497K 1 d689594d497k.htm BLACKROCK MULTI-ASSET INCOME PORTFOLIO BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio

MARCH 21, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY PROSPECTUS

 

     

LOGO

 

BlackRock Funds II  |  Investor and Institutional Shares

 

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BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio

Investor A: BAICX Ÿ Investor C: BCICX Ÿ Institutional: BIICX

 

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus (including amendments and supplements) and other information about the Fund, including the Fund’s statement of additional information and shareholder report, online at http://www.blackrock.com/prospectus. You can also get this information at no cost by calling (800) 441-7762 or by sending an e-mail request to prospectus.request@blackrock.com, or from your financial professional. The Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, both dated November 27, 2013, as amended March 21, 2014, and as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time, are incorporated by reference into (legally made a part of) this Summary Prospectus.

 

This Summary Prospectus contains information you should know before investing, including information about risks. Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Summary Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee


Summary Prospectus

 

Key Facts About BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio

 

Investment Objective


 

The investment objective of the BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio (“Multi-Asset Income Portfolio” or the “Fund”) is to seek to maximize current income with consideration for capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund


 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the BlackRock-advised fund complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional or your selected securities dealer, broker, investment adviser, service provider or industry professional (including BlackRock, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) and their respective affiliates) (each a “Financial Intermediary”) and in the “Details About the Share Classes” section on page 47 of the Fund’s prospectus and in the “Purchase of Shares” section on page II-68 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

   Investor A
Shares
    Investor C
Shares
    Institutional
Shares
 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price)

     5.25%        None        None   

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)

     None 1      1.00% 2      None   

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

   Investor A
Shares
    Investor C
Shares
    Institutional
Shares
 

Management Fee3

     0.56%        0.56%        0.56%   

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.25%        1.00%        None   

Other Expenses

     0.21%        0.20%        0.21%   

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses4

     0.04%        0.04%        0.04%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses4

     1.06%        1.80%        0.81%   

Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements5

     (0.22)%        (0.21)%        (0.22)%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements5

     0.84%        1.59%        0.59%   
1 

A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of Investor A Shares made within 18 months after purchase where no initial sales charge was paid at time of purchase as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

2 

There is no CDSC on Investor C Shares after one year.

3 

The management fee payable by the Fund is based on assets attributable to the Fund’s direct investments in fixed income and equity securities and instruments, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) advised by BlackRock or other investment advisers, other investments and cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds, whether advised by BlackRock or other investment advisers) and excludes investments in other BlackRock equity and/or fixed income mutual funds (the “underlying funds”).

4 

The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratios of expenses to average net assets given in the Fund’s annual report, which do not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses. The Fund’s shareholders indirectly bear the expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

5 

As described in the “Management of the Fund” section of the Fund’s prospectus on page 60, BlackRock has contractually agreed to waive or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding Dividend Expense, Interest Expense, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to 1.80% (for Investor A Shares), 2.55% (for Investor C Shares) and 1.55% (for Institutional Shares) of average daily net assets through November 30, 2023. On December 1 of each year, this waiver agreement will renew automatically for an additional year so that the agreement will have a perpetual ten-year term. In addition, BlackRock has also contractually agreed to waive or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding Dividend Expense, Interest Expense, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to 0.80% (for Investor A Shares), 1.55% (for Investor C Shares) and 0.55% (for Institutional Shares) of average daily net assets through November 30, 2014. These contractual agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested Trustees of BlackRock Funds II or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Fund may have to repay some of these waivers and reimbursements to BlackRock in the following two years.

 

Example:

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then

 

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redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

     1 Year        3 Years        5 Years        10 Years  

Investor A Shares

   $ 606         $ 824         $ 1,059         $ 1,732   

Investor C Shares

   $ 262         $ 546         $ 955         $ 2,099   

Institutional Shares

   $ 60         $ 237         $ 428         $ 981   

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

     1 Year        3 Years        5 Years        10 Years  

Investor C Shares

   $ 162         $ 546         $ 955         $ 2,099   

 

Portfolio Turnover:

The Multi-Asset Income Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Multi-Asset Income Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Multi-Asset Income Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 123% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund


 

The Fund may invest up to 80% of its assets in equity securities and up to 100% of its assets in fixed income securities. The Fund may also invest significantly in BlackRock equity and/or fixed income mutual funds (“underlying funds”) and affiliated and unaffiliated exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).

 

With respect to the Fund’s equity investments, the Fund, underlying funds and ETFs may invest in common stock, preferred stock, securities convertible into common and preferred stock and non-convertible preferred stock. The Fund generally intends to invest in dividend paying stocks. From time to time, the Fund may invest in shares of companies through initial public offerings (“IPOs”). The Fund may invest in securities of both U.S. or non-U.S. issuers without limit, which can be U.S. dollar based or non-U.S. dollar based and may be currency hedged or unhedged. The Fund may invest in securities of companies of any market capitalization.

 

With respect to the Fund’s fixed income investments, the Fund may invest in underlying funds, ETFs or individual fixed income securities to an unlimited extent. The Fund, underlying funds and ETFs may invest in a portfolio of fixed income securities such as corporate bonds and notes, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, convertible securities, preferred securities and government obligations. The Fund, underlying funds and ETFs may also invest significantly in non-investment grade bonds (high yield, junk bonds or distressed securities), non-investment grade bank loans, non-dollar denominated bonds and bonds of emerging market issuers. The Fund’s, underlying funds’ and ETFs’ investment in non-dollar denominated bonds may be on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. Non-investment grade bonds acquired by the Fund, underlying funds or ETFs will generally be in the lower categories of the major rating agencies at the time of purchase (BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s, a division of the McGraw Hill Companies (“S&P”) or Ba or lower by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”)) or will be determined by the management team to be of similar quality. Split rated bonds will be considered to have the higher credit rating. The average portfolio duration of the Fund will vary based on the management team’s forecast of interest rates and there are no limits regarding portfolio duration or average maturity.

 

The Fund may, when consistent with its investment objective, buy or sell options or futures on a security or an index of securities, or enter into total return swaps and foreign currency transactions (collectively, commonly known as derivatives). The Fund typically uses derivatives as a substitute for taking a position in the underlying asset and/or as part of a strategy designed to reduce exposure to other risks, such as currency risk. The Fund may also use derivatives to enhance return (for example, by enhancing yield to the Fund in the form of distributions), in which case their use may involve leveraging risk. The Fund may seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls). The underlying funds and ETFs may, to varying degrees, also invest in derivatives. The Fund may also engage in option writing to generate additional income in the portfolio.

 

The Fund may invest in master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) that are generally in energy-related industries and in U.S. and non-U.S. real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), structured products and floating rate securities (such as bank loans).

 

The Fund may incorporate a proprietary volatility control process that seeks to reduce risk when market volatility is expected to exceed normal ranges. The Fund may allocate assets without limitation into cash or short-term fixed income securities, and away from riskier assets such as equity and high yield fixed income securities. When volatility decreases, the Fund may move assets out of cash and back into riskier securities. The Fund may, at times, invest significantly in cash.

 

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The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to achieve its primary investment strategies.

 

The Fund is a non-diversified portfolio under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund


 

Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in the Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments. The following is a summary description of principal risks of investing in the Fund.

 

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Affiliated Fund Risk In managing the Fund, BlackRock will have authority to select and substitute underlying funds and ETFs. BlackRock may be subject to potential conflicts of interest in selecting underlying funds and ETFs because the fees paid to BlackRock by some underlying funds and ETFs are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds and ETFs. However, BlackRock is a fiduciary to the Fund and is legally obligated to act in the Fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds and ETFs. If an underlying fund holds interests in an affiliated fund, the Fund may be prohibited from purchasing shares of that underlying fund.

 

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Allocation Risk — The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment goal depends upon BlackRock’s skill in determining the Fund’s strategic asset class allocation and in selecting the best mix of underlying funds and direct investments. There is a risk that BlackRock’s evaluations and assumptions regarding asset classes, underlying funds and/or ETFs may be incorrect in view of actual market conditions.

