Brand: BlackRock
Country of Origin: United States 🇺🇸
Founded: 1988
Industry: Asset Management, Investment Technology & Financial Services
Company: BlackRock, Inc.
Headquarters: New York City, United States
Chairman & CEO: Laurence D. Fink
Official Website: BlackRock Official Website
Featured By: ASIA Best Brands — Global Brands
About BlackRock
BlackRock is one of the world’s largest asset management companies, providing investment management, exchange-traded funds, private-market strategies and financial technology to individuals and institutions.
Founded in 1988, the company has grown from a specialist fixed-income manager into a global investment platform. As of June 2026, BlackRock managed approximately US$15.3 trillion in assets on behalf of clients.
Importantly, these assets belong to BlackRock’s clients; the company manages them as an investment manager and fiduciary.
From Eight Founders to a Global Investment Firm
BlackRock was founded in New York in 1988 by eight partners, including Laurence Fink, Robert Kapito, Susan Wagner and Barbara Novick.
The company initially focused on fixed-income investing with an emphasis on understanding and managing financial risk.
This risk-management foundation later became an important part of BlackRock’s broader development across investment management and technology.
iShares and the Growth of ETF Investing
Exchange-traded funds have become one of BlackRock’s most recognisable businesses through iShares.
iShares provides investors with access to equities, bonds and other investment strategies through ETFs that can be bought and sold on financial markets.
Today, iShares offers more than 1,700 ETFs globally, helping both individual and institutional investors access different markets and asset classes.
The growth of ETFs has helped make diversified investing more accessible, while establishing iShares as a major part of BlackRock’s global platform.
Aladdin: Technology Behind Investment Management
BlackRock Aladdin Technology: Touching all aspects of an evolving investment ecosystem. Image Source: Reinsurance News.
BlackRock is not only an asset manager; it is also a major provider of financial technology.
Its Aladdin platform combines investment management, risk analysis, data and portfolio operations within one system.
BlackRock originally developed Aladdin for its own investment teams before offering the technology to other financial institutions. Today, asset managers, insurers and other organisations use the platform to analyse portfolios and manage investment risks.
In Q2 2026, BlackRock reported that technology services and subscription revenue increased 13% year over year, supported by continued growth in Aladdin and related solutions.
Expanding Into Private Markets
BlackRock has significantly expanded its presence in private-market investing.
In October 2024, the company completed its acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), creating an infrastructure platform with approximately US$170 billion in assets under management at the time.
BlackRock followed this in July 2025 with the acquisition of HPS Investment Partners, strengthening its private-credit capabilities. The combined private-credit platform included approximately US$190 billion in client assets following the transaction.
These acquisitions broaden BlackRock’s business beyond traditional public stocks and bonds into infrastructure, private credit and other alternative investments.
Investing in the Infrastructure Behind AI
The rapid development of artificial intelligence is also creating new investment opportunities.
BlackRock, GIP, Microsoft and MGX launched the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership to support investment in data centres and the energy infrastructure required to power them.
The partnership was designed with the potential to mobilise up to US$100 billion in total investment, reflecting the enormous infrastructure requirements associated with AI computing.
This demonstrates BlackRock’s role not as an AI developer itself, but as an investor helping channel capital toward the physical infrastructure supporting technological growth.
A Strong Presence Across Asia Pacific
BlackRock plans Singapore expansion with dozens more employees. Image Source: Yahoo Finance Singapore.
Asia Pacific is an important part of BlackRock’s international business.
The company has operations across major regional markets including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.
Singapore has become an important regional hub. As of 2026, BlackRock reported more than 800 employees from 32 nationalities in Singapore, serving 10 markets across Southeast Asia.
The company’s regional offering includes active investments, index strategies, iShares ETFs, alternatives and Aladdin technology for both institutional and wealth-management clients.
Record Scale in 2026
BlackRock entered 2026 with approximately US$14 trillion in assets under management, following record net inflows of US$698 billion during 2025.
Growth continued during the first half of 2026.
By June 30, BlackRock’s assets under management had increased to a record US$15.3 trillion, while first-half net inflows reached US$321 billion. Revenue increased 31% year over year during the second quarter.
The figures demonstrate the scale of a business now spanning ETFs, active investing, private markets, infrastructure and financial technology.
Why BlackRock Is Featured on ASIA Best Brands
BlackRock demonstrates how an investment company can combine financial expertise with technology and global scale.
From its beginnings as a fixed-income specialist to building iShares, Aladdin and major infrastructure and private-market platforms, the company has continually expanded the ways investors can access global markets.
Its established presence across China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and wider Asia Pacific also gives the region an important role in BlackRock’s international growth.
By combining asset management, investment technology, ETFs and private-market capabilities, BlackRock remains one of the most influential global financial brands featured on ASIA Best Brands.
Official Website:
BlackRock Official Website
Category: Asset Management | Investment Technology | Financial Services
Tags: BlackRock, iShares, Aladdin, Asset Management, ETFs, Private Markets, Infrastructure Investment, Financial Technology, Asia Pacific, ASIA Best Brands
Sources
1. BlackRock — Official Company Overview
Official information covering BlackRock’s business, international presence and investment platform.
About BlackRock
2. BlackRock — Company History
Official history covering BlackRock’s founding in 1988 and development as an investment manager.
BlackRock History
3. BlackRock — Q2 2026 Results
Latest available official financial results covering US$15.3 trillion in AUM, inflows and technology growth.
BlackRock Q2 2026 Results
4. BlackRock — iShares
Official information covering BlackRock’s global ETF platform.
About iShares
5. BlackRock — Aladdin
Official information covering BlackRock’s investment and risk-management technology platform.
BlackRock Aladdin
6. BlackRock — Global Infrastructure Partners
Official information covering BlackRock’s acquisition of GIP and expansion in infrastructure investing.
BlackRock Completes GIP Acquisition
7. BlackRock — HPS Investment Partners
Official information covering BlackRock’s expansion into private credit.
BlackRock Completes HPS Acquisition
8. BlackRock — Singapore and Southeast Asia
Official information covering BlackRock’s regional presence and operations across Southeast Asia.
BlackRock Singapore