RNS Number : 9342I
ARGO Group Limited
10 August 2023
 

 

 

 

Argo Group Limited

("Argo" or the "Company")

 

 

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2023

 

Argo today announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2023.

 

Key highlights for the six months period ended 30 June 2023

 

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 2023.

 

-     Revenues US$1.5 million (six months to 30 June 2022: US$1.3 million)

-     Operating loss US$0.7 million (six months to 30 June 2022: US$1.5 million)

-     Profit before tax US$0.1 million (six months to 30 June 2022: loss before tax US$3.5 million)

-     Net assets US$19.7 million (31 December 2022: US$19.6 million)

 

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

 

"Argo Group was profitable for the first six months of 2023 mainly due to a positive performance of its investment in The Argo Fund and continuous control of expenses. The group maintains good liquidity and its operational and investment team has the capacity to take on a third first loss managed account in the second half of 2023. During the first half of 2023, the two first loss managed accounts were up 15%. Emerging markets continue to be adversely affected by inflation and higher interest rates but there are signs that disinflation and lower rates has already started ahead of developed markets. As a result, our macro strategy has outperformed distressed debt with many sovereigns still negotiating and waiting for IMF approvals.  Finally, the situation in Ukraine remains unstable with the shopping mall in Odessa now opened but only up to 60% capacity."

 


 

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 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Key highlights for the six months ended 30 June 2023

 

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 2023.

 

-     Revenues US$1.5 million (six months to 30 June 2022: US$1.3 million)

-     Operating loss US$0.7 million (six months to 30 June 2022: US$1.5 million)

-     Profit before tax US$0.1 million (six months to 30 June 2022: loss before tax US$3.5 million)

-     Net assets US$19.7 million (31 December 2022: US$19.6 million)

 

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 2023 the Group generated revenues of US$1.5 million (six months to 30 June 2022: US$1.3 million) with management fees accounting for US$1.1 million (six months to 30 June 2022: US$1.1 million).

 

Total operating costs for the period, ignoring bad debt provisions, are US$1.8 million compared to US$2.5 million for the six months to 30 June 2022. The Group has provided against management fees of US$0.4 million due from the Designated share class in The Argo Fund ("TAF") (six months to 30 June 2022: US$0.3 million). 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$0.7 million (six months to 30 June 2022: US$1.5 million) and a profit before tax of US$0.1 million (six months to 30 June 2022: loss before tax of US$3.5 million).  Net profit on investments of US$0.3 million (six months to 30 June 2022: net loss on investments US$2.5 million) and interest income of US$0.5 million (six months to 30 June 2022: US$0.5 million).

 

At the period end, the Group had net assets of US$19.7 million (31 December 2022: US$19.6 million) and net current assets of US$5.4 million (31 December 2022: US$6.0 million) including cash reserves of US$1.2 million (31 December 2022: US$1.6 million).

 

Net assets include investments in The Argo Fund ("TAF") at fair values of US$4.5 million (31 December 2022: US$4.4 million).

 

At the period end TAF owed the Group total fees of US$2.4 million (31 December 2022: US$2.1 million). At 30 June 2023, a provision for US$2.3 million was made against this amount as the timing of the receipt of the fees from the designated share class in TAF is unknown.

 

TAF ended the period with Assets under Management ("AUM") at US$110.5 million (31 December 2022: US$109.8 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 2023 was 20 (30 June 2022: 20).

 

Fund performance

The Argo Funds

Fund

Launch

date

30 June

2023

6 months

30 June

2022

6 months

2022

year

total

Since inception

Annualised  performance

Sharpe

ratio

 

Down

months

 

 

%

%

%

%

CAGR %

 

 

The Argo Fund - A class

Oct-00

1.46

-14.25

-12.54

219.78

6.00

0.39

92 of 273

The Argo Fund - X2 class

Feb21

-1.16

-21.39

-16.83

-8.05

-3.42

-0.22

12 of 29

The Argo Fund - DI Class

Jan-20

 

1.96

-6.20

-2.82

92.88

N/A

N/A

N/A

 

