REG-BlackRock Throgmorton Trust Plc: Combination of BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc and BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
20/02/2026 07:00
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT ARE NOT FOR RELEASE,
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Legal Entity Identifier: 5493003B7ETS1JEDPF59
20 February 2026
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
Combination of BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc and BlackRock Throgmorton
Trust plc
Greater scale, liquidity, and cost efficiencies
Combines two trusts with deep investment heritage
Well positioned for the significant value opportunity in the sector
The Board of BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc (the "
Company " or " THRG
") (the " Board ") is pleased to
announce that it has agreed a proposed combination with BlackRock Smaller
Companies Trust plc (" BRSC ") (the "
Combination "). The Combination will
bring together two similar investment companies with significant portfolio
overlap and create a company with net assets of approximately £780 million
(the " Enlarged BRSC "), delivering
greater scale, liquidity and cost efficiencies. The
Enlarged BRSC will consolidate its position as the largest growth-focused
trust in the AIC's UK Smaller Companies sector.
The Combination, if approved by both sets of Shareholders, will be effected by
way of a scheme of reconstruction, which will include a members' voluntary
winding up of the Company under section 110 of the Insolvency Act (the "
Scheme ") and the issue of New BRSC Shares to
Shareholders who are deemed to have elected to roll over their investment into
the Enlarged BRSC.
As part of its continued focus on driving long-term Shareholder value, the
Board, with the support of Stanhope Consulting, has undertaken an extensive
sector-wide review which included an analysis of the strategies and
performance of peer group companies and an assessment of all the options
available to THRG. Based on the results of this review and regular engagement
with Shareholders, the Board concluded that the Combination is in
Shareholders' best interests.
In connection with the Proposals, a cash exit opportunity is being offered to
Shareholders for up to 38 per cent. of THRG's issued share capital subject to
a 1 per cent. discount (the " Cash Option
"). The record date for participating in the Cash
Option is 6.00 p.m. on 23 February 2026. Any shareholding that is not recorded
on the Register by 6.00 p.m. on 23 February 2026 will not be eligible to elect
for the Cash Option.
BRSC will also offer a cash exit opportunity to BRSC Shareholders for up to 28
per cent. of BRSC's issued share capital subject to a 1 per cent. discount.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, Saba Capital Management, L.P.
("Saba") (including the Saba Investment Vehicles) was interested in 17.8 per
cent. of the voting rights in THRG and 10.4 per cent. of the voting rights of
BRSC, and Saba has provided an irrevocable commitment to vote in favour of the
Proposals and participate in both the THRG and BRSC cash exit, as set out in
further detail below. In addition, THRG and BRSC have received letters of
intent to vote in favour of the Proposals from other shareholders
representing, in aggregate, 12.0 per cent. of THRG's issued share capital and
23.9 per cent. of BRSC's issued share capital, in each case excluding shares
held in treasury.
THRG will shortly publish a circular (the " Circular
") which contains notices of two general meetings (the "
General Meetings "), at which the Board is
seeking Shareholders' approval of the proposed combination of THRG and BRSC
and members' voluntary winding-up of THRG.
The Board strongly believes that the Proposals will deliver a number of
significant benefits for its Shareholders, including:
* Greater scale and improved liquidity
- providing exposure to a diverse range of high-quality UK
Smaller Companies with excellent growth prospects
* Cost efficiencies
- through reduced management fees
* Immediate value realisation opportunity
- through the Cash Option
* Conditional exit opportunity
- introduction of a triennial 100 per cent. conditional tender
offer, linked to performance against the Benchmark
* Management expertise
- enlarged portfolio management team with Roland Arnold as lead portfolio
manager, joined by Dan Whitestone, the current
portfolio manager of THRG, as co-manager.
James Will, Chairman of BlackRock Throgmorton Trust, said:
"We are delighted to announce the proposed Combination, which will create a
£780 million company that combines scale, efficiency, and proven investment
expertise. The Enlarged BRSC will be
well placed to capture the compelling UK smaller companies opportunity,
underpinned by BlackRock's deep investment heritage which spans many decades
and cycles.
The proposed Combination follows a comprehensive review of available options
by the Board and is focused on driving long-term value for Shareholders
through greater scale, liquidity and cost efficiencies. Continuing
Shareholders will benefit from a portfolio of high quality, diversified UK
smaller companies, and the continuity of BlackRock's investment philosophy and
process that has proven highly successful over the long term.
Shareholders will be offered an initial cash exit, while continuing
Shareholders will benefit from exposure to an enlarged company which will be
well positioned to capitalise on the continuing significant value opportunity
in the sector. The Board and BlackRock strongly believe in the long-term
growth prospects of the UK smaller companies sector and the sector's proven
ability to outperform larger companies over time."
Benefits of the Proposals
The Board believes that the Proposals will have the following benefits for
Shareholders:
* Scale : The
Enlarged BRSC is expected to have net assets of approximately £780 million
(on the basis of the trusts' respective net asset values as at 16 February
2026 and assuming full take up of both the Cash Option and the BRSC Tender
Offer). This increased scale is expected to improve secondary market liquidity
for continuing Shareholders, support the marketability of the Enlarged BRSC
and provide the BRSC Board with additional flexibility in pursuing discount
control initiatives.
