Interim Results
JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Cos IT PLC
15 March 2004
JPMORGAN FLEMING SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 31ST JANUARY 2004
The Board today release the unaudited interim results of the Company for the six
months to 31st January 2004.
The following are comments from the Chairman:
Chairman's Review
Performance
I am very pleased to report that the Company's net asset value on a total return
basis increased by 22.1% over the six month period to 31st January 2004. This
compares favourably with the 17.4% total return of the Company's benchmark
index, the FTSE Small Cap Index (excluding investment trusts).
The return to shareholders over the period was 20.9% as the discount of share
price to net asset value widened from 19.5% to 20.5%.
The investment managers explain in their report that both positive stock
selection and the continued use of gearing contributed to the strong performance
of the Company.
Since the end of the period, the Company has continued to outperform the
benchmark index and at close of business on 11th March 2004 the net asset value
per share was 305.4p, the share price was 242.0p and the discount was 20.8%.
Gearing
Given the strong performance of your Company and the smaller and mid cap sectors
as a whole over the year, the Board believes that it would be prudent to reduce
gradually the maximum gearing that the investment manager can use to 7.5% of net
assets. As at 31st January 2004, the Company was 11% geared. At close of
business on 11th March 2004, the Company was 9% geared.
Outlook
While a reoccurrence of the scale of outperformance of smaller companies is not
expected, the cyclical bias within the smaller companies sector should mean that
this sector continues to benefit from any further improvements in the UK and
global economies.
Strone Macpherson
Chairman 15th March 2004
JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc
Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 January 2004
Statement of Total Return (Unaudited)
Six months to 31 January Six months to 31 January Year to 31 July 2003
2004 2003
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Realised gains/(losses) on - 618 618 - (1,991) (1,991) - (83) (83)
investments
Net change in unrealised gains - 12,394 12,394 - (4,818) (4,818) - 9,985 9,985
Other capital charges - (8) (8) - (9) (9) - (26) (26)
UK investment income 762 - 762 619 - 619 1,386 - 1,386
Scrip dividends 17 - 17 25 - 25 46 - 46
Deposit interest - - - 38 - 38 42 - 42
Underwriting commission 2 - 2 - - - 5 - 5
_______ ________ _______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______ _______
Gross return/(loss) 781 13,004 13,785 682 (6,818) (6,136) 1,479 9,876 11,355
Management fee (174) (174) (348) (141) (141) (282) (265) (530)
(265)
Other administrative expenses (133) - (133) (113) - (113) (280) - (280)
Interest payable (98) (98) (196) (106) (106) (212) (186) (186) (372)
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
Return/(loss) before taxation 376 12,732 13,108 322 (7,065) (6,743) 748 9,425 10,173
Taxation - - - (5) 5 - (5) 5 -
______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
Total return/(loss) attributable to
ordinary shareholders 376 12,732 13,108 317 (7,060) (6,743) 743 9,430 10,173
Dividends on ordinary shares - - - - - - (723) - (723)
______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______
Transfer to/(from) reserves 376 12,732 13,108 317 (7,060) (6,743) 20 9,430 9,450
Return/(loss) per ordinary share 1.48p 50.09p 51.57p 1.19p (26.52)p (25.33)p 2.85p 36.10p 38.95p
Dividend per ordinary share Nil Nil 2.85p
JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc
Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 January 2004
BALANCE SHEET 31 January 31 January 31 July
2004 2003 2003
£'000 £'000 £'000
Investments at valuation 84,112 55,690 71,639
Net current liabilities (2,450) (7,306) (3,085)
Loan (5,600) - (5,600)
_______ _______ _______
Total net assets 76,062 48,384 62,954
===== ===== =====
Net asset value per ordinary share 299.3P 181.8P 247.7p
CASH FLOW STATEMENT 31 January 31 January 31 July
2004 2003 2003
£'000 £'000 £'000
Net cash inflow from operating activities 337 232 575
Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing
of finance (188) (234) (332)
Net cash inflow from capital expenditure and financial
investment 588 3,218 3,968
Total equity dividends paid (724) (800) (799)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 20 (5,019) (6,006)
_______ _______ ______
Increase/(decrease) in cash for the period 33 (2,603) (2,594)
===== ===== ====
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 31st July
2003. These accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion,
have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
J.P. MORGAN FLEMING ASSET MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED
15th March 2004
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange