UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-22774
Name of Fund: BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)
Fund Address: 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809
Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock Multi-Sector
Income Trust, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4
Date of fiscal year end: 10/31/2015
Date of reporting period: 10/31/2015
Item 1 Report to Stockholders
OCTOBER 31, 2015
ANNUAL REPORT
|
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ)
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT)
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT)
Not FDIC Insured May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee |
Table of Contents |
Page | ||||
3 | ||||
4 | ||||
10 | ||||
10 | ||||
Financial Statements: | ||||
11 | ||||
61 | ||||
63 | ||||
64 | ||||
66 | ||||
67 | ||||
70 | ||||
83 | ||||
83 | ||||
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreement |
84 | |||
88 | ||||
89 | ||||
92 |
2 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
The Markets in Review |
Dear Shareholder,
Diverging monetary policies and shifting economic outlooks across regions were the overarching themes driving financial markets during the 12-month period ended October 31, 2015. U.S. economic growth was picking up considerably toward the end of 2014, while the broader global economy showed signs of slowing. Investors favored the stability of U.S. assets despite expectations that the Federal Reserve (the Fed) would eventually be inclined to raise short-term interest rates, while international markets struggled even as the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan eased monetary policy. Oil prices plummeted in late 2014 due to a global supply-and-demand imbalance, fueling a sell-off in energy-related assets and emerging markets. U.S. Treasury bonds benefited as their persistently low yields had become attractive as compared to the even lower yields on international sovereign debt.
Equity markets reversed in early 2015, with international markets outperforming the United States as global risks temporarily abated, and the U.S. economy hit a soft patch amid a harsh winter and a west coast port strike. High valuations took their toll on U.S. stocks, while bond yields fell to extreme lows. (Bond prices rise as yields fall.) In contrast, economic reports in Europe and Asia began to improve, and accommodative policies from central banks in those regions helped international equities rebound. Oil prices stabilized, providing some relief for emerging market stocks, although a stronger U.S. dollar posed another significant headwind for the asset class.
U.S. economic growth regained momentum in the second quarter, helping U.S. stocks resume an upward path; however, the improving data underscored the likelihood that the Fed would raise short-term rates before the end of 2015 and bond yields moved swiftly higher. The month of June brought a sharp, but temporary, sell-off across most asset classes as Greeces long-brewing debt troubles came to an impasse. These concerns abated when the Greek parliament passed a series of austerity and reform measures in July. But the markets calm was short-lived. Signs of weakness in Chinas economy sparked extreme levels of volatility in Chinese equities despite policymakers attempts to stabilize the market.
Higher volatility spread through markets globally in the third quarter as further evidence of deceleration in China stoked worries about overall global growth. Weakening Chinese demand caused oil prices to slide once again and ignited another steep sell-off in emerging markets. Speculation as to whether the Fed would raise rates at its September meeting further fueled global volatility. Ultimately, the Fed postponed the rate hike, but this brought little relief in the markets as the central banks decision reinforced investors concerns about the state of the global economy. Stock markets finished the third quarter with the worst performance since 2011. High yield bonds also declined, while higher quality assets, including U.S. Treasury bonds, municipal bonds and investment grade credit benefited from investors seeking shelter amid global uncertainty.
The period ended with a strong October rally in risk assets. Given the recent scarcity of evidence of global growth, equity markets had become more reliant on central banks to drive performance. Although October brought generally soft economic data and lower growth estimates, global equities powered higher as Chinas central bank provided more stimulus, the European Central Bank poised for more easing and soft U.S. data pushed back expectations for a Fed rate hike. Treasury bonds declined in October while all other asset classes benefited from investors increased risk appetite.
At BlackRock, we believe investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes and be prepared to move freely as market conditions change over time. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit blackrock.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC
Total Returns as of October 31, 2015 | ||||||||
6-month | 12-month | |||||||
U.S. large cap equities |
0.77 | % | 5.20 | % | ||||
U.S. small cap equities |
(4.12 | ) | 0.34 | |||||
International equities |
(6.44 | ) | (0.07 | ) | ||||
Emerging market equities |
(17.75 | ) | (14.53 | ) | ||||
3-month Treasury bills |
0.01 | 0.02 | ||||||
U.S. Treasury securities |
(0.02 | ) | 3.57 | |||||
U.S. investment-grade bonds (Barclays U.S. |
(0.10 | ) | 1.96 | |||||
Tax-exempt municipal |
1.58 | 2.87 | ||||||
U.S. high yield bonds |
(3.38 | ) | (1.91 | ) | ||||
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index. |
THIS PAGE NOT PART OF YOUR FUND REPORT | 3 |
Trust Summary as of October 31, 2015 | BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trusts (BTZ) (the Trust) investment objective is to provide current income, current gains and capital appreciation. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in credit-related securities, including, but not limited to, investment grade corporate bonds, high yield bonds (commonly referred to as junk bonds), bank loans, preferred securities or convertible bonds or derivatives with economic characteristics similar to these credit-related securities. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Trusts investment objective will be achieved.
Trust Information | ||
Symbol on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
BTZ | |
Initial Offering Date |
December 27, 2006 | |
Current Distribution Rate on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2015 ($12.53)1 |
7.71% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share2 |
$0.0805 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share2 |
$0.9660 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20153 |
31% |
1 | Current distribution rate on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. The current distribution rate consists of income, net realized gains and/or a return of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. A portion of the distribution may be deemed a return of capital or net realized gain. |
3 | Represents reverse repurchase agreements as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to any borrowings) minus the sum of liabilities (other than borrowings representing financial leverage). For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 10. |
Performance and Portfolio Management Commentary |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
4 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/15 | 10/31/14 |
Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 12.53 | $ | 13.54 | (7.46 | )% | $ | 13.65 | $ | 12.06 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 14.33 | $ | 15.36 | (6.71 | )% | $ | 15.41 | $ | 14.18 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments |
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 5 |
Trust Summary as of October 31, 2015 | BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trusts (BGT) (the Trust) primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current income. The Trusts secondary investment objective is to seek the preservation of capital. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily, under normal conditions, at least 80% of its assets in floating and variable rate instruments of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers, including a substantial portion of its assets in global floating and variable rate securities including senior secured floating rate loans made to corporate and other business entities. Under normal market conditions, the Trust expects that the average effective duration of its portfolio will be no more than 1.5 years. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Trusts investment objectives will be achieved.
Trust Information |
Symbol on NYSE |
BGT | |
Initial Offering Date |
August 30, 2004 | |
Current Distribution Rate on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2015 ($12.77)1 |
5.48% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share2 |
$0.0583 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share2 |
$0.6996 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20153 |
24% |
1 | Current distribution rate on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. The current distribution rate consists of income, net realized gains and/or a return of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. A portion of the distribution may be deemed a return of capital or net realized gain. |
3 | Represents bank borrowings outstanding as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to any borrowings) minus the sum of liabilities (other than borrowings representing financial leverage). For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 10. |
Performance and Portfolio Management Commentary |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
6 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/15 | 10/31/14 |
Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 12.77 | $ | 13.18 | (3.11 | )% | $ | 13.73 | $ | 12.27 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 14.18 | $ | 14.57 | (2.68 | )% | $ | 14.69 | $ | 14.12 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments |
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 7 |
Trust Summary as of October 31, 2015 | BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust |
Trust Overview |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trusts (BIT) (the Trust) primary investment objective is to seek high current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in loan and debt instruments and other investments with similar economic characteristics. The Trust may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Trusts investment objective will be achieved.
Trust Information | ||
Symbol on NYSE |
BIT | |
Initial Offering Date |
February 27, 2013 | |
Current Distribution Rate on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2015 ($16.31)1 |
8.59% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share2 |
$0.1167 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share2 |
$1.4004 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20153 |
41% |
1 | Current distribution rate on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. The current distribution rate consists of income, net realized gains and/or a return of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. A portion of the distribution may be deemed a return of capital or net realized gain. |
3 | Represents reverse repurchase agreements as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to any borrowings) minus the sum of liabilities (other than borrowings representing financial leverage). For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Trust, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 10. |
Performance and Portfolio Management Commentary |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
8 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/15 | 10/31/14 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 16.31 | $ | 17.79 | (8.32 | )% | $ | 17.98 | $ | 15.15 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 18.91 | $ | 19.87 | (4.83 | )% | $ | 19.90 | $ | 18.77 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History Since Inception |
1 | Commencement of operations. |
Overview of the Trusts Total Investments |
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 9 |
The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging |
Derivative Financial Instruments |
10 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
Portfolio Abbreviations |
ABS | Asset-Backed Security | FKA | Formerly Known As | OTC | Over-the-Counter | |||||
ADS | American Depositary Shares | GBP | British Pound | PIK | Payment-In-Kind | |||||
ARB | Airport Revenue Bonds | IDR | Indonesian Rupiah | PLN | Polish Zloty | |||||
AUD | Australian Dollar | JIBAR | Johannesburg Interbank Agreed Rate | RB | Revenue Bonds | |||||
BRL | Brazilian Real | JPY | Japanese Yen | REMIC | Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit | |||||
CAD | Canadian Dollar | KLIBOR | Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offered Rate | RUB | Russian Ruble | |||||
CLO | Collateralized Loan Obligation | KRW | South Korean Won | SEK | Swedish Krona | |||||
CLP | Chilean Peso | LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate | TRY | Turkish Lira | |||||
CNRR | Chinese Repo Rate | MXIBTIIE | Mexico Interbank TIIE 28 Day | TWD | Taiwan Dollar | |||||
CNY | Chinese Renminbi | MXN | Mexican Peso | USD | U.S. Dollar | |||||
DIP | Debtor-In-Possession | MYR | Malaysian Ringgit | ZAR | South African Rand | |||||
EUR | Euro | NZD | New Zealand Dollar |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 11 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
12 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 13 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 15 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 17 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
18 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 19 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
(a) | Variable rate security. Rate shown is as of report date. |
(b) | Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors. |
(c) | Represents a payment-in-kind security which may pay interest/dividends in additional par/shares and/or in cash. Rates shown are the current rate and possible payment rates. |
(d) | All or a portion of security has been pledged as collateral in connection with outstanding reverse repurchase agreements. |
(e) | Security is perpetual in nature and has no stated maturity date. |
(f) | Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default of interest payments. |
(g) | Non-income producing security. |
(h) | When-issued security. |
(i) | Represents a step-up bond that pays an initial coupon rate for the first period and then a higher coupon rate for the following periods. Rate shown is as of report date. |
(j) | Zero-coupon bond. |
(k) | Convertible security. |
(l) | During the year ended October 31, 2015, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate of the Trust for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows: |
Affiliate | Shares Held at October 31, 2014 |
Net Activity |
Shares Held at October 31, 2015 |
Income | ||||||||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, TempFund, Institutional Class |
4,283,291 | (3,673,187 | ) | 610,104 | $ | 7,660 |
(m) | Represents the current yield as of report date. |
| For Trust compliance purposes, the Trusts sector classifications refer to any one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment advisor. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector sub-classifications for reporting ease. |
As of period end, reverse repurchase agreements outstanding were as follows:
Counterparty | Interest Rate |
Trade Date |
Maturity Date1 |
Face Value | Face Value Including Accrued Interest |
|||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.32 | % | 2/05/14 | Open | $ | 956,709 | $ | 962,127 | ||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.33 | % | 2/10/14 | Open | 6,197,000 | 6,232,674 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 2/28/14 | Open | 7,944,000 | 7,991,190 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.30 | % | 5/08/14 | Open | 9,646,000 | 9,689,568 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 4,668,000 | 4,712,029 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
(0.50 | )% | 5/13/14 | Open | 2,016,000 | 2,000,992 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.32 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 8,649,000 | 8,690,208 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.32 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 2,182,000 | 2,192,396 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.32 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 7,149,000 | 7,183,061 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.34 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 1,256,000 | 1,262,358 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.34 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 10,604,000 | 10,657,680 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.34 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 683,000 | 686,458 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.34 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 5,229,000 | 5,255,470 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.35 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 10,880,000 | 10,936,697 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.35 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 6,046,000 | 6,077,506 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.35 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 1,115,000 | 1,120,810 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.35 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 6,061,000 | 6,092,585 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.35 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 5,546,000 | 5,574,901 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.35 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 3,255,000 | 3,271,962 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.35 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 23,285,000 | 23,406,341 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.35 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 11,160,000 | 11,218,156 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 5/14/14 | Open | 6,234,000 | 6,275,690 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 5/14/14 | Open | 1,213,000 | 1,223,455 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 5/14/14 | Open | 2,791,000 | 2,815,886 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 5/14/14 | Open | 11,233,000 | 11,331,492 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.40 | % | 7/01/14 | Open | 10,010,000 | 10,063,818 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.40 | % | 10/07/14 | Open | 13,545,000 | 13,603,695 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 734,000 | 775,704 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 9,152,000 | 9,194,479 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 2,514,000 | 2,557,254 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 4,956,000 | 5,000,804 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 4,995,000 | 5,040,579 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
0.35 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 5,182,000 | 5,228,354 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
20 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
As of period end, reverse repurchase agreements outstanding were as follows (continued):
Counterparty | Interest Rate |
Trade Date |
Maturity Date1 |
Face Value | Face Value Including Accrued Interest |
|||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.34 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | $ | 4,668,000 | $ | 4,691,630 | ||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.50 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 3,368,000 | 3,382,688 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.40 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 528,000 | 529,962 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.40 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 3,197,000 | 3,210,943 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.40 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 2,287,000 | 2,296,974 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.45 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 556,000 | 558,045 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.45 | % | 4/27/15 | Open | 5,322,969 | 5,335,478 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.45 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 4,926,000 | 4,947,483 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.45 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 3,627,000 | 3,642,818 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.45 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 6,627,000 | 6,655,901 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.50 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 2,740,000 | 2,751,949 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.50 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 1,203,000 | 1,208,246 | ||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.40 | % | 12/19/14 | Open | 9,435,000 | 9,468,232 | ||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.17 | % | 3/05/15 | Open | 3,570,225 | 3,574,747 | ||||||||||
HSBC Securities (USA), Inc. |
0.38 | % | 3/12/15 | Open | 8,240,466 | 8,260,820 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 4/06/15 | Open | 5,675,000 | 5,687,788 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.45 | % | 4/07/15 | Open | 5,499,000 | 5,511,709 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 4/29/15 | Open | 3,345,000 | 3,352,259 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 4/30/15 | Open | 2,894,325 | 2,900,274 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 5/07/15 | Open | 3,443,000 | 3,449,980 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 5/14/15 | Open | 12,214,000 | 12,238,367 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 5/14/15 | Open | 3,125,000 | 3,131,234 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.40 | % | 5/27/15 | Open | 3,484,500 | 3,492,147 | ||||||||||
HSBC Securities (USA), Inc. |
0.40 | % | 6/01/15 | Open | 11,850,000 | 11,870,145 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 9,261,000 | 9,275,347 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 4,656,000 | 4,663,213 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 5,665,000 | 5,673,776 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 2,955,000 | 2,959,578 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 4,202,000 | 4,208,727 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 7,177,000 | 7,189,458 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 5,313,000 | 5,321,505 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 14,483,000 | 14,506,185 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 7,799,000 | 7,811,485 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 5,230,000 | 5,238,372 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 4,799,000 | 4,806,682 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 10,541,000 | 10,557,874 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 3,234,000 | 3,239,177 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 4,786,000 | 4,793,662 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 2,027,000 | 2,030,245 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 4,825,000 | 4,832,724 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 9,401,000 | 9,417,804 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 172,559,000 | 172,826,323 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 6/12/15 | Open | 2,706,875 | 2,711,039 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
(1.00 | )% | 6/16/15 | Open | 333,680 | 332,401 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 6/25/15 | Open | 3,413,250 | 3,418,020 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 6/25/15 | Open | 3,567,375 | 3,572,360 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 9/03/15 | Open | 4,363,968 | 4,366,757 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.45 | % | 9/11/15 | Open | 12,494,000 | 12,501,496 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.45 | % | 9/11/15 | Open | 11,165,000 | 11,171,699 | ||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.45 | % | 9/11/15 | Open | 7,395,000 | 7,399,437 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/21/15 | Open | 4,160,375 | 4,160,871 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/23/15 | Open | 13,890,000 | 13,890,903 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/23/15 | Open | 3,940,000 | 3,940,256 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/23/15 | Open | 5,655,000 | 5,655,368 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/23/15 | Open | 3,779,000 | 3,779,246 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/23/15 | Open | 4,370,000 | 4,370,284 | ||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/23/15 | Open | 3,285,000 | 3,285,214 | ||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
(1.25 | )% | 10/29/15 | Open | 438,075 | 438,029 | ||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
(2.50 | )% | 10/29/15 | Open | 894,413 | 894,226 | ||||||||||
Total |
$ | 683,676,205 | $ | 685,715,941 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
1 Certain agreements have no started maturity and can be terminated by either party at any time. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 21 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End |
Financial Futures Contracts
Contracts Long (Short) |
Issue | Expiration | Notional Value |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||
102 | 2-Year U.S. Treasury Note | December 2015 | USD | 22,302,938 | $ | (36,688 | ) | |||||||||||
2,286 | 5-Year U.S. Treasury Note | December 2015 | USD | 273,802,079 | (728,387 | ) | ||||||||||||
(542 | ) | 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note | December 2015 | USD | 69,206,625 | (13,095 | ) | |||||||||||
(202 | ) | Long U.S. Treasury Bond | December 2015 | USD | 31,600,375 | 404,250 | ||||||||||||
617 | Ultra Long U.S. Treasury Bond | December 2015 | USD | 98,565,750 | (109,474 | ) | ||||||||||||
(871 | ) | 90-Day Euro Future | December 2016 | USD | 215,550,725 | (790,992 | ) | |||||||||||
(900 | ) | 90-Day Euro Future | March 2017 | USD | 222,412,500 | (1,542,474 | ) | |||||||||||
Total | $ | (2,816,860 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
|
Exchange-Traded Options Purchased
Description | Put/ Call |
Strike |
Expiration Date |
Contracts | Value | |||||||||||||||||
90-Day Euro-Dollar |
Put | USD | 98.00 | 12/14/15 | 1,698 | $ | 10,612 | |||||||||||||||
90-Day Euro-Dollar |
Put | USD | 99.00 | 12/14/15 | 1,698 | 10,613 | ||||||||||||||||
S&P 500 Index |
Put | USD | 1,980.00 | 1/15/16 | 250 | 717,500 | ||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 738,725 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Purchased
Description | Counterparty | Put/ Call |
Exercise Rate |
Pay/ Receive |
Floating Rate Index |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Value | ||||||||||
30-Year Interest Swap |
Deutsche Bank AG | Put | 3.35% | Pay | 3-month LIBOR | 6/09/16 | USD 63,150 | $ | 517,661 |
Exchange-Traded Options Written
Description | Put/ Call |
Strike Price |
Expiration Date |
Contracts | Value | |||||||||||||
90-Day Euro-Dollar |
Put | USD 98.50 | 12/14/15 | 3,396 | $ | (21,225 | ) |
Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps
Fixed Rate | Floating Rate |
Effective Date |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
|||||||||||||||
1.65%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 11/30/19 | USD | 39,200 | $ | (478,038 | ) | ||||||||||||
1.36%1 |
3-month LIBOR | 1/6/20162 | 2/29/20 | USD | 50,180 | 141,774 | ||||||||||||||
1.37%1 |
3-month LIBOR | 1/6/20162 | 2/29/20 | USD | 49,620 | 111,378 | ||||||||||||||
1.32%1 |
3-month LIBOR | 1/6/20162 | 2/29/20 | USD | 24,690 | 109,131 | ||||||||||||||
1.35%1 |
3-month LIBOR | 1/6/20162 | 2/29/20 | USD | 24,890 | 80,361 | ||||||||||||||
2.21%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 10/18/20 | USD | 65,000 | (2,233,926 | ) | |||||||||||||
2.79%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 10/11/23 | USD | 68,000 | (4,574,794 | ) | |||||||||||||
2.79%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 11/18/23 | USD | 10,600 | (710,255 | ) | |||||||||||||
3.03%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 1/08/24 | USD | 10,900 | (933,899 | ) | |||||||||||||
2.38%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 5/14/25 | USD | 12,500 | (381,543 | ) | |||||||||||||
3.03%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 2/15/40 | USD | 8,769 | (897,056 | ) | |||||||||||||
3.05%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 2/15/40 | USD | 8,769 | (914,046 | ) | |||||||||||||
3.05%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 2/15/40 | USD | 8,769 | (918,379 | ) | |||||||||||||
3.06%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 2/15/40 | USD | 4,769 | (512,457 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total |
$ | (12,111,749 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
1 Trust pays the fixed rate and receives the floating rate. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2 Forward swap. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
22 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
OTC Credit Default Swaps Buy Protection
Issuer/Index | Pay Fixed Rate |
Counterparty | Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Market Value |
Premiums Paid (Received) |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Southwest Airlines Co. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs Bank USA | 12/20/16 | USD | 2,535 | $ | (27,174 | ) | $ | 27,456 | $ | (54,630 | ) | |||||||||||||
Southwest Airlines Co. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs International | 12/20/16 | USD | 1,465 | (15,704 | ) | 15,867 | (31,571 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Southwest Airlines Co. |
1.00% | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | 12/20/16 | USD | 4,000 | (42,964 | ) | 47,112 | (90,076 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
STMicro Electronics |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 6/20/17 | EUR | 1,500 | (13,567 | ) | 21,083 | (34,650 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Cigna Corp. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs Bank USA | 9/20/17 | USD | 4,500 | (78,066 | ) | (4,070 | ) | (73,996 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Cigna Corp. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs International | 9/20/17 | USD | 2,800 | (48,575 | ) | (2,532 | ) | (46,043 | ) | |||||||||||||||
General Dynamic Corp. |
1.00% | Credit Suisse International | 9/20/17 | USD | 5,585 | (98,263 | ) | (52,441 | ) | (45,822 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Humana, Inc. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs Bank USA | 9/20/17 | USD | 4,500 | (76,327 | ) | 28,010 | (104,337 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Humana, Inc. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs International | 9/20/17 | USD | 2,800 | (47,493 | ) | 17,428 | (64,921 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Lockheed Martin Corp. |
1.00% | Credit Suisse International | 9/20/17 | USD | 5,585 | (99,317 | ) | (18,247 | ) | (81,070 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Northrop Grumman Corp. |
1.00% | Credit Suisse International | 9/20/17 | USD | 4,715 | (84,456 | ) | (40,729 | ) | (43,727 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Raytheon Co. |
1.00% | Credit Suisse International | 9/20/17 | USD | 4,715 | (85,407 | ) | (43,385 | ) | (42,022 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Citigroup, Inc. |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 3/20/19 | USD | 16,700 | (221,048 | ) | (48,292 | ) | (172,756 | ) | |||||||||||||||
YUM! Brands, Inc. |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 3/20/19 | USD | 20,000 | 235,915 | (253,252 | ) | 489,167 | |||||||||||||||||
MetLife, Inc. |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 1,360 | (10,938 | ) | (1,318 | ) | (9,620 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Prudential Financial, Inc. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs International | 12/20/20 | USD | 1,181 | (9,291 | ) | (8,647 | ) | (644 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Prudential Financial, Inc. |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 1,879 | (14,782 | ) | (5,470 | ) | (9,312 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | (737,457 | ) | $ | (321,427 | ) | $ | (416,030 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
OTC Credit Default Swaps Sell Protection
Issuer/Index | Receive Fixed Rate |
Counterparty | Expiration Date |
Credit Rating1 |
Notional Amount (000)2 |
Market Value |
Premiums Paid (Received) |
Unrealized Appreciation |
||||||||||||||||||||
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. |
1.00% | Credit Suisse International | 6/20/17 | BBB | USD | 2,425 | $ | 18,665 | $ | (39,736 | ) | $ | 58,401 | |||||||||||||||
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. |
1.00% | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC | 6/20/17 | BBB | USD | 10 | 77 | (181 | ) | 258 | ||||||||||||||||||
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. |
1.00% | UBS AG | 6/20/17 | BBB | USD | 994 | 7,651 | (17,717 | ) | 25,368 | ||||||||||||||||||
Anthem, Inc. (FKA WellPoint, Inc.) |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs International | 9/20/17 | A | USD | 2,800 | 42,797 | (10,023 | ) | 52,820 | ||||||||||||||||||
Anthem, Inc. (FKA WellPoint, Inc.) |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs Bank USA | 9/20/17 | A | USD | 4,500 | 68,781 | (16,108 | ) | 84,889 | ||||||||||||||||||
Comcast Corp. |
1.00% | Credit Suisse International | 9/20/17 | A- | USD | 12,200 | 211,562 | 19,865 | 191,697 | |||||||||||||||||||
United Health Group, Inc. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs Bank USA | 9/20/17 | A+ | USD | 4,500 | 75,914 | (4,053 | ) | 79,967 | ||||||||||||||||||
United Health Group, Inc. |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs International | 9/20/17 | A+ | USD | 2,800 | 47,235 | (2,522 | ) | 49,757 | ||||||||||||||||||
MetLife, Inc. |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 3/20/18 | A- | USD | 3,025 | 45,872 | (58,587 | ) | 104,459 | ||||||||||||||||||
Bank of America Corp. |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 3/20/19 | A- | USD | 16,700 | 260,427 | 86,105 | 174,322 | |||||||||||||||||||
Valero Energy Corp. |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 9/20/19 | BBB | USD | 40 | 387 | 146 | 241 | |||||||||||||||||||
Valero Energy Corp. |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 9/20/19 | BBB | USD | 3 | 28 | 11 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||
Valero Energy Corp. |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 9/20/19 | BBB | USD | 110 | 1,071 | 364 | 707 | |||||||||||||||||||
Valero Energy Corp. |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 9/20/19 | BBB | USD | 24 | 233 | 159 | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 780,700 | $ | (42,277 | ) | $ | 822,977 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Using Standard & Poors rating of the issuer or the underlying securities of the index, as applicable. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 The maximum potential amount the Trust may pay should a negative credit event take place as defined under the terms of the agreement. |
|
Transactions in Options Written for the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Calls | Puts | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Contracts | Notional (000)1 |
Premiums Received |
Contracts | Notional (000)1 |
Premiums Received |
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding options, beginning of year |
| | | 3,396 | 406,600 | $ | 7,454,970 | |||||||||||||||||
Options written |
| 44,200 | $ | 901,516 | 1,230 | 44,200 | 2,405,492 | |||||||||||||||||
Options exercised |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Options expired |
