Holding(s) in Company

15th Jul 2011 15:48

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 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):

Western Provident Association Ltd.

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

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

9 June 2011

(6). Date on which issuer notified:

14 July 2011 (after 5:00pm)

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

Holding has gone below 3%(8). Notified details:

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares (if possible using the ISIN code): Sterling Shares/ JE00B2PXDB91

Situation previous to the triggering transaction(vi): Number of Shares: 918,366 Number of Voting rights(viii): 1,377,549

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction(vii):Number of shares:DIRECT: below 3%Number of voting rights (ix):Direct (x): n/aIndirect (xi):% of voting rights:Direct: below 3%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:Total (A + B):Number of voting rights: n/a% of voting rights: below 3%

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

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

15 July 2011

XLON

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