 

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Bank Loan Risk The market for bank loans may not be highly liquid and a Fund may have difficulty selling them. These investments expose a Fund to the credit risk of both the financial institution and the underlying borrower.

 

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Convertible Securities Risk — The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock.

 

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Credit Risk — Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will not be able to make payments of interest and principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer.

 

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Defensive Investing Risk — For defensive purposes, the Fund may, as part of its proprietary volatility control process, allocate assets into cash or short-term fixed income securities without limitation. In doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective. Further, the value of short-term fixed income securities may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in credit ratings of the investments. If the Fund holds cash uninvested it will be subject to the credit risk of the depositary institution holding the cash.

 

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Derivatives Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives may reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility. Volatility is defined as the characteristic of a security, an index or a market to fluctuate significantly in price within a short time period. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate perfectly with the overall securities markets. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation. The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for derivatives and the resulting inability of the Fund to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position could expose the Fund to losses and could make derivatives more difficult for the Fund to value accurately. Valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil since many investors and market makers may be reluctant to purchase complex instruments or quote prices for them. Derivatives may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs.

 

Certain transactions in derivatives involve substantial leverage risk and may expose the Fund to potential losses that exceed the amount originally invested by the Fund. Recent legislation calls for new regulation of the derivatives markets. The extent and impact of the regulation is not yet known and may not be known for some time. New regulation may make derivatives more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives.

 

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Distressed Securities Risk Distressed securities are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in junk bonds. The Fund will generally not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. In addition, distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a

 

4


 

default in the payment of principal of or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.

 

n  

Dollar Rolls Risk — Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Fund is committed to buy may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold. These transactions may involve leverage.

 

n  

Emerging Markets Risk — Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.

 

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Equity Securities Risk — Stock markets are volatile. The price of an equity security fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.

 

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Extension Risk — When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of these obligations to fall.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk — Foreign investments often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. These risks include:

 

  The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.

 

  Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

  The economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

 

  The governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investments in their capital markets or in certain industries.

 

  Many foreign governments do not supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to the same extent as does the United States and may not have laws to protect investors that are comparable to U.S. securities laws.

 

  Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets may result in delays in payment for or delivery of securities not typically associated with settlement and clearance of U.S. investments.

 

  The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries. These events may spread to other countries in Europe. These events may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Fund’s investments.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk — Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall, and decrease as interest rates rise.

 

n  

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk — As with other investments, investments in other investment companies, including ETFs, are subject to market risk and, for non-index strategies, selection risk. In addition, if the Fund acquires shares of investment companies, including ETFs advised by BlackRock or other investment advisers, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies (including management and advisory fees). If the Fund acquires shares of one or more underlying funds, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (excluding management and advisory fees attributable to those assets of the Fund invested in the underlying funds) and, indirectly, the expenses of the underlying funds (including management and advisory fees). To the extent the Fund is held by an affiliated fund, the ability of the Fund itself to hold other investment companies may be limited.

 

Investing in an ETF will give the Fund exposure to the securities comprising the index on which the ETF is based. Shares of ETFs are traded on an exchange throughout a trading day, and bought and sold based on market values and not at the ETF’s net asset value. For this reason, shares of an ETF could trade at either a premium or discount to its net asset value. However, the trading prices of index-based ETFs tend to closely track the actual net asset value of the ETF. The Fund will pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs, in addition to a spread (i.e., the difference between what professional investors are willing to pay for ETF shares (the “bid” price) and the price at which they are willing to sell ETF shares (the “ask” price)).

 

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Junk Bonds Risk — Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than investment grade bonds, junk bonds are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund.

 

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Leverage Risk — Some transactions may give rise to a form of economic leverage. These transactions may include, among others, derivatives, and may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet any required asset segregation requirements. Increases and decreases in the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be magnified when the Fund uses leverage.

