Final Results

JPMorgan Fleming Eur Fldglng IT PLC 21 June 2004 JPMORGAN FLEMING EUROPEAN FLEDGELING INVESTMENT TRUST PLC STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT The Board today announces the preliminary results of the Company for the year ended 31st March 2004. Chairman's Statement After several years of difficult stock markets it is pleasing to report that there has been a steady, if uneven, recovery over the last twelve months. The Company's performance has reflected this. The Company produced a total return on net assets of 51.4% compared to the benchmark index, the HSBC Smaller European Companies (ex UK) Index, return of 59.7%. The net asset value per share increased from 196.9p at the end of March 2003 to 298.2p at 31st March 2004. The share price increased in the year from 144.5p to 246.0p, an increase of 70.2%. As I have stated previously, the Board judges the investment performance over the long term. It is therefore pleasing to report that the Company has beaten its benchmark in NAV total return terms over five and ten years and is the top performer over both periods in its peer group, the AITC European Smaller Companies sector. The Board believes that one of the benefits of an investment trust is the ability to gear. It therefore sets parameters within which the investment managers may operate. These are currently in the range of 10% cash to 20% gearing. The level of gearing at particular times is based on the managers' view of the investment environment. The borrowing policy of the Company is arranged to support this approach. The actual level of gearing as at 31st March 2004 was 7.8%. Performance attribution information shows that the Company's gearing had a positive effect on relative performance against the benchmark during the year. Although the level of discount of the share price to net asset value reduced from 26.6% at 31st March 2003 to 17.5% at the end of the financial year, both the absolute level and the volatility of the discount - the discount ranged from 15.3% to 27.5% during the year - continue to disappoint. However, they are a fair reflection of the current sentiment towards the asset class in which the Company invests. During the year the Company repurchased a total of 150,000 shares for cancellation at a total cost of £229,000. The Board continues to believe it is in the interest of shareholders to maintain an option to repurchase shares and a resolution to renew this authority will be put to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM. In the light of the investment objective, it is not the Company's policy to pay dividends. For the year under review there was a small surplus of 1.59p per share on the revenue account. However, it remains unlikely that dividends will be payable in the future due to the substantial accumulated loss on the revenue reserve. The Board has a good and professional relationship with the Manager, JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, both with regard to the management of the investment portfolio and the overall business management and administrative support. The investment managers report regularly to the Board and their performance is monitored against a number of benchmarks and other criteria. The Board believes investment performance, particularly in this volatile investment class, needs to be measured over the medium to long term, an investment horizon of three to ten years. As can be seen from the earlier comments on comparative performance, the investment managers have performed well against this measure. The Board is therefore satisfied that the continuing appointment of the Manager is in the best interests of shareholders. There is a management agreement in place between the Company and the Manager. This covers the management fee and a range of services which the Manager provides. The Board has sought to align the management fee structure more closely with the interests of the Company, its shareholders and the Manager and since the year end has therefore re-negotiated the management fee. With effect from 1st April 2004 the management fee is now charged at a rate of 1.3% per annum on the Company's market capitalisation. In terms of the actual amount paid to JPMFAM, this change is broadly neutral (based on the fees paid over the last ten years). The Company's AGM which will be held at JPMorgan Fleming's Aldermanbury office on Friday 23rd July 2004 at 12.00 noon. Michael Hart Chairman 21st June 2004 JPMorgan Fleming European Fledgeling Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the year ended 31 March 2004 Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) Year ended 31 March 2004 Year ended 31 March 2003 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised gains/(losses) on investments - 28,974 28,974 - (39,813) (39,813) Unrealised gains/(losses) on investments - 24,906 24,906 - (2,962) (2,962) Currency gains on cash and short-term deposits held during the year - 248 248 - 245 245 Unrealised currency gains/(losses) on Euro loans - 260 260 - (1,787) (1,787) Realised currency losses on Euro loans - (41) (41) - (1,046) (1,046) Other capital charges - (57) (57) - (198) (198) Income from investments 3,399 - 3,399 3,373 - 3,373 Other income 47 - 47 199 - 199 _______ ________ _______ ______ _______ ________ Gross return/(loss) 3,446 54,290 57,736 3,572 (45,561) (41,989) Management fee (1,431) - (1,431) (1,555) - (1,555) Other administrative expenses (538) - (538) (303) - (303) Interest payable (618) - (618) (1,150) - (1,150) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Return/(loss) before taxation 859 54,290 55,149 564 (45,561) (44,997) Taxation 10 - 10 (290) - (290) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Total return/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders 869 54,290 55,159 274 (45,561) (45,287) Return/(loss) per ordinary share 1.59p 99.58p 101.17p 0.48p (79.91)p (79.43)p Dividend per ordinary share Nil Nil JPMorgan Fleming European Fledgeling Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the year ended 31st March 2004 SUMMARISED BALANCE SHEET 31st March 31st March 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 Investments at valuation 175,182 119,862 Net current liabilities (12,609) (3,896) Long term loan - (8,284) Deferred taxation - (39) _______ _______ Total net assets 162,573 107,643 ===== ===== Net asset value per ordinary share 298.2p 196.9p SUMMARISED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 890 921 Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (695) (1,158) Total tax recovered 204 154 Net cash inflow from capital expenditure and financial investment 11 14,612 Net cash outflow from financing (2,897) (15,136) _______ _______ Decrease in cash for the year (2,487) (607) ===== ===== 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 March 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 21st June 2004 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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