| | | (850) | | (327,114 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Options closed |
| (44,200 | ) | (901,516 | ) | (380) | (450,800 | ) | (8,472,163 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding options, end of year |
| | | 3,396 | | $ | 1,061,185 | |||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Amount shown is in the currency in which the transaction was denominated. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 23 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure |
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows: |
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
Net unrealized appreciation1 | | | | | $ | 404,250 | | $ | 404,250 | ||||||||||||||
Options purchased |
Investments at value unaffiliated2 | | | $ | 717,500 | | 538,886 | | 1,256,386 | |||||||||||||||
Swaps OTC |
Unrealized appreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums paid |
| $ | 1,575,750 | | | | | 1,575,750 | |||||||||||||||
Swaps centrally cleared |
Net unrealized appreciation1 | | | | | 442,644 | | 442,644 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | 1,575,750 | $ | 717,500 | | $ | 1,385,780 | | $ | 3,679,030 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
Net unrealized depreciation1 | | | | | $ | 3,221,110 | | $ | 3,221,110 | ||||||||||||||
Options written |
Options written at value | | | | | 21,225 | | 21,225 | ||||||||||||||||
Swaps OTC |
Unrealized depreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums received |
| $ | 1,532,507 | | | | | 1,532,507 | |||||||||||||||
Swaps centrally cleared |
Net unrealized depreciation1 | | | | | 12,554,393 | | 12,554,393 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | 1,532,507 | | | $ | 15,796,728 | | $ | 17,329,235 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
1 Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on financial futures contracts and centrally cleared swaps, if any, as reported in the Schedules of Investments. Only current days variation margin is reported within the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 Includes options purchased at value as reported in the Schedules of Investments. |
For the year ended October 31, 2015, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
| | | | $ | (901,072 | ) | | $ | (901,072 | ) | |||||||||||
Options purchased1 |
| | $ | 1,988,820 | | (5,067,151 | ) | | (3,078,331 | ) | ||||||||||||
Options written |
| | (1,180,312 | ) | | 5,857,045 | | 4,676,733 | ||||||||||||||
Swaps |
| $ | (492,839 | ) | | | (3,665,540 | ) | | (4,158,379 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | (492,839 | ) | $ | 808,508 | | $ | (3,776,718 | ) | | $ | (3,461,049 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
1 Options purchased are included in net realized gain (loss) from investments. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
| | | | $ | (3,241,507 | ) | | $ | (3,241,507 | ) | |||||||||||
Options purchased1 |
| | $ | (85,760 | ) | | 1,299,762 | | 1,214,002 | |||||||||||||
Options written |
| | | | (3,970,751 | ) | | (3,970,751 | ) | |||||||||||||
Swaps |
| $ | 799,554 | | | (7,720,941 | ) | | (6,921,387 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | 799,554 | $ | (85,760 | ) | | $ | (13,633,437 | ) | | $ | (12,919,643 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
1 Options purchased are included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
24 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments |
Financial futures contracts: |
||||
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 334,314,350 | ||
Average notional value of contracts short |
$ | 827,532,673 | ||
Options: | ||||
Average value of option contracts purchased |
$ | 504,769 | ||
Average value of option contracts written |
$ | 68,981 | ||
Average notional value of swaption contracts purchased |
$ | 179,800,000 | ||
Average notional value of swaption contracts written |
$ | 203,300,000 | ||
Credit default swaps: | ||||
Average notional value buy protection |
$ | 84,010,394 | ||
Average notional value sell protection |
$ | 50,843,791 | ||
Interest rate swaps: | ||||
Average notional value pays fixed rate |
$ | 283,760,000 | ||
Average notional value receives fixed rate |
$ | 11,800,000 |
For more information about the Trusts investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Derivative Financial Instruments Offsetting as of Period End |
The Trusts derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:
Assets | Liabilities | |||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments: | ||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
$ | 715,208 | $ | 160,317 | ||||
Options |
1,256,386 | 1 | 21,225 | |||||
Swaps Centrally cleared |
| 498,178 | ||||||
Swaps OTC2 |
1,575,750 | 1,532,507 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities |
$ | 3,547,344 | $ | 2,212,227 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (MNA) |
(1,453,933 | ) | (679,720 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA |
$ | 2,093,411 | $ | 1,532,507 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
1 Includes options purchased at value which is included in Investments at value unaffiliated in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and reported in the Schedules of Investments. |
| |||||||
2 Includes unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC swaps and swap premiums paid/received in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. |
|
The following table presents the Trusts derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an Master Netting Agreement (MNA) and net of the related collateral received and pledged by the Trust:
Counterparty | Derivative Assets Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
Derivatives Available for Offset1 |
Non-cash Collateral Received |
Cash Collateral Received2 |
Net Amount of Derivative Assets3 |
|||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 22,569 | $ | (22,569 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||
Citibank N.A. |
233 | (233 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse International |
269,963 | (269,963 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
1,371,714 | (532,887 | ) | | $ | (838,827 | ) | | ||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Bank USA |
220,322 | (220,322 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs International |
135,872 | (135,872 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC |
258 | (181 | ) | | | $ | 77 | |||||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC |
47,112 | (47,112 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
UBS AG |
25,368 | (17,717 | ) | | | 7,651 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
$ | 2,093,411 | $ | (1,246,856 | ) | | $ | (838,827 | ) | $ | 7,728 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 25 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
Counterparty | Derivative Liabilities Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
Derivatives Available for Offset1 |
Non-cash Collateral Pledged |
Cash Collateral Pledged |
Net Amount of Derivative Liabilities4 |
|||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 34,650 | $ | (22,569 | ) | | | $ | 12,081 | |||||||||
Citibank N.A. |
25,720 | (233 | ) | | | 25,487 | ||||||||||||
Credit Suisse International |
407,179 | (269,963 | ) | | | 137,216 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
532,887 | (532,887 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Bank USA |
257,194 | (220,322 | ) | | | 36,872 | ||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs International |
166,903 | (135,872 | ) | | | 31,031 | ||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC |
181 | (181 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC |
90,076 | (47,112 | ) | | | 42,964 | ||||||||||||
UBS AG |
17,717 | (17,717 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1,532,507 | $ | (1,246,856 | ) | | | $ | 285,651 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
1 The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA. |
| |||||||||||||||||
2 Excess of collateral received from the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes. |
| |||||||||||||||||
3 Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default. |
| |||||||||||||||||
4 Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default. |
|
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End |
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Trusts policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following tables summarize the Trusts investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Asset-Backed Securities |
| $ | 77,792,608 | $ | 11,525,615 | $ | 89,318,223 | |||||||||
Corporate Bonds |
| 1,660,174,945 | 5,079,000 | 1,665,253,945 | ||||||||||||
Foreign Agency Obligations |
| 10,793,097 | | 10,793,097 | ||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds |
| 18,242,850 | | 18,242,850 | ||||||||||||
Preferred Securities |
$ | 53,324,734 | 356,383,323 | | 409,708,057 | |||||||||||
U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Securities |
| 3,669,639 | | 3,669,639 | ||||||||||||
Short-Term Securities |
610,104 | | | 610,104 | ||||||||||||
Options Purchased: | ||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Contracts |
21,225 | 517,661 | | 538,886 | ||||||||||||
Equity Contracts |
717,500 | | | 717,500 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 54,673,563 | $ | 2,127,574,123 | $ | 16,604,615 | $ | 2,198,852,301 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments1 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Credit contracts |
| $ | 1,312,144 | | $ | 1,312,144 | ||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
$ | 404,250 | 442,644 | | 846,894 | |||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Credit contracts |
| (905,197 | ) | | (905,197 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
(3,242,335 | ) | (12,554,393 | ) | | (15,796,728 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | (2,838,085 | ) | $ | (11,704,802 | ) | | $ | (14,542,887 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
1 Derivative financial instruments are swaps, financial futures contracts and options written. Swaps and financial futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument and options written are shown at value. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
26 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (concluded) |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
The Trust may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount or face value, including accrued interest, for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | 1,697,637 | | | $ | 1,697,637 | ||||||||
Cash pledged for centrally cleared swaps |
9,035,930 | | | 9,035,930 | ||||||||||
Cash pledged as collateral for reverse repurchase agreements |
2,704,000 | | | 2,704,000 | ||||||||||
Cash pledged for financial futures contracts |
4,302,780 | | | 4,302,780 | ||||||||||
Foreign currency at value |
8,883 | | | 8,883 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||
Cash received as collateral for OTC derivatives |
| $ | (1,000,000 | ) | | (1,000,000 | ) | |||||||
Reverse repurchase agreements |
| (685,715,941 | ) | | (685,715,941 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 17,749,230 | $ | (686,715,941 | ) | | $ | (668,966,711 | ) | |||||
|
|
During the year ended October 31, 2015, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented when the Trust had a significant amount of Level 3 investments at the beginning and/or end of the year in relation to net assets. The following table is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining fair value:
Asset-Backed Securities |
Corporate Bonds |
Total | ||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||
Opening Balance, as of October 31, 2014 |
$ | 5,930,350 | $ | 21,431,574 | $ | 27,361,924 | ||||||
Transfers into Level 31 |
3,359,388 | | 3,359,388 | |||||||||
Transfers out of Level 32 |
(2,392,425 | ) | (4,477,824 | ) | (6,870,249 | ) | ||||||
Accrued discounts/premiums |
16,955 | | 16,955 | |||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) |
(17,637 | ) | (230,000 | ) | (247,637 | ) | ||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)3,4 |
66,834 | (374,750 | ) | (307,916 | ) | |||||||
Purchases |
7,154,650 | | 7,154,650 | |||||||||
Sales |
(2,592,500 | ) | (11,270,000 | ) | (13,862,500 | ) | ||||||
Closing Balance, as of October 31, 2015 |
$ | 11,525,615 | $ | 5,079,000 | $ | 16,604,615 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 20154 |
$ | 60,052 | $ | 56,500 | $ | 116,552 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
1 As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used observable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments at beginning of period value of $3,359,388 were transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 in the disclosure hierarchy. |
| |||||||||||
2 As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used observable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments at beginning of period value of $6,870,249 were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 in the disclosure hierarchy. |
| |||||||||||
3 Included in the related net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Statements of Operations. |
| |||||||||||
4 Any difference between net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 2015 is generally due to investments no longer held or categorized as Level 3 at period end. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 27 |
Schedule of Investments October 31, 2015 |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
28 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 29 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
30 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 31 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
32 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 33 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
34 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | Variable rate security. Rate shown is as of report date. |
(c) | Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors. |
(d) | When-issued security. |
(e) | Zero-coupon bond. |
(f) | Convertible security. |
(g) | Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default of interest payments. |
(h) | Amount is less than $500. |
(i) | Other interests represent beneficial interests in liquidation trusts and other reorganization or private entities. |
(j) | During the year ended October 31, 2015, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate of the Trust for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows: |
Affiliate | Shares Held at October 31, 2014 |
Net Activity |
Shares Held at October 31, 2015 |
Income | ||||||||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds,TempFund, Institutional Class |
2,630,534 | (1,536,421 | ) | 1,094,113 | $ | 420 |
(k) | Represents the current yield as of report date. |
| For Trust compliance purposes, the Trusts industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment advisor. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
Currency Purchased |
Currency Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
EUR | 800,000 | USD | 907,528 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 11/04/15 | $ | (27,797 | ) | ||||||||||||
EUR | 188,000 | USD | 207,318 | State Street Bank and Trust Co. | 11/04/15 | (581 | ) | |||||||||||||
GBP | 36,000 | USD | 55,755 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (258 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 1,407,168 | CAD | 1,838,000 | HSBC Bank PLC | 11/04/15 | 1,560 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 2,249,947 | EUR | 1,980,000 | Barclays Bank PLC | 11/04/15 | 72,614 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 47,847 | GBP | 31,000 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 58 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 1,721,795 | GBP | 1,131,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 11/04/15 | (21,743 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 1,391,501 | CAD | 1,834,000 | UBS AG | 12/03/15 | (10,794 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 1,090,729 | EUR | 987,000 | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/03/15 | 4,969 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 1,728,553 | GBP | 1,126,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 12/03/15 | (6,972 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | 11,056 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
OTC Options Purchased
Description | Put/ Call |
Counterparty | Expiration Date |
Strike Price |
Contracts | Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Marsico Parent Superholdco LLC |
Call | Goldman Sachs & Co. | 12/14/19 | USD | 942.86 | 26 | |
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure |
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| | | $ | 79,201 | | | $ | 79,201 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Options purchased |
Investments at value unaffiliated1 | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
| | | $ | 79,201 | | | $ | 79,201 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 35 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| | | $ | 68,145 | | | $ | 68,145 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
1 Includes options purchased at value as reported in the Schedule of Investments. |
|
For the year ended October 31, 2015, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations was as follows:
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| | | $ | 2,014,193 | | | $ | 2,014,193 | |||||||||||||||||||
Swaps |
| $ | (43,669 | ) | | | | | (43,669 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | (43,669 | ) | | $ | 2,014,193 | | | $ | 1,970,524 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| | | $ | (180,035 | ) | | | $ | (180,034 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts: |
||||
Average amounts purchased in USD |
$ | 8,848,362 | ||
Average amounts sold in USD |
$ | 467,482 | ||
Credit default swaps: | ||||
Average notional value sell protection |
$ | 445,500 |
For more information about the Trusts investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Derivative Financial Instruments Offsetting as of Period End |
The Trusts derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:
Assets | Liabilities | |||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments: | ||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
$ | 79,201 | $ | 68,145 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities |
$ | 79,201 | $ | 68,145 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (MNA) |
| | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA |
$ | 79,201 | $ | 68,145 | ||||
|
|
The following table presents the Trusts derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an Master Netting Agreement (MNA) and net of the related collateral received and pledged by the Trust:
Counterparty | Derivative Assets Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
Derivatives Available for Offset1 |
Non-cash Collateral Received |
Cash Collateral Received |
Net Amount of Derivative Assets2 |
|||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 77,583 | | | | $ | 77,583 | |||||||||||
Goldman Sachs International |
58 | $ | (58 | ) | | | | |||||||||||
HSBC Bank PLC |
1,560 | | | | 1,560 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
$ | 79,201 | $ | (58 | ) | | | $ | 79,143 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
36 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
Counterparty | Derivative Liabilities Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
Derivatives Available for Offset1 |
Non-cash Collateral Pledged |
Cash Collateral Pledged |
Net Amount of Derivative Liabilities3 |
|||||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs International |
$ | 258 | $ | (58 | ) | | | $ | 200 | |||||||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
56,512 | | | | 56,512 | |||||||||||||||
State Street Bank and Trust Co. |
581 | | | | 581 | |||||||||||||||
UBS AG |
10,794 | | | | 10,794 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 68,145 | $ | (58 | ) | | | $ | 68,087 | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
1 The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA. |
| |||||||||||||||||||
2 Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default. |
| |||||||||||||||||||
3 Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default. |
|
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End |
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Trusts policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following tables summarize the Trusts investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Investments: |
||||||||||||||||
Asset-Backed Securities |
| $ | 10,870,732 | $ | 4,308,660 | $ | 15,179,392 | |||||||||
Common Stocks |
$ | 643,473 | | 242,024 | 885,497 | |||||||||||
Corporate Bonds |
| 11,841,808 | 584,504 | 12,426,312 | ||||||||||||
Floating Rate Loan Interests |
| 392,903,603 | 20,360,572 | 413,264,175 | ||||||||||||
Investment Companies |
54,444 | | | 54,444 | ||||||||||||
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities |
| 818,589 | | 818,589 | ||||||||||||
Other Interests |
| | 173,792 | 173,792 | ||||||||||||
Warrants |
| | 8,643 | 8,643 | ||||||||||||
Short-Term Securites |
1,094,113 | | | 1,094,113 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1,792,030 | $ | 416,434,732 | $ | 25,678,195 | $ | 443,904,957 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments1 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency exchange contracts |
| $ | 79,201 | | $ | 79,201 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency exchange contracts |
| (68,145 | ) | | (68,145 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | 11,056 | | $ | 11,056 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
1 Derivative financial instruments are forward foreign currency exchange contracts which are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
|
The Trust may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | 948,823 | | | $ | 948,823 | ||||||||
Foreign currency at value |
5,141 | | | 5,141 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||
Bank borrowings payable |
| $ | (104,000,000 | ) | | (104,000,000 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 953,964 | $ | (104,000,000 | ) | | $ | (103,046,036 | ) | |||||
|
|
During the year ended October 31, 2015, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 37 |
Schedule of Investments (concluded) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented when the Trust had a significant amount of Level 3 investments at the beginning and/or end of the period in relation to net assets. The following table is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining fair value:
Asset-Backed Securities |
Common Stocks |
Corporate Bonds |
Floating Rate Loan Interests |
Other Interests |
Warrants | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opening balance, as of October 31, 2014 |
$ | 715,650 | $ | 153,282 | $ | 560,826 | $ | 37,080,633 | $ | 4,375 | $ | 1,214 | $ | 38,515,980 | ||||||||||||||
Transfers into Level 31 |
466,391 | | | 4,310,780 | | 8,274 | 4,785,445 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Transfers out of Level 32 |
| | | (12,797,161 | ) | | | (12,797,161 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Accrued discounts/premiums |
4,147 | | (634 | ) | 55,509 | | | 59,022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) |
| | 300 | (1,977,792 | ) | | (4,686 | ) | (1,982,178 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)3,4 |
(42,138 | ) | 88,742 | 868 | 795,709 | 169,417 | 7,206 | 1,019,804 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases |
3,164,610 | | 53,444 | 9,470,989 | | | 12,689,043 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sales |
| | (30,300 | ) | (16,578,095 | ) | | (3,365 | ) | (16,611,760 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Closing Balance, as of October 31, 2015 |
$ | 4,308,660 | $ | 242,024 | $ | 584,504 | $ | 20,360,572 | $ | 173,792 | $ | 8,643 | $ | 25,678,195 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 20154 |
$ | (42,138 | ) | $ | 88,742 | $ | 868 | $ | (1,067,486 | ) | $ | 169,417 | $ | 369 | $ | (850,228 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used observable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments with a beginning of period value of $4,785,445 were transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 in the disclosure hierarchy. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 As October 31, 2015, the Trust used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used observable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments with a beginning of period value of $12,797,161 were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 in the disclosure hierarchy. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 Included in the related net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 Any difference between net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 2015 is generally due to investments no longer held or categorized as Level 3 at period end. |
|
The Trusts investments that are categorized as Level 3 were valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. Such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of such Level 3 investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
38 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments October 31, 2015 |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 39 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
40 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 41 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
42 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 43 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
44 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 45 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
46 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
(a) | Variable rate security. Rate shown is as of report date. |
(b) | Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors. |
(c) | All or a portion of security has been pledged as collateral in connection with outstanding reverse repurchase agreements. |
(d) | Represents a step-up bond that pays an initial coupon rate for the first period and then a higher coupon rate for the following periods. Rate shown is as of report date. |
(e) | Zero-coupon bond. |
(f) | Amount is less than $500. |
(g) | Security is perpetual in nature and has no stated maturity date. |
(h) | When-issued security. |
(i) | Represents a payment-in-kind security which may pay interest/dividends in additional par/shares and/or in cash. Rates shown are the current rate and possible payment rates. |
(j) | Security is eligible to receive residual cash flows. |
(k) | During the year ended October 31, 2015, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate of the Trust for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows: |
Affiliate | Shares Held at October 31, 2014 |
Net Activity |
Shares Held at October 31, 2015 |
Income | ||||||||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, TempFund, Institutional Class |
18,823,385 | (12,682,853 | ) | 6,140,532 | $ | 23,186 |
(l) | Represents the current yield as of report date. |
| For Trust compliance purposes, the Trusts industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment advisor. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 47 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
As of period end, reverse repurchase agreements outstanding were as follows:
Counterparty | Interest Rate |
Trade Date |
Maturity Date1 |
Face Value | Face Value Including Accrued Interest |
|||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.45 | % | 5/07/14 | Open | $ | 2,528,000 | $ | 2,545,159 | ||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.55 | % | 5/07/14 | Open | 3,248,000 | 3,274,945 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.40 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 5,061,000 | 5,091,141 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.45 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 7,397,000 | 7,446,560 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.50 | % | 5/13/14 | Open | 7,707,000 | 7,764,374 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.40 | % | 5/14/14 | Open | 5,942,000 | 5,994,983 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.45 | % | 5/14/14 | Open | 5,189,000 | 5,227,557 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 6/16/14 | Open | 2,038,000 | 2,055,051 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 1,001,000 | 1,010,930 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 781,000 | 797,905 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.75 | % | 10/29/14 | Open | 4,813,000 | 4,823,705 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 12/09/14 | Open | 4,770,000 | 4,793,757 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 12/09/14 | Open | 4,700,000 | 4,723,409 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 12/09/14 | Open | 4,290,000 | 4,311,367 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.95 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 2,291,000 | 2,310,165 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 1,829,000 | 1,838,694 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 1,602,000 | 1,610,491 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 1,504,000 | 1,511,971 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 475,000 | 477,517 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.38 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 287,219 | 288,186 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.38 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 8,558,000 | 8,586,817 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 10,075,000 | 10,123,794 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.65 | % | 12/17/14 | Open | 2,628,750 | 2,643,796 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.50 | % | 12/18/14 | Open | 786,000 | 789,461 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.60 | % | 3/02/15 | Open | 1,456,000 | 1,461,897 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 4/08/15 | Open | 3,454,875 | 3,465,748 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Ltd. |
0.70 | % | 4/16/15 | Open | 1,792,500 | 1,799,401 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Ltd. |
0.75 | % | 4/16/15 | Open | 1,230,000 | 1,235,074 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 4/16/15 | Open | 4,165,031 | 4,177,694 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 5/06/15 | Open | 1,181,556 | 1,185,081 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.70 | % | 5/21/15 | Open | 2,568,000 | 2,576,189 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.50 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 1,976,000 | 1,980,144 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 2,461,000 | 2,467,194 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 2,571,000 | 2,577,470 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 300,000 | 300,755 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 943,000 | 945,373 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 2,253,000 | 2,258,670 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 2,649,000 | 2,655,667 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 1,578,000 | 1,581,971 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 4,728,000 | 4,739,899 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 2,192,000 | 2,197,517 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 2,683,000 | 2,689,752 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 1,512,000 | 1,515,805 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 3,221,000 | 3,229,106 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 2,826,000 | 2,833,112 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 189,000 | 189,476 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 560,000 | 561,409 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 722,000 | 723,817 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.60 | % | 6/02/15 | Open | 2,288,000 | 2,293,758 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 6/03/15 | Open | 1,710,000 | 1,715,379 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 6/03/15 | Open | 1,706,000 | 1,711,367 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Ltd. |
0.80 | % | 6/03/15 | Open | 158,000 | 158,527 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Ltd. |
0.85 | % | 6/03/15 | Open | 920,000 | 923,258 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Ltd. |
0.85 | % | 6/03/15 | Open | 232,500 | 233,323 | ||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 688,000 | 689,101 | ||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 7,322,000 | 7,333,721 | ||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.42 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 302,000 | 302,483 | ||||||||||||||
HSBC Securities (USA), Inc. |
0.40 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 2,906,000 | 2,910,617 | ||||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 6/10/15 | Open | 482,000 | 482,747 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.85 | % | 6/24/15 | Open | 2,364,949 | 2,372,152 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.85 | % | 6/26/15 | Open | 2,151,500 | 2,157,850 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.65 | % | 6/30/15 | Open | 1,404,625 | 1,407,744 | ||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.40 | % | 7/01/15 | Open | 815,198 | 816,312 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
48 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
As of period end, reverse repurchase agreements outstanding were as follows (continued):
Counterparty | Interest Rate |
Trade Date |
Maturity Date1 |
Face Value | Face Value Including Accrued Interest |
|||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.40 | % | 7/01/15 | Open | $ | 1,511,400 | $ | 1,513,466 | ||||||||||||
UBS Ltd. |
0.70 | % | 7/01/15 | Open | 5,097,413 | 5,109,505 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 451,000 | 451,601 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 954,000 | 955,272 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 658,000 | 658,877 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 927,000 | 928,236 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,117,000 | 1,118,489 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 769,000 | 770,025 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 163,000 | 163,217 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 511,000 | 511,681 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 947,000 | 948,263 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 864,000 | 865,152 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 900,000 | 901,200 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 771,000 | 772,028 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 229,000 | 229,305 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,042,000 | 1,043,389 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 651,000 | 651,868 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.60 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 762,000 | 763,016 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.65 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,708,000 | 1,710,467 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.65 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 911,000 | 912,316 | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
0.65 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 742,000 | 743,072 | ||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.71 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 6,806,000 | 6,814,621 | ||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.71 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 692,000 | 693,000 | ||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.71 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 6,366,000 | 6,374,064 | ||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.71 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 317,000 | 317,444 | ||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
