Half-Yearly Report

RNS Number : 8914S

Montanaro European Smaller C.TstPLC

19 November 2021

 

Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust plc

LEI:  213800CWSC5B8BG3RS21

Unaudited Half-Yearly Report for the Six Months Ended 30 September 2021

The Board of Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust plc (the "Company") announces the unaudited half-yearly results of the Company for the six months ended 30 September 2021.

 Highlights   (unaudited)

  for the six months ended 30 September 2021

Performance

CapitalReturns%(2)	6 Month	1 year	3 year	5 year	10 year	MAM*
Ordinary share price	24.2	42.6	107.3	221.2	456.3	526.5
Net Asset Value('NAV') per Ordinary share**	25.0	38.5	87.6	161.3	412.1	481.2
Benchmark(Composite)(1)**	8.6	26.7	30.2	62.9	235.7	212.3

Total Returns%(2)	6 Month	1 year	3 year	5 year	10 year	MAM*
Ordinary share price	24.7	43.3	111.7	234.9	523.6	656.6
NAV per Ordinary share**	25.6	39.2	91.6	171.4	470.1	588.1
Benchmark(Composite)(1)**	9.8	28.6	36.8	77.3	301.8	313.6

Sources: Morningstar Direct, Association of Investment Companies ('AIC'), Montanaro Asset Management Limited.

	Asat 30September 2021	As at 30 September 2020	12 month % change	As at 31 March 2021 (Audited)	6 month % change
Ordinary share price*	200.0p	140.2p***	42.6%	161.0p***	24.2%
NAV per Ordinaryshare**	198.7p	143.5p***	38.5%	158.9p***	25.0%
Premium/(Discount)toNAV(2)	0.7%	(2.2%)		1.3%
Gross assets**(£'000s)	365,600	249,140	46.7%	284,560	28.5%
Net assets**(£'000s)	357,015	240,068	48.7%	276,065	29.3%
Market capitalisation**(£'000s)	359,365	234,600	53.2%	279,709	28.5%
Netgearingemployed(2)	0.9%	0.6%		2.4%

	6monthsended 30 S eptember 2021	6monthsended 30 September 2020	12 month % change	12 months ended 31 March 2021 (Audited)	6 month % change
Revenue return per Ordinaryshare	0.80p	0.25p***	220.0%	0.31p***	158.1%
Dividend per Ordinaryshare	0.200p	0.200p***		0.925p***
Ongoingcharges(annualised)(2)	1.1%	1.2%	-	1.2%
Portfolio turnover (rolling twelve months)**	15%	12%		22%

*From 5 September 2006, when Montanaro Asset Management Limited ('MAM') was appointed as Investment Manager.

**Details provided in the Glossary below. ***30 September 2020 and 31 March 2021 restated to reflect the subsequent 10 for 1 share split.

(1) From 5 September 2006, the benchmark was the MSCI Europe SmallCap Index. The benchmark was changed on 1 June 2009 to the MSCIEurope SmallCap (ex UK) Index (in sterling terms).

(2) Refer to Alternative Performance Measures below.

Chairman ' s Statement

 

Performance The first six months of the financial year was another strong period of absolute and relative performance for your Company. It should be noted that previous year numbers have been adjusted to account for the share split (detailed below) for comparative purposes.   The Net Asset Value rose by 25.0% to 198.7p per share, thus outperforming the Benchmark (MSCI Europe SmallCap (ex-UK) index), which rose by 8.6%. At the end of the period the premium was 0.7% versus 1.3% at the start. As a result, the share price of the company rose by 24.2% during the period, providing a total return of 24.7%. This builds further on our strong long term performance record.  Montanaro take a long-term approach to investing and so it is pleasing to report that your Company has delivered NAV per share total returns of 91.6%, 171.4% and 470.1% over the three, five and ten year periods to 30 September 2021 respectively. This is well ahead of the benchmark and makes it the best performing European investment trust over these time periods.    ESG  These results have also been achieved while adopting a strong ESG overlay. Montanaro believes there is a clear correlation between how well a business fares on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance grounds and the value it creates for its shareholders. This is why ESG considerations have formed an integral part of their assessment of a company's "Quality" and have been fully integrated into the investment process for many years.   The depth of Montanaro's commitment is perhaps best exemplified by the fact that they are one of the few UK asset managers to be a certified B Corporation - a certification Montanaro have held since 2019. Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.

Share Split Following shareholder approval at the AGM, shareholders on 14 September 2021 received 10 New Ordinary Shares in exchange for each Existing Ordinary Share held at the Record Date. The New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on the premium segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on 14 September 2021. Following the completion of the share split, as at 14 September 2021, the Company had 179,682,600 New Ordinary Shares in issue. Subsequent to the share split, the Company made an application to the FCA and the London Stock Exchange to increase its block listing facility commensurate with the share split. Application was made for 11,533,260 Ordinary Shares of 5 pence each (the "Shares") to be admitted to the Official List, and to trading on the premium segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. The admission was effective 16 September 2021. Earnings and Dividends Revenue earnings per share rose significantly in the period to 0.80p (2020: 0.25p) as many companies returned to paying dividends on the back of strong earnings and better visibility than in the previous period. The Board has declared anunchanged interim dividend of 0.2p per Ordinary Share (2020: 0.2p per share) payable on 4 January 2022 to shareholders on the register on 3 December 2021.

Borrowings At the end of the period, the Company had gearing, net of cash, of 0.9% compared to 2.4% at 31 March 2021.

Treasury Shares At 31 March 2021, the Company had 75,000 shares remaining in treasury, which have since been re-issued. In addition, during the six months to 30 September 2021 a further 520,000new shares were issued before the share split at a weighted average premium of 1.8%. The Board believes that at its current size, issuing new shares in the Company at a premium is in the interests of both new and existing shareholders as it improves the liquidity of the shares and provides a larger base over which fixed costs can be spread.

Outlook After a remarkable year and a half in which the MSCI Europe ex-UK Small Cap Index has approximately doubled in Euro terms, the profit-taking seen in September is perhaps not surprising. The aftershocks of the global pandemic continue to reverberate around the world as supply chains strain to support the recovery of demand in certain areas and input prices begin to rise. Through all the uncertainty and change the Montanaro investment process and philosophy remains the same: to invest in the highest quality, growing smaller companies at reasonable valuations and hold them for as long as possible. Rather than worrying about whether inflation will rise or fall, Montanaro prefer to invest in companies that have the pricing power to pass higher input costs onto their customers. This approach has delivered strong absolute and relative returns since Montanaro were appointed and enables us to look forward to the future with confidence.

R M CURLING Chairman 18 November 2021

Portfolio Summary

Twenty Largest Holdings

As at 30 September 2021

Holding	Country	Value £'000	% of investment portfolio	% of net assets
NCAB	Sweden	17,143	4.8	4.8
Sartorius Stedim	France	16,631	4.7	4.7
Fortnox	Sweden	15,212	4.3	4.3
Esker	France	12,457	3.5	3.5
Thule	Sweden	11,201	3.1	3.1
MIPS	Sweden	11,147	3.1	3.1
IMCD	Netherlands	9,940	2.8	2.8
VZ Holding	Switzerland	9,631	2.7	2.7
Atoss Software	Germany	9,211	2.6	2.6
Amadeus FiRe	Germany	8,453	2.4	2.4
Tecan	Switzerland	8,441	2.4	2.4
CTS Eventim	Germany	8,404	2.3	2.3
Reply	Italy	8,221	2.3	2.3
Vitrolife	Sweden	8,172	2.3	2.3
Chemometec	Denmark	7,935	2.2	2.2
Belimo Holdings	Switzerland	7,256	2.0	2.0
Medistim	Norway	6,998	2.0	2.0
MTU Aero Engines	Germany	6,741	1.9	1.9
Gruppo Mutuionline	Italy	6,614	1.8	1.8
QT Group	Finland	6,214	1.7	1.7
Twenty Largest Holdings		196,022	54.9%	54.9%

Geographical Analysis

As at 30 September 2021

Country	% of investment portfolio
Sweden	32%
Germany	18%
France	10%
Italy	10%
Switzerland	10%
Norway	7%
Netherlands	4%
Denmark	4%
Spain	2%
Finland	2%
Belgium	1%

Source: Montanaro Asset Management Limited

Sector Analysis

As at 30 September 2021

Sector	% of investment portfolio
Information Technology	31%
Healthcare	22%
Industrials	20%
Consumer Discretionary	11%
Financials	7%
Consumer Staples	4%
Communications	2%
Real Estate	2%
Materials	1%

Source: Montanaro Asset Management Limited

Interim Management Report

The important events that have occurred during the period under review and the key factors influencing the financial statements are set out in the Chairman's Statement above.

StatementofPrincipalRisksandUncertainties: Most of the principal risks that could threaten the Company's objective, strategy, future returns and solvency are market related and comparable to those of other investment trusts investing primarily in quoted securities. The principal risks faced by the Company are investment and strategic, gearing, financial, discount volatility, regulatory, operational and manager risks. These risks, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the market and the Company's business operations, and the way in which they are mitigated, are described in more detail under the heading 'Principal and Emerging Risks and Uncertainties and Risk Mitigation' within the Business Model and Strategy section on pages 12 to 14 of the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2021. The Company's principal risks and uncertainties have not changed materially since the date of that report and are not expected to change materially for the remaining six months of the Company's financial year. The Directors have ensured that all risks will be kept under review at every meeting as the implications of Covid-19 continue to emerge.

Related party transactions: Related party transactions are disclosed in note 15 below. There have been no material changes in the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report.

Going concern: As stated in note 14 to the condensed financial statements, the Directors are satisfied that the Company has sufficient resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future, a period of not less than 12 months from the date of this report. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the condensed financial statements.

Directors'   Responsibility   Statement in respect of the Half-Yearly Report

We   confirm   that   to   the   best of our knowledge:

•	the condensed set of f inancial statements havebeenpreparedinaccordancewith IAS34'InterimFinancialReporting'andgiveatrueandfairviewoftheassets,liabilities, financialpositionandprofitorlossoftheCompany;
•	the Interim Management Reportincludesafair reviewoftheinformationrequiredbytheDisclosureGuidanceandTransparencyRule ('DTR')4.2.7R,beinganindicationofimportanteventsthathaveoccurredduringthefirstsixmonthsofthefinancialyearandtheirimpactonthefinancialstatements;
•	the Statement of Principal Risks and UncertaintiesshownaboveisafairreviewoftheinformationrequiredbyDTR 4.2.7R; and
•	the Chairman's Statement, together with the condensed set of financial statements, include afairreviewoftheinformationrequiredbyDTR4.2.8R,beingrelatedpartytransactionsthathavetakenplaceinthefirstsixmonthsofthefinancialyearandthathavemateriallyaffectedthefinancialpositionorperformanceoftheCompanyduringthe period,andanychangesintherelatedpartytransactionsdescribedinthelastAnnualReportthatcoulddoso.
	TheHalf-YearlyReportandAccountswereapprovedbytheBoardandtheaboveresponsibility statementwassignedonitsbehalfby:
	R M CURLING Chairman
	18 November 2021

 

Condensed   Statement   of   Comprehensive   Income   (unaudited)

for the six months ended 30 September 2021

		Six months to 30 September 2021			Six months to 30 September 2020			Year to 31 March 2021 (Audited)
	Notes	Revenue £'000	Capital £'000	Total £'000	Revenue £'000	Capital £'000	Total £'000	Revenue £'000	Capital £'000	Total £'000
Gains on investments held at fair value		-	69,767	69,767	-	81,738	81,738	-	108,742	108,742
Exchange losses		-	(114)	(114)	-	(337)	(337)	-	(109)	(109)
Revenue
Investment income		2,447	-	2,447	1,209	-	1,209	2,166	-	2,166
Total income		2,447	69,653	72,100	1,209	81,401	82,610	2,166	108,633	110,799
Expenditure
Management expenses		(530)	(984)	(1,514)	(335)	(622)	(957)	(766)	(1,422)	(2,188)
Other expenses		(271)	(36)	(307)	(303)	-	(303)	(646)	-	(646)
Total expenditure		(801)	(1,020)	(1,821)	(638)	(622)	(1,260)	(1,412)	(1,422)	(2,834)
Profit before finance costs and tax		1,646	68,633	70,279	571	80,779	81,350	754	107,211	107,965
Finance costs		(28)	(51)	(79)	(36)	(43)	(79)	(56)	(105)	(161)
Profit before tax		1,618	68,582	70,200	535	80,736	81,271	698	107,106	107,804
Tax		(222)	-	(222)	(113)	-	(113)	(169)	-	(169)
Total comprehensive income		1,396	68,582	69,978	422	80,736	81,158	529	107,106	107,635
Return per share1		0.80p	39.14p	39.94p	0.25p	48.25p	48.50p	0.31p	63.24p	63.55p

ThetotalcolumnofthisstatementrepresentstheCompany'sIncomeStatementand Statement of Comprehensive Income, prepared in accordancewithInternationalFinancial ReportingStandards.

Thesupplementaryrevenuereturnandcapitalreturncolumnsarebothpreparedunder guidancepublishedbytheAIC.

Allrevenueandcapitalitemsintheabovestatementderivefromcontinuingoperations.Nooperationswereacquiredordiscontinuedduringtheperiod.

1 In accordance with IAS 33 'Earnings per Share', the comparative return per ordinary share figures have been restated using the new number of shares in issue following the ten for one share split. For weighted average purposes, the share split has been treated as happening on the first day of the accounting period. See note 5 for further details.

Condensed   Balance   Sheet   (unaudited)

as at 30 September 2021

	Notes	As at 30 September 2021 £'000	As at 30 September 2020 £'000	As at 31March2021 (Audited) £'000
Non-current assets
Investments held at fair value through profit and loss		357,152	241,298	282,575
Current assets
Trade and other receivables		3,636	559	782
Cash and cash equivalents		5,465	7,712	1,767
		9,101	8,271	2,549
Total assets		366,253	249,569	285,124
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables		(663)	(429)	(564)
		(663)	(429)	(564)
Non-current liabilities
Interest-bearing bank loans		(8,575)	(9,072)	(8,495)
Total liabilities		(9,238)	(9,501)	(9,059)
Net assets		357,015	240,068	276,065
Capital and reserves
Called-up share capital		8,984	8,724	8,724
Share premium account		24,410	5,283	12,707
Capital redemption reserve		2,212	2,212	2,212
Capital reserve		318,052	220,377	249,185
Revenue reserve		3,357	3,472	3,237
Shareholders' funds		357,015	240,068	276,065
NAV per share1		198.7p	143.5p	158.9p

1 The comparative NAV figures have been restated using the new number of shares in issue following the ten for one share split. Restating the NAVs following the share split allows the reader to see how the NAVs have evolved. See note 10 for further details.

Condensed   Statement   of   Changes   in   Equity   (unaudited)

for the six months ended 30 September 2021

	Share capital £'000	Share premium account £'000	Capital redemptionreserve £'000	Capital reserve £'000	Revenue reserve £'000	Total £'000
As at 1April2021	8,724	12,707	2,212	249,185	3,237	276,065
Return after taxation	-	-	-	68,582	1,396	69,978
Share issues	260	11,703	-	285	-	12,248
Dividends paid	-	-	-	-	(1,276)	(1,276)
As at 30 September 2021	8,984	24,410	2,212	318,052	3,357	357,015

for the six months ended 30 September 2020 (unaudited)

	Share capital £'000	Share premium account £'000	Capital redemptionreserve £'000	Capital reserve £'000	Revenue reserve £'000	Total £'000
As at 1April2020	8,724	5,283	2,212	139,641	4,263	169,123
Return after taxation	-	-	-	80,736	422	80,158
Dividends paid	-	-	-	-	(1,213)	(1,213)
As at 30 September 2020	8,724	5,283	2,212	220,377	3,472	240,068

for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Audited)

