UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-05742

 

Name of Fund:   BlackRock Funds
       BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

 

Fund Address:    100   Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809

Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock Funds, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055

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

Date of fiscal year end: 12/31/2020

Date of reporting period: 12/31/2020

 


Item 1 – Report to Stockholders

 

  (a)

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


 

LOGO

  DECEMBER 31, 2020

 

   2020 Annual Report

 

BlackRock FundsSM

 

·  

BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

 

 

 

 

 

Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The 12-month reporting period as of December 31, 2020 has been a time of sudden change in global financial markets, as the emergence and spread of the coronavirus (or “COVID-19”) led to a vast disruption in the global economy and financial markets. The threat from the coronavirus became increasingly apparent throughout February and March 2020, and countries around the world took economically disruptive countermeasures. Stay-at-home orders and closures of non-essential businesses became widespread, many workers were laid off, and unemployment claims spiked, causing a global recession and a sharp fall in equity prices.

After markets hit their lowest point of the reporting period in late March 2020, a steady recovery ensued, as businesses began to re-open and governments learned to adapt to life with the virus. Equity prices continued to rise throughout the summer, fed by strong fiscal and monetary support and improving economic indicators. Many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period following a series of successful vaccine trials and passage of additional stimulus. In the United States, both large- and small-capitalization stocks posted a significant advance. International equities from developed economies grew at a more modest pace, lagging emerging market stocks, which rebounded sharply.

During the market downturn, the performance of different types of fixed-income securities initially diverged due to a reduced investor appetite for risk. U.S. Treasuries benefited from the risk-off environment, and posted solid returns, as the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) touched an all-time low. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) assuaged credit concerns and both investment-grade and high-yield bonds recovered to post positive returns.

Following the coronavirus outbreak, the Fed instituted two emergency interest rate cuts, pushing short-term interest rates, already low as the year began, close to zero. To stabilize credit markets, the Fed also implemented a new bond-buying program, as did several other central banks around the world, including the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan.

Looking ahead, while coronavirus-related disruptions have clearly hindered worldwide economic growth, we believe that the global expansion is likely to accelerate as vaccination efforts get under way. The results of the U.S. elections also cleared the way for additional stimulus spending in 2021, which is likely to be a solid tailwind for economic growth. Inflation should increase as the expansion continues, but a shift in central bank policy means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the equity expansion.

Overall, we favor a positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in both equities and credit. We see U.S. and Asian equities benefiting from structural growth trends in tech, while emerging markets should be particularly helped by a vaccine-led economic expansion. In credit, rising inflation should provide tailwinds for inflation-protected bonds, and Euro area peripherals and Asian bonds also provide attractive opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.

In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit blackrock.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC

 

Total Returns as of December 31, 2020
    

 

6-Month

 

 

12-Month

 

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

 

 

22.16%

 

 

18.40%

 

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

 

 

37.85    

 

 

19.96    

 

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

 

 

21.61    

 

 

7.82    

 

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

 

 

31.14    

 

 

18.31    

 

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

 

 

0.07    

 

 

0.67    

 

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

 

 

(1.87)   

 

 

10.58    

 

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

 

 

1.29    

 

 

7.51    

 

Tax-exempt municipal bonds (S&P Municipal Bond Index)

 

 

2.92    

 

 

4.95    

 

U.S. high yield bonds
(Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index)

 

 

11.32    

 

 

7.05    

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

 

2   H I S    A G E    I S    O T     A R T    O F    O U R    U N D    E P  O R T


Table of Contents

 

      Page  

The Markets in Review

     2  

Annual Report:

  

Fund Summary

     4  

About Fund Performance

     7  

Disclosure of Expenses

     7  

Financial Statements:

  

Schedule of Investments

     8  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     10  

Statement of Operations

     11  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     12  

Financial Highlights

     13  

Notes to Financial Statements

     14  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     20  

Important Tax Information

     21  

Statement Regarding Liquidity Risk Management Program

     22  

Trustee and Officer Information

     23  

Additional Information

     27  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     29  

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

  3


Fund Summary  as of December 31, 2020    BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

 

Investment Objective

BlackRock Exchange Portfolio’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital and consequent long-term growth of income.

Portfolio Management Commentary

How did the Fund perform?

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020, the Fund underperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500® Index.

What factors influenced performance?

The Fund’s positioning in financials and stock selection in the health care and industrials sectors were the largest detractors from relative performance. In financials, an overweight allocation to the diversified financial services industry, particularly the Fund’s overweight position in insurance conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., detracted. Within health care, stock selection in pharmaceuticals, most notably in the Fund’s overweight position in Merck & Co., Inc., weighed on returns. Lastly, stock selection in aerospace & defense within industrials, as seen specifically in an overweight position in General Dynamics Corp., hurt relative performance.

Conversely, the Fund’s positioning in real estate, utilities, and information technology (“IT”) contributed the most to relative performance. Within real estate, avoiding real estate investment trusts and the real estate management & development industry drove relative outperformance. The Fund’s lack of exposure to utilities had a positive impact as well. Lastly, in IT, stock selection in the software sub-sector, most notably through an overweight position in Microsoft Corp., contributed to returns.

Describe recent portfolio activity.

During the period, the most notable increase in the Fund’s sector weightings was to IT, particularly within the software sub-sector. The Fund’s exposure to consumer staples also rose. Conversely, the Fund’s exposure to financials decreased the most, particularly within the diversified financial services sub-sector. The Fund’s exposure to energy was decreased as well.

Describe portfolio positioning at period end.

Relative to the S&P 500® Index, the Fund ended the period with its largest overweight positions in the financials sector, followed by IT and consumer staples. The Fund’s largest underweight position was in consumer discretionary, followed by the communication services and utilities sectors.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

 

 

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Fund Summary  as of December 31, 2020 (continued)    BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

 

TOTAL RETURN BASED ON A $10,000 INVESTMENT

 

LOGO

 

  (a) 

Assuming transaction costs and other operating expenses, including investment advisory fees and administration fees, if any.

 
  (b) 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests largely in a diversified and supervised portfolio of common stocks or convertible securities, believed by management to have growth potential over the years. Shares of the Fund are not currently available for purchase.

 
  (c) 

An unmanaged index that covers 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

 

Performance Summary for the Period Ended December 31, 2020

 

                          Average Annual Total Returns(a)  
        6-Months
Total Returns
                  1 Year            5 Years            10 Years  

BlackRock Shares

       14.05         9.19       12.32       10.47

S&P 500® Index

       22.16                       18.40               15.22               13.88  

 

  (a) 

See “About Fund Performance” for a detailed description of performance related information.

 

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Expense Example

 

    Actual         Hypothetical(a)           
     

Beginning
Account Value
(07/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(12/31/20)
 
 
 
  

Expenses

Paid During
the Period(b)

           

Beginning
Account Value
(07/01/20)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(12/31/20)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(b) 
      

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
(c)  

BlackRock Shares

    $1,000.00        $1,140.50      $4.75             $1,000.00        $1,020.70        $4.48          0.88

 

  (a) 

Hypothetical 5% annual return before expenses is calculated by prorating the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year divided by 366.