0.71 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 3,532,000 | 3,536,945 | ||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.65 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 581,025 | 581,864 | ||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.65 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 769,775 | 770,887 | ||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.65 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 793,244 | 794,390 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,825,000 | 1,828,042 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,869,000 | 2,873,782 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 769,000 | 770,282 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 180,000 | 180,300 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 270,000 | 270,450 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 77,000 | 77,128 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 639,000 | 640,065 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,235,000 | 1,237,058 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,845,000 | 2,849,742 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 910,000 | 911,517 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 252,000 | 252,420 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,379,000 | 1,381,298 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 50,000 | 50,083 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 597,000 | 597,995 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 228,000 | 228,380 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 891,000 | 892,485 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 349,000 | 349,582 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 87,000 | 87,145 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 5,100,000 | 5,108,500 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,920,000 | 2,924,867 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 95,000 | 95,158 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,244,000 | 1,246,073 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,429,000 | 2,433,048 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 830,000 | 831,383 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 646,000 | 647,077 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 625,000 | 626,042 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 666,000 | 667,110 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 700,000 | 701,167 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 353,000 | 353,588 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,102,000 | 1,103,837 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,349,000 | 2,352,915 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 911,000 | 912,518 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,313,000 | 1,315,188 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,954,000 | 2,958,923 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 49 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
As of period end, reverse repurchase agreements outstanding were as follows (continued):
Counterparty | Interest Rate |
Trade Date |
Maturity Date1 |
Face Value | Face Value Including Accrued Interest |
|||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | $ | 1,763,000 | $ | 1,765,938 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 3,279,000 | 3,284,465 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 196,000 | 196,327 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,012,000 | 1,013,687 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 162,000 | 162,270 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,608,000 | 2,612,347 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 125,000 | 125,208 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 70,000 | 70,117 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 243,000 | 243,405 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,402,000 | 1,404,337 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 3,709,000 | 3,715,182 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,145,000 | 1,146,908 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 588,000 | 588,980 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,000,000 | 2,003,333 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 158,000 | 158,263 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 374,000 | 374,623 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 963,000 | 964,605 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 304,000 | 304,507 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 650,000 | 651,083 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 156,000 | 156,260 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 864,000 | 865,440 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 650,000 | 651,083 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,856,000 | 1,859,093 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 104,000 | 104,173 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 611,000 | 612,018 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 150,000 | 150,250 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,043,000 | 2,046,405 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 258,000 | 258,430 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,003,000 | 2,006,338 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 135,000 | 135,225 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 745,000 | 746,242 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,356,000 | 1,358,260 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 369,000 | 369,615 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 726,000 | 727,210 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 581,000 | 581,968 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 294,000 | 294,490 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 317,000 | 317,528 | ||||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.65 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,075,000 | 2,077,997 | ||||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 149,919 | 150,169 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.50 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 6,125,000 | 6,131,806 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 2,577,000 | 2,580,150 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 8,131,000 | 8,140,938 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 4,699,000 | 4,704,743 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 4,219,000 | 4,224,157 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 8,936,000 | 8,946,922 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 10,165,000 | 10,177,424 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 5,821,000 | 5,828,115 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 5,320,000 | 5,326,502 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 4,620,000 | 4,625,647 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 6,982,000 | 6,990,534 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 4,531,000 | 4,536,538 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.55 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 1,862,000 | 1,864,276 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.65 | % | 8/12/15 | Open | 500,000 | 500,722 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/24/15 | Open | 282,425 | 282,831 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 8/24/15 | Open | 931,950 | 933,290 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Ltd. |
0.80 | % | 9/08/15 | Open | 343,943 | 344,348 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.65 | % | 9/21/15 | Open | 1,208,291 | 1,209,164 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.65 | % | 9/21/15 | Open | 2,125,000 | 2,126,535 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.65 | % | 9/21/15 | Open | 2,400,350 | 2,402,084 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.65 | % | 9/21/15 | Open | 14,805,000 | 14,815,692 | ||||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.65 | % | 9/21/15 | Open | 5,842,850 | 5,847,070 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 9/22/15 | Open | 248,000 | 248,207 | ||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/01/15 | Open | 321,000 | 321,201 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
50 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
As of period end, reverse repurchase agreements outstanding were as follows (continued):
Counterparty | Interest Rate |
Trade Date |
Maturity Date1 |
Face Value | Face Value Including Accrued Interest |
|||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/05/15 | Open | $ | 1,052,000 | $ | 1,052,592 | ||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/05/15 | Open | 1,327,000 | 1,327,746 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/06/15 | Open | 299,000 | 299,162 | ||||||||||||
JPMorgan Securities LLC |
1.45 | % | 10/07/15 | 11/06/15 | 2,556,000 | 2,558,464 | ||||||||||||
JPMorgan Securities LLC |
1.45 | % | 10/07/15 | 11/06/15 | 5,051,000 | 5,055,869 | ||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
1.10 | % | 10/07/15 | 11/09/15 | 6,854,000 | 6,859,008 | ||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
1.20 | % | 10/07/15 | 11/09/15 | 2,352,000 | 2,353,875 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
1.54 | % | 10/07/15 | 11/09/15 | 2,076,000 | 2,078,131 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/07/15 | Open | 204,000 | 204,106 | ||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
1.70 | % | 10/08/15 | 11/09/15 | 18,002,908 | 18,023,257 | ||||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
1.20 | % | 10/08/15 | 11/09/15 | 21,112,000 | 21,128,133 | ||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.50 | % | 10/09/15 | Open | 5,060,000 | 5,061,335 | ||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.60 | % | 10/09/15 | Open | 3,605,000 | 3,606,142 | ||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.60 | % | 10/09/15 | Open | 3,068,303 | 3,069,274 | ||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/09/15 | Open | 3,136,875 | 3,138,117 | ||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/09/15 | Open | 3,191,250 | 3,192,513 | ||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/09/15 | Open | 2,862,120 | 2,863,253 | ||||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/09/15 | Open | 2,750,753 | 2,751,841 | ||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
1.70 | % | 10/13/15 | 11/13/15 | 8,348,534 | 8,356,006 | ||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Co., Inc. |
1.25 | % | 10/13/15 | 11/13/15 | 5,383,900 | 5,387,452 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/14/15 | Open | 2,556,493 | 2,557,452 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
1.55 | % | 10/20/15 | 11/23/15 | 4,577,000 | 4,579,168 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/23/15 | Open | 244,000 | 244,013 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/29/15 | Open | 313,919 | 313,932 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/29/15 | Open | 1,039,043 | 1,039,086 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
0.75 | % | 10/29/15 | Open | 408,645 | 408,665 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 445,000 | 445,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.39 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 486,000 | 486,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 750,000 | 750,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 387,000 | 387,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 380,000 | 380,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 383,000 | 383,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 489,000 | 489,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 769,000 | 769,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 761,000 | 761,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 791,000 | 791,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 558,000 | 558,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 608,000 | 608,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 1,139,000 | 1,139,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.70 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 621,000 | 621,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 502,000 | 502,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 827,000 | 827,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 624,000 | 624,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 752,000 | 752,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 417,000 | 417,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 1,073,000 | 1,073,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 630,000 | 630,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 381,000 | 381,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 2,003,000 | 2,003,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 453,000 | 453,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 480,000 | 480,000 | ||||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets LLC |
0.75 | % | 10/30/15 | Open | 515,000 | 515,000 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 509,242,031 | $ | 510,352,370 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
1 Certain agreements have no started maturity and can be terminated by either party at any time. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 51 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End |
Financial Futures Contracts
Contracts Short |
Issue | Expiration | Notional Value | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||
(197) | 2-Year U.S. Treasury Note | December 2015 | USD | 43,075,281 | $ | 1,903 | ||||||||||
(207) | 5-Year U.S. Treasury Note | December 2015 | USD | 24,793,102 | 7,818 | |||||||||||
(323) | 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note | December 2015 | USD | 41,243,063 | 76,853 | |||||||||||
(7) | 90-Day Euro-Dollar | December 2015 | USD | 1,742,912 | (1,322 | ) | ||||||||||
(10) | Euro BOBL Futures | December 2015 | USD | 1,423,167 | (8,917 | ) | ||||||||||
(5) | 90-Day Euro-Dollar | December 2016 | USD | 1,237,375 | (1,944 | ) | ||||||||||
(2) | 90-Day Euro-Dollar | March 2017 | USD | 494,250 | 622 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 75,013 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
Currency Purchased |
Currency Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
USD | 1,178,800 | EUR | 1,032,000 | Deutsche Bank AG | 11/02/15 | $ | 43,961 | |||||||||||||
USD | 1,150,922 | EUR | 1,006,000 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 11/02/15 | 44,674 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 256,791 | USD | 65,600 | Deutsche Bank AG | 11/04/15 | 986 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 321,358 | USD | 83,277 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 51 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 1,906,345 | USD | 494,013 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 301 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 260,766 | USD | 67,575 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 41 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 260,806 | USD | 67,585 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 41 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 1,075,526 | USD | 278,713 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 170 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 181,992 | USD | 46,933 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 257 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 3,497,590 | USD | 894,067 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 12,855 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 261,756 | USD | 66,000 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 1,873 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 297,950 | USD | 77,211 | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | 11/04/15 | 47 | ||||||||||||||
BRL | 133,467 | USD | 34,587 | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | 11/04/15 | 21 | ||||||||||||||
GBP | 1,684,000 | USD | 2,604,920 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (8,884 | ) | |||||||||||||
MXN | 8,120,280 | USD | 490,000 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 1,608 | ||||||||||||||
MXN | 4,574,712 | USD | 278,000 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (1,043 | ) | |||||||||||||
MXN | 1,341,475 | USD | 82,000 | UBS AG | 11/04/15 | (786 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 66,545 | BRL | 256,791 | Deutsche Bank AG | 11/04/15 | (41 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 82,000 | BRL | 321,358 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (1,328 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 66,000 | BRL | 260,766 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (1,616 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 66,000 | BRL | 260,806 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (1,627 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 67,832 | BRL | 261,756 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (41 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 47,162 | BRL | 181,992 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (29 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 906,370 | BRL | 3,497,590 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (552 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 490,000 | BRL | 1,906,345 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (4,314 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 278,000 | BRL | 1,075,526 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | (883 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 73,000 | BRL | 297,950 | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | 11/04/15 | (4,258 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 34,000 | BRL | 133,467 | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | 11/04/15 | (608 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 3,887,409 | EUR | 3,421,000 | Barclays Bank PLC | 11/04/15 | 125,461 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 4,434,376 | GBP | 2,881,000 | Citibank N.A. | 11/04/15 | (6,943 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 33,260,631 | GBP | 21,848,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 11/04/15 | (420,012 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 82,000 | MXN | 1,352,738 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/04/15 | 104 | ||||||||||||||
TRY | 1,362,102 | USD | 470,000 | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | 11/06/15 | (3,349 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 311,947 | EUR | 281,771 | Citibank N.A. | 11/06/15 | 2,086 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 248,800 | ZAR | 3,374,873 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 11/10/15 | 5,222 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 35,000 | ZAR | 484,063 | UBS AG | 11/10/15 | 63 | ||||||||||||||
ZAR | 490,552 | USD | 35,500 | Citibank N.A. | 11/10/15 | (95 | ) | |||||||||||||
ZAR | 1,109,671 | USD | 81,000 | Citibank N.A. | 11/10/15 | (910 | ) | |||||||||||||
ZAR | 982,599 | USD | 71,000 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/10/15 | (82 | ) | |||||||||||||
ZAR | 490,481 | USD | 35,500 | UBS AG | 11/10/15 | (100 | ) | |||||||||||||
MXN | 2,945,664 | USD | 178,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 11/12/15 | 231 | ||||||||||||||
MXN | 280,222 | USD | 17,000 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 11/12/15 | (45 | ) | |||||||||||||
TRY | 191,534 | USD | 66,000 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/12/15 | (498 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 68,000 | MXN | 1,129,970 | Deutsche Bank AG | 11/12/15 | (370 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 66,000 | TRY | 194,103 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 11/12/15 | (381 | ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
52 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (continued)
Currency Purchased |
Currency Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
CLP | 43,848,350 | USD | 65,000 | Credit Suisse International | 11/16/15 | $ | (1,674 | ) | ||||||||||||
CLP | 44,013,450 | USD | 65,000 | Credit Suisse International | 11/16/15 | (1,436 | ) | |||||||||||||
IDR | 2,263,255,000 | USD | 163,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 11/16/15 | 1,631 | ||||||||||||||
TRY | 485,529 | USD | 166,763 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 11/16/15 | (912 | ) | |||||||||||||
TWD | 2,648,600 | USD | 82,000 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 11/16/15 | (436 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 65,000 | CLP | 44,335,850 | Credit Suisse International | 11/16/15 | 970 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 65,000 | CLP | 44,686,850 | Credit Suisse International | 11/16/15 | 463 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 1,075,026 | EUR | 953,876 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/16/15 | 25,930 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 163,000 | IDR | 2,234,730,000 | Deutsche Bank AG | 11/16/15 | 444 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 67,000 | TRY | 195,988 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 11/16/15 | 53 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 67,000 | TRY | 196,464 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 11/16/15 | (110 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 65,525 | TRY | 191,642 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 11/16/15 | 63 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 82,000 | TWD | 2,622,196 | Standard Chartered Bank | 11/16/15 | 1,249 | ||||||||||||||
AUD | 2,530,000 | NZD | 2,693,484 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/18/15 | (19,133 | ) | |||||||||||||
GBP | 1,217,822 | EUR | 1,640,000 | State Street Bank and Trust Co. | 11/18/15 | 73,462 | ||||||||||||||
GBP | 2,390,000 | SEK | 29,931,408 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/18/15 | 179,594 | ||||||||||||||
SEK | 29,483,243 | GBP | 2,390,000 | Citibank N.A. | 11/18/15 | (232,066 | ) | |||||||||||||
KRW | 74,642,700 | USD | 66,000 | HSBC Bank PLC | 11/19/15 | (657 | ) | |||||||||||||
KRW | 56,627,686 | USD | 50,042 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 11/19/15 | (470 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 66,400 | KRW | 74,965,600 | Bank of America N.A. | 11/19/15 | 775 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 16,600 | KRW | 18,916,530 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 11/19/15 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 33,042 | KRW | 37,355,791 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 11/19/15 | 341 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 71,500 | ZAR | 949,502 | Goldman Sachs International | 11/19/15 | 3,078 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 71,500 | ZAR | 945,194 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 11/19/15 | 3,388 | ||||||||||||||
ZAR | 1,885,119 | USD | 143,000 | Standard Chartered Bank | 11/19/15 | (7,156 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 441,790 | MXN | 7,277,823 | State Street Bank and Trust Co. | 11/20/15 | 1,708 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 142,000 | KRW | 162,519,000 | HSBC Bank PLC | 11/30/15 | (229 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 894,067 | BRL | 3,533,621 | Goldman Sachs International | 12/02/15 | (13,419 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 60,000 | BRL | 237,426 | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | 12/02/15 | (974 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 3,739,641 | EUR | 3,384,000 | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/03/15 | 17,037 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 35,377,002 | GBP | 23,045,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 12/03/15 | (142,701 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 264,475 | PLN | 995,006 | Citibank N.A. | 12/04/15 | 7,252 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 956 | PLN | 3,557 | Citibank N.A. | 12/04/15 | 36 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 240,605 | PLN | 912,814 | Goldman Sachs International | 12/04/15 | 4,629 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 134,951 | PLN | 497,711 | Standard Chartered Bank | 12/04/15 | 6,285 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 403,824 | PLN | 1,500,990 | UBS AG | 12/04/15 | 15,797 | ||||||||||||||
RUB | 2,209,000 | USD | 32,726 | Citibank N.A. | 12/09/15 | 1,499 | ||||||||||||||
RUB | 5,981,072 | USD | 87,443 | HSBC Bank PLC | 12/09/15 | 5,226 | ||||||||||||||
RUB | 5,906,000 | USD | 84,263 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 12/09/15 | 7,242 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 23,595 | RUB | 1,625,837 | Deutsche Bank AG | 12/09/15 | (1,595 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 183,226 | RUB | 12,852,559 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 12/09/15 | (15,907 | ) | |||||||||||||
USD | 22,176 | RUB | 1,382,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | 12/09/15 | 765 | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | (298,660 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Purchased
Description | Counterparty | Put/ Call |
Exercise Rate |
Pay/Receive Exercise Rate |
Floating Rate Index |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2-Year Interest Rate Swap |
Deutsche Bank AG | Call | 1.92 | % | Receive | KRW 3-month CD | 11/09/16 | KRW 911,735 | $ | 5,448 |
OTC Interest Rate Swaptions Written
Description | Counterparty | Put/ Call |
Exercise Rate |
Pay/Receive Exercise Rate |
Floating Rate Index |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2-Year Interest Rate Swap |
Deutsche Bank AG | Call | 1.63 | % | Pay | KRW 3-month CD | 11/09/16 | KRW 911,735 | $ | (1,004 | ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 53 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
OTC Options Purchased
Description | Put/ Call |
Counterparty | Expiration Date |
Strike |
Notional Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | HSBC Bank PLC | 11/02/15 | KRW | 1,195.00 | USD | 213 | | ||||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | Deutsche Bank AG | 11/25/15 | KRW | 1,140.00 | USD | 142 | $ | 1,761 | |||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | Goldman Sachs International | 11/27/15 | ZAR | 14.40 | USD | 70 | 489 | ||||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Put | HSBC Bank PLC | 11/06/15 | ZAR | 13.25 | USD | 54 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Put | Goldman Sachs International | 11/12/15 | MXN | 16.40 | USD | 121 | 509 | ||||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Put | HSBC Bank PLC | 11/13/15 | TRY | 2.88 | USD | 209 | 554 | ||||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Put | Deutsche Bank AG | 11/27/15 | ZAR | 13.50 | USD | 157 | 941 | ||||||||||||||||
NZD Currency |
Put | Citibank N.A. | 1/28/16 | JPY | 78.25 | NZD | 11,170 | 123,395 | ||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 127,681 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
OTC Options Written
Description | Put/ Call |
Counterparty | Strike Price |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Value | ||||||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | HSBC Bank PLC | KRW | 1,235.00 | 11/02/15 | USD | 213 | | ||||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | HSBC Bank PLC | ZAR | 14.77 | 11/06/15 | USD | 108 | $ | (34 | ) | ||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | HSBC Bank PLC | BRL | 3.60 | 11/09/15 | USD | 73 | (5,735 | ) | |||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | Goldman Sachs International | MXN | 17.00 | 11/12/15 | USD | 121 | (215 | ) | |||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | HSBC Bank PLC | TRY | 3.00 | 11/13/15 | USD | 209 | (1,246 | ) | |||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Call | Deutsche Bank AG | ZAR | 14.75 | 11/27/15 | USD | 125 | (455 | ) | |||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Put | HSBC Bank PLC | KRW | 1,145.00 | 11/02/15 | USD | 213 | (1,262 | ) | |||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Put | HSBC Bank PLC | TRY | 2.80 | 11/13/15 | USD | 209 | (64 | ) | |||||||||||||||
USD Currency |
Put | Deutsche Bank AG | KRW | 1,110.00 | 11/25/15 | USD | 142 | (359 | ) | |||||||||||||||
NZD Currency |
Put | Citibank N.A. | JPY | 72.51 | 1/28/16 | NZD | 11,170 | (39,203 | ) | |||||||||||||||
NZD Currency |
Put | Citibank N.A. | JPY | 74.28 | 1/28/16 | NZD | 11,170 | (56,093 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | (104,666 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps
Fixed Rate | Floating Rate |
Effective Date |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
|||||||||||||
2.13%1 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 8/25/25 | USD | 110 | $ | 764 | |||||||||||
2.27%2 |
3-month LIBOR | N/A | 9/11/25 | USD | 68 | (1,326 | ) | |||||||||||
Total |
$ | (562 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
1 Trust receives the fixed rate and pays the floating rate. |
|
|||||||||||||||||
2 Trust pays the fixed rate and receives the floating rate. |
|
OTC Credit Default Swaps Buy Protection
Issuer/Index | Pay Fixed Rate |
Counterparty | Expiration Date |
Notional |
Value |
Premiums Paid (Received) |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
|||||||||||||||||
Federation of Malaysia |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 80 | $ | 3,813 | $ | 4,319 | $ | (506 | ) | ||||||||||||
Federation of Malaysia |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 90 | 4,289 | 4,977 | (688 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Federation of Malaysia |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 104 | 4,967 | 5,483 | (516 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Federation of Malaysia |
1.00% | Bank of America N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 113 | 5,374 | 6,278 | (904 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 12/20/20 | USD | 80 | 11,962 | 12,312 | (350 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 12/20/20 | USD | 134 | 20,036 | 19,740 | 296 | ||||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 12/20/20 | USD | 82 | 12,261 | 13,241 | (980 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 12/20/20 | USD | 71 | 10,616 | 11,545 | (929 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 27 | 4,037 | 4,431 | (394 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 16 | 2,392 | 2,660 | (268 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 63 | 9,420 | 10,546 | (1,126 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 78 | 11,663 | 13,028 | (1,365 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 58 | 8,672 | 9,600 | (928 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 47 | 7,027 | 7,779 | (752 | ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
54 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
OTC Credit Default Swaps Buy Protection (continued)
Issuer/Index | Pay Fixed Rate |
Counterparty | Expiration Date |
Notional |
Value |
Premiums Paid (Received) |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 245 | $ | 36,633 | $ | 37,241 | $ | (608 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Bank of America N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 98 | 14,654 | 14,795 | (141 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 80 | 11,962 | 12,072 | (110 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 80 | 11,962 | 12,226 | (264 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Republic of Brazil |
1.00% | Deutsche Bank AG | 12/20/20 | USD | 90 | 13,457 | 14,091 | (634 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Republic of South Africa |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 80 | 5,810 | 5,489 | 321 | ||||||||||||||||||
Republic of South Africa |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 80 | 5,810 | 5,595 | 215 | ||||||||||||||||||
Republic of South Africa |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 80 | 5,810 | 5,542 | 268 | ||||||||||||||||||
Republic of South Africa |
1.00% | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | USD | 240 | 17,465 | 16,081 | 1,384 | ||||||||||||||||||
Republic of South Africa |
1.00% | Bank of America N.A. | 12/20/20 | USD | 80 | 5,822 | 5,449 | 373 | ||||||||||||||||||
Republic of South Africa |
1.00% | Goldman Sachs International | 12/20/20 | USD | 132 | 9,589 | 9,901 | (312 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
United Mexican States |
1.00% | Citibank N.A. | 6/20/20 | USD | 604 | 10,594 | 5,409 | 5,185 | ||||||||||||||||||
United Mexican States |
1.00% | Bank of America N.A. | 9/20/20 | USD | 604 | 12,676 | 7,380 | 5,296 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 278,773 | $ | 277,210 | $ | 1,563 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTC Credit Default Swaps Sell Protection
Issuer/Index | Receive Fixed Rate |
Counterparty | Expiration Date |
Credit Rating1 |
Notional Amount (000)2 |
Value |
Premiums Paid (Received) |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Dow Jones CDX North America Investment Grade, Series 9 |
5.00 | % | Bank of America N.A. | 12/20/17 | BBB- | USD | 10,000 | $ | 626,786 | $ | (369,856 | ) | $ | 996,642 | ||||||||||||||||
Federation of Russia |
1.00 | % | Bank of America N.A. | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 240 | (20,826 | ) | (21,011 | ) | 185 | ||||||||||||||||||
Federation of Russia |
1.00 | % | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 240 | (20,826 | ) | (21,011 | ) | 185 | ||||||||||||||||||
Federation of Russia |
1.00 | % | Bank of America N.A. | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 80 | (6,942 | ) | (7,021 | ) | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||
Federation of Russia |
1.00 | % | Goldman Sachs International | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 132 | (11,434 | ) | (12,123 | ) | 689 | ||||||||||||||||||
Federation of Russia |
1.00 | % | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 198 | (17,158 | ) | (16,898 | ) | (260 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Markit CMBX North America, Series 7 |
3.00 | % | Barclays Bank PLC | 1/17/47 | BBB- | USD | 10,000 | (353,452 | ) | (554,548 | ) | 201,096 | ||||||||||||||||||
Markit CMBX North America, Series 7 |
3.00 | % | Barclays Bank PLC | 1/17/47 | BBB- | USD | 5,000 | (176,726 | ) | (276,951 | ) | 100,225 | ||||||||||||||||||
Markit CMBX North America, Series 8 |
3.00 | % | Goldman Sachs International | 10/17/57 | BBB- | USD | 10,000 | (995,298 | ) | (1,123,048 | ) | 127,750 | ||||||||||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia |
1.00 | % | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 48 | (2,732 | ) | (2,301 | ) | (431 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia |
1.00 | % | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 48 | (2,732 | ) | (2,343 | ) | (389 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia |
1.00 | % | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 48 | (2,732 | ) | (2,383 | ) | (349 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia |
1.00 | % | Barclays Bank PLC | 12/20/20 | BB+ | USD | 44 | (2,482 | ) | (2,262 | ) | (220 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
United Mexican States |
1.00 | % | Bank of America N.A. | 6/20/20 | BBB+ | USD | 604 | (10,594 | ) | (5,692 | ) | (4,902 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
United Mexican States | 1.00 | % | Citibank N.A. | 9/20/20 | BBB+ | USD | 604 | (12,676 | ) | (6,998 | ) | (5,678 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | (1,009,824 | ) | $ | (2,424,446 | ) | $ | 1,414,622 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Using Standard & Poors rating of the issuer or the underlying securities of the index, as applicable. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 The maximum potential amount the Trust may pay should a negative credit event take place as defined under the terms of the agreement. |
|
OTC Interest Rate Swaps
Fixed Rate | Floating Rate |
Counterparty | Effective Date |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Value |
Premiums Paid (Received) |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
1.67%1 | 3-month KRWCD | Bank of America N.A. | N/A | 6/08/17 | KRW | 1,146,756 | $ | 1,684 | $ | 3 | $ | 1,681 | ||||||||||||||||
2.34%1 | 7-day CNRR | Bank of America N.A. | N/A | 7/10/17 | CNY | 17,030 | 1,302 | | 1,302 | |||||||||||||||||||
7.54%1 | 3-month JIBAR | Citibank N.A. | 8/25/162 | 8/25/17 | ZAR | 14,135 | 2,834 | | 2,834 | |||||||||||||||||||
