BlackRock, Inc. is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of products and services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors. Its core activities include portfolio management across active and index strategies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the iShares brand, fixed income, equity and multi-asset solutions, as well as alternatives such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure. The firm also offers cash management and liquidity solutions and retirement-focused products designed for defined contribution and defined benefit investors.
In addition to traditional investment management, BlackRock is known for its technology and risk management capabilities, most prominently its Aladdin platform, which combines portfolio management, trading and risk analytics and is used both internally and licensed to external clients. Historically, BlackRock was founded in 1988 and expanded significantly through organic growth and acquisitions; a landmark transaction was the acquisition of Barclays Global Investors in 2009, which integrated the iShares ETF platform into the firm’s product lineup and strengthened its index and ETF capabilities.
Headquartered in New York City, BlackRock operates globally with offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, serving a diverse client base that includes pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, financial intermediaries and individual investors. Laurence D. "Larry" Fink is a co-founder and serves as chairman and chief executive officer, and Robert S. Kapito serves as president. The firm emphasizes client-focused investment solutions, risk management, and scale in delivering services across geographies and investor types.