Portfolio Update

BLACKROCK FRONTIERS INVESTMENT TRUST PLC All information is at 31 January 2015 and unaudited. Performance at month end with net income reinvested One Three Six One Three Since month months months year years launch* Sterling: Share price -0.3% -12.0% -13.1% -2.8% 59.7% 22.0% Net asset value 2.1% -2.0% -1.7% 4.6% 60.1% 32.2% MSCI Frontiers Index (NR) -0.4% -6.4% -5.8% 11.2% 46.7% 20.5% MSCI EM Markets (NR) 4.4% 1.1% 2.2% 15.1% 6.9% -0.6% US Dollars: Share Price -3.9% -17.4% -22.6% -11.1% 52.1% 17.8% Net asset value -1.6% -7.9% -12.5% -4.4% 52.5% 27.5% MSCI Frontiers Index (NR) -4.1% -12.2% -16.2% 1.6% 39.7% 16.1% MSCI EM Markets (NR) 0.2% -5.4% -9.4% 4.9% 1.4% -4.6% Sources: BlackRock and Standard & Poor's Micropal * 17 December 2010. At month end US Dollar: Net asset value - capital only: 173.16c Net asset value - cum income: 173.30c Sterling: Net asset value - capital only: 115.29p Net asset value - cum income: 115.38p Share price: 108.25p Total assets (including income): £173.8m Discount to cum-income NAV: 6.2% Gearing: nil Gearing range (as a % of gross assets): 0-20% Net yield*: 3.6% Ordinary shares in issue: 150,621,621 Ongoing charges**: 1.5% Ongoing charges plus taxation and performance fee: 1.5% *The Company's yield based on dividends announced in the last 12 months as at the date of the release of this announcement is 3.6% and includes the 2014 final dividend of 4.00 cents per share declared on 1 December 2014, payable to shareholders on 20 February 2015 and the 2014 interim dividend of 2.25 cents per share announced on 20 May 2014 and paid to shareholders on 4 July 2014. **Calculated as a percentage of average net assets and using expenses, excluding performance fees and interest costs for the year ended 30 September 2014. Benchmark Sector Analysis Gross assets(%)* Country Analysis Gross assets(%)* Financials 30.4 Kuwait 11.9 Energy 16.5 Pakistan 11.0 Telecommunications 15.5 Bangladesh 10.5 Consumer Staples 12.6 Sri Lanka 8.3 Industrials 6.6 Romania 6.0 Consumer Discretionary 6.0 Kazakhstan 5.8 Health Care 5.8 Morocco 5.6 Utilities 4.0 Argentina 5.2 Information Technology 2.0 Ukraine 4.9 Materials 1.7 Saudi Arabia 4.1 ----- Iraq 4.0 Total 101.1 Vietnam 3.9 ----- Nigeria 3.8 Short positions -1.6 Turkmenistan 3.1 ===== Oman 2.8 Algeria 2.1 Belarus 2.0 Other 6.1 ----- Total 101.1 ----- Short positions -1.6 ===== *reflects gross market exposure from contracts for difference (CFDs). Market Exposure 28.02 31.03 30.04 31.05 30.06 31.07 31.08 30.09 31.10 30.11 31.12 31.01 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 % % % % % % % % % % % % Long 101.8 101.6 101.6 98.0 106.6 100.8 98.7 100.0 99.9 97.9 98.6 101.1 Short 1.8 1.7 2.0 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 0.8 1.5 2.8 2.6 1.6 Gross 103.6 103.3 103.6 99.7 108.3 102.4 100.3 100.8 101.4 100.7 101.2 102.7 Net 100.0 99.9 99.6 96.3 104.9 99.2 97.1 99.2 98.4 95.1 96.0 99.5 Ten Largest Investments Company Country of Risk % of gross assets Kuwait Food Kuwait 4.9% MHP Ukraine 4.7% Mobile Telecommunications Kuwait 4.6% United Bank Pakistan 4.0% Hub Power Pakistan 4.0% Square Pharmaceuticals Bangladesh 3.9% BRD Societe Generale Romania 3.7% Maroc Telecom Morocco 3.3% Dragon Oil Turkmenistan 3.1% Hatton National Bank Sri Lanka 2.9% Commenting on the markets, Sam Vecht, representing the Investment Manager noted: Market Performance The MSCI Frontier Index fell by 4.1% in January (on a US dollar basis with net income reinvested). Pakistan was one of the strongest performing markets during the month, rising by 6% in USD terms. A virtuous circle of a lower import bill, lower inflation and strengthening currency allowed the central bank to cut interest rates and buoyed the market in January. The Pakistani rupee is one of only a handful of currencies which have appreciated against the US dollar over the past few months, which has acted as a tailwind for foreign investor returns. Kazakhstan underperformed during January, falling by 23% in USD. Kazakhstan generates 80% of its export revenues from oil and investors are therefore concerned that a devaluation of the tenge is imminent in light of the fall in the oil price. Nigeria also underperformed in January, falling by 17% in USD terms. Given that Nigeria generates more than 90% of its export revenues from oil, the recent fall in prices has put substantial pressure on the currency where the central bank has historically maintained a soft peg to the US dollar. Many investors expected a further devaluation of the naira after the elections which were due to take place on 14 February 2015. However, the postponement of the elections until March and the continuation of foreign exchange reserves depletion to support the naira, increase the chances of a larger than expected devaluation. Portfolio Commentary In January, the Company's NAV per share fell by 1.6%, outperforming the index by 2.5%. (All calculations on a US dollar basis with net income reinvested.) The Company benefitted from an overweight position in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka held presidential elections in January in which the incumbent President Rajapaksa was unseated in favour of Maithripala Sirisena. To quote from The Economist: "It is a triumph for democracy". The new government is technocratic in nature and we expect the country to continue to improve its macro-economic position. We also benefited from positions in Saudi Arabia, where we have seen a smooth transition of power following the death of King Abdullah. King Salman is expected to continue to promote a reform agenda. The CMA, the local regulator, has confirmed that Saudi Arabia remains on track to open its financial markets to foreign investors in the first half of 2015. We continue to run a substantial underweight position, of more than 10% in Nigeria. This has been a strong contributor to relative performance. As mentioned above, the headwinds of the oil price and the political environment have been negative for the market. In local currency, we believe that the stocks are starting to trade on interesting valuations, however, we remain concerned about the possibility of a meaningful further devaluation in the naira. Detracting from performance were positions in Kazakhstan. Oil producer, Kazmunaigas, fell after talks concerning a takeover bid from its parent company stalled. We believe that both parties may return to the negotiating table at some point in the future and we retain the position. Portfolio Activity We opened a new position in Pan-Frontiers telecom company, Global Telecom. The company announced that it has completed a deal to sell a stake in its Algerian operations, Djezzy, to the Algerian government. The deal should enable Global Telecom to pay down a significant portion of its debt and refinance the remainder at more favourable rates of interest. Portfolio Outlook Whilst the MSCI Frontier Markets Index has had another difficult month, we would highlight that the fall in oil prices is an overall positive for consumers in Frontier Markets. We are starting to see pockets of opportunity where recent share price movements have meant that valuations are now reflecting the current lower oil prices and expect to position the portfolio accordingly. We believe that Frontier Markets represent a compelling opportunity for long-term investors. The combination of the countries with the fastest growing GDP, the best demographic profiles, the lowest government debt and a substantial commodity endowment where it is possible to invest in companies on some of the lowest valuations in the world provides an unrivalled investment opportunity. The low correlation between Frontier Markets and all developed and emerging markets means that the inclusion of a Frontier Markets fund within a portfolio can bring significant diversification benefits. 20 February 2015 ENDS Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.co.uk/brfi on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on BlackRock's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
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