7.57%1 | 3-month JIBAR | Citibank N.A. | 8/26/162 | 8/26/17 | ZAR | 7,940 | 1,737 | | 1,737 | |||||||||||||||||||
7.45%1 | 3-month JIBAR | Bank of America N.A. | 8/29/162 | 8/29/17 | ZAR | 14,135 | 1,933 | | 1,933 | |||||||||||||||||||
7.48%1 | 3-month JIBAR | Bank of America N.A. | 8/29/162 | 8/29/17 | ZAR | 9,690 | 1,516 | | 1,516 | |||||||||||||||||||
7.59%1 | 3-month JIBAR | Citibank N.A. | 9/05/162 | 9/05/17 | ZAR | 6,190 | 1,342 | | 1,342 | |||||||||||||||||||
4.64%1 | 1-month MXIBTIIE | Goldman Sachs International | 10/05/162 | 10/04/17 | MXN | 8,966 | (251 | ) | | (251 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
4.65%1 | 1-month MXIBTIIE | Bank of America N.A. | 10/05/162 | 10/04/17 | MXN | 2,898 | (73 | ) | | (73 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
4.55%3 | 3-month KLIBOR | Citibank N.A. | N/A | 9/11/20 | MYR | 1,275 | (3,905 | ) | | (3,905 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
4.34%3 | 3-month KLIBOR | Bank of America N.A. | N/A | 9/18/20 | MYR | 1,277 | (912 | ) | 9 | (921 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
6.32%1 | 1-month MXIBTIIE | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC |
N/A | 7/17/25 | MXN | 5,813 | 1,670 | (30 | ) | 1,700 | ||||||||||||||||||
6.33%1 |
1-month MXIBTIIE | Citibank N.A. | N/A | 7/17/25 | MXN | 2,897 | 897 | (15 | ) | 912 | ||||||||||||||||||
6.32%1 |
1-month MXIBTIIE | Goldman Sachs International | N/A | 8/06/25 | MXN | 8,688 | 2,316 | (43 | ) | 2,359 | ||||||||||||||||||
6.31%3 |
1-month MXIBTIIE | Deutsche Bank AG | N/A | 8/11/25 | MXN | 6,393 | (1,260 | ) | | (1,260 | ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 55 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
OTC Interest Rate Swaps (continued)
Fixed Rate | Floating Rate |
Counterparty | Effective Date |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Value |
Premiums Paid (Received) |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
6.31%3 |
1-month MXIBTIIE | Bank of America N.A. | N/A | 8/11/25 | MXN | 1,723 | $ | (361 | ) | $ | | $ | (361 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
6.31%3 |
1-month MXIBTIIE | Bank of America N.A. | N/A | 8/11/25 | MXN | 1,723 | (361 | ) | | (361 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 10,108 | $ | (76 | ) | $ | 10,184 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Trust pays the floating rate and receives the fixed rate. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 Forward swap. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 Trust pays the fixed rate and receives the floating rate. |
|
Transactions in Options Written for the Year Ended October 31, 2015 |
Calls | Puts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contracts | Notional (000)1 |
Premiums Received |
Contracts | Notional (000)1 |
Premiums Received |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding options, beginning of year |
| | | 40 | | $ | 5,938 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Options written |
49 | 923,068 | $ | 51,419 | 30 | 24,535 | 117,553 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Options exercised |
(5 | ) | (408 | ) | (2,000 | ) | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
Options expired |
| (408 | ) | (4,080 | ) | (52 | ) | (978 | ) | (14,439 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Options closed |
(44 | ) | (9,668 | ) | (34,486 | ) | (18 | ) | (653 | ) | (7,396 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding options, end of year |
| 912,584 | $ | 10,853 | | 22,904 | $ | 101,656 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Amount shown is in the currency in which the transaction was denominated. |
|
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure |
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments |
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
Net unrealized appreciation1 | | | | | $ | 87,196 | | $ | 87,196 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency |
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| | | $ | 599,010 | | | 599,010 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Options purchased |
Investments at value unaffiliated2; | | | | 127,681 | 5,448 | | 133,129 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Swaps OTC |
Unrealized appreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums paid | | $ | 1,717,399 | | | 17,328 | | 1,734,727 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Swaps centrally cleared |
Net unrealized appreciation1 | | | | | 764 | | 764 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | 1,717,399 | | $ | 726,691 | $ | 110,736 | | $ | 2,554,826 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Liabilities Derivative Financial Instruments |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
Net unrealized depreciation1 | | | | | $ | 12,183 | | $ | 12,183 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency |
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| | | $ | 897,670 | | | 897,670 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Options written |
Options written at value; | | | | 104,666 | 1,004 | | 105,670 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Swaps OTC |
Unrealized depreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums received | | $ | 2,448,450 | | | 7,220 | | 2,455,670 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Swaps centrally cleared |
Net unrealized depreciation1 | | | | | 1,326 | | 1,326 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | 2,448,450 | | $ | 1,002,336 | $ | 21,733 | | $ | 3,472,519 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
1 Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on financial futures contracts and centrally cleared swaps, if any, as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only current days variation margin is reported within the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 Includes options purchased at value as reported in the Schedule of Investments. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
56 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
For the year ended October 31, 2015, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) From: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
| | | | $ | (3,381,925 | ) | | $ | (3,381,925 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| | | $ | 2,391,008 | | | 2,391,008 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Options purchased1 |
| | | (49,482 | ) | (51,397 | ) | | (100,879 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Options written |
| | | 8,969 | 12,602 | | 21,571 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Swaps |
| $ | 331,027 | | | (250,362 | ) | | 80,665 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | 331,027 | | $ | 2,350,495 | $ | (3,671,082 | ) | | $ | (989,560 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
1 Options purchased are included in net realized gain (loss) from investments. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contacts |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
| | | | $ | 769,706 | | $ | 769,706 | |||||||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| | | $ | (329,633 | ) | | | (329,634 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Options purchased1 |
| | | (8,712 | ) | 18,025 | | 9,313 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Options written |
| | | 7,341 | (6,190 | ) | | 1,151 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Swaps |
| $ | 395,317 | | | 92,850 | | 488,167 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
| $ | 395,317 | | $ | (331,005 | ) | $ | 874,391 | | $ | 938,703 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
1 Options purchased are included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments. |
|
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments |
Financial futures contracts: |
||||
Average notional value of contracts long |
$ | 4,016,517 | ||
Average notional value of contracts short |
$ | 144,348,055 | ||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts: | ||||
Average amounts purchased in USD |
$ | 73,732,174 | ||
Average amounts sold in USD |
$ | 25,546,509 | ||
Options: | ||||
Average value of option contracts purchased |
$ | 37,833 | ||
Average value of option contracts written |
$ | 32,393 | ||
Average notional value of swaption contracts purchased |
$ | 394,723 | ||
Average notional value of swaption contracts written |
$ | 394,723 | ||
Credit default swaps: | ||||
Average notional value buy protection |
$ | 3,956,757 | ||
Average notional value sell protection |
$ | 18,487,885 | ||
Interest rate swaps: | ||||
Average notional value pays fixed rate |
$ | 1,885,268 | ||
Average notional value receives fixed rate |
$ | 10,434,220 |
For more information about the Trusts investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Derivative Financial Instruments Offsetting as of Period End |
The Trusts derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:
Assets | Liabilities | |||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments: | ||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
$ | 14,042 | $ | 26,620 | ||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
599,010 | 897,670 | ||||||
Options |
133,129 | 1 | 105,670 | |||||
Swaps Centrally cleared |
299 | 187 | ||||||
Swaps OTC2 |
1,734,727 | 2,455,670 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities |
$ | 2,481,207 | $ | 3,485,817 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (MNA) |
(14,341 | ) | (26,807 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA |
$ | 2,466,866 | $ | 3,459,010 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
1 Includes options purchased at value which is included in Investments at value unaffiliated in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and reported in the Schedules of Investments. |
| |||||||
2 Includes unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC swaps and swap premiums paid/received in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 57 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
The following table presents the Trusts derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an Master Netting Agreement (MNA) and net of the related collateral received and pledged by the Trust:
Counterparty | Derivative Assets Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
Derivatives Available for Offset1 |
Non-cash Collateral Received |
Cash Collateral Received2 |
Net Amount of Derivative Assets3 |
|||||||||||||||||
Bank of America N.A. |
$ | 1,043,927 | $ | (411,243 | ) | | $ | (632,684 | ) | | ||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
545,104 | (545,104 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas S.A. |
156 | (156 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Citibank N.A. |
209,844 | (209,844 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse International |
1,433 | (1,433 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
124,766 | (7,977 | ) | | | $ | 116,789 | |||||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs International |
372,229 | (372,229 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
HSBC Bank PLC |
5,812 | (5,812 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. |
48,403 | (16,377 | ) | | | 32,026 | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
14,860 | (14,860 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC |
1,700 | (30 | ) | | | 1,670 | ||||||||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC |
68 | (68 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank |
7,534 | (7,156 | ) | | | 378 | ||||||||||||||||
State Street Bank and Trust Co. |
75,170 | | | | 75,170 | |||||||||||||||||
UBS AG |
15,860 | (886 | ) | | | 14,974 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 2,466,866 | $ | (1,593,175 | ) | | $(632,684) | $ | 241,007 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Derivative Liabilities Subject to an MNA by Counterparty |
Derivatives Available for Offset1 |
Non-cash Collateral Pledged |
Cash Collateral Pledged |
Net Amount of Derivative Liabilities4 |
||||||||||||||||||
Bank of America N.A. |
$ | 411,243 | $ | (411,243 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
886,069 | (545,104 | ) | | | $ | 340,965 | |||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas S.A. |
1,884 | (156 | ) | | | 1,728 | ||||||||||||||||
Citibank N.A. |
353,708 | (209,844 | ) | | | 143,864 | ||||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse International |
3,110 | (1,433 | ) | | | 1,677 | ||||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
7,977 | (7,977 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs International |
1,189,441 | (372,229 | ) | | | 817,212 | ||||||||||||||||
HSBC Bank PLC |
9,227 | (5,812 | ) | | | 3,415 | ||||||||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. |
16,377 | (16,377 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
562,713 | (14,860 | ) | | | 547,853 | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC |
30 | (30 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC |
9,189 | (68 | ) | | | 9,121 | ||||||||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank |
7,156 | (7,156 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
UBS AG |
886 | (886 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 3,459,010 | $ | (1,593,175 | ) | | | $ | 1,865,835 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
1 The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
2 Excess of collateral received from the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
3 Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
4 Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
58 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End |
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Trusts policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following tables summarize the Trusts investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Investments: |
||||||||||||||||
Asset-Backed Securities |
| $ | 189,369,756 | $ | 65,179,443 | $ | 254,549,199 | |||||||||
Corporate Bonds |
| 399,988,252 | 515,294 | 400,503,546 | ||||||||||||
Floating Rate Loan Interests |
| 20,978,437 | 41,246,750 | 62,225,187 | ||||||||||||
Foreign Agency Obligations |
| 22,010,739 | | 22,010,739 | ||||||||||||
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities |
| 281,338,212 | 26,217,945 | 307,556,157 | ||||||||||||
Preferred Securities |
$ | 17,787,571 | 142,755,956 | 1,833,459 | 162,376,986 | |||||||||||
Short-Term Securities |
6,140,532 | | | 6,140,532 | ||||||||||||
Options Purchased: |
||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Contracts |
| 5,448 | | 5,448 | ||||||||||||
Currency Contracts |
| 127,681 | | 127,681 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 23,928,103 | $ | 1,056,574,481 | $ | 134,992,891 | $ | 1,215,495,475 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments1 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Credit contracts |
| $ | 1,440,189 | | $ | 1,440,189 | ||||||||||
Foreign currency exchange contracts |
| 599,010 | | 599,010 | ||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
$ | 87,196 | 18,080 | | 105,276 | |||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Credit contracts |
| (24,004 | ) | | (24,004 | ) | ||||||||||
Foreign currency exchange contracts |
| (1,002,336 | ) | | (1,002,336 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
(12,183 | ) | (9,462 | ) | | (21,645 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 75,013 | $ | 1,021,477 | | $ | 1,096,490 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
1 Derivative financial instruments are swaps, financial futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and options written. Swaps, financial futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument and options written are shown at value. |
|
The Trust may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount or face value, including accrued interest, for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | 1,711,034 | | | $ | 1,711,034 | ||||||||||
Cash pledged for centrally cleared swaps |
1,600 | | | 1,600 | ||||||||||||
Cash pledged for financial futures contracts |
781,400 | | | 781,400 | ||||||||||||
Foreign currency at value |
1,438,640 | | | 1,438,640 | ||||||||||||
Cash pledged as collateral for reverse repurchase agreements |
1,881,755 | | | 1,881,755 | ||||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Reverse repurchase agreements |
| $ | (510,352,370 | ) | | (510,352,370 | ) | |||||||||
Cash received as collateral for OTC derivatives |
| (660,000 | ) | | (660,000 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
$ | 5,814,429 | $ | (511,012,370 | ) | | $ | (505,197,941 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the year ended October 31, 2015, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 59 |
Schedule of Investments (concluded) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented when the Trust had a significant amount of Level 3 investments at the beginning and/or end of the period in relation to net assets. The following table is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining fair value:
Asset-Backed Securities |
Corporate Bonds |
Floating Rate Loan Interests |
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities |
Preferred Securities |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opening balance, as of October 31, 2014 |
$ | 12,930,162 | $ | 4,353,024 | $ | 26,369,600 | $ | 24,087,773 | | $ | 67,740,559 | |||||||||||||
Transfers into Level 31 |
| | 132,297 | | $ | 1,824,664 | 1,956,961 | |||||||||||||||||
Transfers out of Level 32 |
(951,300 | ) | (4,353,024 | ) | | (4,595,625 | ) | | (9,899,949 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Accrued discounts/premiums |
279,548 | | (4,001 | ) | 289,085 | | 564,632 | |||||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) |
70,117 | | 16,846 | 955,111 | | 1,042,074 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)3,4 |
(3,230,594 | ) | (146 | ) | (79,769 | ) | (421,837 | ) | 8,795 | (3,723,551 | ) | |||||||||||||
Purchases |
61,421,265 | 515,440 | 22,040,000 | 10,563,459 | | 94,540,164 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales |
(5,339,755 | ) | | (7,228,223 | ) | (4,660,021 | ) | | (17,227,999 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Closing Balance, as of October 31, 2015 |
$ | 65,179,443 | $ | 515,294 | $ | 41,246,750 | $ | 26,217,945 | $ | 1,833,459 | $ | 134,992,891 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 20154 |
$ | (3,139,132 | ) | $ | (146 | ) | $ | (45,169 | ) | $ | (421,837 | ) | $ | 8,795 | $ | (3,597,489 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
1 As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used observable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments with a beginning of period value of $1,956,961 were transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 in the disclosure hierarchy. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 As October 31, 2015, the Trust used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of October 31, 2015, the Trust used observable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments with a beginning of period value of $ 9,899,949 were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 in the disclosure hierarchy. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
3 Included in the related net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Statements of Operations. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
4 Any difference between net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at October 31, 2015 is generally due to investments no longer held or categorized as Level 3 at period end. |
|
The Trusts investments that are categorized as Level 3 were valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. Such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of such Level 3 investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
60 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities |
October 31, 2015 | BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
|||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||
Investments at value unaffiliated1 |
$ | 2,198,242,197 | $ | 442,810,844 | $ | 1,209,354,943 | ||||||
Investments at value affiliated2 |
610,104 | 1,094,113 | 6,140,532 | |||||||||
Cash |
1,697,637 | 948,823 | 1,711,034 | |||||||||
Cash pledged: | ||||||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
4,302,780 | | 781,400 | |||||||||
Centrally cleared swaps |
9,035,930 | | 1,600 | |||||||||
Collateral reverse repurchase agreements |
2,704,000 | | 1,881,755 | |||||||||
Foreign currency at value3 |
8,883 | 5,141 | 1,438,640 | |||||||||
Receivables: | ||||||||||||
Interest |
29,339,749 | 1,699,729 | 10,710,297 | |||||||||
Investments sold |
794,525 | 6,399,408 | 19,929,530 | |||||||||
Dividends |
61,272 | | 135,787 | |||||||||
Swaps |
51,769 | | 102,675 | |||||||||
Reverse repurchase agreements |
| | 17,224,000 | |||||||||
Swap premiums paid |
263,606 | | 277,222 | |||||||||
Unrealized appreciation on: | ||||||||||||
OTC swaps |
1,312,144 | | 1,457,505 | |||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| 79,201 | 599,010 | |||||||||
Variation margin receivable on financial futures contracts |
715,208 | | 14,042 | |||||||||
Variation margin receivable on centrally cleared swaps |
| | 299 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses |
6,531 | 1,442 | 2,320 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total assets |
2,249,146,335 | 453,038,701 | 1,271,762,591 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||
Cash received as collateral for OTC derivatives |
1,000,000 | | 660,000 | |||||||||
Options written at value4 |
21,225 | | 105,670 | |||||||||
Reverse repurchase agreements |
685,715,941 | | 510,352,370 | |||||||||
Payables: | ||||||||||||
Investments purchased |
8,560,108 | 12,754,803 | 29,368,700 | |||||||||
Investment advisory fees |
1,172,646 | 282,167 | 838,509 | |||||||||
Officers and Trustees fees |
609,747 | 188,481 | 37,970 | |||||||||
Income dividends |
359,474 | 28,079 | 281,342 | |||||||||
Other accrued expenses |
266,647 | 186,966 | 237,796 | |||||||||
Swaps |
126,776 | | 68,413 | |||||||||
Bank borrowings |
| 104,000,000 | | |||||||||
Interest expense |
| 86,286 | | |||||||||
Swap premiums received |
627,310 | | 2,424,534 | |||||||||
Unrealized depreciation on: | ||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |
| 68,145 | 897,670 | |||||||||
OTC swaps |
905,197 | | 31,136 | |||||||||
Variation margin payable on centrally cleared swaps |
498,178 | | 187 | |||||||||
Variation margin payable on financial futures contracts |
160,317 | | 26,620 | |||||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
| 5 | | | 5 | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total liabilities |
700,023,566 | 117,594,927 | 545,330,917 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net Assets |
$ | 1,549,122,769 | $ | 335,443,774 | $ | 726,431,674 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 61 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (concluded) |
October 31, 2015 | BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
|||||||||
Net Assets Consist of | ||||||||||||
Paid-in capital6,7,8 |
$ | 1,828,243,993 | $ | 427,370,162 | $ | 727,781,455 | ||||||
Undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investment income |
1,190,408 | 82,859 | (695,116 | ) | ||||||||
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) |
(333,358,869 | ) | (82,309,514 | ) | 1,412,718 | |||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
53,047,237 | (9,699,733 | ) | (2,067,383 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net Assets |
$ | 1,549,122,769 | $ | 335,443,774 | $ | 726,431,674 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net asset value |
$ | 14.33 | $ | 14.18 | $ | 18.91 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
1 Investments at cost unaffiliated |
$ | 2,131,712,752 | $ | 452,534,387 | $ | 1,212,750,395 | ||||||
2 Investments at cost affiliated |
$ | 610,104 | $ | 1,094,113 | $ | 6,140,532 | ||||||
3 Foreign currency at cost |
$ | 9,216 | $ | 5,200 | $ | 1,443,404 | ||||||
4 Premiums received |
$ | 1,061,185 | | $ | 112,509 | |||||||
5 See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details of commitments. |
||||||||||||
6 Par value per share |
$ | 0.001 | $ | 0.001 | $ | 0.001 | ||||||
7 Shares outstanding |
108,088,170 | 23,663,232 | 38,421,624 | |||||||||
8 Shares authorized |
unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
62 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Statements of Operations |
Year Ended October 31, 2015 | BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT)1 |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
|||||||||
Investment Income | ||||||||||||
Interest |
$ | 117,361,043 | $ | 23,593,384 | $ | 71,789,994 | ||||||
Dividends unaffiliated |
4,586,641 | 80,495 | 3,244,037 | |||||||||
Dividends affiliated |
7,660 | 420 | 23,186 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total income |
121,955,344 | 23,674,299 | 75,057,217 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Expenses | ||||||||||||
Investment advisory |
14,578,884 | 3,539,981 | 10,663,400 | |||||||||
Professional |
311,849 | 181,373 | 254,123 | |||||||||
Accounting services |
174,298 | 56,119 | 101,246 | |||||||||
Transfer agent |
153,275 | 43,037 | 49,541 | |||||||||
Custodian |
134,103 | 155,701 | 151,559 | |||||||||
Officer and Trustees |
104,014 | 17,492 | 66,355 | |||||||||
Registration |
38,154 | 9,042 | 13,604 | |||||||||
Printing |
35,901 | 17,579 | 23,865 | |||||||||
Miscellaneous |
149,742 | 44,965 | 93,702 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total expenses excluding interest expense |
15,680,220 | 4,065,289 | 11,417,395 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
2,966,675 | 1,223,715 | 4,167,700 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total expenses |
18,646,895 | 5,289,004 | 15,585,095 | |||||||||
Less: | ||||||||||||
Fees waived by the Manager |
(6,242 | ) | (556 | ) | (17,306 | ) | ||||||
Fees paid indirectly |
(223 | ) | | (178 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly |
18,640,430 | 5,288,448 | 15,567,611 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
103,314,914 | 18,385,851 | 59,489,606 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | ||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) from: |
||||||||||||
Investments |
(15,281,889 | ) | (7,912,142 | ) | (13,211,471 | ) | ||||||
Financial futures contracts |
(901,072 | ) | | (3,381,925 | ) | |||||||
Foreign currency transactions |
(3,550 | ) | 1,644,738 | 2,817,102 | ||||||||
Options written |
4,676,733 | | 21,571 | |||||||||
Swaps |
(4,158,379 | ) | (43,669 | ) | 80,665 | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
(15,668,157 | ) | (6,311,073 | ) | (13,674,058 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | ||||||||||||
Investments |
(80,419,460 | ) | (2,044,475 | ) | (26,788,430 | ) | ||||||
Financial futures contracts |
(3,241,507 | ) | | 769,706 | ||||||||
Foreign currency translations |
324 | (98,096 | ) | (181,124 | ) | |||||||
Options written |
(3,970,751 | ) | | 1,151 | ||||||||
Swaps |
(6,921,387 | ) | | 488,167 | ||||||||
Unfunded floating rate loan interests |
| 25,380 | | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
(94,552,781 | ) | (2,117,191 | ) | (25,710,530 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized loss |
(110,220,938 | ) | (8,428,264 | ) | (39,384,588 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
$ | (6,906,024 | ) | $ | 9,957,587 | $ | 20,105,018 | |||||
|
|
|||||||||||
1 Consolidated Statement of Operations. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 63 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
||||||||
Year Ended October 31, | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 103,314,914 | $ | 107,032,500 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) |
(15,668,157 | ) | 3,086,038 | |||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
(94,552,781 | ) | 35,033,900 | |||||
|
|
|||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(6,906,024 | ) | 145,152,438 | |||||
|
|
|||||||
Distributions to Shareholders1 | ||||||||
From net investment income |
(97,419,415 | ) | (104,413,172 | ) | ||||
From return of capital |
(6,993,757 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|||||||
Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders |
(104,413,172 | ) | (104,413,172 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Total increase (decrease) in net assets |
(111,319,196 | ) | 40,739,266 | |||||
Beginning of year |
1,660,441,965 | 1,619,702,699 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
End of year |
$ | 1,549,122,769 | $ | 1,660,441,965 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Undistributed net investment income, end of year |
$ | 1,190,408 | $ | 290,393 | ||||
|
|
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT)2 |
||||||||
Year Ended October 31, | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 18,385,851 | $ | 19,977,444 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) |
(6,311,073 | ) | 7,113,737 | |||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
(2,117,191 | ) | (12,444,550 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
9,957,587 | 14,646,631 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Distributions to Shareholders1 | ||||||||
From net investment income |
(19,181,416 | ) | (19,919,709 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Total decrease in net assets |
(9,223,829 | ) | (5,273,078 | ) | ||||
Beginning of year |
344,667,603 | 349,940,681 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
End of year |
$ | 335,443,774 | $ | 344,667,603 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Undistributed net investment income, end of year |
$ | 82,859 | $ | 984,527 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
1 Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. |
| |||||||
2 Consolidated Statements of Changes. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
64 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
||||||||
Year Ended October 31, | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 59,489,606 | $ | 62,745,166 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) |
(13,674,058 | ) | 2,105,011 | |||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
(25,710,530 | ) | 24,407,361 | |||||
|
|
|||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
20,105,018 | 89,257,538 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Distributions to Shareholders1 | ||||||||
From net investment income |
(54,109,102 | ) | (53,805,642 | ) | ||||
From net realized gain |
(2,923,957 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|||||||
Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders |
(57,033,059 | ) | (53,805,642 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Total increase (decrease) in net assets |
(36,928,041 | ) | 35,451,896 | |||||
Beginning of year |
763,359,715 | 727,907,819 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
End of year |
$ | 726,431,674 | $ | 763,359,715 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investment income, end of year |
$ | (695,116 | ) | $ | 856,831 | |||
|
|
|||||||
1 Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 65 |
Statements of Cash Flows |
Year Ended October 31, 2015 | BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT)1 |
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
|||||||||
Cash Provided by Operating Activities | ||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
$ | (6,906,024 | ) | $ | 9,957,587 | $ | 20,105,018 | |||||
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from sales of long-term investments |
584,772,810 | 242,818,020 | 425,246,507 | |||||||||
Purchases of long-term investments |
(491,608,965 | ) | (203,819,085 | ) | (253,370,370 | ) | ||||||
Net proceeds from sales of short-term securities |
3,673,187 | 1,536,421 | 12,682,853 | |||||||||
Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on investments |
4,440,039 | (460,334 | ) | (12,613,351 | ) | |||||||
Net realized loss on investments and options written |
13,892,865 | 8,147,839 | 18,616,002 | |||||||||
Net unrealized loss on investments, options written, swaps, foreign currency translations and unfunded floating rate loan interests |
83,590,333 | 2,117,191 | 26,724,017 | |||||||||
Premiums paid on closing options written |
(5,024,060 | ) | | (40,833 | ) | |||||||
Premiums received from options written |
3,307,008 | | 168,972 | |||||||||
(Increase) decrease in assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash Pledged: | ||||||||||||
Collateral OTC derivatives |
500,000 | | | |||||||||
Collateral reverse repurchase agreements |
(2,704,000 | ) | | (340,226 | ) | |||||||
Centrally cleared swaps |
(3,885,930 | ) | | 1,023,400 | ||||||||
Financial futures contracts |
(3,949,780 | ) | | 217,600 | ||||||||
Receivables: | ||||||||||||
Dividends |
7,591 | | 46,875 | |||||||||
Interest |
2,245,686 | 213,428 | 2,508,931 | |||||||||
Swaps |
49,264 | | 289,809 | |||||||||
Swap premiums paid |
250,282 | | (274,325 | ) | ||||||||
Variation margin receivable on financial futures contracts |
(441,646 | ) | | 194,753 | ||||||||
Variation margin receivable on centrally cleared swaps |
376,026 | | 5,144 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses |
(354 | ) | 135 | (84 | ) | |||||||
Increase (decrease) in liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Cash received: | ||||||||||||
Collateral reverse repurchase agreements |
| | (873,000 | ) | ||||||||
Collateral OTC derivatives |
260,000 | | | |||||||||
Payables: | ||||||||||||
Investment advisory fees |
(97,170 | ) | (20,305 | ) | (139,704 | ) | ||||||
Interest expense |
213,250 | (118,676 | ) | (211,183 | ) | |||||||
Other accrued expenses |
(18,960 | ) | 6,023 | (15,500 | ) | |||||||
Officers and Trustees fees |
24,441 | 562 | 28,857 | |||||||||
Swaps |
(1,195 | ) | | (289,048 | ) | |||||||
Other liabilities |
| | (832,628 | ) | ||||||||
Variation margin payable on financial futures contracts |
(240,186 | ) | | 26,620 | ||||||||
Variation margin payable on centrally cleared swaps |
498,178 | | (78,387 | ) | ||||||||
Swap premiums received |
(235,154 | ) | | 1,881,795 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
182,987,536 | 60,378,806 | 240,688,514 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Cash Used for Financing Activities | ||||||||||||
Cash dividends paid to shareholders |
(104,462,536 | ) | (19,185,051 | ) | (56,943,992 | ) | ||||||
Payments for bank borrowings |
| (185,000,000 | ) | | ||||||||
Proceeds from bank borrowings |
| 144,000,000 | | |||||||||
Increase in bank overdraft |
(26,363 | ) | | | ||||||||
Net borrowing of reverse repurchase agreements |
(76,791,885 | ) | | (182,450,532 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net cash used for financing activities |
(181,280,784 | ) | (60,185,051 | ) | (239,394,524 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Cash Impact from Foreign Exchange Fluctuations | ||||||||||||
Cash impact from foreign exchange fluctuations |
$ | (331 | ) | $ | (37 | ) | $ | 15,053 | ||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Cash and Foreign Currency | ||||||||||||
Net increase in cash |
1,706,421 | 193,718 | 1,309,043 | |||||||||
Cash and foreign currency at beginning of year |
99 | 760,246 | 1,840,631 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Cash and foreign currency at end of year |
$ | 1,706,520 | $ | 953,964 | $ | 3,149,674 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information | ||||||||||||
Cash paid during the year for interest expense |
$ | 2,753,425 | $ | 1,342,391 | $ | 4,378,883 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
1 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. |
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
66 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Financial Highlights | BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ) |
Year Ended October 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 15.36 | $ | 14.99 | $ | 15.37 | $ | 13.94 | $ | 14.46 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income1 |
0.96 | 0.99 | 0.97 | 0.94 | 0.88 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
(1.02 | ) | 0.35 | (0.37 | ) | 1.43 | (0.54 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders from net investment income |
| | | | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
(0.06 | ) | 1.34 | 0.60 | 2.37 | 0.33 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to Common Shareholders:2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
From net investment income |
(0.91 | ) | (0.97 | ) | (0.98 | ) | (0.94 | ) | (0.85 | ) | ||||||||||
From return of capital |
(0.06 | ) | | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.97 | ) | (0.97 | ) | (0.98 | ) | (0.94 | ) | (0.85 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 14.33 | $ | 15.36 | $ | 14.99 | $ | 15.37 | $ | 13.94 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Market price, end of year |
$ | 12.53 | $ | 13.54 | $ | 12.97 | $ | 14.23 | $ | 12.08 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Based on net asset value |
0.48% | 10.11% | 4.86% | 18.35% | 3.28% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Based on market price |
(0.33)% | 12.18% | (2.01)% | 26.44% | (0.60)% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses |
1.16% | 1.11% | 1.15% | 4 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.09% | 6 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly |
1.15% | 1.11% | 1.15% | 4 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.09% | 6 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly and excluding interest expense |
0.97% | 0.96% | 1.00% | 4 | 1.07% | 5 | 0.99% | 6 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
6.40% | 6.48% | 6.43% | 6.53% | 6.25% | 6 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders |
| | | | 0.09% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income to Common Shareholders |
6.40% | 6.48% | 6.43% | 6.53% | 6.16% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of year (000) |
$ | 1,549,123 | $ | 1,660,442 | $ | 1,619,703 | $ | 796,836 | $ | 722,337 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings outstanding, end of year (000) |
$ | 685,716 | $ | 759,752 | $ | 812,028 | $ | 373,716 | $ | 339,303 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
19% | 29% | 43% | 37% | 54% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
1 | Based on average shares outstanding. |
2 | Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. |
3 | Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions. |
4 | Includes reorganization costs associated with the Trusts merger. Without these costs, total expenses, total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly, and total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly and excluding interest expense would have been 1.15%, 1.15% and 1.00%, respectively. |
5 | Includes reorganization costs associated with the Trusts merger. Without these costs, total expenses, total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly, and total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly and excluding interest expense would have been 1.16%, 1.16% and 1.02%, respectively. |
6 | Does not reflect the effect of dividends to Preferred Shareholders. |
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 67 |
Financial Highlights | BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) |
Year Ended October 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
20151 | 20141 | 20131 | 20121 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 14.57 | $ | 14.79 | $ | 14.52 | $ | 13.97 | $ | 14.48 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income2 |
0.78 | 0.84 | 0.94 | 0.97 | 1.00 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
(0.36 | ) | (0.22 | ) | 0.38 | 0.68 | (0.42 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders from net investment income |
| | | | (0.00 | )3 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net increase from investment operations |
0.42 | 0.62 | 1.32 | 1.65 | 0.58 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to Common Shareholder from net investment income4 |
(0.81 | ) | (0.84 | ) | (1.05 | ) | (1.10 | ) | (1.09 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of year |
$ | 14.18 | $ | 14.57 | $ | 14.79 | $ | 14.52 | $ | 13.97 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Market price, end of year |
$ | 12.77 | $ | 13.18 | $ | 14.12 | $ | 15.07 | $ | 13.00 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Based on net asset value |
3.54% | 4.60% | 9.37% | 12.37% | 4.03% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Based on market price |
3.08% | (0.89)% | 0.60% | 25.33% | (3.46)% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses |
1.55% | 1.52% | 1.57% | 1.66% | 1.73% | 6 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly |
1.54% | 1.52% | 1.57% | 1.61% | 1.60% | 6 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly and excluding interest expense |
1.19% | 1.18% | 1.19% | 1.25% | 7 | 1.24% | 6 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
5.37% | 5.71% | 6.39% | 6.87% | 6.95% | 6 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders |
| | | | 0.03% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income to Common Shareholders |
5.37% | 5.71% | 6.39% | 6.87% | 6.92% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of year (000) |
$ | 335,444 | $ | 344,668 | $ | 349,941 | $ | 343,282 | $ | 329,831 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings outstanding, end of year (000) |
$ | 104,000 | $ | 145,000 | $ | 152,000 | $ | 145,000 | $ | 122,000 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Asset coverage, end of year per $1,000 of bank borrowings |
$ | 4,225 | $ | 3,377 | $ | 3,302 | $ | 3,367 | 3,704 | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
42% | 64% | 72% | 65% | 89% | |||||||||||||||
|
|
1 | Consolidated Financial Highlights. |
2 | Based on average shares outstanding. |
3 | Amount is greater than $(0.005) per share. |
4 | Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. |
5 | Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions. |
6 | Does not reflect the effect of dividends to Preferred Shareholders. |
7 | For the year ended October 31, 2012, the total expense ratio after fees waived and paid indirectly and excluding interest expense and borrowing costs was 1.14%. |
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
68 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Financial Highlights | BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT) |
Year Ended October 31, | Period February 27, 20131 to October 31, |
|||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Per Share Operating Performance | ||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 19.87 | $ | 18.95 | $ | 19.10 | 2 | |||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net investment income3 |
1.55 | 1.62 | 1.02 | |||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
(1.03 | ) | 0.70 | (0.35 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
0.52 | 2.32 | 0.67 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Distributions4: | ||||||||||||
From net investment income |
(1.40 | ) | (1.40 | ) | (0.70 | ) | ||||||
From net realized gain |
(0.08 | ) | | | ||||||||
From return of capital |
| | (0.12 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total distributions |
(1.48 | ) | (1.40 | ) | (0.82 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 18.91 | 5 | $ | 19.87 | $ | 18.95 | |||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Market price, end of period |
$ | 16.31 | $ | 17.79 | $ | 17.04 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total Return6 | ||||||||||||
Based on net asset value |
3.87% | 5 | 13.40% | 4.04% | 7 | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Based on market price |
0.06% | 12.91% | (10.66)% | 7 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets | ||||||||||||
Total expenses |
2.09% | 8 | 2.04% | 1.67% | 9 | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly |
2.09% | 8 | 2.04% | 1.67% | 9 | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly and excluding interest expense |
1.53% | 8 | 1.52% | 1.33% | 9 | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
7.97% | 8 | 8.27% | 8.05% | 9 | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000) |
$ | 726,432 | $ | 763,360 | $ | 727,908 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Borrowings outstanding, end of period (000) |
$ | 510,352 | $ | 707,294 | $ | 552,040 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
21% | 29% | 77% | 10 | ||||||||
|
|
1 | Commencement of operations. |
2 | Net asset value, beginning of period, reflects a deduction of $0.90 per share sales charge from the initial offering price of $20.00 per share. |
3 | Based on average shares outstanding. |
4 | Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. |
5 | For financial reporting purposes, the market value of certain investments were adjusted as of report date. Accordingly, the net asset value (NAV) per share and total return performance based on net asset value presented herein are different than the information previously published on October 31, 2015. |
6 | Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions. |
7 | Aggregate total return. |
8 | Ratios do not include expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds of approximately 0.01% for the year ended October 31, 2015. |
9 | Annualized. |
10 | Includes mortgage dollar roll transactions. Excluding these transactions, the portfolio turnover would have been 54%. |
See Notes to Financial Statements. | ||||||
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 69 |
Notes to Financial Statements |
1. Organization:
The following are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as closed-end management investment companies and are referred to herein collectively as the Trusts or individually, a Trust:
Trust Name | Herein Referred To As |
Organized | Diversification Classification |
|||||||
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust |
BTZ | Delaware | Non-diversified | |||||||
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust |
BGT | Delaware | Non-diversified | |||||||
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust |
BIT | Delaware | Non-diversified |
The Boards of Trustees of the Trusts are collectively referred to throughout this report as the Board of Trustees or the Board, and the trustees thereof are collectively referred to throughout this report as Trustees. The Trusts determine and make available for publication the net asset values (NAVs) of their Common Shares on a daily basis.
The Trusts, together with certain other registered investment companies advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the Manager) or its affiliates, are included in a complex of closed-end funds referred to as the Closed-End Complex.
Basis of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements of BGT include the accounts of BGT Subsidiary, LLC (the Taxable Subsidiary). As of December 19, 2014, the Taxable Subsidiary, which was wholly owned by the Trust, was dissolved. The Taxable Subsidiary enabled BGT to hold an investment in an operating company and satisfy Regulated Investment Company (RIC) tax requirements. Income earned and gains realized on the investment held by the Taxable Subsidiary were taxable to such subsidiary. There was no tax provision required for income or realized gains during the period.
Effective October 14, 2015, BIT formed the BIT Subsidiary, LLC (BIT Subsidiary). The BIT Subsidiary enables BIT to hold an investment in an operating company and satisfy RIC tax requirements. Income earned and gains realized on the investment held by the BIT Subsidiary are taxable to the subsidiary. BIT may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the BIT Subsidiary. The BIT Subsidiary held no investments from inception to October 31, 2015. The BIT Subsidiary is subject to the same investment policies and restrictions that apply to BIT.
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. Each Trust is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:
Foreign Currency: Each Trusts books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Purchases and sales of investments are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective date of such transactions. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the investments denominated in that currency will lose value; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value.
Each Trust does not isolate changes in the exchange rates from the changes in the market prices of investments held or sold for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investments are not segregated in the Statements of Operations from the effects of changes in market prices of those investments, but are included as a component of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments. Each Trust reports realized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency related transactions as components of net realized gain (loss) for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are generally treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Trust enters into certain investments (e.g. financial futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, options written and swaps), or certain borrowings (e.g., reverse repurchase transactions) that would be treated as senior securities for 1940 Act purposes, a Trust may segregate or designate on its books and records cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of the Trusts future obligations under such investments or borrowings. Doing so allows the investment or borrowing to be excluded from treatment as a senior security. Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Trust may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
Investment Transactions and Investment Income: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are entered into (the trade dates). Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Trusts are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers, some of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized on the accrual basis.
Distributions: Distributions from net investment income are declared and paid monthly. Distributions of capital gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Portions of return of capital distributions under U.S. GAAP may be taxed at ordinary income rates. The character of distributions is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. The portion of distributions that exceeds a Trusts current and accumulated
70 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
earnings and profits, as measured on a tax basis, constitute a non-taxable return of capital. Realized net capital gains can be offset by capital losses carried forward from prior years. However, certain Trusts have capital loss carryforwards from pre-2012 tax years that offset realized net capital gains but do not offset current and accumulated earnings and profits. Consequently, if distributions in any tax year are less than the Trusts current earnings and profits but greater than net investment income and net realized capital gains (taxable income), distributions in excess of taxable income are not treated as non-taxable return of capital, but rather may be taxable to shareholders at ordinary income rates. Under certain circumstances, taxable excess distributions could be significant. See Note 8, Income Tax Information, for the tax character of each Trusts distributions paid during the year.
Deferred Compensation Plan: Under the Deferred Compensation Plan (the Plan) approved by each Trusts Board, the independent Trustees (Independent Trustees) may defer a portion of their annual complex-wide compensation. Deferred amounts earn an approximate return as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in common shares of certain other BlackRock Closed-End Funds selected by the Independent Trustees. This has the same economic effect for the Independent Trustees as if the Independent Trustees had invested the deferred amounts directly in certain other BlackRock Closed-End Funds.
The Plan is not funded and obligations thereunder represent general unsecured claims against the general assets of each Trust, if applicable. Deferred compensation liabilities are included in officers and trustees fees payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and will remain as a liability of the Trusts until such amounts are distributed in accordance with the Plan.
Recent Accounting Standard: In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance to improve the financial reporting of reverse repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance will require expanded disclosure for entities that enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar transactions accounted for as secured borrowings. It is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and for interim periods beginning after March 15, 2015. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Trusts financial statement disclosures.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. A Trusts maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against a Trust, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
Other: Expenses directly related to a Trust are charged to that Trust. Other operating expenses shared by several funds, including other funds managed by the Manager, are prorated among those funds on the basis of relative net assets or other appropriate methods.
The Trusts have an arrangement with their custodian whereby fees may be reduced by credits earned on uninvested cash balances, which, if applicable, are shown as fees paid indirectly in the Statements of Operations. The custodian imposes fees on overdrawn cash balances, which can be offset by accumulated credits earned or may result in additional custody charges. Effective September 2015, the arrangement with their custodian for earning credits on uninvested cash balances has ceased and the custodian will be imposing fees on certain uninvested cash balances.
3. Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements:
Investment Valuation Policies: The Trusts investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as market value within the financial statements) as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (or if the reporting date falls on a day the NYSE is closed, investments are valued at fair value as of the report date). U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price the Trusts would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Trusts determine the fair values of their financial instruments using independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the Global Valuation Committee) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to provide oversight of the pricing function for the Trusts for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods (or techniques) and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Trusts assets and liabilities:
| Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at the official close price each day, if available. For equity investments traded on more than one exchange, the official close price on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded is used. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day may be valued at the last available bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price. |
| Bond investments are valued on the basis of last available bid prices or current market quotations provided by dealers or pricing services. Floating rate loan interests are valued at the mean of the bid prices from one or more brokers or dealers as obtained from a pricing service. In determining the value of a particular investment, pricing services may use certain information with respect to transactions in such investments, quotations from dealers, pricing matrixes, market transactions in comparable investments, various relationships observed in the market between investments and calculated yield measures. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are valued by independent pricing services using models that consider estimated cash flows of each tranche of the security, establish a benchmark yield and develop an estimated tranche-specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche. Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of |
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 71 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
business on the NYSE. Occasionally, events affecting the values of such instruments may occur between the foreign market close and the close of business on the NYSE that may not be reflected in the computation of the Trusts net assets. |
| Municipal investments (including commitments to purchase such investments on a when-issued basis) are valued on the basis of prices provided by dealers or pricing services. In determining the value of a particular investment, pricing services may use certain information with respect to transactions in such investments, quotations from dealers, pricing matrixes, market transactions in comparable investments and information with respect to various relationships between investments. |
| Investments in open-end registered investment companies are valued at NAV each business day. |
| Financial futures contracts traded on exchanges are valued at their last sale price. |
| Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates determined as of the close of business on the NYSE. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the mean between the bid and ask prices and are determined as of the close of business on the NYSE. Interpolated values are derived when the settlement date of the contract is an interim date for which quotations are not available. |
| Exchange-traded options are valued at the mean between the last bid and ask prices at the close of the options market in which the options trade. An exchange-traded option for which there is no mean price is valued at the last bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price. If no bid or ask price is available, the prior days price will be used, unless it is determined that the prior days price no longer reflects the fair value of the option. Over-the-counter (OTC) options and options on swaps (swaptions) are valued by an independent pricing service using a mathematical model, which incorporates a number of market data factors, such as the trades and prices of the underlying instruments. |
| Swap agreements are valued utilizing quotes received daily by the Trusts pricing service or through brokers, which are derived using daily swap curves and models that incorporate a number of market data factors, such as discounted cash flows, trades and values of the underlying reference instruments. |
| Certain centrally cleared swaps are valued at the price determined by the relevant exchange or clearinghouse. |
If events (e.g., a company announcement, market volatility or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such instruments, or in the event that the application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (Fair Valued Investments). When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Trust might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant consistent with the principles of fair value measurement, which include the market approach, income approach and/or in the case of recent investments, the cost approach, as appropriate. The market approach generally consists of using comparable market transactions. The income approach generally is used to discount future cash flows to present value and is adjusted for liquidity as appropriate. These factors include but are not limited to: (i) attributes specific to the investment or asset; (ii) the principal market for the investment or asset; (iii) the customary participants in the principal market for the investment or asset; (iv) data assumptions by market participants for the investment or asset, if reasonably available; (v) quoted prices for similar investments or assets in active markets; and (vi) other factors, such as future cash flows, interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, recovery rates, liquidation amounts and/or default rates. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of such investments, the fair values may differ from the values that would have been used had an active market existed. The Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, employs various methods for calibrating valuation approaches for investments where an active market does not exist, including regular due diligence of each Trusts pricing vendors, regular reviews of key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis to compare unrealized gains and losses to realized gains and losses, reviews of missing or stale prices and large movements in market values and reviews of any market related activity. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial statement purposes as follows:
| Level 1 unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that each Trust has the ability to access |
| Level 2 other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other marketcorroborated inputs) |
| Level 3 unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including each Trusts own assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments) |
72 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
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 significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments are typically categorized as Level 3. The fair value hierarchy for each Trusts investments and derivative instruments has been included in the Schedules of Investments.
Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the hierarchy. In accordance with each Trusts policy, transfers between different levels of the fair value hierarchy are deemed to have occurred as of the beginning of the reporting period. The categorization of a value determined for investments and derivative financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the investments and derivative financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
4. Securities and Other Investments:
Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities: Asset-backed securities are generally issued as pass-through certificates or as debt instruments. Asset-backed securities issued as pass-through certificates represent undivided fractional ownership interests in an underlying pool of assets. Asset-backed securities issued as debt instruments, which are also known as collateralized obligations, are typically issued as the debt of a special purpose entity organized solely for the purpose of owning such assets and issuing such debt. Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. The yield characteristics of certain asset-backed securities may differ from traditional debt securities. One such major difference is that all or a principal part of the obligations may be prepaid at any time because the underlying assets (i.e., loans) may be prepaid at any time. As a result, a decrease in interest rates in the market may result in increases in the level of prepayments as borrowers, particularly mortgagors, refinance and repay their loans. An increased prepayment rate with respect to an asset-backed security will have the effect of shortening the maturity of the security. In addition, a Trust may subsequently have to reinvest the proceeds at lower interest rates. If a Trust has purchased such an asset-backed security at a premium, a faster than anticipated prepayment rate could result in a loss of principal to the extent of the premium paid.
For mortgage pass through securities, there are a number of important differences among the agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government that issue mortgage-related securities and among the securities that they issue. For example, mortgage-related securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by Ginnie Mae and such guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. However, mortgage-related securities issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, including Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates, which are solely the obligations of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are not backed by or entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States, but are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury.
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities are securities issued by non-governmental issuers and have no direct or indirect government guarantees of payment and are subject to various risks. Non-agency mortgage loans are obligations of the borrowers thereunder only and are not typically insured or guaranteed by any other person or entity. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan is dependent upon the income or assets of the borrower. A number of factors, including a general economic downturn, acts of God, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances, may impair a borrowers ability to repay its loans.
Collateralized Debt Obligations: Collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) include collateralized bond obligations (CBOs) and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), which are types of asset-backed securities. A CDO is an entity that is backed by a diversified pool of debt securities (CBOs) or syndicated bank loans (CLOs). The cash flows of the CDO can be split into multiple segments, called tranches, which will vary in risk profile and yield. The riskiest segment is the subordinated or equity tranche. This tranche bears the greatest risk of defaults from the underlying assets in the CDO and serves to protect the other, more senior, tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is shielded from defaults by the more junior tranches, a senior tranche will typically have higher credit ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and often receive investment grade ratings from one or more of the nationally recognized rating agencies. Despite the protection from the more junior tranches, senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to future defaults and the disappearance of one or more protecting tranches as a result of changes in the credit profile of the underlying pool of assets.
Multiple Class Pass-Through Securities: Multiple class pass-through securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and commercial mortgage-backed securities, may be issued by Ginnie Mae, U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities or by trusts formed by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans. In general, CMOs are debt obligations of a legal entity that are collateralized by a pool of residential or commercial mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities (the Mortgage Assets). The payments on these are used to make payments on the CMOs or multiple pass-through securities. Multiple class pass-through securities represent direct ownership interests in the Mortgage Assets. Classes of CMOs include interest only (IOs), principal only (POs), planned amortization classes and targeted amortization classes. IOs and POs are stripped mortgage-backed securities representing interests in a pool of mortgages, the cash flow from which has been separated into interest and principal components. IOs receive the interest portion of the cash flow while POs receive the principal portion. IOs and POs can be extremely volatile in response to changes in interest rates. As interest rates rise and fall, the value of IOs tends to move in the same direction as interest rates. POs perform best when prepayments on the underlying mortgages
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 73 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
rise since this increases the rate at which the principal is returned and the yield to maturity on the PO. When payments on mortgages underlying a PO are slower than anticipated, the life of the PO is lengthened and the yield to maturity is reduced. If the underlying Mortgage Assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Trusts initial investment in the IOs may not be fully recouped.
Zero-Coupon Bonds: Zero-coupon bonds are normally issued at a significant discount from face value and do not provide for periodic interest payments. These bonds may experience greater volatility in market value than other debt obligations of similar maturity which provide for regular interest payments.
Capital Trusts and Trust Preferred Securities: Capital trusts and/or trust preferred securities are typically issued by corporations, generally in the form of interest-bearing notes with preferred securities characteristics, or by an affiliated business trust of a corporation, generally in the form of beneficial interests in subordinated debentures or similarly structured securities. The securities can be structured as either fixed or adjustable coupon securities that can have either a perpetual or stated maturity date. For trust preferred securities, the issuing bank or corporation pays interest to the trust, which is then distributed to holders of the trust preferred securities as a dividend. Dividends can be deferred without creating an event of default or acceleration, although maturity cannot take place unless all cumulative payment obligations have been met. The deferral of payments does not affect the purchase or sale of these securities in the open market. Payments on these securities are treated as interest rather than dividends for federal income tax purposes. These securities generally are rated below that of the issuing companys senior debt securities and are freely callable at the issuers option.
Preferred Stock: Preferred stock has a preference over common stock in liquidation (and generally in receiving dividends as well) but is subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer in all respects. As a general rule, the market value of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk, while the market price of convertible preferred stock generally also reflects some element of conversion value. Because preferred stock is junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends are payable only if declared by the issuers board of directors. Preferred stock also may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.
Warrants: Warrants entitle a Trust to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock and are non-income producing. The purchase price and number of shares are subject to adjustment under certain conditions until the expiration date of the warrants, if any. If the price of the underlying stock does not rise above the exercise price before the warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and a Trust will lose any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.
Floating Rate Loan Interests: Floating rate loan interests are typically issued to companies (the borrower) by banks, other financial institutions, or privately and publicly offered corporations (the lender). Floating rate loan interests are generally non-investment grade, often involve borrowers whose financial condition is troubled or uncertain and companies that are highly leveraged. The Trusts may invest in obligations of borrowers who are in bankruptcy proceedings. Floating rate loan interests may include fully funded term loans or revolving lines of credit. Floating rate loan interests are typically senior in the corporate capital structure of the borrower. Floating rate loan interests generally pay interest at rates that are periodically determined by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium. The base lending rates are generally the lending rate offered by one or more European banks, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate offered by one or more U.S. banks or the certificate of deposit rate. Floating rate loan interests may involve foreign borrowers, and investments may be denominated in foreign currencies. These investments are treated as investments in debt securities for purposes of the Trusts investment policies.
When a Trust purchases a floating rate loan interest, it may receive a facility fee and when it sells a floating rate loan interest, it may pay a facility fee. On an ongoing basis, the Trusts may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit amount of a floating rate loan interest. Facility and commitment fees are typically amortized to income over the term of the loan or term of the commitment, respectively. Consent and amendment fees are recorded to income as earned. Prepayment penalty fees, which may be received by a Trust upon the prepayment of a floating rate loan interest by a borrower, are recorded as realized gains. A Trust may invest in multiple series or tranches of a loan. A different series or tranche may have varying terms and carry different associated risks.
