Half-year Report

The Board of Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust plc (the 'Company' or 'MESCT') announces the unaudited half-yearly results of the Company for the six months ended 30 September 2025.

Highlights

Performance

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

*From 5 September 2006, when MAM was appointed as Investment Manager.

**Details provided in the Glossary below.

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

2Refer to Alternative Performance Measures below.

Chairman's Statement

Performance

In the first six months of the financial year the Net Asset Value of your Company rose by 13.1% to 183.2p per share. In comparison the Company's Benchmark (MSCI Europe SmallCap (ex-UK) Index) rose by 13.2%.

During the period, the share price discount to NAV narrowed from 8.3% to 8.0%. As a result, the share price rose by 13.5%, resulting in a total return of 14.1%. The total return of the Benchmark was 15.4%.

Since Montanaro were appointed in September 2006, the annualised NAV total return has been 10.3%, 1.9% p.a. ahead of the Company's Benchmark.

Montanaro have a long-term investment approach, exclusively focused on investing in high quality, growing companies. Recently, style headwinds have persisted and weighed on relative returns: for example, during this reporting period, Quality has lagged the broader European market by more than 5%, as investors favoured lower-quality, more cyclical names. Despite this backdrop, the Board believes stock selection - adjusted for these style swings - remains positive which is the key determinant of long term future success.

Earnings and Dividends

Revenue earnings per share rose to 1.80p in the period (2024: 1.56p). To reflect the increased underlying earnings from the portfolio the Board has declared a first interim dividend relating to the year ending 31 March 2026 of 0.35p per Ordinary share (2024: 0.3p per share). Additionally, the Board has also declared a third interim dividend relating to the year ended 31 March 2025 of 0.05p per Ordinary share. Both dividends are payable together on 5 January 2026 to shareholders on the register on 5 December 2025.

Share Buybacks and Treasury Shares

During the period, the Company bought back 30,819,178 Ordinary shares. As a result the Company held 40,322,099 Ordinary shares in Treasury as at 30 September 2025. The buyback activity has helped the Trust to maintain a single-figure discount throughout the last six months. Our stated policies on share buybacks and share issuances are set out in the Annual Report. It is worth noting that while this activity has raised the stated portfolio turnover of the Company, the underlying name turnover remains low in line with Montanaro's long-term investment approach.

Borrowings

At the end of the period, the Company had gearing, net of cash, of 6.1% (31 March 2025: 2.1%). The Company's borrowing facilities are due to mature on 13 September 2026, when they are expected to be renewed.

Regular Tenders

As previously announced on 27 March 2025, the Board has introduced twice-yearly tender offers to provide shareholders with the opportunity to realise part of their investment and enhance liquidity. The documentation for the first Tender Offer was sent to shareholders on 20 October 2025.

Shares will be repurchased at a 5% discount to NAV, with each offer capped at 5% of shares in issue to balance liquidity and protect existing shareholders. This initiative is in addition to the Company's ongoing share buyback programme, offering shareholders increased flexibility and complementing the Company's long-term approach to shareholder value.

Shareholders wishing to participate in the first Tender Offer should complete and submit their Tender Form to the Company's Registrar Equiniti by 13:00 GMT on 19 November 2025 to ensure participation in the tender.

The Board

As previously announced, I intend to retire as Chairman and from the Board on 31 December 2025. We are very fortunate that Gordon Neilly has agreed to assume the role of Chairman. With his extensive experience of the investment trust sector there can be no better person to lead our Company in the future.

Investor Presentation

Gordon Neilly, non-executive Director and Chairman Designate, and George Cooke, manager of MESCT and Head of Investments at Montanaro, will provide a live presentation relating to the publication of the Interim Results via Investor Meet Company ("IMC") on Tuesday, 4 November 2025 at 11:00 GMT.

The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders of the Company. Shareholders are invited to submit written questions via the platform in advance of the meeting via the IMC dashboard up until 09:00 GMT on 4 November 2025 or at any time during the meeting. 

