Holding(s) in Company - Barclays PLC

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

1.Identity of the issuer or the   Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc
underlying issuer of existing
shares to which voting rights are
attached:

2. Reason for the notification:
An acquisition or disposal of     Yes
voting rights
An acquisition or disposal of     N/A
financial instruments which may
result in the acquisition of
shares already issued to which
voting rights are attached
An event changing the breakdown   N/A
of voting rights
Other (please specify):           N/A

3. Full name of person(s) subject Barclays PLC
to the notification obligation

4. Full name of shareholder(s)    Barclays Bank Trust Company Ltd
(if different from 3.):           Barclays Global Investors Ltd
                                  Barclays Private Bank and Trust Ltd
                                  Barclays Private Bank Ltd
                                  Barclays Stockbrokers Ltd
                                  Gerrard Investment Management Ltd
                                  Walbrook Trustees (Guernsey) Ltd
                                  Walbrook Trustees (Jersey) Ltd
5. Date of the transaction (and   15 June 2009
date on which the threshold is
crossed or reached if different):

6. Date on which issuer notified: 19 June 2009

7. Threshold(s) that is/are       5%
crossed or reached:

8. Notified details:
A: Voting rights attached to shares
Class/type  Situation             Resulting situation after the
of          previous to the       triggering transaction
shares      Triggering
if          transaction
possible
using the
ISIN CODE
            Number    Number      Number    Number of         % of voting
            of        of          of        voting            rights
            Shares    Voting      Shares    rights
                      Rights
                                            Direct  Indirect  Direct  Indirect
Ordinary   3,754,164  3,754,164   4,840,838 0       4,840,838 0       5.00%
1p Shares
GB0000066554

B: Financial Instruments
Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
Type of   Expiration  Exercise/   Number of voting       % of voting
financial date        Conversion  rights that may be     rights
instrument            Period/     acquired if the
                      Date        instrument is
                                  exercised/ converted.
N/A       N/A         N/A         N/A                    N/A

C: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect to Qualifying
Financial Instruments
Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
Type of   Exercise  Expiration  Number of voting       % of voting
financial Price     Date        rights instrument      rights
instrument                      refers to

N/A       N/A       N/A         N/A                    N/A


Total (A+B+C)
Number of voting rights      % of voting rights
4,840,838                    5.00%

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting
rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held, if
applicable
Barclays Bank Trust Company Ltd
Barclays Global Investors Ltd
Barclays Private Bank and Trust Ltd
Barclays Private Bank Ltd
Barclays Stockbrokers Ltd
Gerrard Investment Management Ltd
Walbrook Trustees (Guernsey) Ltd

Walbrook Trustees (Jersey) Ltd
Proxy Voting:
10. Name of the proxy holder:          N/A

11. Number of voting rights proxy      N/A
holder will cease to hold:

12. Date on which proxy holder will    N/A
cease to hold voting rights:

13. Additional information:            N/A

14. Contact name:                      David Holland, Aberforth Partners LLP, Secretaries

15. Contact telephone number           0131-220-0733