UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-05742

 

Name of Fund:   BlackRock Funds
       Circle Reserve Fund

 

Fund Address:   100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809

Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock Funds, 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

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

Date of fiscal year end: 04/30/2023

Date of reporting period: 04/30/2023


Item 1 – Report to Stockholders

(a) The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


 

LOGO

  APRIL 30, 2023

 

   2023 Annual Report

 

BlackRock FundsSM

 

·  

Circle Reserve Fund

 

 

 

 

Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

Investors faced an uncertain economic landscape during the 12-month reporting period ended April 30, 2023, amid mixed indicators and rapidly changing market conditions. The U.S. economy returned to modest growth beginning in the third quarter of 2022, although the pace of growth slowed thereafter. Inflation was elevated, reaching a 40-year high as labor costs grew rapidly and unemployment rates reached the lowest levels in decades. However, inflation moderated as the period continued, while continued strength in consumer spending backstopped the economy.

Equity returns varied substantially, as large-capitalization U.S. stocks gained for the period amid a rebound in big tech stocks, whereas small-capitalization U.S. stocks declined. International equities from developed markets advanced strongly, while emerging market stocks declined, pressured by higher interest rates and volatile commodities prices.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose during the reporting period, driving its price down, as investors reacted to elevated inflation and attempted to anticipate future interest rate changes. The corporate bond market also faced inflationary headwinds, although high-yield corporate bonds posted a positive return as demand from yield-seeking investors remained strong.

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), acknowledging that inflation has been more persistent than expected, raised interest rates eight times. Furthermore, the Fed wound down its bond-buying programs and incrementally reduced its balance sheet by not replacing securities that reach maturity. In addition, the Fed added liquidity to markets amid the failure of prominent regional banks.

Restricted labor supply kept inflation elevated even as other inflation drivers, such as goods prices and energy costs, moderated. While economic growth was modest in the last year, we believe that stickiness in services inflation and continued wage growth will keep inflation above central bank targets for some time. Although the Fed has decelerated the pace of interest rate hikes and indicated a pause could be its next step, we believe that the Fed still seems determined to get inflation back to target. With this in mind, we believe the possibility of a U.S. recession in the near term is high, but the dimming economic outlook has not yet been fully reflected in current market prices. We believe investors should expect a period of higher volatility as markets adjust to the new economic reality and policymakers attempt to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Turmoil in the banking sector late in the period highlighted the potential for the rapid increase in interest rates to disrupt markets with little warning.

While we favor an overweight to equities in the long term, we prefer an underweight stance on equities overall in the near term. Expectations for corporate earnings remain elevated, which seems inconsistent with the possibility of a recession. Nevertheless, we are overweight on emerging market stocks as we believe a weakening U.S. dollar could provide a supportive backdrop. We also see selective, long-term opportunities in credit, where we believe that valuations are appealing, and higher yields offer attractive income. However, we are neutral on credit in the near term, as we’re concerned about tightening credit and financial conditions. For fixed income investing with a six- to twelve-month horizon, we see the most significant opportunities in short-term U.S. Treasuries, global inflation-linked bonds, and emerging market bonds denominated in local currency.

Overall, our view is that investors need to think globally, position themselves to be prepared for a decarbonizing economy, 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 April 30, 2023
     6-Month
  12-Month

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

 

  8.63%   2.66%

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

 

  (3.45)   (3.65)

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

 

  24.19   8.42

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

 

  16.36   (6.51)

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

 

  2.09   2.83

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

 

  7.14   (1.68)

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

 

  6.91   (0.43)

Tax-exempt municipal bonds
(Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)

 

  7.65   2.87

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

 

  6.21   1.21

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

 

 

 

 

2  

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


Table of Contents

 

      Page  

The Markets in Review

     2  

Annual Report:

  

Fund Summary

     4  

Disclosure of Expenses

     5  

Financial Statements:

  

Schedule of Investments

     6  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     7  

Statement of Operations

     8  

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

     9  

Financial Highlights

     10  

Notes to Financial Statements

     11  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     15  

Important Tax Information

     16  

Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement

     17  

Trustee and Officer Information

     19  

Additional Information

     24  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     25  

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

  3


Fund Summary  as of April 30, 2023     Circle Reserve Fund

 

Investment Objective

Circle Reserve Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek current income as is consistent with liquidity and stability of principal.

The Fund commenced operations on November 3, 2022.

Expense Example

 

    Actual           Hypothetical 5% Return           
 

 

 

     

 

 

      
     

Beginning
Account Value
(11/03/22)(a)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(04/30/23)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period(b)
 
 
 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(11/01/22)
 
 
 
    

Ending
Account Value
(04/30/23)
 
 
 
    

Expenses
Paid During
the Period(b)
 
 
 
      

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 

Institutional

  $ 1,000.00      $ 1,020.70      $ 0.45             $ 1,000.00      $ 1,024.63      $ 0.46          0.09

 

  (a) 

Commencement of operations.

 
  (b) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 179/365 for actual expenses (to reflect the period since inception date of November 03, 2022 to April 30, 2023) and 183/365 for hypothetical expenses (to reflect the six-month period shown).

 

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

Portfolio Information

 

CURRENT SEVEN-DAY YIELDS

 

     7-Day
SEC Yield
    7-Day
Yield
 

Institutional

    4.35     4.26

The 7-Day SEC Yield may differ from the 7-Day Yield shown above due to the fact that the 7-Day SEC Yield excludes distributed capital gains.

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

 
Asset Type   Percent of
Net Assets
 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

    118.7

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

    (18.7
   
 

 

 

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Disclosure of Expenses   

 

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

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

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

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

 

 

D I S C L O S U R E    O F    E X P E N S E S

  5


Schedule of Investments

April 30, 2023

  

Circle Reserve Fund

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security         

Par

(000)

    Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations — 118.7%  

U.S. Treasury Bills(a)

     

4.54%, 05/02/23

    USD       6,164,600     $     6,163,826,492  

3.54%, 05/04/23

      1,425,000       1,424,579,583  

4.33%, 05/09/23

      1,582,000       1,580,484,422  

4.44%, 05/11/23

      950,000       948,834,722  

4.44%, 05/16/23

      3,350,000       3,343,846,459  

4.24%, 05/18/23

      1,150,000       1,147,703,819  

3.38%, 05/23/23

      3,220,000       3,213,367,611  

4.36%, 05/25/23

      2,608,000       2,600,473,208  

4.09%, 05/30/23

      8,804,655       8,776,436,967  

U.S. Treasury Notes
4.29%, 05/15/23

      300,000       299,706,415  
Security          Par
(000)
    Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations (continued)  

U.S. Treasury Notes
4.47%, 05/15/23

    USD       300,000     $ 299,502,686  

4.35%, 05/31/23

      100,000       99,777,344  

4.58%, 05/31/23

      243,000       242,120,836  
     

 

 

 

Total Investments — 118.7%
(Cost: $30,140,660,564)(b)

        30,140,660,564  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (18.7)%

 

    (4,753,617,396 ) 
     

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

    $ 25,387,043,168  
     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Rates are the current rate or a range of current rates as of period end.

(b) 

Cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

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

The following table summarizes the Fund’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Short-Term Securities

                 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

   $        $  30,140,660,564        $  —        $  30,140,660,564  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $        $  30,140,660,564        $        $  30,140,660,564  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Statement of Assets and Liabilities

April 30, 2023        

 

    

Circle

Reserve Fund

 

ASSETS

 

Investments, at value — unaffiliated(a)

  $ 30,140,660,564  

Cash

    2,075,760,629  

Receivables:

 

Interest — unaffiliated

    4,153,015  

From the Manager

    36,249  

Deferred offering costs

    85,298  

Prepaid expenses

    7,348  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    32,220,703,103  
 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Payables:

 

Investments purchased

    6,730,586,035  

Administration fees

    1,501,819  

Income dividend distributions

    98,589,853  

Investment advisory fees

    2,564,537  

Trustees’ and Officer’s fees

    20,000  

Other accrued expenses

    213,207  

Professional fees

    22,499  

Registration fees

    161,985  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    6,833,659,935  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 25,387,043,168  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 25,386,931,346  

Accumulated earnings

    111,822  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 25,387,043,168  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE

 
Institutional      

Net assets

  $ 25,387,043,168  
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

    25,387,009,000  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 1.00  
 

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited  
 

 

 

 

Par value

  $ 0.001  
 

 

 

 

(a) Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 30,140,660,564  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  7


 

Statement of Operations

Period Ended April 30, 2023

 

    

Circle

Reserve Fund(a)

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

 

Interest — unaffiliated

  $ 532,783,769  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    532,783,769  
 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

Investment advisory

    18,776,754  

Administration

    3,889,392  

Administration — class specific

    2,434,728  

Accounting services

    186,496  

Registration

    162,685  

Trustees and Officer

    123,624  

Organization and offering

    87,654  

Professional

    37,512  

Custodian

    14,712  

Printing and postage

    12,260  

Transfer agent

    179  

Miscellaneous

    2,452  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    25,728,448  

Less:

 

Administration fees waived by the Manager - class specific

    (2,434,728

Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager

    (12,337,438

Transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager

    (4
 

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    10,956,278  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    521,827,491  
 

 

 

 

REALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

 

Net realized gain from:

 

Investments — unaffiliated

    31,112  
 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ 521,858,603  
 

 

 

 

 

(a)

The Fund commenced operations on November 03, 2022.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