* Continuity :
shareholders in the Enlarged BRSC will see benefits from the effective
continuity of Investment Manager and closed-ended structure. These include:
* Combined portfolio manager expertise
: Building on a combined investment track record spanning
several decades and investment cycles, the Enlarged BRSC will bring together
two highly experienced, well-regarded UK small-cap managers, Roland Arnold and
Dan Whitestone, who have collaborated for over 10 years, and will co-manage a
clear and distinct investment strategy, remaining disciplined in their
investment philosophy and process that have proven successful over the long
term.
* Portfolio of quality growth companies
: the Enlarged BRSC will create a single BlackRock-managed
UK smaller companies trust, merging two diversified portfolios with
approximately 75 per cent. overlap as at 31 January 2026. The Enlarged BRSC
will continue to prioritise quality growth companies driven by strong
management teams, leading market positions, pricing power, robust balance
sheets, healthy margins, strong earnings growth and high levels of cash
conversion.
* Closed-ended vehicle
: the investment trust structure will continue to allow for investment in
less liquid securities, where a longer-term investment horizon and the ability
to invest patiently is often required, and will continue to offer the ability
to smooth dividend payments over time, to use gearing and to uphold strong
governance standards through an independent board of directors.
* Attractive dividend policy
: the Enlarged BRSC's dividend policy is expected to build on the
track record achieved by BRSC, categorised as a 'Dividend Hero' by the AIC as
a result of delivering annual dividend growth for more than 20 years.
With effect from 1 March 2026, BRSC intends to pay dividends
on a quarterly basis.
* Compelling long-term prospects
: the Board and BlackRock believe UK smaller companies have the
potential to outperform their larger counterparts over the long-term,
consistent with the 2.8 per cent. annualised outperformance over the period
December 1955 to January 2026, and believe in the Enlarged BRSC's ability to
outperform its benchmark (being the Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM
(excluding Investment Companies) Index) over the long-term.
* THRG and BRSC have both outperformed the Deutsche
Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index over
the last 10 years to 31 January 2026, having delivered NAV total returns of
approximately 129 per cent. and 97 per cent., respectively, compared to the
benchmark return of approximately 86 per cent.
* The sector has faced significant challenges over the
last few years, caused by greater outflows leading to significant
under-valuation, which has impacted short term performance. However, UK
smaller companies continue to display robust fundamentals and good long-term
growth prospects. Given investment cycle trends, the portfolio managers are
confident that there remain significant opportunities within the asset class
for the patient investor.
* The Board and BlackRock believe that the Combination
strongly positions the Enlarged BRSC to capitalise on any change in sentiment
towards UK smaller companies.
* Initial cash exit opportunity
: while the Board believes the benefits and strategic rationale of
the Combination are compelling for continuing Shareholders, all Shareholders
will be offered a cash exit opportunity in connection with the Scheme, subject
to a 1 per cent. discount, for up to 38 per cent. of THRG's issued share
capital (excluding shares held in treasury).
* Triennial conditional exit opportunity
: subject to completion of the Combination, the Enlarged
BRSC will offer a triennial performance-related tender offer for up to 100 per
cent. of its issued share capital (excluding shares held in treasury) at a 4
per cent. discount to NAV (less costs), which will be triggered if the
Enlarged BRSC underperforms its benchmark, the Deutsche Numis Smaller
Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index, over the relevant
performance period.
* Reduced management fees
: subject to completion of the Combination, BlackRock has agreed to a
reduction in the annual management fee payable by the Enlarged BRSC to: 50 bps
on NAV up to £500 million; 47.5 bps on NAV in excess of £500 million and up
to £750 million; and 45 bps on NAV in excess of £750 million. This will be
the lowest management fee for investment companies in the AIC's UK Smaller
Companies sector that do not have a performance fee.
* BlackRock Cost Contribution
: continuing shareholders will be materially, if not entirely,
insulated from the costs of the Proposals as a result of the application of
the BlackRock Cost Contribution, by way of a fee waiver equal to six months of
the reduced management fee that would otherwise be payable by the Enlarged
BRSC following implementation of the Scheme based on the estimated Net Asset
Value of the Enlarged BRSC as at the Calculation Date.
* Lower ongoing charges
: The Proposals will reduce fixed costs proportionately to NAV and, in
combination with the reduced management fees, deliver a competitive OCR for
the Enlarged BRSC estimated to be 0.63 per cent. (which excludes the benefit
of the BlackRock Cost Contribution) compared to BRSC's OCR of 0.8 per cent.
and THRG's average OCR over the last five years to 30 November 2025 of 0.82
per cent. with performance fees included. This will be the lowest OCR for
investment companies in the AIC's UK Smaller Companies sector that do not have
a performance fee.
Summary Information on BRSC and the Enlarged BRSC
BRSC is a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Scotland on 2 May
1906. It is an investment company as defined by section 833 of the Companies
Act and operates as an investment trust within the meaning of Chapter 4 of
Part 24 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010. Its investment objective is to
achieve long-term capital growth for shareholders through investment mainly in
smaller UK quoted companies.