In the first half of 2023, global macroeconomic trends continued to have a significant impact on the outlook for and performance of emerging market ("EM") assets. Ongoing uncertainty over the path of inflation and policy trajectory led to false dawns around a peak in US rates. The Federal Reserve raised rates three times in the period and although left fed funds unchanged at 5 -5.25% at the meeting in June, it increased the fed funds rate to a target range of 5.25%-5.5% at its meeting in late July. By contrast, ten-year US Treasury yields were much more volatile, starting the period at 3.9% before dropping below 3.4% by mid-January only to exceed 4% in early March. After falling back to 3.3% in early April they had moved up to over 4% in early July.

After a strong post-pandemic recovery, concern over the evolution of China's economic growth picked up through the second quarter of 2023, as macroeconomic data began to disappoint. This has led to speculation around stimulus measures in recent weeks, although the consensus does not expect a major announcement, even if some targeted support may come through.

However, against this backdrop both EM equities and bonds broadly advanced.  The former, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, returned close to 5% in the first half of 2023, lagging the MSCI World which was up just over 15%. As mentioned previously, China, which is the largest index market in EM, has been a drag. However, the stunning rally from March onwards of the Super-7 stocks (Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Tesla, Meta, Nvidia) in the MSCI World has been a factor.

EM bonds and currencies have generated positive returns year-to-date. In sovereign and corporate credit, the impact of higher US Treasury yields was offset by credit spread compression, while EM local debt continued to outperform core fixed income markets almost entirely driven by lower yields.  The global inflation surge in 2021-2022 caught the attention of central banks worldwide. However, EM central banks were quicker to respond to this inflationary shock, initiating a remarkable series of rate hikes in the first quarter of 2021 that continued until late 2022/early 2023.

This swift action allowed EM countries to witness falling core inflation in recent months, unlike the developed world, which continues to grapple with entrenched core inflation. 

Emerging markets currencies were roughly flat against the US dollar, although Latin American currencies have seen the most appreciation relative to the US dollar year to-date. Turkey and South Africa have seen the greatest currency depreciation. 

Meanwhile, market access has remained a concern for high yield EM issuers. While investment grade EM issuance is almost in line with the average over the past few years, for high yield sovereigns and corporates the equivalent figure is around a third. Inevitably, this increases the likelihood of restructurings particularly if world growth proves disappointing.

The NAV of the Class A shares of the TAF increased by 1.46 % in the first half of 2023, compared to the drop of 14.25% in the same period of the previous year. The fund benefited from a recovery in Argentine bond prices, though they remained volatile. There were also positive contributions from long positions in local currency bonds (mainly Latin American and East European). The main detractors were corporates in the throes of restructuring and generic credit hedges. Class A shares issued by TAF continue to be invested in diversified sovereign and corporate debt and macro positions which seek to capture alpha through long and short investment. In addition, there are other share classes within the TAF master/feeder structure which offer investors exposure to a distressed debt portfolio (Class X2 launched in 2021); macro strategies (Class X3, launched last year) and also special situations where the timeline to investment realisation will be longer.

Loan to Argo Real Estate Limited Partnership

On 21st March 2023, the back to back loans from the Group to Argo Real Estate Limited Partnership to Novi Biznes Poglyady LLC were replaced by a direct loan from the Group to Novi Biznes Poglyaddy LLC. The Shopping Centre partially reopened in November 2022. As the loan receivable is still exposed to the performance of this investment property held in Ukraine, the Group continues to hold an IFRS 9 valuation adjustment for US$0.5 million for expected losses at the reporting date (note 10).

 

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 continue to focus on TAF which has a 22-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 2023

 

 


Six months

 

Six months

 

 


ended


ended


 


30 June


30 June


 


2023


2022

 



Note

US$'000


US$'000








Management fees


1,111


1,140


Performance fees


-


-


Other income


400


125


Revenue


1,511


1,265




 


 


Legal and professional expenses


(119)


(128)


Management fees payable


(141)


(180)


Operational expenses


(402)


(362)


Employee costs


(1,108)


(1,752)


Bad debt provision

9, 10

(367)


(320)


Foreign exchange (loss)/profit


(9)


9


Depreciation

7

(48)


(71)


Operating loss


(683)


(1,539)




 


 


Interest income


496


499


Realised and unrealised gain/(loss) on investments


308


(2,507)


Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation


121


(3,547)




 


 


Taxation

5

-


    -      


Profit/(loss) for the period after taxation attributable to members of the Company

6

121


(3,547)


Other comprehensive income


 


 


Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:






Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations


6


(107)


Total comprehensive income for the period


127


(3,654)

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


Six months

 

Six months

 

 


Ended


Ended

 

 


30 June


30 June

 

 


2023


2022

 

 


US$


US$

 

Earnings per share (basic)

6

0.003


(0.09)


Earnings per share (diluted)

6

0.003


(0.08)











 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 30 JUNE 2023

 


30 June

 

31 December

 

 


2023

 

 

2022

 

 


Note

US$'000

 

US$'000

 

Assets



 


 

Non-current assets



 


 

Land, fixtures, fittings and equipment

7

571

 

607

 

Loans and advances receivable

10

14,147

 

13,416

 

Total non-current assets


14,718

 

14,023

 

 


 

 

 

 

Current assets


 

 

 

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

8

4,451

 

4,387


Loan and advances receivable

10

9

 

-


Trade and other receivables

9

309

 

413


Cash and cash equivalents


1,241

 

1,642


Total current assets


6,010

 

6,442


 


 

 

 

 

Total assets


20,728

 

20,465

 

 


 

 

 

 

Equity and liabilities


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Equity


 

 

 

 

Issued share capital

11

390

 

390

 

Share premium


25,353

 

25,353

 

Retained earnings


(2,856)

 

(2,977)                  

 

Foreign currency translation reserve


(3,203)

 

(3,209)

 

Total equity


19,684

 

19,557

 



 

 

 

 

Current liabilities


 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

15

662

 

497

 

Total current liabilities


662

 

497

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 


 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

15

382


411

 

Total non-current liabilities


382

 

411

 

 


 

 

 

 

Total equity and liabilities

 

20,728

 

20,465

 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023


 

Issued share capital

 

 

Share premium

 

 

Retained earnings

 Foreign currency translation reserve

 

 

 

Total

 

2022

2022

2022

2022

2022

 

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 1 January 2022

390

25,353

420

(3,086)

23,077

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

Loss for the period after taxation

-

-

(3,547)

               -

(3,547)

Other comprehensive income

-

-

-

(107)

(107)

As at 30 June 2022

390

25,353

(3,127)

(3,193)

19,423

 

 

 


 

Issued share capital

 

 

Share premium

 

 

Retained earnings

 Foreign currency translation reserve

 

 

 

Total

 

2023

2023

2023

2023

2023

 

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 1 January 2023

390

25,353

(2,977)

(3,209)

19,557

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the period after taxation

-

-

121

               -

121

Other comprehensive income

-

-

-

6

6

As at 30 June 2023

390

25,353

(2,856)

(3,203)

19,684

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

 

 

 

Six months ended

 

Six months ended

 

30 June

 

30 June

 

2023

 

2022

 

US$'000

 

US$'000



 

 

 

Net cash outflow from operating activities

12

(387)


(332)



 

 

 

Cash flows used in investing activities

 

 

 

Purchase of fixtures, fittings and equipment

(3)


(4)



 

 

 



 

 

 

Net cash (used)/ generated from investing activities


(3)

 

(4)

 


 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities




Payment of lease liabilities

-


(78)






Net cash used in financing activities


-

 

(78)

 


 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(390)

 

(414)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2023 and

    1 January 2022

 

1,642


1,709


 




Foreign exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents

(11)


(63)


 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents as at 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2022

 

1,241

 

1,232

 

 

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended 30 June 2023

 

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 2023 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 2022 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 currency of the Group undertakings are US dollars, Sterling and Romanian Lei. The presentational currency is US dollars.

