By clicking "Accept", you acknowledge that you have read and understand the terms and conditions below ("Terms"). Your employer and/or, as relevant, the organization or principal that you represent or are using the system on behalf of (the "Umbrella User") has previously agreed to and accepted these Terms through the execution (either directly, or by another entity on behalf of the Umbrella User (such other entity, if any, the "User Group Signatory")) of an access form (the "Site Access Form"). References to the "Umbrella User" in these Terms includes, in addition to those cited as Umbrella Users in the Site Access Form, the User Group Signatory in its capacity (if relevant) as a user of the Site and the services of the Site Operator(s) (as defined below in clause 2 of these Terms). References in these Terms to the "User Group Signatory" means that entity in its capacity as the entity signing on behalf of the relevant Umbrella User (as opposed to in its capacity as an Umbrella User itself). You, as an Authorised User (defined below in clause 5(b) of these Terms), agree (i) to act at all times in a manner that is consistent with these Terms (including following any variation to these Terms as provided herein) and to not cause the Umbrella User to breach any provision within the Terms or any variation thereto, (ii) that you have read all acknowledgements and representations made by the Umbrella User in these Terms, and (iii) that you are acting on behalf of, or for, the Umbrella User and not in your personal capacity.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE OF THE BLACKROCK CACHEMATRIX CONNECT SITE
- Introduction to the BlackRock Cachematrix Connect site and Scope of Services
The BlackRock Cachematrix Connect site (the "Site") is an online platform made available to the Umbrella User. The Site will enable the Umbrella User (through its Authorised Users) to enter subscription and redemption requests for shares or units or other interests (for ease of reference, referred to as "Shares" in these Terms) in a range of funds, including money market funds, that are made available on the Site from time to time (each, a "Fund"), with those Funds or their agents (e.g., the Fund's distributor or transfer agent).
The Site will display information about the Funds, and will also display certain research, data and analytics (including the ability to compare information about the Funds).
THE ONLY SERVICE OFFERED BY THE SITE OPERATOR (DEFINED IN CLAUSE 2, BELOW) BY ALLOWING THE UMBRELLA USER'S AUTHORISED USERS TO USE THE SITE AND ENABLING THEM TO ENTER SUBSCRIPTION AND REDEMPTION REQUESTS WITH THE FUNDS WITH WHICH THE UMBRELLA USER (OR ITS UNDERLYING CLIENT(S)) ALREADY HAS AN ACCOUNT IS THE RECEPTION AND TRANSMISSION OF SUBSCRIPTION AND REDEMPTION REQUESTS FOR SHARES IN THE FUNDS (FOR EASE, SOMETIMES HEREINAFTER TO AS "ORDERS").
THE SITE OPERATOR IS THE PROVIDER OF THIS SERVICE AND NONE OF ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES OR AFFILIATES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CACHEMATRIX SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, LLC) ARE PROVIDING OR WILL PROVIDE RECEPTION AND TRANSMISSION OF ORDERS (I.E. SUBSCRIPTION AND REDEMPTION REQUESTS) THROUGH THIS SITE. THE UMBRELLA USER AGREES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE SITE OPERATOR SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO UTILISE ONE OR MORE OF ITS AFFILIATES TO PERFORM ITS OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.
THE SITE OPERATOR WILL NOT BE A COUNTERPARTY TO ANY TRADE OR TRANSACTION IN SHARES (WHETHER AS AGENT OR PRINCIPAL) IN FUNDS IN ITS CAPACITY AS OPERATOR OF THE SITE. THE UMBRELLA USER WILL BE THE COUNTERPARTY TO ANY TRADES OR TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES IN FUNDS (WHETHER AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT FOR AN UNDERLYING CLIENT) AND THE SITE OPERATOR OR ANY AFFILIATE WILL NOT ACT AS AGENT TO THE UMBRELLA USER OR ANY AUTHORISED USER, AND NO SUCH TRADES OR TRANSACTIONS WILL BE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE SITE OPERATOR.
ANY TRADE OR TRANSACTION IN SHARES IN FUNDS WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE TERMS OF THE RELEVANT PROSPECTUS AND CONSTITUTIVE DOCUMENTATION OF THE FUND, AND THE SITE OPERATOR WILL HAVE NO OBLIGATIONS OR RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE DISCHARGE OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF ANY PARTIES TO THOSE TRADES OR TRANSACTIONS.
BY USING THE SITE, THE UMBRELLA USER ACKNOWLEDGES IT HAS READ THESE TERMS AND AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND FURTHER AGREES TO PROCURE THAT EACH AUTHORISED USER WILL ACT CONSISTENTLY WITH THESE TERMS AND NOT CAUSE THE UMBRELLA USER TO BREACH ANY PROVISION OF THESE TERMS, IN EACH CASE INCLUDING ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THESE TERMS PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 4(B) BELOW. IF THE UMBRELLA USER DOES NOT AT ANY TIME AGREE TO ALL OF THESE TERMS THE UMBRELLA USER SHOULD NOT USE THE SITE AND SHOULD NOT PERMIT AUTHORISED USERS TO USE THE SITE.
- Site Operators
The identity of the "Site Operator" depends on the location of the permanent presence or establishment from which the Umbrella User receives services under these Terms, as set out in the table below. If the Umbrella User receives the services from locations in more than one jurisdiction, there may be more than one Site Operator.
Location of permanent presence/establishment |
Site Operator |
United States |
BlackRock Investments, LLC |
European Economic Area ("EEA") |
BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V. ("BNBV") |
Any other jurisdiction |
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited ("BIMUK") |
As at the date of agreeing to these Terms pursuant to its Site Access Form, the Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) has made BlackRock aware of the jurisdictions in which the Umbrella User has a permanent presence or establishment which will need to receive services under these Terms. The Umbrella User will notify BlackRock in writing if the Umbrella User wishes to receive or has ceased receiving such services from a permanent presence or establishment in any other jurisdiction. The Umbrella User will not use the Site, or allow its Authorised Users to use the Site, in such jurisdiction until such notification has been approved by BlackRock. The Umbrella User will notify BlackRock in writing if any of its Authorised Users uses the Site in a jurisdiction which has not been notified to and approved by BlackRock for that Umbrella User.
In these Terms, BlackRock, Inc., its subsidiary companies, including the Site Operators and each of their affiliates, agents, officers, directors and employees are collectively referred to as "BlackRock".
- Pre-Contractual Disclosures if the Umbrella User is based in European Economic Area or UK
If the Umbrella User is based in the EEA or the UK (or if BIMUK or BNBV may at any time be its Site Operator in accordance with clause 2), use of the Site is only permitted once the Umbrella User has reviewed and accepted the following disclosures, which are required under: (i) with respect to the EEA, EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments (including any related delegated or implementing legislation under EU or national implementing laws); or (ii) with respect to the UK, inter alia, any relevant laws, regulations or rules under which EU Directive 2014/65/EU and its implementing legislation were transposed or incorporated (in whole or in part and whether or not amended) into UK law before 31 January 2020; in each case as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time (collectively being referred to as "MiFID II"):
COSTS & CHARGES DISCLOSURES DOCUMENT
(as updated from time to time)
https://go.blackrock.com/emt_request
For costs and charges of Funds not found in the above link, please contact the relevant product manufacturer or refer to the product manufacturer's website(s) for details.
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES DOCUMENT
(as updated from time to time)
https://www.blackrock.com/cash/literature/investor-education/supplemental-disclosures-document.pdf
The Supplemental Disclosures Document has been provided to the Umbrella User separately. This document is relevant to the services provided by the UK and EEA-based Site Operators to the Umbrella User. It also contains information relevant to certain BlackRock funds to which connectivity is provided through the Site; for information about other Funds, please contact the relevant product manufacturer or refer to the product manufacturer's website(s) for details.
The Supplemental Disclosures Document also contains information about the BlackRock Execution and Order Placement Policy which may be relevant in certain instances.
(together, the "Pre-Contractual Disclosure Documents").
BY ENTERING INTO THESE TERMS, THE UMBRELLA USER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS CAREFULLY READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE CONTENTS OF THE PRE-CONTRACTUAL DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS. IT ALSO REPRESENTS THAT AS OF THE DATE OF TRANSMITTING ANY SUBSCRIPTION AND REDEMPTION REQUESTS BY USING THE SITE THROUGH ITS AUTHORISED USERS, IT HAS REVIEWED (AND, IN THE CASE OF THE USER GROUP SIGNATORY, IT HAS PROCURED THAT EACH OTHER UMBRELLA USER HAS REVIEWED) THE THEN CURRENT PRE-CONTRACTUAL DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS.
- Important Notices and Acknowledgements
a. Where the Umbrella User is acting on behalf of an underlying client when it places subscription and redemption requests for Shares in Funds (the Umbrella User acting in such capacity, an "Agent"): (i) the Site Operator will treat the Umbrella User (and not the Umbrella User's underlying client) as the recipient of the services provided hereunder; and (ii) the Umbrella User (and each of its Authorised Users) represents and warrants to BlackRock that the Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users is authorised to place such requests on behalf of the underlying client. The Umbrella User acknowledges that any underlying clients of an Umbrella User will not be considered to be clients of BlackRock for the purposes of this Site or the services contemplated in these Terms that are provided by Site Operator(s) to the Umbrella User.
b. The Site Operators reserve the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of these Terms at any time for any reason and without the consent of the Umbrella User, any Authorised User or (if any) the User Group Signatory. Such changes shall be effective 30 days after posting on the Site, or immediately upon posting on the Site if the changes arise out of or in connection with a legal or regulatory requirement, including any change of law or regulation. The Umbrella User and its Authorised Users should review these Terms periodically for changes. By continuing to use the Site following changes to these Terms, the Umbrella User shall be deemed to have agreed to the changes.
c. These Terms contain warranty and liability disclaimers. By using the Site, the Umbrella User accepts and agrees to (and will procure that each Authorised User agrees to act consistently with) these Terms as may be modified by the Site Operators from time to time pursuant to clause 4(b) above. The Umbrella User and Authorised Users may be denied access to the Site, with or without prior notice, if they do not comply with any provision of these Terms.
d. Nothing contained on the Site constitutes tax, accounting, regulatory, legal, insurance or investment advice. Decisions based on information contained on the Site are the sole responsibility of the Umbrella User and its Authorised Users. Nothing contained on the Site is or constitutes a recommendation (express or implied) or advice (express or implied) to make any investment decision. The Site does not recommend or promote any of the Funds. The inclusion of any given Fund(s) on the Site and the provision of connectivity to, and the ability to transmit subscription and redemption requests to, the transfer agent and distributor of any Fund is not an endorsement, recommendation or promotion of that Fund/those Funds. BlackRock will not publish any investment research, analysis or advice on the Site, and nothing contained on the Site is or constitutes investment research, analysis or advice.
e. The Site Operators’ sole responsibility hereunder is to provide the Site pursuant to these Terms. The Umbrella User (acting through its Authorised Users) will be solely responsible for any judgments relating to subscription and redemption requests, as well as any other decisions based on information contained on the Site. Accordingly, BlackRock will not be responsible and will not have any liability for any actions or inactions of or conclusions drawn by any Authorised User with respect to any matter, whether or not based to any extent on the Site and/or the information provided therein. BlackRock, in its sole capacity as the Site Operator, is not acting in a fiduciary capacity, is not acting as agent of the Umbrella User or any Authorised User, or any of their underlying clients (if any), is not serving as an investment advisor and is not making any recommendations (including based on the analyses or system tools provided on the Site).
f. The Umbrella User acknowledges and agrees that access and use of the Site does not constitute any offer to buy or sell any financial products, and does not constitute any solicitation to buy or sell any financial products. The Umbrella User acknowledges and agrees that the Site Operator in its capacity as operator of the Site does not make any offer to buy or sell any financial products, and will not make any solicitation to buy or sell any financial products.
g. In exchange for the Umbrella User and its Authorised Users being given access to and use of the Site, the Umbrella User shall provide the indemnifications set out in clauses 10(a) and 17.
h. The Umbrella User understands and will procure that each Authorised User understands that the Site provides certain tools that allow the Umbrella User (through its Authorised Users) to sort and review information available on the Site, and that the information may rely on certain assumptions and judgments, such as with respect to the relationship among market risk factors and the Funds. Any such tools and the related analyses, models, and methodologies on the Site are generally based on observations of past market behavior that may not hold true in the future. Such assumptions may not cover all aspects of, or risks inherent in, any holdings of the Umbrella User or its underlying clients, the Funds, and calculation scenarios.
i. All information about the Funds (including information related to the placing of subscription and redemption requests) and related content and documentation (including but not limited to prospectuses, other constitutive documents, and information on performance) displayed on the Site is provided by the Funds or their agents and third party data suppliers ("Third Party Data Providers") or other relevant service providers, and BlackRock is not responsible or liable for (a) the accuracy or completeness (including whether documents or information are up to date) of the information or documents provided in relation to those Funds or (b) any inaccuracy or incompleteness of any analyses, charts or other similar output on the Site caused by any inaccuracy or incompleteness in the underlying information or documents provided to BlackRock by any Fund or their agent or Third Party Data Providers or service providers (or by a failure of the same to provide any updated documents or information to BlackRock in a timely fashion or in the required format).
j. Furthermore, the Umbrella User acknowledges that not all Funds may lend themselves to explicit analytically derived risk measures. As such, risk analyses and calculations made available on the Site are based on information BlackRock deems to be reliable, but BlackRock cannot and does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. The Umbrella User acknowledges that significant professional disagreement may exist regarding the accuracy and validity of these types of analyses and methodologies, and that there is no assurance that the analyses and methodologies used by BlackRock or provided by BlackRock are or will be appropriate for the Umbrella User or any Authorised User.
k. Each Fund (including its manager, distributor and transfer agent) retains the right to (i) reject, for any reason or no reason, any request for subscription made through the Site, and (ii) reject or delay the satisfaction of redemption requests in accordance with the terms of its prospectus or applicable law.
l. BlackRock reserves the right to refuse to provide connectivity to, and the ability to make subscription and redemption requests, to any Fund through the Site at any time, and to refuse access to or use of the Site to anyone at any time.
- Authorised Users
a. The Umbrella User will procure that all of its employees, contractors, officers and agents who access the Site, or other persons who access the Site on its behalf (i.e. its Authorised Users) comply with and at all times will act in a manner consistent with these Terms. The Umbrella User shall be responsible for the failure of any such person to do so.
b. The Umbrella User (or, where relevant, the User Group Signatory) will specify to the Site Operator in a form prescribed by the Site Operator the natural persons whom the Umbrella User wishes to have access to the Site in order to use the Site on the Umbrella User's behalf. Once the Site Operator has issued the Security Information (defined below) in respect of any such person, that person will be an "Authorised User".
c. The Site Operator will provide the Authorised Users with Access IDs and Security Passwords (collectively, "Security Information"). The Umbrella User may not obtain unauthorized access to the Site, or to any other protected materials or information, through any means not intentionally made available by BlackRock for the Umbrella User's specific use. The Umbrella User understands that it shall be solely responsible for all subscription and redemption requests and information (and the use of the information) transmitted through the Site using any Security Information provided to the Umbrella User or its Authorised Users. BlackRock is not obligated to inquire as to the authority or accuracy of, and will not be liable for any loss, expense or other liability arising out of, instructions transmitted through the Site using any Security Information provided to the Umbrella User or its Authorised Users. The Umbrella User expressly agrees that the use of the Site, including the transmission and storage of any information through such use of the Site, is at the Umbrella User's sole risk and responsibility. The Umbrella User will be responsible for the security and proper use of Security Information. The Umbrella User will notify the Site Operator immediately if it becomes aware of any disclosure, loss, theft or unauthorized use of any Security Information. The Site Operator reserves the right to suspend or withdraw Security Information at any time if it considers that there has been or there is likely to be a breach of security and/or this clause 5.
- Placement of Subscription and Redemption Requests
a. The Umbrella User understands that subscription and redemption requests are transmitted through the Site and that the online acknowledgments or other messages that appear on the screen of an Authorised User for subscription and redemption requests being submitted do not mean that subscription or redemption requests have been received, accepted or rejected by the Funds or their agents unless and until the Funds or their agents have provided the Umbrella User with a written or electronically printable confirmation and confirmation number ("Formal Confirm"). All subscription and redemption requests will be deemed to have been made in the form received by the Funds or their agents. The Umbrella User is (through its Authorised Users) responsible for verifying the accuracy and receipt of all information transmitted via the Site and for immediately notifying the Funds of any errors or inaccuracies relating to information transmitted via the Site.
b. As a condition of ongoing access or use of the Site for subscription and redemption requests, the Umbrella User shall notify the Site Operator if: (i) a subscription or redemption request has been placed through the Site and an accurate acknowledgement (i.e. a Formal Confirm) has not been received; (ii) an acknowledgement has been received (whether through hard copy, electronic or verbal means) of an execution of a subscription or redemption request that an Umbrella User acting through an Authorised User did not place; (iii) there is a discrepancy between any subscription or redemption request and the information reflected in a confirmation or account statement; (iv) the Umbrella User or any Authorised User becomes aware of any unauthorized use of any Security Information; or (v) in the event of a material error or delay in the operation of any component of the Site. The Umbrella User shall notify the Site Operator if it becomes aware of any unauthorized use of the Site. Umbrella User will directly resolve with the relevant third party any order-related issues that arise in connection with Umbrella User’s use of the Site. However, if requested, the Site Operator will use reasonable efforts to assist Umbrella User with the identification of order-related information within the Site in connection with the resolution of any such issue(s).
c. The Site Operator may transmit notices in respect of each subscription or redemption to the Umbrella User, via email or as otherwise agreed from time to time, which contain information regarding the status of each subscription or redemption request submitted via the Site (each, a "Site Notice"). The Site Notices rely on the information provided by the Umbrella User (through its Authorised Users) to the Site Operator via the Site. A Site Notice does not replace the Formal Confirm for a subscription or redemption.
d. It is acknowledged and agreed that in order to place subscription or redemption requests for Shares using the Site, (i) where the Umbrella User would like to place subscription or redemption requests as principal, the Umbrella User will be required to have an account open with the transfer agent (or other relevant service provider) for the relevant Funds, or (ii) where the Umbrella User would like to place subscription or redemption requests for Shares using the site as Agent for an underlying client, either the Umbrella User or such underlying client will be required to have an account open with the transfer agent (or other relevant service provider) for the relevant Funds. The Umbrella User acknowledges that in all cases it must open an account with the transfer agent (or other relevant service provider) by submitting the relevant account opening form to the Fund or transfer agent directly, outside the Site environment and that BlackRock has no obligations in relation to account opening.
e. BlackRock will rely on the Funds or their agents to provide account number(s) (for the account(s) with the transfer agents or other relevant service providers) to BlackRock and/or to verify account number(s) that are provided to BlackRock by the Umbrella User, which will enable the Site Operator to connect the Umbrella User to the corresponding Funds and their agents for the purpose of placing subscription or redemption requests with the transfer agents of those Funds through the Site. It is the responsibility of the Umbrella User to confirm that the account numbers associated with their Access ID on the Site are accurate. BlackRock accepts no responsibility or liability for or in connection with any incorrect account information supplied to it from the Funds or their agents.
f. The Site will display the cut-off times to place subscription or redemption requests for Shares for each Fund, to the extent that information is provided to the Site Operator by the Funds or their agents. BlackRock accepts no responsibility for or liability in connection with the accuracy of that information, and is not liable to the Umbrella User (or any Authorised User) if either the Umbrella User or BlackRock misses a cut-off time because the information supplied to the Site Operator is incorrect.
