BlackRock Income Strategies Trust plc

    As at 31 December 2016 and in accordance with Listing Rule 15.6.8R, BlackRock
    Income Strategies Trust plc announces that it had two 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
    Funding Circle SME Income Fund Ltd

    4 January 2017