (loss)

    689,699       (2,260,128     137,171       (4,540,375

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (8,304,912     10,380,041       (9,202,914     10,322,198  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (6,229,577     9,378,564       (7,565,710     7,123,004  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(b)

       

Institutional

    (737,809     (3,187,600     (523,292     (574,866

Class K

    (1,749     (225,291     (1,035     (49,813
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (739,558     (3,412,891     (524,327     (624,679
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

       

Net increase in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    126,771,539       42,608,521       111,681,411       80,952,381  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

       

Total increase in net assets

    119,802,404       48,574,194       103,591,374       87,450,706  

Beginning of period

    109,003,960       60,429,766       144,416,498       56,965,792  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $  228,806,364     $  109,003,960     $  248,007,872     $  144,416,498  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets.

(b) 

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

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L  T A T E M E N T S

  35


Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

    

 

    BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund  
    Institutional  
   

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

 

 

    Year Ended       Year Ended      
Period from
11/01/20
 
 
    Year Ended      
Period from
11/30/18
 
(b) 
       (unaudited )(a)      04/30/23 (a)       04/30/22 (a)       to 04/30/21 (a)      10/31/20 (a)       to 10/31/19  
               

Net asset value, beginning of period

                 $ 12.13     $ 11.66     $ 12.84     $ 10.90     $ 11.20     $ 10.31  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(c)

       0.10       0.17       0.12       0.07       0.16       0.23  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

       (0.45     0.69       (0.49     2.06       0.01       0.91  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

       (0.35     0.86       (0.37     2.13       0.17       1.14  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(d)

              

From net investment income

       (0.06     (0.39     (0.08     (0.06     (0.32     (0.25

From net realized gain

                   (0.73     (0.13     (0.15      
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

       (0.06     (0.39     (0.81     (0.19     (0.47     (0.25
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 11.72     $ 12.13     $ 11.66     $ 12.84     $ 10.90     $ 11.20  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

              

Based on net asset value

       (2.91 )%(f)      7.67     (3.35 )%      19.67 %(f)      1.56     11.22 %(f) 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(g)

              

Total expenses

       0.76 %(h)       1.00     1.37     5.18 %(h)(i)      5.27     6.39 %(h)(j) 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

       0.55 %(h)       0.55     0.55     0.55 %(h)      0.54     0.55 %(h) 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

       1.72 %(h)       1.46     0.99     1.12 %(h)      1.51     2.39 %(h) 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

              

Net assets, end of period (000)

     $ 228,473     $ 108,719     $ 53,758     $ 97     $ 78     $ 33  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

       82 %(k)       252 %(k)       121     57     125     125
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Consolidated Financial Highlights.

(b) 

Commencement of operations.

(c) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(d) 

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

(e) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(f) 

Not annualized.

(g) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(h) 

Annualized.

(i) 

Audit and printing were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses would have been 6.46%.

(j) 

Includes non-recurring expenses of offering costs. Without these costs, total expenses would have been 5.55%.

(k) 

Excludes underlying investments in total return swaps.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

36  

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Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

    

 

    BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund (continued)  
    Class K  
   
Six Months Ended
10/31/23
 
 
    Year Ended       Year Ended      
Period from
11/01/20
 
 
    Year Ended       Year Ended       Year Ended  
              (unaudited )(a)      04/30/23 (a)       04/30/22 (a)       to 04/30/21 (a)      10/31/20 (a)       10/31/19       10/31/18  

Net asset value, beginning of period

             $ 12.14     $ 11.67     $ 12.85     $ 10.91     $ 11.21     $ 9.97     $ 10.30  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

      0.12       0.19       0.14       0.07       0.17       0.25       0.20  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      (0.46     0.67       (0.51     2.06       0.01       1.24       (0.38
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      (0.34     0.86       (0.37     2.13       0.18       1.49       (0.18
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(c)

               

From net investment income

      (0.06     (0.39     (0.08     (0.06     (0.33     (0.25     (0.15

From net realized gain

                  (0.73     (0.13     (0.15            
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.06     (0.39     (0.81     (0.19     (0.48     (0.25     (0.15
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 11.74     $ 12.14     $ 11.67     $ 12.85     $ 10.91     $ 11.21     $ 9.97  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

               

Based on net asset value

      (2.82 )%(e)      7.71     (3.32 )%      19.68 %(e)      1.60     15.12     (1.83 )% 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(f)

               

Total expenses

      0.66 %(g)      0.93     2.82     4.99 %(g)(h)      4.86     5.66     3.64
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      0.50 %(g)      0.50     0.50     0.50 %(g)      0.50     0.50     0.52
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      1.99 %(g)      1.69     1.10     1.21 %(g)      1.56     2.35     1.88
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

               

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 333     $ 285     $ 6,672     $ 6,901     $ 5,765     $ 5,674     $ 5,017  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      82 %(i)       252 %(i)      121     57     125     125     184
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Consolidated Financial Highlights.