    Circle Reserve Fund  
     Period from
11/03/22(a) to 04/30/23
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

 

OPERATIONS

 

Net investment income

  $ 521,827,491  

Net realized gain

    31,112  
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    521,858,603  
 

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(b)

 

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (521,824,435
 

 

 

 

CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS

 

Net proceeds from sale of shares

    35,837,009,000  

Costs of shares redeemed

    (10,450,000,000
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets derived from capital transactions

    25,387,009,000  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

 

Total increase in net assets

    25,387,043,168  

Beginning of period

     
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 25,387,043,168  
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

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

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  9


Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Circle Reserve Fund  
    Institutional  
    

Period from
11/03/22(a) 

to 04/30/23

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 1.00  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

    0.0210  

Net realized loss

    (0.0004 )(c)  
 

 

 

 

Net increase from investment operations

    0.0206  
 

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(d)

    (0.0206
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 1.00  
 

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

 

Based on net asset value

    2.07 %(f)  
 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses

    0.21 %(g)  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    0.09 %(g)  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    4.29 %(g)  
 

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

  $ 25,387,043  
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

The amount reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities.

(d) 

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

(e) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(f) 

Not annualized.

(g) 

Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  

 

1.

ORGANIZATION

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

The Fund operates as a “government money market fund” under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund is not subject to liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemptions due to declines in the Fund’s weekly liquid assets.

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

Shares of the Fund are only available for purchase by Circle Internet Financial, LLC (“Circle”).

 

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities is recognized daily on an accrual basis.

Distributions: Distributions from net investment income are declared daily and paid monthly. Distributions of capital gains are distributed at least annually and are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

Organization and Offering Costs: Upon commencement of operations, organization costs associated with the establishment of the Fund were expensed by the Fund and reimbursed by the Manager. The Manager reimbursed the Fund $10,000, which is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statement of Operations. Offering costs are amortized over a 12-month period beginning with the commencement of operations of a class of shares.

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

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

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

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price the Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Fund’s investments are valued under the amortized cost method which approximates current market value in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Under this method, investments are valued at cost when purchased and, thereafter, a constant proportionate accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums are recorded until the maturity of the security. The Fund seeks to maintain its net asset value (“NAV”) per share at $1.00, although there is no assurance that it will be able to do so on a continuing basis.

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

 

   

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. 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.

 

 

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

  11


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the 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. 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.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

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

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

 

Average Daily Net Assets   Investment Advisory Fees  

First $10 billion

    0.165

Next $10 billion

    0.155  

Next $10 billion

    0.140  

Next $10 billion

    0.135  

Excess of $40 billion

    0.130  

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

 

Average Daily Net Assets   Administration Fees  

First $500 million

    0.0425

$500 million - $1 billion

    0.0400  

$1 billion - $2 billion

    0.0375  

$2 billion - $4 billion

    0.0350  

$4 billion - $13 billion

    0.0325  

Greater than $13 billion

    0.0300  

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

Transfer Agent: Pursuant to written agreements, certain financial intermediaries, some of which may be affiliates, provide the Fund with sub-accounting, recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency and other administrative services with respect to servicing of underlying investor accounts. For these services, these entities receive an asset-based fee or an annual fee per shareholder account, which will vary depending on share class and/or net assets. For the period ended April 30, 2023, the Fund did not pay any amounts to affiliates in return for these services.

Expense Limitations, Waivers and Reimbursements: The Manager contractually agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit expenses, excluding interest expense, dividend expense, acquired fund fees and expenses, and certain other fund expenses, which constitute extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business (“expense limitation”). The expense limitation as a percentage of average daily net assets of Institutional Shares is 0.17%.

The Manager has agreed not to reduce or discontinue the contractual expense limitation through June 30, 2024, unless approved by the Board, including a majority of trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. For the period ended April 30, 2023, the Manager waived and/or reimbursed investment advisory fees of $12,327,438 which is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statement of Operations.

 

 

12  

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

In addition, these amounts waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager are included in administration fees waived by the Manager - class specific and transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager respectively, in the Statement of Operations. For the period ended April 30, 2023, expense waivers and/or reimbursements are as follows:

 

     Institutional  

Administration fees waived by the Manager - class specific

  $ 2,434,728  

Transfer agent fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager

    4  

BlackRock and the BlackRock Investments, LLC (the “Distributor”) have voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of their respective fees and/or reimburse operating expenses. BlackRock and the Distributor may discontinue this voluntary waiver and/or reimbursement at any time without notice.

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

 

5.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.

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

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Fund as of April 30, 2023, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Fund’s financial statements.

