(each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds)
Supplement dated January 15, 2021 to the Investor A and/or Investor C Shares Prospectus of each Fund (each, a Prospectus)
The section of each Prospectus entitled Intermediary-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies Edward D. Jones & Co. is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones):
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after January 15, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as shareholders) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as breakpoints) and waivers, which may differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in this prospectus or statement of additional information (SAI) or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholders responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of BlackRock Funds, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
◾ | Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus. |
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Rights of Accumulation (ROA)
◾ | The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Investor A Shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of BlackRock Funds held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations (pricing groups). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge. |
◾ | The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level. |
◾ | ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares multiplied by NAV). |
Letter of Intent (LOI)
◾ | Through a LOI, a shareholder can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases such shareholder intends to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible BlackRock Funds assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charges previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if the LOI is not met. |
◾ | If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer. |
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
◾ | Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associates life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones policies and procedures. |
◾ | Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based advisory program. |
◾ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment. |
◾ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of BlackRock Funds so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account (IRA) with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account. |
◾ | Shares exchanged into Investor A Shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSCs due to BlackRock, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus. |
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◾ | Exchanges from Investor C Shares to Investor A Shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones. |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
◾ | The death or disability of the shareholder. |
◾ | Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value. |
◾ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA. |
◾ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
◾ | Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones. |
◾ | Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
◾ | Shares acquired through a Right of Reinstatement. |
◾ | Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below. |
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts for Investor A and Investor C Shares
◾ | Initial purchase minimum: $250 |
◾ | Subsequent purchase minimum: none |
Minimum Balances
◾ | Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy: |
◾ | A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform |
◾ | A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform |
◾ | An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI |
Exchanging Share Classes
◾ | At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholders holdings in a fund to Investor A Shares of the same fund at NAV, provided that Edward Jones will be responsible for any remaining CDSC due to BlackRock, if applicable, and that the shareholders meet the eligibility requirements of the new share class. |
Shareholders should retain this Supplement for future reference.
PRO-IDSCW-0121SUP
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