	Share capital £'000	Share premium account £'000	Capital redemptionreserve £'000	Capital Reserve £'000	Revenue reserve £'000	Total £'000
As at 1April2020	8,724	5,283	2,212	139,641	4,263	160,123
Return after taxation	-	-	-	107,106	529	107,635
Share issues	-	7,424	-	2,438	-	9,862
Dividends paid	-	-	-	-	(1,555)	(1,555)
As at 31 March 2021	8,724	12,707	2,212	249,185	3,237	276,065

Condensed   Statement   of   Cash   Flows   (unaudited)

for the six months ended 30 September 2021

	Six months to 30 September 2021 £'000	Six months to 30 September 2020 £'000	Year to31   March 2021 (Audited) £'000
Net cash(outflow)/inflow from operating activities	(7,098)	9,595	(5,430)
Cash inflow/( outflow) from financing activities	10,858	(2,166)	7,277
	3,760	7,427	1,847
Exchange (losses)/ gains	(62)	120	(485)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	3,698	7,307	1,362
Reconciliation of profit before finance costs and tax to net cash inflow from operating activities
Profit before taxation	70,200	81,271	107,804
Gains on investments held at fair value	(69,667)	(81,738)	(108,742)
Exchange losses	114	337	109
Finance costs	79	79	161
Withholding tax	(222)	(113)	(136)
Purchases of investments	(28,563)	(24,897)	(57,443)
Sales of investments	20,863	34,415	52,578
Changes in working capital and other non-cash items	98	241	400
Net cash (outflow)/ inflow from operating activities	(7,098)	9,595	(5,430)

N otes   to   the   Accounts   (unaudited )

1.	Thecondensed unauditedfinancialstatementshavebeenpreparedinaccordancewith InternationalFinancialReportingStandard('IFRS')IAS34'InterimFinancialReporting'andtheaccountingpoliciessetoutinthestatutoryaccountsoftheCompanyfortheyearended31March2021.Thecondensedfinancialstatementsdonotincludeallof theinformationrequiredforacompletesetofIFRSfinancialstatementsandshouldbe readinconjunctionwiththefinancialstatementsoftheCompanyfortheyearended 31March2021,whichwerepreparedunderfullIFRSrequirements.
2.	Earnings for the first sixmonthsshouldnotbetakenasaguidetotheresultsforthe fullyear.
3.	Income for the periodisderivedfrom:

	Six months to 30 September 2021 £'000	Six months to 30 September 2020 £'000	Year ended 31 March 2021 (Audited) £'000
Overseas dividend income	2,445	1,200	2,175
Exchange (losses)/gains	1	-	(10)
Other Income	1	9	1
Total	2,447	1,209	2,166

4.	Management fee:

	Six months to 30 September 2021 £'000			Six months to 30 September 2020 £'000			Year ended 31 March 2021 (Audited) £'000
	Revenue £'000	Capital £'000	Total £'000	Revenue £'000	Capital £'000	Total £'000	Revenue £'000	Capital £'000	Total £'000
Investment management fee	521	968	1,489	226	606	932	748	1,390	2,138
AIFM fee	9	16	25	9	16	25	18	32	50
	530	984	1,514	335	622	957	766	1,422	2,188

	As set out in the Company's Annual Report, with effect from 1 April 2021, the management fee will be linked to the size of the Company, as follows: · 0.90% p.a. of the amount of the Company's market capitalisation up to £500 million; · 0.75% p.a. of the amount of the Company's market capitalisation between £500 million and £750 million; and · 0.65% p.a. of the amount of the Company's market capitalisation above £750 million. Prior to 1 April 2021 MAM received an investment management fee of 0.9% per annum of the Company's market capitalisation. The management fee is payable monthly in arrears. MAM is also entitled to a fee of £50,000 per annum for acting as the Company's Alternative Investment Fund Manager ("AIFM").
5.	Return per Share Earnings perOrdinaryShareisbasedonaweightedaverageof 175,223,174 OrdinarySharesinissueduringtheperiod(yearended31March 2021: 169,360,950*andsix monthsended30September 2020: 167,332,600*),excludingthosesharesboughtbackandheldintreasury.
	*Restated to reflect the subsequent 10 for 1 share split, see note 9 for further details.
6.	Dividends Theinterimdividendrelatingtotheyearended31March2021of 0.200pperOrdinary Sharewillbepaidon 4 January2022toshareholdersontheregisteron 3 December 2021.InaccordancewithIFRS,thisdividendhasnotbeenrecognisedinthesefinancial statements.Theex-dividenddateforthispaymentis 2 December2021.
	Afinaldividendrelatingtotheyearended31March2021of 0.725*pperOrdinaryShare waspaidduringthesixmonthsto30September2021andamountedto£1,276,000. *Restated to reflect the subsequent 10 for 1 share split.
7.	Investments at Fair Value Through Profit and Loss:

