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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-169328

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell these securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is prohibited.

Subject to Completion, dated May 22, 2012

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated September 13, 2010)

$                  

$                     % Notes due 20    

$                     % Notes due 20    

The 20     Notes will bear interest at the rate of     % per year, and mature on May     , 20    .

The 20     Notes will bear interest at the rate of     % per year, and mature on May     , 20    .

Interest on the notes is payable on May      and November      of each year, beginning on November     , 2012.

The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of our company and will rank equal in right of payment with each other and with all our other unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

Investing in our notes involves risks, including those described in the “Risk Factors ” section beginning on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement and the sections entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 27 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and beginning on page 80 of our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

Interest on the notes will accrue from May     , 2012.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to purchasers on or about May     , 2012, only in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company and its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.

Prospectus Supplement dated May     , 2012.

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Prospectus Supplement

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which contains specific information about us and the terms on which we are offering and issuing notes. The second part is the accompanying prospectus dated September 13, 2010, which contains and incorporates by reference important business and financial information about us and other information about the offering.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell notes in one or more offerings. This prospectus supplement also adds to, updates and changes information contained in the accompanying prospectus. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus as well as additional information described under “Information Incorporated by Reference” beginning on page S-25 of this prospectus supplement before investing in our notes. Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined.

We are responsible for the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus. Neither we nor any of the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell our notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

Before you invest in our notes, you should carefully read the registration statement (including the exhibits thereto) of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, and other statements that BlackRock may make, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to BlackRock’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions.

BlackRock cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and BlackRock assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.

In addition to risk factors previously disclosed in BlackRock’s SEC reports and those identified elsewhere in this prospectus supplement the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives and strategies; (2) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for products or services or in the value of assets under management; (3) the relative and absolute investment performance of BlackRock’s investment products; (4) the impact of increased competition; (5) the impact of future acquisitions or divestitures; (6) the unfavorable resolution of legal proceedings; (7) the extent and timing of any share repurchases; (8) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes and the adequacy of intellectual property and information security protection; (9) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to BlackRock, Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”) or The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”); (10) terrorist activities, international hostilities and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or BlackRock; (11) the ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (12) fluctuations in the carrying value of BlackRock’s economic investments; (13) the impact of changes to tax legislation, including income, payroll and transaction taxes, and taxation on products or transactions, which could affect the value proposition to clients and, generally, the tax position of BlackRock; (14) BlackRock’s success in maintaining the distribution of its products; (15) the impact of BlackRock electing to provide support to its products from time to time and any liabilities related to securities lending or other indemnification obligations; and (16) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions.

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RISK FACTORS

Any investment in our notes involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below and all of the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before deciding whether to purchase our notes. In addition, you should carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, and other documents that we subsequently file with the SEC, all of which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. The risks and uncertainties described below, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 are not the only risks and uncertainties we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any such risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations would suffer.

Risks Related to the Offering

Our indebtedness could limit cash flow available for our operations, could adversely affect our ability to service debt or obtain additional financing if necessary, or reduce our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the market.

As of March 31, 2012, we had outstanding $4.7 billion of unsecured long-term indebtedness and $100 million of short-term indebtedness. Our indebtedness could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the market in which we compete. Although we believe we have adequate sources of liquidity to meet our anticipated requirements for working capital, debt service, capital expenditures and cash dividend payments, there can be no assurance that our cash flow from operations will be sufficient to service our debt, which may require us to borrow additional funds for that purpose, restructure or otherwise refinance our debt.

The notes are obligations exclusively of BlackRock, Inc. and not of our subsidiaries and payment to holders of the notes will be structurally subordinated to the claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors.

The notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. As a result, liabilities, including indebtedness or guarantees of indebtedness, of each of our subsidiaries will rank effectively senior to the indebtedness represented by the notes, to the extent of such subsidiary’s assets. In addition, the indenture governing the notes does not restrict the future incurrence of liabilities or issuances of preferred stock, including unsecured indebtedness or guarantees of indebtedness, by our subsidiaries.

The notes will be effectively junior to secured indebtedness that we may issue in the future.

The notes are unsecured. Holders of any secured debt that we may issue in the future may foreclose on the assets securing such debt, reducing the cash flow from the foreclosed property available for payment of unsecured debt, including the notes. Holders of our secured debt also would have priority over unsecured creditors in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding. As a result, the notes will be effectively junior to any secured debt that we may issue in the future.

There is no public market for the notes, which could limit their market price or your ability to sell them.

We can give no assurances concerning the liquidity of any market that may develop for the notes offered hereby, the ability of any investor to sell the notes, or the price at which investors would be able to sell them. If a market for the notes does not develop, investors may be unable to resell the notes for an extended period of time, if at all. If a market for the notes does develop, it may not continue or it may not be sufficiently liquid to allow holders to resell any of the notes. Consequently, investors may not be able to liquidate their investment readily, and lenders may not readily accept the notes as collateral for loans.