(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) 

Not annualized.

(f) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(g) 

Annualized.

(h) 

Audit and printing were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses would have been 6.26%.

(i) 

Excludes underlying investments in total return swaps.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L  I G H L I G H T  S

  37


Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

    

 

    BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund  
    Institutional  
   

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

(unaudited)

 

 

 

   
Year Ended
04/30/23
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/22
 
 
   

Period from
11/01/20
to 04/30/21
 
 
 
   
Year Ended
10/31/20
 
 
   

Period from
11/30/18

to 10/31/19

 
(a)  

 

               

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 13.14     $ 12.68     $ 15.33     $ 11.73     $ 10.92     $ 10.32  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

               0.10       0.19       0.14       0.06       0.11       0.17  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      (0.36     0.35       (1.40     3.63       0.80       0.81  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      (0.26     0.54       (1.26     3.69       0.91       0.98  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(c)

             

From net investment income

      (0.04     (0.08     (0.14     (0.09     (0.10     (0.23

From net realized gain

                  (1.25                 (0.15
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.04     (0.08     (1.39     (0.09     (0.10     (0.38
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 12.84     $ 13.14     $ 12.68     $ 15.33     $ 11.73     $ 10.92  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

             

Based on net asset value

      (2.01 )%(e)      4.34     (9.33 )%      31.58 %(e)      8.35     9.97 %(e) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(f)

             

Total expenses

      0.70 %(g)       0.99     1.49     5.34 %(g)(h)      5.92     7.07 %(g)(i) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      0.55 %(g)       0.55     0.55     0.55 %(g)      0.54     0.54 %(g) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      1.55 %(g)       1.49     1.01     0.88 %(g)      1.01     1.83 %(g) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

             

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 247,674     $ 144,144     $ 49,823     $ 121     $ 88     $ 34  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      25 %(j)       65 %(j)       66 %(j)       32 %(j)       73 %(j)       74
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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) 

Not annualized.

(f) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(g) 

Annualized.

(h) 

Audit and printing were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses would have been 6.48%.

(i) 

Includes non-recurring expenses of offering costs. Without these costs, total expenses would have been 6.21%.

(j) 

Excludes underlying investments in total return swaps.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

38  

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Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

    

 

    BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund (continued)  
    Class K  
     

Six Months Ended
10/31/23
(unaudited)
 
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/23
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/22
 
 
   

Period from

11/01/20

to 04/30/21

 

 

 

   
Year Ended
10/31/20
 
 
   
Year Ended
10/31/19
 
 
   
Year Ended
10/31/18
 
 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 13.15     $ 12.69     $ 15.34     $ 11.74     $ 10.92     $ 10.17     $ 10.97  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

               0.08       0.19       0.14       0.06       0.12       0.19       0.13  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

      (0.33     0.36       (1.40     3.64       0.80       0.94       (0.60
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      (0.25     0.55       (1.26     3.70       0.92       1.13       (0.47
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(b)

               

From net investment income

      (0.04     (0.09     (0.14     (0.10     (0.10     (0.23     (0.17

From net realized gain

                  (1.25                 (0.15     (0.16
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.04     (0.09     (1.39     (0.10     (0.10     (0.38     (0.33
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 12.86     $ 13.15     $ 12.69     $ 15.34     $ 11.74     $ 10.92     $ 10.17  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

               

Based on net asset value

      (1.93 )%(d)      4.38     (9.29 )%      31.59 %(d)      8.49     11.58     (4.54 )% 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(e)

               

Total expenses

      0.60 %(f)      1.04     2.83     5.15 %(f)(g)      5.50     6.24     3.43
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

      0.50 %(f)      0.50     0.50     0.50 %(f)       0.50     0.50     0.52
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      1.18 %(f)      1.55     0.94     0.93 %(f)       1.05     1.85     1.16
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

               

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 334     $ 273     $ 7,142     $ 7,875     $ 5,984     $ 5,517     $ 5,118  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

      25 %(h)       65 %(h)       66 %(h)       32 %(h)       73 %(h)       74     205
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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) 

Not annualized.

(e) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(f) 

Annualized.

(g) 

Audit and printing were not annualized in the calculation of the expense ratios. If these expenses were annualized, the total expenses would have been 6.28%.

(h) 

Excludes underlying investments in total return swaps.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L  I G H L I G H T  S

  39


Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)    

 

 

 

1.  ORGANIZATION  

Managed Account Series (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust. The following, each of which is a series of the Trust, are referred to herein collectively as the “Funds” or individually as a “Fund”:

 

Fund Name   Herein Referred To As    Diversification
Classification

BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund

  GA Disciplined Volatility Equity    Diversified

BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund

  GA Dynamic 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. Institutional and Class K Shares are sold only to certain eligible investors.

 

Share Class   Initial Sales Charge    CDSC    Conversion Privilege

Institutional and Class K Shares

  No    No    None

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 funds referred to as the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex.

Basis of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements of GA Disciplined Volatility Equity include the account of Cayman GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund, Ltd. (the “Cayman Subsidiary”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GA Disciplined Volatility Equity and primarily invests in commodity-related instruments. The Cayman Subsidiary enables GA Disciplined Volatility Equity to hold these commodity-related instruments and satisfy regulated investment company tax requirements. GA Disciplined Volatility Equity may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Cayman Subsidiary. The net assets of the Cayman Subsidiary as of period end were $124,815, which is 0.1% of GA Disciplined Volatility Equity’s consolidated net assets. Intercompany accounts and transactions, if any, have been eliminated. The Cayman Subsidiary is subject to the same investment policies and restrictions that apply to GA Disciplined Volatility Equity, except that the Cayman Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-related instruments.

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 dates. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend dates at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend dates may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend dates. 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. Income, expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily to each class based on its relative net assets.

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.

ForeignTaxes: The 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, 2023, if any, are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

40  

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Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

The Funds file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Funds may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdiction’s applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statements of Operations include tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.

Bank Overdraft: The Funds had outstanding cash disbursements exceeding deposited cash amounts at the custodian during the reporting period and as of the report date. The Funds are obligated to repay the custodian for any overdraft, including any related costs or expenses, where applicable. For financial reporting purposes, overdraft fees, if any, are included in interest expense in the Statements of Operations.

Collateralization: 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.

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.

Net income and realized gains from investments held by the Cayman Subsidiary are treated as ordinary income for tax purposes. If a net loss is realized by the Cayman Subsidiary in any taxable year, the loss will generally not be available to offset the Funds’ ordinary income and/or capital gains for that year.

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: Each Fund’s 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 a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) has approved the designation of each Fund’s Manager as the valuation designee for each Fund. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under the Manager’s policies. 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 the Manager’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value. The Manager has formed a committee (the “Valuation Committee”) to develop pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments, with assistance from other BlackRock pricing committees.

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.

 

   

Fixed-income investments for which market quotations are readily available are generally valued using the last available bid price 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 unless the Manager determines such method does not represent fair value.

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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.

 

   

Exchange-traded options are valued at the mean between the last bid and ask prices at the close of the options market in which the options trade. An exchange-traded option for which there is no mean price is valued at the last bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price. If no bid or ask price is available, the prior day’s price will be used, unless it is determined that the prior day’s price no longer reflects the fair value of the option. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) options and options on swaps (“swaptions”) are valued by an independent pricing service using a mathematical model, which incorporates a number of market data factors, such as the trades and prices of the underlying instruments.

 

 

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  41


Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

   

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.

Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the NYSE. Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (“Systematic Fair Value Price”). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.

If events (e.g., 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 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 Valuation Committee in accordance with the Manager’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Valuation Committee 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 Valuation Committee 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 Valuation Committee deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement.

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 Valuation Committee and third-party pricing services utilized by the Valuation Committee include one or a combination of, but not limited to, the following inputs.

 

     Standard Inputs Generally Considered By The Valuation Committee And 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. Enterprise valuation techniques such as an option pricing model (“OPM”), a probability weighted expected return model (“PWERM”), current value method or a hybrid of those techniques are used as deemed appropriate under the circumstances. The use of these valuation 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); and

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the 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 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.

 

 

42  

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Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

4.  SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

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.

Warrants: Warrants entitle a fund to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock and are non-income producing. The purchase price and number of shares are subject to adjustment under certain conditions until the expiration date of the warrants, if any. If the price of the underlying stock does not rise above the strike price before the warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and a fund will lose any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.

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 rates, 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. The 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.

Options: The Funds may purchase and write call and put options to increase or decrease their exposure to the risks of underlying instruments, including equity risk, interest rate risk and/or commodity price risk and/or, in the case of options written, to generate gains from options premiums.

A call option gives the purchaser (holder) of the option the right (but not the obligation) to buy, and obligates the seller (writer) to sell (when the option is exercised) the underlying instrument at the exercise or strike price at any time or at a specified time during the option period. A put option gives the holder the right to sell and obligates the writer to buy the underlying instrument at the exercise or strike price at any time or at a specified time during the option period.

Premiums paid on options purchased and premiums received on options written, as well as the daily fluctuation in market value, are included in investments at value –unaffiliated and options written at value, respectively, in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When an instrument is purchased or sold through the exercise of an option, the premium is offset against the cost or proceeds of the underlying instrument. When an option expires, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations to the extent of the premiums received or paid. When an option is closed or sold, a gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations to the extent the cost of the closing transaction exceeds the premiums received or paid. When the Funds write a call option, such option is typically “covered,” meaning that they hold the underlying instrument

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

subject to being called by the option counterparty. When the Funds write a put option, cash is segregated in an amount sufficient to cover the obligation. These amounts, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged as collateral for options written in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

In purchasing and writing options, the Funds bear the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that they may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. Exercise of a written option could result in the Funds purchasing or selling a security when they otherwise would not, or at a price different from the current market value.

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 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.

 

   

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 risks 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 derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the 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, the 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 Funds 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

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

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: The Trust, on behalf of 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   GA Disciplined Volatility Equity        GA Dynamic Equity     

 

 

First $1 billion

    0.40%       0.40%  

$1 billion — $3 billion

    0.38          0.38     

$3 billion — $5 billion

    0.36          0.36     

$5 billion — $10 billion

    0.35          0.35     

Greater than $10 billion

    0.34          0.34     

 

 

The Manager provides investment management and other services to the Cayman Subsidiary. The Manager does not receive separate compensation from the Cayman Subsidiary for providing investment management or administrative services. However, GA Disciplined Volatility Equity pays the Manager based on the Fund’s net assets, which includes the assets of the Cayman Subsidiary.

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, 2023, the Funds did not pay any amounts to affiliates in return for these services.

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, the following table shows the class specific transfer agent fees borne directly by each share class of each Fund:

 

 

 
Fund Name   Institutional      Total  

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

  $ 87,485      $ 87,485  

GA Dynamic Equity

    101,687        101,687  

 

 

Expense Limitations, Waivers, Reimbursements, and Recoupments: With respect to each Fund, 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 June 30, 2025. The contractual agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. 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, 2023, the amounts waived were as follows:

 

 

 
Fund Name   Fees Waived and/or Reimbursed
by the Manager
 

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

  $ 3,856  

GA Dynamic Equity

    6,306  

 

 

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 June 30, 2025. The contractual agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. For the six months ended October 31, 2023, the amounts waived in investment advisory fees pursuant to these arrangements were as follows:

 

 

 
Fund Name   Fees Waived and/or Reimbursed
by the Manager
 

 

 

GA Dynamic Equity

  $ 1,797  

 

 

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

With respect to each Fund, the Manager contractually agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit expenses, excluding interest expense, dividend 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         Class K     

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

    0.55%        0.50%  

GA Dynamic Equity

    0.55           0.50     

 

 

The Manager has agreed not to reduce or discontinue the contractual expense limitations through June 30, 2025, unless approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. For the six months ended October 31, 2023, amounts included in the Statements of Operations were as follows:

 

 

 
Fund Name   Fees Waived and/or Reimbursed
by the Manager
 

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

  $ 118,842  

GA Dynamic Equity

    87,524  

 

 

In addition, these amounts waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager are included in transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager — class specific in the Statements of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2023, class specific expense waivers and/or reimbursements were as follows:

 

 

 
        Transfer Agent Fees Waived and/or    
Reimbursed by the Manager - Class Specific
 
Fund Name   Institutional      Total  

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

  $ 47,377      $ 47,377  

GA Dynamic Equity

    53,233        53,233  

 

 

With respect to the contractual expense limitation, if during a Fund’s fiscal year the operating expenses of a share class, that at any time during the prior two fiscal years received a waiver and/or reimbursement from the Manager, are less than the current expense limitation for that share class, the Manager is entitled to be reimbursed by such share class up to the lesser of: (a) the amount of fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed during those prior two fiscal years under the agreement and (b) an amount not to exceed either the current expense limitation of that share class or the expense limitation of the share class in effect at the time that the share class received the applicable waiver and/or reimbursement, provided that:

(1) each Fund, of which the share class is a part, has more than $50 million in assets for the fiscal year, and

(2) the Manager or an affiliate continues to serve as a Fund’s investment adviser or administrator.

