Holding(s) in Company

TR-1: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

(1). Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to
which voting rights are attached (ii):

BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc

(2). Reason for the notification (please tick the appropriate box or boxes):

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights: ( X )

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result in the
acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached: ( )

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights: ( )

Other (please specify) : Initial notification as per regulatory requirement ( )

(3). Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation (iii):

Prudential plc group of companies

(4). Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.) (iv):

Prudential plc - total voting rights 2,873,872 (5.96%) comprising:
Nortrust Nominee Ltd a/c MHF01 - 16,622
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PAC AC - 2,791,689
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PPL AC - 65,561

M&G Group Limited - total voting rights 2,873,872 (5.96%) comprising:
Nortrust Nominee Ltd a/c MHF01 - 16,622
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PAC AC - 2,791,689
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PPL AC - 65,561

M&G Investment Management Limited - total voting rights 2,857,250 (5.92%)
comprising:
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PAC AC - 2,791,689
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PPL AC - 65,561

M&G Limited - total voting rights 2,873,872 (5.96%) comprising:
Nortrust Nominee Ltd a/c MHF01 - 16,622
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PAC AC - 2,791,689
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PPL AC - 65,561

The Prudential Assurance Company Limited - total voting rights 2,857,250
(5.92%) comprising:
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PAC AC - 2,791,689
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM(UK) PPL AC - 65,561

(5). Date of the transaction (and date on which the threshold is crossed or
reached if different) (v):

4 November 2009

(6). Date on which issuer notified:

5 November 2009

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

See item 13

(8). Notified details:



A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares (if possible using the ISIN code): Ordinary Shares of 25p
each - GB0006436108

Situation previous to the triggering transaction(vi):
Number of Shares: 2,923,872
Number of Voting rights(viii): 2,923,872

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction(vii):
Number of shares:
Direct: 2,873,872
Number of voting rights (ix):
Direct (x): 2,873,872
Indirect (xi):

% of voting rights:
Direct: 5.96%
Indirect:


B. Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction (xii): 

Type of financial instrument: 

Expiration date (xiii): 

Exercise/Conversion Period/Date (xiv): 

Number of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised/
converted: 

% of voting rights: 

C. Financial Instruments with similar economic effect to Qualifying Instruments
(xv), (xvi)

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction:

Type of financial instrument:

Exercise Price:

Expiration date (xvii):

Exercise/Conversion Period/Date (xviii):

Number of voting rights instrument refers to:

% of voting rights (xix) (xx):


Nominal:
Delta:

Total (A + B + C):

Number of voting rights: 2,873,872

% of voting rights: 5.96%


(9). Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or
the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable (xv):

Prudential plc (parent Company)
M&G Group Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc)
M&G Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of M&G Group Limited)
M&G Investment Management Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of M&G Limited)
The Prudential Assurance Company Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential
plc)

Proxy Voting:

(10). Name of the proxy holder:

N/A

(11). Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:

N/A

(12). Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:

N/A

(13). Additional information:

As per 5.1.2, the non-exempt holdings for Prudential plc have dropped below 6%
triggering this notification.

(14). Contact name:

Ms C Driscoll
For BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Secretary

(15). Contact telephone number:

020 7743 2427


11 November 2009