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: 811-22774

 

Name of Fund:   BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

 

Fund Address:   100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809

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

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4

Date of fiscal year end: 10/31/2021

Date of reporting period: 10/31/2021


Item 1 – Report to Stockholders

(a) The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


 

LOGO

  OCTOBER 31, 2021

 

  

2021 Annual Report

 

 

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

 

 

 

 
Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee  


Supplemental Information  (unaudited)

 

Section 19(a) Notices

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust’s (BIT) (the “Trust”) amounts and sources of distributions reported are estimates and are being provided to you pursuant to regulatory requirements and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Trust’s investment experience during its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Trust will provide a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

October 31, 2021

 

 

 

   
          

Total Cumulative Distributions

for the Fiscal Period

   

% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative

Distributions for the Fiscal Period

        
   

 

 

   

 

 

   
 

Trust Name

   
Net
Income
 
 
   

Net Realized
Capital Gains
Short-Term
 
 
 
   

Net Realized
Capital Gains
Long-Term
 
 
 
   
Return of
Capital
 
 (a)  
   

Total Per
Common
Share
 
 
 
   
Net
Income
 
 
   

Net Realized
Capital Gains
Short-Term
 
 
 
   

Net Realized
Capital Gains
Long-Term
 
 
 
   
Return of
Capital
 
 
   

Total Per  
Common  
Share   
 
 
 
 
 

 

   
 

BIT

  $  1.026569       $                —       $               —     $  0.457831     $ 1.484400       69             31     100%    
 

 

   

 

  (a)

The Trust estimates that it has distributed more than its net income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholder’s investment in the Trust is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Trust’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.” When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will reduce the Trust’s net asset value per share.

 

Section 19(a) notices for the Trust, as applicable, are available on the BlackRock website at blackrock.com.

Section 19(b) Disclosure

The Trust, acting pursuant to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) exemptive order and with the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), has adopted a managed distribution plan, consistent with its investment objectives and policies to support a level distribution of income, capital gains and/or return of capital (the “Plan”). In accordance with the Plan, the Trust currently distributes the following fixed amounts per share on a monthly basis:

 

   
Exchange Symbol   Amount Per
Common Share
 

BIT

  $ 0.1237  

The fixed amounts distributed per share are subject to change at the discretion of the Trust’s Board. Under its Plan, the Trust will distribute all available net income to its shareholders as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If sufficient income (inclusive of net income and short-term capital gains) is not earned on a monthly basis, the Trust will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return of capital to shareholders in order to maintain a level distribution. Each monthly distribution to shareholders is expected to be at the fixed amount established by the Board; however, the Trust may make additional distributions from time to time, including additional capital gain distributions at the end of the taxable year, if required to meet requirements imposed by the Code and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Trust’s investment performance from the amount of these distributions or from the terms of the Plan. The Trust’s total return performance is presented in its financial highlights table.

The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Trust’s Plan at any time without prior notice to the Trust’s shareholders if it deems such actions to be in the best interests of the Trust or its shareholders. The suspension or termination of the Plan could have the effect of creating a trading discount (if the Trust’s stock is trading at or above net asset value) or widening an existing trading discount. The Trust is subject to risks that could have an adverse impact on its ability to maintain level distributions. Examples of potential risks include, but are not limited to, economic downturns impacting the markets, changes in interest rates, decreased market volatility, companies suspending or decreasing corporate dividend distributions and changes in the Code.

 

 

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The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The 12-month reporting period as of October 31, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or “COVID-19”) pandemic. The United States began the reporting period as the initial reopening-led economic rebound was beginning to slow. Nonetheless, the economy continued to grow at a solid pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic. However, a rapid rebound in consumer spending pushed up against supply constraints and led to elevated inflation.

Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as the implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets continued to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, outpacing investment-grade corporate bonds.

The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2022 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2021.

Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the Delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.

Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and health care, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart, while Chinese equities stand to gain from a more accommodative monetary and fiscal environment as the Chinese economy slows. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries, Asian fixed income, and emerging market local-currency bonds offer potential 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 October 31, 2021
     
        6-Month       12-Month 
   

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

    10.91%     42.91%
   

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

    1.85   50.80
   

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

    4.14   34.18
   

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

    (4.87)   16.96
   

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

    0.01     0.06
   

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

    1.59     (4.77)
   

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

    1.06   (  0.48)
   

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

    0.33     2.76
   

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

    2.36   10.53
Past performance is not an indication of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index.
 

 

 

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

  3


Table of Contents

 

      Page  

Supplemental Information

     2  

The Markets in Review

     3  

Annual Report:

  

The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging

     5  

Derivative Financial Instruments

     5  

Trust Summary

     6  

Financial Statements:

  

Schedule of Investments

     9  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     55  

Statement of Operations

     57  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     58  

Statement of Cash Flows

     59  

Financial Highlights

     61  

Notes to Financial Statements

     62  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     73  

Important Tax Information

     74  

Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreements

     75  

Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks

     78  

Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     85  

Trustee and Officer Information

     86  

Additional Information

     90  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     93  

 

 

4       


The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging    BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

 

The Trust may utilize leverage to seek to enhance the distribution rate on, and net asset value (“NAV”) of, its common shares (“Common Shares”). However, there is no guarantee that these objectives can be achieved in all interest rate environments.

In general, the concept of leveraging is based on the premise that the financing cost of leverage, which is based on short-term interest rates, is normally lower than the income earned by the Trust on its longer-term portfolio investments purchased with the proceeds from leverage. To the extent that the total assets of the Trust (including the assets obtained from leverage) are invested in higher-yielding portfolio investments, the Trust’s shareholders benefit from the incremental net income. The interest earned on securities purchased with the proceeds from leverage (after paying the leverage costs) is paid to shareholders in the form of dividends, and the value of these portfolio holdings (less the leverage liability) is reflected in the per share NAV.

To illustrate these concepts, assume the Trust’s capitalization is $100 million and it utilizes leverage for an additional $30 million, creating a total value of $130 million available for investment in longer-term income securities. If prevailing short-term interest rates are 3% and longer-term interest rates are 6%, the yield curve has a strongly positive slope. In this case, the Trust’s financing costs on the $30 million of proceeds obtained from leverage are based on the lower short-term interest rates. At the same time, the securities purchased by the Trust with the proceeds from leverage earn income based on longer-term interest rates. In this case, the Trust’s financing cost of leverage is significantly lower than the income earned on the Trust’s longer-term investments acquired from such leverage proceeds, and therefore the holders of Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”) are the beneficiaries of the incremental net income.

However, in order to benefit shareholders, the return on assets purchased with leverage proceeds must exceed the ongoing costs associated with the leverage. If interest and other costs of leverage exceed the Trust’s return on assets purchased with leverage proceeds, income to shareholders is lower than if the Trust had not used leverage. Furthermore, the value of the Trust’s portfolio investments generally varies inversely with the direction of long-term interest rates, although other factors can influence the value of portfolio investments. In contrast, the amount of the Trust’s obligations under its leverage arrangement generally does not fluctuate in relation to interest rates. As a result, changes in interest rates can influence the Trust’s NAV positively or negatively. Changes in the future direction of interest rates are very difficult to predict accurately, and there is no assurance that the Trust’s intended leveraging strategy will be successful.

The use of leverage also generally causes greater changes in the Trust’s NAV, market price and dividend rates than comparable portfolios without leverage. In a declining market, leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV and market price of the Trust’s shares than if the Trust were not leveraged. In addition, the Trust may be required to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or at distressed values in order to comply with regulatory requirements applicable to the use of leverage or as required by the terms of leverage instruments, which may cause the Trust to incur losses. The use of leverage may limit the Trust’s ability to invest in certain types of securities or use certain types of hedging strategies. The Trust incurs expenses in connection with the use of leverage, all of which are borne by shareholders and may reduce income to the shareholders. Moreover, to the extent the calculation of the Trust’s investment advisory fees includes assets purchased with the proceeds of leverage, the investment advisory fees payable to the Trust’s investment adviser will be higher than if the Trust did not use leverage.

The Trust may utilize leverage through reverse repurchase agreements as described in the Notes to Financial Statements, if applicable.

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Trust is permitted to issue debt up to 33 1/3% of its total managed assets. The Trust may voluntarily elect to limit its leverage to less than the maximum amount permitted under the 1940 Act.

If the Trust segregates or designates on its books and records cash or liquid assets having a value not less than the value of the Trust’s obligations under a reverse repurchase agreement (including accrued interest) then such transaction is not considered a senior security and is not subject to the foregoing limitations and requirements imposed by the 1940 Act.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Trust may invest in various derivative financial instruments. These instruments are used to obtain exposure to a security, commodity, index, market, and/or other assets without owning or taking physical custody of securities, commodities and/or other referenced assets or to manage market, equity, credit, interest rate, foreign currency exchange rate, commodity and/or other risks. Derivative financial instruments may give rise to a form of economic leverage and involve risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of a derivative financial instrument and the underlying asset, possible default of the counterparty to the transaction or illiquidity of the instrument. The Trust’s successful use of a derivative financial instrument depends on the investment adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements accurately, which cannot be assured. The use of these instruments may result in losses greater than if they had not been used, may limit the amount of appreciation the Trust can realize on an investment and/or may result in lower distributions paid to shareholders. The Trust’s investments in these instruments, if any, are discussed in detail in the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

T H E   B E N E F I T S   A N D   R I S K S   O F   L E V E R A G I N G  /  D E R I V A T I V E   F I N A N C I A L   I N S T R U M E N T S

  5


Trust Summary  as of October 31, 2021 

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Investment Objective

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust’s (BIT) (the “Trust”) primary investment objective is to seek high current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in loan and debt instruments and other investments with similar economic characteristics. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives. Additionally, as part of the Trust’s investments in loans, the Trust may make loans directly to borrowers either as a sole lender or by acting as a member of a syndicate of original lenders.

No assurance can be given that the Trust’s investment objective will be achieved.

Trust Information

 

   

Symbol on New York Stock Exchange

  BIT

Initial Offering Date

  February 27, 2013

Current Distribution Rate on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2021 ($18.90)(a)

  7.85%

Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(b)

  $0.1237

Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share(b)

  $1.4844

Leverage as of October 31, 2021(c)

  36%

 

  (a)

Current distribution rate on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. The current distribution rate may consist of income, net realized gains and/or a return of capital. Past performance is not an indication of future results.

 
  (b)

The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. A portion of the distribution may be deemed a return of capital or net realized gain.

 
  (c)

Represents reverse repurchase agreements as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to any borrowings) minus the sum of its liabilities (other than borrowings representing financial leverage). Does not reflect derivatives or other instruments that may give rise to economic leverage. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging and Derivative Financial Instruments.

 

Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary

 

     10/31/21      10/31/20      Change      High      Low  

Closing Market Price

  $ 18.90      $ 15.65        20.77    $  19.15      $  15.65  

Net Asset Value

    17.98        17.66        1.81        18.62        17.66  

TOTAL RETURN BASED ON A $10,000 INVESTMENT

 

LOGO

 

  (a)

Represents the Trust’s closing market price on the NYSE and reflects the reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

 
  (b)

A broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market.

 

 

 

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Trust Summary  as of October 31, 2021 (continued)

    

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Performance

Returns for the period ended October 31, 2021 were as follows:

 

    Average Annual Total Returns  
 

 

 

 
      1 Year       5 Years      
Since
Inception
 
(a) 

Trust at NAV(b)(c)

    10.55     8.35     8.46

Trust at Market Price(b)(c)

    31.13       12.11       8.51  

Lipper General Bond Funds at NAV(d)

    14.43       7.35       6.67 (e)  

Lipper General Bond Funds at Market Price(d)

    22.25       9.84       7.31 (e)  

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index(f)(g)

    (0.48     3.10       2.89  

 

  (a)

The Trust commenced operations on February 27, 2013.

 
  (b)

All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices. Performance results reflect the Trust’s use of leverage.

 
  (c)

The Trust moved from a discount to NAV to a premium during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on market price and performance based on NAV.

 
  (d)

Average return. Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date as calculated by Lipper. Historical performance shown is calculated based on the composition of the Lipper General Bond Fund category at the time of preparation of this report to shareholders.

 
  (e)

The average annual total returns since inception represents the annualized returns for the period from February 28, 2013 to October 31, 2021.

 
  (f)

A broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market.

 
  (g)

The Trust is presenting the performance of a broad-based securities market index (“broad-based index”) to satisfy SEC reporting requirements. The broad-based index is presented only for informational purposes, as the Trust is actively managed and does not seek to track or replicate the performance of the broad-based index or any other index. The Trust changed its reporting benchmark from Lipper General Bond Funds to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index to satisfy SEC reporting requirements.

 

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

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

More information about the Trust’s historical performance can be found in the “Closed End Funds” section of blackrock.com.

The following discussion relates to the Trust’s absolute performance based on NAV:

What factors influenced performance?

Contributors to the Trust’s absolute performance over the reporting period included allocations to both high yield and investment grade corporate bonds. Within securitized assets, holdings of non-agency adjustable-rate mortgage securities (“ARMS”), collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and asset-backed securities (“ABS”) added to the Trust’s return. Exposure to U.S. Treasuries and floating rate loan interests also contributed to performance.

On the downside, exposure to emerging market bonds and municipal bonds weighed on the Trust’s return. Within securitized assets, holdings of 30-year fixed-rate pass-through mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and agency CMOs detracted.

The Trust’s practice of maintaining a specified level of monthly distributions to shareholders did not have a material impact on the Trust’s investment strategy. The distribution policy resulted in return of capital for the period. Refer to the financial highlights and income tax information sections in this report for further information about the distributions.

Describe recent portfolio activity.

Over the period, the Trust’s exposure to 30-year pass-through MBS and high yield corporate credit was increased, while exposure to municipal bonds, emerging market bonds, non-agency ARMS and CMOs was trimmed.

Describe portfolio positioning at period end.

At period end, the Trust maintained a diversified exposure within non-government spread sectors, including U.S. high yield corporate bonds, non-agency ARMS, CMOs, investment grade corporate bonds, emerging market debt, ABS and commercial MBS.

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.

 

 

T R U S T   S U M M A R Y

  7


Trust Summary  as of October 31, 2021 (continued)

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Overview of the Trust’s Total Investments

 

PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION

 

     
Asset Type   10/31/21     10/31/20  

Corporate Bonds

    55     53
U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities     13       9  

Asset-Backed Securities

    7       12  
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities     7       8  

Preferred Securities

    7       9  

Floating Rate Loan Interests

    5       4  

Short-Term Securities

    3       2  

Foreign Agency Obligations

    3       3  

Other*

    (a)      (a) 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION

 

     
Credit Rating(b)(c)   10/31/21     10/31/20  

AAA/Aaa(d)

    14     4

AA/Aa

    (a)      6  

A

    3       4  

BBB/Baa

    16       19  

BB/Ba

    26       25  

B

    22       20  

CCC/Caa

    7       7  

CC

    4       6  

C

    2        

D

          1  

N/R

    6 (e)      8  

 

 
(a)

Rounds to less than 1% of total investments.

(b)

For financial reporting purposes, credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either S&P Global Ratings or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. if ratings differ. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB/Baa or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB/Ba or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by either rating agency. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

(c)

Excludes common stocks, warrants, short-term securities, options purchased and options written.

(d)

The investment adviser evaluates the credit quality of not-rated investments based upon certain factors including, but not limited to, credit ratings for similar investments and financial analysis of sectors, individual investments and/or issuer. Using this approach, the investment adviser has deemed U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities and U.S. Treasury Obligations as AAA/Aaa.

(e)

The investment adviser evaluates the credit quality of unrated investments based upon certain factors including, but not limited to, credit ratings for similar investments and financial analysis of sectors and individual investments. Using this approach, the investment adviser has deemed certain of these unrated securities as investment grade quality. As of October 31, 2021, the market value of unrated securities deemed by the investment adviser to be investment grade represents less than 1% of the Trust’s total investments.

*

Includes one or more investment categories that individually represents less than 1% of the Trust’s total investments. Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for details.

 

 

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Schedule of Investments

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  

Asset-Backed Securities

 

Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2017-D, Class B, 0.00%, 12/25/57(a)(b)(c)

    USD       72     $ 57,841  

AMMC CLO 19 Ltd., Series 2016-1A, Class E, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 7.00%), 7.12%, 10/15/28(b)(c)

      1,000           1,000,762  

Anchorage Capital CLO Ltd.(b)(c)

     

Series 2014-5RA, Class E, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.40%), 5.52%, 01/15/30

      860       846,849  

Series 2015-7A, Class D1R2, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.50%), 3.64%, 01/28/31

      250       250,123  

Series 2016-8A, Class DR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.00%), 3.14%, 07/28/28

      1,000       1,000,078  

Argent Securities Trust, Series 2006-W5, Class A1A, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.30%), 0.39%, 06/25/36(b)

      4,750       3,768,566  

Assurant CLO Ltd., Series 2019-5A, Class E, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 7.34%), 7.46%, 01/15/33(b)(c)

      250       250,245  

Bain Capital Credit CLO Ltd., Series 2020-2A, Class DR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.30%), 3.42%, 07/19/34(b)(c)

      250       250,138  

Bear Stearns Asset-Backed Securities I Trust, Series 2006-HE9, Class 2A, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.14%), 0.23%, 11/25/36(b)

      1,636       1,616,302  

Benefit Street Partners CLO XVIII Ltd., Series 2019- 18A, Class E, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.90%), 7.02%, 10/15/32(b)(c)

      500       499,731  

Benefit Street Partners CLO XX Ltd., Series 2020- 20A, Class CR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.05%), 2.19%, 07/15/34(b)(c)

      250       250,007  

Brookside Mill CLO Ltd., Series 2013-1A, Class DR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.65%), 2.77%, 01/17/28(b)(c)

      250       249,881  

Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust(b)

     

Series 2006-FRE2, Class A2, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.12%), 0.21%, 10/25/36

      3,408       3,177,408  

Series 2006-FRE2, Class A5, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.08%), 0.17%, 03/25/35

      7,021       6,518,115  

CarVal CLO III Ltd., Series 2019-2A, Class E, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.44%), 6.57%, 07/20/32(b)(c)

      500       493,900  

C-BASS Trust, Series 2006-CB7, Class A4, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.16%), 0.25%, 10/25/36(b)

      5,146       4,319,773  

CIFC Funding Ltd., Series 2020-1A, Class DR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.10%), 3.22%, 07/15/36(b)(c)

      500       499,995  

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-FX1, Class A7, 5.78%, 10/25/36(d)

      381       325,301  

Clear Creek CLO, Series 2015-1A, Class DR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.95%), 3.08%, 10/20/30(b)(c)

      250       248,685  

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2006- 26, Class 1A, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.14%), 0.23%, 06/25/37(b)

      637       608,646  

CWHEQ Revolving Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2006-I, Class 1A, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.14%), 0.23%, 01/15/37(b)

      633       607,775  

Fremont Home Loan Trust(b)

     

Series 2006-A, Class 2A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.32%), 0.41%, 05/25/36

      4,531       3,383,983  

Series 2006-D, Class 2A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.15%), 0.24%, 11/25/36

      6,763       3,249,111  

Galaxy XXI CLO Ltd., Series 2015-21A, Class ER, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.25%), 5.38%, 04/20/31(b)(c)

      500       487,661  

Home Equity Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Trust, Series 2006-E, Class 2A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.17%), 0.26%, 04/25/37(b)

      3,993       3,278,892  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  

Asset-Backed Securities (continued)

 

HPS Loan Management Ltd., Series 8A-2016, Class ER, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.50%), 5.63%, 07/20/30(b)(c)

    USD       1,000     $ 953,446  

Kayne CLO 6 Ltd., Series 2019-6A, Class E, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 7.53%), 7.66%, 01/20/33(b)(c)

      500       500,797  

Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust(b)

     

Series 2006-10, Class 2A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.16%), 0.25%, 11/25/36

      10,084       4,334,558  

Series 2006-7, Class 2A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.16%), 0.25%, 08/25/36

      5,510       2,920,205  

Madison Park Funding X Ltd.(b)(c)

     

Series 2012-10A, Class DR2, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.25%), 3.38%, 01/20/29

      750       750,146  

Series 2012-10A, Class ER2, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.40%), 6.53%, 01/20/29

      1,500           1,496,274  

Mastr Asset-Backed Securities Trust, Series 2006- HE2, Class A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.30%), 0.39%, 06/25/36(b)

      8,034       4,232,073  

Neuberger Berman CLO Ltd., Series 2015-20A, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.50%), 6.62%, 07/15/34(b)(c)

      710       713,529  

Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 37 Ltd., Series 2020-37A, Class CR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.80%), 1.93%, 07/20/31(b)(c)

      400       398,867  

Oaktree CLO Ltd., Series 2015-1A,
Class DR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.20%), 5.33%, 10/20/27(b)(c)

      1,000       998,813  

Octagon Investment Partners 31 LLC, Series 2017- 1A, Class E, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.30%), 6.43%, 07/20/30(b)(c)

      500       495,250  

Octagon Investment Partners XXII Ltd., Series 2014- 1A, Class DRR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.75%), 2.88%, 01/22/30(b)(c)

      500       495,000  

OZLM XXI Ltd., Series 2017-21A, Class D, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.54%), 5.67%, 01/20/31(b)(c)

      250       233,860  

Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd.(b)(c)

     

Series 2018-5A, Class D, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.25%), 4.38%, 01/20/27

      500       499,531  

Series 2019-2A, Class B, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.25%), 2.38%, 04/20/27

      250       250,087  

Series 2019-3A, Class B, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.10%), 2.23%, 08/20/27

      750       751,100  

Regional Management Issuance, 3.88%, 10/17/33

      1,110       1,110,000  

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2007-3, Class AF2, 7.00%, 09/25/37(d)

      3,794       2,182,735  

Rockford Tower CLO Ltd., Series 2017-2A, Class DR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.85%), 2.97%, 10/15/29(b)(c)

      500       500,001  

Saxon Asset Securities Trust, Series 2007-3, Class 2A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.40%), 0.49%, 09/25/47(b)

      4,731       4,628,467  

Scholar Funding Trust, Series 2013-A, Class R, 0.00%, (a)

      (e)      1,604,981  

TICP CLO VII Ltd., Series 2017-7A, Class ER, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 7.05%), 7.17%, 04/15/33(b)(c)

      250       250,722  

Treman Park CLO Ltd., Series 2015-1A, Class DRR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.65%), 2.78%, 10/20/28(b)(c)

      1,500       1,502,280  

TRESTLES CLO Ltd., Series 2017-1A, Class CR, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.90%), 3.02%, 04/25/32(b)(c)

      250       249,075  

Unique Pub Finance Co. PLC(f)

     

Series M, 7.40%, 03/28/24

    GBP       2,714       3,901,152  

Series N, 6.46%, 03/30/32

      50       82,133  
 

 

 

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

  9


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  

Asset-Backed Securities (continued)

 

WaMu Asset-Backed Certificates Trust, Series 2007- HE3, Class 2A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.24%), 0.33%, 05/25/37(b)

    USD       6,757     $ 6,366,956  

York CLO-2 Ltd., Series 2015-1A, Class ER, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.65%), 5.78%, 01/22/31(b)(c)

      250       244,102  
   

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities — 11.8%
(Cost: $74,216,985)

        79,885,908  
   

 

 

 
            Shares         

Common Stocks

 

Aerospace & Defense — 0.3%

 

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

      25,650       2,279,259  
   

 

 

 

Building Products — 0.2%

 

Carrier Global Corp.

      25,650       1,339,699  
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.0%

 

Liberty Global PLC, Class A(g)

      247       7,099  
   

 

 

 

Machinery — 0.2%

 

Otis Worldwide Corp.

      12,825       1,029,976  
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.0%

 

SM Energy Co.

      6,342       217,657  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks — 0.7%
(Cost: $3,002,941)

 

        4,873,690  
   

 

 

 
            Par
(000)
        

Corporate Bonds

 

Aerospace & Defense — 2.6%  

Amsted Industries, Inc., 5.63%, 07/01/27(c)

    USD       185       192,400  

Bombardier, Inc.(c)

     

7.50%, 12/01/24

      263       273,849  

7.50%, 03/15/25(h)

      44       45,155  

7.13%, 06/15/26

      817       856,829  

7.88%, 04/15/27(h)

      522       542,541  

6.00%, 02/15/28

      492       496,305  

7.45%, 05/01/34

      100       122,000  

BWX Technologies, Inc.(c)

     

4.13%, 06/30/28

      22       22,275  

4.13%, 04/15/29

      221       224,260  

Embraer Netherlands Finance BV, 6.95%, 01/17/28(c)

      269       298,052  

F-Brasile SpA/F-Brasile US LLC, Series XR, 7.38%, 08/15/26(c)

      464       470,960  

Howmet Aerospace, Inc., 5.13%, 10/01/24

      2       2,192  

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., 6.50%, 11/30/25(c)(h)

      448       463,120  

Lockheed Martin Corp., 4.09%, 09/15/52(h)

      451       565,576  

Raytheon Technologies Corp., 3.75%, 11/01/46(h)

      700       791,625  

Rolls-Royce PLC, 5.75%, 10/15/27(c)(h)

      1,145       1,267,000  

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., 5.50%, 01/15/25(c)

      236       245,735  

TransDigm, Inc.

     

8.00%, 12/15/25(c)(h)

      825       877,594  

6.25%, 03/15/26(c)(h)

      6,999       7,305,206  

6.38%, 06/15/26

      113       116,814  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Aerospace & Defense (continued)  

TransDigm, Inc. (continued)

     

7.50%, 03/15/27

    USD       134     $ 140,532  

4.63%, 01/15/29

      347       344,831  

4.88%, 05/01/29

      382       383,120  

Triumph Group, Inc., 8.88%, 06/01/24(c)(h)

      1,055       1,212,762  
   

 

 

 
            17,260,733  
Airlines — 2.0%  

Air Canada, 3.88%, 08/15/26(c)

      401       406,012  

American Airlines Pass-Through Trust, Series 2013-2, Class A, 4.95%, 07/15/24(h)

      456       464,564  

American Airlines, Inc., 11.75%, 07/15/25(c)

      300       371,625  

American Airlines, Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd.(c)

     

5.50%, 04/20/26

      976       1,024,044  

5.75%, 04/20/29

      1,017       1,095,033  

Avianca Holdings SA, Series IAI, (10.00% Cash or 12.00% PIK), 9.00%, 03/31/22(c)(i)

      295       295,389  

Azul Investments LLP

     

5.88%, 10/26/24(f)

      200       185,163  

7.25%, 06/15/26(c)

      230       213,224  

Continental Airlines Pass-Through Trust, Series 2007-1, Class B, 6.90%, 10/19/23

      16       15,676  

Delta Air Lines, Inc./SkyMiles IP Ltd., 4.75%, 10/20/28(c)

      175       194,325  

Deutsche Lufthansa AG(f)

     

2.00%, 07/14/24

    EUR       100       115,915  

3.75%, 02/11/28

      100       119,299  

3.50%, 07/14/29

      100       116,912  

Gol Finance SA, 8.00%, 06/30/26(c)

    USD       637       619,801  

Hawaiian Brand Intellectual Property Ltd./HawaiianMiles Loyalty Ltd., 5.75%, 01/20/26(c)

      317       332,850  

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA(f)

 

   

2.75%, 03/25/25

    EUR       100       115,151  

3.75%, 03/25/29

      100       114,812  

Latam Finance Ltd., 6.88%, 04/11/24(c)(g)(j)

    USD       737       665,281  

Mileage Plus Holdings LLC/Mileage Plus Intellectual Property Assets Ltd., 6.50%, 06/20/27(c)(h)

      860       935,990  

United Airlines Pass-Through Trust

     

Series 2015-1, Class A, 3.70%, 06/01/24(h)

      3,570       3,652,368  

Series 2020-1, Class A, 5.88%, 04/15/29(h)

      1,042       1,166,214  

Series 2020-1, Class B, 4.88%, 07/15/27

      54       56,937  

United Airlines, Inc.(c)

     

4.38%, 04/15/26(h)

      588       608,268  

4.63%, 04/15/29

      531       547,450  
   

 

 

 
        13,432,303  
Auto Components — 1.1%  

Aptiv PLC(h)

     

4.25%, 01/15/26

      400       440,413  

4.40%, 10/01/46

      280       337,599  

Clarios Global LP/Clarios US Finance Co.

     

4.38%, 05/15/26(f)

    EUR       101       119,403  

6.25%, 05/15/26(c)(h)

    USD       1,403       1,467,889  

8.50%, 05/15/27(c)(h)

      2,965       3,149,631  

Dealer Tire LLC/DT Issuer LLC, 8.00%, 02/01/28(c)

      436       453,440  

Dornoch Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 6.63%, 10/15/29(c)

      142       140,047  

Faurecia SE, 3.75%, 06/15/28(f)

    EUR       100       119,765  

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

     

5.00%, 07/15/29(c)

    USD       167       176,185  

5.25%, 07/15/31(c)

      407       433,129  
 

 

 

10  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Auto Components (continued)  

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (continued)

     

5.63%, 04/30/33

    USD       409     $ 439,675  

IHO Verwaltungs GmbH, (4.63% PIK), 3.88%, 05/15/27(f)(i)

    EUR       100       118,364  

ZF Finance GmbH(f)

     

3.00%, 09/21/25

      100       121,027  

2.00%, 05/06/27

      100       115,600  
   

 

 

 
        7,632,167  
Automobiles — 1.8%  

Allison Transmission, Inc.(c)

     

5.88%, 06/01/29

    USD       306       329,332  

3.75%, 01/30/31

      375       360,469  

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

     

4.50%, 03/01/28

      168       170,940  

4.75%, 03/01/30

      164       167,280  

Carvana Co.(c)

     

5.50%, 04/15/27

      371       373,782  

4.88%, 09/01/29

      286       276,705  

Constellation Automotive Financing PLC, 4.88%, 07/15/27(f)

    GBP       100       131,723  

Ford Motor Co., 0.00%, 03/15/26(c)(k)(l)

    USD       282       333,574  

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC

     

5.13%, 06/16/25(h)

      397       430,745  

3.38%, 11/13/25

      200       205,500  

4.39%, 01/08/26(h)

      1,250       1,337,500  

2.70%, 08/10/26

      376       375,564  

4.27%, 01/09/27

      214       227,116  

4.13%, 08/17/27

      320       339,600  

3.82%, 11/02/27

      200       207,500  

2.90%, 02/16/28

      376       372,710  

4.00%, 11/13/30(h)

      937       977,994  

General Motors Co., 6.25%, 10/02/43(h)

      2,194           2,993,530  

General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.25%, 05/15/23(h)

      326       342,435  

Group 1 Automotive, Inc., 4.00%, 08/15/28(c)

      59       59,012  

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC, 4.50%, 07/15/28(f)

    EUR       100       114,952  

Ken Garff Automotive LLC, 4.88%, 09/15/28(c)

    USD       156       157,950  

LCM Investments Holdings II LLC, 4.88%, 05/01/29(c)

      373       383,004  

Lithia Motors, Inc., 3.88%, 06/01/29(c)

      167       173,054  

MajorDrive Holdings IV LLC, 6.38%, 06/01/29(c)

      184       177,008  

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.

     

3.50%, 09/01/25

      104       106,860  

3.75%, 06/15/29

      87       86,522  

Renault SA, 2.38%, 05/25/26(f)

    EUR       100       117,173  

Sonic Automotive, Inc.(c)

     

4.63%, 11/15/29

    USD       121       121,351  

4.88%, 11/15/31

      121       121,000  

TML Holdings Pte Ltd., 4.35%, 06/09/26(f)

      200       202,813  

Wabash National Corp., 4.50%, 10/15/28(c)

      281       273,197  
   

 

 

 
        12,047,895  
Banks — 1.6%  

American Finance Trust, Inc./American Finance Operating Partner LP, 4.50%, 09/30/28(c)

      84       84,000  

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, 2.63%, 04/28/25(f)

    EUR       100       116,655  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Banks (continued)  

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, (5 year USD Swap + 3.87%), 6.13%(b)(h)(m)

    USD       2,000     $ 2,150,520  

Banco BPM SpA, (5 year EUR Swap + 3.17%), 2.88%, 06/29/31(b)(f)

    EUR       100       115,448  

Banco GNB Sudameris SA, (5 year CMT + 6.66%), 7.50%, 04/16/31(b)(c)

    USD       161       163,093  

Banco Industrial SA, (5 year CMT + 4.44%), 4.88%, 01/29/31(b)(c)

      205       204,910  

Bangkok Bank PCL(b)(f)

     

(5 year CMT + 1.90%), 3.73%, 09/25/34

      245       248,797  

(5 year CMT + 4.73%), 5.00%

      205       211,701  

Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM, (5 year CMT + 1.63%), 3.28%, 01/29/31(b)(c)

      407       410,052  

Bank of East Asia Ltd., (5 year CMT + 5.53%), 5.83%(b)(f)(m)

      250       261,016  

Bank Tabungan Negara Persero Tbk PT, 4.20%, 01/23/25(f)

      200       202,085  

BBK BSC, 5.50%, 07/09/24(f)

      289       294,744  

Chong Hing Bank Ltd., (5 year CMT + 3.86%), 5.70%(b)(f)(m)

      250       257,234  

Commerzbank AG, (5 year EUR Swap + 6.36%), 6.13%(b)(f)(m)

    EUR       200       250,214  

Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, (6 year USD Swap + 3.66%), 6.13%(b)(f)(m)

    USD       250       264,141  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA

     

5.02%, 06/26/24(c)(h)

      2,888       3,097,212  

(5 year EUR Swap + 5.75%), 5.88%, 03/04/29(b)(f)

    EUR       100       128,023  

NBK Tier 1 Financing Ltd., (6 year USD Swap + 2.88%), 3.63%(b)(c)(m)

    USD       556       553,046  

Standard Chartered PLC, (5 year USD ICE Swap + 1.97%), 4.87%, 03/15/33(b)(c)(h)

      500       546,353  

SVB Financial Group, Series D, (5 year CMT + 3.07%), 4.25%(b)(m)

      1,000       1,003,000  

Wells Fargo & Co., (5 year CMT + 3.45%), 3.90%(b)(m)

      465       473,719  
   

 

 

 
            11,035,963  
Beverages — 1.7%  

Anadolu Efes Biracilik Ve Malt Sanayii AS, 3.38%, 06/29/28(c)

      200       200,750  

Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.90%, 02/01/46(h)

      2,160       2,754,913  

ARD Finance SA, (6.50% Cash or 7.25% PIK), 6.50%, 06/30/27(c)(h)(i)

      1,216       1,273,760  

Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC/Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance PLC, 4.00%, 09/01/29(c)(h)

      1,346       1,338,462  

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc.(c)

     

4.13%, 08/15/26

      510       520,215  

4.75%, 07/15/27

    GBP       100       138,240  

Ball Corp.

     

5.25%, 07/01/25

    USD       44       49,053  

2.88%, 08/15/30

      46       44,217  

3.13%, 09/15/31

      529       514,452  

Canpack SA/Canpack US LLC, 3.13%, 11/01/25(c)

      211       212,517  

Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc., 7.38%, 12/15/26

      45       55,350  

Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co., 5.50%, 04/15/24(c)(h)

      1,030       1,032,266  
 

 

 

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

  11


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Beverages (continued)  

OI European Group BV, 2.88%, 02/15/25(f)

    EUR       100     $ 116,030  

Silgan Holdings, Inc., 4.13%, 02/01/28

    USD       71       72,154  

Trivium Packaging Finance BV(c)(h)

     

5.50%, 08/15/26

      1,189       1,235,050  

8.50%, 08/15/27

      1,924       2,029,070  
   

 

 

 
        11,586,499  
Biotechnology — 0.2%  

Cidron Aida Finco Sarl, 5.00%, 04/01/28(f)

    EUR       100       113,451  

Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., 3.88%, 08/15/28(c)

    USD       140       134,400  

Gilead Sciences, Inc., 4.75%, 03/01/46(h)

      700       894,097  
   

 

 

 
            1,141,948  
Building Materials(c) — 0.7%  

Cemex SAB de CV, 3.88%, 07/11/31

      235       234,835  

Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc., 6.13%, 01/15/29(h)

      653       677,487  

CP Atlas Buyer, Inc., 7.00%, 12/01/28

      453       438,277  

Forterra Finance LLC/FRTA Finance Corp., 6.50%, 07/15/25(h)

      437       465,733  

Jeld-Wen, Inc., 6.25%, 05/15/25

      189       199,159  

Masonite International Corp.

     

3.50%, 02/15/30

      273       266,432  

Class C, 5.38%, 02/01/28

      161       169,050  

New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc.

     

5.25%, 07/15/28

      103       103,915  

9.75%, 07/15/28

      48       51,480  

Patrick Industries, Inc., 4.75%, 05/01/29

      81       80,393  

SRM Escrow Issuer LLC, 6.00%, 11/01/28

      620       644,800  

Standard Industries, Inc.

     

5.00%, 02/15/27

      48       49,260  

4.75%, 01/15/28

      68       70,125  

4.38%, 07/15/30(h)

      718       718,000  

3.38%, 01/15/31(h)

      376       348,654  

Summit Materials LLC/Summit Materials Finance Corp., 5.25%, 01/15/29

      227       237,782  

Victors Merger Corp., 6.38%, 05/15/29

      202       189,880  
   

 

 

 
        4,945,262  
Building Products — 0.6%  

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., 5.00%, 09/30/27(c)

      310       322,400  

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., 4.13%, 05/15/29(c)

      128       125,920  

Foundation Building Materials, Inc., 6.00%, 03/01/29(c)(h)

      247       239,128  

GYP Holdings III Corp., 4.63%, 05/01/29(c)

      300       296,250  

LBM Acquisition LLC, 6.25%, 01/15/29(c)

      617       599,168  

Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 4.65%, 04/15/42(h)

      400       494,595  

Specialty Building Products Holdings LLC/SBP Finance Corp., 6.38%, 09/30/26(c)

      329       342,571  

SRS Distribution, Inc.(c)

     

4.63%, 07/01/28

      556       568,399  

6.13%, 07/01/29

      441       453,679  

White Cap Buyer LLC, 6.88%, 10/15/28(c)(h)

      540       557,550  

White Cap Parent LLC, (8.25% PIK), 8.25%, 03/15/26(c)(i)

      268       270,967  
   

 

 

 
        4,270,627  
Capital Markets — 0.8%  

Charles Schwab Corp., Series H, (10 year CMT + 3.08%), 4.00%(b)(m)

      1,060       1,075,900  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Capital Markets (continued)  

Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, 5.25%, 04/15/29(c)

    USD       273     $ 283,920  

Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp.

     

6.25%, 05/15/26

      498       521,655  

5.25%, 05/15/27(h)

      723       751,920  

4.38%, 02/01/29

      261       262,154  

Intercorp Peru Ltd., 3.88%, 08/15/29(c)

      470       456,711  

NFP Corp.(c)

     

4.88%, 08/15/28

      554       562,310  

6.88%, 08/15/28(h)

      647       657,315  

Raymond James Financial, Inc., 4.95%, 07/15/46(h)

      400       525,564  

XP, Inc., 3.25%, 07/01/26(c)

      335       319,883  
   

 

 

 
        5,417,332  
Chemicals — 2.0%  

Ashland LLC, 3.38%, 09/01/31(c)

      448       442,400  

Axalta Coating Systems LLC, 3.38%, 02/15/29(c)

      445       423,822  

Braskem Idesa SAPI, 6.99%, 02/20/32(c)

      305       311,954  

Braskem Netherlands Finance BV, (5 year CMT + 8.22%), 8.50%, 01/23/81(b)(c)

      537       599,527  

Chemours Co., 4.00%, 05/15/26

    EUR       200       233,242  

Diamond (BC) BV, 4.63%, 10/01/29(c)

    USD       336       338,352  

Element Solutions, Inc., 3.88%, 09/01/28(c)(h)

      1,693           1,691,442  

Equate Petrochemical BV, 2.63%, 04/28/28(c)

      200       199,313  

EverArc Escrow Sarl, 5.00%, 10/30/29(c)

      681       681,000  

GCP Applied Technologies, Inc., 5.50%, 04/15/26(c)

      199       203,776  

HB Fuller Co., 4.25%, 10/15/28

      125       126,719  

Herens Holdco Sarl, 4.75%, 05/15/28(c)

      471       467,256  

Herens Midco Sarl, 5.25%, 05/15/29(f)

    EUR       100       107,637  

Illuminate Buyer LLC/Illuminate Holdings IV, Inc., 9.00%, 07/01/28(c)

    USD       266       287,280  

Ingevity Corp., 3.88%, 11/01/28(c)

      105       103,157  

LSF11 A5 HoldCo LLC, 6.63%, 10/15/29(c)

      144       144,114  

Minerals Technologies, Inc., 5.00%, 07/01/28(c)

      218       224,527  

Monitchem HoldCo 3 SA, 5.25%, 03/15/25(f)

    EUR       100       116,816  

Nobian Finance BV, 3.63%, 07/15/26(f)

      100       111,843  

NOVA Chemicals Corp., 4.88%, 06/01/24(c)

    USD       80       83,260  

OCP SA, 3.75%, 06/23/31(c)

      280       274,400  

Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV, 5.50%, 01/15/48(c)(h)

      526       615,025  

Sasol Financing USA LLC

     

4.38%, 09/18/26

      200       203,000  

6.50%, 09/27/28

      290       321,175  

5.50%, 03/18/31

      320       328,000  

SCIH Salt Holdings, Inc.(c)

     

4.88%, 05/01/28

      147       143,693  

6.63%, 05/01/29(h)

      229       215,546  

SCIL IV LLC/SCIL USA Holdings LLC, 5.38%, 11/01/26(c)(n)

      305       307,480  

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.(c)

     

4.00%, 04/01/31

      334       331,278  

4.38%, 02/01/32

      34       34,172  

Sherwin-Williams Co., 4.50%, 06/01/47(h)

      310       387,968  

SPCM SA, 3.13%, 03/15/27(c)

      200       197,750  

Valvoline, Inc., 3.63%, 06/15/31(c)

      2       1,950  

Vedanta Resources Finance II PLC, 9.25%, 04/23/26(f)

      282       269,310  

WESCO Distribution, Inc.(c)(h)

     

7.13%, 06/15/25

      830       879,800  
 

 

 

12  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Chemicals (continued)  

WESCO Distribution, Inc.(c)(h) (continued)

     

7.25%, 06/15/28

    USD       547     $ 603,292  

WR Grace & Co-Conn, 5.63%, 10/01/24(c)(h)

      300       321,750  

WR Grace Holdings LLC,
5.63%, 08/15/29(c)(n)

      1,205       1,215,544  
   

 

 

 
            13,548,570  
Commercial Services & Supplies — 0.9%  

ADT Security Corp.

     

4.13%, 06/15/23

      16       16,657  

4.88%, 07/15/32(c)(h)

      445       445,022  

Albion Financing 1 SARL / Aggreko Holdings, Inc.

     

5.25%, 10/15/26(f)

    EUR       100       116,042  

6.13%, 10/15/26(c)

    USD       222       224,022  

APX Group, Inc., 5.75%, 07/15/29(c)

      342       339,007  

ASGN, Inc., 4.63%, 05/15/28(c)

      120       123,900  

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc., 5.38%, 03/01/29(c)

      135       142,088  

BCP V Modular Services Finance II PLC, 4.75%, 11/30/28(f)

    EUR       100       115,334  

DAE Funding LLC, 3.38%, 03/20/28(c)

    USD       490       499,187  

EC Finance PLC, 3.00%, 10/15/26(f)

    EUR       200       233,512  

Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC(c)

     

6.50%, 10/01/25

    USD       97       99,818  

5.50%, 05/01/28

      396       396,990  

Herc Holdings, Inc., 5.50%, 07/15/27(c)

      455       474,337  

Intertrust Group BV, 3.38%, 11/15/25(f)

    EUR       100       116,178  

Metis Merger Sub LLC, 6.50%, 05/15/29(c)

    USD       273       270,270  

NESCO Holdings II, Inc., 5.50%, 04/15/29(c)

      305       308,813  

Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance, Inc.(c)

     

5.25%, 04/15/24

      178       189,348  

5.75%, 04/15/26(h)

      416       444,974  

3.38%, 08/31/27

      74       70,884  

Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc., 5.38%, 01/15/25(c)(h)

      157       159,748  

Sotheby’s/Bidfair Holdings, Inc., 5.88%, 06/01/29(c)

      464       474,440  

United Rentals North America, Inc.

     

5.50%, 05/15/27

      345       361,601  

5.25%, 01/15/30

      170       184,025  

Verisure Holding AB, 3.25%, 02/15/27(f)

    EUR       100       115,169  
   

 

 

 
        5,921,366  
Communications Equipment — 0.6%  

Avaya, Inc., 6.13%, 09/15/28(c)(h)

    USD       725       754,217  

CommScope Technologies LLC, 5.00%, 03/15/27(c)(h)

      159       147,526  

CommScope, Inc.(c)

     

6.00%, 03/01/26

      103       106,090  

8.25%, 03/01/27

      487       496,224  

7.13%, 07/01/28

      391       385,624  

4.75%, 09/01/29

      598       586,758  

Nokia OYJ(h)

     

3.38%, 06/12/22

      126       127,733  

4.38%, 06/12/27

      177       190,275  

ViaSat, Inc.(c)(h)

     

5.63%, 04/15/27

      231       240,240  

6.50%, 07/15/28

      832       873,600  

Viavi Solutions, Inc., 3.75%, 10/01/29(c)

      373       370,314  
   

 

 

 
        4,278,601  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Construction Materials(c) — 0.3%  

American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Inc.

     

4.00%, 01/15/28(h)

    USD       444     $ 450,105  

3.88%, 11/15/29

      60       59,025  

BCPE Empire Holdings, Inc., 7.63%, 05/01/27

      139       137,610  

H&E Equipment Services, Inc., 3.88%, 12/15/28

      76       75,430  

IAA, Inc., 5.50%, 06/15/27

      443       460,166  

Thor Industries, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/29

      215       212,915  

Williams Scotsman International, Inc., 4.63%, 08/15/28

      316       326,665  

Winnebago Industries, Inc., 6.25%, 07/15/28

      176       190,300  
   

 

 

 
            1,912,216  
Consumer Discretionary — 1.4%  

APi Escrow Corp., 4.75%, 10/15/29(c)

      128       130,240  

APi Group DE, Inc., 4.13%, 07/15/29(c)

      168       167,160  

Carnival Corp.

     

10.13%, 02/01/26(f)

    EUR       100       132,362  

10.50%, 02/01/26(c)(h)

    USD       846       983,052  

5.75%, 03/01/27(c)(h)

      788       801,790  

9.88%, 08/01/27(c)

      488       561,810  

4.00%, 08/01/28(c)

      1,258       1,258,000  

6.00%, 05/01/29(c)(n)

      694       693,566  

CoreLogic, Inc., 4.50%, 05/01/28(c)

      627       619,520  

Legends Hospitality Holding Co. LLC/Legends Hospitality Co-Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 02/01/26(c)

      114       115,710  

Life Time, Inc.(c)

     

5.75%, 01/15/26

      329       337,758  

8.00%, 04/15/26

      223       234,150  

NCL Corp. Ltd., 5.88%, 03/15/26(c)

      303       303,757  

NCL Finance Ltd., 6.13%, 03/15/28(c)

      648       653,670  

Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co.(c)

     

5.63%, 10/01/28

      633       658,152  

5.88%, 10/01/30

      242       253,326  

4.75%, 07/15/31

      71       69,197  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(c)

     

10.88%, 06/01/23

      114       127,538  

9.13%, 06/15/23

      195       211,727  

11.50%, 06/01/25

      154       175,271  

5.50%, 08/31/26

      145       147,719  

5.50%, 04/01/28(h)

      496       504,680  

Viking Ocean Cruises Ship VII Ltd., 5.63%, 02/15/29(c)

      233       231,252  
   

 

 

 
        9,371,407  
Consumer Finance — 1.5%  

American Express Co., (5 year CMT + 2.85%), 3.55%(b)(m)

      940       944,700  

HealthEquity, Inc., 4.50%, 10/01/29(c)

      514       519,782  

Iron Mountain UK PLC, 3.88%, 11/15/25(f)

    GBP       100       137,676  

MoneyGram International, Inc., 5.38%, 08/01/26(c)

    USD       135       135,338  

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, 5.50%, 09/01/28(c)

      415       412,109  

Muthoot Finance Ltd.

     

6.13%, 10/31/22(c)

      481       492,664  

4.40%, 09/02/23(f)

      200       203,062  

Navient Corp.

     

7.25%, 09/25/23(h)

      153       166,579  

6.13%, 03/25/24

      105       112,350  

5.88%, 10/25/24

      76       81,218  

6.75%, 06/15/26

      40       44,150  

5.00%, 03/15/27

      335       341,610  

OneMain Finance Corp.

     

6.13%, 05/15/22

      85       86,913  
 

 

 

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

  13


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Consumer Finance (continued)                  

OneMain Finance Corp. (continued)

     

6.88%, 03/15/25

    USD       263     $ 293,574  

7.13%, 03/15/26

      295       334,825  

3.50%, 01/15/27

      389       380,247  

6.63%, 01/15/28

      262       294,095  

5.38%, 11/15/29

      39       41,633  

Sabre GLBL, Inc.(c)

     

9.25%, 04/15/25

      311       359,410  

7.38%, 09/01/25

      336       357,000  

Shift4 Payments Inc., 0.00%, 12/15/25(c)(k)(l)

      446       483,642  

Shift4 Payments LLC/Shift4 Payments Finance Sub, Inc., 4.63%, 11/01/26(c)

      451       467,349  

SLM Corp., 3.13%, 11/02/26

      221       219,066  

Square, Inc., 3.50%, 06/01/31(c)(h)

      793       812,825  

Verscend Escrow Corp., 9.75%, 08/15/26(c)(h)

      1,936       2,050,824  
   

 

 

 
        9,772,641  
Containers & Packaging — 0.3%                  

Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, 4.25%, 09/30/26

      513       546,668  

Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI, 4.75%, 02/01/26

      258       265,817  

Graphic Packaging International LLC(c)

     

4.75%, 07/15/27

      104       111,930  

3.50%, 03/15/28

      22       22,165  

3.50%, 03/01/29

      78       77,220  

Intertape Polymer Group, Inc., 4.38%, 06/15/29(c)

      171       171,428  

Klabin Austria GmbH, 3.20%, 01/12/31(c)

      315       288,619  

LABL, Inc., 5.88%, 11/01/28(c)

      332       333,975  

Sealed Air Corp.(c)

     

5.13%, 12/01/24

      54       58,185  

4.00%, 12/01/27

      92       96,140  

6.88%, 07/15/33

      44       56,430  

Suzano Austria GmbH, 3.75%, 01/15/31

      200       199,500  
   

 

 

 
            2,228,077  
Diversified Consumer Services — 1.6%        

Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp.(c)(h)

     

6.63%, 07/15/26

      2,705       2,841,954  

9.75%, 07/15/27

      985       1,058,875  

6.00%, 06/01/29

      655       644,608  

Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 Sarl

     

3.63%, 06/01/28(f)

    EUR       100       113,288  

4.63%, 06/01/28(c)(h)

    USD       900       892,728  

4.63%, 06/01/28(c)

      710       703,575  

Ascend Learning LLC, 6.88%, 08/01/25(c)(h)

      1,197       1,217,947  

Clarivate Science Holdings Corp.(c)

     

3.88%, 07/01/28

      500       494,375  

4.88%, 07/01/29(h)

      745       741,796  

Garda World Security Corp.(c)

     

4.63%, 02/15/27

      394       391,045  

9.50%, 11/01/27(h)

      204       219,810  

Graham Holdings Co., 5.75%, 06/01/26(c)

      135       140,630  

Rekeep SpA, 7.25%, 02/01/26(f)

    EUR       100       123,276  

Service Corp. International

     

5.13%, 06/01/29

    USD       107       115,533  

3.38%, 08/15/30

      341       335,885  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Diversified Consumer Services (continued)        

Service Corp. International (continued)

     

4.00%, 05/15/31

    USD       484     $ 494,890  

Sotheby’s, 7.38%, 10/15/27(c)

      537       565,864  
   

 

 

 
            11,096,079  
Diversified Financial Services — 1.9%        

Acuris Finance US, Inc./Acuris Finance SARL, 5.00%, 05/01/28(c)

      514       506,290  

Alfa SAB de CV, 6.88%, 03/25/44(f)

      239       312,791  

Arrow Global Finance PLC, 5.13%, 09/15/24(f)

    GBP       100       136,855  

ASG Finance Designated Activity Co., 7.88%, 12/03/24(c)

    USD       262       257,087  

Barclays PLC, 5.20%, 05/12/26

      200       225,900  

BNP Paribas SA, (5 year CMT + 3.34%), 4.63%(b)(c)(m)

      1,750       1,758,750  

Castlelake Aviation Finance DAC, 5.00%, 04/15/27(c)

      95       94,733  

Central Garden & Pet Co.

     

4.13%, 10/15/30

      240       241,788  

4.13%, 04/30/31(c)

      249       249,000  

Citigroup, Inc.(b)(m)

     

(5 year CMT + 3.42%), 3.88%(h)

      2,000       2,017,500  

Series W, (5 year CMT + 3.60%), 4.00%

      200       204,250  

Series Y, (5 year CMT + 3.00%), 4.15%

      630       632,205  

Coinbase Global, Inc.(c)

     

3.38%, 10/01/28

      97       93,605  

3.63%, 10/01/31

      46       43,815  

doValue SpA, 3.38%, 07/31/26(f)

    EUR       100       116,178  

Garfunkelux Holdco 3 SA, 7.75%, 11/01/25(f)

    GBP       100       141,816  

Global Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd., (6.50% Cash or 7.25% PIK), 6.50%, 09/15/24(c)(i)

    USD       275       266,358  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Series R, (5 year CMT + 3.22%), 4.95%(b)(h)(m)

      900       947,250  

HSBC Holdings PLC

     

4.38%, 11/23/26(h)

      370       406,823  

(5 year CMT + 3.25%), 4.70%(b)(h)(m)

      465       462,721  

(5 year CMT + 3.65%), 4.60%(b)(m)

      200       198,726  

Intrum AB, 3.00%, 09/15/27(f)

    EUR       100       111,793  

ION Trading Technologies Sarl, 5.75%, 05/15/28(c)

    USD       246       252,150  

Jefferies Finance LLC/JFIN Co-Issuer Corp., 5.00%, 08/15/28(c)

      415       420,627  

Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP/Ladder Capital Finance Corp.(c)

     

4.25%, 02/01/27(h)

      408       410,036  

4.75%, 06/15/29

      174       175,305  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, (5 year CMT + 4.82%), 6.75%(b)(h)(m)

      515       588,516  

Manappuram Finance Ltd., 5.90%, 01/13/23(f)

      200       204,563  

Operadora de Servicios Mega SA de CV Sofom ER, 8.25%, 02/11/25(c)

      501       492,483  

Shriram Transport Finance Co. Ltd.(f)

     

5.95%, 10/24/22

      320       325,440  

5.10%, 07/16/23

      200       203,063  

Spectrum Brands, Inc.(c)

     

5.00%, 10/01/29

      153       163,328  

5.50%, 07/15/30

      198       213,840  

3.88%, 03/15/31

      59       57,820  
 

 

 

14  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Diversified Financial Services (continued)        

UBS Group AG, (5 year CMT + 3.31%), 4.38%(b)(c)(m)

    USD       210     $ 208,583  

WASH Multifamily Acquisition, Inc., 5.75%, 04/15/26(c)

      8       8,270  
     

 

 

 
            13,150,258  
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 3.3%  

AT&T, Inc.(h)

     

4.65%, 06/01/44

      111       131,533  

4.85%, 07/15/45

      389       475,951  

4.75%, 05/15/46

      2,545       3,097,011  

Axtel SAB de CV, 6.38%, 11/14/24(c)

      454       468,131  

Cincinnati Bell, Inc.(c)

     

7.00%, 07/15/24(h)

      191       194,342  

8.00%, 10/15/25

      85       88,526  

Consolidated Communications, Inc., 6.50%, 10/01/28(c)(h)

      840       894,508  

Level 3 Financing, Inc.