	30 September 2021 £'000	30 September 2020 £'000	31 March 2021 £'000 (Audited)
Opening book cost	145,479	121,712	121,712
Holding gains	137,096	47,306	47,306
Opening fair value	282,575	169,018	169,018
Purchases at cost	28,563	24,897	57,443
Sales - proceeds	(23,753)	(34,352)	(52,628)
-gainsonsales	10,085	14,248	18,952
Holding gains	59,682	67,487	89,790
Closing fair value	357,152	241,298	282,575
Closing book cost	160,374	126,505	145,479
Holding gains	196,778	114,793	137,096
Closing valuation	357,152	241,298	282,575

8.	Interest-Bearing BankLoans:

	30 September 2021 £'000	30 September 2020 £'000	31 March 2021 £'000 (Audited)
Opening balance	8,495	8,809	8,809
Amortisation of set-up costs	5	5	11
Non-cash foreign currency movements	75	258	(325)
Closing balance	8,575	9,072	8,495

	TheCompany has a €10millionsecuredloanwithINGBankN.V.('ING')atafixedrateof 1.33% perannum.Thisloanwillmatureon 13September2023. TheCompany also has a €15millionfiveyearsecuredrevolvingloanfacility withINGwhichwillalsomatureon13September2023.
	Asat30September2021, €10 million was drawndownunderthesefacilities.
9.	Under the bank covenants relating to these facilities, the Company is to ensure that at all times the total borrowings of the Company donotexceed40%oftheAdjusted NAV (asdefinedintheloanagreements)andthattheAdjusted NAV doesnotfallbelow £45million.TheCompanymetallcovenantconditionsduringtheperiod. The carrying value of the balances above approximates to fairvalue. Share Capital Allotted, issued and fully paid Ordinary Shares of 5p each (2020: 50p) For the six months ended 30 September 2021 Listed Held in Treasury In Issue Number £'000 Number £'000 Number £'000 Opening balance in issue* 17,448,260 8,724 (75,000) (38) 17,373,260 8,686 Shares issued from treasury* - - 75,000 38 75,000 38 Shares issued* 520,000 260 - - 520,000 260 Shares issued through share split  161,714,340 - - - 161,714,340 - Closing balance in issue 179,682,600 8,984 - - 179,682,600 8,984 *Balances stated prior to the subsequent 10 for 1 share split. At the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 9 September 2021, shareholders approved a resolution for a ten for one share split such that each shareholder would receive ten shares with a nominal value of 5 pence each for every one share held. These new shares were listed on 14 September 2021. Expenses associated with the share split amount to £36,000.
10.	Net Assets Value per Ordinary Share The NAV per Ordinary Share was based on 179,682,600 Ordinary Shares in issue at the end of the period (31 March 2021: 173,732,600* and 30 September 2020: 167,332,600*), excluding those shares bought back and held in treasury. As at 30 September 2021, there were no Ordinary Shares held in treasury (31 March 2021: 750,000* and 30 September 2020: 7,150,000*).
	*Restated to reflect the subsequent 10 for 1 share split, see note 9 for further details.
11	Fair value Hierarchy The Company measures fair values using the following fair value hierarchy that reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the measurements. Categorisation within the hierarchy has been determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the relevant assets as follows: • Level 1 - valued using quoted prices unadjusted in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. • Level 2 - valued by reference to valuation techniques using observable inputs for the asset or liability other than quoted prices included within Level 1. • Level 3 - valued by reference to valuation techniques using inputs that are not based on observable market data for the asset or liability. The tables below set out fair value measurements of financial instruments as at the period end, by the level in the fair value hierarchy into which the fair value measurement is categorised. Level 1 £'000 Level 2 £'000 Level 3 £'000 Total £'000 30 September 2021 Investments 357,152 - - 357,152 Loan - (8,575) - (8,575) 30 September 2020 Investments 241,298 - - 241,298 Loan - (9,072) - (9,072) 31 March 2021 (Audited) Investments  282,575 - - 282,575 Loan - (8,495) - (8,495) Therewerenotransfersbetweenlevelsduringtheperiodended30September2021(yearended31March2021andperiodended30September 2020: None). Listed investments held (seenote7)arevaluedatfairvaluethroughprofitorloss.For listedsecuritiesthisiseitherbidpriceorthelasttradedpricedependingontheconventionoftheexchangeonwhichtheinvestmentislisted.ThefairvalueoftheloansiscalculatedusingadiscountedcashflowtechniquebasedonrelevantcurrentinterestratescomparedtotheirvalueasstatedontheBalanceSheetatamortisedcostof£8,575,000 (31March2021:£8,495,000and30September2019:£9,072,000).Thefair valueofallotherfinancialassetsandliabilitiesisrepresentedbytheircarryingvaluein theBalanceSheetshownabove. Other aspects of the Company's financial risk management objectives and policies are consistent with those disclosed in the financial statements, asatandfortheyearended, 31March2021.