 
  (b) 

For BlackRock Shares of the Fund, expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period shown).

 
  (c) 

Includes federal income taxes. Excluding such tax expense, the annualized expense ratio would have been 0.62%.

 

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

 

 

U N D    U M M A R Y

  5


Fund Summary  as of December 31, 2020 (continued)    BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

 

Portfolio Information

 

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

 

Security(a)   Percent of
Net Assets
 

Microsoft Corp.

    32

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B

    13  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    7  

General Dynamics Corp.

    6  

Johnson & Johnson

    5  

Visa, Inc., Class A

    5  

American Express Co.

    5  

Procter & Gamble Co.

    4  

Novartis AG, ADR

    4  

AstraZeneca PLC, ADR

    4  

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

Sector(b)   Percent of
Net Assets
 

Information Technology

    38

Financials

    24  

Health Care

    17  

Consumer Staples

    12  

Industrials

    6  

Energy

    3  
 
(a) 

Excludes short-term securities.

(b) 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s sector classifications refer to one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment adviser. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector subclassifications for reporting ease.

 

 

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About Fund Performance

 

BlackRock Shares are not subject to any sales charge. These shares bear no ongoing distribution or service fees and are not currently available for purchase. These shares are only available through distribution reinvestments by current holders.

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time, and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of the fund’s investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Refer to blackrock.com to obtain performance data current to the most recent month-end. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Figures shown in the performance table on the previous page assume reinvestment of all distributions, if any, at net asset value (“NAV”) on the ex-dividend date or payable date, as applicable. Investment return and principal value of shares will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually and/or voluntarily agreed to waive and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses. Without such waiver(s) and/or reimbursement(s), the Fund’s performance would have been lower. With respect to the Fund’s voluntary waiver(s), if any, the Manager is under no obligation to waive and/or reimburse or to continue waiving and/or reimbursing its fees and such voluntary waiver(s) may be reduced or discontinued at any time. With respect to the Fund’s contractual waiver(s), if any, the Manager is under no obligation to continue waiving and/or reimbursing its fees after the applicable termination date of such agreement. See the Notes to Financial Statements for additional information on waivers and/or reimbursements.

Disclosure of Expenses

Shareholders of the Fund may incur the following charges: (a) transactional expenses, and (b) operating expenses, including investment advisory fees, administration fees and other fund expenses. The expense example shown on the previous page (which is based on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 invested on July 1, 2020 and held through December 31, 2020) is intended to assist shareholders both in calculating expenses based on an investment in the Fund and in comparing these expenses with similar costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The expense example provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. In order to estimate the expenses a shareholder paid during the period covered by this report, shareholders can divide their account value by $1,000 and then multiply the result by the number corresponding to their share class under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period.”

The expense example also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. In order to assist shareholders in comparing the ongoing expenses of investing in the Fund and other funds, compare the 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

The expenses shown in the expense example are intended to highlight shareholders’ ongoing costs only and do not reflect transactional expenses, such as sales charges, if any. Therefore, the hypothetical example is useful in comparing ongoing expenses only, and will not help shareholders determine the relative total expenses of owning different funds. If these transactional expenses were included, shareholder expenses would have been higher.

 

 

B O U T    U N D    E R F O  R M A N C E

  7


Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

 

Aerospace & Defense — 6.4%  

General Dynamics Corp.

    78,065     $     11,617,633  
   

 

 

 
Banks — 7.0%            

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    100,438       12,762,657  
   

 

 

 
Consumer Finance — 4.6%            

American Express Co.

    68,690       8,305,308  
   

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services — 12.7%            

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B(a)

    99,690       23,115,120  
   

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 1.1%  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.(a)

    14,874       1,964,707  
   

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services — 0.8%            

Schlumberger NV

    70,328       1,535,260  
   

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing — 2.2%            

Walmart, Inc.

    27,424       3,953,170  
   

 

 

 
Food Products — 2.0%            

Kraft Heinz Co.

    17,761       615,596  

Mondelez International, Inc., Class A

    53,285       3,115,574  
   

 

 

 
      3,731,170  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.5%            

Alcon, Inc.(a)

    13,736       906,301  
   

 

 

 
Household Products — 3.7%            

Procter & Gamble Co.

    49,045       6,824,121  
   

 

 

 
IT Services — 4.8%            

Visa, Inc., Class A

    39,748       8,694,080  
   

 

 

 
Machinery — 0.0%            

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.

    380       27,816  
   

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 1.6%            

BP PLC, ADR

    31,546       647,324  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    54,584       2,249,952  
   

 

 

 
      2,897,276  
Security   Shares     Value  
Pharmaceuticals — 16.6%            

AstraZeneca PLC, ADR

    128,000     $ 6,398,720  

Johnson & Johnson

    55,418       8,721,685  

Merck & Co., Inc.

    68,117       5,571,971  

Novartis AG, ADR

    68,681       6,485,547  

Pfizer, Inc.

    76,397       2,812,173  

Viatris, Inc.(a)

    14,108       264,384  
   

 

 

 
      30,254,480  
Software — 31.9%            

Microsoft Corp.

    261,093       58,072,305  
   

 

 

 
Tobacco — 4.0%            

Altria Group, Inc.

    77,000       3,157,000  

Philip Morris International, Inc.

    50,136       4,150,760  
   

 

 

 
      7,307,760  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 99.9%
(Cost: $15,627,743)

 

    181,969,164  
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Securities(b)(c)  
Money Market Funds — 0.2%            

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class, 0.00%

    424,032       424,032  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 0.2%
(Cost: $424,032)

 

    424,032  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 100.1%
(Cost: $16,051,775)

 

    182,393,196  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.1)%

 

    (176,513
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

  $   182,216,683  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(c) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2020 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer   

Value at

12/31/19

    

Purchases

at Cost

    

Proceeds

from Sale

    

Net

Realized

Gain (Loss)

    

Change in

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

    

Value at

12/31/20

    

Shares

Held at

12/31/20

     Income     

Capital

Gain

Distributions

from Underlying
Funds

 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class

   $   577,785      $      $ (153,753 )(a)     $      $      $   424,032        424,032      $ 1,279      $  

SL Liquidity Series, LLC, Money Market Series(b)

            991 (a)                   —        (991                           996 (c)         
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ (991    $      $ 424,032         $   2,275      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 
  (b) 

As of period end, the entity is no longer held.

 
  (c) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

 

 

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Schedule of Investments  (continued)

December 31, 2020

  

BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment adviser. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such industry sub-classifications for reporting ease.

