Interim Management Statement

Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Interim Management Statement - 4 months to 31 January 2008 Investment Objective The Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC ("MUSCIT") was launched in March 1995 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Initial investments may be made in UK companies with a market capitalisation lower than the largest constituent of the Hoare Govett Smaller Companies Index ("the HGSC") which represents the smallest 10% by value of the UK stock market. Investments may be held if they rise above the HGSC. The investment policy remains to focus on the "smaller" end of the quoted UK small companies market. The benchmark is the FTSE SmallCap (excluding Investment Companies) Index ("SmallCap"). The investment objective is capital growth. Benchmark FTSE SmallCap (excluding Investment Companies) Net Asset Value Total Return Performance 4 months 1 year 3 years 5 years Launch MUSCIT (15.0%) (16.5%) 36.0% 143.2% 213.0% Benchmark (20.2%) (26.0%) 4.5% 83.0% 140.7% Performance Summary (capital only) As at 31 January As at 30 Movement 2008 September 2007 Gross assets * 114,200,480 139,324,697 (18.0%) Net asset value 289.7 344.2 (15.8%) per share Share price 230.5 296.0 (22.1%) Discount (20.4%) (14.0%) Net gearing 15.2% 12.2% * please see material events Period Review The four months to the end of January 2008 have proved very challenging for UK Smaller Companies. The flight to the perceived security and liquidity of larger companies accelerated during the period as the `credit crunch' impacted stock market sentiment. The UK Smaller Companies Index capital return was down 20.8%, in contrast to a decline of 9.6% in capital terms in the FTSE-AllShare. The bulk of this relative underperformance came in November when the underperformance was 8.3%. This is only the third month since the Company's inception, almost 14 years, that the FTSE SmallCap has lagged the AllShare by more than 8%. MUSCIT fell 15.8% in capital terms during the period, delivering relative outperformance of 5%. In a period where absolute returns were hard to achieve, Merger & Acquisition has continued to prove a valuable source of performance. The Company benefited from 4 takeovers in the period. We have believed for some time that the portfolio of quality, well managed businesses operating in niche markets would prove attractive and this has remained the case despite the down turn in the market place. Takeover approaches were seen at Foseco (industrial foundry products), Abbot Group (oil services), MTL Instruments (industrial safety devices) and Coda (financial software). The period has been characterised by considerable market volatility, which has led to some extreme share price movements. Many companies have seen significant de-ratings as nervousness surrounding a possible recession on both sides of the Atlantic has mounted. We have remained focused on ensuring that the portfolio is comprised of strong businesses operating with robust earning's streams. However, it has not been possible to escape the malaise and DTZ (property services) and Superglass (insulation manufacturer) have proved particular drags on performance in the last 4 months. Material Events On 10 December 2007 the Company bought 1,828,000 shares into Treasury at a price of £2.445 per share. This stock can be reissued at a narrower discount and a higher price up until the next AGM in July 2008. In addition, since this date the Company has bought a total of 135,000 shares for cancellation at an average price of £2.36 per share. The above accounted for a reduction of £ 4,822,058 in gross assets. Top Ten Holdings as at 31January 2008 Company Sector % of total portfolio Fisher (J) & Sons Industrial Transportation 3.0 BPP Holdings Support Services 2.8 Dignity General Retailers 2.8 Genus Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 2.7 Dechra Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 2.6 Chloride Group Electronic & Electrical 2.6 Equipment Fenner Industrial Engineering 2.4 MTL Instruments Group Electronic & Electrical 2.3 Equipment Wilmington Group Media 2.3 Coda Software & Computer Services 2.3 Total 25.8 Sector Breakdown Sector % of total % of market portfolio Aerospace & Defence 3.2 1.1 Beverages 1.1 0.6 Chemicals 3.9 1.8 Constructions & Materials 1.6 2.7 Electronic & Electrical Equipment 8.4 2.6 Food Producers 2.7 4.2 General Financial 3.8 11.5 General Retailers 5.3 7.5 Health Care Equipment & Services 4.8 3.7 Industrial Engineering 9.5 4.3 Industrial Transportation 3.1 3.5 Leisure Goods 1.6 0.5 Media 3.6 4.6 Oil & Gas Producers 2.5 2.4 Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 5.3 6.5 Real Estate 3.1 11.9 Software & Computer Services 9.3 8.2 Support Services 24.1 10.5 Travel & Leisure 3.1 5.3 Technology Hardware and Telecoms 0.0 4.3 Other 0.0 2.3 Total 100.00 100.00 This Interim Management Statement and up to date NAV and Share Price are available at the Company's website www.montanarouksmaller.co.uk.
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