16th Dec 2024 13:37
(Alliance News) - JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust PLC on Monday hiked its dividend after it "comfortably" outperformed its benchmark amid "strong run" for Japanese market.
The London-based company, which invests in Japanese firms across the market cap spectrum, successfully completed a combination with JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income PLC following the year-end.
The company said its net asset value total return in the 12 months to the end of September was positive 24.2%, outperforming the benchmark Tokyo Stock Price Index return of 10.3%.
It declared a final dividend of 6.75 pence per share, up 3.8% from 6.50 pence in financial 2023.
The NAV per share on September 30 was 613.80 pence, up 23% from 500.90 pence last year.
JPMorgan Japanese said following the combination on October 25, it has approximately GBP1 billion of net assets and a leadership position in the Japanese investment trust sector.
The company said it will benefit from a new fee arrangement after the combination, with the ongoing cost ration expected to be around 0.6% to the end of September 2025, compared with 0.7% in financial 2024.
Chair Stephen Cohen said it was an "exciting time for investors in Japanese equities".
"The corporate reforms and other structural changes such as the spread of digitalisation currently unfolding in Japan are all positive for the economy and for equity markets. It is also encouraging that these developments still have much further to run."
He continued: "At the same time, reflecting a possible end to deflationary pressures, the Bank of Japan has just begun to raise interest rates, wages seem to be increasing and there has been some pickup in reported inflation. All this, plus reasonable market valuations, suggest that the Japanese market's recent strong run could well continue."
Cohen said the company is "well positioned to capture the opportunities offered by the Japanese market".
Shares in JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust traded flat at 572.09 pence each in London on Monday afternoon, after opening higher.
By Michael Hennessey, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.