Picture of Argo logo

ARGO Argo News Story

0.000.00%
gb flag iconLast trade - 00:00
FinancialsHighly SpeculativeMicro CapContrarian

REG - ARGO Group Limited - Final Results <Origin Href="QuoteRef">ARGOA.L</Origin> - Part 2

- Part 2: For the preceding part double click  ID:nRSM5210Ja 

                          234      11,953                 
 Intersegment revenues                        -               -                                         2,791                            -                                         230      3,021                  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
 Total profit/(loss) for reportable segments  1,862           (215)                                     (480)                            (226)                                     (284)    657                    
 Intersegment profit/(loss)                   2,470           (5,007)                                   2,562                            -                                         (42)     (17)                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
 Total assets for reportable segments         49,910          2,440                                     2,381                            3,920                                     123      58,774                 
 Total liabilities for reportable segments    84              907                                       2,356                            247                                       -        3,594                  
 
 
 Revenues, profit or loss, assets and liabilities may be reconciled as follows:  Year ended   
                                                                                 31 December  
                                                                                 2012         
                                                                                 US$'000      
 Revenues                                                                                     
 Total revenues for reportable segments                                          11,953       
 Elimination of intersegment revenues                                            (3,021)      
 Group revenues                                                                  8,932        
                                                                                              
 Profit or loss                                                                               
 Total profit for reportable segments                                            657          
 Elimination of total intersegment losses                                        17           
 Other unallocated amounts                                                       (14,873)     
 Loss on ordinary activities before taxation                                     (14,199)     
                                                                                              
 Assets                                                                                       
 Total assets for reportable segments                                            58,774       
 Elimination of intersegment receivables                                         (795)        
 Elimination of Company's cost of investments                                    (29,597)     
 Group assets                                                                    28,382       
                                                                                              
 Liabilities                                                                                  
 Total liabilities for reportable segments                                       3,594        
 Elimination of intersegment payables                                            (2,926)      
 Group liabilities                                                               668          
 
 
4.      EMPLOYEE COSTS 
 
                        Year ended     Year ended   
                        31 December    31 December  
                        2013           2012         
                        US$'000        US$'000      
                                                    
 Wages and salaries     3,142          3,110        
 Social security costs  281            316          
 Other                  58             104          
                        3,481          3,530        
 
 
5.      KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL REMUNERATION 
 
Included in employee costs are payments to the following: 
 
                                         Year ended     Year ended     
                                         31 December    31 December    
                                         2013           2012           
                                         US$'000        US$'000        
                                                                       
 Directors and key management personnel  1,471          1,518          
 
 
The remuneration of the Directors of the Company for the year was as follows: 
 
                                                                                                     
                                                                   Year ended       Year ended       
                          Salaries  Fees     Benefits  Cash bonus  31 December2013  31 December2012  
                          US$'000   US$'000  US$'000   US$'000     US$'000          US$'000          
 Executive Directors                                                                                 
 Kyriakos Rialas          239       -        -         -           239              222              
 Andreas Rialas           226       -        3         -           229              227              
                                                                                                     
 Non-Executive Directors                                                                             
 Michael Kloter           -         83       -         -           83               79               
 David Fisher             -         55       -         -           55               54               
 Ken Watterson            -         55       -         -           55               54               
 
 
6.      OPERATING PROFIT 
 
Operating profit is stated after charging: 
 
                           Year ended     Year ended   
                           31 December    31 December  
                           2013           2012         
                           US$'000        US$'000      
                                                       
 Auditors' remuneration    90             94           
 Depreciation              89             73           
 Amortisation              -              990          
 Directors' fees           1,185          1,258        
 Operating lease payments  230            509          
 
 
7.      TAXATION 
 
Taxation rates applicable to the parent company and the Cypriot, UK,
Luxembourg and Romanian subsidiaries range from 0% to 23.3% (2012: 0% to
24.5%). 
 
