Portfolio Update

BLACKROCK INCOME AND GROWTH INVESTMENT TRUST PLC All information is at 31 March 2014 and unaudited. Performance at month end with net income reinvested One Three One Since Three Five month months year 1 April years years 2012 Sterling: Share price -0.4% 1.9% 10.7% 35.7% 28.6% 126.8% Net asset value -2.4% 0.4% 9.9% 25.4% 24.7% 113.9% FTSE All-Share Total Return -2.6% -0.6% 8.8% 27.1% 28.8% 113.3% Sources: BlackRock and Datastream BlackRock took over the investment management of the Company with effect from 1 April 2012. At month end Sterling: Net asset value - capital only: 165.54p Net asset value - cum income*: 167.64p Share price: 165.88p Total assets (including income): £47.5m Discount to cum-income NAV: 1.1% Net Cash : 1.1% Net yield**: 3.3% Ordinary shares in issue***: 27,139,268 Gearing range (as a % of net assets) 0-20% * includes net revenue of 2.10 pence per share ** based on interim dividend of 2.00p per share and final dividend of 3.50p per share in respect of the year ended 31 October 2013. *** excludes 5,794,664 shares held in treasury Benchmark Sector Analysis Total assets (%) Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 12.2 Travel & Leisure 9.2 Financial Services 8.4 Oil & Gas Producers 7.7 Tobacco 7.7 Banks 6.7 Food Producers 6.4 Support Services 6.4 Household Goods & Home Construction 5.9 Life Insurance 5.6 Media 3.6 Non-Life Insurance 3.5 Mobile Telecommunications 3.5 Mining 3.2 General Retailers 2.8 Electronic & Electrical Equipment 1.9 Net Current Assets 5.3 Total 100.0 Ten Largest Equity Investments Company % of Total assets Royal Dutch Shell B 7.0 GlaxoSmithKline 6.1 British American Tobacco 5.7 Unilever 4.9 HSBC 4.9 Reckitt Benckiser 4.6 AstraZeneca 4.0 Compass 3.9 Reed Elsevier 3.8 Wolseley 3.8 Commenting on the markets, Adam Avigdori and Mark Wharrier representing the Investment Manager noted: Markets The FTSE All Share paused for breath after the strong rally seen in 2013 falling by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2014. Tensions rose sharply around the Ukraine, centred on the Crimea, prompting an increase in the risk premium after a period of relatively subdued geopolitical tensions. Chinese data remained relatively weak and continued to provide a headwind to Emerging Markets and related stocks. Closer to home, the UK economy grew robustly and the Bank of England gave comfort that, with inflation remaining subdued, low interest rates could be sustained. Portfolio Performance The Company returned +0.4% over the quarter, outperforming the FTSE All-Share Index return by 1.0%. Over the period a variety of companies delivered on earnings expectations, benefiting the portfolio, at a time when the prevailing trend has been for downgrades to forecasts. These included Ryanair, Ashtead, Hargreaves Lansdown and Howden Joinery. Carphone Warehouse also outperformed following the announcement that the group was in merger talks with Dixons. Although a deal is uncertain at this stage, synergies generated from a deal could be significant. The largest detractor from relative performance over the month was Tate & Lyle, which fell following weaker sucralose pricing towards the end of its reporting period, whilst Oxford Instruments fell after reporting that trading had slightly missed expectations and was compounded by the relative strength of sterling. The UK Budget gave a boost to Hargreaves Lansdown, and other savings-related companies, but was a negative for annuity providers including Legal & General, which fell on the announcement that it will now be optional, rather than mandatory, to buy an annuity on retirement in the UK. Activity During the quarter we purchased Essentra, Berkeley Group and Aviva whilst adding to Compass and Reckitt Benckiser. We reduced positions in Admiral, Barclays and Stagecoach and sold National Grid, BHP Billiton and Lancashire. Outlook Economic indicators in the developed world have improved in recent months, particularly in the UK and US. Whilst economic indicators in the developing world have slowed this year it is worth noting that growth rates remain higher than those in the developed world helped by demographic drivers. Consequently, portfolio exposure continues to be balanced between the developed and developing world. Although equity markets have risen, valuations versus alternative asset classes remain attractive, which should continue to support equities. The portfolio is primarily invested in high free cash flow companies that can sustain cash generation and pay a growing dividend yield, but also has exposure to companies with sustainable growth franchises and turnaround situations. 17 April 2014
UK 100

Latest directors dealings