The Board of Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust plc has declared an interim dividend of 2.70 pence per share (2018: 1.60 pence per share) and this will be paid on 10 April 2020 to shareholders on the register as at 13 March 2020 with an associated ex-dividend date of 12 March 2020.

The Board and Allister Langlands have agreed that he will step down as Chairman and retire from the Board on 31 March 2020. The Board has elected Liz Airey, who was appointed as an independent non-executive Director on 21 August 2019, to succeed him as Chairman. The company also noted the recent announcement about Harry Nimmo's change of role to become the Investment Leader of the Smaller Companies team at Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) and to step back from his managerial and administration role. The company considers that this change is positive as it allows him more time to focus on managing the Company. With a new head and deputy head in place, additional resource in UK stock selection and a long established investment process, the company is reassured that the portfolio is in safe hands.