g. The Umbrella User (through its Authorised Users) is responsible for monitoring any cut-off times and other information and conditions in relation to placing subscription or redemption requests for Shares in the Funds. The Umbrella User acknowledges and agrees that subscription or redemption requests for Shares in Funds that are submitted shortly before a cut-off time may not be transmitted in time or may not be accepted by a Fund. The Site Operator will not transmit a subscription or redemption request if such subscription or redemption request is submitted by the Umbrella User on or after the relevant cut-off time for a Fund. BlackRock, in any event, is not responsible for any subscription or redemption request being rejected or for the receipt by a Fund of any subscription or redemption request after the cut-off time where that subscription or redemption request was submitted by the Umbrella User on, after or shortly before the cut-off time specified on the Site. Each Fund has the right to reject any subscription request for Shares for any reason or reject or delay the satisfaction of redemption requests in accordance with the terms of its prospectus or applicable law.
h. An Umbrella User may sign an automated investing form, and/or elect to allow its Authorised Users, to instruct the Site Operator to implement, in respect of a given account, daily subscription or redemption requests on an automated basis in accordance with certain minimum parameters that must be specified on the Site in order for such functionality to operate ("Automated Request Functionality"). In order to use the Automated Request Functionality, an Authorised User must, at a minimum, specify (i) a target cash balance for the relevant account in a specified currency as at the time immediately following the orders being satisfied by the Fund and/or Fund’s transfer agent (i.e. the amount of cash that the Authorised User wishes to remain uninvested); (ii) the Fund(s) in relation to which it wants to make subscription or redemption requests; (iii) the percentage of the Order Amount (as defined below) to be applied in relation to each Fund in order to determine the total number of Shares to be subscribed or redeemed for each Fund; and (iv) a period of time, being no less than 30 minutes, prior to the Fund dealing cut off time, by which subscription or redemption requests are to be made. The Umbrella User agrees that: (a) the only units in Funds that will be made available within the Automated Request Functionality will be those denominated in the same currency as that of the relevant account; (b) the Automated Request Functionality will not be operable without 100 per cent of the Order Amount being allocated under (iii) above; (c) the Order Amount will be the difference between the target balance specified by the Authorised User for the account and either (i) (for subscriptions) a percentage of the surplus amount by which the account exceeds the target balance, or (ii) (for redemptions) a percentage of the amount by which account amount is below the target balance; (the amount of the Order Amount to be applied in relation to a Fund will be adjusted down to the extent necessary to ensure that only whole units are subscribed or redeemed) (d) the account data used to determine the Order Amount will be based on the last data made available to Site Operator by the transfer agent (or other relevant service provider) for the relevant Funds which will typically be from the business day prior to the day on which the subscription or redemption requests are to be made (which means that an account may not exactly achieve the intended target balance); (e) subscription and redemption requests will all be placed at a single time equal to the earliest Fund dealing cut off time, less the period specified by the Authorised User under (iv) above (i.e. the requests across all Funds will occur at the same time, being the earliest time specified pursuant to (iv) above); (f) the Site Operator may from time to time allow an Authorised User to specify additional parameters for the Automated Request Functionality; such additional parameters will either be available on the Site or, at the Site Operator's discretion, may be agreed in writing between the Site Operator and the Authorised User. The Site Operator will not, under this clause 6(h) exercise any investment discretion nor provide any advice as to any order requests. The Authorised User must specify and maintain all relevant request parameters in order for the Automated Request Functionality to be available. Save as set out below in relation to manual instructions, an Umbrella User and/or an Authorised User (on behalf of the Umbrella User) can pause the order functionality, within the Automated Request Functionality up to 30 minutes prior to the execution time (as determined under (iv) above) and it will be effective that day. Pause instructions made after this cut off will not be effective in relation to the orders scheduled to be placed that day. Reinstatement instructions or any edits to the Automated Request Functionality received will only be effective for orders on the next day. Notwithstanding the above, if an Umbrella User issues a manual instruction to the Site Operator to pause the order functionality (or to reinstate it), and/or edit their parameters, within the Automated Request Functionality, it may take up three business days for the relevant Site Operator to implement the instruction upon receipt of a valid instruction. It is the responsibility of the Umbrella User to ensure that Orders raised via the Automated Request Functionality do not conflict with other Orders or orders raised outside of this Site (for example, because they are duplicates; or because a manually placed Order results in the actual account balance differing from the target balance sought under the Automated Request Functionality). BlackRock and the Site Operators will not be responsible and/or liable for any orders that conflict. The Umbrella User acknowledges it is responsible for reviewing and confirming the data and information required for the setup of the Automated Request Functionality prior to initiating the first use of the Automated Request Functionality. Upon Umbrella User’s initial use of the Automated Request Functionality, the Umbrella User acknowledges that BlackRock is not responsible for checking the accuracy or validity of all the data and information required for the operation of the Automated Request Functionality.
- Auto-Settlement
The Umbrella User may separately agree with the Site Operator or an affiliate of the Site Operator to automate settlement instructions for any subscription or redemption requests for Shares in any Funds that the Umbrella User submits for transmission through the Site. Where the Umbrella User agrees that the Site Operator or an affiliate of the Site Operator will provide this service, the Site Operator or an affiliate of the Site Operator will issue SWIFT M101, MT102, MT103 or MT202 (or other format as may be notified to the Umbrella User from time to time) messages to the Umbrella User's bank account, which account will be specified by the Umbrella User, to request settlement of the subscription or redemption requests if accepted by the Fund's transfer agent.
- Pending Balances
The Site may display balances per Share class of each Fund for the Umbrella User's account, estimated by the Site Operator based on intraday subscription or redemption requests which have been transmitted to the transfer agent but which may still be pending acceptance, full execution and settlement by a Fund ("Pending Balance"). The Pending Balance will generally display information without a delay. The Pending Balance will take into account subscription and redemption requests that are placed: (i) on the Site; and (ii) outside of the Site, if the transfer agent of the relevant Fund provides the Site Operator with intraday information about such subscription and redemption requests. The Umbrella User agrees and acknowledges that the actual balance in respect of any Share class of any Fund may differ from the Pending Balance displayed on the Site, and it will not rely on the Pending Balance. The Pending Balance may be reliant on Third Party Data (as defined below) and/or data received from the Funds or their agents. The Umbrella User acknowledges that BlackRock is not responsible for checking the accuracy or validity of Third Party Data or any data received from the Funds or their agents, or for the accuracy of the Pending Balance.
- Accruals and Rebate data displayed on the Site
The Site Operator may rely on information provided by the Umbrella User (including via its Authorised Users) and any Fund transfer agent or administrator from time to time regarding accruals and/or rebate entitlements of the Umbrella User (and/or the Umbrella User's underlying clients) in respect of the Funds ("Client and Transfer Agent Data"). The Site Operator at its discretion may analyze and/or derive other data ("Derived Data") from the Client and Transfer Agent Data and may display to the Umbrella User the Client and Transfer Agent and the Derived Data on the Site or via other means. The Umbrella User agrees and acknowledges that Derived Data are estimations and therefore actual data or figures may differ from the Derived Data, that it will not rely on the Derived Data, and that BlackRock is not responsible for checking the accuracy or validity of the Client and Transfer Agent Data or for the accuracy of the Derived Data.
- Instructions
a. The Site Operator may rely and act on any instruction or communication reasonably believed to be from an authorised signatory of the Umbrella User as set out in the Umbrella User's authorised signatory list that has been verified by the Site Operator (each, an "Umbrella User Authorised Signatory"). The Umbrella User will indemnify BlackRock for any losses suffered by BlackRock as a result of the Site Operator and/or its affiliates relying upon any instruction or communication received from an email address of any Umbrella User Authorised Signatory.
b. Notice of personal email address use:
The Site Operator and BlackRock urge caution when using free and/or public email services for conducting business. The use of free and/or public email services for business purposes may increase the risk of data loss and fraud compared to corporate email solutions. Free and/or public services typically enforce lower security standards, which may give rise to a higher risk of email compromise. In addition, messages may be read or scanned by the email provider. The Site Operator and BlackRock urge the Umbrella User (and its Authorised Users) to consider these and any other data privacy or security factors before approving the use of, or using, free and/or public email addresses for conducting business.
If the Umbrella User (or any of its Authorised Users) uses a personal email address provided by a free and/or public email service provider, the Umbrella User acknowledges and agrees (and will ensure that each Authorised User understands) that: (i) the use of such email address may present increased risk of data loss and fraud; and (ii) the Umbrella User (and its Authorised Users) have determined this risk to be acceptable and has authorized use of such email address for the purposes of its business and interactions with the Site Operator and the Site.
- License to Use the Site
a. Grant of license. BlackRock grants to the Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license (revocable at any time and for any reason at the sole discretion of BlackRock) to access and use the Site to access the information and tools contained therein in accordance with these Terms. BlackRock reserves all rights, title and interest not expressly granted under this license to the fullest extent possible under applicable laws. Any use of the Site not specifically permitted under these Terms, or not intentionally made available by BlackRock, is strictly prohibited.
b. Restrictions. The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, agrees that it will not:
(i) use the Site to reproduce, copy, store, transmit, display or distribute any information or data (including without limitation Third Party Data) from the Site (including copyrighted material) in any medium or via any method to any third party without BlackRock's express written permission, except, if applicable, to disseminate limited excerpts of information pertaining to the Umbrella User's account holdings as required by applicable law or regulation;
(ii) edit, change, attempt to reverse-engineer, disassemble, prepare any derivative work of or alter in any way any of the content provided on or other aspect of the services that is included in or accessible through the Site;
(iii) use the Site to use automated scripts to collect information or data from or otherwise interact with the Site; and
(iv) use the Site in any way that violates these Terms or applicable law.
The Site is owned by BlackRock and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and international treaty provisions. The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, will not sublicense, assign, or transfer the license or any other rights granted to the Umbrella User (or any of its Authorised Users) under these Terms, including any member name, account, or password. Any attempt to sublicense, assign, or transfer any of the rights, duties, or obligations in violation of the provisions of these Terms is null and void and may expose the Umbrella User to a claim for damages.
c. Other Restrictions. The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, agrees that it will not: (i) impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent its affiliation with any other person or entity; (ii) engage in spamming, flooding, harvesting of e-mail addresses or other personal information, spidering, screen scraping, database scraping, using any robot, intelligent agent, other automated device, script or manual process, or any other activity, save as expressly permitted under these Terms or which is a function intentionally included on the Site or provided by BlackRock, with the purpose of searching, monitoring or copying the Site or obtaining reports, data, information, content, software, products, lists of users or any other information; (iii) send unsolicited or unauthorized advertising or promotional materials (including "spam", "junk mail", "chain letters" or "pyramid schemes") via or using information obtained from the Site; or (iv) attempt to gain unauthorized access to other computer systems through the Site.