 

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Liquidity Risk — Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may be difficult to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. To the extent that the Fund’s principal investment strategies involve derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk, the Fund will tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk. Liquid investments may become illiquid after purchase by the Fund, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Illiquid investments may be harder to value, especially in changing markets, and if the Fund is forced to sell these investments to meet redemption requests or for other cash needs, the Fund may suffer a loss. In addition, when there is illiquidity in the market for certain securities, the Fund, due to limitations on illiquid investments, may be subject to purchase and sale restrictions.

 

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Market Risk and Selection Risk — Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. Selection risk is the risk that the securities selected by Fund management will underperform the markets, the relevant indices or the securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies. This means you may lose money.

 

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Master Limited Partnerships Risk — The common units of an MLP are listed and traded on U.S. securities exchanges and their value fluctuates predominantly based on prevailing market conditions and the success of the MLP. Unlike owners of common stock of a corporation, owners of common units have limited voting rights and have no ability annually to elect directors. In the event of liquidation, common units have preference over subordinated units, but not over debt or preferred units, to the remaining assets of the MLP.

 

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Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risks — Mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages or other assets, including consumer loans or receivables held in trust. Mortgage- and asset- backed securities are subject to credit, interest rate, prepayment and extension risks. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage or asset, particularly during periods of economic downturn. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.

 

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“New Issues” Risk — “New issues” are initial public offerings of equity securities. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile or may decline shortly after the initial public offering.

 

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Non-Diversification Risk — The Fund is a non-diversified fund. Because the Fund may invest in securities of a smaller number of issuers, it may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely.

 

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Preferred Securities Risk — Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred stock of larger companies.

 

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Prepayment Risk — When interest rates fall, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields.

 

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REIT Investment Risk — Investments in REITs involve unique risks. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume and may be more volatile than other securities.

 

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Repurchase Agreements and Purchase and Sale Contracts Risks — If the other party to a repurchase agreement or purchase and sale contract defaults on its obligation under the agreement, the Fund may suffer delays and incur costs or lose money in exercising its rights under the agreement. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either situation and the market value of the security declines, the Fund may lose money.

 

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk — Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at

 

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all. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Fund, including the value of the investments made with cash collateral, is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Fund.

 

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U.S. Government Issuer Risk — Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so.

 

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Variable and Floating Rate Instrument Risk — The absence of an active market for these instruments could make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them if the issuer defaults.

 

Principal ETF-Specific Risks

 

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Cash Transaction Risk Certain ETFs intend to effect creations and redemptions principally for cash, rather than primarily in-kind because of the nature of the ETF’s investments. Investments in such ETFs may be less tax efficient than investments in ETFs that effect creations and redemptions in-kind.

 

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Management Risk — If an ETF does not fully replicate the underlying index, it is subject to the risk that the manager’s investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.

 

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Passive Investment Risk ETFs are not actively managed and may be affected by a general decline in market segments relating to its index. An ETF typically invests in securities included in, or representative of, its index regardless of their investment merits and does not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.

 

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Representative Sampling Risk — Representative sampling is a method of indexing that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively have a similar investment profile to the index and resemble the index in terms of risk factors and other key characteristics. An ETF may or may not hold every security in the index. When an ETF deviates from a full replication indexing strategy to utilize a representative sampling strategy, the ETF is subject to an increased risk of tracking error, in that the securities selected in the aggregate for the ETF may not have an investment profile similar to those of its index.

 

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Shares of an ETF May Trade at Prices Other Than Net Asset Value — Shares of an ETF trade on exchanges at prices at, above or below their most recent net asset value. The per share net asset value of an ETF is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of the ETF’s holdings since the most recent calculation. The trading prices of an ETF’s shares fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand rather than net asset value. The trading prices of an ETF’s shares may deviate significantly from net asset value during periods of market volatility. Any of these factors may lead to an ETF’s shares trading at a premium or discount to net asset value. However, because shares can be created and redeemed in creation units, which are aggregated blocks of shares that authorized participants who have entered into agreements with the ETF’s distributor can purchase or redeem directly from the ETF, at net asset value (unlike shares of many closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset values), large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of an ETF are not likely to be sustained over the long-term. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that an ETF’s shares normally trade on exchanges at prices close to the ETF’s next calculated net asset value, exchange prices are not expected to correlate exactly with an ETF’s net asset value due to timing reasons as well as market supply and demand factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from net asset value. If a shareholder purchases at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the net asset value, the shareholder may sustain losses.

