Interim Management Statement

BLACKROCK NORTH AMERICAN INCOME TRUST PLC Interim Management Statement -3 months to 31 July 2014 To the members of BlackRock North American Income Trust plc This interim management statement has been produced solely to provide additional information to shareholders as a body to meet the relevant requirements of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. It should not be relied on by any other party for any other reason. This interim management statement relates to the period from 1 May 2014 to 31 July 2014, and contains information that covers this period, and up to the date of publication of this interim management statement. The Company will invest predominantly in a diversified portfolio of equity securities quoted in the U.S., with a focus on companies that pay and grow their dividends. The Company may invest through an active options overlay strategy utilising predominantly covered call options and may also hold other securities from time-to-time including, inter alia, convertible securities, fixed interest securities, preference shares, non-convertible preferred stock, and depositary receipts. Financial position as at 31 July 2014 Gross assets £111.7m Net asset value per share (capital only) 109.94p Net asset value per share (including income) 111.09p Ordinary share price 104.75p Ordinary shares in issue 100,361,305 Options overwrite 17.85% Actual gearing 1.3% Discount to NAV (1) 5.7% Net yield (2) 3.8% Target annual dividend 4.0p Ongoing charges (3) 1.4% 1. based on Net Asset Value per share (including income) 2. based on dividends of 1p per share each declared on 3 October 2013, 13 February 2014, 14 May 2014 and 6 August 2014 3. Ongoing charges represent the management fee and all other operating expenses excluding interest as a % of average shareholders' funds for the year ended 31 October 2013 Performance Cumulative Performance (%): One Three Six Since launch Month Months Months (24 October 2012) Net asset value -0.8% 0.2% 3.5% 19.4% Share price -3.9% -3.7% -3.2% 10.5% Russell 1000 Value Index -0.4% 2.4% 7.4% 36.0% Sources: BlackRock All performance figures are in sterling terms on a total return basis with income reinvested. Country Analysis Total Assets (%) USA 93.9 Canada 2.7 France 1.5 Australia 1.3 United Kingdom 1.2 Netherlands 0.5 Net current liabilities (1.1) ------ Total 100.0 ====== Benchmark Sector Analysis Total Assets (%) Financials 24.0 Industrials 14.6 Energy 13.4 Consumer Discretionary 9.8 Health Care 9.6 Consumer Staples 8.8 Information Technology 7.1 Materials 6.4 Utilities 5.2 Telecommunication Services 2.2 Net current liabilities (1.1) ----- Total 100.0 ===== Ten Largest Investments (in alphabetical order) Company Country of Risk Chevron USA Comcast USA Exxon Mobil USA General Electric USA Home Depot USA JPMorgan Chase USA Merck USA Microsoft USA Pfizer USA Wells Fargo USA Material Events & Transactions Material events or transactions, during the three months to 31 July 2014 and from 1 August 2014 to the date of the publication of this report are set out below. The Company was not involved in any material transactions during the period other than the purchase and sale of securities undertaken in the normal course of its business. Share issues The Company has issued no further shares during the period to 31 July 2014. Fund Management Team It was announced on 5 August 2014, that Tony DeSpirito has been appointed with immediate effect as a co-manager of the Company’s portfolio alongside Bob Shearer and Kathleen Anderson. The investment objective and philosophy of the Company will not change and it will continue to seek income growth and superior risk-adjusted returns. Tony DeSpirito joins BlackRock as Managing Director and, together with Bob Shearer, Co-Head of BlackRock’s Equity Dividend team. He will also be co-portfolio manager for the BlackRock equity dividend strategies and related portfolios (with AUM of US$49.6 bn), responsible for portfolio construction and for oversight of investment team personnel. For the last 18 years, DeSpirito has been with Pzena Investment Management where he was Managing Principal, Portfolio Manager and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Half Yearly Financial Report The Company announced its half yearly financial results for the six months to 30 April 2014 on 12 June 2014. Dividend declaration It was announced on 14 May 2014 that the second quarterly interim dividend in respect of the year to 31 October 2014 of 1.0p per ordinary share had been declared by the Directors, payable on 2 July 2014 to holders of ordinary shares on the register at the close of business on 23 May 2014 (ex-dividend date was 21 May 2014). It was announced on 6 August 2014 that the third quarterly dividend in respect of the year to 31 October 2014 of 1.00p per ordinary share had been declared by the Directors, payable on 2 October 2014 to holders of ordinary shares on the register at the close of business on 15 August 2014 (ex-dividend date was 13 August 2014). Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive ("AIFMD") On 2 July 2014 the Company announced that with immediate effect it had entered into arrangements necessary to ensure compliance with the AIFMD. The Company's board of Directors ("the Board") approved the appointment of BlackRock Fund Managers Ltd ("BFM") as the Company's alternative investment fund manager (the "AIFM") on the terms of and subject to the conditions of a new investment management agreement between the Company and BFM. BFM was approved as an AIFM by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority on 1 May 2014. The Company's existing investment management agreement between the Company and BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited ("BIM UK"), which is not authorised as an AIFM, has been terminated. The Board appointed BNY Mellon Trust & Depositary (UK) Limited (the "Depositary") to act as the Company's depositary (as required by the AIFMD) on the terms and subject to the conditions of a depositary agreement between the Company, BFM and the Depositary. BIM UK continues to act as Company Secretary to the Company and as the Company's Investment Manager under a delegation agreement with BFM. Net Asset Value The Company announces its NAV on a daily basis, which can be accessed via blackrock.co.uk/brna, under the "News" tab. The unaudited net asset value for BlackRock North American Income Trust plc at close of business on 9 September 2014 was: Capital only 117.82p Including current year income 118.52p XD The Board is not aware of any other significant events or transactions, except as disclosed herein, occurring between 1 August 2014 and the date of publication of this interim management statement which would have a material impact on the financial position of the Company. Contact details: Caroline Driscoll Company Secretary BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited Tel: 020 7743 2427 10 September 2014 ENDS Please note that more detailed performance information is available on the Manager's website: blackrock.co.uk/brna. Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
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