Fixed Income

BGF Euro Bond Fund

Overview

Important Information: Capital at Risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.

Credit risk, changes to interest rates and/or issuer defaults will have a significant impact on the performance of fixed income securities. Potential or actual credit rating downgrades may increase the level of risk. Derivatives may be highly sensitive to changes in the value of the asset on which they are based and can increase the size of losses and gains, resulting in greater fluctuations in the value of the Fund. The impact to the Fund can be greater where derivatives are used in an extensive or complex way. The Fund seeks to exclude companies engaging in certain activities inconsistent with ESG criteria. Investors should therefore make a personal ethical assessment of the Fund’s ESG screening prior to investing in the Fund. Such ESG screening may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments compared to a fund without such screening.

All currency hedged share classes of this fund use derivatives to hedge currency risk. The use of derivatives for a share class could pose a potential risk of contagion (also known as spill-over) to other share classes in the fund. The fund’s management company will ensure appropriate procedures are in place to minimise contagion risk to other share class. Using the drop down box directly below the name of the fund, you can view a list of all share classes in the fund – currency hedged share classes are indicated by the word “Hedged” in the name of the share class. In addition, a full list of all currency hedged share classes is available on request from the fund’s management company

To the extent the Fund undertakes securities lending to reduce costs, the Fund will receive 62.5% of the associated revenue generated and the remaining 37.5% will be received by BlackRock as the securities lending agent. As securities lending revenue sharing does not increase the costs of running the Fund, this has been excluded from the ongoing charges.

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Performance

Performance

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Distributions

Ex-Date Total Distribution
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This chart shows the fund's performance as the percentage loss or gain per year over the last 7 years.

  2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total Return (%) 2,4 0,8 7,8 4,9 -2,8 -15,9 9,3
Constraint Benchmark 1 (%) 0,7 0,4 6,0 4,1 -2,9 -17,2 7,2

Performance is shown after deduction of ongoing charges. Any entry and exit charges are excluded from the calculation.

  1y 3y 5y 10y Incept.
7,44 -3,45 -0,35 - 0,62
Constraint Benchmark 1 (%) 5,60 -4,64 -1,46 - -0,59
  YTD 1m 3m 6m 1y 3y 5y 10y Incept.
-1,38 -0,89 2,24 3,73 7,44 -10,00 -1,76 - 5,03
Constraint Benchmark 1 (%) -1,41 -1,08 1,88 2,88 5,60 -13,29 -7,10 - -4,58
  From
31-Dec-2018
To
31-Dec-2019
From
31-Dec-2019
To
31-Dec-2020
From
31-Dec-2020
To
31-Dec-2021
From
31-Dec-2021
To
31-Dec-2022
From
31-Dec-2022
To
31-Dec-2023
Total Return (%)

as of 31.Dec.2023

7,77 4,90 -2,84 -15,90 9,29
Constraint Benchmark 1 (%)

as of 31.Dec.2023

6,00 4,07 -2,88 -17,22 7,19

The figures shown relate to past performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Markets could develop very differently in the future. It can help you to assess how the fund has been managed in the past

Share Class and Benchmark performance displayed in GBP, hedged share class benchmark performance is displayed in EUR.

Performance is shown on a Net Asset Value (NAV) basis, with gross income reinvested where applicable. The return of your investment may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations if your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation. Source: Blackrock

Key Facts

Key Facts

Net Assets of Fund as of 18.Mar.2024 EUR 2 140 164 140
Share Class launch date 23.Mar.2016
Fund Launch Date 31.Mar.1994
Share Class Currency GBP
Fund Base Currency EUR
Asset Class Fixed Income
Constraint Benchmark 1 BBG Euro Aggregate 500+ (EUR)
SFDR Classification Article 8
Initial Charge 0,00%
Ongoing Charges Figures 0,46%
ISIN LU1376384282
Annual Management Fee 0,40%
Performance Fee 0,00%
Minimum Initial Investment GBP 10 000 000,00
Minimum Subsequent Investment -
Use of Income Distributing
Domicile Luxembourg
Regulatory Structure UCITS
Management Company BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A.
Morningstar Category Other Bond
Dealing Settlement Trade Date + 3 days
Dealing Frequency Daily, forward pricing basis
Bloomberg Ticker BGBI4RF
SEDOL BYZJHC0

Portfolio Characteristics

Portfolio Characteristics

Number of Holdings as of 29.Feb.2024 678
12 Month Trailing Dividend Distribution Yield as of 29.Feb.2024 1,49%
Standard Deviation (3y) as of 29.Feb.2024 7,10%
3y Beta as of 29.Feb.2024 0,999
Yield to Maturity as of 29.Feb.2024 3,26%
Modified Duration as of 29.Feb.2024 6,79
Weighted Average YTM as of 29.Feb.2024 3,23%
Effective Duration as of 29.Feb.2024 6,85
Weighted Avg Maturity as of 29.Feb.2024 7,45
WAL to Worst as of 29.Feb.2024 7,45

Sustainability Characteristics

Sustainability Characteristics

Sustainability Characteristics provide investors with specific non-traditional metrics. Alongside other metrics and information, these enable investors to evaluate funds on certain environmental, social and governance characteristics. Sustainability Characteristics do not provide an indication of current or future performance nor do they represent the potential risk and reward profile of a fund. They are provided for transparency and for information purposes only. Sustainability Characteristics should not be considered solely or in isolation, but instead are one type of information that investors may wish to consider when assessing a fund.


