Shin Nippon aims to achieve capital growth principally through investment in small Japanese companies. We typically define a small company as one having either market capitalisation or turnover less than Yen150bn (approx. £625m)*.

Investment trusts are grouped into sectors. The classification of each trust is based on a combination of the regional or industry focus of the portfolio and the trust's investment objective. The Association of Investment Companies ('AIC') classifies investment trusts into 43 different sectors (including property). There are guidelines for inclusion in each sector. The sector classification system provides a useful way of grouping trusts to allow for comparison, but it is important to remember that no two trusts are the same.

The AIC Investment Sector for this trust is Japanese Smaller Companies, which refers to Investment Trust Companies which have at least 80% of their assets invested in the shares of Japanese smaller sized companies.

John graduated BA in Ancient & Modern History from Oxford University in 2000. He joined Baillie Gifford in 2000 and is now Investment Manager in the Japanese Investment Team. John is a CFA charterholder.