Portfolio Update

BLACKROCK GREATER EUROPE INVESTMENT TRUST plc All information is at 30 September 2013 and unaudited. Performance at month end with net income reinvested One Three One Three Since launch Month Months Year Years (20 Sep 04) Net asset value (undiluted) 2.8% 5.4% 29.6% 34.9% 180.8% Net asset value (diluted) 2.3% 4.8% 29.7% 35.3% 179.2% Share price 1.0% 8.5% 29.9% 38.2% 170.2% FTSE World Europe ex UK 3.2% 7.0% 28.3% 24.8% 120.0% Sources: BlackRock and DataStream At month end Net asset value (capital only): 234.28p Net asset value (including income): 241.27p Net asset value (capital only)*: 234.05p Net asset value (including income)*: 239.81p Share price: 231.00p Discount to NAV (including income): 4.3% Discount to NAV (including income)**: 3.7% Subscription share price 27.88p Gearing: 11.2% Net yield: 1.8% Total assets (including income): £291.7m Ordinary shares in issue: 108,719,211** Subscription shares in issue 23,184,318 * Diluted for subscription shares. ** Excluding 5,718,353 shares held in treasury. Benchmark Sector Analysis Total Assets (%) Index (%) Country Analysis Total Assets (%) Financials 24.0 21.9 France 20.5 Consumer Goods 18.5 13.5 Switzerland 18.2 Industrials 15.1 13.1 Germany 15.9 Health Care 13.6 9.7 Netherlands 15.4 Consumer Services 11.0 10.9 Belgium 5.8 Technology 8.8 10.3 Sweden 5.4 Basic Materials 4.0 5.7 Russia 4.4 Telecommunications 3.4 3.4 Denmark 3.8 Oil & Gas 1.4 8.2 Ireland 3.0 Utilities - 3.3 Spain 2.0 Net current assets 0.2 - Portugal 1.5 ----- ----- Finland 1.4 100.0 100.0 Poland 0.9 ===== ===== Hungary 0.8 Ukraine 0.6 Italy 0.2 Net current assets 0.2 ----- 100.0 ===== Ten Largest Equity Investments (in alphabetical order) Company Anheuser Busch Belgium Bayer Germany Continental Germany Novo Nordisk Denmark Reed Elsevier Netherlands Roche Switzerland Sanofi France Société Générale France Swiss Re Switzerland Zurich Insurance Switzerland Commenting on the markets, Vincent Devlin, representing the Investment Manager noted: During the month, the Company's undiluted NAV rose by 2.8% and the share price gained 1.0%. For reference, the FTSE World Europe ex UK Index increased by 3.2% during the same period. The European equity market rebounded from a subdued performance in August, seeing reasonable gains over the month. Investors remained bullish in general despite many companies confirming relatively muted current trading and outlook statements. Corporate actions increased, especially in telecoms which saw strong gains in the month. Value continued to outperform growth in Europe as investors look towards further economic recovery prospects. Stock selection was the main cause of the Company's underwhelming performance during September. Positions in consumer services, technology and telecoms were especially challenging. The Company's sector allocation was rather more successful, as the decision to own a higher weighting in technology and to avoid oil & gas both proved profitable. The use of gearing also aided returns in a positive month for European equity markets. The worst performer in the Company during September was Irish airline Ryanair. Ryanair has performed well for the portfolio over the previous 12 to 18 months, but fell as the management team attempted to lower the high level of expectations embedded in consensus forecasts, citing weak forward yields for the downgrade. The Company also suffered (when compared with the broader market) from not owning holdings in telecoms business Nokia, which saw strong gains as its handset business was sold to Microsoft, and Spanish banks BBVA and Banco Santander. On a more positive note, selected positions in Russia did deliver strong returns, including social media business Mail.Ru and Sberbank. Positive performance also came from a position in Deutsche Post, which we believe could benefit from a recent restructuring, and German auto supplier Continental. Positions in selected financials also performed well, including KBC and Société Générale, whose management team delivered a well received presentation at a recent London-based investor conference. At the end of the month, the Company had higher weightings (when compared with the broad market index) in consumer services, financials, technology, consumer goods and health care, and lower weightings in basic materials, telecoms, oil & gas, industrials and utilities. At the end of the month, the Company was geared by 11.2%. Outlook We see an improving outlook for European companies as the world economic recovery continues. That recovery remains weak, but economic data continues to improve both in developed markets and also in China, where data seems to have rebounded following the fall-back earlier in the year. Within Europe, we continue to see improving sentiment both at the corporate level and also in terms of consumer activity in certain countries. The forthcoming issue around tapering is likely to create market volatility which in itself can generate opportunities. Going into the Q3 reporting season, we believe we may have seen the bottom in European corporate earnings. However, we are fundamental stock pickers and remain selective amidst market expectations which have, in some specific cases, got ahead of themselves. 11 October 2013 Latest information is available by typing www.brgeplc.co.uk on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). 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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