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA

The selected condensed consolidated historical income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 and the selected consolidated historical balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 presented below have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The selected consolidated historical income statement data for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 and the selected consolidated historical balance sheet data as of March 31, 2012 have been derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements provided herein have been prepared on substantially the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the information for the periods presented. Results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 may not be indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2012. All financial data presented in this prospectus supplement has been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

This information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements (including the related notes thereto) and the disclosure under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $         after deducting the underwriting discount and before deducting other estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with cash on hand, to repay amounts drawn under our commercial paper program to fund a portion of the Repurchase and for general corporate purposes, which may include future repayments of our outstanding indebtedness.

Following the Repurchase, we expect to have approximately $500 million outstanding under our commercial paper program, with a weighted average yield of approximately 0.18% per annum and an average maturity of seven days.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The table below sets forth our unaudited ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization as of March 31, 2012 (1) on a historical basis; (2) as adjusted to give effect to the Barclays Offering, including the automatic conversion of              shares of our Series B Preferred Stock into an equal number of shares of our common stock as a result of the Barclays Offering, the Repurchase and the              shares of common stock issued to PNC Bancorp in exchange for shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the PNC Exchange (together, the “Equity Transactions”); and (3) as further adjusted to give effect to this offering. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the notes. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities.” In addition to reading the description of the notes in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus, you should also read the senior indenture under which the notes are to be issued. If the description of the notes in this prospectus supplement differs from the description of debt securities in the accompanying prospectus, the description of the notes in this prospectus supplement supersedes the description of debt securities in the accompanying prospectus. When used in this section, the terms “BlackRock,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer solely to BlackRock, Inc. and not to its subsidiaries.

General

The 20     Notes will initially be limited to $                         in aggregate principal amount and the 20     Notes will initially be limited to $                         in aggregate principal amount. The notes will be issued in fully registered form only, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The 20     Notes will mature on May     , 20     and the 20     Notes will mature on May     , 20    .

The 20     Notes and 20     Notes will be issued as two separate series of senior debt securities under the senior indenture referred to in the accompanying prospectus. The senior indenture does not limit the amount of other debt that we may incur. We may, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes of any series, issue other debt securities under the senior indenture in addition to the notes. We may also, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes of a series, issue additional debt securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms (except for the issue date, public offering price and, in some cases, the first interest payment date) as the notes of that series. Any additional debt securities, together with the previously issued notes of a series with the same terms, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the senior indenture.

The notes will bear interest from May     , 2012, at the annual rate of     % in the case of the 20     Notes and     % in the case of the 20     Notes. Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually on May      and November      of each year, commencing November     , 2012 to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding May      and November     , respectively, subject to certain exceptions.

The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of BlackRock and will rank equal in right of payment to each other and to all our other unsubordinated indebtedness.

The notes do not provide for any sinking fund.

The provisions of the senior indenture described under “Description of Debt Securities—Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus apply to the notes.

Optional Redemption of the Notes

Each series of notes will be redeemable in whole or in part, at our option at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus             basis points in the case of the 20    Notes and             basis points in the case of the 20    Notes, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

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“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such notes.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the trustee after consultation with us.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined herein) selected by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC or any of their affiliates that are primary U.S. Government securities dealers, and their respective successors; provided that if the foregoing or any of their affiliates shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (ii) one other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by us.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes of the series to be redeemed.

Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

Ranking

The notes are our obligations exclusively, and are not obligations of our subsidiaries. We are a holding company and, accordingly, substantially all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flow and our ability to service our debt, including the notes, depend upon the earnings of our subsidiaries. In addition, we depend on the distribution of earnings, loans or other payments by our subsidiaries to us.

Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the notes or to provide us with funds for our payment obligations. In addition, any payment of dividends, distributions, loans or advances by our subsidiaries to us could be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions. Payments due to us by our subsidiaries will also be contingent upon our subsidiaries’ earnings and business considerations.

Our right to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries, as an equity holder of such subsidiaries, upon their liquidation or reorganization, and therefore the right of the holders of the notes to participate in those assets, would be structurally subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors. The notes do not restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness. In addition, the notes are unsecured. Thus, even if we were a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our rights as a creditor would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior to that held by us.

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Book-Entry System; Delivery and Form

The notes will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, which we refer to as DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee. We will not issue notes in certificated form. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the global securities through either DTC in the United States, or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System in Europe, referred to as Clearstream and Euroclear, if they are participants of those systems, or, indirectly, through organizations that are participants in those systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositories, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositories’ names on the books of DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be held in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as set forth below, the global securities may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor to DTC or its nominee.

DTC, the world’s largest depository, is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). DTC holds and provides asset servicing for issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments that DTC’s participants, which we refer to as direct participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among direct participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between direct participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC system also is available to others, such as U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. We refer to those entities as indirect participants.

Purchases of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, who receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each note, who we refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through whom the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes will be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the notes, except in the event that use of the book entry system for the notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or another DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

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Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the notes of a series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the notes to be redeemed.

Neither DTC, Cede & Co. nor any other DTC nominee will consent or vote with respect to the notes unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts notes are credited on the record date.

Redemption proceeds, distributions and interest payments on the notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the exchange agent on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC or its nominee, us, the trustee or the exchange agent, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is the responsibility of us or the exchange agent. Disbursement of such payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository with respect to the notes of a series at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the exchange agent. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depository is not obtained, certificates representing the affected notes are required to be printed and delivered. In addition, we may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC or a successor securities depository with respect to the notes of a series. In that event, certificates representing the notes of the affected series will be printed and delivered. In the event that individual certificates are issued, holders of the notes will be able to receive payments, including principal and interest on the notes, and effect transfer of the notes at the offices of our paying and transfer agent.

