RNS Number : 9058D
Mercantile Investment Trust(The)PLC
20 October 2025
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
THE MERCANTILE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
HALF YEAR REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
31ST JULY 2025
Legal Entity Identifier: 549300BGX3CJIHLP2H42
Information disclosed in accordance with the DTR 4.1.3
The Mercantile Investment Trust plc (the 'Mercantile' or the 'Company') announces its half year results for the 6-months ended 31st July 2025.
Highlights
· NAV total return of +6.0% (with debt at fair value1) for the six months ended 31st July 2025, compared with +7.2% for the FTSE All-Share Index (excluding FTSE 100 and investment trusts) (the 'Benchmark'). Share price total return of +6.0%.
· Three years ended 31st July 2025, NAV total return (with debt at fair value1) of +31.9% compared with +23.0% for the Benchmark. Share price return of +38.7%.
· Five years ended 31st July 2025, NAV total return (with debt at fair value1) of +65.5% compared with +58.9% for the Benchmark. Share price return of +65.1%.
· Ten years ended 31st July 2025, NAV total return (with debt at fair value1) of +93.2% compared with +61.3% for the Benchmark. Share price return of +104.1%.
· Second quarterly interim dividend of 1.55p per share declared, payable on 3rd November 2025. Total dividends for the year so far: 3.10p per share (up from 3.00p for the equivalent period last year).
· The Company repurchased 26.8 million shares into Treasury during the period to help manage the discount, at an average discount to NAV of 9.7%.
1 J.P. Morgan/Morningstar, using cum income net asset value per share.
Rachel Beagles, Chair, commented:
"The Board continues to believe that investing in quality businesses in growing markets, at attractive valuations, will generate index beating returns over the long term... While ongoing risks from global policy uncertainty and potential UK tax increases may dampen short-term confidence and investor appetite for UK equities, UK corporate and consumer balance sheets remain healthy, so once the Budget is delivered and uncertainty fades, both business investment and consumption could rise. The government has also announced measures to boost growth through regulatory cuts, planning reform and infrastructure spending: any evidence of progress here would support the outlook. Finally, the UK market offers compelling valuations, particularly among medium and smaller companies."
Guy Anderson & Anthony Lynch, Portfolio Managers, commented:
"The outlook is always uncertain, and this year is no different, with valid reasons to be apprehensive: the international geopolitical landscape appears primed for generating unanticipated shocks... However, there are also reasons for optimism. Despite well-known headwinds to growth, and widespread caution heading into the upcoming budget, portfolio companies are mostly performing well, and yet the valuation of the UK market remains at a marked discount to both its own history and relative to other developed markets... We believe that a portfolio of companies with these characteristics offers the best prospect of delivering compelling returns and outperformance for our shareholders over the long-term, just as it has done in the past."
CHAIR'S STATEMENT
Introduction and Market Background
It gives me pleasure to present my first half yearly report as the incoming Chair of The Mercantile Investment Trust plc: a trust with a rich history spanning over 140 years and one which has delivered great returns to its shareholders over the long term.
The six months ended 31st July 2025 were a turbulent time. Whilst the UK market finished up in substantially positive territory, this masked huge volatility over the period as UK equities sold off sharply in March and April in response to President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs, only to rebound strongly when he delayed their implementation pending further negotiations with the U.S.'s trading partners.
Performance
During the six months ended 31st July 2025, the Company delivered a +6.0% return on both net assets and share price (with dividends reinvested), albeit this was slightly behind the benchmark. The Company's long term track record of attractive absolute returns and outperformance remains positive. Over the ten years to 31st July 2025, the Company's NAV has delivered an annualised total return of +6.8% with debt at fair value, while the Company's share price returned an annual average of +7.4%, both well ahead of the benchmark's annualised total return of +4.9%.
The Portfolio Managers' Report on page 14 in the Half Year Report provides details of the drivers of recent returns and portfolio changes implemented during the review period. Their report also discusses the market outlook over the remainder of this year and beyond.
