Interim Results

JPMorgan Fleming Mercantile IT PLC 09 September 2004 LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT JPMORGAN FLEMING MERCANTILE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31st JULY 2004 The directors of JPMorgan Fleming Mercantile Investment Trust plc announce the Company's unaudited results for the six months ended 31st July 2004. The stock market in the first half of the current year was unable to sustain the strength of performance shown last year. Our benchmark index, the FTSE All Share (excluding FTSE100 constituents and investment trusts) showed a total return of +0.6% for the six months ended 31st July 2004 and I am disappointed to report that during this period the Company's comparable net asset value (NAV) total return was +0.1%. The share price total return for the fund was -4.2% reflecting an increase in the discount to NAV to 15.3% from 11.9% at 31st January 2004. After a strong recovery last year, stock markets this year have been stuck in a fairly narrow range; indeed this half year has seen the lowest trading range for 30 years: 6% compared with an average of 23%. Whilst the economic data have continued to be positive and companies generally have shown good progress, fears of higher interest rates and oil prices have depressed investor sentiment. Technology stocks are more affected by investor sentiment than most and the Company's underperformance in the half year is largely a result of this. Our successes in the portfolio were across a broad spread of sectors and we continue, as usual, to have a well diversified portfolio. Turning to prospects, the Company's managers do not believe that small and mid cap stocks are expensive and they expect the economic data to continue to be benign. As this feeds through and after this lull we should expect a positive return from the stock market and therefore have increased the gearing from 13% at the beginning of the year to 15%. We expect the portfolio to be well placed in terms of its balance of new growth stocks, companies geared to economic activity and also to benefit from corporate activity as confidence increases. Dividends A second interim dividend of 4.25p per share has been declared by the Board, payable on 3rd November 2004 to shareholders on the register as at the close of business on 1st October 2004. This brings the total dividend for the year to date to 8.50p per share, which is the same as last year at this stage. Hamish Leslie Melville Chairman 9th September 2004 J.P.Morgan Fleming Asset Management (UK) Limited - Secretary For further information, please contact: Richard Lewis J.P. Morgan Fleming Asset Management (UK) Limited Telephone 020 7742 3477 JPMorgan Fleming Mercantile Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 July 2004 Statement of Total Return (Unaudited) Six months to 31 July 2004 Six months to 31 July 2003 Year to 31 January 2004 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Realised gains on investments - 11,954 11,954 - 28,628 28,628 - 121,799 121,799 Net unrealised (losses) /gains on investments - (22,344) (22,344) - 212,437 212,437 - 253,201 253,201 Net currency (losses)/ gains on cash and short term deposits held during the period - (8) (8) - 20 20 - (2) (2) Other capital charges - (7) (7) - (1) (1) - (19) (19) UK dividend income 16,222 - 16,222 15,489 - 15,489 28,112 - 28,112 UK unfranked investment income 138 - 138 320 - 320 493 - 493 Overseas dividends - - - 232 - 232 27 - 27 Scrip dividends 1,384 - 1,384 434 - 434 616 - 616 Underwriting 217 - 217 6 - 6 560 - 560 commissions Deposit interest 1,554 - 1,554 2,240 - 2,240 4,242 - 4,242 _______ ________ _______ ______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______ Gross return/(loss) 19,515 (10,405) 9,110 18,721 241,084 259,805 34,050 374,979 409,029 Management fee (1,401) (1,401) (2,802) (1,022) (1,022) (2,044) (2,310) (2,310) (4,620) Other administrative expenses (361) - (361) (371) - (371) (707) - (707) Interest payable (3,271) (3,271) (6,542) (3,270) (3,270) (6,540) (6,549) (6,549) (13,098) _______ _______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Return/(loss) before taxation 14,482 (15,077) (595) 14,058 236,792 250,850 24,484 366,120 390,604 Taxation - - - 77 - 77 71 - 71 ______ _______ _______ ______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ Return/(loss) after taxation 14,482 (15,077) (595) 14,135 236,792 250,927 24,555 366,120 390,675 Dividends on ordinary shares (11,545) - (11,545) (11,545) - (11,545) (25,469) - (25,469) ______ _______ _______ ______ _______ ______ _______ _______ _______ Transfer to/(from) reserves 2,937 (15,077) (12,140) 2,590 236,792 239,382 (914) 366,120 365,206 Return/(loss) per ordinary share 10.66p (11.10)p (0.44)p 10.41p 174.33p 184.74p 18.08p 269.55p 287.63p Dividends per ordinary share 8.50p - 8.50p 8.50p - 8.50p 18.75p - 18.75p JPMorgan Fleming Mercantile Investment Trust plc Unaudited figures for the six months ended 31 July 2004 BALANCE SHEET 31 July 31 July 31 January 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Investments at valuation 1,102,465 955,427 1,075,449 Net current assets 42,274 75,533 81,382 Long term loans (201,373) (201,278) (201,325) _________ __________ __________ Total net assets 943,366 829,682 955,506 ========= ========== ========= Net asset value per share 694.5p 610.8p 703.5p CASH FLOW STATEMENT 31 July 31 July 31 January 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 13,642 14,300 27,746 Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (6,496) (6,498) (13,001) Total tax recovered - 90 103 Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment (56,940) (52,021) (16,801) Total equity dividends paid (19,696) (13,583) (25,129) _________ __________ __________ Decrease in cash for the period (69,490) (57,712) (27,082) ========= ========== ========= The above financial information does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 January 2004 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. J.P. MORGAN FLEMING ASSET MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED 9th September 2004 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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