The metrics are not indicative of how or whether ESG factors will be integrated into a fund. Unless otherwise stated in fund documentation and included within a fund’s investment objective, the metrics do not change a fund’s investment objective or constrain the fund’s investable universe, and there is no indication that an ESG or Impact focused investment strategy or exclusionary screens will be adopted by a fund. For more information regarding a fund's investment strategy, please see the fund's prospectus.


Review the MSCI methodologies behind Sustainability Characteristics using the links below.

MSCI ESG Fund Rating (AAA-CCC) as of 21.Feb.2024 A
MSCI ESG % Coverage as of 21.Feb.2024 92,40
MSCI ESG Quality Score (0-10) as of 21.Feb.2024 6,91
MSCI ESG Quality Score - Peer Percentile as of 21.Feb.2024 53,11
Fund Lipper Global Classification as of 21.Feb.2024 Bond EUR
Funds in Peer Group as of 21.Feb.2024 305
MSCI Weighted Average Carbon Intensity (Tons CO2E/$M SALES) as of 21.Feb.2024 46,92
MSCI Weighted Average Carbon Intensity % Coverage as of 21.Feb.2024 54,43
All data is from MSCI ESG Fund Ratings as of 21.Feb.2024, based on holdings as of 30.Sept.2023. As such, the fund’s sustainable characteristics may differ from MSCI ESG Fund Ratings from time to time.

To be included in MSCI ESG Fund Ratings, 65% (or 50% for bond funds and money market funds) of the fund’s gross weight must come from securities with ESG coverage by MSCI ESG Research (certain cash positions and other asset types deemed not relevant for ESG analysis by MSCI are removed prior to calculating a fund’s gross weight; the absolute values of short positions are included but treated as uncovered), the fund’s holdings date must be less than one year old, and the fund must have at least ten securities.

Business Involvement

Business Involvement

Business Involvement metrics can help investors gain a more comprehensive view of specific activities in which a fund may be exposed through its investments.


Business Involvement metrics are not indicative of a fund’s investment objective, and, unless otherwise stated in fund documentation and included within a fund’s investment objective, do not change a fund’s investment objective or constrain the fund’s investable universe, and there is no indication that an ESG or Impact focused investment strategy or exclusionary screens will be adopted by a fund. For more information regarding a fund's investment strategy, please see the fund's prospectus.


Review the MSCI methodology behind the Business Involvement metrics, using links below.

MSCI - Controversial Weapons as of 29.Feb.2024 0,00%
MSCI - UN Global Compact Violators as of 29.Feb.2024 0,00%
MSCI - Nuclear Weapons as of 29.Feb.2024 0,00%
MSCI - Thermal Coal as of 29.Feb.2024 0,00%
MSCI - Civilian Firearms as of 29.Feb.2024 0,00%
MSCI - Oil Sands as of 29.Feb.2024 0,00%
MSCI - Tobacco as of 29.Feb.2024 0,00%

Business Involvement Coverage as of 29.Feb.2024 45,87%
Percentage of Fund not covered as of 29.Feb.2024 54,14%
BlackRock business involvement exposures as shown above for Thermal Coal and Oil Sands are calculated and reported for companies that generate more than 5% of revenue from thermal coal or oil sands as defined by MSCI ESG Research. For the exposure to companies that generate any revenue from thermal coal or oil sands (at a 0% revenue threshold), as defined by MSCI ESG Research, it is as follows: Thermal Coal 0,00% and for Oil Sands 0,46%.

Business Involvement metrics are calculated by BlackRock using data from MSCI ESG Research which provides a profile of each company’s specific business involvement. BlackRock leverages this data to provide a summed up view across holdings and translates it to a fund's market value exposure to the listed Business Involvement areas above.


Business Involvement metrics are designed only to identify companies where MSCI has conducted research and identified as having involvement in the covered activity. As a result, it is possible there is additional involvement in these covered activities where MSCI does not have coverage. This information should not be used to produce comprehensive lists of companies without involvement. Business Involvement metrics are only displayed if at least 1% of the fund’s gross weight includes securities covered by MSCI ESG Research.

ESG Integration

ESG Integration

ESG integration is the practice of incorporating financially material environmental, social and governance (ESG) data or information into the investment decision process with the objective of enhancing risk-adjusted returns of our clients’ portfolios. Unless otherwise stated in Fund documentation or included within the Fund's investment objective, inclusion of this statement does not imply that the Fund has an ESG-aligned investment objective or strategy, but rather describes how ESG data or information is considered as part of the overall investment process.

The Fund manager includes ESG considerations in combination with other information in the research phase of the investment process. This may include relevant third-party insights, as well as internal engagement commentary and input from BlackRock Investment Stewardship on governance issues. The Fund manager conducts regular portfolio reviews with the Risk and Quantitative Analysis group and with the Chief Investment Officers. These reviews include discussion, where appropriate, of the portfolio's exposure to material ESG risks, as well as exposure to sustainability-related business involvements, climate-related metrics, and other factors.

Sustainability-related Disclosure

Sustainability-related Disclosure

This section provides sustainability-related information about the Fund, pursuant to Article 10 SFDR.

A. Summary

The Fund promotes environmental or social characteristics, but does not have as its objective sustainable investment. The Fund does not commit to holding Sustainable Investments, however, they may form part of the portfolio. The Fund seeks to: (i) enhance exposure to investments that are deemed to have associated positive externalities and limit exposure to investments that are deemed to have associated negative externalities; (ii) address key environmental and social issues using ESG scoring; (iii) apply the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens; and (iv) apply a set of exclusionary screens.

