CANCELLATION OF LISTING AND ADMISSION TO TRADING OF PREFERENCE SHARES

THE HENDERSON SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

(Company Number: 00025526)

(Legal Entity Identifier: 213800NE2NCQ67M2M998)

("Company")

Registered office: 201 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3AE

Cancellation of Listing of Preference Shares

The Company announces its intention to request the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") cancel the listing of its preference shares (the "Preference Shares") from the Official List pursuant to UKLR 21.2.1 and to request the London Stock Exchange cancel the admission to trading of the Preference Shares on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities.

The Preference Shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange under the instrument description "44IO 4 1/2% CUM PRF STK" (ticker: 44IO; ISIN: GB0009065284; SEDOL: 0906528).

Background

In 1999, the Company undertook a substantial buyback and cancellation of the majority of its Preference Shares. A small number of Preference Shares remained in issue following that process where the relevant shareholders could not be contacted at that time.

The Company has now completed the necessary steps in accordance with its articles of association in relation to untraced shareholders to acquire the remaining Preference Shares. The Board of Directors of the Company has approved the acquisition and cancellation of all remaining Preference Shares (which represent only a de minimis holding of 4,257 shares currently in issue, representing approximately £4,000 in aggregate nominal value) pursuant to those provisions.

Following completion of this process, the Preference Shares will cease to be in issue.

Cancellation of Listing

The Preference Shares have not been actively traded for a significant period and following the acquisition and cancellation of the remaining Preference Shares, there will be no Preference Shares remaining in issue.

The Company will therefore ask the FCA to exercise its power to cancel the listing of the Preference Shares and the London Stock Exchange to cancel the admission to trading of the Preference Shares on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market.

Expected timetable

The Company expects the following timetable to apply:

·    Disablement of the Preference Shares' ISIN in CREST - 21 May 2026

·    Buy back and cancellation of the Preference Shares - 22 May 2026

·    Cancellation of the listing of the Preference Shares on the Official List and cancellation of admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market - 8.00 a.m. on 27 May 2026.

As noted above, the Preference Shares have not been actively traded for a significant period and will be cancelled in full prior to the effective date. Accordingly, no trading suspension is expected to be required.

Rationale

The Preference Shares represent a legacy class of shares, with only a very small number previously remaining in issue. The Board considers that the request to cancel this class of shares, and the associated listing, is an appropriate administrative step to simplify the Company's capital structure.

The cancellation will not affect the listing or admission to trading of Company's ordinary shares.

Enquiries

Janus Henderson Secretarial Services UK Limited

Corporate Secretary

Telephone: 020 7818 1818

Harriet Hall

PR Director, Investment Trusts

Janus Henderson Investors

Telephone: 020 7818 2919