This repayment applies only to the contractual expense limitation on net expenses and does not apply to the contractual investment advisory fee waiver described above or any voluntary waivers that may be in effect from time to time. Effective June 1, 2024, the repayment arrangement between each Fund and the Manager pursuant to which such Fund may be required to repay amounts waived and/or reimbursed under each Fund’s contractual caps on net expenses will be terminated.

As of October 31, 2023, the fund level and class specific waivers and/or reimbursements subject to possible future recoupment under the expense limitation agreement were as follows:

 

 

 
    Expiring  
Fund Name/Fund Level/Share Class   04/30/24      06/01/24  

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

    

Fund Level

  $ 299,379      $ 475,764  

Institutional

    6,218        72,576  

Class K

    12        19  

GA Dynamic Equity

    

Fund Level

    339,911        447,564  

Institutional

    4,362        82,459  

Class K

    17        23  

 

 

Interfund Lending: In accordance with an exemptive order (the “Order”) from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“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. Each Fund is currently permitted to borrow and lend 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, 2023, the Funds did not participate in the Interfund Lending Program.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

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

7.  PURCHASES AND SALES

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, were as follows:

 

 

 
Fund Name   Purchases      Sales  

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

  $ 248,214,657      $ 126,289,311  

GA Dynamic Equity

    145,401,491        43,832,466  

 

 

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.

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 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, 2023, 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, 2023, the Funds had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains as follows:

 

 

 
Fund Name        

Non-Expiring   

Capital Loss   

Carryforwards(a) 

 

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

    $ (4,349,730)     

GA Dynamic Equity

      (3,146,066)     

 

 

 

  (a) 

Amounts available to offset future realized capital gains.

 

As of October 31, 2023, 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:

 

 

 
Fund Name   Tax Cost      Gross Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross Unrealized
Depreciation
    Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

  $ 233,898,061      $ 10,817,845      $ (12,478,802   $ (1,660,957

GA Dynamic Equity

    247,091,204        11,899,203        (16,409,013     (4,509,810

 

 

9.  BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, along with certain other funds managed by the Manager and its affiliates (“Participating Funds”), is party to a 364-day, $2.50 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) Overnight Bank Funding Rate (“OBFR”) (but, in any event, not less than 0.00%) on the date the loan is made plus 0.80% per annum, (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 or (c) the sum of (x) Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) (but, in any event, not less than 0.00%) on the date the loan is made plus 0.10% and (y) 0.80% per annum. The agreement expires in April 2024 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, 2023, the Funds did not borrow under the credit agreement.

10.  PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, the 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.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

Market Risk: Each Fund may be exposed to prepayment risk, which is the risk that borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled during periods of declining interest rates, which would force each Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. Each Fund may also be exposed to reinvestment risk, which is the risk that income from each Fund’s portfolio will decline if each Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called fixed-income securities at market interest rates that are below each Fund portfolio’s current earnings rate.

Infectious Illness Risk: An outbreak of an infectious illness, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may adversely impact the economies of many nations and the global economy, and may impact individual issuers and capital markets in ways that cannot be foreseen. An infectious illness outbreak may result in, among other things, closed international borders, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, market volatility or disruptions and other significant economic, social and political impacts.

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 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.

For OTC options purchased, each Fund bears the risk of loss in the amount of the premiums paid plus the positive change in market values net of any collateral held by the Funds should the counterparty fail to perform under the contracts. Options written by the Funds do not typically give rise to counterparty credit risk, as options written generally obligate the Funds, and not the counterparty, to perform. The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk with respect to options written to the extent each Fund deposits collateral with its counterparty to a written option.

With exchange-traded options purchases and 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 options purchases and 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.

Geographic/Asset Class 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 each Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in the United States. A decrease in imports or exports, changes in trade regulations, inflation and/or an economic recession in the United States may have a material adverse effect on the U.S. economy and the securities listed on U.S. exchanges. Proposed and adopted policy and legislative changes in the United States may also have a significant effect on U.S. markets generally, as well as on the value of certain securities. Governmental agencies project that the United States will continue to maintain elevated public debt levels for the foreseeable future which may constrain future economic growth. Circumstances could arise that could prevent the timely payment of interest or principal on U.S. government debt, such as reaching the legislative “debt ceiling.” Such non-payment would result in substantial negative consequences for the U.S. economy and the global financial system. If U.S. relations with certain countries deteriorate, it could adversely affect issuers that rely on the United States for trade. The United States has also experienced increased internal unrest and discord. If these trends were to continue, they may have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy and the issuers in which the Funds invest.

Significant Shareholder Redemption Risk: Certain shareholders may own or manage a substantial amount of fund shares and/or hold their fund investments for a limited period of time. Large redemptions of fund shares by these shareholders may force a fund to sell portfolio securities, which may negatively impact the fund’s NAV, increase the fund’s brokerage costs, and/or accelerate the realization of taxable income/gains and cause the fund to make additional taxable distributions to shareholders.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (unaudited)  (continued)

    

 

11.  CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

 

 
    Six Months Ended
10/31/23
           Year Ended
04/30/23
 
Fund Name / Share Class   Shares     Amounts            Shares     Amounts  

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

          

Institutional

          

Shares sold

    12,363,671     $ 148,826,077          8,138,425     $ 91,849,732  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    59,119       737,809          286,292       3,187,600  

Shares redeemed

    (1,892,453     (22,854,073        (4,073,303     (46,321,943
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 
    10,530,337     $   126,709,813          4,351,414     $   48,715,389  
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class K

          

Shares sold

    4,869     $ 60,278          887     $ 11,948  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    140       1,749          20,223       225,291  

Shares redeemed

    (24     (301        (569,489     (6,344,107
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 
    4,985     $ 61,726          (548,379   $ (6,106,868
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 
    10,535,322     $ 126,771,539          3,803,035     $ 42,608,521  
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 
          

 

 
    Six Months Ended
10/31/23
           Year Ended
04/30/23
 
Fund Name / Share Class   Shares     Amounts            Shares     Amounts  

 

 

GA Dynamic Equity

          

Institutional

          

Shares sold

    9,886,650     $ 132,657,531          9,458,004     $ 118,059,596  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    37,458       523,292          47,267       574,866  

Shares redeemed

    (1,610,285     (21,572,312        (2,467,838     (30,970,420
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 
    8,313,823     $ 111,608,511          7,037,433     $ 87,664,042  
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class K

          

Shares sold

    5,212     $ 72,073              $  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    74       1,035          4,111       49,813  

Shares redeemed

    (15     (208        (546,365     (6,761,474
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 
    5,271     $ 72,900          (542,254   $ (6,711,661
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 
    8,319,094     $ 111,681,411          6,495,179     $ 80,952,381  
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of October 31, 2023, shares owned by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., an affiliate of the Funds, were as follows:

 

 

 
Fund Name   Class K  

 

 

GA Disciplined Volatility Equity

    22,654  

GA Dynamic Equity

    20,618  

 

 

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.

 

 

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  49


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement

    

 

The Board of Trustees (the “Board,” the members of which are referred to as “Board Members”) of Managed Account Series (the “Trust”) met on April 18, 2023 (the “April Meeting”) and May 23-24, 2023 (the “May Meeting”) to consider the approval to continue the investment advisory agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Trust, on behalf of BlackRock GA Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund (“Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund”) and BlackRock GA Dynamic Equity Fund (“Dynamic Equity Fund”) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager” or “BlackRock”), each Fund’s investment advisor.

The Approval Process

Consistent with the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board considers the approval of the continuation of the Agreement for each Fund on an annual basis. The Board members who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, are considered independent Board members (the “Independent Board Members”). The Board’s consideration entailed a year-long deliberative process during which the Board and its committees assessed BlackRock’s various services to each Fund, including through the review of written materials and oral presentations, and the review of additional information provided in response to requests from the Independent Board Members. The Board had four quarterly meetings per year, each of which extended over a two-day period, as well as additional ad hoc meetings and executive sessions throughout the year, as needed. The committees of the Board similarly met throughout the year. The Board also had an additional one-day meeting to consider specific information regarding the renewal of the Agreement. In considering the renewal of the Agreement, the Board assessed, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by BlackRock, BlackRock’s personnel and affiliates, including (as applicable): investment management services; accounting oversight; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the 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 Board, acting directly and through its committees, considered information that was relevant to its annual consideration of the renewal of the Agreement, including the services and support provided by BlackRock to the Fund and its shareholders. BlackRock also furnished additional information to the Board in response to specific questions from the Board. Among the matters the Board considered 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, as available; (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 paid to BlackRock 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.

Prior to and in preparation for the April Meeting, the Board received and reviewed materials specifically relating to the renewal of the Agreement. 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 the 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 each 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 Agreement 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 Board as appropriate regarding BlackRock’s and the Funds’ operations.