Income Statement 
 
                                                  Year ended     Year ended   
                                                  31 December    31 December  
                                                  2013           2012         
                                                  US$'000        US$'000      
                                                                              
 Taxation charge for the year on Group companies  115            205          
 Tax on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities      115            205          
 
 
The tax charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit/(loss) on ordinary
activities before taxation shown in the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income as follows: 
 
                                                                                     Year ended     Year ended   
                                                                                     31 December    31 December  
                                                                                     2013           2012         
                                                                                     US$'000        US$'000      
                                                                                                                 
 Profit/(loss) before tax                                                            2,097          (14,199)     
                                                                                                                 
 Applicable Isle of Man tax rate for Argo Group Limited of 0%                        -              -            
 Timing differences                                                                  (1)            (4)          
 Non-deductible expenses                                                             68             248          
 Other adjustments                                                                   (108)          257          
 Tax effect of different tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions  156            (296)        
 Tax charge                                                                          115            205          
 
 
Balance Sheet 
 
                          At 31 December    At 31 December  
                          2013              2012            
                          US$'000           US$'000         
                                                            
 Corporation tax payable  64                201             
 
 
8.      EARNINGS PER SHARE 
 
The Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) data for its
ordinary shares. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing the profit or loss
attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company by the weighted average
number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is
determined by dividing the profit or loss attributable to ordinary
shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares
outstanding, adjusted for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary
shares (see note 21). 
 
                                                                              Year ended       Year ended     
                                                                              31 December      31 December    
                                                                              2013             2012           
                                                                              US$'000          US$'000        
                                                                                                              
 Profit/(loss) for the year after taxation attributable to members            1,982            (14,404)       
                                                                                                              
                                                                              No. of shares    No. of shares  
                                                                                                              
 Weighted average number of ordinary shares for basic earnings     per share  67,428,494       67,428,494     
 Effect of dilution (note 21)                                                 4,715,000        5,415,000      
 Weighted average number of ordinary shares for diluted earnings per share    72,143,494       72,843,494     
 
 
                               Year ended     Year ended   
                               31 December    31 December  
                               2013           2012         
                               US$            US$          
                                                           
 Earnings per share (basic)    0.03           (0.21)       
 Earnings per share (diluted)  0.03           (0.21)       
 
 
9.      INTANGIBLE ASSETS 
 
                                                  Fund management contracts  
                                                  US$'000                    
 Cost                                                                        
 At 1 January 2012                                18,640                     
 Foreign exchange movement                        195                        
 At 31 December 2012                              18,835                     
 Foreign exchange movement                        -                          
 At 31 December 2013                              18,835                     
                                                                             
 Amortisation and impairment                                                 
 At 1 January 2012                                2,698                      
 Impairment charge                                14,945                     
 Amortisation of Argo business intangible assets  990                        
 Foreign exchange movement                        202                        
 At 31 December 2012                              18,835                     
 Foreign exchange movement                        -                          
 At 31 December 2013                              18,835                     
                                                                             
 Net book value                                                              
 At 31 December 2012                              -                          
 At 31 December 2013                              -                          
 
 
In prior years the Group tested intangible assets annually for impairment, or
more frequently if there were indications that the intangible assets could be
impaired.  The recoverable amounts of the intangible assets that were reviewed
for impairment were separately identifiable business units within the Group. 
The value in use approach was used as the businesses were not considered
saleable in their current form due to certain factors, the main being reliance
on certain key individuals. 
 
Since the acquisition of the Argo businesses in 2008 the assets under
management attributable to the Group's separately identifiable business units
had decreased significantly due to the volatility and uncertainty displayed by
the global financial markets. As a result, operations were scaled back and an
impairment review of goodwill was undertaken at 30 June 2012. Following the
review, goodwill of US$14.9 million created on the purchase of the Argo
businesses was written off at 30 June 2012. At the balance sheet date the
carrying value of goodwill is nil (31 December 2012: Nil). 
 
At the balance sheet date the carrying value of the Argo Real Estate
Opportunities Fund Ltd management contract is nil (31 December 2012: Nil)
following its full amortisation during the year ended 31 December 2012. The
Group has successfully renegotiated the extension of this management contract
by five years from 31 July 2013 to 31 July 2018. 
 
10.  FIXTURES, FITTINGS AND EQUIPMENT 
 
                                 Fixtures, fittings & equipment  
                                 US$'000                         
 Cost                                                            
 At 1 January 2012               357                             
 Additions                       225                             
 Disposals                       (231)                           
 Foreign exchange movement       21                              
 At 31 December 2012             372                             
 Additions                       46                              
 Disposals                       (20)                            
 Foreign exchange movement       10                              
 At 31 December 2013             408                             
                                                                 
 Accumulated Depreciation                                        
 At 1 January 2012               287                             
 Depreciation charge for period  73                              
 Disposals                       (231)                           
 Foreign exchange movement       22                              
 At 31 December 2012             151                             
 Depreciation charge for period  89                              
 Disposals                       (16)                            
 Foreign exchange movement       7                               
 At 31 December 2013             231                             
                                                                 
 Net book value                                                  
 At 31 December 2012             221                             
 At 31 December 2013             177                             
 
 
11.  INVESTMENTS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS 
 
                                           31 December    31 December    
                                           2013           2013           
 Holding  Investment in management shares  Total cost     Fair value     
                                           US$'000        US$'000        
                                                                         
 10       The Argo Fund Ltd                -              -              
 100      Argo Distressed Credit Fund Ltd  -              -              
 1        Argo Special Situations Fund LP  -              -              
 1        Argo Local Markets Fund          -              -              
                                           -              -              
 
 
 Holding     Investment in ordinary shares            Total cost    Fair value  
                                                      US$'000       US$'000     
                                                                                
 75,165      The Argo Fund Ltd                        16,343        19,109      
 10,899,021  Argo Real Estate Opportunities Fund Ltd  988           225         
 115         Argo Special Situations Fund LP          115           86          
                                                      17,446        19,420      
 
 
                                           31 December    31 December  
                                           2012           2012         
 Holding  Investment in management shares  Total cost     Fair value   
                                           US$'000        US$'000      
                                                                       
 10       The Argo Fund Ltd                -              -            
 100      Argo Distressed Credit Fund Ltd  -              -            
 1        Argo Special Situations Fund LP  -              -            
 1        Argo Local Markets Fund          -              -            
                                           -              -            
 
 
 Holding     Investment in ordinary shares            Total cost    Fair value  
                                                      US$'000       US$'000     
                                                                                
 75,165      The Argo Fund Ltd                        16,343        17,613      
 10,899,021  Argo Real Estate Opportunities Fund Ltd  988           753         
 115         Argo Special Situations Fund LP          115           112         
                                                      17,446        18,478      
 
 
The Argo Fund Limited holds a concentrated portfolio of Level 2 and Level 3
assets that are valued based on inputs other than quoted prices in active
markets. Inherently the assumptions backing these valuations are subject to
additional risks that can have a positive or negative impact on valuation. 
 
During the year, Argo Real Estate Opportunities Fund Limited was suspended
from trading on AIM, and subsequently delisted on 3 March 2014 as a result of
default notices on its loans creating uncertainty. It is carried at a discount
of the last quoted bid price on AIM from August 2013 at year end. This
investment is classified as level 3 under IFRS fair value hierarchy reflecting
the non-market observable inputs to their valuation. 
 
The investments held by the Group have been made in support of the Group's
funds under management and in support of their liquidity profiles and as such
they may not be realisable in the immediate future. The valuations are subject
to uncertain events, for example, liquidity events or debt refinancing that
may not be wholly within the Group's control. 
 
12.  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 
 
                                 At 31 December    At 31 December  
                                 2013              2012            
                                 US$ '000          US$ '000        
                                                                   
 Trade receivables               2,705             3,625           
 Other receivables               60                107             
 Prepayments and accrued income  535               552             
                                 3,300             4,284           
                                                                   
 
 
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 balance sheet date. 
 
The Group has provided Argo Real Estate Opportunities Fund Limited ("AREOF")
with a notice of deferral in relation to the amounts due from the provision of
investment management services, under which it will not demand payment of such
amounts until the Group judges that AREOF is in a position to pay the
outstanding liability. These amounts accrued or receivable at 31 December 2013
total US$1,265,791 (E919,505) (2012: US$2,597,188, E1,965,333) after a bad
debt provision of US$2,753,200 (E2,000,000) (2012: US$991,125, E750,000).
AREOF continues to meet part of this obligation to the Argo Group as and when
liquidity allows with a further US$476,000 (E350,000) being settled in January
2014. In November 2013 AREOF offered Argo Group Limited additional security
for the continued support in the form of debentures and guarantees by
underlying intermediate companies. In the Directors' view these amounts are
fully recoverable although they have concluded that it would not be
appropriate to continue to recognise income from these investment management
services going forward, as the timing of such receipts may be outside the
control of the Company and AREOF. 
 
At the year end The Argo Fund Limited and Argo Special Situations Fund LP owed
the Group total management fees of US$1,817,803 (2012: US$341,125) after a bad
debt provision of US$650,000 (2012: US$ Nil). Both Funds have a substantial
asset base with very few liabilities. They are currently facing a short term
liquidity issue which is being remedied and whilst a bad debt provision has
been raised against these management fees the Directors are confident that
they are fully recoverable. 
 
In the audited financial statements of AREOF at 30 September 2013 a material
uncertainty surrounding the refinancing of bank debts was referred to in
relation to the basis of preparation of the financial statements. In the view
of the directors of AREOF, discussions with the banks are continuing
satisfactorily and they have therefore concluded that it is appropriate to
prepare those financial statements on a going concern basis. 
 
13.  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 
 
Included in cash and cash equivalents is a balance of US$83,000 (2012:
US$82,000) which represents a bank guarantee in respect of credit cards issued
to Argo Capital Management Property Limited. Due to the nature of this balance
it is not freely available. 
 
14.  LOANS AND ADVANCES RECEIVABLE 
 
                                                    At 31 December    At 31 December  
                                                    2013              2012            
                                                    US$'000           US$'000         
                                                                                      
 Deposits on leased premises - current              34                -               
 Deposits on leased premises - non-current          88                118             
 Other loans and advances receivable - current      183               142             
 Other loans and advances receivable - non-current  2,019             -               
                                                    2,324             260             
 
 
The deposits on leased premises are retained by the lessor until vacation of
the premises at the end of the lease term as follows: 
 
                                 At 31 December    At 31 December  
                                 2013              2012            
                                 US$'000           US$'000         
 Current:                                                          
 Lease expiring within one year  34                -               
 
 
                                                         At 31 December    At 31 December  
                                                         2013              2012            
                                                         US$'000           US$'000         
 Non-current:                                                                              
 Lease expiring in second year after balance sheet date  -                 32              
 Lease expiring in fourth year after balance sheet date  88                -               
 Lease expiring in fifth year after balance sheet date   -                 86              
                                                         88                118             
 
 
During the year Argo Group advanced US$1,376,600 (E1,000,000) to Bel Rom Trei
("Bel Rom"), an AREOF Group entity based in Romania that owns Sibiu Shopping
City, in order to assist with its operational cash requirements. Challenging
trading conditions have impacted Bel Rom's cash flow and its ability to meet
payments due to lending banks as and when they fall due. The situation is
being remedied by way of discussions with the lending banks with a view to
restructuring these loans. While these discussions are on-going to find an
agreeable solution for both parties, Bel Rom continues to enjoy the support of
its banks. The loan is repayable on demand and accrues interest at 12%. The
full amount of the loan and accrued interest remains outstanding at the year
end. The Directors consider this loan to be fully recoverable on the basis
that conditional offers to buy the centre have been received that indicate a
value in excess of the debt attached to the project. Notwithstanding its
repayable on demand terms, the Directors have classified this amount as
non-current within the financial statements as it is not their intention to
demand repayment in the immediate future and it is unlikely that Bel Rom will
repay the amount in the next 12 months even if it were demanded. 
 
15.  SHARE CAPITAL 
 
The Company's authorised share capital is unlimited ordinary shares with a
nominal value of US$0.01. 
 
                                  31 December  31 December  31 December  31 December  
                                  2013         2013         2012         2012         
                                  No.          US$'000      No.          US$'000      
 Issued and fully paid                                                                
 Ordinary shares of US$0.01 each  67,428,494   674          67,428,494   674          
                                  67,428,494   674          67,428,494   674          
 
 
The directors do not recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year
ended 31 December 2013. 
 
The directors recommended a final dividend of 2.1 cents (1.3 pence) per share
for the year ended 31 December 2012. The final dividend for the year ended 31
December 2012 of US$1,348,288 (GBP876,570) was paid on 26 April 2013 to
ordinary shareholders who were on the Register of Members on 2 April 2013.
Going forward, the Company intends, subject to its financial performance, to
pay a final dividend each year. 
 
16.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES 
 
                               At 31 December    At 31 December  
                               2013              2012            
                               US$ '000          US$ '000        
                                                                 
 Trade and other payables      63                103             
 Other creditors and accruals  325               364             
                               388               467             
 
 
Trade and other payables are normally settled on 30-day terms. 
 
17.  OBLIGATIONS UNDER OPERATING LEASES 
 
Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for certain of
its business premises.  The leases have no escalation clauses or renewal or
purchase options and no restrictions imposed on them. 
 
As at the balance sheet date, the Group had outstanding future minimum lease
payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows. 
 
                                          At 31 December    At 31 December  
                                          2013              2012            
                                          US$ '000          US$ '000        
 Operating lease liabilities:                                               
 Within one year                          179               163             
 In the second to fifth years inclusive   370               560             
 Present value of minimum lease payments  549               723             
 
 
18.  RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO 
 
PROFIT/(LOSS) ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION 
 
                                                                     Year ended     Year ended     
                                                                     31 December    31 December    
                                                                     2013           2012           
                                                                     US$ '000       US$ '000       
                                                                                                   
 Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation                2,097          (14,199)       
                                                                                                   
 Interest income                                                     (115)          (15)           
 Amortisation of intangible assets                                   -              990            
 Depreciation                                                        89             73             
 Loss on disposal of fixed assets                                    4              -              
 Impairment of intangible assets (note 9)                            -              14,945         
 Decrease in payables                                                (79)           (446)          
 Increase in receivables                                             (1,080)        (952)          
 (Increase)/decrease in fair value of current asset     investments  (942)          175            
 Net foreign exchange loss                                           41             25             
 Income taxes paid                                                   (252)          (167)          
 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities                 (237)          429            
 
 
19.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 
 
All Group revenues derive from funds or entities in which two of the Company's
directors, Andreas Rialas and Kyriakos Rialas, have an influence through
directorships and the provision of investment advisory services. 
 
At the balance sheet date the Company holds investments in The Argo Fund
Limited, Argo Real Estate Opportunities Fund Limited ("AREOF") and Argo
Special Situations Fund LP. These investments are reflected in the accounts at
a fair value of US$19,109,116, US$225,054 and US$85,707 respectively. 
 
The Group has provided AREOF with a notice of deferral in relation to the
amounts due from the provision of investment management services, under which
it will not demand payment of such amounts until the Group judges that AREOF
is in a position to pay the outstanding liability. These amounts accrued or
receivable at 31 December 2013 total US$1,265,791 (E919,505) (2012:
US$2,597,188, E1,965,333) after a bad debt provision of US$2,753,200
(E2,000,000) (2012: US$991,125, E750,000). AREOF continues to meet part of
this obligation to the Argo Group as and when liquidity allows with a further
US$476,000 (E350,000) being settled in January 2014. In November 2013 AREOF
offered Argo Group Limited additional security for the continued support in
the form of debentures and guarantees by underlying intermediate companies. 
 
In the audited financial statements of AREOF at 30 September 2013 a material
uncertainty surrounding the refinancing of bank debts was referred to in
relation to the basis of preparation of the financial statements. In the view
of the directors of AREOF, discussions with the banks are continuing
satisfactorily and they have therefore concluded that it is appropriate to
prepare those financial statements on a going concern basis. 
 
