Interim Results

JPMorgan Eur Fldglng Inv Trust PLC 15 November 2006 LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT JPMORGAN EUROPEAN FLEDGELING INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2006 The following are comments from the Chairman: Performance This is my first Chairman's statement since I was appointed as Chairman of the Company at the Annual General Meeting held on 12th July 2006. This has been a challenging period due to the volatility of the small cap European markets over these six months. It is pleasing to report that, despite the turbulent period which resulted in some short term losses, the investment managers ended the period with a return on net assets of -1.6%, ahead of the Company's benchmark, the HSBC Smaller European Companies (ex UK) Index, which returned -2.8%. The return to shareholders as measured by the share price was -5.2%, which was mainly due to the discount widening from 10.3% as at 31st March 2006 to 13.5% as at 30th September 2006. European small cap markets have performed very strongly since the first half of 2003 and for the past year the Board and investment managers have been cautious, aware of the possibility of a market correction. This has been reflected in the low levels of gearing carried by the Company over the period. The Board remains cautious overall about the market outlook. In this environment the experience of the investment managers stands the Company in good stead and the Board is confident it will enable them to continue to demonstrate their excellent stock picking abilities. In the six months to 30th September 2006, the Company has continued to actively use the authority given by shareholders to buy and sell its shares through treasury. The Board believes that having the ability to use treasury has the effect of improving liquidity in the Company's shares, managing any imbalance between the supply and demand, minimising the volatility and the absolute level of the discount and enhancing the net asset value by selling shares at a narrower discount than that at which they were purchased. At the beginning of the period, when the markets were buoyant, 175,000 shares were sold from treasury at a narrower discount than that at which they were purchased. Since the market correction in May, the Board took the decision to buy shares into treasury for the advantages detailed above, and as at 30th September 2006 held 1,881,319 in treasury. No shares have been bought in and cancelled over the period. Board of Directors As I am sure you are aware, the previous Chairman, Michael Hart, retired from the Board at the conclusion of the Company's Annual General Meeting on 12th July 2006. Michael had served as a Director since October 1997 and had been Chairman since July 1998. On behalf of the Board and shareholders I would sincerely like to thank Michael for the contribution that he has made to the Company and his excellent leadership and wise counsel during his time on the Board. Revenue and Dividend Revenue return after tax for the six months to 30th September 2006 was £2.699 million, significantly higher than previous years (2005: £0.986 million). Whilst somewhat reduced, the Company still has a net deficit of revenue reserves, £5.984 million at the end of the period, reflecting the Company's objective to achieve capital growth in the long term rather than to obtain revenue. Accordingly, as in previous periods, no dividend will be payable. Elisabeth Airey Chairman 15th November 2006 For further information please contact: Hilary Lowe JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited Telephone 0207 742 6000 JPMorgan European Fledgeling Investment Trust plc Income Statement for the six months ended 30th September 2006 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Six months ended 30th Six months ended 30th Year ended 31st September 2006 September 2005 March 2006 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total return return return return return return return return return £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 (Losses)/gains from investments held at fair value through profit or loss - (10,589) (10,589) - 78,700 78,700 - 151,194 151,194 Income from investments 5,944 - 5,944 3,128 - 3,128 4,667 - 4,667 Other interest receivable and similar income 70 - 70 64 - 64 231 - 231 _______ _______ ______ _____ _______ _______ _____ ______ _______ Gross revenue and capital gains/(losses) 6,014 (10,589) (4,575) 3,192 78,700 81,892 4,898 151,194 156,092 Management fee (2,041) - (2,041) (1,367) - (1,367) (3,159) - (3,159) Other administrative expenses (310) - (310) (320) - (320) (592) - (592) _______ _______ ______ ______ ______ _______ ______ ______ _______ Net return/(losses) before finance costs and taxation 3,663 (10,589) (6,926) 1,505 78,700 80,205 1,147 151,194 152,341 Finance costs (487) - (487) (166) - (166) (525) - (525) _______ _______ ______ ______ ______ _______ ______ ______ _______ Net return/(losses) before taxation 3,176 (10,589) (7,413) 1,339 78,700 80,039 622 151,194 151,816 Taxation (477) - (477) (353) - (353) (406) - (406) ______ _______ ______ ______ _______ _______ _______ ______ _______ Net return/(losses) after taxation 2,699 (10,589) (7,890) 986 78,700 79,686 216 151,194 151,410 ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== Return/(losses) per 5.23p (20.52)p (15.29)p 1.86p 148.74p 150.60p 0.41p 286.38p 286.79p share All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period. JPMorgan European Fledgeling Investment Trust plc Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' Funds (unaudited) the six months ended 30th September 2006 Called up Share Capital share premium redemption Other Capital Revenue Total capital account reserve reserve reserve reserve £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 At 31st March 2005 13,391 - 2,245 30,564 188,633 (8,899) 225,934 Adjustment to opening shareholders fund at 1st April 2005 to reflect the adoption of bid prices - - - - (752) - (752) Repurchase of shares into - - - (1,623) - - (1,623) treasury Sale of shares from treasury - 91 - 675 - - 766 Repurchase of shares for cancellation (196) - 196 (2,765) - - (2,765) Total return from ordinary - - - - 151,194 216 151,410 activities _______ _______ ________ _______ ________ _______ ________ At 31st March 2006 13,195 91 2,441 26,851 339,075 (8,683) 372,970 Repurchase of shares into - - - (11,191) - - (11,191) treasury Sale of shares from treasury - 216 - 945 - - 1,161 Total return from ordinary - - - (10,589) 2,699 (7,890) activities _______ _______ ________ _______ ________ _______ ________ At 30th September 2006 13,195 307 2,441 16,605 328,486 (5,984) 355,050 ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== JPMorgan European Fledgeling Investment Trust plc Balance Sheet as at 30th September 2006 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) 30th September 2006 30th September 31st March 2005 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Non current assets Investments at fair value through profit or loss 354,904 329,066 387,213 Net current assets/(liabilities) 146 (26,210) (14,243) _______ _______ _______ Total assets less current liabilities 355,050 302,856 372,970 _______ _______ _______ Total net assets 355,050 302,856 372,970 ====== ====== ====== Net asset value per share 697.5p 573.8p 709.0p Cash Flow Statement (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Six months ended Six months ended Year ended 30th September 30th September 31st March 2006 2005 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 3,005 1,421 553 Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance (488) (173) (556) Tax recovered 25 62 184 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from capital expenditure and financial investment 15,041 (1,360) 15,757 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing (20,465) 8,313 (27,547) _______ ______ ______ (Decrease)/increase in cash for the period (2,882) 8,263 (11,609) ====== ====== ===== The figures and financial information for the year ended the 31st March 2006 are extracted from the latest published accounts of the Company and do not constitute statutory accounts for that year. Those accounts have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the report of the auditors which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either section 237(2) or 237 (3) of the Companies act 1985. JPMORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED 15th November 2006 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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