The Fund seeks to maximise total return in a manner consistent with the principles of environmental, social and governance ("ESG") focused investing. The binding elements of the investment strategy are as follows: 1. Enhancing exposure to investments that are deemed to have associated positive externalities, compared to the Fund’s ESG Reporting Index while limiting investments that are deemed to have associated negative externalities; 2. Maintain weighted average ESG rating of the corporate portion of the Fund higher than the ESG rating of the corporate portion of the ESG Reporting Index; 3. Application of the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens and exclusionary screens; and 4. Ensure that more than 90% of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests (excluding money market funds) shall be ESG rated or have been analysed for ESG purposes. The Fund considers PAIs on sustainability factors through the application of the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens and its exclusionary policy.

A minimum of 80% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in investments that are aligned with the environmental and/or social characteristics . The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in other investments. The Fund does not currently commit to investing more than 0% of its assets in Sustainable Investments with an environmental objective aligned with the EU Taxonomy, however, these investments may form part of the portfolio.  

The Fund does not currently commit to invest in fossil gas and/or nuclear energy related activities that comply with the EU Taxonomy, however, these investments may form part of the portfolio.

BlackRock has developed a highly automated compliance process to help ensure that the Fund is managed in accordance with its stated investment guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements. This includes monitoring of the environmental or social characteristics of the Fund in accordance with the relevant methodology.BlackRock uses a number of methodologies to measure how the social or environmental characteristics promoted by the Fund are met.

BlackRock Portfolio Managers have access to research, data, tools, and analytics to integrate ESG insights into their investment process. ESG datasets are sourced from external third-party data providers, including but not limited to MSCI, Sustainalytics, Refinitiv, S&P and Clarity AI. BlackRock applies a comprehensive due diligence process to evaluate provider offerings with highly targeted methodology reviews and coverage assessments based on the sustainable investment strategy of the product. Data, including ESG data, received through our existing interfaces, and then processed through a series of quality control and completeness checks which seeks to ensure that data is high-quality data before being made available for use downstream within BlackRock systems and applications, such as Aladdin. BlackRock strives to capture as much reported data from companies via 3rd party data providers as practicable, however, industry standards around disclosure frameworks are still evolving, particularly with respect to forward looking indicators. As a result, in certain cases we rely on estimated or proxy measures from data providers to cover our broad investible universe of issuers.

BlackRock continues to monitor developments in the EU's ongoing implementation of its framework for sustainable investing and its investment methodologies seeking to ensure alignment as the regulatory environment changes. ESG data sets are constantly changing and improving as disclosure standards, regulatory frameworks and industry practice evolve. BlackRock continues to work with a broad range of market participants to improve data quality. Sustainable investing and understanding of sustainability is also evolving along with the data environment. Industry participants face challenges in identifying a single metric or set of standardized metrics to provide a complete view on a company or an investment. BlackRock has therefore established a framework to identify sustainable investments.

BlackRock applies a high standard of due diligence in the selection and ongoing monitoring of investments made by the Fund for the purpose of compliance with the investment, liquidity and risk guidelines of the Fund, as well as the sustainability risk and ESG criteria and general performance.

Engagement with companies in which we invest our clients’ assets occurs at multiple levels within BlackRock. Where investment teams chooses to leverage engagement, this can take a variety of forms but, in essence, the portfolio management team would seek to have regular and continuing dialogue with executives or board directors of engaged investee companies to advance sound governance and sustainable business practices targeted at the identified ESG characteristics and principal adverse indicators, as well as to understand the effectiveness of the company’s management and oversight of activities designed to address the identified ESG issues. Engagement also allows the portfolio management team to provide feedback on company practices and disclosures.

There is no specific index designated as a reference benchmark to determine whether this Fund is aligned with the environmental and/or social characteristics that it promotes.

B. No sustainable investment objective

This Fund promotes environmental or social characteristics, but does not have as its objective sustainable investment.

The Fund does not commit to investing in Sustainable Investments, however, they may form part of the portfolio. Please refer to 'Section D - Investment Strategy', which describes how the Fund considers PAI on sustainability factors.

C. Environmental or social characteristics of the financial product

The Investment Advisor will employ a proprietary methodology to assess investments based on the extent to which they are associated with positive or negative externalities, that is environmental and social benefits or costs as defined by the Investment Advisor. The Investment Advisor will seek to enhance exposure to investments that are deemed to have associated positive externalities (e.g. lower carbon emitting issuers and issuers with positive ESG credentials) and seek to limit exposure to investments that are deemed to have associated negative externalities (e.g. higher carbon emitters, issuers with certain controversial business practices, and issuers with negative ESG credentials). The assessment of the level of involvement in each activity may be based on percentage of revenue, a defined total revenue threshold, or any connection to a restricted activity regardless of the amount of revenue received.

This Fund seeks to address key environmental and social issues that are deemed to be relevant to the issuers’ businesses using ESG scores as a means of assessing issuers’ exposure to and management of those risks and opportunities. The ESG scores recognise that certain environmental and social issues are more material based on the type of activity that the issuer is involved in by weighting the issues differently in the scoring methodology. The following environmental themes are captured in the environmental component of the ESG score: climate change, natural capital, pollution and waste and environmental opportunities. The following social themes are captured in the social component of the ESG score: human capital, product liability, stakeholder opposition and social opportunities. Corporate issuers that have better ESG scores are perceived to have more sustainable business practices.