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s investments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

   $ 181,969,164        $        $        $ 181,969,164  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     424,032                            424,032  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $   182,393,196        $        $        $   182,393,196  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  9


 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2020

 

     BlackRock
Exchange
Portfolio
 

ASSETS

 

Investments at value — unaffiliated(a)

  $   181,969,164  

Investments at value — affiliated(b)

    424,032  

Receivables:

 

Dividends — affiliated

    19  

Dividends — unaffiliated

    290,309  

From the Manager

    662  

Prepaid expenses

    922  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    182,685,108  
 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Payables:

 

Administration fees

    6,524  

Capital shares redeemed

    32,683  

Federal income tax

    298,634  

Investment advisory fees

    71,770  

Trustees’ and Officer’s fees

    2,159  

Other accrued expenses

    29,664  

Professional fees

    26,991  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    468,425  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 182,216,683  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 15,851,877  

Accumulated earnings

    166,364,806  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 182,216,683  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE

 

BlackRock Shares

 

Net assets

  $ 182,216,683  
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

    133,168  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 1,368.32  
 

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited  
 

 

 

 

Par value

  $ 0.001  
 

 

 

 

(a) Investments at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 15,627,743  

(b) Investments at cost — affiliated

  $ 424,032  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Statement of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

     BlackRock
Exchange
Portfolio
 

INVESTMENT INCOME

 

Dividends — unaffiliated

  $ 3,569,158  

Dividends — affiliated

    1,279  

Securities lending income — affiliated — net

    996  

Foreign taxes withheld

    (74,215
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    3,497,218  
 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

Investment advisory

    849,919  

Administration

    106,244  

Professional

    71,814  

Accounting services

    46,068  

Printing and postage

    23,407  

Transfer agent

    11,952  

Trustees and Officer

    10,126  

Custodian

    6,818  

Miscellaneous

    4,600  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses excluding federal income tax

    1,130,948  

Federal income tax

    288,388  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    1,419,336  

Less:

 

Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager

    (31,096

Administration fees waived

    (34,001

Transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed

    (11,952
 

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    1,342,287  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    2,154,931  
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

 

Net realized gain (loss) from:

 

Investments — unaffiliated

    2,020,027  

Investments — affiliated

    (991

In-kind redemptions(a)

    12,240,729  
 

 

 

 
    14,259,765  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (1,809,333
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

    12,450,432  
 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $   14,605,363  
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L    T A T E M E N T  S

  11


 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    BlackRock Exchange Portfolio  
    Year Ended December 31,  
     2020     2019  

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

   

OPERATIONS

   

Net investment income

  $ 2,154,931     $ 2,374,445  

Net realized gain

    2,019,036       1,185,350  

Net realized gain from in-kind redemption transactions

    12,240,729       6,178,835  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (1,809,333     33,104,701  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    14,605,363       42,843,331  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

   

BlackRock Shares

    (2,437,325     (2,612,403
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

   

Net decrease in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    (15,657,427     (7,947,139
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    (3,489,389     32,283,789  

Beginning of year

    185,706,072       153,422,283  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

  $   182,216,683     $   185,706,072  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

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

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    BlackRock Exchange Portfolio  
    BlackRock Shares  
    Year Ended December 31,  
     2020      2019      2018      2017      2016  

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 1,270.46      $ 1,001.87      $ 1,050.41      $ 926.59      $ 830.25  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

    15.80        15.81        16.51        15.01        16.98  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    100.33        270.58        (47.75      126.31        97.45  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    116.13        286.39        (31.24      141.32        114.43  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(b)

    (18.27      (17.80      (17.30      (17.50      (18.09
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 1,368.32      $ 1,270.46      $ 1,001.87      $ 1,050.41      $ 926.59  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

             

Based on net asset value

    9.19      28.63      (2.98 )%       15.27      13.82
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

             

Total expenses

    0.83      0.82      0.67      0.83      0.65
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed(d)

    0.79      0.76      0.63      0.78      0.62
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income

    1.27      1.37      1.54      1.52      1.97
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

             

Net assets, end of year (000)

  $ 182,217      $ 185,706      $ 153,422      $ 173,435      $ 171,853  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

                       
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

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

(c) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(d) 

Includes excise tax and/or U.S. federal income taxes. Excluding such tax expense, total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and paid indirectly would have been as follows:

 

 

 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2020        2019        2018        2017        2016  

 

 

Excluding excise tax and/or US Federal income taxes

    0.62        0.62        0.62        0.62        0.62
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L    I G H L I G H T  S

  13


Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.

ORGANIZATION

BlackRock FundsSM (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. BlackRock Exchange Portfolio (the “Fund”) is a series of the Trust. The Fund is classified as diversified.

The Fund, together with certain other registered investment companies advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”) or its affiliates, is included in a complex of equity, multi-asset, index and money market funds referred to as the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex.

 

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest.

In-Kind Redemptions: The Fund transferred securities and cash to shareholders in connection with an in-kind redemption transaction. For financial reporting purposes, these transactions were treated as a sale of securities and the resulting gains and losses were recognized based on the market value of the securities on the date of the redemption. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund had in-kind redemptions of $13,054,695. For tax purposes, no gains or losses were recognized. Net gains and losses resulting from such in-kind redemptions are shown in the Statement of Operations.

Distributions: Distributions paid by the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Fund, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

Other: Expenses directly related to the Fund are charged to the Fund. Other operating expenses shared by several funds, including other funds managed by the Manager, are prorated among those funds on the basis of relative net assets or other appropriate methods.

The Fund has an arrangement with its custodian whereby credits are earned on uninvested cash balances, which could be used to reduce custody fees and/or overdraft charges. The Fund may incur charges on overdrafts, subject to certain conditions.

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: The Fund’s investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Fund is open for business and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”). If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the “Global Valuation Committee”) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.

Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of the Fund’s assets and liabilities:

 

   

Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day may be valued at the last available bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price.

Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Occasionally, events affecting the values of such instruments may occur between the foreign market close and the close of trading on the NYSE that may not be reflected in the computation of the Fund’s net assets. Each business day, the Fund uses a pricing service to assist with the valuation of certain foreign exchange-traded equity securities and foreign exchange-traded and over-the-counter options (the “Systematic Fair Value Price”). Using current market factors, the Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities and foreign options at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.

 

   

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

If events (e.g., a market closure, market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.

Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access;

 

   

Level 2 – Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market–corroborated inputs); and

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the Global Valuation Committee’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments).

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.

 

4.

SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Securities Lending: The Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. The initial collateral received by the Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund, or excess collateral returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, the Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities, but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.

The market value of any securities on loan, all of which were classified as common stocks in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments, and the value of any related collateral are shown separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a component of investments at value – unaffiliated, and collateral on securities loaned at value, respectively. As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested by the securities lending agent, BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BIM”), if any, is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments.

Securities lending transactions are entered into by the Fund under Master Securities Lending Agreements (each, an “MSLA”), which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency), for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate a net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. In the event that a borrower defaults, the Fund, as lender, would offset the market value of the collateral received against the market value of the securities loaned. When the value of the collateral is greater than that of the market value of the securities loaned, the lender is left with a net amount payable to the defaulting party. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of an MSLA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Under the MSLA, absent an event of default, the borrower can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities, and the Fund can reinvest cash collateral received in connection with loaned securities. Upon an event of default, the parties’ obligations to return the securities or collateral to the other party are extinguished, and the parties can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities or the collateral received in connection with the loaned securities in order to satisfy the defaulting party’s net payment obligation for all transactions under the MSLA. The defaulting party remains liable for any deficiency.

The risks of securities lending include the risk that the borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or may not return the securities when due. To mitigate these risks, the Fund benefits from a borrower default indemnity provided by BIM. BIM’s indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value on the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. The Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by the Fund.

