BlackRock Sustainable American Income : BRSA (formerly BlackRock North American Income : BRNA) aims to provide an attractive level of income together with capital appreciation over the long term in a manner consistent with the principles of sustainable investing adopted by the company.
Investment policy
The company invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of North American*equity securities, with a focus on large-cap and medium-cap companies that pay and grow their dividends.
The manager adopts a stock specific approach in managing the portfolio, selecting investments that it believes will both increase in value over the long term and provide income.
The company does not invest in companies which are not listed, quoted or traded on an exchange at the time of investment.
Typically, it is expected that the investment portfolio will comprise between 30 and 60 equity securities.
Sustainable investment principles
The manager takes into account the environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics of the relevant issuers of securities and seeks to deliver a superior ESG outcome versus the Russell 1000 Value Index (the benchmark) and a lower carbon emissions intensity score.
The manager also applies a screening policy to limit and/or exclude direct investment in companies which, in the opinion of the manager, have exposure to, or ties with, certain sectors (in some cases subject to specific revenue thresholds) including but not limited to:
(i) the production of certain types of controversial weapons;
(ii) the distribution or production of firearms or small arms ammunition intended for retail civilians;
(iii) the extraction of certain types of fossil fuel and/or the generation of power from them;
(iv) the production of tobacco products or certain activities in relation to tobacco-related products; and
(v) issuers which have been deemed to have failed to comply with United Nations Global Compact