12.	Rates of exchange (to Sterling):

	30 September 2021 £'000	30 September 2020 £'000	31 March 2021 £'000 (Audited)
Danish Krone	8.65	8.20	8.56
Euro	1.16	1.10	1.15
Norwegian Krone	11.77	12.10	12.04
Swedish Krona	11.80	11.57	11.74
Swiss Franc	1.26	1.19	1.26

13.	TheBoardhasconsideredtherequirementsofIFRS8'OperatingSegments'.TheBoardisoftheviewthattheCompanyisengagedinasinglesegmentofbusiness, that of investinginEuropeanquotedsmallercompanies,andthatthereforetheCompanyhas onlyasingleoperatingsegment.TheBoardofDirectors,asawhole,hasbeenidentifiedasconstitutingthechiefoperatingdecisionmakeroftheCompany.ThekeymeasureofperformanceusedbytheBoardtoassesstheCompany'sperformanceisthetotalreturnontheCompany'snetassetvalue,ascalculatedunderIFRS,andthereforenoreconciliationisrequiredbetweenthemeasureofprofitorlossusedbythe Boardandthatcontainedinthefinancialstatements.
14.	Going Concern: In assessing the going concernbasisofaccounting,theDirectorshavehadregardto theguidanceissuedbytheFinancialReportingCouncilandhaveundertakenarigorous reviewoftheCompany'sabilitytocontinueasagoingconcern.TheyhaveconsideredthecurrentcashpositionoftheCompany,theavailabilityoftheborrowingfacilitiesto13September2023,compliancewiththeircovenants,theCompany'sotherliabilities andforecastrevenues.TheDirectorshavealsotakenintoaccounttheCompany'sinvestment policy,whichissubjecttoregularBoardmonitoringprocessesandis designedtoensurethattheCompanyisinvestedmainlyinliquid,listedsecurities.TheCompanyretainstitletoallassetsheldbyitscustodianandhasfinancialcovenants, relatingtoitsbankborrowingswithwhichitcompliedduringtheperiod.
	TheDirectorsbelieve,inlightofthecontrolsandreviewprocessesnotedaboveandbearinginmindthenatureoftheCompany'sbusinessandassetsandliabilities,thatthe Companyhasadequateresourcestocontinueinoperationalexistenceforaperiodofat leasttwelvemonthsfromthedateofapprovaloftheaccounts.Forthisreason,theycontinuetoadoptthegoingconcernbasisinpreparingtheaccounts.
15.	Related Parties: The following are considered related parties: the Board of Directors. The Directors of the Company received fees for their services and dividends from their shareholdings in the Company as outlined below.
	The amount charged by the Manager during the period was £1,514,000 (six months to 30 September 2020: £957,000; year to 31 March 2021: £2,188,000). At 30 September 2021, the amount due to the Manager, included in creditors, was £561,000. The existence of an independent Board of Directors demonstrates that the Company is free to pursue its own financial and operating policies and therefore, under the AIC SORP, the Manager is not considered to be a related party.
	Directors' Emoluments At 30 September 2021, the Board consisted of three non-executive Directors. All Directors are considered to be independent of the Manager. None of the Directors has a service contract with the Company. The Chairman receives an annual fee of £36,050, the Chair of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of £30,900 and non-executive Directors receive £25,750 per annum.
	At 30 September 2021, the amount outstanding in respect of Directors' fees was £nil (31 March 2021: £nil).
	At 30 September 2021, the interests of the Directors in the Ordinary Shares of the Company were as follows:
		As at 30 September 2021 No. of shares**	As at 31 March 2021  No. of shares
	R M Curling	100,000	10,000
	G J Neilly	61,450	6,128
	C A Roxburgh*	57,280	5,728
	* Includes 214 shares held by Ms Roxburgh's spouse. ** Updated to reflect share split on 13 September 2021.
	The following changes in the Directors' interests occurred between 30 September 2021 and the date of this report: C A Roxburgh acquired 205 shares on 12 October 2021
16.	These are not statutory accounts in terms of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 and have not beenauditedorreviewedbytheCompany'sAuditor.Theinformationfortheyearended31March2021hasbeenextractedfromthelatestpublishedfinancialstatementsandwhichhavebeenfiledwiththeRegistrarofCompanies.TheAuditor'sreportonthoseaccountswasnotqualified,didnotincludeareferencetoanymatterstowhichtheauditordrewattentionbywayofemphasiswithoutqualifyingthereportanddidnotcontainstatementsundersection498(2)or(3) oftheCompaniesAct2006.Nostatutoryaccountsinrespectofanyperiodafter31March2021havebeenreportedonbytheCompany'sAuditorordeliveredtothe Registrar ofCompanies.

Alternative Performance Measures ("APMs")

TheCompanyusesthefollowingAPMs:

Capital Return - NAV and Share Price Returns Capital returns measure the effect of any rise or fall in the share price or NAV, excluding any dividends paid. As at 30 September 2021, the 6 month NAV Capital Return was 25.0%, and the 6 month Ordinary share price Capital Return was 24.2%, as shown in the Highlights above. NAV Capital Return calculation as at 30 September 2021 NAV per share as at 30 September 2021 198.70 (a) NAV per share as at 31 March 2021* 158.90 (b) NAV Capital Return 25.0% ((a-b)/b) Share Price Capital Return calculation as at 30 September 2021 Share Price as at 30 September 2021 200.00 (a) Share Price as at 31 March 2021* 161.00 (b) Share Price Capital Return 24.2% ((a-b)/b) * Restated to reflect the subsequent 10 for 1 share split.

Total Return - NAV and Share Price Returns Total returns measure the effectofanyriseorfallinthesharepriceorNAV,plusdividends paidwhicharereinvestedattheprevailing NAV orsharepriceontheex-dividenddate.Asat 30September2021,the6month NAV Total Returnwas 25.6%,andthe6monthOrdinaryshareprice Total Returnwas 24.7%,asshowninthe Highlights above. NAV Total Return calculation as at 30 September 2021 NAV per share as at 30 September 2021 198.70 (c) NAV per share as at 31 March 2021* 158.90 (d) Dividend adjustment factor (+1) 1.0040 (a) Pre-Dividend Reinvestment Factor 1.2505 (b)(b=c/d) NAV Total Return 25.60 ((a*b)-1) (a) Dividend Adjustment Factor Dividend PPS Dividend XD date NAV at Dividend XD date Share price Multiplier Final dividend* 0.725 12.Aug.21   196.90 0.0040 0.0040                   Share price Total Return calculation as at 30 September 2021 Share price as at 30 September 2021 200.00 (c) Share price as at 31 March 2021* 161.00 (d) Dividend adjustment factor (+1) 1.0036 (a) Pre-Dividend Reinvestment Factor 1.2422 (b)(b=c/d) Share price Total Return 24.70 ((a*b)-1) (a) Dividend Adjustment Factor Dividend PPS Dividend XD date Share price at Dividend XD date Share price Multiplier Final dividend* 0.725 12.Aug.21   201.00 0.0036 0.0036

Discount or Premium to NAV If the share price of anInvestmentTrustislessthanits NAV pershare,thesharesaretradingatadiscount.IfthesharepriceisgreaterthantheNAVpershare,thesharesaretradingatapremium.

Asat30September2021,the NAV persharewas 198.7pandthesharepricewas 200. 0p . The premium is therefore calculated at 0.7 % asshowninthehighlightsabove.

Net gearing employed Unlike open-endedinvestmentcompanies,InvestmentTrustshavetheabilitytoborrowtoinvest.ThistermisusedtodescribethelevelofborrowingsthatanInvestmentTrusthasundertaken,andisstatedasapercentageofshareholders'funds.Thehigherthelevelofborrowings,thehigherthegearingratio.

Net gearing is calculated astotaldebt,netofcashandcashequivalents,asapercentageof thetotalshareholders'funds.

Asat30September2021,interestbearingbankloanswere(£8,575,000),cashandcash equivalentswere£5,465,000andnetassetswere£357,015,000.Asat30September2021,Gearing wasthereforeequalto 0.9%asshowninthehighlightsabove.

Ongoing charges (expressed as a percentage) OngoingchargesaretheCompany'srevenue andcapitalexpenses(excludingfinancecostsandcertainnon-recurringitems)expressed asapercentageoftheaveragedailynetassetsoftheCompanyduringthe period.

Ongoing charges calculation

		Six months to 30 September 2021 £'000	Six months to 30 September 2020 £'000	31 March 2021 £'000 (Audited)
Total expenditure		1,785	1,339	2,834
Less negative interest		-	(79)	-
Total	(a)	1,785	1,260	2,834
Average daily net assets	(b)	325,750	216,742	240,757
Ongoing charges (c =a/b)*	(c)	1.1%	1.2%	1.2%

* 30 September 2021 and 30 September 2020 figures annualised for comparison (c = (a/b) x 2).

Glossary of terms
AIFMD Alternative Investment Fund ManagersDirective.IssuedbytheEuropeanParliamentin2012and2013,theDirectiverequiresthatallinvestmentvehiclesintheEuropeanUnion,includingInvestmentTrusts,must,witheffectfrom22July2014,appointaDepositaryandanAIFM.TheBoardofDirectorsofanInvestment Trust, nevertheless,remainsfullyresponsibleforall aspectsoftheCompany'sstrategy,operationsandcompliancewithregulations.
AIC TheAssociationofInvestmentCompaniesisthetradebodyforClosed-endInvestment Companies(www.theaic.co.uk).
Benchmark This is ameasureagainstwhichanInvestment Trust's performanceiscompared.ThebenchmarkoftheCompanyistheMSCIEuropeSmallCap(exUK)Index(capitalreturninSterlingterms).TheindexaveragestheperformanceofadefinedselectionofcompanieslistedinEuropeansmallercompanystockmarketsandgivesanindicationofhowthosemarketshaveperformedinanyperiod.
Closed-end Investment Company Acompany,includinganInvestment Trust, withafixedissuedordinarysharecapitalwhich istradedonanexchangeatapricenotnecessarilyrelatedtothe NAV ofthecompanyandwheresharescanonlybeissuedorboughtbackbythecompanyincertaincircumstances. Thiscontrastswithanopen-endedinvestmentcompany,whichhasunitsnottradedonanexchangebutissuedorboughtbackfrominvestorsatapricedirectlyrelatedtotheNAV.
Custodian Aspecialisedfinancialinstitutionresponsibleforsafeguarding,worldwide,thelistedsecuritiesandcertaincashassetsoftheCompany,aswellastheincomearisingtherefrom, throughprovisionofcustodial,settlementandassociatedservices.TheCompany's CustodianisBankofNew York MellonSA/NV.
Depositary Under AIFMD rulesapplyingfrom22July2014,theCompanymustappointaDepositary, whosedutiesinrespectofinvestments,cashandsimilarassetsinclude:safekeeping; verificationofownershipandvaluation;andcashmonitoring.TheDepositaryhasstrictliabilityforlossofanyinvestmentsorotherassetswhereithassafekeepingduties.TheDepositary'soversightdutiesinclude,butarenotlimited to, oversightofsharebuybacks, dividendpaymentsandadherencetoinvestmentlimits.TheCompany'sDepositaryisTheBankofNew York Mellon(International)Limited.
Dividend Theincomefromaninvestment.SomeInvestmentTrustspaydividendsonaquarterlyormonthlybasis.MontanaroEuropeanSmallerCompaniesTrustplccurrentlypaysdividends twicea year.
Gearing Gearing is calculated astotalliabilitieslesscurrentassetsdividedbynetassets.
Gross assets Gross assets are calculated astotalassetslesscurrentliabilities.
IFRS International Financial ReportingStandards.
Investment Manager TheCompany'sInvestmentManagerisMontanaroAssetManagementLimited.
Investment Trust AClosed-endInvestmentCompanywhichsatisfiestherequirementsofSection1158ofthe Corporation Tax Act2010.Companieswhichmeetthesecriteriaareexemptfromhavingto paytaxonthecapitalgainstheyrealisefromsalesoftheinvestmentswithintheirportfolios.
Leverage AsdefinedundertheAIFMDrules,LeverageisanymethodbywhichtheexposureofanAIFisincreasedthroughborrowingofcashorsecuritiesorleverageembeddedinderivativepositions.LeverageisbroadlyequivalenttoGearing,butisexpressedasaratiobetween theassets(excludingborrowings)andthenetassets(aftertakingaccountofborrowings). Underthegrossmethod,exposurerepresentsthesumoftheCompany'spositionsafter deductionofcashandcashequivalents,withouttakingaccountofanyhedgingornetting arrangements.Underthecommitmentmethod,exposureiscalculatedwithoutthe deductionofcashandcashequivalentsandaftercertainhedgingandnettingpositionsareoffsetagainsteach other.
Marked to Market Accounting for the fair value of anassetorliabilitythatcanchangeovertimeandreflectsitscurrentmarketvalueratherthanitsbookcost.
Market Capitalisation Thestockmarketvalueofacompanyasdeterminedbymultiplyingthenumberofsharesin issue,excludingthosesharesheldintreasury,bythemarketpriceoftheshares.
N AV per OrdinaryShare This is calculated asthenetassetsofanInvestmentTrustdividedbythenumberofshares inissue,excludingthosesharesheldintreasury.
Net Assets (or Shareholders' Funds) This is calculated asthevalueoftheinvestmentsandotherassetsofanInvestment Trust, pluscashanddebtors,lessborrowingsandanyothercreditors.Itrepresentstheunderlying valueofanInvestmentTrustatapointintime.
Net Gearing Net Gearing is calculated astotaldebt,netofcashandcashequivalents,asapercentageof thetotalshareholders'funds.
Ordinary Shares ThemaintypeofequitycapitalissuedbyconventionalInvestmentTrusts.Shareholdersare entitledtotheirshareofbothincome,intheformofdividendspaidbytheInvestment Trust, andanycapitalgrowth.MontanaroEuropeanSmallerCompaniesTrustplchasonly OrdinarySharesinissue.
Portfolio Turnover Calculated using total sales proceeds as a percentage of the average monthly net assets during the period, annualised.
Related Party Transactions Under the Listing Rules, the Manager is regarded as a related party of the Company.
Share Price Thevalueofashareatapointintimeasquotedonastockexchange.ThesharesofMontanaroEuropeanSmallerCompaniesTrustplcarequotedontheMainMarketoftheLondonStockExchange.
SORP Statement of RecommendedPractice"FinancialStatementsofInvestmentTrustCompaniesandVentureCapitalTrusts"issuedbytheAIC.
Total Assets This is calculated asthevalueoftheinvestmentsandotherassetsofanInvestment Trust,pluscashanddebtors.
Directors and Advisers
Registered Office 16 Charlotte Square Edinburgh EH2 4DF	Depositary THEBANKOFNEWYORKMELLON(INTERNATIONAL)LIMITED OneCanada SquareLondonE145AL
Registered in Scotland No. SC074677
AninvestmentcompanyasdefinedunderSection833oftheCompaniesAct2006.	Custodian BANK OFNEWYORKMELLONSA/NV OneCanada SquareLondonE145AL
Directors RMCurling (Chairman) CARoxburgh G J Neilly
Investment Manager and Alternative InvestmentFund Manager ('AIFM') MONTANARO ASSETMANAGEMENTLIMITED 53 Threadneedle Street London EC2R 8AR Tel: [phone] Fax:[phone] Email: [e-mail] www.montanaro.co.uk	Registrar EQUINITI LIMITED AspectHouse, SpencerRoad,Lancing West Sussex BN996DA Registrar's Shareholder Helpline Tel: [phone]* *Lines are open 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday,excluding UK public holidays
Administrator LINK ALTERNATIVE FUND ADMINISTRATORS LIMITED BeaufortHouse 51 New NorthRoad,ExeterEX44EP	Stockbroker CENKOS SECURITIES PLC 6.7.8 Tokenhouse Y ard London EC2R 7AS
Company Secretary LINK COMPANY MATTERS LIMITED 65GreshamStreetLondonEC2V7NQ Tel: [phone] Contact:  [e-mail]	Auditor PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP Atria One 144 Morrison Street Edinburgh EH3 8EX
Solicitor DICKSON MINTO W.S. 16 Charlotte Square   Edinburgh EH2 4DF	Website https://montanaro.co.uk/trust/montanaro-european-smaller-companies-trust/
Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on this announcement (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
For further information, please contact:
Montanaro Asset Management Limited
Tel: [phone]

 

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