Final Results

JP Morgan Flem Chinese Inv Tst PLC 12 November 2003 STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT JPMORGAN FLEMING CHINESE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC The Year in Retrospect The Board is pleased to report that after two years of difficult market conditions, the results for the past year have seen a marked improvement. In the year to 30th September 2003, the Company delivered a total return on net assets of +32.9%, which compares favourably with a total return of +32.0% on the Company's benchmark, the MSCI Golden Dragon Index in sterling terms. The total return to shareholders over the same period was +80.7%, which not only reflected the improved stockmarket conditions but also the significant move of the Company's shares from a discount of 21.1% to a premium of 7.0% as investor demand for the Company's shares increased significantly. In response to this demand, and in the interests of all shareholders, the Board received approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 3rd September 2003, to issue up to approximately 10% of new shares in the Company. At the time of writing the Company has issued 2,866,000 of these shares, representing just under half of this authority. Demand for the shares remains strong and the Company's shares continue to trade at a premium to net asset value. The Directors consider it to be to the benefit of the Company for it to continue to issue shares, and therefore resolutions renewing this authority will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Details relating to this can be found in the Directors' Report of the Report and Accounts and full text of the resolutions are contained in the Notice of Meeting in the Report and Accounts. Continuation Vote When the Company was launched in 1993 the Directors felt that it was important to give shareholders the opportunity to consider the future of the Company at regular intervals. Accordingly, the Articles of Association provide that at the tenth Annual General Meeting, which falls this year, and every fifth year thereafter, an ordinary resolution will be proposed to the effect that the Company continues in being as an investment trust. The Directors have evaluated the performance and progress of the Company and sought the advice of the Company's broker, UBS, in relation to the continuation vote. The Board has concluded, in conjunction with UBS, that the continuing appointment of the present Manager is in the best interests of shareholders and that the Company should continue as an investment trust. Consequently the Board wholeheartedly recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the continuation resolution that will be put to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. Management and Performance Fee Further to the Directors deciding to recommend that the Company should continue as an investment trust, we have negotiated revised fee arrangements with the Manager. In the Board's opinion, these will align more closely the interests of shareholders and the Manager in seeking to deliver and reward superior investment performance. Accordingly, the Board recommends to shareholders that the existing 1.2% per annum management fee, which excludes marketing expenses, be replaced with a 1% per annum management fee, which will include marketing expenses, based on total assets less current liabilities together with a performance-related fee linked to outperformance of the Company's benchmark subject to an overall cap. Under the new arrangements the Manager can earn a performance fee equal to 15% of the outperformance over the benchmark. Full details of the proposed revised fee arrangement can be found in the Directors' Report in the Report and Accounts and the Notice of Meeting in the Report and Accounts. In this context, shareholders should note that the Manager is required to outperform the Company's benchmark by more than 2% per annum, net of fees and other expenses, in order to earn a total fee equivalent to its current management fee. Revenue and Dividends The Statement of Total Return is set out in the Report and Accounts and attached. During the year the Company recorded a surplus on its Revenue Account and the Board has accordingly declared a special dividend of 0.60 pence per share in respect of the financial year (2002: 0.25 pence per share). The dividend will be paid on 23rd December 2003 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 21st November 2003. Board of Directors This year's continuation vote provides a suitable juncture to revamp the Board. In this context, I propose to stand down as Chairman following the forthcoming Annual General Meeting, although I shall remain a Director until a suitable replacement has been identified. Nigel Melville will succeed me as Chairman. Abraham Lue has also signalled his intention to retire from the Board when a suitable replacement is found. David Paterson is retiring at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting and I should like to pay tribute to the significant contribution he has made over many years. Finally, Sir Andrew Burns will be appointed to the Board following the Annual General Meeting. He brings considerable experience of Asian affairs. Shareholders will have an opportunity to meet him after the Annual General Meeting. The Directors' fees have not increased since the1st October 1999, and therefore the fees are low when compared to other similar trusts and there has been a significant rise in the responsibility of the Directors due to recent changes in corporate governance practices. Therefore, it the Board's intention to increase the Directors' fees from their present level to £15,000 for the Chairman and £11,000 for the other Directors provided that shareholders vote in favour of the continuation of the Company. Any such increase would be effective from 1st October 2003. Outlook The Board remains positive generally about the outlook for the Chinese economy and thus the prospects for investors, due to the superior earnings growth prospects and reasonable valuations of many Chinese shares. Accordingly the portfolio remains overweight in Chinese stocks. The Board shares the investment manager's optimism about the growth prospects for China and supports the more cautious approach to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Authority to Repurchase the Company's Shares At last year's Annual General Meeting shareholders gave the Directors authority to repurchase up to 14.99% of the Company's shares for cancellation. Although no shares were repurchased during the year, the Board will seek approval from shareholders to renew this authority at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Warrants At the time of the Company's launch, shareholders received one warrant for every five shares purchased. Each warrant confers the right to subscribe for one ordinary share at £1 at a specific time each year. I would like to remind shareholders that these warrants will expire on 1st February 2004. As we have done every year since the Company's launch, the Directors will send a circular to warrantholders in December 2003 giving details and informing them of their opportunity to exercise these warrants, should they so wish. Corporate Governance This past year has seen a number of publications and announcements on changes in corporate governance. The Board has discussed the implications of these now that the relevant parties have stated their positions and considers that it has complied with the principles of the Association of Investment Trust Companies' Code of Corporate Governance. In this regard the Board has adopted a policy on the length of Directors' service whereby after nine years Directors will submit themselves for re-election on an annual basis. In compliance with the changes to the Listing Rules, your Company has already announced that it has no intention of investing more than 15% of its gross assets in other UK listed investment companies (including investment trusts). Accordingly, the Company's shares continue to remain an eligible investment for as many buyers of investment trust shares as possible. Investment Manager In May this year the Directors announced, along with the Company's interim results, the change of named investment manager from Steve Luk to Man Wing Chung. Mr Chung is head of JF Asset Management's Greater China team which is based in Hong Kong. Shareholders will have the opportunity to meet him at the Annual General Meeting. Annual General Meeting This year's Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 16th December 2003 at 10.30 am at 10 Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7RF. Sir David Kinloch Chairman 11th November 2003 For further information, please contact: Hilary Lowe J.P. Morgan Fleming Asset Management (UK) Limited - Secretary 020 7742 3274 JPMorgan Fleming Chinese Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the year ended 30th September 2003 Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) Year ended 30 September 2003 Year ended 30 September 2002 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised gains on investments - 1,011 1,011 - 123 123 Net change in unrealised depreciation - 7,016 7,016 - (3,410) (3,410) Currency gains/(losses) on cash and short-term deposits held during the year - 31 31 - (11) (11) Other capital charges - (24) (24) - (14) (14) Income from investments 1,011 - 1,011 874 - 874 Other income 38 - 38 31 - 31 _______ ________ _______ _______ ________ _______ Gross return 1,049 8,034 9,083 905 (3,312) (2,407) Management fee (326) - (326) (417) - (417) Other administrative expenses (282) - (282) (236) - (236) Interest payable (2) - (2) (21) - (21) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Return before taxation 439 8,034 8,473 231 (3,312) (3,081) Taxation (40) - (40) (60) - (60) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Return attributable to ordinary shareholders 399 8,034 8,433 171 (3,312) (3,141) Dividend payable (354) - (354) (145) - (145) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Transfer to/(from) reserves 45 8,034 8,079 26 (3,312) (3,286) Return/(loss) per ordinary share 0.69p 13.81p 14.50p 0.30p (5.70)p (5.40)p Dividend per ordinary share 0.60p - 0.60p 0.25p - 0.25p JPMorgan Fleming Chinese Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the year ended 30th September 2003 BALANCE SHEET 30 Sept 30 Sept 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Investments at valuation 32,112 22,037 Net current assets 1,790 3,283 _______ _______ Total net assets 33,902 25,320 ===== ===== Fully diluted net asset value per share 57.5p 43.5p Undiluted net asset value per share 57.5p 43.5p CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 251 58 Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance (2) (21) Total tax recovered - 9 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from capital expenditure and financial 1,483 (324) investment Equity dividend paid (145) - Net cash inflow from financing 382 123 _______ _______ Increase/(decrease) in cash in the year 1,969 (155) ===== ==== 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 2002. 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 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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