Dividends
The Company aims to provide shareholders with long-term dividend growth at least in line with the rate of inflation over a five- to ten-year period, and it has fulfilled this commitment. Over the ten years to 31st January 2025, the Company's dividend grew at a rate of 6.8% per annum, well ahead of CPI inflation of 3.1% per annum over the same period.
The Company has increased its dividend for more than ten consecutive years, making it an AIC next-generation dividend hero, and it is on track to maintain this record. A first quarterly interim dividend of 1.55 pence was paid on 1st August 2025 and a second quarterly interim dividend of 1.55 pence per share has been declared by the Board, payable on 3rd November 2025 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 26th September 2025. This brings the dividend for the year so far to 3.10 pence, up from 3.00 pence for the equivalent period last year. A third quarterly interim dividend will be announced in December 2025. The level of the fourth quarterly interim dividend will depend on income received by the Company for the full financial year.
Discount and Share Repurchases
The discount at which the Company's shares trade relative to its NAV (with debt at fair value) widened slightly, from 9.2% at the previous financial year end to 9.5% at the half year end. During the period, to help manage the discount and its volatility, the Board purchased 26,785,148 shares. These shares are held in Treasury and were purchased at an average discount to NAV of 9.7%, producing a modest accretion to the NAV for continuing shareholders. Since the end of the review period, the Company has purchased a further 14,482,533 shares. The discount currently stands at 9.7%.
Gearing
The Company's gearing policy is to operate within a range between 10% net cash and 20% gearing under normal market conditions. The Company ended the six-month reporting period with gearing at 14.5% (compared to 14.1% on 31st January 2025), having averaged 15.0% over the period.
Gearing is regularly discussed by the Board and the Portfolio Managers and is implemented via the use of long-dated, fixed-rate financing from several sources, consistent with the Board's aim to ensure a diversification of source, tenure and cost. Details of these instruments can be found on page 3 of the Half Year Report.
Board
I became Chair of the Board and the Nomination Committee following the conclusion of the AGM in May 2025, having joined the Board in June 2021. I took over from Angus Gordon Lennox who retired following nine years on the Board, the last seven of which he served as Chairman. On behalf of the Board I would like to take this opportunity to thank Angus once again for his dedication to shareholders and insightful leadership during his tenure. Graham Kitchen assumed the role of Senior Independent Director following my appointment.
Broker Review
The Board recently conducted a broker review, inviting several brokerage firms, including the Company's then existing joint brokers, Cavendish and Winterflood, to submit proposals. After a thorough evaluation of the submissions from these firms, the Board decided to appoint Peel Hunt LLP to work alongside Winterflood as joint broker. It agreed that this combination of brokers would best support the Company in maintaining its market presence, its relationship with investors and in achieving its strategic objectives. This decision underscores the Board's dedication to optimising broker relationships and shareholder outcomes.
Benefits of Active Investing in UK Medium and Smaller Companies
The medium and smaller companies sector offers access to a diverse set of businesses. Whilst more domestically focussed than FTSE100 constituents, they often have more attractive long term growth prospects than their large cap UK peers due to their smaller size. These companies are generally less well researched by the broader market and consequently lend themselves better to active stock picking rather than passive investing. Skilled portfolio managers with access to in-house research can select those companies with strong business propositions and undervalued shares, sizing positions according to the opportunity and risks, avoiding lower quality or overpriced alternatives. In contrast, passive products allocate capital according to the relative size of the company. In addition, medium and smaller companies are more likely to be targets of takeover activity (and therefore share price outperformance) due to their more digestible size.
Benefits of the Investment Trust Structure
The Company seeks to invest in this attractive subset of UK companies within the investment trust structure. There are several benefits to doing this. Firstly, this structure offers a relatively fixed pool of capital which means that your Portfolio Managers can invest in companies for the long term without worrying about liquidity needs, unlike open ended funds which can suffer from lumpy and unpredictable redemptions. Secondly, this structure allows the use of gearing, which over the cycle, should continue to augment performance, as it has done for your Company in the past. Finally, by being able to build up revenue reserves in the good years, dividends can be supported by reserves in any difficult periods, providing investment trusts such as The Mercantile a greater prospect of delivering attractive and dependable dividend growth throughout investment cycles.