     

5.38%, 05/01/25

      146       149,431  

4.63%, 09/15/27(c)

      127       130,175  

4.25%, 07/01/28(c)(h)

      451       445,877  

3.75%, 07/15/29(c)

      235       222,075  

Lumen Technologies, Inc.

     

5.13%, 12/15/26(c)(h)

      639       653,844  

4.00%, 02/15/27(c)

      456       458,280  

4.50%, 01/15/29(c)(h)

      635       613,569  

5.38%, 06/15/29(c)

      582       584,182  

Series P, 7.60%, 09/15/39

      140       154,468  

Series U, 7.65%, 03/15/42

      386       424,600  

Series W, 6.75%, 12/01/23(h)

      620       680,456  

Series Y, 7.50%, 04/01/24(h)

      715       784,712  

Oi SA, (10.00% Cash or 8.00% Cash + 4.00% PIK), 10.00%, 07/27/25(i)

      383       344,413  

SoftBank Group Corp.(f)

     

4.50%, 04/20/25

    EUR       100       121,408  

2.88%, 01/06/27

      100       112,123  

Sprint Capital Corp.(h)

     

6.88%, 11/15/28

    USD       1,689       2,135,639  

8.75%, 03/15/32

      837       1,252,780  

Switch Ltd.(c)

     

3.75%, 09/15/28

      399       397,005  

4.13%, 06/15/29

      725       728,625  

Telecom Italia Capital SA

     

6.38%, 11/15/33

      191       219,117  

6.00%, 09/30/34(h)

      569       633,012  

7.20%, 07/18/36

      137       166,455  

7.72%, 06/04/38

      71       90,525  

Telecom Italia SpA

     

4.00%, 04/11/24(f)

    EUR       100       122,495  

5.30%, 05/30/24(c)(h)

    USD       202       215,130  

2.75%, 04/15/25(f)

    EUR       100       120,132  

1.63%, 01/18/29(f)

      100       109,675  

Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 6.00%, 01/15/30(c)

    USD       185       182,687  

Uniti Group LP/Uniti Group Finance, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 4.75%, 04/15/28(c)

      449       450,758  

Verizon Communications, Inc., 3.70%, 03/22/61(h)

      1,250       1,358,564  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Diversified Telecommunication Services (continued)  

Zayo Group Holdings, Inc.(c)(h)

     

4.00%, 03/01/27

    USD       1,123     $ 1,090,714  

6.13%, 03/01/28

      1,590       1,551,896  
     

 

 

 
            22,054,824  
Electric Utilities — 1.2%                  

Duke Energy Corp., 4.80%, 12/15/45(h)

      1,500       1,882,140  

Empresas Publicas de Medellin ESP, 4.25%, 07/18/29(c)

      309       300,271  

Enel Finance International NV, 3.63%, 05/25/27(c)(h)

      1,250       1,364,401  

FirstEnergy Corp.

     

2.65%, 03/01/30

      210       206,634  

Series B, 4.40%, 07/15/27

      173       187,690  

Series B, 2.25%, 09/01/30

      27       25,962  

Series C, 7.38%, 11/15/31

      43       58,579  

Series C, 5.35%, 07/15/47(h)

      661       802,147  

Series C, 3.40%, 03/01/50

      708       702,336  

FirstEnergy Transmission LLC(c)

     

5.45%, 07/15/44

      475       601,066  

4.55%, 04/01/49

      206       240,784  

NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP(c)

     

4.25%, 07/15/24

      205       217,033  

4.25%, 09/15/24

      11       11,577  

Oryx Funding Ltd., 5.80%, 02/03/31(c)

      200       212,000  

Virginia Electric & Power Co., Series A, 6.00%, 05/15/37(h)

      750       1,036,733  
     

 

 

 
        7,849,353  
Electrical Equipment(c) — 0.1%                  

Gates Global LLC/Gates Corp., 6.25%, 01/15/26

      490       506,538  

GrafTech Finance, Inc., 4.63%, 12/15/28

      176       177,760  
     

 

 

 
        684,298  
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 0.7%  

CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp., 3.25%, 02/15/29

      404       409,656  

Corning, Inc., 4.38%, 11/15/57(h)

      1,915       2,342,001  

Energizer Holdings, Inc., 4.38%, 03/31/29(c)

      24       22,998  

Imola Merger Corp., 4.75%, 05/15/29(c)(h)

      785       806,548  

Vertiv Group Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/28(c)

      743       738,356  

Xerox Corp., 4.80%, 03/01/35

      240       239,400  
     

 

 

 
        4,558,959  
Energy Equipment & Services — 0.4%        

Archrock Partners LP/Archrock Partners Finance Corp.(c)

     

6.88%, 04/01/27

      202       210,585  

6.25%, 04/01/28(h)

      1,057       1,093,995  

ChampionX Corp., 6.38%, 05/01/26

      135       141,244  

USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression Finance Corp.(h)

     

6.88%, 04/01/26

      262       270,842  

6.88%, 09/01/27

      900       934,875  

Vallourec SA, 8.50%, 06/30/26(f)

    EUR       32       38,287  

Weatherford International Ltd., 6.50%, 09/15/28(c)

    USD       17       17,956  
     

 

 

 
        2,707,784  
Environmental, Maintenance, & Security Service — 0.6%  

Clean Harbors, Inc.(c)(h)

     

4.88%, 07/15/27

      297       309,251  
 

 

 

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

  15


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Environmental, Maintenance, & Security Service (continued)  

Clean Harbors, Inc.(c)(h) (continued)

     

5.13%, 07/15/29

    USD       205     $ 221,913  

Covanta Holding Corp., 5.00%, 09/01/30

      179       178,105  

GFL Environmental, Inc.(c)

     

3.75%, 08/01/25

      346       356,017  

5.13%, 12/15/26

      386       403,370  

4.00%, 08/01/28

      535       521,625  

3.50%, 09/01/28

      259       257,705  

4.75%, 06/15/29

      421       424,677  

4.38%, 08/15/29

      173       171,343  

Stericycle, Inc., 3.88%, 01/15/29(c)

      210       206,850  

Tervita Corp., 11.00%, 12/01/25(c)

      147       169,057  

Waste Pro USA, Inc., 5.50%, 02/15/26(c)

      672       665,280  
     

 

 

 
            3,885,193  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.4%  

Brookfield Property REIT, Inc./BPR Cumulus LLC/BPR Nimbus LLC/GGSI Sellco LL, 4.50%, 04/01/27(c)

      227       221,325  

CTR Partnership LP/CareTrust Capital Corp., 3.88%, 06/30/28(c)

      208       211,120  

Global Net Lease, Inc./Global Net Lease Operating Partnership LP, 3.75%, 12/15/27(c)

      183       180,868  

Iron Mountain, Inc.(c)

     

5.25%, 07/15/30

      366       382,181  

5.63%, 07/15/32(h)

      566       602,790  

LMIRT Capital Pte Ltd., 7.25%, 06/19/24(f)

      232       239,902  

MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP/MGP Finance Co-Issuer, Inc.

     

5.63%, 05/01/24(h)

      1,312       1,423,321  

4.50%, 09/01/26(h)

      665       721,359  

5.75%, 02/01/27

      32       36,480  

4.50%, 01/15/28

      402       435,165  

3.88%, 02/15/29(c)

      402       425,726  

MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp.(h)

     

5.00%, 10/15/27

      68       71,583  

4.63%, 08/01/29

      462       488,565  

3.50%, 03/15/31

      1,300       1,309,880  

RHP Hotel Properties LP/RHP Finance Corp.

     

4.75%, 10/15/27(h)

      971       990,420  

4.50%, 02/15/29(c)

      227       224,730  

RLJ Lodging Trust LP(c)

     

3.75%, 07/01/26

      173       174,730  

4.00%, 09/15/29

      124       123,758  

Starwood Property Trust, Inc., 5.00%, 12/15/21(h)

      116       116,145  

Trust Fibra Uno

     

5.25%, 01/30/26(c)

      235       256,811  

6.95%, 01/30/44(f)

      476       577,537  
     

 

 

 
        9,214,396  
Food & Staples Retailing — 2.0%        

Albertsons Cos., Inc./Safeway, Inc./New Albertsons LP/Albertsons LLC

     

5.75%, 03/15/25

      15       15,216  

3.25%, 03/15/26(c)(h)

      756       768,285  

7.50%, 03/15/26(c)(h)

      127       136,843  

4.63%, 01/15/27(c)(h)

      972       1,017,247  

5.88%, 02/15/28(c)

      377       400,562  

4.88%, 02/15/30(c)

      182       195,077  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Food & Staples Retailing (continued)        

Bellis Acquisition Co. PLC, 3.25%, 02/16/26(f)

    GBP       100     $ 130,861  

BRF GmbH, 4.35%, 09/29/26(f)

    USD       200       201,975  

Casino Guichard Perrachon SA, 5.25%, 04/15/27(f)

    EUR       100       109,618  

Cydsa SAB de CV, 6.25%, 10/04/27(c)(h)

    USD       914       927,824  

Health & Happiness H&H International Holdings Ltd., 5.63%, 10/24/24(f)

      200       202,475  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co.

     

4.25%, 03/01/31(h)

      963       1,087,636  

5.00%, 07/15/35

      165       202,878  

6.88%, 01/26/39

      306       448,190  

4.63%, 10/01/39

      138       160,690  

6.50%, 02/09/40

      205       292,572  

5.00%, 06/04/42

      163       201,467  

5.20%, 07/15/45

      356       452,776  

4.38%, 06/01/46(h)

      529       617,501  

4.88%, 10/01/49(h)

      1,182       1,463,677  

5.50%, 06/01/50(h)

      1,584       2,122,286  

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.(c)

     

4.88%, 05/15/28

      289       310,129  

4.13%, 01/31/30(n)

      212       212,201  

4.38%, 01/31/32(n)

      205       205,303  

Ocado Group PLC, 3.88%, 10/08/26(f)

    GBP       100       133,607  

Performance Food Group, Inc., 4.25%, 08/01/29(c)

    USD       431       431,000  

Post Holdings, Inc.(c)

     

5.75%, 03/01/27

      120       124,500  

5.63%, 01/15/28

      86       89,758  

5.50%, 12/15/29

      152       161,690  

4.63%, 04/15/30

      224       225,120  

4.50%, 09/15/31

      177       173,448  

Premier Foods Finance PLC, 3.50%, 10/15/26(f)

    GBP       100       134,233  

US Foods, Inc., 4.75%, 02/15/29(c)

    USD       384       388,520  
     

 

 

 
            13,745,165  
Food Products(c) — 0.8%                  

Aramark Services, Inc.

     

5.00%, 04/01/25

      347       355,241  

5.00%, 02/01/28(h)

      828       846,630  

Chobani LLC/Chobani Finance Corp., Inc.

     

7.50%, 04/15/25(h)

      656       681,420  

4.63%, 11/15/28

      311       317,998  

Frigorifico Concepcion SA, 7.70%, 07/21/28

      200       203,375  

JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Finance, Inc., 6.75%, 02/15/28

      290       312,167  

JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Food Co./JBS USA Finance, Inc.

     

6.50%, 04/15/29(h)

      734       811,987  

3.75%, 12/01/31

      452       462,735  

MHP Lux SA, 6.25%, 09/19/29(h)

      400       406,325  

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 3.50%, 03/01/32

      659       660,648  

Simmons Foods, Inc./Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc./Simmons Pet Food, Inc./Simmons Feed, 4.63%, 03/01/29

      364       367,640  
     

 

 

 
        5,426,166  
Gas Utilities — 0.0%                  

Suburban Propane Partners LP/Suburban Energy Finance Corp., 5.00%, 06/01/31(c)

      170       174,250  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies(c) — 0.4%  

Avantor Funding, Inc.

     

4.63%, 07/15/28(h)

      1,195       1,239,753  
 

 

 

16  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (continued)        

Avantor Funding, Inc. (continued)

     

3.88%, 11/01/29

    USD       252     $ 251,919  

Hologic, Inc., 3.25%, 02/15/29

      112       111,090  

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc./Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics SA, 7.25%, 02/01/28(h)

      1,304       1,388,760  
     

 

 

 
            2,991,522  
Health Care Providers & Services — 4.4%  

180 Medical, Inc., 3.88%, 10/15/29(c)

      200       201,128  

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc., 5.00%, 04/15/29(c)

      180       183,600  

AdaptHealth LLC(c)

     

6.13%, 08/01/28

      97       102,699  

4.63%, 08/01/29

      37       36,584  

5.13%, 03/01/30

      64       64,320  

AHP Health Partners, Inc., 5.75%, 07/15/29(c)

      375       376,875  

Anthem, Inc., 2.75%, 10/15/42(k)

      163       1,003,991  

Cano Health LLC, 6.25%, 10/01/28(c)

      159       159,909  

Centene Corp.

     

4.25%, 12/15/27

      168       175,980  

2.45%, 07/15/28

      792       789,313  

4.63%, 12/15/29(h)

      1,717       1,852,214  

3.00%, 10/15/30

      826       839,530  

2.50%, 03/01/31(h)

      1,563       1,523,925  

2.63%, 08/01/31

      538       529,241  

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.(c)

     

6.63%, 02/15/25(h)

      879       914,160  

8.00%, 03/15/26(h)

      1,861       1,963,355  

5.63%, 03/15/27(h)

      790       826,696  

6.00%, 01/15/29(h)

      621       653,603  

6.13%, 04/01/30

      384       377,457  

DaVita, Inc., 4.63%, 06/01/30(c)

      13       13,064  

Encompass Health Corp.

     

4.50%, 02/01/28

      59       60,068  

4.75%, 02/01/30

      486       498,150  

4.63%, 04/01/31

      270       274,725  

HCA, Inc.

     

5.38%, 02/01/25(h)

      1,193       1,327,212  

5.38%, 09/01/26(h)

      229       260,796  

5.63%, 09/01/28(h)

      552       646,933  

5.88%, 02/01/29

      221       263,036  

3.50%, 09/01/30(h)

      1,215       1,277,755  

Legacy LifePoint Health LLC, 4.38%, 02/15/27(c)

      124       122,760  

LifePoint Health, Inc., 5.38%, 01/15/29(c)(h)

      569       557,620  

ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 10/01/29(c)

      213       216,657  

ModivCare, Inc., 5.88%, 11/15/25(c)

      91       95,550  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.(c)

     

4.38%, 06/15/28

      195       201,825  

3.88%, 11/15/30

      390       402,188  

Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc.(c)

     

3.88%, 04/01/29

      610       606,950  

5.25%, 10/01/29

      1,322       1,341,830  

Northwell Healthcare, Inc., 4.26%, 11/01/47(h)

      686       822,087  

Prime Healthcare Services, Inc., 7.25%, 11/01/25(c)

      400       426,000  

RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc./LifePoint Health, Inc., 9.75%, 12/01/26(c)(h)

      129       136,095  

Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.(c)

     

6.75%, 07/01/25(h)

      782       795,685  

10.00%, 04/15/27

      848       910,336  

Teleflex, Inc.

     

4.63%, 11/15/27

      72       74,610  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Health Care Providers & Services (continued)  

Teleflex, Inc. (continued)

     

4.25%, 06/01/28(c)

    USD       325     $ 333,921  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

     

4.63%, 07/15/24(h)

      104       105,300  

4.63%, 09/01/24(c)

      433       442,201  

7.50%, 04/01/25(c)

      166       176,168  

4.88%, 01/01/26(c)(h)

      1,537       1,575,425  

6.25%, 02/01/27(c)(h)

      115       119,456  

5.13%, 11/01/27(c)(h)

      795       830,775  

6.13%, 10/01/28(c)

      506       531,275  

4.25%, 06/01/29(c)

      380       384,666  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 4.38%, 03/15/42(h)

      750       920,881  

Vizient, Inc., 6.25%, 05/15/27(c)

      483       506,237  
     

 

 

 
            29,832,817  
Health Care Technology — 0.7%        

CAB SELAS, 3.38%, 02/01/28(f)

    EUR       100       114,882  

Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc.

     

5.00%, 07/15/27(c)

    USD       341       352,082  

2.38%, 03/01/28(f)

    EUR       124       143,193  

3.13%, 02/15/29(c)

    USD       230       223,388  

3.50%, 04/01/30(c)

      595       590,537  

Change Healthcare Holdings LLC/Change Healthcare Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 03/01/25(c)(h)

      810       816,075  

Charles River Laboratories International,
Inc.(c)

     

3.75%, 03/15/29

      44       44,440  

4.00%, 03/15/31

      125       129,219  

Chrome Bidco SASU, 3.50%, 05/31/28(f)

    EUR       100       115,467  

IQVIA, Inc.(c)

     

5.00%, 10/15/26

    USD       548       563,043  

5.00%, 05/15/27(h)

      717       743,221  

MEDNAX, Inc., 6.25%, 01/15/27(c)

      163       170,917  

Syneos Health, Inc., 3.63%, 01/15/29(c)(h)

      600       592,200  
     

 

 

 
        4,598,664  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 3.2%  

1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc.(c)

     

3.88%, 01/15/28(h)

      701       699,304  

4.38%, 01/15/28

      157       157,823  

Affinity Gaming, 6.88%, 12/15/27(c)

      43       44,578  

Boyd Gaming Corp.(c)

     

8.63%, 06/01/25

      124       133,610  

4.75%, 06/15/31

      495       509,235  

Boyne USA, Inc., 4.75%, 05/15/29(c)

      314       321,065  

Caesars Entertainment, Inc.(c)

     

6.25%, 07/01/25(h)

      1,916       2,015,345  

8.13%, 07/01/27(h)

      1,697       1,900,725  

4.63%, 10/15/29

      608       610,918  

Cedar Fair LP/Canada’s Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp./Millennium Op, 5.50%, 05/01/25(c)(h)

      623       646,362  

Champion Path Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

4.50%, 01/27/26

      250       248,203  

4.85%, 01/27/28

      200       196,725  

Churchill Downs, Inc.(c)

     

5.50%, 04/01/27(h)

      713       737,064  

4.75%, 01/15/28

      300       310,125  

Cirsa Finance International Sarl, 4.75%, 05/22/25(f)

    EUR       100       115,022  

Empire Resorts, Inc., 7.75%, 11/01/26(c)

    USD       200       203,964  

Everi Holdings, Inc., 5.00%, 07/15/29(c)

      66       67,568  
 

 

 

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

  17


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (continued)  

Fortune Star BVI Ltd.(f)

     

5.95%, 01/29/23

    USD       200     $ 200,062  

6.75%, 07/02/23

      250       253,203  

6.85%, 07/02/24

      362       366,638  

5.95%, 10/19/25

      400       399,000  

5.05%, 01/27/27

      200       185,063  

Gamma Bidco SpA, 6.25%, 07/15/25(f)

    EUR       100       119,103  

Golden Nugget, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/24(c)(h)

    USD       1,273       1,276,182  

Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc.

     

4.88%, 01/15/30(h)

      1,033       1,102,707  

4.00%, 05/01/31(c)

      306       307,464  

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC/Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., 4.88%, 04/01/27

      246       254,610  

International Game Technology PLC, 3.50%, 06/15/26(f)

    EUR       100       118,308  

Melco Resorts Finance Ltd., 5.25%, 04/26/26(f)

    USD       250       246,844  

Merlin Entertainments Ltd., 5.75%, 06/15/26(c)

      200       207,076  

MGM China Holdings Ltd., 5.88%, 05/15/26(f)

      250       249,578  

MGM Resorts International

     

7.75%, 03/15/22(h)

      438       447,855  

6.00%, 03/15/23

      494       521,279  

5.75%, 06/15/25

      35       37,800  

Midwest Gaming Borrower LLC/Midwest Gaming Finance Corp., 4.88%, 05/01/29(c)

      331       333,939  

Penn National Gaming, Inc., 4.13%, 07/01/29(c)

      114       111,150  

Powdr Corp., 6.00%, 08/01/25(c)

      461       481,745  

Premier Entertainment Sub LLC/Premier Entertainment Finance Corp.(c)

     

5.63%, 09/01/29

      148       150,590  

5.88%, 09/01/31

      148       150,960  

Raptor Acquisition Corp./Raptor Co-Issuer LLC, 4.88%, 11/01/26(c)

      225       227,812  

Scientific Games International, Inc.

     

5.00%, 10/15/25(c)(h)

      414       426,230  

3.38%, 02/15/26(f)

    EUR       300       349,921  

8.25%, 03/15/26(c)(h)

    USD       692       733,520  

7.00%, 05/15/28(c)

      190       205,285  

7.25%, 11/15/29(c)

      213       240,707  

Stonegate Pub Co. Financing PLC, 8.25%, 07/31/25(f)

    GBP       100       141,911  

Studio City Finance Ltd., 5.00%, 01/15/29(c)

    USD       435       390,412  

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc., 4.38%, 08/15/28(c)

      204       210,742  

Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., 5.25%, 05/15/27(c)(h)

      268       271,685  

Wynn Macau Ltd.(f)

     

5.50%, 01/15/26

      200       188,350  

5.50%, 10/01/27

      200       186,563  

Wynn Resorts Finance LLC/Wynn Resorts Capital Corp., 5.13%, 10/01/29(c)(h)

      808       810,020  

Yum! Brands, Inc.

     

3.88%, 11/01/23

      110       114,950  

7.75%, 04/01/25(c)

      338       359,446  

4.75%, 01/15/30(c)

      159       169,733  

3.63%, 03/15/31

      123       121,567  

5.35%, 11/01/43

      85       94,350  
     

 

 

 
            21,681,996  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Household Durables — 0.7%  

Ashton Woods USA LLC/Ashton Woods Finance Co.(c)

     

4.63%, 08/01/29

    USD       128     $ 126,880  

4.63%, 04/01/30

      129       126,743  

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield Residential US LLC(c)

     

5.00%, 06/15/29

      266       266,998  

4.88%, 02/15/30

      539       540,110  

CD&R Smokey Buyer, Inc., 6.75%, 07/15/25(c)

      27       28,519  

Forestar Group, Inc., 3.85%, 05/15/26(c)

      133       132,999  

K Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., 7.75%, 02/15/26(c)

      398       417,900  

KB Home, 4.00%, 06/15/31

      124       125,705  

Mattamy Group Corp., 4.63%, 03/01/30(c)

      257       260,683  

Meritage Homes Corp., 5.13%, 06/06/27

      57       62,843  

NCR Corp.(c)

     

5.75%, 09/01/27

      259       272,597  

5.00%, 10/01/28

      143       144,788  

5.13%, 04/15/29

      197       201,448  

6.13%, 09/01/29

      93       99,918  

5.25%, 10/01/30

      145       149,350  

Newell Brands, Inc., 6.00%, 04/01/46

      142       178,336  

SWF Escrow Issuer Corp., 6.50%, 10/01/29(c)

      353       336,995  

Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc.(c)

     

5.88%, 06/15/27

      287       321,081  

5.13%, 08/01/30

      75       79,500  

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.(c)

     

4.00%, 04/15/29

      347       352,486  

3.88%, 10/15/31

      352       348,814  
     

 

 

 
            4,574,693  
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 1.2%  

Adani Green Energy UP Ltd./Prayatna Developers Pvt Ltd./Parampujya Solar Energy, 6.25%, 12/10/24(f)

      200       214,288  

Azure Power Energy Ltd., 3.58%, 08/19/26(c)

      200       201,063  

Azure Power Solar Energy Pvt Ltd., 5.65%, 12/24/24(f)

      200       209,913  

Calpine Corp.(c)

     

5.25%, 06/01/26(h)

      395       406,435  

4.50%, 02/15/28(h)

      535       541,960  

5.13%, 03/15/28(h)

      1,554       1,546,230  

4.63%, 02/01/29

      219       212,430  

5.00%, 02/01/31

      183       179,358  

3.75%, 03/01/31

      7       6,720  

Clearway Energy Operating LLC(c)

     

4.75%, 03/15/28

      55       58,190  

3.75%, 01/15/32

      335       333,385  

Continuum Energy Levanter Pte Ltd., 4.50%, 02/09/27(c)

      248       253,785  

Greenko Dutch BV, 3.85%, 03/29/26(f)

      197       198,231  

Greenko Mauritius Ltd., 6.25%, 02/21/23(f)

      200       204,750  

Greenko Solar Mauritius Ltd., 5.95%, 07/29/26(f)

      200       210,813  

India Green Energy Holdings

     

5.38%, 04/29/24(c)

      325       336,477  

5.38%, 04/29/24(f)

      250       258,828  

Investment Energy Resources Ltd., 6.25%, 04/26/29(c)

      230       244,950  

NRG Energy, Inc.

     

6.63%, 01/15/27(h)

      958       992,119  

5.25%, 06/15/29(c)(h)

      347       369,555  
 

 

 

18  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (continued)  

NRG Energy, Inc. (continued)

     

3.63%, 02/15/31(c)

    USD       365     $ 355,236  

3.88%, 02/15/32(c)

      452       442,960  

ReNew Power Pvt Ltd., 5.88%, 03/05/27(f)

      200       209,563  

ReNew Power Synthetic, 6.67%, 03/12/24(f)

      200       208,975  

TerraForm Power Operating LLC, 4.75%, 01/15/30(c)

      179       185,440  
   

 

 

 
        8,381,654  
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.1%              

Metalloinvest Finance DAC, 3.38%, 10/22/28(c)

      665       663,457  
   

 

 

 
Insurance — 2.1%                  

Acrisure LLC/Acrisure Finance, Inc., 6.00%, 08/01/29(c)

      295       289,469  

Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer(c)

     

4.25%, 10/15/27(h)

      1,472       1,471,205  

6.75%, 10/15/27(h)

      1,994       2,058,805  

5.88%, 11/01/29(n)

      1,391       1,397,816  

Allstate Corp., Series B, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.94%), 5.75%, 08/15/53(b)(h)

      2,000       2,120,500  

AmWINS Group, Inc., 4.88%, 06/30/29(c)

      340       338,939  

Aon PLC, 3.88%, 12/15/25(h)

      1,280       1,398,398  

Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co., (5 year USD Swap + 4.59%), 6.50%(b)(f)(m)

      310       331,415  

AssuredPartners, Inc., 5.63%, 01/15/29(c)

      294       291,795  

BroadStreet Partners, Inc., 5.88%, 04/15/29(c)

      244       239,730  

GTCR AP Finance, Inc., 8.00%, 05/15/27(c)

      351       369,428  

HUB International Ltd., 7.00%, 05/01/26(c)(h)

      1,322       1,363,312  

Nationwide Building Society, (5 year USD ICE Swap + 1.85%), 4.13%,
10/18/32(b)(c)(h)

      690       744,509  

Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America, 4.27%, 05/15/47(c)(h)

      700       857,848  

Voya Financial, Inc., (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.58%), 5.65%, 05/15/53(b)(h)

      1,090       1,141,775  
   

 

 

 
            14,414,944  
Interactive Media & Services — 0.6%              

Arches Buyer, Inc., 4.25%, 06/01/28(c)

      143       144,152  

Cablevision Lightpath LLC(c)

     

3.88%, 09/15/27

      218       212,267  

5.63%, 09/15/28

      401       396,372  

Netflix, Inc.

     

5.88%, 11/15/28(h)

      877       1,067,484  

6.38%, 05/15/29

      43       54,234  

5.38%, 11/15/29(c)(h)

      648       781,605  

4.88%, 06/15/30(c)(h)

      115       135,125  

Northwest Fiber LLC/Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc.(c)

     

4.75%, 04/30/27

      387       377,809  

6.00%, 02/15/28(h)

      277       265,920  

Twitter, Inc., 3.88%, 12/15/27(c)

      360       378,598  

United Group BV(f)

     

4.88%, 07/01/24

    EUR       100       116,852  

4.00%, 11/15/27

      100       112,999  
   

 

 

 
        4,043,417  
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 0.0%              

Very Group Funding PLC, 6.50%, 08/01/26(f)

    GBP       100       136,061  
   

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services — 1.2%                  

Airbnb, Inc., 0.00%, 03/15/26(c)(k)(l)

    USD       724       708,804  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Internet Software & Services (continued)  

ANGI Group LLC, 3.88%, 08/15/28(c)

    USD       340     $ 332,350  

Booking Holdings, Inc., 0.75%, 05/01/25(k)

      485       719,494  

Go Daddy Operating Co. LLC/GD Finance Co., Inc.(c)

     

5.25%, 12/01/27

      359       372,462  

3.50%, 03/01/29

      159       153,833  

Match Group Holdings II LLC(c)

     

5.63%, 02/15/29

      209       223,630  

4.13%, 08/01/30

      262       269,532  

3.63%, 10/01/31

      139       134,933  

Uber Technologies, Inc.(c)

     

0.00%, 12/15/25(k)(l)

      2,019       1,942,330  

8.00%, 11/01/26(h)

      843       897,289  

7.50%, 09/15/27(h)

      1,085       1,186,827  

6.25%, 01/15/28

      260       279,188  

4.50%, 08/15/29

      597       600,836  

Zillow Group, Inc., 1.38%, 09/01/26(k)

      70       170,363  
   

 

 

 
            7,991,871  
IT Services — 1.0%                  

Ahead DB Holdings LLC, 6.63%, 05/01/28(c)

      140       142,800  

Austin BidCo, Inc., 7.13%, 12/15/28(c)

      93       96,023  

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.(c)

     

3.88%, 09/01/28

      468       474,716  

4.00%, 07/01/29

      530       536,625  

CA Magnum Holdings, 5.38%, 10/31/26(c)(n)

      488       500,810  

Camelot Finance SA, 4.50%, 11/01/26(c)(h)

      524       544,305  

Castle US Holding Corp., 9.50%, 02/15/28(c)

      330       344,850  

Centurion Bidco SpA, 5.88%, 09/30/26(f)

    EUR       100       119,912  

Dun & Bradstreet Corp.(c)

     

6.88%, 08/15/26(h)

    USD       555       578,587  

10.25%, 02/15/27

      388       416,324  

Fair Isaac Corp., 4.00%, 06/15/28(c)

      207       209,070  

Gartner, Inc.(c)

     

3.63%, 06/15/29

      287       288,435  

3.75%, 10/01/30(h)

      576       583,920  

KBR, Inc., 4.75%, 09/30/28(c)

      243       247,860  

Rackspace Technology Global, Inc., 5.38%, 12/01/28(c)(h)

      310       298,375  

Science Applications International Corp., 4.88%, 04/01/28(c)

      332       341,960  

Twilio, Inc., 3.88%, 03/15/31

      449       453,391  

ZoomInfo Technologies LLC/ZoomInfo Finance

     

Corp., 3.88%, 02/01/29(c)

      500       496,875  
   

 

 

 
        6,674,838  
Leisure Products — 0.2%                  

Mattel, Inc.

     

5.88%, 12/15/27(c)

      358       384,850  

3.75%, 04/01/29(c)

      131       136,083  

6.20%, 10/01/40

      232       295,800  

5.45%, 11/01/41

      326       384,680  
   

 

 

 
        1,201,413  
Machinery — 0.8%                  

ATS Automation Tooling Systems, Inc., 4.13%, 12/15/28(c)

      139       140,216  

Colfax Corp., 6.38%, 02/15/26(c)

      145       150,800  

Husky III Holding Ltd., (13.00% Cash or 13.75% PIK), 13.00%, 02/15/25(c)(h)(i)

      587       622,214  

Madison IAQ LLC(c)

     

4.13%, 06/30/28

      67       66,653  
 

 

 

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

  19


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Machinery (continued)                  

Madison IAQ LLC(c) (continued)

     

5.88%, 06/30/29

    USD       560     $ 555,800  

Mueller Water Products, Inc., 4.00%, 06/15/29(c)

      177       179,876  

OT Merger Corp., 7.88%, 10/15/29(c)

      147       144,795  

Renk AG/Frankfurt am Main, 5.75%, 07/15/25(f)

    EUR       100       119,819  

Stevens Holding Co., Inc., 6.13%, 10/01/26(c)

    USD       197       212,268  

Terex Corp., 5.00%, 05/15/29(c)

      381       388,620  

Titan Acquisition Ltd./Titan Co-Borrower LLC, 7.75%, 04/15/26(c)(h)

      1,114       1,136,447  

TK Elevator Holdco GmbH, 7.63%, 07/15/28(c)

      552       585,120  

TK Elevator Midco GmbH, 4.38%, 07/15/27(f)

    EUR       100       118,854  

TK Elevator US Newco Inc., 5.25%, 07/15/27(c)(h)

    USD       908       924,163  
   

 

 

 
            5,345,645  
Media — 9.2%                  

Altice Financing SA

     

3.00%, 01/15/28(f)

    EUR       100       109,531  

5.00%, 01/15/28(c)

    USD       462       445,192  

5.75%, 08/15/29(c)

      1,234       1,213,947  

Altice France Holding SA(c)(h)

     

10.50%, 05/15/27

      1,864       2,020,110  

6.00%, 02/15/28

      497       472,150  

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., (10.00% Cash or 12.00% PIK), 12.00%, 06/15/26(c)(i)

      349       347,255  

AMC Networks, Inc.

     

5.00%, 04/01/24

      16       16,180  

4.75%, 08/01/25

      331       339,275  

4.25%, 02/15/29

      157       154,645  

Block Communications, Inc., 4.88%, 03/01/28(c)

      168       171,360  

Cable One, Inc.(c)

     

1.13%, 03/15/28(k)

      1,312       1,285,050  

4.00%, 11/15/30

      95       93,316  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.

     

5.13%, 05/01/27(c)(h)

      861       892,211  

5.00%, 02/01/28(c)(h)

      116       120,640  

5.38%, 06/01/29(c)(h)

      658       707,021  

4.75%, 03/01/30(c)

      169       174,493  

4.50%, 08/15/30(c)(h)

      1,623       1,652,019  

4.25%, 02/01/31(c)(h)

      902       897,941  

4.50%, 05/01/32

      731       734,458  

4.50%, 06/01/33(c)

      332       331,170  

4.25%, 01/15/34(c)

      1,311       1,271,421  

Charter Communications Operating LLC/Charter Communications Operating Capital, 6.48%, 10/23/45(h)

      3,000       4,138,424  

Clear Channel International BV, 6.63%, 08/01/25(c)

      507       527,280  

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.(c)

     

7.75%, 04/15/28

      705       729,996  

7.50%, 06/01/29(h)

      971       993,212  

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc., 5.13%, 08/15/27(c)(h)

      2,277       2,335,633  

Comcast Corp., 4.60%, 08/15/45(h)

      1,750       2,206,114  

Connect Finco Sarl/Connect US Finco LLC, 6.75%, 10/01/26(c)(h)

      2,548       2,643,550  

CSC Holdings LLC

     

5.25%, 06/01/24

      633       666,232  

6.50%, 02/01/29(c)

      368       394,680  

5.75%, 01/15/30(c)

      855       843,628  

4.63%, 12/01/30(c)(h)

      893       818,211  

3.38%, 02/15/31(c)

      200       182,150  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Media (continued)                  

CSC Holdings LLC (continued)

     

4.50%, 11/15/31(c)(h)

    USD       398     $ 385,622  

DIRECTV Holdings LLC/DIRECTV Financing Co., Inc., 5.88%, 08/15/27(c)

      520       539,058  

Discovery Communications LLC, 4.95%, 05/15/42(h)

      400       472,016  

DISH DBS Corp.

     

5.88%, 07/15/22(h)

      999       1,023,975  

5.00%, 03/15/23(h)

      303       313,605  

7.75%, 07/01/26(h)

      1,272       1,413,510  

7.38%, 07/01/28

      119       125,099  

5.13%, 06/01/29

      733       705,512  

DISH Network Corp.(k)

     

2.38%, 03/15/24

      328       318,160  

3.38%, 08/15/26

      1,178           1,200,189  

Frontier Communications Holdings LLC(c)

     

5.88%, 10/15/27(h)

      592       620,120  

5.00%, 05/01/28

      1,094       1,111,777  

6.75%, 05/01/29

      544       559,640  

6.00%, 01/15/30

      480       482,270  

GCI LLC, 4.75%, 10/15/28(c)

      115       119,025  

Hughes Satellite Systems Corp., 5.25%, 08/01/26(h)

      166       185,298  

iHeartCommunications, Inc.

     

6.38%, 05/01/26

      192       199,487  

8.38%, 05/01/27

      45       47,925  

5.25%, 08/15/27(c)

      213       217,550  

4.75%, 01/15/28(c)

      96       96,600  

Iliad Holding SAS(c)

     

6.50%, 10/15/26

      622       640,921  

7.00%, 10/15/28

      608       626,556  

Kaixo Bondco Telecom SA, 5.13%, 09/30/29(f)

    EUR       100       114,423  

Lamar Media Corp., 4.00%, 02/15/30

    USD       163       165,484  

LCPR Senior Secured Financing DAC(c)

     

6.75%, 10/15/27

      200       210,000  

5.13%, 07/15/29(h)

      670       675,025  

Liberty Broadband Corp.(c)(k)

     

1.25%, 09/30/50

      528       525,469  

2.75%, 09/30/50

      1,018       1,059,130  

Ligado Networks LLC, (15.50% PIK), 15.50%, 11/01/23(c)(i)

      453       373,542  

Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC, 5.50%, 04/15/29(c)

      181       185,073  

Liquid Telecommunications Financing PLC, 5.50%, 09/04/26(c)

      400       415,125  

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.(c)

     

4.88%, 11/01/24

      40       40,450  

6.50%, 05/15/27(h)

      1,411       1,545,045  

4.75%, 10/15/27

      331       337,620  

3.75%, 01/15/28

      195       193,050  

Lorca Telecom Bondco SA, 4.00%, 09/18/27(f)

    EUR       100       116,305  

Midas OpCo Holdings LLC, 5.63%, 08/15/29(c)

    USD       129       131,406  

Midcontinent Communications/Midcontinent Finance Corp., 5.38%, 08/15/27(c)

      209       216,838  

Network i2i Ltd., (5 year CMT + 4.27%),
5.65%(b)(f)(m)

      250       264,188  

News Corp., 3.88%, 05/15/29(c)

      158       160,370  

Outfront Media Capital LLC/Outfront Media Capital Corp.(c)

     

5.00%, 08/15/27

      392       399,840  

4.25%, 01/15/29

      154       150,920  

Pinewood Finance Co. Ltd., 3.25%, 09/30/25(f)

    GBP       100       136,906  
 

 

 

20  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Media (continued)                  

Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance,
Inc.(c)(h)

     

4.50%, 09/15/26

    USD       597     $ 606,576  

6.50%, 09/15/28

      2,155       2,155,000  

Sable International Finance Ltd.

     

5.75%, 09/07/27(f)

      479       498,759  

5.75%, 09/07/27(c)

      200       208,250  

Scripps Escrow II, Inc., 3.88%, 01/15/29(c)

      114       113,430  

Sinclair Television Group, Inc., 4.13%, 12/01/30(c)

      333       317,183  

Sirius XM Radio, Inc.(c)

     

3.13%, 09/01/26

      627       627,784  

4.00%, 07/15/28

      652       656,694  

5.50%, 07/01/29

      435       469,256  

4.13%, 07/01/30(h)

      221       220,014  

3.88%, 09/01/31

      861       827,102  

Summer BC Holdco B Sarl, 5.75%, 10/31/26(f)

    EUR       100       120,571  

TEGNA, Inc., 5.50%, 09/15/24(c)

    USD       33       33,371  

Telenet Finance Luxembourg Notes Sarl, 5.50%, 03/01/28(c)

      400       417,200  

Telesat Canada/Telesat LLC, 4.88%, 06/01/27(c)

      177       158,146  

Terrier Media Buyer, Inc., 8.88%,
12/15/27(c)(h)

      997       1,054,327  

Univision Communications, Inc., 5.13%, 02/15/25(c)

      110       111,650  

UPC Broadband Finco BV, 4.88%, 07/15/31(c)(h)

      574       583,557  

UPCB Finance VII Ltd., 3.63%, 06/15/29(f)

    EUR       100       117,618  

ViacomCBS, Inc., 5.85%, 09/01/43(h)

    USD       645       877,761  

Videotron Ltd.(c)

     

5.13%, 04/15/27(h)

      345       356,644  

3.63%, 06/15/29

      462       464,310  

Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC, 4.50%, 08/15/30(c)(h)

      399       398,501  

VTR Comunicaciones SpA, 4.38%, 04/15/29(c)

      290       291,541  

WMG Acquisition Corp., 2.25%, 08/15/31(f)

    EUR       100       115,311  

Ziggo Bond Co. BV(c)(h)

     

6.00%, 01/15/27

    USD       638       658,735  

5.13%, 02/28/30

      295       298,540  

Ziggo BV(c)

     

5.50%, 01/15/27(h)

      313       320,825  

4.88%, 01/15/30

      217       220,662  
   

 

 

 
            62,047,937  
Metals & Mining — 2.5%                  

ABJA Investment Co. Pte Ltd., 5.95%, 07/31/24(f)

      450       490,500  

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.

     

4.88%, 10/01/29

      129       128,910  

5.13%, 10/01/31

      145       144,449  

AngloGold Ashanti Holdings PLC, 3.75%, 10/01/30

      200       201,500  

Arconic Corp.(c)

     

6.00%, 05/15/25

      361       377,696  

6.13%, 02/15/28

      443       466,811  

BHP Billiton Finance USA Ltd., 4.13%, 02/24/42(h)

      250       296,804  

Big River Steel LLC/BRS Finance Corp., 6.63%, 01/31/29(c)(h)

      1,258       1,366,503  

Constellium SE(c)

     

5.88%, 02/15/26(h)

      1,443       1,466,809  

3.75%, 04/15/29

      895       865,510  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

     

4.38%, 08/01/28

      366       381,087  

5.40%, 11/14/34

      39       47,642  

5.45%, 03/15/43

      1,355       1,704,590  

HTA Group Ltd., 7.00%, 12/18/25(c)

      410       426,733  

JSW Steel Ltd., 5.95%, 04/18/24(f)

      200       211,750  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Metals & Mining (continued)                  

Kaiser Aluminum Corp.(c)

     

4.63%, 03/01/28

    USD       115     $ 116,403  

4.50%, 06/01/31

      164       160,736  

Metinvest BV, 8.50%, 04/23/26(f)

      302       339,712  

Mongolian Mining Corp/Energy Resources LLC, 9.25%, 04/15/24(f)

      200       177,663  

New Gold, Inc., 7.50%, 07/15/27(c)(h)

      900       972,000  

Nexa Resources SA, 5.38%, 05/04/27(c)(h)

      657       697,159  

Novelis Corp.(c)

     

3.25%, 11/15/26

      532       530,670  

4.75%, 01/30/30

      994       1,033,760  

3.88%, 08/15/31

      767       748,822  

Periama Holdings LLC, 5.95%, 04/19/26(f)

      276       298,425  

Rio Tinto Finance USA PLC, 4.75%, 03/22/42(h)

      400       514,442  

Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc., 4.38%, 10/15/29(c)

      155       157,906  

thyssenkrupp AG(f)

     

1.88%, 03/06/23

    EUR       43       49,813  

2.88%, 02/22/24

      100       117,351  

United States Steel Corp., 6.88%, 03/01/29

    USD       628       671,960  

Vale Overseas Ltd., 3.75%, 07/08/30

      295       300,900  

Vedanta Resources Finance II PLC

     

8.00%, 04/23/23(f)

      313       307,288  

13.88%, 01/21/24(f)

      200       216,250  

8.95%, 03/11/25(c)

      595       600,950  
   

 

 

 
            16,589,504  
Multi-line Retail — 0.2%                  

Bath & Body Works, Inc.

     

6.88%, 11/01/35(h)

      478       580,741  

6.75%, 07/01/36

      79       94,832  

InRetail Consumer, 3.25%, 03/22/28(c)

      200       195,913  

NMG Holding Co., Inc./Neiman Marcus Group LLC, 7.13%, 04/01/26(c)

      506       531,452  
   

 

 

 
        1,402,938  
Offshore Drilling & Other Services — 0.0%                  

Entegris, Inc., 3.63%, 05/01/29(c)

      124       124,930  
   

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 11.7%                  

Aethon United BR LP/Aethon United Finance Corp., 8.25%, 02/15/26(c)(h)

      1,007       1,081,729  

Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream Finance Corp.(c)

     

7.88%, 05/15/26

      211       230,781  

5.75%, 03/01/27

      289       298,392  

5.75%, 01/15/28

      75       78,469  

5.38%, 06/15/29

      263       274,822  

Antero Resources Corp.(c)

     

7.63%, 02/01/29(o)

      350       387,625  

5.38%, 03/01/30

      56       59,276  

Apache Corp.

     

4.25%, 01/15/30

      308       327,250  

5.10%, 09/01/40(h)

      870       974,965  

5.25%, 02/01/42

      114       128,250  

4.75%, 04/15/43(h)

      800       876,000  

Arcosa, Inc., 4.38%, 04/15/29(c)

      477       486,869  

Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC/ARU Finance Corp.(c)

     

9.00%, 11/01/27(h)

      778       1,063,915  

8.25%, 12/31/28

      17       18,488  

5.88%, 06/30/29

      579       586,110  
 

 

 

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

  21


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)              

Bioceanico Sovereign Certificate Ltd., 0.00%, 06/05/34(f)(l)

    USD       354     $ 262,725  

Brand Industrial Services, Inc., 8.50%, 07/15/25(c)(h)

      406       403,462  

Buckeye Partners LP

     

4.13%, 03/01/25(c)

      345       353,625  

5.85%, 11/15/43

      182       179,434  

5.60%, 10/15/44

      232       225,040  

Callon Petroleum Co.

     

6.13%, 10/01/24

      161       158,835  

9.00%, 04/01/25(c)(h)

      1,257       1,351,275  

8.00%, 08/01/28(c)

      720       725,400  

Cellnex Telecom SA, Series CLNX,
0.75%, 11/20/31(f)(k)

    EUR       200       226,349  

Cenovus Energy, Inc., 5.40%, 06/15/47

    USD       104       130,059  

Centennial Resource Production LLC

     

6.88%, 04/01/27(c)

      296       302,660  

3.25%, 04/01/28(k)

      610       841,751  

Cheniere Energy Partners LP

     

4.50%, 10/01/29(h)

      469       500,742  

4.00%, 03/01/31(c)

      638       663,530  

3.25%, 01/31/32(c)

      626       620,491  

Cheniere Energy, Inc., 4.63%, 10/15/28

      1,979           2,075,377  

Chesapeake Energy Corp., 5.88%, 02/01/29(c)

      53       56,313  

Citgo Holding, Inc., 9.25%, 08/01/24(c)

      407       413,105  

Civitas Resources, Inc., 5.00%, 10/15/26(c)

      113       114,153  

CNX Midstream Partners LP, 4.75%, 04/15/30(c)

      118       118,148  

CNX Resources Corp.

     

2.25%, 05/01/26(k)

      637       862,550  

6.00%, 01/15/29(c)

      84       88,620  

Colgate Energy Partners III LLC(c)

     

7.75%, 02/15/26

      342       365,085  

5.88%, 07/01/29(h)

      394       403,357  

Comstock Resources, Inc.(c)

     

7.50%, 05/15/25

      117       121,388  

6.75%, 03/01/29(h)

      652       700,900  

5.88%, 01/15/30

      438       455,432  

CQP Holdco LP/BIP-V Chinook Holdco LLC, 5.50%, 06/15/31(c)

      469       487,760  

CrownRock LP/CrownRock Finance, Inc., 5.63%, 10/15/25(c)(h)

      1,307       1,336,407  

DCP Midstream Operating LP

     

6.45%, 11/03/36(c)(h)

      254       327,660  

6.75%, 09/15/37(c)(h)

      418       558,904  

5.60%, 04/01/44

      7       8,400  

DT Midstream, Inc.(c)

     

4.13%, 06/15/29

      553       556,954  

4.38%, 06/15/31

      717       726,436  

Dycom Industries, Inc., 4.50%, 04/15/29(c)

      130       131,950  

Ecopetrol SA, 4.63%, 11/02/31(n)

      435       431,737  

eG Global Finance PLC

     

6.75%, 02/07/25(c)

      452       462,735  

6.25%, 10/30/25(f)

    EUR       142       166,237  

8.50%, 10/30/25(c)

    USD       299       309,465  

Enbridge, Inc.(b)

     

(3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.64%), 6.25%, 03/01/78

      1,865       2,058,250  

Series 20-A, (5 year CMT + 5.31%), 5.75%, 07/15/80

      690       775,560  

Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc.(c)

     

6.63%, 07/15/25

      32       33,745  

5.75%, 01/30/28

      567       595,350  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)              

Energean Israel Finance Ltd., 4.88%, 03/30/26(c)(f)

    USD       260     $ 263,900  

Energy Transfer LP

     

6.13%, 12/15/45(h)

      500       641,427  

5.30%, 04/15/47(h)

      350       415,013  

Series H, (5 year CMT + 5.69%), 6.50%(b)(m)

      820       848,700  

EnLink Midstream LLC

     

5.63%, 01/15/28(c)

      226       239,635  

5.38%, 06/01/29

      98       101,430  

EnLink Midstream Partners LP

     

4.40%, 04/01/24

      281       293,645  

4.15%, 06/01/25

      68       70,984  

4.85%, 07/15/26

      160       166,400  

5.60%, 04/01/44

      237       232,473  

5.05%, 04/01/45

      39       37,148  

Enterprise Products Operating LLC, (3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.57%), 5.38%, 02/15/78(b)

      420       431,418  

EQM Midstream Partners LP

     

4.13%, 12/01/26

      131       134,766  

4.50%, 01/15/29(c)

      223       229,411  

4.75%, 01/15/31(c)(h)

      1,258           1,302,439  

EQT Corp.

     

1.75%, 05/01/26(k)

      544       850,170  

3.13%, 05/15/26(c)

      226       227,695  

3.90%, 10/01/27

      197       210,297  

5.00%, 01/15/29

      41       45,549  

7.50%, 02/01/30

      158       202,272  

3.63%, 05/15/31(c)

      64       65,360  

Genesis Energy LP/Genesis Energy Finance Corp.

     

6.50%, 10/01/25(h)

      53       52,242  

7.75%, 02/01/28

      144       142,235  

Geopark Ltd., 5.50%, 01/17/27(c)

      215       213,629  

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd., 4.25%, 10/27/27(f)

      200       193,500  

Great Western Petroleum LLC/Great Western Finance Corp., 12.00%, 09/01/25(c)

      214       217,210  

Harvest Midstream I LP, 7.50%, 09/01/28(c)

      78       81,900  

Hess Corp., 4.30%, 04/01/27(h)

      750       822,574  

Hess Midstream Operations LP, 4.25%, 02/15/30(c)

      325       325,000  

Hilong Holding Ltd., 9.75%, 11/18/24(f)

      407       343,991  

HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd., 5.45%, 10/22/26(f)

      200       207,313  

Impulsora Pipeline LLC, 6.05%, 01/01/43(a)

      1,587       1,536,662  

Independence Energy Finance LLC, 7.25%, 05/01/26(c)(h)

      602       626,080  

ITT Holdings LLC, 6.50%, 08/01/29(c)

      437       438,092  

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 4.25%, 09/01/24(h)

      2,500       2,697,652  

Leviathan Bond Ltd., 5.75%, 06/30/23(c)(f)

      328       338,862  

Matador Resources Co., 5.88%, 09/15/26(h)

      1,263       1,304,186  

MC Brazil Downstream Trading Sarl, 7.25%, 06/30/31(c)

      320       311,600  

Medco Bell Pte Ltd., 6.38%, 01/30/27(f)

      250       255,000  

MEG Energy Corp., 6.50%, 01/15/25(c)(h)

      1,020       1,044,225  

MPLX LP, 4.25%, 12/01/27

      235       261,984  

Murphy Oil Corp.

     

5.75%, 08/15/25

      27       27,675  

6.38%, 12/01/42

      35       35,540  

Murphy Oil USA, Inc., 4.75%, 09/15/29

      171       180,140  

Nabors Industries Ltd.(c)

     

7.25%, 01/15/26

      70       67,900  

7.50%, 01/15/28

      131       124,450  

Neptune Energy Bondco PLC, 6.63%, 05/15/25(c)

      200       204,500  
 

 

 

22  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)        

New Fortress Energy, Inc.(c)(h)

     

6.75%, 09/15/25

    USD       1,201     $ 1,169,468  

6.50%, 09/30/26

      1,103       1,071,940  

NGL Energy Operating LLC/NGL Energy Finance Corp., 7.50%, 02/01/26(c)(h)

      470       476,613  

NGPL PipeCo LLC, 7.77%, 12/15/37(c)(h)

      270       388,083  

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc., 8.13%, 03/01/28(c)(h)

      611       656,825  

NuStar Logistics LP

     

6.00%, 06/01/26

      234       248,625  

6.38%, 10/01/30

      30       32,879  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

     

6.95%, 07/01/24

      81       91,125  

5.50%, 12/01/25

      130       143,000  

5.55%, 03/15/26

      48       52,980  

8.88%, 07/15/30

      49       66,395  

6.20%, 03/15/40

      816       988,637  

4.50%, 07/15/44(h)

      2,268       2,290,680  

4.63%, 06/15/45

      141       145,935  

4.40%, 04/15/46

      558       564,565  

4.10%, 02/15/47

      510       497,250  

4.20%, 03/15/48

      565       550,609  

Odebrecht Offshore Drilling Finance Ltd., (7.72% PIK), 7.72%, 12/01/26(c)(i)

      (e)      142  

Oil and Gas Holding Co., 7.63%, 11/07/24(f)

      273       295,318  

OQ SAOC, 5.13%, 05/06/28(c)

      300       306,750  

Ovintiv Exploration, Inc., 5.38%, 01/01/26

      42       46,775  

Ovintiv, Inc.