U.S. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or NAV per share. As of period end, permanent differences attributable to nondeductible expenses were reclassified to the following accounts:

 

     Amounts  

Paid-in capital

  $  (77,654

Accumulated earnings (loss)

    77,654  

The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:

 

     Period Ended
04/30/23
 

Ordinary income

  $ 521,824,435  
 

 

 

 

 

 

As of April 30, 2023, the tax components of accumulated net earnings were as follows:

 

     Amounts  

Undistributed ordinary income

  $ 111,822  
 

 

 

 
  $ 111,822  
 

 

 

 

 

 

The cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes is the same as book cost.

 

6.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

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

Infectious Illness Risk: An outbreak of an infectious illness, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may adversely impact the economies of many nations and the global economy, and may impact individual issuers and capital markets in ways that cannot be foreseen. An infectious illness outbreak may result in, among other things, closed international borders, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, market volatility or disruptions and other significant economic, social and political impacts.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Fund may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Fund manages counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Fund to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and

 

 

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

  13


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Fund’s exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Fund.

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

The Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers located in the United States. A decrease in imports or exports, changes in trade regulations, inflation and/or an economic recession in the United States may have a material adverse effect on the U.S. economy and the securities listed on U.S. exchanges. Proposed and adopted policy and legislative changes in the United States may also have a significant effect on U.S. markets generally, as well as on the value of certain securities. Governmental agencies project that the United States will continue to maintain elevated public debt levels for the foreseeable future which may constrain future economic growth. Circumstances could arise that could prevent the timely payment of interest or principal on U.S. government debt, such as reaching the legislative “debt ceiling.” Such non-payment would result in substantial negative consequences for the U.S. economy and the global financial system. If U.S. relations with certain countries deteriorate, it could adversely affect issuers that rely on the United States for trade. The United States has also experienced increased internal unrest and discord. If these trends were to continue, they may have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy and the issuers in which the Fund invests.

Large-Scale Redemption Risk: Redemptions of a large number of Fund shares may adversely affect the Fund’s liquidity and net assets. These redemptions may force the Fund to sell portfolio securities to meet redemption requests when it might not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund. In addition, large redemptions can result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, which generally could result in an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.

Shareholder Purchase/Redemption Risk: Shares of the Fund are held by Circle as a portion of the reserves associated with Circle’s issuance of stablecoins to customers. The assets of the Fund are expected to fluctuate depending on the creation (mining) of additional stablecoins or the redemption (burning) of such coins by Circle. Stablecoins may face periods of uncertainty resulting in the potential for rapid requests by Circle for redemption of the Fund’s shares.

 

7.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

The number of shares sold, reinvested and redeemed corresponds to the net proceeds from the sale of shares, reinvestment of all distributions and cost of shares redeemed, respectively, since shares are sold and redeemed at $1.00 per share.

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Period from 11/03/22(a)
to 04/30/23
 
Fund Name/Share Class   Shares  

Circle Reserve Fund

 

Institutional

 

Shares sold

    35,837,009,000  

Shares redeemed

    (10,450,000,000
 

 

 

 
    25,387,009,000  
 

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Commencement of operations.

 

 

8.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

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

 

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Circle Reserve Fund and the Board of Trustees of BlackRock FundsSM:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Circle Reserve Fund of BlackRock FundsSM (the “Fund”), including the schedule of investments, as of April 30, 2023, the related statements of operations, changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for the period from November 3, 2022 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2023, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of April 30, 2023, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the period from November 3, 2022 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2023, 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 audit. 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 audit 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 audit 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 audit 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 audit 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 April 30, 2023, by correspondence with custodians or counterparties; when replies were not received, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

June 22, 2023

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

 

 

R E P O R T    O F    I N D E P E N D E N T    R E G I S T E R E D     P U B L I C    A C C O U N T I N G    F I R M

  15


Important Tax Information  (unaudited)

 

The Fund hereby designates the following amount, or maximum amount allowable by law, of distributions from direct federal obligation interest for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023:

 

Fund Name   Federal Obligation
Interest
 

Circle Reserve Fund

  $  521,905,145  

The law varies in each state as to whether and what percent of ordinary income dividends attributable to federal obligations is exempt from state income tax. Shareholders are advised to check with their tax advisers to determine if any portion of the dividends received is exempt from state income tax.

The Fund 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 April 30, 2023:

 

Fund Name   Interest Dividends  

Circle Reserve Fund

  $  521,905,145  

The Fund hereby designates the following amount, or maximum amount allowable by law, as interest-related dividends and qualified short-term capital gains eligible for exemption from U.S. withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023:

 

Fund Name   Interest-Related
Dividends
     Qualified
Short-Term
Capital Gains
 

Circle Reserve Fund

  $  521,905,145      $  31,112  

 

 

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Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement

 

The Board of Trustees (the “Board,” the members of which are referred to as “Board Members”) of BlackRock Funds (the “Trust”) met on May 10-11, 2022 (the “Organizational Meeting”) to consider the approval of the proposed investment advisory agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Trust, on behalf of Circle Reserve Fund (the “Fund”), and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager” or “BlackRock”), the Fund’s investment advisor. The Agreement was the same agreement that had been previously approved by the Board with respect to certain series of the Trust.

