Director/PDMR Shareholding

NOTIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS OF DIRECTORS/PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CONNECTED PERSONS

1.       Name of Issuer

BlackRock Income Strategies Trust plc

2.       State whether the notification relates to (i) a transaction notified in accordance with DR 3.1.2R; or (ii) a disclosure made in accordance with LR 9.8.6R(1); or a disclosure made in accordance with section 793 of the Companies Act 2006.

Disclosure in accordance with (i) above

3.       Name of person discharging managerial responsibilities/director.

Lynn Christine Ruddick

4.       State whether notification relates to a person connected with a person discharging managerial responsibilities/director named in 3 and identify the connected persons.

Notification re Director named in 3 – non-beneficial interest (reinvestment of dividends for granddaughter’s Child Trust Fund and JISA)

5.       Indicate whether the notification is in respect of a holding of the person referred to in 3 or 4 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest.

Non-beneficial interest (reinvestment of dividends for granddaughter’s Child Trust Fund and JISA)

6.       Description of shares (including class), debentures or derivatives or financial instruments relating to shares.

Ordinary shares of 25p each

7.       Name of registered shareholder(s) and, if more than one, the number of shares held by each of them.

State Street Nominees 102,308
Ian David Dewar 63,290
Lynn Dewar 7,145

8.       State the nature of the transaction.

Acquisition of ordinary shares

9.       Number of shares, debentures or financial instruments relating to shares acquired

92 Ordinary shares (acquired from dividend reinvestment)

10.     Percentage of issued class acquired (treasury shares or that class should not be taken into account when calculation percentage).

0.000034%

11.     Number of shares, debentures or financial instruments relating to shares disposed.

n/a

12.     Percentage of issued class disposed (treasury shares or that class should not be taken into account when calculation percentage).

n/a

13.     Price per share or value of transaction.

123.00p

14.     Date and place of transaction.

12 April 2016, London

15.     Total holding following notification and total percentage holding following notification (any treasury shares should not be taken into account when calculating percentage).

Non-Beneficial 7,145 (0.0026%)
Beneficial 165,598 (0.0608%)

16.     Date issuer informed of transaction.

9 May 2016

17.     Date of grant.

N/A

18.     Period during which or date on which it can be exercised.

N/A

19.     Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option.

N/A

20.     Description of shares or debentures involved (class and number).

N/A

21.     Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is to be fixed at the time of the exercise.

N/A

22.     Total number of shares or debentures over which option held following notification.

N/A

23.     Any additional information.

N/A

24.     Name of contact and telephone number for queries.

Ms S Beynsberger
Company Secretary
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Tel: [phone]

Date:  12 May 2016