26 March 2020
Aberdeen Smaller Companies Income Trust PLC
Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 213800J6D2TVHRGKBG24
Information disclosed in accordance with DTR 6.1.13
The Board of Aberdeen Smaller Companies Income Trust PLC declare a first interim dividend of 2.06p per share in respect of the year to 31 December 2020 (first interim 2019: 1.95p) payable on 24 April 2020 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 3 April 2020. The ex-date is 2 April 2020.
The Board has always regarded a key purpose of our Trust as the generation of income for our shareholders. We have decided to increase our first interim dividend during a period of uncertainty, when many quoted companies will be cutting or eliminating their dividends. We believe that helping shareholders cover an income decline elsewhere will be more valuable to them than conservatively mirroring market improvement over time. Our significant revenue reserve helped reinforce this decision. We shall of course continue to monitor this situation each quarter and may have to take a different decision, once greater clarity emerges of the outlook for 2020 and particularly for 2021.
Aberdeen Smaller Companies Income Trust PLC is managed by Aberdeen Standard Fund Managers Limited.
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