The Mercantile offers active management within this appealing investment space with an attractive cost structure. An ongoing charges ratio of 0.50%1 in conjunction with benchmark beating performance over three, five and ten years, is, in the Board's opinion, highly competitive against open ended, passive and other investment trust peers.
1 Source: J.P. Morgan/Morningstar.
Stay Informed
The Company delivers email updates on its progress with regular news and views, as well as the latest performance. If you have not already signed up to receive these communications, you can opt in via www.Mercantile-Registration.co.uk, or by scanning the QR code in the Half Year Report.
Outlook
The Board continues to believe that investing in quality businesses in growing markets, at attractive valuations, will generate index beating returns over the long term.
There are, as ever, risks to countenance. The Trump administration's approach to trade and international relations, and U.S. government policy in general has created uncertainty that is having an adverse impact on economic activity in the U.S., and around the world. Domestically, concerns over tax raising measures in the November Budget are likely to impact on short term consumer and business confidence and may, in the near term, also dampen investors' appetite for UK equities.
Looking beyond this though, UK corporate and consumer balance sheets remain healthy, so once the Budget is delivered and uncertainty fades, both business investment and consumption could rise. The government has also announced measures to boost growth through regulatory cuts, planning reform and infrastructure spending: any evidence of progress here would support the outlook. Finally, the UK market offers compelling valuations, particularly among medium and smaller companies.
Your Portfolio Managers have a long and successful track record of investing in UK medium and smaller companies. Your Board is confident in their ability to steer the portfolio through any forthcoming challenges, take advantages of investment and valuation opportunities and to keep delivering positive returns and outperformance for shareholders over the long term, as they have in the past.
Rachel Beagles
Chair 17th October 2025
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS' REPORT
Setting the scene: navigating challenges
The UK market delivered a positive return through the first half of this financial year, with our target market of UK medium and smaller companies (the 'Benchmark') delivering a return of +7.2%, broadly in line with the wider UK market.
This headline figure masks the underlying turbulence caused primarily by the sequence of announcements from the President of the United States, focused on the imposition and possible relaxation of trade tariffs. At its nadir, our Benchmark had fallen by 15%, before rallying over 25% into the period end.
Domestic economic growth has been lacklustre, and the UK economy does appear to be running below capacity. After the imposition of various taxation increases last year, the government has thus far been unwilling to curtail public sector spending, which has led to widespread concern and now expectation that further increases in taxation will follow. As a result, businesses appear less willing to invest in capital or to hire more labour, while consumer confidence and spending remains cautious. Inflation has proven to be persistent, again in part self-inflicted, hence monetary loosening has been limited.
Despite this complex and uncertain geopolitical and economic environment, and mixed corporate earnings, the UK market has experienced a flurry of incoming takeover activity, with over 25 bids valued at greater than £100 million so far this year. Furthermore, and again reflecting the deeply discounted valuation of the UK market, corporates continue to repurchase their own shares at elevated levels.
Mercantile performance
Against this backdrop, for the six months to 31st July 2025, the Company delivered a return on net assets of +6.0% at both fair value and par value, trailing the Benchmark's +7.2% return. The Company's underperformance was driven by stock selection, while our use of gearing, which averaged 15%, was additive to returns. Despite this, the Company continues its track record of long-term outperformance, with share price returns ahead of Benchmark over three, five, and ten years.
Performance in this half-year was bolstered by strong returns from our holdings in the Industrial Support Services sector, particularly Serco, the government outsourcer, which was our top contributor on the back of improving contract win momentum and thus an anticipated acceleration in growth. In the Retail sector, our position in Dunelm, the homewares retailer, performed well, as it reported robust trading trends. Plus500, the provider of online trading services, our largest new investment last year, also delivered continued gains, following the significant growth in its new US futures business and as it benefitted from broader market volatility.
On the negative side of the ledger, the Software & Computer Services sector was the largest detractor, with Bytes Technology, the value-added technology reseller, experiencing a significant decline after announcing a profit warning just weeks after the full-year results. This was in part due to challenges in the implementation of an internal sales team reorganisation but also as a consequence of a weakening demand backdrop. Our holding in 4imprint, the supplier of promotional branded merchandise, was the largest individual detractor, due to increased uncertainty on its growth outlook following the tariff announcements. Performance from our two holdings in the Housebuilding sector, namely Bellway and Barratt Redrow, was also disappointing, as the shares weakened following increasing evidence that the long-awaited recovery in housebuilding activity remains elusive.
While there has not been any material change to the overall shape of the portfolio, or indeed to the level of gearing, through the first half of this financial year, there have been various stock-specific alterations. By coincidence, we have added 12 new holdings to the portfolio and removed the same number. The three largest new additions are in the Financials sector, and constitute IG Group, the provider of online trading services, Just Group, the life insurer, and Quilter, the wealth manager. In other sectors the major additions include Greencore, the convenience food manufacturer, Rosebank Industries, a business following a 'buy, improve, sell' model, and Safestore, the self-storage operator.
Major exits include the aforementioned Bytes Technology, Greggs, the food-to-go retailer, and Auto Trader, the operator of the UK's leading digital automotive marketplace. This final name had been held in the portfolio since its IPO in March 2015, and having delivered excellent returns over that period is now a FTSE100 company.
Outlook
The outlook is always uncertain, and this year is no different, with valid reasons to be apprehensive: the international geopolitical landscape appears primed for generating unanticipated shocks, and the continued rise of populism could have damaging consequences; domestic economic growth is low, and the government's ability to deliver productive change appears limited; the rapid pace of technological development will both create and destroy industries, and thus winners and losers. As always, we will endeavour to invest in more of the former, and avoid the latter.
In the near-term, financial markets will be buffeted by changes to the above, as well as by the inter-connected forces of inflation, monetary policy, and their impact upon economic and thus corporate earnings growth expectations.
However, there are also reasons for optimism, which may help to explain our level of gearing, at around 15%. Despite these well-known headwinds to growth, and widespread caution heading into the upcoming budget, portfolio companies are mostly performing well, and yet the valuation of the UK market remains at a marked discount to both its own history and relative to other developed markets. This fact has not gone unnoticed, as we have seen a continued stream of corporate acquisitions, while the volume of share buybacks being executed by management teams remains elevated. Furthermore, while persistent inflation has led the Bank of England to pause monetary easing, should this recommence it is likely to be a material tailwind to the performance of smaller companies.
Looking ahead, we will maintain our focus on investing in structurally robust businesses that operate in growing end markets and possess the ability to invest capital at attractive returns while being able to adapt to the changing environments in which they operate. We believe that a portfolio of companies with these characteristics offers the best prospect of delivering compelling returns and outperformance for our shareholders over the long-term, just as it has done in the past.
Guy Anderson
Anthony Lynch
Portfolio Managers 17th October 2025
INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT
The Company is required to make the following disclosures in its half year report.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Company include, but are not limited to, investment under-performance, geopolitical instability, cyber crime, discount control, legal and regulatory change and corporate strategy. Information on each of these is given in the Strategic Report within the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st January 2025.
In the view of the Board, these principal risks and uncertainties are as much applicable to the remaining six months of the financial year as they were to the six months under review.
Related parties transactions
During the first six months of the current financial year, no transactions with related parties have taken place which have materially affected the financial position or the performance of the Company.
Going concern
The Directors believe, having considered the Company's investment objectives, risk management policies, capital management policies and procedures, nature of the portfolio and expenditure projections, that the Company has adequate resources, an appropriate financial structure and suitable management arrangements in place to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and, more specifically, that there are no material uncertainties pertaining to the Company that would prevent its ability to continue in such operational existence for at least 12 months from the date of the approval of this half year financial report. For these reasons, they consider there is sufficient evidence to continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accounts.
Directors' responsibilities
The Board of Directors confirms that, to the best of its knowledge:
(i) the condensed set of financial statements contained within the half year financial report has been prepared in accordance with FRS 104 'Interim Financial Reporting' and gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company, and of the assets, liabilities, financial position and net return of the Company as at 31st July 2025 as required by the UK Listing Authority Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules ('DTRs') 4.2.4R; and
(ii) the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by 4.2.7R and 4.2.8R of the DTRs.
In order to provide these confirmations, and in preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:
• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business; and
• notify the Company's shareholders in writing about the use, if any, of disclosure exemptions in FRS 102 in the preparation of the financial statements;
and the Directors confirm that they have done so.
For and on behalf of the Board
Rachel Beagles
Chair 17th October 2025
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Audited)
Six months ended
Six months ended
Year ended
31st July 2025
31st July 2024
31st January 2025
Revenue
Capital
Total
Revenue
Capital
Total
Revenue
Capital
Total
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
Gains on investments held at
fair value through profit or loss
-
70,232
70,232
-
293,772
293,772
-
187,228
187,228
Net foreign currency
gains/(losses)
-
75
75
-
39
39
-
(4)
(4)
Income from investments
44,053
-
44,053
45,420
-
45,420
76,726
387
77,113
Interest receivable and similar
income
1,082
-
1,082
802
-
802
1,497
-
1,497
Gross return
45,135
70,307
115,442
46,222
293,811
340,033
78,223
187,611
265,834
Management fee
(1,171)
(2,733)
(3,904)
(1,156)
(2,699)
(3,855)
(2,385)
(5,564)
(7,949)
Other administrative expenses
(798)
-
(798)
(768)
-
(768)
(1,642)
-
(1,642)
Net return before finance costs
and taxation
43,166
67,574
110,740
44,298
291,112
335,410
74,196
182,047
256,243
Finance costs
(2,087)
(4,869)
(6,956)
(2,086)
(4,864)
(6,950)
(4,172)
(9,735)
(13,907)
Net return before taxation
41,079
62,705
103,784
42,212
286,248
328,460
70,024
172,312
242,336
Taxation (note 3)
311
-
311
(558)
-
(558)
(958)
-
(958)
Net return after taxation
41,390
62,705
104,095
41,654
286,248
327,902
69,066
172,312
241,378
Return per share(note 4)
5.66p
8.57p
14.23p
5.36p
36.86p
42.22p
8.96p
22.34p
31.30p
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations. No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period.
The 'Total' column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company and the 'Revenue' and 'Capital' columns represent supplementary information prepared under guidance issued by the Association of Investment Companies.
The return per share represents the profit per share for the period/year and also the total comprehensive income per share.
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
Called up
Capital
share
Share
redemption
Capital
Revenue
capital
premium
reserve
reserves1
reserve1
Total
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
Six months ended 31st July 2025 (Unaudited)
At 31st January 2025
23,612
23,459
13,158
1,819,986
85,253
1,965,468
Repurchase of shares into Treasury
-
-
-
(65,026)
-
(65,026)
Net return
-
-
-
62,705
41,390
104,095
Dividends paid in the period (note 5)
-
-
-
-
(36,183)
(36,183)
Proceeds from forfeiture of unclaimed
dividends2 (note 5)
-
-
-
-
3
3
At 31st July 2025
23,612
23,459
13,158
1,817,665
90,463
1,968,357
Six months ended 31st July 2024 (Unaudited)
At 31st January 2024
23,612
23,459
13,158
1,729,199
76,191
1,865,619
Repurchase of shares into Treasury
-
-
-
(16,148)
-
(16,148)
Proceeds from share forfeiture2
-
-
-
616
-
616
Net return
-
-
-
286,248
41,654
327,902
Dividends paid in the period (note 5)
-
-
-
-
(37,254)
(37,254)
Proceeds from forfeiture of unclaimed
dividends2 (note 5)
-
-
-
-
276
276
At 31st July 2024
23,612
23,459
13,158
1,999,915
80,867
2,141,011
Year ended 31st January 2025 (Audited)
At 31st January 2024
23,612
23,459
13,158
1,729,199
76,191
1,865,619
Repurchase of shares into Treasury
-
-
-
(82,121)
-
(82,121)
Proceeds from share forfeiture2
-
-
-
596
-
596
Net return
-
-
-
172,312
69,066
241,378
Dividends paid in the year (note 5)
-
-
-
-
(60,280)
(60,280)
Proceeds from forfeiture of unclaimed
dividends2 (note 5)
-
-
-
-
276
276
At 31st January 2025
23,612
23,459
13,158
1,819,986
85,253
1,965,468
1 These reserves form the distributable reserves of the Company and can be used to fund distributions to investors via dividend payments.
2 During the year ended 31st January 2025, the Company undertook an Asset Reunification Program to reunite inactive shareholders with their shares and unclaimed dividends. Pursuant to the Company's Articles of Association, the Company has exercised its right to reclaim the shares of shareholders whom the Company, through its previous Registrar, has been unable to locate for a period of 12 years or more. These forfeited shares were sold in the open market by the previous Registrar and the proceeds, net of costs, were returned to the Company. In addition, any unclaimed dividends older than 12 years from the date of payment of such dividends were also forfeited and returned to the Company.
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Audited)
31st July 2025
31st July 20241
31st January 2025
£'000
£'000
£'000
Fixed assets
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss
2,253,898
2,434,904
2,242,684
Current assets
Debtors
10,780
12,362
4,100
Current asset investments1
40,854
31,768
36,903
Cash at bank1
250
250
20,245
51,884
44,380
61,248
Current liabilities
Creditors:amounts falling due within one year
(9,329)
(10,286)
(10,420)
Net current assets
42,555
34,094
50,828
Total assets less current liabilities
2,296,453
2,468,998
2,293,512
Creditors:amounts falling due after more than one year
(328,096)
(327,987)
(328,044)
Net assets
1,968,357
2,141,011
1,965,468
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
23,612
23,612
23,612
Share premium
23,459
23,459
23,459
Capital redemption reserve
13,158
13,158
13,158
Capital reserves
1,817,665
1,999,915
1,819,986
Revenue reserve
90,463
80,867
85,253
Total shareholders' funds
1,968,357
2,141,011
1,965,468
Net asset value per share(note 6)
273.4p
276.3p
263.2p
1 For the six months ended 31st July 2024, the 'Cash and cash equivalents' line item in the Statement of Financial Position has been revised to 'Cash at bank' and 'Current asset investments.' This revision separately reports the investment in the JPMorgan GBP Liquidity Fund as 'Current asset investments' in accordance with the statutory format required by the Companies Act 2006. This adjustment does not affect any other line items in the Statement of Financial Position or the total current assets.
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Audited)
Six months ended
Six months ended
Year ended
31st July 2025
31st July 2024
31st January 2025
£'000
£'000
£'000
Cash flows from operating activities
Net return before finance costs and taxation
110,740
335,410
256,243
Adjustment for:
Net gains on investments held at fair value through profit
or loss
(70,232)
(293,772)
(187,228)
Net foreign currency (gains)/losses
(75)
(39)
4
Dividend income
(44,053)
(45,420)
(77,113)
Interest income
(1,082)
(802)
(1,497)
Realised gains/(losses) on foreign exchange transactions
75
-
(4)
Increase in other debtors
(32)
(46)
(39)
(Decrease)/increase in accrued expenses
(321)
2
263
Net cash outflow from operations before dividends, interest
and taxation
(4,980)
(4,667)
(9,371)
Dividends received
39,663
40,382
75,567
Interest received
1,082
802
1,497
Overseas withholding tax recovered
665
161
448
Net cash inflow from operating activities
36,430
36,678
68,141
Purchases of investments
(248,438)
(257,266)
(437,321)
Sales of investments
304,414
223,137
491,572
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities
55,976
(34,129)
54,251
Equity dividends paid (note 5)
(36,183)
(37,254)
(60,280)
Proceeds from forfeiture of unclaimed dividends (note 5)
3
276
276
Repurchase of shares into Treasury
(65,366)
(16,802)
(81,569)
Proceeds from share forfeiture
-
616
596
Loan and overdraft interest paid
(6,904)
(6,897)
(13,797)
Net cash outflow from financing activities
(108,450)
(60,061)
(154,774)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(16,044)
(57,512)
(32,382)
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period/year
57,148
89,530
89,530
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period/year
41,104
32,018
57,148
Cash and cash equivalents consist of:
Cash at bank
250
250
20,245
Current asset investment in JPMorgan GBP Liquidity Fund
40,854
31,768
36,903
Total
41,104
32,018
57,148
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the six months ended 31st July 2025
1. Financial statements
The information contained within these condensed financial statements in this half year report has not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditors.
The figures and financial information for the year ended 31st January 2025 are extracted from the latest published financial statements of the Company and do not constitute statutory accounts for that year. Those financial statements have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and include the report of the auditors which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.
2. Accounting policies
The condensed financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include fixed asset investments at fair value, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice ('UK GAAP'), including FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts' (the 'SORP') issued by the Association of Investment Companies in July 2022.
FRS 104, 'Interim Financial Reporting', issued by the Financial Reporting Council ('FRC') in March 2015 has been applied in preparing this condensed set of financial statements for the six months ended 31st July 2025.
All of the Company's operations are of a continuing nature.
The accounting policies applied to this condensed set of financial statements are consistent with those applied in the financial statements for the year ended 31st January 2025.
3. Taxation
The Company's effective corporation tax rate is 25%, however as the current period deductible expenses exceed taxable income, no income tax is payable. Furthermore, the Company does not pay tax on capital gains due to its status as an investment trust company. The tax recognised in the period comprises overseas withholding tax. Withholding tax amounts that were initially considered irrecoverable but have been recovered during the period are recognised as a tax credit in that period.
4. Return per share
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Audited)
Six months ended
Six months ended
Year ended
31st July 2025
31st July 2024
31st January 2025
£'000
£'000
£'000
Return per share is based on the following:
Revenue return
41,390
41,654
69,066
Capital return
62,705
286,248
172,312
Total return
104,095
327,902
241,378
Weighted average number of shares in issue
731,616,104
776,683,471
771,172,156
Revenue return per share
5.66p
5.36p
8.96p
Capital return per share
8.57p
36.86p
22.34p
Total return per share
14.23p
42.22p
31.30p
5. Dividends paid
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Audited)
Six months ended
Six months ended
Year ended
31st July 2025
31st July 2024
31st January 2025
Pence
£'000
Pence
£'000
Pence
£'000
Dividend paid
Fourth quarterly dividend in respect of prior year
3.40
24,884
3.30
25,626
3.30
25,626
First quarterly dividend1
1.55
11,299
1.50
11,628
1.50
11,628
Second quarterly dividend1
-
-
-
-
1.50
11,622
Third quarterly dividend1
-
-
-
-
1.50
11,404
Total dividends paid in the period/year
4.95
36,183
4.80
37,254
7.80
60,280
Forfeiture of unclaimed dividends over 12 years old2
(3)
(276)
(276)
Net dividends
4.95
36,180
4.80
36,978
7.80
60,004
1 The Company irrevocably transfers the funds to its Registrar in the month prior to which the dividend is paid to shareholders.
2 The unclaimed dividends were forfeited following an extensive exercise which attempted to reunite the dividends with owners.
All dividends paid in the period/year have been funded from the revenue reserve.
The first 2026 quarterly dividend of 1.55p (2025: 1.50p) per share, amounting to £11,299,000 (2025: £11,628,000) was paid on 1st August 2025 in respect of the six months period ended 31st July 2025.
A second 2026 quarterly dividend of 1.55p (2025: 1.50p) per share, amounting to £10,993,000 (2025: £11,622,000), has been declared payable in respect of the six months period ended 31st July 2025.
6. Net asset value per share
The net asset value per Ordinary share and the net asset value attributable to the Ordinary shares at the period/year end are shown below. These were calculated using 719,883,043 (31st July 2024: 774,800,303, 31st January 2025: 746,668,191) Ordinary shares in issue at the period/year end (excluding Treasury shares).