Floating rate loan interests are usually freely callable at the borrowers option. A Trust may invest in such loans in the form of participations in loans (Participations) or assignments (Assignments) of all or a portion of loans from third parties. Participations typically will result in the Trust having a contractual relationship only with the lender, not with the borrower. A Trust has the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the Participation and only upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the borrower. In connection with purchasing Participations, the Trust generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, nor any rights of offset against the borrower. A Trust may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the Participation. As a result, a Trust assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the Participation. The Trusts investment in loan participation interests involves the risk of insolvency of the financial intermediaries who are parties to the transactions. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the Participation, a Trust may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any offset between the lender and the borrower. Assignments typically result in the Trust having a direct contractual relationship with the borrower, and the Trust may enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement.
74 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
In connection with floating rate loan interests, the Trusts may also enter into unfunded floating rate loan interests (commitments). In connection with these commitments, a Trust earns a commitment fee, typically set as a percentage of the commitment amount. Such fee income, which is included in interest income in the Statements of Operations, is recognized ratably over the commitment period. Unfunded floating rate loan interests are marked-to-market daily, and any unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Statements of Operations. As of period end, the Trusts had no unfunded floating rate loan interests.
Forward Commitments and When-Issued Delayed Delivery Securities: Certain Trusts may purchase securities on a when-issued basis and may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase or sale commitment is made. A Trust may purchase securities under such conditions with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Trust may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the Trust is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, the Trust assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations. In the event of default by the counterparty, a Trusts maximum amount of loss is the unrealized appreciation of unsettled when-issued transactions.
Commitments: Certain Trusts may enter into commitments, or agreements, to acquire an investment at a future date (subject to certain conditions) in connection with a potential public or non-public offering. Such agreements may obligate the Trust to make future cash payments. As of October 31, 2015, BTZ and BIT had an outstanding commitment of $16,315,000 and $3,100,000, respectively, in connection with the Chapter 11 case of Energy Future Holdings Corp., et al. These commitments are not included in the net assets of the Trusts as of October 31, 2015.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements: Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements with qualified third party broker dealers in which a Trust sells securities to a bank or broker-dealer and agrees to repurchase the same securities at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The Trust receives cash from the sale to use for other investment purposes. During the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, a Trust continues to receive the principal and interest payments on the securities sold. Certain agreements have no stated maturity and can be terminated by either party at any time. Interest on the value of the reverse repurchase agreements issued and outstanding is based upon competitive market rates determined at the time of issuance. A Trust may utilize reverse repurchase agreements when it is anticipated that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction is greater than the interest expense of the transaction. Reverse repurchase agreements involve leverage risk. If a Trust suffers a loss on its investment of the transaction proceeds from a reverse repurchase agreement, a Trust would still be required to pay the full repurchase price. Further, a Trust remains subject to the risk that the market value of the securities repurchased declines below the repurchase price. In such cases, the Trust would be required to return a portion of the cash received from the transaction or provide additional securities to the counterparty.
Cash received in exchange for securities delivered plus accrued interest due to the counterparty is recorded as a liability in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities at face value including accrued interest. Due to the short-term nature of the reverse repurchase agreements, face value approximates fair value. Interest payments made by a Trust to the counterparties are recorded as a component of interest expense in the Statements of Operations. In periods of increased demand for the security, a Trust may receive a fee for use of the security by the counterparty, which may result in interest income to a Trust.
For the year ended October 31, 2015, the average amount of reverse repurchase agreements outstanding and the daily weighted average interest rates for the Trusts were as follows:
Average Outstanding |
Daily Average |
|||||||
BTZ |
$ | 736,929,193 | 0.40% | |||||
BIT |
$ | 586,411,240 | 0.71% |
Reverse repurchase transactions are entered into by a Trust under Master Repurchase Agreements (each, an MRA), which permit a Trust, under certain circumstances, including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset payables and/or receivables under the MRA with collateral held and/or posted to the counterparty and create one single net payment due to or from the Trust. With reverse repurchase transactions, typically a Trust and the counterparty under an MRA are permitted to sell, re-pledge, or use the collateral associated with the transaction. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of the MRA counterpartys bankruptcy or insolvency. Pursuant to the terms of the MRA, a Trust receives or posts securities as collateral with a market value in excess of the repurchase price to be paid or received by a Trust upon the maturity of the transaction. Upon a bankruptcy or insolvency of the MRA counterparty, a Trust is considered an unsecured creditor with respect to excess collateral and, as such, the return of excess collateral may be delayed.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 75 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
As of period end, the following table is a summary of the Trusts open reverse repurchase agreements by counterparty which are subject to offset under an MRA on a net basis:
BTZ | ||||||||||||||||
Counterparty | Reverse Repurchase Agreements |
Fair Value of Non-cash Collateral Pledged |
Cash Collateral Pledged |
Net Amount | ||||||||||||
Barclays Capital Inc. |
$ | 86,252,458 | $ | (86,252,458 | ) | | | |||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
168,358,348 | (168,358,348 | ) | | | |||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
43,524,342 | (43,524,342 | ) | | | |||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG London |
4,468,973 | (4,468,973 | ) | | | |||||||||||
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. |
20,130,965 | (20,130,965 | ) | | | |||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
226,309,044 | (226,309,044 | ) | | | |||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
136,671,811 | (136,671,811 | ) | | | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 685,715,941 | $ | (685,715,941 | ) | | | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
BIT | ||||||||||||||||
Counterparty | Reverse Repurchase Agreements |
Fair Value of Non-cash Collateral Pledged |
Cash Collateral Pledged |
Net Amount2 | ||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 7,973,535 | $ | (7,973,535 | ) | | | |||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
62,951,346 | (62,951,346 | ) | | | |||||||||||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
56,402,395 | (56,402,395 | ) | | | |||||||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
4,476,918 | (4,476,918 | ) | | | |||||||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. |
134,298,229 | (134,298,229 | ) | | | |||||||||||
HSBC Securities (USA), Inc. |
2,910,617 | (2,902,916 | ) | | $ | 7,701 | ||||||||||
JPMorgan Securities LLC |
7,614,333 | (7,614,333 | ) | | | |||||||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
5,387,452 | (5,387,452 | ) | | | |||||||||||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
26,836,225 | (26,836,225 | ) | | | |||||||||||
UBS Limited |
9,803,435 | (9,803,435 | ) | | | |||||||||||
UBS Securities LLC |
191,697,885 | (191,697,885 | ) | | | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 510,352,370 | $ | (510,344,669 | ) | | $ | 7,701 | ||||||||
|
|
1 | Net collateral with a value of $724,630,737 for BTZ and $579,987,526 for BIT has been pledged in connection with open reverse repurchase agreements. Excess of net collateral pledged to the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes. |
2 | Net amount reflects the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default. |
In the event the counterparty of securities under an MRA files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, a Trusts use of the proceeds from the agreement may be restricted while the counterparty, or its trustee or receiver, determines whether or not to enforce a Trusts obligation to repurchase the securities.
5. Derivative Financial Instruments:
The Trusts engage in various portfolio investment strategies using derivative contracts both to increase the returns of the Trusts and/or to manage economically their exposure to certain risks such as credit risk, equity risk, interest rate risk or foreign currency exchange rate risk. These contracts may be transacted on an exchange or OTC.
Financial Futures Contracts: Certain Trusts invest in long and/or short positions in financial futures contracts and options on financial futures contracts to gain exposure to, or economically hedge against, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk). Financial futures contracts are agreements between the Trusts and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and at a specified date. Depending on the terms of the particular contract, financial futures contracts are settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash settlement amount on the settlement date.
Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Trusts are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contracts size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Securities deposited as initial margin are designated on the Schedules of Investments and cash deposited, if any, is recorded on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged for financial futures contracts. Pursuant to the contract, the Trusts agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin. Variation margin is recorded by the Trusts as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if applicable, as a receivable or payable for variation margin in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
When the contract is closed, the Trusts record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. The use of financial futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of financial futures contracts, interest or foreign currency exchange rates and the underlying assets.
76 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: Certain Trusts enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts as an economic hedge against either specific transactions or portfolio instruments or to obtain exposure to, or hedge exposure away from, foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk). A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set exchange rate on a future date. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, when used by the Trusts, help to manage the overall exposure to the currencies in which some of the investments held by the Trusts are denominated. Non-deliverable forward foreign currency exchange contracts are settled with the counterparty in cash without the delivery of foreign currency. The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded by the Trusts as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, the Trusts record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts involves the risk that the value of a forward foreign currency exchange contract changes unfavorably due to movements in the value of the referenced foreign currencies.
Options: Certain Trusts purchase and write call and put options to increase or decrease their exposure to underlying instruments including equity risk and/or interest rate risk and/or, in the case of options written, to generate gains from options premiums. A call option gives the purchaser (holder) of the option the right (but not the obligation) to buy, and obligates the seller (writer) to sell (when the option is exercised) the underlying instrument at the exercise or strike price at any time or at a specified time during the option period. A put option gives the holder the right to sell and obligates the writer to buy the underlying instrument at the exercise or strike price at any time or at a specified time during the option period. When the Trusts purchase (write) an option, an amount equal to the premium paid (received) by the Trusts is reflected as an asset (liability). The amount of the asset (liability) is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option purchased (written). When an instrument is purchased or sold through an exercise of an option, the related premium paid (or received) is added to (or deducted from) the basis of the instrument acquired or deducted from (or added to) the proceeds of the instrument sold. When an option expires (or the Trusts enter into a closing transaction), the Trusts realize a gain or loss on the option to the extent of the premiums received or paid (or gain or loss to the extent the cost of the closing transaction exceeds the premiums received or paid). When the Trusts write a call option, such option is covered, meaning that the Trusts hold the underlying instrument subject to being called by the option counterparty. When the Trusts write a put option, such option is covered by cash in an amount sufficient to cover the obligation.
Options on swaps (swaptions) are similar to options on securities except that instead of selling or purchasing the right to buy or sell a security, the writer or purchaser of the swaptions is granting or buying the right to enter into a previously agreed upon interest rate or credit default swap agreement (interest rate risk and/or credit risk) at any time before the expiration of the option.
Certain Trusts also purchase or sell listed or OTC foreign currency options, foreign currency futures and related options on foreign currency futures as a short or long hedge against possible variations in foreign exchange rates or to gain exposure to foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk). When foreign currency is purchased or sold through an exercise of a foreign currency option, the related premium paid (or received) is added to (or deducted from) the basis of the foreign currency acquired or deducted from (or added to) the proceeds of the foreign currency sold (receipts from the foreign currency purchased). Such transactions may be effected with respect to hedges on non-U.S. dollar denominated instruments owned by the Trusts but not yet delivered, or committed or anticipated to be purchased by the Trusts.
In purchasing and writing options, the Trusts bear the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Trusts may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. Exercise of a written option could result in the Trusts purchasing or selling a security when it otherwise would not, or at a price different from the current market value.
Swaps: Certain Trusts enter into swap agreements in which the Trusts and a counterparty agree either to make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or a net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the OTC market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract (OTC swaps) or centrally cleared (centrally cleared swaps). Swaps are marked-to-market daily and changes in value are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation).
For OTC swaps, any upfront premiums paid are recorded as assets and any upfront fees received are recorded as liabilities and are shown as swap premiums paid and swap premiums received, respectively, in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and amortized over the term of the OTC swap. Payments received or made by the Trusts for OTC swaps are recorded in the Statements of Operations as realized gains or losses, respectively. When an OTC swap is terminated, the Trusts will record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Trusts basis in the contract, if any. Generally, the basis of the contract is the premium received or paid.
In a centrally cleared swap, immediately following execution of the swap agreement, the swap agreement is novated to a central counterparty (the CCP) and the Trusts counterparty on the swap agreement becomes the CCP. The Trusts are required to interface with the CCP through a broker. Upon entering into a centrally cleared swap, the Trusts are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on the size and risk profile of the particular swap. Securities deposited as initial margin are designated on the Schedules of Investments and cash deposited is recorded on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged for centrally cleared swaps. The daily change in valuation of centrally cleared swaps is recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Payments received from (paid to) the counterparty, including at termination, are recorded as realized gain (loss) in the Statements of Operations.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 77 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreements, and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates and/or market values associated with these transactions.
| Credit default swaps Certain Trusts enter into credit default swaps to manage their exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce their risk exposure to defaults of corporate and/or sovereign issuers or to create exposure to corporate and/or sovereign issuers to which they are not otherwise exposed (credit risk). The Trusts may either buy or sell (write) credit default swaps on single-name issuers (corporate or sovereign), a combination or basket of single-name issuers or traded indexes. Credit default swaps on single-name issuers are agreements in which the protection buyer pays fixed periodic payments to the seller in consideration for a guarantee from the protection seller to make a specific payment should a negative credit event take place with respect to the referenced entity (e.g., bankruptcy, failure to pay, obligation accelerators, repudiation, moratorium or restructuring). Credit default swaps on traded indexes are agreements in which the buyer pays fixed periodic payments to the seller in consideration for a guarantee from the seller to make a specific payment should a write-down, principal or interest shortfall or default of all or individual underlying securities included in the index occur. As a buyer, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Trusts will either (i) receive from the seller an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the referenced security or underlying securities comprising the index, or (ii) receive a net settlement of cash equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the security or underlying securities comprising the index. As a seller (writer), if an underlying credit event occurs, the Trusts will either pay the buyer an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced security or underlying securities comprising the index or pay a net settlement of cash equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the security or underlying securities comprising the index. |
| Forward interest rate swaps Certain Trusts enter into forward interest rate swaps. In a forward swap, each Trust and the counterparty agree to make either periodic net payments beginning on a specified future effective date or a net payment at termination, unless terminated earlier. |
| Interest rate swaps Certain Trusts enter into interest rate swaps to gain or reduce exposure to interest rates or to manage duration, the yield curve or interest rate risk by economically hedging the value of the fixed rate bonds, which may decrease when interest rates rise (interest rate risk). Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, for another partys stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. In more complex swaps, the notional principal amount may decline (or amortize) over time. |
Master Netting Arrangements: In order to better define the Trusts contractual rights and to secure rights that will help them mitigate their counterparty risk, the Trusts may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (ISDA Master Agreement) or similar agreement with their counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between each Trust and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, each Trust may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may restrict or prohibit the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. In addition, certain ISDA Master Agreements allow counterparties to terminate derivative contracts prior to maturity in the event the Trusts net assets decline by a stated percentage or the Trusts fail to meet the terms of their ISDA Master Agreements. The result would cause the Trusts to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.
Collateral Requirements: For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Trust and the counterparty.
Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Trusts and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral and cash received as collateral, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Trusts, if any, is noted in the Schedules of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a party has to exceed a minimum transfer amount threshold (typically either $250,000 or $500,000) before a transfer is required, which is determined at the close of business of the Trusts. Any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Trusts on the next business day. Typically, a Trusts counterparty is not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use cash and non-cash collateral it receives. The Trusts generally agree not to use non-cash collateral that they receive but may, absent default or certain other circumstances defined in the underlying ISDA Master Agreement, be permitted to use cash collateral received. In such cases, the Trusts may pay interest pursuant to the collateral arrangement with the counterparty. To the extent amounts due to the Trusts from their counterparties are not fully collateralized, the Trusts bear the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. Likewise, to the extent the Trusts have delivered collateral to a counterparty and stand ready to perform under the terms of their agreement with such counterparty, the Trusts bear the risk of loss from a counterparty in the amount of the value of the collateral in the event the counterparty fails to return such collateral. Based on the terms of agreements, collateral may not be required to all derivative contracts.
78 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
For financial reporting purposes, the Trusts do not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
6. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions with Affiliates:
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is the largest stockholder and an affiliate of BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock), for 1940 Act purposes.
Each Trust entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Manager, the Trusts investment advisor, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock, to provide investment advisory and administration services. The Manager is responsible for the management of each Trusts portfolio and provides the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services to the operations of each Trust. For such services, each Trust pays the Manager a monthly fee based on a percentage of BTZs and BGTs average weekly (average daily for BITs) Managed Assets at the following annual rates:
BTZ |
0.62% | |||
BGT |
0.75% | |||
BIT |
0.80% |
Managed Assets means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to any borrowings) minus the sum of liabilities (other than borrowings representing financial leverage).
The Manager voluntarily agreed to waive its investment advisory fees by the amount of investment advisory fees each Trust pays to the Manager indirectly through its investment in affiliated money market funds. However, the Manager does not waive its investment advisory fees by the amount of investment advisory fees paid in connection with each Trusts investments in other affiliated investment companies, if any. These amounts are shown as fees waived by the Manager in the Statements of Operations.
The Manager provided investment management and other services to the Taxable Subsidiary. The Manager did not receive separate compensation from the Taxable Subsidiary for providing investment management or administrative services. However, BGT paid the Manager based on BGTs net assets, which included the assets of the Taxable Subsidiary.
The Manager entered into a sub-advisory agreement with BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (BRS), an affiliate of the Manager, to serve as sub-advisor for BIT. The Manager pays BRS, for services it provides, a monthly fee that is a percentage of the investment advisory fees paid by BIT to the Manager.
Certain officers and/or Trustees of the Trusts are officers and/or directors of BlackRock or its affiliates. The Trusts reimburse the Manager for a portion of the compensation paid to the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer, which is included in officer and trustees in the Statements of Operations.
The Trusts may purchase securities from, or sell securities to, an affiliated fund provided the affiliation is due solely to having a common investment advisor, common officers, or common trustees. For the year ended October 31, 2015, the purchase and sale transactions with an affiliated fund in compliance with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act for BIT were $58,980 and $266,279, respectively.
7. Purchases and Sales:
For the year ended October 31, 2015, purchases and sales of investments, including paydowns and excluding short-term securities, were as follows:
Purchases |
BTZ | BGT | BIT | |||||||||
Non-U.S. Government Securities |
$ | 374,521,179 | $ | 199,814,591 | $ | 279,167,334 | ||||||
U.S. Government Securities |
75,193,957 | | | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total Purchases |
$ | 449,715,136 | $ | 199,814,591 | $ | 279,167,334 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Sales |
BTZ | BGT | BIT | |||||||||
Non-U.S. Government Securities |
$ | 457,390,174 | $ | 241,069,741 | $ | 439,364,452 | ||||||
U.S. Government Securities |
95,393,614 | | | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total Sales |
$ | 552,783,788 | $ | 241,069,741 | $ | 439,364,452 | ||||||
|
|
8. Income Tax Information:
It is the Trusts 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 their taxable income to their shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required, except with respect to any taxes related to the Taxable Subsidiaries.
Each Trust files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The statute of limitations on BTZs and BGTs U.S. federal tax returns remains open for each of the four years ended October 31, 2015. The statute of limitations on BITs U.S. federal tax returns remains open for the period ended October 31, 2013 and the two years ended October 31, 2015. The statutes of limitations on the Trusts state and local tax returns may remain open for an additional year depending upon the jurisdiction.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 79 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trusts as of October 31, 2015, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Trusts financial statements.
U.S. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. As of period end, the following permanent differences attributable to foreign currency transactions, amortization and accretion methods on fixed income securities, the characterization of expenses and income from a wholly owned subsidiary, the classification of investments, the accounting for swap agreements, income recognized from pass-through entities, and the expiration of capital loss carryforward were reclassified to the following accounts:
BTZ | BGT | BIT | ||||||||||
Paid-in capital |
$ | (56,798,160 | ) | $ | (1,694,797 | ) | | |||||
Undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investment income |
$ | (4,995,484 | ) | $ | (106,103 | ) | $ | (6,932,451 | ) | |||
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) |
$ | 61,793,644 | $ | 1,800,900 | $ | 6,932,451 |
The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:
BTZ | BGT | BIT | ||||||||||||||
Ordinary income |
10/31/2015 | $ | 97,419,415 | $ | 19,181,416 | $ | 55,119,342 | |||||||||
10/31/2014 | 104,413,172 | 19,919,709 | 53,805,642 | |||||||||||||
Long-term capital gain |
10/31/2015 | | | 1,913,717 | ||||||||||||
Return of capital |
10/31/2015 | 6,993,757 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
10/31/2015 | $ | 104,413,172 | $ | 19,181,416 | $ | 57,033,059 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
10/31/2014 | $ | 104,413,172 | $ | 19,919,709 | $ | 53,805,642 | ||||||||||
|
|
As of period end, the tax components of accumulated net earnings (losses) were as follows:
BTZ | BGT | BIT | ||||||||||
Undistributed ordinary income |
| $ | 1,664,487 | $ | 7,956,451 | |||||||
Capital loss carryforwards |
$ | (335,989,171 | ) | (82,278,116 | ) | (13,616,248 | ) | |||||
Net unrealized gains (losses)1 |
56,867,947 | (11,312,759 | ) | 4,310,016 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
$ | (279,121,224 | ) | $ | (91,926,388 | ) | $ | (1,349,781 | ) | |||
|
|
1 | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized gains (losses) was attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and straddles, amortization and accretion methods of premiums and discounts on fixed income securities, the accrual of income on securities in default, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain futures, options, and foreign currency contracts, the timing and recognition of partnership income, the accounting for swap agreements, the classification of investments and the deferral of compensation to trustees. |
As of period end, the Trusts had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains through the indicated expiration dates as follows:
Expires October 31, | BTZ | BGT | BIT | |||||||||
No expiration date2 |
$ | 14,123,812 | $ | 5,826,539 | $ | 13,616,248 | ||||||
2016 |
121,634,930 | 14,130,109 | | |||||||||
2017 |
158,120,431 | 45,385,443 | | |||||||||
2018 |
31,756,723 | 16,526,601 | | |||||||||
2019 |
10,353,275 | 409,424 | | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
$ | 335,989,171 | $ | 82,278,116 | $ | 13,616,248 | ||||||
|
|
2 | Must be utilized prior to losses subject to expiration. |
As of period end, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
BTZ | BGT | BIT | ||||||||||
Tax cost |
$ | 2,131,938,665 | $ | 455,044,256 | $ | 1,211,101,013 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Gross unrealized appreciation |
$ | 116,958,242 | $ | 2,291,123 | $ | 23,978,864 | ||||||
Gross unrealized depreciation |
(50,044,606 | ) | (13,430,422 | ) | (19,584,402 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
$ | 66,913,636 | $ | (11,139,299 | ) | $ | 4,394,462 | |||||
|
|
9. Bank Borrowings:
BGT is party to a senior committed secured, 360-day rolling line of credit facility and a separate security agreement (the SSB Agreement) with State Street Bank and Trust Company (SSB). SSB may elect to terminate its commitment upon 360-days written notice to BGT. As of period end, BGT has not received any notice to terminate. BGT has granted a security interest in substantially all of its assets to SSB.
The SSB Agreement allows for a maximum commitment amount of $172,000,000.
80 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
Advances will be made by SSB to BGT, at BGTs option of (a) the higher of (i) 0.80% above the Fed Funds rate and (ii) 0.80% above the Overnight LIBOR or (b) 0.80% above 7-day, 30-day, 60-day or 90-day LIBOR.
In addition, BGT pays a facility fee and utilization fee (based on the daily unused portion of the commitment). The commitment fees are waived if BGT meets certain conditions. The fees associated with each of the agreements are included in the Statements of Operations as borrowing costs, if any. Advances to BGT as of period end are shown in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as bank borrowings payable. Based on the short-term nature of the borrowings under the line of credit and the variable interest rate, the carrying amount of the borrowings approximates fair value.
BGT may not declare dividends or make other distributions on shares or purchase any such shares if, at the time of the declaration, distribution or purchase, asset coverage with respect to the outstanding short-term borrowings is less than 300%.
For year ended October 31, 2015, the average amount of bank borrowings and daily weighted average interest rates for BGT with loans under the revolving credit agreements, were $129,575,342 and 0.94%, respectively.
10. Principal Risks:
In the normal course of business, the Trusts invest in securities and enter into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of the issuer to meet all its obligations, including the ability to pay principal and interest when due (issuer credit risk). The value of securities held by the Trusts may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the issuers of securities owned by the Trusts. Changes arising from the general economy, the overall market and local, regional or global political or/and social instability, as well as currency, interest rate and price fluctuations, may also affect the securities value.
The Trusts may be exposed to prepayment risk, which is the risk that borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled during periods of declining interest rates, which would force the Trusts to reinvest in lower yielding securities. The Trusts may also be exposed to reinvestment risk, which is the risk that income from the Trusts portfolios will decline if the Trusts invest the proceeds from matured, traded or called fixed income securities at market interest rates that are below the Trusts portfolios current earnings rate.
Counterparty Credit Risk: Similar to issuer credit risk, the Trusts 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. The Trusts manage 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 Trusts to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Trusts exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Trusts.
A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
A Trusts risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally limited to the aggregate unrealized gain less the value of any collateral held by such Trust.
For OTC options purchased, each Trust bears the risk of loss in the amount of the premiums paid plus the positive change in market values net of any collateral held by the Trusts should the counterparty fail to perform under the contracts. Options written by the Trusts do not typically give rise to counterparty credit risk, as options written generally obligate the Trusts, and not the counterparty, to perform. The Trusts may be exposed to counterparty credit risk with respect to options written to the extent the Trusts deposit collateral with their counterparty to a written option.
With exchange-traded options purchased and futures and centrally cleared swaps, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Trusts since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Trust does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency) of the clearing broker or clearinghouse. Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures and centrally cleared swaps with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing brokers customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing brokers customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Trusts.
Concentration Risk:
As of period end, BIT invested a significant portion of its assets in securities in the financials sector. Changes in economic conditions affecting such sector would have a greater impact on the Trust and could affect the value, income and/or liquidity of positions in such securities.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 81 |
Notes to Financial Statements (concluded) |
Certain Trusts may invest in securities that are rated below investment grade quality (sometimes called junk bonds), which are predominantly speculative, have greater credit risk and generally are less liquid and have more volatile prices than higher quality securities.
The Trusts invest a significant portion of their assets in fixed-income securities and/or use derivatives tied to the fixed-income markets. Changes in market interest rates or economic conditions may affect the value and/or liquidity of such investments. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. The Trusts may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low rates.
Certain Trusts invest a significant portion of their assets in securities backed by commercial or residential mortgage loans or in issuers that hold mortgage and other asset-backed securities. Investment percentages in these securities are presented in the Schedules of Investments. Changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults on assets underlying these securities, can affect the value, income and/or liquidity of such positions.
11. Capital Share Transactions:
The Trusts are each authorized to issue an unlimited number of $0.001 par value shares, which may be issued as either Common Shares or Preferred Shares.
Common Shares
Shares issued and outstanding remained constant during the years ended October 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively, for each Trust.
12. Subsequent Events:
Managements evaluation of the impact of all subsequent events on the Trusts financial statements was completed through the date the financial statements were issued and the following items were noted:
The Trusts paid a net investment income dividend in the following amounts per share on November 30, 2015 to shareholders of record on November 16, 2015:
Common Dividend Per Share |
||||
BTZ |
$ | 0.0805 | ||
BGT |
$ | 0.0583 | ||
BIT |
$ | 0.1167 |
Additionally, the Trusts declared a net investment income dividend on December 1, 2015 payable to Common Shareholders of record on December 18, 2015 for the same amounts noted above.
Additionally, the Trusts declared a distribution in the following amounts per share on December 18, 2015 payable to Common Shareholders of record on December 31, 2015 as follows:
Common Dividend Per Share |
||||
BTZ |
$ | 0.080500 | ||
BGT |
$ | 0.058300 | ||
BIT1 |
$ | 0.202589 |
1 | Includes special distribution of $0.085889. |
82 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust, BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust and BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust, including the schedule of investments, as of October 31, 2015, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. We have also audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust, including the schedule of investments, as of October 31, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended (consolidated financial highlights for each of the four years ended October 31, 2015). We have also audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (collectively with the aforementioned funds above, the Trusts), including the schedule of investments, as of October 31, 2015, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the two years ended October 31, 2015, and the financial highlights for the period February 27, 2013 (commencement of operations) to October 31, 2013. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trusts management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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. The Trusts are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trusts internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2015, by correspondence with the custodians, brokers and agent banks; where replies were not received from brokers or agent banks, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust as of October 31, 2015, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, the financial position of BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust as of October 31, 2015, the results of its consolidated operations and its consolidated cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its consolidated net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended (consolidated financial highlights for each of the four years ended October 31, 2015), and the financial position of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust as of October 31, 2015, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, and the changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and financial highlights for each of the two years ended October 31, 2015, and the financial highlights for the period February 27, 2013 (commencement of operations) to October 31, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 23, 2015
Important Tax Information (Unaudited) |
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, the following information is provided with respect to the ordinary income distributions paid by the Trusts:
Payable Dates | BTZ | BGT | BIT | |||||||||||||
Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals1 |
November 2014 - January 2015 | 6.66% | | 15.56% | ||||||||||||
February 2015 - October 2015 | 10.48% | | 9.23% | |||||||||||||
Dividends Qualifying for the Dividend Received Deduction for Corporations1 |
November 2014 - January 2015 | 5.44% | | 12.80% | ||||||||||||
February 2015 - October 2015 | 8.28% | | 5.79% | |||||||||||||
Interest-Related Dividends and Qualified Short-Term Gains for Non-U.S. Residents2 |
November 2014 - January 2015 | 75.27% | 65.94% | 54.49% | ||||||||||||
February 2015 - October 2015 | 72.45% | 82.72% | 52.27% |
1 | The Trusts hereby designate the percentage indicated or the maximum amount allowable by law. |
2 | Represents the portion of the taxable ordinary income dividends eligible for exemption from U.S. withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations. |
Additionally, BIT distributed long-term capital gains of $0.049808 per share to shareholders of record on December 31, 2014.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 83 |
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreement |
The Board of Trustees (each, a Board, collectively, the Boards, and the members of which are referred to as Board Members) of BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ), BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT) and BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT, and together with BGT and BTZ, each a Trust, and, collectively, the Trusts) met in person on April 30, 2015 (the April Meeting) and June 11-12, 2015 (the June Meeting) to consider the approval of each Trusts investment advisory agreement (each, an Advisory Agreement, and, collectively, the Advisory Agreements) with BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the Manager), each Trusts investment advisor. The Board of BIT also considered the approval of the sub-advisory agreement (the BSL Sub-Advisory Agreement) among the Manager, BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (the BSL Sub-Advisor), and BIT. The Manager and the BSL Sub-Advisor are referred to herein as BlackRock. The Advisory Agreements and the BSL Sub-Advisory Agreement are referred to herein as the Agreements.
Activities and Composition of the Board
On the date of the April and June Meetings, the Board of each Trust consisted of eleven individuals, nine of whom were not interested persons of such Trust as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members). The Board Members are responsible for the oversight of the operations of the Trust and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Board Members have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chairman of each Board is an Independent Board Member. Each Board has established six standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Governance and Nominating Committee, a Compliance Committee, a Performance Oversight Committee, an Executive Committee, and a Leverage Committee, each of which is chaired by an Independent Board Member and composed of Independent Board Members (except for the Executive Committee and the Leverage Committee, each of which also has one interested Board Member).
The Agreements
Pursuant to the 1940 Act, each Board is required to consider the continuation of its Advisory Agreement, and with respect to BIT, its BSL Sub-Advisory Agreement, on an annual basis. The Boards have four quarterly meetings per year, each extending over two days, a fifth one-day meeting to consider specific information surrounding the consideration of renewing the Agreements and additional in-person and telephonic meetings as needed. In connection with this year-long deliberative process, the Boards assessed, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Trusts by BlackRock, BlackRocks personnel and affiliates, including, as applicable; investment management services, administrative, and shareholder services; the oversight of fund service providers; marketing services; risk oversight; compliance; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
The Boards, acting directly and through their respective committees, consider at each of their meetings, and from time to time as appropriate, factors that are relevant to their annual consideration of the renewal of the Agreements, including the services and support provided by BlackRock to the Trusts and their shareholders. Among the matters the Boards considered were: (a) investment performance for one-year, three-year, five-year and/or since inception periods, as applicable, against peer funds, applicable benchmarks, and performance metrics, as applicable, as well as senior managements and portfolio managers analysis of the reasons for any over-performance or underperformance relative to its peers, benchmarks, and other performance metrics, as applicable; (b) fees, including advisory, administration, if applicable, and other amounts paid to BlackRock and its affiliates by the Trusts for services such as call center; (c) Trust operating expenses and how BlackRock allocates expenses to the Trusts; (d) the resources devoted to, risk oversight of, and compliance reports relating to, implementation of the Trusts investment objective(s), policies and restrictions, and meeting new regulatory requirements; (e) the Trusts compliance with its compliance policies and procedures; (f) the nature, cost and character of non-investment management services provided by BlackRock and its affiliates; (g) BlackRocks and other service providers internal controls and risk and compliance oversight mechanisms; (h) BlackRocks implementation of the proxy voting policies approved by the Boards; (i) execution quality of portfolio transactions; (j) BlackRocks implementation of the Trusts valuation and liquidity procedures; (k) an analysis of management fees for products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, closed-end fund and institutional account product channels, as applicable, and the similarities and differences between these products and the services provided as compared to the Trusts; (l) BlackRocks compensation methodology for its investment professionals and the incentives it creates, along with investment professionals investments in the fund(s) they manage; and (m) periodic updates on BlackRocks business.
The Boards have engaged in an ongoing strategic review with BlackRock of opportunities to consolidate funds and of BlackRocks commitment to investment performance. BlackRock also furnished information to the Boards in response to specific questions. These questions covered issues such as: BlackRocks profitability; investment performance; funds trading at a discount; subadvisory and advisory relationships with other clients (including mutual funds sponsored by third parties); fund size; portfolio managers investments in the funds they manage; and management fee levels and breakpoints. The Boards further discussed with BlackRock: BlackRocks management structure; portfolio turnover; BlackRocks portfolio manager compensation and performance accountability; marketing support for the funds; services provided to the funds by BlackRock affiliates; and BlackRocks oversight of relationships with third party service providers.
The Board of each of BTZ and BGT considered BlackRocks efforts during the past year with regard to the redemption of outstanding auction rate preferred securities (AMPS). As of the date of this report, each of BTZ and BGT has redeemed 100% of its outstanding AMPS.
84 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreement (continued) |
Board Considerations in Approving the Agreements
The Approval Process: Prior to the April Meeting, the Boards requested and received materials specifically relating to the Agreements. The Boards are continuously engaged in a process with their independent legal counsel and BlackRock to review the nature and scope of the information provided to better assist its deliberations. The materials provided in connection with the April Meeting included (a) information independently compiled and prepared by Lipper, Inc. (Lipper) on Trust fees and expenses as compared with a peer group of funds as determined by Lipper (Expense Peers) and the investment performance of each Trust as compared with a peer group of funds as determined by Lipper1 and, with respect to BTZ and BGT, a customized peer group selected by BlackRock; (b) information on the profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates pursuant to the Agreements and a discussion of fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates; (c) a general analysis provided by BlackRock concerning investment management fees charged to other clients, such as institutional clients, sub-advised mutual funds, and open-end funds, under similar investment mandates, as applicable; (d) review of non-management fees; (e) the existence, impact and sharing of potential economies of scale; (f) a summary of aggregate amounts paid by each Trust to BlackRock and (g) if applicable, a comparison of management fees to similar BlackRock closed-end funds, as classified by Lipper.
At the April Meeting, the Boards reviewed materials relating to their consideration of the Agreements. As a result of the discussions that occurred during the April Meeting, and as a culmination of the Boards year-long deliberative process, the Boards presented BlackRock with questions and requests for additional information. BlackRock responded to these requests with additional written information in advance of the June Meeting.
At the June Meeting, each Board, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement between the Manager and its Trust for a one-year term ending June 30, 2016. The Board of BIT, including the Independent Board Members, also unanimously approved the continuation of the BSL Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Manager, the BSL Sub-Adviser and BIT for a one-year term ending June 30, 2016. In approving the continuation of the Agreements, the Boards considered: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BlackRock; (b) the investment performance of the Trusts and BlackRock; (c) the advisory fee and the cost of the services and profits to be realized by BlackRock and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts; (d) the Trusts costs to investors compared to the costs of Expense Peers and performance compared to the relevant performance comparison as previously discussed; (e) the sharing of potential economies of scale; (f) fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates as a result of its relationship with the Trusts; and (g) other factors deemed relevant by the Board Members.
The Boards also considered other matters they deemed important to the approval process, such as payments made to BlackRock or its affiliates relating to securities lending and cash management, services related to the valuation and pricing of Trust portfolio holdings, direct and indirect benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts and advice from independent legal counsel with respect to the review process and materials submitted for the Boards review. The Boards noted the willingness of BlackRock personnel to engage in open, candid discussions with the Boards. The Boards did not identify any particular information as determinative, and each Board Member may have attributed different weights to the various items considered.
A. Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services Provided by BlackRock: The Boards, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the nature, extent and quality of services provided by BlackRock, including the investment advisory services and the resulting performance of the Trusts. Throughout the year, the Boards compared the Trusts performance to the performance of a comparable group of closed-end funds, relevant benchmark, and performance metrics, as applicable. The Boards met with BlackRocks senior management personnel responsible for investment activities, including the senior investment officers. Each Board also reviewed the materials provided by its Trusts portfolio management team discussing the Trusts performance and the Trusts investment objective(s), strategies and outlook.
The Boards considered, among other factors, with respect to BlackRock: the number, education and experience of investment personnel generally and their Trusts portfolio management teams; BlackRocks 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 Boards engaged in a review of BlackRocks compensation structure with respect to the Trusts portfolio management teams and BlackRocks ability to attract and retain high-quality talent and create performance incentives.
In addition to advisory services, the Boards considered the quality of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services provided to the Trusts. BlackRock and its affiliates provide the Trusts with certain services (in addition to any such services provided to the Trusts by third parties) and officers and other personnel as are necessary for the operations of the Trusts. In particular, BlackRock and its affiliates provide the Trusts with the following administrative services including, among others: (i) preparing disclosure documents, such as the prospectus and the statement of additional information in connection with the initial public offering and periodic shareholder reports; (ii) preparing communications with analysts to support secondary market trading of the Trusts; (iii) oversight of daily accounting and pricing; (iv) preparing periodic filings with regulators and stock exchanges; (v) overseeing and coordinating the activities of other service providers; (vi) organizing Board meetings and preparing the materials for such Board meetings; (vii) providing legal and compliance support; (viii) furnishing analytical and other support to assist the Boards in their consideration of strategic issues such as the merger, consolidation or repurposing of certain closed-end funds; and (ix) performing other administrative functions necessary for the operation of the
1 | Funds are ranked by Lipper in quartiles, ranging from first to fourth, where first is the most desirable quartile position and fourth is the least desirable. |
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 85 |
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreement (continued) |
Trusts, such as tax reporting, fulfilling regulatory filing requirements and call center services. The Boards reviewed the structure and duties of BlackRocks fund administration, shareholder services, legal and compliance departments and considered BlackRocks policies and procedures for assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
B. The Investment Performance of the Trusts and BlackRock: Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, also reviewed and considered the performance history of its Trust. In preparation for the April Meeting, the Boards worked with their independent legal counsel, BlackRock and Lipper to develop a template for, and were provided with reports independently prepared by Lipper, which included a comprehensive analysis of each Trusts performance. The Boards also reviewed a narrative and statistical analysis of the Lipper data that was prepared by BlackRock. In connection with its review, each Board received and reviewed information regarding the investment performance, based on net asset value (NAV), of its Trust as compared to other funds in its applicable Lipper category and, with respect to BTZ and BGT, the customized peer group selected by BlackRock. The Boards were provided with a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select peer funds and periodically meets with Lipper representatives to review its methodology. Each Board and its Performance Oversight Committee regularly review, and meet with Trust management to discuss, the performance of its Trust throughout the year.
In evaluating performance, the Boards recognized that the performance data reflects a snapshot of a period or as of a particular date and that selecting a different performance period could produce significantly different results. Further, the Boards recognized that it is possible that long-term performance can be adversely affected by even one period of significant underperformance so that a single investment decision or theme has the ability to affect long-term performance disproportionately.
The Board of BTZ noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, BTZ ranked in the second, first and first quartiles, respectively, against its Customized Lipper Peer Group. BlackRock believes that the Customized Lipper Peer Group is an appropriate performance metric for BTZ.
The Board of BGT noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, BGT ranked in the first, second and third quartiles, respectively, against its Customized Lipper Peer Group. BlackRock believes that the Customized Lipper Peer Group is an appropriate performance metric for BGT.
The Board of BIT noted that for the one-year and since-inception periods reported, BIT ranked in the second and first quartiles, respectively, against its Lipper Performance Universe.
C. Consideration of the Advisory/Management Fees and the Cost of the Services and Profits to be Realized by BlackRock and its Affiliates from their Relationship with the Trusts: Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed its Trusts contractual management fee rate compared with the other funds in its Lipper category. 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. Each Board also compared its Trusts total expense ratio, as well as its actual management fee rate as a percentage of total assets, to those of other funds in its Lipper category. The total expense ratio represents a funds total net operating expenses, excluding any investment related expenses. 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. The Boards considered the services provided and the fees charged by BlackRock and its affiliates to other types of clients with similar investment mandates, as applicable, including institutional accounts and sub-advised mutual funds.
The Boards received and reviewed statements relating to BlackRocks financial condition. The Boards reviewed BlackRocks profitability methodology and were also provided with a profitability analysis that detailed the revenues earned and the expenses incurred by BlackRock for services provided to the Trusts. The Boards reviewed BlackRocks profitability with respect to the Trusts and other funds the Boards currently oversee for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to available aggregate profitability data provided for the prior two years. The Boards reviewed BlackRocks profitability with respect to certain other U.S. fund complexes managed by the Manager and/or its affiliates. The Boards reviewed BlackRocks assumptions and methodology of allocating expenses in the profitability analysis, noting the inherent limitations in allocating costs among various advisory products. The Boards recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors including, among other things, fee waivers and expense reimbursements by the Manager, the types of funds managed, precision of expense allocations and business mix. As a result, calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is difficult.
The Boards noted that, in general, individual fund or product line profitability of other advisors is not publicly available. The Boards reviewed BlackRocks overall operating margin, in general, compared to that of certain other publicly-traded asset management firms. The Boards considered the differences between BlackRock and these other firms, including the contribution of technology at BlackRock, BlackRocks expense management, and the relative product mix.
In addition, the Boards considered the cost of the services provided to the Trusts by BlackRock, and BlackRocks and its affiliates profits relating to the management of the Trusts and the other funds advised by BlackRock and its affiliates. As part of its analysis, the Boards reviewed BlackRocks methodology in allocating its costs to the management of the Trusts. The Boards may periodically receive and review information from independent third parties as part of their annual evaluation. BlackRock retained an independent third party to evaluate its cost allocation methodologies in the context of BlackRocks 1940 Act Fund business. The Boards considered the results of that evaluation in connection with BlackRocks profitability reporting. The Boards also considered whether BlackRock has the financial resources necessary to attract and retain high quality investment management personnel to perform its obligations under the Agreements and to continue to provide the high quality of services that is expected by the Boards. The Boards further considered
86 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreement (concluded) |
factors including but not limited to BlackRocks commitment of time, assumption of risk and liability profile in servicing the Trusts in contrast to what is required of BlackRock with respect to other products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, ETF, closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund and institutional account product channels, as applicable.
The Board of BTZ noted that BTZs contractual management fee rate ranked in the fourth quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio ranked in the fourth and second quartiles, respectively, relative to the Trusts Expense Peers. The Board of BTZ also noted, however, that given the comparability limitations of the Trusts Expense Peers, BlackRock provided the Board a supplemental customized peer group consisting of funds that are generally similar to BTZ.
The Board of BGT noted that BGTs contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the first quartile, relative to the Trusts Expense Peers.
The Board of BIT noted that BITs contractual management fee rate ranked in the third quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio ranked in the second and fourth quartiles, respectively, relative to the Trusts Expense Peers.
D. Economies of Scale: Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of its Trust increase. Each Board also considered the extent to which its Trust benefits from such economies and whether there should be changes in the advisory fee rate or breakpoint structure in order to enable the Trust to participate in these economies of scale, for example through the use of breakpoints in the advisory fee based upon the asset level of the Trust.
Based on the Boards review and consideration of the issue, the Boards concluded that most closed-end funds do not have fund level breakpoints because closed-end funds generally do not experience substantial growth after the initial public offering. They are typically priced at scale at a funds inception.
E. Other Factors Deemed Relevant by the Board Members: The Boards, including the Independent Board Members, also took into account other ancillary or fall-out benefits that BlackRock or its affiliates may derive from their respective relationships with the Trusts, both tangible and intangible, such as BlackRocks ability to leverage its investment professionals who manage other portfolios and risk management personnel, an increase in BlackRocks profile in the investment advisory community, and the engagement of BlackRocks affiliates as service providers to the Trusts, including securities lending and cash management services. The Boards also considered BlackRocks overall operations and its efforts to expand the scale of, and improve the quality of, its operations. The Boards also noted that 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. The Boards further noted that it had considered the investment by BlackRocks funds in exchange traded funds (i.e., ETFs) without any offset against the management fees payable by the funds to BlackRock.
In connection with its consideration of the Agreements, the Boards also received information regarding BlackRocks brokerage and soft dollar practices. The Boards received reports from BlackRock which included information on brokerage commissions and trade execution practices throughout the year.
The Boards noted the competitive nature of the closed-end fund marketplace, and that shareholders are able to sell their Trust shares in the secondary market if they believe that the Trusts fees and expenses are too high or if they are dissatisfied with the performance of the Trust.
The Boards also considered the various notable initiatives and projects BlackRock performed in connection with its closed-end fund product line. These initiatives included the redemption of AMPS for the BlackRock closed-end funds with AMPS outstanding; developing equity shelf programs; efforts to eliminate product overlap with fund mergers; ongoing services to manage leverage that has become increasingly complex; share repurchases and other support initiatives for certain BlackRock funds; and continued communications efforts with shareholders, fund analysts and financial advisers. With respect to the latter, the Independent Board Members noted BlackRocks continued commitment to supporting the secondary market for the common shares of its closed-end funds through a comprehensive secondary market communication program designed to raise investor and analyst awareness and understanding of closed-end funds. BlackRocks support services included, among other things: continuing communications concerning the redemption efforts related to AMPS; sponsoring and participating in conferences; communicating with closed-end fund analysts covering the BlackRock funds throughout the year; providing marketing and product updates for the closed-end funds; and maintaining and enhancing its closed-end fund website.
Conclusion
Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement between the Manager and its Trust for a one-year term ending June 30, 2016. The Board of BIT, including the Independent Board Members, also unanimously approved the continuation of the BSL Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Manager, the BSL Sub-Adviser and BIT for a one-year term ending June 30, 2016. Based upon its evaluation of all of the aforementioned factors in their totality, each Board, including the Independent Board Members, was satisfied that the terms of the Agreement were fair and reasonable and in the best interest of its Trust and its shareholders. In arriving at its decision to approve the Agreement for its Trust, 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. The contractual fee arrangements for the Trusts reflect the results of several years of review by the Board Members and predecessor Board Members, and discussions between such Board Members (and predecessor Board Members) and BlackRock. As a result, the Board Members conclusions may be based in part on their consideration of these arrangements in prior years.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 87 |
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
88 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Officers and Trustees |
Name, Address1 and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held
with |
Length of Time Served as a Trustee3 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of BlackRock- Advised Registered Investment Companies (RICs) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (Portfolios) Overseen4 |
Public Directorships | |||||
Independent Trustees2 | ||||||||||
Richard E. Cavanagh
1946 |
Chair of the Board and Trustee | Since 2007 |
Trustee, Aircraft Finance Trust from 1999 to 2009; Director, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 1998; Director, Arch Chemical (chemical and allied products) from 1999 to 2011; Trustee, Educational Testing Service from 1997 to 2009 and Chairman thereof from 2005 to 2009; Senior Advisor, The Fremont Group since 2008 and Director thereof since 1996; Faculty Member/Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard University since 2007; President and Chief Executive Officer, The Conference Board, Inc. (global business research organization) from 1995 to 2007. | 75 RICs consisting of 75 Portfolios |
None | |||||
Karen P. Robards
1950 |
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Chairperson of the Audit Committee and Trustee | Since 2007 |
Partner of Robards & Company, LLC (financial advisory firm) since 1987; Co-founder and Director of the Cooke Center for Learning and Development (a not-for-profit organization) since 1987; Director of Care Investment Trust, Inc. (health care real estate investment trust) from 2007 to 2010; Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley from 1976 to 1987. | 75 RICs consisting of 75 Portfolios |
AtriCure, Inc. (medical devices); Greenhill & Co., Inc. | |||||
Michael J. Castellano
1946 |
Trustee and Member of the Audit Committee | Since 2011 |
Chief Financial Officer of Lazard Group LLC from 2001 to 2011; Chief Financial Officer of Lazard Ltd from 2004 to 2011; Director, Support Our Aging Religious (non-profit) from 2009 to June 2015; Director, National Advisory Board of Church Management at Villanova University since 2010; Trustee, Domestic Church Media Foundation since 2012; Director, CircleBlack Inc. (financial technology company). since 2015. | 75 RICs consisting of 75 Portfolios |
None | |||||
Frank J. Fabozzi4
1948 |
Trustee and Member of the Audit Committee | Since 2007 |
Editor of and Consultant for The Journal of Portfolio Management since 2006; Professor of Finance, EDHEC Business School since 2011; Visiting Professor, Princeton University from 2013 to 2014; Professor in the Practice of Finance and Becton Fellow, Yale University School of Management from 2006 to 2011. | 108 RICs consisting of 235 Portfolios |
None | |||||
Kathleen F. Feldstein
1941 |
Trustee | Since 2007 |
President of Economics Studies, Inc. (private economic consulting firm) since 1987; Chair, Board of Trustees, McLean Hospital from 2000 to 2008 and Trustee Emeritus thereof since 2008; Member of the Board of Partners Community Healthcare, Inc. from 2005 to 2009; Member of the Corporation of Partners HealthCare since 1995; Trustee, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston since 1992; Member of the Visiting Committee to the Harvard University Art Museum since 2003; Director, Catholic Charities of Boston since 2009. | 75 RICs consisting of 75 Portfolios |
The McClatchy Company (publishing) | |||||
James T. Flynn
1939 |
Trustee and Member of the Audit Committee | Since 2007 |
Chief Financial Officer of JPMorgan & Co., Inc. from 1990 to 1995. | 75 RICs consisting of 75 Portfolios |
None | |||||
Jerrold B. Harris
1942 |
Trustee | Since 2007 |
Trustee, Ursinus College from 2000 to 2012; Director, Waterfowl Chesapeake (conservation) since 2014; Director, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (conservation) since 2013; Director, Troemner LLC (scientific equipment) since 2000; Director of Delta Waterfowl Foundation from 2010 to 2012; President and Chief Executive Officer, VWR Scientific Products Corporation from 1990 to 1999. | 75 RICs consisting of 75 Portfolios |
BlackRock Capital Investment Corp. (business development company) | |||||
R. Glenn Hubbard
1958 |
Trustee | Since 2007 |
Dean, Columbia Business School since 2004; Faculty member, Columbia Business School since 1988. | 75 RICs consisting of 75 Portfolios |
ADP (data and information services); Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (insurance) |
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 89 |
Officers and Trustees (continued) |
Name, Address1 and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held
with |
Length of Time Served as a Trustee3 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of BlackRock- Advised Registered Investment Companies (RICs) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (Portfolios) Overseen4 |
Public Directorships | |||||
Independent Trustees2 (concluded) | ||||||||||
W. Carl Kester
1951 |
Trustee and Member of the Audit Committee | Since 2007 |
George Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School since 2008, Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs from 2006 to 2010, Chairman of the Finance Unit, from 2005 to 2006, Senior Associate Dean and Chairman of the MBA Program from 1999 to 2005; Member of the faculty of Harvard Business School since 1981. | 75 RICs consisting of 75 Portfolios |
None | |||||
1 The address of each Trustee is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. | ||||||||||
2 Independent Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement, removal or death, or until December 31 of the year in which they turn 74. The maximum age limitation may be waived as to any Trustee by action of a majority of the Trustees upon finding of good cause thereof. The Board of Trustees has unanimously approved further extending the mandatory retirement age for Mr. James T. Flynn until December 31, 2015, which the Board of Trustees believes is in the best interest of shareholders. | ||||||||||
3 Date shown is the earliest date a person has served for the Funds in the Closed-End Complex. Following the combination of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (MLIM) and BlackRock (BlackRock) in September 2006, the various legacy MLIM and legacy BlackRock fund boards were realigned and consolidated into three new fund boards in 2007. As a result, although the chart shows certain Trustees as joining the Trusts board in 2007, those Trustees first became members of the boards of other legacy MLIM or legacy BlackRock funds as follows: Richard E. Cavanagh, 1994; Frank J. Fabozzi, 1988; Kathleen F. Feldstein, 2005; James T. Flynn, 1996; Jerrold B. Harris, 1999; R. Glenn Hubbard, 2004; W. Carl Kester, 1995 and Karen P. Robards, 1998. | ||||||||||
4 For purposes of this chart, RICs refers to investment companies registered under the 1940 Act and Portfolios refers to the investment programs of the BlackRock-advised funds. The Closed-End Complex is comprised of 75 RICs. Mr. Perlowski, Dr. Fabozzi and Ms. Novick are also board members of a complex of BlackRock registered open-end funds. Mr. Perlowski is also a board member of the BlackRock Equity-Bond Complex, and Ms. Novick and Dr. Fabozzi are also board members of the BlackRock Equity-Liquidity Complex. | ||||||||||
Interested Trustees5 | ||||||||||
Barbara G. Novick 1960 |
Trustee | Since 2014 |
Vice Chairman of BlackRock since 2006; Chair of BlackRocks Government Relations Steering Committee since 2009; Head of the Global Client Group of BlackRock, Inc. from 1988 to 2008. | 108 RICs consisting of 235 Portfolios | None | |||||
John M. Perlowski 1964 |
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer | Since 2014 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2009; Head of BlackRock Global Fund Services since 2009; Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Global Product Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. from 2003 to 2009; Treasurer of Goldman Sachs Mutual Funds from 2003 to 2009 and Senior Vice President thereof from 2007 to 2009; Director of Goldman Sachs Offshore Funds from 2002 to 2009; Director of Family Resource Network (charitable foundation) since 2009. | 136 RICs consisting of 333 Portfolios | None | |||||
5 Mr. Perlowski and Ms. Novick are both interested persons, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trusts based on their positions with BlackRock and its affiliate. Mr. Perlowski and Ms. Novick are also board members of a complex of BlackRock registered open-end funds. Mr. Perlowski is also a board member of the BlackRock Equity-Bond Complex and the BlackRock Equity-Liquidity Complex, and Ms. Novick is a board member of the BlackRock Equity-Liquidity Complex. Interested Trustees serve until their resignation, removal or death, or until December 31 of the year in which they turn 72. The maximum age limitation may be waived as to any Trustee by action of a majority of the Trustees upon a finding of good cause thereof. |
90 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Officers and Trustees (concluded) |
Name, Address1 and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trusts |
Length of Time Served as a Trustee |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |||
Officers2 | ||||||
John M. Perlowski
1964 |
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer | Since 2011 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2009; Head of BlackRock Global Fund Services since 2009; Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Global Product Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. from 2003 to 2009; Treasurer of Goldman Sachs Mutual Funds from 2003 to 2009 and Senior Vice President thereof from 2007 to 2009; Director of Goldman Sachs Offshore Funds from 2002 to 2009; Director of Family Resource Network (charitable foundation) since 2009. | |||
Jonathan Diorio
1980 |
Vice President | Since 2015 |
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2015; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2011 to 2015; Director of Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management from 2009 to 2011. | |||
Neal Andrews
1966 |
Chief Financial Officer | Since 2007 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2006; Senior Vice President and Line of Business Head of Fund Accounting and Administration at PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. from 1992 to 2006. | |||
Jay Fife
1970 |
Treasurer | Since 2007 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2007; Director of BlackRock in 2006; Assistant Treasurer of the MLIM and Fund Asset Management, L.P. advised funds from 2005 to 2006; Director of MLIM Fund Services Group from 2001 to 2006. | |||
Charles Park
1967 |
Chief Compliance Officer | Since 2014 |
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for the BlackRock-advised Funds in the Equity-Bond Complex, the Equity-Liquidity Complex and the Closed-End Complex from 2014 to 2015; Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the Equity-Bond Complex, the Equity-Liquidity Complex and the Closed-End Complex since 2014; Principal of and Chief Compliance Officer for iShares® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC since 2012 and BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA) since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer for the BFA-advised iShares exchange traded funds since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer for BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. since 2012. | |||
Janey Ahn
1975 |
Secretary | Since 2012 |
Director of BlackRock since 2009; Vice President of BlackRock from 2008 to 2009; Assistant Secretary of the Funds from 2008 to 2012. | |||
1 The address of each Officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. | ||||||
2 Officers of the Trusts serve at the pleasure of the Board. |
Effective September 18, 2015, Robert W. Crothers resigned as a Vice President of the Trust and Jonathan Diorio became a Vice President of the Trust.