BlackRock Fund Managers Limited will continue as manager to the Enlarged BRSC
(the " AIFM "). The AIFM delegates
certain portfolio and risk management services, and other ancillary services,
to BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited (the "
Investment Manager " and, together with the AIFM, "
BlackRock "). The Investment Manager manages
assets for open-ended and closed-ended funds, and institutional and private
clients throughout the world. Nine of these funds (including THRG and BRSC)
are listed closed-ended investment companies with combined assets of
approximately £4.4 billion (as at 31 January 2026).
The Enlarged BRSC will largely follow BRSC's current investment strategy,
seeking to achieve long- term capital growth through investing predominantly
in UK small and mid-cap companies. The portfolio managers will be permitted to
use gearing in the form of debt up to 20% of net assets to enhance returns and
have the ability to invest up to 15% of the portfolio in non-UK listed smaller
companies. The BlackRock Emerging Companies team has extensive experience
investing both within the UK and internationally and believes that accessing
opportunities not available in the UK (for example, in technology), can boost
returns in the portfolio, without increasing the volatility.
The Enlarged BRSC's portfolio will be managed by Roland Arnold, BRSC's
existing lead portfolio manager. Roland has enjoyed a 20-year career investing
in UK small and mid-cap companies. Dan Whitestone, the current lead portfolio
manager of the Company, will be a named co-manager of the Enlarged BRSC. Dan
is an experienced fund manager, with an extensive track record and knowledge
of investing in UK listed small and mid-cap companies as well as emerging
companies across international developed markets. Dan
will support Roland through ongoing stock and industry level research and
debate and will also focus on the global small cap
element of the portfolio. Roland will have the final decision over positioning
in the portfolio of the Enlarged BRSC.
Under this new arrangement, Shareholders in the Enlarged BRSC will benefit
from the experience and expertise of both portfolio managers as well as the
wider resources of BlackRock's highly experienced Emerging Companies team,
with its excellent access to company management and research across the UK
smaller companies sector. The Enlarged BRSC will also
deliver greater scale, improved share liquidity and cost efficiencies and the
lowest management fee in the AIC's UK Smaller Companies sector for investment
companies without a performance fee.
The Enlarged BRSC's investment objective and investment policy (including as
proposed to be amended in connection with the Scheme) are set out in Part 5 of
the Circular.
With effect from 1 March 2026, BRSC intends to pay dividends on a quarterly
basis, with three interim dividend payments in September, December and March
of each year each equal to a quarter of the previous year's total dividend,
together with a final dividend for the full year (payable in June). It is
therefore expected that the first dividend to be paid to all shareholders in
the Enlarged BRSC will be the first interim dividend for the financial year
ending 28 February 2027, to be paid in September 2026. BRSC has increased its
annual dividend every year since 2003, and as a consequence is an AIC
`Dividend Hero'.
It is intended that, following completion of the Scheme, Angela Lane and
Louise Nash will be appointed as non-executive directors of the Enlarged BRSC.
BRSC is putting forward a tender offer to BRSC Shareholders for up to 28 per
cent. of the BRSC Shares in issue, excluding treasury shares (the "
BRSC Tender Offer "), to be carried out prior to
implementation of the Scheme. The BRSC Tender Offer will be implemented
through the establishment of a tender pool, which will comprise assets to be
realised for the benefit of the BRSC Shareholders participating in the BRSC
Tender Offer (the " BRSC Tender Pool
"). The value of the assets allocated to the BRSC Tender
Pool will be equal to the pro rata share of BRSC's NAV (adjusted to take
account of BRSC's second interim dividend referred to in "Dividends" below to
the extent it has not been accrued in the BRSC NAV and to add back any costs
relating to the implementation of the Combination already incurred or accrued,
and to take account of any declared but unpaid dividends), less a 1 per cent.
discount. The tender price will be equal to the realisation proceeds of the
BRSC Tender Pool, divided by the number of BRSC Shares participating in the
BRSC Tender Offer.
The BRSC Tender Offer is conditional upon, amongst other things, the approval
of BRSC Shareholders. The Scheme is conditional, amongst other things, on the
approval by BRSC Shareholders of the BRSC Tender Offer and the BRSC Tender
Offer not having been terminated.
Subject to completion of the Scheme, the Enlarged BRSC will offer a triennial
performance-related tender offer for up to 100 per cent. of its issued share
capital (excluding shares held in treasury) at a 4 per cent. discount to NAV
(less costs), which will be triggered if the Enlarged BRSC underperforms its
benchmark, the Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment
Companies) Index, over the relevant performance period. It is expected that
the first such tender offer, were it to be triggered, would be in 2029.
While the BRSC Board regards BRSC's share rating at any particular time as
primarily a reflection of sentiment towards the sector alongside portfolio
performance, both in absolute terms and relative to the peer group, it
recognises that there are a number of other factors which can have a material
impact in the context of driving demand for the BRSC Shares. The proposals for
the Combination and the Enlarged BRSC include a number of features which are
designed with that in mind: the refreshed investment proposition; the new
highly competitive management fee structure; the attractive estimated OCR of
the ongoing vehicle; and the triennial 100 per cent. performance-related
conditional tender offer to be made available to BRSC Shareholders. The BRSC
Board is also introducing quarterly dividend payments in place of the current
bi-annual dividend payments from March 2026 which (combined with BRSC's
progressive dividend approach and AIC Dividend Hero status) should in the BRSC
Board's view help to enhance demand for the BRSC Shares. The BRSC Board
believes that the introduction of these initiatives, coupled with a
continuation of the proactive approach to share buybacks which it has pursued
over the past twelve months (BRSC repurchased 14.6 per cent. of its issued
share capital during 2025) make a sustained single-digit discount achievable
for BRSC in normal market conditions.
Saba Agreements
As at the Latest Practicable Date, Saba (including the Saba Investment
Vehicles) was interested in 17.8 per cent. of the voting rights in the Company
and 10.4 per cent. of the voting rights of BRSC. As at the Latest Practicable
Date, Saba (including the Saba Investment Vehicles) beneficially owned 1.7 per
cent. of the Ordinary Shares and 2.4 per cent. of the BRSC Shares. The Company
has received an irrevocable undertaking from Saba pursuant to which Saba has
undertaken, among other things, to use best endeavours to: (i) procure that
all the votes attaching to the Ordinary Shares in respect of which the Saba
Investment Vehicles have beneficial interests or are otherwise able to control
the right to exercise voting rights at the relevant record dates for voting
are cast in favour of the Resolutions; and (ii) procure that an election for
the Cash Option is made in respect of all of the Ordinary Shares which are
beneficially owned by the Saba Investment Vehicles (including beneficial
interests held through any financial instruments) as at the latest date for
electing for the Cash Option under the Scheme.
BRSC and Saba are currently party to a standstill agreement whereby Saba has
given BRSC a number of undertakings including that Saba will not put forward
proposals to BRSC Shareholders or requisition a general meeting of BRSC, such
undertakings to expire on the earlier of the day following BRSC's annual
general meeting in 2027 or 31 August 2027 (the "
Standstill Agreement ").
Saba and BRSC have agreed to amend the terms of the Standstill Agreement to
extend the term of the agreement to 30 June 2030, subject to completion of the
BRSC Tender Offer and the Scheme. In addition, Saba has undertaken, among
other things, to use best endeavours to: (i) procure that all the votes
attaching to the BRSC Shares in respect of which the Saba Investment Vehicles
have beneficial interests or are otherwise able to control the right to
exercise voting rights at the record date for voting are cast in favour of the
resolutions to be proposed at the BRSC General Meeting; and (ii) tender or
procure the tender of such BRSC Shares which are beneficially owned by the
Saba Investment Vehicles (including beneficial interests held through any
financial instruments) as at the BRSC Tender Offer closing date.
Conditions
Implementation of the Proposals is subject to a number of conditions,
including:
* the Directors and the BRSC Directors resolving to
proceed with the Scheme;
* the passing of the Resolutions and any conditions of
such Resolutions being fulfilled;
* the BRSC Share Allotment Authority being approved by
BRSC Shareholders;
* the BRSC Tender Offer being approved by BRSC
Shareholders and not having been terminated, and the Saba Tender Condition
being satisfied (at the BRSC Board's sole discretion);
* an election for the Cash Option being made in respect
of all (or substantially all, to be determined by the Board and the BRSC
Board, in their sole discretion) of the Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by
the Saba Investment Vehicles, or in respect of which the Saba Investment
Vehicles have an economic interest, or such lesser number as may be agreed
between the Board and the BRSC Board; and
* the London Stock Exchange agreeing to admit the New
BRSC Shares to trading on the Main Market, subject only to allotment.
If any condition is not satisfied, the Proposals will not become effective,
the Company will not proceed with the winding-up and instead will continue in
existence. In these circumstances, the Directors will reassess the options
available to the Company at that time.
Scheme Mechanics and Entitlements under the Scheme
Under the Scheme, which is conditional upon, among other things, the approval
of Shareholders:
(a) all Shareholders will be
entitled to elect to receive cash in respect of some or all of their Ordinary
Shares (the " Cash Option "). The
record date for participating in the Cash Option is 6.00 p.m. on 23 February
2026 (the " Cash Option Record Date ").
Any shareholding that is not recorded on the Register by 6.00 p.m. on 23
February 2026 will not be eligible to elect for the Cash Option. If CREST
participants move eligible Ordinary Shares to a different CREST participant ID
and CREST Member Account ID following the Cash Option Record Date, they may
render those Ordinary Shares ineligible to elect for the Cash Option.
The maximum number of Ordinary Shares (in aggregate) that can be elected for
the Cash Option is 38 per cent. of the total number of Ordinary Shares in
issue (excluding shares held in treasury) as at the Calculation Date (the "
Maximum Cash Option Shares ").
Shareholders are entitled to elect for the Cash Option in an amount in excess
of 38 per cent. of their individual holdings of Ordinary Shares (being the "
Basic Entitlement ", and such excess
amount being an " Excess Application
"). However, if aggregate Elections for the Cash Option exceed the Maximum
Cash Option Shares, Shareholders who have made an Election for the Cash Option
in excess of their Basic Entitlement shall have their Excess Applications
scaled back in a manner which is, as near as practicable, pari passu and pro
rata among all Shareholders who have made such Excess Applications such that
the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares so elected will equal the Maximum Cash
Option Shares; and
(b) eligible Shareholders will
by default receive New BRSC Shares (the " Rollover Option
") to the extent that they do not make a valid election for
the Cash Option in respect of some or all of their Ordinary Shares or to the
extent that their elections for the Cash Option are scaled back in accordance
with the Scheme. New BRSC Shares issued pursuant to the Rollover Option will
be issued on the basis of the ratio of the THRG Rollover FAV per Share to the
BRSC FAV per Share.
On or shortly after the Calculation Date, the Board and BlackRock, in
consultation with the proposed Liquidators, will finalise the division of the
Company's assets into three separate and distinct pools (the Liquidation Pool,
the Cash Pool and the Rollover Pool) on the following basis:
The Liquidation Pool
The Liquidation Pool will comprise: (i) such cash and other assets as the
proposed Liquidators consider necessary to provide for any current and future,
actual and contingent liabilities of the Company as at the Calculation Date,
including a retention to cover unknown or unascertained liabilities (estimated
at £100,000) (the " Retention ") and
the entitlements of any Dissenting Shareholders; and (ii) any assets that are
not suitable for either the Cash Pool or the Rollover Pool, including any
unquoted assets in the portfolio of the Company (provided such assets shall be
valued at nil) and assets representing withholding tax expected to be
recoverable by the Company (the " Retained Assets
").
The Cash Pool
The Cash Pool will comprise cash and those assets of the Company which will be
realised in order to fund the Cash Option. The value of the Cash Pool will
equal the Net Asset Value (including current year income) at the Calculation
Date, adjusted to add back any costs of the Proposals already paid or accrued
in the NAV and to deduct the value of the Retention and the Retained Assets
and the value of any dividends that have been declared but not reflected in
the Net Asset Value or paid prior to the Calculation Date; then multiplied by
the proportion of Ordinary Shares which have been validly elected for the Cash
Option (following any required scaling back in accordance with the Scheme)
relative to the total number of Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares);
and subsequently reduced by 1 per cent. (the " Cash Option
Discount "). This calculation will result in the "
THRG Cash Pool FAV ".
Assets of an aggregate value equal to the THRG Cash Pool FAV will be
segregated into the Cash Pool and realised. Shareholders electing for the Cash
Option will be entitled to receive the net realisation proceeds of the Cash
Pool, multiplied by the number of Ordinary Shares in respect of which they
have elected for the Cash Option divided by the total number of Ordinary
Shares which have been validly elected for the Cash Option (rounded down to
the nearest penny). Shareholders electing for the Cash
Option should note that the net realisation proceeds of the Cash Pool may not
be equal to the THRG Cash Pool FAV. As such, the amount per share that will be
payable to Shareholders electing for the Cash Option may not be equal to the
THRG Cash FAV per Share.
The exact timing of payment of Cash Entitlements will depend on the number of
Ordinary Shares elected for the Cash Option and the realisation period for
assets in the Cash Pool, with the full realisation of the Cash Pool expected
to take approximately eight weeks. There may be more than one payment made in
respect of Cash Entitlements to reflect the fact that a substantial majority
of the assets in the Cash Pool may be realised quickly but that the balance
may take longer to realise. Shareholders electing for the Cash Option will
therefore not receive their full Cash Entitlements immediately following the
Effective Date.
The Rollover Pool
The Rollover Pool will represent the balance of the Company's assets that have
not been apportioned to either the Cash Pool or the Liquidation Pool. These
assets will be transferred to BRSC in consideration for the New BRSC Shares
which will be issued pursuant to the Rollover Option under the Scheme, in
accordance with the terms of a transfer agreement to be entered into between
the Company, BRSC and the proposed Liquidators (the "
Transfer Agreement ").
In allocating cash and other assets between the Cash Pool and the Rollover
Pool, the Board shall be entitled to allocate a greater proportion of cash to
the Cash Pool. In addition, any accrued income representing dividends declared
but not paid by portfolio companies will be allocated to the Cash Pool. The
Board shall otherwise allocate the remaining assets on a pro rata basis
between the Cash Pool and the Rollover Pool save that the Board may allocate
up to 10 per cent. of the remaining assets other than on a pro rata basis
where it considers such allocation would be in the interests of both
Shareholders electing for the Cash Option and those deemed to elect for the
Rollover Option.
Ahead of the Effective Date, the Company's portfolio will be realigned or
realised in a cost-effective manner to ensure that the Company has sufficient
cash to fund the Liquidation Pool and has assets suitable for transfer to
BRSC, taking account of BRSC's investment policy (which is intended to be
amended, subject to BRSC Shareholder approval, in connection with the
Proposals).
The " THRG Rollover FAV " will equal
the Net Asset Value at the Calculation Date less the value of any cash and
other assets or liabilities appropriated to the Liquidation Pool, less the
value of any dividends that have been declared but not reflected in the Net
Asset Value or paid prior to the Calculation Date and less the THRG Cash Pool
FAV, and increased by the value of the THRG BlackRock Contribution.