At the April Meeting, the Board reviewed materials relating to its consideration of the Agreement and the Independent Board Members 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, the Board concluded its assessment of, among other things: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BlackRock; (b) the investment performance of each Fund as compared to its Performance Peers and to 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 Funds; (d) each 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 Funds; and (g) other factors deemed relevant by the Board Members.

The 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 Fund portfolio holdings. The Board noted the willingness of BlackRock’s personnel to engage in open, candid discussions with the Board. The Board Members evaluated the information available to it on a fund-by-fund basis. The following paragraphs provide more information about some of the primary factors that were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board Members did not identify any particular information, or any single factor as determinative, and each Board Member may have attributed different weights to the various items and factors considered.

 

 

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Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement  (continued)

    

 

A. Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services Provided by BlackRock

The 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 each Fund. Throughout the year, the Board compared each Fund’s performance to the performance of a comparable group of mutual funds, relevant benchmarks, and performance metrics, as applicable. The Board met with BlackRock’s senior management personnel responsible for investment activities, including the senior investment officers. The Board also reviewed the materials provided by each Fund’s portfolio management team discussing the Fund’s performance, investment strategies and outlook.

The Board considered, among other factors, with respect to BlackRock: the experience of investment personnel generally and each 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 Board 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. The Board engaged in a review of BlackRock’s compensation structure with respect to each 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 Board considered the nature and quality of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services provided to each Fund. 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 the Funds 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, each 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 Funds, such as tax reporting, expense management, fulfilling regulatory filing requirements, overseeing each Fund’s distribution partners, and shareholder call center and other services. The Board reviewed the structure and duties of BlackRock’s fund administration, shareholder services, and legal and compliance departments and considered BlackRock’s policies and procedures for assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Board considered the operation of BlackRock’s business continuity plans.

B. The Investment Performance of the Funds and BlackRock

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed and considered the performance history of the Fund throughout the year and at the April Meeting. In preparation for the April Meeting, the Board was provided with reports independently prepared by Broadridge, which included an analysis of the Fund’s performance as of December 31, 2022, 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 connection with its review, the Board received and reviewed information regarding the investment performance of the Fund as compared to its Performance Peers and the performance of the Fund as compared with its benchmark. The Board and its Performance Oversight Committee regularly review and meet with Fund management to discuss the performance of each Fund throughout the year.

In evaluating performance, the Board 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 Board 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 the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, Disciplined Volatility Equity Fund underperformed, outperformed and outperformed, respectively, its benchmark. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that net performance relative to the benchmark is an appropriate performance metric for the Fund, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board. The Board and BlackRock reviewed the Fund’s underperformance relative to its benchmark during the applicable period.

The Board noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, Dynamic Equity Fund outperformed, outperformed, and underperformed, respectively, its benchmark. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that net performance relative to the benchmark is an appropriate performance metric for the Fund, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board. The Board and BlackRock reviewed the Fund’s underperformance relative to its benchmark 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

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed each 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. The Board also compared each 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 Board considered that the fee and expense information in the Broadridge report for the Fund reflected information for a specific period and that historical asset levels and expenses may differ from current levels, particularly in a period of market volatility. The Board 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 Board received and reviewed statements relating to BlackRock’s financial condition. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s profitability methodology and was also provided with an estimated profitability analysis that detailed the revenues earned and the expenses incurred by BlackRock for services provided to each Fund. The Board reviewed

 

 

I S C L O S U R E   O F   I N V  E S T M E N T   A D V I S O R Y   A G R E E M E N T

  51


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement  (continued)

    

 

BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to each Fund and other funds the Board currently oversees for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to available aggregate estimated profitability data provided for the prior two years. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to certain other U.S. fund complexes managed by the Manager and/or its affiliates. The Board 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 Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors including, among other things, fee waivers and expense reimbursements by the Manager, the types of funds managed, precision of expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at the individual fund level is difficult.

The Board noted that, in general, individual fund or product line profitability of other advisors is not publicly available. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s overall operating margin, in general, compared to that of certain other publicly traded asset management firms. The Board 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.

The Board considered whether BlackRock has the financial resources necessary to attract and retain high quality investment management personnel to perform its obligations under the Agreement and to continue to provide the high quality of services that is expected by the Board. The Board further considered factors including but not limited to BlackRock’s commitment of time and resources, 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 each of Dynamic Equity Fund’s and Disciplined Volatility Equity 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 pertinent Fund’s Expense Peers.

