Fair Value Hierarchy as of
Period End
Various inputs are used in
determining the fair value of financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:
• Level 1 — Unadjusted price
quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that the Master Portfolio has the ability to access;
• Level 2 — Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or
similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds,
loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market–corroborated inputs); and
• Level 3 — Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the BlackRock Global
Valuation Methodologies Committee’s (the “Global Valuation Committee’s”) assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments).
The hierarchy gives the
highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree
of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for
disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have
significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds.
There may not be a secondary market, and/or there are a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments
and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. For information about the Master Portfolio’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to its
most recent financial statements.
Certain investments of the
Master Portfolio were fair valued using net asset value (“NAV”) per share as no quoted market value is available and therefore have been excluded from the fair value hierarchy.
The following table
summarizes the Master Portfolio’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Master Portfolio’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the
Schedule of Investments above.
|
| Level 1
|
| Level 2
|
| Level 3
|
| Total
|
| Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Long-Term Investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stocks
| $ 4,682,890,070
|
| $ —
|
| $ —
|
| $ 4,682,890,070
|
| Short-Term Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Money Market Funds
| 49,873,136
|
| —
|
| —
|
| 49,873,136
|
|
| $ 4,732,763,206
|
| $ —
|
| $ —
|
| 4,732,763,206
|
Investments valued at NAV(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 25,928,214
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $ 4,758,691,420
|
| Derivative Financial Instruments(b)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Contracts
| $ 552,905
|
| $ —
|
| $ —
|
| $ 552,905
|
| (a)
| Certain investments of the Master Portfolio were fair valued using NAV per share as no quoted market value is available and therefore have been excluded from the fair value hierarchy.
|
| (b)
| Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.
|
| Portfolio Abbreviation
|
| S&P
| Standard & Poor’s
|