 

         Wholly owned subsidiaries                       Principal activity                  Country of incorporation

 

Argo Capital Management Limited              Investment management

United Kingdom

Argo Property Management Srl                    Property management

Romania



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 2022.

 

         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 2022.

 

         These condensed consolidated interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 9 August 2023.    

                 

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:

 

 

Argo Group Ltd

 

Argo Capital Management Ltd

 

Argo Property Management

Srl

Six months ended

 30 June      

 

2023

2023

2023

2023

 

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000






Total revenues for reportable segments customers

-

1,111

400

1,511

Intersegment revenues

-

-

 

-

-






Total profit/(loss) for reportable segments

687

(602)

36

121

Intersegment loss

-

-

-

-






Total assets for reportable segments assets

19,059

1,428

241

20,728

Total liabilities for reportable segments

6

675

363

1,044

 

Revenues, profit or loss, assets and liabilities may be reconciled as follows:

 

Six months

 

Ended

 

30 June 2023

 

US$'000

Revenues


Total revenues for reportable segments

1,511

Elimination of intersegment revenues

-

Group revenues

1,511



Profit or loss


Profit for reportable segments

121

Elimination of intersegment loss

-

Other unallocated amounts

-

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation

-



Assets


Total assets for reportable segments

20,728

Elimination of intersegment receivables

-

Group assets

20,728



Liabilities


Total liabilities for reportable segments

4,321

Elimination of intersegment payables

(3,277)

Group liabilities

1,044

 

 

 

 

Argo Group Ltd

 

Argo Capital Management Ltd

 

Argo Property Management

Srl

Six months ended

 30 June      

 

2022

2022

2022

2022

 

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000






Total revenues for reportable segments customers

-

1,140

125

1,265

Intersegment revenues

-

-

 

-

-






Total profit/(loss) for reportable segments

(2,329)

(1,215)

(211)

(3,755)

Intersegment loss

208

-

-

208






Total assets for reportable segments assets

18,046

1,279

207

19,532

Total liabilities for reportable segments

6

77

26

109

 

Revenues, profit or loss, assets and liabilities may be reconciled as follows:

 

Six months

 

Ended

 

30 June 2022

 

US$'000

Revenues


Total revenues for reportable segments

1,265

Elimination of intersegment revenues

-

Group revenues

1,265



Profit or loss


Loss for reportable segments

(3,755)

Elimination of intersegment loss

208

Other unallocated amounts

-

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation

(3,547)



Assets


Total assets for reportable segments

19,536

Elimination of intersegment receivables

(4)

Group assets

19,532



Liabilities


Total liabilities for reportable segments

3,466

Elimination of intersegment payables

(3,357)

Group liabilities

109

 

 

4.   SHARE-BASED INCENTIVE PLANS

        

To incentivise personnel and to align their interests with those of the shareholders of Argo Group Limited, Argo Group Limited has granted share options to directors and employees under The Argo Group Limited Employee Stock Option Plan. The options are exercisable within 10 years of the grant date.

 

The fair value of the options granted during the period 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:

 

Exercise price (pence)

21.0

Weighted average share price at grant date (pence)

19.0

Average option life at date of grant (years)

10.0

Expected volatility (% p.a.)

15.0

Dividend yield (% p.a.)

10.0

Risk-free interest rate (% p.a.)

2

 

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 (2022: £nil).

                    

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

 


Weighted average exercise price

No. of share options

Outstanding at beginning of period

21.2p

3,895,998

Granted during the period

-

-

Forfeited during the period

-

-

Outstanding at end of period

21.2p

3,895,998

Exercisable at end of period

21.2p

3,895,998

 

Outstanding share options are contingent upon the option holder remaining an employee of the Group.

The weighted average fair value of the options issued during the period was £Nil (2022: £Nil).

 

 

No share options were issued during the period.

 

5.      TAXATION

 

         Taxation rates applicable to the parent company and the UK and Romanian subsidiaries range from 0% to 25% (2022: 0% to 19%).

        

Consolidated statement of profit or loss

Six months

 

Six months


ended

 

Ended


30 June

 

30 June


2023

 

2022


US$'000

 

US$'000


 

 

 

Taxation charge for the period on Group companies

-

 

-

 

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


Six months

 

Six months


Ended

 

Ended


30 June

 

30 June


2023

 

2022


US$'000

 

US$'000


 

 

 

Profit/(loss) before tax

121

 

(3,547)


 

 

 

Applicable Isle of Man tax rate for Argo Group Limited of 0%

-


-

Timing differences

-


-

Non-deductible expenses

-


-

Other adjustments

-


-

Tax effect of different tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions

-


-

Tax charge

          -

 

-

 

Consolidated statement of financial position

 

 

 


30 June

 

31 December


2023

 

2022


US$'000

 

US$'000


 

 

 

Corporation tax payable

-

 

-

 

 

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.


Six months

 

Six months

 


ended

 

Ended

 


30 June

 

30 June

 


2023

 

2022

 


US$'000

 

US$'000

 


 

 

 

 

Net profit/( loss) for the period after taxation attributable to members

121

 

(3,547)



 

 

 

 


No. of shares

 

No. of shares

 


 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for basic earnings per share

38,959,986


38,959,986

 

Effect of dilution (Note 4)

3,895,998


3,895,998

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for diluted earnings per share

42,855,984

 

42,855,984

 

 


Six months

 

Six months


Ended

 

ended


30 June

 

30 June


2023

 

2022


US$

 

US$


 

 

 

Earnings per share (basic)

0.003


(0.09)

Earnings per share (diluted)

0.003


(0.08)

 

 

 

7.      LAND, FIXTURES, FITTINGS AND EQUIPMENT

 

 

Right

of use

assets

Fixtures, fittings and equipment

 

 

 

Land

 

 

Total

 

USD'000000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

Cost





At 1 January 2022

732

201

182

1,115

Additions

455

7

-

462

Disposals

(732)

(3)

-

(735)

Foreign exchange movement

-

(17)

(10)

(27)

At 31 December 2022

455

188

172

815

Additions

-

3

-

3

Disposals

-

(31)

-

(31)

Foreign exchange movement

22

5

(7)

20

At 30 June 2023

477

165

165

807

 





Accumulated Depreciation





At 1 January 2022

 

634

 

191

 

-

                  825

Depreciation charge for period

120

5

-

125

Disposals

(732)

(3)

-

(735)

Foreign exchange movement

8

(16)

-

(8)

At 31 December 2022

30

177

-

207

Depreciation charge for period

46

2

-

48

Disposals

-

(31)

-

(31)

Foreign exchange movement

3

9

-

12

At 30 June 2023

79

157

-

236

 





Net book value

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2022

425

11

 

172

608

At 30 June 2023

398

8

165

571

 

 

 

 

8.       FINANCIAL ASSETS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS

 



 

 

 


30 June 2023

 

30 June 2023

Investment in management shares

Total cost

 

Fair value

 

US$'000

 

US$'000


 

 

 

 

10

The Argo Fund Ltd

-


-



-

 

-

 

Investment in ordinary shares

Total cost

 

Fair value

 

US$'000

 

US$'000


 

 

 

 

13,920

The Argo Fund Ltd*

4,648


4,451



4,648

 

4,451

 


31 December

 

31 December


2022

 

2022

Investment in management shares

Total cost

 

Fair value

 

US$'000

 

US$'000


 

 

 

 

10

The Argo Fund Ltd

-


-



-

 

-

 

Holding

Investment in ordinary shares

Total cost

 

Fair value


 

US$'000

 

US$'000


 

 

 

 

13,920

The Argo Fund Ltd*

3,824


4,387



3,824

 

4,387

 

*Classified as current in the consolidated statement of Financial Position

 

 

9.   TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

 


At 30 June 2023

 

At 31 December 2022


US$ '000

 

US$ '000





Trade receivables - Gross

2,500


2,255

Less: provision for impairment of trade receivables

(2,358)