Similar to DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream hold securities for participating organizations. They also facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between their respective participants through electronic book-entry changes in the accounts of such participants. Euroclear and Clearstream provide various services to their participants, including the safekeeping, administration, clearance, settlement, lending and borrowing of internationally traded securities. Euroclear and Clearstream interface with domestic securities markets. Euroclear and Clearstream participants are financial institutions such as underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and certain other organizations. Indirect access to Euroclear and Clearstream is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear and Clearstream participant, either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Euroclear or Clearstream will be credited to the cash accounts of participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective procedures, to the extent received by the common depositary for Euroclear or Clearstream.

The information in this section concerning DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but neither we nor the trustee take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Initial settlement for the notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in

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immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected within DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depository; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the participant in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines. The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depository to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositories. Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits, or any transactions in the notes settled during such processing, will be reported to the relevant Euroclear participants or Clearstream participants on that business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of notes by or through a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the business day of settlement in DTC but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following DTC settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and they may discontinue the procedures at any time.

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes by an initial holder of the notes that is a non-U.S. holder (as defined below) that acquires the notes pursuant to this offering at the initial sale price and holds the notes as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Treasury Regulations”), judicial decisions and current administrative rulings and practice, all as in effect and available as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be applicable to holders in light of their particular circumstances, or to holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as brokers, banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities or qualified retirement plans, entities that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, dealers in securities or currencies, certain U.S. expatriates, persons deemed to sell the notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code and persons that hold the notes as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any other U.S. federal tax consequences (e.g., estate or gift tax) or any state, local or foreign tax laws. This discussion is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences to them in their particular circumstances.

For purposes of this discussion, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is not (i) a citizen or individual resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; (iv) a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary control over its administration and one or more United States persons, within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust, or (B) the trust has made an election under the applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person; or (v) a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) beneficially owns the notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in a partnership that beneficially owns the notes should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them.

Interest

A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on payments of interest on the notes provided that (i) such interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by the non-U.S. holder (or, if certain tax treaties apply, if such interest is not attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States by the non-U.S. holder) and (ii) the non-U.S. holder (A) does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock, (B) is not a controlled foreign corporation related to us directly or constructively through stock ownership, and (C) satisfies certain certification requirements. Such certification requirements will be met if (x) the non-U.S. holder provides its name and address, and certifies on an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8BEN (or appropriate substitute form), under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States person or (y) a securities clearing organization or one of certain other financial institutions holding the note on behalf of the non-U.S. holder certifies on IRS Form W-8IMY, under penalties of perjury, that the certification referred to in clause (x) has been received by it and furnishes us or our paying agent with a copy thereof. In addition, we or our paying agent must not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner of the notes is a United States person.

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If interest on the notes is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by a non-U.S. holder but such non-U.S. holder cannot satisfy the other requirements outlined in the preceding paragraph, interest on the notes generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax (currently imposed at a 30% rate, or a lower applicable treaty rate).

If interest on the notes is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by a non-U.S. holder and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, then the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest in the same manner as if such holder were a United States person and, in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax (currently imposed at a rate of 30%, or a lower applicable treaty rate). Any such interest will not also be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, however, if the non-U.S. holder delivers to us a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or appropriate substitute form) in order to claim an exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax.

Disposition of the Notes

A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax (or any withholding thereof) with respect to gain, if any, recognized on the disposition of the notes unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by the non-U.S. holder and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, or (ii) in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a nonresident alien individual, such holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year and certain other conditions are satisfied.

In the case of (i) above, any gain or loss recognized by the non-U.S. holder on the disposition of the notes generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a United States person and, in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax discussed above. In the case of (ii) above, the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to a 30% tax on any capital gain recognized on the disposition of the notes (after being offset by certain U.S. source capital losses). These holders are urged to consult their tax advisers with respect to the U.S. tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the notes.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

A non-U.S. holder generally will be required to comply with certain certification procedures to establish that such holder is not a United States person in order to avoid backup withholding with respect to payments on, or the proceeds of a disposition of, the notes. In addition, we must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of any interest paid to such non-U.S. holder regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is correctly and timely provided to the IRS.

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UNDERWRITING

Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as the representatives of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement between us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the principal amount of notes set forth opposite its name below.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the notes sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these notes are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriter may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and their controlling persons against certain liabilities in connection with this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the notes, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representatives have advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer the notes to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the 20    Notes and    % of the principal amount of the 20    Notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount on the notes to other dealers not in excess of     % the principal amount of the 20    Notes and     % of the principal amount of the 20    Notes. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed.

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds before expenses to us.

The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $        and are payable by us.