 

5.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Investment Advisory: The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Manager, the Fund’s investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), to provide investment advisory services. The Manager is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio and provides the personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operations of the Fund.

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A L     T A T E M E N T S

  15


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

For such services, the Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee at an annual rate equal to the following percentages of the average daily value of the Fund’s net assets:

 

Average Daily Net Assets   Investment Advisory Fee  

First $1 billion

    0.50

$1 billion - $3 billion

    0.47  

$3 billion - $5 billion

    0.45  

$5 billion - $10 billion

    0.44  

Greater than $10 billion

    0.43  

Administration: The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, entered into an Administration Agreement with the Manager, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, to provide administrative services. For these services, the Manager receives an administration fee computed daily and payable monthly, based on a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The administration fee, which is shown as administration in the Statement of Operations, is paid at the annual rates below.

 

Average Daily Net Assets   Administration Fees  

First $500 million

    0.0425

$500 million - $1 billion

    0.0400  

$1 billion - $2 billion

    0.0375  

$2 billion - $4 billion

    0.0350  

$4 billion - $13 billion

    0.0325  

Greater than $13 billion

    0.0300  

In addition, the Manager charges BlackRock Shares share class an administration fee, which is shown as administration in the Statement of Operations, at an annual rate of 0.02% of the average daily net assets of BlackRock Shares share class.

Transfer Agent: Pursuant to written agreements, certain financial intermediaries, some of which may be affiliates, provide the Fund with sub-accounting, recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency and other administrative services with respect to servicing of underlying investor accounts. For these services, these entities receive an asset-based fee or an annual fee per shareholder account, which will vary depending on share class and/or net assets. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund did not pay any amounts to affiliates in return for these services.

The Manager maintains a call center that is responsible for providing certain shareholder services to the Fund. Shareholder services include responding to inquiries and processing purchases and sales based upon instructions from shareholders. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund reimbursed the Manager $1,988 for costs incurred in running the call center, which are included in transfer agent — class specific in the Statement of Operations:

Expense Limitations, Waivers and Reimbursements: The Manager contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fees by the amount of investment advisory fees the Fund pays to the Manager indirectly through its investment in affiliated money market funds (the “affiliated money market fund waiver”) through April 30, 2021.The contractual agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The amount of waivers and/or reimbursements of fees and expenses made pursuant to the expense limitation described below will be reduced by the amount of the affiliated money market fund waiver. Prior to April 29, 2020, this waiver was voluntary. This amount is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statement of Operations. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the amount waived and/or reimbursed was $410.

The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee with respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets invested in affiliated equity and fixed-income mutual funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds that have a contractual management fee through April 30, 2021. The contractual agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2020, there were no fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager pursuant to this arrangement.

The Manager contractually agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit expenses, excluding interest expense, dividend expense, tax expense, acquired fund fees and expenses, and certain other fund expenses, which constitute extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business (“expense limitation”). The expense limitation as a percentage of average daily net assets is 0.62%.

The Manager has agreed not to reduce or discontinue this contractual expense limitation through April 30, 2021, unless approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Manager waived and/or reimbursed investment advisory fees of $30,686 which is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statement of Operations.

In addition, these amounts waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager are included in administration fees waived and transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed, respectively, in the Statement of Operations. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the expense waivers and/or reimbursements were as follows:

 

     BlackRock Shares  

Administration fees waived

    $  34,001  

Transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed

    11,952  

Securities Lending: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued an exemptive order which permits BIM, an affiliate of the Manager, to serve as securities lending agent for the Fund, subject to applicable conditions. As securities lending agent, BIM bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending. The Fund is responsible for expenses in connection with the investment of cash collateral received for securities on loan (the “collateral investment expenses”). The cash collateral is invested in a private investment company, SL Liquidity Series, LLC (“Money Market Series”), managed by the Manager or its affiliates. However, BIM has agreed to cap the

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

collateral investment expenses of the Money Market Series to an annual rate of 0.04%. The investment adviser to the Money Market Series will not charge any advisory fees with respect to shares purchased by the Fund. The Money Market Series may, under certain circumstances, impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% of the value withdrawn or temporarily restrict withdrawals for up to 10 business days during a 90 day period, in the event that the private investment company’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds. The Money Market Series seeks current income consistent with maintaining liquidity and preserving capital. Although the Money Market Series is not registered under the 1940 Act, its investments may follow the parameters of investments by a money market fund that is subject to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

Securities lending income is equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral, net of fees and other payments to and from borrowers of securities, and less the collateral investment expenses. The Fund retains a portion of securities lending income and remits a remaining portion to BIM as compensation for its services as securities lending agent.

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, the Fund retains 75% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment expenses), and this amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment expenses.

In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income earned across the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex in a calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, the Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year securities lending income in an amount equal to 80% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment expenses), and this amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment expenses.

The share of securities lending income earned by the Fund is shown as securities lending income — affiliated — net in the Statement of Operations. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund paid BIM $305 for securities lending agent services.

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

 

6.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the year ended December 31, 2020, sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were $2,679,847. For the year ended December 31, 2020, there were no purchases.

 

7.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. The Fund’s current practice is to retain long-term capital gains, if any, and to pay U.S. federal taxes thereon at corporate tax rates on behalf of the shareholders. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, shareholders will be required to include their proportionate share of the retained capital gains in income and are entitled to report a credit for their share of the tax paid by the Fund.

The Fund files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The statute of limitations on the Fund’s U.S. federal tax returns generally remains open for a period of three fiscal years after they are filed. The statutes of limitations on the Fund’s state and local tax returns may remain open for an additional year depending upon the jurisdiction.

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Fund as of December 31, 2020, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Fund’s financial statements.

U.S. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. As of period end, the following permanent differences attributable to redemption in-kind transactions, non-deductible expenses and long-term capital gains deemed distributed to shareholders were reclassified to the following accounts:

 

     Amounts  

Paid-in capital

  $ 13,971,378  

Accumulated earnings (loss)

    (13,971,378

The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:

 

     12/31/20      12/31/19  

Ordinary income

  $   2,437,325      $   2,612,403  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A L     T A T E M E N T S

  17


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

As of period end, the tax components of accumulated net earnings were as follows:

 

     Amounts  

Undistributed ordinary income

  $ 23,385  

Net unrealized gains(a)

    166,341,421  
 

 

 

 
  $   166,364,806  
 

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized gains was attributable primarily to the basis differences on contributed securities.

 

As of December 31, 2020, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

     Amounts  

Tax cost

  $ 16,041,745  
 

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 166,352,641  

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (1,190
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  $   166,351,451  
 

 

 

 

 

8.

BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, along with certain other funds managed by the Manager and its affiliates (“Participating Funds”), is a party to a 364-day, $2.25 billion credit agreement with a group of lenders. Under this agreement, the Fund may borrow to fund shareholder redemptions. Excluding commitments designated for certain individual funds, the Participating Funds, including the Fund, can borrow up to an aggregate commitment amount of $1.75 billion at any time outstanding, subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the agreement. The credit agreement has the following terms: a fee of 0.10% per annum on unused commitment amounts and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) one-month LIBOR (but, in any event, not less than 0.00%) on the date the loan is made plus 0.80% per annum or (b) the Fed Funds rate (but, in any event, not less than 0.00%) in effect from time to time plus 0.80% per annum on amounts borrowed. The agreement expires in April 2021 unless extended or renewed. These fees were allocated among such funds based upon portions of the aggregate commitment available to them and relative net assets of Participating Funds. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund did not borrow under the credit agreement.

 

9.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, the Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate and price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. The Fund’s prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.

The Fund may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.

Market Risk: An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a fund’s investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.

Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. The Fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The Fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause the Fund’s NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of the Fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Fund may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Fund manages counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Fund to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Fund’s exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Fund.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a fund’s objectives, minimizes the risk that a price change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of a fund. The investment concentrations within the Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

The Fund invest a significant portion of its assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the Fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedule of Investments.

LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) by the end of 2021, and it is expected that LIBOR will cease to be published after that time. The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Fund is uncertain.

 

10.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended 12/31/20     Year Ended 12/31/19  
Share Class   Shares     Amounts     Shares     Amounts  

BlackRock Shares

       

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    398     $ 528,875       455     $ 566,415  

Shares redeemed

    (13,402 )(a)      (16,186,302     (7,419 )(b)      (8,513,554
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (13,004   $   (15,657,427     (6,964   $   (7,947,139
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Including (10,808) representing in-kind redemptions.

 
  (b) 

Including (5,878) representing in-kind redemptions.

 

 

11.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A L     T A T E M E N T S

  19


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of BlackRock Exchange Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of BlackRock FundsSM:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of BlackRock Exchange Portfolio of BlackRock FundsSM (the “Fund”), including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2020, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2020, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 23, 2021

We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 1992.

 

 

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Important Tax Information  (unaudited)

 

For corporate shareholders, the percentage of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 that qualified for the dividends-received deduction were as follows:

 

 

 
Fund Name  

Dividends-Received

Deduction

 

 

 

BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

    100.00

 

 

The following maximum amounts are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020:

 

 

   
Fund Name   Qualified Dividend
Income
       

 

   

BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

    $  3,568,315    

 

   

 

 

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  21


Statement Regarding Liquidity Risk Management Program

 

In compliance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”), BlackRock FundsSM (the “Trust”) has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) for BlackRock Exchange Portfolio (the “Fund”), a series of the Trust, which is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk.

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, met on November 10-11, 2020 (the “Meeting”) to review the Program. The Board previously appointed BlackRock Advisors, LLC or BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BlackRock”), each an investment adviser to certain Funds, as the program administrator for each Fund’s Program, as applicable. BlackRock also previously delegated oversight of the Program to the 40 Act Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”). At the Meeting, the Committee, on behalf of BlackRock, provided the Board with a report that addressed the operation of the Program and assessed its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation, including the operation of each Fund’s Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”) where applicable, and any material changes to the Program (the “Report”). The Report covered the period from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The Report described the Program’s liquidity classification methodology for categorizing a Fund’s investments (including derivative transactions) into one of four liquidity buckets. It also referenced the methodology used by BlackRock to establish a Fund’s HLIM and noted that the Committee reviews and ratifies the HLIM assigned to each Fund no less frequently than annually. The Report also discussed notable events affecting liquidity over the Program Reporting Period, including the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the Funds and the overall market.

The Report noted that the Program complied with the key factors for consideration under the Liquidity Rule for assessing, managing and periodically reviewing a Fund’s liquidity risk, as follows:

 

  a)

The Fund’s investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments during both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions. During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether each Fund’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end fund structure with a focus on Funds with more significant and consistent holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. The Committee also factored a Fund’s concentration in an issuer into the liquidity classification methodology by taking issuer position sizes into account. Where a Fund participated in borrowings for investment purposes (such as tender option bonds and reverse repurchase agreements), such borrowings were factored into the Program’s calculation of a Fund’s liquidity bucketing. Derivative exposure was also considered in such calculation.

 

  b)

Short-term and long-term cash flow projections during both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions. During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed historical net redemption activity and used this information as a component to establish each Fund’s reasonably anticipated trading size (“RATS”). Each Fund has adopted an in-kind redemption policy which may be utilized to meet larger redemption requests. The Committee may also take into consideration a Fund’s shareholder ownership concentration (which, depending on product type and distribution channel, may or may not be available), a Fund’s distribution channels, and the degree of certainty associated with a Fund’s short-term and long-term cash flow projections.

 

  c)

Holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements. The Committee considered the terms of the credit facility committed to the Funds, the financial health of the institution providing the facility and the fact that the credit facility is shared among multiple Funds (including that a portion of the aggregate commitment amount is specifically designated for BlackRock Floating Rate Income Portfolio, a series of BlackRock Funds V). The Committee also considered other types of borrowing available to the Funds, such as the ability to use reverse repurchase agreements and interfund lending, as applicable.

There were no material changes to the Program during the Program Reporting Period. The Report provided to the Board stated that the Committee concluded that based on the operation of the functions, as described in the Report, the Program is operating as intended and is effective in implementing the requirements of the Liquidity Rule.

 

 

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Trustee and Officer Information

 

Independent Trustees(a)
         

Name

Year of Birth(b)

   Position(s) Held
(Length of
Service)(c)
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years    Number of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies
(“RICs”) Consisting of Investment
Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen
   Public Company
and Other
Investment
Company
Directorships
Held During Past
Five Years

Mark Stalnecker

1951

   Chair of the Board
(Since 2019)
and Trustee
(Since 2015)
  

Chief Investment Officer, University of Delaware from 1999 to 2013; Trustee and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committees, Winterthur Museum and Country Estate from 2005 to 2016; Member of the Investment Committee, Delaware Public Employees’ Retirement System since 2002; Member of the Investment Committee, Christiana Care Health System from 2009 to 2017; Member of the Investment Committee, Delaware Community Foundation from 2013 to 2014; Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, SEI Private Trust Co. from 2001 to 2014.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None
Bruce R. Bond
1946
   Trustee
(Since 2019)
  

Board Member, Amsphere Limited (software) since 2018; Trustee and Member of the Governance Committee, State Street Research Mutual Funds from 1997 to 2005; Board Member of Governance, Audit and Finance Committee, Avaya Inc. (computer equipment) from 2003 to 2007.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None
Susan J. Carter
1956
   Trustee
(Since 2016)
  

Director, Pacific Pension Institute from 2014 to 2018; Advisory Board Member, Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship at Tuck School of Business since 1997; Senior Advisor, Commonfund Capital, Inc. (“CCI”) (investment adviser) in 2015; Chief Executive Officer, CCI from 2013 to 2014; President & Chief Executive Officer, CCI from 1997 to 2013; Advisory Board Member, Girls Who Invest from 2015 to 2018 and Board Member thereof since 2018; Advisory Board Member, Bridges Fund Management since 2016; Trustee, Financial Accounting Foundation since 2017; Practitioner Advisory Board Member, Private Capital Research Institute (“PCRI”) since 2017; Lecturer in the Practice of Management, Yale School of Management since 2019.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None
Collette Chilton
1958
   Trustee
(Since 2015)
  

