Top Ten Investments as at 30 September 2005

ABERFORTH SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST plc


The Board of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc ("the Company") confirms
that,  as  at 30 September 2005, the top ten investments ranked  by  market
value of the Company's total investable assets were as follows: -


Company                                       Value (£)          Weight (%)              Accumulated (%)

Paladin Resources                            32,153,235                5.1%                         5.1%
Greggs                                       16,510,747                2.6%                         7.7%
Johnson Service Group                        15,457,293                2.5%                        10.2%
Holidaybreak                                 14,615,458                2.3%                        12.5%
BSS Group                                    14,042,460                2.2%                        14.7%
ITE Group                                    13,440,603                2.1%                        16.8%
RPC Group                                    13,134,750                2.1%                        18.9%
Shanks Group                                 12,741,796                2.0%                        20.9%
Interserve                                   12,262,250                1.9%                        22.8%
Bodycote International                       11,655,938                1.8%                        24.6%


Contact for enquiries
David Holland
Aberforth Partners
0131 220 0733

END