REG - Smithson Inv.Trust - Restructure Proposals

Smithson Investment TrustAnnouncement

12/11/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 1457H  Smithson Investment Trust PLC  12 November 2025

LEI:  52990070BDK2OKX5TH79

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT ARE NOT FOR RELEASE,
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN
OR INTO ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA, THE UNITED STATES,
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FOR WHICH THE SAME COULD BE UNLAWFUL.

The information communicated in this announcement is deemed to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the UK Version of Market Abuse
Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (as incorporated into UK Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and as subsequently amended ("UK MAR").
Upon the publication of this announcement, this information is considered to
be in the public domain.

 

12 November 2025

 

Smithson Investment Trust plc

Proposed rollover into an open-ended fund

 

·      Smithson Investment Trust plc's assets to be rolled into a
soon-to-be-established open-ended fund

 

·      Investment strategy and manager unchanged

 

·      Full cash exit at NAV less costs offered to all shareholders

 

·      Cost contribution from Fundsmith LLP to ensure no NAV dilution
for shareholders rolling their investment into the new fund

 

 

Introduction

 

The Board of Smithson Investment Trust plc (the "Company" or "SSON") announces
that the Company has entered into heads of terms with Fundsmith LLP
("Fundsmith") for the proposed rollover of the Company's assets into an
open-ended investment company ("OEIC"), implemented via a scheme of
reconstruction and voluntary winding up of the Company under Section 110 of
the Insolvency Act 1986 (the "Scheme"). It is intended that the assets of the
Company will be transferred to Smithson Equity Fund ("New Smithson"), an OEIC
in the process of being established, which will be managed by Fundsmith (the
"Proposal").

The Board has decided upon this proposal after a period of careful
consideration of a range of options aimed at optimising value for
shareholders. Whilst the Board is confident in SSON's investment strategy and
manager, the Directors are also highly cognisant of the discount to NAV which
has been entrenched for some years and the need therefore to take action to
restore value to shareholders.

Key benefits of the proposed Scheme

The Board believes the Proposal will provide shareholders with the following
key benefits:

·      Continuity of investment manager and strategy: New Smithson will
be managed by Fundsmith, with Simon Barnard as portfolio manager, continuing
the current investment strategy of long-term investing in small and mid
("SMID") sized listed or traded companies globally to deliver long term
capital growth.

·      No NAV dilution for rolling shareholders: It is expected that
shareholders who roll their investment into New Smithson will not suffer any
NAV dilution as a result of the Proposal.

·      Full cash exit to be made available: Shareholders will have the
option to realise some or all of their holding in SSON. No discount, apart
from the application of costs not covered by the Fundsmith Contribution (as
defined below), will be applied to the cash exit.

·      Ability to trade at NAV: Shareholders in New Smithson will be
able to purchase and redeem shares in the OEIC at the NAV per share on a daily
basis. The open-ended unlisted structure of New Smithson will eliminate the
persistent discount to NAV at which shareholders in the Company have been able
to sell their shares in the market over the past three and a half years.

·      Ability to stay invested in a tax efficient manner: UK
shareholders who roll over their investment in the Company into New Smithson
may do so without triggering a charge to UK capital gains tax.

·      Cost contribution by Fundsmith: Fundsmith will make a significant
cost contribution in connection with the Proposal (the "Fundsmith
Contribution") which will benefit all shareholders and should ensure that
there is no NAV dilution for Shareholders rolling over into New Smithson.

Background to the Scheme

The Board is acutely aware of the persistent discount to NAV at which the
Company's shares have traded since early 2022, with demand for the Company's
shares impacted by a number of factors, including relative underperformance,
in part due to the manager's style being out of favour (the Company has
delivered a NAV total return of +65.9% since inception and (15.2)% since the
start of 2022 compared to +88.3% and +24.0% for the MSCI World SMID Index £
Net over the same periods).

Despite the Board's efforts to attempt to reduce the discount through its
significant buyback programme, with £992 million deployed since buybacks
began in April 2022 (repurchasing 69.6 million shares, representing 39.3% of
the issued share capital at 31 March 2022), the Company's shares have
continued to trade at a significant discount to NAV.

The Board continues to have conviction in the Company's investment strategy
and manager, but recognises shareholders' ongoing frustration with the
discount and has been actively engaging with shareholders. The Board therefore
has been exploring solutions which reduce or eliminate the discount to NAV at
which the Company's shares trade, whilst keeping the current investment
strategy and manager.

The Board, after considering a number of options and consulting with some of
the Company's largest shareholders, decided that offering a rollover into an
OEIC which would mirror the Company's existing investment strategy, coupled
with an uncapped cash exit opportunity at NAV less costs, would offer the best
outcome for shareholders as a whole. As the investment strategy does not
employ certain attributes of a closed-end structure, such as gearing and
investments in private assets, and given that the underlying portfolio is
liquid (the median market capitalisation of the holdings in the portfolio is
c. £8 billion), the Board believes that rolling into an OEIC is unlikely to
have a detrimental impact on the delivery of the investment strategy, whilst
having the benefit of removing the discount.

Further detail on the Scheme

The Proposal, if approved by shareholders at the required general meetings of
the Company, will be  implemented through a scheme of reconstruction and
winding up of the Company pursuant to section 110 of the Insolvency Act 1986,
resulting in the voluntary liquidation of the Company and the rollover of its
assets into New Smithson in exchange for the issue of shares in New Smithson
to those who are deemed to have elected to roll over into New Smithson.

Pursuant to the Scheme, shareholders will be able to elect (in whole or in
part and in accordance with their personal investment requirements) to:

i)    roll over their investment in the Company into New Smithson (the
"Rollover Option"); or

ii)    receive their entitlement upon the winding-up of the Company in cash
(the "Cash Option"),

in respect of some or all of their shares in the Company.

The Rollover Option will be the default option under the Scheme. The Cash
Option will bear the direct costs of the Scheme, less the relevant benefits of
the Fundsmith Contribution.

Conditions

The Proposal is subject to a number of conditions, including:

i)    New Smithson having been established and authorised by the Financial
Conduct Authority under Regulation 14 of the Open-Ended Investment Companies
Regulations 2001; and

ii)    the passing of the necessary resolutions by the Company's
shareholders to approve the Scheme and to place the Company into voluntary
liquidation.

The Fundsmith Contribution

Fundsmith has agreed to make a significant contribution to the costs of the
Proposal. For the benefit of all shareholders, whether electing for the Cash
Option or the Rollover Option, Fundsmith has agreed to:

i)          waive any payment that would have been due by the Company
in lieu of notice to Fundsmith under the terms of the Company's investment
management agreement; and

ii)          cover the legal fees of the Company in connection with
the Proposal.

In addition, for the benefit of shareholders electing for the Rollover Option,
Fundsmith has agreed to cover any stamp duty payable by New Smithson on the
transfer of the Company's assets to New Smithson, with the aim of ensuring
that shareholders who roll over their investment into New Smithson do not
suffer any NAV dilution.

Shareholders will not be liable for any of the costs of setting up New
Smithson, all of which will be borne by Fundsmith.

New Smithson

New Smithson will be an unlisted FCA-authorised OEIC operating as a UK UCITS
fund. It will be managed by Fundsmith with the same investment strategy and
policy as SSON subject to minor modification to reflect the regulatory
requirements applicable to a UK UCITS fund. Simon Barnard will continue to be
the portfolio manager of the strategy.

Shareholders in New Smithson will be able to buy and sell shares on a daily
basis at a price equal to the net asset value per share at the next valuation
point following the instruction.

The management fee of SSON is charged at 0.9% of market capitalisation. New
Smithson will also charge 0.9% but this will be based on NAV.

Expected timetable

The Company intends to publish a circular, including further details in
relation to the Scheme, upon the formal establishment of New Smithson. That
circular will also contain notices of the general meetings at which the
required shareholder resolutions to approve the Scheme and the placing of the
Company into voluntary liquidation will be proposed. The circular is expected
to be published by no later than 31 January 2026.

Subject to the relevant conditions being satisfied, it is expected that the
Scheme would be completed by no later than 31 March 2026.

Shareholder support

In September and early October this year, in light of the entrenched discount
to NAV, the Board undertook a shareholder consultation to seek its largest
shareholders' views on the future of the Company. The feedback received from
Shareholders indicated support for decisive action to close the discount.

Saba Capital Management L.P. ("Saba") whose clients have an economic interest
in 16.05% of the Company has undertaken to use best endeavours, in respect of
such shares in the Company as are beneficially held by any funds, accounts and
investment vehicles managed, advised or sub-advised by Saba or any of its
affiliates at the record date of each general meeting, to vote or procure a
vote in favour of the Scheme.

The Company has also received a letter of intent to vote in favour of the
Scheme from Terry Smith, the CEO and CIO of Fundsmith, who has an interest in
2.30% of the Company's voting rights. Mr Smith also intends to elect for the
Rollover Option in respect of his entire holding of shares in the Company.

Another significant shareholder has also indicated their support for the
Scheme.

Mike Balfour, Chairman of Smithson Investment Trust plc, said:

 

"Whilst we have conviction in SSON's proven and differentiated investment
strategy and in Fundsmith as manager, our priority and commitment as a Board
is to listen carefully to shareholders and take proactive steps to resolve the
entrenched discount and restore shareholder value.

Despite the sizeable buyback programme undertaken, the Company's shares have
frustratingly continued to trade at a significant discount. We are confident
that this Proposal offers a clear route to restoring shareholder value, giving
shareholders the choice between a clean exit and continued participation in
the same proven investment strategy.

We are pleased to have engaged constructively with Saba and other large
shareholders throughout this process."

 

Enquiries:

 

 Smithson Investment Trust plc                                              c/o Burson Buchanan

 Mike Balfour, Chairman

 J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Sole Financial Adviser)                              +44 (0) 203 493 8000

 William Simmonds

 Rupert Budge

 Burson Buchanan (Financial PR)                                             Smithson@buchanancomms.co.uk (mailto:Smithson@buchanancomms.co.uk)

 Henry Wilson                                                               +44 (0) 7788 528143

 Helen Tarbet                                                               +44 (0) 7872 604453

 Nick Croysdill                                                             +44 (0) 7815 823412

 Apex Listed Companies Services (UK) Limited (Corporate Company Secretary)  +44 (0) 203 327 9720

 

 

This announcement is not for publication or distribution in or into the United
States of America. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale
into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and
will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an
applicable exemption from registration. No public offering of securities is
being made in the United States.

 

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