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| TIDM | SSON |
| Share Price | 1,438.00p-16.55% |
| Market Cap | £2.55bn |
Smithson Investment Trust plc announced on 5 February 2026 that it secured requisite regulatory approvals from the Central Bank of Ireland concerning the marketing of the Smithson Equity Fund to investors in the Republic of Ireland. This enables ROI Investors to participate in the Rollover Option as part of the Company's scheme of reconstruction and members' voluntary winding-up, originally announced on 12 November 2025. The scheme's Effective Date and Fund Shares issuance are scheduled for 27 February, with the first day of dealing in Fund Shares expected on 2 March.
| Date | 5 Feb 2026 |
| Time | 13:48:33 |
| Category | Miscellaneous |
| ID | 9330R |
For immediate release.
5 February 2026
Smithson Investment Trust plc
Legal Entity Identifier: 52990070BDK2OKX5TH79
Update on Central Bank of Ireland Approval relating to Smithson Equity Fund
On 12 November 2025, the Board of Smithson Investment Trust plc (the "Company") announced that it would put forward proposals for the scheme of reconstruction and members' voluntary winding-up of the Company under section 110 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (the "Scheme") pursuant to which Shareholders would have the option to roll over their investment in the Company (in whole or in part) into Smithson Equity Fund (the "Fund"), a UK OEIC established in conjunction with the Scheme. A circular in relation to the Scheme was published and posted to Shareholders and CSN Participants on 22 January 2026 (the "Circular").
The Company is pleased to announce that the requisite regulatory approvals in connection with the marketing of the Fund to investors in the Republic of Ireland have been obtained from the Central Bank of Ireland. Therefore, Shareholders and CSN Participants who have a registered address or are resident in, or are citizens or nationals of, the Republic of Ireland (other than US Persons and Sanctions Restricted Persons) ("ROI Investors") are eligible to receive Fund Shares and to participate in the Rollover Option. Accordingly, ROI Investors who, prior to the Elections Deadline, have not validly elected, or validly instructed an Election, for the Cash Option will be deemed to have elected, or instructed an Election, for the Rollover Option (i.e. receive Fund Shares) in respect of their entire holding.
ROI Investors, and other Shareholders and CSN Participants, are encouraged to take action in respect of the Proposals by:
· voting, or instructing their votes, on the Resolutions required to approve the Scheme and related matters at the General Meetings; and
· making, or instructing the making of, Elections under the Scheme for (i) the Cash Option; (ii) the Rollover Option; or (iii) a combination of both.
The attention of ROI Investors and other Shareholders and CSN Participants is drawn to the section titled "Action to be taken" on pages 5 to 11 of the Circular. Full details of the action to be taken by Shareholders and CSN Participants are set out in paragraph 14 of Part 1 of the Circular and in the instructions contained in the Forms of Proxy, Forms of Instruction, Form of Election and CSN Form of Election (as applicable).
Before taking any action in connection with the Proposals, Shareholders and CSN Participants are recommended to read the whole of the Circular and the Fund Documents which are available at www.smithson.co.uk/restructure-proposal. In addition, ROI Investors should read the Fund Prospectus Irish Supplement, which is also available at www.smithson.co.uk/restructure-proposal. Please note that the Company and its Board take no responsibility for the contents of the Fund Documents. Shareholders and CSN Participants who are in any doubt as to the contents of this announcement, the Circular or the Fund Documents or as to the action to be taken should consult their stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other financial adviser authorised under FSMA, without delay.
Defined terms used in this announcement have the meanings given in the Circular unless the context otherwise requires.
The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Apex Listed Companies Services (UK) Limited, the Company Secretary.
Expected Timetable
|
Latest time and date for receipt of online voting instructions and GREEN Forms of Instruction from CSN Participants in respect of the First General Meeting |
11.00 a.m. on 5 February |
|
Latest time and date for receipt of electronic proxy appointments, CREST voting instructions and PINK Forms of Proxy from Shareholders in respect of the First General Meeting |
11.00 a.m. on 6 February |
|
Latest time and date for receipt of YELLOW CSN Forms of Election |
1.00 p.m. on 9 February |
|
First General Meeting |
11.00 a.m. on 10 February |
|
Latest time and date for receipt of WHITE Forms of Election and TTE Instructions |
1.00 p.m. on 10 February |
|
Calculation Date for the Scheme |
6.00 p.m. on 10 February |
|
Record Date for entitlements under the Scheme |
6.00 p.m. on 10 February |
|
Shares disabled in CREST |
6.00 p.m. on 10 February |
|
Suspension of trading in Shares |
7.30 a.m. on 11 February |
|
Payment date for the SSON Interim Dividend |
20 February |
|
Latest time and date for receipt of online voting instructions and PURPLE Forms of Instruction from CSN Participants in respect of the Second General Meeting |
9.30 a.m. on 24 February |
|
Reclassification of the Shares and commencement of trading in Reclassified Shares |
8.00 a.m. on 25 February |
|
Latest time and date for receipt of electronic proxy appointments, CREST voting instructions and BLUE Forms of Proxy in respect of the Second General Meeting |
9.30 a.m. on 25 February |
|
Suspension of trading in Reclassified Shares and the Register closes |
7.30 a.m. on 27 February |
|
Second General Meeting |
9.30 a.m. on 27 February |
|
Appointment of the Liquidators |
27 February |
|
Effective Date and Transfer Agreement executed and implemented |
27 February |
|
Announcement of Elections under the Scheme, the Cash FAV per Share, the Final Rollover FAV and the number of Fund Shares to be issued pursuant to the Scheme |
27 February |
|
Fund Shares issued pursuant to the Scheme |
27 February |
|
First day of dealing in Fund Shares |
2 March |
|
Contract notes expected to be despatched in respect of Fund Shares issued pursuant to the Scheme |
as soon as practicable after the Effective Date |
|
Electronic payments or cheques expected to be despatched and CREST payments made to Shareholders and CSN Participants in respect of the Cash Option |
not later than 10 Business Days after the Effective Date |
|
Cancellation of listing of Reclassified Shares |
as soon as practicable after the Effective Date |
|
Note: All references to time in this announcement are to UK time. Each of the times and dates in the above expected transaction timetable 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 and CSN Participants by an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service. |
|
Enquiries:
|
Smithson Investment Trust plc Mike Balfour, Chairman |
c/o Burson Buchanan |
|
J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Sole Financial Adviser) William Simmonds Rupert Budge |
+44 (0) 203 493 8000 |
|
Burson Buchanan (Financial PR) Henry Wilson Helen Tarbet Nick Croysdill |
+44 (0) 7788 528143 +44 (0) 7872 604453 +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.
LEI: 52990070BDK2OKX5TH79