 

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Tracking Error Risk Imperfect correlation between an ETF’s portfolio securities and those in its index, rounding of prices, the timing of cash flows, the ETF’s size, changes to the index and regulatory requirements may cause tracking error, the divergence of an ETF’s performance from that of its underlying index. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. Tracking error also may result because an ETF incurs fees and expenses while its underlying index does not.

 

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Performance Information


 

The information shows you how the Fund’s performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The Fund’s Annual Total Returns prior to November 28, 2011 as reflected in the bar chart and table are the returns of the Fund that followed different investment strategies under the name “BlackRock Income Portfolio.” The table compares the Fund’s performance to that of the Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, the MSCI World Index and a customized weighted index comprised of the returns of the MSCI World Index (50%) and Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (50%). As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If they were, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes all applicable fees and sales charges. If the Fund’s investment manager and its affiliates had not waived or reimbursed certain Fund expenses during these periods, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. Updated information on the Fund’s performance, including its current net asset value, can be obtained by visiting http://www.blackrock.com/funds or can be obtained by phone at 800-882-0052.

 

Investor A Shares

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio

As of 12/31

 

LOGO

 

During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 11.65% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was –6.23% (quarter ended September 30, 2011). The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2013 was 4.87%.

 

As of 12/31/12

Average Annual Total Returns

   1 Year      Since
Inception
(4/7/08)
 

BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio — Investor A Shares

                 

Return Before Taxes

     7.20      4.71

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     5.75      3.47

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

     4.76      3.33

BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio — Investor C Shares

                 

Return Before Taxes

     11.17      5.11

BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio — Institutional Shares

                 

Return Before Taxes

     13.43      6.17

Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     4.21      5.83

MSCI World Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     15.83      (0.14 )% 

MSCI World Index (50%)/Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (50%) (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     10.13      3.37

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual Federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown for Investor A Shares only, and the after-tax returns for Investor C and Institutional Shares will vary.

 

8


Investment Manager


 

The Fund’s investment manager is BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BlackRock”). The Fund’s sub-advisers are BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, BlackRock International Limited, BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited. Where applicable, the use of the term BlackRock also refers to the Fund’s sub-advisers.

 

Portfolio Managers


 

Name

   Portfolio Manager of the Fund Since    Title

Michael Fredericks

   2011    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.

Lutz-Peter Wilke, CFA

   2011    Director of BlackRock, Inc.

Justin Christofel, CFA

   2011    Director of BlackRock, Inc.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares


 

You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open. To purchase or sell shares you should contact your Financial Intermediary, or, if you hold your shares through the Fund, you should contact the Fund by phone at (800) 441-7762, by mail (c/o BlackRock Funds, P.O. Box 9819, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-8019), or by the Internet at www.blackrock.com/funds. The Fund’s initial and subsequent investment minimums generally are as follows, although the Fund may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases:

 

    Investor A and Investor C Shares   Institutional Shares
Minimum Initial Investment  

$1,000 for all accounts except:

•   $250 for certain fee-based programs.

•   $100 for certain employer-sponsored retirement plans.

•   $50, if establishing an Automatic Investment Plan.

  $2 million for institutions and individuals. Institutional Shares are available to clients of registered investment advisers who have $250,000 invested in the Fund.
Minimum Additional Investment   $50 for all accounts (with the exception of certain employer-sponsored retirement plans which may have a lower minimum).   No subsequent minimum.

 

Tax Information


 

The Fund’s dividends and distributions may be subject to Federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan, in which case you may be subject to Federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax-deferred arrangements.

 

Payments to Broker/Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries


 

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary, the Fund and BlackRock Investments, LLC, the Fund’s distributor, or its affiliates may pay the Financial Intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Financial Intermediary and your individual financial professional to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your individual Financial Intermediary or visit your Financial Intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE # 811-22061

© BlackRock Advisors, LLC

SPRO-MAIP-1113R

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