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Price Stabilization and Penalty Bids

In connection with the offering of the notes, the underwriters may purchase and sell the notes of each series in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of notes of a series in excess of the principal amount of notes of that series to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the notes while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the underwriters, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchase notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the notes. They may also cause the prices of the notes to be higher than the prices that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, investment banking, commercial lending, financial advisory and other services for us. The underwriters have received customary fees and expenses for these services. In particular, affiliates of the underwriters are dealers under our commercial paper program. In addition, affiliates of the underwriters are lenders under our $3.785 billion revolving credit facility maturing in 2017.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Selling Restrictions

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (“EEA”) which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”), an offer to the public of the notes may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any notes may be made at any time with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:

(a) to legal entities which are qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

(b) to fewer than 100, or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provisions of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives of the underwriters for any such offer; or

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(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer of notes shall require BlackRock or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State; the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State; and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

This EEA selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

United Kingdom

This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such notes will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or any of their contents.

Each underwriter has represented, warranted and agreed that: (a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 200 (the “FSMA”) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to BlackRock; and (b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Japan

The notes offered by this prospectus supplement have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended; the “FIEA”). The notes offered by this prospectus supplement may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (as defined under Item 5, Paragraph 1, Article 6 of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (Act No. 228 of 1949, as amended)), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Hong Kong

The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or

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the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the notes will be offered pursuant to exemptions under the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “Securities and Futures Act”). Accordingly, the notes may not be offered or sold or made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase nor may this prospectus supplement or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale or invitation for subscription or purchase of the notes be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (a) to an institutional investor pursuant to Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, (b) to a relevant person under Section 275(1) of the Securities and Futures Act or to any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the Securities and Futures Act and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act, or (c) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the Securities and Futures Act.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the Securities and Futures Act) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer under Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act except: (i) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the Securities and Futures Act or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the Securities and Futures Act; or (ii) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or (iii) where the transfer is by operation of law; or (iv) pursuant to Section 276(7) of the Securities and Futures Act.

China

The notes are not being offered or sold and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the People’s Republic of China (for such purposes, not including the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions or Taiwan), except as permitted by the securities and funds laws of the People’s Republic of China.

Korea

The notes may not be offered, sold and delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in South Korea or to any resident of South Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of South Korea, including the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the decrees and regulations thereunder. The notes have not been registered with the Financial Services Commission of South Korea for public offering in South Korea. Furthermore, the notes may not be re-sold to South Korean residents unless the purchaser of the notes complies with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to government approval requirements under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and its subordinate decrees and regulations) in connection with their purchase.

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VALIDITY OF THE NOTES

The validity of the notes will be passed upon for the Company by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York and will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cleary Gottlieb Steen  & Hamilton LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and the effectiveness of BlackRock, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of the registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules of the SEC allow us to omit from this prospectus some of the information included in the registration statement. This information may be read and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of these public reference facilities. The SEC maintains an Internet site, http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that are subject to the SEC’s reporting requirements.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. We fulfill our obligations with respect to such requirements by filing periodic reports and other information with the SEC. These reports and other information are available as provided above.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and any other filings on or after the date of this prospectus supplement, until we have sold all of the offered securities to which this prospectus supplement relates or the offering is otherwise terminated. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement. Any statement in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in (1) this prospectus supplement or (2) any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes such statement.

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus supplement. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents listed below:

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Any statement made in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference into this prospectus through us or from the SEC through the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus are delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the registration statement. You should direct requests for documents by writing to:

BlackRock, Inc.

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

Tel.: (212) 810-5300

Attention: Secretary

The incorporated materials may also be found on the Investor Relations portion of our website at http://www2.blackrock.com/global/home/InvestorRelations/index.htm. Our website and the information contained in it or connected to it shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this prospectus supplement or the registration statement.

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Prospectus

BlackRock, Inc.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

BlackRock, Inc. may offer from time to time (i) unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities, (ii) preferred stock, (iii) common stock, (iv) warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or other securities, (v) subscription rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or other securities, (vi) stock purchase contracts to purchase shares of our preferred stock or common stock, or (vii) stock purchase units consisting of (a) stock purchase contracts, (b) warrants, and/or (c) debt securities issued by BlackRock or debt obligations of third parties (including United States treasury securities or other stock purchase contracts), that secure the holders’ obligations to purchase or to sell, as the case may be, preferred stock or common stock under the stock purchase contract.

We will provide the terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus.

In addition, selling stockholders to be named in a prospectus supplement may offer shares of our common stock from time to time.

To the extent that any selling stockholder resells any securities, the selling stockholder may be required to provide you with this prospectus and a prospectus supplement identifying and containing specific information about the selling stockholder and the terms of the securities being offered.

You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BLK”. If we decide to seek a listing of any debt securities, preferred stock or warrants offered by this prospectus, the related prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which the securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any.

Our principal office is located at 55 East 52nd St., New York, N.Y. 10055. Our telephone number is (212) 810-5300.

Investing in our securities involves risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 and the documents incorporated herein by reference.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is September 13, 2010

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we and/or the selling stockholders may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we and/or the selling stockholders may offer. We will provide the terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. We urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 3.

As used in this prospectus, “BlackRock,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to BlackRock, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and “our board of directors” refers to the board of directors of BlackRock, Inc., except where the context otherwise requires or as otherwise clearly indicated.

