Final Results

JP Morgan Fleming Mid Cap Inv PLC 23 September 2005 STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT JPMORGAN FLEMING MID CAP INVESTMENT TRUST PLC PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANNUAL RESULTS The Directors of JPMorgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc announce the Company's preliminary results for the year ended 30th June 2005. Capital Performance Despite the uncertainty created by higher interest rates and the sharp rise in energy prices it was another good year for the UK stock market and particularly for mid-cap stocks, as measured by the FTSE 250 index. Our strong results reflect these favourable market conditions. I am pleased to report the return on net assets per share was 21.8%, which compares favourably to the benchmark's return of 20.2%. Very importantly, the return to shareholders (share price and net dividend) was 25.6%, reflecting the positive return on assets and the narrowing of the discount from 19.5% to 17.3%. The objective we set our Manager is to achieve capital growth through investing in medium-sized UK companies. The main measurement of the Manager's performance we take as the FTSE 250 index (excluding investment trusts). This year the major positive contributors to performance were the use of gearing in a rising equity market and the enhancement of net asset value through share buybacks. The positive contribution from stock selection reported in the Interim Report was not sustained in the second half, resulting in a small adverse contribution over the year. Encouragingly, this trend has been reversed more recently, with stock selection contributing to outperformance in the early part of the current year. Revenue and Dividends Net revenue after taxation for the year was £4,383,000 (2004: £3,364,000) and earnings per share were 12.07p (2004: 8.72p). The Board has noted the increasing importance of income to our shareholders, particularly to private investors who together now own more than 65% of this company. Therefore the Board has decided to establish a policy to increase dividends annually at least in line with inflation, as long as normal economic conditions prevail. This year, as a result of particularly strong earnings growth, the Board is pleased to recommend a final dividend of 8.30p per share making a total of 11.30p (2004: 9.75p) which is an increase in the total dividend of 15.9% on last year. In line with the decision to rebalance the split between the interim and final dividend announced in the Interim Report, the Board expects to pay an interim dividend of 4p per share (2003: 3.00p). Share Buy-backs It is the present intention of the board to continue its policy of buying back shares where appropriate to enhance net asset value per share. This policy will be reviewed regularly in the light of market conditions. Over the course of the year the Company repurchased a total of 3,538,000 shares, representing 9.2% of the issued share capital, adding 1.7% to the Company's performance. Since 30th June 2005 the Company has repurchased a further 489,000 shares representing 1.4% of the issued share capital. This process has added a further 0.2% to the net asset value of the remaining shares. The Directors continue to believe that this mechanism is of benefit to shareholders and therefore propose and recommend that powers to repurchase up to 14.99% of the Company's shares for cancellation be renewed for a further period. Board of Directors Alan Schroeder retired as Chairman and as a Director on 14th April 2005. I would like to place on record our thanks to Alan for the hard work, commitment and direction he gave to the Company. His Chairmanship did not cover an easy time in stock markets. He was instrumental both in renegotiating the management agreement on to a lower fixed cost basis and the introduction of a performance fee for the benefit of shareholders. Gordon McQueen joined the Board on 1st December 2004. Gordon has brought a new perspective to the Board's deliberations and I have no hesitation in recommending his election at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. In addition, John Emly, who retires by rotation, has continued to provide an invaluable contribution and is recommended for re-election. Annual General Meeting This year's Annual General Meeting will be held on 2nd November 2005 at 12.00 noon at The Armourers' Hall, 81 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ. Change of Company Name As a consequence of the change of our Manager's name from J.P. Morgan Fleming Asset Management (UK) Limited to JPMorgan Asset Management Limited on 3rd May 2005, the Board propose that the Company's name be changed to JPMorgan Mid Cap Investment Trust plc. The Board continues to be persuaded of the marketing benefits of including the JPMorgan brand in the Company's name. Prospects The FTSE 250 index for mid-cap stocks has just reached another all-time high and has out-performed the FTSE 100 index by 19.5% in this calendar year. Our Manager continues to believe that the outlook for mid-cap stocks is attractive, a view which we share. Mid cap stocks offer a combination of attractive valuation and superior growth prospects. A greater proportion of mid-caps are UK focused which helps to insulate them from currency fluctuations and they are less reliant on overseas markets and less influenced by overseas concerns. Furthermore, consensus forecasts are for mid-cap stocks to deliver very strong earnings and dividend growth in 2006 and 2007. We also expect the high level of takeover and merger activity in the mid-cap sector to continue which should offer further support for share prices. Whilst mid-cap stocks typically are more volatile and carry a higher level of risk, we believe the Company, with its diversified portfolio, is a sound way of investing in the sector. Andrew Barker Chairman 23rd September 2005 For further information, please contact: Andrew Norman For and on behalf of JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited - Secretary 020 7742 6000 JPMorgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the year ended 30 June 2005 Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) Year ended 30 June 2005 Year ended 30 June 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised gains on investments - 5,849 5,849 - 16,471 16,471 Unrealised gains on investments - 19,794 19,794 - 22,798 22,798 Other capital charges - (4) (4) - (5) (5) UK dividend income 5,374 - 5,374 4,406 - 4,406 Overseas dividends 7 - 7 - - - Underwriting commission - - - 24 - 24 Scrip dividends 109 - 109 169 - 169 Deposit interest 145 - 145 104 - 104 _______ ________ _______ _______ _______ ________ Gross return 5,635 25,639 31,274 4,703 39,264 43,967 Management fee (254) (593) (847) (243) (569) (812) Other administrative expenses (321) - (321) (253) - (253) Interest payable (677) (1,663) (2,340) (843) (1,967) (2,810) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Return before taxation 4,383 23,383 27,766 3,364 36,728 40,092 Taxation - - - - - - _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Return attributable to ordinary shareholders 4,383 23,383 27,766 3,364 36,728 40,092 Dividend paid (948) - (948) (1,061) - (1,061) Dividend payable (2,908) - (2,908) (2,700) - (2,700) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ (3,856) - (3,856) (3,761) - (3,761) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Transfer to/(from) reserves 527 23,383 23,910 (397) 36,728 36,331 _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Return per ordinary share 12.07p 64.41p 76.48p 8.72p 95.21p 103.93p JPMorgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the year ended 30 June 2005 BALANCE SHEET 30 June 30 June 2005 2004 £'000 £'000 Investments at valuation 183,574 176,656 Net current liabilities (9,890) (4,871) Amounts falling due after more than one year (10,695) (20,935) _______ _______ Total net assets 162,989 150,850 ===== ===== Net asset value per ordinary share 465.2p 391.1p CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2005 2004 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 4,189 3,540 Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (2,374) (3,096) Net cash inflow from capital expenditure and financial investment 19,458 4,981 Equity dividends paid (3,648) (4,147) Net cash outflow from financing (22,021) - _______ _______ (Decrease)/increase in cash for the period (4,396) 1,278 ===== ==== The Preliminary Announcement is prepared on the same basis as set out in the previous year's accounts. 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 period ended 30 June 2004. These accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. JPMORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED 23rd September 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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