Ollie Beckett, Portfolio Manager of the The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC (formerly TR European Growth Trust plc), provides an update on the Trust, highlighting the recent changes announced by the board, performance over the last financial year, inflation, and his approach to Environment Social and Governance (ESG) issues.

Key takeaways

• The Trust’s board changed the Trust’s name to “The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC” in January 2022 and announced an 8:1 share split to improve the liquidity of the Company’s shares. It also reduced the management fee to make the Trust more accessible to retail investors.
• Over the past year, performance has been driven by solid stock selection, particularly within structural winners (Hellofresh) and recovery plays (eDreams).
• The Trust holds companies that are leading the transition to a greener and more sustainable economy and actively engages with these businesses to ensure that progress is being made towards their ESG goals.