Notification of Major Interest in Shares

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

Melrose Resources 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 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 a 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:

Aberforth Partners LLP

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

1.Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc: 4,551,308 shares;

2. Aberforth UK Small Companies Fund: 1,155,442 shares; and

3. Aberforth Geared Income Trust plc: 107,089 shares.

All shares are registered in the name of Nortrust Nominees Ltd A/c Aberfrth

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

16/01/2012

6. Date on which issuer notified:

17/01/2012

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

5%

8. Notified details:

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares

 if possible using the ISIN CODE

Situation previous to the Triggering transaction

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Number of Voting Rights

Number of shares

Number of voting rights

% of voting rights

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Ordinary GB0009354589

 Below 5%

Below 5%

5,813,839

N/a

5,813,839

N/a

5.07

B: Qualifying Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial instrument

Expiration date

Exercise/ Conversion Period

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

% of voting rights

N/a

N/a

N/a

N/a

N/a

C: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect to Qualifying Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial instrument

Expiration price

Expiration date

Exercise/ Conversion Period

Number of voting rights instrument refers to

% of voting rights

N/a

N/a

N/a

N/a

N/a

Nominal

%

N/a

N/a

Total (A+B+C)

Number of voting rights

% of voting rights

5,813,839

5.07%

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

Held by Aberforth Partners LLP

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:

14. Contact name:

Pauline Robson, Aberforth Partners LLP

15. Contact telephone number:

0131 220 0733