Chief Investment Officer, Williams College since 2006; Chief Investment Officer, Lucent Asset Management Corporation from 1998 to 2006.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None
Neil A. Cotty
1954
   Trustee
(Since 2016)
  

Bank of America Corporation from 1996 to 2015, serving in various senior finance leadership roles, including Chief Accounting Officer, from 2009 to 2015, Chief Financial Officer of Global Banking, Markets and Wealth Management from 2008 to 2009, Chief Accounting Officer from 2004 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Consumer Bank from 2003 to 2004, Chief Financial Officer of Global Corporate Investment Bank from 1999 to 2002.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None
Lena G. Goldberg
1949
   Trustee
(Since 2019)
  

Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School, since 2008; Director, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. since 2013; FMR LLC/Fidelity Investments (financial services) from 1996 to 2008, serving in various senior roles including Executive Vice President - Strategic Corporate Initiatives and Executive Vice President and General Counsel; Partner, Sullivan & Worcester LLP from 1985 to 1996 and Associate thereof from 1979 to 1985.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None
Henry R. Keizer
1956
   Trustee
(Since 2019)
  

Director, Park Indemnity Ltd. (captive insurer) since 2010; Director, MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (financial and bank holding company) from 2014 to 2016; Director, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants from 2009 to 2011; Director, KPMG LLP (audit, tax and advisory services) from 2004 to 2005 and 2010 to 2012; Director, KPMG International in 2012, Deputy Chairman and Chief Operating Officer thereof from 2010 to 2012 and U.S. Vice Chairman of Audit thereof from 2005 to 2010; Global Head of Audit, KPMGI (consortium of KPMG firms) from 2006 to 2010; Director, YMCA of Greater New York from 2006 to 2010.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    Hertz Global Holdings (car rental); Montpelier Re Holdings, Ltd. (publicly held property and casualty reinsurance) from 2013 until 2015; WABCO (commercial vehicle safety systems); Sealed Air Corp. (packaging)
Cynthia A. Montgomery
1952
   Trustee
(Since 2007)
  

Professor, Harvard Business School since 1989.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. (manufacturing)

 

 

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  23


Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Independent Trustees(a)
         

Name

Year of Birth(b)

   Position(s) Held
(Length of
Service)(c)
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years    Number of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies
(“RICs”) Consisting of Investment
Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen
   Public Company
and Other
Investment
Company
Directorships
Held During Past
Five Years

Donald C. Opatrny

1952

   Trustee
(Since 2019)
  

Trustee, Vice Chair, Member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Investment Committee, Cornell University since 2004; President, Trustee and Member of the Investment Committee, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum from 2007 to 2014; Member of the Board and Investment Committee, University School from 2007 to 2018; Member of the Investment Committee, Mellon Foundation from 2009 to 2015; Trustee, Artstor (a Mellon Foundation affiliate) from 2010 to 2015; President and Trustee, the Center for the Arts, Jackson Hole from 2011 to 2018; Director, Athena Capital Advisors LLC (investment management firm) since 2013; Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee, Community Foundation of Jackson Hole since 2014; Member of Affordable Housing Supply Board of Jackson, Wyoming since 2018; Member, Investment Funds Committee, State of Wyoming since 2017; Trustee, Phoenix Art Museum since 2018; Trustee, Arizona Community Foundation and Member of Investment Committee since 2020.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None

Joseph P. Platt

1947

   Trustee
(Since 2007)
  

General Partner, Thorn Partners, LP (private investments) since 1998; Director, WQED Multi-Media (public broadcasting not-for-profit) since 2001; Chair, Basic Health International (non-profit) since 2015.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (reinsurance company); Consol Energy Inc.

Kenneth L. Urish

1951

   Trustee
(Since 2007)
  

Managing Partner, Urish Popeck & Co., LLC (certified public accountants and consultants) since 1976; Past-Chairman of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Committee Member thereof since 2007; Member of External Advisory Board, The Pennsylvania State University Accounting Department since founding in 2001; Principal, UP Strategic Wealth Investment Advisors, LLC since 2013; Trustee, The Holy Family Institute from 2001 to 2010; President and Trustee, Pittsburgh Catholic Publishing Associates from 2003 to 2008; Director, Inter-Tel from 2006 to 2007.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None

Claire A. Walton

1957

   Trustee
(Since 2016)
  

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Liberty Square Asset Management, LP from 1998 to 2015; General Partner of Neon Liberty Capital Management, LLC since 2003; Director, Boston Hedge Fund Group from 2009 to 2018; Director, Woodstock Ski Runners since 2013; Director, Massachusetts Council on Economic Education from 2013 to 2015.

   33 RICs consisting of 159 Portfolios    None

 

 

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Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Interested Trustees(a)(d)
         

Name

Year of Birth(b)

   Position(s) Held
(Length of
Service)(c)
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years    Number of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies
(“RICs”) Consisting of Investment
Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen
   Public Company
and Other
Investment
Company
Directorships
Held During Past
Five Years

Robert Fairbairn

1965

   Trustee
(Since 2018)
  

Vice Chairman of BlackRock, Inc. since 2019; Member of BlackRock’s Global Executive and Global Operating Committees; Co-Chair of BlackRock’s Human Capital Committee; Senior Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2010 to 2019; oversaw BlackRock’s Strategic Partner Program and Strategic Product Management Group from 2012 to 2019; Member of the Board of Managers of BlackRock Investments, LLC from 2011 to 2018; Global Head of BlackRock’s Retail and iShares® businesses from 2012 to 2016.

   117 RICs consisting of 267 Portfolios    None

John M. Perlowski(e)

1964

   Trustee
(Since 2015),
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Since 2010)
  

Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2009; Head of BlackRock Global Accounting and Product Services since 2009; Advisory Director of Family Resource Network (charitable foundation) since 2009.

   118 RICs consisting of 268 Portfolios    None

 

(a) 

The address of each Trustee is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.

 
(b) 

Independent Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement, removal or death, or until December 31 of the year in which they turn 75. The Board may determine to extend the terms of Independent Trustees on a case-by-case basis, as appropriate.

 
(c) 

Following the combination of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM”) and BlackRock, Inc. in September 2006, the various legacy MLIM and legacy BlackRock fund boards were realigned and consolidated into three new fund boards in 2007. Furthermore, effective January 1, 2019, three BlackRock Fund Complexes were realigned and consolidated into two BlackRock Fund Complexes. As a result, although the chart shows the year that each Independent Trustee joined the Board, certain Independent Trustees first became members of the boards of other BlackRock-advised Funds, legacy MLIM funds or legacy BlackRock funds as follows: Bruce R. Bond, 2005; Cynthia A. Montgomery, 1994; Joseph P. Platt, 1999; Kenneth L. Urish, 1999; Lena G. Goldberg, 2016; Henry R. Keizer, 2016; Donald C. Opatrny, 2015.

 
(d) 

Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Perlowski are both “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund based on their positions with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates. Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Perlowski are also board members of the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.