Investors can sign up to IMC for free and register for the presentation via: 

https://www.investormeetcompany.com/companies/montanaro-european-smaller-c-tst-plc/rns 

Outlook

The valuation of European SmallCap continues to look cheap both relative to its own history and to the wider European market. This is despite SmallCap modestly outperforming LargeCap over the last one and two years. It may prove too early to call a decisive turning point and resumption of the longer-term historical trend of SmallCap outperformance, but the preconditions for it look increasingly favourable.

After a relatively prolonged period in which the Company's Quality Growth style has been out of favour, it is natural to ask when this headwind might abate or reverse. It is impossible to say with precision, but we note that Growth companies have now recorded their longest and deepest period of underperformance relative to Value since before the Great Financial Crisis, while Quality has seen similarly historic drawdowns both in Europe and wider global markets. It is of course when assets are most out of favour that they can represent the best long term investment opportunities.

The investment process at Montanaro continues to identify profitable, high return businesses that are off the beaten track for most investors ("hidden gems"). The quality of the companies in your portfolio remains as high as ever (and the Board and manager remain mindful of the risks of style drift). Montanaro also continues to deepen resources in support of their long-standing, experienced research team which provides a real competitive advantage.

It has been a privilege to serve as both a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of your Company over the last decade, during a period of extraordinary change for the investment trust sector. I leave it in good hands under the care of my fellow Directors and the team at Montanaro and we can all look forward to the future of the Company with great confidence.

Portfolio Summary

Twenty Largest Holdings

As at 30 September 2025

Geographical Analysis

As at 30 September 2025

Source: Juniper Partners Limited

Sector Analysis

As at 30 September 2025

Source: Juniper Partners 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.

Statement of Principal Risks and Uncertainties

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, cyber security, ESG and manager risks. These risks 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 19 to 22 of the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2025. 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.

Related Party Transactions

Related party transactions are disclosed in note 13 below. There have been no material changes to the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report.

Going Concern

The Directors are satisfied that the Company has sufficient resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future and for a period of at least 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 financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company;

· the Interim Management Report includes a fair review of the information required by the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule ('DTR') 4.2.7R, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the financial statements;

· the Statement of Principal Risks and Uncertainties shown above is a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R; and

· the Chairman's Statement, together with the condensed set of financial statements, include a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.8R, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Company during the period, and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report that could do so.

The Half-Yearly Report and Accounts were approved by the Board and the above responsibility statement was signed on its behalf by:

R M CURLING

Chairman

30 October 2025

Condensed Income Statement (unaudited)

for the six months to 30 September 2025

The total column of this statement represents the Company's Income Statement and Statement of Comprehensive Income, prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards in conformity with the Companies Act 2006.

The supplementary revenue return and capital return columns are both prepared under guidance published by the AIC.

All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued during the period.

Condensed Balance Sheet (unaudited) as at 30 September 2025

Condensed Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited)

for the six months ended 30 September 2025

for the six months ended 30 September 2024

for the year ended 31 March 2025 (audited)

Condensed Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)

for the six months ended 30 September 2025

Notes to the Accounts (unaudited)

1. The condensed unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standard ('IFRS') IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025. The condensed financial statements do not include all the information required for a complete set of IFRS financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025, which were prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards.

2. Earnings for the first six months should not be taken as a guide to the results for the full year.

3. Income for the period is derived from:

4. Management fee

As set out in the Company's Annual Report, the management fee is linked to the size of the Company, as follows:

· 0.825% p.a. of the amount of the Company's market capitalisation up to £500 million;

· 0.70% 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.

The management fee is payable quarterly in arrears.

5. Return per share

Earnings per share is based on a weighted average of 160,779,892 Ordinary shares in issue during the period (year ended 31 March 2025: 188,678,279 and six months ended 30 September 2024: 189,427,600), excluding those shares bought back and held in treasury.

6. Dividends

The Board has declared a first interim dividend relating to the year ending 31 March 2026 of 0.35p per Ordinary share (2024: 0.3p per share). Additionally, the Board has also declared a third interim dividend relating to the year ended 31 March 2025 of 0.05p per Ordinary share. Both dividends are payable on 5 January 2026 to shareholders on the register on 5 December 2025. In accordance with IFRS, these dividends have not been recognised in these financial statements.

