Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (LSE: ASL) is a large British investment trust dedicated to investments in smaller companies, those with a capitalisation below £1.264 billion as of 1 January 2012, equivalent to the constituents of the Numis Smaller Companies Index, which has 422 components. Established 10 December 1990, the company is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The Chairman is David Shaw.

The firm is the largest UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust. It operates a diversified portfolio of over 80 companies, and is 8.2% geared as of 19 April 2012, with £717m of net asset value.