The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, agrees that it will not use the Site in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Site or interfere with any other person's use and enjoyment of the Site.
d. Scope of license: The Umbrella User's, and each of its Authorised Users' license to access and use the Site is restricted to the days and times that the Site Operator makes the Site available, and is subject to any planned or unplanned outages, whether or not notified to the Umbrella User or any of its Authorised Users.
The Site Operator has absolute discretion and control over the Site, and may edit, modify or change the functionality, layout, Funds available, or other information available on, functionality of or format of the Site, in all cases in its absolute discretion.
e. The Umbrella User will procure that all of its employees, officers and agents or other persons acting on the Umbrella User's behalf that access the Site, in each case including any of its Authorised Users, are aware of and will act at all times in a manner consistent with the provisions of this clause 11.
- Intellectual Property Rights
BlackRock owns or has a license to all title and intellectual property rights in and to the content or other aspect of the services that is included in or accessible through the Site (including any Derived Data). All title and intellectual property rights in and to any licensed content provided on the Site is the property of the respective content owners and may be protected by applicable copyright or other intellectual property laws and treaties and subject to use restrictions under such laws or treaties. Accordingly, the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, may not copy, distribute, attempt to reverse engineer, disassemble, modify, post, frame or "deep link" the Site, including any text, graphics, video, audio, software code, user interface design or logos. The Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users, may download material displayed on the Site solely for the Umbrella User's internal investment and administrative purposes, provided the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, also retains all copyright and other proprietary notices contained on the materials. Except as permitted in the immediately preceding sentence, the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, repost, or use the content of the Site other than strictly for the purpose for which the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, has any required license, as contemplated hereunder. Neither the Umbrella User, nor any of its Authorised Users, acquires any ownership or other rights to any content, documents or other materials accessed or viewed through the Site. The posting of information, documents or materials on the Site does not constitute a waiver of any right in such information and materials. Nothing contained on the Site should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any trademark displayed on the Site without the written permission of BlackRock. The Umbrella User's, or any of its Authorised Users', use of the trademarks displayed on the Site, or any other content on the Site, except as expressly permitted herein, is strictly prohibited. Images displayed on the Site are either the property of, or used with permission by, BlackRock. The use of these images by the Umbrella User, or anyone else authorised by the Umbrella User (including Authorised Users), is prohibited unless specifically permitted by BlackRock. Any unauthorized use of images or other content on the Site may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity, and communications regulations and statutes. If the Umbrella User, or any of its Authorised Users, downloads any information from the Site, the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, agrees that it will not copy it or remove or obscure any copyright or other notices or legends contained in any such information.
- Trademarks and Third-Party Trademarks
The Site may contain third-party trademarks, Site marks, graphics, and logos. Neither the Umbrella User, nor any of its Authorised Users, is granted any right or license with respect to the BlackRock trademarks or the trademarks of any third party.
- Privacy Policy
Please review our Privacy Policy (available here: http://www.blackrock.com/corporate/en-us/compliance/privacy-policy) which describes the types of personal data that BlackRock may collect from the Umbrella User and any of its Authorised Users ("Personal Data"), how BlackRock uses Personal Data, the legal bases BlackRock has to process Personal Data and the steps BlackRock takes to preserve the security and integrity of Personal Data. By accepting these Terms and/or using the Site, the Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users confirms that it has read the Privacy Policy and acknowledges that it applies to how BlackRock collects, handles, stores and protects Personal Data when the Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users uses the Site.
- Use of Data
The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, represents and warrants to BlackRock that it has all rights necessary to provide the information and data (including Personal Data) entered into the Site by the Umbrella User and any of its Authorised Users and that the use by BlackRock of such information and data will not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party. The Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users hereby grants to BlackRock a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully sublicensable and freely assignable license to store, use, copy, display, disseminate and create derivative works from all information and data generated by, or entered into the Site by the Umbrella User and any of its Authorised Users, including as pertains to the Umbrella User's, and any of its Authorised Users', use thereof. BlackRock owns all right, title and interest in the aggregated market transaction data reflecting the interactions of the Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users with the Site, and BlackRock may retain, use, sell, retransmit or redistribute to third parties such information and data, on an anonymized or aggregated basis only, for business or other commercial purposes. The Umbrella User, and any of its Authorised Users, may provide to BlackRock suggestions, comments or other feedback ("Feedback") with respect to the Site. The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, agrees that all Feedback is and shall be given entirely voluntarily. BlackRock shall be free to use any Feedback provided to it, without obligation or restriction of any kind on account of intellectual property rights or otherwise. Nothing in this clause 15 limits the rights of the Umbrella User and its Authorised Users under clause 17.
- Third Party Data or Information
The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, acknowledges that certain data or information is provided by BlackRock directly or obtained by BlackRock from Third Party Data Providers that are not proprietary to BlackRock ("Third Party Data") and failure to receive Third Party Data on a timely basis (or at all) may affect BlackRock's ability to provide the Site. The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, acknowledges that certain Third Party Data Providers may have rights in the data or information forming part of or comprising the Site, and agree to comply with any restriction or condition imposed by Third Party Data Providers. As part of such compliance, the Umbrella User and its Authorised Users may be required to enter into a separate agreement with BlackRock or Third Party Data Providers in order to receive or to continue to receive such Third Party Data. The Umbrella User acknowledges that BlackRock is not responsible for Third Party Data and that the Umbrella User is solely responsible for its and its Authorised Users' interactions with Third Party Data Providers. BlackRock reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor disputes between the Umbrella User and Third Party Data Providers and if requested by a Third Party Data Provider, BlackRock may be required to suspend or cease providing the Third Party Data to the Umbrella User and/or its Authorised Users.
- Confidentiality
Information obtained by the Umbrella User and/or any of its Authorised Users and BlackRock through its use of the Site and information disclosed directly between BlackRock and the Umbrella User and/or any of its Authorised Users, or from BlackRock via the User Group Signatory to the Umbrella User and/or any of its Authorised Users (together, "Confidential Information") shall be kept strictly confidential by BlackRock, the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, and used, in the case of the Umbrella User and its Authorised Users, solely for the purpose of interacting with the Site and the Umbrella User's own investment purposes (or, where the Umbrella User is acting as Agent, those of its underlying clients) in connection with the Site interaction and, in the case of BlackRock, for the purpose of providing its services. The Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users, and BlackRock, shall not disclose any Confidential Information in whole or part, directly or indirectly, to any third party, provided that:
(i) the Umbrella User and/or BlackRock may disclose Confidential Information to any of its employees, permitted agents and professional advisors (who have a bona fide need to know) for the sole purpose, in the case of disclosure by the Umbrella User, of using the Site and the Umbrella User's own investment purposes (or, where the Umbrella User is acting as Agent, those of its underlying clients) in connection with such use of the Site and, in either case, for BlackRock to provide its services; and
(ii) Confidential Information shall not include information held by a party that: (a) was in that party's lawful possession and without confidentiality restrictions before it was disclosed to that party by the other party; (b) the party obtains from a third party or which is otherwise in the public domain on an unrestricted basis other than through breach of these Terms or breach of any other obligation of confidentiality on the party or the third party; (c) is developed by that party independently of the other and any information received by that party from the other; or (d) the party is required to disclose in accordance with applicable law and regulation. Where an Umbrella User or BlackRock discloses information that would be Confidential Information but for point (d) of this clause 17(ii), the Umbrella User or BlackRock will provide prior notice to the other (except where such notice is not permitted by or is otherwise inconsistent with obligations under applicable law or regulation).
- Term; Termination
The Umbrella User and any of its Authorised Users may cease to use the Site at any time. These Terms, as amended from time to time, will remain effective and shall apply to the use of the Site by the Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users, until terminated. These Terms and the arrangements contemplated hereby may be terminated by the Umbrella User upon 30 days' prior written notice to the relevant Site Operator(s) without liability to BlackRock at any time and for any reason. These Terms and the arrangements contemplated hereby may be terminated by any relevant Site Operator with immediate effect without liability to the Umbrella User at any time and for any reason, in that Site Operator's sole and exclusive discretion. Upon termination, the Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users will also cease to have access to the Site.
Termination of these Terms with respect to the Umbrella User will not affect the applicability of the Terms to or access to the Site by any other person covered by the Site Access Form, unless the Umbrella User expressly states in writing that it is terminating the Terms on behalf of itself and all other persons covered by the Site Access Form.
- Warranty Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability
THE SITE, AND ALL MATERIALS, DATA (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THIRD PARTY DATA), INFORMATION AND OTHER CONTENT, AS WELL AS ANY PRODUCTS AND WEBSITES PROVIDED ON THE SITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY APPLICABLE LAW, BLACKROCK DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. BLACKROCK DOES NOT WARRANT, EITHER EXPRESSLY OR IMPLIEDLY, THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION, DATA (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THIRD PARTY DATA), CONTENT, MATERIALS, TEXT, GRAPHICS, LINKS OR OTHER ITEMS CONTAINED ON THE SITE AND DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE SITE WILL BE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. BLACKROCK EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IN THE MATERIALS ON THE SITE AND FOR THE USE OR INTERPRETATION BY OTHERS OF INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE.
BLACKROCK DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, THAT THE INFORMATION AND TOOLS ON THE SITE WILL PRODUCE ANY PARTICULAR INVESTMENT OUTCOME FOR ANY UMBRELLA USER (AND ITS AUTHORISED USERS) OR ANY UNDERLYING CLIENT OF THE UMBRELLA USER, AS APPLICABLE. BLACKROCK DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE MATERIALS, DATA (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THIRD PARTY DATA), INFORMATION, OR CONTENT ON THE SITE IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THE UMBRELLA USER ASSUMES THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THE SITE OPERATORS OR ANY BLACKROCK ENTITY (WHICH, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, INCLUDES BLACKROCK, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, AND THE SITE OPERATORS) TO BE JOINTLY LIABLE. EACH SITE OPERATOR AND BLACKROCK WILL BE SEVERALLY LIABLE FOR ANY LIABILITY ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IN RESPECT OF THAT SITE OPERATOR OR ANY BLACKROCK ENTITY.