     

7.38%, 11/01/31

      97       131,349  

6.50%, 08/15/34

      63       85,015  

PDC Energy, Inc.

     

6.13%, 09/15/24(o)

      89       90,224  

6.25%, 12/01/25

      144       146,880  

5.75%, 05/15/26

      292       300,395  

Pertamina Persero PT, 3.65%, 07/30/29(f)

      446       472,983  

Petrobras Global Finance BV

     

5.30%, 01/27/25

      101       109,522  

6.00%, 01/27/28(h)

      115       125,063  

Petroleos Mexicanos

     

6.50%, 03/13/27(h)

      689       731,890  

5.95%, 01/28/31

      678       665,457  

6.35%, 02/12/48

      273       231,709  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co., 0.25%, 05/15/25(k)

      361       637,984  

Puma International Financing SA, 5.13%, 10/06/24(c)

      483       486,170  

Range Resources Corp.

     

5.88%, 07/01/22

      57       57,428  

5.00%, 08/15/22(h)

      312       316,783  

5.00%, 03/15/23

      145       149,050  

4.88%, 05/15/25

      18       18,765  

9.25%, 02/01/26

      79       85,320  

Rockcliff Energy II LLC, 5.50%, 10/15/29(c)

      392       402,192  

Saudi Arabian Oil Co., 2.25%, 11/24/30(c)(h)

      745       720,462  

Shell International Finance BV, 4.38%, 05/11/45(h)

      450       564,375  

SM Energy Co.

     

10.00%, 01/15/25(c)(h)

      1,129           1,256,012  

5.63%, 06/01/25

      72       72,180  

6.75%, 09/15/26

      127       130,175  

6.50%, 07/15/28

      110       115,500  

Southwestern Energy Co.

     

4.10%, 03/15/22

      272       272,000  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)        

Southwestern Energy Co. (continued)

     

8.38%, 09/15/28

    USD       145     $ 161,675  

5.38%, 02/01/29(c)

      411       433,605  

Stoneway Capital Corp.(g)(j)

     

10.00%, 03/01/27(c)

      940       249,289  

10.00%, 03/01/27(f)

      333       88,344  

Suncor Energy, Inc., 6.50%, 06/15/38(h)

      800           1,111,417  

Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp.

     

6.00%, 04/15/27

      75       78,563  

5.88%, 03/15/28

      147       155,608  

Tap Rock Resources LLC, 7.00%, 10/01/26(c)

      934       961,404  

Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.

     

5.88%, 04/15/26(h)

      312       325,750  

5.38%, 02/01/27

      2       2,070  

6.50%, 07/15/27

      258       276,382  

6.88%, 01/15/29(h)

      673       753,760  

5.50%, 03/01/30

      489       537,431  

4.88%, 02/01/31

      359       387,085  

Transocean, Inc., 11.50%, 01/30/27(c)

      195       198,900  

Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC(c)

     

3.88%, 08/15/29

      1,000       1,017,500  

4.13%, 08/15/31

      893       924,210  

Vine Energy Holdings LLC, 6.75%, 04/15/29(c)(h)

      751       806,386  

Vivo Energy Investments BV, 5.13%, 09/24/27(c)

      549       579,126  

Western Midstream Operating LP

     

5.45%, 04/01/44(h)

      934       1,096,012  

5.30%, 03/01/48

      24       27,960  

5.50%, 08/15/48

      82       97,890  

6.50%, 02/01/50(h)

      983       1,176,631  

Williams Cos, Inc., 4.50%, 11/15/23(h)

      1,750       1,860,188  
   

 

 

 
        79,391,234  
Personal Products(f) — 0.0%                  

Coty, Inc.

     

4.00%, 04/15/23

    EUR       100       115,610  

3.88%, 04/15/26

      100       117,623  
   

 

 

 
        233,233  
Pharmaceuticals — 2.4%                  

AbbVie, Inc.(h)

     

4.75%, 03/15/45

    USD       500       627,335  

4.45%, 05/14/46

      1,000       1,222,308  

Bausch Health Americas, Inc.(c)

     

9.25%, 04/01/26

      61       64,813  

8.50%, 01/31/27(h)

      853       905,246  

Bausch Health Cos., Inc.(c)

     

9.00%, 12/15/25

      351       368,224  

5.75%, 08/15/27

      249       260,699  

5.00%, 01/30/28

      223       205,833  

4.88%, 06/01/28

      56       57,669  

5.00%, 02/15/29(h)

      675       619,313  

7.25%, 05/30/29(h)

      664       672,971  

5.25%, 01/30/30

      271       244,584  

5.25%, 02/15/31

      51       45,838  

Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH, 3.50%, 02/11/27(f)

    EUR       100       115,520  

CVS Health Corp., 5.05%, 03/25/48(h)

    USD       1,110       1,459,344  

Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.90%, 08/28/28

      316       369,297  

Endo Dac/Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc., 9.50%, 07/31/27(c)(h)

      875       868,437  

Endo Luxembourg Finance Co. I Sarl/Endo US, Inc., 6.13%, 04/01/29(c)(h)

      615       605,775  
 

 

 

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

  23


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Pharmaceuticals (continued)                  

Gruenenthal GmbH, 4.13%, 05/15/28(f)

    EUR       100     $ 119,704  

Jaguar Holding Co. II/PPD Development LP,
5.00%, 06/15/28(c)

    USD       962       1,031,745  

Jazz Securities DAC, 4.38%, 01/15/29(c)

      506       519,915  

Nidda BondCo GmbH, 7.25%, 09/30/25(f)

    EUR       100       117,189  

Nidda Healthcare Holding GmbH, 3.50%, 09/30/24(f)

      100       113,752  

Option Care Health, Inc., 4.38%, 10/31/29(c)

    USD       170       171,663  

Organon & Co./Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV(c)

     

4.13%, 04/30/28

      953       966,104  

5.13%, 04/30/31

      931       960,261  

P&L Development LLC/PLD Finance Corp., 7.75%, 11/15/25(c)

      339       347,051  

Par Pharmaceutical, Inc.,
7.50%, 04/01/27(c)(h)

      931       939,146  

PRA Health Sciences, Inc., 2.88%, 07/15/26(c)

      563       566,519  

Prestige Brands, Inc., 3.75%, 04/01/31(c)

      190       183,573  

Rossini Sarl, 6.75%, 10/30/25(f)

    EUR       166       198,462  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands II BV, 6.00%, 01/31/25

      100       124,183  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV, 7.13%, 01/31/25

    USD       200       213,688  

Utah Acquisition Sub, Inc., 3.95%, 06/15/26(h)

      650       706,960  
   

 

 

 
            15,993,121  
Producer Durables: Miscellaneous — 0.0%  

Oracle Corp., 3.60%, 04/01/50

      250       255,231  
   

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development — 2.9%  

Adler Group SA, 2.75%, 11/13/26(f)

    EUR       200       206,917  

Agile Group Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

5.75%, 01/02/25

    USD       224       170,240  

6.05%, 10/13/25

      200       150,000  

(5 year CMT + 11.08%), 7.75%(b)(m)

      200       108,000  

(5 year CMT + 11.29%), 7.88%(b)(m)

      200       112,000  

Arabian Centres Sukuk II Ltd., 5.63%, 10/07/26(c)

      525       547,477  

Canary Wharf Group Investment Holdings PLC, 1.75%, 04/07/26(f)

    EUR       100       116,816  

Central China Real Estate Ltd.(f)

     

6.88%, 08/08/22

    USD       200       136,000  

7.65%, 08/27/23

      245       129,927  

7.90%, 11/07/23

      230       117,300  

CFLD Cayman Investment Ltd.(f)(g)(j)

     

8.63%, 02/28/21

      200       68,063  

6.90%, 01/13/23

      400       140,575  

8.60%, 04/08/24

      200       70,288  

China Aoyuan Group Ltd.(f)

     

6.35%, 02/08/24

      435       174,000  

5.98%, 08/18/25

      200       78,000  

China Evergrande Group(f)(g)(j)

     

8.25%, 03/23/22

      450       123,750  

9.50%, 04/11/22

      200       51,000  

11.50%, 01/22/23

      450       106,875  

12.00%, 01/22/24

      250       59,375  

China SCE Group Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

7.25%, 04/19/23

      200       176,000  

7.38%, 04/09/24

      650       563,875  

7.00%, 05/02/25

      200       158,000  

CIFI Holdings Group Co. Ltd.(f)

     

6.55%, 03/28/24

      200       194,000  

6.45%, 11/07/24

      200       194,000  

6.00%, 07/16/25

      400       387,125  
Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Real Estate Management & Development (continued)  

CIFI Holdings Group Co. Ltd.(f) (continued)

     

5.95%, 10/20/25

    USD       200     $ 192,062  

5.25%, 05/13/26

      215       202,637  

Country Garden Holdings Co. Ltd.(f)

     

6.50%, 04/08/24

      200       200,500  

6.15%, 09/17/25

      200       200,020  

5.13%, 01/14/27

      200       194,562  

Dexin China Holdings Co. Ltd., 11.88%, 04/23/22(f)

      200       180,062  

DIC Asset AG, 2.25%, 09/22/26(f)

    EUR       100       111,441  

Easy Tactic Ltd.(f)

     

5.88%, 02/13/23

    USD       200       118,000  

8.13%, 02/27/23

      200       118,000  

11.75%, 08/02/23

      200       120,000  

8.63%, 02/27/24

      200       106,000  

Fantasia Holdings Group Co. Ltd.(f)(g)(j)

     

11.75%, 04/17/22

      430       135,450  

12.25%, 10/18/22

      200       63,000  

11.88%, 06/01/23

      200       63,000  

9.25%, 07/28/23

      400       126,000  

Fastighets AB Balder, (5 year EUR Swap + 3.19%), 2.87%, 06/02/81(b)(f)

    EUR       100       110,398  

Five Point Operating Co. LP/Five Point Capital Corp., 7.88%, 11/15/25(c)(h)

    USD       265       275,732  

Global Prime Capital Pte Ltd., 5.50%, 10/18/23(f)

      200       201,850  

Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC, 5.75%, 12/01/25(c)

      120       121,950  

Haimen Zhongnan Investment Development International Co. Ltd., 12.00%, 06/08/22(f)

      200       156,062  

Heimstaden Bostad AB, (5 year EUR Swap + 3.15%), 2.63%(b)(f)(m)

    EUR       100       109,255  

Howard Hughes Corp.(c)

     

5.38%, 08/01/28

    USD       237       248,554  

4.13%, 02/01/29

      189       189,191  

4.38%, 02/01/31

      226           226,050  

Jingrui Holdings Ltd., 12.00%, 07/25/22(f)

      200       128,878  

Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

11.95%, 10/22/22

      200       68,000  

11.50%, 01/30/23

      400       120,000  

10.88%, 07/23/23

      400       120,000  

9.75%, 09/28/23

      248       76,880  

11.95%, 11/12/23

      200       57,100  

11.70%, 11/11/25

      200       56,000  

Kennedy-Wilson, Inc., 4.75%, 02/01/30

      174       175,087  

KWG Group Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

7.88%, 09/01/23

      200       163,500  

7.40%, 03/05/24

      710       571,772  

Logan Group Co. Ltd.(f)

     

6.50%, 07/16/23

      200       190,000  

6.90%, 06/09/24

      200       188,000  

5.75%, 01/14/25

      200       184,500  

5.25%, 10/19/25

      200       178,500  

MAF Sukuk Ltd., 4.64%, 05/14/29(f)(h)

      525       590,231  

Modern Land China Co. Ltd., 9.80%,
04/11/23(f)(g)(j)

      200       44,000  

New Metro Global Ltd.(f)

     

6.80%, 08/05/23

      200       185,000  

4.80%, 12/15/24

      200       174,000  

Powerlong Real Estate Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

7.13%, 11/08/22

      200       189,000  

6.95%, 07/23/23

      330       306,900  
 

 

 

24  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Real Estate Management & Development (continued)        

Powerlong Real Estate Holdings Ltd.(f) (continued)

 

6.25%, 08/10/24.

    USD       350     $     317,625  

Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 5.75%, 01/15/29(c)

      375       388,594  

Redsun Properties Group Ltd.(f)

     

9.95%, 04/11/22

      200       151,037  

10.50%, 10/03/22

      200       140,000  

RKPF Overseas Ltd.(f)

     

Series 2019-A, 6.70%, 09/30/24

      513       479,655  

Series 2019-A, 6.00%, 09/04/25

      200       181,000  

Series 2020-A, 5.20%, 01/12/26

      205       177,325  

Ronshine China Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

10.50%, 03/01/22

      200       100,063  

8.95%, 01/22/23

      200       86,063  

7.35%, 12/15/23

      304       127,775  

6.75%, 08/05/24

      220       90,269  

Scenery Journey Ltd.(f)(g)(j)

     

11.50%, 10/24/22

      219       44,348  

13.00%, 11/06/22

      200       43,500  

12.00%, 10/24/23

      448       90,720  

Seazen Group Ltd.(f)

     

6.45%, 06/11/22

      200       188,500  

6.00%, 08/12/24

      200       175,500  

Shimao Group Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

5.60%, 07/15/26

      200       184,100  

3.45%, 01/11/31(h)

      200       167,900  

Shui On Development Holding Ltd., 5.75%, 11/12/23(f)

      500       482,656  

Sinic Holdings Group Co. Ltd., 10.50%, 06/18/22(f)(g)(j)

      200       14,035  

Sunac China Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

6.65%, 08/03/24

      224       160,230  

7.00%, 07/09/25

      400       280,000  

Theta Capital Pte Ltd., 8.13%, 01/22/25(f)

      200       212,000  

Times China Holdings Ltd.(f)

     

6.75%, 07/16/23

      313       256,660  

6.75%, 07/08/25

      553       423,045  

Wanda Group Overseas Ltd.(f)

     

7.50%, 07/24/22

      200       186,062  

8.88%, 03/21/23

      200       175,000  

Wanda Properties International Co. Ltd., 7.25%, 01/29/24(f)

      205       192,764  

Yango Justice International Ltd.(f)

     

10.00%, 02/12/23

      400       360,000  

8.25%, 11/25/23

      200       40,000  

7.88%, 09/04/24

      200       40,000  

Yanlord Land HK Co. Ltd.(f)

     

6.75%, 04/23/23

      640       643,200  

6.80%, 02/27/24

      200       201,000  

Yuzhou Group Holdings Co. Ltd.(f)

     

7.70%, 02/20/25

      200       84,000  

8.30%, 05/27/25

      200       84,000  

7.38%, 01/13/26

      205       84,050  

Zhenro Properties Group Ltd.(f)

     

8.70%, 08/03/22

      200       144,000  

7.88%, 04/14/24

      400       248,000  

6.63%, 01/07/26

      200       139,357  
   

 

 

 
        19,460,760  
Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Road & Rail — 0.5%                  

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC, 4.38%, 09/01/42(h)

    USD       500     $ 619,499  

Danaos Corp., 8.50%, 03/01/28(c)

      100       109,600  

Lima Metro Line 2 Finance Ltd., 5.88%, 07/05/34(c)(h)

      2,001       2,305,540  

Seaspan Corp., 5.50%, 08/01/29(c)

      444       448,400  
   

 

 

 
            3,483,039  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 1.3%  

ams AG, 6.00%, 07/31/25(f)

    EUR       100       122,027  

Atkore, Inc., 4.25%, 06/01/31(c)

    USD       210       212,100  

Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., 3.88%, 01/15/27(h)

      2,600       2,818,493  

Broadcom, Inc., 3.46%, 09/15/26(h)

      688       734,377  

Microchip Technology, Inc.

     

0.13%, 11/15/24(k)

      411       459,293  

1.63%, 02/15/25(k)

      102       322,659  

4.25%, 09/01/25(h)

      1,374       1,429,127  

ON Semiconductor Corp., 3.88%, 09/01/28(c)

      429       433,826  

QUALCOMM, Inc., 4.65%, 05/20/35(h)

      400       494,461  

Sensata Technologies BV(c)

     

5.00%, 10/01/25

      368       403,115  

4.00%, 04/15/29

      408       414,389  

Sensata Technologies, Inc.(c)

     

4.38%, 02/15/30(h)

      513       541,412  

3.75%, 02/15/31

      44       43,395  

Synaptics, Inc., 4.00%, 06/15/29(c)

      243       245,430  
   

 

 

 
        8,674,104  
Software — 1.5%                  

ACI Worldwide, Inc., 5.75%, 08/15/26(c)(h)

      510       532,950  

Black Knight InfoServ LLC, 3.63%, 09/01/28(c)

      501       498,495  

Boxer Parent Co., Inc.

     

6.50%, 10/02/25(f)

    EUR       100       121,171  

7.13%, 10/02/25(c)(h)

    USD       749       797,685  

9.13%, 03/01/26(c)

      194       202,730  

Cedacri Mergeco SpA, (3 mo. EURIBOR + 4.63%), 4.63%, 05/15/28(b)(f)

    EUR       100       116,178  

Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., 3.00%, 02/15/29

    USD       357       352,537  

Elastic NV, 4.13%, 07/15/29(c)

      481       478,540  

Helios Software Holdings, Inc./ION Corporate Solutions Finance Sarl, 4.63%, 05/01/28(c)

      400       395,000  

MicroStrategy, Inc., 6.13%, 06/15/28(c)

      409       419,687  

MSCI, Inc.(c)

     

4.00%, 11/15/29

      99       103,455  

3.63%, 09/01/30

      197       201,925  

3.88%, 02/15/31(h)

      454       468,345  

3.63%, 11/01/31

      164       168,920  

3.25%, 08/15/33

      233       233,902  

Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 02/15/28(c)

      179       180,343  

Open Text Holdings, Inc., 4.13%, 02/15/30(c)

      340       345,644  

Playtika Holding Corp., 4.25%, 03/15/29(c)

      529       530,481  

PTC, Inc., 4.00%, 02/15/28(c)

      242       245,327  

Rocket Software, Inc., 6.50%, 02/15/29(c)

      525       501,375  

SS&C Technologies, Inc., 5.50%, 09/30/27(c)(h)

      1,589       1,672,422  

Veritas US, Inc./Veritas Bermuda Ltd., 7.50%, 09/01/25(c)(h)

      1,247       1,292,204  
   

 

 

 
        9,859,316  
Specialty Retail — 0.7%                  

Arko Corp., 5.13%, 11/15/29(c)

      232       226,455  

National Vision Holdings, Inc., 2.50%, 05/15/25(k)

      311       640,507  
 

 

 

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

  25


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Specialty Retail (continued)                  

PetSmart, Inc./PetSmart Finance Corp.(c)

     

4.75%, 02/15/28

    USD       436     $ 447,990  

7.75%, 02/15/29(h)

      1,824       1,971,234  

Staples, Inc.(c)

     

7.50%, 04/15/26(h)

      894       903,646  

10.75%, 04/15/27

      257       245,435  

Tendam Brands SAU, (3 mo. EURIBOR + 5.25%), 5.25%, 09/15/24(b)(f)

    EUR       100       115,051  
   

 

 

 
        4,550,318  
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 0.1%  

Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 7.13%, 06/15/24(c)(h)

    USD       756       768,240  
   

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods(c) — 0.1%  

Crocs, Inc.

     

4.25%, 03/15/29

      199       201,487  

4.13%, 08/15/31

      252       253,575  

Levi Strauss & Co., 3.50%, 03/01/31

      141       141,705  

William Carter Co., 5.63%, 03/15/27

      28       29,015  

Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 4.00%, 08/15/29

      129       127,363  
   

 

 

 
        753,145  
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.2%  

Home Point Capital, Inc., 5.00%, 02/01/26(c)

      269       241,667  

Jerrold Finco PLC, 5.25%, 01/15/27(f)

    GBP       100       139,250  

MGIC Investment Corp., 5.25%, 08/15/28

    USD       216       229,809  

Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc.(c)

     

6.00%, 01/15/27

      323       337,535  

5.50%, 08/15/28

      242       248,050  

5.13%, 12/15/30

      180       181,413  

Rocket Mortgage LLC/Rocket Mortgage Co-Issuer, Inc., 2.88%, 10/15/26(c)

      241       239,343  
   

 

 

 
        1,617,067  
Tobacco(h) — 0.4%                  

Altria Group, Inc., 4.50%, 05/02/43

      750       801,336  

Philip Morris International, Inc., 4.38%, 11/15/41

      900           1,035,484  

Reynolds American, Inc., 5.85%, 08/15/45

      715       875,069  
   

 

 

 
        2,711,889  
Transportation — 0.0%                  

Autostrade per l’Italia SpA, 2.00%, 12/04/28(f)

    EUR       100       121,207  
   

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure — 0.4%  

Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen SA, 5.13%, 08/11/61(c)

    USD       320       333,460  

DP World Salaam, (5 year CMT + 5.75%), 6.00%(b)(f)(m)

      256       280,560  

FedEx Corp.(h)

     

3.90%, 02/01/35

      500       557,925  

4.75%, 11/15/45

      500       621,324  

Heathrow Finance PLC, 4.63%, 09/01/29(d)(f)

    GBP       100       138,052  

Mexico City Airport Trust, 5.50%, 07/31/47(f)

    USD       308       311,234  

Transurban Finance Co. Pty Ltd., 4.13%, 02/02/26(c)(h)

      520       569,393  
   

 

 

 
        2,811,948  
Utilities — 1.9%                  

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA(c)

     

3.63%, 02/04/25

      424       424,609  

4.63%, 02/04/30

      233       227,583  

Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.(c)

     

6.00%, 10/15/26

      91       92,934  
Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Utilities (continued)                  

Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.(c) (continued)

 

6.50%, 10/15/28

    USD       83     $ 86,320  

Electricite de France SA, (10 year USD Swap + 3.71%), 5.25%(b)(c)(h)(m)

      7,500       7,762,500  

FEL Energy VI Sarl, 5.75%, 12/01/40(f)

      306       301,747  

Genneia SA, 8.75%, 09/02/27(c)(h)

      497       472,709  

India Cleantech Energy, 4.70%, 08/10/26(c)

      250       250,313  

Inkia Energy Ltd., 5.88%, 11/09/27(c)(h)

      455       468,167  

Mong Doung Finacial Holdings BV, 5.13%, 05/07/29(f)

      250       248,484  

Pattern Energy Operations LP/Pattern Energy Operations, Inc., 4.50%, 08/15/28(c)(h)

      687       711,045  

Solaris Midstream Holdings LLC, 7.63%, 04/01/26(c)

      92       97,032  

Star Energy Geothermal Darajat II/Star Energy Geothermal Salak, 4.85%, 10/14/38(c)

      535       592,613  

Star Energy Geothermal Wayang Windu Ltd., 6.75%, 04/24/33(f)

      336       374,438  

Thames Water Kemble Finance PLC, 4.63%, 05/19/26(f)

    GBP       168       238,082  

Vistra Operations Co. LLC(c)

     

5.63%, 02/15/27

    USD       254       261,701  

4.38%, 05/01/29

      290       287,100  
   

 

 

 
        12,897,377  
Wireless Telecommunication Services — 2.7%  

Altice France SA

     

5.88%, 02/01/27(f)

    EUR       100       120,848  

8.13%, 02/01/27(c)(h)

    USD       780       838,500  

5.50%, 01/15/28(c)

      357       357,892  

4.13%, 01/15/29(f)

    EUR       100       113,721  

5.13%, 01/15/29(c)

    USD       201       194,970  

5.13%, 07/15/29(c)(h)

      1,606           1,564,132  

4.25%, 10/15/29(f)

    EUR       100       114,444  

5.50%, 10/15/29(c)

    USD       610       597,934  

Kenbourne Invest SA(c)

     

6.88%, 11/26/24

      529       552,805  

4.70%, 01/22/28

      200       199,000  

Matterhorn Telecom SA, 4.00%, 11/15/27(f)

    EUR       100       117,239  

Millicom International Cellular SA

     

5.13%, 01/15/28(f)

    USD       463       481,191  

4.50%, 04/27/31(c)

      400       410,200  

SBA Communications Corp.(h)

     

4.88%, 09/01/24

      956       967,950  

3.88%, 02/15/27

      939       968,372  

Sprint Corp.

     

7.88%, 09/15/23

      206       228,403  

7.13%, 06/15/24(h)

      333       376,290  

7.63%, 03/01/26(h)

      816       978,302  

T-Mobile USA, Inc.

     

4.75%, 02/01/28(h)

      626       660,430  

2.63%, 02/15/29

      471       466,879  

2.88%, 02/15/31(h)

      573       569,419  

3.50%, 04/15/31

      507       524,694  

3.50%, 04/15/31(c)

      462       478,124  

Uniti Group LP/Uniti Group Finance, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 6.50%, 02/15/29(c)(h)

      577       583,685  

VEON Holdings BV, 4.00%, 04/09/25(c)

      200       207,250  

VICI Properties LP/VICI Note Co.,
Inc.(c)

     

3.50%, 02/15/25

      503       511,802  

4.25%, 12/01/26(h)

      1,187       1,229,530  

3.75%, 02/15/27

      534       548,685  
 

 

 

26  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  

Wireless Telecommunication Services (continued)

 

VICI Properties LP/VICI Note Co., Inc.(c) (continued)

 

4.63%, 12/01/29(h)

    USD       640     $ 682,800  

4.13%, 08/15/30(h)

      1,191       1,250,550  

Vmed O2 UK Financing I PLC

     

4.00%, 01/31/29(f)

    GBP       100       135,144  

4.50%, 07/15/31(f)

      100       137,197  

4.75%, 07/15/31(c)

    USD       962       966,810  

VTR Comunicaciones SpA, 5.13%, 01/15/28(c)

      178       184,931  
   

 

 

 
        18,320,123  
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds — 89.4%
(Cost: $590,305,233)

        604,949,985  
   

 

 

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests(b)

     
Aerospace & Defense — 0.3%                  

Peraton Holding Corp.

     

2nd Lien Term Loan B1, (1 mo. LIBOR + 7.75%, 0.75% Floor), 8.50%, 02/01/29

      370       377,400  

Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor), 4.50%, 02/01/28

      1,086           1,087,206  

Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.

     

2020 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.25%), 6.00%, 01/15/25

      235       235,810  

2021 Term Loan B, 0.00%, 01/15/25(p)

      22       22,055  
   

 

 

 
        1,722,471  
Air Freight & Logistics — 0.0%                  

AIT Worldwide Logistics, Inc, 2021 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.75%), 5.50%, 03/31/28

      90       90,113  
   

 

 

 
Airlines — 0.4%                  

AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd./American Airlines, Inc., 2021 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.75%), 5.50%, 04/20/28

      786       818,451  

Air Canada, 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 4.25%, 08/11/28

      449       453,396  

Mileage Plus Holdings LLC, 2020 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.25%, 1.00% Floor), 6.25%, 06/21/27

      223       237,357  

SkyMiles IP Ltd., 2020 Skymiles Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 1.00% Floor), 4.75%, 10/20/27

      381       405,552  

United Airlines, Inc., 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.50%, 04/21/28

      826       836,908  
   

 

 

 
        2,751,664  
Auto Components — 0.0%                  

Clarios Global LP, 2021 USD Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.34%, 04/30/26

      286       283,722  
   

 

 

 
Banks — 0.1%                  

Directv Financing LLC, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.00%, 0.75% Floor), 5.75%, 08/02/27

      642       642,308  
   

 

 

 
Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Building Products — 0.1%                  

CP Atlas Buyer, Inc., 2021 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.25%, 11/23/27

    USD       118     $ 117,628  

CPG International, Inc., 2017 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.50%), 3.25%, 05/05/24

      129       128,527  

Standard Industries, Inc., 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.50%), 3.00%, 09/22/28

      228       227,674  

TPG VIII Elf Purchaser LLC, 2021 Term Loan B, 0.00%, 11/06/28(a)(p)

      193       192,805  
   

 

 

 
        666,634  
Capital Markets — 0.1%                  

AQGEN Ascensus, Inc., 2021 2nd Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 6.50%), 7.00%, 08/02/29

      171       169,717  

Deerfield Dakota Holding LLC

     

2020 USD Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 1.00% Floor), 4.75%, 04/09/27

      104       104,510  

2021 USD 2nd Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 6.75%), 7.50%, 04/07/28

      274       281,708  
   

 

 

 
        555,935  
Chemicals — 0.3%                  

Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC, 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.75%), 5.50%, 08/27/26

      490       494,246  

Atotech BV, 2021 USD Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.50%), 3.00%, 03/18/28

      588       586,670  

Illuminate Buyer LLC, 2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 3.59%, 06/30/27

      164       163,643  

Invictus Technical Solutions LLC, 2nd Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 6.75%), 6.82%, 03/30/26

      54       54,114  

Momentive Performance Materials, Inc., Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.34%, 05/15/24

      261       260,060  

New Arclin U.S. Holding Corp., 2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.25%, 09/30/28

      209       208,750  

W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn., 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.25%, 09/22/28

      404       404,909  
   

 

 

 
        2,172,392  
Commercial Services & Supplies — 0.2%  

Asurion LLC, 2020 Term Loan B8, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.34%, 12/23/26

      94       92,751  

Dealer Tire LLC, 2020 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 4.25%), 4.34%, 12/12/25

      93       93,291  

GFL Environmental, Inc., 2020 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.50%, 05/30/25

      115       115,346  

KAR Auction Services, Inc., 2019 Term Loan B6, (1 mo. LIBOR + 2.25%), 2.38%, 09/19/26(a)

      66       63,867  

Verscend Holding Corp., 2021 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%), 4.09%, 08/27/25

      1,253           1,254,636  
   

 

 

 
        1,619,891  
Construction & Engineering — 0.4%                  

Brand Industrial Services, Inc., 2017 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.25%, 1.00% Floor), 5.25%, 06/21/24

      2,420       2,397,545  
   

 

 

 
 

 

 

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

  27


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Construction Materials — 0.0%  

Forterra Finance LLC, 2017 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 1.00% Floor), 4.00%, 10/25/23

    USD       112     $ 112,081  
   

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging — 0.1%  

BWAY Holding Co., 2017 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.34%, 04/03/24

      611       593,870  

Charter NEX US, Inc., 2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.50%, 12/01/27

      217       217,768  
   

 

 

 
        811,638  
Diversified Consumer Services — 0.1%  

Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 3.59%, 01/29/27

      80       79,521  

Ascend Learning LLC, 2017 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 1.00% Floor), 4.00%, 07/12/24

      112       111,751  

Sotheby’s, 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.50%), 5.00%, 01/15/27

      223       222,990  

TruGreen Limited Partnership, 2020 2nd Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 8.50%), 9.50%, 11/02/28(a)

      201       203,010  
   

 

 

 
        617,272  
Diversified Financial Services — 0.6%  

Advisor Group, Inc., 2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 4.50%), 4.59%, 07/31/26

      120       119,865  

Credito Real SAB de CV Sofom ENR, Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 3.88%, 02/17/23(a)

      56       51,912  

Delta TopCo, Inc., 2020 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.50%, 12/01/27

      521       520,085  

I-Logic Technologies Bidco Ltd., 2021 USD Term Loan B, (1 Week LIBOR + 4.00%), 4.50%, 02/16/28

      124       124,933  

KKR Apple Bidco LLC

     

2021 2nd Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.75%), 6.25%, 09/21/29

      34       34,453  

2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.50%, 09/22/28

      210       209,475  

LBM Acquisition LLC, Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor), 4.75%, 12/18/27

      61       59,790  

Milano Acquisition Corp., Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%), 4.75%, 10/01/27

      972       973,299  

Radiate Holdco LLC, 2021 Term Loan B, 0.00%, 09/25/26(p)

      75       74,779  

Veritas US, Inc., 2021 USD Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.00%, 1.00% Floor), 6.00%, 09/01/25

      1,047       1,049,659  

VS Buyer LLC, Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.09%, 02/28/27

      93       92,088  

White Cap Buyer LLC, Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.50% Floor), 4.50%, 10/19/27

      671       672,516  
   

 

 

 
            3,982,854  
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.4%  

Frontier Communications Corp., 2021 DIP Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor), 4.50%, 05/01/28

      372       371,386  

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

     

2017 Term Loan B3, (PRIME + 4.75%), 8.00%, 11/27/23

      107       107,992  
Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Diversified Telecommunication Services (continued)  

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (continued)

     

2017 Term Loan B4, (PRIME + 5.50%), 8.75%, 01/02/24

    USD       330     $ 333,257  

2017 Term Loan B5, (Fixed + 8.62%), 8.63%, 01/02/24

      1,841       1,861,440  

Northwest Fiber LLC, 2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 3.83%, 04/30/27

      44       43,669  
   

 

 

 
        2,717,744  
Entertainment — 0.1%                  

MSG National Properties LLC, Term Loan,
(3 mo. LIBOR + 6.25%), 7.00%, 11/12/25(a)

      485       495,039  
   

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.2%  

Chamberlain Group, Inc., Term Loan B, 0.00%, 11/03/28(p)

      473       472,016  

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics SA

     

2018 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.08%, 06/30/25

      100       100,179  

EUR Term Loan B, (EURIBOR + 3.50%), 3.50%, 06/30/25

    EUR       913           1,053,866  
   

 

 

 
        1,626,061  
Health Care Providers & Services — 0.3%  

Da Vinci Purchaser Corp., 2019 Term Loan, (2 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 1.00% Floor), 5.00%, 01/08/27

    USD       230       231,095  

Envision Healthcare Corp., 2018 1st Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 3.84%, 10/10/25

      786       649,157  

LifePoint Health, Inc., 2018 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 3.84%, 11/16/25

      146       145,339  

Quorum Health Corp., 2020 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 7.00%, 1.00% Floor), 8.00%, 04/29/25

      300       300,038  

Sotera Health Holdings LLC, 2021 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.75%), 3.25%, 12/11/26

      489       486,961  
   

 

 

 
        1,812,590  
Health Care Services — 0.0%                  

Medical Solutions LLC, 2021 2nd Lien Term Loan, 0.00%, 10/01/29(a)(p)

      149       148,255  
   

 

 

 
Health Care Technology — 0.1%                  

Athenahealth, Inc., 2021 Term Loan B1, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.25%), 4.38%, 02/11/26

      157       157,603  

Polaris Newco LLC, USD Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%), 4.50%, 06/02/28

      479       479,920  
   

 

 

 
        637,523  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 0.1%  

Golden Nugget LLC, 2017 Incremental Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.50%), 3.25%, 10/04/23

      212       211,157  

Great Canadian Gaming Corp., Term Loan,
(3 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.75% Floor), 4.13%, 11/01/26

      71       71,320  

IRB Holding Corp., 2020 Fourth Amendment Incremental Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 1.00% Floor), 4.25%, 12/15/27

      464       464,160  
 

 

 

28  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (continued)  

Life Time Fitness, Inc., 2021 Term Loan B,
(3 mo. LIBOR + 4.75%, 1.00% Floor), 5.75%, 12/16/24

    USD       100     $ 32,607  

Stars Group Holdings BV, 2018 USD Incremental Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.25%), 2.38%, 07/21/26

      40       39,399  
   

 

 

 
        818,643  
Household Durables — 0.1%                  

Springs Windows Fashions LLC, 2021 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.75% Floor), 4.75%, 10/06/28

      347       343,964  
   

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 0.0%  

Calpine Corp., 2019 Term Loan B10, (1 mo. LIBOR + 2.00%), 2.09%, 08/12/26

      45       43,952  
   

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.2%  

PSAV Holdings Corp., 2018 2nd Lien Term Loan, (6 mo. LIBOR + 7.25%, 1.00% Floor), 8.25%, 09/01/25(a)

      623       498,162  

Sequa Mezzanine Holdings LLC, 2020 Extended Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 6.75%, 1.00% Floor), 7.75%, 11/28/23

      193       194,286  

Vertiv Group Corp., 2021 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 2.75%), 2.83%, 03/02/27

      426       423,328  
   

 

 

 
        1,115,776  
Insurance — 0.3%                  

Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC

     

2018 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.34%, 05/09/25

      249       246,832  

2020 Term Loan B3, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.25%, 11/05/27

      175       174,837  

2021 Term Loan B4, 0.00%, 11/19/27(p)

      284       283,290  

HUB International Ltd., 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.38%, 04/25/25

      243       242,393  

Ryan Specialty Group LLC, Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.75%, 09/01/27

      235       235,679  

Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.

     

2018 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.34%, 12/31/25

      177       175,009  

2019 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 3.84%, 09/03/26

      275       273,922  

2020 Term Loan B3, (1 mo. LIBOR + 4.25%, 1.00% Floor), 5.25%, 09/03/26

      202       202,205  
   

 

 

 
            1,834,167  
Interactive Media & Services — 0.1%  

Camelot Finance SA, 2020 Incremental Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 1.00% Floor), 4.00%, 10/30/26

      150       150,093  

Grab Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 4.50%, 1.00% Floor), 5.50%, 01/29/26

      205       206,507  
   

 

 

 
        356,600  
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 0.0%      

CNT Holdings I Corp., 2020 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.50%, 11/08/27

      293       292,896  
   

 

 

 
IT Services — 0.3%      

Banff Merger Sub, Inc.

 

2021 USD 2nd Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.50%), 6.00%, 02/27/26

      529       534,951  
Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
IT Services (continued)      

Banff Merger Sub, Inc. (continued)

     

2021 USD Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 3.88%, 10/02/25

    USD       348     $ 345,327  

Camelot Finance SA, Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.09%, 10/30/26

      202       201,181  

Greeneden US Holdings II LLC, 2020 USD Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%), 4.75%, 12/01/27

      337       337,956  

Peak 10 Holding Corp.

     

2017 1st Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 3.59%, 08/01/24

      171       164,153  

2nd Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 7.25%), 7.33%, 08/01/25

      75       69,125  

PUG LLC, USD Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 3.59%, 02/12/27

      214       209,623  

TierPoint LLC, 2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.50%, 05/05/26

      168       167,983  
   

 

 

 
        2,030,299  
Life Sciences Tools & Services — 0.1%  

ICON Luxembourg Sarl

     

LUX Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.50%), 3.00%, 07/03/28

      500       499,583  

US Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.50%), 3.00%, 07/03/28

      124       124,250  

Parexel International Corp., Term Loan B,
(1 mo. LIBOR + 2.75%), 2.84%, 09/27/24

      125       124,923  
   

 

 

 
        748,756  
Machinery — 0.4%                  

Filtration Group Corp., 2021 Incremental Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 4.00%, 10/21/28

      291       290,491  

Ingersoll-Rand Services Co., 2020 USD Spinco Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 1.75%), 1.84%, 03/01/27

      104       102,876  

Madison IAQ LLC, Term Loan, (6 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.75%, 06/21/28

      127       126,366  

MHI Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 5.00%), 5.09%, 09/21/26

      515       517,669  

Titan Acquisition Ltd., 2018 Term Loan B,
(3 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.17%, 03/28/25

      1,591           1,562,189  
   

 

 

 
        2,599,591  
Media — 0.4%                  

Altice Financing SA, 2017 USD Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 2.75%), 2.87%, 07/15/25

      44       42,902  

Altice France SA, 2018 Term Loan B13, (3 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%), 4.12%, 08/14/26

      206       204,778  

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 3.63%, 08/21/26

      872       858,052  

Connect Finco Sarl, 2021 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 1.00% Floor), 4.50%, 12/11/26

      234       234,196  

Learfield Communications LLC, 2016 1st Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 1.00% Floor), 4.25%, 12/01/23

      90       85,996  

MH Sub I LLC, 2021 2nd Lien Term Loan,
(1 mo. LIBOR + 6.25%), 6.34%, 02/12/29

      66       66,846  

Radiate Holdco LLC, 2020 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 4.25%, 09/25/26

      46       45,829  

Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., USD Term Loan,
(1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.09%, 03/09/27

      1,507       1,482,603  
   

 

 

 
        3,021,202  
 

 

 

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

  29


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Metals & Mining — 0.0%                  

Grinding Media Inc., 2021 Term Loan B,
(3 mo. LIBOR + 4.00%), 4.75%, 10/12/28(a)

    USD       120     $     120,150  
   

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.4%  

Ascent Resources Utica LLC, 2020 Fixed 2nd Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 9.00%, 1.00% Floor), 10.00%, 11/01/25

      2,315       2,525,795  

Citgo Holding, Inc., 2019 Term Loan B,
(3 mo. LIBOR + 7.00%, 1.00% Floor), 8.00%, 08/01/23

      238       236,949  

McDermott Technology Americas, Inc., 2020 Make Whole Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.09%, 06/30/24(a)

      17       9,463  
   

 

 

 
        2,772,207  
Pharmaceuticals — 0.1%                  

Endo Luxembourg Finance Co. I Sarl, 2021 Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.00%), 5.75%, 03/27/28

      738       718,671  

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., 2018 Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.00%), 3.09%, 06/02/25

      155       154,687  
   

 

 

 
        873,358  
Professional Services — 0.1%  

Dun & Bradstreet Corp., Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.34%, 02/06/26

      406       404,033  
   

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 0.1%  

MKS Instruments, Inc., 2021 USD Term Loan, 0.00%, 10/21/28(p)

      443       442,446  
   

 

 

 
Software — 1.3%                  

Barracuda Networks, Inc., 2020 2nd Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 6.75%), 7.50%, 10/30/28

      229       230,417  

Cloudera, Inc.

     

2021 Second Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 6.00%), 6.50%, 10/08/29(a)

      341       341,000  

2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.25%, 10/08/28

      974       971,565  

Digicel International Finance Ltd., 2017 Term Loan B, (6 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.43%, 05/28/24

      315       307,473  

Epicor Software Corp.

     

2020 2nd Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 7.75%, 1.00% Floor), 8.75%, 07/31/28

      117       119,954  

2020 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 4.00%, 07/30/27

      320       319,581  

Helios Software Holdings, Inc., 2021 USD Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 3.88%, 03/11/28

      152       150,946  

Magenta Buyer LLC

     

2021 USD 1st Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.00%), 5.75%, 07/27/28

      1,012           1,004,410  

2021 USD 2nd Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 8.25%), 9.00%, 07/27/29

      530       524,700  

Planview Parent, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan,
(3 mo. LIBOR + 7.25%), 8.00%, 12/17/28

      195       194,025  

Proof Point, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 6.25%), 6.75%, 08/31/29(a)

      457       466,140  

Proofpoint, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor), 3.75%, 08/31/28

      309       307,594  

RealPage, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor), 3.75%, 04/22/28

      415       414,004  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Software (continued)                  

Renaissance Holding Corp., 2018 1st Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.34%, 05/30/25

    USD       18     $     17,814  

Sabre GLBL, Inc.

     

2021 Term Loan B1, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 4.00%, 12/17/27

      205       204,021  

2021 Term Loan B2, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 4.00%, 12/17/27

      326       325,222  

Sophia LP, 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.50%), 3.63%, 10/07/27

      985       985,381  

Sovos Compliance LLC, 2021 Term Loan,
(3 mo. LIBOR + 4.50%), 5.00%, 08/11/28

      192       193,083  

SS&C Technologies Holdings Europe Sarl, 2018 Term Loan B4, (1 mo. LIBOR + 1.75%), 1.84%, 04/16/25

      71       70,126  

SS&C Technologies, Inc., 2018 Term Loan B3, (1 mo. LIBOR + 1.75%), 1.84%, 04/16/25

      104       102,971  

Tempo Acquisition LLC, 2020 Extended Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%), 3.75%, 11/02/26

      40       39,925  

Tibco Software Inc., 2021 Term Loan, 0.00%, 06/30/26(p)

      744       731,598  

Tibco Software, Inc., 2020 2nd Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 7.25%), 7.34%, 03/03/28

      232       232,406  

Ultimate Software Group, Inc., Term Loan B, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 3.84%, 05/04/26

      305       305,513  
   

 

 

 
        8,559,869  
Specialty Retail — 0.1%                  

PetSmart, Inc., 2021 Term Loan B, (3 mo. LIBOR + 3.75%), 4.50%, 02/11/28

      731       731,431  

Staples, Inc., 7 Year Term Loan, (3 mo. LIBOR + 5.00%), 5.13%, 04/16/26

      183       175,759  
   

 

 

 
        907,190  
Trading Companies & Distributors — 0.0%                  

Foundation Building Materials Holding Company LLC, 2021 Term Loan, (1 mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor), 3.75%, 01/31/28

      130       129,147  
   

 

 

 

Total Floating Rate Loan Interests — 7.9%
(Cost: $53,033,247)

            53,277,978  
   

 

 

 

Foreign Agency Obligations

     
Argentina — 0.0%                  

Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 2.50%, 07/09/41(d)

      802       274,798  
   

 

 

 
Bahrain — 0.2%                  

Bahrain Government International Bond

     

7.00%, 01/26/26(f)

      301       333,790  

6.75%, 09/20/29(f)

      265       285,836  

5.25%, 01/25/33(c)

      205       195,839  

CBB International Sukuk Co. 7 SPC, 6.88%, 10/05/25(f)

      230       261,625  
   

 

 

 
        1,077,090  
Colombia — 0.3%                  

Colombia Government International Bond

     

8.13%, 05/21/24

      385       443,905  

4.50%, 01/28/26(h)

      542       579,703  
 

 

 

30  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Colombia (continued)                  

Colombia Government International

     

Bond (continued)

     

3.88%, 04/25/27(h)

    USD       277     $     287,699  

3.13%, 04/15/31

      580       544,221  

4.13%, 05/15/51(h)

      200       174,788  
   

 

 

 
        2,030,316  
Dominican Republic — 0.3%                  

Dominican Republic International Bond

     

5.95%, 01/25/27(f)

      831       925,786  

4.50%, 01/30/30(c)

      593       599,227  

4.88%, 09/23/32(c)

      350       355,534  

6.40%, 06/05/49(f)

      271       287,226  
   

 

 

 
        2,167,773  
Egypt — 0.5%                  

Egypt Government International Bond

     

5.75%, 05/29/24(c)

      450       462,938  

5.88%, 06/11/25(f)

      803       821,318  

7.60%, 03/01/29(f)

      968       969,210  

6.38%, 04/11/31(c)

    EUR       130       140,324  

8.50%, 01/31/47(c)

    USD       502       461,840  

7.50%, 02/16/61(c)

      200       169,000  
   

 

 

 
            3,024,630  
Ghana — 0.2%                  

Ghana Government International Bond

     

6.38%, 02/11/27(f)

      353       314,170  

7.75%, 04/07/29(c)

      416       368,160  

8.63%, 04/07/34(c)

      525       459,375  
   

 

 

 
        1,141,705  
Guatemala — 0.0%                  

Guatemala Government Bond, 4.65%, 10/07/41(c)

      200       203,063  
   

 

 

 
Iceland — 0.5%                  

Iceland Government International Bond, 5.88%, 05/11/22(f)(h)

      3,415       3,492,915  
   

 

 

 
Indonesia — 0.2%                  

Indonesia Government International Bond(h)

     

4.10%, 04/24/28

      717       797,797  

5.35%, 02/11/49

      295       378,001  
   

 

 

 
        1,175,798  
Mexico — 0.0%                  

Mexico Government International Bond, 3.75%, 01/11/28(h)

      200       216,413  
   

 

 

 
Mongolia — 0.0%                  

Mongolia Government International Bond, 5.13%, 04/07/26(f)

      250       259,403  
   

 

 

 
Morocco — 0.1%                  

Morocco Government International Bond(c)

     

3.00%, 12/15/32

      586       555,418  

4.00%, 12/15/50

      220       197,794  
   

 

 

 
        753,212  
Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
Oman — 0.1%                  

Oman Government International Bond(f)

     

6.50%, 03/08/47

    USD       309     $     305,871  

6.75%, 01/17/48

      309       314,466  
   

 

 

 
        620,337  
Panama — 0.2%                  

Panama Government International Bond(h)

     

3.16%, 01/23/30

      978       1,009,357  

4.50%, 04/16/50

      407       448,158  
   

 

 

 
        1,457,515  
Paraguay — 0.2%                  

Paraguay Government International Bond

     

4.70%, 03/27/27(f)

      305       335,271  

4.95%, 04/28/31(c)

      220       246,372  

5.40%, 03/30/50(c)

      569       642,188  
   

 

 

 
            1,223,831  
Peru — 0.1%                  

Peruvian Government International Bond(h)

     

2.78%, 01/23/31

      233       232,607  

1.86%, 12/01/32

      373       338,800  
   

 

 

 
        571,407  
Portugal — 0.6%                  

Portugal Government International Bond, 5.13%, 10/15/24(c)(h)

      3,680       4,115,334  
   

 

 

 
Qatar — 0.2%                  

Qatar Government International Bond

     

4.00%, 03/14/29(c)(h)

      878       988,847  

4.40%, 04/16/50(f)

      200       244,000  
   

 

 

 
        1,232,847  
Romania — 0.1%                  

Romanian Government International Bond, 3.00%, 02/14/31(c)

      538       540,791  
   

 

 

 
Russia — 0.1%                  

Russian Foreign Bond - Eurobond(f)

     

4.75%, 05/27/26

      200       224,412  

4.25%, 06/23/27

      600       665,400  
   

 

 

 
        889,812  
Saudi Arabia — 0.2%                  

Saudi Government International Bond

     

4.38%, 04/16/29(c)

      200       228,600  

4.50%, 04/17/30(f)(h)

      762       884,682  
   

 

 

 
        1,113,282  
Sri Lanka — 0.1%                  

Sri Lanka Government International Bond(f)

     

6.85%, 03/14/24

      400       261,200  

7.85%, 03/14/29

      400       251,825  
   

 

 

 
        513,025  
Ukraine — 0.2%                  

Ukraine Government International Bond

     

7.75%, 09/01/23(f)

      221       235,683  

8.99%, 02/01/24(f)

      424       463,008  

7.75%, 09/01/24(f)

      280       301,402  
 

 

 

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

  31


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Ukraine (continued)                  

Ukraine Government International Bond (continued)

 

7.75%, 09/01/25(f)

    USD       226     $     243,911  

7.25%, 03/15/33(c)

      371       377,098  
   

 

 

 
        1,621,102  
Uruguay — 0.0%                  

Uruguay Government International Bond, 4.98%, 04/20/55

      198       253,305  
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Agency Obligations — 4.4%
(Cost: $29,358,123)

        29,969,704  
   

 

 

 

Municipal Bonds

     
California — 0.0%                  

California County Tobacco Securitization Agency, Refunding RB, CAB, Series B-2, Subordinate, 0.00%, 06/01/55(l)

      1,230       245,800  
   

 

 

 
Illinois — 0.2%                  

State of Illinois, GO, 5.10%, 06/01/33

      800       929,878  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds — 0.2%
(Cost: $999,349)

        1,175,678  
   

 

 

 

Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities

 

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 10.3%  

American Home Mortgage Assets Trust, Series 2006-5, Class A1, (12 mo. MTA + 0.92%), 1.01%, 11/25/46(b)

      4,586       1,865,400  

CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust

     

Series 2007-J2, Class 2A1, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.65%), 0.74%, 07/25/37(b)

      2,852       873,376  

Series 2007-J2, Class 2A8, 6.00%, 07/25/37

      1,575       869,219  

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR7, Class 2A3A, 2.61%, 11/25/36(b)

      1,472           1,417,502  

COLT Mortgage Loan Trust(b)(c)

     

Series 2020-2, Class M1, 5.25%, 03/25/65

      2,550       2,602,018  

Series 2020-3, Class M1, 3.36%, 04/27/65

      2,850       2,884,441  

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust

     

Series 2005-9CB, Class 1A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.45%), 0.54%, 05/25/35(b)

      1,664       1,542,005  

Series 2006-40T1, Class 2A5, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.40%), 0.49%, 12/25/36(b)

      2,296       218,817  

Series 2006-7CB, Class 2A1, 6.50%, 05/25/36

      1,823       1,321,432  

Series 2006-J7, Class 2A1, (11th District Cost of Funds + 1.50%), 1.74%, 11/20/46(b)

      3,603       2,753,960  

Series 2006-J8, Class A5, 6.00%, 02/25/37

      1,996       1,245,199  

Series 2006-OA14, Class 3A1, (12 mo. MTA + 0.85%), 0.94%, 11/25/46(b)

      5,270       4,810,657  

Series 2006-OA16, Class A2, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.38%), 0.47%, 10/25/46(b)

      3,585       3,502,833  

Series 2006-OA18, Class A1, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.24%), 0.33%, 12/25/46(b)

      2,126       2,067,634  

Series 2006-OA6, Class 1A1A, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.42%), 0.51%, 07/25/46(b)

      4,042       3,204,626  

Series 2006-OA8, Class 1A1, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.38%), 0.47%, 07/25/46(b)

      1,436       1,312,342  

Series 2007-12T1, Class A22, 5.75%, 06/25/37

      3,723       2,515,663  

Series 2007-12T1, Class A5, 6.00%, 06/25/37

      1,807       1,256,348  

Series 2007-19, Class 1A1, 6.00%, 08/25/37

      592       420,344  

Series 2007-22, Class 2A16, 6.50%, 09/25/37

      7,382       4,192,249  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (continued)  

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust (continued)

 

Series 2007-23CB, Class A1, 6.00%, 09/25/37

    USD       4,512     $     3,304,570  

Series 2007-4CB, Class 1A3, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.35%), 0.44%, 04/25/37(b)

      2,098       1,656,987  

Series 2007-OA2, Class 1A1, (12 mo. MTA + 0.84%), 0.93%, 03/25/47(b)

      2,485       2,260,586  

Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage Pass-Through Trust, Series 2006-OA5, Class 3A1, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.40%), 0.49%, 04/25/46(b)

      5,406       5,111,537  

CSMC(b)(c)

     

Series 2011-4R, Class 1A2, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 1.50%), 1.59%, 09/27/37

      1,660       1,540,495  

Series 2021-NQM2, Class M1, 2.28%, 02/25/66

      1,500       1,492,399  

Ellington Financial Mortgage Trust, Series 2020-1, Class M1, 5.24%, 05/25/65(b)(c)

      500       514,986  

MFA Trust, Series 2021-NQM1, Class M1, 2.31%, 04/25/65(b)(c)

      2,000       1,985,373  

Morgan Stanley Re-REMIC Trust, Series 2010-R5, Class 7B, 0.53%, 05/26/37(c)(d)

      5,434       5,485,865  

Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp. Alternative Loan Trust, Series 2006-AF1, Class 1A2, 6.16%, 05/25/36(b)

      7,074       2,244,045  

Residential Asset Securitization Trust, Series 2006- A8, Class 2A5, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.60%), 0.69%, 08/25/36(b)

      6,356       702,947  

STAR Trust, Series 2021-1, Class M1, 2.36%, 05/25/65(b)(c)

      1,750       1,736,239  

Starwood Mortgage Residential Trust, Series 2020-3, Class M1, 3.54%, 04/25/65(b)(c)

      1,057       1,067,066  
   

 

 

 
        69,979,160  
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities(c) — 0.7%  

American Homes 4 Rent Trust, Series 2014-SFR2, Class E, 6.23%, 10/17/36

      2,000       2,173,475  

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust, Series 2007-2A, Class A1, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 0.27%), 0.36%, 07/25/37(b)

      1,699       1,638,134  

Extended Stay America Trust, Series 2021-ESH, Class D, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 2.25%), 2.34%, 07/15/38(b)

      328       329,114  

Lehman Brothers Small Balance Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2006-1A, Class B, (1 mo. LIBOR US + 1.00%), 1.09%, 04/25/31(b)

      512       503,840  
   

 

 

 
        4,644,563  
   

 

 

 

Total Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed
Securities — 11.0%
(Cost: $82,458,834)

 

        74,623,723  
   

 

 

 

Preferred Securities

     
Capital Trusts — 6.8%                  
Automobiles — 0.1%                  

General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Series C, 5.70%(b)(m)

      395       455,237  
   

 

 

 
Banks(b) — 2.2%                  

Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait KSCP, 7.25%(f)(m)

      200       211,037  

Banco Davivienda SA, 6.65%(c)(m)

      200       208,663  

Bank of East Asia Ltd., 5.88%(f)(m)

      250       260,047  

BBVA Bancomer SA, 5.13%, 01/18/33(f)

      782       806,633  

Burgan Bank SAK, 5.75%(f)(m)

      250       253,641  

CaixaBank SA, 6.38%(f)(m)

    EUR       200       248,540  
 

 

 

32  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Banks (continued)                  

CIT Group, Inc., Series A, 5.80%(h)(m)

    USD       282     $     286,935  

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., 3.20%(f)(m)

      210       211,480  

ING Groep NV, 3.88%(m)

      1,750       1,684,375  

Kasikornbank PCL, 5.28%(f)(m)

      246       255,655  

Nanyang Commercial Bank Ltd., 5.00%(f)(m)

      200       202,438  

Nordea Bank Abp, 3.75%(c)(m)

      560       541,800  

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., 6.50%(f)(m)

      200       208,475  

TMBThanachart Bank PCL, 4.90%(f)(m)

      250       249,969  

Wells Fargo & Co., Series S, 5.90%(h)(m)

      8,800       9,382,208  
   

 

 

 
        15,011,896  
Diversified Financial Services(b)(m) — 3.8%                  

Banco Santander SA, 4.38%(f)

    EUR       200       238,460  

Bank of America Corp.(h)

     

Series AA, 6.10%

    USD       2,880       3,168,000  

Series X, 6.25%

      5,535       6,033,150  

Barclays PLC, 4.38%

      585       575,523  

Credit Suisse Group AG, 6.38%(c)

      358       389,773  

HSBC Holdings PLC, 6.00%(h)

      695       754,506  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     

Series FF, 5.00%(h)

      1,025       1,060,875  

Series HH, 4.60%

      320       327,317  

Series R, 6.00%

      174       181,743  

Morgan Stanley, Series H, 3.73%(h)

      3,244       3,260,676  

Natwest Group PLC, 6.00%(h)

      1,185       1,309,935  

Societe Generale SA(c)(h)

     

5.38%

      3,000       3,187,500  

6.75%

      3,000       3,345,000  

UBS Group AG, 3.88%(c)

      1,750       1,738,187  

Woori Bank, 4.25%(f)

      250       257,469  
   

 

 

 
            25,828,114  
Diversified Telecommunication Services(b)(f)(m) — 0.1%  

Koninklijke KPN NV, 2.00%

    EUR       100       116,209  

Telefonica Europe BV

     

5.88%

      100       127,323  

4.38%

      100       124,265  
   

 

 

 
        367,797  
Electric Utilities — 0.4%                  

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., 5.65%, 05/01/79(b)(h)

    USD       2,500       2,902,356  
   

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 0.0%  

Belden, Inc., 4.13%, 10/15/26(f)

    EUR       100       118,052  
   

 

 

 
Insurance — 0.0%                  

Heungkuk Life Insurance Co. Ltd.,
4.48%(b)(f)(m)

    USD       200       200,975  
   

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels(b)(f)(m) — 0.1%  

Abertis Infraestructuras Finance BV, 3.25%

    EUR       100       118,069  

Repsol International Finance BV, 4.25%

      100       124,878  
   

 

 

 
        242,947  
Real Estate Management & Development(b)(f)(m) — 0.1%  

Aroundtown SA, 3.38%.

      100       119,814  

Citycon OYJ, 4.50%

      100       117,767  

Heimstaden Bostad AB, 3.00%

      100       110,373  
   

 

 

 
        347,954  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
Transportation Infrastructure — 0.0%                  

Poste Italiane SpA, 2.63%(b)(f)(m)

    EUR       100     $     112,276  
   

 

 

 
Utilities — 0.0%                  

Electricite de France SA, 3.00%(b)(f)(m)

      200       237,464  
   

 

 

 

Total Capital Trusts — 6.8%

        45,825,068  
   

 

 

 
            Shares         
Preferred Stocks — 3.8%(m)                  
Capital Markets(b) — 2.3%                  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Series J, 5.50%

      395,017       10,618,057  

Morgan Stanley

     

Series F, 6.88%

      100,000       2,825,000  

Series K, 5.85%

      60,125       1,771,283  
   

 

 

 
            15,214,340  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.5%  

Firstar Realty LLC, 8.88%(c)

      10,000       10,375,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks — 3.8%

        25,589,340  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Securities — 10.6%
(Cost: $70,328,582)

        71,414,408  
   

 

 

 
           

Par

(000)

        

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

 

Agency Obligations — 0.1%                  

Peruvian Government International Bond, 3.00%, 01/15/34

    USD       308       304,612  
   

 

 

 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 1.0%  

Government National Mortgage Association, Series 2017-136, Class GB, 3.00%, 03/20/47

      1,192       1,217,926  

Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 4480, Class ZX, 4.00%, 11/15/44

      5,398       5,839,839  
   

 

 

 
        7,057,765  
Mortgage-Backed Securities — 20.7%                  

Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities

     

4.50%, 11/01/23 - 07/01/55(h)(q)

      23,567       26,126,007  

4.00%, 02/01/34 - 04/01/56(h)

      23,856       26,307,181  

2.00%, 11/01/50 - 06/01/51(h)

      27,835       27,850,639  

2.50%, 11/10/51(q)

      58,000       59,566,680  
   

 

 

 
        139,850,507  
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Government Sponsored Agency
Securities — 21.8%
(Cost: $145,826,677)

 

    147,212,884  
   

 

 

 
 

 

 

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

  33


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         Shares     Value  

 

 

Warrants

     
Entertainment — 0.0%  

Aviron Capital LLC (Expires 12/16/31)(a)

      10     $  
   

 

 

 

Total Warrants — 0.0%
(Cost: $ — )

 

       
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 157.8%
(Cost: $1,049,529,971)

 

    1,067,383,958  
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

 

 
Money Market Funds — 5.3%        

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class, 0.01%(r)(s)

      36,212,415       36,212,415  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 5.3%
(Cost: $36,212,415)

 

    36,212,415  
   

 

 

 

Options Purchased — 0.6%
(Cost: $4,103,918)

 

    3,997,683  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments Before TBA Sale Commitments and Options Written — 163.7%
(Cost: $1,089,846,304)

 

    1,107,594,056  
   

 

 

 
         

Par

(000)

       

 

 

TBA Sale Commitments

 

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities — (0.0)%        

Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 4.50%, 11/10/51(q)

    USD       (58     (62,692
   

 

 

 

Total TBA Sale Commitments — (0.0)%
(Proceeds: $(62,808))

 

    (62,692
   

 

 

 

Options Written — (0.8)%
(Premiums Received: $(4,969,771))

 

    (5,725,185
   

 

 

 

Total Investments, Net of TBA Sale Commitments and Options Written — 162.9%
(Cost: $1,084,813,725)

 

    1,101,806,179  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (62.9)%

 

    (425,414,794
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

  $   676,391,385  
     

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(b)

Variable rate security. Interest rate resets periodically. The rate shown is the effective interest rate as of period end. Security description also includes the reference rate and spread if published and available.

(c)

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(d)

Step coupon security. Coupon rate will either increase (step-up bond) or decrease (step-down bond) at regular intervals until maturity. Interest rate shown reflects the rate currently in effect.

(e)

Rounds to less than 1,000.

(f)

This security may be resold to qualified foreign investors and foreign institutional buyers under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933.

(g)

Non-income producing security.

(h)

All or a portion of the security has been pledged as collateral in connection with outstanding reverse repurchase agreements.

(i)

Payment-in-kind security which may pay interest/dividends in additional par/shares and/or in cash. Rates shown are the current rate and possible payment rates.

(j)

Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default.

(k)

Convertible security.

(l)

Zero-coupon bond.

(m)

Perpetual security with no stated maturity date.

(n)

When-issued security.

(o)

All or a portion of the security has been pledged and/or segregated as collateral in connection with outstanding exchange-traded options written.

(p)

Represents an unsettled loan commitment at period end. Certain details associated with this purchase are not known prior to the settlement date, including coupon rate.

(q)

Represents or includes a TBA transaction.

(r)

Affiliate of the Trust.

(s)

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

 

 

For Trust compliance purposes, the Trust’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.

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Trust during the year ended October 31, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

                   
       Affiliated Issuer   Value at
10/31/20
     Purchases
at Cost
    Proceeds
from Sales
     Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/21
     Shares
Held at
10/31/21
     Income      Capital Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
          
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund, Institutional Class

  $ 17,576,490      $ 18,635,925 (a)    $      $      $      $ 36,212,415        36,212,415      $ 2,381      $    
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

  (a)

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 

 

 

34  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

 

 

Counterparty

   
Interest
Rate
 
 
   
Trade
Date
 
 
    
Maturity
Date
 
(a) 
    Face Value       

Face Value
Including
Accrued Interest
 
 
 
  

Type of Non-Cash Underlying

Collateral

    

Remaining
Contractual Maturity
of the Agreements
 
 
(a) 

 

 

BNP Paribas S.A

    0.65 %(b)      05/19/21        Open     $ 748,294        $           750,415      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.85 (b)      05/19/21        Open       97,606        97,968      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.27 (b)      05/28/21        Open       218,729        218,980      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      06/02/21        Open       127,635        127,939      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      06/02/21        Open       573,530        574,909      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      06/02/21        Open       405,300        406,265      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      06/02/21        Open       786,097        787,970      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/02/21        Open       543,206        544,573      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/02/21        Open       292,110        292,867      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/02/21        Open       251,940        252,574      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/02/21        Open       335,723        336,567      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/02/21        Open       806,310        808,430      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/02/21        Open         2,895,220        2,903,113      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/02/21        Open       1,138,467        1,141,571      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/02/21        Open       1,974,239        1,979,621      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/02/21        Open       563,040        564,575      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/02/21        Open       715,365        717,315      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/02/21        Open       413,400        414,527      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/02/21        Open       941,162        943,728      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      06/02/21        Open       355,980        356,995      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.80 (b)      06/02/21        Open       36,025        36,146      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      06/03/21        Open       4,011,200        4,020,716      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/03/21        Open       1,463,040        1,466,698      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/03/21        Open       703,972        705,732      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/03/21        Open       815,797        817,837      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.63 (b)      06/03/21        Open       1,027,055        1,029,751      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/03/21        Open       1,803,527        1,808,412      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/03/21        Open       875,617        877,989      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/03/21        Open       1,358,224        1,361,902      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/03/21        Open       640,628        642,363      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/03/21        Open       987,806        990,482      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/03/21        Open       374,303        375,316      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      06/03/21        Open       889,080        891,599      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      06/03/21        Open       785,826        788,053      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      06/03/21        Open       64,940        65,124      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      06/03/21        Open       237,015        237,687      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      06/03/21        Open       1,106,560        1,109,695      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.69 (b)      06/03/21        Open       824,722        827,094      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.69 (b)      06/03/21        Open       688,905        690,886      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.69 (b)      06/03/21        Open       706,869        708,901      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.69 (b)      06/03/21        Open       699,279        701,289      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.69 (b)      06/03/21        Open       1,051,121        1,054,143      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.70 (b)      06/03/21        Open       2,312,310        2,319,054      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.72 (b)      06/03/21        Open       768,560        770,866      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.75 (b)      06/03/21        Open       846,875        849,521      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      06/04/21        Open       1,066,007        1,068,402      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      06/04/21        Open       413,229        414,157      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.58 (b)      06/04/21        Open       568,488        569,834      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.58 (b)      06/04/21        Open       654,439        655,989      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/04/21        Open       971,827        974,208      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      06/04/21        Open       1,537,069        1,540,835      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/04/21        Open       493,870        495,181      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      06/04/21        Open       1,123,875        1,126,996      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/07/21        Open       318,553        319,398      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.30 (b)      06/08/21        Open       1,111,993        1,113,336      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       768,281        769,828      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       851,200        852,914      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       1,713,319        1,716,769      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       1,246,087        1,248,597      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       548,885        549,990      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       638,691        639,978      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

 

 

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

  35


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements (continued)

 

 

 

Counterparty

   
Interest
Rate
 
 
   
Trade
Date
 
 
    
Maturity
Date
 
(a) 
    Face Value       

Face Value
Including
Accrued Interest
 
 
 
  

Type of Non-Cash Underlying

Collateral

    

Remaining
Contractual Maturity
of the Agreements
 
 
(a) 

 

 

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 %(b)      06/08/21        Open     $ 1,234,494        $         1,236,980      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       568,215        569,359      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       730,412        731,883      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       590,550        591,739      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       186,900        187,276      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       724,066        725,524      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       556,140        557,260      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       561,720        562,851      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       540,940        542,029      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       737,100        738,584      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       602,950        604,164      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       508,500        509,524      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       876,437        878,203      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open       771,192        772,746      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/08/21        Open         1,240,035        1,242,550      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    0.30 (b)      06/08/21        Open       195,122        195,358      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    0.30 (b)      06/08/21        Open       322,288        322,677      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    0.75 (b)      06/08/21        Open       656,906        658,891      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       512,031        512,862      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       447,435        448,161      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       367,031        367,627      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       513,523        514,356      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       503,815        504,632      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       376,188        376,798      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       607,104        608,089      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       369,075        369,674      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       132,076        132,289      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       646,121        647,162      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       606,365        607,342      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       1,082,812        1,084,557      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       544,620        545,497      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       43,394        43,464      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       853,979        855,355      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       316,350        316,860      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       291,094        291,563      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       1,617,724        1,620,330      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       1,260,682        1,262,714      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/08/21        Open       399,630        400,274      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.25 (b)      06/09/21        Open       377,319        377,696      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/09/21        Open       1,881,487        1,883,745      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/09/21        Open       3,030,812        3,034,449      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/09/21        Open       8,250,000        8,266,500      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/09/21        Open       6,562,500        6,575,625      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/09/21        Open       689,081        690,459      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/09/21        Open       593,583        594,770      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/09/21        Open       182,239        182,603      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/09/21        Open       726,250        727,703      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.28 (b)      06/09/21        Open       711,220        712,017      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/09/21        Open       457,714        458,446      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/09/21        Open       255,278        255,686      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/09/21        Open       195,428        195,740      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/09/21        Open       145,991        146,225      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/09/21        Open       158,415        158,668      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.45 (b)      06/09/21        Open       650,000        651,170      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/11/21        Open       3,001,087        3,004,589      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/11/21        Open       1,071,250        1,072,500      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/11/21        Open       3,192,922        3,196,647      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.35 (b)      06/11/21        Open       4,020,000        4,025,472      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/11/21        Open       1,832,500        1,836,063      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/11/21        Open       2,538,750        2,543,686      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/11/21        Open       507,919        508,906      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/11/21        Open       1,732,500        1,735,869      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

 

 

36  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements (continued)

 

 

 

Counterparty

   
Interest
Rate
 
 
   
Trade
Date
 
 
    
Maturity
Date
 
(a) 
    Face Value       

Face Value
Including
Accrued Interest
 
 
 
   Type of Non-Cash Underlying

Collateral

    

Remaining
Contractual Maturity
of the Agreements
 
 
(a) 

 

 

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.55 %(b)      06/11/21        Open     $ 728,113        $           729,670      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.55 (b)      06/11/21        Open       383,906        384,727      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/11/21        Open       359,599        360,298      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/11/21        Open       1,402,992        1,405,721      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/11/21        Open       323,549        324,178      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.28 (b)      06/11/21        Open       1,795,937        1,797,893      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.28 (b)      06/11/21        Open       605,625        606,284      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.28 (b)      06/11/21        Open       384,125        384,543      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.28 (b)      06/11/21        Open         2,625,000        2,627,858      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      06/11/21        Open       266,050        266,464      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/18/21        Open       89,700        89,869      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      06/18/21        Open       1,228,580        1,231,530      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/23/21        Open       852,825        854,377      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/29/21        Open       205,275        205,487      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/29/21        Open       1,309,800        1,311,153      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/29/21        Open       4,236,937        4,241,316      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/29/21        Open       691,145        691,859      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.30 (b)      06/29/21        Open       1,992,500        1,994,559      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.45 (b)      06/29/21        Open       644,425        645,424      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       2,583,750        2,588,200      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       2,879,050        2,884,008      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       880,175        881,691      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       1,030,950        1,032,726      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.55 (b)      06/29/21        Open       601,976        603,117      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       527,088        527,995      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       1,718,640        1,721,600      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       661,458        662,597      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       941,332        942,954      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       793,760        795,127      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       1,215,982        1,218,077      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       662,905        664,047      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      06/29/21        Open       763,875        765,191      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/06/21        Open       1,655,280        1,657,432      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/06/21        Open       1,171,970        1,173,494      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/06/21        Open       1,066,155        1,067,541      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/09/21        Open       1,094,919        1,096,622      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      07/09/21        Open       346,750        347,343      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      07/09/21        Open       388,643        389,428      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      07/12/21        Open       1,404,434        1,407,248      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      07/13/21        Open       804,151        805,626      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/13/21        Open       575,456        576,160      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.45 (b)      07/14/21        Open       1,089,485        1,090,969      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.50 (b)      07/14/21        Open       1,122,367        1,124,067      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.29 (b)      07/15/21        Open       845,487        846,223      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.43 (b)      07/15/21        Open       877,200        878,332      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.45 (b)      07/15/21        Open       538,750        539,477      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.45 (b)      07/15/21        Open       580,731        581,515      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      07/15/21        Open       159,980        160,244      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      07/15/21        Open       762,187        763,742      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.95 (b)      07/15/21        Open       566,224        567,837      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       596,250        596,697      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       2,901,565        2,903,741      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       1,749,375        1,750,687      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       861,000        861,646      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       2,121,875        2,123,466      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       458,000        458,343      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       369,675        369,952      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       1,078,000        1,078,809      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       757,750        758,318      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       808,500        809,106      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       530,438        530,835      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       853,012        853,652      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

 

 

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

  37


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements (continued)

 

 

 

Counterparty

   
Interest
Rate
 
 
   
Trade
Date
 
 
    
Maturity
Date
 
(a) 
    Face Value       

Face Value
Including
Accrued Interest
 
 
 
   Type of Non-Cash Underlying

Collateral

    

Remaining
Contractual Maturity
of the Agreements
 
 
(a) 

 

 

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 %(b)      07/15/21        Open     $ 124,875        $           124,969      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       447,836        448,172      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       425,500        425,819      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open         2,710,500        2,712,533      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       897,187        897,860      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       538,945        539,349      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       1,007,812        1,008,568      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       678,438        678,946      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       721,912        722,454      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       480,500        480,860      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       492,500        492,869      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       508,000        508,381      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       485,000        485,364      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       1,017,000        1,017,763      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       780,937        781,523      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       554,375        554,791      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       2,949,019        2,951,231      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       555,100        555,516      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       1,304,687        1,305,666      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       394,975        395,271      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       293,125        293,345      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       595,000        595,446      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       2,646,000        2,647,985      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       1,161,250        1,162,121      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       1,340,800        1,341,806      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/15/21        Open       318,150        318,389      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.47 (b)      07/16/21        Open       743,437        744,457      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.47 (b)      07/16/21        Open       679,655        680,587      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.47 (b)      07/16/21        Open       718,275        719,260      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Bank PLC

    (0.25 )(b)      07/19/21        Open       177,500        177,372      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.75 (b)      07/20/21        Open       500,894        501,969      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/20/21        Open       464,846        465,378      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/20/21        Open       492,769        493,333      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/20/21        Open       532,703        533,312      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/20/21        Open       504,175        504,752      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/20/21        Open       462,070        462,599      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/20/21        Open       486,570        487,127      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/20/21        Open       523,933        524,532      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    (0.50 )(b)      07/21/21        Open       684,687        683,718      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    0.00 (b)      07/21/21        Open       161,000        161,000      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      07/22/21        Open       1,114,296        1,116,328      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      07/22/21        Open       607,050        608,157      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      07/22/21        Open       1,104,327        1,106,341      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      07/22/21        Open       1,240,720        1,242,983      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.68 (b)      07/22/21        Open       680,024        681,321      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.69 (b)      07/22/21        Open       403,133        403,913      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.69 (b)      07/22/21        Open       561,229        562,315      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.70 (b)      07/22/21        Open       6,216,852        6,229,062      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.72 (b)      07/22/21        Open       731,737        733,216      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.75 (b)      07/22/21        Open       681,150        682,583      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.80 (b)      07/22/21        Open       811,325        813,146      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.80 (b)      07/22/21        Open       1,327,450        1,330,429      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.80 (b)      07/22/21        Open       1,346,754        1,349,776      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.80 (b)      07/22/21        Open       551,103        552,339      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.80 (b)      07/22/21        Open       787,800        789,568      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.25 (b)      07/22/21        Open       327,630        327,860      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       147,900        148,066      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       646,380        647,105      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       315,563        315,917      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       187,208        187,418      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       167,580        167,768      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       886,559        887,554      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

 

 

38  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements (continued)

 

 

 
Counterparty    

Interest

Rate

 

 

   

Trade

Date

 

 

    

Maturity

Date

 

(a) 

    Face Value       

Face Value

Including

Accrued Interest

 

 

 

  

Type of Non-Cash Underlying

Collateral

    

Remaining

Contractual Maturity

of the Agreements

 

 

(a) 

 

 

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 %(b)      07/22/21        Open     $ 452,078        $           452,585      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       249,851        250,132      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       114,180        114,308      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       402,720        403,172      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open         1,366,540        1,368,074      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       1,132,115        1,133,385      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       843,526        844,473      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       515,235        515,813      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       372,300        372,718      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       194,618        194,836      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       176,245        176,443      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       3,416,250        3,420,084      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       502,226        502,790      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       1,146,360        1,147,646      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       81,875        81,967      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       420,090        420,561      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       829,170        830,101      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       103,320        103,436      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       178,094        178,294      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       137,318        137,472      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       270,300        270,603      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       378,000        378,424      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/22/21        Open       99,325        99,436      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.34 (b)      07/23/21        Open       756,845        757,546      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.34 (b)      07/23/21        Open       620,800        621,375      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.35 (b)      07/23/21        Open       610,435        611,017      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.35 (b)      07/23/21        Open       577,969        578,519      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.35 (b)      07/23/21        Open       603,838        604,413      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.37 (b)      07/23/21        Open       590,388        590,982      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.37 (b)      07/23/21        Open       565,756        566,326      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    (3.00 )(b)      07/26/21        Open       47,818        47,431      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/27/21        Open       660,935        661,640      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.30 (b)      07/29/21        Open       908,406        909,118      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.30 (b)      07/29/21        Open       13,744        13,755      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.30 (b)      07/29/21        Open       415,013        415,338      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.40 (b)      07/29/21        Open       1,022,805        1,023,873      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       251,590        251,918      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       845,575        846,679      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       981,776        983,058      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       904,812        905,994      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       498,438        499,088      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       129,060        129,228      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       612,763        613,562      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       1,780,120        1,782,444      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       895,747        896,917      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       29,800        29,839      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       163,445        163,658      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       1,342,120        1,343,872      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       261,184        261,525      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       232,298        232,601      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       522,675        523,357      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       388,068        388,574      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       891,800        892,964      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       118,140        118,294      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       1,085,256        1,086,673      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

 

 

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

  39


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements (continued)

 

 
Counterparty    

Interest

Rate

 

 

   

Trade

Date

 

 

    

Maturity

Date

 

(a) 

    Face Value       

Face Value

Including

Accrued Interest

 

 

 

  

Type of Non-Cash Underlying

Collateral

    

Remaining

Contractual Maturity

of the Agreements

 

 

(a) 

 

 

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 %(b)      07/29/21        Open     $ 223,355        $           223,647      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      07/29/21        Open       673,344        674,223      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.25 (b)      07/29/21        Open         1,231,250        1,232,054      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.25 (b)      07/29/21        Open       863,917        864,481      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.25 (b)      07/29/21        Open       572,500        572,874      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.27 (b)      07/29/21        Open       391,738        392,014      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.27 (b)      07/29/21        Open       953,550        954,222      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.27 (b)      07/29/21        Open       310,989        311,208      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.27 (b)      07/29/21        Open       553,875        554,265      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.30 (b)      07/29/21        Open       1,477,500        1,478,657      Capital Trusts      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.32 (b)      07/29/21        Open       672,645        673,207      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      07/29/21        Open       863,651        864,553      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      08/03/21        Open       1,298,400        1,300,005      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      08/03/21        Open       531,019        531,675      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      08/03/21        Open       320,070        320,466      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      08/03/21        Open       1,312,905        1,314,203      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      08/03/21        Open       324,370        324,691      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      08/04/21        Open       192,270        192,505      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      08/04/21        Open       387,603        387,981      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.50 (b)      08/09/21        Open       1,701,976        1,703,938      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    (3.00 )(b)      08/13/21        Open       204,600        203,287      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.47 (b)      08/13/21        Open       472,699        473,174      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.34 (b)      08/13/21        Open       408,288        408,584      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.37 (b)      08/19/21        Open       567,665        568,097      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      08/23/21        Open       845,325        845,982      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      08/25/21        Open       266,438        266,685      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.65 (b)      09/14/21        Open       371,794        372,109      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      09/15/21        Open       94,105        94,154      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.34 (b)      09/16/21        Open       464,310        464,507      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      09/17/21        Open       251,585        251,441      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      09/20/21        Open       750,120        750,547      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      09/20/21        Open       707,000        707,403      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      09/22/21        Open       261,750        261,866      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.47 (b)      10/01/21        Open       504,875        505,060      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.50 (b)      10/06/21        Open       907,705        908,033      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      10/12/21        Open       1,648,211        1,648,646      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.63 (b)      10/12/21        Open       1,022,351        1,022,691      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      10/12/21        Open       875,506        875,691      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       45,220        45,222     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       44,946        44,948     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       276,369        276,380     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       58,836        58,838     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       2,060,409        2,060,492     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       41,429        41,431     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

 

 

40  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements (continued)

 

 
Counterparty    

Interest

Rate

 

 

   

Trade

Date

 

 

    

Maturity

Date

 

(a) 

    Face Value       

Face Value

Including

Accrued Interest

 

 

 

  

Type of Non-Cash Underlying

Collateral

    

Remaining

Contractual Maturity

of the Agreements

 

 

(a) 

 

 

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08     10/13/21        11/10/21       $ 34,125        $            34,126     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       423,908        423,925     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21         2,282,556        2,282,647     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       1,663,621        1,663,688     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       630,203        630,228     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       2,222,495        2,222,584     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       198,411        198,419     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       1,080,718        1,080,761     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       1,316,140        1,316,193     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       3,828,180        3,828,333     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       183,466        183,473     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       314,933        314,945     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       37,267        37,269     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       209,292        209,301     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       43,934        43,936     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       4,050,334        4,050,496     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       2,317,979        2,318,072     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       5,042,747        5,042,949     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       750,305        750,335     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       7,307,582        7,307,874     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       6,602,572        6,602,837     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       9,004,100        9,004,461     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       5,372,343        5,372,558     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

Royal Bank of Canada

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       3,129,932        3,130,057     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

Royal Bank of Canada

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       10,124,037        10,124,442     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

Royal Bank of Canada

    0.08       10/13/21        11/10/21       7,105,576        7,105,861     

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

     Up to 30 Days  

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.50 (b)      10/18/21        Open       326,500        326,559     

Corporate Bonds

     Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.33 (b)      10/18/21        Open       763,605        763,696     

Foreign Agency Obligations

     Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.50 (b)      10/18/21        Open       278,731        278,782     

Foreign Agency Obligations

     Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.45 (b)      10/20/21        Open       557,583        557,666     

Foreign Agency Obligations

     Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    (0.60 )(b)      10/20/21        Open       203,524        203,486     

Corporate Bonds

     Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      10/22/21        Open       811,125        811,204     

Corporate Bonds

     Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      10/22/21        Open       414,775        414,815     

Corporate Bonds

     Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.69 (b)      10/22/21        Open       986,425        986,614     

Corporate Bonds

     Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      10/22/21        Open       1,053,026        1,053,108     

Corporate Bonds

     Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      10/22/21        Open       881,125        881,194     

Corporate Bonds

     Open/Demand  

 

 

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

  41


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements (continued)

 

 
Counterparty    

Interest

Rate

 

 

   

Trade

Date

 

 

    

Maturity

Date

 

(a) 

    Face Value       

Face Value

Including

Accrued Interest

 

 

 

  

Type of Non-Cash Underlying

Collateral

    

Remaining

Contractual Maturity

of the Agreements

 

 

(a) 

 

 

Barclays Bank PLC

    0.55 %(b)      10/26/21        Open     $ 472,142        $            472,186      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.45 (b)      10/27/21        Open       795,375        795,415      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      10/27/21        Open       482,588        482,617      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    0.50 (b)      10/28/21        Open       121,181        121,186      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.10 (b)      10/28/21        Open       433,613        433,616      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.11 (b)      10/28/21        Open       239,951        239,953      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       881,182        881,194      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       270,663        270,666      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       127,065        127,067      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       904,162        904,174      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       488,700        488,706      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       132,368        132,369      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       497,164        497,170      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       413,131        413,136      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       366,420        366,425      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       547,515        547,522      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.15 (b)      10/28/21        Open       209,950        209,953      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.47 (b)      10/28/21        Open       458,495        458,513      Foreign Agency Obligations      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.55 (b)      10/28/21        Open       1,305,390        1,305,450      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    0.60 (b)      10/28/21        Open       715,230        715,266      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    0.40 (b)      10/28/21        Open       150,023        150,036      Corporate Bonds      Open/Demand  
        

 

 

    

 

 

       
         $   386,361,124        $        386,819,640        
        

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

  (a)

Certain agreements have no stated maturity and can be terminated by either party at any time.

 
  (b)

Variable rate security. Rate as of period end and maturity is the date the principal owed can be recovered through demand.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

         
Description  

Number of

Contracts

    

Expiration

Date

    

Notional

Amount (000)

    

Value/

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 

Long Contracts

          

Euro Bund

    8        12/08/21      $ 1,555      $ (42,270

90-Day Eurodollar

    419        12/18/23        103,189        (520,105
          

 

 

 
             (562,375
          

 

 

 

Short Contracts

          

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note

    919        12/21/21        120,073        1,206,069  

10-Year U.S. Ultra Long Treasury Note

    330        12/21/21        47,845        1,015,863  

U.S. Long Bond

    30        12/21/21        4,824        47,111  

Ultra U.S. Treasury Bond

    321        12/21/21        63,056        (548,535

2-Year U.S. Treasury Note

    808        12/31/21        177,129        82,583  

5-Year U.S. Treasury Note

    1,138        12/31/21        138,489        1,289,693  

90-Day Eurodollar

    477        12/16/24        117,276        328,641  
          

 

 

 
             3,421,425  
          

 

 

 
           $ 2,859,050  
          

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

             
Currency Purchased           Currency Sold      Counterparty    Settlement Date                        Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

USD

  6,754,089        EUR        5,694,500      Bank of America N.A.      12/15/21         $ 164,425  

USD

  116,882                         EUR        101,000      BNP Paribas SA      12/15/21           5  

USD

  6,745,283        EUR        5,694,500      BNP Paribas SA      12/15/21           155,619  

USD

  106,181        EUR        91,000      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      12/15/21           876  

USD

  2,256,760        GBP        1,629,000      Natwest Markets PLC      12/15/21           27,058  

 

 

42  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (continued)

             

Currency

Purchased

          Currency Sold      Counterparty    Settlement Date                        Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

USD

  4,142,241                         GBP        2,990,000      Natwest Markets PLC      12/15/21         $ 49,664  

USD

  151,134        EUR        130,000      State Street Bank and Trust Co.      01/20/22           546  
                     

 

 

 
                        398,193  
                     

 

 

 

USD

  77,850        CAD        98,000      Bank of America N.A.      12/15/21           (1,341

USD

  1,157        EUR        1,000      BNP Paribas SA      12/15/21            

USD

  115,871        GBP        85,000      State Street Bank and Trust Co.      12/15/21           (473
                     

 

 

 
                        (1,814
                     

 

 

 
                      $ 396,379  
                     

 

 

 

Exchange-Traded Options Purchased

 

           
Description  

Number of

Contracts

    

Expiration

Date

     Exercise Price     

Notional

Amount (000)

     Value  

Call

                   

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Future

    4        11/26/21        USD        133.00        USD        523      $ 250  
                   

 

 

 

Put

                   

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Future

    47        11/26/21        USD        133.00        USD        6,141        110,891  
                   

 

 

 
                    $ 111,141  
                   

 

 

 

OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Purchased

 

                 
     Paid by the Trust           Received by the Trust                                 
                    
Description    Rate     Frequency        Rate    Frequency   Counterparty  

Expiration

Date

    

Exercise

Rate

   

Notional

Amount (000)

    Value  

Call

                         

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/30/27

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.31%    Semi-Annual  

Barclays Bank PLC

    03/28/22        1.31     USD        10,560     $ 89,270  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/07/27

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.53%    Semi-Annual  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

    04/05/22        1.53       USD        5,710       84,995  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/10/27

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.39%    Semi-Annual  

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

    04/08/22        1.39       USD        11,220       119,181  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/30/27

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.20%    Semi-Annual  

Bank of America N.A.

    04/28/22        1.20       USD        15,640       101,383  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 07/03/27

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.32%    Semi-Annual  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

    07/01/22        1.32       USD        12,400       120,197  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 06/26/34

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.97%    Semi-Annual  

Goldman Sachs International

    06/24/24        1.97       USD        1,940       96,558  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 06/30/34

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     2.00%    Semi-Annual  

Goldman Sachs International

    06/28/24        2.00       USD        1,940       99,672  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 07/24/34

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.68%    Semi-Annual  

Goldman Sachs International

    07/22/24        1.68       USD        1,970       71,743  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 07/31/34

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.55%    Semi-Annual  

Bank of America N.A.

    07/29/24        1.55       USD        3,360       106,208  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/04/34

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.68%    Semi-Annual  

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

    08/02/24        1.68       USD        2,010       73,922  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/09/35

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     0.91%    Semi-Annual  

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

    08/07/25        0.91       USD        2,220       40,127  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/09/35

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     0.91%    Semi-Annual  

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

    08/07/25        0.91       USD        1,480       26,751  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/09/36

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     2.60%    Semi-Annual  

Deutsche Bank AG

    04/07/26        2.60       USD        2,920       266,264  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/09/40

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     1.05%    Semi-Annual  

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

    08/07/30        1.05       USD        1,640       54,862  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/09/50

    
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13
 
  Quarterly     0.91%    Semi-Annual  

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

    08/07/40        0.91       USD        1,250       54,261  
                         

 

 

 
                            1,405,394  
                         

 

 

 

 

 

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

  43


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Purchased (continued)

 

                 
           Paid by the Trust               Received by the Trust          

Expiration

Date

    

Exercise

Rate

   

Notional

Amount (000)

        
Description   Rate      Frequency         Rate    Frequency      Counterparty    Value  
                       

Put

                             

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/30/27

    1.31%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Barclays Bank PLC

     03/28/22        1.31     USD        10,560      $ 118,958  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/07/27

    1.53%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/05/22        1.52       USD        5,710        41,732  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/10/27

    1.39%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     04/08/22        1.39       USD        11,220        112,952  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/23/32

    1.90%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Deutsche Bank AG

     04/21/22        1.90       USD        18,815        212,482  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 07/03/27

    1.32%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     07/01/22        1.32       USD        12,400        193,855  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 07/08/27

    1.45%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     07/06/22        1.45       USD        12,400        159,436  

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 07/17/27

    1.25%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Bank of America N.A.

     07/15/22        1.25       USD        13,390        244,332  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 06/26/34

    1.97%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Goldman Sachs International

     06/24/24        1.97       USD        1,940        78,848  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 06/30/34

    2.00%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Goldman Sachs International

     06/28/24        2.00       USD        1,940        76,812  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 07/24/34

    1.68%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Goldman Sachs International

     07/22/24        1.68       USD        1,970        106,956  
               

Wells Fargo Bank,

             

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/04/34

    1.68%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

National Association

     08/02/24        1.68       USD        2,010        109,196  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/07/34

    1.80%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/05/24        1.80       USD        4,760        232,107  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/09/35

    0.91%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     08/07/25        0.91       USD        1,480        158,418  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/09/35

    0.91%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     08/07/25        0.91       USD        2,220        237,627  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/09/36

    2.60%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Deutsche Bank AG

     04/07/26        2.60       USD        2,920        94,612  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/09/40

    1.05%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     08/07/30        1.05       USD        1,640        178,928  

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/09/50

    0.91%      Semi-Annual      3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%      Quarterly     

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     08/07/40        0.91       USD        1,250        123,897  
                             

 

 

 
                                2,481,148  
                             

 

 

 
                              $  3,886,542  
                             

 

 

 

Exchange-Traded Options Written

 

           
Description   

Number of

Contracts

  

    Expiration    

    Date    

     Exercise Price    

Notional

Amount (000)

    Value  
Call                                             

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Future

   47      11/26/21        USD        136.00       USD        6,141     $ (734

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Future

   4      11/26/21        USD        134.50       USD        523       (63
                  

 

 

 
                     (797
                  

 

 

 
Put                                             

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Future

   94      11/26/21        USD        131.00       USD        12,282       (73,437
                  

 

 

 
                   $  (74,234
                  

 

 

 

OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Written

 

                 
Description          Paid by the Trust              Received by the Trust   Counterparty               Expiration
Date
    Exercise
Rate
    Notional
Amount (000)
          Value  
  Rate     Frequency       Rate     Frequency
                       

Call

                     

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 11/06/31

    1.00%     Semi-Annual      
3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13%
 
 
  Quarterly   Deutsche Bank AG     11/04/21       1.00     USD         4,760     $  

 

 

44  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Written (continued)

 

               
Description       Paid by the Trust       

Received by the Trust

   Counterparty    Expiration
Date
     Exercise
Rate
    Notional
Amount (000)
     Value  
  Rate      Frequency    Rate    Frequency
                     

Call (continued)

                           

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 11/14/31

    1.30%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/12/21        1.30     USD        4,960      $ (781

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/12/24

    0.51%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     01/10/22        0.51       USD        31,490        (19,482

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/29/32

    1.00%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/27/22        1.00       USD        3,040        (3,090

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/29/32

    1.25%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Bank of America N.A.

     01/27/22        1.25       USD        2,790        (8,850

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 02/20/32

    1.62%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Bank of America N.A.

     02/18/22        1.62       USD        2,680        (41,765

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/03/24

    0.51%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/01/22        0.51       USD        27,330        (22,891

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/05/24

    0.52%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Citibank N.A.

     03/03/22        0.52       USD        13,980        (12,229

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/23/24

    0.56%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/21/22        0.56       USD        13,980        (15,654

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/25/24

    0.57%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/23/22        0.57       USD        27,410        (31,638

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/03/24

    0.61%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/01/22        0.61       USD        37,640        (50,667

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/23/32

    1.25%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     04/21/22        1.25       USD        18,815        (116,694

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/24/27

    0.90%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Bank of America N.A.

     04/22/22        0.90       USD        7,820        (18,036

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/30/27

    0.90%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Bank of America N.A.

     04/28/22        0.90       USD        23,470        (55,429

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 06/09/32

    1.40%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     06/07/22        1.40       USD        3,615        (41,262

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/10/32

    0.72%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/08/22        0.72       USD        1,150        (2,708

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 09/03/32

    1.53%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     09/01/22        1.53       USD        5,650        (101,641

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/09/32

    1.80%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/07/22        1.80       USD        2,840        (89,117

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/13/32

    1.06%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/11/22        1.06       USD        2,145        (14,790

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/15/32

    1.80%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/13/22        1.80       USD        2,840        (88,665

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/27/24

    1.24%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     10/25/22        1.24       USD        13,510        (83,046

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/27/24

    1.24%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     10/25/22        1.24       USD        9,010        (55,128

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 12/18/32

    1.23%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Goldman Sachs International

     12/16/22        1.23       USD        1,980        (22,734

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 12/18/32

    1.25%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Goldman Sachs International

     12/16/22        1.24       USD        1,980        (23,325

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/01/33

    1.25%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Citibank N.A.

     12/30/22        1.25       USD        2,180        (26,782

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/11/33

    1.44%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Barclays Bank PLC

     01/09/23        1.44       USD        3,990        (71,037

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/03/33

    2.01%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Bank of America N.A.

     03/01/23        2.01       USD        4,170        (189,359

30-Year Interest Rate Swap, 09/19/54

    1.85%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Deutsche Bank AG

     09/17/24        1.85       USD        1,330        (154,118

30-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/02/54

    2.00%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

Barclays Bank PLC

     09/30/24        2.00       USD        930        (126,491

30-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/21/56

    1.98%      Semi-Annual    3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/19/26        1.97       USD        540        (83,382
                           

 

 

 
                              (1,570,791
                           

 

 

 

 

 

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

  45


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Written (continued)

 

               
Description  

Paid by the Trust

       Received by the Trust        Counterparty    Expiration
Date
     Exercise
Rate
    Notional
Amount (000)
     Value  
  Rate    Frequency    Rate      Frequency
                     

Put

                           

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 11/14/31

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.50%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/12/21        1.50     USD        4,960      $ (48,508

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 12/08/23

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.50%      Semi-Annual   

Barclays Bank PLC

     12/06/21        0.50       USD        11,710        (59,787

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 12/12/23

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.45%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     12/10/21        0.45       USD        11,609        (72,173

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/12/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.51%      Semi-Annual   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     01/10/22        0.51       USD        31,490        (204,559

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/21/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.50%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/19/22        0.50       USD        8,010        (56,379

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/29/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.25%      Semi-Annual   

Bank of America N.A.

     01/27/22        1.25       USD        2,790        (105,235

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/29/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.50%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/27/22        1.50       USD        3,040        (61,101

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 02/09/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.60%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/07/22        1.60       USD        3,700        (59,120

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 02/20/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.62%      Semi-Annual   

Bank of America N.A.

     02/18/22        1.62       USD        2,680        (43,335

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 02/27/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.75%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/25/22        0.75       USD        43,910        (222,713

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/03/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.51%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/01/22        0.51       USD        27,330        (232,162

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/05/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.52%      Semi-Annual   

Citibank N.A.

     03/03/22        0.52       USD        13,980        (117,775

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/23/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.56%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/21/22        0.56       USD        13,980        (117,196

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/25/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.57%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/23/22        0.57       USD        27,410        (228,170

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/03/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.61%      Semi-Annual   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/01/22        0.61       USD        37,640        (305,850

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 04/08/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.74%      Semi-Annual   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/06/22        0.74       USD        37,640        (244,169

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 06/09/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      2.40%      Semi-Annual   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     06/07/22        2.40       USD        3,615        (18,168

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 08/10/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      0.72%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/08/22        0.72       USD        1,150        (109,031

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 09/03/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.53%      Semi-Annual   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     09/01/22        1.53       USD        5,650        (203,388

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/09/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.80%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/07/22        1.80       USD        2,840        (71,225

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/13/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.06%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/11/22        1.06       USD        2,145        (148,409

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/15/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.80%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/13/22        1.80       USD        2,840        (72,725

5-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/21/27

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.81%      Semi-Annual   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     10/19/22        1.81       USD        3,820        (39,482

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/27/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.24%      Semi-Annual   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     10/25/22        1.24       USD        13,510        (94,048

2-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/27/24

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.24%      Semi-Annual   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

     10/25/22        1.24       USD        9,010        (62,911

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 12/18/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.23%      Semi-Annual   

Goldman Sachs International

     12/16/22        1.23       USD        1,980        (119,467

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 12/18/32

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.25%      Semi-Annual   

Goldman Sachs International

     12/16/22        1.24       USD        1,980        (117,760

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/01/33

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.25%      Semi-Annual   

Citibank N.A.

     12/30/22        1.25       USD        2,180        (129,885

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 01/11/33

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      1.44%      Semi-Annual   

Barclays Bank PLC

     01/09/23        1.44       USD        3,990        (192,519

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 03/03/33

  3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%    Quarterly      2.01%      Semi-Annual   

Bank of America N.A.

     03/01/23        2.01       USD        4,170        (101,545

 

 

46  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Written (continued)

 

               
Description  

    Paid by the Trust    

       Received by the Trust        Counterparty    Expiration
Date
     Exercise
Rate
    Notional
Amount (000)
     Value  
  Rate    Frequency    Rate      Frequency
                     

Put (continued)

                           

10-Year Interest Rate Swap, 05/17/33

  6-Month EURIBOR, (0.53%)    Semi-Annual      0.70%      Annual   

Barclays Bank PLC

     05/15/23        0.70     EUR        4,980      $ (135,437

30-Year Interest Rate Swap, 09/19/54

  3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13%
   Quarterly      1.85%      Semi-Annual   

Deutsche Bank AG

     09/17/24        1.85       USD        1,330        (140,371

30-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/02/54

  3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13%
   Quarterly      2.00%      Semi-Annual   

Barclays Bank PLC

     09/30/24        2.00       USD        930        (84,023

30-Year Interest Rate Swap, 10/21/56

  3-Month
LIBOR, 0.13%
   Quarterly      1.98%      Semi-Annual   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/19/26        1.97       USD        540        (61,534
                           

 

 

 
                              (4,080,160
                           

 

 

 
                            $  (5,650,951
                           

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps — Buy Protection

 

               
Reference Obligation/Index   

Financing

Rate Paid

by the Trust

   

Payment

Frequency

  

Termination

Date

    

Notional

Amount (000)

     Value     

Upfront

Premium

Paid

(Received)

    

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 

CDX.NA.HY.37.V1

     5.00   Quarterly      12/20/26      USD     8,140      $ (774,442    $ (771,630    $ (2,812

CDX.NA.IG.37.V1

     1.00     Quarterly      12/20/26      USD     39,470        (986,028      (915,995      (70,033
               

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
                $   (1,760,470    $   (1,687,625    $ (72,845
               

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps

 

Paid by the Trust

 

Received by the Trust

 

Effective

Date

    Termination
Date
   

Notional

Amount (000)

  Value     Upfront
Premium
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Rate   Frequency   Rate   Frequency
                     
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.62%   Semi-Annual     01/05/22 (a)      09/30/23     USD   21,320   $   (26,439   $ (111   $ (26,328
0.47%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       10/14/23     USD   6,070     20,781       26       20,755  
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.34%   Semi-Annual     12/13/21 (a)      12/13/23     USD   6,220     (50,409     28       (50,437
0.65%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     01/18/22 (a)      01/18/24     USD   6,960     22,943       31       22,912  
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.38%   Semi-Annual     02/07/22 (a)      02/07/24     USD   4,750     (44,532     21       (44,553
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.40%   Semi-Annual     02/08/22 (a)      02/08/24     USD   9,620     (87,107     42       (87,149
0.64%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     02/15/22 (a)      02/15/24     USD   5,750     26,103       26       26,077  
0.56%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     03/24/22 (a)      03/24/24     USD   6,870     49,996       30       49,966  
0.61%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     03/28/22 (a)      03/28/24     USD   8,940     57,938       39       57,899  
0.63%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     03/29/22 (a)      03/29/24     USD   3,350     19,946       15       19,931  
0.64%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     03/29/22 (a)      03/29/24     USD   7,550     44,314       33       44,281  
0.62%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     03/31/22 (a)      03/31/24     USD   4,310     26,800       19       26,781  
0.63%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     03/31/22 (a)      03/31/24     USD   3,680     22,355       16       22,339  
0.64%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/08/22 (a)      04/08/24     USD   12,520     77,874       56       77,818  
0.65%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/11/22 (a)      04/11/24     USD   6,830     41,647       30       41,617  
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.66%   Semi-Annual     04/11/22 (a)      04/11/24     USD   3,525     (21,075     16       (21,091
0.66%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/11/22 (a)      04/11/24     USD   3,140     18,555       14       18,541  
0.66%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/12/22 (a)      04/12/24     USD   10,920     65,668       49       65,619  
0.69%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/12/22 (a)      04/12/24     USD   6,870     36,965       31       36,934  
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.69%   Semi-Annual     04/12/22 (a)      04/12/24     USD   3,435     (18,476     15       (18,491
0.74%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/14/22 (a)      04/14/24     USD   7,570     34,317       34       34,283  
0.79%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/14/22 (a)      04/14/24     USD   6,850     23,975       30       23,945  
0.80%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/14/22 (a)      04/14/24     USD   6,850     22,790       30       22,760  
0.78%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/19/22 (a)      04/19/24     USD   10,140     39,581       45       39,536  
0.83%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/20/22 (a)      04/20/24     USD   3,390     9,796       15       9,781  
0.83%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/20/22 (a)      04/20/24     USD   6,790     19,553       30       19,523  
0.85%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/20/22 (a)      04/20/24     USD   3,390     8,717       15       8,702  
0.90%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/20/22 (a)      04/20/24     USD   3,405     5,335       15       5,320  
0.92%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/20/22 (a)      04/20/24     USD   3,405     3,777       15       3,762  
0.93%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/25/22 (a)      04/25/24     USD   6,850     7,697       30       7,667  
0.93%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/25/22 (a)      04/25/24     USD   10,280     11,144       46       11,098  

 

 

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

  47


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps (continued)

 

               

Paid by the Trust

 

Received by the Trust

 

Effective

Date

    Termination
Date
   

Notional

Amount (000)

  Value     Upfront
Premium
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Rate   Frequency   Rate   Frequency

0.98%

  Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/26/22 (a)      04/26/24     USD   3,435   $ 98     $ 15     $ 83  
0.98%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/26/22 (a)      04/26/24     USD   3,435     609       15       594  
1.00%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/26/22 (a)      04/26/24     USD   3,435     (737     15       (752
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.93%   Semi-Annual     04/27/22 (a)      04/27/24     USD   7,296     (8,452     32       (8,484
1.00%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     04/29/22 (a)      04/29/24     USD   3,420     (508     15       (523
1.01%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     05/03/22 (a)      05/03/24     USD   10,255     (1,788     46       (1,834
1.01%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     05/03/22 (a)      05/03/24     USD   10,255     (2,703     46       (2,749
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.01%   Semi-Annual     05/03/22 (a)      05/03/24     USD   2,630     720       12       708  
1.03%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     05/03/22 (a)      05/03/24     USD   1,160     (663     5       (668
0.73%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     06/21/22 (a)      06/21/24     USD   5,760     40,615       26       40,589  
0.74%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     08/12/22 (a)      08/12/24     USD   9,030     76,177       39       76,138  
0.78%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     08/15/22 (a)      08/15/24     USD   4,695     36,392       21       36,371  
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.45%   Semi-Annual     N/A       11/12/25     USD   7,620     (192,742     96       (192,838
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.48%   Semi-Annual     N/A       01/21/26     USD   3,970     (106,902     31       (106,933
0.99%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     01/05/22 (a)      02/28/26     USD   19,320     173,313       179       173,134  
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.93%   Semi-Annual     N/A       09/17/26     USD   7,360     (97,154     66       (97,220
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.28%   Semi-Annual     03/31/22 (a)      03/31/27     USD   150     (727     1       (728
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.35%   Semi-Annual     07/08/22 (a)      07/08/27     USD   5,220     (28,395     48       (28,443
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.19%   Semi-Annual     07/19/22 (a)      07/19/27     USD   2,170     (29,586     20       (29,606
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.58%   Semi-Annual     07/27/22 (a)      07/27/27     USD   970     4,704       9       4,695  
1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual   1.30%   Annual     07/28/22 (a)      07/28/27     USD   1,210     5,199       11       5,188  
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.48%   Semi-Annual     08/01/22 (a)      08/01/27     USD   4,205     (190     39       (229
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.49%   Semi-Annual     08/01/22 (a)      08/01/27     USD   4,205     1,953       39       1,914  
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.22%   Semi-Annual     08/16/22 (a)      08/16/27     USD   1,410     (18,429     13       (18,442
1.27%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       02/15/28     USD   3,650     13,115       45       13,070  
1.10%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     12/31/21 (a)      08/15/28     USD   12,650     64,328       164       64,164  
1.16%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       02/04/31     USD   500     16,222       8       16,214  
1.58%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       03/12/31     USD   500     (1,587     8       (1,595
1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual   1.11%   Annual     12/31/21 (a)      05/15/31     USD   4,510     (84,117     72       (84,189
1.14%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       09/10/31     USD   480     6,847       8       6,839  
1.19%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       09/21/31     USD   960     9,338       15       9,323  
1.20%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       09/21/31     USD   1,050     9,502       17       9,485  
1.43%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       09/21/31     USD   2,120     29,125       34       29,091  
1.39%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       09/22/31     USD   2,120     36,819       34       36,785  
1.52%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       09/24/31     USD   4,590     23,870       73       23,797  
1.33%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       10/08/31     USD   710     (1,890     11       (1,901
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.55%   Semi-Annual     N/A       10/08/31     USD   28,600     (103,647     462       (104,109
1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual   1.33%   Annual     N/A       10/12/31     USD   1,410     3,154       23       3,131  
1.40%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       10/13/31     USD   710     (6,722     11       (6,733
1.40%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       10/13/31     USD   1,410     (13,280     23       (13,303
1.78%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       10/18/31     USD   2,440     (42,933     39       (42,972
1.38%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       10/20/31     USD   1,910     (12,928     31       (12,959
2.10%   Semi-Annual   3-Month CAD BA, 0.48%   Semi-Annual     N/A       10/22/31     CAD   6,910     51,593       3,851       47,742  
1.45%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       10/25/31     USD   1,130     (15,401     18       (15,419
1.45%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       10/25/31     USD   400     (5,286     6       (5,292
1.46%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     N/A       10/26/31     USD   340     (4,772     5       (4,777
1.61%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     03/28/22 (a)      03/28/32     USD   10,600     62,977       170       62,807  
0.83%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     08/15/22 (a)      08/15/32     USD   5,790     491,965       35,013       456,952  
0.44%   Annual   6-Month EURIBOR, (0.53%)   Semi-Annual     05/16/23 (a)      05/16/33     EUR   1,760     (1,642     38       (1,680
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.67%   Semi-Annual     08/06/24 (a)      08/06/34     USD   1,900     (41,521     30       (41,551
1.73%   Semi-Annual   3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly     N/A       10/08/36     USD   32,800     (84,437     655       (85,092
1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual   1.43%   Annual     12/31/21 (a)      02/15/47     USD   2,180     (23,179     60       (23,239
1.45%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     12/31/21 (a)      02/15/47     USD   8,620     59,172       (26,388     85,560  
1.54%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     12/31/21 (a)      02/15/47     USD   1,020     (12,628     28       (12,656
1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual   1.60%   Annual     12/31/21 (a)      02/15/47     USD   2,320     55,928       65       55,863  
1.66%   Annual   1-Year SOFR, 0.05%   Annual     12/31/21 (a)      02/15/47     USD   970     (37,562     27       (37,589
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   0.99%   Semi-Annual     N/A       08/21/50     USD   175     (31,305     4       (31,309
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.00%   Semi-Annual     N/A       08/21/50     USD   175     (30,869     4       (30,873
3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%   Quarterly   1.84%   Semi-Annual     N/A       10/08/51     USD   11,500     239,868       360       239,508  

 

 

48  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps (continued)

 

                      

 

      

 

      

 

    

 

    

 

    Upfront       

 

 
                 

 

     

 

     

 

   

 

   

 

    Premium     Unrealized  

Paid by the Trust

 

    Received by the Trust    

  Effective     Termination     Notional    

 

    Paid     Appreciation  
Rate               Frequency       Rate                       Frequency   Date     Date     Amount (000)   Value     (Received)     (Depreciation)  
                     

3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%

              Quarterly   1.93%                       Semi-Annual     N/A       10/22/51     USD   2,840   $ 123,737     $ 89     $ 123,648  

3-Month LIBOR, 0.13%

              Quarterly   1.92%                       Semi-Annual     N/A       10/27/51     USD   1,420     57,636       45       57,591  
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
                $ 1,120,823     $ 16,728     $ 1,104,095  
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Forward Swap.

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps — Buy Protection

 

                 
Reference Obligations/Index   

Financing

Rate Paid

by the Trust

   

Payment

Frequency

   Counterparty     

Termination

Date

   

Notional

Amount (000)

     Value     

Upfront

Premium

Paid

(Received)

    

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 

CMBX.NA.7

     0.00   Monthly      Deutsche Bank AG        01/17/47     USD 25,000      $  4,731,541      $  1,727,733      $ 3,003,808  
               

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps — Sell Protection

 

                   
  Reference Obligation/Index    

Financing

Rate Received

by the Trust

 

 

 

 

Payment  

Frequency  

  Counterparty    

Termination

Date

 

 

   

Credit

Rating

 

(a) 

 

 

Notional   

Amount (000)(b)

 

 

    Value      

Upfront

Premium

Paid

(Received

 

 

 

   

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation

 

 

 

  

        Morgan Stanley & Co.                
 

Adler Real Estate AG

    5.00   Quarterly         International PLC     12/20/25       BB+       EUR       20        $ 271     $ 2,861         $ (2,590         
 

Virgin Media Finance PLC

    5.00     Quarterly     JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     12/20/25       B       EUR       20          2,891       2,210       681    
 

Adler Real Estate AG

    5.00     Quarterly     JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     06/20/26       N/R       EUR       10          178       962       (784  
 

Adler Real Estate AG

    5.00     Quarterly     JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     06/20/26       N/R       EUR       10          177       1,080       (903  
 

CMA CGM SA

    5.00     Quarterly     Credit Suisse International     06/20/26       BB-       EUR       10          1,216       479       737    
 

Trust Fibrauno

    1.00     Quarterly     Citibank N.A.     06/20/26       N/R       USD       676          (47,327     (69,938     22,611    
 

Trust Fibrauno

    1.00     Quarterly     Citibank N.A.     06/20/26       N/R       USD       190          (13,302     (19,695     6,393    
 

CMBX.NA.7

    3.00     Monthly     Barclays Bank PLC     01/17/47       C       USD       10,000          (1,892,617     (484,665     (1,407,952  
 

CMBX.NA.7

    3.00     Monthly     Barclays Bank PLC     01/17/47       C       USD       5,000          (946,309     (242,053     (704,256  
 

CMBX.NA.7

    3.00     Monthly     Barclays Bank PLC     01/17/47       C       USD       10,000          (1,892,616     (239,794     (1,652,822  
 

CMBX.NA.9

    2.00     Monthly     Credit Suisse International     09/17/58       N/R       USD       2,500          (1,482     (330,862     329,380    
        Morgan Stanley & Co.                        
 

CMBX.NA.9

    2.00     Monthly         International PLC     09/17/58       N/R       USD       2,500          (1,482     (327,667     326,185    
        Morgan Stanley & Co.                        
 

CMBX.NA.9

    2.00     Monthly         International PLC     09/17/58       N/R       USD       5,000          (2,963     (649,231     646,268    
        Morgan Stanley & Co.                        
 

CMBX.NA.9

    3.00     Monthly         International PLC     09/17/58       N/R       USD       2,500          (209,492     (529,570     320,078    
        Morgan Stanley & Co.                        
 

CMBX.NA.9

    3.00     Monthly         International PLC     09/17/58       N/R       USD       5,000          (418,985     (523,652     104,667    
        Morgan Stanley & Co.                        
 

CMBX.NA.9

    3.00     Monthly         International PLC     09/17/58       N/R       USD       972          (81,451     (106,975     25,524    
                 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   
                  $  (5,503,293   $  (3,516,510     $  (1,986,783  
                 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

  (a)

Using the rating of the issuer or the underlying securities of the index, as applicable, provided by S&P Global Ratings.

 
  (b)

The maximum potential amount the Trust may pay should a negative credit event take place as defined under the terms of the agreement.

 

Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for Centrally Cleared Swaps, OTC Swaps and Options Written

 

           
Description   

Swap

Premiums

Paid

    

Swap

Premiums

Received

  

Unrealized

Appreciation

    

Unrealized

Depreciation

    Value  

Centrally Cleared Swaps(a)

     $   43,227      $ (1,714,124)    $ 2,398,831      $ (1,367,581   $  

OTC Swaps

     1,735,325      (3,524,102)      4,786,332        (3,769,307      

Options Written

     N/A      N/A      1,147,983        (1,903,397     (5,725,185

 

  (a)

Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on centrally cleared swaps, as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and is net of any previously paid (received) swap premium amounts.

 

 

 

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

  49


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

               
    

Commodity

Contracts

    

Credit

Contracts

    

Equity

    Contracts

    

Foreign

Currency

Exchange

Contracts

    

Interest

Rate

Contracts

    

Other

    Contracts

     Total  

Assets — Derivative Financial Instruments

 

  

Futures contracts

                   

Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a)

  $      $      $      $      $ 3,969,960      $      $ 3,969,960  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                         398,193                      398,193  

Options purchased

                   

Investments at value — unaffiliated(b)

                                3,997,683               3,997,683  

Swaps — centrally cleared

                   

Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swaps(a)

                                2,398,831               2,398,831  

Swaps — OTC

                   

Unrealized appreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums paid

           6,521,657                                    6,521,657  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $      $ 6,521,657      $      $     398,193      $  10,366,474      $      $  17,286,324  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

 

     

Futures contracts

                   

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

  $      $      $      $      $ 1,110,910      $      $ 1,110,910  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                         1,814                      1,814  

Options written

                   

Options written at value

                                5,725,185               5,725,185  

Swaps — centrally cleared

                   

Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared swaps(a)

           72,845                      1,294,736               1,367,581  

Swaps — OTC

                   

Unrealized depreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums received

           7,293,409                                    7,293,409  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $      $  7,366,254      $      $ 1,814      $ 8,130,831      $      $ 15,498,899  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts and centrally cleared swaps, if any, are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 
  (b)

Includes options purchased at value as reported in the Schedule of Investments.

 

For the period ended October 31, 2021, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statement of Operations was as follows:

 

               
    

Commodity

Contracts

    

Credit

Contracts

   

Equity

    Contracts

    

Foreign

Currency

Exchange

Contracts

   

Interest

Rate

Contracts

   

Other

    Contracts

     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from:

 

         

Futures contracts

  $      $     $      $     $ 8,450,664     $      $ 8,450,664  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                        (735,498                  (735,498

Options purchased(a)

                              2,702,660              2,702,660  

Options written

                              (1,965,423            (1,965,423

Swaps

           (60,529                  1,210,980              1,150,451  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $      $ (60,529   $      $  (735,498   $  10,398,881     $      $  9,602,854  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:

 

    

Futures contracts

  $      $     $      $     $ 416,067     $      $ 416,067  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

                        498,251                    498,251  

Options purchased(b)

                              (429,943            (429,943

Options written

                              (649,519            (649,519

Swaps

           1,829,357                    581,866              2,411,223  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $      $  1,829,357     $      $ 498,251     $ (81,529   $      $ 2,246,079  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Options purchased are included in net realized gain (loss) from investments — unaffiliated.

 
  (b)

Options purchased are included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments — unaffiliated.

 

 

 

50  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

   

Futures contracts:

 

Average notional value of contracts — long

  $ 31,951,669  

Average notional value of contracts — short

  $ 647,772,020  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts:

 

Average amounts purchased — in USD

  $ 38,936,443  

Average amounts sold — in USD

  $ 15,936,942  

Options:

 

Average value of option contracts purchased

  $ 126,423  

Average value of option contracts written

  $ 153,089  

Average notional value of swaption contracts purchased

  $ 226,251,160  

Average notional value of swaption contracts written

  $ 592,846,547  

Credit default swaps:

 

Average notional value — buy protection

  $ 72,801,000  

Average notional value — sell protection

  $ 44,394,256  

Interest rate swaps:

 

Average notional value — pays fixed rate

  $ 169,845,832  

Average notional value — receives fixed rate

  $ 76,376,257  

For more information about the Trust’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Derivative Financial Instruments — Offsetting as of Period End

The Trust’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:

 

     
     Assets     Liabilities  

Derivative Financial Instruments

   

Futures contracts

  $ 140,658     $ 342,849  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

    398,193       1,814  

Options

    3,997,683 (a)      5,725,185  

Swaps — centrally cleared

    74,491        

Swaps — OTC(b)

    6,521,657       7,293,409  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

    11,132,682       13,363,257  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

    (326,290     (417,083
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA

  $       10,806,392     $       12,946,174  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Includes options purchased at value which is included in Investments at value — unaffiliated in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and reported in the Schedule of Investments.

 
  (b)

Includes unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC swaps and swap premiums (paid/received) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

The following table presents the Trust’s derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received (and pledged) by the Trust:

 

           

Counterparty

   

Derivative

Assets

Subject to

an MNA by

Counterparty

 

 

 

 

 

    

Derivatives

Available

for Offset

 

 

(a) 

   

Non-Cash

Collateral

Received

 

 

 

    

Cash

Collateral

Received

 

 

 

   

Net Amount

of Derivative

Assets

 

 

(b)(c) 

Bank of America N.A

  $ 616,348      $ (564,895   $      $     $ 51,453  

Barclays Bank PLC

    208,228        (208,228                   

BNP Paribas SA

    155,624                           155,624  

Citibank N.A

    29,004        (29,004                   

Credit Suisse International

    330,596        (330,596                   

Deutsche Bank AG

    5,537,006        (2,179,429            (3,350,000     7,577  

Goldman Sachs International

    530,589        (283,286                  247,303  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

    606,024        (606,024                   

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

    2,532,587        (2,532,587                   

Natwest Markets PLC

    76,722                           76,722  

State Street Bank and Trust Co

    546        (473                  73  

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

    183,118                           183,118  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $     10,806,392      $     (6,734,522   $             —      $     (3,350,000   $     721,870  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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

  51


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

           

Counterparty

   

Derivative

Liabilities

Subject to

an MNA by

Counterparty

 

 

 

 

 

    

Derivatives

Available

for Offset

 

 

(a) 

   

Non-Cash

Collateral

Pledged

 

 

 

    

Cash

Collateral

Pledged

 

 

(d) 

   

Net Amount

of Derivative

Liabilities

 

 

(b)(e) 

Bank of America N.A.

  $ 564,895      $ (564,895   $      $     $  

Barclays Bank PLC

    5,400,836        (208,228            (5,140,000     52,608  

Citibank N.A.

    376,304        (29,004            (310,000     37,300  

Credit Suisse International

    330,862        (330,596                  266  

Deutsche Bank AG

    2,179,429        (2,179,429                   

Goldman Sachs International

    283,286        (283,286                   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

    806,719        (606,024                  200,695  

Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC

    3,003,370        (2,532,587            (420,000     50,783  

State Street Bank and Trust Co

    473        (473                   
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $     12,946,174      $     (6,734,522   $             —      $     (5,870,000   $   341,652  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative asset and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA.

 
  (b)

Net amount may also include forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not required to be collateralized.

 
  (c)

Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.

 
  (d)

Excess of collateral pledged to the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes.

 
  (e)

Net amount represents the net amount payable due to counterparty in the event of default. Net amount may be offset further by the options written receivable/payable on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

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 Trust’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Trust’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Trust’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

         
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets

          

Investments

          

Long-Term Investments

          

Asset-Backed Securities

  $      $ 78,223,086      $     1,662,822      $ 79,885,908  

Common Stocks

          4,873,690                      4,873,690  

Corporate Bonds

          

Aerospace & Defense

                 17,260,733                     17,260,733  

Airlines

           13,432,303               13,432,303  

Auto Components

           7,632,167               7,632,167  

Automobiles

           12,047,895               12,047,895  

Banks

           11,035,963               11,035,963  

Beverages

           11,586,499               11,586,499  

Biotechnology

           1,141,948               1,141,948  

Building Materials

           4,945,262               4,945,262  

Building Products

           4,270,627               4,270,627  

Capital Markets

           5,417,332               5,417,332  

Chemicals

           13,548,570               13,548,570  

Commercial Services & Supplies

           5,921,366               5,921,366  

Communications Equipment

           4,278,601               4,278,601  

Construction Materials

           1,912,216               1,912,216  

Consumer Discretionary

           9,371,407               9,371,407  

Consumer Finance

           9,772,641               9,772,641  

Containers & Packaging

           2,228,077               2,228,077  

Diversified Consumer Services

           11,096,079               11,096,079  

Diversified Financial Services

           13,150,258               13,150,258  

Diversified Telecommunication Services

           22,054,824               22,054,824  

Electric Utilities

           7,849,353               7,849,353  

Electrical Equipment

           684,298               684,298  

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

           4,558,959               4,558,959  

Energy Equipment & Services

           2,707,784               2,707,784  

Environmental, Maintenance, & Security Service

           3,885,193               3,885,193  

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

           9,214,396               9,214,396  

Food & Staples Retailing

           13,745,165               13,745,165  

 

 

52  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)

 

         
     Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Corporate Bonds (continued)

         

Food Products

  $      $ 5,426,166     $      $ 5,426,166  

Gas Utilities

           174,250              174,250  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

           2,991,522              2,991,522  

Health Care Providers & Services

           29,832,817              29,832,817  

Health Care Technology

           4,598,664              4,598,664  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

           21,681,996              21,681,996  

Household Durables

           4,574,693              4,574,693  

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers

           8,381,654              8,381,654  

Industrial Conglomerates

           663,457              663,457  

Insurance

           14,414,944              14,414,944  

Interactive Media & Services

           4,043,417              4,043,417  

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail

           136,061              136,061  

Internet Software & Services

           7,991,871              7,991,871  

IT Services

           6,674,838              6,674,838  

Leisure Products

           1,201,413              1,201,413  

Machinery

           5,345,645              5,345,645  

Media

           62,047,937              62,047,937  

Metals & Mining

           16,589,504              16,589,504  

Multi-line Retail

           1,402,938              1,402,938  

Offshore Drilling & Other Services

           124,930              124,930  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

    226,349        77,628,223       1,536,662        79,391,234  

Personal Products

           233,233              233,233  

Pharmaceuticals

           15,993,121              15,993,121  

Producer Durables: Miscellaneous

           255,231              255,231  

Real Estate Management & Development

           19,460,760              19,460,760  

Road & Rail

           3,483,039              3,483,039  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

           8,674,104              8,674,104  

Software

           9,859,316              9,859,316  

Specialty Retail

           4,550,318              4,550,318  

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

           768,240              768,240  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

           753,145              753,145  

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

           1,617,067              1,617,067  

Tobacco

           2,711,889              2,711,889  

Transportation

           121,207              121,207  

Transportation Infrastructure

           2,811,948              2,811,948  

Utilities

           12,897,377              12,897,377  

Wireless Telecommunication Services

           18,320,123              18,320,123  

Floating Rate Loan Interests

           50,688,175       2,589,803        53,277,978  

Foreign Agency Obligations

           29,969,704              29,969,704  

Municipal Bonds

           1,175,678              1,175,678  

Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities

           74,623,723              74,623,723  

Preferred Securities

         

Capital Trusts

           45,825,068              45,825,068  

Preferred Stocks

    25,589,340                     25,589,340  

U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities

           147,212,884              147,212,884  

Warrants

                         

Short-Term Securities

         

Money Market Funds

    36,212,415                     36,212,415  

Options Purchased

         

Interest Rate Contracts

    111,141        3,886,542              3,997,683  

Unfunded Floating Rate Loan Interests(a)

           258              258  

Liabilities

         

Investments

         

TBA Sale Commitments

           (62,692            (62,692
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $     67,012,935      $  1,034,729,400     $     5,789,287      $  1,107,531,622  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(b)

         

Assets

         

Credit Contracts

  $      $ 4,786,332     $      $ 4,786,332  

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

           398,193              398,193  

Interest Rate Contracts

    3,969,960        2,398,831              6,368,791  

Liabilities

         

Credit Contracts

           (3,842,152            (3,842,152

 

 

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

  53


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2021

  

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)

    

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)

 

                                                                               

 

 
    Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total   

 

 

Liabilities (continued)

                

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

  $        $ (1,814      $        $ (1,814

Interest Rate Contracts

    (1,185,144        (6,945,687                 (8,130,831
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
  $     2,784,816        $     (3,206,297      $        $     (421,481
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Unfunded floating rate loan interests are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the commitment.

 
  (b)

Derivative financial instruments are swaps, futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and options written. Swaps, futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument and options written are shown at value.

 

The Trust may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount or face value, including accrued interest, for financial statement purposes. As of period end, reverse repurchase agreements of $386,819,640 are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

A reconciliation of Level 3 financial instruments is presented when the Trust had a significant amount of Level 3 investments at the beginning and/or end of the year in relation to net assets. The following table is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining fair value:

 

 

 
   

Asset-Backed

Securities

   

Common

Stocks

   

Corporate

Bonds

   

Floating

Rate Loan

Interests

    Warrants    

Non-Agency

Mortgage-Backed
Securities

   

Preferred

Stocks

    Total  

 

 

Assets

       

Opening balance, as of October 31, 2020

  $ 2,173,228     $ 35,260     $  2,153,350     $ 437,783     $     $ 7,370,850     $ 1,571,250     $ 13,741,721  

Transfers into Level 3(a)

                      252,817                         252,817  

Transfers out of Level 3(b)

                      (91,192           (7,370,850           (7,462,042

Accrued discounts/premiums

    16,323             23,887       6,495                         46,705  

Net realized gain (loss)

    133,558             96,297       99                   (354,375     (124,421

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(c)(d)

    512,567       (23,157     (137,175     284,809                   283,125       920,169  

Purchases

    4,147             22,422       1,727,331                         1,753,900  

Sales

    (1,177,001     (12,103     (622,119     (28,339                 (1,500,000     (3,339,562
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Closing balance, as of October 31, 2021

  $ 1,662,822     $     $ 1,536,662     $ 2,589,803     $     $     $     $ 5,789,287  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 2021(c)

  $ 509,461     $     $ (146,962   $ 284,809     $     $     $     $ 647,308  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

As of October 31, 2020, the Trust used observable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of October 31, 2021, the Trust used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments at beginning of period value were transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 in the disclosure hierarchy.

 
  (b)

As of October 31, 2020, the Trust used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of October 31, 2021, the Trust used observable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments at beginning of period value were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 in the disclosure hierarchy.

 
  (c)

Included in the related net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Statement of Operations.

 
  (d)

Any difference between net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 2021 is generally due to investments no longer held or categorized as Level 3 at period end.

 

The Trust’s financial instruments that are categorized as Level 3 were valued utilizing third-party pricing information without adjustment. Such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third-party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of such Level 3 financial instruments.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

54  

2 0 2 1   B L A C K R O C K   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

October 31, 2021

 

    BIT  

 

 

ASSETS

 

Investments, at value — unaffiliated(a)

  $ 1,071,381,641  

Investments, at value — affiliated(b)

    36,212,415  

Cash pledged:

 

Collateral — reverse repurchase agreements

    4,018,000  

Collateral — OTC derivatives

    6,220,025  

Futures contracts

    5,461,560  

Centrally cleared swaps

    3,605,000  

Foreign currency, at value(c)

    881,902  

Receivables:

 

Investments sold

    5,962,688  

Reverse repurchase agreements

    1,629,941  

TBA sale commitments

    62,808  

Dividends — unaffiliated

    138,928  

Dividends — affiliated

    158  

Interest — unaffiliated

    9,719,783  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    140,658  

Variation margin on centrally cleared swaps

    74,491  

Swap premiums paid

    1,735,325  

Unrealized appreciation on:

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

    398,193  

OTC swaps

    4,786,332  

Unfunded floating rate loan interests

    258  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,152,430,106  
 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Bank overdraft

    75,593  

Cash received:

 

Collateral — reverse repurchase agreements

    525,900  

Collateral — OTC derivatives

    3,350,000  

Options written, at value(d)

    5,725,185  

TBA sale commitments, at value(e)

    62,692  

Reverse repurchase agreements, at value

    386,819,640  

Payables:

 

Investments purchased

    68,514,854  

Reverse repurchase agreements

    1,545,204  

Accounting services fees

    164,500  

Custodian fees

    109,179  

Investment advisory fees

    726,350  

Trustees’ and Officer’s fees

    195,883  

Other accrued expenses

    122,752  

Principal payups

    177,473  

Professional fees

    255,876  

Transfer agent fees

    29,568  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    342,849  

Swap premiums received

    3,524,102  

Unrealized depreciation on:

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

    1,814  

OTC swaps

    3,769,307  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    476,038,721  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $    676,391,385  
 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  55


 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities  (continued)

October 31, 2021

 

    BIT  

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital(f)(g)(h)

  $ 670,151,556  

Accumulated earnings

    6,239,829  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 676,391,385  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 17.98  
 

 

 

 

(a)  Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

  $  1,053,633,889  

(b)  Investments, at cost — affiliated

  $ 36,212,415  

(c)  Foreign currency, at cost

  $ 885,951  

(d)  Premiums received

  $ 4,969,771  

(e)  Proceeds from TBA sale commitments

  $ 62,808  

(f)   Shares outstanding

    37,611,624  

(g)  Shares authorized

    Unlimited  

(h)  Par value

  $ 0.001  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Statement of Operations

Year Ended October 31, 2021

 

    BIT  

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

 

Dividends — unaffiliated

  $ 2,201,057  

Dividends — affiliated

    2,381  

Interest — unaffiliated

    51,766,086  

Other income — unaffiliated

    48,924  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    54,018,448  
 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

Investment advisory

    8,705,347  

Professional

    598,087  

Accounting services

    144,080  

Custodian

    95,999  

Transfer agent

    85,506  

Trustees and Officer

    84,781  

Registration

    12,988  

Miscellaneous

    69,751  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses excluding interest expense

    9,796,539  

Interest expense

    1,894,977  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    11,691,516  

Less:

 

Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager

    (7,175
 

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    11,684,341  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    42,334,107  
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

 

Net realized gain (loss) from:

 

Investments — unaffiliated

    14,325,251  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

    (735,498

Foreign currency transactions

    (181,824

Futures contracts

    8,450,664  

Options written

    (1,965,423

Swaps

    1,150,451  
 

 

 

 
    21,043,621  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments — unaffiliated

    1,694,250  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

    498,251  

Foreign currency translations

    181,178  

Futures contracts

    416,067  

Options written

    (649,519

Swaps

    2,411,223  

Unfunded floating rate loan interests

    258  
 

 

 

 
    4,551,708  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

    25,595,329  
 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $  67,929,436  
 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  57


 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    BIT  
 

 

 

 
    Year Ended October 31,  
 

 

 

 
    2021        2020 (a)  

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

    

OPERATIONS

    

Net investment income

  $ 42,334,107      $ 40,702,930  

Net realized gain (loss)

    21,043,621        (25,641,335

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    4,551,708        54,895,177  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    67,929,436        69,956,772  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(b)

    

From net investment income

    (41,784,318      (37,301,244

Return of capital

    (13,963,431      (18,419,563
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (55,747,749      (55,720,807
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

    

Reinvestment of distributions

    1,356,433         
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    

Total increase in net assets

    13,538,120        14,235,965  

Beginning of year

    662,853,265        648,617,300  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year

  $   676,391,385      $   662,853,265  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets.

(b)

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

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Statement of Cash Flows

Year Ended October 31, 2021

 

    BIT  

 

 

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 67,929,436  

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities

 

Proceeds from sales of long-term investments and principal paydowns/payups

    798,392,838  

Purchases of long-term investments

    (801,154,227

Net purchases of short-term securities

    (19,727,347

Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on investments and other fees

    (5,406,330

Premiums paid on closing options written

    (9,143,216

Premiums received from options written

    7,958,938  

Net realized gain on investments and options written

    (12,359,828

Net unrealized appreciation on investments, options written, swaps, foreign currency translations and unfunded floating rate loan interests

    (3,575,175

(Increase) Decrease in Assets

 

Receivables

 

Dividends — affiliated

    257  

Dividends — unaffiliated

    (1,089

Interest — unaffiliated

    (116,016

Variation margin on futures contracts

    190,661  

Variation margin on centrally cleared swaps

    (34,756

Swap premiums paid

    39,376  

Prepaid expenses

    2,365  

Increase (Decrease) in Liabilities

 

Cash received

 

Collateral — reverse repurchase agreements

    (841,142

Collateral — OTC derivatives

    (480,000

Payables

 

Accounting services fees

    80,144  

Custodian fees

    59,196  

Interest expense

    (56,182

Investment advisory fees

    45,903  

Trustees’ and Officer’s fees

    54,288  

Other accrued expenses

    9,824  

Professional fees

    (303,257

Transfer agent fees

    18,614  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    339,955  

Swap premiums received

    (1,442,098
 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

    20,481,132  
 

 

 

 

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

Cash dividends paid to shareholders

    (54,575,226

Increase in bank overdraft

    75,593  

Net borrowing of reverse repurchase agreements

    32,923,518  
 

 

 

 

Net cash used for financing activities

    (21,576,115
 

 

 

 

CASH IMPACT FROM FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATIONS

 

Cash impact from foreign exchange fluctuations

    190,023  
 

 

 

 

CASH AND FOREIGN CURRENCY

 

Net decrease in restricted and unrestricted cash and foreign currency

    (904,960

Restricted and unrestricted cash and foreign currency at beginning of year

    21,091,447  
 

 

 

 

Restricted and unrestricted cash and foreign currency at end of year

  $ 20,186,487  
 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

Cash paid during the year for interest expense

  $ 1,951,159  
 

 

 

 

NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

Reinvestment of common distributions

  $ 1,356,433  
 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  59


Statement of Cash Flows  (continued)

Year Ended October 31, 2021

 

    BIT  

 

 

RECONCILIATION OF RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED CASH AND FOREIGN CURRENCY AT THE END OF YEAR TO THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

Cash pledged

 

Collateral — reverse repurchase agreements

  $ 4,018,000  

Collateral — OTC derivatives

    6,220,025  

Futures contracts

    5,461,560  

Centrally cleared swaps

    3,605,000  

Foreign currency at value

    881,902  
 

 

 

 
  $   20,186,487  
 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

        BIT  
        Year Ended October 31,  
          2021       2020 (a)      2019 (a)      2018 (a)      2017 (a) 

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 17.66     $ 17.28     $ 18.79     $ 20.07     $ 18.91  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

    1.13       1.08       1.18       1.38       1.51  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.67       0.78       (1.28     (1.13     1.42  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    1.80       1.86       (0.10     0.25       2.93  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(c)

         

From net investment income

    (1.11     (0.99     (1.14     (1.49     (1.77

Return of capital

    (0.37     (0.49     (0.27     (0.04      
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (1.48     (1.48     (1.41     (1.53     (1.77
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 17.98     $ 17.66     $ 17.28 (d)    $ 18.79     $ 20.07  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Market price, end of year

  $ 18.90     $ 15.65     $ 17.15     $ 16.25     $ 18.55  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

         

Based on net asset value

    10.55     12.68 %(f)      0.00 %(d)(g)      2.18 %(h)      17.34 %(i) 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Based on market price

    31.13     0.61     14.76     (4.40 )%      22.36
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

         

Total expenses

    1.70     2.36     2.89     2.90     2.33
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    1.70     2.19 %(j)      2.89     2.89     2.33
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense

    1.42     1.39     1.35     1.42     1.39
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

    6.14     6.51     6.43     7.17     7.86
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

         

Net assets, end of year (000)

  $  676,391     $  662,853     $  648,617     $  710,832     $  765,859  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Borrowings outstanding, end of year (000)

  $ 386,820     $ 353,128     $ 373,345     $ 376,302     $ 471,082  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(k)

    75     101     32     38     53
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a)  Consolidated Financial Highlights.

(b)  Based on average shares outstanding.

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

(d)  For financial reporting purposes, the market value of certain investments were adjusted as of report date. Accordingly, the NAV per share and total return performance based on NAV presented herein are different than the information previously published on October 31, 2019.

(e)  Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

(f)  Includes payments received from an affiliate and unaffiliated third parties, which impacted the Trust’s total return. Excluding the payments, the Trust’s total return would have been 1.38%.

(g)  Amount is greater than (0.005)%.

(h)  Includes payment received from an affiliate, which had no impact on the Trust’s total return.

(i)   Includes payment received from a settlement of litigation, which impacted the Trust’s total return. Excluding the payment from a settlement of litigation, the Trust’s total return is 16.70%.

(j)   Includes reimbursement of professional fees by unaffiliated third parties, which impacted the Trust’s expense ratio. Excluding the payment, the Trust’s total expense ratio would have been 2.36%.

(k)  Includes mortgage dollar roll transactions (“MDRs”). Additional information regarding portfolio turnover rate is as follows:

 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

    

    

   

   
             Year Ended October 31,  
        2021       2020 (a)      2019 (a)      2018 (a)      2017 (a) 
 

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding MDRs)

    58     72            
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

F I N A N C I A L   H I G H L I G H T S

  61


Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.

ORGANIZATION

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Trust is registered as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust. The Trust determines and makes available for publication the net asset value (“NAV”) of its Common Shares on a daily basis.

The Trust, together with certain other registered investment companies advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”) or its affiliates, is included in a complex of non-index fixed-income mutual funds and all BlackRock-advised closed-end funds referred to as the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.

Basis of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Trust include the account of BIT Subsidiary, LLC (the “Taxable Subsidiary”). Effective December 20, 2019, the Taxable Subsidiary, which was wholly-owned by the Trust, was dissolved. The Taxable Subsidiary enabled the Trust to hold an investment in an operating partnership and satisfy Regulated Investment Company (“RIC”) tax requirements. Income earned and gains realized on the investment held by the Taxable Subsidiary were taxable to such subsidiary. There was no tax provision required for income or realized gains during the period.

 

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 Trust 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 dates. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend dates at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend dates may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Trust is informed of the ex-dividend dates. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis. For convertible securities, premiums attributable to the debt instrument are amortized, but premiums attributable to the conversion feature are not amortized.

Foreign Currency Translation: The Trust’s books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Purchases and sales of investments are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the investments denominated in that currency will lose value; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value.

The Trust does not isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates from the effect of fluctuations in the market prices of investments for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investments are not segregated in the Statement of Operations from the effects of changes in market prices of those investments, but are included as a component of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments. The Trust reports realized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency related transactions as components of net realized gain (loss) for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are generally treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where the Trust enters into certain investments (e.g., dollar rolls, futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, options written and swaps) or certain borrowings (e.g., reverse repurchase transactions) that would be treated as “senior securities” for 1940 Act purposes, the Trust may segregate or designate on its books and records cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments or borrowings. Doing so allows the investment or borrowings to be excluded from treatment as a “senior security.” Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Trust may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.

Distributions: Distributions paid by the Trust are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Subject to the Trust’s managed distribution plan, the Trust intends to make monthly cash distributions to shareholders, which may consist of net investment income, and net realized and unrealized gains on investments and/or return of capital.

The character of distributions is determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. The portion of distributions that exceeds the Trust’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, which are measured on a tax basis, will constitute a non-taxable return of capital.

Deferred Compensation Plan: Under the Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), may defer a portion of their annual complex-wide compensation. Deferred amounts earn an approximate return as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in common shares of certain funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex selected by the Independent Trustees. This has the same economic effect for the Independent Trustees as if the Independent Trustees had invested the deferred amounts directly in certain funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.

The Plan is not funded and obligations thereunder represent general unsecured claims against the general assets of the Trust, as applicable. Deferred compensation liabilities, if any, are included in the Trustees’ and Officer’s fees payable in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and will remain as a liability of the Trust until such amounts are distributed in accordance with the Plan.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

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

Other: Expenses directly related to the Trust are charged to the Trust. 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.

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: The Trust’s investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Trust 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 Trust determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by 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 Trust’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.

 

   

Fixed-income investments for which market quotations are readily available are generally valued using the last available bid price or current market quotations provided by independent dealers or third-party pricing services. Floating rate loan interests are valued at the mean of the bid prices from one or more independent brokers or dealers as obtained from a third-party pricing service. Pricing services generally value fixed-income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but a fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. The pricing services may use matrix pricing or valuation models that utilize certain inputs and assumptions to derive values, including transaction data (e.g., recent representative bids and offers), market data, credit quality information, perceived market movements, news, and other relevant information. Certain fixed-income securities, including asset-backed and mortgage related securities may be valued based on valuation models that consider the estimated cash flows of each tranche of the entity, establish a benchmark yield and develop an estimated tranche specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche. The amortized cost method of valuation may be used with respect to debt obligations with sixty days or less remaining to maturity unless the Manager determines such method does not represent fair value.

 

   

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

 

   

Futures contracts are valued based on that day’s last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded.

 

   

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the mean between the bid and ask prices and are determined as of the close of trading on the NYSE based on that day’s prevailing forward exchange rate for the underlying currencies.

 

   

Exchange-traded options are valued at the mean between the last bid and ask prices at the close of the options market in which the options trade. An exchange-traded option for which there is no mean price is valued at the last bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price. If no bid or ask price is available, the prior day’s price will be used, unless it is determined that the prior day’s price no longer reflects the fair value of the option. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) options and options on swaps (“swaptions”) are valued by an independent pricing service using a mathematical model, which incorporates a number of market data factors, such as the trades and prices of the underlying instruments.

 

   

Swap agreements are valued utilizing quotes received daily by independent pricing services or through brokers, which are derived using daily swap curves and models that incorporate a number of market data factors, such as discounted cash flows, trades and values of the underlying reference instruments.

 

   

Repurchase agreements are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the NYSE. Each business day, the Trust uses current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (“Systematic Fair Value Price”). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.

If events (e.g., 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 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 Trust 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.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

For investments in equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds (“Private Company” or collectively, the “Private Companies”) and other Fair Valued Investments, the fair valuation approaches that are used by the Global Valuation Committee and third-party pricing services utilize one or a combination of, but not limited to, the following inputs.

 

   
     Standard Inputs Generally Considered By Third-Party Pricing Services

Market approach

 

(i)  recent market transactions, including subsequent rounds of financing, in the underlying investment or comparable issuers;

 

(ii) recapitalizations and other transactions across the capital structure; and

   

(iii)   market multiples of comparable issuers.

Income approach

 

(i)  future cash flows discounted to present and adjusted as appropriate for liquidity, credit, and/or market risks;

 

(ii) quoted prices for similar investments or assets in active markets; and

   

(iii)   other risk factors, such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, recovery rates, liquidation amounts and/or default rates.

Cost approach

 

(i)  audited or unaudited financial statements, investor communications and financial or operational metrics issued by the Private Company;

 

(ii) changes in the valuation of relevant indices or publicly traded companies comparable to the Private Company;

 

(iii)   relevant news and other public sources; and

   

(iv)   known secondary market transactions in the Private Company’s interests and merger or acquisition activity in companies comparable to the Private Company.

Investments in series of preferred stock issued by Private Companies are typically valued utilizing market approach in determining the enterprise value of the company. Such investments often contain rights and preferences that differ from other series of preferred and common stock of the same issuer. Enterprise valuation techniques such as an option pricing model (“OPM”), a probability weighted expected return model (“PWERM”), current value method or a hybrid of those techniques are used as deemed appropriate under the circumstances. The use of these valuation techniques involve a determination of the exit scenarios of the investment in order to appropriately allocate the enterprise value of the company among the various parts of its capital structure.

The Private Companies are not subject to the public company disclosure, timing, and reporting standards applicable to other investments held by the Trust. Typically, the most recently available information by a Private Company is as of a date that is earlier than the date the Trust is calculating its NAV. This factor may result in a difference between the value of the investment and the price the Trust could receive upon the sale of the investment.

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 Trust 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 Private Companies 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

Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities: Asset-backed securities are generally issued as pass-through certificates or as debt instruments. Asset-backed securities issued as pass-through certificates represent undivided fractional ownership interests in an underlying pool of assets. Asset-backed securities issued as debt instruments, which are also known as collateralized obligations, are typically issued as the debt of a special purpose entity organized solely for the purpose of owning such assets and issuing such debt. Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. The yield characteristics of certain asset-backed securities may differ from traditional debt securities. One such major difference is that all or a principal part of the obligations may be prepaid at any time because the underlying assets (i.e., loans) may be prepaid at any time. As a result, a decrease in interest rates in the market may result in increases in the level of prepayments as borrowers, particularly mortgagors, refinance and repay their loans. An increased prepayment rate with respect to an asset-backed security will have the effect of shortening the maturity of the security. In addition, a fund may subsequently have to reinvest the proceeds at lower interest rates. If a fund has purchased such an asset-backed security at a premium, a faster than anticipated prepayment rate could result in a loss of principal to the extent of the premium paid.

For mortgage pass-through securities (the “Mortgage Assets”) there are a number of important differences among the agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government that issue mortgage-related securities and among the securities that they issue. For example, mortgage-related securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by Ginnie Mae and such guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. However, mortgage-related securities

 

 

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issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, including Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates, which are solely the obligations of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are not backed by or entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States, but are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury.

Non-agency mortgage-backed securities are securities issued by non-governmental issuers and have no direct or indirect government guarantees of payment and are subject to various risks. Non-agency mortgage loans are obligations of the borrowers thereunder only and are not typically insured or guaranteed by any other person or entity. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan is dependent upon the income or assets of the borrower. A number of factors, including a general economic downturn, acts of God, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances, may impair a borrower’s ability to repay its loans.

Collateralized Debt Obligations: Collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), including collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”) and collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), are types of asset-backed securities. A CDO is an entity that is backed by a diversified pool of debt securities (CBOs) or syndicated bank loans (CLOs). The cash flows of the CDO can be split into multiple segments, called “tranches,” which will vary in risk profile and yield. The riskiest segment is the subordinated or “equity” tranche. This tranche bears the greatest risk of defaults from the underlying assets in the CDO and serves to protect the other, more senior, tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is shielded from defaults by the more junior tranches, a “senior” tranche will typically have higher credit ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and often receive investment grade ratings from one or more of the nationally recognized rating agencies. Despite the protection from the more junior tranches, senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to future defaults and the disappearance of one or more protecting tranches as a result of changes in the credit profile of the underlying pool of assets.

Inflation-Indexed Bonds: Inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) are fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation rises or falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) will be adjusted upward or downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a larger or smaller principal amount) will be increased or reduced, respectively. Any upward or downward adjustment in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond is included as interest income in the Statement of Operations, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. With regard to municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds, the inflation adjustment is typically reflected in the semi-annual coupon payment. As a result, the principal value of municipal inflation-indexed bonds and such corporate inflation-indexed bonds does not adjust according to the rate of inflation.

Multiple Class Pass-Through Securities: Multiple class pass-through securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and commercial mortgage-backed securities, may be issued by Ginnie Mae, U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities or by trusts formed by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans. In general, CMOs are debt obligations of a legal entity that are collateralized by a pool of residential or commercial mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities (the “Mortgage Assets”). The payments on these are used to make payments on the CMOs or multiple pass-through securities. Multiple class pass-through securities represent direct ownership interests in the Mortgage Assets. Classes of CMOs include interest only (“IOs”), principal only (“POs”), planned amortization classes and targeted amortization classes. IOs and POs are stripped mortgage-backed securities representing interests in a pool of mortgages, the cash flow from which has been separated into interest and principal components. IOs receive the interest portion of the cash flow while POs receive the principal portion. IOs and POs can be extremely volatile in response to changes in interest rates. As interest rates rise and fall, the value of IOs tends to move in the same direction as interest rates. POs perform best when prepayments on the underlying mortgages rise since this increases the rate at which the principal is returned and the yield to maturity on the PO. When payments on mortgages underlying a PO are slower than anticipated, the life of the PO is lengthened and the yield to maturity is reduced. If the underlying Mortgage Assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a fund’s initial investment in the IOs may not fully recoup.

Zero-Coupon Bonds: Zero-coupon bonds are normally issued at a significant discount from face value and do not provide for periodic interest payments. These bonds may experience greater volatility in market value than other debt obligations of similar maturity which provide for regular interest payments.

Capital Securities and Trust Preferred Securities: Capital securities, including trust preferred securities, are typically issued by corporations, generally in the form of interest-bearing notes with preferred securities characteristics. In the case of trust preferred securities, an affiliated business trust of a corporation issues these securities, generally in the form of beneficial interests in subordinated debentures or similarly structured securities. The securities can be structured with either a fixed or adjustable coupon that can have either a perpetual or stated maturity date. For trust preferred securities, the issuing bank or corporation pays interest to the trust, which is then distributed to holders of these securities as a dividend. Dividends can be deferred without creating an event of default or acceleration, although maturity cannot take place unless all cumulative payment obligations have been met. The deferral of payments does not affect the purchase or sale of these securities in the open market. These securities generally are rated below that of the issuing company’s senior debt securities and are freely callable at the issuer’s option.

Preferred Stocks: Preferred stock has a preference over common stock in liquidation (and generally in receiving dividends as well), but is subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer in all respects. As a general rule, the market value of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk, while the market price of convertible preferred stock generally also reflects some element of conversion value. Because preferred stock is junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends are payable only if declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Preferred stock also may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.

Warrants: Warrants entitle a fund to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock and are non-income producing. The purchase price and number of shares are subject to adjustment under certain conditions until the expiration date of the warrants, if any. If the price of the underlying stock does not rise above the strike price before the warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and a fund will lose any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests: Floating rate loan interests are typically issued to companies (the “borrower”) by banks, other financial institutions, or privately and publicly offered corporations (the “lender”). Floating rate loan interests are generally non-investment grade, often involve borrowers whose financial condition is troubled or uncertain and companies that are highly leveraged or in bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, transactions in floating rate loan interests may settle on a delayed basis, which may result in proceeds from the sale not being readily available for a fund to make additional investments or meet its redemption obligations. Floating rate loan interests may include fully funded term loans or revolving lines of credit. Floating rate loan interests are typically senior in the corporate capital structure of the borrower. Floating rate loan interests generally pay interest at rates that are periodically determined by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium. Since the rates reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the NAV of a fund to the extent that it invests in floating rate loan interests. The base lending rates are generally the lending rate offered by one or more European banks, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the prime rate offered by one or more U.S. banks or the certificate of deposit rate. Floating rate loan interests may involve foreign borrowers, and investments may be denominated in foreign currencies. These investments are treated as investments in debt securities for purposes of a fund’s investment policies.

When a fund purchases a floating rate loan interest, it may receive a facility fee and when it sells a floating rate loan interest, it may pay a facility fee. On an ongoing basis, a fund may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit amount of a floating rate loan interest. Facility and commitment fees are typically amortized to income over the term of the loan or term of the commitment, respectively. Consent and amendment fees are recorded to income as earned. Prepayment penalty fees, which may be received by a fund upon the prepayment of a floating rate loan interest by a borrower, are recorded as realized gains. A fund may invest in multiple series or tranches of a loan. A different series or tranche may have varying terms and carry different associated risks.

Floating rate loan interests are usually freely callable at the borrower’s option. A fund may invest in such loans in the form of participations in loans (“Participations”) or assignments (“Assignments”) of all or a portion of loans from third parties. Participations typically will result in a fund having a contractual relationship only with the lender, not with the borrower. A fund has the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the Participation and only upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the borrower. In connection with purchasing Participations, a fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, nor any rights of offset against the borrower. A fund may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the Participation. As a result, a fund assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the Participation. A fund’s investment in loan participation interests involves the risk of insolvency of the financial intermediaries who are parties to the transactions. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the Participation, a fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any offset between the lender and the borrower. Assignments typically result in a fund having a direct contractual relationship with the borrower, and a fund may enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement.

In connection with floating rate loan interests, the Trust may also enter into unfunded floating rate loan interests (“commitments”). In connection with these commitments, the fund earns a commitment fee, typically set as a percentage of the commitment amount. Such fee income, which is included in interest income in the Statement of Operations, is recognized ratably over the commitment period. Unfunded floating rate loan interests are marked-to-market daily, and any unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations. As of period end, the Trust had the following unfunded floating rate loan interests:

 

 

 
Trust Name   Borrower    Par      Commitment
Amount
     Value      Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

 

 

BIT

  New Arclin U.S. Holding Corp.    $   30,545      $ 30,393      $     30,474      $ 81  
  Sovos Compliance LLC      33,168        33,167        33,344        177  

 

 

Forward Commitments, When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities: The Trust may purchase securities on a when-issued basis and may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase or sale commitment is made. The Trust may purchase securities under such conditions with the intention of actually acquiring them but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Trust may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the Trust is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, the Trust assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations. In the event of default by the counterparty, the Trust’s maximum amount of loss is the unrealized appreciation of unsettled when-issued transactions.

TBA Commitments: TBA commitments are forward agreements for the purchase or sale of securities, including mortgage-backed securities for a fixed price, with payment and delivery on an agreed upon future settlement date. The specific securities to be delivered are not identified at the trade date. However, delivered securities must meet specified terms, including issuer, rate and mortgage terms. When entering into TBA commitments, a fund may take possession of or deliver the underlying mortgage-backed securities but can extend the settlement or roll the transaction. TBA commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased or sold declines or increases, respectively, prior to settlement date, if there are expenses or delays in connection with the TBA transactions, or if the counterparty fails to complete the transaction.

In order to better define contractual rights and to secure rights that will help a fund mitigate its counterparty risk, TBA commitments may be entered into by a fund under Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements (each, an “MSFTA”). An MSFTA typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of default and/or termination event. The collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of the collateral currently pledged by a fund and the counterparty. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover the obligations of a fund and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral for TBA commitments or cash received as collateral for TBA commitments, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by a fund, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments. Typically, a fund is permitted to sell, re-pledge or use the collateral it receives; however, the counterparty is not permitted to do so. To the extent amounts due to a fund are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, a fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance.

Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions: The Trust may sell TBA mortgage-backed securities and simultaneously contract to repurchase substantially similar (i.e., same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specific future date at an agreed upon price. During the period between the sale and repurchase, a fund is not entitled to receive interest

 

 

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and principal payments on the securities sold. Mortgage dollar roll transactions are treated as purchases and sales and a fund realizes gains and losses on these transactions. Mortgage dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities that a fund is required to purchase may decline below the agreed upon repurchase price of those securities.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements: Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements with qualified third-party broker dealers in which a fund sells securities to a bank or broker-dealer and agrees to repurchase the same securities at a mutually agreed upon date and price. A fund receives cash from the sale to use for other investment purposes. During the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, a fund continues to receive the principal and interest payments on the securities sold. Certain agreements have no stated maturity and can be terminated by either party at any time. Interest on the value of the reverse repurchase agreements issued and outstanding is based upon competitive market rates determined at the time of issuance. A fund may utilize reverse repurchase agreements when it is anticipated that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction is greater than the interest expense of the transaction. Reverse repurchase agreements involve leverage risk. If a fund suffers a loss on its investment of the transaction proceeds from a reverse repurchase agreement, a fund would still be required to pay the full repurchase price. Further, a fund remains subject to the risk that the market value of the securities repurchased declines below the repurchase price. In such cases, a fund would be required to return a portion of the cash received from the transaction or provide additional securities to the counterparty.

Cash received in exchange for securities delivered plus accrued interest due to the counterparty is recorded as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at face value including accrued interest. Due to the short-term nature of the reverse repurchase agreements, face value approximates fair value. Interest payments made by a fund to the counterparties are recorded as a component of interest expense in the Statement of Operations. In periods of increased demand for the security, a fund may receive a fee for the use of the security by the counterparty, which may result in interest income to a fund.

For the year ended October 31, 2021, the average daily amount of reverse repurchase agreements outstanding and the weighted average interest rate for the Trust were $400,010,601 and 0.47%, respectively.

Reverse repurchase transactions are entered into by a fund under Master Repurchase Agreements (each, an “MRA”), which permit a fund, under certain circumstances, including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset payables and/or receivables under the MRA with collateral held and/or posted to the counterparty and create one single net payment due to or from a fund. With reverse repurchase transactions, typically a fund and counterparty under an MRA are permitted to sell, re-pledge, or use the collateral associated with the transaction. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of the MRA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Pursuant to the terms of the MRA, a fund receives or posts securities and cash as collateral with a market value in excess of the repurchase price to be paid or received by a fund upon the maturity of the transaction. Upon a bankruptcy or insolvency of the MRA counterparty, a fund is considered an unsecured creditor with respect to excess collateral and, as such, the return of excess collateral may be delayed.

As of period end, the following table is a summary of the Trust’s open reverse repurchase agreements by counterparty which are subject to offset under an MRA on a net basis:

 

         
Counterparty    

Reverse Repurchase

Agreements

 

 

   

Fair Value of

Non-Cash Collateral

Pledged Including

Accrued Interest

 

 

 

(a)  

   

Cash Collateral

Pledged/Received

 

(a) 

    Net Amount  

Barclays Bank PLC

  $ (57,231,801   $ 57,231,801     $     $  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    (53,444,895     53,444,895              

BNP Paribas S.A.

    (94,889,957     94,889,957              

BofA Securities, Inc.

    (29,158,991     29,158,991              

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank

    (41,311,058     41,311,058              

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    (2,069,075     2,069,075              

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    (88,353,503     88,353,503              

Royal Bank of Canada

    (20,360,360     20,360,360              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ (386,819,640   $ 386,819,640     $     $  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Net collateral, including accrued interest, with a value of $435,134,283 has been pledged/received in connection with open reverse repurchase agreements. Excess of net collateral pledged to the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes.

 

In the event the counterparty of securities under an MRA files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, a fund’s use of the proceeds from the agreement may be restricted while the counterparty, or its trustee or receiver, determines whether or not to enforce a fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities.

 

5.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Trust engages in various portfolio investment strategies using derivative contracts both to increase the returns of the Trust and/or to manage its exposure to certain risks such as credit risk, equity risk, interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk or other risks (e.g., inflation risk). Derivative financial instruments categorized by risk exposure are included in the Schedule of Investments. These contracts may be transacted on an exchange or OTC.

Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Trust and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Trust is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

amount that varies depending on a contract’s size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Trust agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are entered into to gain or reduce exposure to foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set exchange rate on a specified date. These contracts help to manage the overall exposure to the currencies in which some of the investments held by the Trust are denominated and in some cases, may be used to obtain exposure to a particular market. The contracts are traded OTC and not on an organized exchange.

The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Non-deliverable forward foreign currency exchange contracts are settled with the counterparty in cash without the delivery of foreign currency. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts involves the risk that the value of a forward foreign currency exchange contract changes unfavorably due to movements in the value of the referenced foreign currencies, and such value may exceed the amount(s) reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Cash amounts pledged for forward foreign currency exchange contracts are considered restricted and are included in cash pledged as collateral for OTC derivatives in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. A Trust’s risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally limited to the aggregate unrealized gain netted against any collateral held by the Trust.

Options: The Trust may purchase and write call and put options to increase or decrease its exposure to the risks of underlying instruments, including equity risk, interest rate risk and/or commodity price risk and/or, in the case of options written, to generate gains from options premiums.

A call option gives the purchaser (holder) of the option the right (but not the obligation) to buy, and obligates the seller (writer) to sell (when the option is exercised) the underlying instrument at the exercise or strike price at any time or at a specified time during the option period. A put option gives the holder the right to sell and obligates the writer to buy the underlying instrument at the exercise or strike price at any time or at a specified time during the option period.

Premiums paid on options purchased and premiums received on options written, as well as the daily fluctuation in market value, are included in investments at value –unaffiliated and options written at value, respectively, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When an instrument is purchased or sold through the exercise of an option, the premium is offset against the cost or proceeds of the underlying instrument. When an option expires, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations to the extent of the premiums received or paid. When an option is closed or sold, a gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations to the extent the cost of the closing transaction exceeds the premiums received or paid. When the Trust writes a call option, such option is typically “covered,” meaning that it holds the underlying instrument subject to being called by the option counterparty. When the Trust writes a put option, cash is segregated in an amount sufficient to cover the obligation. These amounts, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged as collateral for options written in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

   

Swaptions — The Trust may purchase and write options on swaps (“swaptions”) primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of the Trust’s holdings, as a duration management technique or to protect against an increase in the price of securities it anticipates purchasing at a later date. The purchaser and writer of a swaption is buying or granting the right to enter into a previously agreed upon interest rate or credit default swap agreement (interest rate risk and/or credit risk) at any time before the expiration of the option.

In purchasing and writing options, the Trust bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that it may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. Exercise of a written option could result in the Trust purchasing or selling a security when it otherwise would not, or at a price different from the current market value.

Swaps: Swap contracts are entered into to manage exposure to issuers, markets and securities. Such contracts are agreements between the Trust and a counterparty to make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or a net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the OTC market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract (“OTC swaps”) or centrally cleared (“centrally cleared swaps”).

