ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
Disclose whether, as of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. If the registrant has not adopted such a code of ethics, explain why it has not done so.
The registrant must briefly describe the nature of any amendment, during the period covered by the report, to a provision of its code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of this Item. The registrant must file a copy of any such amendment as an exhibit pursuant to Item 12(a)(1), unless the registrant has elected to satisfy paragraph (f) of this Item by positing its code of ethics on its website pursuant to paragraph (f)(2) of this Item, or by undertaking to provide its code of ethics to any person without charge, upon request, pursuant to paragraph (f)(3) of this Item.
If the registrant has, during the period covered by the report, granted a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or third party, that relates to one or more items set forth in paragraph (b) of this Item, the registrant must briefly describe the nature of the waiver, the name of the person to whom the waiver was granted, and the date of the waiver.
The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer. There were no amendments to the code of ethics or waivers granted with respect to the code of ethics in the period covered by the report.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
(a) (1) Disclose that the registrant’s board of directors has determined that the registrant either:
(i) Has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee; or
(ii) Does not have an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
The Registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that the Registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. The Securities and Exchange Commission has stated that the designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this Item 3 of Form N-CSR does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification.
(2) If the registrant provides the disclosure required by paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this Item, it must disclose the name of the audit committee financial expert and whether that person is “independent.” In order to be considered “independent” for purposes of this Item, a member of an audit committee may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee:
(i) Accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the issuer; or
(ii) Be an “interested person” of the investment company as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(19)).
The audit committee financial expert is William Armstrong. He is not an “interested person” of the Registrant and is also “independent” as defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for purposes of audit committee financial expert determinations.
(3) If the registrant provides the disclosure required by paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this Item, it must explain why it does not have an audit committee financial expert.
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Disclose, under the caption Audit Fees, the aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional
services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years.
AUDIT FEES
2008 – $43,800
2007 – $40,900
(b) Disclose, under the caption Audit-Related Fees, the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category.
AUDIT-RELATED FEES (On a calendar year basis)
2007 – $15,213,000
2006 – $9,775,000
The audit-related fees consist of aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant (“Service Affiliates”), that were reasonably related to the performance of the annual audit of the Registrant's financial statements.
(c) Disclose, under the caption Tax Fees, the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category.
TAX FEES
2008 – $8,160
2007 – $8,170
The tax fees consist of fees billed in connection with preparing the federal regulated investment company income tax returns for the Registrant for the tax years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
For the last fiscal year, no tax fees were required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(d) Disclose, under the caption All Other Fees, the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category.
ALL OTHER FEES
2008 – Not applicable
2007 – Not applicable
(e) (1) Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
Pursuant to the Registrant’s Audit Committee Charter and written policies and procedures for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services (the “Pre-approval Policy”), the Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services performed by the Registrant’s independent public registered accounting firm for the Registrant. In addition, the Audit Committee pre-approves the auditor’s engagement for non-audit services with the Registrant’s investment adviser (not including a sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted or overseen by another investment adviser) and any Service Affiliate in accordance with paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant. Proposed services may be pre-approved either 1) without consideration of specific case-by-case services or 2) require the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. Therefore, initially the Pre-approval Policy listed a number of audit and non-audit services that have been approved by the Audit Committee, or which were not subject to pre-approval under the transition provisions of
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Pre-approval List”). The Audit Committee annually reviews and pre-approves the services included on the Pre-approval List that may be provided by the independent public registered accounting firm without obtaining additional specific pre-approval of individual services from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee adds to, or subtracts from, the list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations. All other audit and non-audit services not on the Pre-approval List must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
One or more members of the Audit Committee may be appointed as the Committee’s delegate for the purposes of considering whether to approve such services. Any pre-approvals granted by the delegate will be reported, for informational purposes only, to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the independent public registered accounting firm are not delegated to management.
(2) Disclose the percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
2008 – 0.0%
2007 – 100.0%*
* The number shown represents the percentage of services that were pre-approved. The percentage of services that were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X was 0%.
(f) If greater than 50 percent, disclose the percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.
None.
(g) Disclose the aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant.
The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the independent registered public accounting firm for services rendered to the Registrant, and rendered to Service Affiliates, for the last two calendar year ends were $19.9 million in 2007 and $21.6 million in 2006.
(h) Disclose whether the registrant’s audit committee of the board of directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any subadviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
The Registrant’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates that were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval) is compatible with maintaining the independent public registered accounting firm’s independence. All services provided by the independent public registered accounting firm to the Registrant or to Service Affiliates that were required to be pre-approved were pre-approved as required.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
(a) If the registrant is a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.10A-3), state whether or not the registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)). If the registrant has such a committee, however designated, identify each committee member. If the entire board of directors is acting as the registrant’s audit committee as specified in Section 3(a)(58)(B) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(B)), so state.
(b) If applicable, provide the disclosure required by Rule 10A-3(d) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.10A-3(d)) regarding an exemption from the listing standards for all audit committees.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
File Schedule I – Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period as set forth in Section 210.12-12 of Regulation S-X, unless the schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
Included in Item 1.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
A closed-end management investment company that is filing an annual report on this Form N-CSR must, unless it invests exclusively in non-voting securities, describe the policies and procedures that it uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities, including the procedures that the company uses when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of its shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the company’s investment adviser; principal underwriter; or any affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(3)) and the rules thereunder) of the company, its investment adviser, or its principal underwriter, on the other. Include any policies and procedures of the company’s investment adviser, or any other third party, that the company uses, or that are used on the company’s behalf, to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
(a) If the registrant is a closed-end management investment company, provide the information specified in paragraph (b) of this Item with respect to any purchase made by or on behalf of the registrant or any "affiliated purchaser," as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10b-18(a)(3)), of shares or other units of any class of the registrant's equity securities that is registered by the registrant pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 781).
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
Describe any material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 7(d)(2)(ii)(G) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101), or this Item.
No material changes to report.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) Disclose the conclusions of the registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, regarding the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).
The Registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be
disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) Disclose any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant's second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.
(a) File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.
(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit.
Code of Ethics applicable to its Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officers pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.
(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2).
Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are attached hereto.
(a)(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons.
Not applicable.
(b) A separate or combined certification for each principal executive officer and principal officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act of 1940.
Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are attached hereto.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
J.P. Morgan Fleming Mutual Fund Group, Inc.
By: | /s/___________________________ |
George C.W. Gatch
President and Principal Executive Officer
September 5, 2008
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/___________________________ |
George C.W. Gatch
President and Principal Executive Officer
September 5, 2008
By: | /s/___________________________ |
Patricia A. Maleski
Principal Financial Officer
September 5, 2008