Investment Advisor BlackRock Advisors, LLC Wilmington, DE 19809 |
Accounting Agent and Custodian State Street Bank and Trust Company Boston, MA 02110 |
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Deloitte & Touche LLP Boston, MA 02116 |
Address of the Trusts 100 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809 | |||
Sub-Advisor BlackRock (Singapore) Limited1 079912 Singapore |
Transfer Agent Common Shares Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Canton, MA 02021 |
Legal Counsel Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Boston, MA 02116 |
1 | For BIT. |
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 91 |
Additional Information |
Proxy Results |
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on July 29, 2015 for shareholders of record on June 1, 2015, to elect trustee nominees for each Trust. There were no broker non-votes with regard to any of the Trusts.
Approved the Trustees as follows:
Frank J. Fabozzi1 |
James T. Flynn1 |
Barbara G. Novick2 | ||||||||||||||||
Votes For | Votes Withheld |
Abstain | Votes For | Votes Withheld |
Abstain | Votes For | Votes Withheld |
Abstain | ||||||||||
BTZ |
97,729,005 | 3,011,305 | 0 | 97,771,431 | 2,968,879 | 0 | 97,883,516 | 2,856,794 | 0 | |||||||||
BGT |
21,212,760 | 617,044 | 0 | 21,245,597 | 584,207 | 0 | 21,186,055 | 643,749 | 0 | |||||||||
BIT |
33,657,340 | 484,844 | 0 | 33,641,342 | 500,842 | 0 | 33,660,293 | 481,891 | 0 | |||||||||
John M. Perlowski3 |
Karen P. Robards1 |
|||||||||||||||||
Votes For | Votes Withheld |
Abstain | Votes For | Votes Withheld |
Abstain | |||||||||||||
BTZ |
97,846,652 | 2,893,658 | 0 | 97,846,326 | 2,893,984 | 0 | ||||||||||||
BGT |
21,216,604 | 613,200 | 0 | 21,185,429 | 644,375 | 0 | ||||||||||||
BIT |
33,664,094 | 478,090 | 0 | 33,681,228 | 460,956 | 0 |
For the Trusts listed above, Trustees whose term of office continued after the Annual Meeting of Shareholders because they were not up for election are Michael J. Castellano, Richard E. Cavanagh, Kathleen F. Feldstein, Jerrold B. Harris, R. Glenn Hubbard and W. Carl Kester.
1 | Class II |
2 | Class III |
3 | Class I |
Trust Certification |
Each Trust is listed for trading on the NYSE and have filed with the NYSE their annual chief executive officer certification regarding compliance with the NYSEs listing standards. The Trusts filed with the SEC the certification of their chief executive officer and chief financial officer required by section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Dividend Policy |
Each Trusts dividend policy is to distribute all or a portion of its net investment income to its shareholders on a monthly basis. In order to provide shareholders with a more stable level of dividend distributions, the distributions paid by the Trusts for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the Trusts during such month. The portion of distributions that exceeds a Trusts current and accumulated earnings and profits, which are measured on a tax basis, will constitute a nontaxable return of capital. Distributions in excess of a Trusts taxable income and net capital gains, but not in excess of a Trusts earnings and profits, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income and will not constitute a nontaxable return of capital. The Trusts current accumulated but undistributed net investment income, if any, is disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, which comprises part of the financial information included in this report.
92 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
Additional Information (continued) |
General Information |
The Trusts do not make available copies of their Statements of Additional Information because the Trusts shares are not continuously offered, which means that the Statement of Additional Information of each Trust has not been updated after completion of the respective Trusts offerings and the information contained in each Trusts Statement of Additional Information may have become outdated.
During the period there were no material changes in the Trusts investment objectives or policies or to the Trusts charters or by-laws that would delay or prevent a change of control of the Trusts that were not approved by the shareholders or in the principal risk factors associated with investment in the Trusts. There have been no changes in the persons who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trusts portfolios.
Quarterly performance, semi-annual and annual reports, current net asset value and other information regarding the Trusts may be found on BlackRocks website, which can be accessed at http://www.blackrock.com. This reference to BlackRocks website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Trusts and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRocks website in this report.
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for e-mail notifications of quarterly statements, annual and semi-annual shareholder reports by enrolling in the electronic delivery program. Electronic copies of shareholder reports are available on BlackRocks website.
Shareholders Who Hold Accounts with Investment Advisors, Banks or Brokerages:
Please contact your financial advisor. Please note that not all investment advisors, banks or brokerages may offer this service.
Householding
The Trusts will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, including annual and semi-annual reports 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 Trusts at (800) 882-0052.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The Trusts file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Trusts Forms N-Q are available on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on how to access documents on the SECs website without charge may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330. The Trusts Forms N-Q may also be obtained upon request and without charge by calling (800) 882-0052.
Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures that the Trusts use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available upon request and without charge (1) by calling (800) 882-0052; (2) at http://www.blackrock.com; and (3) on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.
Availability of Proxy Voting Record
Information about how the Trusts voted proxies relating to securities held in the Trusts portfolios during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available upon request and without charge (1) at http://www.blackrock.com or by calling (800) 882-0052 and (2) on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.
Availability of Trust Updates
BlackRock will update performance and certain other data for the Trusts on a monthly basis on its website in the Closed-end Funds section of http://www.blackrock.com as well as certain other material information as necessary from time to time. Investors and others are advised to check the website for updated performance information and the release of other material information about the Trusts. This reference to BlackRocks website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Trusts and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRocks website in this report.
ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 | 93 |
Additional Information (concluded) |
Section 19(a) Notice |
These amounts and sources of distributions reported are estimates and are being provided to you pursuant to regulatory requirements and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon each Trusts investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Each Trust will provide a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
October 31, 2015
Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year-to-Date |
% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year-to-Date |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income |
Net Realized Capital Gains |
Return of Capital |
Total Per Common Share |
Net Investment Income |
Net Realized Capital Gains |
Return of Capital |
Total Per Common Share |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
BTZ |
$ | 0.0805 | | | $ | 0.0805 | 100 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
BIT |
$ | 0.1167 | | | $ | 0.1167 | 100 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 100 | % |
The Trusts estimate that they have distributed more than the amount of earned income and net realized gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholders investment in the Trusts are returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Trusts investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Trusts net asset value per share.
Section 19(a) notices for the Trusts, as applicable, are available on the BlackRock website at http://www.blackrock.com.
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.
94 | ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2015 |
This report is intended for current holders. It is not a prospectus. Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance. The Trusts have leveraged their Common Shares, which creates risks for Common Shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares, and the risk that fluctuations in short-term interest rates may reduce the Common Shares yield. Statements and other information herein are as dated and are subject to change.
CE-CAFRI-3-10/15-AR |
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 registrants 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, by calling 1-800-882-0052, option 4. |
Item 3 | Audit Committee Financial Expert The registrants board of directors (the board of directors), has determined that (i) the registrant has the following audit committee financial experts serving on its audit committee and (ii) each audit committee financial expert is independent: |
Michael Castellano
Frank J. Fabozzi
James T. Flynn
W. Carl Kester
Karen P. Robards
The registrants board of directors has determined that W. Carl Kester and Karen P. Robards qualify as financial experts pursuant to Item 3(c)(4) of Form N-CSR.
Prof. Kester has a thorough understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, financial statements and internal control over financial reporting as well as audit committee functions. Prof. Kester has been involved in providing valuation and other financial consulting services to corporate clients since 1978. Prof. Kesters financial consulting services present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the registrants financial statements.
Ms. Robards has a thorough understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, financial statements and internal control over financial reporting as well as audit committee functions. Ms. Robards has been President of Robards & Company, a financial advisory firm, since 1987. Ms. Robards was formerly an investment banker for more than 10 years where she was responsible for evaluating and assessing the performance of companies based on their financial results. Ms. Robards has over 30 years of experience analyzing financial statements. She also is a member of the audit committee of one publicly held company and a non-profit organization.
Under applicable securities laws, a person determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an expert for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification 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.
2
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 Fees3 | |||||||||||||
Entity Name | Current Fiscal Year End |
Previous Fiscal Year End |
Current Fiscal Year End |
Previous Fiscal Year End |
Current Fiscal Year End |
Previous Fiscal Year End |
Current Fiscal Year End |
Previous Fiscal Year End | ||||||||
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust | $69,250 | $65,524 | $0 | $0 | $15,402 | $45,100 | $0 | $0 |
The following table presents fees billed by D&T that were required to be approved by the registrants audit committee (the Committee) for services that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund and that are rendered on behalf of BlackRock Advisors, LLC (Investment Adviser or BlackRock) and entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with BlackRock (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) that provide ongoing services to the Fund (Fund Service Providers):
Current Fiscal Year End | Previous Fiscal Year End | |||
(b) Audit-Related Fees1 |
$0 | $0 | ||
(c) Tax Fees2 |
$0 | $0 | ||
(d) All Other Fees3 |
$2,391,000 | $2,555,000 |
1 The nature of the services includes assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit of financial statements not included in Audit Fees.
2 The nature of the services includes tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
3 Aggregate fees borne by BlackRock in connection with the review of compliance procedures and attestation thereto performed by D&T with respect to all of the registered closed-end funds and some of the registered open-end funds advised by BlackRock.
(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 Fund 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 SECs auditor independence rules and (b) routine and recurring services that will not impair the independence of the independent accountants may be approved by the Committee without consideration on a specific case-by-case basis (general pre-approval). The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of the pre-approval, unless the Committee provides for a different period. Tax or other non-audit services provided to the registrant which have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the registrant will only be deemed pre-approved provided that any individual project does not exceed $10,000 attributable to the registrant or $50,000 per project. For this purpose, multiple projects will be aggregated to determine if they exceed the previously mentioned cost levels.
Any proposed services exceeding the pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Committee, as will any other services not subject to general pre-approval (e.g., unanticipated but permissible services). The Committee is informed of each service approved
3
subject to general pre-approval at the next regularly scheduled in-person board meeting. At this meeting, an analysis of such services is presented to the Committee for ratification. The Committee may delegate to the Committee Chairman the authority to approve the provision of and fees for any specific engagement of permitted non-audit services, including services exceeding pre-approved cost levels.
(e)(2) None of the services described in each of Items 4(b) through (d) were approved by the Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception in paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) Not Applicable
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees paid to the accountant for services rendered by the accountant to the registrant, the Investment Adviser and the Fund Service Providers were:
Entity Name | Current Fiscal Year End |
Previous Fiscal Year End |
||||
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust | $15,402 | $45,100 |
Additionally, SSAE 16 Review (Formerly, SAS No. 70) fees for the current and previous fiscal years of $2,391,000 and $2,555,000, respectively, were billed by D&T to the Investment Adviser.
(h) The Committee has considered and determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Investment Adviser, and the Fund 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 accountants independence.
Item 5 | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants |
(a) | The following individuals are members of the registrants separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)): |
Michael Castellano |
Frank J. Fabozzi |
James T. Flynn |
W. Carl Kester |
Karen P. Robards |
(b) | Not Applicable |
Item 6 | Investments |
(a) The registrants Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
(b) Not Applicable due to no such divestments during the semi-annual period covered since the previous Form N-CSR filing.
4
Item 7 | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies The board of directors has delegated the voting of proxies for the Funds portfolio securities to the Investment Adviser pursuant to the Investment Advisers proxy voting guidelines. Under these guidelines, the Investment Adviser will vote proxies related to Fund securities in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders. From time to time, a vote may present a conflict between the interests of the Funds stockholders, on the one hand, and those of the Investment Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, on the other. In such event, provided that the Investment Advisers Equity Investment Policy Oversight Committee, or a sub-committee thereof (the Oversight Committee) is aware of the real or potential conflict or material non-routine matter and if the Oversight Committee does not reasonably believe it is able to follow its general voting guidelines (or if the particular proxy matter is not addressed in the guidelines) and vote impartially, the Oversight Committee may retain an independent fiduciary to advise the Oversight Committee on how to vote or to cast votes on behalf of the Investment Advisers clients. If the Investment Adviser determines not to retain an independent fiduciary, or does not desire to follow the advice of such independent fiduciary, the Oversight Committee shall determine how to vote the proxy after consulting with the Investment Advisers Portfolio Management Group and/or the Investment Advisers Legal and Compliance Department and concluding that the vote cast is in its clients best interest notwithstanding the conflict. A copy of the Funds Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures are attached as Exhibit 99.PROXYPOL. Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, (i) at www.blackrock.com and (ii) on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. |
Item 8 | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies as of October 31, 2015. |
(a)(1) | The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals comprised of Akiva Dickstein, Director at BlackRock, Thomas Musmanno, CFA, Managing Director at BlackRock and Randy Robertson, Managing Director at BlackRock. Messrs. Dickstein, Musmanno and Robertson are the Funds portfolio managers and are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds portfolio and the selection of its investments. Messrs. Dickstein and Musmanno have been members of the Funds portfolio management team since 2013. Mr. Robertson has been a member of the Funds portfolio management team since 2014. |
Portfolio Manager |
Biography | |
Akiva Dickstein |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2009; Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. from 2003 to 2009 and Head of the U.S. Rates & Structured Credit Research Group. | |
Thomas Musmanno, CFA |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2010; Director of BlackRock from 2006 to 2009. | |
Randy Robertson |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2009; Managing Director of Wachovia Capital Markets from 1999 to 2009. |
5
(a)(2) | As of October 31, 2015: |
(ii) Number of Other Accounts Managed and Assets by Account Type |
(iii) Number of Other Accounts and Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based | |||||||||||
(i) Name of Portfolio Manager |
Other Registered Investment Companies |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
Other Registered Investment Companies |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts | ||||||
Akiva Dickstein |
7 | 17 | 108 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||||||
$3.11 Billion | $4.97 Billion | $45.70 Billion | $0 | $241.3 Million | $1.14 Billion | |||||||
Thomas Musmanno |
11 | 14 | 136 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
$11.12 Billion | $4.87 Billion | $52.14 Billion | $0 | $1.69 Billion | $0 | |||||||
Randy Robertson |
0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
$0 | $482.0 Million | $0 | $0 | $14.36 Million | $0 |
(iv) | Portfolio Manager Potential Material Conflicts of Interest |
BlackRock has built a professional working environment, firm-wide compliance culture and compliance procedures and systems designed to protect against potential incentives that may favor one account over another. BlackRock has adopted policies and procedures that address the allocation of investment opportunities, execution of portfolio transactions, personal trading by employees and other potential conflicts of interest that are designed to ensure that all client accounts are treated equitably over time. Nevertheless, BlackRock furnishes investment management and advisory services to numerous clients in addition to the Fund, and BlackRock may, consistent with applicable law, make investment recommendations to other clients or accounts (including accounts which are hedge funds or have performance or higher fees paid to BlackRock, or in which portfolio managers have a personal interest in the receipt of such fees), which may be the same as or different from those made to the Fund. In addition, BlackRock, Inc., its affiliates and significant shareholders and any officer, director, shareholder or employee may or may not have an interest in the securities whose purchase and sale BlackRock recommends to the Fund. BlackRock, Inc., or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders, or any officer, director, shareholder, employee or any member of their families may take different actions than those recommended to the Fund by BlackRock with respect to the same securities. Moreover, BlackRock may refrain from rendering any advice or services concerning securities of companies of which any of BlackRock, Inc.s (or its affiliates or significant shareholders) officers, directors or employees are directors or officers, or companies as to which BlackRock, Inc. or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders or the officers, directors and employees of any of them has any substantial economic interest or possesses material non-public information. Certain portfolio managers also may manage accounts whose investment strategies may at times be opposed to the strategy utilized for a fund. It should also be noted that Messrs. Dickstein, Musmanno and Robertson may be managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, or may be part of a team managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, subject to incentive fees. Messrs. Dickstein, Musmanno and Robertson may therefore be entitled to receive a portion of any incentive fees earned on such accounts.
As a fiduciary, BlackRock owes a duty of loyalty to its clients and must treat each client fairly. When BlackRock purchases or sells securities for more than one account, the trades must be allocated in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties. BlackRock attempts to allocate investments in a fair and equitable manner among client accounts, with no account receiving preferential treatment. To this end, BlackRock, Inc. has adopted policies that are intended to ensure reasonable efficiency in client transactions and provide BlackRock with sufficient flexibility to allocate investments in a manner that is consistent with the particular investment discipline and client base, as appropriate.
6
(a)(3) As of October 31, 2015:
Portfolio Manager Compensation Overview
The discussion below describes the portfolio managers compensation as of October 31, 2015.
BlackRocks financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary, a performance-based discretionary bonus, participation in various benefits programs and one or more of the incentive compensation programs established by BlackRock.
Base compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation based on their position with the firm.
Discretionary Incentive Compensation
Discretionary incentive compensation is a function of several components: the performance of BlackRock, Inc., the performance of the portfolio managers group within BlackRock, the investment performance, including risk-adjusted returns, of the firms assets under management or supervision by that portfolio manager relative to predetermined benchmarks, and the individuals performance and contribution to the overall performance of these portfolios and BlackRock. In most cases, these benchmarks are the same as the benchmark or benchmarks against which the performance of the Funds or other accounts managed by the portfolio managers are measured. Among other things, BlackRocks Chief Investment Officers make a subjective determination with respect to each portfolio managers compensation based on the performance of the funds and other accounts managed by each portfolio manager relative to the various benchmarks. Performance of fixed income funds is measured on a pre-tax and/or after-tax basis over various time periods including 1-, 3- and 5- year periods, as applicable. With respect to these portfolio managers, such benchmarks for the Fund and other accounts are:
Portfolio Manager | Benchmark | |
Akiva Dickstein | A combination of market-based indices (e.g. Citigroup Mortgage Index, Barclays GNMA MBS Index), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups. | |
Thomas Musmanno, CFA | A combination of market-based indices (e.g., Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate & Government Index, 1-3 Years), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups. | |
Randy Robertson | No Benchmarks |
Distribution of Discretionary Incentive Compensation. Discretionary incentive compensation is distributed to portfolio managers in a combination of cash and BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units which vest ratably over a number of years. For some portfolio managers, discretionary incentive compensation is also distributed in deferred cash awards that notionally track the returns of select BlackRock investment products they manage and that vest ratably over a
7
number of years. The BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units, upon vesting, will be settled in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. Typically, the cash portion of the discretionary incentive compensation, when combined with base salary, represents more than 60% of total compensation for the portfolio managers. Paying a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in BlackRock, Inc. stock puts compensation earned by a portfolio manager for a given year at risk based on BlackRocks ability to sustain and improve its performance over future periods. Providing a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in deferred cash awards that notionally track the BlackRock investment products they manage provides direct alignment with investment product results.
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards From time to time long-term incentive equity awards are granted to certain key employees to aid in retention, align their interests with long-term shareholder interests and motivate performance. Equity awards are generally granted in the form of BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units that, once vested, settle in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. The portfolio managers of this Fund have unvested long-term incentive awards.
Deferred Compensation Program A portion of the compensation paid to eligible United States-based BlackRock employees may be voluntarily deferred at their election for defined periods of time into an account that tracks the performance of certain of the firms investment products. Any portfolio manager who is either a managing director or director at BlackRock with compensation above a specified threshold is eligible to participate in the deferred compensation program.
Other Compensation Benefits. In addition to base salary and discretionary incentive compensation, portfolio managers may be eligible to receive or participate in one or more of the following:
Incentive Savings Plans BlackRock, Inc. has created a variety of incentive savings plans in which BlackRock, Inc. employees are eligible to participate, including a 401(k) plan, the BlackRock Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), and the BlackRock Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The employer contribution components of the RSP include a company match equal to 50% of the first 8% of eligible pay contributed to the plan capped at $5,000 per year, and a company retirement contribution equal to 3-5% of eligible compensation up to the Internal Revenue Service limit ($265,000 for 2015). The RSP offers a range of investment options, including registered investment companies and collective investment funds managed by the firm. BlackRock, Inc. contributions follow the investment direction set by participants for their own contributions or, absent participant investment direction, are invested into a target date fund that corresponds to, or is closest to, the year in which the participant attains age 65. The ESPP allows for investment in BlackRock, Inc. common stock at a 5% discount on the fair market value of the stock on the purchase date. Annual participation in the ESPP is limited to the purchase of 1,000 shares of common stock or a dollar value of $25,000 based on its fair market value on the purchase date. All of the eligible portfolio managers are eligible to participate in these plans.
(a)(4) Beneficial Ownership of Securities As of October 31, 2015.
Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Equity Securities of the Fund Beneficially Owned | |
Akiva Dickstein | $1 - $10,000 | |
Thomas Musmanno | $10,001 - $50,000 | |
Randy Robertson | None |
8
(b) Not Applicable
Item 9 | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers Not Applicable due to no such purchases during the period covered by this report. |
Item 10 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders There have been no material changes to these procedures. |
Item 11 | Controls and Procedures |
(a) The registrants principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrants disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(b) There were no changes in the registrants internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12 | Exhibits attached hereto |
(a)(1) Code of Ethics See Item 2
(a)(2) Certifications Attached hereto
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(b) Certifications Attached hereto
9
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust | ||
By: | /s/ John M. Perlowski | |
John M. Perlowski | ||
Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of | ||
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust |
Date: January 4, 2016
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/ John M. Perlowski | |
John M. Perlowski | ||
Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of | ||
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust |
Date: January 4, 2016
By: | /s/ Neal J. Andrews | |
Neal J. Andrews | ||
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of | ||
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust |
Date: January 4, 2016
10