Inhaltsverzeichnis
In the world of global finance, few names hold as much weight as BlackRock. This article dives into the journey of BlackRock, tracing its beginnings, rapid growth, and how it’s become entwined with political power. We’ll also explore its unexpected involvement in Ukraine’s recovery efforts during ongoing geopolitical tensions. Additionally, we’ll draw parallels between BlackRock and historical entities like the East India Company, raising questions about its influence today. Join us as we explore BlackRock’s story and its potential impact on the world economy.
BlackRock: Von der Gründung bis zur globalen Dominanz
BlackRock’s beginnings were rooted in another financial powerhouse, Blackstone. In 1988, Larry Fink established BlackRock in partnership with seven colleagues as an internal division dedicated to asset management under the umbrella of Blackstone. Remarkably, the venture swiftly achieved profitability within a short span of time. By 1989, the collective assets managed by the group had surged fourfold, reaching an impressive valuation of 2.7 billion dollars. This extraordinary rise can be attributed to the pivotal role played by two groundbreaking advancements – Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Aladdin, the proprietary trading algorithm meticulously developed by BlackRock. ETFs allow investors a simple and efficient way to diversify their investments while reducing risk and costs. Aladdin serves as BlackRock’s risk management system, functioning as a digital brain to track portfolios and manage risk by predicting the likelihood of a specific investment failing.
BlackRock’s big break came in 1995 when it was acquired by PNC Financial Services Group, a bank based in Pittsburgh. PNC saw BlackRock’s expertise in fixed-income securities as a valuable asset and wanted to expand its asset management business. With PNC’s backing, BlackRock expanded rapidly, acquiring other asset management firms and entering new markets. In 1999, BlackRock made a major move by acquiring State Street Research and Management, a Boston-based asset manager with a strong presence in the mutual fund market. This acquisition gave BlackRock access to State Street’s distribution network, helping it grow its assets under management.
In den 2000er Jahren expandierte BlackRock weiter, erwarb andere Vermögensverwalter und führte neue Anlageprodukte ein. Im Jahr 2006 startete das Unternehmen seine iShares ETF-Plattform, die sich schnell zu einem führenden Unternehmen auf dem ETF-Markt entwickelte und die Position von BlackRock als einer der größten Vermögensverwalter weltweit festigte.
Im Jahr 2009 tätigte BlackRock seine größte Akquisition, indem es Barclays Global Investors für 13,5 Milliarden US-Dollar kaufte. Diese Akquisition machte BlackRock mit einem verwalteten Vermögen von über 2,7 Billionen US-Dollar zum größten Vermögensverwalter der Welt. Es gab dem Unternehmen auch die Kontrolle über iShares, das zum größten ETF-Anbieter weltweit wurde.
Am wichtigsten ist, dass der Einfluss von BlackRock durch erhebliche Möglichkeiten in Zeiten von Finanzkrisen gewachsen ist, wie z. B. während der Finanzkrise 2008, als das Unternehmen Vermögenswerte großer zusammengebrochener Bankinstitute wie Bear Stearns und AIG übernahm. Im Jahr 2020 wurde BlackRock erneut angezapft, um den Anleihenmarkt inmitten der durch die Coronavirus-Pandemie verursachten wirtschaftlichen Turbulenzen zu stabilisieren.
BlackRock presently stands as the largest among the trio of investment firms, overseeing an impressive sum of nearly $10 trillion in assets. Vanguard follows with approximately $8 trillion, trailed by State Street at $4 trillion. These substantial assets, attributed to investors who are BlackRock’s clients, essentially translate to BlackRock’s management or ownership of the entire portfolio. In fact, this number surpasses the entire Gross Domestic Product of most of the countries in the world.
BlackRock funktioniert wie ein riesiger Krake und dehnt seinen Einfluss auf verschiedene Sektoren aus, darunter Öl und Gas, Technologie und Gesundheitswesen. Als bedeutender Anteilseigner einiger der größten Unternehmen der Welt übt BlackRock erheblichen Einfluss auf deren strategische Entscheidungen aus. Dies durchdringt BlackRock mit einer allgegenwärtigen Präsenz in praktisch jeder Facette unseres Lebens – vom Kraftstoff, der unsere Fahrzeuge antreibt, über die Geräte, die wir verwenden, bis hin zu den Finanzinstituten, denen wir unsere Ressourcen anvertrauen.
Diese Konzentration des Eigentums hat zu Bedenken hinsichtlich monopolistischem Verhalten geführt.