Accordingly, the THRG Rollover FAV will benefit from the value of the Cash
Option Discount and the THRG BlackRock Contribution. The "
THRG Rollover FAV per Share " will equal the THRG Rollover
FAV divided by the number of Ordinary Shares deemed to have elected for the
Rollover Option.
The " BRSC FAV " will equal the Net
Asset Value of BRSC as at the Calculation Date (calculated in accordance with
its normal accounting policies, on a cum income basis with debt at fair
value), adjusted as follows: (i) reduced by the direct costs of the Proposals
to be borne by BRSC but not accrued in the BRSC Net Asset Value as at the
Calculation Date; (ii) reduced by the value of the BRSC Tender Pool and the
costs of the BRSC Tender Offer to be borne by BRSC (including stamp duty and
commission incurred in connection with the BRSC Tender Offer); (iii) reduced
by the value of any dividends declared but not reflected in the BRSC Net Asset
Value or paid prior to the Calculation Date by BRSC to BRSC Shareholders; and
(iv) increased by the value of the BRSC BlackRock Contribution. The "
BRSC FAV per Share " will equal the BRSC FAV
divided by the number of BRSC Shares in issue (excluding treasury shares and
any BRSC Shares which have validly elected for the BRSC Tender Offer)
.
Costs of Implementing the Scheme
Each of THRG and BRSC will bear their own costs in relation to the Proposals.
The fixed costs of the Scheme payable by the Company are expected to be
approximately £1.3 million inclusive of VAT which, for the purposes of this
calculation, is assumed to be irrecoverable where applicable. The estimate of
the Company's costs excludes the Liquidators' retention to cover unknown or
unascertained liabilities (estimated at £100,000) and does not take account
of any dealing costs which will be incurred by the Company in disposing of or
realigning its assets in order to fund the Liquidation Pool or to ensure that
the assets forming the Rollover Pool are suitable for transfer to BRSC in
accordance with BRSC's investment objective and policy (which is intended to
be amended, subject to BRSC Shareholder approval, in connection with the
Proposals). The costs associated with any realignment or realisation of THRG's
portfolio prior to the Calculation Date will be borne by THRG.
To the extent that some or all of the Retention or the Retained Assets remain
when the Liquidators decide to close the liquidation, this will be returned in
cash to Shareholders that were on the Register as at the Scheme Entitlements
Record Date.
BlackRock has agreed to make a contribution to the costs of the Proposals for
the benefit of continuing shareholders. Subject to the Scheme becoming
effective, BlackRock will waive the reduced management fee that would
otherwise be payable to it by the Enlarged BRSC for a period of six months
following the Effective Date based on the estimated Net Asset Value of the
Enlarged BRSC as at the Calculation Date (the " BlackRock
Cost Contribution "). Based on the respective NAVs of BRSC
and THRG as at the Latest Practicable Date, and assuming full take up of both
the BRSC Tender Offer and the Cash Option, the value of the BlackRock Cost
Contribution would be approximately £1.9 million.
The benefit of the BlackRock Cost Contribution will be apportioned between the
BRSC FAV and the THRG Rollover FAV as follows, the respective shares of the
BlackRock Cost Contribution being the " BRSC BlackRock
Contribution " and the " THRG BlackRock
Contribution ", respectively.
In the first instance, the proportion of the BlackRock Cost Contribution
allocated to each of the BRSC FAV and the THRG Rollover FAV shall be
determined pro rata by reference to the relative values of the BRSC FAV and
the THRG Rollover FAV prior to any allocation of the BlackRock Cost
Contribution.
Thereafter, in the event that the pro rata allocation of the BlackRock Cost
Contribution results in:
a) the Proposals being NAV accretive for THRG
continuing shareholders and NAV dilutive for BRSC continuing shareholders, the
THRG BlackRock Contribution will be reduced, and the BRSC BlackRock
Contribution correspondingly increased, so that the Proposals are not dilutive
for BRSC continuing shareholders, save to the extent that to do so would
result in the Proposals becoming NAV dilutive to THRG continuing shareholders;
or
b) the Proposals being NAV accretive for BRSC
continuing shareholders and NAV dilutive for THRG continuing shareholder, the
BRSC BlackRock Contribution will be reduced, and the THRG BlackRock
Contribution correspondingly increased, so that the Proposals are not dilutive
for THRG continuing shareholders, save to the extent that to do so would
result in the Proposals becoming NAV dilutive to BRSC continuing shareholders.
In the event that the Scheme does not proceed then each of the Company and
BRSC will bear its own costs associated with the Scheme.
Dividends
THRG
The Board intends to announce a final interim dividend for the financial year
ended 30 November 2025 on publication of the annual report and accounts.
As an investment trust, the Company is not permitted to retain more than 15
per cent. of its income in any accounting period. If the Scheme is successful,
this condition must be met in the shortened accounting period commencing on 1
December 2025 and ending on the Effective Date. In order to meet this
requirement, the Company therefore proposes to pay, in addition to the final
interim dividend for the year ended 30 November 2025 referred to above, and
conditional on the passing of the Resolutions at the First General Meeting, an
additional pre-liquidation interim dividend to Shareholders.
