Argo Group Limited

("Argo" or the "Company")

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2020

Argo today announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2020.

The Company will today make available its interim report for the six months period ended 30 June 2020 on the Company's website www.argogrouplimited.com.

Key highlights for the six months period ended 30 June 2020

This report sets out the results of Argo Group Limited (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (collectively "the Group" or "Argo") covering the six months ended 30 June 2020.

-     Revenues US$1.4 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$2.4 million)

-     Operating loss US$0.4 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$0.03 million)

-     Profit before tax US$0.2 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$1.5 million)

-     Net assets US$21.4 million (31 December 2019 restated: US$21.3 million)

Commenting on the results and outlook, Kyriakos Rialas, Chief Executive Officer of Argo said:

''The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has been totally unexpected but Argo Group took early measures to protect the health of its employees and their families.  The office was closed early on with employees working from home and key operations such as trading and settlements functioned smoothly with remote secure computers. The market volatility that resulted provided trading opportunities and although March was a down month The Argo Fund recovered strongly from April to June resulting in a YTD return of 4.55%.  In January 2020 Argo Group finalised the refinancing of the Odessa Riviera shopping mall in Ukraine with EBRD at improved terms.  This involved the company contributing US$11.2 million to the outstanding loan balance.

Finally in July 2020 we have launched the Argo US Feeder Fund in an effort to attract US onshore investors as the Group's main target is to increase assets under management.''

Enquiries

Argo Group Limited

Andreas Rialas

020 7016 7660

Panmure Gordon

Dominic Morley

020 7886 2500

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

The Group and its investment objective

Argo's investment objective is to provide investors with absolute returns in the funds that it manages by investing in multi strategy investments in emerging markets.

Argo was listed on the AIM market in November 2008 and has a performance track record dating back to 2000.

Business and operational review

For the six months ended 30 June 2020 the Group generated revenues of US$1.4 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$2.4 million) with management fees accounting for US$1.2 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$2.0 million). Management fees for the comparative period included USD$0.6 million earned from Argo Real Estate Opportunities Fund Limited (''AREOF'').  The management contract with AREOF was terminated on 1 January 2020, so there was no fees earned from AREOF in the current period.   The Group does not accrue for performance fees until they are crystalized at the year end.

Total operating costs for the period, ignoring bad debt provisions, are US$1.6 million compared to US$2.5 million for the six months to 30 June 2019. The Group has provided against management fees of US$0.2 million due from the Designated share class in The Argo Fund ("TAF") (six months to 30 June 2019: US$0.3 million (€0.2 million) due from AREOF). In the Directors' view these amounts are fully recoverable however they have concluded that it would only be appropriate to recognise income without provision from these investment management services once a liquidity event occurs in this share class.

Overall, the financial statements show an operating loss for the period of US$0.4 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$0.03 million) and a profit before tax of US$0.2 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$1.5 million) reflecting the net profit on investments of US$0.2 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$1.4 million) and interest income of US$0.4 million (six months to 30 June 2019: US$0.1 million).

At the period end, the Group had net assets of US$21.4 million (31 December 2019 restated: US$21.3 million) and net current assets of US$9.0 million (31 December 2019 restated: US$20.7 million) including cash reserves of US$1.6 million (31 December 2019: US$0.9 million).

Net assets include investments in TAF, ASSF LP and ADCF (together referred to as "the Argo Funds") at fair values of US$7.8 million (31 December 2019: US$18.6 million),), US$ nil (31 December 2019: US$0.1 million) and US$0.02 million (31 December 2019: US$0.8 million) respectively. On 30 June 2020, The ASSF LP was struck off. Its assets and remaining investors were moved to ADCF.

Business and operational review

At the period end the Argo Funds owed the Group total fees of US$0.3 million (31 December 2019: US$0.9 million). At 30 June 2020, a provision for US$0.2 million was made against this amount as the timing of the receipt of the fees from the designated share class in TAF is uncertain. Moreover, the Group owes US$0.3 million to ADCF in overpayment of performance fees at the period end. This overpayment will be set off against future management fees that the fund will owe to the Group.

The Argo Funds ended the period with Assets under Management ("AUM") at US$130.4 million. The current level of AUM remains below that required to ensure sustainable profits on a recurring management fee basis in the absence of performance fees. This has necessitated an ongoing review of the Group's cost basis. Nevertheless, the Group has ensured that the operational framework remains intact and that it retains the capacity to manage additional fund inflows as and when they arise.

