The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC

The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC seeks capital growth by investing in smaller and medium sized companies which are quoted, domiciled, listed or have operations in Europe (excluding the UK). The Company Invests mainly in Western Europe typically more than 120 companies with an average market cap of around £1bn and rarely above £3bn. The company leverages Janus Henderson’s European equity expertise to find quality growth companies.

The incorporation date was 10^th July 1990.

The fund manager is Ollie Beckett. He joined the asset management industry in 1995 and has been with Janus Henderson since 1998. Ollie has managed the company since 2011.

The company's investment benchmark is the MSCI Europe ex UK Small Cap Index. 

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) classifies companies into sectors as a way of grouping companies with common characteristics. The classifications are based on a combination of the company's regional or industry focus, and its investment objective. The European Smaller Companies Trust is classified within the ‘European Smaller Companies' sector.

As of 31st May 2024, the Company had total assets of £952.21M under management.

Source: AIC. Updated monthly.

Proposed dividend payment date(s): April and November.

The company has received an overall rating of ★★★★ by Morningstar. ^[1]

^[1] Source: Morningstar

The management fee is 0.55% pa on first £800m of net assets and 0.45% pa in excess thereof.

View the The European Smaller Companies Trust's ESG policy here.

For general insight into the Company, please see the latest Edison commissioned research here.

This research gives general insight into the background of the Investment Trust, and the investment strategy with which it is run. In addition to this it outlines the Company’s objectives and provides updates from the Fund Manager, as well as recent performance data.

As at 17 January 2022, TR European Growth Trust PLC (TRG) was renamed to The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC (ESCT). This is to make the Company’s investment proposition immediately clear to potential investors. The investment objective and policy has not changed and continues to meet investors’ demands and the Fund Manager’s approach to investing. For more information, read the 2021 Annual Report.