Dividend Declaration

Merchants Trust PLC
11 July 2005




For Immediate Release                                              11 July 2005


                            THE MERCHANTS TRUST PLC

                            FIRST QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

The Board has declared a first quarterly dividend for the financial year ending
31 January 2006 of 4.6p net, payable on 18 August 2005 to holders of record at
the close of business on 22 July 2005. This represents a 2.2% increase over the
payment for the equivalent period last year.





By Order of the Board





Kirsten Salt

Secretary










                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange