REG-BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust Plc: Dividend Declaration

Blackrock Smaller Companies TrustAnnouncement

Today 11:45

BLACKROCK SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC                                         
                                            
                                 (LEI: 549300MS535KC2WH4082)                  
            
          
                     ANNOUNCEMENT OF SECOND INTERIM DIVIDEND                  
  
          
          31 March 2026

The Board of BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc (“BRSC” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce a second and final interim dividend in
respect of the financial year ended 28 February 2026 of 28.50 pence per
ordinary share. The dividend is payable on 8 May 2026 to holders of ordinary
shares on the register at the close of business on 10 April 2026 (ex-dividend
date is 9 April 2026). The deadline for registering elections for the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) will be 16 April 2026.

For the avoidance of doubt, the proposed combination of BRSC with BlackRock
Throgmorton Trust plc, which was approved by the Company’s shareholders at a
General Meeting held on 30 March 2026, but the implementation of which remains
subject to, inter alia, approval by THRG shareholders, is expected to become
effective on 16 April 2026. Accordingly, THRG shareholders will not be
entitled to receive this second interim dividend in respect of any new BRSC
shares issued to them pursuant to the combination.

Also as a reminder to shareholders, the Board announced on 24 October 2025
that (with effect from 1 March 2026) the Company would move to paying
dividends on a quarterly basis, with the intention of paying dividends in
September, December and March each year equal to a quarter of the previous
year‘s total dividend, with a final dividend payable in June.              
       It is therefore expected that the first quarterly dividend to be paid
to all shareholders in the enlarged BRSC following completion of the
combination will be the first interim dividend for the financial year ending
28 February 2027, to be paid in September 2026. It is intended that this first
interim dividend will be 11.125 pence per share, equal to a quarter of the
total dividends of 44.5 pence per share paid by BRSC in respect of the
financial year ended 28 February 2026.

Shareholders are also reminded that the Company is proposing to implement a
share split of 5 shares for every existing share held, with effect from 1 July
2026.                      Therefore, the first quarterly dividend payment
made in September 2026 will reflect a lower dividend per share in respect of
these newly sub-divided shares on a 5 for 1 basis (i.e. 2.225 pence per share
but on a greater number of shares such that the total amount received by
shareholders will be unchanged).            

Enquiries:

Sarah Beynsberger          
          For and on behalf of BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited,
Secretary          
          Telephone: 020 7743 2639

 Release  (https://mb.cision.com/Main/22402/4328940/4017420.pdf)  



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