Interim Results

JP Morgan Fleming Mid Cap Inv PLC 10 March 2004 STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT JPMORGAN FLEMING MID CAP INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED FIGURES FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2003 The Directors of JPMorgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc announce the Company's unaudited results for the period ended 31st December 2003. Performance I am pleased to report that the six months to 31st December 2003 have proved very positive for the Company, in terms of both return and outperformance relative to its benchmark. The Company's net assets increased by 25.2% on a total return basis, compared with a return from the benchmark, the FTSE 250 Index (excluding investment trusts), of 19.0% on the same basis. The major factors giving rise to this outperformance have been the combined beneficial impact of the Investment Managers' stock selection and the Company's gearing. Confidence returned to the UK equity market following the conclusion of the war in Iraq, and against this background gearing added 3.2% to performance; indeed since the trough of March 2003, gearing has added 11.2% to performance. Stock selection contributed 1.3% to the enhanced performance, as the Investment Managers continued to build a portfolio concentrated on both the best of value and best of growth companies. While the Company's share price increased by 12.1%, from 268.0p on 30th June 2003 to 300.5p on 31st December 2003, the Company's discount to net asset value widened from 9.7% to 17.3%. Revenue and Dividends Revenue after taxation for the six months to 31st December 2003 was £1,614,000 (2002: £2,148,000), with earnings per share of 4.18p (2002: 5.57p). In my last annual statement, I indicated that the higher level of dividends being received from stocks within the portfolio was unlikely to continue, and the reduction in revenue in the half year under review reflects this expectation. A maintained interim dividend of 2.75p per share (2002: 2.75p), will be paid on 5th April 2004 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 19th March 2004. Due reference will be made, however, to the Company's current residual dividend policy in respect to the final dividend to be considered after the Company's year end in June, and it is the Board's current view that this is likely to be lower than last year. Management and Performance Fee As reported in my last annual statement, a revised management contract incorporating a reduced base cost together with an appropriate performance fee, was put in place with effect from 1st July 2003. Notwithstanding the outperformance achieved against benchmark during the period under review, total fees paid to the Manager were lower in percentage terms than would have occurred under the prior arrangement. Loan Facility The Company's £10m loan facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, which amounts to a third of the Company's long-term borrowings, is due to mature in July 2004. Since it is the Board's current intention to reduce the overall level of gearing, it is unlikely that this loan will be replaced in full at maturity. Alan Schroeder Chairman 10th March 2004 For further information, please contact: Richard Lewis For and on behalf of J.P. Morgan Fleming Asset Management (UK) Limited - Secretary 020 7742 3477 JPMorgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 December 2003 Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) Six months to 31 December 2003 Six months to 31 December 2002 Year to 30 June 2003 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised gains/(losses) on investments - 6,907 6,907 - (17,095) (17,095) - (30,144) (30,144) Net change in unrealised gains/ (losses) - 19,813 19,813 - (18,184) (18,184 ) - 8,927 8,927 Other capital charges - (3) (3) - (6) (6) - (3) (3) UK dividends 2,190 - 2,190 2,726 - 2,726 5,534 - 5,534 Scrip dividends 18 - 18 - - - - - - Deposit interest 47 - 47 153 - 153 321 - 321 _______ ________ _______ ______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______ Gross return/(loss) 2,255 26,717 28,972 2,879 (35,285) (32,406) 5,855 (21,220) (15,365) Management fee (116) (270) (386) (178) (414) (592) (333) (777) (1,110) Performance Fee - (329) (329) - - - - - - Other administrative expenses (101) - (101) (101) - (101) (252) - (252) Interest payable (424) (988) (1,412) (421) (983) (1,404) (841) (1,962) (2,803) _______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Return/(loss) before taxation 1,614 25,130 26,744 2,179 (36,682) (34,503) 4,429 (23,959) (19,530) Taxation - - - (31) 31 - (63) 63 - ______ _______ _______ ______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ Total return/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders 1,614 25,130 26,744 2,148 (36,651) (34,503) 4,366 (23,896) (19,530) Dividend(s) payable on ordinary shares (1,061) - (1,061) (1,061) - (1,061) (4,147) - (4,147) ______ _______ _______ ______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ Transfer to/(from) reserves 553 25,130 25,683 1,087 (36,651) (35,564) 219 (23,896) (23,677) Return/(loss) per ordinary share 4.18p 65.15p 69.33p 5.57p (95.01)p (89.44)p 11.32p (61.95)p (50.63)p Dividend(s) per ordinary share 2.75p 2.75p 2.75p 2.75p 10.75p 10.75p JP Morgan Fleming Mid Cap Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 December 2003 BALANCE SHEET 31 December 31 December 30 June 2003 2002 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Investments at valuation 172,411 126,713 142,890 Net current (liabitities)/assets (950) 6,839 2,555 Creditors (amounts falling due after more than one year) (31,259) (30,920) (30,926) _______ _______ _______ Total net assets 140,202 102,632 114,519 ===== ===== ===== Net asset value per share 363.5p 266.1p 296.9p CASH FLOW STATEMENT 31 December 31 December 30 June 2003 2002 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 1,948 2,315 4,609 Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance (1,596) (1,324) (2,794) Total taxation paid - (72) - Net cash (outflow)/inflow from capital expenditure and financial investment (2,965) 2,973 1,239 Total equity dividends paid on ordinary shares (3,086) (2,700) (3,761) _______ ______ ______ (Decrease)/increase in cash for the period (5,699) 1,192 (707) ===== ==== ==== 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 2002. The 2002 accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion and did not contain a statement under either section 237(2) or section 237 (3) of the Companies Act 1985, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. J.P. MORGAN FLEMING ASSET MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED 10th March 2004 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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