BLACKROCK (WHICH, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, INCLUDES BLACKROCK, INC., ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES AND THE SITE OPERATORS) IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND WILL BEAR NO LIABILITY FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS (WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT) TO THE UMBRELLA USER (INCLUDING ANY OF ITS AUTHORISED USERS) OR ANY OTHER PARTY TO THESE TERMS, EVEN IF BLACKROCK HAS BEEN APPRISED OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF SUCH DAMAGES, AND WHETHER OR NOT SUCH COULD HAVE BEEN FORESEEN OR PREVENTED. IN NO EVENT WILL BLACKROCK'S LIABILITY TO THE UMBRELLA USER (INCLUDING ANY OF ITS AUTHORISED USERS) UNDER THESE TERMS AND IN CONNECTION WITH THE SITE EXCEED, IN THE AGGREGATE, ONE HUNDRED US DOLLARS ($100).
IF THE UMBRELLA USER IS BASED (OR IF ANY OF ITS AUTHORISED USERS LIVES) IN A JURISDICTION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SOME OR ALL OF THESE LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO THE UMBRELLA USER (AND/OR ITS AUTHORISED USERS) SINCE SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
NOTHING IN THESE TERMS WILL EXCLUDE OR RESTRICT ANY DUTY OR LIABILITY THAT THE SITE OPERATOR MAY HAVE TO THE UMBRELLA USER (AND ITS AUTHORISED USERS) UNDER ANY APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION (WHICH INCLUDES RULES MADE BY ANY APPLICABLE REGULATORY BODIES, ANY DECISIONS OF A COURT, OMBUDSMAN OR SIMILAR BODY THAT ARE APPLICABLE AND BINDING ON THE SITE OPERATOR, AND ANY APPLICABLE INDUSTRY GUIDANCE OR CODES OF PRACTICE THAT ARE FOLLOWED BY THE SITE OPERATOR), AND WHICH THE SITE OPERATOR IS NOT PERMITTED TO EXCLUDE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION.
- Indemnity
The Umbrella User and the User Group Signatory will each indemnify, defend, and hold BlackRock, and each of the BlackRock group companies' respective directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents, contractors, licensors, members, partners, managers and suppliers harmless with respect to any and all suits, claims, demands, liabilities, losses, obligations, damages, costs and expenses (including but not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees and other legal expenses) arising out of, alleged to arise out of, or related to: (i) the Umbrella User's (or any of the Umbrella User's employees', officers', contractors', agents' or other person acting on the Umbrella User's behalf, including for the sake of clarity any of its Authorised Users') breach of these Terms, including, but not limited to, any infringement by the Umbrella User (or any of the Umbrella User's employees, officers, contractors, agents or other person acting on the Umbrella User's behalf, including for the sake of clarity any of its Authorised Users) of the copyright or intellectual property rights of any third party; or (ii) the Umbrella User's (or any of the Umbrella User's employees', officers', contractors', agents' or other persons' acting on the Umbrella User's behalf including for the sake of clarity any of its Authorised Users') use or misuse of the Site (or any portion thereof), including, but not limited to, the use, or provision to third parties of any materials, data (including without limitation Third Party Data), information, content or reports generated by or exported from the Site; or (iii) any authorised or unauthorised or otherwise inappropriate use of any of the materials, data (including without limitation Third Party Data), information, or content of the Site attributable to the Umbrella User (or any of the Umbrella User's employees, officers, contractors, agents or other persons acting on the Umbrella User's behalf including for the sake of clarity any of its Authorised Users) or which occurs through the use of any Security Information supplied to the Umbrella User or any of its Authorised Users. Furthermore, BlackRock shall have the right to injunctive relief to enforce its rights hereunder, for which the Umbrella User and User Group Signatory each waive the requirement, if any, to post any bond, or similar requirement.
- Additional Disclosures: Fund, Distributor and Advisor Disclosures
Disclosures related to all users:
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT A RELIABLE INDICATOR OF FUTURE RESULTS AND SHOULD NOT BE THE SOLE FACTOR OF CONSIDERATION WHEN SELECTING A PRODUCT.
Fund prospectuses and other information about Funds ("Fund Documents") can usually be found on such Funds' website or that of their manager or sponsor.
The Fund Documents should be read carefully before making any investment decision.
The Umbrella User (and any Authorised Users that have authority to make investment decisions for and on behalf the of the Umbrella User or its underlying clients) should consider the investment objectives, risks and expenses of a Fund carefully before investing.
The Umbrella User, as a prospective investor, should consult independent advisors prior to making a decision to invest in a Fund about the suitability of the Fund for their particular circumstances, including in relation to taxation, and should inform itself as to the legal requirements of applying for an investment.
Fees Disclosure
The Site Operators are paid fees by the Funds, or the managers, sponsors, distributors, operators or affiliates of these entities, in exchange for the Site Operators providing the Umbrella User and other users of the Site with connectivity to the Funds (and their distributors and transfer agents) through the Site. These fees enable the Site Operators to provide the Site to the Umbrella User and other users without charge.
In general terms, these fees are calculated by reference to the balances held by the Umbrella User and other users of the Site in each Fund via the Site. Fees are paid by the Funds, or by the managers, distributors, operators or affiliates of these entities, to the relevant Site Operators at certain intervals on an ongoing basis. The exact fees payable to the relevant Site Operator and how those fees are calculated may vary between the Funds and may be adjusted from time to time.
The fees payable to the relevant Site Operator in respect of each Fund are within the range of 0.00% to 0.05% of the average daily net asset value of the Shares of the Funds that are held by the Umbrella User and other users of the Site during such monthly period via the Site. The Umbrella User acknowledges receipt of this fee disclosure by accepting these Terms.
The Site Operators will provide information about the actual range of fees received on an annual basis by updating these Terms.
Additional U.S. Disclosures:
Disclosures related to institutional prime and institutional municipal money market funds: the Umbrella User (or its underlying client(s), where applicable) could lose money by investing in Funds. Because the share price of the Fund will fluctuate, when the Umbrella User sells shares they may be worth more or less than what was originally paid for them. The Fund may impose a fee upon sale of your shares. The Fund generally must impose a fee when net sales of Fund shares exceed certain levels. An investment in the Fund is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor is not required to reimburse the Fund for losses, and the Umbrella User should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time, including during periods of market stress.
Disclosures related to government money market funds: the Umbrella User (or its underlying client(s), where applicable) could lose money by investing in the Funds. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of the Umbrella User's (or its underlying client's) investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The Fund may impose a fee upon sale of your shares. An investment in the Fund is not bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor is not required to reimburse the Fund for losses, and the Umbrella User should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time, including during periods of market stress.
Disclosures related to retail money market funds: the Umbrella User (or its underlying client(s), where applicable) could lose money by investing in the Funds. Although the Fund seeks to preserve value of the Umbrella User's (or its underlying client's) investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the Fund is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor is not required to reimburse the Fund for losses, and the Umbrella User should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time, including during periods of market stress.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
Additional EMEA Disclosures:
The Funds are not guaranteed investment vehicles. An investment in the Funds is different from an investment in deposits; the principal invested in a Fund is capable of fluctuation and the risk of loss of the principal is to be borne by the investor.
Disclosures related to money market funds: A money market fund does not rely on external support for guaranteeing the liquidity of the money market fund or stabilising the NAV per Share.
Nothing herein or on the Site constitutes an offer to invest in a Fund. Any decision to invest should be made in accordance with the Fund's prospectus and any other materials that the prospectus may direct the Umbrella User to, including any Key Investor Information Document or, if applicable, Key Information Document, and the Fund's financial statements and reports. The distribution of this information in certain jurisdictions may be restricted and, persons into whose possession this information comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe such restrictions.
- Additional Provisions
a. Reasonable Requests for Information. BlackRock may reasonably request the Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, in respect of the Umbrella User) to provide additional information and documents at any time, including to enable BlackRock to comply with its legal and regulatory obligations. If such a reasonable request for information is made, the Umbrella User or User Group Signatory will give the information requested to BlackRock as soon as possible. If the Umbrella User or User Group Signatory does not comply with the request, or if BlackRock suspects fraudulent or criminal activity of any kind in connection with the Umbrella User's actual/anticipated relationship with BlackRock:
(a) The Umbrella User might not be able to access the Site; or
(b) BlackRock might try to get the information requested from another source; or
(c) BlackRock could block or close the Umbrella User's account(s); or
(d) BlackRock could refuse to carry out the Umbrella User's instructions.
The Umbrella User or User Group Signatory (as applicable) must ensure the information it gives to BlackRock is accurate and up to date. The Umbrella User or User Group Signatory (as applicable) must notify BlackRock of changes to the information within 30 days of the change.
At all times, BlackRock will use the Umbrella User's and/or Authorised Users' Personal Data as explained in the Privacy Policy. In addition, BlackRock will give the Umbrella User's and/or Authorised Users' information (including, without limitation, Personal Data) to others if: BlackRock is compelled to do so by an applicable law, including relevant money laundering laws; BlackRock has a public duty to disclose it; BlackRock needs to disclose to protect its own interests (for example in any legal proceedings); or if BlackRock has the Umbrella User's and/or Authorised User's specific agreement (as applicable). For example, if BlackRock believes the Umbrella User may have tax obligations in other countries, BlackRock may have to disclose information about the Umbrella User and/or the Authorised Users directly to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or other local tax authorities.