The Approval Process

Consistent with the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust is required to consider the initial approval of the Agreement. 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”). In connection with this deliberative process, the Board assessed, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services to be 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.

At the Organizational Meeting, the Board received and reviewed materials relating to its consideration of the proposed Agreement. The Board considered all factors it believed relevant with respect to the Fund, including, among other things: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by BlackRock; (b) the investment performance of the Fund as compared with a peer group of funds and to other metrics, as applicable; (c) the advisory fee and the estimated cost of the services and estimated profits to be realized by BlackRock and its affiliates from their relationship with the Fund; (d) the existence and sharing of potential economies of scale; (e) any fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates as a result of BlackRock’s relationship with the Fund; (f) possible alternatives to the proposed Agreement; (g) the policies and practices of BlackRock with respect to portfolio transactions for the Fund; (h) BlackRock’s portfolio compliance systems and capabilities; and (i) other factors deemed relevant by the Board Members.

In considering approval of the Agreement, the Board met with the relevant investment advisory personnel from BlackRock and considered all information it deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the Agreement. The Board received materials in advance of the Organizational Meeting relating to its consideration of the Agreement, including (a) information independently compiled and prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) regarding the Fund’s fees and estimated expense ratio as compared with a peer group of funds as determined by Broadridge (“Expense Peers”); (b) information regarding BlackRock’s economic outlook for the Fund and its general investment outlook for the markets; (c) information regarding fees paid to service providers that are affiliates of BlackRock; and (d) information outlining the legal duties of the Board under the 1940 Act with respect to the consideration and approval of the Agreement. The Board also noted information received at prior Board meetings concerning compliance records and regulatory matters relating to BlackRock.

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 the portfolio holdings of the Fund. 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.

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 to be provided by BlackRock, including the investment advisory services to be provided to the Fund. The Board received information concerning the investment philosophy and investment process to be used by BlackRock in managing the Fund, as well as a description of the capabilities, personnel and services of BlackRock. The Board considered the scope of the services provided by BlackRock to the Fund under the Agreement relative to services typically provided by third parties to other funds. The Board noted that the standard of care applicable under the Agreement was comparable to that found generally in investment company advisory agreements. The Board concluded that the scope of BlackRock’s services to be provided to the Fund was consistent with the Fund’s operational requirements, including, in addition to seeking to meet the Fund’s investment objective(s), compliance with investment restrictions, tax and reporting requirements and related shareholder services.

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, also considered the quality of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services to be provided by BlackRock and its affiliates to the Fund. The Board evaluated the procedures of BlackRock designed to fulfill its fiduciary duty to the Fund with respect to possible conflicts of interest, including BlackRock’s code of ethics (regulating the personal trading of BlackRock’s officers and employees), the procedures by which BlackRock allocates trades among its various investment advisory clients, the integrity of the systems in place to ensure compliance with the foregoing and the record of BlackRock in these matters. The Board also noted information received at prior Board meetings concerning standards of BlackRock with respect to the execution of portfolio transactions.

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. The Board also considered the business reputation of BlackRock and its financial resources and concluded that BlackRock would be able to meet any reasonably foreseeable obligation under the Agreement.

In addition to investment advisory services, the Board considered the nature and quality of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services to be provided to the Fund. The Board considered that BlackRock and its affiliates will 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 will provide the Fund with administrative services, including, among others: (i) responsibility for disclosure documents, such as the prospectus, the summary prospectus (as applicable), the statement of additional information and periodic shareholder reports; (ii) oversight of daily accounting and pricing; (iii) responsibility for periodic filings with regulators; (iv) overseeing and coordinating the activities of third-party service providers, including, among others, the Fund’s custodian, fund accountant, transfer agent, and auditor; (v) organizing Board meetings and preparing the materials for such Board meetings; (vi) providing legal and compliance support; (vii) furnishing analytical and other support to assist the Board in its consideration of strategic issues such as the merger, consolidation or repurposing of certain open-end funds; and (viii) performing or managing administrative functions necessary for the operation of the Fund, such as tax reporting, expense management, fulfilling regulatory filing requirements, overseeing the Fund’s

 

 

D I S C L O S U R E    O F    I N V E S T M E N T     A D V I S O R Y      A G R E E M E N T

  17


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreement  (continued)

 

distribution partners, 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.

