Portfolio Update

BLACKROCK SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC All information is at 28 February 2013 and unaudited. Performance at month end is calculated on a capital only basis One Three One Three Five Month Months Year Years Years Net asset value 5.9% 14.5% 16.4% 89.9% 74.6% Share price 5.3% 16.3% 24.6% 113.3% 84.3% Numis ex Inv Companies + AIM 3.9% 12.0% 12.3% 39.7% 17.9% Sources: BlackRock and Datastream At month end Net asset value Capital only (debt at par value): 712.45p Net asset value Capital only (debt at fair value): 707.03p Net asset value incl. Income (debt at par value)**: 720.48p Net asset value incl. Income (debt at fair value)**: 715.06p Share price: 626.50p Discount to Cum Income NAV (debt at par value): 13.0% Discount to Cum Income NAV (debt at fair value): 12.4% Net yield: 1.5% Total assets^: £376.5m Net gearing incl. Income (debt at fair value): 9.1% 2012 Total Expense Ratio ("TER")^^: 0.7% Ordinary shares in issue#: 47,879,792 *performance calculations based on a capital only NAV with debt at par, without income reinvested. Share price performance calculations exclude income reinvestment. **includes net revenue of 8.03p ^includes current year revenue ^^As reported in the Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 29 February 2012, the TER is calculated as a percentage of net assets and using operating expenses, excluding performance fees, finance costs and taxation. #excludes 2,113,731 shares held in treasury Ten Largest Sector Weightings % of total assets Support Services 8.6 Software & Computer Services 8.4 Financial Services 7.9 General Retailers 6.2 Electronic & Electrical Equipment 6.0 Oil & Gas Producers 5.8 Industrial Metals & Mining 5.7 Chemicals 5.7 Household Goods & Home Construction 5.3 Media 5.3 ---- Total 64.9 ==== Ten Largest Equity Investments (in alphabetical order) Company Ashtead AZ Electronic Materials Bellway Booker Group Howden Joinery ITE Group Oxford Instruments Senior Victrex Workspace Commenting on the markets, Mike Prentis, representing the Investment Manager noted: During February the Company's NAV per share increased by 5.9% on a capital only basis whilst the benchmark index increased by 3.9%. The FTSE 100 Index increased by 1.3%. The relative contribution from stock selection was strongly positive, with minimal contribution from sector allocation. We have maintained gearing at 9 - 10% which was helpful during a month of good gains. The positive contribution from stock selection included significant contributions from Blinkx and Senior. Blinkx announced in a trading update that it has had a very strong first half, which had continued into the current quarter and management are confident this will be sustained for the full year. Forecasts were increased significantly. Senior announced strong full year results with earnings per share up 22% and are confident looking forward. We saw good share price performance from a number of other key holdings including Optimal Payments, Ashtead, Howden Joinery and Fidessa. No one holding made a significantly negative contribution during the month. Activity during the month was limited. The results season to date has gone well and companies seem to be coping with the uncertain macro-economic environment. We see the recent fall in the pound as being helpful to many of our more internationally focused holdings, although many of these will have hedged a significant part of their currency exposure for the current year. 14 March 2013 ENDS Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.co.uk/brscon the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
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