The Umbrella User hereby consents to BlackRock requesting any information and documents at any time in respect of the Umbrella User and/or any Authorised User (or their underlying clients) from the relevant Fund(s) or service provider(s) to the Fund(s) including the transfer agent for the Fund(s) to enable BlackRock to comply with its legal and regulatory obligations. If such request(s) for information is made by BlackRock, the Umbrella User hereby authorizes the information requested to be provided immediately to BlackRock by the Fund or relevant service providers to the Fund(s) including the transfer agent for the Fund(s)
b. Permitted Jurisdictions. The information provided on the Site is not intended for distribution to, or use by, and Funds made available on the Site are not intended for, any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use, or offer to sell, would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject BlackRock or its affiliates to any registration or licensing requirement within such jurisdiction or country (that it does not already satisfy). The Site will not be considered a solicitation for or offering of any investment product or site to any person in any jurisdiction where such solicitation or offering would be illegal or contrary to any applicable law.
In particular, no securities referred to herein situated outside of the United States have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and none of the Funds situated outside of the United States made available on the Site has been registered under the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. If the Umbrella User is located outside the United States and not a "U.S. Person" as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act then it is not required to give the representations in clause 20(h) below. If the Umbrella User is a "U.S. Person" as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act then it is required to give the representations in clause 20(h) below.
c. Links to Other Websites. BlackRock may establish links between the Site and one or more websites operated by third parties. BlackRock has no control over any such other websites, the contents therein or the products/services offered. The existence of any such links shall not constitute an endorsement of, or representation or warranty by BlackRock regarding such websites, the contents of the websites, the products or services of the websites or the operators of the websites. The Umbrella User's (including any of its Authorised Users') access to and use of such linked websites is governed by the terms of use and privacy policies of those sites, and shall be at the Umbrella User's (and its Authorised Users') own risk. BlackRock disclaims responsibility for the privacy policies and customer information practices of third-party internet websites hyperlinked from the Site.
d. Links to BlackRock from Other Websites. Except as permitted under these Terms, the Umbrella User shall not display hyperlinks on its websites to any website owned or operated by BlackRock. If the Umbrella User desires to display on a website a hyperlink to a BlackRock website, the Umbrella User must enter into a written agreement with BlackRock governing such display. Access to any BlackRock website does not authorize the Umbrella User (or any of its Authorised Users) to use any of BlackRock's names, logos, trademarks or copyrighted material, and the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, agrees not to do so without BlackRock's express written consent. Requests to display hyperlinks on the Umbrella User's websites to BlackRock websites should be e-mailed to webmaster@blackrock.com.
e. Transmissions to and from the Site. Electronic communications can be intercepted by third parties and, accordingly, transmissions to and from the Site may not be secure. Communications to BlackRock, particularly those containing confidential information, may be sent by post to the Site Operator to the details specified below.
If BlackRock Investments, LLC is the Site Operator: BlackRock, Inc., 40 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022, Attn: Webmaster.
If BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited is the Site Operator: BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2N 2DL, Attn: EMEA Webmaster.
BlackRock makes no warranty to the Umbrella User, or any of its Authorised Users, regarding the security of the Site, including with regard to the ability of any unauthorised persons to access information received or transmitted by the Umbrella User, or any of its Authorised Users, through or from the Site. BlackRock reserves the right to cease providing, or to change, the Site and content of such information (or any portion or feature thereof) at any time or frequency and without notice.
f. E-mail and Marketing. BlackRock from time to time may send the Umbrella User (and its Authorised Users) emails and other communications. BlackRock may use third party tools and systems in order to configure and transmit such emails and communications. The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, acknowledges that the details of and legal bases for how BlackRock may contact the Umbrella User (and its Authorised Users) or use third party tools in order to contact the Umbrella User (and its Authorised Users) are contained in BlackRock's Privacy Policy.
g. Timeliness of Content. Without prejudice to clause 4(i) of these Terms, the Umbrella User and each of its Authorised Users, acknowledges that all content on the Site is presented only as of the date published or indicated, and may be superseded by subsequent market events or for other reasons. In addition, the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, is responsible for setting the cache and all browser, web or other technological settings on to ensure the Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, is receiving the most recent data (including without limitation Third Party Data).
h. Prohibited Uses. Except as otherwise stated in these Terms or as expressly authorised by BlackRock in writing, neither the Umbrella User nor any of its Authorised Users may:
- Include the term "BlackRock" or any BlackRock trademark or executive's name, or any variation of the foregoing, as a meta-tag, hidden textual element; or
- Use the Site or the content in any manner that could create impression of affiliation with, or sponsorship or endorsement by, BlackRock.
i. System Outages and Incomplete Transmissions. Internet software, outages of the Site, transmission problems and other technological problems may produce inaccurate or incomplete copies of information and materials that may be downloaded and displayed on a user's computer. BlackRock and the Funds are not liable for any damages, changes, or omissions that occur during transmission of information and materials.
j. Assignment. Neither the Umbrella User nor any of its Authorised Users may assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of (in any manner whatsoever) the benefit or burden of these Terms without the prior written consent of the Site Operator. The Site Operator may assign or otherwise transfer the benefit or burden of these Terms to any person at any time.
k. No Partnership. Nothing in these Terms or referred to in it or any arrangement contemplated by it shall constitute any BlackRock entity (including the Site Operators) or the Umbrella User a partner of any other.
l. Effect of Termination. The termination of these Terms for any reason shall not affect this clause 22(l) and clauses 12 (Intellectual Property Rights), 13 (Trademarks and Third-Party Trademarks), 17 (Confidentiality), 19 (Warranty Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability), 20 (Indemnity), 22(j) (Assignment), 22(n) (Waiver), and 22(u) (Governing Law, Venue; Injunctive Relief; Waiver of Jury Trial), which shall continue in force after such termination.
m. Third Parties. No term of these Terms is enforceable under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 or otherwise by a person who is not a party to these Terms including, for the avoidance of doubt, by any Authorised User or any underlying client of an Umbrella User, or by the User Group Signatory.
n. Waiver. No waiver by BlackRock of any right under or term or provision of these Terms will be deemed a waiver of any other right, term, or provision of these Terms at the time of such waiver or a waiver of that or any other right, term, or provision of these Terms at any other time.
o. Severability; Miscellaneous. If any provision of these Terms is deemed unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision will be deemed severable from these Terms and will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions. If the agreement to and acceptance of these Terms by the User Group Signatory on behalf of the Umbrella User is deemed void or invalid for any reason, all obligations of the Umbrella User under these Terms shall be deemed to be obligations of the User Group Signatory to procure that the Umbrella User will comply with such obligations.
p. Access. BlackRock will not be responsible for providing the dial-up, DSL, cable modem or other form of internet access and any other hardware and software necessary to access and use the Site.
q. Compliance with Law. The Umbrella User will comply with all laws applicable to the Umbrella User, and will procure that each of its Authorised Users acts consistently with such laws and in accordance with all laws applicable to Authorised Users.
r. Third Party Materials. BlackRock or its business partners may present marketing materials on or through the Site. The Umbrella User's, and any of its Authorised Users', dealings with, or participation in promotions of, any third-party advertisers on or through the Site are solely between the Umbrella User, and its Authorised Users, and such third party and the Umbrella User's, and each of its Authorised Users', participation is subject to the terms and conditions associated with that advertisement or promotion. The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, agrees that BlackRock is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of such third party materials on the Site.
s. Knowledge of Copyright Infringement. If the Umbrella User (or any of its Authorised Users) knows of, or suspects, copyright infringement, please send a notice to BlackRock, Inc., Head of Intellectual Property, Legal & Compliance, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055 with a copy sent to GroupIP@blackrock.com. The notice must contain all of the following information: details (including contact details) of the owner of the right alleged to be infringed, details of the copyright work claimed to have been infringed, details of the alleged infringing material/activity, confirmation that the Umbrella User (and the relevant Authorised User, as applicable) has a good faith belief that the use of the alleged infringing material/activity is not authorised and confirmation that the details provided by the Umbrella User (and the relevant Authorised User, as applicable) are accurate and that the Umbrella User (and the relevant Authorised User, as applicable) is authorised to act on behalf of the owner of the rights alleged to be infringed. The notice must be signed by the Umbrella User (and the relevant Authorised User, as applicable) as a person authorised to act on behalf of the rights holder.
t. Sanctions. The Umbrella User represents that it and each of its Authorised Users is not a Sanctioned Person, and the Umbrella User further represents that no member of its corporate group, or any director or employee of the Umbrella User (including any Authorised User) or any member of the Umbrella User's corporate group, is a Sanctioned Person.
The Umbrella User represents that it does not act directly or indirectly on behalf of a Sanctioned Person, and that none of its Authorised Users act directly or indirectly on behalf of a Sanctioned Person. The Umbrella User further represents that no member of the Umbrella User's corporate group, or any director or employee of the Umbrella User (including any Authorised User) or any member of the Umbrella User's corporate group, acts directly or indirectly on behalf of a Sanctioned Person.
The Umbrella User represents that it, and each member of the Umbrella User's corporate group, is in compliance with all applicable Sanctions, and is not engaged in any activities that would reasonably be expected to result in the Umbrella User or any member of the Umbrella User's corporate group being designated as a Sanctioned Person.
BlackRock shall have the right to terminate these Terms with immediate effect if, in BlackRock's view, any of the representations the Umbrella User makes under this clause are incorrect or become incorrect.
For the purpose of this clause:
"Sanctioned Person" means a person that is listed on, or owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a person listed on any Sanctions List, or who is otherwise the target of Sanctions.
"Sanctions" means any laws or regulations relating to economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes or related restrictive measures imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by a Sanctions Authority.
"Sanctions List" means the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list maintained by OFAC, the Denied Persons List maintained by the US Department of Commerce, the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets maintained by His Majesty's Treasury, the Consolidated List of all persons and entities designated for the purposes of sanctions regimes implemented under Australian sanction laws maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or any other list issued or maintained by any Sanctions Authorities of persons subject to Sanctions (including investment or related restrictions), each as amended, supplemented or substituted from time to time.
