BlackRock Funds III
LOGO    APRIL 29, 2024, as amended AUGUST 16, 2024
 
 
 
 
Prospectus
 
BlackRock Funds III | Class K Shares
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic Retirement Fund
Class K: LPSAX
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2025 Fund
Class K: LPBKX
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2030 Fund
Class K: LPSDX
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2035 Fund
Class K: LPJKX
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2040 Fund
Class K: LPSFX
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2045 Fund
Class K: LPHKX
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2050 Fund
Class K: LPSGX
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2055 Fund
Class K: LPVKX
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2060 Fund
Class K: LPDKX
 
  BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2065 Fund
Class K: LPWKX
 
 
 
 
This Prospectus contains information you should know before investing, including information about risks. Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee

Table of Contents
 
 
 
Fund Overview    Key facts and details about the Funds, including investment objectives, principal investment strategies, principal risk factors, fee and expense information, and historical performance information  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic Retirement Fund     3  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2025 Fund     17  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2030 Fund     32  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2035 Fund     47  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2040 Fund     63  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2045 Fund     78  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2050 Fund     90  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2055 Fund     102  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2060 Fund     114  
   Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2065 Fund     126  
Details About the Funds    Information about how the Funds invest, investment objectives including investment time horizons, principal strategies and risk factors  
   Investment Time Horizons     138  
   Which Fund to Consider     139  
   A Further Discussion of the Principal Investment Strategies     139  
   Information About the Underlying Funds     140  
   A Further Discussion of Risk Factors     166  
Account Information    Information about account services, sales charges and waivers, shareholder transactions, and distribution and other payments  
   Details About the Share Class     191  
   How to Buy, Sell, Exchange and Transfer Shares     192  
   Funds’ Rights     196  
   Short-Term Trading Policy     197  
   Fund of Funds Structure     198  
Management of the Funds    Information about BlackRock Fund Advisors and the Portfolio Managers  
   Investment Adviser     199  
   Portfolio Managers     200  
   Administrative Services     200  
   Conflicts of Interest     201  
   Valuation of Fund Investments     201  
   Dividends, Distributions and Taxes     203  
Financial Highlights    Financial Performance of the Funds     204  
General Information    Shareholder Documents     214  
   Certain Fund Policies     214  
   Statement of Additional Information     215  
   Disclaimers     215  
Glossary    Glossary of Investment Terms     219  
For More Information    Funds and Service Providers     Inside Back Cover  
   Additional Information     Back Cover  
LifePath® is a registered service mark of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. and the LifePath products are covered by U.S. Patents 5,812,987 and 6,336,102.

Fund Overview
 
 
 
Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic Retirement Fund
Investment Objective
 
The investment objective of BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic Retirement Fund (“LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund” or the “Fund”), a series of BlackRock Funds III (the “Trust”), is to seek to provide for retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. In pursuit of this objective, the Fund will be broadly diversified across global asset classes.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell Class K Shares of LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to your financial professional or your selected securities dealer, broker, investment adviser, service provider or industry professional (including BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) and its affiliates) (each, a “Financial Intermediary”), which are not reflected in the table and example below.
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
   Class K
Shares
Management Fee1
       0.30%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
       None
Other Expenses1,2,3,4
       0.05%
Administration Fees1
       0.04%  
Independent Expenses2,3,4
       0.01%  
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1,3
       0.22%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses3
       0.57%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,4
       (0.23)%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,4
       0.34%
 
1 
As described in the “Management of the Funds” section of the Fund’s prospectus beginning on page 199, BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BAL”) and BFA have contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund for Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses up to a maximum amount equal to the combined Management Fee and Administration Fee of each share class of the Fund, through June 30, 2025. In addition, BFA has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by the amount of investment advisory fees the Fund pays to BFA indirectly through its investment in money market funds managed by BFA or its affiliates, through June 30, 2025. The contractual agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
 
2 
The Other Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.
 
3 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets given in the Fund’s most recent annual report, which does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, the restatement of the Other Expenses to reflect current fees.
 
4 
Independent Expenses consist of the Fund’s allocable portion of the fees and expenses of the independent trustees of the Trust, counsel to such independent trustees and the independent registered public accounting firm that provides audit services to the Fund. BAL and BFA have contractually agreed to reimburse, or provide offsetting credits to, the Fund for Independent Expenses through June 30, 2034. After giving effect to such contractual arrangements, Independent Expenses will be 0.00%. Such contractual arrangements may not be terminated prior to July 1, 2034 without the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Class K Shares of the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class K Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that Class K Shares of the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
      1 Year        3 Years        5 Years        10 Years  
Class K Shares
   $ 35        $ 157        $ 291        $ 680  
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 53% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
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Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
 
LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund allocates and reallocates its assets among a combination of equity, bond and money market funds (the “Underlying Funds”) and derivatives in proportions based on its own comprehensive investment strategy. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest primarily in affiliated open-end funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), some of which may be index funds.
The Fund may, when consistent with its investment goal, buy or sell options or futures, or enter into total return swaps and foreign currency transactions (collectively, commonly known as derivatives). The Fund may seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls). The Fund may use derivatives as a substitute for taking a position in an Underlying Fund and/or as part of a strategy to reduce exposure to certain risks. The Fund may also use derivatives to enhance return, in which case their use may involve leveraging risk. Derivatives that are used as a substitute for taking a position in an Underlying Fund, to reduce exposure to risks (other than duration or currency risk) or to enhance return will increase or decrease the Fund’s equity or fixed income allocations for purposes of the glide path by the notional amount of such derivatives. Derivatives that are used to manage duration or hedge currency risk will not be allocated to the Fund’s equity or fixed income allocations for purposes of the glide path.
The Fund seeks to provide for retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. BFA employs a multi-dimensional approach to assess risk for the Fund and to determine the Fund’s allocation across asset classes. As part of this multi-dimensional approach, BFA aims to quantify risk using proprietary risk measurement tools that, among other things, analyze historical and forward-looking securities market data, including risk, asset class correlations, and expected returns. As of March 31, 2024, the Fund held approximately 46% of its assets (including notional exposure through derivatives) in equity Underlying Funds and equity related derivatives, approximately 57% of its assets (including notional exposure through derivatives) in fixed income Underlying Funds and fixed income related derivatives and approximately -3% of its assets in cash (including cash offsets from derivatives) and Underlying Funds that invest primarily in money market instruments. Certain Underlying Funds may invest in equity securities of issuers that are primarily engaged in or related to the real estate industry, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), foreign securities, emerging market securities, below investment-grade bonds, commodity-related instruments and derivative securities or instruments, such as options and futures, the value of which is derived from another security, a commodity, a currency or an index. Because the Fund is in its most conservative phase, its allocation generally does not become more conservative over time, although its allocation may change to maintain the Fund’s risk profile.
Factors such as fund classifications, historical risk and performance, and the relationship to other Underlying Funds in the Fund are considered when selecting Underlying Funds. The specific Underlying Funds selected for the Fund are determined at BFA’s discretion and may change as deemed appropriate to allow the Fund to meet its investment objective. See the “Details About the Funds — Information About the Underlying Funds” section of the prospectus for a list of the Underlying Funds, their classification into equity, fixed income, multi-asset or money market funds and a brief description of their investment objectives and primary investment strategies.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
 
Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund and/or the Underlying Funds. The Fund allocates and reallocates its assets among a combination of Underlying Funds and derivatives. Therefore, references to the Fund in the description of risks below may include the Underlying Funds in which the Fund invests, as applicable. The relative significance of each risk factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.
Principal Risks of the Fund’s Investment Strategies
 
 
Equity Securities Risk — Stock markets are volatile. The price of equity securities fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.
 
 
Debt Securities Risk — Debt securities, such as bonds, involve risks, such as credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, and prepayment risk, each of which are described in further detail below:
Credit Risk — Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a debt security (i.e., the borrower) will not be able to make payments of interest and principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation.
 
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Interest Rate Risk — The market value of bonds and other fixed-income securities changes in response to interest rate changes and other factors. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.
The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the recent period of historically low interest rates. For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, assuming a current portfolio duration of ten years, and all other factors being equal, the value of the Fund’s investments would be expected to decrease by 10%. (Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio of debt securities to relative changes in interest rates.) The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of bonds and other fixed-income securities is generally greater for those securities with longer maturities. Fluctuations in the market price of the Fund’s investments will not affect interest income derived from instruments already owned by the Fund, but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by Fund management.
To the extent the Fund invests in debt securities that may be prepaid at the option of the obligor (such as mortgage-backed securities), the sensitivity of such securities to changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Fund) when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating rate debt securities typically reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund to the extent that it invests in floating rate debt securities.
These basic principles of bond prices also apply to U.S. Government securities. A security backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government is guaranteed only as to its stated interest rate and face value at maturity, not its current market price. Just like other fixed-income securities, government-guaranteed securities will fluctuate in value when interest rates change.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed-income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from funds that hold large amounts of fixed-income securities. Heavy redemptions could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value and could hurt the Fund’s performance.
Extension Risk — When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of these obligations to fall.
Prepayment Risk — When interest rates fall, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields.
 
 
Allocation Risk — The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends upon BFA’S skill in determining the Fund’s strategic asset class allocation and in selecting the best mix of Underlying Funds and direct investments. There is a risk that BFA’s evaluations and assumptions regarding asset classes or Underlying Funds may be incorrect in view of actual market conditions. In addition, the asset allocation or the combination of Underlying Funds determined by BFA could result in underperformance as compared to funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.
 
 
Market Risk and Selection Risk — Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, exchange, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues like pandemics or epidemics, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. Selection risk is the risk that the securities selected by Fund management will underperform the markets, the relevant indices or the securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies. This means you may lose money.
An outbreak of an infectious coronavirus (COVID‑19) that was first detected in December 2019 developed into a global pandemic that has resulted in numerous disruptions in the market and has had significant economic impact leaving general concern and uncertainty. Although vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the duration of the pandemic and its effects cannot be predicted with certainty. The impact of this coronavirus, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.
 
 
Investments in Underlying Funds Risk — The Fund’s investments are concentrated in Underlying Funds, so the Fund’s investment performance is directly related to the performance of the Underlying Funds. The Fund’s net asset value will change with changes in the equity and bond markets and the value of the Underlying Funds and other securities in which it invests. An investment in the Fund will entail more direct and indirect costs and expenses than a direct investment in the Underlying Funds. For example, the Fund indirectly pays a portion of the expenses (including operating expenses and management fees) incurred by the Underlying Funds.
 
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Affiliated Fund Risk — In managing the Fund, BFA will have authority to select and substitute underlying funds and ETFs. BFA may be subject to potential conflicts of interest in selecting underlying funds and ETFs because the fees paid to BFA by some underlying funds and ETFs are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds and ETFs. However, BFA is a fiduciary to the Fund and is legally obligated to act in the Fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds and ETFs. If an underlying fund or ETF holds interests in an affiliated fund, the Fund may be prohibited from purchasing shares of that underlying fund or ETF.
 
 
Retirement Income Risk — The Fund does not provide a guarantee that sufficient capital appreciation will be achieved to provide adequate income at and through retirement. The Fund also does not ensure that you will have assets in your account sufficient to cover your retirement expenses; this will depend on the amount of money you have invested in the Fund, the length of time you have held your investment, the returns of the markets over time, the amount you spend in retirement, and your other assets and income sources.
 
 
Derivatives Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives may increase its costs, reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility. Derivatives involve significant risks, including:
Leverage Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives can magnify the Fund’s gains and losses. Relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of a derivatives position and can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.
Market Risk — Some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than other securities. The Fund could also suffer losses related to its derivatives positions as a result of unanticipated market movements, which losses are potentially unlimited. Finally, BFA may not be able to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors, which could cause the Fund’s derivatives positions to lose value.
Counterparty Risk — Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will be unable or unwilling to fulfill its contractual obligation, and the related risks of having concentrated exposure to such a counterparty.
Illiquidity Risk — The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for derivatives and the resulting inability of the Fund to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position could expose the Fund to losses and could make derivatives more difficult for the Fund to value accurately.
Operational Risk — The use of derivatives includes the risk of potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate controls and human error.
Legal Risk — The risk of insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of counterparty, or legality or enforceability of a contract.
Volatility and Correlation Risk — Volatility is defined as the characteristic of a security, an index or a market to fluctuate significantly in price within a short time period. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate with the overall securities markets.
Valuation Risk — Valuation for derivatives may not be readily available in the market. Valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil since many investors and market makers may be reluctant to purchase complex instruments or quote prices for them.
Hedging Risk — Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging transactions will be effective. The use of hedging may result in certain adverse tax consequences.
Tax Risk — Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority. Such treatment may be less favorable than that given to a direct investment in an underlying asset and may adversely affect the timing, character and amount of income the Fund realizes from its investments.
 
 
Leverage Risk — Some transactions may give rise to a form of economic leverage. These transactions may include, among others, derivatives, and may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet the applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules thereunder. Increases and decreases in the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be magnified when the Fund uses leverage.
 
6

Principal Risks of the Underlying Funds
 
 
Asset Class Risk — Securities and other assets or financial instruments in the Underlying Index of an Underlying Fund or in an Underlying Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to the general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes.
 
 
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk — Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with an ETF, and none of those authorized participants is obligated to engage in creation and/ or redemption transactions. The Underlying Funds that are ETFs have a limited number of institutions that may act as authorized participants on an agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants). To the extent that authorized participants exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation or redemption orders with respect to an ETF and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, the ETF shares may be more likely to trade at a premium or discount to net asset value and possibly face trading halts or delisting. Authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened for ETFs that invest in securities issued by non‑U.S. issuers or other securities or instruments that have lower trading volumes.
 
 
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk — In addition to the typical risks associated with fixed-income securities and asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), including collateralized loan obligations, carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the risk that the collateral may default or decline in value or be downgraded, if rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization; (iii) the Fund may invest in tranches of CDOs that are subordinate to other tranches; (iv) the structure and complexity of the transaction and the legal documents could lead to disputes among investors regarding the characterization of proceeds; (v) the investment return achieved by the Fund could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models; (vi) the lack of a readily available secondary market for CDOs; (vii) the risk of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures; and (viii) the CDO’s manager may perform poorly.
 
 
Commodities Related Investments Risk — Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in inflation, interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.
 
 
Concentration Risk — To the extent that the Fund or an Underlying Fund is concentrated in the securities of companies, a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, country, region or group of countries, the Fund or that Underlying Fund may be adversely affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting that market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, country, region or group of countries.
 
 
Convertible Securities Risk — The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest, principal or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock, including the potential for increased volatility in the price of the convertible security.
 
 
Corporate Loans Risk — Commercial banks and other financial institutions or institutional investors make corporate loans to companies that need capital to grow or restructure. Borrowers generally pay interest on corporate loans at rates that change in response to changes in market interest rates such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the prime rates of U.S. banks. As a result, the value of corporate loan investments is generally less exposed to the adverse effects of shifts in market interest rates than investments that pay a fixed rate of interest. The market for corporate loans may be subject to irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads. In addition, transactions in corporate loans may settle on a delayed basis. As a result, the proceeds from the sale of corporate loans may not be readily available to make additional investments or to meet the Fund’s redemption obligations. To the extent the extended settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, the Fund may hold additional cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks and other lenders.
 
 
Counterparty Risk — The counterparty to an over‑the‑counter derivatives contract or a borrower of the Fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations. Any such failure to honor its obligations may cause significant losses to the Fund.
 
 
Depositary Receipts Risk — Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. In addition to investment risks associated with the underlying issuer, depositary receipts expose the Fund to additional risks associated with the non‑uniform terms that apply to
 
7

 
depositary receipt programs, credit exposure to the depository bank and to the sponsors and other parties with whom the depository bank establishes the programs, currency risk and the risk of an illiquid market for depositary receipts. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is, in the United States, considered material. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding these issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. While depositary receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing underlying foreign securities in their respective markets and currencies, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, including political, economic, and currency risk.
 
 
Distressed Securities Risk — Distressed securities are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in junk bonds. The Fund will generally not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. In addition, distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.
 
 
Dollar Rolls Risk — Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Fund is committed to buy may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold. These transactions may involve leverage.
 
 
Emerging Markets Risk — Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.
 
 
 
Foreign Securities Risk — Foreign investments often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. These risks include:
 
   
The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
 
   
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio.
 
   
The economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.
 
   
The governments of certain countries, or the U.S. Government with respect to certain countries, may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions through capital controls and/or sanctions on foreign investments in the capital markets or certain industries in those countries, which may prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer currency, securities, derivatives or other assets.
 
   
Many foreign governments do not supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to the same extent as does the United States and may not have laws to protect investors that are comparable to U.S. securities laws.
 
   
Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets may result in delays in payment for or delivery of securities not typically associated with settlement and clearance of U.S. investments.
 
   
The Fund’s claims to recover foreign withholding taxes may not be successful, and if the likelihood of recovery of foreign withholding taxes materially decreases, due to, for example, a change in tax regulation or approach in the foreign country, accruals in the Fund’s net asset value for such refunds may be written down partially or in full, which will adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value.
 
   
The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries as well as acts of war in the region. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Fund’s investments.
 
 
Geographic Risk — A natural disaster could occur in a geographic region in which the Fund invests, which could adversely affect the economy or the business operations of companies in the specific geographic region, causing an adverse impact on the Fund’s investments in, or which are exposed to, the affected region.
 
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High Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities. High portfolio turnover (more than 100%) may result in increased transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commissions, dealer mark‑ups and other transaction costs on the sale of the securities and on reinvestment in other securities. The sale of Fund portfolio securities may result in the realization and/or distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains or losses as compared to a fund with less active trading policies. These effects of higher than normal portfolio turnover may adversely affect Fund performance.
 
 
High Yield Bonds Risk — Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than investment grade bonds, junk bonds are high risk investments that are considered speculative and may cause income and principal losses for the Fund.
 
 
Income Risk — Income risk is the risk that the Fund’s yield will vary as short-term securities in its portfolio mature and the proceeds are reinvested in securities with different interest rates.
 
 
Indexed and Inverse Securities Risk — Indexed and inverse securities provide a potential return based on a particular index of value or interest rates. The Fund’s return on these securities will be subject to risk with respect to the value of the particular index. These securities are subject to leverage risk and correlation risk. Certain indexed and inverse securities have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates or index levels than other securities, and the Fund’s investment in such instruments may decline significantly in value if interest rates or index levels move in a way Fund management does not anticipate.
 