For OTC swaps, any upfront premiums paid and any upfront fees received are shown as swap premiums paid and swap premiums received, respectively, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and amortized over the term of the contract. The daily fluctuation in market value is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC Swaps in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Payments received or paid are recorded in the Statement of Operations as realized gains or losses, respectively. When an OTC swap is terminated, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Trust’s basis in the contract, if any. Generally, the basis of the contract is the premium received or paid.

In a centrally cleared swap, immediately following execution of the swap contract, the swap contract is novated to a central counterparty (the “CCP”) and the CCP becomes the Trust’s counterparty on the swap. The Trust is required to interface with the CCP through the broker. Upon entering into a centrally cleared swap, the Trust is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on the size and risk profile of the particular swap. Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited is shown as cash pledged for centrally cleared swaps in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted cash, are included in cash pledged for centrally cleared swaps in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Trust agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on centrally cleared swaps in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Payments received from (paid to) the counterparty are amortized over the term of the contract and recorded as realized gains (losses) in the Statement of Operations, including those at termination.

 

   

Credit default swaps — Credit default swaps are entered into to manage exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce risk exposure to defaults of corporate and/or sovereign issuers or to create exposure to corporate and/or sovereign issuers to which a fund is not otherwise exposed (credit risk).

The Trust may either buy or sell (write) credit default swaps on single-name issuers (corporate or sovereign), a combination or basket of single-name issuers or traded indexes. Credit default swaps are agreements in which the protection buyer pays fixed periodic payments to the seller in consideration for a promise from the protection seller to make a specific payment should a negative credit event take place with respect to the referenced entity (e.g., bankruptcy, failure to pay, obligation acceleration, repudiation, moratorium or restructuring). As a buyer, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Trust will either (i) receive from the seller an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the referenced security or underlying securities comprising the index, or (ii) receive a net settlement of cash equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the security or underlying securities comprising the index. As a seller (writer), if an underlying credit event occurs, the Trust will either pay the buyer an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced security or underlying securities comprising the index or pay a net settlement of cash equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the security or underlying securities comprising the index.

 

   

Interest rate swaps — Interest rate swaps are entered into to gain or reduce exposure to interest rates or to manage duration, the yield curve or interest rate (interest rate risk).

Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, in exchange for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. In more complex interest rate swaps, the notional principal amount may decline (or amortize) over time.

 

   

Forward swaps — The Trust may enter into forward interest rate swaps and forward total return swaps. In a forward swap, the Trust and the counterparty agree to make periodic net payments beginning on a specified date or a net payment at termination.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreements, and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates and/or market values associated with these transactions.

Master Netting Arrangements: In order to define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help it mitigate its counterparty risk, the Trust may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Trust and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, a Trust may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events.

Collateral Requirements: For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Trust and the counterparty.

Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Trust and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral and cash received as collateral, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Trust, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty is subject to a certain minimum transfer amount threshold before a transfer is required, which is determined at the close of business of the Trust. Any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Trust on the next business day. Typically, the counterparty is not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use cash and non-cash collateral it receives. The Trust generally agrees not to use non-cash collateral that it receives but may, absent default or certain other circumstances defined in the underlying ISDA Master Agreement, be permitted to use cash collateral received. In such cases, interest may be paid pursuant to the collateral arrangement with the counterparty. To the extent amounts due to the Trust from the counterparties are not fully collateralized, the Trust bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. Likewise, to the extent the Trust has delivered collateral to a counterparty and stands ready to perform under the terms of its agreement with such counterparty, the Trust bears the risk of loss from a counterparty in the amount of the value of the collateral in the event the counterparty fails to return such collateral. Based on the terms of agreements, collateral may not be required for all derivative contracts.

For financial reporting purposes, the Trust does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

6.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

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

For such services, the Trust pays the Manager a monthly fee at an annual rate equal to 0.80% of the average daily value of the Trust’s managed assets.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

The Manager entered into a sub-advisory agreement with BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (“BRS”) and BlackRock International Limited (“BIL”) (collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”), each an affiliate of the Manager. The Manager pays BRS and BIL, for services they provide for that portion of the Trust for which BRS and BIL, as applicable, acts as sub-adviser, a monthly fee that is equal to a percentage of the investment advisory fees paid by the Trust to the Manager.

Expense Waivers: The Manager contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fees by the amount of investment advisory fees the Trust pays to the Manager indirectly through its investment in affiliated money market funds (the “affiliated money market fund waiver”) through June 30, 2023. 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 Trust. This amount is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statement of Operations. For the year ended October 31, 2021, the amount waived was $7,175.

The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee with respect to any portion of the Trust’s assets invested in affiliated equity and fixed-income mutual funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds that have a contractual management fee through June 30, 2023. The agreement can be renewed for annual periods thereafter, and may be terminated on 90 days’ notice, each subject to approval by a majority of the Trust’s Independent Trustees. For the year ended October 31, 2021, there were no fees waived by the Manager pursuant to this arrangement.

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

Other Transactions: The Trust may purchase securities from, or sell securities to, an affiliated fund provided the affiliation is due solely to having a common investment adviser, common officers, or common trustees. For the year ended October 31, 2021, the purchase and sale transactions and any net realized gains (losses) with affiliated funds in compliance with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:

 

 

 
Trust Name   Purchases      Sales     

Net Realized

Gain (Loss)

 

 

 

BIT

  $  2,931,958      $  345,644      $ (130,555

 

 

 

7.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the year ended October 31, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, including paydowns/payups, excluding short-term investments, were $851,434,666 and $800,773,859, respectively.

For the year ended October 31, 2021, purchases and sales related to mortgage dollar rolls were $180,132,116 and $180,482,924, respectively.

 

8.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

It is the Trust’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. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.

The Trust 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 Trust’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 Trust’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 Trust as of October 31, 2021, 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 Trust’s financial statements.

The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:

 

 

 
Trust Name  

Year Ended

10/31/21

    

Year Ended

10/31/20

 

 

 

BIT

    

Ordinary income

  $ 41,784,318      $ 37,301,244  

Return of Capital

    13,963,431        18,419,563  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $ 55,747,749      $ 55,720,807  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of October 31, 2021, the tax components of accumulated earnings (loss) were as follows:

 

 

 
Trust Name  

Non-Expiring

Capital Loss

Carryforwards(a)

   

Net Unrealized

Gains (Losses)(b)

     Total  

 

 

BIT

  $ (27,546,345   $ 33,786,174      $  6,239,829  

 

 

 

  (a)

Amounts available to offset future realized capital gains.

 
  (b)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized gains (losses) was attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and straddles, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain futures, options and foreign currency exchange contracts, amortization methods for premiums and discounts on fixed income securities, the accrual of income on securities in default, the timing and recognition of partnership income, the accounting for swap agreements and the classification of investments.

 

During the year ended October 31, 2021, the Fund utilized $29,847,749 of its capital loss carryforward.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

As of October 31, 2021, 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:

 

 

 
Trust Name   Tax Cost     

Gross Unrealized

Appreciation

     Gross Unrealized
Depreciation
   

Net Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 

 

 

BIT

  $ 1,074,736,692      $ 64,819,580      $ (30,615,121   $ 34,204,459  

 

 

 

9.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, the Trust invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Trust 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 Trust and its investments.

The Trust may invest without limitation in illiquid or less liquid investments or investments in which no secondary market is readily available or which are otherwise illiquid, including private placement securities. The Trust may not be able to readily dispose of such investments at prices that approximate those at which the Trust could sell such investments if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Trust may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise funds to meet its obligations. Limited liquidity can also affect the market price of investments, thereby adversely affecting the Trust’s NAV and ability to make dividend distributions. Privately issued debt securities are often of below investment grade quality, frequently are unrated and present many of the same risks as investing in below investment grade public debt securities.

Market Risk: The Trust may be exposed to prepayment risk, which is the risk that borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled during periods of declining interest rates, which would force the Trust to reinvest in lower yielding securities. The Trust may also be exposed to reinvestment risk, which is the risk that income from the Trust’s portfolio will decline if the Trust invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called fixed-income securities at market interest rates that are below the Trust portfolio’s current earnings rate.

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 Trust may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust’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 Trust may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which the Trust invests.

The price the Trust could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Trust’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation technique or a price provided by an independent pricing service. Changes to significant unobservable inputs and assumptions (i.e., publicly traded company multiples, growth rate, time to exit) due to the lack of observable inputs may significantly impact the resulting fair value and therefore the Trust’s results of operations. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by the Trust, and the Trust could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. The Trust’s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Trust’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 Trust.

A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

For OTC options purchased, the Trust bears the risk of loss in the amount of the premiums paid plus the positive change in market values net of any collateral held by the Trust should the counterparty fail to perform under the contracts. Options written by the Trust do not typically give rise to counterparty credit risk, as options written generally obligate the Trust, and not the counterparty, to perform. The Trust may be exposed to counterparty credit risk with respect to options written to the extent the Trust deposits collateral with its counterparty to a written option.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

With exchange-traded options purchased and exchange-traded futures and centrally cleared swaps, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Trust since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, the Trust does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures and centrally cleared swaps with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing broker’s customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Trust.

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 Trust’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

The Trust invests a significant portion of its assets in high yield securities. High yield securities that are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) or are unrated may be deemed speculative, involve greater levels of risk than higher-rated securities of similar maturity and are more likely to default. High yield securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers, and issuers of high yield securities may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations. High yield securities are subject to extreme price fluctuations, may be less liquid than higher rated fixed-income securities, even under normal economic conditions, and frequently have redemption features.

The Trust invests a significant portion of its assets in fixed-income securities and/or uses derivatives tied to the fixed-income markets. Changes in market interest rates or economic conditions may affect the value and/or liquidity of such investments. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. The Trust may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low rates.

The Trust invests a significant portion of its assets in securities backed by commercial or residential mortgage loans or in issuers that hold mortgage and other asset-backed securities. When a Trust concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes a greater risk of prepayment or payment extension by securities issuers. Changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults on assets underlying these securities, can affect the value, income and/or liquidity of such positions. Investment percentages in these securities 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”). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Trust 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 Trust is uncertain.

 

10.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares, all of which were initially classified as Common Shares. The Board is authorized, however, to reclassify any unissued Common Shares to Preferred Shares without the approval of Common Shareholders.

Common Shares

For the years shown, shares issued and outstanding increased by the following amounts as a result of dividend reinvestment:

 

 

 
    Year Ended  
 

 

 

 
Trust Name   10/31/21      10/31/20  

 

 

BIT

    74,028         

 

 

The Trust participates in an open market share repurchase program (the “Repurchase Program”). From December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021, the Trust may repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding common shares under the Repurchase Program, based on common shares outstanding as of the close of business on November 30, 2020, subject to certain conditions. There is no assurance that the Trust will purchase shares in any particular amounts. For the year ended October 31, 2021, the Trust did not repurchase any shares.

 

11.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management’s evaluation of the impact of all subsequent events on the Trust’s financial statements was completed through the date the financial statements were issued and the following items were noted:

The Trust declared and paid or will pay distributions to Common Shareholders as follows:

 

         
Trust Name  

Declaration

Date

    

Record

Date

    

Payable/

Paid Date

    

Dividend Per

Common Share

BIT

          
    11/01/21        11/15/21        11/30/21      $        0.123700
      12/03/21        12/15/21        12/22/21      0.123700

 

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (the “Fund”), including the schedule of investments, as of October 31, 2021, the related statement of operations and cash flows 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. The presented statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights were consolidated through October 30, 2020. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2021, 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 October 31, 2021, by correspondence with the custodians, brokers, and agent banks; when replies were not received from brokers and agent banks, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

December 21, 2021

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

 

 

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Important Tax Information  (unaudited)

 

The following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, are hereby designated as qualified dividend income for individuals for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021:

 

 

 
Trust Name  

Qualified Dividend

Income

 

 

 

BIT

  $ 4,998,857  

 

 

The following percentage, or maximum percentage allowable by law, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 that qualified for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders:

 

   
Trust Name  

Dividends-Received

Deduction

 

BIT

    8.90

The Trust hereby designates the following amount, or maximum amount allowable by law, as interest income eligible to be treated as a section 163(j) interest dividend for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021:

 

 

 
Trust Name  

Interest

Dividend

 

 

 

BIT

  $             37,357,902  

 

 

The Trust hereby designates the following amount, or maximum amount allowable by law, as interest-related dividends eligible for exemption from U.S. withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021:

 

   
Trust Name  

Interest

Related

Dividends

BIT

  $ 25,263,467

 

 

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Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory  Agreements

 

The Board of Trustees (the “Board,” the members of which are referred to as “Board Members”) of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (the “Fund”) met on May 4, 2021 (the “May Meeting”) and June 8-9, 2021 (the “June Meeting”) to consider the approval to continue the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between the Fund and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”), the Fund’s investment advisor. The Board also considered the approval to continue the sub-advisory agreements (the “Sub-Advisory Agreements”) between (1) the Manager, BlackRock International Limited (“BIL”) and the Fund and (2) the Manager, BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (“BRS” and together with BIL, the “Sub-Advisors”) and the Fund. The Manager and the Sub-Advisors are referred to herein as “BlackRock.” The Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements are referred to herein as the “Agreements.”

The Approval Process

Consistent with the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board considers the approval of the continuation of the Agreements for the Fund on an annual basis. The Board members whom are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, are considered independent Board members (the “Independent Board Members”). The Board’s consideration entailed a year-long deliberative process during which the Board and its committees assessed BlackRock’s various services to the Fund, including through the review of written materials and oral presentations, and the review of additional information provided in response to requests from the Independent Board Members. The Board had four quarterly meetings per year, each typically extending for two days, as well as additional ad hoc meetings and executive sessions throughout the year, as needed. The committees of the Board similarly met throughout the year. The Board also had a fifth one-day meeting to consider specific information surrounding the renewal of the Agreements. In particular, the Board assessed, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by BlackRock, BlackRock’s personnel and affiliates, including (as applicable): investment management services; accounting oversight; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; and legal, regulatory and compliance services. Throughout the year, including during the contract renewal process, the Independent Board Members were advised by independent legal counsel, and met with independent legal counsel in various executive sessions outside of the presence of BlackRock’s management.

During the year, the Board, acting directly and through its committees, considered information that was relevant to its annual consideration of the renewal of the Agreements, including the services and support provided by BlackRock to the Fund and its shareholders. BlackRock also furnished additional information to the Board in response to specific questions from the Board. Among the matters the Board considered were: (a) investment performance for one-year, three-year, five-year, and/or since inception periods, as applicable, against peer funds, relevant benchmarks, and other performance metrics, as applicable, as well as BlackRock senior management’s and portfolio managers’ analyses of the reasons for any outperformance or underperformance relative to its peers, benchmarks, and other performance metrics, as applicable; (b) leverage management, as applicable; (c) fees, including advisory, administration, if applicable, and other amounts paid to BlackRock and its affiliates by the Fund for services; (d) Fund operating expenses and how BlackRock allocates expenses to the Fund; (e) the resources devoted to risk oversight of, and compliance reports relating to, implementation of the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and meeting regulatory requirements; (f) BlackRock’s and the Fund’s adherence to applicable compliance policies and procedures; (g) the nature, character and scope of non-investment management services provided by BlackRock and its affiliates and the estimated cost of such services, as available; (h) BlackRock’s and other service providers’ internal controls and risk and compliance oversight mechanisms; (i) BlackRock’s implementation of the proxy voting policies approved by the Board; (j) execution quality of portfolio transactions; (k) BlackRock’s implementation of the Fund’s valuation and liquidity procedures; (l) an analysis of management fees paid to BlackRock for products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund, collective investment trust and institutional separate account product channels, as applicable, and the similarities and differences between these products and the services provided as compared to the Fund; (m) BlackRock’s compensation methodology for its investment professionals and the incentives and accountability it creates, along with investment professionals’ investments in the fund(s) they manage; (n) periodic updates on BlackRock’s business; and (o) the Fund’s market discount/premium compared to peer funds.

Prior to and in preparation for the May Meeting, the Board received and reviewed materials specifically relating to the renewal of the Agreements. The Independent Board Members are continuously engaged in a process with their independent legal counsel and BlackRock to review the nature and scope of the information provided to the Board to better assist its deliberations. The materials provided in connection with the May Meeting included, among other things: (a) information independently compiled and prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), based on Lipper classifications, regarding the Fund’s fees and expenses as compared with a peer group of funds as determined by Broadridge (“Expense Peers”) and the investment performance of the Fund as compared with a peer group of funds (“Performance Peers”); (b) information on the composition of the Expense Peers and Performance Peers and a description of Broadridge’s methodology; (c) information on the estimated profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates pursuant to the Agreements and a discussion of fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates; (d) a general analysis provided by BlackRock concerning investment management fees received in connection with other types of investment products, such as institutional accounts, sub-advised mutual funds, closed-end funds, and open-end funds, under similar investment mandates, as applicable; (e) a review of non-management fees; (f) the existence, impact and sharing of potential economies of scale, if any, with the Fund; (g) a summary of aggregate amounts paid by the Fund to BlackRock; and (h) various additional information requested by the Board as appropriate regarding BlackRock’s and the Fund’s operations.

At the May Meeting, the Board reviewed materials relating to its consideration of the Agreements. As a result of the discussions that occurred during the May Meeting, and as a culmination of the Board’s year-long deliberative process, the Board presented BlackRock with questions and requests for additional information. BlackRock responded to these questions and requests with additional written information in advance of the June Meeting.

At the June Meeting, the Board concluded its assessment of, among other things: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BlackRock; (b) the investment performance of the Fund as compared to its Performance Peers and to other metrics, as applicable; (c) the advisory fee and the estimated cost of the services and estimated profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates from their relationship with the Fund; (d) the Fund’s fees and expenses compared to its Expense Peers; (e) the existence and sharing of potential economies of scale; (f) any fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates as a result of BlackRock’s relationship with the Fund; and (g) other factors deemed relevant by the Board Members.

The Board also considered other matters it deemed important to the approval process, such as other payments made to BlackRock or its affiliates relating to securities lending and cash management, and BlackRock’s services related to the valuation and pricing of Fund portfolio holdings. The Board noted the willingness of BlackRock’s personnel to engage in open, candid discussions with the Board. The Board Members did not identify any particular information, or any single factor as determinative, and each Board Member may have attributed different weights to the various items and factors considered.

 

 

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Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreements  (continued)

 

A. Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services Provided by BlackRock

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the nature, extent and quality of services provided by BlackRock, including the investment advisory services, and the resulting performance of the Fund. Throughout the year, the Board compared Fund performance to the performance of a comparable group of closed-end funds, relevant benchmarks, and performance metrics, as applicable. The Board met with BlackRock’s senior management personnel responsible for investment activities, including the senior investment officers. The Board also reviewed the materials provided by the Fund’s portfolio management team discussing the Fund’s performance, investment strategies and outlook.

The Board considered, among other factors, with respect to BlackRock: the number, education and experience of investment personnel generally and the Fund’s portfolio management team; research capabilities; investments by portfolio managers in the funds they manage; portfolio trading capabilities; use of technology; commitment to compliance; credit analysis capabilities; risk analysis and oversight capabilities; and the approach to training and retaining portfolio managers and other research, advisory and management personnel. The Board also considered BlackRock’s overall risk management program, including the continued efforts of BlackRock and its affiliates to address cybersecurity risks and the role of BlackRock’s Risk & Quantitative Analysis Group. The Board engaged in a review of BlackRock’s compensation structure with respect to the Fund’s portfolio management team and BlackRock’s ability to attract and retain high-quality talent and create performance incentives.

In addition to investment advisory services, the Board considered the nature and quality of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services provided to the Fund. BlackRock and its affiliates provide the Fund with certain administrative, shareholder and other services (in addition to any such services provided to the Fund by third parties) and officers and other personnel as are necessary for the operations of the Fund. In particular, BlackRock and its affiliates provide the Fund with administrative services including, among others: (i) responsibility for disclosure documents, such as the prospectus and the statement of additional information in connection with the initial public offering and periodic shareholder reports; (ii) preparing communications with analysts to support secondary market trading of the Fund; (iii) oversight of daily accounting and pricing; (iv) responsibility for periodic filings with regulators and stock exchanges; (v) overseeing and coordinating the activities of third-party service providers including, among others, the Fund’s custodian, fund accountant, transfer agent, and auditor; (vi) organizing Board meetings and preparing the materials for such Board meetings; (vii) providing legal and compliance support; (viii) furnishing analytical and other support to assist the Board in its consideration of strategic issues such as the merger, consolidation or repurposing of certain closed-end funds; and (ix) performing or managing administrative functions necessary for the operation of the Fund, such as tax reporting, expense management, fulfilling regulatory filing requirements, and shareholder call center and other services. The Board reviewed the structure and duties of BlackRock’s fund administration, shareholder services, and legal and compliance departments and considered BlackRock’s policies and procedures for assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Board considered the operation of BlackRock’s business continuity plans, including in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

B. The Investment Performance of the Fund and BlackRock

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed and considered the performance history of the Fund throughout the year and at the May Meeting. In preparation for the May Meeting, the Board was provided with reports independently prepared by Broadridge, which included an analysis of the Fund’s performance as of December 31, 2020, as compared to its Performance Peers. The performance information is based on net asset value (NAV), and utilizes Lipper data. Lipper’s methodology calculates a fund’s total return assuming distributions are reinvested on the ex-date at a fund’s ex-date NAV. Broadridge ranks funds in quartiles, ranging from first to fourth, where first is the most desirable quartile position and fourth is the least desirable. In connection with its review, the Board received and reviewed information regarding the investment performance of the Fund as compared to its Performance Peers and a custom peer group of funds as defined by BlackRock (“Customized Peer Group”). The Board and its Performance Oversight Committee regularly review and meet with Fund management to discuss the performance of the Fund throughout the year.

In evaluating performance, the Board focused particular attention on funds with less favorable performance records. The Board also noted that while it found the data provided by Broadridge generally useful, it recognized the limitations of such data, including in particular, that notable differences may exist between a fund and its Performance Peers (for example, the investment objectives and strategies). Further, the Board recognized that the performance data reflects a snapshot of a period as of a particular date and that selecting a different performance period could produce significantly different results. The Board also acknowledged that long-term performance could be impacted by even one period of significant outperformance or underperformance, and that a single investment theme could have the ability to disproportionately affect long-term performance.

The Board noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, the Fund ranked in the first, third and third quartiles, respectively, against its Customized Peer Group. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that the Customized Peer Group is an appropriate performance metric for the Fund, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board. The Board and BlackRock reviewed the Fund’s underperformance relative to its Customized Peer Group during the applicable periods.

C. Consideration of the Advisory/Management Fees and the Estimated Cost of the Services and Estimated Profits Realized by BlackRock and its Affiliates from their Relationship with the Fund

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the Fund’s contractual management fee rate compared with those of its Expense Peers. The contractual management fee rate represents a combination of the advisory fee and any administrative fees, before taking into account any reimbursements or fee waivers. The Board also compared the Fund’s total expense ratio, as well as its actual management fee rate as a percentage of managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes) to those of its Expense Peers. The total expense ratio represents a fund’s total net operating expenses, excluding any investment related expenses. The total expense ratio gives effect to any expense reimbursements or fee waivers, and the actual management fee rate gives effect to any management fee reimbursements or waivers. The Board considered the services provided and the fees charged by BlackRock and its affiliates to other types of clients with similar investment mandates, as applicable, including institutional accounts and sub-advised mutual funds (including mutual funds sponsored by third parties).

The Board received and reviewed statements relating to BlackRock’s financial condition. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s profitability methodology and was also provided with an estimated profitability analysis that detailed the revenues earned and the expenses incurred by BlackRock for services provided to the Fund. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to the Fund and other funds the Board currently oversees for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to available aggregate estimated profitability data provided for the prior two years. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to certain other U.S. fund complexes

 

 

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Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreements  (continued)

 

managed by the Manager and/or its affiliates. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s assumptions and methodology of allocating expenses in the estimated profitability analysis, noting the inherent limitations in allocating costs among various advisory products. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors including, among other things, fee waivers and expense reimbursements by the Manager, the types of funds managed, precision of expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at the individual fund level is difficult.

The Board noted that, in general, individual fund or product line profitability of other advisors is not publicly available. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s overall operating margin, in general, compared to that of certain other publicly traded asset management firms. The Board considered the differences between BlackRock and these other firms, including the contribution of technology at BlackRock, BlackRock’s expense management, and the relative product mix.

The Board considered whether BlackRock has the financial resources necessary to attract and retain high quality investment management personnel to perform its obligations under the Agreements and to continue to provide the high quality of services that is expected by the Board. The Board further considered factors including but not limited to BlackRock’s commitment of time, assumption of risk, and liability profile in servicing the Fund, including in contrast to what is required of BlackRock with respect to other products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund, collective investment trust, and institutional separate account product channels, as applicable.

The Board noted that the Fund’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the fourth quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the fourth quartile, relative to the Expense Peers. The Board also noted, however, that given the comparability limitations of the Expense Peers, BlackRock provided the Board a supplemental peer group consisting of funds that are generally similar to the Fund. The Board noted that the Fund’s actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the second quartile relative to the supplemental peer group.

D. Economies of Scale

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase. The Board also considered the extent to which the Fund benefits from such economies of scale in a variety of ways, and whether there should be changes in the advisory fee rate or breakpoint structure in order to enable the Fund to more fully participate in these economies of scale. The Board considered the Fund’s asset levels and whether the current fee was appropriate.

Based on the Board’s review and consideration of the issue, the Board concluded that most closed-end funds do not have fund level breakpoints because closed-end funds generally do not experience substantial growth after the initial public offering. Closed-end funds are typically priced at scale at a fund’s inception.

E. Other Factors Deemed Relevant by the Board Members

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, also took into account other ancillary or “fall-out” benefits that BlackRock or its affiliates may derive from BlackRock’s respective relationships with the Fund, both tangible and intangible, such as BlackRock’s ability to leverage its investment professionals who manage other portfolios and its risk management personnel, an increase in BlackRock’s profile in the investment advisory community, and the engagement of BlackRock’s affiliates as service providers to the Fund, including for administrative, securities lending and cash management services. The Board also considered BlackRock’s overall operations and its efforts to expand the scale of, and improve the quality of, its operations. The Board also noted that, subject to applicable law, BlackRock may use and benefit from third-party research obtained by soft dollars generated by certain registered fund transactions to assist in managing all or a number of its other client accounts.

In connection with its consideration of the Agreements, the Board also received information regarding BlackRock’s brokerage and soft dollar practices. The Board received reports from BlackRock which included information on brokerage commissions and trade execution practices throughout the year.

The Board also considered the various notable initiatives and projects BlackRock performed in connection with its closed-end fund product line. These initiatives included developing equity shelf programs; efforts to eliminate product overlap with fund mergers; ongoing services to manage leverage that has become increasingly complex; periodic evaluation of share repurchases and other support initiatives for certain BlackRock funds; and continued communication efforts with shareholders, fund analysts and financial advisers. With respect to the latter, the Independent Board Members noted BlackRock’s continued commitment to supporting the secondary market for the common shares of its closed-end funds through a comprehensive secondary market communication program designed to raise investor and analyst awareness and understanding of closed-end funds. BlackRock’s support services included, among other things: sponsoring and participating in conferences; communicating with closed-end fund analysts covering the BlackRock funds throughout the year; providing marketing and product updates for the closed-end funds; and maintaining and enhancing its closed-end fund website.

Conclusion

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement between the Manager and the Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2022, and the Sub-Advisory Agreements among the Manager, the Sub-Advisors and the Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2022. Based upon its evaluation of all of the aforementioned factors in their totality, as well as other information, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, was satisfied that the terms of the Agreements were fair and reasonable and in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. In arriving at its decision to approve the Agreements, the Board did not identify any single factor or group of factors as all-important or controlling, but considered all factors together, and different Board Members may have attributed different weights to the various factors considered. The Independent Board Members were also assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel in making this determination.

 

 

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Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks

 

Recent Changes

The following information is a summary of certain changes since October 31, 2020. This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased the Trust.

During the Trust’s most recent fiscal year, there were no material changes in the Trust’s investment objectives or policies that have not been approved by shareholders or in the principal risk factors associated with investment in the Trust.

Investment Objectives and Policies

The Trust’s primary investment objective is to seek high current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Trust’s investment objectives may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board,” and each member, a “Trustee”) without prior shareholder approval.

In investing the Trust’s assets, BlackRock Advisors, LLC, the Trust’s investment adviser (the “Manager”), and BlackRock International Limited (the “Sub-Advisor” and, together with the Manager, the “Managers”), expect to allocate capital across multiple sectors of the fixed-income securities market by evaluating portfolio risk in light of the available investment opportunities and prevailing risks in the fixed-income market, with the goal of delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns. In doing so, the Managers seek to find the appropriate balance between risk mitigation and opportunism. The Managers do not manage the Trust to a benchmark, which provides flexibility to allocate and rotate the Trust’s assets across various sectors within the fixed-income universe. This strategy seeks to provide exposure to those segments of the fixed-income market that the Managers anticipate will provide value while attempting to minimize exposure to those segments that the Managers anticipate will not provide value. If the Managers’ perception of the value of a segment of the fixed-income market or an individual security is incorrect, your investment in the Trust may lose value.

Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in loan and debt instruments and other investments with similar economic characteristics (collectively “fixed-income securities”). “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) minus the sum of the Trust’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes). Fixed-income securities in which the Trust may invest include:

 

   

mortgage related securities, including mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), which are structured debt obligations collateralized by pools of commercial mortgages (commercial mortgage-backed securities or “CMBS”) or residential mortgages (residential mortgage-backed securities or “RMBS”), including agency RMBS issued or guaranteed by U.S. federal agencies or government related guarantors and non-agency RMBS issued by commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, private mortgage insurance companies and other non-governmental issuers; collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”); Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), including resecuritizations of REMICs; stripped mortgage-backed securities, including interest-only (“IO”) and principal-only (“PO”) classes; delegated underwriting and servicing bonds; MBS credit default swaps and other mortgage related derivative instruments; inverse floating rate instruments which are derivative interests in MBS; repurchase agreements supported by MBS; and interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) that invest the majority of their assets in real property mortgages or MBS, including debt and preferred stock issued by mortgage REITs;

 

   

asset-backed securities (“ABS”);

 

   

U.S. Government and agency securities;

 

   

loans and loan participations, including senior secured floating rate and fixed rate loans or debt (“Senior Loans”) and second lien or other subordinated or unsecured floating rate and fixed rate loans or debt (“Second Lien Loans”);

 

   

bonds or other debt securities issued by U.S. or foreign (non-U.S.) corporations or other business entities, which may include fixed, variable and floating rate bonds, debentures, notes and other similar types of debt instrument (collectively referred to herein as “corporate bonds”), of any quality, rated or unrated, including those that are rated below investment grade quality;

 

   

collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”);

 

   

preferred securities;

 

   

convertible securities, including synthetic convertible securities;

 

   

sovereign debt, including obligations of foreign governments or their sub-divisions, agencies and government sponsored enterprises and obligations of international agencies and supranational entities;

 

   

municipal securities, including taxable municipal securities such as Build America Bonds (“BABs”); and

 

   

structured instruments, including structured notes, hybrid or indexed securities, event-linked securities, credit-linked notes (“CLNs”), equity-linked notes and structured credit products.

The Trust may invest in fixed-income securities of any type, including those with fixed, floating or variable interest rates, those with interest rates that change based on multiples of changes in a specified reference interest rate or index of interest rates and those with interest rates that change inversely to changes in interest rates, as well as those that do not bear interest. The Trust may hold securities of any duration or maturity and does not maintain set policies with respect to the average duration or maturity of the Trust’s portfolio.

 

 

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Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks  (continued)

 

The Trust may invest in securities of any quality, rated or unrated, including those that are rated below investment grade quality (rated Ba/BB or below by Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”)) or securities that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Managers. Such securities, sometimes referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds, are predominantly speculative with respect to the capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the security and generally involve greater price volatility than securities in higher rating categories. Under normal market conditions, the Trust will not invest more than 20% of its Managed Assets in securities, other than mortgage related and other asset-backed securities, that are, at the time of investment, rated CCC+ or lower by S&P or Fitch or Caa1 or lower by Moody’s, or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Managers. For purposes of applying the foregoing policy, in the case of securities with split ratings (i.e., a security receiving two different ratings from two different rating agencies), the Trust will apply the higher of the applicable ratings. The Trust may invest in mortgage related and other asset backed securities of any quality, rated or unrated, without limitation.

Under normal market conditions, the Trust will not invest more than 10% of its Managed Assets in CLOs.

Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 25% of its total assets in mortgage related securities. The Trust’s investment in mortgage related securities may consist entirely of privately issued securities, which are issued by commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, private mortgage insurance companies and other non-governmental issuers. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) informed the Trust that it is the view of the SEC staff that privately issued MBS constitute an “industry” for purposes of a fund’s industry concentration policy. On July 8, 2013, the Trust obtained formal “no-action” relief from the staff of the SEC that the staff would not recommend any enforcement action in connection with the Trust’s policy to concentrate its investments in the group of industries constituting mortgage related securities (including privately issued MBS and agency MBS).

Under normal market conditions, the Trust may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities other than fixed-income securities, including common stocks, warrants, depositary receipts and other equity securities.

The Trust may invest without limitation in securities of U.S. issuers and non-U.S. issuers located in countries throughout the world, including in developed and emerging markets. Foreign securities in which the Trust may invest may be U.S. dollar-denominated or non-U.S. dollar-denominated. The Trust may invest in securities of issuers of any market capitalization size, including small- and mid-cap companies, and of issuers that operate in any sector or industry.

The Trust may also invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), subject to applicable regulatory limits, that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Trust may invest directly. The Trust treats its investments in open- or closed-end investment companies that invest substantially all of their assets in fixed-income securities as investments in fixed-income securities.

The Trust may make short sales of securities. The Trust will not make a short sale if, after giving effect to such sale, the market value of all securities sold short exceeds 25% of the value of its Managed Assets or the Trust’s aggregate short sales of a particular class of securities exceeds 25% of the outstanding securities of that class.

During temporary defensive periods, and in order to keep the Trust’s cash fully invested, the Trust may invest up to 100% of its total assets in liquid, short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities. The Trust may not achieve its investment objectives under these circumstances.

The Trust’s investment policies are non-fundamental policies and may be changed by the Board without prior shareholder approval. The Trust’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in fixed-income securities may be changed by the Board; however, if this policy changes, the Trust will provide shareholders at least 60 days’ written notice before implementation of the change.

The percentage limitations applicable to the Trust’s portfolio apply only at the time of initial investment and the Trust will not be required to sell investments due to subsequent changes in the value of investments that it owns.

Leverage: The Trust currently intends to use leverage to seek to achieve its investment objectives. The Trust currently anticipates that it will use leverage through reverse repurchase agreements, subject to the Trust’s investment restrictions, and/or dollar rolls and the Trust may also borrow funds from banks or other financial institutions and/or issue preferred shares. The Trust intends to use economic leverage, which includes leverage attributable to reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and any issuance of preferred shares, of up to 50% of its Managed Assets (100% of its net assets).

The Trust may enter into derivative securities transactions that have economic leverage embedded in them.

The Trust may also borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of Trust securities.

Risk Factors

This section contains a discussion of the general risks of investing in the Trust. The net asset value and market price of, and dividends paid on, the common shares will fluctuate with and be affected by, among other things, the risks more fully described below. As with any fund, there can be no guarantee that the Trust will meet its investment objective or that the Trust’s performance will be positive for any period of time.

Investment and Market Discount Risk: An investment in the Trust’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire amount that you invest. As with any stock, the price of the Trust’s common shares will fluctuate with market conditions and other factors. If shares are sold, the price received may be more or less than the original investment. Common shares are designed for long-term investors and the Trust should not be treated as a trading vehicle. Shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. This risk is separate and distinct from the risk that the Trust’s net asset value could decrease as a result of its investment activities. At any point in time an investment in the Trust’s common shares may be worth less than the original amount invested, even after taking into account distributions paid by the Trust. During periods in which the Trust may use leverage, the Trust’s investment, market discount and certain other risks will be magnified.

 

 

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Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks  (continued)

 

Concentration Risk: The Fund’s strategy of concentrating in mortgage related securities means that its performance will be closely tied to the performance of a particular market segment. The Fund’s concentration in these securities may present more risks than if it were broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy. A downturn in these securities would have a larger impact on the Fund than on a mutual fund that does not concentrate in such securities. At times, the performance of these securities will lag the performance of other industries or the broader market as a whole.

Debt Securities Risk: Debt securities, such as bonds, involve interest rate risk, credit risk, extension risk, and prepayment risk, among other things.

 

   

Interest Rate Risk — The market value of bonds and other fixed-income securities changes in response to interest rate changes and other factors. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.

The Trust may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low rates. For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, assuming a current portfolio duration of ten years, and all other factors being equal, the value of the Trust’s investments would be expected to decrease by 10%. The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of bonds and other fixed-income securities is generally greater for those securities with longer maturities. Fluctuations in the market price of the Trust’s investments will not affect interest income derived from instruments already owned by the Trust, but will be reflected in the Trust’s net asset value. The Trust may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by Trust management.

To the extent the Trust invests in debt securities that may be prepaid at the option of the obligor (such as mortgage-backed securities), the sensitivity of such securities to changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Trust) when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating rate debt securities typically reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the net asset value of the Trust to the extent that it invests in floating rate debt securities.

These basic principles of bond prices also apply to U.S. Government securities. A security backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government is guaranteed only as to its stated interest rate and face value at maturity, not its current market price. Just like other fixed-income securities, government-guaranteed securities will fluctuate in value when interest rates change.

A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed-income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from funds that hold large amounts of fixed-income securities. Heavy redemptions could cause the Trust to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value and could hurt the Trust’s performance.

 

   

Credit Risk — Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a debt security (i.e., the borrower) will not be able to make payments of interest and principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Trust’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation.

 

   

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

 

   

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

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

REIT Investment Risk: Investments in REITs involve unique risks. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume, may engage in dilutive offerings of securities and may be more volatile than other securities. REIT issuers may also fail to maintain their exemptions from investment company registration or fail to qualify for the “dividends paid deduction” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which allows REITs to reduce their corporate taxable income for dividends paid to their shareholders.

U.S. Government Obligations Risk: Certain securities in which the Trust may invest, including securities issued by certain U.S. Government agencies and U.S. Government sponsored enterprises, are not guaranteed by the U.S. Government or supported by the full faith and credit of the United States.

Senior Loans Risk: There is less readily available, reliable information about most senior loans than is the case for many other types of securities. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate, and a senior loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a senior loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the senior loan’s value. No active trading market may exist for certain senior loans, which may impair the ability of the Trust to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a senior loan and which may make it difficult to value senior loans. Although senior loans in which the Trust will invest generally will be secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower’s obligation in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. To the extent that a senior loan is collateralized by stock in the borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its value in the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower. Uncollateralized senior loans involve a greater risk of loss.

Second Lien Loans Risk: Second lien loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower.

CLO Risk: In addition to the general risks associated with fixed-income securities discussed herein, CLOs carry additional risks, including: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the possibility that the CLO

 

 

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Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks  (continued)

 

securities are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results. The credit quality of CLOs depends primarily upon the quality of the underlying assets and the level of credit support and/or enhancement provided. The underlying assets (e.g., loans) of CLOs are subject to prepayments, which shorten the weighted average maturity and may lower the return of the securities issued by the CLOs. The value of CLO securities also may change because of changes in the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the pool, or the financial institution or fund providing the credit support or enhancement. Furthermore, the leveraged nature of each subordinated class may magnify the adverse impact on such class of changes in the value of the assets, changes in the distributions on the assets, defaults and recoveries on the assets, capital gains and losses on the assets, prepayment on assets and availability, price and interest rates of assets. CLOs are typically privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CLOs may be characterized by the Trust as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist which would allow such securities to be considered liquid in some circumstances. Finally, CLOs are limited recourse and may not be paid in full and may be subject to up to 100% loss.

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

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

Sovereign Debt Risk: Sovereign debt instruments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies.

Municipal Securities Risks: Municipal securities risks include the ability of the issuer to repay the obligation, the relative lack of information about certain issuers of municipal securities, and the possibility of future legislative changes which could affect the market for and value of municipal securities. These risks include:

 

   

General Obligation Bonds Risks — Timely payments depend on the issuer’s credit quality, ability to raise tax revenues and ability to maintain an adequate tax base.

 

   

Revenue Bonds Risks — These payments depend on the money earned by the particular facility or class of facilities, or the amount of revenues derived from another source.

 

   

Private Activity Bonds Risks — Municipalities and other public authorities issue private activity bonds to finance development of industrial facilities for use by a private enterprise. The private enterprise pays the principal and interest on the bond, and the issuer does not pledge its faith, credit and taxing power for repayment. The Trust’s investments may consist of private activity bonds that may subject certain shareholders to an alternative minimum tax.

 

   

Moral Obligation Bonds Risks — Moral obligation bonds are generally issued by special purpose public authorities of a state or municipality. If the issuer is unable to meet its obligations, repayment of these bonds becomes a moral commitment, but not a legal obligation, of the state or municipality.

 

   

Municipal Notes Risks — Municipal notes are shorter term municipal debt obligations. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, the notes may not be fully repaid and the Trust may lose money.

 

   

Municipal Lease Obligations Risks — In a municipal lease obligation, the issuer agrees to make payments when due on the lease obligation. Although the issuer does not pledge its unlimited taxing power for payment of the lease obligation, the lease obligation is secured by the leased property.

 

   

Tax-Exempt Status Risk — The Trust and its investment manager will rely on the opinion of issuers’ bond counsel and, in the case of derivative securities, sponsors’ counsel, on the tax-exempt status of interest on municipal bonds and payments under derivative securities. Neither the Trust nor its investment manager will independently review the bases for those tax opinions, which may ultimately be determined to be incorrect and subject the Trust and its shareholders to substantial tax liabilities.

Structured Products Risk: Holders of structured products bear risks of the underlying investments, index or reference obligation and are subject to counterparty risk. The Trust may have the right to receive payments only from the structured product, and generally does not have direct rights against the issuer or the entity that sold the assets to be securitized. Certain structured products may be thinly traded or have a limited trading market. In addition to the general risks associated with debt securities discussed herein, structured products carry additional risks, including, but not limited to: the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; and the possibility that the structured products are subordinate to other classes. Structured notes are based upon the movement of one or more factors, including currency exchange rates, interest rates, reference bonds and stock indices, and changes in interest rates and impact of these factors may cause significant price fluctuations. Additionally, changes in the reference instrument or security may cause the interest rate on the structured note to be reduced to zero.

Derivatives Risk: The Trust’s use of derivatives may increase its costs, reduce the Trust’s returns and/or increase volatility. Derivatives involve significant risks, including:

 

   

Volatility Risk — Volatility is defined as the characteristic of a security, an index or a market to fluctuate significantly in price within a short time period. A risk of the Trust’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate with the overall securities markets.

 

 

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Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks  (continued)

 

   

Counterparty Risk — Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.

 

   

Market and Illiquidity Risk — The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for derivatives and the resulting inability of the Trust to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position could expose the Trust to losses and could make derivatives more difficult for the Trust to value accurately.

 

   

Valuation Risk — Valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil since many investors and market makers may be reluctant to purchase complex instruments or quote prices for them.

 

   

Hedging Risk — Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that the Trust’s hedging transactions will be effective. The use of hedging may result in certain adverse tax consequences.

 

   

Tax Risk — Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority. Such treatment may be less favorable than that given to a direct investment in an underlying asset and may adversely affect the timing, character and amount of income the Trust realizes from its investments.

 

   

Regulatory Risk — Derivative contracts, including, without limitation, swaps, currency forwards and non-deliverable forwards, are subject to regulation under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) in the United States and under comparable regimes in Europe, Asia and other non-U.S. jurisdictions. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, certain derivatives are subject to margin requirements and swap dealers are required to collect margin from the Trust with respect to such derivatives. Specifically, regulations are now in effect that require swap dealers to post and collect variation margin (comprised of specified liquid instruments and subject to a required haircut) in connection with trading of OTC swaps with the Trust. Shares of investment companies (other than certain money market funds) may not be posted as collateral under these regulations. Requirements for posting of initial margin in connection with OTC swaps will be phased-in through at least 2021. In addition, regulations adopted by global prudential regulators that are now in effect require certain bank-regulated counterparties and certain of their affiliates to include in certain financial contracts, including many derivatives contracts, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as the Trust, to terminate such contracts, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the counterparty and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. The implementation of these requirements with respect to derivatives, as well as regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act regarding clearing, mandatory trading and margining of other derivatives, may increase the costs and risks to the Trust of trading in these instruments and, as a result, may affect returns to investors in the Trust.

On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (“Rule 18f-4”). The Trust will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.

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

Unrated Securities Risk: Because the Trust may purchase securities that are not rated by any rating organization, the Managers may, after assessing their credit quality, internally assign ratings to certain of those securities in categories similar to those of rating organizations. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may be difficult to value, which means the Trust might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price. To the extent that the Trust invests in unrated securities, the Trust’s ability to achieve its investment objectives will be more dependent on the Managers’ credit analysis than would be the case when the Trust invests in rated securities.

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

Small and Mid-Capitalization Company Risk: Companies with small or mid-size market capitalizations will normally have more limited product lines, markets and financial resources and will be dependent upon a more limited management group than larger capitalized companies. In addition, it is more difficult to get information on smaller companies, which tend to be less well known, have shorter operating histories, do not have significant ownership by large investors and are followed by relatively few securities analysts.

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

The governments of certain countries, or the U.S. Government with respect to certain countries, may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions through capital controls and/or sanctions on foreign investments in the capital markets or certain industries in those countries, which may prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer currency, securities, derivatives or other assets.

 

 

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Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks  (continued)

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

The Trust’s claims to recover foreign withholding taxes may not be successful, and if the likelihood of recovery of foreign withholding taxes materially decreases, due to, for example, a change in tax regulation or approach in the foreign country, accruals in the Trust’s net asset value for such refunds may be written down partially or in full, which will adversely affect the Trust’s net asset value.

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

Investment Companies and ETFs Risk: Subject to the limitations set forth in the Investment Company Act, or as otherwise limited by the SEC, the Trust may acquire shares in other investment companies and in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), some of which may be affiliated investment companies. The market value of the shares of other investment companies and ETFs may differ from their net asset value. As an investor in investment companies and ETFs, the Trust would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses, including its investment advisory and administration fees, while continuing to pay its own advisory and administration fees and other expenses (to the extent not offset by the Manager through waivers). As a result, shareholders will be absorbing duplicate levels of fees with respect to investments in other investment companies and ETFs (to the extent not offset by the Manager through waivers).

The securities of other investment companies and ETFs in which the Trust may invest may be leveraged. As a result, the Trust may be indirectly exposed to leverage through an investment in such securities. An investment in securities of other investment companies and ETFs that use leverage may expose the Trust to higher volatility in the market value of such securities and the possibility that the Trust’s long-term returns on such securities (and, indirectly, the long-term returns of shares of the Trust) will be diminished.

As with other investments, investments in other investment companies, including ETFs, are subject to market and selection risk. To the extent the Trust is held by an affiliated fund, the ability of the Trust itself to hold other investment companies may be limited.

Illiquid Investments Risk: The Trust may invest without limitation in illiquid or less liquid investments or investments in which no secondary market is readily available or which are otherwise illiquid, including private placement securities. The Trust may not be able to readily dispose of such investments at prices that approximate those at which the Trust could sell such investments if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Trust may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise cash to meet its obligations. Limited liquidity can also affect the market price of investments, thereby adversely affecting the Trust’s net asset value and ability to make dividend distributions. The financial markets in general, and certain segments of the mortgage-related securities markets in particular, have in recent years experienced periods of extreme secondary market supply and demand imbalance, resulting in a loss of liquidity during which market prices were suddenly and substantially below traditional measures of intrinsic value. During such periods, some investments could be sold only at arbitrary prices and with substantial losses. Periods of such market dislocation may occur again at any time. Privately issued debt securities are often of below investment grade quality, frequently are unrated and present many of the same risks as investing in below investment grade public debt securities.

Inverse Floater and Related Securities Risk: Investments in inverse floaters, residual interest tender option bonds and similar instruments expose the Trust to the same risks as investments in fixed-income securities and derivatives, as well as other risks, including those associated with leverage and increased volatility. An investment in these securities typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Distributions on inverse floaters, residual interest tender option bonds and similar instruments will typically bear an inverse relationship to short term interest rates and typically will be reduced or, potentially, eliminated as interest rates rise. Inverse floaters, residual interest tender option bonds and similar instruments will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. Inverse floaters may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that their interest rates vary by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in a reference rate of interest (typically a short term interest rate). The leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market values. Investments in inverse floaters, residual interest tender option bonds and similar instruments that have fixed-income securities underlying them will expose the Trust to the risks associated with those fixed-income securities and the values of those investments may be especially sensitive to changes in prepayment rates on the underlying fixed-income securities.

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

Short Sales Risk: Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Trust to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. The Trust will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Trust replaces the security sold short.

Leverage Risk: The Trust utilizes leverage for investment purposes by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and derivative instruments with leverage embedded in them. The Trust’s use of leverage may increase or decrease from time to time in its discretion and the Trust may, in the future, determine not to use leverage.

The use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased common share net investment income dividends, but also creates risks for the holders of common shares. The Trust cannot assure you that the use of leverage will result in a higher yield on the common shares. Any leveraging strategy the Trust employs may not be successful.

Leverage involves risks and special considerations for common shareholders, including:

 

   

the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value, market price and dividend rate of the common shares than a comparable portfolio without leverage;

 

 

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Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks  (continued)

 

   

the risk that fluctuations in interest rates or dividend rates on any leverage that the Trust must pay will reduce the return to the common shareholders;

 

   

the effect of leverage in a declining market, which is likely to cause a greater decline in the net asset value of the common shares than if the Trust were not leveraged, which may result in a greater decline in the market price of the common shares;

 

   

leverage may increase operating costs, which may reduce total return.

Any decline in the net asset value of the Trust’s investments will be borne entirely by the holders of common shares. Therefore, if the market value of the Trust’s portfolio declines, leverage will result in a greater decrease in net asset value to the holders of common shares than if the Trust were not leveraged. This greater net asset value decrease will also tend to cause a greater decline in the market price for the common shares.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk: Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Trust with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Trust could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Trust, including the value of the investments made with cash collateral, is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Trust. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the interest income earned in the investment of the proceeds will be less than the interest expense.

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

Market Risk and Selection Risk: Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Trust invests will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, exchange, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues like pandemics or epidemics, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Trust and its investments. Selection risk is the risk that the securities selected by Trust management will underperform the markets, the relevant indices or the securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies. This means you may lose money.

A recent outbreak of an infectious coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic that has resulted in numerous disruptions in the market and has had significant economic impact leaving general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.

 

 

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Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

Pursuant to BIT’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Reinvestment Plan”), Common Shareholders are automatically enrolled to have all distributions of dividends and capital gains and other distributions reinvested by Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Reinvestment Plan Agent”) in the Trust’s Common Shares pursuant to the Reinvestment Plan. Shareholders who do not participate in the Reinvestment Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check and mailed directly to the shareholders of record (or if the shares are held in street name or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by the Reinvestment Plan Agent, which serves as agent for the shareholders in administering the Reinvestment Plan.

After BIT declares a dividend or determines to make a capital gain or other distribution, the Reinvestment Plan Agent will acquire shares for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the following circumstances, either (i) through receipt of unissued but authorized shares from the Trust (“newly issued shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding shares on the open market or on the Trust’s primary exchange (“open-market purchases”). If, on the dividend payment date, the net asset value (“NAV”) per share is equal to or less than the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition often referred to as a “market premium”), the Reinvestment Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in newly issued shares acquired on behalf of the participants. The number of newly issued shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the NAV on the date the shares are issued. However, if the NAV is less than 95% of the market price on the dividend payment date, the dollar amount of the dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the dividend payment date. If, on the dividend payment date, the NAV is greater than the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition often referred to as a “market discount”), the Reinvestment Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in shares acquired on behalf of the participants in open-market purchases. If the Reinvestment Plan Agent is unable to invest the full dividend amount in open-market purchases, or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Reinvestment Plan Agent will invest any un-invested portion in newly issued shares. Investments in newly issued shares made in this manner would be made pursuant to the same process described above and the date of issue for such newly issued shares will substitute for the dividend payment date.

You may elect not to participate in the Reinvestment Plan and to receive all dividends in cash by contacting the Reinvestment Plan Agent, at the address set forth below.

Participation in the Reinvestment Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Reinvestment Plan Agent prior to the dividend record date. Additionally, the Reinvestment Plan Agent seeks to process notices received after the record date but prior to the payable date and such notices often will become effective by the payable date. Where late notices are not processed by the applicable payable date, such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution.

The Reinvestment Plan Agent’s fees for the handling of the reinvestment of distributions will be paid by the Trust. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Reinvestment Plan Agent’s open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of all distributions. The automatic reinvestment of all distributions will not relieve participants of any U.S. federal, state or local income tax that may be payable on such dividends or distributions.

The Trust reserves the right to amend or terminate the Reinvestment Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Reinvestment Plan; however, the Trust reserves the right to amend the Reinvestment Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Participants in that request a sale of shares are subject to a $2.50 sales fee and a $0.15 per share sold brokerage commission fee. All correspondence concerning the Reinvestment Plan should be directed to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. through the internet at computershare.com/blackrock, or in writing to Computershare, P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, KY 40233, Telephone: (800) 699-1236. Overnight correspondence should be directed to the Reinvestment Plan Agent at Computershare, 462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600, Louisville, KY 40202.

 

 

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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

Richard E. Cavanagh

1946

  

Co-Chair of the Board and Trustee

(Since 2013)

   Director, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 1998; Board Chair, Volunteers of America (a not-for-profit organization) from 2015 to 2018 (board member since 2009); Director, Arch Chemicals (chemical and allied products) from 1999 to 2011; Trustee, Educational Testing Service from 1997 to 2009 and Chairman thereof from 2005 to 2009; Senior Advisor, The Fremont Group since 2008 and Director thereof since 1996; Faculty Member/Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard University since 2007 and Executive Dean from 1987 to 1995; President and Chief Executive Officer, The Conference Board, Inc. (global business research organization) from 1995 to 2007.    74 RICs consisting of 103 Portfolios    None

Karen P. Robards

1950

  

Co-Chair of the Board and Trustee

(Since 2013)

   Principal of Robards & Company, LLC (consulting and private investing) since 1987; Co-founder and Director of the Cooke Center for Learning and Development (a not-for-profit organization) since 1987; Director of Enable Injections, LLC (medical devices) since 2019; Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley from 1976 to 1987.    74 RICs consisting of 103 Portfolios    Greenhill & Co., Inc.; AtriCure, Inc. (medical devices) from 2000 until 2017.