(1,980)

Trade receivables - Net

142


275

Other receivables

34


41

Prepayments and accrued income

133


97


309


413

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:

 


At 30 June 2023

 

At 31 December 2022


US$ '000

 

US$ '000





As at 1 January

14,019


14,252

Bad debt recovered

-


(125)

Charged during the period

368


636

Foreign exchange movement

 

 

209


(744)

Closing balance

14,596


14,019

     

10. LOANS AND ADVANCES RECEIVABLE

 


 At 30 June

2023

 

At 31 December

2022

 


US$'000

 

US$'000

 





 

Deposits on leased premises - current

9


-

 

Deposits on leased premises - non-current (see below)

89


                       96

9

 

Other loans and advances receivable - non-current (note 14)

 

14,058


13,320



14,156


13,416








 

The deposits on leased premises relate to the Group's offices in London and Romania.

 

The Group also has a balance receivable for $12.2 million (€11.2 million) from Argo Real Estate Limited Partnership that was assigned from Argo Real Estate Opportunities Fund Limited during 2021. The carrying value of this balance is $nil.

 

11.     SHARE CAPITAL

 

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

 

 

30 June

30 June

31 December

31 December

 

2023

2023

2022

2022

 

No.

US$'000

No.

US$'000

Issued and fully paid

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares of US$0.01 each

38,959,986

390

38,959,986

390


38,959,986

390

38,959,986

390

The Directors did not recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2022 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

 


Six months ended

30 June 2023

 

Six months ended

30 June 2022


US$'000

 

US$'000

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation

121


(3,547)





Interest income

(496)


(499)

Depreciation on fixtures, fittings and equipment

2


3

Depreciation on right of use asset

46


68

Realised and unrealised (profit)/loss on investments

(308)


2,507

Net foreign exchange loss/(profit)

9


(9)

Increase/(decrease) in payables

136


(49)

Decrease in receivables, loans and advances

103


1,194

Corporation tax paid

-

 


-

Net cash outflow from operating activities

(387)

 

(332)

 

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 2023


Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total


US$ '000

US$ '000

US$ '000

US$ '000

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

-

4,451

-

4,451

 

                                                               At 31 December 2022


Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total


US$ '000

US$ '000

US$ '000

US$ '000

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

-

 

4,387

 

-

 

4,387

 

 

 

14.   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

All of the Group revenues derive from The Argo Fund in which two of the Company's directors, Kyriakos Rialas and Kenneth Watterson, have influence through directorships and the provision of investment management services.

 

At the reporting date the Company holds investments in The Argo Fund Limited. These investments are reflected in the accounts at fair value of US$4.5 million (31 December 2022: $4.4 million).

 

          At the period end, the Group was owed $14.6 million (note 10) by Novi Biznes Poglyady LLC, an entity that is 100% ultimately owned by Andreas Rialas. The adjusted IFRS 9 valuation of the loan after providing for expected losses was US$14.1 million. This balance relates to a loan that was originally made to ARE LP in February 2020 that was lent onwards to Novi Biznes Poglyady LLC for the refinancing of Riviera Shopping City in Odessa, Ukraine. During the period, the original back to back loans were replaced by a direct loan from Argo Group Limited to Novi Biznes Poglyady LLC.

 

The Group is also owed US$12.2 million (€11.2 million) (31 December 2022: US$12.0 million (€11.2 million)) by ARE LP, which were previously owed by the now liquidated Argo Real Estate Opportunities Fund Limited. These balances are carried at US$ nil (31 December 2020: US$ nil) in the financial statements.

 

 

 

15.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES


At 30 June

 

At 31 December


2023

 

2022


US$ '000

 

US$ '000





Trade creditors

72


26

Other creditors and accruals

590

              


471

Total current trade and other payables

662


497

 

      Trade creditors are normally settled on 30-day terms.

 

 


At 30 June

 

At 31 December


2023

 

2022


US$ '000

 

US$ '000





Other creditors and accruals

382              


411

Total non-current trade and other payables

382


411

 

 

 

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