Interim Results

JP Morgan Fleming Indian IT PLC 21 June 2005 LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT JPMORGAN FLEMING INDIAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31st MARCH 2005 The Directors of JPMorgan Fleming Indian Investment Trust plc announce the Company's unaudited results for the six months ended 31st March 2005:- Total Returns (capital plus income) Return to shareholders 24.1% Return on net assets 19.3% Benchmark return 16.8% Chairman's Comments Performance In a strong period of performance for Indian equity markets generally, I am pleased to report that the Company has again outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI India Index (in sterling terms). The Company's return on net assets for the six months to 31st March 2005 was +19.3%, compared to the return of +16.8% from the benchmark. The return to shareholders over the period was +24.1%, which reflected both the underlying portfolio performance and the movement of the share price from a discount to a premium to net asset value. Review Although this six month period was one of positive returns for the Indian equity market, the bulk of the total gains were achieved in November and December, after which the market oscillated. However, during the first four months of this calendar year, during which the broad benchmarks have been flat, small and mid cap stocks have significantly outperformed. In the last two months of 2004, foreign liquidity was the main driver of performance for the market. Foreign Institutional Investors pumped in more than US$2.7bn, although partly absorbed by large billion dollar IPOs such as Tata Consultancy Services and National Thermal Power. This has continued in 2005, with foreign investors adding another US$3.3bn, driven by both large primary and secondary market deals as well as new funds being raised globally for India. Liquidity was so strong that it allowed the market to largely ignore the Ambani brothers' family feud over ownership issues of Reliance that unfolded in November and resulted in Reliance group companies underperforming the market as a whole. However, what has changed in the liquidity equation is supply. Companies have become more opportunistic about raising new capital. What is troubling is the participation by smaller companies, and the needless raising of equity often at rich valuations. The results season was somewhat mixed. While headline numbers remained strong, reflecting strong underlying demand conditions, several trends need more careful attention. Most notable were the increasing contribution of international cyclicals such as petrochemicals, oil and metals and the higher incidence of companies reflecting cost-push driven margin pressure. The Congress-led UPA government has continued with a process of what might be described as reform by stealth. While the coalition is fragile, and overly dependent on the communist parties, the Manmohan Singh-Chidambaram-Montek Singh Ahluwalia combine has exceeded expectations. The themes in our portfolio have not changed significantly: we remain optimistic about infrastructure and capital expenditure beneficiaries; we continue to hold high quality domestic consumer plays with secure growth and profitability prospects and we are neutral IT services. Furthermore, we may look to trim/ rotate our pharmaceutical exposure. We are staying away from small and mid cap stocks. Gearing The Company's one year US$15m borrowing facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland expired on 8th April 2005. The Company has subsequently extended the facility for a further one year period but has increased the available borrowings to £15m to match the growth in assets. Share Issue As stated in my last annual statement, the Board has established guidelines relating to the issue of shares if they trade at a premium to net asset value. As the Company's shares have more often than not traded at a premium in 2005, the Board's authority to issue shares for cash has been utilised and at the time of writing a total of 7,885,000 new ordinary shares have been issued. Outlook Our view remains unchanged: while the fundamental backdrop remains attractive on a long term basis and the broad direction for Indian equities is upward, we expect volatility and challenges along the way. 2003 was a great year for equities: earnings were cyclically low, valuations were extremely attractive, global interest rates were low and liquidity was ample. Returns were excellent. 2005 is more likely to resemble 2004 than 2003: corporate performance will be less uniform, even within sectors; reasonable earnings growth is priced in and surprises in either direction will drive share prices and, with the market at or close to an all time high, there will be little room for any accidents. Philip Daubeney Chairman 21st June 2005 For further information please contact: Andrew Norman JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited - Secretary Telephone: 020 7742 6000 JPMorgan Fleming Indian Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31st March 2005 Consolidated Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) Six months to 31st March 2005 Six months to 31st March 2004 Year to 30th September 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised gains/ (losses) on investments - 3,131 3,131 - 3,038 3,038 - (34,745) (34,745) Unrealised gains on investments - 21,678 21,678 - 23,570 23,570 - 49,684 49,684 Currency losses on cash and short term deposits held during the period - - (61) (61) (16) (16) - (58) (58) Currency translation difference - (2,748) (2,748) - (6,787) (6,787) - 5,303 5,303 Other capital charges - (4) (4) - (43) (43) - (65) (65) Exchange adjustments - (1,347) (1,347) - (16) (16) - (14) (14) Realised gains on intercompany loan - - - - 557 557 - 557 557 Overseas dividends 434 - 434 403 - 403 1,701 - 1,701 Overseas interest - - - - - - 29 - 29 Deposit interest 38 - 38 28 - 28 26 - 26 _______ ________ _______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______ _______ Gross return 472 20,649 21,121 431 20,303 20,734 1,756 20,662 22,418 Management fee (793) - (793) (486) - (486) (1,143) - (1,143) Other administrative expenses (260) - (260) (362) - (362) (771) - (771) Interest payable (15) - (15) (37) - (37) (23) - (23) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ (Loss)/return before (596) 20,649 20,053 (454) 20,303 19,849 (181) 20,662 20,481 taxation Taxation (15) - (15) (4) - (4) (39) - (39) ______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ (Loss)/return attributable to shareholders (611) 20,649 20,038 (458) 20,303 19,845 (220) 20,662 20,442 ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== (Loss)/return per (0.71)p 23.87p 23.16p (0.63)p 28.08p 27.45p (0.28)p 26.45p 26.17p ordinary share JPMorgan Fleming Indian Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31st March 2005 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET 31st March 31st March 30thSeptember 2005 2004 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Investments at valuation 135,533 105,714 103,520 Net current (liabilities)/assets (236) (1,499) 1,291 ______ ______ _______ Total net assets 135,297 104,215 104,811 ===== ===== ===== Net asset value per ordinary share 149.0p 124.2p 124.9p CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2005 2004 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash outflow from operating activities (501) (301) (149) Net cash outflow from returns on investments and (15) (36) (26) servicing of finance Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial (11,382) (16,980) (14,337) investment Net cash inflow from financing 8,976 17,755 17,022 Taxation paid - - (16) _______ _______ ______ (Decrease)/increase in cash for the period (2,922) 438 2,494 ===== ==== ==== The above financial information does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The comparative financial information is based on the statutory accounts for the year ended 30th September 2004. These accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. JPMORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED 21st June 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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