Michael J. Castellano

1946

  

Trustee

(Since 2013)

   Chief Financial Officer of Lazard Group LLC from 2001 to 2011; Chief Financial Officer of Lazard Ltd from 2004 to 2011; Director, Support Our Aging Religious (non-profit) from 2009 to June 2015 and from 2017 to September 2020; Director, National Advisory Board of Church Management at Villanova University since 2010; Trustee, Domestic Church Media Foundation since 2012; Director, CircleBlack Inc. (financial technology company) from 2015 to July 2020.    74 RICs consisting of 103 Portfolios    None

Cynthia L. Egan

1955

  

Trustee

(Since 2016)

   Advisor, U.S. Department of the Treasury from 2014 to 2015; President, Retirement Plan Services, for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. from 2007 to 2012; executive positions within Fidelity Investments from 1989 to 2007.    74 RICs consisting of 103 Portfolios    Unum (insurance); The Hanover Insurance Group (Board Chair) (insurance); Huntsman Corporation (chemical products); Envestnet (investment platform) from 2013 until 2016.

Frank J. Fabozzi(d)

1948

  

Trustee

(Since 2013)

   Editor of The Journal of Portfolio Management since 1986; Professor of Finance, EDHEC Business School (France) since 2011; Visiting Professor, Princeton University for the 2013 to 2014 academic year and Spring 2017 semester; Professor in the Practice of Finance, Yale University School of Management from 1994 to 2011 and currently a Teaching Fellow in Yale’s Executive Programs; Board Member, BlackRock Equity-Liquidity Funds from 2014 to 2016; affiliated professor Karlsruhe Institute of Technology from 2008 to 2011; Visiting Professor, Rutgers University for the Spring 2019 semester; Visiting Professor, New York University for the 2019 academic year; Adjunct Professor of Finance, Carnegie Mellon University in fall 2020 semester.    76 RICs consisting of 105 Portfolios    None

 

 

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Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Independent Trustees(a) (continued)
         

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

Lorenzo A. Flores

1964

  

Trustee

(Since 2021)

   Vice Chairman, Kioxia, Inc. since 2019; Chief Financial Officer, Xilinx, Inc. from 2016 to 2019; Corporate Controller, Xilinx, Inc. from 2008 to 2016.    74 RICs consisting of 103 Portfolios    None

Stayce D. Harris

1959

  

Trustee

(Since 2021)

   Lieutenant General, Inspector General, Office of the Secretary of the United States Air Force from 2017 to 2019; Lieutenant General, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Staff, United States Air Force from 2016 to 2017; Major General, Commander, 22nd Air Force, AFRC, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia from 2014 to 2016; Pilot, United Airlines from 1990 to 2020.    74 RICs consisting of 103 Portfolios    The Boeing Company since 2021.

J. Phillip Holloman

1955

  

Trustee

(Since 2021)

   President and Chief Operating Officer, Cintas Corporation from 2008 to 2018.    74 RICs consisting of 103 Portfolios    PulteGroup, Inc. (home construction); Rockwell Automation Inc. (industrial automation).

R. Glenn Hubbard

1958

  

Trustee

(Since 2013)

   Dean, Columbia Business School from 2004 to 2019; Faculty member, Columbia Business School since 1988.    74 RICs consisting of 103 Portfolios    ADP (data and information services) 2004-2020; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (insurance); KKR Financial Corporation (finance) from 2004 until 2014.

W. Carl Kester(d)

1951

  

Trustee

(Since 2013)

   George Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School since 2008; Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs from 2006 to 2010; Chairman of the Finance Unit, from 2005 to 2006; Senior Associate Dean and Chairman of the MBA Program from 1999 to 2005; Member of the faculty of Harvard Business School since 1981.    76 RICs consisting of 105 Portfolios    None

Catherine A. Lynch(d)

1961

  

Trustee

(Since 2016)

   Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and various other positions, National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust from 2003 to 2016; Associate Vice President for Treasury Management, The George Washington University from 1999 to 2003; Assistant Treasurer, Episcopal Church of America from 1995 to 1999.    76 RICs consisting of 105 Portfolios    None

 

 

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Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Interested Trustees(a)(e)
         

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.    104 RICs consisting of 260 Portfolios    None

John M. Perlowski(d)

1964

  

Trustee

(Since 2015)

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Since 2013)

   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.    106 RICs consisting of 262 Portfolios    None

 

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

(b)  Each Independent Trustee holds office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal as provided by the Trust’s by-laws or charter or statute, or until December 31 of the year in which he or she turns 75. Trustees who are “interested persons,” as defined in the Investment Company Act serve until their successor is duly elected and qualifies or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal as provided by the Trust’s by-laws or statute, or until December 31 of the year in which they turn 72. 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. Certain Independent Trustees first became members of the boards of other legacy MLIM or legacy BlackRock funds as follows: Richard E. Cavanagh, 1994; Frank J. Fabozzi, 1988; R. Glenn Hubbard, 2004; W. Carl Kester, 1995; and Karen P. Robards, 1998.

(d)  Dr.  Fabozzi, Dr. Kester, Ms. Lynch and Mr. Perlowski are also trustees of the BlackRock Credit Strategies Fund and BlackRock Private Investments Fund.

(e)  Mr.  Fairbairn and Mr. Perlowski are both “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust based on their positions with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates. Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Perlowski are also board members of the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex.

Officers Who Are Not Trustees(a)
     

Name Year of

Birth(b)

  

Position(s) Held

(Length of Service)

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Jonathan Diorio

1980

  

Vice President

(Since 2015)

   Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2015; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2011 to 2015.

Trent Walker

1974

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Since 2021)

   Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since September 2019; Executive Vice President of PIMCO from 2016 to 2019; Senior Vice President of PIMCO from 2008 to 2015; Treasurer from 2013 to 2019 and Assistant Treasurer from 2007 to 2017 of PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series, PIMCO Equity Series VIT, PIMCO Managed Accounts Trust, 2 PIMCO-sponsored interval funds and 21 PIMCO-sponsored closed-end funds.

Jay M. Fife

1970

  

Treasurer

(Since 2013)

   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.

Janey Ahn

1975

  

Secretary

(Since 2013)

   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.

 

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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Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Effective June 10, 2021, Stayce D. Harris and J. Phillip Holloman were each appointed to serve as a Trustee of the Trust. Effective July 30, 2021, Lorenzo A. Flores was appointed to serve as a Trustee of the Trust.

 

 

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Additional Information  

 

Proxy Results

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on July 29, 2021 for shareholders of record on June 1, 2021, to elect trustee nominees for the Trust. There were no broker non-votes with regard to the Trust.

Shareholders elected the Class II Trustees as follows:

 

 

 
    J. Phillip Holloman    Catherine A. Lynch    Karen P. Robards           Frank J. Fabozzi  
 

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 

 
 Trust Name   Votes For      Votes Withheld           Votes For      Votes Withheld           Votes For      Votes Withheld           Votes For      Votes Withheld  

 

 

 BIT

    29,698,950        492,296           29,706,900        484,346           29,671,418        519,828           29,679,577        511,669  

 

 

For the Trust listed above, Trustees whose term of office continued after the Annual Meeting of Shareholders because they were not up for election are Michael J. Castellano, Richard E. Cavanagh, Cynthia L. Egan, Robert Fairbairn, Stayce Harris, R. Glenn Hubbard, John M. Perlowski and W. Carl Kester. Lorenzo A. Flores was appointed as a Trustee effective July 30, 2021.

Trust Certification

The Trust is listed for trading on the NYSE and has filed with the NYSE its annual chief executive officer certification regarding compliance with the NYSE’s listing standards. The Trust filed with the SEC the certification of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Regulation Regarding Derivatives

On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (“Rule 18f-4”). The Trust will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.

Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Integration

Although a Trust does not seek to implement a specific ESG, impact or sustainability strategy unless otherwise disclosed, Trust management will consider ESG characteristics as part of the investment process for actively managed Trusts. These considerations will vary depending on a Trust’s particular investment strategies and may include consideration of third-party research as well as consideration of proprietary BlackRock research across the ESG risks and opportunities regarding an issuer. Trust management will consider those ESG characteristics it deems relevant or additive when making investment decisions for a Trust. The ESG characteristics utilized in a Trust’s investment process are anticipated to evolve over time and one or more characteristics may not be relevant with respect to all issuers that are eligible for investment. ESG characteristics are not the sole considerations when making investment decisions for a Trust. Further, investors can differ in their views of what constitutes positive or negative ESG characteristics. As a result, a Trust may invest in issuers that do not reflect the beliefs and values with respect to ESG of any particular investor. ESG considerations may affect a Trust’s exposure to certain companies or industries and a Trust may forego certain investment opportunities. While Trust management views ESG considerations as having the potential to contribute to a Trust’s long-term performance, there is no guarantee that such results will be achieved.

Dividend Policy

The Trust’s policy is to make monthly distributions to shareholders. In order to provide shareholders with a more stable level of dividend distributions, the Trust employs a managed distribution plan (the “Plan”), the goal of which is to provide shareholders with consistent and predictable cash flows by setting distribution rates based on expected long-term returns of the Trust.

The distributions paid by the Trust for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the Trust during such month. Furthermore, the final tax characterization of distributions is determined after the year-end of the Trust and is reported in the Trust’s annual report to shareholders. Distributions can be characterized as ordinary income, capital gains and/or return of capital. The Trust’s taxable net investment income and net realized capital gains (“taxable income”) may not be sufficient to support the level of distributions paid. To the extent that distributions exceed the Trust’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess may be treated as a non-taxable return of capital.

A return of capital is a return of a portion of an investor’s original investment. A return of capital is not expected to be taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent disposition by the shareholder of his or her shares. It is possible that a substantial portion of the distributions paid during a calendar year may ultimately be classified as return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes when the final determination of the source and character of the distributions is made.

Such distributions, under certain circumstances, may exceed the Trust’s total return performance. When total distributions exceed total return performance for the period, the difference reduces the Trust’s total assets and net asset value per share (“NAV”) and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Trust’s expense ratio and reducing the amount of assets the Trust has available for long term investment.

 

 

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Additional Information  (continued)

 

General Information

The Trust does not make available copies of its Statement of Additional Information because the Trust’s shares are not continuously offered, which means that the Statement of Additional Information of the Trust has not been updated after completion of the Trust’s offerings and the information contained in the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information may have become outdated.

The following information is a summary of certain changes since October 31, 2020. This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased the Trust.

Except if noted otherwise herein, there were no changes to the Trust’s charter or by-laws that would delay or prevent a change of control of the Trust that were not approved by the shareholders. Except if noted otherwise herein, there have been no changes in the persons who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust’s portfolios.

In accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Trust may from time to time purchase shares of its common stock in the open market or in private transactions.

On December 17, 2019, the Trust filed a lawsuit against Aviron Capital, LLC (“Aviron”) and its principal officer relating to a loan on which Aviron defaulted. On December 19, 2019, the Trust obtained a court order removing Aviron’s principal officer and replacing him with a chief restructuring officer chosen by BIT. The lawsuit is currently pending and the outcome is uncertain.

Quarterly performance, semi-annual and annual reports, current net asset value and other information regarding the Trust 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 Trust and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this report.

Electronic Delivery

Shareholders can sign up for e-mail notifications of quarterly statements, annual and semi-annual shareholder reports by enrolling in the electronic delivery program. Electronic copies of shareholder reports are available on BlackRock’s website.

To enroll in electronic delivery:

Shareholders Who Hold Accounts with Investment Advisers, Banks or Brokerages:

Please contact your financial adviser. Please note that not all investment advisers, banks or brokerages may offer this service.

Householding

The Trust will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, 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 Trust at (800) 882-0052.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Trust 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 Trust’s Form N-PORT is available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Additionally, the Trust makes its portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year available at blackrock.com/fundreports.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Voting Records

A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information about how the Trust voted proxies relating to securities held in the Trust’s portfolio during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request (1) by calling (800) 882-0052; (2) on the BlackRock website at blackrock.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

Availability of Trust Updates

BlackRock will update performance and certain other data for the Trust on a monthly basis on its website in the “Closed-end Funds” section of blackrock.com as well as certain other material information as necessary from time to time. Investors and others are advised to check the website for updated performance information and the release of other material information about the Trust. This reference to BlackRock’s website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Trust and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this report.

 

 

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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.

Trust and Service Providers

 

Investment Adviser

BlackRock Advisors, LLC

Wilmington, DE 19809

Sub-Adviser

BlackRock International Limited

Edinburgh, EH3 8BL

United Kingdom

BlackRock (Singapore) Limited

079912 Singapore

Accounting Agent and Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Canton, MA 02021

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, MA 02116

Legal Counsel

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

New York, NY 10019

Address of the Trust

100 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

 

 

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Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Currency Abbreviation
CAD    Canadian Dollar
EUR    Euro
GBP    British Pound
USD    United States Dollar
Portfolio Abbreviation
CAB    Capital Appreciation Bonds
CLO    Collateralized Loan Obligation
CMT    Constant Maturity Treasury
CR    Custodian Receipt
DAC    Designated Activity Company
DIP    Debtor-In-Possession
EURIBOR    Euro Interbank Offered Rate
GO    General Obligation Bonds
LIBOR    London Interbank Offered Rate
MSCI    Morgan Stanley Capital International
PCL    Public Company Limited
PIK    Payment-in-Kind
PJSC    Public Joint Stock Company
RB    Revenue Bond
REIT    Real Estate Investment Trust
REMIC    Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
SAB    Special Assessment Bonds
SOFR    Secured Overnight Financing Rate
TBA    To-Be-Announced

    

 

 

 

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Want to know more?

blackrock.com    |    800-882-0052

This report is intended for current holders. It is not a prospectus. Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance. Statements and other information herein are as dated and are subject to change.

BIT-10/21-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 1-800-882-0052, option 4.

 

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 experts serving on its audit committee and (ii) each audit committee financial expert is independent:

Michael Castellano

Frank J. Fabozzi

Lorenzo A. Flores

Catherine A. Lynch

Karen P. Robards

The registrant’s board of directors has determined that Karen P. Robards qualifies as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to Item 3(c)(4) of Form N-CSR.

Ms. Robards has a thorough understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, financial statements and internal control over financial reporting as well as audit committee functions. Ms. Robards has been President of Robards & Company, a financial advisory firm, since 1987. Ms. Robards was formerly an investment banker for more than 10 years where she was responsible for evaluating and assessing the performance of companies based on their financial results. Ms. Robards has over 30 years of experience analyzing financial statements. She also is a member of the audit committee of one publicly held company and a non-profit organization.

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:

 

2


     (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 Multi-Sector Income Trust       $63,731   $65,688   $207   $0   $20,900   $14,900   $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 (“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 Fees4    $2,032,000    1,984,000

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 Includes fees for the Fund and the Fund’s subsidiary.

4 Non-audit fees of $2,032,000 and 1,984,000 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

 

3


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 Multi-Sector Income Trust    $21,107    $14,900   

       1 Includes fees for the Fund and the Fund’s subsidiary.

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 or 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

$2,032,000    1,984,000

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

 

  (a)

The following individuals are members of the registrant’s separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)):

 

   

Michael Castellano

   

Frank J. Fabozzi

   

Lorenzo A. Flores

 

4


   

J. Phillip Holloman

   

Catherine A. Lynch

   

Karen P. Robards

 

  (b)

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(a) 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 – The board of directors has delegated the voting of proxies for the Fund’s portfolio securities to the Investment Adviser pursuant to the Investment Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines. Under these guidelines, the Investment Adviser will vote proxies related to Fund securities in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders. From time to time, a vote may present a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s stockholders, on the one hand, and those of the Investment Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, on the other. In such event, provided that the Investment Adviser’s Equity Investment Policy Oversight Committee, or a sub-committee thereof (the “Oversight Committee”) is aware of the real or potential conflict or material non-routine matter and if the Oversight Committee does not reasonably believe it is able to follow its general voting guidelines (or if the particular proxy matter is not addressed in the guidelines) and vote impartially, the Oversight Committee may retain an independent fiduciary to advise the Oversight Committee on how to vote or to cast votes on behalf of the Investment Adviser’s clients. If the Investment Adviser determines not to retain an independent fiduciary, or does not desire to follow the advice of such independent fiduciary, the Oversight Committee shall determine how to vote the proxy after consulting with the Investment Adviser’s Portfolio Management Group and/or the Investment Adviser’s Legal and Compliance Department and concluding that the vote cast is in its client’s best interest notwithstanding the conflict. A copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures are attached as Exhibit 99.PROXYPOL, a copy of the Fund’s Global Corporate Governance  & Engagement Principles are attached as Exhibit 99.GLOBAL.CORP.GOV and a copy of the Fund’s Corporate Governance and Proxy Voting Guidelines for U.S. Securities are attached as Exhibit 99.US.CORP.GOV. Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, (i) at www.blackrock.com and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

Item 8 –

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

(a)(1) As of the date of filing this Report:

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals comprised of Scott MacLellan, Director at BlackRock, Samir Lakhani, Managing Director at BlackRock and Akiva Dickstein, Managing Director at BlackRock. Messrs. MacLellan, Lakhani and Dickstein are

 

5


the Fund’s portfolio managers and are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio and the selection of its investments. Mr. MacLellan has been a member of the Fund’s portfolio management team since 2018. Messrs. Lakhani and Dickstein have been members of the Fund’s portfolio management team since 2020.

 

 Portfolio Manager    Biography
 Akiva Dickstein    Managing Director of BlackRock since 2009; Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. from 2003 to 2009 and Head of the U.S. Rates & Structured Credit Research Group.
 Samir Lakhani    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2014; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2010 to 2013.
 Scott MacLellan    Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2010; Vice President of BlackRock, Inc. from 2007 to 2009.

(a)(2) As of October 31, 2021:

 

     

(ii) Number of Other Accounts Managed

and Assets by Account Type

  

(iii) Number of Other Accounts and

Assets for Which Advisory Fee is

Performance-Based

(i) Name of

Portfolio Manager

  

Other

Registered

Investment

Companies

  

Other Pooled

Investment

Vehicles

  

Other

Accounts

  

Other

Registered

Investment

Companies

  

Other Pooled

Investment

Vehicles

  

Other

Accounts

             

Akiva Dickstein

 

   23    26    260    0    0    5
             
    

$30.45 Billion

 

   $9.84 Billion    $101.4 Billion    $0    $0    $1.64 Billion
             

Samir Lakhani

  

5

 

  

11

 

  

6

 

  

0

 

  

1

 

  

0

 

             
    

$3.39 Billion

 

   $4.02 Billion    $3.30 Billion                $0                $338.5 Million    $0
             

Scott MacLellan

  

13

 

  

16

 

  

131

 

  

0

 

  

0

 

  

2

 

             
    

$16.87 Billion

 

   $4.22 Billion    $59.04 Billion    $0    $0    $752.7 Million

(iv)     Portfolio Manager Potential Material Conflicts of Interest

BlackRock has built a professional working environment, firm-wide compliance culture and compliance procedures and systems designed to protect against potential incentives that may favor one account over another. BlackRock has adopted policies and procedures that address the allocation of investment opportunities, execution of portfolio transactions, personal trading by employees and other potential conflicts of interest that are designed to ensure that all client accounts are treated equitably over time. Nevertheless, BlackRock furnishes investment management and advisory services to numerous clients in addition to the Fund, and BlackRock may, consistent with applicable law, make investment recommendations to other clients or accounts (including accounts which are hedge funds or have performance or higher fees paid to BlackRock, or in which portfolio managers have a personal interest in the receipt of such fees), which may be the same as or different from those made to the Fund. In addition, BlackRock, Inc., its affiliates and significant shareholders and any

 

6


officer, director, shareholder or employee may or may not have an interest in the securities whose purchase and sale BlackRock recommends to the Fund. BlackRock, Inc., or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders, or any officer, director, shareholder, employee or any member of their families may take different actions than those recommended to the Fund by BlackRock with respect to the same securities. Moreover, BlackRock may refrain from rendering any advice or services concerning securities of companies of which any of BlackRock, Inc.’s (or its affiliates’ or significant shareholders’) officers, directors or employees are directors or officers, or companies as to which BlackRock, Inc. or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders or the officers, directors and employees of any of them has any substantial economic interest or possesses material non-public information. Certain portfolio managers also may manage accounts whose investment strategies may at times be opposed to the strategy utilized for a fund. It should also be noted that Messrs. Dickstein, Lakhani and MacLellan may be managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, or may be part of a team managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, subject to incentive fees. Messrs. Dickstein, Lakhani and MacLellan may therefore be entitled to receive a portion of any incentive fees earned on such accounts.

As a fiduciary, BlackRock owes a duty of loyalty to its clients and must treat each client fairly. When BlackRock purchases or sells securities for more than one account, the trades must be allocated in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties. BlackRock attempts to allocate investments in a fair and equitable manner among client accounts, with no account receiving preferential treatment. To this end, BlackRock, Inc. has adopted policies that are intended to ensure reasonable efficiency in client transactions and provide BlackRock with sufficient flexibility to allocate investments in a manner that is consistent with the particular investment discipline and client base, as appropriate.

(a)(3) As of October 31, 2021:

Portfolio Manager Compensation Overview

The discussion below describes the portfolio managers’ compensation as of October 31, 2021.

BlackRock’s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary, a performance-based discretionary bonus, participation in various benefits programs and one or more of the incentive compensation programs established by BlackRock.

Base Compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation based on their position with the firm.

Discretionary Incentive Compensation

Discretionary incentive compensation is a function of several components: the performance of BlackRock, Inc., the performance of the portfolio manager’s group within BlackRock, the investment performance, including risk-adjusted returns, of the firm’s assets under management or supervision by that portfolio manager relative to predetermined benchmarks, and the individual’s performance and contribution to the overall performance of these portfolios and BlackRock. In most cases, these benchmarks are the same as the benchmark or benchmarks against which the performance of the Funds or other accounts managed by the portfolio managers are measured.

 

7


Among other things, BlackRock’s Chief Investment Officers make a subjective determination with respect to each portfolio manager’s compensation based on the performance of the funds and other accounts managed by each portfolio manager relative to the various benchmarks. Performance of fixed income funds is measured on a pre-tax and/or after-tax basis over various time periods including 1-, 3- and 5- year periods, as applicable. With respect to these portfolio managers, such benchmarks for the Fund and other accounts are:

 

Portfolio Manager    Benchmark
Akiva Dickstein   

A combination of market-based indices (e.g. Bloomberg US Aggregate Index, Bloomberg US Universal Index and Bloomberg

Intermediate Aggregate Index), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.

Samir Lakhani    A combination of market-based CMBS and ABS indices, certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.
Scott MacLellan    A combination of market-based indices (e.g., Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate & Government Index, 1-3 Years), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.

Distribution of Discretionary Incentive Compensation.

Discretionary incentive compensation is distributed to portfolio managers in a combination of cash, deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards, and/or deferred cash awards that notionally track the return of certain BlackRock investment products.

Portfolio managers receive their annual discretionary incentive compensation in the form of cash. Portfolio managers whose total compensation is above a specified threshold also receive deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards annually as part of their discretionary incentive compensation. Paying a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in the form of deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock puts compensation earned by a portfolio manager for a given year “at risk” based on BlackRock’s ability to sustain and improve its performance over future periods. In some cases, additional deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock may be granted to certain key employees as part of a long-term incentive award to aid in retention, align interests with long-term shareholders and motivate performance. Deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards are generally granted in the form of BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units that vest pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan and, once vested, settle in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. The portfolio managers of this Fund have deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards.

For certain portfolio managers, a portion of the discretionary incentive compensation is also distributed in the form of deferred cash awards that notionally track the returns of select BlackRock investment products they manage, which provides direct alignment of portfolio manager discretionary incentive compensation with investment product results. Deferred cash awards vest ratably over a number of years and, once vested, settle in the form of cash. Only portfolio managers who manage specified products and whose total compensation is above a specified threshold are eligible to participate in the deferred cash award program.

Other Compensation Benefits. In addition to base salary and discretionary incentive compensation, portfolio managers may be eligible to receive or participate in one or more of the following:

 

8


Incentive Savings Plans — BlackRock, Inc. has created a variety of incentive savings plans in which BlackRock, Inc. employees are eligible to participate, including a 401(k) plan, the BlackRock Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), and the BlackRock Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The employer contribution components of the RSP include a company match equal to 50% of the first 8% of eligible pay contributed to the plan capped at $5,000 per year, and a company retirement contribution equal to 3-5% of eligible compensation up to the Internal Revenue Service limit ($290,000 for 2021). The RSP offers a range of investment options, including registered investment companies and collective investment funds managed by the firm. BlackRock, Inc. contributions follow the investment direction set by participants for their own contributions or, absent participant investment direction, are invested into a target date fund that corresponds to, or is closest to, the year in which the participant attains age 65. The ESPP allows for investment in BlackRock, Inc. common stock at a 5% discount on the fair market value of the stock on the purchase date. Annual participation in the ESPP is limited to the purchase of 1,000 shares of common stock or a dollar value of $25,000 based on its fair market value on the purchase date. All of the eligible portfolio managers are eligible to participate in these plans.

(a)(4) Beneficial Ownership of Securities – As of October 31, 2021.

 

Portfolio Manager   

Dollar Range of Equity Securities

of the Fund Beneficially Owned

Akiva Dickstein

   $100,001 - $500,000  

Samir Lakhani

   $100,001 - $500,000  

Scott MacLellan

   $50,001 - $100,000  

(b) Not Applicable

 

Item 9 –

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not Applicable due to no such purchases during the period covered by this report.

 

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 13a-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

 

9


Item 13 –

Exhibits attached hereto

(a)(1) Code of Ethics – See Item 2

(a)(2) Section 302 Certifications are attached

(a)(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 – Not Applicable

(a)(4) Change in Registrant’s independent public accountant – Not Applicable

(b) Section 906 Certifications are attached

 

10


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 Multi-Sector Income Trust

 

  By:     

/s/ John M. Perlowski                            

       John M. Perlowski
       Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
       BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust

Date: January 4, 2022

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 Multi-Sector Income Trust

Date: January 4, 2022

 

  By:     

/s/ Trent Walker                            

       Trent Walker
       Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of
       BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust

Date: January 4, 2022

 

11

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 Multi-Sector Income Trust, certify that:

1.            I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust;

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: January 4, 2022

/s/ John M. Perlowski        

John M. Perlowski

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust


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 Multi-Sector Income Trust, certify that:

1.            I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust;

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: January 4, 2022

/s/ Trent Walker        

Trent Walker        

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust

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 Multi-Sector Income Trust (the “Registrant”), hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge, that the Registrant’s Report on Form N-CSR for the period ended October 31, 2021 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) 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: January 4, 2022

/s/ John M. Perlowski        

John M. Perlowski

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the undersigned officer of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (the “Registrant”), hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge, that the Registrant’s Report on Form N-CSR for the period ended October 31, 2021 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) 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: January 4, 2022

/s/ Trent Walker        

Trent Walker

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust

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.

Closed-End Fund Proxy Voting Policy

August 1, 2021

 

LOGO

 

Closed-End Fund Proxy Voting Policy

 

Procedures Governing Delegation of Proxy Voting to Fund Adviser

 

 

 

Effective Date: August 1, 2021

 

 

 

 

    Applies to the following types of Funds registered under the 1940 Act:

     Open-End Mutual Funds (including money market funds)

     Money Market Funds Only

     iShares and BlackRock ETFs

     Closed-End Funds

     Other

 

 

 

Objective and Scope

Set forth below is the Closed-End Fund Proxy Voting Policy.

Policy / Document Requirements and Statements

The Boards of Trustees/Directors (the “Directors”) of the closed-end funds advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BlackRock”) (the “Funds”) have the responsibility for the oversight of voting proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Funds, and have determined that it is in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders to delegate that responsibility to BlackRock as part of BlackRock’s authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account assets, all as contemplated by the Funds’ respective investment management agreements.

BlackRock has adopted guidelines and procedures (together and as from time to time amended, the “BlackRock Proxy Voting Guidelines”) governing proxy voting by accounts managed by BlackRock. BlackRock will cast votes on behalf of each of the Funds on specific proxy issues in respect of securities held by each such Fund in accordance with the BlackRock Proxy Voting Guidelines; provided, however, that in the case of underlying closed-end funds (including business development companies and other similarly-situated asset pools) held by the Funds that have, or are proposing to adopt, a classified board structure, BlackRock will typically (a) vote in favor of proposals to adopt classification and against proposals to eliminate classification, and (b) not vote against directors as a result of their adoption of a classified board structure.

BlackRock will report on an annual basis to the Directors on (1) a summary of all proxy votes that BlackRock has made on behalf of the Funds in the preceding year together with a representation that all votes were in accordance with the BlackRock Proxy Voting Guidelines (as modified pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph), and (2) any changes to the BlackRock Proxy Voting Guidelines that have not previously been reported.

 

   
LOGO    
  Public   Page 1 of 1

LOGO

BlackRock Investment Stewardship Global Principles Effective as of January 2022


Contents

 

Introduction to BlackRock

     3  

Philosophy on investment stewardship

     3  

Key themes

     5  

Boards and directors

     6  

Auditors and audit-related issues

     9  

Capital structure, mergers, asset sales, and other special transactions

     10  

Compensation and benefits

     10  

Environmental and social issues

     11  

General corporate governance matters and shareholder protections

     13  

Shareholder proposals

     14  

BlackRock’s oversight of its investment stewardship activities

     15  

Vote execution

     16  

Conflicts management policies and procedures

     16  

Securities lending

     18  

Voting guidelines

     19  

Reporting and vote transparency

     19  

The purpose of this document is to provide an overarching explanation of BlackRock’s approach globally to our responsibilities as a shareholder on behalf of our clients, our expectations of companies, and our commitments to clients in terms of our own governance and transparency.

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Global Principles  |  2


Introduction to BlackRock

BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. We manage assets on behalf of institutional and individual clients, across a full spectrum of investment strategies, asset classes, and regions. Our client base includes pension plans, endowments, foundations, charities, official institutions, insurers, and other financial institutions, as well as individuals around the world. As part of our fiduciary duty to our clients, we have determined that it is generally in the best long-term interest of our clients to promote sound corporate governance as an informed, engaged shareholder. At BlackRock, this is the responsibility of the Investment Stewardship team.

Philosophy on investment stewardship

Companies are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate governance structures to serve the interests of shareholders and other key stakeholders. We believe that there are certain fundamental rights attached to shareholding. Companies and their boards should be accountable to shareholders and structured with appropriate checks and balances to ensure that they operate in shareholders’ best interests to create sustainable value. Shareholders should have the right to vote to elect, remove, and nominate directors, approve the appointment of the auditor, and amend the corporate charter or by-laws. Shareholders should be able to vote on key board decisions that are material to the protection of their investment, including but not limited to, changes to the purpose of the business, dilution levels and pre-emptive rights, and the distribution of income and capital structure. In order to make informed decisions, we believe that shareholders have the right to sufficient and timely information. In addition, shareholder voting rights should be proportionate to their economic ownership—the principle of “one share, one vote” helps achieve this balance.

Consistent with these shareholder rights, we believe BlackRock has a responsibility to monitor and provide feedback to companies in our role as stewards of our clients’ investments. Investment stewardship is how we use our voice as an investor to promote sound corporate governance and business practices to help maximize long-term shareholder value for our clients, the vast majority of whom are investing for long-term goals such as retirement. BlackRock Investment Stewardship (“BIS”) does this through engagement with management teams and/or board members on material business issues, including but not limited to environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) matters and, for those clients who have given us authority, through voting proxies in their best long-term economic interests. We also participate in the public dialogue to help shape global norms and industry standards with the goal of supporting a policy framework consistent with our clients’ interests as long-term shareholders.    

BlackRock looks to companies to provide timely, accurate, and comprehensive disclosure on all material governance and business matters, including ESG-related issues. This transparency allows shareholders to appropriately understand and assess how relevant risks and opportunities are being effectively identified and managed. Where company reporting and disclosure is inadequate or we believe the approach taken may be inconsistent with sustainable, long-term value creation, we will engage with a company and/or vote in a manner that encourages progress.

BlackRock views engagement as an important activity; engagement provides us with the opportunity to improve our understanding of the business and risks and opportunities that are material to the companies in which our clients invest, including those related to ESG. Engagement also informs our voting decisions. As long-term investors on behalf of clients, we seek to have regular and continuing dialogue with executives and board directors to advance sound governance and sustainable business practices, as well as to understand the effectiveness of the company’s management and oversight of

 

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material issues. Engagement is an important mechanism for providing feedback on company practices and disclosures, particularly where we believe they could be enhanced. Similarly, it provides us an opportunity to hear directly from company boards and management on how they believe their actions are aligned with sustainable, long-term value creation. We primarily engage through direct dialogue, but may use other tools such as written correspondence, to share our perspectives.

We generally vote in support of management and boards that demonstrate an approach consistent with creating sustainable, long-term value. If we have concerns about a company’s approach, we may choose to explain our expectations to the company’s board and management. Following our engagement, we may signal through our voting that we have outstanding concerns, generally by voting against the re-election of directors we view as having responsibility for an issue. We apply our regional proxy voting guidelines to achieve the outcome we believe is most aligned with our clients’ long-term economic interests.

 

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Key themes

We recognize that accepted standards and norms of corporate governance can differ between markets. However, we believe there are certain fundamental elements of governance practice that are intrinsic globally to a company’s ability to create long-term value. This set of global themes are set out in this overarching set of principles (the “Principles”), which are anchored in transparency and accountability. At a minimum, we believe companies should observe the accepted corporate governance standards in their domestic market and ask that, if they do not, they explain how their approach better supports sustainable long-term value creation.

These Principles cover seven key themes:

 

 

Boards and directors

 

 

Auditors and audit-related issues

 

 

Capital structure, mergers, asset sales, and other special transactions

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

 

Environmental and social issues

 

 

General corporate governance matters and shareholder protections

 

 

Shareholder proposals

Our regional and market-specific voting guidelines explain how these Principles inform our voting decisions in relation to specific ballot items for shareholder meetings.

 

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Boards and directors

Our primary focus is on the performance of the board of directors. The performance of the board is critical to the economic success of the company and the protection of shareholders’ interests. As part of their responsibilities, board members owe fiduciary duties to shareholders in overseeing the strategic direction and operation of the company. For this reason, BIS sees engaging with and the election of directors as one of our most important and impactful responsibilities.

We support boards whose approach is consistent with creating sustainable, long-term value. This includes the effective management of strategic, operational, financial, and material ESG factors and the consideration of key stakeholder interests. The board should establish and maintain a framework of robust and effective governance mechanisms to support its oversight of the company’s strategic aims. We look to the board to articulate the effectiveness of these mechanisms in overseeing the management of business risks and opportunities and the fulfillment of the company’s purpose. Disclosure of material issues that affect the company’s long-term strategy and value creation, including material ESG factors, is essential for shareholders to be able to appropriately understand and assess how risks are effectively identified, managed and mitigated.

Where a company has not adequately disclosed and demonstrated it has fulfilled these responsibilities, we will consider voting against the re-election of directors whom we consider having particular responsibility for the issue. We assess director performance on a case-by-case basis and in light of each company’s circumstances, taking into consideration our assessment of their governance, business practices that support sustainable, long-term value creation, and performance. In serving the interests of shareholders, the responsibility of the board of directors includes, but is not limited to, the following:

 

 

Establishing an appropriate corporate governance structure

 

 

Supporting and overseeing management in setting long-term strategic goals and applicable measures of value-creation and milestones that will demonstrate progress, and taking steps to address anticipated or actual obstacles to success

 

 

Providing oversight on the identification and management of material, business operational, and sustainability-related risks

 

 

Overseeing the financial resilience of the company, the integrity of financial statements, and the robustness of a company’s Enterprise Risk Management1 framework

 

 

Making decisions on matters that require independent evaluation, which may include mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, activist situations or other similar cases

 

 

1 Enterprise risk management is a process, effected by the entity’s board of directors, management, and other personnel, applied in strategy setting and across the enterprise, designed to identify potential events that may affect the entity, and manage risk to be within the risk appetite, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives. (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Enterprise Risk Management — Integrated Framework, September 2004, New York, NY).

 

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Establishing appropriate executive compensation structures

 

 

Addressing business issues, including environmental and social risks and opportunities, when they have the potential to materially impact the company’s long-term value

There should be clear definitions of the role of the board, the committees of the board, and senior management. Set out below are ways in which boards and directors can demonstrate a commitment to acting in the best long-term economic interests of all shareholders.

We will seek to engage with the appropriate directors where we have concerns about the performance of the company, board, or individual directors and may signal outstanding concerns in our voting.

Regular accountability

BlackRock believes that directors should stand for re-election on a regular basis, ideally annually. In our experience, annual re-elections allow shareholders to reaffirm their support for board members or hold them accountable for their decisions in a timely manner. When board members are not re-elected annually, we believe it is good practice for boards to have a rotation policy to ensure that, through a board cycle, all directors have had their appointment re-confirmed, with a proportion of directors being put forward for re-election at each annual general meeting.

Effective board composition

Regular director elections also give boards the opportunity to adjust their composition in an orderly way to reflect the evolution of the company’s strategy and the market environment. BlackRock believes it is beneficial for new directors to be brought onto the board periodically to refresh the group’s thinking and in a manner that supports both continuity and appropriate succession planning. We consider the average overall tenure of the board, where we are seeking a balance between the knowledge and experience of longer-serving members and the fresh perspectives of newer members. We expect companies to keep under regular review the effectiveness of their board (including its size), and assess directors nominated for election or re-election in the context of the composition of the board as a whole. This assessment should consider a number of factors, including the potential need to address gaps in skills, experience, diversity, and independence.

When nominating new directors to the board, we ask that there is sufficient information on the individual candidates so that shareholders can assess the suitability of each individual nominee and the overall board composition. These disclosures should give an understanding of how the collective experience and expertise of the board aligns with the company’s long-term strategy and business model.

We are interested in diversity in the board room as a means to promoting diversity of thought and avoiding ‘group think’. We ask boards to disclose how diversity is considered in board composition, including demographic characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity and age; as well as professional characteristics, such as a director’s industry experience, specialist areas of expertise and geographic location. We assess a board’s diversity in the context of a company’s domicile, business model and strategy. Self-identified board demographic diversity can usefully be disclosed in aggregate, consistent with local law. We believe boards should aspire to meaningful diversity of membership, at least consistent with local regulatory requirements and best practices, while recognizing that building a strong, diverse board can take time.

This position is based on our view that diversity of perspective and thought – in the board room, in the management team and throughout the company – leads to better long term economic outcomes for

 

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companies. Academic research already reveals correlations between specific dimensions of diversity and effects on decision-making processes and outcomes.2 In our experience, greater diversity in the board room contributes to more robust discussions and more innovative and resilient decisions. Over time, greater diversity in the board room can also promote greater diversity and resilience in the leadership team, and the workforce more broadly. That diversity can enable companies to develop businesses that more closely reflect and resonate with the customers and communities they serve.

We expect there to be a sufficient number of independent directors, free from conflicts of interest or undue influence from connected parties, to ensure objectivity in the decision-making of the board and its ability to oversee management. Common impediments to independence may include but are not limited to:

 

 

Current or recent employment at the company or a subsidiary

 

 

Being, or representing, a shareholder with a substantial shareholding in the company

 

 

Interlocking directorships

 

 

Having any other interest, business, or other relationship which could, or could reasonably be perceived to, materially interfere with a director’s ability to act in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.

BlackRock believes that boards are most effective at overseeing and advising management when there is a senior independent board leader. This director may chair the board, or, where the chair is also the CEO (or is otherwise not independent), be designated as a lead independent director. The role of this director is to enhance the effectiveness of the independent members of the board through shaping the agenda, ensuring adequate information is provided to the board, and encouraging independent participation in board deliberations. The lead independent director or another appropriate director should be available to shareholders in those situations where an independent director is best placed to explain and contextualize a company’s approach.

There are matters for which the board has responsibility that may involve a conflict of interest for executives or for affiliated directors. BlackRock believes that objective oversight of such matters is best achieved when the board forms committees comprised entirely of independent directors. In many markets, these committees of the board specialize in audit, director nominations, and compensation matters. An ad hoc committee might also be formed to decide on a special transaction, particularly one involving a related party, or to investigate a significant adverse event.

Sufficient capacity

As the role and expectations of a director are increasingly demanding, directors must be able to commit an appropriate amount of time to board and committee matters. It is important that directors have the

 

 

2 For example, the role of gender diversity on team cohesion and participative communication is explored by: Post, C., 2015, When is female leadership an advantage? Coordination requirements, team cohesion, and team interaction norms, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36, 1153-1175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.2031.

 

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capacity to meet all of their responsibilities - including when there are unforeseen events – and therefore, they should not take on an excessive number of roles that would impair their ability to fulfill their duties.

Auditors and audit-related issues

BlackRock recognizes the critical importance of financial statements, which should provide a true and fair picture of a company’s financial condition. Accordingly, the assumptions made by management and reviewed by the auditor in preparing the financial statements should be reasonable and justified.

The accuracy of financial statements, inclusive of financial and non-financial information, is of paramount importance to BlackRock. Investors increasingly recognize that a broader range of risks and opportunities have the potential to materially impact financial performance. Over time, we expect increased scrutiny of the assumptions underlying financial reports, particularly those that pertain to the impact of the transition to a low carbon economy on a company’s business model and asset mix.

In this context, audit committees, or equivalent, play a vital role in a company’s financial reporting system by providing independent oversight of the accounts, material financial and non-financial information, internal control frameworks, and in the absence of a dedicated risk committee, Enterprise Risk Management systems. BlackRock believes that effective audit committee oversight strengthens the quality and reliability of a company’s financial statements and provides an important level of reassurance to shareholders.

We hold members of the audit committee or equivalent responsible for overseeing the management of the audit function. Audit committees or equivalent should have clearly articulated charters that set out their responsibilities and have a rotation plan in place that allows for a periodic refreshment of the committee membership to introduce fresh perspectives to audit oversight.

We take particular note of critical accounting matters, cases involving significant financial restatements, or ad hoc notifications of material financial weakness. In this respect, audit committees should provide timely disclosure on the remediation of Key and Critical Audit Matters identified either by the external auditor or Internal Audit function.

The integrity of financial statements depends on the auditor being free of any impediments to being an effective check on management. To that end, we believe it is important that auditors are, and are seen to be, independent. Where an audit firm provides services to the company in addition to the audit, the fees earned should be disclosed and explained. Audit committees should have in place a procedure for assessing annually the independence of the auditor and the quality of the external audit process.

Comprehensive disclosure provides investors with a sense of the company’s long-term operational risk management practices and, more broadly, the quality of the board’s oversight. The audit committee or equivalent, or a dedicated risk committee, should periodically review the company’s risk assessment and risk management policies and the significant risks and exposures identified by management, the internal auditors or the independent accountants, and management’s steps to address them. In the absence of robust disclosures, we may reasonably conclude that companies are not adequately managing risk.

 

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Capital structure, mergers, asset sales, and other

special transactions

The capital structure of a company is critical to shareholders as it impacts the value of their investment and the priority of their interest in the company relative to that of other equity or debt investors. Pre-emptive rights are a key protection for shareholders against the dilution of their interests.

Effective voting rights are basic rights of share ownership. We believe strongly in one vote for one share as a guiding principle that supports effective corporate governance. Shareholders, as the residual claimants, have the strongest interest in protecting company value, and voting power should match economic exposure.

In principle, we disagree with the creation of a share class with equivalent economic exposure and preferential, differentiated voting rights. In our view, this structure violates the fundamental corporate governance principle of proportionality and results in a concentration of power in the hands of a few shareholders, thus disenfranchising other shareholders and amplifying any potential conflicts of interest. However, we recognize that in certain markets, at least for a period of time, companies may have a valid argument for listing dual classes of shares with differentiated voting rights. We believe that such companies should review these share class structures on a regular basis or as company circumstances change. Additionally, they should seek shareholder approval of their capital structure on a periodic basis via a management proposal at the company’s shareholder meeting. The proposal should give unaffiliated shareholders the opportunity to affirm the current structure or establish mechanisms to end or phase out controlling structures at the appropriate time, while minimizing costs to shareholders.    

In assessing mergers, asset sales, or other special transactions, BlackRock’s primary consideration is the long-term economic interests of our clients as shareholders. Boards proposing a transaction need to clearly explain the economic and strategic rationale behind it. We will review a proposed transaction to determine the degree to which it can enhance long-term shareholder value. We would prefer that proposed transactions have the unanimous support of the board and have been negotiated at arm’s length. We may seek reassurance from the board that executives’ and/or board members’ financial interests in a given transaction have not adversely affected their ability to place shareholders’ interests before their own. Where the transaction involves related parties, we would expect the recommendation to support it to come from the independent directors, and ideally, the terms also have been assessed through an independent appraisal process. In addition, it is good practice that it be approved by a separate vote of the non-conflicted parties.

BlackRock believes that shareholders have a right to dispose of company shares in the open market without unnecessary restriction. In our view, corporate mechanisms designed to limit shareholders’ ability to sell their shares are contrary to basic property rights. Such mechanisms can serve to protect and entrench interests other than those of the shareholders. We believe that shareholders are broadly capable of making decisions in their own best interests. We expect any so-called ‘shareholder rights plans’ proposed by a board to be subject to shareholder approval upon introduction and periodically thereafter.

Compensation and benefits

BlackRock expects a company’s board of directors to put in place a compensation structure that incentivizes and rewards executives appropriately. There should be a clear link between variable pay and operational and financial performance. Performance metrics should be stretching and aligned with a

 

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company’s strategy and business model. BIS does not have a position on the use of ESG-related criteria, but believes that where companies choose to include them, they should be as rigorous as other financial or operational targets. Long-term incentive plans should vest over timeframes aligned with the delivery of long-term shareholder value. Compensation committees should guard against contractual arrangements that would entitle executives to material compensation for early termination of their employment. Finally, pension contributions and other deferred compensation arrangements should be reasonable in light of market practice.

We are not supportive of one-off or special bonuses unrelated to company or individual performance. Where discretion has been used by the compensation committee or its equivalent, we expect disclosure relating to how and why the discretion was used, and how the adjusted outcome is aligned with the interests of shareholders. We acknowledge that the use of peer group evaluation by compensation committees can help ensure competitive pay; however, we are concerned when the rationale for increases in total compensation at a company is solely based on peer benchmarking rather than a rigorous measure of outperformance. We encourage companies to clearly explain how compensation outcomes have rewarded outperformance against peer firms.

We believe consideration should be given to building claw back provisions into incentive plans such that executives would be required to forgo rewards when they are not justified by actual performance and/or when compensation was based on faulty financial reporting or deceptive business practices. We also favor recoupment from any senior executive whose behavior caused material financial harm to shareholders, material reputational risk to the company, or resulted in a criminal investigation, even if such actions did not ultimately result in a material restatement of past results.

Non-executive directors should be compensated in a manner that is commensurate with the time and effort expended in fulfilling their professional responsibilities. Additionally, these compensation arrangements should not risk compromising directors’ independence or aligning their interests too closely with those of the management, whom they are charged with overseeing.

We use third party research, in addition to our own analysis, to evaluate existing and proposed compensation structures. We may vote against members of the compensation committee or equivalent board members for poor compensation practices or structures.

Environmental and social issues

We believe that well-managed companies will deal effectively with material environmental and social (“E&S”) factors relevant to their businesses. Governance is the core structure by which boards can oversee the creation of sustainable, long-term value. Appropriate risk oversight of E&S considerations stems from this construct.    

Robust disclosure is essential for investors to effectively evaluate companies’ strategy and business practices related to material E&S risks and opportunities. Given the increased understanding of material sustainability risks and opportunities, and the need for better information to assess them, BlackRock will advocate for continued improvement in companies’ reporting, where necessary, and will express any concerns through our voting where a company’s actions or disclosures are inadequate.    

BlackRock encourages companies to use the framework developed by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to disclose their approach to ensuring they have a sustainable business model and to supplement that disclosure with industry-specific metrics such as those identified by the

 

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Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).3 While the TCFD framework was developed to support climate-related risk disclosure, the four pillars of the TCFD Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets are a useful way for companies to disclose how they identify, assess, manage, and oversee a variety of sustainability-related risks and opportunities. SASB’s industry-specific guidance (as identified in its materiality map) is beneficial in helping companies identify key performance indicators (KPIs) across various dimensions of sustainability that are considered to be financially material and decision-useful within their industry. We recognize that some companies may report using different standards, which may be required by regulation, or one of a number of private standards. In such cases, we ask that companies highlight the metrics that are industry- or company-specific.

Companies may also adopt or refer to guidance on sustainable and responsible business conduct issued by supranational organizations such as the United Nations or the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Further, industry-specific initiatives on managing specific operational risks may be useful. Companies should disclose any global standards adopted, the industry initiatives in which they participate, any peer group benchmarking undertaken, and any assurance processes to help investors understand their approach to sustainable and responsible business practices.

Climate risk

BlackRock believes that climate change has become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects. We ask every company to help its investors understand how it may be impacted by climate-related risk and opportunities, and how these factors are considered within their strategy in a manner consistent with the company’s business model and sector. Specifically, we ask companies to articulate how their business model is aligned to a scenario in which global warming is limited to well below 2°C, moving towards global net zero emissions by 2050.

In Stewardship, we understand that climate change can be very challenging for many companies, as they seek to drive long-term value by mitigating risks and capturing opportunities. A growing number of companies, financial institutions, as well as governments, have committed to advancing net zero. There is growing consensus that companies can benefit from the more favorable macro-economic environment under an orderly, timely and just transition to net zero.4 Many companies are asking what their role should be in contributing to a just transition – in ensuring a reliable energy supply and protecting the most vulnerable from energy price shocks and economic dislocation. They are also seeking more clarity as to the public policy path that will help align greenhouse gas reduction actions with commitments.

In this context, we ask companies to disclose a business plan for how they intend to deliver long-term financial performance through the transition to global net zero, consistent with their business model and sector. We encourage companies to demonstrate that their plans are resilient under likely

 

 

3 The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation announced in November 2021 the formation of an International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to develop a comprehensive global baseline of high-quality sustainability disclosure standards to meet investors’ information needs. The IFRS Foundation plans to complete consolidation of the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB—an initiative of CDP) and the Value Reporting Foundation (VRF—which houses the Integrated Reporting Framework and the SASB Standards) by June 2022.

4 For example, BlackRock’s Capital Markets Assumptions anticipate 25 points of cumulative economic gains over a 20-year period in an orderly transition as compared to the alternative. This better macro environment will support better economic growth, financial stability, job growth, productivity, as well as ecosystem stability and health outcomes.

 

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decarbonization pathways, and the global aspiration to limit warming to 1.5°C.5 We also encourage companies to disclose how considerations related to having a reliable energy supply and just transition affect their plans.

We look to companies to set short-, medium- and long-term science-based targets, where available for their sector, for greenhouse gas reductions and to demonstrate how their targets are consistent with the long-term economic interests of their shareholders. Companies have an opportunity to use and contribute to the development of alternative energy sources and low-carbon transition technologies that will be essential to reaching net zero. We also recognize that some continued investment is required to maintain a reliable, affordable supply of fossil fuels during the transition. We ask companies to disclose how their capital allocation across alternatives, transition technologies, and fossil fuel production is consistent with their strategy and their emissions reduction targets.

Key stakeholder interests

We believe that, to advance long-term shareholders’ interests, companies should consider the interests of their key stakeholders. It is for each company to determine its key stakeholders based on what is material to its business, but they are likely to include employees, business partners (such as suppliers and distributors), clients and consumers, government, and the communities in which they operate.

Considering the interests of key stakeholders recognizes the collective nature of long-term value creation and the extent to which each company’s prospects for growth are tied to its ability to foster strong sustainable relationships with and support from those stakeholders. Companies should articulate how they address adverse impacts that could arise from their business practices and affect critical business relationships with their stakeholders. We expect companies to implement, to the extent appropriate, monitoring processes (often referred to as due diligence) to identify and mitigate potential adverse impacts and grievance mechanisms to remediate any actual adverse material impacts. The maintenance of trust within these relationships can be equated with a company’s long-term success.

To ensure transparency and accountability, companies should disclose how they have identified their key stakeholders and considered their interests in business decision-making, demonstrating the applicable governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets. This approach should be overseen by the board, which is well positioned to ensure that the approach taken is informed by and aligns with the company’s strategy and purpose.

General corporate governance matters and

shareholder protections

BlackRock believes that shareholders have a right to material and timely information on the financial performance and viability of the companies in which they invest. In addition, companies should publish information on the governance structures in place and the rights of shareholders to influence these

 

 

5 The global aspiration is reflective of aggregated efforts; companies in developed and emerging markets are not equally equipped to transition their business and reduce emissions at the same rate—those in developed markets with the largest market capitalization are better positioned to adapt their business models at an accelerated pace. Government policy and regional targets may be reflective of these realities.

 

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structures. The reporting and disclosure provided by companies help shareholders assess whether their economic interests have been protected and the quality of the board’s oversight of management. We believe shareholders should have the right to vote on key corporate governance matters, including changes to governance mechanisms, to submit proposals to the shareholders’ meeting, and to call special meetings of shareholders.

Corporate Form

We believe it is the responsibility of the board to determine the corporate form that is most appropriate given the company’s purpose and business model.6 Companies proposing to change their corporate form to a public benefit corporation or similar entity should put it to a shareholder vote if not already required to do so under applicable law. Supporting documentation from companies or shareholder proponents proposing to alter the corporate form should clearly articulate how the interests of shareholders and different stakeholders would be impacted as well as the accountability and voting mechanisms that would be available to shareholders. As a fiduciary on behalf of clients, we generally support management proposals if our analysis indicates that shareholders’ interests are adequately protected. Relevant shareholder proposals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Shareholder proposals

In most markets in which BlackRock invests on behalf of clients, shareholders have the right to submit proposals to be voted on by shareholders at a company’s annual or extraordinary meeting, as long as eligibility and procedural requirements are met. The matters that we see put forward by shareholders address a wide range of topics, including governance reforms, capital management, and improvements in the management or disclosure of E&S risks.

BlackRock is subject to certain requirements under antitrust law in the United States that place restrictions and limitations on how BlackRock can interact with the companies in which we invest on behalf of our clients, including our ability to submit shareholder proposals. As noted above, we can vote on proposals put forth by others.

When assessing shareholder proposals, we evaluate each proposal on its merit, with a singular focus on its implications for long-term value creation. We consider the business and economic relevance of the issue raised, as well as its materiality and the urgency with which we believe it should be addressed. We take into consideration the legal effect of the proposal, as shareholder proposals may be advisory or legally binding depending on the jurisdiction. We would not support proposals that we believe would result in over-reaching into the basic business decisions of the issuer.

