Smo Gold Regulatory News (BARS)

8 Jul 2011 15:41

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):

BlackRock Absolute Return Strategies Ltd

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

An acquisition or disposal of instruments with similar economic effect to qualifying financial instruments: ( )

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights: ( )

Other (please specify) : ( )

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

Weiss Asset Management LP

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

Brookdale International Partners LP, Brookdale Global Opportunity Fund*

*Weiss Asset Management LP is the Investment Manager to Brookdale Global Opportunity Fund and Brookdale International Partners LP.

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

4 July 2011

(6). Date on which issuer notified:

7 July 2011

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

>15%(8). Notified details:

A: Voting rights attached to shares Class/type of shares (if possible using the ISIN code): denominated shares of no par value - GBP JE00B2PXDB91, USD JE00B2PXNQ43, Euro JE00B2PXNC07

Situation previous to the triggering transaction(vi): Number of Shares: 1,855,416 Number of Voting rights (viii): 2,659,724

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction(vii):Number of shares:Direct: 1,955,416Number of voting rights (ix):Direct (x): 2,809,724Indirect (xi): n/a% of voting rights:Direct: 15.24%Indirect: n/aB. 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: 2,809,724% of voting rights: 15.24%

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

Brookdale International Partners, L.P: 10.67%Brookdale Global Opportunity Fund: 4.57%

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:N/A(14). Contact name:Mrs K V HigginsFor BlackRock Investment Management (UK) LimitedSecretary

(15). Contact telephone number:

020 7743 1089

8 July 2011