A second interim dividend relating to the year ended 31 March 2025 of 0.96p per Ordinary share was paid during the six months to 30 September 2025 and amounted to £1,522,000.

7. Investments at fair value through profit or loss

8. Borrowings

Revolving credit facility

The Company has a three-year secured revolving credit facility with ING Bank N.V. ('ING') which will mature on 13 September 2026.

Drawdowns from the facility are charged at margin over the relevant EURIBOR rate. As at 30 September 2025, €12.5 million (£10,477,000) of the facility was drawn (30 September 2024: nil, 31 March 2025: €15 million (£12,560,000), at a rate of 3.68%.

Interest bearing bank loans

The Company has a €10 million three year secured loan at a fixed rate of 5.105% per annum with ING Bank N.V. ('ING'). This loan will mature on 13 September 2026.

The carrying value of the balances above approximates to fair value.

9. Share capital

10. Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share

The NAV per Ordinary Share was based on 149,105,501 Ordinary shares in issue at the end of the period (31 March 2025: 179,924,679 and 30 September 2024: 189,427,600), excluding those shares bought back and held in treasury. As at 30 September 2025, there were 40,322,099 Ordinary shares held in treasury (31 March 2025: 9,502,921 and 30 September 2024: nil).

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.

There were no transfers between levels during the period ended 30 September 2025 (year ended 31 March 2025 and period ended 30 September 2024: None).

Other aspects of the Company's financial risk management objectives and policies are consistent with those disclosed in the financial statements, as at and for the year ended, 31 March 2025.

12. Rates of exchange (to sterling)

13. Related parties

The following are considered related parties: the Board of Directors and the Manager. 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 £1,101,000 (six months to 30 September 2024: £1,231,000; year to 31 March 2025: £2,473,000). At 30 September 2025, the amount due to the Manager, included in creditors, was £543,000. 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 2025, the Board consisted of four 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 £43,000, the Chair of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of £37,500 and non-executive Directors receive £31,000 per annum.

At 30 September 2025, the amount outstanding in respect of Directors' fees was £nil (31 March 2025: £nil).

At 30 September 2025, the interests of the Directors in the Ordinary shares of the Company were as follows:

No changes occurred in the Directors' interests between 30 September 2025 and the date of this report.

14. Statutory accounts

These are not statutory accounts in terms of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 and have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's Auditor. The information for the year ended 31 March 2025 has been extracted from the latest published financial statements and which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Auditor's report on those accounts was not qualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report and did not contain statements under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. No statutory accounts in respect of any period after 31 March 2025 have been reported on by the Company's Auditor or delivered to the Registrar of Companies.

Alternative Performance Measures ("APMs")

The Company uses the following APMs:

Share Price and NAV Returns

Capital Return measures the effect of any rise or fall in the share price or NAV, excluding any dividends paid.

Total Return measures the effect of any rise or fall in the share price or NAV, plus dividends paid which are reinvested at the prevailing NAV or share price on the ex- dividend date.

Discount or Premium to NAV

If the share is less than its NAV per share, the shares are trading at a discount. If the share price is greater than the NAV per share, the shares are trading at a premium.

As at 30 September 2025, the NAV per share was 183.2p and the share price was 168.5p. The discount is therefore calculated at 8.0%.

Net gearing employed

Unlike open-ended investment companies, investment trusts have the ability to borrow to invest. This term is used to describe the level of borrowings that an investment trust has undertaken and is stated as a percentage of shareholders' funds. The higher the level of borrowings, the higher the gearing ratio.

Net gearing is calculated as total debt, net of cash and cash equivalents, as a percentage of the total shareholders' funds.

As at 30 September 2025, interest bearing bank loans were £19,178,000, cash and cash equivalents were £2,380,000 and net assets were £273,166,000. As at 30 September 2025, net gearing employed was therefore equal to 6.1%.

Ongoing charges (expressed as a percentage)

Ongoing charges are the Company's revenue and capital expenses (excluding finance costs and certain non-recurring items) expressed as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Company during the period.

Ongoing charges calculation

¹ This figure has been adjusted to ensure that one-off expenses incurred in the six months to 30 September 2025 are not annualised. 

² 30 September 2025 and 30 September 2024 figures annualised for comparison (c = (a/b) x 2).