The average number of permanent employees of the Group for the six months to 30 June 2020 was 20 (30 June 2019: 21).

Fund performance

The Argo Funds

The events of the first six months of 2020 caught most by surprise. At the beginning of the period markets were largely focused on the US electoral cycle and whether growth momentum would be maintained, particularly in the US and China, but very quickly attention turned to the impact of the previously little-known COVID-19 virus. Initially thought to be a localised problem in parts of Asia, the virus (and fear of it) spread to the rest of the world leading to a meltdown in global equity and credit markets from early March. Arguably, the response from governments, particularly the G7, was much faster compared with the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and they announced sizeable packages of monetary easing and fiscal support and stimuli alongside public health initiative measures such as lockdowns and travel restrictions. As confidence about a rapid economic recovery took hold, equity markets partially rebounded and delivered strong returns from April onwards. Emerging markets have not escaped the effects of COVID-19 despite the perceived advantage of a younger demographic; some like Brazil have recorded a high number of infections and deaths whilst others have seen their economies adversely affected by the sudden halt in global growth and trade and direct hits on sectors including oil and tourism. Countries such as Argentina and Lebanon had already signalled a need to restructure their external debts, but the strains of falling demand and additional health costs have led to wider calls for debt relief, particularly for poorer countries. Although government creditors (including China) have begun to implement this for those countries that have requested it, there remains a large question mark over the necessity and operability of involvement by private creditors such as bond investors.

The Class A NAV of TAF increased by 4.55% in the first half of 2020, compared to a rise of 4.25% in the same period of the previous year, but against a very different -and more volatile- global economic and financial backdrop; for example, the benchmark JP Morgan EMBI+ bond index fell by 0.4% in the first six months. The fund was conservatively positioned, with low net exposure, heading into the first quarter sell-off and whilst TAF suffered a drawdown in March, it was not of the scale witnessed in some other funds. The losses were clawed back and more by a judicious choice of long bond positions that benefited from positive developments in sovereign restructurings and the oil market. At the end of 2019, the decision was taken to restructure the fund, creating a master/feeder structure. Class A shares issued by TAF continue to be invested in a diversified debt and macro positions which seek to capture alpha through long and short investment in liquid EM corporate and sovereign bonds and FX. In addition, there are new classes of Designated Investments which offer investors exposure to distressed and special situations where the timeline to investment realisation will be three years or more. A US feeder fund was also recently established in order to widen the potential pool of investors in that jurisdiction.

Dividends and share purchase programme

The Group did not pay a dividend during the current or prior period. The Directors intend to restart dividend payments as soon as the Group's performance provides a consistent track record of profitability.

Outlook

The Board remains optimistic about the Group's prospects based on the transactions in the pipeline and the Group's initiatives to increase AUM. A significant increase in AUM is still required to ensure sustainable profits on a recurring management fee basis and the Group is well placed with capacity to absorb such an increase in AUM with negligible impact on operational costs.

Boosting AUM will be Argo's top priority in the next six months. The Group's marketing efforts will continue to focus on TAF which has a 19-year track record as well as identifying acquisitions that are earnings enhancing.

Over the longer term, the Board believes there is significant opportunity for growth in assets and profits and remains committed to ensuring the Group's investment management capabilities and resources are appropriate to meet its key objective of achieving a consistent positive investment performance in the emerging markets sector.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2020

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 30 JUNE 2020

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2020

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2020

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended 30 June 2020

1.       CORPORATE INFORMATION

         The Company is domiciled in the Isle of Man under the Companies Act 2006.  Its registered office is at 33-37 Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1LB. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Group as at and for the six months ended 30 June 2020 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group").

         The consolidated financial statements of the Group as at and for the year ended 31 December 2019 are available upon request from the Company's registered office or at www.argogrouplimited.com.

         The principal activity of the Company is that of a holding company and the principal activity of the wider Group is that of an investment management business. The functional and presentational currency of the Group undertakings is US dollars.

         Wholly owned subsidiaries                                                              Country of incorporation

2.       ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)     Basis of preparation

         These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. They do not include all the information required for full annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Group as at and for the year ended 31 December 2019.

         The accounting policies applied by the Group in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements are the same as those applied by the Group in its consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 31 December 2019.

         These condensed consolidated interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 30 July 2020.       

b)      Financial instruments and fair value hierarchy

The following represents the fair value hierarchy of financial instruments measured at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. The hierarchy groups financial assets and liabilities into three levels based on the significance of inputs used in measuring the fair value of the financial assets and liabilities. The fair value hierarchy has the following levels:

Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); and

Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

The level within which the financial asset or liability is classified is determined based on the lowest level of significant input to the fair value measurement

3.      SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

The Group operates as a single asset management business.

The operating results of the companies are regularly reviewed by the Directors of the Group for the purposes of making decisions about resources to be allocated to each company and to assess performance. The following summary analyses revenues, profit or loss, assets and liabilities:

4.   SHARE-BASED INCENTIVE PLANS

         On 14 March 2011 the Group granted options over 5,900,000 shares to directors and employees under The Argo Group Limited Employee Stock Option Plan. All options are exercisable at 24p per share within 10 years of the grant date.

         The fair value of the options granted was measured at the grant date using a Black-Scholes model that takes into account the effect of certain financial assumptions, including the option exercise price, current share price and volatility, dividend yield and the risk-free interest rate. The fair value of the options granted is spread over the vesting period of the scheme and the value is adjusted to reflect the actual number of shares that are expected to vest.

The principal assumptions for valuing the options are:

The fair value of options granted is recognised as an employee expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The total charge to employee costs in respect of this incentive plan is £nil (30 June 2019: £nil)

The number and weighted average exercise price of the share options during the period is as follows:

The options outstanding at 30 June 2020 have an exercise price of 24p and a weighted average contractual life of 1 year.  Outstanding share options are contingent upon the option holder remaining an employee of the Group.

No share options were issued during the period.

5.      TAXATION

         Taxation rates applicable to the parent company and the Cypriot, UK, Luxembourg, Cayman and Romanian subsidiaries range from 0% to 19% (2019: 0% to 19%).

The charge for the period can be reconciled to the profit shown on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of profit or loss as follows:

6.      EARNINGS PER SHARE

         Earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net profit for the period by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.

7.      LAND, FIXTURES, FITTINGS AND EQUIPMENT

8.       FINANCIAL ASSETS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS

*Classified as current in the consolidated statement of Financial Position

Note that some of the Argo Funds listed above may have investments in each other.

9.   TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates their fair value. All trade receivable balances are recoverable within one year from the reporting date except as disclosed below.

         The movement in the Group's provision for impairment of trade and loan receivables is as follow:

10. LOANS AND ADVANCES RECEIVABLE

The deposits on leased premises are retained by the lessor until vacation of the premises at the end of the lease term as follows:

11.     SHARE CAPITAL

   The Company's authorised share capital is unlimited with a nominal value of US$0.01.

The Directors did not recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2019 and do not recommend an interim dividend in respect of the current period.

12.     RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH INFLOW/(OUTFLOW) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO PROFIT/(LOSS) ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION

13.     FAIR VALUE HIERARCY

The table below analyses financial instruments measured at fair value at the end of the reporting period by the level of the fair value hierarchy (note 2b).

                                                               At 30 June 2020

                                                                                    At 31 December 2019

The following table shows a reconciliation from the opening balances to the closing balances for fair

value measurements in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:

14.   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Most Group revenues derive from funds or entities in which one of the Company's directors, Kyriakos Rialas, has an influence through directorships and the provision of investment advisory services.

At the reporting date the Company holds investments in The Argo Fund Limited and Argo Distressed Credit Fund Limited. These investments are reflected in the accounts at fair value of US$7.8 million, and US$0.02 million respectively.

The management contract with AREOF was terminated on 1 January 2020. As at the period end, AREOF owed US$12.2 million (€10.9 million) (31 December 2019: US$12.1 million (€10.9 million)). These balances are carried at US$ nil (31 December 2019: US$ nil) in the financial statements.

          David Fisher, a non-executive director of the Company, is also a non-executive director of AREOF.

          During the period, the Group also made a loan for $11.2 million to Argo Real Estate Limited Partnership, an entity that is 100% owned by Andreas Rialas. The loan carries an interest rate of 9% with a final maturity of July 2027.

15.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

      Trade creditors are normally settled on 30-day terms.

16.   PRIOR YEAR ADJSUTMENTS

The comparatives have been restated for correction of performance fees for the prior period.  Comparatives were adjusted by decreasing performance fees and debtors by $0.2 million.  As a result, the opening revenue reserve at 1 January 2020 has been adjusted downward by $0.2 million.