BLACKROCK

BlackRock is the largest publicly traded investment management firm with $3.151 trillion of assets under management at June 30, 2010. We focus exclusively on investment management and risk management; we do not engage in proprietary trading or other activities that could conflict with the interests of our clients. Our business is global—we invest in capital markets throughout the world, we have employees in 24 countries and we serve institutional and retail investors in more than 100 countries. We offer a broad array of equity, fixed income, multi-asset class, alternative investment and cash management products, as well as our BlackRock Solutions^® investment systems, risk management and advisory services. We offer our investment products directly and through intermediaries in a variety of vehicles, including open-end and closed-end mutual funds, iShares^® exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), collective investment trusts and separate accounts. Our clients include taxable, tax-exempt and official institutions, high net worth individuals and retail investors.

On December 1, 2009, BlackRock acquired Barclays Global Investors (“BGI”) from Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”), referred to as the “BGI Transaction,” adding substantial investment and risk management capabilities and more than 3,500 new colleagues to the combined organization. BGI has long been recognized for product innovation in indexed and scientific investing, including pioneering iShares, the industry’s leading ETF platform, sophisticated retirement solutions and liability-driven investment strategies. These strengths complement BlackRock’s active fundamental portfolio management capabilities, global mutual fund platform, customized solutions, risk management and advisory services. Together, the combined firm is strongly distinguished by its scale, breadth of capabilities and depth of intellectual capital focused on helping clients address their investment challenges and achieve their financial objectives. Upon closing of the BGI Transaction, we commenced operations as a unified firm with the integration of corporate systems largely completed and implementation of our operating platform well underway. Substantial operating and cultural integration work is expected to continue over the course of the next two years.

BlackRock is an independent, publicly traded company, with no single majority stockholder and a majority of independent directors. At June 30, 2010, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“Bank of America”), owned approximately 3.6% of BlackRock’s voting common stock outstanding and held approximately 33.8% of our capital stock. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) owned approximately 34.3% of BlackRock’s voting common stock outstanding and held approximately 24.2% of our capital stock. Barclays owned approximately 4.7% of BlackRock’s voting common stock outstanding and held approximately 19.6% of our capital stock.

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RISK FACTORS

You should consider the specific risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, the risk factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC, pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) before making an investment decision. Each of the risks described in these documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus. You should also carefully review the cautionary statement in this prospectus referred to under “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report, and other statements that BlackRock may make, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to BlackRock’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions.

BlackRock cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and BlackRock assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.

In addition to risk factors previously disclosed in BlackRock’s Securities and Exchange Commission reports and those identified elsewhere in this report the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives and strategies; (2) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for products or services or in the value of assets under management; (3) the relative and absolute investment performance of BlackRock’s investment products; (4) the impact of increased competition; (5) the impact of capital improvement projects; (6) the impact of future acquisitions or divestitures; (7) the unfavorable resolution of legal proceedings; (8) the extent and timing of any share repurchases; (9) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes and the adequacy of intellectual property protection; (10) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, including the recently approved Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to BlackRock, Barclays, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch or PNC; (11) terrorist activities and international hostilities, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or BlackRock; (12) the ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (13) fluctuations in the carrying value of BlackRock’s economic investments; (14) the impact of changes to tax legislation and, generally, the tax position of the Company; (15) BlackRock’s success in maintaining the distribution of its products; (16) the impact of BlackRock electing to provide support to its products from time to time; (17) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions; and (18) the ability of BlackRock to integrate the operations of BGI.

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You should carefully read the risk factors described in “Risk Factors” in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a description of certain risks that could, among other things, cause our actual results to differ from these forward looking statements.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, under which we file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. We make available through our website at http://www.blackrock.com, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed or furnished to the SEC. You may read and copy materials that we have filed with the Commission at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our Commission filings are also available to the public on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including any filings on or after the date of this prospectus, until we have sold all of the offered securities to which this prospectus relates or the offering is otherwise terminated. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Any statement in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in (1) this prospectus or (2) any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. The documents incorporated by reference herein include:

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should direct requests for documents by writing to:

BlackRock, Inc.

55 East 52nd Street

New York, N.Y. 10055

Tel.: (212) 810-5300

Attention: Secretary

No person is authorized to give any information or represent anything not contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement. We are only offering the securities in places where sales of those securities are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement, as well as information incorporated by reference, is current only as of the date of that information. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in connection with a particular offering of securities, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus will be used for general corporate purposes. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds in the event that the securities are sold by a selling security holder.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and for the years 2005-2009 are included as an exhibit to BlackRock’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 and are incorporated in this prospectus by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The debt securities will constitute either unsecured senior debt or unsecured subordinated debt. We will issue debt securities that will be senior debt under an indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “senior indenture”), dated September 17, 2007. We will issue debt securities that will be subordinated debt under an indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (“subordinated indenture” and, together with the senior indenture, the “Indentures”). This prospectus refers to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture individually as the “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” The term “trustee” refers to the trustee under each indenture, as appropriate.

The indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The indentures are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated indenture. The following summary of the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indentures, each of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read the indenture that is applicable to you because it, and not the summary below, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. You can obtain copies of the indentures by following the directions described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 3.

General

The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to our “Senior Indebtedness.” For additional information, see “—Subordination” below. As of June 30, 2010, approximately $3.191 billion aggregate principal amount of debt securities were outstanding under the Senior Indenture. As of June 30, 2010, approximately $3.706 billion aggregate principal amount of BlackRock’s existing debt would have ranked senior to the subordinated debt securities and equally with the senior debt securities. As of June 30, 2010, none of BlackRock’s existing debt would have been subordinated to the senior debt securities and have ranked equally with the subordinated debt securities. The indentures do not limit the amount of debt, either secured or unsecured, which may be issued by us under the indentures or otherwise. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities and may be sold at par, a premium or an original issue discount. Debt securities sold at an original issue discount may bear no interest or interest at a rate which is below market rates. Since BlackRock is a holding company, the right of BlackRock, and hence the rights of the creditors and securityholders of BlackRock, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is accordingly subject to prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of BlackRock itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized. The

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indentures do not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring debt or agreeing to limitations on their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.

Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:

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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons.

Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement

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relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

Subordination

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific subordination provisions. However, unless otherwise noted in the prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any existing Senior Indebtedness.

Under the subordinated indenture, “Senior Indebtedness” means all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the subordinated indenture or thereafter incurred or created:

However, Senior Indebtedness does not include:

Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

Unless otherwise noted in the accompanying prospectus supplement, if we default in the payment of any principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness when it becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise, then, unless and until such

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default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we will make no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) in respect of the principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other requisition of any of the subordinated debt securities.

In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt securities, the holders of all senior debt securities outstanding at the time of such acceleration, subject to any security interest, will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due on the senior debt securities before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the subordinated debt securities.

If any of the following events occurs, we will pay in full all Senior Indebtedness before we make any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, to any holder of subordinated debt securities:

In such event, any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the subordinated debt securities, will be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full. If any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities is received by the trustee of any subordinated debt securities in contravention of any of the terms of the subordinated indenture and before all the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, such payment or distribution or security will be received in trust for the benefit of, and paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full.

The subordinated indenture does not limit the issuance of additional Senior Indebtedness.

Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions

We may not (i) merge with or into or consolidate with another corporation or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any other corporation other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, and (ii) no corporation may merge with or into or consolidate with us or, except for any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to us, unless:

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Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, the following shall constitute “Events of Default” under the indentures with respect to each series of debt securities:

If an Event of Default with respect to any debt securities of any series outstanding under either of the indentures shall occur and be continuing, the trustee under such indenture or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by notice as provided in the applicable indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately; provided that, in the case of an Event of Default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, acceleration is automatic; and, provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.

Any past default under either indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, and any Event of Default arising therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of such series outstanding under such indenture, except in the case of (i) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series or (ii) default in respect of a covenant or provision which may not be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected.

The trustee is required within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (which is known to the trustee and is continuing), with respect to the debt securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), to give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of such default.

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The trustee, subject to its duties during default to act with the required standard of care, may require indemnification by the holders of the debt securities of any series with respect to which a default has occurred before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indentures at the request of the holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to such right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series under either indenture may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the applicable indenture or result in the incurrence of liability by the trustee and the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any action against us under either of the indentures (except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt security or for the conversion or exchange of such debt security in accordance with its terms) unless (i) the holder has given to the trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the debt securities of such series specifying an Event of Default, as required under the applicable indenture, (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding under such indenture shall have requested the trustee to institute such action and offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iii) the trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such request and (iv) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series.

We are required to furnish annually to the trustee statements as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under each indenture.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We may discharge or defease our obligations under the indentures as set forth below, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be and we have paid all other sums payable under the applicable indenture.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the relevant indenture) (“defeasance”) or (ii) to be released from our obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the relevant indenture trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance

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had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant indenture. In addition, in the case of either defeasance or covenant defeasance, we shall have delivered to the trustee (i) an officers’ certificate to the effect that the relevant debt securities exchange(s) have informed us that neither such debt securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit and (ii) an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

We may exercise our defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.

Modification and Waiver

Under the indentures, we and the applicable trustee may supplement the indentures for certain purposes which would not materially adversely affect the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities of a series without the consent of those holders. We and the applicable trustee may also modify the indentures or any supplemental indenture in a manner that affects the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series issued under the indenture. However, the indentures require the consent of each holder of debt securities that would be affected by any modification which would:

The indentures permit the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under the indenture which is affected by the modification or amendment to waive our compliance with certain covenants contained in the indentures.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security register.

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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by us will act as paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. All paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All moneys paid by us to a paying agent or held by us in trust for the payment of the principal, interest or premium on any debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to us upon request, and the holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

Denominations, Registrations and Transfer

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, debt securities will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of a nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. In such case, each holder’s beneficial interest in the global securities will be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial interests will only be effected through DTC’s records.

A holder of debt securities may only exchange a beneficial interest in a global security for certificated securities registered in the holder’s name if:

If debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will only be issued in the minimum denomination specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement and integral multiples of such denomination. Transfers and exchanges of such debt securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination. Transfers of debt securities in certificated form may be registered at the trustee’s corporate office or at the offices of any paying agent or trustee appointed by us under the indentures. Exchanges of debt securities for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities in different denominations may also be made at such locations.

