BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Reports Voting Rights Denominator of 90.37 Million Shares as of 21 July 2026

Overview of BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust's Capital Structure

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc is a publicly listed investment company focused on providing shareholders with diversified exposure to European equities. Operating within the investment trust sector, BRGE offers access to a professionally managed portfolio targeting capital growth and potential income through investments across the greater European region.

The disclosed issued share capital of 90,373,001 ordinary shares represents the voting shares available to the market. Each share carries voting rights and reflects a proportional interest in the company’s net asset value and investment returns. Publishing this figure ensures transparency and allows shareholders to understand the exact composition of the company’s issued capital at the reporting date.

Distinction Between Treasury Shares and Issued Capital

The announcement highlights the important distinction between issued shares and treasury shares. As of 21 July 2026, BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust holds 27,555,937 shares in treasury. Treasury shares are previously issued shares held by the company itself, not by external investors, and they do not carry voting rights or dividend entitlements unless reissued.

The denominator of 90,373,001 shares excludes these treasury shares, consistent with FCA regulations. This distinction is critical because it influences the calculation of shareholding thresholds. Shareholders must use only the issued shares excluding treasury holdings when determining if they have crossed disclosure thresholds under DTR 5.6.1. While the total share count including treasury shares is 117,928,938, this number is not used for notification purposes. Treasury shares are commonly held by investment trusts to facilitate market-making, capital management, and structural flexibility.

FCA Transparency Rules and Disclosure Responsibilities

This disclosure complies with the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, specifically provision 5.6.1, which mandates listed companies to report their issued capital and voting rights denominator. These rules enhance transparency in UK-listed securities and protect investors by ensuring material shareholding changes are properly reported. Regular notification of voting rights denominators is an essential regulatory requirement.

The denominator figure of 90,373,001 shares sets the benchmark for shareholders to assess their holdings. Investors must notify the company and the market if their shareholding reaches or surpasses thresholds such as 3%, 4%, 5%, and every 1% increment thereafter up to 100%. Using the correct denominator enables accurate threshold calculations, and failure to notify can lead to regulatory penalties, underscoring the importance of this disclosure.

Share Capital Details and Market Implications

Each of the 90,373,001 ordinary shares carries a nominal value of a30.001, reflecting the accounting par value rather than the market price determined by supply and demand. This low par value is typical for UK-listed shares.

Investment trusts actively manage their share capital to align share prices with net asset values. The combination of issued shares and treasury shares provides BlackRock with capital management flexibility. Treasury shares may be reissued when shares trade at a premium or retained when trading at a discount, helping to support share price stability and liquidity in secondary markets.

Regulatory Environment and Shareholder Notification

The Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules implement harmonized transparency standards across European markets. Under DTR 5.6, issuers must regularly disclose voting rights and capital data to enable efficient market functioning and informed investor decisions. This announcement formally notifies the market that the voting rights denominator as of 21 July 2026 is 90,373,001 shares.

Shareholders should use this figure to calculate their proportional interests. For instance, holding 2,711,190 shares corresponds to approximately 3% of issued capital, triggering the first disclosure threshold. This notification ensures all market participants have a consistent basis for threshold assessments, supporting good governance.

Investment Trust Sector and European Market Exposure

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust operates as a closed-ended fund within the UK investment trust sector, providing investors with access to a professionally managed portfolio focused on European equities beyond the Eurozone. This structure allows investors to gain diversified geographic exposure through a single security rather than purchasing multiple shares across jurisdictions.

The trust’s costs, performance, and dividend policies are transparently reported. The voting rights denominator disclosure forms part of the comprehensive transparency framework governing investment trust operations in the UK.

Management of Treasury Shares and Capital Flexibility

The trust’s holding of 27,555,937 treasury shares represents about 23.4% of the total issued plus treasury share capital, offering significant capital management flexibility. Treasury shares can be deployed to stabilize share prices, support buyback programs, or facilitate new share issuances if needed.

This separation between issued shares and treasury shares affects voting rights calculations and potential dilution if treasury shares are reissued. The announcement does not specify how these treasury shares were acquired or any plans for their future reissuance.

Practical Use of Voting Rights Denominator

The declared denominator of 90,373,001 shares is crucial for shareholders monitoring their holdings, especially institutional investors employing strategies involving stake-building or activist engagement. Changes in the denominator impact threshold calculations even if shareholdings remain unchanged.

Shareholders must apply this denominator for any assessments from 21 July 2026 until a new notification is issued. Should the company alter its share capital or treasury holdings, a fresh denominator announcement will be required. No details of planned share issuances or buybacks were disclosed. Investors should maintain records of the denominator figure for regulatory compliance and audit purposes.

Contact Details for Further Information

Shareholders seeking additional information about the voting rights disclosure or capital structure can contact Lucy Dina, Company Secretary at BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. A telephone number is provided for direct enquiries, ensuring access to authoritative information.

This contact facilitates transparency and supports shareholder engagement. The announcement does not provide guidance on future capital management plans beyond the current position as of 21 July 2026.