B. The Investment Performance of the Fund and BlackRock

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, previously received and considered information about BlackRock’s investment performance for other funds. The Board, however, did not consider the performance history of the Fund because the Fund was newly organized and had not yet commenced operations as of the date of the Organizational Meeting.

C. Consideration of the Advisory/Management Fees and the Estimated Cost of the Services to be Provided and Estimated Profits to be Realized by BlackRock and its Affiliates from their Relationship with the Fund

In connection with the initial approval of the Agreement, 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 estimated total expense ratio, as well as its estimated actual management fee rate, to those of its Expense Peers. The total expense ratio represents a fund’s total net operating expenses, including any 12b-1 or non-12b-1 service fees. The total expense ratio gives effect to any expense reimbursements or fee waivers that benefit a fund, and the actual management fee rate gives effect to any management fee reimbursements or waivers that benefit a fund. Additionally, the Board noted information received at prior Board meetings concerning 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 noted that the Fund’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the third quartile, and that the estimated actual management fee rate and estimated total expense ratio would rank in the third and second quartiles, respectively, relative to the Fund’s Expense Peers. The Board also noted that the Fund has an advisory fee arrangement that includes breakpoints that adjust the fee rate downward as the size of the Fund increases above certain contractually specified levels. The Board noted that if the size of the Fund were to decrease, the Fund could lose the benefit of one or more breakpoints. The Board further noted that BlackRock and the Board have contractually agreed to a cap on the Fund’s total expenses as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Following consideration of this information, the Board, including the independent Board Members, concluded that the fees to be paid pursuant to the Agreement were fair and reasonable in light of the services provided.

As the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of the Organizational Meeting, BlackRock was not able to provide the Board with specific information concerning the expected profits to be realized by BlackRock and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. BlackRock, however, will provide the Board with such information at future meetings.

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, including the existence of fee waivers and/or expense caps, as applicable, noting that any contractual fee waivers and expense caps had been approved by the Board.

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 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, distribution, 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 Agreement, 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 noted the competitive nature of the open-end fund marketplace, and that shareholders are able to redeem or sell their Fund shares if they believe that the Fund’s fees and expenses are too high or if they are dissatisfied with the performance of the Fund.

Conclusion

The Board Members present at the Organizational Meeting, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the Agreement between the Manager and the Trust, with respect to the Fund, for a two-year term beginning on the effective date of the Agreement. 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 Agreement were fair and reasonable and in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. In arriving at its decision to approve the Agreement, 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.

 

 

18  

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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

5 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 5 Years

Mark Stalnecker

1951

 

Chair of the Board

(Since 2019) and Trustee

(Since 2015)

 

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

  28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios   None

Susan J. Carter

1956

 

Trustee

(Since 2016)

 

Trustee, Financial Accounting Foundation from 2017 to 2021; Advisory Board Member, Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship at Tuck School of Business from 1997 to 2021; Director, Pacific Pension Institute from 2014 to 2018; Senior Advisor, Commonfund Capital, Inc. (“CCI”) (investment adviser) in 2015; Chief Executive Officer, CCI from 2013 to 2014; President & Chief Executive Officer, CCI from 1997 to 2013; Advisory Board Member, Girls Who Invest from 2015 to 2018 and Board Member thereof from 2018 to 2022; Advisory Board Member, Bridges Fund Management since 2016; Practitioner Advisory Board Member, Private Capital Research Institute (“PCRI”) since 2017; Lecturer in the Practice of Management, Yale School of Management since 2019; Advisor to Finance Committee, Altman Foundation since 2020; Investment Committee Member, Tostan since 2021; Member of the President’s Counsel, Commonfund since 2023.

  28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios   None

Collette Chilton

1958

 

Trustee

(Since 2015)

 

Chief Investment Officer, Williams College since 2006; Chief Investment Officer, Lucent Asset Management Corporation from 1998 to 2006; Director, Boys and Girls Club of Boston since 2017; Director, B1 Capital since 2018; Director, David and Lucile Packard Foundation since 2020.

  28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios   None

Neil A. Cotty

1954

 

Trustee

(Since 2016)

 

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

  28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios   None

Lena G. Goldberg

1949

 

Trustee

(Since 2019)

 

Director, Pioneer Legal Institute since 2023; Director, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. from 2013 to 2021; Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School, from 2008 to 2021; FMR LLC/Fidelity Investments (financial services) from 1996 to 2008, serving in various senior roles including Executive Vice President - Strategic Corporate Initiatives and Executive Vice President and General Counsel; Partner, Sullivan & Worcester LLP from 1985 to 1996 and Associate thereof from 1979 to 1985.

  28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios   None

 

 

T R U S T E E      A N D     O F F I C E R    I N F O R M A T I O N

  19


Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

          Independent Trustees(a)          
         

Name

Year of Birth(b)

  

Position(s) Held

(Length of Service)(c)

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past

5 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 5 Years

Henry R. Keizer

1956

  

Trustee

(Since 2019)

  

Director, Park Indemnity Ltd. (captive insurer) from 2010 to 2022.