The Fund applies the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens. This set of screens avoids exposures that have negative environmental outcomes by excluding direct investment in issuers that have material involvement in thermal coal and tar sands extraction, as well as thermal coal-based power generation. Negative social outcomes are also avoided by excluding direct investment in issuers involved in controversial weapons and nuclear weapons, and material involvement in production and distribution of civilian firearms and tobacco. This Fund also excludes issuers deemed to have failed to comply with the 10 UN Global Compact Principles, which cover human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. Further information on the criteria for BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens can be found by copying and pasting the following link into your web browser: https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/blackrock-baseline-screensin-europe-middleeast-and-africa.pdf.

The Fund does not use a reference benchmark for the purposes of attaining the ESG characteristics that it promotes, however, Bloomberg Euro-Aggregate Index (80%) and Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index (20%) (the “ESG Reporting Index”) is used to compare certain ESG characteristics promoted by the Fund.

D. Investment strategy

The Fund seeks to maximise total return in a manner consistent with the principles of environmental, social and governance ("ESG") focused investing.

The Fund will apply the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens.

The Investment Adviser will also employ a proprietary methodology to assess investments based on the extent to which they are associated with positive or negative externalities, that is environmental and social benefits or costs as defined by the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser will seek to enhance exposure to investments that are deemed to have associated positive externalities (e.g. lower carbon emitting issuers and issuers with positive ESG credentials) compared to the ESG Reporting Index and seek to limit exposure to investments that are deemed to have associated negative externalities (e.g. higher carbon emitters, issuers with certain controversial business practices, and issuers with negative ESG credentials).

The assessment of the level of involvement in each activity may be based on percentage of revenue, a defined total revenue threshold, or any connection to a restricted activity regardless of the amount of revenue received.

The remaining issuers (i.e. those issuers which have not yet been excluded from investment by the Fund) are then evaluated by the Investment Adviser based on, among other factors, their ability tomanage the risks and opportunities associated with ESG compliant business practices and their ESG risk and opportunity credentials, such as their leadership and governance framework, which is considered essential for sustainable growth, their ability to strategically manage longer-term issues surrounding ESG and the potential impact this may have on an issuer’s financials.

At least 90% of the issuers of securities the Fund invests in are ESG rated or have been analysed for ESG purposes. To undertake this analysis, the Investment Adviser may use data provided by external ESG Providers, proprietary models and local intelligence and may undertake site visits.

The Fund may gain limited exposure (through, including but not limited to, derivatives, cash and near cash instruments and shares or units of CIS and fixed income transferable securities (also known as debt securities)) to issuers that do not meet the ESG criteria described above.

The weighted average ESG rating of the corporate portion of the Fund will be higher than the ESG rating of the corporate portion of the ESG Reporting Index.

The binding elements of the investment strategy are as follows:
1. Enhancing exposure to investments that are deemed to have associated positive externalities, compared to the Fund's ESG Reporting Index while limiting investments that are deemed to have associated negative externalities.
2. Maintain weighted average ESG rating of the Fund higher than the ESG rating of the ESG Reporting Index.
3. Application of the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens and exclusionary screens described above.
4. Ensure that more than 90% of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests (excluding money market funds) shall be ESG rated or have been analysed for ESG purposes.

Consideration of principal adverse impacts on sustainability factors

The Fund considers PAIs on sustainability factors through the application of the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens and its exclusionary policy.

The Fund takes into account the following PAIs:
• GHG emissions
• GHG intensity of investee companies
• Exposure to companies active in the fossil fuel sector
• Energy consumption intensity per high impact climate sector
• Violations of UN Global Compact principles and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
• Lack of processes and compliance mechanisms to monitor compliance with UN Global Compact principles and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
• Exposure to controversial weapons (anti personnel mines, cluster munitions, chemical weapons and biological weapons)

Good governance policy

BlackRock assesses good governance practices of the investee companies by combining proprietary insights and shareholder engagement by the Investment Manager, with data from external ESG research providers. BlackRock uses data from external ESG research providers to initially identify issuers which may not have satisfactory governance practices in relation to key performance indicators (KPIs) related to sound management structure, employee relations, remuneration of staff and tax compliance.

Where issuers are identified as potentially having issues with regards to good governance, the issuers are reviewed to ensure that, where the Investment Advisor agrees with this external assessment, the Investment Advisor is satisfied that the issuer has either taken remediation actions or will take remedial actions within a reasonable time frame based on the Investment Advisor’s direct engagement with the issuer. The Investment Advisor may also decide to reduce exposure to such issuers.

E. Proportion of Investments

A minimum of 80% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in investments that are aligned with the environmental and/or social characteristics.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in other investments.

The Fund may use derivatives for investment purposes and for the purposes of efficient portfolio management. For derivatives, any ESG rating or analyses referenced above will apply only to the underlying investment.

The Fund does not currently commit to invest more than 0% of its assets in Sustainable Investments with an environmental objective aligned with the EU Taxonomy, however, these investments may form part of the portfolio.  

The Fund does not currently commit to invest in fossil gas and/or nuclear energy related activities that comply with the EU Taxonomy, however, these investments may form part of the portfolio.

The Fund does not commit to making investments in transitional and enabling activities, however, these investments may form part of the portfolio.  

The Fund does not commit to holding Sustainable Investments, however, they may form part of the portfolio.

Other holdings are limited to 20% and may include derivatives, cash and near cash instruments and shares or units of CIS and fixed income transferable securities (also known as debt securities) issued by governments and agencies worldwide.