 
Index-Related Risk — There is no guarantee that an Underlying Fund’s investment results will have a high degree of correlation to those of its underlying index or that the Underlying Fund will achieve its investment objective. Market disruptions or high volatility, other unusual market circumstances and regulatory restrictions could have an adverse effect on an Underlying Fund’s ability to adjust its exposure to the required levels in order to track its underlying index. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of an underlying index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the index provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on an Underlying Fund and its shareholders. Unusual market conditions or other unforeseen circumstances (such as natural disasters, political unrest or war) may impact the index provider or a third-party data provider and could cause the index provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance. This could cause an underlying index to vary from its normal or expected composition.
An index fund has operating and other expenses while an index does not. As a result, while an Underlying Fund that is an index fund will attempt to track its underlying index as closely as possible, it will tend to underperform the underlying index to some degree over time. If an index fund is properly correlated to its stated index, the fund will perform poorly when the index performs poorly.
 
 
Inflation-Indexed Bonds Risk — The principal value of an investment is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-indexed bonds.
Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.
Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal value.
The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates may rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. Short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.
Periodic adjustments for inflation to the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond may give rise to original issue discount, which will be includable in the Fund’s gross income. Due to original issue discount, the Fund may be required to make annual distributions to shareholders that exceed the cash received, which may cause the Fund to liquidate certain investments when it is not advantageous to do so. Also, if the principal value of an inflation-indexed bond is adjusted downward due to deflation, amounts previously distributed in the taxable year may be characterized in some circumstances as a return of capital.
 
 
Investment Style Risk — Under certain market conditions, growth investments have performed better during the later stages of economic expansion and value investments have performed better during periods of economic recovery. Therefore, these investment styles may over time go in and out of favor. At times when an investment style used by the Fund or an Underlying Fund is out of favor, the Fund may underperform other funds that use different investment styles.
 
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Issuer Risk — Fund performance depends on the performance of individual securities to which the Fund has exposure. Changes in the financial condition or credit rating of an issuer of those securities may cause the value of the securities to decline.
 
 
Management Risk — If a passively managed ETF does not fully replicate the underlying index, it is subject to the risk that the manager’s investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.
 
 
Mezzanine Securities Risk — Mezzanine securities carry the risk that the issuer will not be able to meet its obligations and that the equity securities purchased with the mezzanine investments may lose value.
 
 
Model Risk — The Fund seeks to pursue its investment objective by using proprietary models that incorporate quantitative analysis. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than as forecasted due to the factors incorporated into the models and the weighting of each factor, changes from historical trends, and issues in the construction and implementation of the models (including, but not limited to, software issues and other technological issues). There is no guarantee that BlackRock’s use of these models will result in effective investment decisions for the Fund.
The information and data used in the models may be supplied by third parties. Inaccurate or incomplete data may limit the effectiveness of the models. In addition, some of the data that BlackRock uses may be historical data, which may not accurately predict future market movement. There is a risk that the models will not be successful in selecting investments or in determining the weighting of investment positions that will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
 
 
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risks — Mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages or other assets, including consumer loans or receivables held in trust. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are subject to credit, interest rate, prepayment and extension risks. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage or asset, particularly during periods of economic downturn. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.
 
 
Municipal Securities Risks — Municipal securities risks include the ability of the issuer to repay the obligation, the relative lack of information about certain issuers of municipal securities, and the possibility of future legislative changes which could affect the market for and value of municipal securities. Budgetary constraints of local, state, and federal governments upon which the issuers may be relying for funding may also impact municipal securities. These risks include:
General Obligation Bonds Risks — Timely payments depend on the issuer’s credit quality, ability to raise tax revenues and ability to maintain an adequate tax base.
Revenue Bonds Risks — These payments depend on the money earned by the particular facility or class of facilities, or the amount of revenues derived from another source.
Private Activity Bonds Risks — Municipalities and other public authorities issue private activity bonds to finance development of industrial facilities for use by a private enterprise. The private enterprise pays the principal and interest on the bond, and the issuer does not pledge its full faith, credit and taxing power for repayment.
Moral Obligation Bonds Risks — Moral obligation bonds are generally issued by special purpose public authorities of a state or municipality. If the issuer is unable to meet its obligations, repayment of these bonds becomes a moral commitment, but not a legal obligation, of the state or municipality.
Municipal Notes Risks — Municipal notes are shorter term municipal debt obligations. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, the notes may not be fully repaid and the Fund may lose money.
Municipal Lease Obligations Risks — In a municipal lease obligation, the issuer agrees to make payments when due on the lease obligation. Although the issuer does not pledge its unlimited taxing power for payment of the lease obligation, the lease obligation is secured by the leased property.
Tax‑Exempt Status Risk — The Fund and its investment manager will rely on the opinion of issuers’ bond counsel and, in the case of derivative securities, sponsors’ counsel, on the tax‑exempt status of interest on municipal bonds and payments under derivative securities. Neither the Fund nor its investment manager will independently review the bases for those tax opinions, which may ultimately be determined to be incorrect and subject the Fund and its shareholders to substantial tax liabilities.
 
 
National Closed Market Trading Risk — To the extent that the underlying securities and/or other assets held by an Underlying Fund that is an ETF trade on foreign exchanges or in foreign markets that may be closed when the securities exchange on which the Underlying Fund’s shares trade is open, there are likely to be deviations between the current price of such an underlying security and the last quoted price for the underlying security (i.e., an Underlying Fund’s quote from the closed foreign market). The impact of a closed foreign market on an Underlying Fund is likely to be greater where a large portion of the Underlying Fund’s underlying securities and/or other assets
 
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trade on that closed foreign market or when the foreign market is closed for unscheduled reasons. These deviations could result in premiums or discounts to one or more of the Underlying Funds’ net asset values that may be greater than those experienced by other ETFs.
 
 
“New Issues” Risk — “New issues” are initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of equity securities. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile or may decline shortly after the IPO.
 
 
Passive Investment Risk — Because BFA does not select individual companies in the underlying indexes for certain Underlying Funds, those Underlying Funds may hold securities of companies that present risks that an investment adviser researching individual securities might seek to avoid.
 
 
Pay-in-kind Bonds Risk — Similar to zero coupon obligations, pay-in-kind bonds also carry additional risk as holders of these types of securities realize no cash until the cash payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. The market price of pay-in-kind bonds is affected by interest rate changes to a greater extent, and therefore tends to be more volatile, than that of securities which pay interest in cash.
 
 
Preferred Securities Risk — Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies.
 
 
Real Estate-Related Securities Risk — The main risk of real estate-related securities is that the value of the underlying real estate may go down. Many factors may affect real estate values. These factors include both the general and local economies, vacancy rates, changes in rent schedules, tenant bankruptcies, the ability to re‑lease space under expiring leases on attractive terms, the amount of new construction in a particular area, the laws and regulations (including zoning, environmental and tax laws) affecting real estate and the costs of owning, maintaining and improving real estate. The availability of mortgage financing and changes in interest rates may also affect real estate values. If the Fund’s real estate-related investments are concentrated in one geographic area or in one property type, the Fund will be particularly subject to the risks associated with that area or property type. Many issuers of real estate-related securities are highly leveraged, which increases the risk to holders of such securities. The value of the securities the Fund buys will not necessarily track the value of the underlying investments of the issuers of such securities.
 
 
REIT Investment Risk — Investments in REITs involve unique risks. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume, may engage in dilutive offerings of securities and may be more volatile than other securities. REIT issuers may also fail to maintain their exemptions from investment company registration or fail to qualify for the “dividends paid deduction” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), which allows REITs to reduce their corporate taxable income for dividends paid to their shareholders. In addition, certain issuers of real estate-related securities may have developed or commenced development on properties and may develop additional properties in the future. Real estate development involves significant risks in addition to those involved in the ownership and operation of established properties. Real estate securities may have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. Real estate securities are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and defaults by borrowers or tenants.
 
 
Representative Sampling Risk — Representative sampling is a method of indexing that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively have a similar investment profile to the index and resemble the index in terms of risk factors and other key characteristics. An ETF may or may not hold every security in the index. When an ETF deviates from a full replication indexing strategy to utilize a representative sampling strategy, the ETF is subject to an increased risk of tracking error, in that the securities selected in the aggregate for the ETF may not have an investment profile similar to those of its index.
 
 
Repurchase Agreements and Purchase and Sale Contracts Risk — If the other party to a repurchase agreement or purchase and sale contract defaults on its obligation under the agreement, the Fund may suffer delays and incur costs or lose money in exercising its rights under the agreement. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either situation and the market value of the security declines, the Fund may lose money.
 
 
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk — Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Fund, including the value of the investments made with cash collateral, is less than the value of the securities.
 
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These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Fund. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the interest income earned in the investment of the proceeds will be less than the interest expense.
 
 
Risks of Loan Assignments and Participations — As the purchaser of an assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a lender under the credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation; however, the Fund may not be able unilaterally to enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any associated collateral. Because assignments may be arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, the rights and obligations acquired by the Fund as the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning lender. In addition, if the loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become part owner of any collateral and could bear the costs and liabilities of owning and disposing of the collateral. The Fund may be required to pass along to a purchaser that buys a loan from the Fund by way of assignment a portion of any fees to which the Fund is entitled under the loan. In connection with purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set‑off against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling a participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set‑off between the lender and the borrower.
 
 
Second Lien Loans Risk — Second lien loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower.
 
 
Senior Loans Risk — There is less readily available, reliable information about most senior loans than is the case for many other types of securities. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non‑payment rate, and a senior loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a senior loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the senior loan’s value. No active trading market may exist for certain senior loans, which may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a senior loan and which may make it difficult to value senior loans. Although senior loans in which the Fund will invest generally will be secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower’s obligation in the event of non‑payment of scheduled interest or principal or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. To the extent that a senior loan is collateralized by stock in the borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its value in the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower. Uncollateralized senior loans involve a greater risk of loss.
 
 
Shares of an ETF May Trade at Prices Other Than Net Asset Value — Shares of an ETF trade on exchanges at prices at, above or below their most recent net asset value (“NAV”). The per share net asset value of an ETF is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of the ETF’s holdings since the most recent calculation. The trading prices of an ETF’s shares fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand rather than net asset value. The trading prices of an ETF’s shares may deviate significantly from net asset value during periods of market volatility. Any of these factors may lead to an ETF’s shares trading at a premium or discount to net asset value. However, because shares can be created and redeemed in creation units, which are aggregated blocks of shares that authorized participants who have entered into agreements with the ETF’s distributor can purchase or redeem directly from the ETF, at net asset value (unlike shares of many closed‑end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset values), large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of an ETF are not likely to be sustained over the long-term. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that an ETF’s shares normally trade on exchanges at prices close to the ETF’s next calculated net asset value, exchange prices are not expected to correlate exactly with an ETF’s net asset value due to timing reasons as well as market supply and demand factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from net asset value. If a shareholder purchases at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the net asset value, the shareholder may sustain losses. The use of cash creations and redemptions may also cause the ETFs’ shares to trade in the market at greater bid-ask spreads or greater premiums or discounts to the ETFs’ NAV.
 
 
Short Sales Risk — Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security sold short.
 
 
Small and Mid‑Capitalization Company Risk — Companies with small or mid‑size market capitalizations will normally have more limited product lines, markets and financial resources and will be dependent upon a more
 
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limited management group than larger capitalized companies. In addition, it is more difficult to get information on smaller companies, which tend to be less well known, have shorter operating histories, do not have significant ownership by large investors and are followed by relatively few securities analysts.
 
 
Small Cap and Emerging Growth Securities Risk — Small cap or emerging growth companies may have limited product lines or markets. They may be less financially secure than larger, more established companies. They may depend on a more limited management group than larger capitalized companies.
 
 
Sovereign Debt Risk — Sovereign debt instruments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies.
 
 
Structured Notes Risk — Structured notes and other related instruments purchased by the Fund are generally privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, market or interest rate (“reference measure”). The purchase of structured notes exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the structured product. Structured notes may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured note’s value relative to the change in the reference measure. Structured notes may also be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities.
 
 
Structured Securities Risk — Because structured securities of the type in which the Fund may invest typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments, index or reference obligation and will also be subject to counterparty risk. The Fund may have the right to receive payments only from the structured security, and generally does not have direct rights against the issuer or the entity that sold the assets to be securitized. In addition to the general risks associated with debt securities discussed herein, structured securities carry additional risks, including, but not limited to: the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; and the possibility that the structured securities are subordinate to other classes. The Fund is permitted to invest in a class of structured securities that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Structured securities are based upon the movement of one or more factors, including currency exchange rates, interest rates, reference bonds and stock indices, and changes in interest rates and impact of these factors may cause significant price fluctuations. Additionally, changes in the reference instrument or security may cause the interest rate on the structured security to be reduced to zero. Certain issuers of such structured securities may be deemed to be “investment companies” as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investment in such securities may be limited by certain investment restrictions contained in the Investment Company Act.
 
 
Supranational Entities Risk — The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the World Bank. The government members, or “stockholders,” usually make initial capital contributions to the World Bank and in many cases are committed to make additional capital contributions if the World Bank is unable to repay its borrowings. There is no guarantee that one or more stockholders of the World Bank will continue to make any necessary additional capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Fund may lose money on such investments.
 
 
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk — The Fund’s participation in tender option bond transactions may reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility. Investments in tender option bond transactions expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment in a tender option bond transaction typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including the risk of loss of principal. Distributions on residual inverse floating rate interest tender option bonds (“TOB Residuals”) will bear an inverse relationship to short-term municipal security interest rates. Distributions on TOB Residuals paid to the Fund will be reduced or, in the extreme, eliminated as short-term municipal interest rates rise and will increase when short-term municipal interest rates fall. TOB Residuals generally will underperform the market for fixed rate municipal securities in a rising interest rate environment. The Fund may invest in beneficial interests in a special purpose trust formed for the purpose of holding Municipal Bonds contributed by one or more funds (a “TOB Trust”) on either a non‑recourse or recourse basis. If the Fund invests in a TOB Trust on a recourse basis, it could suffer losses in excess of the value of its TOB Residuals.
 
 
Tracking Error Risk — The Fund may be subject to tracking error, which is the divergence of an Underlying Fund’s performance from that of its underlying index. Tracking error may occur because of differences between the securities (including shares of the Underlying Funds) and other instruments held in an Underlying Fund’s portfolio and those included in its underlying index, pricing differences (including, as applicable, differences between a security’s price at the local market close and an Underlying Fund’s valuation of a security at the time of calculation
 
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of an Underlying Fund’s NAV, differences in transaction costs, an Underlying Fund’s holding of uninvested cash, differences in timing of the accrual of or the valuation of dividends or other distributions, interest, the requirements to maintain pass-through tax treatment, portfolio transactions carried out to minimize the distribution of capital gains to shareholders, changes to an underlying index and the cost to an Underlying Fund of complying with various new or existing regulatory requirements, among other reasons. These risks may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. In addition, tracking error may result because a fund incurs fees and expenses, while the Underlying Index does not.
 
 
U.S. Government Issuer Risk — Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
 
 
U.S. Government Mortgage-Related Securities Risk — 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. Mortgage-related securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”) are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by GNMA and such guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. GNMA securities also are supported by the right of GNMA to borrow funds from the U.S. Treasury to make payments under its guarantee. Mortgage-related securities issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are solely the obligations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, as the case may be, and 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 Treasury.
 
 
Variable and Floating Rate Instrument Risk — Variable and floating rate securities provide for periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the securities. These securities may be subject to greater illiquidity risk than other fixed income securities, meaning the absence of an active market for these securities could make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them at any given time.
 
 
Warrants Risk — 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 the Fund will lose any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve substantially 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.
 
 
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments Risk — When-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund may lose both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.
 
 
Zero Coupon Securities Risk — While interest payments are not made on such securities, holders of such securities are deemed to have received income (“phantom income”) annually, notwithstanding that cash may not be received currently. The effect of owning instruments that do not make current interest payments is that a fixed yield is earned not only on the original investment but also, in effect, on all discount accretion during the life of the obligations. This implicit reinvestment of earnings at a fixed rate eliminates the risk of being unable to invest distributions at a rate as high as the implicit yield on the zero coupon bond, but at the same time eliminates the holder’s ability to reinvest at higher rates in the future. For this reason, some of these securities may be subject to substantially greater price fluctuations during periods of changing market interest rates than are comparable securities that pay interest currently. Longer term zero coupon bonds are more exposed to interest rate risk than shorter term zero coupon bonds. These investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of cash.
Performance Information
 
The information shows you how LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund’s performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the returns for Class K Shares of the Fund for each of the last ten calendar years, except as described below. The average annual total returns table compares the performance of the Fund to that of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund Custom Benchmark, a customized weighted index comprised of the Bloomberg U.S. Long Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Long Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Securitized: MBS, ABS and CMBS Index, Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) Index (Series-L), FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index, MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index, Russell 1000® Index and Russell 2000® Index, which are representative of the asset classes in which the Fund invests according to their weightings as of the most recent quarter-end. The weightings of the indices in the LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund Custom Benchmark are adjusted periodically to reflect the investment adviser’s
 
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evaluation and adjustment of the Fund’s asset allocation strategy. The returns of the LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund Custom Benchmark shown in the average annual total returns table are not recalculated or restated when they are adjusted to reflect the Fund’s asset allocation strategy but rather reflect the LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund Custom Benchmark’s actual allocation over time, which may be different from the current allocation. Effective July 29, 2022, the LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund Custom Benchmark against which the Fund measures its performance will be changed to remove Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and to add Bloomberg U.S. Long Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Long Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government Bond Index and Bloomberg U.S. Securitized: MBS, ABS and CMBS Index. Fund management believes that the updated LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund Custom Benchmark is more representative of the sectors in which the Fund invests. Effective March 31, 2018, the investment adviser determined not to allocate any of the Fund’s assets to underlying funds that invest primarily in commodities. Performance for the periods shown prior to March 31, 2018 is based on the prior target asset allocation. Effective November 7, 2016, the Fund changed its investment strategy to (i) incorporate a Global Tactical Asset Allocation into its glidepath, (ii) increase the flexibility of its equity allocations and (iii) diversify its fixed-income strategies. Performance for the periods shown between December 14, 2015 and November 7, 2016 is based on the prior investment strategy. Effective December 14, 2015, the Fund changed its investment strategy to (i) incorporate a dynamic glidepath and (ii) invest directly in securities and derivatives, as well as in underlying funds. Performance for the periods shown prior to December 14, 2015 is based on the prior investment strategy. Effective November 28, 2014, the Fund changed its target asset allocation to target higher levels of equity exposure. Performance for the periods shown prior to November 28, 2014 is based on the prior target asset allocation. To the extent that dividends and distributions have been paid by the Fund, the performance information of the Fund in the chart and table assumes reinvestment of the dividends and distributions. The table includes all applicable fees. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. If BFA, BAL and their affiliates had not waived or reimbursed certain Fund expenses during these periods, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. Updated information on the Fund’s performance, including its current net asset value, can be obtained by visiting http://www.blackrock.com or can be obtained by phone at (800) 882‑0052.
Class K Shares
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund
As of 12/31
 
LOGO
During the ten-year period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 11.68% (quarter ended June 30, 2020) and the lowest return for a quarter was –10.13% (quarter ended March 31, 2020).
 
For the periods ended 12/31/23
Average Annual Total Returns
   1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  
LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund — Class K Shares
        
Return Before Taxes
     12.61      6.40      4.98
Return After Taxes on Distributions
     9.79      4.02      2.63
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
     8.35      4.19      3.07
LifePath Dynamic Retirement Fund Custom Benchmark
(Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
     11.46      5.67      4.44
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
(Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
     5.53      1.10      1.81
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
 
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Investment Adviser
 
The Fund’s investment adviser is BlackRock Fund Advisors (previously defined as “BFA”). The Fund’s sub-advisers are BlackRock International Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited. Where applicable, “BFA” refers also to the Fund’s sub-advisers.
Portfolio Managers
 
 
Portfolio Manager
   Portfolio Manager of the Fund Since    Title
Philip Green
   2016    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Chris Chung, CFA
   2020    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Michael Pensky, CFA
   2024    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
 
Class K Shares of the Fund are available only to (i) certain employee benefit plans, such as health savings accounts, and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans (not including SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and SARSEPs) (collectively, “Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans”), (ii) collective trust funds, investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles, each of which may purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to purchase such shares, (iii) “Institutional Investors,” which include, but are not limited to, endowments, foundations, family offices, banks and bank trusts, local, city, and state governmental institutions, corporations and insurance company separate accounts, each of which may purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to purchase such shares, (iv) clients of private banks that purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to sell such shares, (v) fee‑based advisory platforms of a Financial Intermediary that (a) has specifically acknowledged in a written agreement with the Fund’s distributor and/or its affiliate(s) that the Financial Intermediary shall offer such shares to fee‑based advisory clients through an omnibus account held at the Fund or (b) transacts in the Fund’s shares through another intermediary that has executed such an agreement and (vi) any other investors who met the eligibility criteria for BlackRock Shares or Class K Shares prior to August 15, 2016 and have continually held Class K Shares of the Fund in the same account since August 15, 2016.
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Purchase orders may also be placed by calling (800) 537-4942, by mail (c/o BlackRock Funds III, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15253-4429), or online at www.blackrock.com. Institutional Investors are subject to a $5 million minimum initial investment requirement. Other investors, including Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans, have no minimum initial investment requirement. There is no minimum investment amount for additional purchases.
Tax Information
 
Different income tax rules apply depending on whether you are invested through a qualified tax-exempt plan described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. If you are invested through such a plan (and Fund shares are not “debt-financed property” to the plan), then the dividends paid by the Fund and the gain realized from a redemption or exchange of Fund shares will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes until you withdraw or receive distributions from the plan. If you are not invested through such a plan, then the Fund’s dividends and gain from a redemption or exchange may be subject to U.S. federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are a tax-exempt investor.
Payments to Broker/Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
 
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary, the Fund and BlackRock Investments, LLC, the Fund’s distributor, or its affiliates may pay the Financial Intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Financial Intermediary and your individual financial professional to recommend the Fund over another investment.
Class K Shares are only available through a Financial Intermediary if the Financial Intermediary will not receive from Fund assets, or the Fund’s distributor’s or an affiliate’s resources, any commission payments, shareholder servicing fees (including sub-transfer agent and networking fees), or distribution fees (including Rule 12b-1 fees) with respect to assets invested in Class K Shares.
Ask your individual financial professional or visit your Financial Intermediary’s website for more information.
 
16

Fund Overview
 
 
 
Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2025 Fund
Investment Objective
 
The investment objective of BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2025 Fund (“LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund” or the “Fund”), a series of BlackRock Funds III (the “Trust”), is to seek to provide for retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. In pursuit of this objective, the Fund will be broadly diversified across global asset classes, with asset allocations becoming more conservative over time.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell Class K Shares of LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to your financial professional or your selected securities dealer, broker, investment adviser, service provider or industry professional (including BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) and its affiliates) (each, a “Financial Intermediary”), which are not reflected in the table and example below.
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
   Class K
Shares
Management Fee1
       0.30%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
       None
Other Expenses1,2,3,4
       0.07%
Administration Fees1
       0.04%  
Independent Expenses2,3,4
       0.03%  
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1,3
       0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses3
       0.58%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,4
       (0.24)%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,4
       0.34%
 
1 
As described in the “Management of the Funds” section of the Fund’s prospectus beginning on page 199, BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BAL”) and BFA have contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund for Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses up to a maximum amount equal to the combined Management Fee and Administration Fee of each share class of the Fund, through June 30, 2025. In addition, BFA has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by the amount of investment advisory fees the Fund pays to BFA indirectly through its investment in money market funds managed by BFA or its affiliates, through June 30, 2025. The contractual agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
 
2 
The Other Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.
 
3 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets given in the Fund’s most recent annual report, which does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, the restatement of the Other Expenses to reflect current fees.
 
4
Independent Expenses consist of the Fund’s allocable portion of the fees and expenses of the independent trustees of the Trust, counsel to such independent trustees and the independent registered public accounting firm that provides audit services to the Fund. BAL and BFA have contractually agreed to reimburse, or provide offsetting credits to, the Fund for Independent Expenses through June 30, 2034. After giving effect to such contractual arrangements, Independent Expenses will be 0.00%. Such contractual arrangements may not be terminated prior to July 1, 2034 without the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Class K Shares of the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class K Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that Class K Shares of the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
      1 Year        3 Years        5 Years        10 Years  
Class K Shares
   $ 35        $ 155        $ 286        $ 669  
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 49% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
17

Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
 
LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund allocates and reallocates its assets among a combination of equity, bond and money market funds (the “Underlying Funds”) and derivatives in proportions based on its own comprehensive investment strategy. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest primarily in affiliated open-end funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), some of which may be index funds.
The Fund may, when consistent with its investment goal, buy or sell options or futures, or enter into total return swaps and foreign currency transactions (collectively, commonly known as derivatives). The Fund may seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls). The Fund may use derivatives as a substitute for taking a position in an Underlying Fund and/or as part of a strategy to reduce exposure to certain risks. The Fund may also use derivatives to enhance return, in which case their use may involve leveraging risk. Derivatives that are used as a substitute for taking a position in an Underlying Fund, to reduce exposure to risks (other than duration or currency risk) or to enhance return will increase or decrease the Fund’s equity or fixed income allocations for purposes of the glide path by the notional amount of such derivatives. Derivatives that are used to manage duration or hedge currency risk will not be allocated to the Fund’s equity or fixed income allocations for purposes of the glide path.
The Fund is designed for investors expecting to retire or to begin withdrawing assets around the year 2025. The Fund seeks to provide for retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. BFA employs a multi-dimensional approach to assess risk for the Fund and to determine the Fund’s allocation across asset classes. As part of this multi-dimensional approach, BFA aims to quantify risk using proprietary risk measurement tools that, among other things, analyze historical and forward-looking securities market data, including risk, asset class correlations, and expected returns. As of March 31, 2024, the Fund held approximately 48% of its assets (including notional exposure through derivatives) in equity Underlying Funds and equity related derivatives, approximately 55% of its assets (including notional exposure through derivatives) in fixed income Underlying Funds and fixed income related derivatives and approximately -3% of its assets in cash (including cash offsets from derivatives) and Underlying Funds that invest primarily in money market instruments. Certain Underlying Funds may invest in equity securities of issuers that are primarily engaged in or related to the real estate industry, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), foreign securities, emerging market securities, below investment-grade bonds, commodity-related instruments and derivative securities or instruments, such as options and futures, the value of which is derived from another security, a commodity, a currency or an index.
Under normal circumstances, the asset allocation will change over time according to a “glide path” as the Fund approaches its target date. The glide path below represents the shifting of asset classes over time. As the glide path shows, the Fund’s asset mix becomes more conservative — prior to retirement — as time elapses. This reflects the need for reduced investment risks as retirement approaches and the need for lower volatility of the Fund, which may be a primary source of income after retirement.
The following chart illustrates the glide path — the target allocation among asset classes as the Fund approaches its target date.
 
 
LOGO
 
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The following table lists the target allocation by years until retirement:
 
Years Until Retirement    Equity Funds
(includes REITs)1
  Fixed‑Income
Funds1
     45
       99 %       1 %
     40
       99 %       1 %
     35
       99 %       1 %
     30
       96 %       4 %
     25
       89 %       11 %
     20
       79 %       21 %
     15
       68 %       32 %
     10
       56 %       44 %
     5
       43 %       57 %
     0
       40 %       60 %
1  BFA may adjust the allocation to equity and fixed-income in the Fund, based on an assessment of the current market conditions and the potential contribution of each asset class to the expected risk and return characteristics of the Fund. In general, the adjustments will be limited to +/- 10% relative to the target allocations.
   
The asset allocation targets are established by the portfolio managers. The investment team, including the portfolio managers, meets regularly to assess market conditions, review the asset allocation targets of the Fund, and determine whether any changes are required to enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
Although the asset allocation targets listed for the glide path are general, long-term targets, BFA may adjust the allocation to equity and fixed-income in the Fund, based on an assessment of the current market conditions and the potential contribution of each asset class to the expected risk and return characteristics of the Fund. In general, the adjustments will be limited to +/- 10% relative to the target allocations. BFA may determine, in light of market conditions or other factors, that a greater variation is warranted to protect the Fund or achieve its investment objective. Investments in Underlying Funds will be allocated towards the equity and fixed income percentages based on their classification. The Fund may also seek asset allocation to equity and fixed income by investing in funds that invest in a mix of equity and fixed income instruments (“multi-asset funds”). Investments in multi-asset funds will be allocated towards the equity and fixed income percentages listed for the glide path based on the multi-asset fund’s underlying investments in equity and fixed income instruments.
BFA’s second step in the structuring of the Fund is the selection of the Underlying Funds, equity securities and derivatives. Factors such as fund classifications, historical risk and performance, and the relationship to other Underlying Funds in the Fund are considered when selecting Underlying Funds. The specific Underlying Funds selected for the Fund are determined at BFA’s discretion and may change as deemed appropriate to allow the Fund to meet its investment objective. See the “Details About the Funds — Information About the Underlying Funds” section of the prospectus for a list of the Underlying Funds, their classification into equity, fixed income, multi-asset or money market funds and a brief description of their investment objectives and primary investment strategies. The specific securities or derivatives selected for the Fund are determined at BFA’s discretion and may change as deemed appropriate to allow the Fund to meet its investment objective.
Within the prescribed percentage allocations to equity and fixed-income, BFA seeks to diversify the Fund. The equity allocation may be further diversified by style (including both value and growth funds and issuers), market capitalization (including large cap, mid cap, small cap and emerging growth funds and issuers), region (including domestic and international (including emerging market) funds and issuers) or other factors. The fixed-income allocation may be further diversified by sector (including government, corporate, agency, and other sectors), duration (a calculation of the average life of a bond which measures its price risk), credit quality (including non-investment grade debt or junk bonds), geographic location (including U.S. and foreign-issued securities), or other factors. Though BFA seeks to diversify the Fund, certain Underlying Funds may concentrate their investments in specific sectors or geographic regions or countries. The percentage allocation to the various styles of equity and fixed-income are determined at the discretion of the investment team and can be changed to reflect the current market environment.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
 
Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund and/or the Underlying Funds. The Fund allocates and reallocates its assets among a combination of Underlying Funds and derivatives. Therefore, references to the Fund in the description of risks below may include the
 
19

Underlying Funds in which the Fund invests, as applicable. The relative significance of each risk factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.
Principal Risks of the Fund’s Investment Strategies
 
 
Equity Securities Risk — Stock markets are volatile. The price of equity securities fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.
 
 
Debt Securities Risk — Debt securities, such as bonds, involve risks, such as credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, and prepayment risk, each of which are described in further detail below:
Credit Risk — Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a debt security (i.e., the borrower) will not be able to make payments of interest and principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation.
Interest Rate Risk — The market value of bonds and other fixed-income securities changes in response to interest rate changes and other factors. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.
The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the recent period of historically low interest rates. For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, assuming a current portfolio duration of ten years, and all other factors being equal, the value of the Fund’s investments would be expected to decrease by 10%. (Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio of debt securities to relative changes in interest rates.) The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of bonds and other fixed-income securities is generally greater for those securities with longer maturities. Fluctuations in the market price of the Fund’s investments will not affect interest income derived from instruments already owned by the Fund, but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by Fund management.
To the extent the Fund invests in debt securities that may be prepaid at the option of the obligor (such as mortgage-backed securities), the sensitivity of such securities to changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Fund) when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating rate debt securities typically reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund to the extent that it invests in floating rate debt securities.
These basic principles of bond prices also apply to U.S. Government securities. A security backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government is guaranteed only as to its stated interest rate and face value at maturity, not its current market price. Just like other fixed-income securities, government-guaranteed securities will fluctuate in value when interest rates change.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed-income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from funds that hold large amounts of fixed-income securities. Heavy redemptions could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value and could hurt the Fund’s performance.
Extension Risk — When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of these obligations to fall.
Prepayment Risk — When interest rates fall, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields.
 
 
Allocation Risk — The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends upon BFA’S skill in determining the Fund’s strategic asset class allocation and in selecting the best mix of Underlying Funds and direct investments. There is a risk that BFA’s evaluations and assumptions regarding asset classes or Underlying Funds may be incorrect in view of actual market conditions. In addition, the asset allocation or the combination of Underlying Funds determined by BFA could result in underperformance as compared to funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.
 
 
Market Risk and Selection Risk — Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, exchange, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues like pandemics or epidemics, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. Selection risk is the risk that the securities selected by Fund management will underperform the markets, the relevant indices or the securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies. This means you may lose money.
 
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An outbreak of an infectious coronavirus (COVID‑19) that was first detected in December 2019 developed into a global pandemic that has resulted in numerous disruptions in the market and has had significant economic impact leaving general concern and uncertainty. Although vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the duration of the pandemic and its effects cannot be predicted with certainty. The impact of this coronavirus, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.
 
 
Investments in Underlying Funds Risk — The Fund’s investments are concentrated in Underlying Funds, so the Fund’s investment performance is directly related to the performance of the Underlying Funds. The Fund’s net asset value will change with changes in the equity and bond markets and the value of the Underlying Funds and other securities in which it invests. An investment in the Fund will entail more direct and indirect costs and expenses than a direct investment in the Underlying Funds. For example, the Fund indirectly pays a portion of the expenses (including operating expenses and management fees) incurred by the Underlying Funds.
 
 
Affiliated Fund Risk — In managing the Fund, BFA will have authority to select and substitute underlying funds and ETFs. BFA may be subject to potential conflicts of interest in selecting underlying funds and ETFs because the fees paid to BFA by some underlying funds and ETFs are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds and ETFs. However, BFA is a fiduciary to the Fund and is legally obligated to act in the Fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds and ETFs. If an underlying fund or ETF holds interests in an affiliated fund, the Fund may be prohibited from purchasing shares of that underlying fund or ETF.
 
 
Retirement Income Risk — The Fund does not provide a guarantee that sufficient capital appreciation will be achieved to provide adequate income at and through retirement. The Fund also does not ensure that you will have assets in your account sufficient to cover your retirement expenses or that you will have enough saved to be able to retire in the target year identified in the Fund’s name; this will depend on the amount of money you have invested in the Fund, the length of time you have held your investment, the returns of the markets over time, the amount you spend in retirement, and your other assets and income sources.
 
 
Derivatives Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives may increase its costs, reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility. Derivatives involve significant risks, including:
Leverage Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives can magnify the Fund’s gains and losses. Relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of a derivatives position and can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.
Market Risk — Some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than other securities. The Fund could also suffer losses related to its derivatives positions as a result of unanticipated market movements, which losses are potentially unlimited. Finally, BFA may not be able to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors, which could cause the Fund’s derivatives positions to lose value.
Counterparty Risk — Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will be unable or unwilling to fulfill its contractual obligation, and the related risks of having concentrated exposure to such a counterparty.
Illiquidity Risk — The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for derivatives and the resulting inability of the Fund to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position could expose the Fund to losses and could make derivatives more difficult for the Fund to value accurately.
Operational Risk — The use of derivatives includes the risk of potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate controls and human error.
Legal Risk — The risk of insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of counterparty, or legality or enforceability of a contract.
Volatility and Correlation Risk — Volatility is defined as the characteristic of a security, an index or a market to fluctuate significantly in price within a short time period. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate with the overall securities markets.
Valuation Risk — Valuation for derivatives may not be readily available in the market. Valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil since many investors and market makers may be reluctant to purchase complex instruments or quote prices for them.
Hedging Risk — Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging transactions will be effective. The use of hedging may result in certain adverse tax consequences.
Tax Risk — Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation,
 
21

regulations or other legally binding authority. Such treatment may be less favorable than that given to a direct investment in an underlying asset and may adversely affect the timing, character and amount of income the Fund realizes from its investments.
 
 
Leverage Risk — Some transactions may give rise to a form of economic leverage. These transactions may include, among others, derivatives, and may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet the applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules thereunder. Increases and decreases in the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be magnified when the Fund uses leverage.
Principal Risks of the Underlying Funds
 
 
Asset Class Risk — Securities and other assets or financial instruments in the Underlying Index of an Underlying Fund or in an Underlying Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to the general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes.
 
 
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk — Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with an ETF, and none of those authorized participants is obligated to engage in creation and/ or redemption transactions. The Underlying Funds that are ETFs have a limited number of institutions that may act as authorized participants on an agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants). To the extent that authorized participants exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation or redemption orders with respect to an ETF and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, the ETF shares may be more likely to trade at a premium or discount to net asset value and possibly face trading halts or delisting. Authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened for ETFs that invest in securities issued by non‑U.S. issuers or other securities or instruments that have lower trading volumes.
 
 
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk — In addition to the typical risks associated with fixed-income securities and asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), including collateralized loan obligations, carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the risk that the collateral may default or decline in value or be downgraded, if rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization; (iii) the Fund may invest in tranches of CDOs that are subordinate to other tranches; (iv) the structure and complexity of the transaction and the legal documents could lead to disputes among investors regarding the characterization of proceeds; (v) the investment return achieved by the Fund could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models; (vi) the lack of a readily available secondary market for CDOs; (vii) the risk of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures; and (viii) the CDO’s manager may perform poorly.
 
 
Commodities Related Investments Risk — Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in inflation, interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.
 
 
Concentration Risk — To the extent that the Fund or an Underlying Fund is concentrated in the securities of companies, a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, country, region or group of countries, the Fund or that Underlying Fund may be adversely affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting that market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, country, region or group of countries.
 
 
Convertible Securities Risk — The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest, principal or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock, including the potential for increased volatility in the price of the convertible security.
 
 
Corporate Loans Risk — Commercial banks and other financial institutions or institutional investors make corporate loans to companies that need capital to grow or restructure. Borrowers generally pay interest on corporate loans at rates that change in response to changes in market interest rates such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the prime rates of U.S. banks. As a result, the value of corporate loan investments is generally less exposed to the adverse effects of shifts in market interest rates than investments that pay a fixed rate of interest. The market for corporate loans may be subject to irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads. In addition, transactions in corporate loans may settle on a delayed basis. As a result, the proceeds from the sale of corporate loans may not be readily available to make additional investments or to meet the Fund’s redemption obligations. To the extent the extended settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, the Fund may hold additional cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks and other lenders.
 
22

 
Counterparty Risk — The counterparty to an over‑the‑counter derivatives contract or a borrower of the Fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations. Any such failure to honor its obligations may cause significant losses to the Fund.
 
 
Depositary Receipts Risk — Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. In addition to investment risks associated with the underlying issuer, depositary receipts expose the Fund to additional risks associated with the non‑uniform terms that apply to depositary receipt programs, credit exposure to the depository bank and to the sponsors and other parties with whom the depository bank establishes the programs, currency risk and the risk of an illiquid market for depositary receipts. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is, in the United States, considered material. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding these issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. While depositary receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing underlying foreign securities in their respective markets and currencies, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, including political, economic, and currency risk.
 
 
Distressed Securities Risk — Distressed securities are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in junk bonds. The Fund will generally not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. In addition, distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.
 
 
Dollar Rolls Risk — Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Fund is committed to buy may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold. These transactions may involve leverage.
 
 
Emerging Markets Risk — Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.
 
 
Foreign Securities Risk — Foreign investments often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. These risks include:
 
   
The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
 
   
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio.
 
   
The economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.
 
   
The governments of certain countries, or the U.S. Government with respect to certain countries, may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions through capital controls and/or sanctions on foreign investments in the capital markets or certain industries in those countries, which may prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer currency, securities, derivatives or other assets.
 
   
Many foreign governments do not supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to the same extent as does the United States and may not have laws to protect investors that are comparable to U.S. securities laws.
 
   
Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets may result in delays in payment for or delivery of securities not typically associated with settlement and clearance of U.S. investments.
 
   
The Fund’s claims to recover foreign withholding taxes may not be successful, and if the likelihood of recovery of foreign withholding taxes materially decreases, due to, for example, a change in tax regulation or approach in the foreign country, accruals in the Fund’s net asset value for such refunds may be written down partially or in full, which will adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value.
 
   
The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries as well as acts of war in the region. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Fund’s investments.
 
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Geographic Risk — A natural disaster could occur in a geographic region in which the Fund invests, which could adversely affect the economy or the business operations of companies in the specific geographic region, causing an adverse impact on the Fund’s investments in, or which are exposed to, the affected region.
 
 
High Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities. High portfolio turnover (more than 100%) may result in increased transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commissions, dealer mark‑ups and other transaction costs on the sale of the securities and on reinvestment in other securities. The sale of Fund portfolio securities may result in the realization and/or distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains or losses as compared to a fund with less active trading policies. These effects of higher than normal portfolio turnover may adversely affect Fund performance.
 
 
High Yield Bonds Risk — Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than investment grade bonds, junk bonds are high risk investments that are considered speculative and may cause income and principal losses for the Fund.
 
 
Income Risk — Income risk is the risk that the Fund’s yield will vary as short-term securities in its portfolio mature and the proceeds are reinvested in securities with different interest rates.
 
 
Indexed and Inverse Securities Risk — Indexed and inverse securities provide a potential return based on a particular index of value or interest rates. The Fund’s return on these securities will be subject to risk with respect to the value of the particular index. These securities are subject to leverage risk and correlation risk. Certain indexed and inverse securities have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates or index levels than other securities, and the Fund’s investment in such instruments may decline significantly in value if interest rates or index levels move in a way Fund management does not anticipate.
 
 
Index-Related Risk — There is no guarantee that an Underlying Fund’s investment results will have a high degree of correlation to those of its underlying index or that the Underlying Fund will achieve its investment objective. Market disruptions or high volatility, other unusual market circumstances and regulatory restrictions could have an adverse effect on an Underlying Fund’s ability to adjust its exposure to the required levels in order to track its underlying index. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of an underlying index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the index provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on an Underlying Fund and its shareholders. Unusual market conditions or other unforeseen circumstances (such as natural disasters, political unrest or war) may impact the index provider or a third-party data provider and could cause the index provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance. This could cause an underlying index to vary from its normal or expected composition.
An index fund has operating and other expenses while an index does not. As a result, while an Underlying Fund that is an index fund will attempt to track its underlying index as closely as possible, it will tend to underperform the underlying index to some degree over time. If an index fund is properly correlated to its stated index, the fund will perform poorly when the index performs poorly.
 
 
Inflation-Indexed Bonds Risk — The principal value of an investment is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-indexed bonds.
Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.
Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal value.
The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates may rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation‑indexed bonds. Short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.
Periodic adjustments for inflation to the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond may give rise to original issue discount, which will be includable in the Fund’s gross income. Due to original issue discount, the Fund may be required to make annual distributions to shareholders that exceed the cash received, which may cause the Fund to liquidate certain investments when it is not advantageous to do so. Also, if the principal value of an inflation-indexed bond is adjusted downward due to deflation, amounts previously distributed in the taxable year may be characterized in some circumstances as a return of capital.
 
 
Investment Style Risk — Under certain market conditions, growth investments have performed better during the later stages of economic expansion and value investments have performed better during periods of economic
 
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recovery. Therefore, these investment styles may over time go in and out of favor. At times when an investment style used by the Fund or an Underlying Fund is out of favor, the Fund may underperform other funds that use different investment styles.
 
 
Issuer Risk — Fund performance depends on the performance of individual securities to which the Fund has exposure. Changes in the financial condition or credit rating of an issuer of those securities may cause the value of the securities to decline.
 
 
Management Risk — If a passively managed ETF does not fully replicate the underlying index, it is subject to the risk that the manager’s investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.
 
 
Mezzanine Securities Risk — Mezzanine securities carry the risk that the issuer will not be able to meet its obligations and that the equity securities purchased with the mezzanine investments may lose value.
 
 
Model Risk — The Fund seeks to pursue its investment objective by using proprietary models that incorporate quantitative analysis. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than as forecasted due to the factors incorporated into the models and the weighting of each factor, changes from historical trends, and issues in the construction and implementation of the models (including, but not limited to, software issues and other technological issues). There is no guarantee that BlackRock’s use of these models will result in effective investment decisions for the Fund.
The information and data used in the models may be supplied by third parties. Inaccurate or incomplete data may limit the effectiveness of the models. In addition, some of the data that BlackRock uses may be historical data, which may not accurately predict future market movement. There is a risk that the models will not be successful in selecting investments or in determining the weighting of investment positions that will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
 
 
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risks — Mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages or other assets, including consumer loans or receivables held in trust. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are subject to credit, interest rate, prepayment and extension risks. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage or asset, particularly during periods of economic downturn. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.
 
 
Municipal Securities Risks — Municipal securities risks include the ability of the issuer to repay the obligation, the relative lack of information about certain issuers of municipal securities, and the possibility of future legislative changes which could affect the market for and value of municipal securities. Budgetary constraints of local, state, and federal governments upon which the issuers may be relying for funding may also impact municipal securities. These risks include:
General Obligation Bonds Risks — Timely payments depend on the issuer’s credit quality, ability to raise tax revenues and ability to maintain an adequate tax base.
Revenue Bonds Risks — These payments depend on the money earned by the particular facility or class of facilities, or the amount of revenues derived from another source.
Private Activity Bonds Risks — Municipalities and other public authorities issue private activity bonds to finance development of industrial facilities for use by a private enterprise. The private enterprise pays the principal and interest on the bond, and the issuer does not pledge its full faith, credit and taxing power for repayment.
Moral Obligation Bonds Risks — Moral obligation bonds are generally issued by special purpose public authorities of a state or municipality. If the issuer is unable to meet its obligations, repayment of these bonds becomes a moral commitment, but not a legal obligation, of the state or municipality.
Municipal Notes Risks — Municipal notes are shorter term municipal debt obligations. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, the notes may not be fully repaid and the Fund may lose money.
Municipal Lease Obligations Risks — In a municipal lease obligation, the issuer agrees to make payments when due on the lease obligation. Although the issuer does not pledge its unlimited taxing power for payment of the lease obligation, the lease obligation is secured by the leased property.
Tax‑Exempt Status Risk — The Fund and its investment manager will rely on the opinion of issuers’ bond counsel and, in the case of derivative securities, sponsors’ counsel, on the tax‑exempt status of interest on municipal bonds and payments under derivative securities. Neither the Fund nor its investment manager will independently review the bases for those tax opinions, which may ultimately be determined to be incorrect and subject the Fund and its shareholders to substantial tax liabilities.
 
 
National Closed Market Trading Risk — To the extent that the underlying securities and/or other assets held by an Underlying Fund that is an ETF trade on foreign exchanges or in foreign markets that may be closed when the securities exchange on which the Underlying Fund’s shares trade is open, there are likely to be deviations between
 
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the current price of such an underlying security and the last quoted price for the underlying security (i.e., an Underlying Fund’s quote from the closed foreign market). The impact of a closed foreign market on an Underlying Fund is likely to be greater where a large portion of the Underlying Fund’s underlying securities and/or other assets trade on that closed foreign market or when the foreign market is closed for unscheduled reasons. These deviations could result in premiums or discounts to one or more of the Underlying Funds’ net asset values that may be greater than those experienced by other ETFs.
 
 
“New Issues” Risk — “New issues” are initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of equity securities. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile or may decline shortly after the IPO.
 
 
Passive Investment Risk — Because BFA does not select individual companies in the underlying indexes for certain Underlying Funds, those Underlying Funds may hold securities of companies that present risks that an investment adviser researching individual securities might seek to avoid.
 
 
Pay-in-kind Bonds Risk — Similar to zero coupon obligations, pay-in-kind bonds also carry additional risk as holders of these types of securities realize no cash until the cash payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. The market price of pay-in-kind bonds is affected by interest rate changes to a greater extent, and therefore tends to be more volatile, than that of securities which pay interest in cash.
 
 
Preferred Securities Risk — Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies.
 
 
Real Estate-Related Securities Risk — The main risk of real estate-related securities is that the value of the underlying real estate may go down. Many factors may affect real estate values. These factors include both the general and local economies, vacancy rates, changes in rent schedules, tenant bankruptcies, the ability to re‑lease space under expiring leases on attractive terms, the amount of new construction in a particular area, the laws and regulations (including zoning, environmental and tax laws) affecting real estate and the costs of owning, maintaining and improving real estate. The availability of mortgage financing and changes in interest rates may also affect real estate values. If the Fund’s real estate-related investments are concentrated in one geographic area or in one property type, the Fund will be particularly subject to the risks associated with that area or property type. Many issuers of real estate-related securities are highly leveraged, which increases the risk to holders of such securities. The value of the securities the Fund buys will not necessarily track the value of the underlying investments of the issuers of such securities.
 
 
REIT Investment Risk — Investments in REITs involve unique risks. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume, may engage in dilutive offerings of securities and may be more volatile than other securities. REIT issuers may also fail to maintain their exemptions from investment company registration or fail to qualify for the “dividends paid deduction” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), which allows REITs to reduce their corporate taxable income for dividends paid to their shareholders. In addition, certain issuers of real estate-related securities may have developed or commenced development on properties and may develop additional properties in the future. Real estate development involves significant risks in addition to those involved in the ownership and operation of established properties. Real estate securities may have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. Real estate securities are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and defaults by borrowers or tenants.
 
 
Representative Sampling Risk — Representative sampling is a method of indexing that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively have a similar investment profile to the index and resemble the index in terms of risk factors and other key characteristics. An ETF may or may not hold every security in the index. When an ETF deviates from a full replication indexing strategy to utilize a representative sampling strategy, the ETF is subject to an increased risk of tracking error, in that the securities selected in the aggregate for the ETF may not have an investment profile similar to those of its index.
 
 
Repurchase Agreements and Purchase and Sale Contracts Risk — If the other party to a repurchase agreement or purchase and sale contract defaults on its obligation under the agreement, the Fund may suffer delays and incur costs or lose money in exercising its rights under the agreement. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either situation and the market value of the security declines, the Fund may lose money.
 
 
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk — Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. Reverse
 
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repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Fund, including the value of the investments made with cash collateral, is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Fund. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the interest income earned in the investment of the proceeds will be less than the interest expense.
 
 
Risks of Loan Assignments and Participations — As the purchaser of an assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a lender under the credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation; however, the Fund may not be able unilaterally to enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any associated collateral. Because assignments may be arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, the rights and obligations acquired by the Fund as the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning lender. In addition, if the loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become part owner of any collateral and could bear the costs and liabilities of owning and disposing of the collateral. The Fund may be required to pass along to a purchaser that buys a loan from the Fund by way of assignment a portion of any fees to which the Fund is entitled under the loan. In connection with purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set‑off against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling a participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set‑off between the lender and the borrower.
 
 
Second Lien Loans Risk — Second lien loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower.
 
 
Senior Loans Risk — There is less readily available, reliable information about most senior loans than is the case for many other types of securities. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non‑payment rate, and a senior loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a senior loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the senior loan’s value. No active trading market may exist for certain senior loans, which may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a senior loan and which may make it difficult to value senior loans. Although senior loans in which the Fund will invest generally will be secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower’s obligation in the event of non‑payment of scheduled interest or principal or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. To the extent that a senior loan is collateralized by stock in the borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its value in the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower. Uncollateralized senior loans involve a greater risk of loss.
 
 
Shares of an ETF May Trade at Prices Other Than Net Asset Value — Shares of an ETF trade on exchanges at prices at, above or below their most recent net asset value (“NAV”). The per share net asset value of an ETF is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of the ETF’s holdings since the most recent calculation. The trading prices of an ETF’s shares fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand rather than net asset value. The trading prices of an ETF’s shares may deviate significantly from net asset value during periods of market volatility. Any of these factors may lead to an ETF’s shares trading at a premium or discount to net asset value. However, because shares can be created and redeemed in creation units, which are aggregated blocks of shares that authorized participants who have entered into agreements with the ETF’s distributor can purchase or redeem directly from the ETF, at net asset value (unlike shares of many closed‑end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset values), large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of an ETF are not likely to be sustained over the long-term. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that an ETF’s shares normally trade on exchanges at prices close to the ETF’s next calculated net asset value, exchange prices are not expected to correlate exactly with an ETF’s net asset value due to timing reasons as well as market supply and demand factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from net asset value. If a shareholder purchases at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the net asset value, the shareholder may sustain losses. The use of cash creations and redemptions may also cause the ETFs’ shares to trade in the market at greater bid-ask spreads or greater premiums or discounts to the ETFs’ NAV.
 
 
Short Sales Risk — Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security sold short.
 
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Small and Mid‑Capitalization Company Risk — Companies with small or mid‑size market capitalizations will normally have more limited product lines, markets and financial resources and will be dependent upon a more limited management group than larger capitalized companies. In addition, it is more difficult to get information on smaller companies, which tend to be less well known, have shorter operating histories, do not have significant ownership by large investors and are followed by relatively few securities analysts.
 
 
Small Cap and Emerging Growth Securities Risk — Small cap or emerging growth companies may have limited product lines or markets. They may be less financially secure than larger, more established companies. They may depend on a more limited management group than larger capitalized companies.
 
 
Sovereign Debt Risk — Sovereign debt instruments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies.
 
 
Structured Notes Risk — Structured notes and other related instruments purchased by the Fund are generally privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, market or interest rate (“reference measure”). The purchase of structured notes exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the structured product. Structured notes may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured note’s value relative to the change in the reference measure. Structured notes may also be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities.
 
 
Structured Securities Risk — Because structured securities of the type in which the Fund may invest typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments, index or reference obligation and will also be subject to counterparty risk. The Fund may have the right to receive payments only from the structured security, and generally does not have direct rights against the issuer or the entity that sold the assets to be securitized. In addition to the general risks associated with debt securities discussed herein, structured securities carry additional risks, including, but not limited to: the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; and the possibility that the structured securities are subordinate to other classes. The Fund is permitted to invest in a class of structured securities that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Structured securities are based upon the movement of one or more factors, including currency exchange rates, interest rates, reference bonds and stock indices, and changes in interest rates and impact of these factors may cause significant price fluctuations. Additionally, changes in the reference instrument or security may cause the interest rate on the structured security to be reduced to zero. Certain issuers of such structured securities may be deemed to be “investment companies” as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investment in such securities may be limited by certain investment restrictions contained in the Investment Company Act.
 
 
Supranational Entities Risk — The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the World Bank. The government members, or “stockholders,” usually make initial capital contributions to the World Bank and in many cases are committed to make additional capital contributions if the World Bank is unable to repay its borrowings. There is no guarantee that one or more stockholders of the World Bank will continue to make any necessary additional capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Fund may lose money on such investments.
 
 
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk — The Fund’s participation in tender option bond transactions may reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility. Investments in tender option bond transactions expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment in a tender option bond transaction typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including the risk of loss of principal. Distributions on residual inverse floating rate interest tender option bonds (“TOB Residuals”) will bear an inverse relationship to short-term municipal security interest rates. Distributions on TOB Residuals paid to the Fund will be reduced or, in the extreme, eliminated as short-term municipal interest rates rise and will increase when short-term municipal interest rates fall. TOB Residuals generally will underperform the market for fixed rate municipal securities in a rising interest rate environment. The Fund may invest in beneficial interests in a special purpose trust formed for the purpose of holding Municipal Bonds contributed by one or more funds (a “TOB Trust”) on either a non‑recourse or recourse basis. If the Fund invests in a TOB Trust on a recourse basis, it could suffer losses in excess of the value of its TOB Residuals.
 
 
Tracking Error Risk — The Fund may be subject to tracking error, which is the divergence of an Underlying Fund’s performance from that of its underlying index. Tracking error may occur because of differences between the securities (including shares of the Underlying Funds) and other instruments held in an Underlying Fund’s portfolio and those included in its underlying index, pricing differences (including, as applicable, differences between a security’s price at the local market close and an Underlying Fund’s valuation of a security at the time of calculation
 
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of an Underlying Fund’s NAV, differences in transaction costs, an Underlying Fund’s holding of uninvested cash, differences in timing of the accrual of or the valuation of dividends or other distributions, interest, the requirements to maintain pass-through tax treatment, portfolio transactions carried out to minimize the distribution of capital gains to shareholders, changes to an underlying index and the cost to an Underlying Fund of complying with various new or existing regulatory requirements, among other reasons. These risks may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. In addition, tracking error may result because a fund incurs fees and expenses, while the Underlying Index does not.
 