   28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios    GrafTech International Ltd. (materials manufacturing); Sealed Air Corp. (packaging); WABCO (commercial vehicle safety systems) from 2015 to 2020; Hertz Global Holdings (car rental) from 2015 to 2021.
Cynthia A. Montgomery 1952   

Trustee

(Since 2007)

  

Professor, Harvard Business School since 1989.

   28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios    None

Donald C. Opatrny

1952

  

Trustee

(Since 2019)

  

Chair of the Board of Phoenix Art Museum since 2022 and Trustee thereof since 2018; Chair of the Investment Committee of The Arizona Community Foundation since 2022 and trustee thereof since 2020; Director, Athena Capital Advisors LLC (investment management firm) from 2013 to 2020; Trustee, Vice Chair, Member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Investment Committee, Cornell University from 2004 to 2019; President and Trustee, the Center for the Arts, Jackson Hole from 2011 to 2018; Member of the Board and Investment Committee, University School from 2007 to 2018; Member of Affordable Housing Supply Board of Jackson, Wyoming since 2017; Member, Investment Funds Committee, State of Wyoming since 2017; Trustee, Artstor (a Mellon Foundation affiliate) from 2010 to 2015; Member of the Investment Committee, Mellon Foundation from 2009 to 2015; President, Trustee and Member of the Investment Committee, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum from 2007 to 2014; Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee, Community Foundation of Jackson Hole since 2014.

   28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios    None

Kenneth L. Urish

1951

  

Trustee

(Since 2007)

  

Managing Partner, Urish Popeck & Co., LLC (certified public accountants and consultants) since 1976; Past-Chairman of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Committee Member thereof since 2007; Member of External Advisory Board, The Pennsylvania State University Accounting Department since 2001, Emeritus since 2022; Principal, UP Strategic Wealth Investment Advisors, LLC since 2013; Trustee, The Holy Family Institute from 2001 to 2010; President and Trustee, Pittsburgh Catholic Publishing Associates from 2003 to 2008; Director, Inter-Tel from 2006 to 2007; Member, Advisory Board, ESG Competent Boards since 2020.

   28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios    None

 

 

20  

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Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

          Independent Trustees(a)          
         

Name

Year of Birth(b)

  

Position(s) Held

(Length of Service)(c)

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past

5 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 5 Years

Claire A. Walton

1957

  

Trustee

(Since 2016)

  

Advisory Board Member, Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont since 2023; Advisory Board Member, Scientific Financial Systems since 2022; General Partner of Neon Liberty Capital Management, LLC since 2003; Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Liberty Square Asset Management, LP from 1998 to 2015; Director, Boston Hedge Fund Group from 2009 to 2018; Director, Massachusetts Council on Economic Education from 2013 to 2015; Director, Woodstock Ski Runners from 2013 to 2022.

   28 RICs consisting of 166 Portfolios    None

 

 

T R U S T E E     A N D     O F F I C E R     I N F O R M A T I O N

  21


Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

          Interested Trustees(a)(d)          
         

Name

Year of Birth(b)

 

  

Position(s) Held

(Length of Service)(c)

 

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 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

5 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.

   98 RICs consisting of 266 Portfolios    None

John M. Perlowski(e)

1964

  

Trustee

(Since 2015), President and Chief Executive Officer

(Since 2010)

  

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

   100 RICs consisting of 268 Portfolios    None

 

(a) 

The address of each Trustee is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.

 

(b) 

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

 

(c) 

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

 

(d) 

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

 

(e) 

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

 

 

22  

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Trustee and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Officers Who Are Not Directors(a)
     

Name

Year of Birth(b)

 

 

Position(s) Held

(Length of Service)

 

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

 

Roland Villacorta

1971

 

Vice President

(Since 2022)

  

Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2022; Head of Global Cash Management and Head of Securities Lending within BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group since 2022; Member of BlackRock’s Global Operating Committee since 2022; Head of Portfolio Management in BlackRock’s Financial Markets Advisory Group within BlackRock Solutions from 2008 to 2015; Co-Head of BlackRock Solutions’ Portfolio Analytics Group; previously Mr. Villacorta was Co-Head of Fixed Income within BlackRock’s Risk & Quantitative Analysis Group.

Jennifer McGovern

1977

 

Vice President

(Since 2014)

  

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

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 2007)

  

Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2007.

Charles Park

1967

  Chief Compliance Officer (Since 2014)   

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

Lisa Belle

1968

 

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer

(Since 2019)

  

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

Janey Ahn

1975

 

Secretary

(Since 2019)

  

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

 

(a) 

The address of each Officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.

