Appointment of Aberforth Partners LLP

ABERFORTH SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC

Aberforth  Smaller Companies Trust PLC (the "Company") announces that,  pursuant
to  the  Novation Agreement entered into between the Company, Aberforth Partners
(the  "Partnership") and Aberforth Partners LLP (the "LLP") on 13 October  2005,
the  investment  management,  administration and  company  secretarial  services
provided  to  the Company by the Partnership will be provided by  the  LLP  with
effect  from  today,  1  December 2005. The LLP was also  appointed  as  Company
Secretaries with effect from today, 1 December 2005.

The  LLP  will  provide such services on the same terms as  those  that  existed
between the Company and the Partnership.


Aberforth Partners LLP
Company Secretaries
0131 220 0733

1 December 2005

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