21 Dec 2020 14:54
21 December 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 fourth interim dividend of 2.06p per share in respect of the year to 31 December 2020 (fourth interim 2019: 2.40p) making a total dividend for the year of 8.24p (2019 8.25p). The fourth interim dividend is payable on 29 January 2021 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 4 January 2021. The ex-date is 31 December 2020
As we said when we declared the first, second and third interim dividends, the Board has always regarded a key purpose of our Trust as the generation of income for our shareholders. Whilst the economic uncertainty has remained, we continue to believe that helping shareholders cover an income decline elsewhere in the market will be more valuable to them than conservatively mirroring market improvement over time. We have added significantly to our revenue reserves over recent years and we prefer to reduce these reserves, at least this year, to alleviate the decline of dividend income elsewhere. 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 2021 and 2022.
For Aberdeen Smaller Companies Income Trust PLC
Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited, SECRETARY
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