About BlackRock

BlackRock® is one of the world’s preeminent asset management firms and a premier provider of investment management, risk management and advisory services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors around the world.

Client-driven investment solutions

BlackRock’s investment approach is based on our conviction that we can combine our market insights, proprietary technology, culture of teamwork and information sharing, analytical rigour and focus on risk management into an ability to deliver performance in all market environments. Our reach is broad, but our purpose is focused to consistently add value for our clients within a risk controlled process. Our clients look to BlackRock to provide quality investment solutions that cover the majority of investable markets across a variety of investment styles and targeting a range of performance objectives. BlackRock offers a wide range of creative solutions and product structures to meet the needs of our clients. These include institutional and individual separate accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles, and the industry-leading iShares® ETFs.

An independent, fiduciary culture

Our commitment to investment excellence is anchored in a shared culture that always places a client’s interests first, from individual investors to the world’s largest institutions. We act always as a fiduciary for our clients, managing assets on behalf of them and not trading on the firm’s own account. BlackRock is a fully independent firm with no majority shareholders and with a majority of independent board members. BlackRock serves a broad range of clients around the globe. Our client base includes corporate, public, union and industry pension plans; governments; insurance companies; third-party mutual funds; endowments; foundations; charities; corporations; official institutions; sovereign wealth funds; banks; financial professionals; and individuals worldwide.

Global perspective and presence

BlackRock is a truly global firm that combines the benefits of worldwide reach with local service and relationships. We have a deep presence in every major capital market in the world, which gives us greater insight into increasingly interconnected financial markets. BlackRock employs more than 9,700 professionals and maintains offices in 29 countries and more than 60 cities around the world.

As at 30 September 2011, BlackRock’s assets under management totalled $3.35 trillion* across equity, fixed income, cash management, alternative investment, multi-asset and advisory strategies. Through BlackRock Solutions® – the natural evolution of our long-standing investment in developing sophisticated and highly integrated systems – we offer risk management, strategic advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of clients with portfolios totalling over $10 trillion.