Portfolio Update

BlackRock Income Strategies Trust plc

As at 31 December 2015 and in accordance with Listing Rule 15.6.8R, BlackRock Income Strategies Trust plc announces that it had three investments in other listed investment companies which themselves do not have stated investment policies to invest no more than 15% of their total assets in other listed closed-ended investment funds:

Blackstone GSO Loan Financing Ltd
Bluecrest Bluetrend Ltd
Funding Circle SME Income Fund Ltd

6 January 2016