Interim Results
JP Morgan Fleming Mid Cap Inv PLC
10 March 2004
STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
JPMORGAN FLEMING MID CAP INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
UNAUDITED FIGURES FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2003
The Directors of JPMorgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc announce the
Company's unaudited results for the period ended 31st December 2003.
Performance
I am pleased to report that the six months to 31st December 2003 have proved
very positive for the Company, in terms of both return and outperformance
relative to its benchmark. The Company's net assets increased by 25.2% on a
total return basis, compared with a return from the benchmark, the FTSE 250
Index (excluding investment trusts), of 19.0% on the same basis.
The major factors giving rise to this outperformance have been the combined
beneficial impact of the Investment Managers' stock selection and the Company's
gearing. Confidence returned to the UK equity market following the conclusion of
the war in Iraq, and against this background gearing added 3.2% to performance;
indeed since the trough of March 2003, gearing has added 11.2% to performance.
Stock selection contributed 1.3% to the enhanced performance, as the Investment
Managers continued to build a portfolio concentrated on both the best of value
and best of growth companies.
While the Company's share price increased by 12.1%, from 268.0p on 30th June
2003 to 300.5p on 31st December 2003, the Company's discount to net asset value
widened from 9.7% to 17.3%.
Revenue and Dividends
Revenue after taxation for the six months to 31st December 2003 was £1,614,000
(2002: £2,148,000), with earnings per share of 4.18p (2002: 5.57p). In my last
annual statement, I indicated that the higher level of dividends being received
from stocks within the portfolio was unlikely to continue, and the reduction in
revenue in the half year under review reflects this expectation.
A maintained interim dividend of 2.75p per share (2002: 2.75p), will be paid on
5th April 2004 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 19th
March 2004. Due reference will be made, however, to the Company's current
residual dividend policy in respect to the final dividend to be considered after
the Company's year end in June, and it is the Board's current view that this is
likely to be lower than last year.
Management and Performance Fee
As reported in my last annual statement, a revised management contract
incorporating a reduced base cost together with an appropriate performance fee,
was put in place with effect from 1st July 2003. Notwithstanding the
outperformance achieved against benchmark during the period under review, total
fees paid to the Manager were lower in percentage terms than would have occurred
under the prior arrangement.
Loan Facility
The Company's £10m loan facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, which
amounts to a third of the Company's long-term borrowings, is due to mature in
July 2004. Since it is the Board's current intention to reduce the overall level
of gearing, it is unlikely that this loan will be replaced in full at maturity.
Alan Schroeder
Chairman 10th March 2004
For further information, please contact:
Richard Lewis
For and on behalf of
J.P. Morgan Fleming Asset Management (UK) Limited - Secretary
020 7742 3477
JPMorgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc
Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 December 2003
Statement of Total Return (Unaudited)
Six months to 31 December 2003 Six months to 31 December 2002 Year to 30 June 2003
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Realised gains/(losses)
on investments - 6,907 6,907 - (17,095) (17,095) - (30,144) (30,144)
Net change in
unrealised gains/
(losses) - 19,813 19,813 - (18,184) (18,184 ) - 8,927 8,927
Other capital charges - (3) (3) - (6) (6) - (3) (3)
UK dividends 2,190 - 2,190 2,726 - 2,726 5,534 - 5,534
Scrip dividends 18 - 18 - - - - - -
Deposit interest 47 - 47 153 - 153 321 - 321
_______ ________ _______ ______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______
Gross return/(loss) 2,255 26,717 28,972 2,879 (35,285) (32,406) 5,855 (21,220) (15,365)
Management fee (116) (270) (386) (178) (414) (592) (333) (777) (1,110)
Performance Fee - (329) (329) - - - - - -
Other administrative
expenses (101) - (101) (101) - (101) (252) - (252)
Interest payable (424) (988) (1,412) (421) (983) (1,404) (841) (1,962) (2,803)
_______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
Return/(loss) before
taxation 1,614 25,130 26,744 2,179 (36,682) (34,503) 4,429 (23,959) (19,530)
Taxation - - - (31) 31 - (63) 63 -
______ _______ _______ ______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______
Total return/(loss)
attributable to
ordinary shareholders 1,614 25,130 26,744 2,148 (36,651) (34,503) 4,366 (23,896) (19,530)
Dividend(s) payable on
ordinary shares (1,061) - (1,061) (1,061) - (1,061) (4,147) - (4,147)
______ _______ _______ ______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______
Transfer to/(from)
reserves 553 25,130 25,683 1,087 (36,651) (35,564) 219 (23,896) (23,677)
Return/(loss) per
ordinary share
4.18p 65.15p 69.33p 5.57p (95.01)p (89.44)p 11.32p (61.95)p (50.63)p
Dividend(s) per
ordinary share
2.75p 2.75p 2.75p 2.75p 10.75p 10.75p
JP Morgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc
Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 December 2003
BALANCE SHEET 31 December 31 December 30 June
2003 2002 2003
£'000 £'000 £'000
Investments at valuation 172,411 126,713 142,890
Net current (liabitities)/assets (950) 6,839 2,555
Creditors (amounts falling due after more than one year) (31,259) (30,920) (30,926)
_______ _______ _______
Total net assets 140,202 102,632 114,519
===== ===== =====
Net asset value per share 363.5p 266.1p 296.9p
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
31 December 31 December 30 June
2003 2002 2003
£'000 £'000 £'000
Net cash inflow from operating activities 1,948 2,315 4,609
Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing
of finance (1,596) (1,324) (2,794)
Total taxation paid - (72) -
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from capital expenditure and
financial investment (2,965) 2,973 1,239
Total equity dividends paid on ordinary shares (3,086) (2,700) (3,761)
_______ ______ ______
(Decrease)/increase in cash for the period (5,699) 1,192 (707)
===== ==== ====
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 period ended 30 June
2002. The 2002 accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion
and did not contain a statement under either section 237(2) or section 237 (3)
of the Companies Act 1985, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
J.P. MORGAN FLEMING ASSET MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED
10th March 2004
This information is provided by RNS
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