(b) 

Officers of the Trust serve at the pleasure of the Board.

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

 

Effective December 31, 2022, Joseph P. Platt retired as a Trustee of the Trust.

 

 

T R U S T E E     A N D     O F F I C E R     I N F O R M A T I O N

  23


Additional Information

 

General Information

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

Householding

The Fund will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, Rule 30e-3 notices and proxy statements, to shareholders with multiple accounts at the same address. This practice is commonly called “householding” and is intended to reduce expenses and eliminate duplicate mailings of shareholder documents. Mailings of your shareholder documents may be householded indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call the Transfer Agent at (800) 225-1576.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC each month on Form N-MFP. The Fund’s reports on Form N-MFP are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. The Fund makes portfolio holdings available to shareholders on its website at blackrock.com.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Voting Records

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information about how the Fund voted proxies relating to securities held in the Fund’s portfolio during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request (1) by calling (800) 626-1960; (2) on the BlackRock website at blackrock.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

BlackRock Privacy Principles

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

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

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

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

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

Fund and Service Providers

Investment Adviser and Administrator

BlackRock Advisors, LLC

Wilmington, DE 19809

Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

Wilmington, DE 19809

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, MA 02116

Distributor

BlackRock Investments, LLC

New York, NY 10001

Legal Counsel

Sidley Austin LLP

New York, NY 10019

Address of the Trust

100 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

 

 

 

24  

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Glossary of Terms Used in this Report  

 

Currency Abbreviation
USD    United States Dollar

 

 

 

 

 

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

  25


 

Want to know more?

blackrock.com | 800-441-7762

This report is intended for current holders. It is not authorized for use as an offer of sale or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by the Fund’s current prospectus. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund at any time. Performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Total return information assumes reinvestment of all distributions. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. For current month-end performance information, call (800) 626-1960. The Fund’s current 7-day yield more closely reflects the current earnings of the Fund than the total returns quoted. Statements and other information herein are as dated and are subject to change.“

CRF-4/23-AR

 

 

LOGO

   LOGO


(b) Not Applicable

 

Item 2 –

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

 

Item 3 –

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

Neil A. Cotty

Henry R. Keizer

Kenneth L. Urish

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

 

Item 4 –

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

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

 

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

Circle Reserve Fund

  $23,868     N/A   $0   N/A   $14,650   N/A   $0   N/A

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

 

     Current Fiscal Year End   Previous Fiscal Year End
     

(b) Audit-Related Fees1

  $0   $0
     

(c) Tax Fees2

  $0   $0

 

2


     

(d) All Other Fees3

  $2,154,000   $2,098,000

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 Non-audit fees of $2,154,000 and $2,098,000 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 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
Circle Reserve Fund   $14,650   N/A

 

3


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

 

Current Fiscal Year
End
  Previous Fiscal Year
End

$2,154,000

  $2,098,000

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.

(i) – Not Applicable

(j) – Not Applicable

 

Item 5 –

Audit Committee of Listed Registrant – Not Applicable

 

Item 6 –

Investments

(a) The registrant’s Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1(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 – Not Applicable

 

Item 8 –

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

 

Item 9 –

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

 

Item 10 –

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

 

Item 11 –

Controls and Procedures

(a) The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-

 

4


3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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

 

Item 12 –

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

 

Item 13 –

Exhibits attached hereto

(a)(1) Code of Ethics – See Item 2

(a)(2) Section 302 Certifications are attached

(a)(3) 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

 

5


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

BlackRock Funds

 

 

By:

    

/s/ John M. Perlowski                            

      

John M. Perlowski

      

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

      

BlackRock Funds

Date: June 22, 2023

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

 

 

By:

    

/s/ John M. Perlowski                            

      

John M. Perlowski

      

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

      

BlackRock Funds

Date: June 22, 2023

 

 

By:

    

/s/ Trent Walker                            

      

Trent Walker

      

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of

      

BlackRock Funds

Date: June 22, 2023

 

6

EX-99. CERT

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

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Date: June 22, 2023

/s/ John M. Perlowski        

John M. Perlowski

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

BlackRock Funds


EX-99. CERT

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

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Date: June 22, 2023

/s/ Trent Walker        

Trent Walker

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of

BlackRock Funds

Exhibit 99.906CERT

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

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the undersigned officer of BlackRock Funds (the “Registrant”), hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge, that the Registrant’s Report on Form N-CSR for the period ended April 30, 2023 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: June 22, 2023

/s/ John M. Perlowski        

John M. Perlowski

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

BlackRock Funds

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the undersigned officer of BlackRock Funds (the “Registrant”), hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge, that the Registrant’s Report on Form N-CSR for the period ended April 30, 2023 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: June 22, 2023

/s/ Trent Walker        

Trent Walker

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of

BlackRock Funds

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