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Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc

General Information

The Trust's aims and objectives, announcements, investment management team, corporate calendar and company codes

Introduction

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc is an investment trust whose shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange. It was launched, and received its listing, on 10 December 1990 and is one of the largest trusts within the UK Smaller Companies sector.

Objective

The Trust's objective is to achieve a net asset value total return (with dividends reinvested) greater than that of the Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies Index (Excluding Investment Companies) over the long term.

Policy

The Trust aims to achieve its objective by investing in securities of companies that are or that would be constituents of the Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies Index (Excluding Investment Companies). The upper limit to this index was companies with a market capitalisation of £1.7bn as at 1 January 2024 (the date of the last annual index rebalance). This market capitalisation limit will change owing to movements in the stockmarket. The portfolio is diversified and will normally consist of investments in around 80 individual companies.

In seeking investments the approach will be fundamental in nature involving regular contact with the management of prospective and existing investments in conjunction with rigorous financial analysis of these companies. The emphasis within the portfolio will reflect the desire to invest in companies whose shares represent relatively attractive value within a given stockmarket environment.

Full details of the "Investment Policy" and "Investment Strategy" are set out in the latest Annual Report, which is available from the Literature Library.

Corporate Calendar

Rolling 12 months
Event Date
Half-Yearly Results announced 26 July 2024
Half-Yearly Report available 5 August 2024
Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Final date for submission of Application Forms for Interim Dividend 22 August 2024
Interim Dividend pay date 29 August 2024
Annual Results announced 30 January 2025
Annual Report available on Website 7 February 2025
Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Final date for submission of Application Forms for Final Dividend 20 February 2025
Annual General Meeting 6 March 2025
Final Dividend pay date 7 March 2025

Announcements

Company & Security Codes

Company Codes and Identifiers
Identifier Code
GIIN U6SSZS.99999.SL.826
LEI 213800GZ9WC73A92Q326
Security Codes and Identifiers
Identifier Code
SEDOL 0006655
ISIN GB0000066554
Bloomberg ASL LN
Reuters ASL.L
TIDM ASL

Company details

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc is a company registered in Scotland (registered number 126524) and its registered office address is 14 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7NS.

The Trust is an investment trust under section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and is an investment company as defined by section 833 of the Companies Act 2006.

Retail Distribution

The Trust currently conducts its affairs, and intends to continue to conduct its affairs, so that its Ordinary Shares can be recommended by Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) to ordinary retail investors in accordance with the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in relation to non-mainstream pooled investment products.

The Trust’s Ordinary Shares are excluded from the FCA’s restrictions that apply to non-mainstream pooled investment products because they are shares in an investment trust.

ISA Approved

The Trust's Ordinary Shares are eligible for inclusion in a Stocks and Shares ISA (Individual Savings Account).

Association of Investment Companies

The Trust is a member of The Association of Investment Companies (AIC).