Interim Management Statement

BLACKROCK SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC Interim Management Statement - 3 months to 31 May 2012 To the members of BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc This interim management statement has been produced solely to provide additional information to shareholders as a body to meet the relevant requirements of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure & Transparency Rules. It should not be relied on by any other party for any other reason. This interim management statement relates to the period from 1 March 2012 to 31 May 2012, and contains information that covers this period, and up to the date of publication of this interim management statement. Please note more detailed performance information is available on the Manager's website - www.blackrock.co.uk/brsc. The Company invests mainly in smaller UK quoted companies, and seeks to achieve long term capital growth for shareholders. The Company is managed by Mike Prentis of BlackRock. Stock Performance Cumulative Performance (%): One Three One Three Five Month Months Year Years Years Net Asset Value -9.8% -8.6% -10.1% 101.0% 14.7% Share Price -9.9% -6.5% -10.0% 101.1% 13.2% Numis ex Inv Trust + AIM* -8.3% -9.1% -13.5% 42.6% -24.0% *With effect from 1 September 2007 the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (ex Investment Companies) Index, formerly the Hoare Govett Smaller Companies plus AIM (ex Investment Companies) Index, replaced the FTSE SmallCap Index (ex Investment Companies) as the Company's benchmark. For the five year period the above index has been blended to reflect this. All performance figures are in £ on a capital only basis. Ten Largest Equity Holdings (in alphabetical order) at 31 May 2012 Ashtead Aveva Group Bellway Booker Group City of London Investment Group Elementis Fidessa Oxford Instruments Senior Victrex Financial position and performance as at 31 May 2012 Gross Assets (£m)* 292.9 Short term borrowings (£m) 25.5 7.75% Debenture 2022 at par value (£m) 14.8 7.75% Debenture 2022 at fair value (£m) 16.9 Net asset value - capital only (at par) 559.10p Net asset value - capital only (at fair value) 554.91p Net asset value - cum income (at par)* 562.62p Net asset value - cum income (at fair value)* 558.43p Share Price 470.50p Ordinary Shares in Issue** 47,879,792 Gearing including Income (debt at fair value) 8.7% Discount to Cum Income NAV (debt at par value) 16.4% Discount to Cum Income NAV (debt at fair value) 15.7% Average Discount over the Period 15.4% *Includes current year revenue ** Excluding 2,113,731 shares held in treasury Annual Results The Company announced its annual results for the year ended 29 February 2012 on 26 April 2012. Final Dividend A final dividend in respect of the year ended 29 February 2012 of 5.98p per ordinary share was recommended by the Directors. Shareholders approved the resolution in respect of the dividend at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 27 June 2012, and the dividend will be payable on 4 July 2012 to shareholders on the register on 1 June 2012 (ex dividend date 30 May 2012). Directorate Changes The Company announced on 20 March 2012 that Mr Richard Brewster would retire as Chairman and a Director following the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 27 June 2012. The Board are also pleased to announce that Mr Michael Peacock will be joining as a non-executive director of the Company and chairman of the Audit Committee with effect from 1 July 2012. Annual General Meeting At the Company's AGM held on Wednesday, 27 June 2012, all resolutions were passed. Directors' Sale of Shares On 15 March 2012, Mr Robert S Robertson sold 11 ordinary shares to fund the ISA plan management charge. Material Events & Transactions There were no material events or transactions during the three months to 31 May 2012, other than the purchase and sale of securities undertaken in the normal course of business. The Board is not aware of any significant events or transactions, except as disclosed herein, occurring between 31 May 2012 and the date of publication of this interim management statement which would have a material impact on the financial position of the Company. Contact details: Caroline Driscoll Secretary Tel: 020 7743 2427 27 June 2012 ENDS Please note that more detailed information is available on the Investment Manager's website, www.blackrock.co.uk/brsc. Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement. Latest information is also available by typing, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal).
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