BlackRock North American EGM 2021

In the light of COVID-19, the Company may impose entry restrictions on persons wishing to attend the General Meeting (including, if required, refusing entry) in order to secure the orderly and proper conduct of the General Meeting and the health and safety of the attendees. Such restrictions may include, but are not limited to, the requirement to maintain social distancing, the wearing of masks and temperature checks.

Shareholders are requested not to attend the General Meeting if they are required to self-isolate pursuant to UK Government guidance, which at the date of the Circular is if:

• they have any symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste);

• they have tested positive for COVID-19;

• someone they live with has symptoms or has tested positive;

• someone in their childcare or support bubble has symptoms and they have been in close contact with them since their symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started;

• someone in their childcare or support bubble tested positive and they have been in close contact with them since they had the test or in the 48 hours before their test;

• they have been told they have been in contact with someone who tested positive; or

• they have arrived in England from abroad (not including Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or other parts of the UK).

In addition, Shareholders are requested not to attend the General Meeting if they may be at-risk for coronavirus. Those deemed to be at risk include those who:

• are required to self-isolate following the UK Government guidance set out above;

• have experienced COVID-19 related symptoms within the past 10 days (fever, cough, shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, diarrhoea, fatigue, headache, muscle or body aches, nausea or vomiting); or

• have been in close contact with anyone who is experiencing symptoms or has contracted COVID-19 during the past 14 days.

Although all the UK Government imposed restrictions in connection with COVID-19, in particular on public gatherings, are expected as at the date of the Circular to come to an end on 19 July 2021 it is possible that some or all of the measures in place at the date of the Circular will be extended to the date of the General Meeting. Given these potential restrictions on attending the General Meeting in person as a consequence of COVID-19, Shareholders are encouraged to vote on the resolution to be considered at the General Meeting by proxy in advance of the General Meeting via the methods set out in paragraph 7 (Action to be taken) of Part 1 (Letter from the Chairman) of the Circular. In particular, Shareholders are encouraged to appoint the chairman of the meeting as their proxy in case such potential restrictions mean that the General Meeting is required to be held as a closed meeting with physical attendance limited to only a small number of attendees comprising the required quorum for the meeting and those persons whose attendance is necessary for the conduct of the meeting which would mean that any other person attempting to attend the General Meeting would be refused admission and would therefore be unable to vote. Shareholders are directed to further information and instructions on voting by proxy set out in paragraph 7 (Action to be taken) of Part 1 (Letter from the Chairman) of the Circular, the Notice of General Meeting and the Form of Proxy.

Given the potential restrictions on attendance at the General Meeting described above, to ensure that Shareholders still have an opportunity to engage with the Board, Shareholders who have a question for the Board in relation to the Proposal are invited to submit it to the Company Secretary via email to cosec@blackrock.com. Please note that all questions should be submitted by close of business on 28 July 2021 to ensure that the Company is able to respond to them in advance of the General Meeting.

As noted above, the situation relating to COVID-19 is constantly evolving and the UK Government may delay the relaxation of, reimpose or change current restrictions in connection with COVID-19 and/or implement further measures that affect the holding of shareholder meetings. Any changes to the General Meeting will be communicated to Shareholders through the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com/uk/brna and, where appropriate, by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.

The resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting is an ordinary resolution and, in order to be passed, will require the approval of Shareholders representing more than 50 per cent. of the votes cast at the General Meeting. The resolution will be taken on a poll, which the Board feels is the fairest approach in the light of the potential restrictions that may apply to attendance at the General Meeting.

The Articles provide that (subject to certain exceptions) at the General Meeting each Shareholder present in person or by proxy or who (being a corporation) is present by a representative shall on a show of hands have one vote and on a poll shall have one vote for each Share of which such Shareholder is the holder. The quorum for the General Meeting shall be two persons entitled to attend and to vote on the business to be transacted, each being a Shareholder so entitled or a proxy for a Shareholder so entitled or a duly authorised representative of a corporation which is a Shareholder so entitled. In the event that the General Meeting is adjourned because a quorum is not present by the time specified in the Articles or ceases to be present and the above-mentioned quorum is not present by the time specified in the Articles, at such adjourned General Meeting the quorum shall be one person entitled to attend and to vote on the business to be transacted, being a Shareholder so entitled or proxy for a Shareholder so entitled or duly authorised representative of a corporation which is a Shareholder so entitled

As soon as practicable following the General Meeting, the results of the voting will be announced via a Regulatory Information Service and also placed on the Company’s website, www.blackrock.com/uk/brna.