Total Voting Rights

BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc - Voting Rights and Capital In conformity with the Transparency Directive, we would like to notify the market of the following: Following the purchase of its own shares to be held in Treasury, Merrill Lynch British Smaller Companies Trust plc's capital now consists of 48,504,708 ordinary shares with voting rights. BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc now holds 1,488,815 ordinary shares in Treasury. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc is now 48,504,708. The above figure (48,504,708) may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc under the FSA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. 10 December 2008 Mrs A B Powley - Company Secretary Tel: 020 7743 5610
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