 
(e) 

Mr. Perlowski is also a trustee of the BlackRock Credit Strategies Fund.

 

 

 

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  25


Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Officers Who Are Not Trustees(a)
     

Name

Year of Birth(b)

  

Position(s) Held

(Length of
Service)

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Thomas Callahan

1968

   Vice President
(Since 2016)
  

Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2013; Member of the Board of Managers of BlackRock Investments, LLC (principal underwriter) since 2019 and Managing Director thereof since 2017; Head of BlackRock’s Global Cash Management Business since 2016; Co-Head of the Global Cash Management Business from 2014 to 2016; Deputy Head of the Global Cash Management Business from 2013 to 2014; Member of the Cash Management Group Executive Committee since 2013; Chief Executive Officer of NYSE Liffe U.S. from 2008 to 2013.

Jennifer McGovern

1977

   Vice President
(Since 2014)
  

Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2016; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2011 to 2015; Head of Americas Product Development and Governance for BlackRock’s Global Product Group since 2019; Head of Product Structure and Oversight for BlackRock’s U.S. Wealth Advisory Group from 2013 to 2019.

Neal J. Andrews

1966

   Chief Financial Officer
(Since 2007)
  

Chief Financial Officer of the iShares® exchange traded funds from 2019 to 2020; Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2006.

Jay M. Fife

1970

  

Treasurer

(Since 2007)

  

Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2007.

Charles Park

1967

   Chief Compliance Officer
(Since 2014)
  

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for certain BlackRock-advised Funds from 2014 to 2015; Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex since 2014; Principal of and Chief Compliance Officer for iShares® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC since 2012 and BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer for the BFA-advised iShares® exchange traded funds since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer for BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. since 2012.

Lisa Belle

1968

   Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer
(Since 2019)
  

Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2019; Global Financial Crime Head for Asset and Wealth Management of JP Morgan from 2013 to 2019; Managing Director of RBS Securities from 2012 to 2013; Head of Financial Crimes for Barclays Wealth Americas from 2010 to 2012.

Janey Ahn

1975

   Secretary
(Since 2019)
  

Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2018; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2009 to 2017.

(a) The address of each Officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.

(b) Officers of the Trust serve at the pleasure of the Board.

Further information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers is available in the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling (800) 441-7762.

 

Neal J. Andrews retired as the Chief Financial Officer effective December 31, 2020, and Trent Walker was elected as the Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2021.

 

 

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Additional Information

 

General Information

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

Householding

The Fund will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, Rule 30e-3 notices and proxy statements, to shareholders with multiple accounts at the same address. This practice is commonly called “householding” and is intended to reduce expenses and eliminate duplicate mailings of shareholder documents. Mailings of your shareholder documents may be householded indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call the Fund at (800) 441-7762.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT is available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Additionally, the Fund makes its portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year available at blackrock.com/fundreports.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available upon request and without charge (1) by calling (800) 441-7762; (2) at blackrock.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

Availability of Proxy Voting Record

Information about how the Fund voted proxies relating to securities held in the Fund’s portfolio during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available upon request and without charge (1) at blackrock.com; or by calling (800) 441-7762 and (2) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

BlackRock’s Mutual Fund Family

BlackRock offers a diverse lineup of open-end mutual funds crossing all investment styles and managed by experts in equity, fixed-income and tax-exempt investing. Visit blackrock.com for more information.

Shareholder Privileges

Account Information

Call us at (800) 441-7762 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET on any business day to get information about your account balances, recent transactions and share prices. You can also visit blackrock.com for more information.

Automatic Investment Plans

Investor class shareholders who want to invest regularly can arrange to have $50 or more automatically deducted from their checking or savings account and invested in any of the BlackRock funds.

Systematic Withdrawal Plans

Investor class shareholders can establish a systematic withdrawal plan and receive periodic payments of $50 or more from their BlackRock funds, as long as their account balance is at least $10,000.

Retirement Plans

Shareholders may make investments in conjunction with Traditional, Rollover, Roth, Coverdell, Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs and 403(b) Plans.

 

 

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

  27


Additional Information  (continued)

 

BlackRock Privacy Principles

BlackRock is committed to maintaining the privacy of its current and former fund investors and individual clients (collectively, “Clients”) and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information BlackRock collects, how we protect that information and why in certain cases we share such information with select parties.

If you are located in a jurisdiction where specific laws, rules or regulations require BlackRock to provide you with additional or different privacy-related rights beyond what is set forth below, then BlackRock will comply with those specific laws, rules or regulations.

BlackRock obtains or verifies personal non-public information from and about you from different sources, including the following: (i) information we receive from you or, if applicable, your financial intermediary, on applications, forms or other documents; (ii) information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; (iii) information we receive from a consumer reporting agency; and (iv) from visits to our websites.

BlackRock does not sell or disclose to non-affiliated third parties any non-public personal information about its Clients, except as permitted by law or as is necessary to respond to regulatory requests or to service Client accounts. These non-affiliated third parties are required to protect the confidentiality and security of this information and to use it only for its intended purpose.

We may share information with our affiliates to service your account or to provide you with information about other BlackRock products or services that may be of interest to you. In addition, BlackRock restricts access to non-public personal information about its Clients to those BlackRock employees with a legitimate business need for the information. BlackRock maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that are designed to protect the non-public personal information of its Clients, including procedures relating to the proper storage and disposal of such information.

Fund and Service Providers

 

Investment Adviser and Administrator   Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
BlackRock Advisors, LLC   Deloitte & Touche LLP
Wilmington, DE 19809   Boston, MA 02116
 
Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent   Distributor
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.   BlackRock Investments, LLC
Wilmington, DE 19809   New York, NY 10022
 
Custodian   Legal Counsel
The Bank of New York Mellon   Sidley Austin LLP
New York, NY 10286   New York, NY 10019
 
  Address of the Fund
  100 Bellevue Parkway
  Wilmington, DE 19809

 

 

28  

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


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Portfolio Abbreviation
ADR    American Depositary Receipt

    

 

 

 

L O S S A R Y     O F     E R M  S     S E D     I N     T H I S     E P O R  T

  29


 

 

 

 

Want to know more?

blackrock.com | 800-441-7762

This report is intended for current holders. It is not authorized for use as an offer of sale or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by the Fund’s current prospectus. Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance. Investment returns and principal value of shares will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Statements and other information herein are as dated and are subject to change.

EXCH-12/20-AR

 

 

LOGO

   LOGO


  (b)

Not Applicable

 

Item 2 –

Code of Ethics – The registrant (or the “Fund”) has adopted a code of ethics, as of the end of the period covered by this report, applicable to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. During the period covered by this report, the code of ethics was amended to update certain information and to make other non-material changes. During the period covered by this report, there have been no waivers granted under the code of ethics. The registrant undertakes to provide a copy of the code of ethics to any person upon request, without charge, who calls 1-800-441-7762.

 

Item 3 –

Audit Committee Financial Expert – The registrant’s board of directors (the “board of directors”), has determined that (i) the registrant has the following audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee and (ii) each audit committee financial expert is independent:

Neil A. Cotty

Henry R. Keizer

Kenneth L. Urish

Under applicable securities laws, a person determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an “expert” for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or identification. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not affect the duties, obligations, or liability of any other member of the audit committee or board of directors.