"Sanctions Authority" means (i) the United Nations Security Council; (ii) the United States government; (iii) the European Union; (iv) the United Kingdom government; (v) the Australian Government; (vi) the respective governmental institutions and agencies of any of the foregoing, including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury, the United States Department of State and Department of Commerce, and His Majesty's Treasury; and (vii) any other governmental institution or agency with responsibility for imposing, administering or enforcing Sanctions with jurisdiction over any the Umbrella User or any member of the Umbrella User's corporate group.
u. Governing Law, Venue; Injunctive Relief; Waiver of Jury Trial. These Terms and any dispute, claim, controversy or difference arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Site or any non-contractual obligations relating to these Terms or the Site (a "Dispute") will be governed by the laws of England and Wales. The Courts of England will have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any Dispute. BlackRock and the Umbrella User (including each of its Authorised Users) each irrevocably waive any right that it may have to object to an action being brought in those Courts, to claim that the action has been brought in an inconvenient forum, or to claim that those Courts do not have jurisdiction. The Umbrella User, and each of its Authorised Users, hereby agrees to waive any right to have a jury participate in the resolution of any Dispute.
Notices. BlackRock may send notices to the Umbrella User (or the Authorised User acting on behalf of the Umbrella User) with respect to the Umbrella User's use of the Site by sending an email message to any email address listed in the account information of the relevant Umbrella User (or Authorised User acting on behalf of the Umbrella User), by sending a letter via post to the contact address listed in that account information, or by a posting a note on the Site when the Umbrella User (or Authorised User acting on behalf of the Umbrella User) accesses an Umbrella User account. The Umbrella User agrees that BlackRock may provide notice to the Umbrella User through such means. Unless otherwise stated in the notices, the notices will become effective immediately.
v. General Contact Information. For questions regarding the Site or the Umbrella User's use of the Site, please contact the Site Operator or the Umbrella User's relationship manager.
- Additional Information for Umbrella Users
Where the relevant Umbrella User (or its underlying client, where the Umbrella User is acting as Agent) is based in any of the jurisdictions set out below, the following provisions shall apply and, to the extent that they are inconsistent with any other term set out in these Terms, the provisions below shall prevail with respect to the relevant Umbrella User in those jurisdictions.
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited and BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V. are subject to MiFID II, and the "Non-US Regulatory Disclosures Appendix" to these Terms also apply to the Umbrella User when contracting with either of these Site Operators.
a. Ireland. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) acknowledges and agrees that the Site is not an advertisement for any Fund and nothing herein constitutes an offering or placement of any Fund.
b. Australia. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is a wholesale client as defined under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing if at any point the Umbrella User ceases to be a wholesale client as defined under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
c. Bermuda. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) acknowledges and agrees that the Site is not a promotion of any Fund by the applicable Site Operator and nothing herein constitutes an offering or placement of any Fund. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) further represents and warrants that (a) it is, and at all times will remain, a class of undertaking listed in Section 1 to the Schedule of the Investment Business (Exemptions) Order 2004, as amended from time to time ("Qualified Person") and (b) all of the Umbrella User's interactions outside of the Site with any Fund to which the Umbrella User has access to through the Site (including, without limitation, in connection with account openings or any offering, placement, purchase, sale, or issuance of a Fund's securities) have been, and will be, conducted in accordance with the Investment Funds Act 2006, as amended from time to time. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the applicable Site Operator in writing if any of the representations and warranties in this clause cease to be true.
d. Cayman Islands. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is a sophisticated person or a high net worth person as those terms are defined in the Cayman Islands Securities Investment Business Law (2019 Revision) as amended from time to time. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) further represents and warrants that it is not a member of the public as that term is defined in the Cayman Islands Mutual Funds Law (2018 Revision) as amended from time to time. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point the Umbrella User ceases to meet the criteria set out in this clause. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) acknowledges that the applicable Site Operator is not intending, and is not licensed or registered, to conduct business in, from or within the Cayman Islands.
e. Switzerland. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants the Umbrella User is and at all times will remain a qualified investor as defined in the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act ("CISA") of 23 June 2006, as amended from to time. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point if the Umbrella User ceases to be a qualified investor as defined in CISA.
f. Singapore. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is and at all times will remain an Institutional Investor as defined under section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act ("SFA"), as may be amended from time to time. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point if the Umbrella User ceases to be an Institutional Investor. The Funds to which connectivity is provided through the Site may not have been registered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore for offering or distribution in Singapore. Accordingly, the information contained on the Site may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Funds be offered or sold whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor pursuant to Section 304 SFA or (ii) otherwise pursuant to and in accordance with the conditions of any other applicable provision of the SFA.
g. Hong Kong. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is and at all times will remain an Institutional Professional Investor as defined under paragraphs (a) to (i) of the definition of "professional investor" in section 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Securities and Futures Ordinance, as amended from time to time. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point the Umbrella User ceases to be an Institutional Professional Investor.
h. China. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is and at all times will remain a Qualified Domestic Institutional Investors ("QDII") and has obtained all relevant governmental approvals, verifications, licenses or registrations (if any) from all relevant PRC governmental authorities, including, but not limited to, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. The Umbrella User undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point it ceases to be a QDII.
i. Taiwan. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is and at all times will remain a Professional Investor as defined under Section 1, Article 52 of the Regulations Governing Offshore Funds, as may be amended from time to time. The Umbrella User undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point it ceases to be a Professional Investor. The Funds to which connectivity is provided through the Site may not have been registered with the Financial Supervisory Committee of the Republic of China for offering or distribution in Taiwan. Accordingly, the information contained on the Site may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Funds be offered or sold whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Taiwan unless otherwise: (i) the Funds are qualified to be offered via the private placement pursuant to Regulations Governing Offshore Funds; and (ii) to a Professional Investor as defined under Section 1, Article 52 of Regulations Governing Offshore Funds.
j. New Zealand. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is and at all times will remain a Wholesale Client as defined as a "wholesale client" under New Zealand law, which is currently defined under clause 3 of Schedule 1 of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point the Umbrella User ceases to be a Wholesale Client.
k. United Arab Emirates (onshore region excluding ADGM and DIFC regions). The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is and at all times will remain a Qualified Investor as defined under Article 1 of the SCA Board of Directors Decision No. (3 / R.M) of 2017 Concerning the Organization of Promotion and Introduction, as amended in 2019, as may be amended from time to time. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point it ceases to be a Qualified Investor.
l. United States of America. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) represents and warrants that it is and at all times will remain an institution that qualifies as an "institutional account," as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c), or otherwise as an "institutional investor," as defined in FINRA Rule 2210(a)(4). In addition, if the Umbrella User is investing in a Fund situated outside of the United States, the Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) further represents and warrants that it is at all times an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and a "qualified purchaser" within the meaning of Section 2(a)(51) of the 1940 Act (together, a "Qualified US Person") and meets such other qualification requirements of the Fund in which the Umbrella User has invested. The Umbrella User (or the User Group Signatory, on behalf of the Umbrella User) undertakes to immediately notify the Site Operator in writing at any point the Umbrella User ceases to be a Qualified US Person.
m. Thailand. In Thailand, this material is provided to you solely at your request and who warrants by receipt of this material that they are Institutional Investors (as such term is defined by Securities and Exchange Commission). This document has not been registered as a prospectus with the Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand. Accordingly, this document and any other documents and materials, in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase of any products, may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the fund be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to the public or any members of the public in Thailand.
n. Colombia. The Umbrella User represents and warrants that it is and at all times will remain a professional investor as defined in Article 7.2.1.1.2 of Decree 2555 of 2010, as amended from time to time. Additionally, the Umbrella User acknowledges and agrees that the Site does not constitute a promotion of any Fund by the Site Operator and nothing therein constitutes an offering or placement of any Fund, except in circumstances that do not constitute a public offering of securities in Colombia under applicable Colombian securities laws and regulations. The Umbrella User further acknowledges and represents that its access to the Site is made entirely on its interest and sole responsibility and that it has not received any direct or indirect promotion or marketing of the Funds.
Dated: January 2024
© 2024 BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. BLACKROCK, ALADDIN and CACHEMATRIX are trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. The following US Patents apply to this product: US. Patents 7,835,976, 7,983,969 and 8,099,354. The absence of a product or service name or logo from this list does not constitute a waiver of BlackRock's trademark or other intellectual property rights concerning that name or logo.
NON-US REGULATORY DISCLOSURES APPENDIX
- Information about the Site Operator
a. Services are provided by the Site Operator. The Site Operator(s) is determined in accordance with clause 2 of the Terms.
b. BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited is a legal entity and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"). The FCA's contact address is: 12 Endeavour Square, London, E20 1JN; and contact information is available on its website.
c. BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V. is a legal entity and is authorised and regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (De Autoriteit Financiële Markten ("AFM")). The AFM's postal address is: P.O. box 11723 1001 GS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; visiting address: Vijzelgracht 501017 HS, Amsterdam.
- Client Categorization
a. The Site Operator has categorized the Umbrella User as a professional client or eligible counterparty under applicable law for the purposes of the provision of services provided under these Terms and for the purposes of MiFID II. BlackRock may have informed the Umbrella User of its categorization separately.
b. Where the Umbrella User has been classified pursuant to requirements under applicable law, the Umbrella User is responsible for notifying the Site Operator immediately if, at any point in time, the Umbrella User no longer wants to be, or considers that the Umbrella User does not meet the criteria to be categorized as a professional client (whether a per se professional client or an elective professional client) or an eligible counterparty, as appropriate. If a change of categorization is required, the Umbrella User consents to BlackRock taking such action as it considers necessary or appropriate in relation to such change, which may mean that the Site Operator cannot continue to provide the Umbrella User with services pursuant to these Terms and that BlackRock has to immediately terminate these Terms with the Umbrella User.
- General Information about BlackRock and its Services
a. The Site Operator and Umbrella User may communicate with and provide information to each other in whatever medium deemed appropriate. This may include use of e-mail, the internet or other electronic means, in the place of paper communications. For example, certain information related to the services will be provided to the Umbrella User in a durable medium or through a website.
b. The Umbrella User acknowledges that instructions or communications conveyed by electronic methods, such as facsimile or e-mail, are not secure forms of communication and may accordingly give rise to higher risks of manipulation or attempted fraud. BlackRock will not be liable for acting in reliance upon any notices or instructions received from the Umbrella User and will not be required to verify any communications received from the Umbrella User or the Umbrella User Authorised Signatories by e-mail or otherwise. BlackRock might not encrypt or digitally sign any information transferred by internet and/or e-mail.
c. Except as otherwise specified by separate agreement, the Umbrella User and the Site Operator shall communicate in English. That said, there may be circumstances where the Site Operator communicates in other languages (such as the Umbrella User's local language) and the Umbrella User accepts that BlackRock may communicate and provide information in languages other than English.
d. The Umbrella User may communicate with BlackRock by using the following contact details:
(i) If BlackRock Investment (UK) Limited is the Site Operator: Drapers Gardens, 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2N 2DL, telephone: +44 20 7743 3000.
(ii) If BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V. is the Site Operator: Rembrandt Tower, Amstelplein 1, 1096HA Amsterdam telephone: +31 20 549 5200.
e. When the Site Operator provides services to the Umbrella User, it will provide the Umbrella User, and/or a third party designated by the Umbrella User as the appropriate recipient of this information, with periodic statements of the activities it carried out on the Umbrella User's behalf, unless such statements are provided to the Umbrella User by another person. Such statements will be provided to the Umbrella User and/or the Umbrella User's designated recipient at least quarterly and may be provided by means of multiple reports, which may be sent to the Umbrella User together or at different times, and which will together contain all information that we are required to provide to the Umbrella User under applicable rules, including the Umbrella User's holdings and their valuation, fees and charges incurred and a statement of performance during the reporting period.
f. It is a fundamental requirement for good business practice, and to help mitigate the risk of legal liability, that all potential conflicts of interest are either avoided or, where they cannot be avoided, properly managed. In addition, BlackRock's regulators globally also require that BlackRock identify, avoid and manage the risk that such conflicts damage clients' interests. BlackRock has implemented a Conflicts of Interest Policy designed to ensure the appropriate management of the risks of detriment to clients' interests from conflicts of interest. More information on the Global Conflicts of Interest Policy can be provided upon request from the Site Operator.
- Information about the Financial Instruments
a. The services offered by the Site Operator by allowing the Umbrella User to use the Site only consist of reception and transmission of client orders for Shares in various Funds. Generally speaking, the Funds are collective investment undertakings, the effect of which is to allow an investor to invest money on a pooled basis (along with one or more other investors), typically in accordance with specified investment guidelines. A collective investment undertaking may take various forms including, without limitation, corporates, partnerships or trusts.
b. All investments in Shares in Funds are made subject to the terms and conditions set out in the latest prospectus of that collective investment undertaking and, where relevant, the other constitutive documentation of that Fund, as amended from time to time.
c. An investor buys Shares in a Fund in the hope that the value rises over time as the prices of the underlying investments increase. The price of the Shares depends on how the underlying investments perform.
d. Some Funds are called 'open-ended' because the number of Shares in issue increases as more people invest and decreases as people take their money out. The Funds on the Site are all open-ended. Some funds may also be purchased or sold on secondary markets by investors. The Site does not provide and is not a secondary trading facility.
e. All investment funds are subject to risks, including fluctuations in capital value, and in any particular year losses may be suffered. The managers of the Funds cannot guarantee that it will achieve the investment objectives set out for an investor.
f. The Umbrella User should always bear in mind that the price of Shares in a fund and the income from them can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed.
- Inducement Disclosures
a. MiFID II and the FCA Handbook introduces restrictions on and obligations in relation to the receipt and retention of fees, commissions, monetary and non-monetary benefits ("inducements") where investment firms, provide certain services to clients, including reception and transmission of client orders, and certain execution services. In such cases, where a firm receives and retains an inducement, it must ensure that the receipt and retention of the inducement is designed to enhance the quality of the relevant service to the client and is properly disclosed. Where authorised intermediaries or distributors are subject to these inducement rules and receive and/or retain any inducements, they must ensure that they comply with all applicable legislation.
In order to provide services to the Umbrella User and to make the Site available to the Umbrella User, BlackRock will receive fees from the Funds and their managers and the Umbrella User agrees that BlackRock may receive these fees as disclosed above within these Terms.
b. In the course of the Site Operator providing services to the Umbrella User, BlackRock may accept permissible minor non-monetary benefits from third parties which consist of the following:
(i) generic information on a financial instrument or investment service, which is personalised to reflect BlackRock's circumstances;
(ii) written material that is commissioned and paid for by a corporate issuer or potential issuer to promote a new corporate issuance, provided that the relationship with the issuer is clearly disclosed in the material and is made available at the same time to all interested firms, or to the general public;
(iii) participation at conferences, seminars and other training events on the benefits and features of specific financial instruments and investment services;
(iv) hospitality of a reasonable de minimis value, including food and drink during a business meeting, seminar, conference or training session;
(v) research relating to an issue of securities, which is produced by an underwriter/placing agent acting for the issuer and (i) is produced prior to the issue being completed; and (ii) is made available to prospective investors in the issue; or
(vi) research which is received for limited trial periods so that BlackRock may evaluate a research provider's research service.
c. In each case the Site Operator considers that the minor non-monetary benefit is:
(i) capable of enhancing the quality of the service provided to the Site Operator's clients;
(ii) of a scale and nature that it could not be judged to impair the Site Operator's compliance with its duty to act honestly, fairly and professionally in the best interests of BlackRock's clients; and
(iii) reasonable, proportionate and of a scale that is unlikely to influence the service in any way that is detrimental to the interests of clients.
- Investment Advice
a. The Umbrella User acknowledges that, in the Site Operator providing services under these Terms, BlackRock will not, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Umbrella User, be acting in a fiduciary capacity or provide any personal recommendation to the Umbrella User (or where applicable, the Umbrella User's principal or principals) or any Authorised User in respect of any transaction in financial instruments nor provide any investment advice (within the definition set out in MiFID II or UK financial services laws and regulations) or provide the service of portfolio management (within the definition set out in MiFID II or UK financial services laws and regulations) to the Umbrella User (or where applicable, the Umbrella User's principal or principals) or any Authorised User. Accordingly, the Umbrella User (or where applicable, the Umbrella User's principal or principals) and each Authorised User should make its own assessment of any transaction that the Umbrella User is considering in the light of the Umbrella User's own objectives and circumstances including the possible risks and benefits of entering into that transaction. The Umbrella User (or where applicable, the Umbrella User's principal or principals) or any Authorised User should not rely on any information, proposal or other communication from BlackRock as being a recommendation or advice in relation to that transaction.
b. Any marketing communication provided to the Umbrella User (or where applicable, the Umbrella User's principal or principals) or any Authorised User shall not be taken as an endorsement of or advice regarding the products and services concerned. BlackRock shall not be required to carry out an assessment of the Umbrella User's (or where applicable, the Umbrella User's principal's or principals') financial position or investment objectives when providing marketing information.
- Provision of Services in Non-Complex Instruments
Please note that BlackRock is not required to (and will not, unless BlackRock has agreed otherwise) assess the appropriateness of the financial instrument or service provided or offered to the Umbrella User where the service only consists of execution or reception and transmission of client orders for non-complex instruments at the Umbrella User's own initiative. In such circumstances the Umbrella User will therefore not benefit from the protection of the conduct of business regulations relating to the assessment of appropriateness pursuant to the applicable regulator's conduct of business rules.
- Product Governance
Authorised intermediaries which offer, recommend or sell Shares in the Funds will comply with all laws, regulations and regulatory requirements applicable to them. Such intermediaries should consider such information about the Funds as is made available by the managers and transfer agents of those Funds for the purposes of the product governance regime under MiFID II, including, without limitation, target market information.
- Complaints Handling
a. BlackRock has a complaints management policy in place for the effective consideration and prompt and proper handling of complaints from clients.
b. If the Umbrella User is not entirely satisfied with any aspect of the service the Umbrella User has received and the Umbrella User wishes to complain, please contact:
(i) If BlackRock Investment Management (UK) is the Site Operator:
Email: cashmanagement@blackrock.com
Direct line: +44 (0)20 7743 5628
BlackRock's commitment is to handle complaints in a reasonable and prompt manner complaints within 8 weeks of receipt.
If the Umbrella User's complaint is not dealt with to its satisfaction, the Umbrella User may be able to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service, whose address is:
Financial Ombudsman Service Ltd
Exchange Tower
Harbour Exchange Square,
London, E14 9SR
Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Tel: 0800 023 4567.
(ii) If BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V. is the Site Operator:
Email: Benelux@blackrock.com
Direct line: +31 20 5495200
BlackRock's commitment is to handle complaints in a reasonable and prompt manner complaints within 8 weeks of receipt.
If the Umbrella User's complaint is not dealt with to its satisfaction, the Umbrella User may be able to refer it to the Financial Services Complaints Tribunal (Kifid), whose address is:
Klachteninstituut Financiële Dienstverlening
Postbus 93257
2509 AG Den Haag
Website: www.kifid.nl
Tel: 070-3338999
c. Further information on BlackRock's complaints handling procedures will be provided to clients or potential clients on request.
- Recording and Retention of Communications
a. The Site Operator is required to record telephone conversations and keep copies of electronic communications between the Site Operator and its clients, which are made, sent or received in the course of providing a service.
b. Where required by regulation, the Site Operator will keep records of telephone conversations and electronic communications for a period of seven years. Copies of such records are available to clients upon request.
- Consent to Provision of Information by Website
In accordance with applicable law, there may be circumstances in which the Site Operator can provide the Umbrella User with information via electronic means, including by way of publication on a website, where the provision of information in such a format is appropriate to the context in which the business between the Site Operator and the Umbrella User is conducted. Unless the Umbrella User informs the Site Operator otherwise, the Umbrella User expressly agrees that it has specifically chosen and expressly consents to the provision of information by electronic means, including by way of publication on a website where appropriate, including, but not limited to, ex-ante information about costs and charges that the Site Operator estimates the Umbrella User will incur in connection with the Site Operator's services and products that the Umbrella User might purchase through our services, such link information to be made available in the ‘Costs & Charges Disclosures Document’ URL in clause 3 of these Terms.
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