During the year Argo Group advanced US$1,376,600 (E1,000,000) to Bel Rom Trei
Srl, an AREOF Group entity based in Romania that owns Sibiu Shopping City, in
order to assist with its operational cash requirements. The loan is repayable
on demand and accrues interest at 12%. The full amount of the loan and accrued
interest remains outstanding at the year end. 
 
Michael Kloter, the non-executive chairman, is also partner in a legal firm
which supplies services to the Group. This firm charged US$Nil (2012:
US$1,529) for services rendered to the Group in the period. 
 
David Fisher, a non-executive director of the Company, is also a non-executive
director of AREOF. 
 
20.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS RISK MANAGEMENT 
 
(a)  Use of financial instruments 
 
The wider Group has maintained sufficient cash reserves not to use alternative
financial instruments to finance the Group's operations. The Group has various
financial assets and liabilities such as trade and other receivables, loans
and advances, cash, short-term deposits, and trade and other payables which
arise directly from its operations. 
 
The Group's non-subsidiary investments in funds were entered into with the
purpose of providing seed capital, supporting liquidity and demonstrating the
commitment of the Group towards its fund investors. 
 
(b)  Market risk 
 
Market risk is the risk that a decline in the value of assets adversely
impacts on the profitability of the Group, either as a result of an asset not
meeting its expected value or through the decline of assets under management
generating lower fees. The principal exposures of the Group are in respect of
its seed investments in its own funds. Lower management fee and incentive fee
revenues could result from a reduction in asset values. 
 
(c)  Capital risk management 
 
The primary objective of the Group's capital management is to ensure that the
Company has sufficient cash and cash equivalents on hand to finance its
ongoing operations. This is achieved by ensuring that trade receivables are
collected on a timely basis and that excess liquidity is invested in an
optimum manner. This is achieved by placing fixed short-term deposits or using
interest bearing bank accounts. 
 
At the year-end cash balances were held at Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of
Cyprus and Bancpost. 
 
(d)  Credit/counterparty risk 
 
The Group will be exposed to counterparty risk on parties with whom it trades
and will bear the risk of settlement default. Credit risk is concentrated in
the funds under management as detailed in note 11.  Trade receivables are
normally settled on 30-day terms (note 12). 
 
The Group's principal financial assets are bank and cash balances, trade and
other receivables and investments held at fair value through profit or loss.
These represent the Company's maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to
financial assets and are represented by the carrying amount of each financial
asset in the balance sheet. 
 
(e)  Liquidity risk 
 
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group may be unable to meet its payment
obligations. This would be the risk of insufficient cash resources and liquid
assets, including bank facilities, being available to meet liabilities as they
fall due. 
 
The main liquidity risks of the Group are associated with the need to satisfy
payments to creditors. Trade receivables and trade payables are normally on
30-day terms (notes 12 and 16). 
 
(f)   Foreign exchange risk 
 
Foreign exchange risk is the risk that the Group will sustain losses through
adverse movements in currency exchange rates. 
 
The Group is subject to short-term foreign exchange movements between the
calculation date of fees in currencies other than US dollars and the date of
settlement.  The Group holds cash balances in US Dollars, Sterling, Romanian
Lei and Euros. 
 
If there was a 5% increase or decrease in the exchange rate between the US
dollar and the other operating currencies used by the Group at 31 December
2013 the exposure would be a profit or loss to the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income of approximately US$45,000 (2012: US$50,000). 
 
(g)  Interest rate risk 
 
The interest rate profile of the Group at 31 December 2013 is as follows: 
 
                                                           Total as per balance sheet  Variable interest rate instruments*  Fixed  interest rate instruments  Instruments on which no interest is receivable  
                                                           US$ '000                    US$ '000                             US$ '000                          US$ '000                                        
 Financial Assets                                                                                                                                                                                             
 Financial assets at fair value    through profit or loss  19,420                      -                                    -                                 19,420                                          
 Loans and receivables                                     5,624                       88                                   2,019                             3,517                                           
 Cash and cash equivalents                                 3,726                       107                                  1,489                             2,130                                           
                                                           28,770                      195                                  3,508                             25,067                                          
                                                                                                                                                                                                              
 Financial liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                        
 Trade and other payables                                  388                         -                                    -                                 388                                             
 
 
* Changes in the interest rate may cause movements. 
 
The average interest rate at the year end was 0.02%. Any movement in interest
rates would have an immaterial effect on the profit/(loss) for the period. 
 
The interest rate profile of the Group at 31 December 2012 is as follows: 
 
                                                           Total as per balance sheet  Variable interest rate instruments*  Fixed  interest rate instruments  Instruments on which no interest is receivable  
                                                           US$ '000                    US$ '000                             US$ '000                          US$ '000                                        
 Financial Assets                                                                                                                                                                                             
 Financial assets at fair value    through profit or loss  18,478                      -                                    -                                 18,478                                          
 Loans and receivables                                     4,544                       88                                   -                                 4,456                                           
 Cash and cash equivalents                                 5,139                       891                                  3,089                             1,159                                           
                                                           28,161                      979                                  3,089                             24,093                                          
                                                                                                                                                                                                              
 Financial liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                        
 Trade and other payables                                  467                         -                                    -                                 467                                             
 
 
* Changes in the interest rate may cause movements. 
 
The average interest rate at the year end was 0.10%. Any movement in interest
rates would have an immaterial effect on the profit/(loss) for the period. 
 
(h)  Fair value 
 
The carrying values of the financial assets and liabilities approximate the
fair value of the financial assets and liabilities and can be summarised as
follows: 
 
                                                        At 31 December          At 31 December  
                                                        2013                    2012            
                                                        US$ '000                US$ '000        
 Financial Assets                                                                               
 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss  19,420                  18,478          
 Loans and receivables                                  5,624                   4,544           
 Cash and cash equivalents                              3,726                   5,139           
                                                                        28,770                  28,161  
 Financial Liabilities                                                                          
 Trade and other payables                               388                     467             
                                                                                                        
 
 
Financial assets and liabilities, other than investments, are either repayable
on demand or have short repayment dates. The fair value of investments is
stated at the redemption prices quoted by fund managers and is based on the
fair value of the underlying net assets of the funds because, although the
funds are listed, there is no active market. 
 
Fair value hierarchy 
 
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
2p). 
 
At 31 December 2013 
 
                                                        Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total     
                                                        US$ '000  US$ '000  US$ '000  US$ '000  
 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss  -         19,195    225       19,420    
 
 
At 31 December 2012 
 
                                                        Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total     
                                                        US$ '000  US$ '000  US$ '000  US$ '000  
 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss  -         18,478    -         18,478    
 
 
21.  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 in four equal tranches over a period of four years at
an exercise price of 24p per share. 
 
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 were: 
 
 Exercise price (pence)                              24.0  
 Weighted average share price at grant date (pence)  12.0  
 Weighted average option life (years)                10.0  
 Expected volatility (% p.a.)                        2.11  
 Dividend yield (% p.a.)                             10.0  
 Risk-free interest rate (% p.a.)                    5.0   
 
 
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 due to the differential in exercise
price and share price. 
 
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  24.0p                            5,415,000             
 Granted during the period           -                                -                     
 Forfeited during the period         24.0p                            (700,000)             
 Outstanding at end of period        24.0p                            4,715,000             
 Exercisable at end of period        24.0p                            2,357,500             
 
 
The options outstanding at 31 December 2013 have an exercise price of 24p and
a weighted average contractual life of 10 years, with the third tranche of
shares being exercisable on or after 1 May 2014. Outstanding share options are
contingent upon the option holder remaining an employee of the Group. They
expire after 10 years. 
 
No share options were issued during the period. 
 
22.  EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE 
 
The directors consider that there has been no event since the year end that
has a significant effect on the Group's position. 
 
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Recent news on Argo

See all news