 

Item 4 –

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The following table presents fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) in each of the last two fiscal years for the services rendered to the Fund:

 

      (a) Audit Fees    (b) Audit-Related Fees1    (c) Tax Fees2    (d) All Other Fees
Entity Name    Current
Fiscal Year
End
   Previous
Fiscal Year
End
   Current
Fiscal Year
End
   Previous
Fiscal Year
End
   Current
Fiscal Year
End
   Previous
Fiscal Year
End
   Current
Fiscal Year
End
   Previous
Fiscal Year
End

BlackRock

Exchange Portfolio

   $17,850    $17,850    $0    $0    $12,500    $12,900    $0    $0

The following table presents fees billed by D&T that were required to be approved by the registrant’s audit committee (the “Committee”) for services that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund and that are rendered on behalf of BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Investment Adviser” or “BlackRock”) and entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with BlackRock (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Service Providers”):

 

      Current Fiscal Year End    Previous Fiscal Year End

(b) Audit-Related Fees1

   $0    $0

(c) Tax Fees2

   $0    $0

(d) All Other Fees3

   $1,984,000    $2,050,500


1 The nature of the services includes assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements not included in Audit Fees, including accounting consultations, agreed-upon procedure reports, attestation reports, comfort letters, out-of-pocket expenses and internal control reviews not required by regulators.

2 The nature of the services includes tax compliance and/or tax preparation, including services relating to the filing or amendment of federal, state or local income tax returns, regulated investment company qualification reviews, taxable income and tax distribution calculations.

3 Non-audit fees of $1,984,000 and $2,050,500 for the current fiscal year and previous fiscal year, respectively, were paid to the Fund’s principal accountant in their entirety by BlackRock, in connection with services provided to the Affiliated Service Providers of the Fund and of certain other funds sponsored and advised by BlackRock or its affiliates for a service organization review and an accounting research tool subscription. These amounts represent aggregate fees paid by BlackRock and were not allocated on a per fund basis.

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures:

The Committee has adopted policies and procedures with regard to the pre-approval of services. Audit, audit-related and tax compliance services provided to the registrant on an annual basis require specific pre-approval by the Committee. The Committee also must approve other non-audit services provided to the registrant and those non-audit services provided to the Investment Adviser and Affiliated Service Providers that relate directly to the operations and the financial reporting of the registrant. Certain of these non-audit services that the Committee believes are (a) consistent with the SEC’s auditor independence rules and (b) routine and recurring services that will not impair the independence of the independent accountants may be approved by the Committee without consideration on a specific case-by-case basis (“general pre-approval”). The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of the pre-approval, unless the Committee provides for a different period. Tax or other non-audit services provided to the registrant which have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the registrant will only be deemed pre-approved provided that any individual project does not exceed $10,000 attributable to the registrant or $50,000 per project. For this purpose, multiple projects will be aggregated to determine if they exceed the previously mentioned cost levels.

Any proposed services exceeding the pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Committee, as will any other services not subject to general pre-approval (e.g., unanticipated but permissible services). The Committee is informed of each service approved subject to general pre-approval at the next regularly scheduled in-person board meeting. At this meeting, an analysis of such services is presented to the Committee for ratification. The Committee may delegate to the Committee Chairman the authority to approve the provision of and fees for any specific engagement of permitted non-audit services, including services exceeding pre-approved cost levels.

(e)(2) None of the services described in each of Items 4(b) through (d) were approved by the Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception in paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) Not Applicable

(g) The aggregate non-audit fees, defined as the sum of the fees shown under “Audit-Related Fees,” “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees,” paid to the accountant for services rendered by the accountant to the registrant, the Investment Adviser and the Affiliated Service Providers were:

 

Entity Name   

Current Fiscal Year

End

  

Previous Fiscal Year

End

BlackRock Exchange Portfolio

   $12,500    $12,900


Additionally, the amounts billed by D&T in connection with services provided to the Affiliated Service Providers of the Fund and of other funds sponsored and advised by BlackRock or its affiliates during the current and previous fiscal years for a service organization review and an accounting research tool subscription were:

 

Current Fiscal Year

End

  

Previous Fiscal Year

End

$1,984,000

   $2,050,500

These amounts represent aggregate fees paid by BlackRock and were not allocated on a per fund basis.

(h) The Committee has considered and determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Investment Adviser and the Affiliated Service Providers that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

 

Item 5 –

Audit Committee of Listed Registrant – Not Applicable

 

Item 6 –

Investments

(a) The registrant’s Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

(b) Not Applicable due to no such divestments during the semi-annual period covered since the previous Form N-CSR filing.

 

Item 7 –

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not Applicable

 

Item 8 –

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not Applicable

 

Item 9 –

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not Applicable

 

Item 10 –

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – There have been no material changes to these procedures.

 

Item 11 –

Controls and Procedures

(a) The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Item 12 –

Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not Applicable

 

Item 13 –

Exhibits attached hereto

 

  (a)(1) Code of Ethics – See Item 2
  (a)(2) Section 302 Certifications are attached
  (a)(3) Not Applicable
  (a)(4) Not Applicable
  (b) Section 906 Certifications are attached

 


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BlackRock Funds

 

  By:     

/s/ John M. Perlowski                            

       John M. Perlowski
       Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
       BlackRock Funds

Date: March 5, 2021

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

  By:     

/s/ John M. Perlowski                            

       John M. Perlowski
       Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
       BlackRock Funds

Date: March 5, 2021

 

  By:     

/s/ Trent Walker                             

       Trent Walker
       Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of
       BlackRock Funds

Date: March 5, 2021

EX-99. CERT

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 30a-2(a) UNDER THE 1940 ACT AND SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

 

I, John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of BlackRock Funds, certify that:

1.            I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of BlackRock Funds;

2.            Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.            Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.            The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

a)            designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)            designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)            evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

d)            disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.            The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)            all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b)            any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: March 5, 2021
/s/ John M. Perlowski        
John M. Perlowski

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

BlackRock Funds


EX-99. CERT

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 30a-2(a) UNDER THE 1940 ACT AND SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

 

I, Trent Walker, Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of BlackRock Funds, certify that:

1.            I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of BlackRock Funds;

2.            Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.            Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.            The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

a)            designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)            designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)            evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

d)            disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.            The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)            all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b)            any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: March 5, 2021
/s/ Trent Walker        
Trent Walker

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of

BlackRock Funds

 

Exhibit 99.906CERT

Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the undersigned officer of BlackRock Funds (the “registrant”), hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge, that the registrant’s Report on Form N-CSR for the period ended December 31, 2020 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the registrant.

Date: March 5, 2021

/s/ John M. Perlowski        

John M. Perlowski

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

BlackRock Funds

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the undersigned officer of BlackRock Funds (the “registrant”), hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge, that the registrant’s Report on Form N-CSR for the period ended December 31, 2020 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the registrant.

Date: March 5, 2021

/s/ Trent Walker        

Trent Walker

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of

BlackRock Funds

This certification is being furnished pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR with the Securities and Exchange Commission.