20 Dec 2018 17:44
ABERDEEN SMALLER COMPANIES INCOME TRUST PLC
Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 213800J6D2TVHRGKBG24
20 December 2018
The Board of Aberdeen Smaller Companies Income Trust PLC has declared a fourth interim dividend of 1.95p per share in respect of the year to 31 December 2018 (2017: 1.80p), making a total dividend for the year of 7.35p (2017 - 7.05p).
The fourth interim dividend is payable on 25 January 2019 to those on the register at close of business on 4 January 2019. The ex-date is 3 January 2019.
The Trust's strategy is to seek income and the Board is pleased to report that the Trust has had an exceptional year in delivering income returns, particularly with the increase in the amount of special dividends received during the year. As a result the amount of the fourth dividend and the total dividend for the year has been enhanced to reflect these higher returns.
Going forward, the Board aims to maintain a dividend which reflects the net income of the Company. Given that the Trust's income returns were higher in 2018 than normal, the level of the Trust's fourth interim dividend for 2018 may not be maintained as an interim dividend in 2019.
The amount of the fourth interim and total dividend for the year to 31 December 2018 has been determined by the Company's requirement to maintain investment trust status.
End