Both the final interim dividend and the pre-liquidation interim dividend will
have a record date and payment date prior to the Effective Date.
BRSC
In the ordinary course of events, BRSC would pay a final dividend in respect
of the financial year ending 28 February 2026, such dividend to be subject to
approval by BRSC Shareholders at BRSC's AGM later this year, and to be paid to
those BRSC Shareholders on the share register in May of this year. However,
given the Combination and the fact that THRG intends to pay both the final
interim dividend and pre-liquidation interim dividend referred to above,
rather than declaring a final dividend as part of its forthcoming annual
results, BRSC will instead in due course declare a second interim dividend
equal to the amount that would otherwise have been declared as a final
dividend. This dividend will be declared no later than 31 March 2026 and it is
expected that it will be paid in May 2026 to those BRSC Shareholders who were
on the BRSC register as at 10 April 2026.
Under its dividend policy, effective from 1 March 2026, BRSC intends to make
three interim dividend payments in September, December and March each year
each equal to a quarter of the previous year's total dividend; and then
declare a final dividend for the financial year (which ends on 28 February)
reflecting the final amount required to ensure an appropriate level of full
year dividend. It is expected that the first dividend to be paid to all
shareholders in the Enlarged BRSC will be the first interim dividend for the
financial year ending 28 February 2027, to be paid in September 2026.
General Meetings
The implementation of the Proposals will require two general meetings of the
Company. The notices convening the First General Meeting (to be held at 10.00
a.m. on 26 March 2026) and the Second General Meeting (to be held at 10.00
a.m. on 16 April 2026) are set out at the end of the Circular.
The Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meetings, on which all
Shareholders may vote, are as follows:
First General Meeting
The resolutions to be considered at the First General Meeting (both of which
will be proposed as special resolutions) will, if passed, approve the terms of
the Scheme and associated amendments to the Articles set out in Part 3 of the
Circular, authorise the Liquidators to enter into and give effect to the
Transfer Agreement with BRSC, purchase the interests of any Dissenting
Shareholders and authorise the Liquidators to apply to cancel the listing of
the Ordinary Shares with effect from such date as the Liquidators may
determine.
Each Resolution will require at least 75 per cent. of the votes cast in
respect of it, whether in person or by proxy, to be voted in favour in order
for it to be passed. The Scheme will not become effective unless and until,
inter alia, the Resolution to be proposed at the Second General Meeting has
also been passed.
Second General Meeting
At the Second General Meeting, a special resolution will be proposed which, if
passed, will place the Company into liquidation, appoint the Liquidators and
agree the basis of their remuneration, instruct the Company Secretary to hold
the books to the Liquidators' order and provide the Liquidators with
appropriate powers to carry into effect the amendments to the Articles made at
the First General Meeting. The Resolution to be proposed at the Second General
Meeting is conditional upon the passing of the Resolutions at the First
General Meeting, the BRSC Share Allotment Authority being passed, the BRSC
Tender Offer being approved by BRSC Shareholders and not having been
terminated, the Saba Tender Condition being satisfied (at the BRSC Board's
sole discretion), an election for the Cash Option being made in respect of all
(or substantially all, to be determined by the Board and the BRSC Board, in
their sole discretion) of the Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by the Saba
Investment Vehicles, or in respect of which the Saba Investment Vehicles have
an economic interest, or such lesser number as may be agreed between the Board
and the BRSC Board, the approval of the London Stock Exchange of the admission
of the New BRSC Shares to trading on the Main Market, and the Directors and
the BRSC Directors resolving to proceed with the Scheme.
The Resolution will require at least 75 per cent. of the votes cast in respect
of it, whether in person or by proxy, to be voted in favour in order for it to
be passed.
Recommendation
The Board, which has been so advised by Winterflood, considers the Proposals
and the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meetings to be in the best
interests of Shareholders as a whole. In providing its advice, Winterflood has
relied on the Board's commercial assessment of the Proposals.
Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends Shareholders to vote in favour
of the Resolutions, as the Directors intend to do in respect of their own
beneficial holdings which total 48,939 Ordinary Shares (representing
approximately 0.06 per cent. of the Company's total voting rights) as at the
Latest Practicable Date.
Choosing between the options available under the Proposals will be a matter
for each Shareholder to decide and will be influenced by their individual
investment objectives and by their personal, financial and tax circumstances.
Accordingly, Shareholders should, before deciding what action to take, read
carefully all the information in the Circular. The Board cannot, and does not,
give any advice or recommendation to Shareholders as to whether, or as to what
extent, they should elect for any of the options under the Proposals.
Shareholders who are in any doubt as to the contents of the Circular or as to
the action to be taken are encouraged to seek their own personal financial
advice from an appropriately qualified independent financial adviser.
In relation to BRSC, the Circular is not a prospectus and does not constitute
an offer of any securities for sale or subscription. Further information on
BRSC is available on BRSC's website www.blackrock.com/uk/brsc and in the
Information Document which is available on BRSC's website
www.blackrock.com/uk/brsc and THRG's website www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg. The
contents of BRSC's website and the Information Document do not form part of
the Circular, and the Board takes no responsibility for the content of BRSC's
website or the Information Document.