The Board also noted that each 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 additionally noted that the breakpoints can, conversely, adjust the advisory fee rate upward as the size of the pertinent Fund decreases below certain contractually specified levels. The Board further noted that BlackRock and the Board have contractually agreed to a cap on each Fund’s total expenses as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets on a class-by-class basis.

D. Economies of Scale

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Funds 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, the Board further considered the continuation and/or implementation of fee waivers and/or expense caps, as applicable. The Board also considered the extent to which the Funds benefit 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 Funds to more fully participate in these economies of scale. The Board considered each Fund’s asset levels and whether the current fee schedule was appropriate.

E. Other Factors Deemed Relevant by the Board Members

The 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 Funds, 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 Funds, including for administrative, distribution, securities lending and cash management services. With respect to securities lending, during the year the Board also considered information provided by independent third-party consultants related to the performance of each BlackRock affiliate as securities lending agent. 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 its consideration of the Agreement, the Board also received information regarding BlackRock’s brokerage and soft dollar practices. The Board received reports from BlackRock which included information on brokerage commissions and trade execution practices throughout the year.

The Board 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

At the May Meeting, in a continuation of the discussions that occurred during the April Meeting, and as a culmination of the Board’s year-long deliberative process, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Agreement between the Manager and the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, for a one-year term ending June 30, 2024. Based upon its evaluation of all of the aforementioned factors in their totality, as well as other information, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, was satisfied that the terms of the Agreement were fair and reasonable and, in the best interest of each Fund and its shareholders. In arriving at its decision to approve the Agreement, the Board 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 advised by independent legal counsel throughout the deliberative process.

 

 

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Additional Information

    

 

Tailored Shareholder Reports for Open-End Mutual Funds and ETFs

Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require open-end mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information. Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in a streamlined shareholder report but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of these amendments on the shareholder reports for the Funds.

General Information

Quarterly performance, semi-annual and annual reports, current net asset value and other information regarding the Funds may be found on BlackRock’s website, which can be accessed at blackrock.com. Any reference to BlackRock’s website in this report is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Funds and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this report.

Householding

The Funds will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, Rule 30e-3 notices 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) 537-4942.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Funds file their complete schedules 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. Additionally, each Fund makes its portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year available at blackrock.com/fundreports.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Voting Records

A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and 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 without charge, upon request (1) by calling (800) 537-4942; (2) on the BlackRock website at blackrock.com; and (3) 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) 537-4942 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.

 

 

D D I T I O N A L   N F O R M A T I  O N

  53


Additional Information  (continued)

    

 

BlackRock Privacy Principles (continued)

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.

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   Distributor
BlackRock Advisors, LLC   BlackRock Investments, LLC
Wilmington, DE 19809   New York, NY 10001
Accounting Agent   Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
State Street Bank and Trust Company   Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, MA 02114   Boston, MA 02116
Custodian   Legal Counsel
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.   Sidley Austin LLP
Boston, MA 02109   New York, NY 10019
Transfer Agent   Address of the Funds
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.   100 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809   Wilmington, DE 19809

 

 

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Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Currency Abbreviation
AUD   Australian Dollar
CAD   Canadian Dollar
CHF   Swiss Franc
CNY   Chinese Yuan
DKK   Danish Krone
EUR   Euro
GBP   British Pound
HKD   Hong Kong Dollar
INR   Indian Rupee
JPY   Japanese Yen
KRW   South Korean Won
SEK   Swedish Krona
SGD   Singapore Dollar
TWD   New Taiwan Dollar
USD   United States Dollar
Portfolio Abbreviation
ADR   American Depositary Receipt
CVA   Certificaten Van Aandelen (Dutch Certificate)
ETF   Exchange-Traded Fund
FTSE   Financial Times Stock Exchange
GDR   Global Depositary Receipt
MSCI   Morgan Stanley Capital International
RB   Revenue Bond
S&P   Standard & Poor’s
SAB   Special Assessment Bonds
SPDR   Standard & Poor’s Depository Receipt

 

 

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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.

MASGA-10/23-SAR

 

 

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(b) Not Applicable

 

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(a) 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) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 – Not Applicable


(a)(4) Change in Registrant’s independent public accountant – Not Applicable

(b) Section 906 Certifications are attached


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.

Managed Account Series

 

  By:     

/s/ John M. Perlowski                            

       John M. Perlowski
       Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
       Managed Account Series

Date: December 21, 2023

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
       Managed Account Series

Date: December 21, 2023

 

  By:     

/s/ Trent Walker                            

       Trent Walker
       Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of
       Managed Account Series

Date: December 21, 2023