Where a proposal is focused on a material business risk that we agree needs to be addressed and the intended outcome is consistent with long-term value creation, we will look to the board and management to demonstrate that the company has met the intent of the request made in the shareholder proposal. Where our analysis and/or engagement indicate an opportunity for improvement in the company’s approach to the issue, we may support shareholder proposals that are reasonable and not unduly constraining on management. Alternatively, or in addition, we may vote against the re-election of one or

 

 

6 Corporate form refers to the legal structure by which a business is organized.

 

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more directors if, in our assessment, the board has not responded sufficiently or with an appropriate sense of urgency. We may also support a proposal if management is on track, but we believe that voting in favor might accelerate progress.

BlackRock’s oversight of its investment

stewardship activities

Oversight

We hold ourselves to a very high standard in our investment stewardship activities, including proxy voting. To meet this standard, BIS is comprised of BlackRock employees who do not have other responsibilities other than their roles in BIS. BIS is considered an investment function.

BlackRock maintains three regional advisory committees (“Stewardship Advisory Committees”) for (a) the Americas; (b) Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”); and (c) Asia-Pacific, generally consisting of senior BlackRock investment professionals and/or senior employees with practical boardroom experience. The regional Stewardship Advisory Committees review and advise on amendments to BIS proxy voting guidelines covering markets within each respective region (“Guidelines”). The advisory committees do not determine voting decisions, which are the responsibility of BIS.

In addition to the regional Stewardship Advisory Committees, the Investment Stewardship Global Oversight Committee (“Global Committee”) is a risk-focused committee, comprised of senior representatives from various BlackRock investment teams, a senior legal representative, the Global Head of Investment Stewardship (“Global Head”), and other senior executives with relevant experience and team oversight. The Global Oversight Committee does not determine voting decisions, which are the responsibility of BIS.    

The Global Head has primary oversight of the activities of BIS, including voting in accordance with the Guidelines, which require the application of professional judgment and consideration of each company’s unique circumstances. The Global Committee reviews and approves amendments to these Principles. The Global Committee also reviews and approves amendments to the regional Guidelines, as proposed by the regional Stewardship Advisory Committees.

In addition, the Global Committee receives and reviews periodic reports regarding the votes cast by BIS, as well as updates on material process issues, procedural changes, and other risk oversight considerations. The Global Committee reviews these reports in an oversight capacity as informed by the BIS corporate governance engagement program and the Guidelines.

BIS carries out engagement with companies, monitors and executes proxy votes, and conducts vote operations (including maintaining records of votes cast) in a manner consistent with the relevant Guidelines. BIS also conducts research on corporate governance issues and participates in industry discussions to contribute to and keep abreast of important developments in the corporate governance field. BIS may utilize third parties for certain of the foregoing activities and performs oversight of those third parties. BIS may raise complicated or particularly controversial matters for internal discussion with the relevant investment teams and governance specialists for discussion and guidance prior to making a voting decision.

 

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Vote execution

We carefully consider proxies submitted to funds and other fiduciary account(s) (“Fund” or “Funds”) for which we have voting authority. BlackRock votes (or refrains from voting) proxies for each Fund for which we have voting authority based on our evaluation of the best long-term economic interests of our clients as shareholders, in the exercise of our independent business judgment, and without regard to the relationship of the issuer of the proxy (or any shareholder proponent or dissident shareholder) to the Fund, the Fund’s affiliates (if any), BlackRock or BlackRock’s affiliates, or BlackRock employees (see “Conflicts management policies and procedures”, below).

When exercising voting rights, BlackRock will normally vote on specific proxy issues in accordance with the Guidelines for the relevant market. The Guidelines are reviewed annually and are amended consistent with changes in the local market practice, as developments in corporate governance occur, or as otherwise deemed advisable by the applicable Stewardship Advisory Committees. BIS analysts may, in the exercise of their professional judgment, conclude that the Guidelines do not cover the specific matter upon which a proxy vote is required or that an exception to the Guidelines would be in the best long-term economic interests of BlackRock’s clients.

In the uncommon circumstance of there being a vote with respect to fixed income securities or the securities of privately held issuers, the decision generally will be made by a Fund’s portfolio managers and/or BIS based on their assessment of the particular transactions or other matters at issue.

In certain markets, proxy voting involves logistical issues which can affect BlackRock’s ability to vote such proxies, as well as the desirability of voting such proxies. These issues include, but are not limited to: (i) untimely notice of shareholder meetings; (ii) restrictions on a foreigner’s ability to exercise votes; (iii) requirements to vote proxies in person; (iv) “share-blocking” (requirements that investors who exercise their voting rights surrender the right to dispose of their holdings for some specified period in proximity to the shareholder meeting); (v) potential difficulties in translating the proxy; (vi) regulatory constraints; and (vii) requirements to provide local agents with unrestricted powers of attorney to facilitate voting instructions. We are not supportive of impediments to the exercise of voting rights such as share-blocking or overly burdensome administrative requirements.

As a consequence, BlackRock votes proxies in these situations on a “best-efforts” basis. In addition, BIS may determine that it is generally in the best interests of BlackRock’s clients not to vote proxies (or not to vote our full allocation) if the costs (including but not limited to opportunity costs associated with share-blocking constraints) associated with exercising a vote are expected to outweigh the benefit the client would derive by voting on the proposal.

Portfolio managers have full discretion to vote the shares in the Funds they manage based on their analysis of the economic impact of a particular ballot item on their investors. Portfolio managers may, from time to time, reach differing views on how best to maximize economic value with respect to a particular investment. Therefore, portfolio managers may, and sometimes do, vote shares in the Funds under their management differently from BIS or from one another. However, because BlackRock’s clients are mostly long-term investors with long-term economic goals, ballots are frequently cast in a uniform manner.    

Conflicts management policies and procedures

BIS maintains policies and procedures that seek to prevent undue influence on BlackRock’s proxy voting activity. Such influence might stem from any relationship between the investee company (or any

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Global Principles  |  16


shareholder proponent or dissident shareholder) and BlackRock, BlackRock’s affiliates, a Fund or a Fund’s affiliates, or BlackRock employees. The following are examples of sources of perceived or potential conflicts of interest:

 

 

BlackRock clients who may be issuers of securities or proponents of shareholder resolutions

 

 

BlackRock business partners or third parties who may be issuers of securities or proponents of shareholder resolutions

 

 

BlackRock employees who may sit on the boards of public companies held in Funds managed by BlackRock

 

 

Significant BlackRock, Inc. investors who may be issuers of securities held in Funds managed by BlackRock

 

 

Securities of BlackRock, Inc. or BlackRock investment funds held in Funds managed by BlackRock

 

 

BlackRock, Inc. board members who serve as senior executives or directors of public companies held in Funds managed by BlackRock

BlackRock has taken certain steps to mitigate perceived or potential conflicts including, but not limited to, the following:

 

 

Adopted the Guidelines which are designed to advance our clients’ interests in the companies in which BlackRock invests on their behalf.

 

 

Established a reporting structure that separates BIS from employees with sales, vendor management, or business partnership roles. In addition, BlackRock seeks to ensure that all engagements with corporate issuers, dissident shareholders or shareholder proponents are managed consistently and without regard to BlackRock’s relationship with such parties. Clients or business partners are not given special treatment or differentiated access to BIS. BIS prioritizes engagements based on factors including, but not limited to, our need for additional information to make a voting decision or our view on the likelihood that an engagement could lead to positive outcome(s) over time for the economic value of the company. Within the normal course of business, BIS may engage directly with BlackRock clients, business partners and/or third parties, and/or with employees with sales, vendor management, or business partnership roles, in discussions regarding our approach to stewardship, general corporate governance matters, client reporting needs, and/or to otherwise ensure that proxy-related client service levels are met.

 

 

Determined to engage, in certain instances, an independent fiduciary to vote proxies as a further safeguard to avoid potential conflicts of interest, to satisfy regulatory compliance requirements, or as may be otherwise required by applicable law. In such circumstances, the independent fiduciary provides BlackRock’s proxy voting agent with instructions, in accordance with the Guidelines, as to how to vote such proxies, and BlackRock’s proxy voting agent votes the proxy in accordance with the independent fiduciary’s determination. BlackRock uses an independent fiduciary to vote proxies of BlackRock, Inc. and companies affiliated with BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock may also use an independent fiduciary to vote proxies of:

 

     

public companies that include BlackRock employees on their boards of directors,

 

     

public companies of which a BlackRock, Inc. board member serves as a senior executive or a member of the board of directors,

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Global Principles  |  17


     

public companies that are the subject of certain transactions involving BlackRock Funds,

 

     

public companies that are joint venture partners with BlackRock, and

 

     

public companies when legal or regulatory requirements compel BlackRock to use an independent fiduciary.

In selecting an independent fiduciary, we assess several characteristics, including but not limited to: independence, an ability to analyze proxy issues and vote in the best economic interest of our clients, reputation for reliability and integrity, and operational capacity to accurately deliver the assigned votes in a timely manner. We may engage more than one independent fiduciary, in part to mitigate potential or perceived conflicts of interest at an independent fiduciary. The Global Committee appoints and reviews the performance of the independent fiduciaries, generally on an annual basis.

Securities lending

When so authorized, BlackRock acts as a securities lending agent on behalf of Funds. Securities lending is a well-regulated practice that contributes to capital market efficiency. It also enables funds to generate additional returns for a fund, while allowing fund providers to keep fund expenses lower.

With regard to the relationship between securities lending and proxy voting, BlackRock’s approach is informed by our fiduciary responsibility to act in our clients’ best interests. In most cases, BlackRock anticipates that the potential long-term value to the Fund of voting shares would be less than the potential revenue the loan may provide the Fund. However, in certain instances, BlackRock may determine, in its independent business judgment as a fiduciary, that the value of voting outweighs the securities lending revenue loss to clients and would therefore recall shares to be voted in those instances.

The decision to recall securities on loan as part of BlackRock’s securities lending program in order to vote is based on an evaluation of various factors that include, but are not limited to, assessing potential securities lending revenue alongside the potential long-term value to clients of voting those securities (based on the information available at the time of recall consideration).7 BIS works with colleagues in the Securities Lending and Risk and Quantitative Analysis teams to evaluate the costs and benefits to clients of recalling shares on loan.

Periodically, BlackRock reviews our process for determining whether to recall securities on loan in order to vote and may modify it as necessary.

 

 

 

7 Recalling securities on loan can be impacted by the timing of record dates. In the United States, for example, the record date of a shareholder meeting typically falls before the proxy statements are released. Accordingly, it is not practicable to evaluate a proxy statement, determine that a vote has a material impact on a fund and recall any shares on loan in advance of the record date for the annual meeting. As a result, managers must weigh independent business judgement as a fiduciary, the benefit to a fund’s shareholders of recalling loaned shares in advance of an estimated record date without knowing whether there will be a vote on matters which have a material impact on the fund (thereby forgoing potential securities lending revenue for the fund’s shareholders) or leaving shares on loan to potentially earn revenue for the fund (thereby forgoing the opportunity to vote).

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Global Principles  |  18


Voting guidelines

The issue-specific Guidelines published for each region/country in which we vote are intended to summarize BlackRock’s general philosophy and approach to issues that may commonly arise in the proxy voting context in each market where we invest. The Guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive. BIS applies the Guidelines on a case-by-case basis, in the context of the individual circumstances of each company and the specific issue under review. As such, the Guidelines do not indicate how BIS will vote in every instance. Rather, they reflect our view about corporate governance issues generally, and provide insight into how we typically approach issues that commonly arise on corporate ballots.

Reporting and vote transparency

We are committed to transparency in the stewardship work we do on behalf of clients. We inform clients about our engagement and voting policies and activities through direct communication and through disclosure on our website. Each year we publish an annual report that provides a global overview of our investment stewardship engagement and voting activities. Additionally, we make public our market-specific voting guidelines for the benefit of clients and companies with whom we engage. We also publish commentaries to share our perspective on market developments and emerging key themes.

At a more granular level, we publish quarterly our vote record for each company that held a shareholder meeting during the period, showing how we voted on each proposal and explaining any votes against management proposals or on shareholder proposals. For shareholder meetings where a vote might be high profile or of significant interest to clients, we may publish a vote bulletin after the meeting, disclosing and explaining our vote on key proposals. We also publish a quarterly list of all companies with which we engaged and the key topics addressed in the engagement meeting.    

In this way, we help inform our clients about the work we do on their behalf in promoting the governance and business models that support long-term sustainable value creation.

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Global Principles  |  19


 

 

Want to know more?

blackrock.com/stewardship | contactstewardship@blackrock.com

This document is provided for information and educational purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal.

Prepared by BlackRock, Inc.

©2022 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. BLACKROCK is a trademark of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.

 

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BlackRock Investment Stewardship Proxy voting guidelines for U.S. securities Effective as of January 2022


Contents

 

Introduction

     3  

Voting guidelines

     3  

Boards and directors

     3  

Auditors and audit-related issues

     11  

Capital structure proposals

     11  

Mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, and other special transactions

     12  

Executive compensation

     13  

Environmental and social issues

     16  

General corporate governance matters

     19  

Shareholder protections

     20  

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Proxy voting guidelines for U.S. securities  |  2


These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the BlackRock Investment Stewardship Global Principles.

Introduction

We believe BlackRock has a responsibility to monitor and provide feedback to companies, in our role as stewards of our clients’ investments. BlackRock Investment Stewardship (“BIS”) does this through engagement with management teams and/or board members on material business issues, including environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) matters and, for those clients who have given us authority, through voting proxies in the best long-term economic interests of their assets.

The following issue-specific proxy voting guidelines (the “Guidelines”) are intended to summarize BIS’ regional philosophy and approach to engagement and voting on ESG factors, as well as our expectations of directors, for U.S. securities. These Guidelines are not intended to limit the analysis of individual issues at specific companies or provide a guide to how BIS will engage and/or vote in every instance. They are applied with discretion, taking into consideration the range of issues and facts specific to the company, as well as individual ballot items at annual and special meetings.

Voting guidelines

These guidelines are divided into eight key themes, which group together the issues that frequently appear on the agenda of annual and extraordinary meetings of shareholders:

 

 

Boards and directors

 

 

Auditors and audit-related issues

 

 

Capital structure

 

 

Mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, and other special transactions

 

 

Executive compensation

 

 

Environmental and social issues

 

 

General corporate governance matters

 

 

Shareholder protections

Boards and directors

The effective performance of the board is critical to the economic success of the company and the protection of shareholders’ interests. As part of their responsibilities, board members owe fiduciary duties to shareholders in overseeing the strategic direction, operations, and risk management of the company. For this reason, BIS sees engagement with and the election of directors as one of our most critical responsibilities.

Disclosure of material issues that affect the company’s long-term strategy and value creation, including material ESG factors, is essential for shareholders to appropriately understand and assess how effectively the board is identifying, managing, and mitigating risks.    

 

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Where we conclude that a board has failed to address or disclose one or more material issues within a specified timeframe, we may hold directors accountable or take other appropriate action in the context of our voting decisions.

Director elections

Where a board has not adequately demonstrated, through actions and company disclosures, how material issues are appropriately identified, managed, and overseen, we will consider voting against the re-election of those directors responsible for the oversight of such issues, as indicated below.

Independence

We expect a majority of the directors on the board to be independent. In addition, all members of key committees, including audit, compensation, and nominating/ governance committees, should be independent. Our view of independence may vary from listing standards.

Common impediments to independence may include:

 

 

Employment as a senior executive by the company or a subsidiary within the past five years

 

 

An equity ownership in the company in excess of 20%

 

 

Having any other interest, business, or relationship (professional or personal) which could, or could reasonably be perceived to, materially interfere with the director’s ability to act in the best interests of the company

We may vote against directors serving on key committees who we do not consider to be independent, including at controlled companies.

Oversight

We expect the board to exercise appropriate oversight of management and the business activities of the company. Where we believe a board has failed to exercise sufficient oversight, we may vote against the responsible committees and/or individual directors. The following illustrates common circumstances:

 

 

With regard to material ESG risk factors, or where the company has failed to provide shareholders with adequate disclosure to conclude appropriate strategic consideration is given to these factors by the board, we may vote against directors of the responsible committee, or the most relevant director

 

 

With regard to accounting practices or audit oversight, e.g., where the board has failed to facilitate quality, independent auditing. If substantial accounting irregularities suggest insufficient oversight, we will consider voting against the current audit committee, and any other members of the board who may be responsible

 

 

During a period in which executive compensation appears excessive relative to the performance of the company and compensation paid by peers, we may vote against the members of the compensation committee

 

 

Where a company has proposed an equity compensation plan that is not aligned with shareholders’ interests, we may vote against the members of the compensation committee

 

 

Where the board is not comprised of a majority of independent directors (this may not apply in the case of a controlled company), we may vote against the chair of the nominating/governance

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Proxy voting guidelines for U.S. securities  |  4


 

committee, or where no chair exists, the nominating/governance committee member with the longest tenure

 

 

Where it appears the director has acted (at the company or at other companies) in a manner that compromises their ability to represent the best long-term economic interests of shareholders, we may vote against that individual

 

 

Where a director has a multi-year pattern of poor attendance at combined board and applicable committee meetings, or a director has poor attendance in a single year with no disclosed rationale, we may vote against that individual. Excluding exigent circumstances, BIS generally considers attendance at less than 75% of the combined board and applicable committee meetings to be poor attendance

 

 

Where a director serves on an excessive number of boards, which may limit their capacity to focus on each board’s needs, we may vote against that individual. The following identifies the maximum number of boards on which a director may serve, before BIS considers them to be over-committed:

 

    

Public Company Executive

 

 

# Outside Public Boards1

 

 

Total # of Public Boards

 

  Director A

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

2

 

  Director B2

 

     

3

 

 

4

 

Responsiveness to shareholders

We expect a board to be engaged and responsive to its shareholders, including acknowledging voting outcomes for director elections, compensation, shareholder proposals, and other ballot items. Where we believe a board has not substantially addressed shareholder concerns, we may vote against the responsible committees and/or individual directors. The following illustrates common circumstances:

 

 

The independent chair or lead independent director, members of the nominating/governance committee, and/or the longest tenured director(s), where we observe a lack of board responsiveness to shareholders, evidence of board entrenchment, and/or failure to plan for adequate board member succession

 

 

The chair of the nominating/governance committee, or where no chair exists, the nominating/governance committee member with the longest tenure, where board member(s) at the most recent election of directors have received against votes from more than 25% of shares voted, and the board has not taken appropriate action to respond to shareholder concerns. This may not apply in cases where BIS did not support the initial against vote

 

 

1 In addition to the company under review.

2 Including fund managers whose full-time employment involves responsibility for the investment and oversight of fund vehicles, and those who have employment as professional investors and provide oversight for those holdings.

 

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The independent chair or lead independent director and/or members of the nominating/governance committee, where a board fails to consider shareholder proposals that receive substantial support, and the proposals, in our view, have a material impact on the business, shareholder rights, or the potential for long-term value creation

Shareholder rights

We expect a board to act with integrity and to uphold governance best practices. Where we believe a board has not acted in the best interests of its shareholders, we may vote against the appropriate committees and/or individual directors. The following illustrates common circumstances:

 

 

The independent chair or lead independent director and members of the nominating/governance committee, where a board implements or renews a poison pill without shareholder approval

 

 

The independent chair or lead independent director and members of the nominating/governance committee, where a board amends the charter/articles/bylaws and where the effect may be to entrench directors or to significantly reduce shareholder rights    

 

 

Members of the compensation committee where the company has repriced options without shareholder approval

If a board maintains a classified structure, it is possible that the director(s) with whom we have a particular concern may not be subject to election in the year that the concern arises. In such situations, if we have a concern regarding the actions of a committee and the responsible member(s), we will generally register our concern by voting against all available members of the relevant committee.

Board composition and effectiveness

We encourage boards to periodically refresh their membership to ensure relevant skills and experience within the boardroom. To this end, regular performance reviews and skills assessments should be conducted by the nominating/governance committee or the lead independent director. When nominating new directors to the board, we ask that there is sufficient information on the individual candidates so that shareholders can assess the suitability of each individual nominee and the overall board composition. Where boards find that age limits or term limits are the most efficient and objective mechanism for ensuring periodic board refreshment, we generally defer to the board’s determination in setting such limits. BIS will also consider the average board tenure to evaluate processes for board renewal. We may oppose boards that appear to have an insufficient mix of short-, medium-, and long-tenured directors.

Furthermore, we expect boards to be comprised of a diverse selection of individuals who bring their personal and professional experiences to bear in order to create a constructive debate of a variety of views and opinions in the boardroom. We are interested in diversity in the board room as a means to promoting diversity of thought and avoiding “group think”. We ask boards to disclose how diversity is considered in board composition, including demographic factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, and age; as well as professional characteristics, such as a director’s industry experience, specialist areas of expertise, and geographic location. We assess a board’s diversity in the context of a company’s domicile, business model, and strategy. We believe boards should aspire to 30% diversity of membership and encourage

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Proxy voting guidelines for U.S. securities  |  6


companies to have at least two directors on their board who identify as female and at least one who identifies as a member of an underrepresented group.3

We ask that boards disclose:

 

 

The aspects of diversity that the company believes are relevant to its business and how the diversity characteristics of the board, in aggregate, are aligned with a company’s long-term strategy and business model

 

 

The process by which candidates are identified and selected, including whether professional firms or other resources outside of incumbent directors’ networks have been engaged to identify and/or assess candidates, and whether a diverse slate of nominees is considered for all available board nominations

 

 

The process by which boards evaluate themselves and any significant outcomes of the evaluation process, without divulging inappropriate and/or sensitive details

This position is based on our view that diversity of perspective and thought – in the boardroom, in the management team, and throughout the company – leads to better long-term economic outcomes for companies. Academic research already reveals correlations between specific dimensions of diversity and effects on decision-making processes and outcomes.4 In our experience, greater diversity in the boardroom contributes to more robust discussions and more innovative and resilient decisions. Over time, it can also promote greater diversity and resilience in the leadership team and workforce more broadly, enabling companies to develop businesses that more closely reflect and resonate with the customers and communities they serve.

To the extent that, based on our assessment of corporate disclosures, a company has not adequately accounted for diversity in its board composition within a reasonable timeframe, we may vote against members of the nominating/governance committee for an apparent lack of commitment to board effectiveness. We recognize that building high-quality, diverse boards can take time. We will look to the largest companies (e.g., S&P 500) for continued leadership. Our publicly available commentary provides more information on our approach to board diversity.

Board size

We typically defer to the board in setting the appropriate size and believe directors are generally in the best position to assess the optimal board size to ensure effectiveness. However, we may oppose boards that appear too small to allow for the necessary range of skills and experience or too large to function efficiently.

 

 

3 Including, but not limited to, individuals who identify as Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Asian, Native American or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; individuals who identify as LGBTQ+; individuals who identify as underrepresented based on national, Indigenous, religious, or cultural identity; individuals with disabilities; and veterans.    

4 For example, the role of gender diversity on team cohesion and participative communication is explored by Post, C., 2015, When is female leadership an advantage? Coordination requirements, team cohesion, and team interaction norms, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36, 1153-1175.

 

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CEO and management succession planning

There should be a robust CEO and senior management succession plan in place at the board level that is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. We expect succession planning to cover scenarios over both the long-term, consistent with the strategic direction of the company and identified leadership needs over time, as well as the short-term, in the event of an unanticipated executive departure. We encourage the company to explain its executive succession planning process, including where accountability lies within the boardroom for this task, without prematurely divulging sensitive information commonly associated with this exercise.

Classified board of directors/staggered terms

We believe that directors should be re-elected annually; classification of the board generally limits shareholders’ rights to regularly evaluate a board’s performance and select directors. While we will typically support proposals requesting board de-classification, we may make exceptions, should the board articulate an appropriate strategic rationale for a classified board structure. This may include when a company needs consistency and stability during a time of transition, e.g., newly public companies or companies undergoing a strategic restructuring. A classified board structure may also be justified at non-operating companies, e.g., closed-end funds or business development companies (“BDC”),5 in certain circumstances. We would, however, expect boards with a classified structure to periodically review the rationale for such structure and consider when annual elections might be more appropriate.

Without a voting mechanism to immediately address concerns about a specific director, we may choose to vote against the directors up for election at the time (see “Shareholder rights” for additional detail).

Contested director elections

The details of contested elections, or proxy contests, are assessed on a case-by-case basis. We evaluate a number of factors, which may include: the qualifications of the dissident and management candidates; the validity of the concerns identified by the dissident; the viability of both the dissident’s and management’s plans; the ownership stake and holding period of the dissident; the likelihood that the dissident’s solutions will produce the desired change; and whether the dissident represents the best option for enhancing long-term shareholder value.

Cumulative voting

We believe that a majority vote standard is in the best long-term interests of shareholders. It ensures director accountability through the requirement to be elected by more than half of the votes cast. As such, we will generally oppose proposals requesting the adoption of cumulative voting, which may disproportionately aggregate votes on certain issues or director candidates.

Director compensation and equity programs

We believe that compensation for directors should be structured to attract and retain directors, while also aligning their interests with those of shareholders. We believe director compensation packages that are

 

 

5A BDC is a special investment vehicle under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that is designed to facilitate capital formation for small and middle-market companies.

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Proxy voting guidelines for U.S. securities  |  8


based on the company’s long-term value creation and include some form of long-term equity compensation are more likely to meet this goal. In addition, we expect directors to build meaningful share ownership over time.

Majority vote requirements

BIS believes that directors should generally be elected by a majority of the shares voted and will normally support proposals seeking to introduce bylaws requiring a majority vote standard for director elections. Majority vote standards assist in ensuring that directors who are not broadly supported by shareholders are not elected to serve as their representatives. Some companies with a plurality voting standard have adopted a resignation policy for directors who do not receive support from at least a majority of votes cast. Where we believe that the company already has a sufficiently robust majority voting process in place, we may not support a shareholder proposal seeking an alternative mechanism.

We note that majority voting may not be appropriate in all circumstances, for example, in the context of a contested election, or for majority-controlled companies.

Risk oversight

Companies should have an established process for identifying, monitoring, and managing business and material ESG risks. Independent directors should have access to relevant management information and outside advice, as appropriate, to ensure they can properly oversee risk. We encourage companies to provide transparency around risk management, mitigation, and reporting to the board. We are particularly interested in understanding how risk oversight processes evolve in response to changes in corporate strategy and/or shifts in the business and related risk environment. Comprehensive disclosure provides investors with a sense of the company’s long-term risk management practices and, more broadly, the quality of the board’s oversight. In the absence of robust disclosures, we may reasonably conclude that companies are not adequately managing risk.

Separation of chair and CEO

We believe that independent leadership is important in the boardroom. There are two commonly accepted structures for independent board leadership: 1) an independent chair; or 2) a lead independent director when the roles of chair and CEO are combined.    

In the absence of a significant governance concern, we defer to boards to designate the most appropriate leadership structure to ensure adequate balance and independence.6

In the event that the board chooses a combined chair/CEO model, we generally support the designation of a lead independent director if they have the power to: 1) provide formal input into board meeting agendas; 2) call meetings of the independent directors; and 3) preside at meetings of independent directors. Furthermore, while we anticipate that most directors will be elected annually, we believe an

 

 

6 To this end, we do not view shareholder proposals asking for the separation of chair and CEO to be a proxy for other concerns we may have at the company for which a vote against directors would be more appropriate. Rather, support for such a proposal might arise in the case of overarching and sustained governance concerns such as lack of independence or failure to oversee a material risk over consecutive years.

 

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element of continuity is important for this role to provide appropriate leadership balance to the chair/CEO.

The following table illustrates examples of responsibilities under each board leadership model:

 

   

Combined Chair/CEO Model

 

 

Separate Chair Model

 

         Chair/CEO   Lead Independent Director   Chair
 

Authority to call full meetings of the board of directors

 

Attends full meetings of the board of directors

 

  Authority to call full meetings of the board of directors

Board Meetings

     

Authority to call meetings of independent directors

 

   
       

Briefs CEO on issues arising from executive sessions

 

   

Agenda

 

Primary responsibility for shaping board agendas, consulting with the lead independent director

 

  Collaborates with chair/CEO to set board agenda and board information   Primary responsibility for shaping board agendas, in conjunction with CEO

Board Communications    

 

Communicates with all directors on key issues and concerns outside of full board meetings

 

Facilitates discussion among independent directors on key issues and concerns outside of full board meetings, including contributing to the oversight of CEO and management succession planning

 

  Facilitates discussion among independent directors on key issues and concerns outside of full board meetings, including contributing to the oversight of CEO and management succession planning

 

BlackRock Investment Stewardship    Proxy voting guidelines for U.S. securities  |  10


Auditors and audit-related issues

BIS recognizes the critical importance of financial statements to provide a complete and accurate portrayal of a company’s financial condition. Consistent with our approach to voting on directors, we seek to hold the audit committee of the board responsible for overseeing the management of the audit function at a company. We may vote against the audit committee members where the board has failed to facilitate quality, independent auditing. We look to public disclosures for insight into the scope of the audit committee responsibilities, including an overview of audit committee processes, issues on the audit committee agenda, and key decisions taken by the audit committee. We take particular note of cases involving significant financial restatements or material weakness disclosures, and we expect timely disclosure and remediation of accounting irregularities.

The integrity of financial statements depends on the auditor effectively fulfilling its role. To that end, we favor an independent auditor. In addition, to the extent that an auditor fails to reasonably identify and address issues that eventually lead to a significant financial restatement, or the audit firm has violated standards of practice, we may also vote against ratification.

From time to time, shareholder proposals may be presented to promote auditor independence or the rotation of audit firms. We may support these proposals when they are consistent with our views as described above.

Capital structure proposals

Equal voting rights

BIS believes that shareholders should be entitled to voting rights in proportion to their economic interests. We believe that companies that look to add or that already have dual or multiple class share structures should review these structures on a regular basis, or as company circumstances change. Companies with multiple share classes should receive shareholder approval of their capital structure on a periodic basis via a management proposal on the company’s proxy. The proposal should give unaffiliated shareholders the opportunity to affirm the current structure or establish mechanisms to end or phase out controlling structures at the appropriate time, while minimizing costs to shareholders.    

Blank check preferred stock

We frequently oppose proposals requesting authorization of a class of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights (“blank check” preferred stock) because they may serve as a transfer of authority from shareholders to the board and as a possible entrenchment device. We generally view the board’s discretion to establish voting rights on a when-issued basis as a potential anti-takeover device, as it affords the board the ability to place a block of stock with an investor sympathetic to management, thereby foiling a takeover bid without a shareholder vote.    

Nonetheless, we may support the proposal where the company:

 

 

Appears to have a legitimate financing motive for requesting blank check authority

 

 

Has committed publicly that blank check preferred shares will not be used for anti-takeover purposes

 

 

Has a history of using blank check preferred stock for financings

 

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Has blank check preferred stock previously outstanding such that an increase would not necessarily provide further anti-takeover protection but may provide greater financing flexibility

Increase in authorized common shares

BIS will evaluate requests to increase authorized shares on a case-by-case basis, in conjunction with industry-specific norms and potential dilution, as well as a company’s history with respect to the use of its common shares.

Increase or issuance of preferred stock

We generally support proposals to increase or issue preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and where the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.

Stock splits

We generally support stock splits that are not likely to negatively affect the ability to trade shares or the economic value of a share. We generally support reverse stock splits that are designed to avoid delisting or to facilitate trading in the stock, where the reverse split will not have a negative impact on share value (e.g., one class is reduced while others remain at pre-split levels). In the event of a proposal for a reverse split that would not proportionately reduce the company’s authorized stock, we apply the same analysis we would use for a proposal to increase authorized stock.

Mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, and other special transactions

In assessing mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, or other special transactions – including business combinations involving Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”) – BIS’ primary consideration is the long-term economic interests of our clients as shareholders. We expect boards proposing a transaction to clearly explain the economic and strategic rationale behind it. We will review a proposed transaction to determine the degree to which it enhances long-term shareholder value. While mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, business combinations, and other special transaction proposals vary widely in scope and substance, we closely examine certain salient features in our analyses, such as:

 

 

The degree to which the proposed transaction represents a premium to the company’s trading price. We consider the share price over multiple time periods prior to the date of the merger announcement. We may consider comparable transaction analyses provided by the parties’ financial advisors and our own valuation assessments. For companies facing insolvency or bankruptcy, a premium may not apply

 

 

There should be clear strategic, operational, and/or financial rationale for the combination

 

 

Unanimous board approval and arm’s-length negotiations are preferred. We will consider whether the transaction involves a dissenting board or does not appear to be the result of an arm’s-length bidding process. We may also consider whether executive and/or board members’ financial interests appear likely to affect their ability to place shareholders’ interests before their own

 

 

We prefer transaction proposals that include the fairness opinion of a reputable financial advisor assessing the value of the transaction to shareholders in comparison to recent similar transactions

 

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Poison pill plans

Where a poison pill is put to a shareholder vote by management, our policy is to examine these plans individually. Although we have historically opposed most plans, we may support plans that include a reasonable “qualifying offer clause.” Such clauses typically require shareholder ratification of the pill and stipulate a sunset provision whereby the pill expires unless it is renewed. These clauses also tend to specify that an all-cash bid for all shares that includes a fairness opinion and evidence of financing does not trigger the pill, but forces either a special meeting at which the offer is put to a shareholder vote or requires the board to seek the written consent of shareholders, where shareholders could rescind the pill at their discretion. We may also support a pill where it is the only effective method for protecting tax or other economic benefits that may be associated with limiting the ownership changes of individual shareholders.

We generally vote in favor of shareholder proposals to rescind poison pills.

Reimbursement of expense for successful shareholder campaigns

We generally do not support shareholder proposals seeking the reimbursement of proxy contest expenses, even in situations where we support the shareholder campaign. We believe that introducing the possibility of such reimbursement may incentivize disruptive and unnecessary shareholder campaigns.

Executive compensation

BIS expects a company’s board of directors to put in place a compensation structure that incentivizes and rewards executives appropriately and is aligned with shareholder interests, particularly the generation of sustainable long-term value.

We expect the compensation committee to carefully consider the specific circumstances of the company and the key individuals the board is focused on incentivizing. We encourage companies to ensure that their compensation plans incorporate appropriate and rigorous performance metrics consistent with corporate strategy and market practice. Performance-based compensation should include metrics that are relevant to the business and stated strategy or risk mitigation efforts. Goals, and the processes used to set these goals, should be clearly articulated and appropriately rigorous. We use third party research, in addition to our own analysis, to evaluate existing and proposed compensation structures. We hold members of the compensation committee, or equivalent board members, accountable for poor compensation practices or structures.

BIS believes that there should be a clear link between variable pay and company performance that drives value creation for our clients as shareholders. We are generally not supportive of one-off or special bonuses unrelated to company or individual performance. Where discretion has been used by the compensation committee, we expect disclosure relating to how and why the discretion was used and further, how the adjusted outcome is aligned with the interests of shareholders.

We acknowledge that the use of peer group evaluation by compensation committees can help calibrate competitive pay; however, we are concerned when the rationale for increases in total compensation is solely based on peer benchmarking, rather than absolute outperformance.

We support incentive plans that foster the sustainable achievement of results – both financial and non-financial, including ESG – consistent with the company’s strategic initiatives. The vesting and holding timeframes associated with incentive plans should facilitate a focus on long-term value creation. Compensation committees should guard against contractual arrangements that would entitle executives

 

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to material compensation for early termination of their contract. Finally, pension contributions and other deferred compensation arrangements should be reasonable in light of market practices. Our publicly available commentary provides more information on our approach to executive compensation.

“Say on Pay” advisory resolutions

In cases where there is a “Say on Pay” vote, BIS will respond to the proposal as informed by our evaluation of compensation practices at that particular company and in a manner that appropriately addresses the specific question posed to shareholders. Where we conclude that a company has failed to align pay with performance, we will vote against the management compensation proposal and relevant compensation committee members.

Frequency of “Say on Pay” advisory resolutions

BIS will generally support annual advisory votes on executive compensation. We believe shareholders should have the opportunity to express feedback on annual incentive programs and changes to long-term compensation before multiple cycles are issued.

Clawback proposals

We generally favor recoupment from any senior executive whose compensation was based on faulty financial reporting or deceptive business practices. We also favor recoupment from any senior executive whose behavior caused material financial harm to shareholders, material reputational risk to the company, or resulted in a criminal proceeding, even if such actions did not ultimately result in a material restatement of past results. This includes, but is not limited to, settlement agreements arising from such behavior and paid for directly by the company. We typically support shareholder proposals on these matters unless the company already has a robust clawback policy that sufficiently addresses our concerns.

Employee stock purchase plans

We believe employee stock purchase plans (“ESPP”) are an important part of a company’s overall human capital management strategy and can provide performance incentives to help align employees’ interests with those of shareholders. The most common form of ESPP qualifies for favorable tax treatment under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. We will typically support qualified ESPP proposals.

Equity compensation plans

BIS supports equity plans that align the economic interests of directors, managers, and other employees with those of shareholders. We believe that boards should establish policies prohibiting the use of equity awards in a manner that could disrupt the intended alignment with shareholder interests (e.g., the use of stock as collateral for a loan; the use of stock in a margin account; the use of stock in hedging or derivative transactions). We may support shareholder proposals requesting the establishment of such policies.

Our evaluation of equity compensation plans is based on a company’s executive pay and performance relative to peers and whether the plan plays a significant role in a pay-for-performance disconnect. We generally oppose plans that contain “evergreen” provisions, which allow for the unlimited increase of shares reserved without requiring further shareholder approval after a reasonable time period. We also generally oppose plans that allow for repricing without shareholder approval. We may also oppose plans that provide for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even in situations where an actual change of control may not occur. We encourage companies to structure their change of control provisions to require

 

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the termination of the covered employee before acceleration or special payments are triggered (commonly referred to as “double trigger” change of control provisions).    

Golden parachutes

We generally view golden parachutes as encouragement to management to consider transactions that might be beneficial to shareholders. However, a large potential pay-out under a golden parachute arrangement also presents the risk of motivating a management team to support a sub-optimal sale price for a company.    

When determining whether to support or oppose an advisory vote on a golden parachute plan, BIS may consider several factors, including:

 

 

Whether we believe that the triggering event is in the best interests of shareholders

 

 

Whether management attempted to maximize shareholder value in the triggering event

 

 

The percentage of total premium or transaction value that will be transferred to the management team, rather than shareholders, as a result of the golden parachute payment

 

 

Whether excessively large excise tax gross-up payments are part of the pay-out

 

 

Whether the pay package that serves as the basis for calculating the golden parachute payment was reasonable in light of performance and peers

 

 

Whether the golden parachute payment will have the effect of rewarding a management team that has failed to effectively manage the company    

It may be difficult to anticipate the results of a plan until after it has been triggered; as a result, BIS may vote against a golden parachute proposal even if the golden parachute plan under review was approved by shareholders when it was implemented.

We may support shareholder proposals requesting that implementation of such arrangements require shareholder approval.

Option exchanges

We believe that there may be legitimate instances where underwater options create an overhang on a company’s capital structure and a repricing or option exchange may be warranted. We will evaluate these instances on a case-by-case basis. BIS may support a request to reprice or exchange underwater options under the following circumstances:

 

 

The company has experienced significant stock price decline as a result of macroeconomic trends, not individual company performance

 

 

Directors and executive officers are excluded; the exchange is value neutral or value creative to shareholders; tax, accounting, and other technical considerations have been fully contemplated

 

 

There is clear evidence that absent repricing, the company will suffer serious employee incentive or retention and recruiting problems    

BIS may also support a request to exchange underwater options in other circumstances, if we determine that the exchange is in the best interests of shareholders.

 

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Supplemental executive retirement plans

BIS may support shareholder proposals requesting to put extraordinary benefits contained in supplemental executive retirement plans (“SERP”) to a shareholder vote unless the company’s executive pension plans do not contain excessive benefits beyond what is offered under employee-wide plans.

Environmental and social issues

We believe that well-managed companies deal effectively with material ESG factors relevant to their businesses. Governance is the core means by which boards can oversee the creation of sustainable long-term value. Appropriate risk oversight of environmental and social (“E&S”) considerations stems from this construct.

Robust disclosure is essential for investors to effectively gauge the impact of companies’ business practices and strategic planning related to E&S risks and opportunities. When a company’s reporting is inadequate, investors, including BlackRock, will increasingly conclude that the company is not appropriately managing risk. Given the increased understanding of material sustainability risks and opportunities, and the need for better information to assess them, BIS will advocate for continued improvement in companies’ reporting and will express concerns through our voting where disclosures or the business practices underlying them are inadequate.    

BIS encourages companies to disclose their approach to maintaining a sustainable business model. We believe that reporting aligned with the framework developed by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”), supported by industry-specific metrics such as those identified by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”), can provide a comprehensive picture of a company’s sustainability approach and performance. While the TCFD framework was developed to support climate-related risk disclosure, the four pillars of the TCFD Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets are a useful way for companies to disclose how they identify, assess, manage, and oversee a variety of sustainability-related risks and opportunities. SASB’s industry-specific guidance (as identified in its materiality map) is beneficial in helping companies identify key performance indicators (“KPIs”) across various dimensions of sustainability that are considered to be financially material and decision-useful within their industry. We recognize that some companies may report using different standards, which may be required by regulation, or one of a number of private standards. In such cases, we ask that companies highlight the metrics that are industry- or company-specific.

Accordingly, we ask companies to:

 

   

Disclose the identification, assessment, management, and oversight of sustainability-related risks in accordance with the four pillars of TCFD

 

   

Publish investor-relevant, industry-specific, material metrics and rigorous targets, aligned with SASB or comparable sustainability reporting standards

Companies should also disclose any supranational standards adopted, the industry initiatives in which they participate, any peer group benchmarking undertaken, and any assurance processes to help investors understand their approach to sustainable and responsible business conduct.

 

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Climate risk

BlackRock believes that climate change has become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects. We ask every company to help its investors understand how it may be impacted by climate-related risk and opportunities, and how these factors are considered within strategy in a manner consistent with the company’s business model and sector. Specifically, we ask companies to articulate how their business model is aligned to a scenario in which global warming is limited to well below 2°C, moving towards global net zero emissions by 2050.

BIS understands that climate change can be very challenging for many companies, as they seek to drive long-term value by mitigating risks and capturing opportunities. A growing number of companies, financial institutions, as well as governments, have committed to advancing net zero. There is growing consensus that companies can benefit from the more favorable macro-economic environment under an orderly, timely, and just transition to net zero.7 Many companies are asking what their role should be in contributing to a just transition – in ensuring a reliable energy supply and protecting the most vulnerable from energy price shocks and economic dislocation. They are also seeking more clarity as to the public policy path that will help align greenhouse gas reduction actions with commitments.

In this context, we ask companies to disclose a business plan for how they intend to deliver long-term financial performance through the transition to global net zero, consistent with their business model and sector. We encourage companies to demonstrate that their plans are resilient under likely decarbonization pathways, and the global aspiration to limit warming to 1.5°C.8 We also encourage companies to disclose how considerations related to having a reliable energy supply and just transition affect their plans.

We look to companies to set short-, medium-, and long-term science-based targets, where available for their sector, for greenhouse gas reductions and to demonstrate how their targets are consistent with the long-term economic interests of their shareholders. Companies have an opportunity to use and contribute to the development of alternative energy sources and low-carbon transition technologies that will be essential to reaching net zero. We also recognize that some continued investment is required to maintain a reliable, affordable supply of fossil fuels during the transition. We ask companies to disclose how their capital allocation across alternatives, transition technologies, and fossil fuel production is consistent with their strategy and their emissions reduction targets.

In determining how to vote, we will continue to assess whether a company’s disclosures are aligned with the TCFD and provide short-, medium-, and long-term reduction targets for Scope 1 and 2 emissions. We may signal concerns about a company’s plans or disclosures in our voting on director elections, particularly at companies facing material climate risks. We may support shareholder proposals that ask

 

 

7 For example, BlackRock’s Capital Markets Assumptions anticipate 25 points of cumulative economic gains over a 20-year period in an orderly transition as compared to the alternative. This better macro environment will support better economic growth, financial stability, job growth, productivity, as well as ecosystem stability and health outcomes.

8 The global aspiration is reflective of aggregated efforts; companies in developed and emerging markets are not equally equipped to transition their business and reduce emissions at the same rate—those in developed markets with the largest market capitalization are better positioned to adapt their business models at an accelerated pace. Government policy and regional targets may be reflective of these realities.

 

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companies to disclose climate plans aligned with our expectations. Our publicly available commentary provides more information on our approach to climate risk.

Key stakeholder interests

We believe that in order to deliver long-term value for shareholders, companies should also consider the interests of their key stakeholders. While stakeholder groups may vary across industries, they are likely to include employees; business partners (such as suppliers and distributors); clients and consumers; government and regulators; and the communities in which a company operates. Companies that build strong relationships with their key stakeholders are more likely to meet their own strategic objectives, while poor relationships may create adverse impacts that expose a company to legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks and jeopardize their social license to operate. We expect companies to effectively oversee and mitigate these risks with appropriate due diligence processes and board oversight. Our publicly available commentaries provide more information on our approach.

Human capital management

A company’s approach to human capital management (“HCM”) is a critical factor in fostering an inclusive, diverse, and engaged workforce, which contributes to business continuity, innovation, and long-term value creation. Consequently, we expect companies to demonstrate a robust approach to HCM and provide shareholders with disclosures to understand how their approach aligns with their stated strategy and business model.

We believe that clear and consistent disclosures on these matters are critical for investors to make an informed assessment of a company’s HCM practices. We expect companies to disclose the steps they are taking to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion; job categories and workforce demographics; and their responses to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s EEO-1 Survey. Where we believe a company’s disclosures or practices fall short relative to the market or peers, or we are unable to ascertain the board and management’s effectiveness in overseeing related risks and opportunities, we may vote against members of the appropriate committee or support relevant shareholder proposals. Our publicly available commentary provides more information on our approach to HCM.

Corporate political activities

Companies may engage in certain political activities, within legal and regulatory limits, in order to support public policy matters material to the companies’ long-term strategies. These activities can also create risks, including: the potential for allegations of corruption; certain reputational risks; and risks that arise from the complex legal, regulatory, and compliance considerations associated with corporate political spending and lobbying activity. Companies that engage in political activities should develop and maintain robust processes to guide these activities and mitigate risks, including board oversight.

When presented with shareholder proposals requesting increased disclosure on corporate political activities, BIS will evaluate publicly available information to consider how a company’s lobbying and political activities may impact the company. We will also evaluate whether there is general consistency between a company’s stated positions on policy matters material to its strategy and the material positions taken by significant industry groups of which it is a member. We may decide to support a shareholder proposal requesting additional disclosures if we identify a material inconsistency or feel that further transparency may clarify how the company’s political activities support its long-term strategy. Our publicly available commentary provides more information on our approach to corporate political activities.

 

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General corporate governance matters

Adjourn meeting to solicit additional votes

We generally support such proposals unless the agenda contains items that we judge to be detrimental to shareholders’ best long-term economic interests.

Bundled proposals

We believe that shareholders should have the opportunity to review substantial governance changes individually without having to accept bundled proposals. Where several measures are grouped into one proposal, BIS may reject certain positive changes when linked with proposals that generally contradict or impede the rights and economic interests of shareholders.

Exclusive forum provisions

BIS generally supports proposals to seek exclusive forum for certain shareholder litigation. In cases where a board unilaterally adopts exclusive forum provisions that we consider unfavorable to the interests of shareholders, we will vote against the independent chair or lead independent director and members of the nominating/governance committee.

Multi-jurisdictional companies

Where a company is listed on multiple exchanges or incorporated in a country different from its primary listing, we will seek to apply the most relevant market guideline(s) to our analysis of the company’s governance structure and specific proposals on the shareholder meeting agenda. In doing so, we typically consider the governance standards of the company’s primary listing, the market standards by which the company governs itself, and the market context of each specific proposal on the agenda. If the relevant standards are silent on the issue under consideration, we will use our professional judgment as to what voting outcome would best protect the long-term economic interests of investors. We expect companies to disclose the rationale for their selection of primary listing, country of incorporation, and choice of governance structures, particularly where there is conflict between relevant market governance practices.

Other business

We oppose voting on matters where we are not given the opportunity to review and understand those measures and carry out an appropriate level of shareholder oversight.

Reincorporation

Proposals to reincorporate from one state or country to another are most frequently motivated by considerations of anti-takeover protections, legal advantages, and/or cost savings. We will evaluate, on a case-by-case basis, the economic and strategic rationale behind the company’s proposal to reincorporate. In all instances, we will evaluate the changes to shareholder protections under the new charter/articles/bylaws to assess whether the move increases or decreases shareholder protections. Where we find that shareholder protections are diminished, we may support reincorporation if we determine that the overall benefits outweigh the diminished rights.

IPO governance

We expect boards to consider and disclose how the corporate governance structures adopted upon initial public offering (“IPO”) are in shareholders’ best long-term interests. We also expect boards to conduct a

 

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regular review of corporate governance and control structures, such that boards might evolve foundational corporate governance structures as company circumstances change, without undue costs and disruption to shareholders. In our letter on unequal voting structures, we articulate our view that “one vote for one share” is the preferred structure for publicly-traded companies. We also recognize the potential benefits of dual class shares to newly public companies as they establish themselves; however, we believe that these structures should have a specific and limited duration. We will generally engage new companies on topics such as classified boards and supermajority vote provisions to amend bylaws, as we believe that such arrangements may not be in the best interest of shareholders in the long-term.    

We will typically apply a one-year grace period for the application of certain director-related guidelines (including, but not limited to, responsibilities on other public company boards and board composition concerns), during which we expect boards to take steps to bring corporate governance standards in line with our expectations.

Further, if a company qualifies as an emerging growth company (an “EGC”) under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), we will give consideration to the NYSE and NASDAQ governance exemptions granted under the JOBS Act for the duration such a company is categorized as an EGC. We expect an EGC to have a totally independent audit committee by the first anniversary of its IPO, with our standard approach to voting on auditors and audit-related issues applicable in full for an EGC on the first anniversary of its IPO.

Corporate form

Proposals to change a corporation’s form, including those to convert to a public benefit corporation (“PBC”) structure, should clearly articulate how the interests of shareholders and different stakeholders would be augmented or adversely affected, as well as the accountability and voting mechanisms that would be available to shareholders. We generally support management proposals if our analysis indicates that shareholders’ interests are adequately protected. Corporate form shareholder proposals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Shareholder protections

Amendment to charter/articles/bylaws

We believe that shareholders should have the right to vote on key corporate governance matters, including changes to governance mechanisms and amendments to the charter/articles/bylaws. We may vote against certain directors where changes to governing documents are not put to a shareholder vote within a reasonable period of time, particularly if those changes have the potential to impact shareholder rights (see “Director elections”). In cases where a board’s unilateral adoption of changes to the charter/articles/bylaws promotes cost and operational efficiency benefits for the company and its shareholders, we may support such action if it does not have a negative effect on shareholder rights or the company’s corporate governance structure.

When voting on a management or shareholder proposal to make changes to the charter/articles/bylaws, we will consider in part the company’s and/or proponent’s publicly stated rationale for the changes; the company’s governance profile and history; relevant jurisdictional laws; and situational or contextual circumstances which may have motivated the proposed changes, among other factors. We will typically support amendments to the charter/articles/bylaws where the benefits to shareholders outweigh the costs of failing to make such changes.

 

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Proxy access

We believe that long-term shareholders should have the opportunity, when necessary and under reasonable conditions, to nominate directors on the company’s proxy card.    

In our view, securing the right of shareholders to nominate directors without engaging in a control contest can enhance shareholders’ ability to meaningfully participate in the director election process, encourage board attention to shareholder interests, and provide shareholders an effective means of directing that attention where it is lacking. Proxy access mechanisms should provide shareholders with a reasonable opportunity to use this right without stipulating overly restrictive or onerous parameters for use, and also provide assurances that the mechanism will not be subject to abuse by short-term investors, investors without a substantial investment in the company, or investors seeking to take control of the board.    

In general, we support market-standardized proxy access proposals, which allow a shareholder (or group of up to 20 shareholders) holding three percent of a company’s outstanding shares for at least three years the right to nominate the greater of up to two directors or 20% of the board. Where a standardized proxy access provision exists, we will generally oppose shareholder proposals requesting outlier thresholds.

Right to act by written consent

In exceptional circumstances and with sufficiently broad support, shareholders should have the opportunity to raise issues of substantial importance without having to wait for management to schedule a meeting. We therefore believe that shareholders should have the right to solicit votes by written consent provided that: 1) there are reasonable requirements to initiate the consent solicitation process (in order to avoid the waste of corporate resources in addressing narrowly supported interests); and 2) shareholders receive a minimum of 50% of outstanding shares to effectuate the action by written consent. We may oppose shareholder proposals requesting the right to act by written consent in cases where the proposal is structured for the benefit of a dominant shareholder to the exclusion of others, or if the proposal is written to discourage the board from incorporating appropriate mechanisms to avoid the waste of corporate resources when establishing a right to act by written consent. Additionally, we may oppose shareholder proposals requesting the right to act by written consent if the company already provides a shareholder right to call a special meeting that we believe offers shareholders a reasonable opportunity to raise issues of substantial importance without having to wait for management to schedule a meeting.

Right to call a special meeting

In exceptional circumstances and with sufficiently broad support, shareholders should have the opportunity to raise issues of substantial importance without having to wait for management to schedule a meeting. Accordingly, shareholders should have the right to call a special meeting in cases where a reasonably high proportion of shareholders (typically a minimum of 15% but no higher than 25%) are required to agree to such a meeting before it is called. However, we may oppose this right in cases where the proposal is structured for the benefit of a dominant shareholder, or where a lower threshold may lead to an ineffective use of corporate resources. We generally believe that a right to act via written consent is not a sufficient alternative to the right to call a special meeting.

Simple majority voting

We generally favor a simple majority voting requirement to pass proposals. Therefore, we will support the reduction or the elimination of supermajority voting requirements to the extent that we determine shareholders’ ability to protect their economic interests is improved. Nonetheless, in situations where

 

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there is a substantial or dominant shareholder, supermajority voting may be protective of minority shareholder interests and we may support supermajority voting requirements in those situations.

Virtual meetings

Shareholders should have the opportunity to participate in the annual and special meetings for the companies in which they are invested, as these meetings facilitate an opportunity for shareholders to provide feedback and hear from the board and management. While these meetings have traditionally been conducted in-person, virtual meetings are an increasingly viable way for companies to utilize technology to facilitate shareholder accessibility, inclusiveness, and cost efficiencies. We expect shareholders to have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the meeting and interact with the board and management in these virtual settings; companies should facilitate open dialogue and allow shareholders to voice concerns and provide feedback without undue censorship. Relevant shareholder proposals are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

 

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This document is provided for information and educational purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal.

Prepared by BlackRock, Inc.

©2022 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. BLACKROCK is a trademark of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.

 

 

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