Expected Timetable of Principal Events
2026
Cash Option Record Date 6.00 p.m. on 23 February
Latest time and date for receipt of proxy appointments in respect of the First General Meeting 10.00 a.m. on 24 March
First General Meeting 10.00 a.m. on 26 March
Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Election and TTE Instructions 1.00 p.m. on 9 April
Scheme Entitlements Record Date 6.00 p.m. on 9 April
Calculation Date close of business on 9 April
Ordinary Shares disabled in CREST (for settlement) close of business on 9 April
Trading in the Ordinary Shares on the London Stock Exchange is suspended 7.30 a.m. on 10 April
Latest time and date for receipt of proxy appointments in respect of the Second General Meeting 10.00 a.m. on 14 April
Reclassification of the Ordinary Shares 8.00 a.m. on 15 April
Suspension of listing of Reclassified Shares 7.30 a.m. on 16 April
Second General Meeting 10.00 a.m. on 16 April
Effective Date for implementation of the Scheme 16 April
Announcement of the results of Elections, the THRG Cash FAV, the THRG Rollover FAV per Share and the BRSC FAV per Share 16 April
CREST accounts credited with, and dealings commence in, New BRSC Shares 8.00 a.m. on 17 April
Certificates despatched in respect of New BRSC Shares by 30 April
Cheques despatched, and CREST accounts credited with cash, to Shareholders who elect for the Cash Option* as soon as practicable following the Effective Date
Cancellation of listing of Reclassified Shares as soon as practicable after the payment of Cash Entitlements following the Effective Date
* The exact timing of payment of Cash Entitlements will depend on the number
of Ordinary Shares elected for the Cash Option and the realisation period for
assets in the Cash Pool, with the full realisation of the Cash Pool expected
to take approximately eight weeks. This estimate is based on daily traded
volumes for stocks in the portfolio over the past three months; however past
trading history is no indication of future liquidity and the full realisation
of assets in the Cash Pool may take longer depending on prevailing market
conditions. There may be more than one payment made in respect of Cash
Entitlements to reflect the fact that a substantial majority of the assets in
the Cash Pool may be realised quickly but that the balance may take longer to
realise.
Note : All references to time in the
Circular are to UK time. Each of the times and dates in the above expected
timetable (other than in relation to the General Meetings) may be extended or
brought forward. If any of the above times and/or dates change, the revised
time(s) and/or date(s) will be notified to Shareholders by an announcement
through a Regulatory Information Service.
Defined terms used in this announcement shall, unless the context requires
otherwise, have the meanings ascribed to them in the Circular.
The Circular will shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage
Mechanism which is located at
https://data.fca.org.uk/a/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism
and on the Company's website at
www.blackrock.com/uk/thrg
END
Enquiries:
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
James Will via FTI Consulting
+44 (0)20 3727 1000
Winterflood Securities Limited
+44 (0)20 3100 0000
Financial Adviser to BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
Neil Langford / Rose Ramsden / Sophia Bechev (Corporate Finance)
Darren Willis / Innes Urquhart (Corporate Sales)
FTI Consulting
+44 (0)20 3727 1000
Ed Berry, Ed Knight, Maxime Lopes
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
+44 (0)20 7743 1098
Company Secretary to BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
This announcement contains information that is inside information for the
purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 which
is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as
amended (the Market Abuse Regulation). The person responsible for arranging
for the release of this announcement on behalf of BlackRock Throgmorton Trust
plc is BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. Upon the publication of
this announcement, this information is considered to be in the public domain.
Important Information
The information in this announcement is for background purposes only and does
not purport to be full or complete.
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.
Moreover, the New BRSC Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered
under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand,
the Republic of South Africa, or any member state of the European Economic
Area. No offer is being made, directly or indirectly, under the Scheme, in or
into by the use of mails, or by means of instrumentality (including, without
limitation, facsimile, transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or
foreign commerce, or of any facility in a national securities exchange
(subject to certain exceptions described herein), any member state of the
European Economic Area, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic
of South Africa.
The value of shares and the income from them is not guaranteed and can fall as
well as rise due to stock market movements. When you sell your investment, you
may get back less than you originally invested. Figures refer to past
performance and past performance should not be considered a reliable indicator
of future results.
This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be,
"forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms
"believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "might",
"will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or
similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical facts
included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding
THRG's or BRSC's respective financial positions, strategies, plans, proposed
acquisitions and objectives, are forward-looking statements.
Winterflood Securities Limited (" Winterflood
") which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct
Authority is acting exclusively for THRG and for no-one else in connection
with the Proposals, will not regard any other person as its client in relation
to the Proposals and will not be responsible to anyone other than THRG for
providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Proposals, or any of the other matters referred to in this
announcement. This does not exclude any responsibilities or liabilities of
Winterflood under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended, or
the regulatory regime established thereunder.
Release (https://mb.cision.com/Main/22398/4310492/3944298.pdf)
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