 
U.S. Government Issuer Risk — Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
 
 
U.S. Government Mortgage-Related Securities Risk — 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. Mortgage-related securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”) are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by GNMA and such guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. GNMA securities also are supported by the right of GNMA to borrow funds from the U.S. Treasury to make payments under its guarantee. Mortgage-related securities issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are solely the obligations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, as the case may be, and 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 Treasury.
 
 
Variable and Floating Rate Instrument Risk — Variable and floating rate securities provide for periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the securities. These securities may be subject to greater illiquidity risk than other fixed income securities, meaning the absence of an active market for these securities could make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them at any given time.
 
 
Warrants Risk — 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 the Fund will lose any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve substantially 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.
 
 
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments Risk — When-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund may lose both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.
 
 
Zero Coupon Securities Risk — While interest payments are not made on such securities, holders of such securities are deemed to have received income (“phantom income”) annually, notwithstanding that cash may not be received currently. The effect of owning instruments that do not make current interest payments is that a fixed yield is earned not only on the original investment but also, in effect, on all discount accretion during the life of the obligations. This implicit reinvestment of earnings at a fixed rate eliminates the risk of being unable to invest distributions at a rate as high as the implicit yield on the zero coupon bond, but at the same time eliminates the holder’s ability to reinvest at higher rates in the future. For this reason, some of these securities may be subject to substantially greater price fluctuations during periods of changing market interest rates than are comparable securities that pay interest currently. Longer term zero coupon bonds are more exposed to interest rate risk than shorter term zero coupon bonds. These investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of cash.
Performance Information
 
The information shows you how LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund’s performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the returns for Class K Shares of the Fund for each of the last ten calendar years. The average annual total returns table compares the performance of the Fund to that of the Russell 1000® Index and the LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund Custom Benchmark, a customized weighted index comprised of the Bloomberg U.S. Long Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Long Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Securitized: MBS, ABS and CMBS Index, Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) Index (Series-L), FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index, MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index, Russell 1000® Index and Russell 2000® Index, which are representative of the asset classes in which the Fund invests according to their weightings as of the most recent quarter-end. The weightings of the indices in the LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund Custom Benchmark are adjusted periodically to reflect the investment adviser’s evaluation and adjustment of the Fund’s asset allocation strategy. The returns of the LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund Custom Benchmark shown in the average annual total returns table are not recalculated or restated when they are adjusted to reflect the Fund’s asset allocation strategy but rather reflect the LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund Custom Benchmark’s actual
 
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allocation over time, which may be different from the current allocation. Effective July 29, 2022, the LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund Custom Benchmark against which the Fund measures its performance will be changed to remove Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and to add Bloomberg U.S. Long Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Long Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government Bond Index and Bloomberg U.S. Securitized: MBS, ABS and CMBS Index. Fund management believes that the updated LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund Custom Benchmark is more representative of the sectors in which the Fund invests. Effective March 31, 2018, the investment adviser determined not to allocate any of the Fund’s assets to underlying funds that invest primarily in commodities. Performance for the periods shown prior to March 31, 2018 is based on the prior target asset allocation. Effective November 7, 2016, the Fund changed its investment strategy to (i) incorporate a Global Tactical Asset Allocation into its glidepath, (ii) increase the flexibility of its equity allocations and (iii) diversify its fixed-income strategies. Performance for the periods shown between December 14, 2015 and November 7, 2016 is based on the prior investment strategy. Effective December 14, 2015, the Fund changed its investment strategy to (i) incorporate a dynamic glidepath and (ii) invest directly in securities and derivatives, as well as in underlying funds. Performance for the periods shown prior to December 14, 2015 is based on the prior investment strategy. Effective November 28, 2014, the Fund changed its glide path and target asset allocation to target higher levels of equity exposure for the Fund throughout the glide path. Performance for the periods shown prior to November 28, 2014 is based on the prior glide path and target asset allocation. To the extent that dividends and distributions have been paid by the Fund, the performance information of the Fund in the chart and table assumes reinvestment of the dividends and distributions. The table includes all applicable fees. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. If BFA, BAL and their affiliates had not waived or reimbursed certain Fund expenses during these periods, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. Updated information on the Fund’s performance, including its current net asset value, can be obtained by visiting http://www.blackrock.com or can be obtained by phone at (800) 882-0052.
Class K Shares
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund
As of 12/31
 
LOGO
During the ten-year period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 13.49% (quarter ended June 30, 2020) and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.44% (quarter ended March 31, 2020).
 
For the periods ended 12/31/23
Average Annual Total Returns
   1 Year        5 Years      10 Years  
LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund — Class K Shares
          
Return Before Taxes
     13.33%          7.30      5.74
Return After Taxes on Distributions
     11.59%          5.51      3.83
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
     7.97%          5.08      3.84
LifePath Dynamic 2025 Fund Custom Benchmark
(Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
     12.32%          6.68      5.26
Russell 1000® Index
(Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
     26.53%          15.52      11.80
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
 
30

Investment Adviser
 
The Fund’s investment adviser is BlackRock Fund Advisors (previously defined as “BFA”). The Fund’s sub-advisers are BlackRock International Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited. Where applicable, “BFA” refers also to the Fund’s sub-advisers.
Portfolio Managers
 
 
Portfolio Manager
   Portfolio Manager of the Fund Since    Title
Philip Green
   2016    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Chris Chung, CFA
   2020    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Michael Pensky, CFA
   2024    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
 
Class K Shares of the Fund are available only to (i) certain employee benefit plans, such as health savings accounts, and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans (not including SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and SARSEPs) (collectively, “Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans”), (ii) collective trust funds, investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles, each of which may purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to purchase such shares, (iii) “Institutional Investors,” which include, but are not limited to, endowments, foundations, family offices, banks and bank trusts, local, city, and state governmental institutions, corporations and insurance company separate accounts, each of which may purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to purchase such shares, (iv) clients of private banks that purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to sell such shares; (v) fee‑based advisory platforms of a Financial Intermediary that (a) has specifically acknowledged in a written agreement with the Fund’s distributor and/or its affiliate(s) that the Financial Intermediary shall offer such shares to fee‑based advisory clients through an omnibus account held at the Fund or (b) transacts in the Fund’s shares through another intermediary that has executed such an agreement and (vi) any other investors who met the eligibility criteria for BlackRock Shares or Class K Shares prior to August 15, 2016 and have continually held Class K Shares of the Fund in the same account since August 15, 2016.
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Purchase orders may also be placed by calling (800) 537-4942, by mail (c/o BlackRock Funds III, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15253-4429), or online at www.blackrock.com. Institutional Investors are subject to a $5 million minimum initial investment requirement. Other investors, including Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans, have no minimum initial investment requirement. There is no minimum investment amount for additional purchases.
Tax Information
 
Different income tax rules apply depending on whether you are invested through a qualified tax‑exempt plan described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. If you are invested through such a plan (and Fund shares are not “debt-financed property” to the plan), then the dividends paid by the Fund and the gain realized from a redemption or exchange of Fund shares will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes until you withdraw or receive distributions from the plan. If you are not invested through such a plan, then the Fund’s dividends and gain from a redemption or exchange may be subject to U.S. federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are a tax‑exempt investor.
Payments to Broker/Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
 
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary, the Fund and BlackRock Investments, LLC, the Fund’s distributor, or its affiliates may pay the Financial Intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Financial Intermediary and your individual financial professional to recommend the Fund over another investment.
Class K Shares are only available through a Financial Intermediary if the Financial Intermediary will not receive from Fund assets, or the Fund’s distributor’s or an affiliate’s resources, any commission payments, shareholder servicing fees (including sub-transfer agent and networking fees), or distribution fees (including Rule 12b-1 fees) with respect to assets invested in Class K Shares.
Ask your individual financial professional or visit your Financial Intermediary’s website for more information.
 
31

Fund Overview
 
 
 
Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2030 Fund
Investment Objective
 
The investment objective of BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2030 Fund (“LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund” or the “Fund”), a series of BlackRock Funds III (the “Trust”), is to seek to provide for retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. In pursuit of this objective, the Fund will be broadly diversified across global asset classes, with asset allocations becoming more conservative over time.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell Class K Shares of LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to your financial professional or your selected securities dealer, broker, investment adviser, service provider or industry professional (including BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) and its affiliates) (each, a “Financial Intermediary”), which are not reflected in the table and example below.
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
   Class K
Shares
Management Fee1
       0.30%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
       None
Other Expenses1,2,3,4
       0.05%
Administration Fees1
       0.04%  
Independent Expenses2,3,4
       0.01%  
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1,3
       0.23%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses3
       0.58%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,4
       (0.24)%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,4
       0.34%
 
1 
As described in the “Management of the Funds” section of the Fund’s prospectus beginning on page 199, BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BAL”) and BFA have contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund for Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses up to a maximum amount equal to the combined Management Fee and Administration Fee of each share class of the Fund, through June 30, 2025. In addition, BFA has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by the amount of investment advisory fees the Fund pays to BFA indirectly through its investment in money market funds managed by BFA or its affiliates, through June 30, 2025. The contractual agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
 
2 
The Other Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.
 
3 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets given in the Fund’s most recent annual report, which does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, restatement of the Other Expenses to reflect current fees.
 
4 
Independent Expenses consist of the Fund’s allocable portion of the fees and expenses of the independent trustees of the Trust, counsel to such independent trustees and the independent registered public accounting firm that provides audit services to the Fund. BAL and BFA have contractually agreed to reimburse, or provide offsetting credits to, the Fund for Independent Expenses through June 30, 2034. After giving effect to such contractual arrangements, Independent Expenses will be 0.00%. Such contractual arrangements may not be terminated prior to July 1, 2034 without the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Class K Shares of the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class K Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that Class K Shares of the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
      1 Year        3 Years        5 Years        10 Years  
Class K Shares
   $ 35        $ 159        $ 295        $ 692  
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
32

Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
 
LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund allocates and reallocates its assets among a combination of equity, bond and money market funds (the “Underlying Funds”) and derivatives in proportions based on its own comprehensive investment strategy. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest primarily in affiliated open-end funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), some of which may be index funds.
The Fund may, when consistent with its investment goal, buy or sell options or futures, or enter into total return swaps and foreign currency transactions (collectively, commonly known as derivatives). The Fund may seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls). The Fund may use derivatives as a substitute for taking a position in an Underlying Fund and/or as part of a strategy to reduce exposure to certain risks. The Fund may also use derivatives to enhance return, in which case their use may involve leveraging risk. Derivatives that are used as a substitute for taking a position in an Underlying Fund, to reduce exposure to risks (other than duration or currency risk) or to enhance return will increase or decrease the Fund’s equity or fixed income allocations for purposes of the glide path by the notional amount of such derivatives. Derivatives that are used to manage duration or hedge currency risk will not be allocated to the Fund’s equity or fixed income allocations for purposes of the glide path.
The Fund is designed for investors expecting to retire or to begin withdrawing assets around the year 2030. The Fund seeks to provide for retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. BFA employs a multi-dimensional approach to assess risk for the Fund and to determine the Fund’s allocation across asset classes. As part of this multi-dimensional approach, BFA aims to quantify risk using proprietary risk measurement tools that, among other things, analyze historical and forward-looking securities market data, including risk, asset class correlations, and expected returns. As March 31, 2024, the Fund held approximately 61% of its assets (including notional exposure through derivatives) in equity Underlying Funds and equity related derivatives, approximately 44% of its assets (including notional exposure through derivatives) in fixed income Underlying Funds and fixed income related derivatives and approximately ‑5% of its assets in cash (including cash offsets from derivatives) and Underlying Funds that invest primarily in money market instruments. Certain Underlying Funds may invest in equity securities of issuers that are primarily engaged in or related to the real estate industry, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), foreign securities, emerging market securities, below investment-grade bonds, commodity-related instruments and derivative securities or instruments, such as options and futures, the value of which is derived from another security, a commodity, a currency or an index.
Under normal circumstances, the asset allocation will change over time according to a “glide path” as the Fund approaches its target date. The glide path below represents the shifting of asset classes over time. As the glide path shows, the Fund’s asset mix becomes more conservative — prior to retirement — as time elapses. This reflects the need for reduced investment risks as retirement approaches and the need for lower volatility of the Fund, which may be a primary source of income after retirement.
The following chart illustrates the glide path — the target allocation among asset classes as the Fund approaches its target date.
 
LOGO
 
33

The following table lists the target allocation by years until retirement:
 
Years Until Retirement    Equity Funds
(includes REITs)1
  Fixed‑Income
Funds1
     45
       99 %       1 %
     40
       99 %       1 %
     35
       99 %       1 %
     30
       96 %       4 %
     25
       89 %       11 %
     20
       79 %       21 %
     15
       68 %       32 %
     10
       56 %       44 %
     5
       43 %       57 %
     0
       40 %       60 %
1  BFA may adjust the allocation to equity and fixed-income in the Fund, based on an assessment of the current market conditions and the potential contribution of each asset class to the expected risk and return characteristics of the Fund. In general, the adjustments will be limited to +/- 10% relative to the target allocations.
   
The asset allocation targets are established by the portfolio managers. The investment team, including the portfolio managers, meets regularly to assess market conditions, review the asset allocation targets of the Fund, and determine whether any changes are required to enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
Although the asset allocation targets listed for the glide path are general, long-term targets, BFA may adjust the allocation to equity and fixed-income in the Fund, based on an assessment of the current market conditions and the potential contribution of each asset class to the expected risk and return characteristics of the Fund. In general, the adjustments will be limited to +/- 10% relative to the target allocations. BFA may determine, in light of market conditions or other factors, that a greater variation is warranted to protect the Fund or achieve its investment objective. Investments in Underlying Funds will be allocated towards the equity and fixed income percentages based on their classification. The Fund may also seek asset allocation to equity and fixed income by investing in funds that invest in a mix of equity and fixed income instruments (“multi-asset funds”). Investments in multi-asset funds will be allocated towards the equity and fixed income percentages listed for the glide path based on the multi-asset fund’s underlying investments in equity and fixed income instruments.
BFA’s second step in the structuring of the Fund is the selection of the Underlying Funds, equity securities and derivatives. Factors such as fund classifications, historical risk and performance, and the relationship to other Underlying Funds in the Fund are considered when selecting Underlying Funds. The specific Underlying Funds selected for the Fund are determined at BFA’s discretion and may change as deemed appropriate to allow the Fund to meet its investment objective. See the “Details About the Funds — Information About the Underlying Funds” section of the prospectus for a list of the Underlying Funds, their classification into equity, fixed income, multi-asset or money market funds and a brief description of their investment objectives and primary investment strategies. The specific securities or derivatives selected for the Fund are determined at BFA’s discretion and may change as deemed appropriate to allow the Fund to meet its investment objective.
Within the prescribed percentage allocations to equity and fixed-income, BFA seeks to diversify the Fund. The equity allocation may be further diversified by style (including both value and growth funds and issuers), market capitalization (including large cap, mid cap, small cap and emerging growth funds and issuers), region (including domestic and international (including emerging market) funds and issuers) or other factors. The fixed-income allocation may be further diversified by sector (including government, corporate, agency, and other sectors), duration (a calculation of the average life of a bond which measures its price risk), credit quality (including non-investment grade debt or junk bonds), geographic location (including U.S. and foreign-issued securities), or other factors. Though BFA seeks to diversify the Fund, certain Underlying Funds may concentrate their investments in specific sectors or geographic regions or countries. The percentage allocation to the various styles of equity and fixed-income are determined at the discretion of the investment team and can be changed to reflect the current market environment.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
 
Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund and/or the Underlying Funds. The Fund allocates and reallocates its assets among a combination of
 
34

Underlying Funds and derivatives. Therefore, references to the Fund in the description of risks below may include the Underlying Funds in which the Fund invests, as applicable. The relative significance of each risk factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.
Principal Risks of the Fund’s Investment Strategies
 
 
Equity Securities Risk — Stock markets are volatile. The price of equity securities fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.
 
 
Debt Securities Risk — Debt securities, such as bonds, involve risks, such as credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, and prepayment risk, each of which are described in further detail below:
Credit Risk — Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a debt security (i.e., the borrower) will not be able to make payments of interest and principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation.
Interest Rate Risk — The market value of bonds and other fixed-income securities changes in response to interest rate changes and other factors. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.
The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the recent period of historically low interest rates. For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, assuming a current portfolio duration of ten years, and all other factors being equal, the value of the Fund’s investments would be expected to decrease by 10%. (Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio of debt securities to relative changes in interest rates.) The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of bonds and other fixed-income securities is generally greater for those securities with longer maturities. Fluctuations in the market price of the Fund’s investments will not affect interest income derived from instruments already owned by the Fund, but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by Fund management.
To the extent the Fund invests in debt securities that may be prepaid at the option of the obligor (such as mortgage-backed securities), the sensitivity of such securities to changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Fund) when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating rate debt securities typically reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund to the extent that it invests in floating rate debt securities.
These basic principles of bond prices also apply to U.S. Government securities. A security backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government is guaranteed only as to its stated interest rate and face value at maturity, not its current market price. Just like other fixed-income securities, government-guaranteed securities will fluctuate in value when interest rates change.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed-income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from funds that hold large amounts of fixed-income securities. Heavy redemptions could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value and could hurt the Fund’s performance.
Extension Risk — When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of these obligations to fall.
Prepayment Risk — When interest rates fall, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields.
 
 
Allocation Risk — The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends upon BFA’S skill in determining the Fund’s strategic asset class allocation and in selecting the best mix of Underlying Funds and direct investments. There is a risk that BFA’s evaluations and assumptions regarding asset classes or Underlying Funds may be incorrect in view of actual market conditions. In addition, the asset allocation or the combination of Underlying Funds determined by BFA could result in underperformance as compared to funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.
 
 
Market Risk and Selection Risk — Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, exchange, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues like pandemics or epidemics, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. Selection risk is the risk that the securities selected by Fund management will underperform the
 
35

 
markets, the relevant indices or the securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies. This means you may lose money.
An outbreak of an infectious coronavirus (COVID‑19) that was first detected in December 2019 developed into a global pandemic that has resulted in numerous disruptions in the market and has had significant economic impact leaving general concern and uncertainty. Although vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the duration of the pandemic and its effects cannot be predicted with certainty. The impact of this coronavirus, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.
 
 
Investments in Underlying Funds Risk — The Fund’s investments are concentrated in Underlying Funds, so the Fund’s investment performance is directly related to the performance of the Underlying Funds. The Fund’s net asset value will change with changes in the equity and bond markets and the value of the Underlying Funds and other securities in which it invests. An investment in the Fund will entail more direct and indirect costs and expenses than a direct investment in the Underlying Funds. For example, the Fund indirectly pays a portion of the expenses (including operating expenses and management fees) incurred by the Underlying Funds.
 