Der Besitz von Anteilen an angeblich konkurrierenden Unternehmen durch dieselben wenigen Investmentgesellschaften wie BlackRock schafft eine andere Form des Monopols, die dem Wettbewerb, den Verbrauchern und der Wirtschaft schadet. Dieses Muster des konzentrierten institutionellen Eigentums ist in allen wichtigen Branchen zu beobachten, wirkt sich auf das tägliche Leben aus und beeinflusst sogar wichtige Unternehmensentscheidungen.
BlackRock: FAQ
Who is the current BlackRock CEO?
Larry Fink ist die Person hinter BlackRock. Er ist Gründer, Vorsitzender und Chief Executive Officer des Unternehmens.
Who are the 7 founders of BlackRock?
Zu den 7 Gründern von BlackRock gehören Larry Fink, Keith Anderson, Ben Golub, Ralph Schlosstein, Barbara Novick, Hugh Frater, Susan Wagner und Robert S. Kapito.
What companies are owned by BlackRock?
BlackRock besitzt (stimmberechtigte) signifikante Anzahl von Aktien an einigen der bekanntesten Unternehmen der Welt, darunter Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Google, Tesla, UnitedHealth Group, Meta und Berkshire Hathaway.
What does BlackRock deal with?
BlackRock is mainly engaged in asset management, overseeing a vast portfolio of investments across different sectors, including media, technology, healthcare, energy, communications, and finance.
Does BlackRock own companies in Russia?
BlackRock owns shares in several companies in Russia, including Gazprom, Rosneft, Sberbank, VTB, Transneft, Alrosa, Lukoil, Tatneft, Novatek, and Nornickel. However, due to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, BlackRock has incurred a substantial loss of $17 billion on its funds exposed to Russian equities. As of January 2021, BlackRock held more than $18.2 billion in Russian assets. Currently, many of its funds are frozen due to market conditions and sanctions imposed by Russia on US companies and also the US and its allies on Russian companies.
Der Einfluss von BlackRock auf Politik und Regierungsbeziehungen
BlackRock’s rise to power was carefully and methodically orchestrated over time, intertwining its influence with political power and giving it the ability to choose winners and losers. This control and concentration of institutional ownership raise concerns about its impact on the quality of life for ordinary people. In fact, their strategic playbook involves campaign contributions, building connections with both major political parties, and specifically targeting the House Financial Services Committee, which could potentially influence BlackRock’s interests. Additionally, the company employs a substantial number of professional lobbyists to advocate for its positions in government. These efforts further solidify BlackRock’s influence and presence in high-ranking government positions, with former employees now holding key roles in the Biden administration, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and financial institutions’ control over decision-making processes.
At the time of this writing, BlackRock’s influence has extended high up into the US government, with three of its former employees holding appointed positions in the Biden administration. Brian Deese, the former Global Head of Sustainable Investing at BlackRock, is now Biden’s Chief Economic Director. Mike Pyle, BlackRock’s former Global Chief Investment Strategist, serves as Kamala Harris’s Chief Economic Advisor. Both of these positions do not require Senate confirmation. Furthermore, Wally Adeyemo, formerly the Chief of Staff to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, currently serves as the Deputy Treasury Secretary.
Moreover, Larry Fink, the Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, is a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum. This deep integration into political and economic circles has raised concerns about the extent of the firm’s influence.
Die Präsenz von BlackRock-Veteranen in solch hochrangigen Regierungspositionen hat Aufmerksamkeit erregt, wobei einige die potenziellen Interessenkonflikte und das Maß an Kontrolle, das Finanzinstitute wie BlackRock über die Entscheidungsprozesse der Regierung haben, in Frage stellen. Dieses Ausmaß an Einfluss hat zu Diskussionen über die Rolle und den Einfluss von Finanzinstituten, Hedgefonds und Banken bei der Gestaltung der Wirtschaftspolitik und -regulierung geführt.
Die Rolle von BlackRock in der Ukraine
Amidst the challenges faced by Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has enlisted the help of BlackRock to attract private and public investments for the reconstruction of Ukraine’s economy, which has been affected by the war. The Ukraine Development Fund, with the assistance of these firms, aims to mobilize capital from various investors. On the surface, this might seem like a positive step—after all, who better to rebuild an economy than some of the biggest names in global finance? But as we peel back the layers, we start to see a more complex picture.
Some financial investors view this as a profitable opportunity, seeing potential in Ukraine’s post-war future. However, the release of a video by O’Keefe Media Group unveiled recently shed light on the work dynamics of BlackRock. The content of this video, featuring a conversation between BlackRock recruiter Serge Varlay and an undercover journalist from OMG News, provides an unexpected connection to the situation in Ukraine.
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