L-R: Taha Lokhandwala, news editor at Investment Adviser, Simon White, managing director of closed-end funds at BlackRock, and Richard Romer-Lee, managing director at Square Mile Investment Consulting & Research
BlackRock took the coveted Large Investment Group title at this year’s awards ceremony. It is the first year the firm has been a member of both the Large and Passive Investment Group categories. Its Frontiers Investment Trust was also recognised in the Specialist Sectors and Assets section.
In addition, the firm was named in the European equities category for the BlackRock Continental European Income fund. This follows on from a successful 2015 showing where the company was listed three times.
The fund group describes itself as a “global leader” in investment management, risk management and advisory services, with offerings for both retail and institutional clients. Its product range includes separate accounts, mutual funds, an exchange-traded fund range called iShares and other pooled investment vehicles.
At the end of June BlackRock had assets under management globally of $4.9trn (£4trn). Its 12,700 employees span more than 30 nations, with a major presence in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East and Africa.
Over the past 12 months the firm has undertaken a number of initiatives to help advisers enhance the services they provide, including the launch last year of The Adviser Exchange – which offers access to market outlooks and investment insights – and guidance on wealth management issues, as well as a range of portfolio analysis tools.
What the judges say
The panel declared BlackRock a standout in this category, highlighting its strong offerings in a number of asset classes, the way it engages with fund buyers and also its innovative ideas.