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Audited)
Six months ended
Six months ended
Year ended
31st July 2025
31st July 2024
31st January 2025
Net asset value
Net asset value
Net asset value
attributable
attributable
attributable
£'000
pence
£'000
pence
£'000
pence
Net asset value - debt at par value
1,968,357
273.4
2,141,011
276.3
1,965,468
263.2
£175 million 6.125% debenture stock:
Add back: amortised cost
174,549
24.3
174,452
22.5
174,501
23.4
Deduct: fair value
(189,498)
(26.3)
(191,929)
(24.8)
(188,209)
(25.2)
£3.85 million 4.25% perpetual debenture stock:
Add back: amortised cost
3,850
0.5
3,850
0.5
3,850
0.5
Deduct: fair value
(2,733)
(0.4)
(3,119)
(0.4)
(2,854)
(0.4)
£150 million senior unsecured privately placed
loan notes:
Add back: amortised cost
149,697
20.8
149,685
19.3
149,693
20.1
Deduct: fair value
(76,001)
(10.6)
(83,341)
(10.7)
(78,706)
(10.6)
Net asset value - debt at fair value
2,028,221
281.7
2,190,609
282.7
2,023,743
271.0
7. Fair valuation of investments
The fair value hierarchy analysis for investments held at fair value at the period/year end is as follows:
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Audited)
Six months ended
Six months ended
Year ended
31st July 2025
31st July 20242
31st January 20252
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
Level 1
2,248,493
-
2,428,522
-
2,236,302
-
Level 21
40,854
-
31,768
-
36,903
-
Level 33
5,405
-
6,382
-
6,382
-
Total
2,294,752
-
2,466,672
-
2,279,587
-
1 Current asset investments in the JPMorgan GBP Liquidity Fund, a money market fund.
2 The figures for 31st July 2024 and 31st January 2025 have been restated to include the Level 2 investments.
3 Consists only of holdings in Tennants Consolidated Limited (ordinary shares and preference shares), an unquoted stock, which is still held at 31st July 2025.
A reconciliation of the fair value measurements using valuation techniques and non-observable data (Level 3) is set out below.
Six months ended
Six months ended
Year ended
31st July 2025 (Unaudited)
31st July 2024 (Unaudited)
31st January 2025 (Audited)
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Equity
Interest
Equity
Interest
Equity
Interest
Investments
Investment
Total
Investments
Investment
Total
Investments
Investment
Total
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
Level 3
Opening balance
6,288
94
6,382
6,116
94
6,210
6,116
94
6,210
Change in fair value of unquoted investment during the period/year
(977)
-
(977)
172
-
172
172
-
172
Closingbalance
5,311
94
5,405
6,288
94
6,382
6,288
94
6,382
8. Analysis of changes in net debt
Interest and
As at
amortisation
As at
31st January 2025
Cash flows
charges
31st July 2025
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank
20,245
(19,995)
-
250
Current asset investments1
36,903
3,951
-
40,854
57,148
(16,044)
-
41,104
Borrowings
Debentures falling due after more than
one year
(178,351)
5,441
(5,489)
(178,399)
Privately placed loan notes due after more than one year
(149,693)
1,455
(1,459)
(149,697)
Bank overdraft interest2
-
8
(8)
-
(328,044)
6,904
(6,956)
(328,096)
Net debt
(270,896)
(9,140)
(6,956)
(286,992)
1 JPMorgan GBP Liquidity Fund, a money market fund.
2 A settlement overdraft is available from the custodian to cover timing differences between settlement of cash inflows and outflows. Bank overdraft interest is charged by the custodian when overdrawn. The Company does not utilise an overdraft for the purpose of long-term borrowing.
JPMORGAN FUNDS LIMITED
20th October 2025
For further information, please contact:
Sachu Saji
For and on behalf of
JPMorgan Funds Limited
Telephone: 0800 20 40 20 or or +44 1268 44 44 70
E-mail: jpmam.investment.trusts@jpmorgan.com
Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
ENDS
A copy of the Half Year Report will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism
The Half Year Report will also shortly be available on the Company's website at www.mercantileit.co.uk where up to date information on the Company, including daily NAV and share prices, factsheets and portfolio information can also be found.
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END
IR FLFIRIVLDLIE