These investments may be used for investment purposes in pursuit of the Fund’s (non ESG) investment objective, for the purposes of liquidity management and/or hedging.

No other holdings are considered against minimum environmental or social safeguards.

F. Monitoring of enviromental or social characteristics

BlackRock has developed a highly automated compliance process to help ensure that the Fund is managed in accordance with its stated investment guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements. This includes monitoring of the environmental or social characteristics of the Fund in accordance with the relevant methodology as described in ‘Section G – Methodologies’.

Portfolio Managers have the primary responsibility for complying with the contractual terms of the prospectus and other governing documents for the Fund and are supported by Aladdin, BlackRock’s portfolio and risk management software.

The Portfolio Compliance Group (“PCG”), a group within BlackRock’s Business Operations, is responsible for the coding of the Fund’s investment restrictions, that are capable of being coded, within BlackRock’s pre and post trade compliance monitoring system in Aladdin. Where an investment restriction cannot be coded, a manual process is established for guidelines testing.

Pre-Trade & Post Trade Monitoring

When a trade or order is created, the transaction is reviewed against the Fund’s investment guidelines by the front-end compliance system on a real time basis prior to execution. If a non-compliant condition is detected, the trade or order will be unable to progress further.

Compliance tests are also run on a post trade basis overnight based on the end-of-day positions and reported on a T+1 basis. Compliance exceptions and warnings are identified and escalated for investigation to relevant investment professionals, who will engage with relevant subject matter experts as appropriate to resolve. Identification and investigation of potential items is recorded on an electronic system that contains a comprehensive workflow which provides an audit trail. Appropriate corrective action will be taken as needed to resolve exceptions.

The monitoring of certain ESG characteristics may not be able to be automated due to system functionality or data limitations. Such ESG characteristics are subject to periodic review and monitoring, to ensure that the product adheres to the related commitments.

Breaches are reported as required under our regulatory obligations to the revelant management company, auditor, depositary and regulator.

Where BlackRock delegates part of the management of a Fund to a third-party manager, the third-party manager is responsible for ensuring compliance with the investment guidelines and investment restrictions as per the agreed Investment Management Agreement in place, including those pertaining to the environmental or social characteristics for the Fund. The investment restrictions pertaining to the environmental or social characteristics are generally communicated to the third-party manager which may updated by BlackRock from time to time in line with the environmental and social characteristics of the Fund. When the third-party manager runs a passive strategy, the third-party manager may also monitor whether the environmental or social characteristics are met by tracking a benchmark index embedding these characteristics in its methodology. BlackRock receives a daily feed of the positions held by the third-party manager and runs post-trade compliance checks in accordance with the back-end compliance process previously described. BlackRock also undertakes periodic due diligence on third party manager to ensure the monitoring frameworks in place remain appropriate.

G. Methodologies

BlackRock has adopted the following methodologies in respect of this Fund:
1. The Fund employs a proprietary methodology to assess investments based on the extent to which they are associated with positive or negative externalities. Further details on this proprietary methodology are available at: https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/insights/blackrock-investment-institute/esg-fixed-income;
2. The Fund uses MSCI ESG scoring as a means of assessing issuers' exposure to and management of environmental and social risks and opportunities. Further details on the MSCI ESG scoring methodology are available at: https://www.msci.com/our-solutions/esg-investing/esg-ratings;
3. The Fund applies the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens. Further details on the BlackRock EMEA Baseline Screens methodology are available at: https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/blackrock-baseline-screens-in-europe-middleeast-and-africa.pdf;
4. The Fund applies a set of exclusionary screens. Further details on the methodology of the exclusionary screens are set out in 'Section C – Environmental or social characteristics' above.

H. Data sources and processing

Data Sources

BlackRock Portfolio Managers have access to research, data, tools, and analytics to integrate ESG insights into their investment process. Aladdin is the operating system that connects the data, people, and technology necessary to manage portfolios in real time, as well as the engine behind BlackRock’s ESG analytics and reporting capabilities. BlackRock’s Portfolio Managers use Aladdin to make investment decisions, monitor portfolios and to access material ESG insights that can inform the investment process to attain ESG characteristics of the Fund.

ESG datasets are sourced from external third-party data providers, including but not limited to MSCI, Sustainalytics, Refinitiv, S&P and Clarity AI. These datasets may include headline ESG scores, carbon emissions data, business involvement metrics or controversies and have been incorporated into Aladdin tools that are available to Portfolio Managers and employed in BlackRock investment strategies. Such tools support the full investment process, from research, to portfolio construction and modelling, to reporting.

Measures taken to ensure Data Quality

BlackRock applies a comprehensive due diligence process to evaluate provider offerings with highly targeted methodology reviews and coverage assessments based on the sustainable investment strategy (and the environmental and social characteristics or sustainable objective) of the product. Our process entails both qualitative and quantitative analysis to assess the suitability of data products in line with regulatory standards as applicable.

