Company Description
BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust (BCX) is an investment trust that focuses on the resources and commodities space. According to its stated investment objective, the trust seeks high current income and current gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. It does this by investing primarily in equity securities and derivatives that are tied to commodity and natural resources companies, as well as to the underlying price movements of commodities and natural resources.
The trust is associated with BlackRock, which describes itself as a fiduciary to investors and a provider of financial technology. Within that broader asset management platform, BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust is structured as a closed-end fund. As a closed-end fund, it has a fixed number of common shares that trade on an exchange, and it can use tools such as tender offers to manage its share base.
Investment focus and portfolio approach
The trust states that it invests at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by commodity or natural resources companies, derivatives with exposure to those companies, or securities and derivatives linked to the price movement of commodities or natural resources. This focus ties the fund’s strategy to sectors involved with resources and commodities, while using both direct equity positions and derivative instruments to pursue its objectives of income, gains, and potential capital appreciation.
Because the fund is organized as an investment trust and a closed-end fund, investors access the strategy by buying and selling its common shares. The fund’s investment objective and 80% policy provide a framework for how it allocates assets across equity and derivative positions related to commodities and natural resources.
Closed-end fund structure and tender offers
BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust has conducted tender offers for a portion of its outstanding common shares. In multiple instances, the fund announced tender offers for up to 2.5% of its outstanding common shares, with the purchase price set at 98% of the fund’s net asset value per share as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the business day immediately following the expiration date of each tender offer. The fund reported that these tender offers were oversubscribed, and that shares were purchased from tendering shareholders on a pro rata basis after disregarding fractions, based on the number of shares properly tendered.
These tender offers were conducted pursuant to an offer to purchase, a related letter of transmittal and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to a tender offer statement on Schedule TO. BlackRock noted that shareholders could obtain copies of these documents through the SEC’s website.
Relationship to BlackRock and regulatory reporting
The trust is one of several BlackRock closed-end funds that have undertaken similar tender offers. BlackRock states that it updates performance and certain other data for its closed-end funds on a monthly basis in the closed-end funds section of its website, and that annual and semi-annual reports and other regulatory filings of the funds are accessible on the SEC’s website. These reports may discuss factors that affect the funds, including BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust.
As a registered investment trust, BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust is subject to U.S. securities regulation and files reports and tender offer documents with the SEC. Investors can review these filings to understand the fund’s holdings, risks, and policies, as well as the details of any corporate actions such as tender offers.
How BCX fits within the resources and commodities segment
Within the broader resources and commodities segment, BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust offers a way to gain exposure to commodity and natural resources companies and to the price movement of commodities and natural resources through a closed-end fund format. Its stated emphasis on high current income and current gains, combined with a secondary focus on capital appreciation, shapes how the portfolio is managed within that segment.
Key characteristics
- Structure: Investment trust organized as a closed-end fund.
- Primary objective: High current income and current gains.
- Secondary objective: Capital appreciation.
- Investment policy: At least 80% of total assets in equity securities of commodity or natural resources companies, derivatives with exposure to such companies, or securities and derivatives linked to commodity or natural resources price movements.
- Corporate actions: Has conducted oversubscribed tender offers for up to 2.5% of outstanding common shares at 98% of net asset value per share, with pro rata share repurchases.
- Regulatory oversight: Files tender offer statements on Schedule TO and other reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investor considerations
Investors evaluating BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust can review its investment objectives, its focus on commodities and natural resources via equity and derivative instruments, and its use of tender offers as described in public announcements. Regulatory filings and fund reports available through the SEC provide additional detail on the fund’s holdings and policies.