Governing Law

The indentures and debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

Trustee

The trustee under the indentures is The Bank of New York Mellon.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other debt securities. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of certain terms of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, our amended and restated by-laws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. For more information on how you can obtain our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, see “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 3. We urge you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated by-laws in their entirety.

General

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we are authorized to issue 1 billion shares of capital stock, consisting of 500 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share and 500 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share of which 20,000,000 shares are designated as Series A convertible participating preferred stock, 150,000,000 shares are designated as Series B convertible participating preferred stock, 6,000,000 shares are designated as Series C convertible participating preferred stock and 20,000,000 shares are designated as Series D participating preferred stock. As of September 7, 2010, we had issued and outstanding approximately 63,655,241 shares of common stock, no shares of Series A convertible participating preferred stock, approximately 124.6 million shares of Series B convertible participating preferred stock, approximately 2.9 million shares of Series C convertible participating preferred stock and no shares of Series D participating preferred stock.

Preferred Stock

The following description of certain terms of the preferred stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the certificate of designations that relates to the particular series of preferred stock, which has been or will be filed with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the related preferred stock. Certain terms of any series of preferred stock offered by any prospectus supplement will be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to such series of preferred stock. If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any such series may differ from the terms set forth below. If there are differences between the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control. For more information on how you can obtain our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and any applicable certificate of designations, see “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 3. We urge you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and any applicable certificate of designations in their entirety.

General. The board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in such class or series, and to fix the designations, voting powers (if any), privileges, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each such class or series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon. The authority of the board of directors with respect to each class or series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

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Unless otherwise specifically set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock, all shares of preferred stock will be of equal rank, preference and priority as to dividends; when the stated dividends are not paid in full, the shares of all series of the preferred stock will share ratably in any payment thereof; and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if assets are insufficient to pay in full all preferred stock, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders ratably.

Since we are a holding company, our right, and hence the right of our creditors and securityholders, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

Dividend Rights. Except as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, the holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, but only when and as declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, cash dividends at the rates and on the dates set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, and no more, payable quarterly.

Redemption. We will have such rights, if any, to redeem shares of preferred stock, and the holders of preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to cause us to redeem shares of preferred stock, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock.

Conversion or Exchange. The holders of preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to convert such shares into or to exchange such shares for, shares of any other class or classes, or of any other series of any class, of our capital stock and/or any other property or cash, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock.

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Voting Rights. The holders of preferred stock will have such voting rights as required by applicable law and as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.

Liquidation Rights. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of preferred stock will have such preferences and priorities, if any, with respect to distribution of our assets or the proceeds thereof as may be set forth in the certificate of designations and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.

Miscellaneous. The transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and registrar for the preferred stock issued in connection with this prospectus will be as set forth in the certificate of designations and summarized in the prospectus supplement. The holders of preferred stock, including any preferred stock issued in connection with this prospectus, will not have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any shares of any class or other securities of any type of ours. When issued, the preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. The certificate of designations setting forth the provisions of each series of preferred stock will become effective after the date of this prospectus but on or before issuance of the related series of preferred stock.

Series A Convertible Participating Preferred Stock. As of September 7, 2010, no shares of Series A participating preferred stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) were outstanding. The Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to receive any dividend that is paid to holders of common stock, payable, at the holder’s option, in shares of common stock, cash, or a combination of cash and common stock. Any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the common stock must also be made accordingly to the Series A Preferred Stock and any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the Series A Preferred Stock must also be made accordingly to the common stock. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BlackRock, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive $.01 per share of Series A Preferred Stock held, plus any outstanding and unpaid dividends, before any payments are made to holders of common stock. After such payment, the remaining assets of BlackRock will be distributed pro rata to the holders of common stock and the Series A Preferred Stock. The participating preferred stock has no voting rights except as required by applicable law.

On February 27, 2009, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock were exchanged for a like number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock (as defined below).

Series B Convertible Participating Preferred Stock. As of September 7, 2010, we had outstanding approximately 124.6 million shares of Series B convertible participating preferred stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”). The Series B Preferred Stock is entitled to receive any dividend that is paid to holders of common stock, payable in the same consideration and manner as is declared on any share of common stock. Any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the common stock must also be made accordingly to the Series B Preferred Stock and any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the Series B Preferred Stock must also be made accordingly to the common stock. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BlackRock, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive $.01 per share of Series B Preferred Stock held, plus any outstanding and unpaid dividends, before any payments are made to holders of common stock. After such payment, the remaining assets of BlackRock will be distributed pro rata to the holders of common stock, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and the holders of any other series of capital stock entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of their participation. The Series B Preferred Stock has no voting rights except as required by applicable law.

Upon any transfer of the Series B Preferred Stock to any person other than an affiliate of the initial holder, each share of Series B Preferred Stock will be converted into one share of common stock. No optional conversion is permitted.

Series C Convertible Participating Preferred Stock. As of September 7, 2010, we had outstanding approximately 2.9 million shares of Series C convertible participating preferred stock (the “Series C Preferred

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Stock”). The Series C Preferred Stock is entitled to receive any dividend that is paid to holders of common stock, payable in the same consideration and manner as is declared on any share of common stock. Any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the common stock must also be made accordingly to the Series C Preferred Stock and any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the Series C Preferred Stock must also be made accordingly to the common stock. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BlackRock, the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive $40.00 per share of Series C Preferred Stock held, plus any outstanding and unpaid dividends, before any payments are made to holders of common stock. After such payment, the remaining assets of BlackRock will be distributed pro rata to the holders of common stock, the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock and the holders of any other series of capital stock entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of their participation. The Series C Preferred Stock has no voting rights except as required by applicable law.

Upon termination of all of the obligations of PNC Asset Management, Inc. and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (the “PNC Parties”) under the Share Surrender Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2002, by and between BlackRock and the PNC Parties (as amended, the “Share Surrender Agreement”), each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall be automatically converted into one share of common stock. Prior to any such conversion, no share of Series C Preferred Stock may be transferred other than to BlackRock in accordance with the Share Surrender Agreement.

Series D Convertible Participating Preferred Stock. As of September 7, 2010, no shares of Series D participating preferred stock (the “Series D Preferred Stock”) were outstanding. The Series D Preferred Stock is entitled to receive any dividend that is paid to holders of common stock or the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, payable in the same consideration and manner as is declared on any share of common stock or the Series B Preferred Stock. Any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the common stock or Series B Preferred Stock must also be made accordingly to the Series D Preferred Stock and any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the Series D Preferred Stock must also be made accordingly to the common stock and Series B Preferred Stock. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BlackRock, the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive $.01 per share of Series D Preferred Stock held, plus any outstanding and unpaid dividends, before any payments are made to holders of common stock. After such payment, the remaining assets of BlackRock will be distributed pro rata to the holders of common stock, the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock and the holders of any other series of capital stock entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of their participation. The Series D Preferred Stock has no voting rights except as required by applicable law.

All shares of Series D Preferred Stock previously issued have been automatically converted into an equal number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

Common Stock

The following description of certain rights of our common stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated by-laws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Voting Rights. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.

Dividends and Liquidation Rights. Subject to the preferential rights of the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock and any other outstanding series of preferred stock created by our board of directors from time to time, the holders of common stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors from funds available therefor, and, upon liquidation, holders of common stock will be entitled to share pro rata in any distribution of our assets after payment, or providing for the payment of, our liabilities.

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Miscellaneous. The outstanding shares of our common stock offered hereby upon issuance and payment therefor will be, fully paid and nonassessable. Our common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable thereto.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BLK.”

The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, 480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310, telephone (800) 522-6645.

Anti-Takeover Considerations

The Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws contain provisions which could serve to discourage or to make more difficult a change in control of us without the support of our board of directors or without meeting various other conditions.

Extraordinary Corporate Transactions

Delaware law provides that the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote must approve any fundamental corporate transactions such as mergers, sales of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets, dissolutions, etc.

State Takeover Legislation

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, in general, prohibits a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder within three years of the time such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless (a) prior to such time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, (b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, exclusive of shares owned by directors who are also officers and by certain employee stock plans or (c) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized by the affirmative vote at a stockholders’ meeting, and not by written consent, of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. The restrictions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law do not apply to certain business combinations or to corporations that have elected, in the manner provided therein, not to be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or, with certain exceptions, which do not have a class of voting stock that is listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders. We have elected to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Rights of Dissenting Stockholders

Delaware law does not afford appraisal rights in a merger transaction to holders of shares that are either listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, provided that such shares will be converted into stock of the surviving corporation or another corporation, which corporation in either case must also be listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders. In addition, Delaware law denies appraisal rights to stockholders of the surviving corporation in a merger if the surviving corporation’s stockholders weren’t required to approve the merger.

Stockholder Action

Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise stated in the certificate of incorporation, any action which may be taken at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in

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writing is signed by the holders of the outstanding stock having the minimum number of votes necessary to authorize the action at a meeting of stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide otherwise and thus permits action by written consent if such action has been approved in advance by the majority vote of our board of directors.

Meetings of Stockholders

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporate provides that special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the chairman of the board of directors, the president, a majority of the board of directors, or any committee of the board of directors that has the power to call such meetings. No stockholder may call a special meeting.

Cumulative Voting

Delaware law permits stockholders to cumulate their votes and either cast them for one candidate or distribute them among two or more candidates in the election of directors only if expressly authorized in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Our certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting.

Removal of Directors

Delaware law provides that, except in the case of a classified board of directors or where cumulative voting applies, a director, or the entire board of directors, of a corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any or all of the directors may be removed, only for cause, by affirmative vote of at least (80%) of the stockholders.

Vacancies

Delaware law provides that vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from a resignation or any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, unless the governing documents of a corporation provide otherwise.

Our amended and restated by-laws provide that newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and vacancies occurring in the board of directors for any reason, may be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or by the stockholders if the vacancy resulted from the action of stockholders.

No Preemptive Rights

Holders of common stock do not have any preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional shares of capital stock or other obligations convertible into or exercisable for shares of capital stock that we may issue in the future.

Staggered Boards

The board of directors is divided into three classes serving staggered terms. The number of directors is fixed by our board of directors, subject to our Bylaws and any Stockholder Agreement. Pursuant to our Stockholder Agreements with each of PNC, Merrill Lynch and Barclays, the number of directors will be no more than 19 directors, such that:

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS