Conversion of Securities

BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC                 

            Conversion of 3.5% Unsecured Convertible Bonds due 2015            
                                (the "Bonds")                                  

The Board of BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust PLC announces
that subject to listing under its block listing authority, it today issued
2,227 ordinary shares following the exercise of conversion rights by holders of
Bonds. The ordinary shares will rank pari passu with the existing ordinary
shares.

Following admission, there will be 43,841,312 ordinary shares and 79,948 Bonds
in issue.

15 March 2011

For further information, please contact:

Barbara Powley
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited - Company Secretary 
Telephone [phone]