 
Affiliated Fund Risk — In managing the Fund, BFA will have authority to select and substitute underlying funds and ETFs. BFA may be subject to potential conflicts of interest in selecting underlying funds and ETFs because the fees paid to BFA by some underlying funds and ETFs are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds and ETFs. However, BFA is a fiduciary to the Fund and is legally obligated to act in the Fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds and ETFs. If an underlying fund or ETF holds interests in an affiliated fund, the Fund may be prohibited from purchasing shares of that underlying fund or ETF.
 
 
Retirement Income Risk — The Fund does not provide a guarantee that sufficient capital appreciation will be achieved to provide adequate income at and through retirement. The Fund also does not ensure that you will have assets in your account sufficient to cover your retirement expenses or that you will have enough saved to be able to retire in the target year identified in the Fund’s name; this will depend on the amount of money you have invested in the Fund, the length of time you have held your investment, the returns of the markets over time, the amount you spend in retirement, and your other assets and income sources.
 
 
Derivatives Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives may increase its costs, reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility. Derivatives involve significant risks, including:
Leverage Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives can magnify the Fund’s gains and losses. Relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of a derivatives position and can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.
Market Risk — Some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than other securities. The Fund could also suffer losses related to its derivatives positions as a result of unanticipated market movements, which losses are potentially unlimited. Finally, BFA may not be able to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors, which could cause the Fund’s derivatives positions to lose value.
Counterparty Risk — Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will be unable or unwilling to fulfill its contractual obligation, and the related risks of having concentrated exposure to such a counterparty.
Illiquidity Risk — The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for derivatives and the resulting inability of the Fund to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position could expose the Fund to losses and could make derivatives more difficult for the Fund to value accurately.
Operational Risk — The use of derivatives includes the risk of potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate controls and human error.
Legal Risk — The risk of insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of counterparty, or legality or enforceability of a contract.
Volatility and Correlation Risk — Volatility is defined as the characteristic of a security, an index or a market to fluctuate significantly in price within a short time period. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate with the overall securities markets.
Valuation Risk — Valuation for derivatives may not be readily available in the market. Valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil since many investors and market makers may be reluctant to purchase complex instruments or quote prices for them.
Hedging Risk — Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging transactions will be effective. The use of hedging may result in certain adverse tax consequences.
 
36

Tax Risk — Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority. Such treatment may be less favorable than that given to a direct investment in an underlying asset and may adversely affect the timing, character and amount of income the Fund realizes from its investments.
 
 
Leverage Risk — Some transactions may give rise to a form of economic leverage. These transactions may include, among others, derivatives, and may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet the applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules thereunder. Increases and decreases in the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be magnified when the Fund uses leverage.
Principal Risks of the Underlying Funds
 
 
Asset Class Risk — Securities and other assets or financial instruments in the Underlying Index of an Underlying Fund or in an Underlying Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to the general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes.
 
 
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk — Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with an ETF, and none of those authorized participants is obligated to engage in creation and/ or redemption transactions. The Underlying Funds that are ETFs have a limited number of institutions that may act as authorized participants on an agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants). To the extent that authorized participants exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation or redemption orders with respect to an ETF and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, the ETF shares may be more likely to trade at a premium or discount to net asset value and possibly face trading halts or delisting. Authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened for ETFs that invest in securities issued by non‑U.S. issuers or other securities or instruments that have lower trading volumes.
 
 
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk — In addition to the typical risks associated with fixed-income securities and asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), including collateralized loan obligations, carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the risk that the collateral may default or decline in value or be downgraded, if rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization; (iii) the Fund may invest in tranches of CDOs that are subordinate to other tranches; (iv) the structure and complexity of the transaction and the legal documents could lead to disputes among investors regarding the characterization of proceeds; (v) the investment return achieved by the Fund could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models; (vi) the lack of a readily available secondary market for CDOs; (vii) the risk of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures; and (viii) the CDO’s manager may perform poorly.
 
 
Commodities Related Investments Risk — Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in inflation, interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.
 
 
Concentration Risk — To the extent that the Fund or an Underlying Fund is concentrated in the securities of companies, a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, country, region or group of countries, the Fund or that Underlying Fund may be adversely affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting that market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, country, region or group of countries.
 
 
Convertible Securities Risk — The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest, principal or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock, including the potential for increased volatility in the price of the convertible security.
 
 
Corporate Loans Risk — Commercial banks and other financial institutions or institutional investors make corporate loans to companies that need capital to grow or restructure. Borrowers generally pay interest on corporate loans at rates that change in response to changes in market interest rates such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the prime rates of U.S. banks. As a result, the value of corporate loan investments is generally less exposed to the adverse effects of shifts in market interest rates than investments that pay a fixed rate of interest. The market for corporate loans may be subject to irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads. In addition, transactions in corporate loans may settle on a delayed basis. As a
 
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result, the proceeds from the sale of corporate loans may not be readily available to make additional investments or to meet the Fund’s redemption obligations. To the extent the extended settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, the Fund may hold additional cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks and other lenders.
 
 
Counterparty Risk — The counterparty to an over‑the‑counter derivatives contract or a borrower of the Fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations. Any such failure to honor its obligations may cause significant losses to the Fund.
 
 
Depositary Receipts Risk — Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. In addition to investment risks associated with the underlying issuer, depositary receipts expose the Fund to additional risks associated with the non‑uniform terms that apply to depositary receipt programs, credit exposure to the depository bank and to the sponsors and other parties with whom the depository bank establishes the programs, currency risk and the risk of an illiquid market for depositary receipts. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is, in the United States, considered material. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding these issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. While depositary receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing underlying foreign securities in their respective markets and currencies, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, including political, economic, and currency risk.
 
 
Distressed Securities Risk — Distressed securities are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in junk bonds. The Fund will generally not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. In addition, distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.
 
 
Dollar Rolls Risk — Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Fund is committed to buy may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold. These transactions may involve leverage.
 
 
Emerging Markets Risk — Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.
 
 
Foreign Securities Risk — Foreign investments often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. These risks include:
 
   
The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
 
   
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio.
 
   
The economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.
 
   
The governments of certain countries, or the U.S. Government with respect to certain countries, may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions through capital controls and/or sanctions on foreign investments in the capital markets or certain industries in those countries, which may prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer currency, securities, derivatives or other assets.
 
   
Many foreign governments do not supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to the same extent as does the United States and may not have laws to protect investors that are comparable to U.S. securities laws.
 
   
Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets may result in delays in payment for or delivery of securities not typically associated with settlement and clearance of U.S. investments.
 
   
The Fund’s claims to recover foreign withholding taxes may not be successful, and if the likelihood of recovery of foreign withholding taxes materially decreases, due to, for example, a change in tax regulation or approach in the foreign country, accruals in the Fund’s net asset value for such refunds may be written down partially or in full, which will adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value.
 
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The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries as well as acts of war in the region. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Fund’s investments.
 
 
Geographic Risk — A natural disaster could occur in a geographic region in which the Fund invests, which could adversely affect the economy or the business operations of companies in the specific geographic region, causing an adverse impact on the Fund’s investments in, or which are exposed to, the affected region.
 
 
High Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities. High portfolio turnover (more than 100%) may result in increased transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commissions, dealer mark‑ups and other transaction costs on the sale of the securities and on reinvestment in other securities. The sale of Fund portfolio securities may result in the realization and/or distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains or losses as compared to a fund with less active trading policies. These effects of higher than normal portfolio turnover may adversely affect Fund performance.
 
 
High Yield Bonds Risk — Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than investment grade bonds, junk bonds are high risk investments that are considered speculative and may cause income and principal losses for the Fund.
 
 
Income Risk — Income risk is the risk that the Fund’s yield will vary as short-term securities in its portfolio mature and the proceeds are reinvested in securities with different interest rates.
 
 
Indexed and Inverse Securities Risk — Indexed and inverse securities provide a potential return based on a particular index of value or interest rates. The Fund’s return on these securities will be subject to risk with respect to the value of the particular index. These securities are subject to leverage risk and correlation risk. Certain indexed and inverse securities have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates or index levels than other securities, and the Fund’s investment in such instruments may decline significantly in value if interest rates or index levels move in a way Fund management does not anticipate.
 
 
Index-Related Risk — There is no guarantee that an Underlying Fund’s investment results will have a high degree of correlation to those of its underlying index or that the Underlying Fund will achieve its investment objective. Market disruptions or high volatility, other unusual market circumstances and regulatory restrictions could have an adverse effect on an Underlying Fund’s ability to adjust its exposure to the required levels in order to track its underlying index. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of an underlying index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the index provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on an Underlying Fund and its shareholders. Unusual market conditions or other unforeseen circumstances (such as natural disasters, political unrest or war) may impact the index provider or a third-party data provider and could cause the index provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance. This could cause an underlying index to vary from its normal or expected composition.
An index fund has operating and other expenses while an index does not. As a result, while an Underlying Fund that is an index fund will attempt to track its underlying index as closely as possible, it will tend to underperform the underlying index to some degree over time. If an index fund is properly correlated to its stated index, the fund will perform poorly when the index performs poorly.
 
 
Inflation-Indexed Bonds Risk — The principal value of an investment is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-indexed bonds.
Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.
Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal value.
The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates may rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation‑indexed bonds. Short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.
Periodic adjustments for inflation to the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond may give rise to original issue discount, which will be includable in the Fund’s gross income. Due to original issue discount, the Fund may be required to make annual distributions to shareholders that exceed the cash received, which may cause the Fund to liquidate certain investments when it is not advantageous to do so. Also, if the principal value of an inflation-indexed
 
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bond is adjusted downward due to deflation, amounts previously distributed in the taxable year may be characterized in some circumstances as a return of capital.
 
 
Investment Style Risk — Under certain market conditions, growth investments have performed better during the later stages of economic expansion and value investments have performed better during periods of economic recovery. Therefore, these investment styles may over time go in and out of favor. At times when an investment style used by the Fund or an Underlying Fund is out of favor, the Fund may underperform other funds that use different investment styles.
 
 
Issuer Risk — Fund performance depends on the performance of individual securities to which the Fund has exposure. Changes in the financial condition or credit rating of an issuer of those securities may cause the value of the securities to decline.
 
 
Management Risk — If a passively managed ETF does not fully replicate the underlying index, it is subject to the risk that the manager’s investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.
 
 
Mezzanine Securities Risk — Mezzanine securities carry the risk that the issuer will not be able to meet its obligations and that the equity securities purchased with the mezzanine investments may lose value.
 
 
Model Risk — The Fund seeks to pursue its investment objective by using proprietary models that incorporate quantitative analysis. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than as forecasted due to the factors incorporated into the models and the weighting of each factor, changes from historical trends, and issues in the construction and implementation of the models (including, but not limited to, software issues and other technological issues). There is no guarantee that BlackRock’s use of these models will result in effective investment decisions for the Fund.
The information and data used in the models may be supplied by third parties. Inaccurate or incomplete data may limit the effectiveness of the models. In addition, some of the data that BlackRock uses may be historical data, which may not accurately predict future market movement. There is a risk that the models will not be successful in selecting investments or in determining the weighting of investment positions that will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
 
 
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risks — Mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages or other assets, including consumer loans or receivables held in trust. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are subject to credit, interest rate, prepayment and extension risks. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage or asset, particularly during periods of economic downturn. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.
 
 
Municipal Securities Risks — Municipal securities risks include the ability of the issuer to repay the obligation, the relative lack of information about certain issuers of municipal securities, and the possibility of future legislative changes which could affect the market for and value of municipal securities. Budgetary constraints of local, state, and federal governments upon which the issuers may be relying for funding may also impact municipal securities. These risks include:
General Obligation Bonds Risks — Timely payments depend on the issuer’s credit quality, ability to raise tax revenues and ability to maintain an adequate tax base.
Revenue Bonds Risks — These payments depend on the money earned by the particular facility or class of facilities, or the amount of revenues derived from another source.
Private Activity Bonds Risks — Municipalities and other public authorities issue private activity bonds to finance development of industrial facilities for use by a private enterprise. The private enterprise pays the principal and interest on the bond, and the issuer does not pledge its full faith, credit and taxing power for repayment.
Moral Obligation Bonds Risks — Moral obligation bonds are generally issued by special purpose public authorities of a state or municipality. If the issuer is unable to meet its obligations, repayment of these bonds becomes a moral commitment, but not a legal obligation, of the state or municipality.
Municipal Notes Risks — Municipal notes are shorter term municipal debt obligations. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, the notes may not be fully repaid and the Fund may lose money.
Municipal Lease Obligations Risks — In a municipal lease obligation, the issuer agrees to make payments when due on the lease obligation. Although the issuer does not pledge its unlimited taxing power for payment of the lease obligation, the lease obligation is secured by the leased property.
Tax‑Exempt Status Risk — The Fund and its investment manager will rely on the opinion of issuers’ bond counsel and, in the case of derivative securities, sponsors’ counsel, on the tax‑exempt status of interest on municipal bonds and payments under derivative securities. Neither the Fund nor its investment manager will independently review the bases for those tax opinions, which may ultimately be determined to be incorrect and subject the Fund and its shareholders to substantial tax liabilities.
 
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National Closed Market Trading Risk — To the extent that the underlying securities and/or other assets held by an Underlying Fund that is an ETF trade on foreign exchanges or in foreign markets that may be closed when the securities exchange on which the Underlying Fund’s shares trade is open, there are likely to be deviations between the current price of such an underlying security and the last quoted price for the underlying security (i.e., an Underlying Fund’s quote from the closed foreign market). The impact of a closed foreign market on an Underlying Fund is likely to be greater where a large portion of the Underlying Fund’s underlying securities and/or other assets trade on that closed foreign market or when the foreign market is closed for unscheduled reasons. These deviations could result in premiums or discounts to one or more of the Underlying Funds’ net asset values that may be greater than those experienced by other ETFs.
 
 
“New Issues” Risk — “New issues” are initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of equity securities. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile or may decline shortly after the IPO.
 
 
Passive Investment Risk — Because BFA does not select individual companies in the underlying indexes for certain Underlying Funds, those Underlying Funds may hold securities of companies that present risks that an investment adviser researching individual securities might seek to avoid.
 
 
Pay-in-kind Bonds Risk — Similar to zero coupon obligations, pay-in-kind bonds also carry additional risk as holders of these types of securities realize no cash until the cash payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. The market price of pay-in-kind bonds is affected by interest rate changes to a greater extent, and therefore tends to be more volatile, than that of securities which pay interest in cash.
 
 
Preferred Securities Risk — Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies.
 
 
Real Estate-Related Securities Risk — The main risk of real estate-related securities is that the value of the underlying real estate may go down. Many factors may affect real estate values. These factors include both the general and local economies, vacancy rates, changes in rent schedules, tenant bankruptcies, the ability to re‑lease space under expiring leases on attractive terms, the amount of new construction in a particular area, the laws and regulations (including zoning, environmental and tax laws) affecting real estate and the costs of owning, maintaining and improving real estate. The availability of mortgage financing and changes in interest rates may also affect real estate values. If the Fund’s real estate-related investments are concentrated in one geographic area or in one property type, the Fund will be particularly subject to the risks associated with that area or property type. Many issuers of real estate-related securities are highly leveraged, which increases the risk to holders of such securities. The value of the securities the Fund buys will not necessarily track the value of the underlying investments of the issuers of such securities.
 
 
REIT Investment Risk — Investments in REITs involve unique risks. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume, may engage in dilutive offerings of securities and may be more volatile than other securities. REIT issuers may also fail to maintain their exemptions from investment company registration or fail to qualify for the “dividends paid deduction” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), which allows REITs to reduce their corporate taxable income for dividends paid to their shareholders. In addition, certain issuers of real estate-related securities may have developed or commenced development on properties and may develop additional properties in the future. Real estate development involves significant risks in addition to those involved in the ownership and operation of established properties. Real estate securities may have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. Real estate securities are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and defaults by borrowers or tenants.
 
 
Representative Sampling Risk — Representative sampling is a method of indexing that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively have a similar investment profile to the index and resemble the index in terms of risk factors and other key characteristics. An ETF may or may not hold every security in the index. When an ETF deviates from a full replication indexing strategy to utilize a representative sampling strategy, the ETF is subject to an increased risk of tracking error, in that the securities selected in the aggregate for the ETF may not have an investment profile similar to those of its index.
 
 
Repurchase Agreements and Purchase and Sale Contracts Risk — If the other party to a repurchase agreement or purchase and sale contract defaults on its obligation under the agreement, the Fund may suffer delays and incur costs or lose money in exercising its rights under the agreement. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either situation and the market value of the security declines, the Fund may lose money.
 
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Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk — Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Fund, including the value of the investments made with cash collateral, is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Fund. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the interest income earned in the investment of the proceeds will be less than the interest expense.
 
 
Risks of Loan Assignments and Participations — As the purchaser of an assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a lender under the credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation; however, the Fund may not be able unilaterally to enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any associated collateral. Because assignments may be arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, the rights and obligations acquired by the Fund as the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning lender. In addition, if the loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become part owner of any collateral and could bear the costs and liabilities of owning and disposing of the collateral. The Fund may be required to pass along to a purchaser that buys a loan from the Fund by way of assignment a portion of any fees to which the Fund is entitled under the loan. In connection with purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set‑off against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling a participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set‑off between the lender and the borrower.
 
 
Second Lien Loans Risk — Second lien loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower.
 
 
Senior Loans Risk — There is less readily available, reliable information about most senior loans than is the case for many other types of securities. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non‑payment rate, and a senior loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a senior loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the senior loan’s value. No active trading market may exist for certain senior loans, which may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a senior loan and which may make it difficult to value senior loans. Although senior loans in which the Fund will invest generally will be secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower’s obligation in the event of non‑payment of scheduled interest or principal or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. To the extent that a senior loan is collateralized by stock in the borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its value in the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower. Uncollateralized senior loans involve a greater risk of loss.
 
 
Shares of an ETF May Trade at Prices Other Than Net Asset Value — Shares of an ETF trade on exchanges at prices at, above or below their most recent net asset value (“NAV”). The per share net asset value of an ETF is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of the ETF’s holdings since the most recent calculation. The trading prices of an ETF’s shares fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand rather than net asset value. The trading prices of an ETF’s shares may deviate significantly from net asset value during periods of market volatility. Any of these factors may lead to an ETF’s shares trading at a premium or discount to net asset value. However, because shares can be created and redeemed in creation units, which are aggregated blocks of shares that authorized participants who have entered into agreements with the ETF’s distributor can purchase or redeem directly from the ETF, at net asset value (unlike shares of many closed‑end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset values), large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of an ETF are not likely to be sustained over the long-term. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that an ETF’s shares normally trade on exchanges at prices close to the ETF’s next calculated net asset value, exchange prices are not expected to correlate exactly with an ETF’s net asset value due to timing reasons as well as market supply and demand factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from net asset value. If a shareholder purchases at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the net asset value, the shareholder may sustain losses. The use of cash creations and redemptions may also cause the ETFs’ shares to trade in the market at greater bid-ask spreads or greater premiums or discounts to the ETFs’ NAV.
 
