Interim Results
JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Cos IT PLC
29 March 2006
STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
JPMORGAN FLEMING SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERIM RESULTS
The Directors of JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc
announce the Company's preliminary results for the six months ended 31st January
2006.
Performance
Once again I have great pleasure in reporting a very strong period of
outperformance of the Company's net asset value and share price. Over the six
month period to 31st January 2006, the Company's net asset value rose by 28.0%
in total return terms compared with the 14.9% total return recorded by the
Company's benchmark index, the FTSE Small Cap Index (excluding investment
trusts).
The return to shareholders over the period was 34.3% as the discount of the
share price to net asset value reduced from 18.6% to 13.1%. The Company
repurchased 250,000 of its shares over the six month period at an average
discount of 16.5%.
The impressive outperformance achieved by the investment management team is to
be commended as it is, in the main, derived from their stock and sector picking
abilities.
Gearing remained at an average of just over 7% throughout the review period.
This reflects the Board's belief that a cautious approach to gearing is
appropriate.
The Board
Due to increased commitments, David Thompson has decided to step down as a
Director of the Company with effect from 31st March 2006 after being on the
Board for four years. His wisdom, humour and wise counsel will be considerably
missed and we wish him well in his new venture.
Outlook
When I look back to last year's interim statement the outlook section looks very
similar to the position we are in today. The UK stock market has remained
resilient and smaller companies have had another year of strong returns. The
investment managers believe that high levels of liquidity and corporate activity
are underpinning the market and whilst there are concerns about the indebted
consumer and rising commodity prices, opportunities still exist for productive
investment.
Strone Macpherson
Chairman 29th March 2006
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Norman
For and on behalf of
JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited - Secretary
020 7742 6000
JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc
Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 January 2006
Income Statement (Unaudited)
Six months to 31 January 2006 Six months to 31 January 2005 Year to 31 July 2005
(restated)1
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Realised (losses)/gains on
investments - (744) (744) - 409 409 - 3,227 3,227
Unrealised gains on - 24,046 24,046 - 17,233 17,233 - 22,394 22,394
investments
Other capital charges - (4) (4) - (4) (4) - (12) (12)
UK investment income 776 - 776 811 - 811 1,714 - 1,714
Scrip dividends - - - 8 - 8 8 - 8
Deposit interest 3 - 3 20 - 20 27 - 27
Underwriting commission 5 - 5 - - - 1 - 1
_______ ________ _______ ______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______
Gross revenue and capital 784 23,298 24,082 839 17,638 18,477 1,750 25,609 27,359
returns
Management fee (248) (248) (496) (200) (200) (400) (424) (424) (848)
Other administrative (102) - (102) (106) - (106) (243) - (243)
expenses
_______ ________ _______ ______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______
Net return before finance
costs and taxation 434 23,050 23,484 533 17,438 17,971 1,083 25,185 26,268
Finance costs (87) (87) (174) (74) (74) (148) (180) (180) (360)
_______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
Net return before taxation 347 22,963 23,310 459 17,364 17,823 903 25,005 25,908
Taxation - - - - - - - - -
______ _______ _______ ______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______
Net return 347 22,963 23,310 459 17,364 17,823 903 25,005 25,908
Net return attributable to
ordinary shareholders 347 22,963 23,310 459 17,364 17,823 903 25,005 25,908
______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______ ______ _______ ______
Return per ordinary share 1.47p 97.41p 98.88p 1.81p 68.53p 70.34p 3.62p 100.41p 104.03p
1The results for the year ended 31st July 2005 have been restated in accordance
with Financial Reporting Standards 21,25 and 26. As the Company did not declare
and distribute an interim dividend for the half year ended 31st January 2005 it
is not necessary for the interim results ended 31st January 2005 to be restated
in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards 21.
JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc
Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 January 2006
Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds (Unaudited)
Capital Capital Capital
Share redemption Share reserve reserve Revenue
Capital reserve premium realised unrealised reserve Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
At 31st July 2004 (as restated) 6,354 312 18,360 33,576 14,487 1,128 74,217
Net capital return from ordinary - - - 9,352 15,653 - 25,005
activities
Net revenue return from ordinary - - - - - 903 903
activities
Shares bought back and cancelled (368) 368 - (4,419) - - (4,419)
Add final dividend declared for 2005 - - - - - (953) (953)
_______ ________ _______ _______ _______ _______ ________
At 31st July 2005 (as restated) 5,986 680 18,360 38,509 30,140 1,078 94,753
Net capital return from ordinary - - - 2,593 20,370 - 22,963
activities
Net revenue return from ordinary - - - - - 347 347
activities
Dividends appropriated in the year - - - - - (880) (880)
Shares bought back and cancelled (117) 117 - (1,629) - - (1,629)
_______ ________ _______ _______ _______ _______ ________
At 31st January 2006 5,869 797 18,360 39,473 50,510 545 115,554
JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc
Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 January 2006
BALANCE SHEET 31st January 2006 31st January 2005 31st July 2005
(restated)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Investments at fair value through profit or loss 123,569 96,479 100,882
Net current liabilities (8,015) (874) (6,129)
_______ _______ _______
Total assets less current liabilities 115,554 95,605 94,753
Loan - (5,600) -
_______ _______ _______
Total net assets 115,554 90,005 94,753
===== ===== =====
Net asset value per ordinary share 492.2p 359.8p 395.7p
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
2006 2005 2005
£'000 £'000 £'000
Net cash inflow from operating activities 140 327 719
Net cash outflow from returns on investments and
servicing of finance (214) (148) (392)
Net cash inflow from capital expenditure and financial
investment 1,483 73 3,102
Total equity dividends paid (880) (953) (953)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 101 (784) (4,099)
_______ ______ ______
Increase/(decrease) in cash for the period 630 (1,485) (1,623)
===== ==== ====
The results for the year ended 31st July 2005 have been restated in accordance
with Financial Reporting Standards 21,25 and 26.
As the Company did not declare and distribute an interim dividend for the half
year ended 31st January 2005 it is not necessary for the interim results ended
31st January 2005 to be restated in accordance with Financial Reporting
Standards 21.
The above financial information does not constitute statutory accounts as
defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the
year ended 31st July 2005 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
JPMORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED
29th March 2006
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange