Result of EGM

BlackRock Income Strategies Trust plc

Results of General Meeting

The Board of BlackRock Income Strategies Trust plc (the "Company") are pleased to announce that the Special Resolutions to renew the Board's authorities to repurchase up to 14.99 per cent. of the Company's Shares through market buy backs, and also to repurchase up to 20 per cent. of the Company's issued Shares by means of tender offers, have been approved by shareholders.  At the General Meeting held today, both resolutions were duly passed on a show of hands.

The full text of the resolutions can be found in the Notice of General Meeting set out in the Company’s Circular dated 12 August 2015, which has previously been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and is available for inspection at:

www.hemscott.com/nsm.do

The results of the Proxy votes received in favour of the resolutions were as follows:

                                         For                         Against
Resolution 1:                99.71%                           0.29%
Resolution 2:                99.45%                           0.55%

4 September 2015