We assess ESG providers and data across five core areas outlined below:
1. Data Collection: this includes but is not limited to assessing the data providers underlying data sources, technology used to capture data, process to identify misinformation and any use of machine learning or human data collection approaches. We will also consider planned improvements
2. Data Coverage: our assessment includes but is not limited to the extent to which a data package provides coverage across our investible universe of issuers and asset classes. This will include consideration of the treatment of parent companies and their subsidiaries as well as use of estimated data or reported data
3. Methodology: our assessment includes but is not limited to consideration of the third-party providers methodologies employed, including considering the collection and calculation approaches, alignment to industry or regulatory standards or frameworks, materiality thresholds and their approach to data gaps.,
4. Data Verification: our assessment will includes but is not limited to the third party providers’ approaches to verification of data collected and quality assurance processes including their engagement with issuers
5. Operations: we will assess a variety of aspects of a data vendors operations, including but not limited to their policies and procedures (including consideration of any conflicts of interest) the size and experience of their data research teams, their training programs, and their use of third-party outsourcers

Additionally, BlackRock, actively participates in relevant provider consultations regarding proposed changes to methodologies as they pertain to third party data sets or index methodologies and submits considered feedback and recommendations to data provider technical teams. BlackRock often has ongoing engagement with ESG data providers including index providers to keep abreast of industry developments.

How data is processed

At BlackRock, our internal processes are focused on delivering high-quality standardized and consistent data to be used by investment professionals and for transparency and reporting purposes. Data, including ESG data, received through our existing interfaces, and then processed through a series of quality control and completeness checks which seeks to ensure that data is of a high-quality before being made available for use downstream within BlackRock systems and applications, such as Aladdin. BlackRock’s integrated technology enables us to compile data about issuers and investments across a variety of environmental, social and governance metrics and a variety of data providers and make those available to investment teams and other support and control functions such as risk management.

Use of Estimated Data

BlackRock strives to capture as much reported data from companies via 3rd party data providers as practicable, however, industry standards around disclosure frameworks are still evolving, particularly with respect to forward looking indicators. As a result, in certain cases we rely on estimated or proxy measures from data providers to cover our broad investible universe of issuers. Due to current challenges in the data landscape, while BlackRock relies on material amount of estimated data across our investible universe, the levels of which may vary from data set to data set, we seek to ensure that use of estimates is in line with regulatory guidance and that we have necessary documentation and transparency from data providers on their methodologies. BlackRock recognizes the importance in improving its data quality and data coverage and continues to evolve the data sets available to its investment professionals and other teams. Where required by local country-level regulations, funds may state explicit data coverage levels.

I. Limitations to methodologies and data

Limitations to Methodology

Sustainable investing is an evolving space, both in terms of industry understanding but also the regulatory frameworks on both a regional and global basis. BlackRock continues to monitor developments in the EU's ongoing implementation of its framework for sustainable investing and is seeking to evolve its investment methodologies to ensure alignment as the regulatory environment changes. As a result, BlackRock may update these disclosures, and the methodologies and sources of data used, at any time in the future as market practice evolves or further regulatory guidance becomes available.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals and sub-targets are used by BlackRock as a list of environmental and/or social objectives. Any assessment will be undertaken strictly in accordance with the methodology set out in the Prospectus. Assumptions associated with the conventional use of the SDGs are not considered as part of the assessment including but not limited to applicable geographical limitations and those commitments that may be limited by time or scope, such as goals that may be applicable only to governments.

Limitations in relation to the data sources are noted below.

Limitations to Data

ESG data sets are constantly changing and improving as disclosure standards, regulatory frameworks and industry practice evolve. BlackRock continues to work with a broad range of market participants to improve data quality.

Whilst each ESG metric may come with its own individual limitations, data limitations may broadly be considered to include, but not be limited to:
• Lack of availability of certain ESG metrics due to differing reporting and disclosure standards impacting issuers, geographies or sectors
• Nascent statutory corporate reporting standards regarding sustainability leading to differences in the extent to which companies themselves can report against regulatory criteria and therefore some metric coverage levels may be low
• Inconsistent use and levels of reported vs estimated ESG data across different data providers, taken at varied time periods which makes comparability a challenge.
• Estimated data by its nature may vary from realized figures due to the assumptions or hypothesis employed by data providers.
• Differing views or assessments of issuers due to differing provider methodologies or use of subjective criteria
• Most corporate ESG reporting and disclosure takes place on an annual basis and takes significant time to produce meaning that this data is produced on a lag relative to financial data. There may also inconsistent data refresh frequencies across different data providers incorporating such data into their data sets.
• Coverage and applicability of data across asset classes and indicators may vary
• Forward looking data, such as climate related targets may vary significantly from historic and current point in time metrics.

For more information about how metrics that are presented with sustainability indicators are calculated, please see the Fund's annual report.

J. Due Diligence

BlackRock applies a high standard of due diligence in the selection and ongoing monitoring of investments made by the Fund for the purpose of compliance with the investment, liquidity and risk guidelines of the Fund, as well as the sustainability risk and ESG criteria and general performance. Portfolio Managers are subject to pre and post trade controls within the investment platform where the funds promote environmental or social characteristics, integrate sustainability into the investment process in a binding manner or have a sustainable investment objective. The Investment Oversight team conducts due diligence engagement with the portfolio managers and oversees internal restrictions that may expand upon requirements set out in the fund prospectus. The Portfolio Managers also comply with related EMEA policies, including Investment Due Diligence policies which have been updated to integrate sustainability risk. Legal and Compliance have implemented a framework to ensure that the relevant policies and procedures are adopted and complied with by all employees, including Portfolio Managers.

The Investment Adviser integrates sustainability risks into the investment due diligence process of the Fund. The portfolio managers of the Fund are primarily responsible for considering sustainability risks. They are subject to an oversight framework within the Investment Adviser and BlackRock's risk management function, RQA group also provides independent reviews of sustainability risks and the compliance team provides further oversight and monitors the ESG requirements relevant to each fund and the investment restrictions for each fund. RQA, serves as the second line of defence in BlackRock’s risk management framework. RQA is responsible for BlackRock’s Investment and Enterprise risk management framework which includes oversight of sustainability-related investment risks. RQA Investment Risk conducts regular reviews with portfolio managers to ensure investment teams are advised of relevant sustainability risks, complementing the first-line monitoring and oversight of sustainability considerations across our investment platform. RQA also has a dedicated Sustainability Risk Team that partners with risk managers and businesses to reinforce this constructive engagement. RQA collaborates with working groups throughout the Investments Platform and with Aladdin Sustainability Lab to advance the firm’s sustainability toolkit through consultation on firmwide data, modelling, methodologies, and analytics. In addition, BlackRock makes data relating to principal adverse impacts available to all portfolio managers and BlackRock integrates consideration of the principle adverse impacts of investment decisions on sustainability factors in the investment due diligence process. For further information, please see ‘Section D – Investment strategy’ above.

K. Engagement Policies

The Fund

The Fund does not use engagement as a means of meeting its binding commitments to environmental or social characteristics or sustainable investment objectives. Engagement may form part of the Due Diligence carried out by the portfolio management team for funds pursuing Fixed Income investment strategies in order to assess how companies manage ESG risks and opportunities and how these impact companies financials. Where applicable, we use engagement to discuss concerns, understand opportunities and share constructive feedback, based on the view that material ESG issues are intractably tied to a business’s long term strategy and fundamental value. Engagement may be undertaken in collaboration with the Business Investment Stewardship team however, this is not always the case and can be undertaken directly. The Fixed Income portfolio management team may also use engagement with corporate treasurers when they are in the process of issuing green and social bonds to ensure a robust issuance.

General

Engagement with companies in which we invest our clients’ assets occurs at multiple levels within BlackRock. 

Where engagement is specifically identified by a particular portfolio management team as one of the means by which they seek to demonstrate a commitment to environment, social and governance issues within the context of SFDR, the methods by which the effectiveness of such engagement policy and the ways in which such an engagement policy may be adapted in the event that they do not achieve the desired impact (usually expressed as a reduction in specified principal adverse indicators) would be described in the prospectus and website disclosures particular to that fund. 

Where investment teams chooses to leverage engagement, this  can take a variety of forms but, in essence, the portfolio management team would seek to have regular and continuing dialogue with executives or board directors of engaged investee companies to advance sound governance and sustainable business practices targeted at the identified ESG characteristics and principal adverse indicators, as well as to understand the effectiveness of the company’s management and oversight of activities designed to address the identified ESG issues. Engagement also allows the portfolio management team to provide feedback on company practices and disclosures.

Where a relevant portfolio management team has concerns about a company’s approach to the identified ESG characteristics and/or principal adverse indicators, they may choose to explain their expectations to the company’s board or management and may signal through voting at general meetings that they have outstanding concerns, generally by voting against the re-election of directors they view as having responsibility for improvements in the identified ESG characteristics or principal adverse indicators.

Separate from the activities of any particular portfolio management team, at the highest level, as part of its fiduciary approach, BlackRock has determined that it is in the best long-term interest of its clients to promote sound corporate governance as an informed, engaged shareholder. At BlackRock, this is the responsibility of BlackRock Investment Stewardship. Principally through the work of BIS team, BlackRock meets the requirements in the Shareholder Rights Directive II (‘SRD II”) relating to engagement with public companies and other parties in the investment ecosystem.  A copy of BlackRock’s SRD II engagement policy can be found at https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/blk-shareholder-rights-directiveii-engagement-policy-2022.pdf.

BlackRock’s approach to investment stewardship is outlined in the BIS Global Principles and market-level voting guidelines. The BIS Global Principles set out our stewardship philosophy and our views on corporate governance and sustainable business practices that support long-term value creation by companies. We recognize that accepted standards and norms of corporate governance differ between markets; however, we believe there are certain fundamental elements of governance practice that are intrinsic globally to a company’s ability to create long-term value. Our market-specific voting guidelines provide detail on how BIS implements the Global Principles – taking into consideration local market standards and norms – and inform our voting decisions in relation to specific ballot items for shareholder meetings.  BlackRock’s overall approach to investment stewardship and engagement can be found at: https://www.blackrock.com/uk/professionals/solutions/shareholder-rights-directive and https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/about-us/investment-stewardship

In undertaking its engagement, BIS may focus on particular ESG themes, which are outlined in BlackRock’s voting priorities https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/blk-stewardship-priorities-final.pdf

L. Designated reference benchmark

There is no specific index designated as a reference benchmark to determine whether this financial product is aligned with the environmental and/or social characteristics that it promotes. However, please note that the Bloomberg Euro Corporate Index (80%) and Bloomberg Global Corporate Index (20%) are used to compare certain ESG characteristics promoted by the Fund.

