Holding(s) in Company

Merrill Lynch Br. SmallerCo Tst PLC
23 February 2007


TR-1(i): 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):

     Merrill Lynch British Smaller Companies Trust plc

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

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights: ( )

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 (X)

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

     Legal & General Group Plc (L&G)

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

     Legal & General Assurance (Pensions Management) Limited (PMC)

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

     N/A

(6). Date on which issuer notified:

     23 February 2007

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

     Above 3% (L&G)

(8). Notified details:


A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares (if possible using the ISIN code):  GBP Ord 0.25

Situation previous to the triggering transaction(vi):
     Number of Shares:  1,819,307 (Under S-198 on 08/08/05)
     Number of Voting rights(viii):  3.59%

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction(vii):
     Number of shares:
          DIRECT:  1,943,178
     Number of voting rights (ix):
          Direct (x):  1,943,178
          Indirect (xi):

% of voting rights:
     Direct:  3.88%
     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:

Total (A + B):

Number of voting rights:  1,943,178

% of voting rights:  3.88%


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

  Legal & General Group Plc (Direct & Indirect) (Group)

  Legal & General Investment Management (Holdings) Limited
  (LGIMH) (Director and Indirect)

  Legal & General Investment Management Limited (Indirect) (LGIM)

  Legal & General Group Plc (Direct) (L&G) (1,943,178 - 3.88% = LGAS, LGPL & PMC)

  Legal & General Investment Management (Holdings) Limited (Direct)
  (LGIMHD) (1,670,618 - 3.34% = PMC)

   Legal & General Insurance Holdings Limited (Direct) (LGIH)

   Legal & General Assurance (Pensions Management) Limited (PMC)
   (1,670,618 - 3.34% = PMC)

   Legal & General Assurance Society Limited (LGAS & LGPL)

   Legal & General Pensions Limited (Direct) (LGPL)

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:

    Notification using the total voting rights figure of 49,993,523.
    First notification under DTR sourcebook

(14). Contact name:

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

(15). Contact telephone number:

    020 7743 2427


23 February 2007



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