BlackRock Smaller Companies

The information contained in this release was correct as at 31May2022.  Information on the Company’s up to date net asset values can be found on the London Stock Exchange Website at

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html.

BLACKROCK SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC (LEI:549300MS535KC2WH4082)
 

All information is at 31 May 2022 and unaudited.
Performance at month end is calculated on a Total Return basis based on NAV per share with debt at fair value
 

Sources:  BlackRock and Datastream

At month end

1. Includes net revenue of 13.29p
2. Yield calculations are based on dividends announced in the last 12 months as at the date of release of this announcement, and comprise the first interim dividend of 13.0 pence per share (announced on 2 November 2021, ex-dividend on 11 November 2021, and pay date 2 December 2021), and the final ex-dividend of 22.00 pence per share (announced on 29 April 2022, ex-date on 12 May 2022, and pay date 17 June 2022).
3. Includes current year revenue.
4. As reported in the Annual Financial Report for the year ended 28 February 2022 the Ongoing Charges Ratio (OCR) was 0.7%. The OCR is calculated as a percentage of net assets and using operating expenses, excluding performance fees, finance costs and taxation.
5. Excludes 1,163,731 ordinary shares held in treasury.

Commenting on the markets, Roland Arnold, representing the Investment Manager noted:

During May the Company’s NAV per share fell by -2.0%¹ to 1,740.04p on a total return basis (with debt at fair value), while our benchmark index fell -1.7%¹; for comparison UK large caps continued to outperform during the month with the FTSE 100 Index rising by 1.1%¹ on a total return basis.

Volatility continued in equity markets during May, with the narrative remaining unchanged and focused on concerns around inflation, monetary tightening, geopolitical tensions and COVID-19. The Federal Reserve (Fed) delivered the expected +50bps rate hike to a range of 0.75%-1%, its biggest interest rate increase in more than two decades, and Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell, all but promised the same again at the next two meetings. The Bank of England also increased the Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points to 1%, India's central bank announced a surprise increase to its benchmark rate, and Australia's central bank enacted its first interest rate hike in more than a decade. Reports of some high-profile earnings downgrades from large U.S. retailers, Walmart and Target, saw significant share price moves and raised fears that there could be plenty more inflation or demand normalisation related warnings to come. Once again, the large cap FTSE 100 Index outperformed given its heavy weighting of defensive sectors and US Dollar earners. Meanwhile the UK small & mid-cap indices lagged as a result of its UK domestic and consumer facing business which struggled against the backdrop of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Ingredients manufacturer, Treatt, was the largest detractor during the month. Despite reporting growing sales during the six months to March, the shares were weak as investors worried about the risk to second half profits. The company remains confident that it will deliver its full-year targets, as sales momentum has continued into the second half, with the order book up by more than 25% compared to last year. Next Fifteen Communications was another top detractor during the month. The shares were weak after the group announced the takeover of M&C Saatchi. Shares in Robert Walters were also weak during the month as concerns around the outlook for the global economy and therefore the job market weighed on recruitment businesses.

The largest contributor to performance was Auction Technology Group, a company which had been a detractor in recent months as investors worried about the earnings, however, results were accompanied by an outlook statement that was indeed better than expected. Shares in regulatory and compliance software provider, Ideagen, soared following a flurry of takeover interest from private equity buyers. The de-rating that we have seen across the UK small & mid-cap market year-to-date coupled with weakness in Sterling, has resulted in a spike in interest from corporate and overseas buyers in recent weeks. We believe this is a positive sign of the value that our universe continues to offer and is a trend that we do not see slowing in the coming months if the market continues to price in overly bearish scenarios on all companies regardless of the outlook for the underlying businesses. Other notable contributors included YouGov and Baltic Classifieds which both rebounded following recent share price weakness.

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has remained a source of uncertainty just as the world appeared to be emerging from the challenges caused by COVID-19 over the past 2 years. It goes without saying the situation remains extremely fluid with little clarity on how things will play out, but it is likely that market volatility will remain high as ultimately, the range of outcomes has significantly widened. In the medium-term, the conflict adds further inflationary pressures, and it brings with it questions over the path for monetary policy. Despite the new challenges that have emerged we have not significantly changed portfolio positioning. We feel that the best investments in the current environment are similar to those held during the COVID-19 pandemic; high quality, nimble businesses, operated by entrepreneurial management teams, with strong market positions and resilient cash-flows. Our view on consumer spending has moderated in recent months given the increasing inflationary pressures that are faced by households. As a result, we have been reducing some holdings here at the margin, and we will use the proceeds to add to some of our highest conviction holdings that we feel have been oversold in the recent sell-off. Whilst the confusing and chaotic backdrop brings challenges, we believe the businesses we invest in have the capability to rise above the short-term noise. We thank shareholders for your ongoing support and look forward to providing further confirmation of the investment cases that we are exposed to within the portfolio in the coming months.

     ¹Source: BlackRock as at 31 May 2022

22 June 2022

ENDS
 

Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brsc on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal).  Neither the contents of the Manager’s website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager’s website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.