Director/PDMR Shareholding

NOTIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS OF DIRECTORS/PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIALRESPONSIBILITY AND CONNECTED PERSONS 1. Name of Issuer BlackRock Income Strategies Trust plc 2. State whether the notification relates to (i) a transaction notified inaccordance with DR 3.1.2R; or (ii) a disclosure made in accordance with LR9.8.6R(1); or a disclosure made in accordance with section 793 of the CompaniesAct 2006. Disclosure in accordance with (i) above 3. Name of person discharging managerial responsibilities/director. James Long 4. State whether notification relates to a person connected with a persondischarging managerial responsibilities/director named in 3 and identify theconnected persons. Notification re Director named in 3 5. Indicate whether the notification is in respect of a holding of the personreferred to in 3 or 4 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest. Holding of the Director referred to in 3 6. Description of shares (including class), debentures or derivatives orfinancial instruments relating to shares. Ordinary shares of 25p each 7. Name of registered shareholder(s) and, if more than one, the number ofshares held by each of them. James Long 8. State the nature of the transaction. Acquisition of ordinary shares 9. Number of shares, debentures or financial instruments relating to sharesacquired 8,359 Ordinary shares 10. Percentage of issued class acquired (treasury shares or that class shouldnot be taken into account when calculation percentage). 0.0029% 11. Number of shares, debentures or financial instruments relating to sharesdisposed. n/a 12. Percentage of issued class disposed (treasury shares or that class shouldnot be taken into account when calculation percentage). n/a 13. Price per share or value of transaction. £1.3375 14. Date and place of transaction. 13 March 2015, London 15. Total holding following notification and total percentage holding followingnotification (any treasury shares should not be taken into account whencalculating percentage). 25,058 (0.0087%) 16. Date issuer informed of transaction. 13 March 2015 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 tobe fixed at the time of the exercise. N/A 22. Total number of shares or debentures over which option held followingnotification. N/A 23. Any additional information. N/A 24. Name of contact and telephone number for queries. Ms S BeynsbergerCompany SecretaryBlackRock Investment Management (UK) LimitedTel: 0207 743 2639

Date: 13 March 2015