Risk Indicator

Risk Indicator

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2
3
4
5
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7
Low Risk High Risk
Typically low rewards Typically high rewards

Ratings

Holdings

Holdings

as of 29.Feb.2024
Name Weight (%)
ITALY (REPUBLIC OF) 4 04/30/2035 1,94
FRANCE (REPUBLIC OF) 0 02/25/2026 1,50
GERMANY (FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF) 2.3 02/15/2033 1,50
FRANCE (REPUBLIC OF) 0.75 02/25/2028 1,17
ITALY (REPUBLIC OF) 4.5 10/01/2053 1,14
Name Weight (%)
FRANCE (REPUBLIC OF) 0 02/25/2027 1,14
SPAIN (KINGDOM OF) 0 01/31/2027 1,05
SPAIN (KINGDOM OF) 3.25 04/30/2034 1,04
EUROPEAN FINANCIAL STABILITY FACIL MTN RegS 0.75 05/03/2027 1,03
SPAIN (KINGDOM OF) 2.75 10/31/2024 0,99
Holdings subject to change

Exposure Breakdowns

Exposure Breakdowns

as of 29.Feb.2024

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
as of 29.Feb.2024

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
as of 29.Feb.2024

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
as of 29.Feb.2024

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
Negative weightings may result from specific circumstances (including timing differences between trade and settle dates of securities purchased by the funds) and/or the use of certain financial instruments, including derivatives, which may be used to gain or reduce market exposure and/or risk management. Allocations are subject to change.

Pricing & Exchange

Pricing & Exchange

Investor Class Currency NAV NAV Amount Change NAV % Change NAV As Of 52wk High 52wk Low ISIN
Class I4 Hedged GBP 10,07 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 10,22 9,39 LU1376384282
Class A4 EUR 23,80 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 24,23 22,37 LU0430265933
Class A1 USD 19,16 -0,01 -0,05 18.Mar.2024 19,98 17,49 LU0171278889
Class A2 Hedged PLN 108,76 -0,01 -0,01 18.Mar.2024 110,30 101,57 LU1499592381
Class D3 USD 19,27 -0,01 -0,05 18.Mar.2024 20,11 17,58 LU0827877639
Class SR2 Hedged USD 9,21 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 9,34 8,57 LU2319963976
Class D3 EUR 17,71 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 18,11 16,76 LU0827877555
Class D2 EUR 28,18 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 28,67 26,45 LU0297941469
Class SR2 EUR 8,74 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 8,90 8,20 LU2319963893
Class I4 EUR 9,12 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 9,27 8,55 LU1808491655
Class A3 EUR 17,61 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 18,01 16,67 LU0172396516
Class D4 Hedged GBP 10,04 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 10,20 9,38 LU1376384365
Class A4 GBP 20,43 0,03 0,15 18.Mar.2024 21,14 19,42 LU0204069685
Class A2 USD 28,90 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 30,01 26,17 LU0171279184
Class A3 USD 19,17 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 20,00 17,48 LU0172748641
Class D4 GBP 20,59 0,03 0,15 18.Mar.2024 21,29 19,55 LU0827877712
Class I4 Hedged USD 10,24 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 10,38 9,52 LU1808491812
Class D4 EUR 10,59 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 10,78 9,94 LU0938162699
Class A2 EUR 26,55 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 27,03 24,96 LU0050372472
Class A1 EUR 17,60 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 17,99 16,68 LU0118259232
Class D2 USD 30,67 -0,01 -0,03 18.Mar.2024 31,84 27,74 LU0827877472
Class A2 Hedged JPY 885,00 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 910,00 848,00 LU1668663914
Class D2 Hedged CHF 10,45 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 10,69 9,92 LU1266592374
Class I2 Hedged CHF 9,35 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 9,56 8,87 LU1180456292
Class A2 CZK 668,96 1,73 0,26 18.Mar.2024 678,29 593,30 LU1791174284
Class I2 Hedged USD 11,55 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 11,72 10,75 LU1376384100
Class I2 EUR 13,61 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 13,84 12,76 LU0368229703
Class I2 Hedged JPY 914,00 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 939,00 874,00 LU1668661629
Class A2 Hedged USD 12,99 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 13,18 12,11 LU0869650977
Class D2 Hedged USD 13,52 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 13,72 12,59 LU0869640077
Class X2 EUR 30,94 0,00 0,00 18.Mar.2024 31,44 28,96 LU0298377911

Portfolio Managers

Portfolio Managers

Ronald van Loon
Ronald van Loon
Michael Krautzberger
Head, BlackRock’s Pan-European Fixed Income Team

     

PRIIPs Performance Scenarios

PRIIPs Performance Scenarios

The EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-Based Products Regulation (PRIIPs) prescribes the calculation methodology, and publication of the outcomes, of four hypothetical performance scenarios regarding how the product may perform under certain conditions and for such to be published on a monthly basis. The figures shown include all the costs of the product itself, but may not include all the costs that you pay to your advisor or distributor. The figures do not take into account your personal tax situation, which may also affect how much you get back. What you will get from this product depends on future market performance. Market developments in the future are uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted. The unfavourable, moderate, and favourable scenarios shown are illustrations using the worst, average, and best performance of the product, which may include input from benchmark(s) / proxy, over the last ten years.
Recommended holding period : 3 years
Example Investment GBP 10 000
Scenario
If you exit after 1 year
If you exit after 3 years

Minimum

There is no minimum guaranteed return. You could lose some or all of your investment.

Stress

What you might get back after costs
Average return each year
8 360 GBP
-16,4%
7 480 GBP
-9,2%

Unfavourable

What you might get back after costs
Average return each year
8 360 GBP
-16,4%
8 410 GBP
-5,6%

Moderate

What you might get back after costs
Average return each year
10 220 GBP
2,2%
10 900 GBP
2,9%

Favourable

What you might get back after costs
Average return each year
11 250 GBP
12,5%
11 560 GBP
5,0%

The stress scenario shows what you might get back in extreme market circumstances.



Literature

Literature

 
Please access the document library in order to find the KID/KIID in local language.