 
Short Sales Risk — Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security sold short.
 
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Small and Mid‑Capitalization Company Risk — Companies with small or mid‑size market capitalizations will normally have more limited product lines, markets and financial resources and will be dependent upon a more limited management group than larger capitalized companies. In addition, it is more difficult to get information on smaller companies, which tend to be less well known, have shorter operating histories, do not have significant ownership by large investors and are followed by relatively few securities analysts.
 
 
Small Cap and Emerging Growth Securities Risk — Small cap or emerging growth companies may have limited product lines or markets. They may be less financially secure than larger, more established companies. They may depend on a more limited management group than larger capitalized companies.
 
 
Sovereign Debt Risk — Sovereign debt instruments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies.
 
 
Structured Notes Risk — Structured notes and other related instruments purchased by the Fund are generally privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, market or interest rate (“reference measure”). The purchase of structured notes exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the structured product. Structured notes may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured note’s value relative to the change in the reference measure. Structured notes may also be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities.
 
 
Structured Securities Risk — Because structured securities of the type in which the Fund may invest typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments, index or reference obligation and will also be subject to counterparty risk. The Fund may have the right to receive payments only from the structured security, and generally does not have direct rights against the issuer or the entity that sold the assets to be securitized. In addition to the general risks associated with debt securities discussed herein, structured securities carry additional risks, including, but not limited to: the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; and the possibility that the structured securities are subordinate to other classes. The Fund is permitted to invest in a class of structured securities that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Structured securities are based upon the movement of one or more factors, including currency exchange rates, interest rates, reference bonds and stock indices, and changes in interest rates and impact of these factors may cause significant price fluctuations. Additionally, changes in the reference instrument or security may cause the interest rate on the structured security to be reduced to zero. Certain issuers of such structured securities may be deemed to be “investment companies” as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investment in such securities may be limited by certain investment restrictions contained in the Investment Company Act.
 
 
Supranational Entities Risk — The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the World Bank. The government members, or “stockholders,” usually make initial capital contributions to the World Bank and in many cases are committed to make additional capital contributions if the World Bank is unable to repay its borrowings. There is no guarantee that one or more stockholders of the World Bank will continue to make any necessary additional capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Fund may lose money on such investments.
 
 
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk — The Fund’s participation in tender option bond transactions may reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility. Investments in tender option bond transactions expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment in a tender option bond transaction typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including the risk of loss of principal. Distributions on residual inverse floating rate interest tender option bonds (“TOB Residuals”) will bear an inverse relationship to short-term municipal security interest rates. Distributions on TOB Residuals paid to the Fund will be reduced or, in the extreme, eliminated as short-term municipal interest rates rise and will increase when short-term municipal interest rates fall. TOB Residuals generally will underperform the market for fixed rate municipal securities in a rising interest rate environment. The Fund may invest in beneficial interests in a special purpose trust formed for the purpose of holding Municipal Bonds contributed by one or more funds (a “TOB Trust”) on either a non‑recourse or recourse basis. If the Fund invests in a TOB Trust on a recourse basis, it could suffer losses in excess of the value of its TOB Residuals.
 
 
Tracking Error Risk — The Fund may be subject to tracking error, which is the divergence of an Underlying Fund’s performance from that of its underlying index. Tracking error may occur because of differences between the securities (including shares of the Underlying Funds) and other instruments held in an Underlying Fund’s portfolio and those included in its underlying index, pricing differences (including, as applicable, differences between a security’s price at the local market close and an Underlying Fund’s valuation of a security at the time of calculation
 
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of an Underlying Fund’s NAV, differences in transaction costs, an Underlying Fund’s holding of uninvested cash, differences in timing of the accrual of or the valuation of dividends or other distributions, interest, the requirements to maintain pass-through tax treatment, portfolio transactions carried out to minimize the distribution of capital gains to shareholders, changes to an underlying index and the cost to an Underlying Fund of complying with various new or existing regulatory requirements, among other reasons. These risks may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. In addition, tracking error may result because a fund incurs fees and expenses, while the Underlying Index does not.
 
 
U.S. Government Issuer Risk — Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
 
 
U.S. Government Mortgage-Related Securities Risk — 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. Mortgage-related securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”) are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by GNMA and such guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. GNMA securities also are supported by the right of GNMA to borrow funds from the U.S. Treasury to make payments under its guarantee. Mortgage-related securities issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are solely the obligations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, as the case may be, and 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 Treasury.
 
 
Variable and Floating Rate Instrument Risk — Variable and floating rate securities provide for periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the securities. These securities may be subject to greater illiquidity risk than other fixed income securities, meaning the absence of an active market for these securities could make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them at any given time.
 
 
Warrants Risk — 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 the Fund will lose any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve substantially 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.
 
 
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments Risk — When-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund may lose both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.
 
 
Zero Coupon Securities Risk — While interest payments are not made on such securities, holders of such securities are deemed to have received income (“phantom income”) annually, notwithstanding that cash may not be received currently. The effect of owning instruments that do not make current interest payments is that a fixed yield is earned not only on the original investment but also, in effect, on all discount accretion during the life of the obligations. This implicit reinvestment of earnings at a fixed rate eliminates the risk of being unable to invest distributions at a rate as high as the implicit yield on the zero coupon bond, but at the same time eliminates the holder’s ability to reinvest at higher rates in the future. For this reason, some of these securities may be subject to substantially greater price fluctuations during periods of changing market interest rates than are comparable securities that pay interest currently. Longer term zero coupon bonds are more exposed to interest rate risk than shorter term zero coupon bonds. These investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of cash.
Performance Information
 
The information shows you how LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund’s performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the returns for Class K Shares of the Fund for each of the last ten calendar years, except as described below. The average annual total returns table compares the performance of the Fund to that of the Russell 1000® Index and the LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund Custom Benchmark, a customized weighted index comprised of the Bloomberg U.S. Long Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Long Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Securitized: MBS, ABS and CMBS Index, Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) Index (Series-L), FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index, MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index, Russell 1000® Index and Russell 2000® Index, which are representative of the asset classes in which the Fund invests according to their weightings as of the most recent quarter-end. The weightings of the indices in the LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund Custom Benchmark are adjusted periodically to reflect the investment adviser’s evaluation and adjustment of the Fund’s asset allocation strategy. The returns of the LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund Custom Benchmark shown in
 
44

the average annual total returns table are not recalculated or restated when they are adjusted to reflect the Fund’s asset allocation strategy but rather reflect the LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund Custom Benchmark’s actual allocation over time, which may be different from the current allocation. Effective July 29, 2022, the LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund Custom Benchmark against which the Fund measures its performance will be changed to remove Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and to add Bloomberg U.S. Long Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Long Government Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government Bond Index and Bloomberg U.S. Securitized: MBS, ABS and CMBS Index. Fund management believes that the updated LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund Custom Benchmark is more representative of the sectors in which the Fund invests. Effective March 31, 2018, the investment adviser determined not to allocate any of the Fund’s assets to underlying funds that invest primarily in commodities. Performance for the periods shown prior to March 31, 2018 is based on the prior target asset allocation. Effective November 7, 2016, the Fund changed its investment strategy to (i) incorporate a Global Tactical Asset Allocation into its glidepath, (ii) increase the flexibility of its equity allocations and (iii) diversify its fixed-income strategies. Performance for the periods shown between December 14, 2015 and November 7, 2016 is based on the prior investment strategy. Effective December 14, 2015, the Fund changed its investment strategy to (i) incorporate a dynamic glidepath and (ii) invest directly in securities and derivatives, as well as in underlying funds. Performance for the periods shown prior to December 14, 2015 is based on the prior investment strategy. Effective November 28, 2014, the Fund changed its glide path and target asset allocation to target higher levels of equity exposure for the Fund throughout the glide path. Performance for the periods shown prior to November 28, 2014 is based on the prior glide path and target asset allocation. To the extent that dividends and distributions have been paid by the Fund, the performance information of the Fund in the chart and table assumes reinvestment of the dividends and distributions. The table includes all applicable fees. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. If BFA, BAL and their affiliates had not waived or reimbursed certain Fund expenses during these periods, the Fund’s returns would have been lower. Updated information on the Fund’s performance, including its current net asset value, can be obtained by visiting http://www.blackrock.com or can be obtained by phone at (800) 882‑0052.
Class K Shares
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund
As of 12/31
 
LOGO
During the ten-year period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 15.31% (quarter ended June 30, 2020) and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.53% (quarter ended March 31, 2020).
 
For the periods ended 12/31/23
Average Annual Total Returns
   1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  
LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund — Class K Shares
        
Return Before Taxes
     15.61      8.59      6.54
Return After Taxes on Distributions
     14.13      6.24      3.70
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
     9.36      5.92      4.07
LifePath Dynamic 2030 Fund Custom Benchmark
(Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
     14.57      7.91      5.99
Russell 1000® Index
(Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
     26.53      15.52      11.80
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
 
45

Investment Adviser
 
The Fund’s investment adviser is BlackRock Fund Advisors (previously defined as “BFA”). The Fund’s sub-advisers are BlackRock International Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited. Where applicable, “BFA” refers also to the Fund’s sub-advisers.
Portfolio Managers
 
 
Portfolio Manager
   Portfolio Manager of the Fund Since    Title
Philip Green
   2016    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Chris Chung, CFA
   2020    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Michael Pensky, CFA
   2024    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
 
Class K Shares of the Fund are available only to (i) certain employee benefit plans, such as health savings accounts, and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans (not including SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and SARSEPs) (collectively, “Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans”), (ii) collective trust funds, investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles, each of which may purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to purchase such shares, (iii) “Institutional Investors,” which include, but are not limited to, endowments, foundations, family offices, banks and bank trusts, local, city, and state governmental institutions, corporations and insurance company separate accounts, each of which may purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to purchase such shares, (iv) clients of private banks that purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to sell such shares; (v) fee‑based advisory platforms of a Financial Intermediary that (a) has specifically acknowledged in a written agreement with the Fund’s distributor and/or its affiliate(s) that the Financial Intermediary shall offer such shares to fee‑based advisory clients through an omnibus account held at the Fund or (b) transacts in the Fund’s shares through another intermediary that has executed such an agreement and (vi) any other investors who met the eligibility criteria for BlackRock Shares or Class K Shares prior to August 15, 2016 and have continually held Class K Shares of the Fund in the same account since August 15, 2016.
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Purchase orders may also be placed by calling (800) 537-4942, by mail (c/o BlackRock Funds III, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15253-4429), or online at www.blackrock.com. Institutional Investors are subject to a $5 million minimum initial investment requirement. Other investors, including Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans, have no minimum initial investment requirement. There is no minimum investment amount for additional purchases.
Tax Information
 
Different income tax rules apply depending on whether you are invested through a qualified tax-exempt plan described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. If you are invested through such a plan (and Fund shares are not “debt-financed property” to the plan), then the dividends paid by the Fund and the gain realized from a redemption or exchange of Fund shares will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes until you withdraw or receive distributions from the plan. If you are not invested through such a plan, then the Fund’s dividends and gain from a redemption or exchange may be subject to U.S. federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are a tax-exempt investor.
Payments to Broker/Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
 
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a Financial Intermediary, the Fund and BlackRock Investments, LLC, the Fund’s distributor, or its affiliates may pay the Financial Intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Financial Intermediary and your individual financial professional to recommend the Fund over another investment.
Class K Shares are only available through a Financial Intermediary if the Financial Intermediary will not receive from Fund assets, or the Fund’s distributor’s or an affiliate’s resources, any commission payments, shareholder servicing fees (including sub-transfer agent and networking fees), or distribution fees (including Rule 12b-1 fees) with respect to assets invested in Class K Shares.
Ask your individual financial professional or visit your Financial Intermediary’s website for more information.
 
46

Fund Overview
 
 
 
Key Facts About BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2035 Fund
Investment Objective
 
The investment objective of BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2035 Fund (“LifePath Dynamic 2035 Fund” or the “Fund”), a series of BlackRock Funds III (the “Trust”), is to seek to provide for retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. In pursuit of this objective, the Fund will be broadly diversified across global asset classes, with asset allocations becoming more conservative over time.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell Class K Shares of LifePath Dynamic 2035 Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to your financial professional or your selected securities dealer, broker, investment adviser, service provider or industry professional (including BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) and its affiliates) (each, a “Financial Intermediary”), which are not reflected in the table and example below.
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
   Class K
Shares
Management Fee1
       0.30%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
       None
Other Expenses1,2,3,4
       0.06%  
Administration Fees1
       0.04%    
Independent Expenses2,3,4
       0.02%    
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1,3
       0.23%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses3
       0.59%  
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,4
       (0.25)%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1,4
       0.34%
 
1 
As described in the “Management of the Funds” section of the Fund’s prospectus beginning on page 199, BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BAL”) and BFA have contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund for Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses up to a maximum amount equal to the combined Management Fee and Administration Fee of each share class of the Fund, through June 30, 2025. In addition, BFA has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by the amount of investment advisory fees the Fund pays to BFA indirectly through its investment in money market funds managed by BFA or its affiliates, through June 30, 2025. The contractual agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
 
2 
The Other Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.
 
3 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets given in the Fund’s most recent annual report, which does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, restatement of the Other Expenses to reflect current fees.
 
4 
Independent Expenses consist of the Fund’s allocable portion of the fees and expenses of the independent trustees of the Trust, counsel to such independent trustees and the independent registered public accounting firm that provides audit services to the Fund. BAL and BFA have contractually agreed to reimburse, or provide offsetting credits to, the Fund for Independent Expenses through June 30, 2034. After giving effect to such contractual arrangements, Independent Expenses will be 0.00%. Such contractual arrangements may not be terminated prior to July 1, 2034 without the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Class K Shares of the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class K Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that Class K Shares of the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
      1 Year        3 Years        5 Years        10 Years  
Class K Shares
   $ 35        $ 159        $ 295        $ 692  
Portfolio Turnover:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
47

Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
 
LifePath Dynamic 2035 Fund allocates and reallocates its assets among a combination of equity, bond and money market funds (the “Underlying Funds”) and derivatives in proportions based on its own comprehensive investment strategy. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest primarily in affiliated open-end funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), some of which may be index funds.
The Fund may, when consistent with its investment goal, buy or sell options or futures, or enter into total return swaps and foreign currency transactions (collectively, commonly known as derivatives). The Fund may seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls). The Fund may use derivatives as a substitute for taking a position in an Underlying Fund and/or as part of a strategy to reduce exposure to certain risks. The Fund may also use derivatives to enhance return, in which case their use may involve leveraging risk. Derivatives that are used as a substitute for taking a position in an Underlying Fund, to reduce exposure to risks (other than duration or currency risk) or to enhance return will increase or decrease the Fund’s equity or fixed income allocations for purposes of the glide path by the notional amount of such derivatives. Derivatives that are used to manage duration or hedge currency risk will not be allocated to the Fund’s equity or fixed income allocations for purposes of the glide path.
The Fund is designed for investors expecting to retire or to begin withdrawing assets around the year 2035. The Fund seeks to provide for retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. BFA employs a multi-dimensional approach to assess risk for the Fund and to determine the Fund’s allocation across asset classes. As part of this multi-dimensional approach, BFA aims to quantify risk using proprietary risk measurement tools that, among other things, analyze historical and forward-looking securities market data, including risk, asset class correlations, and expected returns. As of March 31, 2024, the Fund held approximately 72% of its assets (including notional exposure through derivatives) in equity Underlying Funds and equity related derivatives, approximately 28% of its assets (including notional exposure through derivatives) in fixed income Underlying Funds and fixed income related derivatives and approximately 0% of its assets in cash (including cash offsets from derivatives) and Underlying Funds that invest primarily in money market instruments. Certain Underlying Funds may invest in equity securities of issuers that are primarily engaged in or related to the real estate industry, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), foreign securities, emerging market securities, below investment-grade bonds, commodity-related instruments and derivative securities or instruments, such as options and futures, the value of which is derived from another security, a commodity, a currency or an index.
Under normal circumstances, the asset allocation will change over time according to a “glide path” as the Fund approaches its target date. The glide path below represents the shifting of asset classes over time. As the glide path shows, the Fund’s asset mix becomes more conservative — prior to retirement — as time elapses. This reflects the need for reduced investment risks as retirement approaches and the need for lower volatility of the Fund, which may be a primary source of income after retirement.
The following chart illustrates the glide path — the target allocation among asset classes as the Fund approaches its target date.
 
LOGO
 
48

The following table lists the target allocation by years until retirement:
 
Years Until Retirement    Equity Funds
(includes REITs)1
  Fixed‑Income
Funds1
     45
       99 %       1 %
     40
       99 %       1 %
     35
       99 %       1 %
     30
       96 %       4 %
     25
       89 %       11 %
     20
       79 %       21 %
     15
       68 %       32 %
     10
       56 %       44 %
     5
       43 %       57 %
     0
       40 %       60 %
1  BFA may adjust the allocation to equity and fixed-income in the Fund, based on an assessment of the current market conditions and the potential contribution of each asset class to the expected risk and return characteristics of the Fund. In general, the adjustments will be limited to +/- 10% relative to the target allocations.
   
The asset allocation targets are established by the portfolio managers. The investment team, including the portfolio managers, meets regularly to assess market conditions, review the asset allocation targets of the Fund, and determine whether any changes are required to enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
Although the asset allocation targets listed for the glide path are general, long-term targets, BFA may adjust the allocation to equity and fixed-income in the Fund, based on an assessment of the current market conditions and the potential contribution of each asset class to the expected risk and return characteristics of the Fund. In general, the adjustments will be limited to +/- 10% relative to the target allocations. BFA may determine, in light of market conditions or other factors, that a greater variation is warranted to protect the Fund or achieve its investment objective. Investments in Underlying Funds will be allocated towards the equity and fixed income percentages based on their classification. The Fund may also seek asset allocation to equity and fixed income by investing in funds that invest in a mix of equity and fixed income instruments (“multi-asset funds”). Investments in multi-asset funds will be allocated towards the equity and fixed income percentages listed for the glide path based on the multi-asset fund’s underlying investments in equity and fixed income instruments.
BFA’s second step in the structuring of the Fund is the selection of the Underlying Funds, equity securities and derivatives. Factors such as fund classifications, historical risk and performance, and the relationship to other Underlying Funds in the Fund are considered when selecting Underlying Funds. The specific Underlying Funds selected for the Fund are determined at BFA’s discretion and may change as deemed appropriate to allow the Fund to meet its investment objective. See the “Details About the Funds — Information About the Underlying Funds” section of the prospectus for a list of the Underlying Funds, their classification into equity, fixed income, multi-asset or money market funds and a brief description of their investment objectives and primary investment strategies. The specific securities or derivatives selected for the Fund are determined at BFA’s discretion and may change as deemed appropriate to allow the Fund to meet its investment objective.
Within the prescribed percentage allocations to equity and fixed-income, BFA seeks to diversify the Fund. The equity allocation may be further diversified by style (including both value and growth funds and issuers), market capitalization (including large cap, mid cap, small cap and emerging growth funds and issuers), region (including domestic and international (including emerging market) funds and issuers) or other factors. The fixed-income allocation may be further diversified by sector (including government, corporate, agency, and other sectors), duration (a calculation of the average life of a bond which measures its price risk), credit quality (including non-investment grade debt or junk bonds), geographic location (including U.S. and foreign-issued securities), or other factors. Though BFA seeks to diversify the Fund, certain Underlying Funds may concentrate their investments in specific sectors or geographic regions or countries. The percentage allocation to the various styles of equity and fixed-income are determined at the discretion of the investment team and can be changed to reflect the current market environment.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
 
Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in LifePath Dynamic 2035 Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund and/or the Underlying Funds. The Fund allocates and reallocates its assets among a combination of
 
49

Underlying Funds and derivatives. Therefore, references to the Fund in the description of risks below may include the Underlying Funds in which the Fund invests, as applicable. The relative significance of each risk factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.
Principal Risks of the Fund’s Investment Strategies
 
 
Equity Securities Risk — Stock markets are volatile. The price of equity securities fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.
 
 
Debt Securities Risk — Debt securities, such as bonds, involve risks, such as credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, and prepayment risk, each of which are described in further detail below:
Credit Risk — Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a debt security (i.e., the borrower) will not be able to make payments of interest and principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation.
Interest Rate Risk — The market value of bonds and other fixed-income securities changes in response to interest rate changes and other factors. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.
The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the recent period of historically low interest rates. For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, assuming a current portfolio duration of ten years, and all other factors being equal, the value of the Fund’s investments would be expected to decrease by 10%. (Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio of debt securities to relative changes in interest rates.) The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of bonds and other fixed-income securities is generally greater for those securities with longer maturities. Fluctuations in the market price of the Fund’s investments will not affect interest income derived from instruments already owned by the Fund, but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by Fund management.
To the extent the Fund invests in debt securities that may be prepaid at the option of the obligor (such as mortgage-backed securities), the sensitivity of such securities to changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Fund) when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating rate debt securities typically reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund to the extent that it invests in floating rate debt securities.
These basic principles of bond prices also apply to U.S. Government securities. A security backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government is guaranteed only as to its stated interest rate and face value at maturity, not its current market price. Just like other fixed-income securities, government-guaranteed securities will fluctuate in value when interest rates change.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed-income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from funds that hold large amounts of fixed-income securities. Heavy redemptions could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value and could hurt the Fund’s performance.
Extension Risk — When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of these obligations to fall.
Prepayment Risk — When interest rates fall, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields.
 
 
Allocation Risk — The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends upon BFA’S skill in determining the Fund’s strategic asset class allocation and in selecting the best mix of Underlying Funds and direct investments. There is a risk that BFA’s evaluations and assumptions regarding asset classes or Underlying Funds may be incorrect in view of actual market conditions. In addition, the asset allocation or the combination of Underlying Funds determined by BFA could result in underperformance as compared to funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.
 
 
Market Risk and Selection Risk — Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, exchange, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues like pandemics or epidemics, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its
 
50

 
investments. Selection risk is the risk that the securities selected by Fund management will underperform the markets, the relevant indices or the securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies. This means you may lose money.
An outbreak of an infectious coronavirus (COVID‑19) that was first detected in December 2019 developed into a global pandemic that has resulted in numerous disruptions in the market and has had significant economic impact leaving general concern and uncertainty. Although vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the duration of the pandemic and its effects cannot be predicted with certainty. The impact of this coronavirus, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.
 
 
Investments in Underlying Funds Risk — The Fund’s investments are concentrated in Underlying Funds, so the Fund’s investment performance is directly related to the performance of the Underlying Funds. The Fund’s net asset value will change with changes in the equity and bond markets and the value of the Underlying Funds and other securities in which it invests. An investment in the Fund will entail more direct and indirect costs and expenses than a direct investment in the Underlying Funds. For example, the Fund indirectly pays a portion of the expenses (including operating expenses and management fees) incurred by the Underlying Funds.
 
 
Affiliated Fund Risk — In managing the Fund, BFA will have authority to select and substitute underlying funds and ETFs. BFA may be subject to potential conflicts of interest in selecting underlying funds and ETFs because the fees paid to BFA by some underlying funds and ETFs are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds and ETFs. However, BFA is a fiduciary to the Fund and is legally obligated to act in the Fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds and ETFs. If an underlying fund or ETF holds interests in an affiliated fund, the Fund may be prohibited from purchasing shares of that underlying fund or ETF.
 
 
Retirement Income Risk — The Fund does not provide a guarantee that sufficient capital appreciation will be achieved to provide adequate income at and through retirement. The Fund also does not ensure that you will have assets in your account sufficient to cover your retirement expenses or that you will have enough saved to be able to retire in the target year identified in the Fund’s name; this will depend on the amount of money you have invested in the Fund, the length of time you have held your investment, the returns of the markets over time, the amount you spend in retirement, and your other assets and income sources.
 
 
Derivatives Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives may increase its costs, reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility. Derivatives involve significant risks, including:
Leverage Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives can magnify the Fund’s gains and losses. Relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of a derivatives position and can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.
Market Risk — Some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than other securities. The Fund could also suffer losses related to its derivatives positions as a result of unanticipated market movements, which losses are potentially unlimited. Finally, BFA may not be able to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors, which could cause the Fund’s derivatives positions to lose value.
Counterparty Risk — Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will be unable or unwilling to fulfill its contractual obligation, and the related risks of having concentrated exposure to such a counterparty.
Illiquidity Risk — The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for derivatives and the resulting inability of the Fund to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position could expose the Fund to losses and could make derivatives more difficult for the Fund to value accurately.
Operational Risk — The use of derivatives includes the risk of potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate controls and human error.
Legal Risk — The risk of insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of counterparty, or legality or enforceability of a contract.
Volatility and Correlation Risk — Volatility is defined as the characteristic of a security, an index or a market to fluctuate significantly in price within a short time period. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate with the overall securities markets.
Valuation Risk — Valuation for derivatives may not be readily available in the market. Valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil since many investors and market makers may be reluctant to purchase complex instruments or quote prices for them.
Hedging Risk — Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging transactions will be effective. The use of hedging may result in certain adverse tax consequences.
 
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Tax Risk — Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority. Such treatment may be less favorable than that given to a direct investment in an underlying asset and may adversely affect the timing, character and amount of income the Fund realizes from its investments.
 
 
Leverage Risk — Some transactions may give rise to a form of economic leverage. These transactions may include, among others, derivatives, and may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet the applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules thereunder. Increases and decreases in the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be magnified when the Fund uses leverage.
Principal Risks of the Underlying Funds
 
 
Asset Class Risk — Securities and other assets or financial instruments in the Underlying Index of an Underlying Fund or in an Underlying Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to the general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes.
 
 
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk — Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with an ETF, and none of those authorized participants is obligated to engage in creation and/ or redemption transactions. The Underlying Funds that are ETFs have a limited number of institutions that may act as authorized participants on an agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants). To the extent that authorized participants exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation or redemption orders with respect to an ETF and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, the ETF shares may be more likely to trade at a premium or discount to net asset value and possibly face trading halts or delisting. Authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened for ETFs that invest in securities issued by non‑U.S. issuers or other securities or instruments that have lower trading volumes.
 
 
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk — In addition to the typical risks associated with fixed-income securities and asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), including collateralized loan obligations, carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the risk that the collateral may default or decline in value or be downgraded, if rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization; (iii) the Fund may invest in tranches of CDOs that are subordinate to other tranches; (iv) the structure and complexity of the transaction and the legal documents could lead to disputes among investors regarding the characterization of proceeds; (v) the investment return achieved by the Fund could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models; (vi) the lack of a readily available secondary market for CDOs; (vii) the risk of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures; and (viii) the CDO’s manager may perform poorly.
 
 
Commodities Related Investments Risk — Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in inflation, interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.
 
 
Concentration Risk — To the extent that the Fund or an Underlying Fund is concentrated in the securities of companies, a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, country, region or group of countries, the Fund or that Underlying Fund may be adversely affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting that market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, country, region or group of countries.
 
 
Convertible Securities Risk — The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest, principal or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock, including the potential for increased volatility in the price of the convertible security.
 
 
Corporate Loans Risk — Commercial banks and other financial institutions or institutional investors make corporate loans to companies that need capital to grow or restructure. Borrowers generally pay interest on corporate loans at rates that change in response to changes in market interest rates such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the prime rates of U.S. banks. As a result, the value of corporate loan investments is generally less exposed to the adverse effects of shifts in market interest rates than investments that pay a fixed rate of interest. The market for corporate loans may be subject to irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads. In addition, transactions in corporate loans may settle on a delayed basis. As a result, the proceeds from the sale of corporate loans may not be readily available to make additional investments or
 
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to meet the Fund’s redemption obligations. To the extent the extended settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, the Fund may hold additional cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks and other lenders.
 
 
Counterparty Risk — The counterparty to an over‑the‑counter derivatives contract or a borrower of the Fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations. Any such failure to honor its obligations may cause significant losses to the Fund.
 
 
Depositary Receipts Risk — Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. In addition to investment risks associated with the underlying issuer, depositary receipts expose the Fund to additional risks associated with the non‑uniform terms that apply to depositary receipt programs, credit exposure to the depository bank and to the sponsors and other parties with whom the depository bank establishes the programs, currency risk and the risk of an illiquid market for depositary receipts. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is, in the United States, considered material. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding these issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. While depositary receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing underlying foreign securities in their respective markets and currencies, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, including political, economic, and currency risk.
 
 
Distressed Securities Risk — Distressed securities are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in junk bonds. The Fund will generally not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. In addition, distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.
 
 
Dollar Rolls Risk — Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Fund is committed to buy may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold. These transactions may involve leverage.
 
 
Emerging Markets Risk — Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.
 
 
Foreign Securities Risk — Foreign investments often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. These risks include:
 
   
The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
 
   
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio.
 
   
The economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.
 
   
The governments of certain countries, or the U.S. Government with respect to certain countries, may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions through capital controls and/or sanctions on foreign investments in the capital markets or certain industries in those countries, which may prohibit or restrict the ability to own or transfer currency, securities, derivatives or other assets.
 
   
Many foreign governments do not supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to the same extent as does the United States and may not have laws to protect investors that are comparable to U.S. securities laws.
 
   
Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets may result in delays in payment for or delivery of securities not typically associated with settlement and clearance of U.S. investments.
 
   
The Fund’s claims to recover foreign withholding taxes may not be successful, and if the likelihood of recovery of foreign withholding taxes materially decreases, due to, for example, a change in tax regulation or approach in the foreign country, accruals in the Fund’s net asset value for such refunds may be written down partially or in full, which will adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value.
 
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The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries as well as acts of war in the region. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Fund’s investments.
 
 
Geographic Risk — A natural disaster could occur in a geographic region in which the Fund invests, which could adversely affect the economy or the business operations of companies in the specific geographic region, causing an adverse impact on the Fund’s investments in, or which are exposed to, the affected region.
 
 
High Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities. High portfolio turnover (more than 100%) may result in increased transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commissions, dealer mark‑ups and other transaction costs on the sale of the securities and on reinvestment in other securities. The sale of Fund portfolio securities may result in the realization and/or distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains or losses as compared to a fund with less active trading policies. These effects of higher than normal portfolio turnover may adversely affect Fund performance.
 
 
High Yield Bonds Risk — Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than investment grade bonds, junk bonds are high risk investments that are considered speculative and may cause income and principal losses for the Fund.
 
 
Income Risk — Income risk is the risk that the Fund’s yield will vary as short-term securities in its portfolio mature and the proceeds are reinvested in securities with different interest rates.
 
 
Indexed and Inverse Securities Risk — Indexed and inverse securities provide a potential return based on a particular index of value or interest rates. The Fund’s return on these securities will be subject to risk with respect to the value of the particular index. These securities are subject to leverage risk and correlation risk. Certain indexed and inverse securities have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates or index levels than other securities, and the Fund’s investment in such instruments may decline significantly in value if interest rates or index levels move in a way Fund management does not anticipate.
 
 
Index-Related Risk — There is no guarantee that an Underlying Fund’s investment results will have a high degree of correlation to those of its underlying index or that the Underlying Fund will achieve its investment objective. Market disruptions or high volatility, other unusual market circumstances and regulatory restrictions could have an adverse effect on an Underlying Fund’s ability to adjust its exposure to the required levels in order to track its underlying index. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of an underlying index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the index provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on an Underlying Fund and its shareholders. Unusual market conditions or other unforeseen circumstances (such as natural disasters, political unrest or war) may impact the index provider or a third-party data provider and could cause the index provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance. This could cause an underlying index to vary from its normal or expected composition.
An index fund has operating and other expenses while an index does not. As a result, while an Underlying Fund that is an index fund will attempt to track its underlying index as closely as possible, it will tend to underperform the underlying index to some degree over time. If an index fund is properly correlated to its stated index, the fund will perform poorly when the index performs poorly.
 
 
Inflation-Indexed Bonds Risk — The principal value of an investment is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-indexed bonds.
Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.
Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal value.
The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates may rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation‑indexed bonds. Short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.
Periodic adjustments for inflation to the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond may give rise to original issue discount, which will be includable in the Fund’s gross income. Due to original issue discount, the Fund may be required to make annual distributions to shareholders that exceed the cash received, which may cause the Fund to liquidate certain investments when it is not advantageous to do so. Also, if the principal value of an inflation-indexed
 
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bond is adjusted downward due to deflation, amounts previously distributed in the taxable year may be characterized in some circumstances as a return of capital.
 
 
Investment Style Risk — Under certain market conditions, growth investments have performed better during the later stages of economic expansion and value investments have performed better during periods of economic recovery. Therefore, these investment styles may over time go in and out of favor. At times when an investment style used by the Fund or an Underlying Fund is out of favor, the Fund may underperform other funds that use different investment styles.
 
 
Issuer Risk — Fund performance depends on the performance of individual securities to which the Fund has exposure. Changes in the financial condition or credit rating of an issuer of those securities may cause the value of the securities to decline.
 
 
Management Risk — If a passively managed ETF does not fully replicate the underlying index, it is subject to the risk that the manager’s investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.
 
 
Mezzanine Securities Risk — Mezzanine securities carry the risk that the issuer will not be able to meet its obligations and that the equity securities purchased with the mezzanine investments may lose value.
 
 
Model Risk — The Fund seeks to pursue its investment objective by using proprietary models that incorporate quantitative analysis. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than as forecasted due to the factors incorporated into the models and the weighting of each factor, changes from historical trends, and issues in the construction and implementation of the models (including, but not limited to, software issues and other technological issues). There is no guarantee that BlackRock’s use of these models will result in effective investment decisions for the Fund.
The information and data used in the models may be supplied by third parties. Inaccurate or incomplete data may limit the effectiveness of the models. In addition, some of the data that BlackRock uses may be historical data, which may not accurately predict future market movement. There is a risk that the models will not be successful in selecting investments or in determining the weighting of investment positions that will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
 
 
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risks — Mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages or other assets, including consumer loans or receivables held in trust. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are subject to credit, interest rate, prepayment and extension risks. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage or asset, particularly during periods of economic downturn. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.
 
 
Municipal Securities Risks — Municipal securities risks include the ability of the issuer to repay the obligation, the relative lack of information about certain issuers of municipal securities, and the possibility of future legislative changes which could affect the market for and value of municipal securities. Budgetary constraints of local, state, and federal governments upon which the issuers may be relying for funding may also impact municipal securities. These risks include:
General Obligation Bonds Risks — Timely payments depend on the issuer’s credit quality, ability to raise tax revenues and ability to maintain an adequate tax base.
Revenue Bonds Risks — These payments depend on the money earned by the particular facility or class of facilities, or the amount of revenues derived from another source.
Private Activity Bonds Risks — Municipalities and other public authorities issue private activity bonds to finance development of industrial facilities for use by a private enterprise. The private enterprise pays the principal and interest on the bond, and the issuer does not pledge its full faith, credit and taxing power for repayment.
Moral Obligation Bonds Risks — Moral obligation bonds are generally issued by special purpose public authorities of a state or municipality. If the issuer is unable to meet its obligations, repayment of these bonds becomes a moral commitment, but not a legal obligation, of the state or municipality.
Municipal Notes Risks — Municipal notes are shorter term municipal debt obligations. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, the notes may not be fully repaid and the Fund may lose money.
Municipal Lease Obligations Risks — In a municipal lease obligation, the issuer agrees to make payments when due on the lease obligation. Although the issuer does not pledge its unlimited taxing power for payment of the lease obligation, the lease obligation is secured by the leased property.
Tax‑Exempt Status Risk — The Fund and its investment manager will rely on the opinion of issuers’ bond counsel and, in the case of derivative securities, sponsors’ counsel, on the tax‑exempt status of interest on municipal bonds and payments under derivative securities. Neither the Fund nor its investment manager will independently review the bases for those tax opinions, which may ultimately be determined to be incorrect and subject the Fund and its shareholders to substantial tax liabilities.
 
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National Closed Market Trading Risk — To the extent that the underlying securities and/or other assets held by an Underlying Fund that is an ETF trade on foreign exchanges or in foreign markets that may be closed when the securities exchange on which the Underlying Fund’s shares trade is open, there are likely to be deviations between the current price of such an underlying security and the last quoted price for the underlying security (i.e., an Underlying Fund’s quote from the closed foreign market). The impact of a closed foreign market on an Underlying Fund is likely to be greater where a large portion of the Underlying Fund’s underlying securities and/or other assets trade on that closed foreign market or when the foreign market is closed for unscheduled reasons. These deviations could result in premiums or discounts to one or more of the Underlying Funds’ net asset values that may be greater than those experienced by other ETFs.
 
 
“New Issues” Risk — “New issues” are initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of equity securities. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile or may decline shortly after the IPO.
 
 
Passive Investment Risk — Because BFA does not select individual companies in the underlying indexes for certain Underlying Funds, those Underlying Funds may hold securities of companies that present risks that an investment adviser researching individual securities might seek to avoid.
 
 
Pay-in-kind Bonds Risk — Similar to zero coupon obligations, pay-in-kind bonds also carry additional risk as holders of these types of securities realize no cash until the cash payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. The market price of pay-in-kind bonds is affected by interest rate changes to a greater extent, and therefore tends to be more volatile, than that of securities which pay interest in cash.
 
 
Preferred Securities Risk — Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly th