APQ Global
Limited
("APQ
Global" or the "Company")
Final
Results
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
Book Value at 31 December 2023 was
$23.65m, an increase from $7.24m at the start of the year. The term
"book value" herein includes the assets of APQ Global Limited and
its consolidated subsidiaries[1] net of
any liabilities, presented in US dollars.
Book Value per share in the year
increased from 9.21 cents to 30.10 cents. The main factor driving
the book value increase was the performance of the Direct
Investments Portfolio.
Profit per share for the year was
$0.20941 (2022: Loss per share of $0.20843).
Dividends paid are considered a Key
Performance Indicator[2] (KPI) of the
business. No dividends were paid or declared during the year due to
the dividend hold in place (2022: nil).
In the year covered by these
financial statements, the share price of the Company has
consistently traded at a discount to the actual Book Value of the
Company[3].
No new securities have been
admitted to the Official list of the International Stock Exchange
or to trading on AIM during the year.
There have been further AIM market
trades since 31 December 2023, details of these can be found on the
London Stock Exchange website by following the link below. Monthly
book values and semi-annual reports are also made available as they
fall due.
The Company confirms that the
annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 will
today be posted to shareholders who have requested information in
hard copy.
Following the publication of its
audited financial results for the year ended 31 December 2023, the
shares will remain suspended from trading on AIM until the
publication of the interim results to 30 June 2024, which the
Company expects to publish by the end of November 2024.
Notwithstanding the ongoing
temporary suspension of trading in the Company's ordinary shares,
the Company will continue to make announcements as and when there
are developments that require announcement in accordance with its
obligations under the AIM Rules for Companies.
The Company's consolidated
financial position at 31 December 2023 is summarised
as:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
USD
|
Securities and Direct
Investments
|
|
38,502,687
|
Fixed assets
|
|
141,778
|
Cash at banks/brokers
|
|
14,652,012
|
Short term receivables
|
|
6,299,553
|
Private loans
|
|
860,000
|
Other assets
|
|
900,820
|
Total assets
|
|
61,356,850
|
|
|
|
Liability in respect of
Convertible Unsecured Loan stock ("CULS")
|
|
36,710,043
|
Other liabilities
|
|
997,807
|
Total liabilities
|
|
37,707,850
|
|
|
|
Total equity
|
|
23,649,000
|
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
The group securities and underlying
investments are made up of:
|
|
|
USD
|
ARGTES 15 1/2 10/17/26
Corp
|
227,610
|
FX Derivatives (fx
hedge)
|
402,187
|
Palladium Trust Services (Private
Company)
|
23,213
|
New Markets Media &
Intelligence (Private Company)
|
472,951
|
Parish Group (Private
Company)
|
4,760,103
|
Delphos International Ltd (Private
Company)
|
27,041,000
|
Delphos Canada Limited (Private
Company)
|
1,482,928
|
Promethean Trustees (Private
Company)
|
23,472
|
Promethean Advisory (Private
Company)
|
387,732
|
Delphos MMJ (Private
Company)
|
1,000,100
|
Delphos Services Limited (Private
Company)
|
2,159,018
|
Delphos Milan S.R.L. (Private
Company)
|
307,071
|
Delphos Design D.o.o. (Private
Company)
|
215,302
|
|
|
Total Securities and Underlying
Investments
|
38,502,687
|
For further enquiries, please contact:
APQ Global
Limited Bart
Turtelboom
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020 3478
9708
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Singer Capital Markets - Nominated
Adviser and Broker
James Maxwell / Sam Greatrex
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020 7496
3000
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Suntera - TISE
sponsor Claire Torode
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01481
737 277
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Investor Relations
IR@APQGlobal.com
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Notes to Editors
APQ Global Limited
APQ Global (ticker: APQ LN) is an
investment company incorporated in Guernsey. The Company focuses
its investment activities globally (in Asia, Latin America, Eastern
Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Channel Islands,
particularly). The objective of the Company is to steadily grow its
earnings to seek to deliver attractive returns and capital growth
through a combination of building growing businesses as well as
earning revenue from income generating operating activities in
capital markets. APQ Global run a well-diversified and liquid
portfolio, take strategic stakes in selected businesses and plan to
take operational control of companies through the acquisition of
minority and majority stakes in companies with a focus on emerging
markets. For more information, please
visit apqglobal.com.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
The aim of the Board is to
steadily grow the Company's earnings seeking to deliver attractive
returns and capital growth through a combination of investing in
growing businesses globally as well as earning revenue from income
generating operating activities[4] in
entities forming part of the Company's investment portfolio.
Specifically, our goals are to deliver a dividend yield of 6% per
annum (based on capital subscribed)[5] and
in addition to generate returns to grow the Company by a further
5-10% per annum[6]. The Company focuses
its investment activities globally (in Asia, Latin America, Eastern
Europe, the Middle East, Africa, as well as the Channel
Islands).
Dividends
As of 31 December 2023, the
payment of dividends remains on hold until further
notice.
Total Return
Book Value per share in the year
increased from 9.21 cents to 30.10 cents. The Total Return for the
year was 226.49%[7]. The main factor
driving the book value increase was the performance of the Direct
Investments Portfolio.
Corporate Governance
During 2023 there was one change
to the Board of APQ Global, with the departure of Al-Wadhah
Al-Adawi in September 2023. The Board continues to have in place
corporate governance arrangements which are appropriate for the
operation of the Company. Further details of these may be found in
the appropriate sections of this Report.
Following the 2023 AGM, the board
and company engaged with shareholders to understand the
disagreement with the remuneration per resolution 4 as well as the
rationale for voting against the reappointment of directors in
resolutions 5-7. The company has ensured that shareholders'
concerns about the share price performance have been taken onboard
and the company's key focus is to continue to value add and provide
significant growth to the shareholders and all decisions are made
with this in mind.
Conclusion
The Board are pleased to have been
able to take opportunities to develop the Direct Investment
Portfolio which is now very well positioned to capitalise from
several growing trends globally.
Following the passing of the
resolution at the CULS holder meeting on the 30th
September 2024, the company paid £3.5m to CULS holders on the
30th October 2024. The Board also remains committed to
the repayment of the remaining outstanding CULS notional of £26.1m
as soon as possible and no later than the 31st March
2025 ("Settlement Date"). The Company is actively engaged in
refinancing discussions with counterparties and Delphos' operations
are forecast to generate sufficient cashflows to repay the CULS no
later than the Settlement Date.
Wayne Bulpitt CBE
Chair, APQ Global
Limited
CEO'S STATEMENT
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
In 2023, the world witnessed
several major geopolitical developments that shaped the global
landscape. One of the significant developments was the ongoing
tensions in the Middle East. The region experienced heightened
conflicts and proxy wars, resulting in increased instability. The
struggle for power and influence between various regional powers,
coupled with the lingering impact of past conflicts, continued to
have far-reaching consequences.
In addition, the Indo-Pacific
region emerged as a key focus of global geopolitics in 2023. The
competition for influence between major powers, such as the United
States, China, and India, intensified. This led to the formation of
new alliances and strategic partnerships, as countries sought to
secure their interests and counterbalance perceived threats. The
shifting dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region had implications for
trade, security, and regional stability.
Furthermore, the year 2023
witnessed a significant shift in global climate politics. With the
effects of climate change becoming increasingly apparent, countries
around the world made concerted efforts to address the issue.
International agreements and initiatives were forged to combat
climate change, with a renewed focus on reducing carbon emissions
and transitioning to sustainable energy sources. The recognition of
the urgent need for collective action on climate change marked a
turning point in global geopolitics, as nations acknowledged the
interconnectedness of environmental challenges and the importance
of cooperation.
These major geopolitical
developments in 2023 highlighted the complex interplay between
power, security, and global challenges. As the world continued to
evolve, nations grappled with the implications of shifting
alliances, regional conflicts, and the need for collective action
on pressing issues like climate change.
Towards the end of 2023, the
Company unwound its liquid markets portfolio and is now fully
focused on its two sets of private investments: Corporate services
and Delphos, its emerging markets capital raising and transaction
advisory business. Both pillars are doing well with Delphos in
particular exhibiting accelerating growth.
Separately to the ongoing
refinancing discussion with numerous counterparties, the main
support for the CULS repayment comes from Delphos. Delphos is
currently executing around 40 transactions in around 20 countries
and the portfolio is diversified across geographies (Africa,
Central Asia, Middle East, Latin America and South-East Asia) and
sectors (infrastructure, renewables, financial services and funds).
The business is growing very rapidly and is, in the Board's
opinion, on the verge of generating significant cashflows to repay
the CULS.
Bart Turtelboom
CEO, APQ Global Limited
2023 IN REVIEW
Direct Investment
Portfolio
As of 31st December 2023, the
Company held majority investment stakes in seven private
businesses, with WDM Lex Advisory and WDM Trustees being the most
recent acquisition in Q3 2022 and closed in February 2023 following
FINRA approval. The independent third party valuation of the Direct
Investment Portfolio increased significantly (including exchange
rate movements) during the year notably due to an increase in the
valuation of Delphos International Ltd[8].
The independent valuation of New Markets Media & Intelligence
and Promethean Advisory Limited declined in 2023 whilst the
Company's other investments in Parish Group Limited, Delphos
International FMA Inc, Delphos International Ltd all
rose.
Delphos Holdings
Limited
Delphos International and Delphos
FMA continued to grow significantly with both businesses showing
positive steps for all key performance indicators as well as
financial analysis. Across the group the top line revenue, Notional
value of engagements for capital raise and average deal size have
all increased year on year as shown in the table below.
|
|
|
|
2019
|
5
|
328,320,000
|
65,664,000
|
2020
|
13
|
880,500,000
|
67,730,769
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2021
|
49
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3,671,900,000
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74,936,735
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2022
|
34
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3,738,168,552
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109,946,134
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2023
|
44
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6,552,000,000
|
148,909,091
|
As well as the financial growth,
Delphos has continued to grow out its experience and knowledge base
with 102 employees, in house advisors and strategic partners
located across the world.
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
The corporate services portion of
the direct investment portfolio has seen the additional acquisition
of WDM Lex Advisory and WDM Trustees Limited in 2022, providing
coverage across the Channel Islands, the UK and now Malta. This has
helped provide an additional service offering across the
groups.
Liquid Market Portfolio
At the end of the fourth quarter
2023 the Company only held one security in its Liquid Market
Portfolio with the remaining assets held in cash and time
deposits. At the end of December 2023, the Company held cash
and time deposits of $13,946,406 within its Liquid Market
Portfolio, with a further $705,606 held at group level.
At the end of December 2023, the
Book Value Per Share was $0.3010 (equivalent to £0.2503) at the end
of the period, compared to $0.0676 (£0.0554) at the end of Q3 2023.
The Company maintained a very healthy cash position of 87.9% of the
liquid market portfolio assets.
At the end of December 2023, 100%
of the Company's exposure (excluding cash and FX hedges) was to
Rates exposure.
BUSINESS MODEL AND STRATEGY
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
The objective of the Company is to
steadily grow its earnings to seek to deliver attractive returns
and capital growth through a combination of building growing
businesses as well as earning revenue from income generating
operating activities[9]
in entities forming part of the Company's
investment portfolio.
The Company's strategy is
to:
(i) gain
exposure to sovereign, corporate and banking entities for a range
of business purposes, including for acquisition financing, working
capital and investment purposes. The terms of any bonds or loans
will vary but are typically expected to range from six months to
five years. The Company expects that the loans will typically be
secured;
(ii) invest in
different parts of the capital structure, both public and private,
of corporate and banking entities in as well as structured finance
instruments; and
(iii) in order to enhance
investment returns, take operational control of businesses through
the acquisition of minority and majority stakes in public and
private companies.
The Company may utilise borrowings
in connection with its business activities. Although there is no
prescribed limit in the Company's Articles of Incorporation (the
'Articles') or elsewhere on the amount of borrowings that the
Company may incur, the Directors will adopt a prudent borrowing
policy and oversee the level and term of any borrowings of the
Company and will review the position on a regular basis.
The Company has no investment
restrictions and investing will not be subject to any maximum
exposure limits. No material change will be made to the Company's
objective or investing policy without the approval of Shareholders
by ordinary resolution. The Company may gain exposure to emerging
markets by investing in assets on other, non-emerging markets (such
as the London Stock Exchange) as long as the underlying asset has
exposure to emerging markets.
Key performance indicators
("KPIs") for the Company will be the growth of the earnings of the
Company and the Dividend paid. The Company's KPI's have been
selected in accordance with the above strategy to provide both
capital gain and income to the Company's shareholders. These KPIs
are:
(i)
A sufficient per annum increase in earnings to allow a 6% dividend
to be paid to shareholders. This target
was not achieved in 2021 or 2022 and no dividends have been paid in
respect of the current or previous 2 years.
(ii)
Additional per annum increase in earnings to grow the Company's
Book Value by 5 - 10% per annum. For the year ended 31 December
2023, this KPI was met as earnings increased from the prior year
(see consolidated statement of comprehensive income), and hence the
Book Value Per Share rose Year on Year. The main factor driving the
earnings increase was the performance of the Direct Investments
Portfolio. In 2022, the Company did not meet this criterion,
following operating losses at the Company amidst tough trading
conditions in Emerging Markets.
Alternative Performance Measure
("APM") for the Company:
(iii)
One of the Company's KPI's is to pay a 6% Dividend Yield (based on
capital subscribed), making income received a key component of the
return on investment. The Company makes use of the Total Return,
which factors in income received, as well as capital growth, when
tracking the performance of the Company and its ability to meet the
above KPI. The Total Return for the year was 226.49% (2022:
-69.38%) and equal to the capital growth as no dividend was paid in
the year (or previous year).
BUSINESS MODEL AND STRATEGY (continued)
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Board has carried out a robust
assessment of the Company's principal risks. These are classified
as current risks, being those that the company is currently
managing and could impact achieving the Company's objectives, and
emerging risks, being those risks with a future impact from
external or internal opportunities or threats. The Directors
believe the risks described below are the material risks relating
to the Company:
Business Area/Process
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Perceived risk
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Current or emerging risk
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Mitigation
|
Environment
|
Changes in law or regulation or
tax legislation may adversely affect the Company's ability to carry
on its business or adversely impact its tax position and
liabilities. The effects of climate change
are likely to be felt first and more severely in some of the areas
where Delphos operates.
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Current and emerging
|
Considered on an ongoing basis by
the Board during quarterly board meetings. Further advice
comes from the Investment Advisory Committee. Where deemed
necessary the Directors will engage external legal and professional
advisers to ensure the Group is protected to the greatest extent
possible.
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Key man risk
|
The Company's performance is
dependent on the performance of key members of management. The
departure of any key individual from the management team may
adversely affect the returns available to the Company.
|
Current
|
The Board monitors the dependency
of the Company upon any individual on an ongoing basis and where
appropriate plans to reduce the impact from this risk.
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FX
|
The Company and its Investees will
have an exposure to foreign exchange rate risk as a result of
changes, both unfavourable and favourable, in exchange rates
between United States Dollars and the currencies in which some
assets and liabilities are denominated. The Company's functional
and presentational currency is US Dollars. Therefore, there is
currency risk as Ordinary Shares are traded on AIM in Pounds
Sterling. Further detail on foreign exchange risks are discussed in
Note 22 of the Financial Statements.
|
Current
|
The Company has taken the decision
not to hedge its foreign currency exposure, in regards to the
Ordinary shares, and thus accepts this risk as part of its
investment strategy. The Board may engage in currency hedging in
the future, seeking to mitigate foreign exchange risk although
there can be no guarantees or assurances that the Group will
successfully hedge against such risks.
The Company does hedge the foreign
currency exposure on the CULS liability with FX
derivatives.
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Cyber Security
|
The Company and Service providers
are subject to Cyber Risk in the form of both risk of failure of
systems and also of the risk of malignant action against the
Company by way of Information Technology.
|
Current
|
The Company makes use of Dual
Signing Authority and two factor authentication across its banking
and other key functional areas where it is available. The Company
relies on its service providers to have in place proper
cybersecurity systems and monitors its providers through the annual
third-party service provider review.
|
Dividend Risk
|
There can be no guarantee that the
Group will achieve the target rates of return referred to in this
document or that it will not sustain any capital losses through its
activities. The ability to pay dividends is dependent on a number
of factors including the level of income returns from the Company's
investee entities.
|
Current
|
The Group monitors its income
through its management accounts and targets investments that
provide income in accordance with its strategy, laid out on the
Strategy section on page 9 above.
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BUSINESS MODEL AND STRATEGY (continued)
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
(continued)
Business Area/Process
|
Perceived risk
|
Current or emerging risk
|
Mitigation
|
Financial Risk
|
The Company will, through the
implementation of its business model and strategy, face financial
risks including market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.
Further details of these risks can be found in table
below.
|
Current and emerging
|
These risks and the controls in
place to mitigate them are reviewed at board meetings. Further
detail on financial risks are discussed in Note 22 of the Financial
Statements.
|
Volatility
|
There may be volatility in the
price of the Ordinary Shares and the market price of the Ordinary
Shares may rise or fall rapidly. The price of the Ordinary Shares
may decline below their respective issue price and Shareholders may
not be able to sell their Ordinary Shares at a price equal to or
greater than their issue price.
|
Current and emerging
|
To optimise returns, Shareholders
may need to hold the Ordinary Shares for the long term.
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Liquidity
|
Shareholders will have no right of
redemption and must rely, in part, on the existence of a liquid
market in order to realise their investment. Although the Ordinary
Shares are admitted to trading on AIM, there can be no assurance as
to the levels of secondary market trading in Ordinary Shares or the
prices at which Ordinary Shares may trade. The Ordinary Shares may
trade at a discount to the Net Asset Value per Ordinary
Share.
|
Current
|
The Board monitors the liquidity
of the stock during its quarterly board meetings. The Company
employs market making firms to ensure a live market is available in
its ordinary shares.
|
Leverage
|
The Company has CULS which it is
required to repay interest quarterly, at a rate of 3.5% pa.
The Company must ensure that it has liquid resources available to
repay this interest. Furthermore, any CULS not previously redeemed,
purchased or converted were due to be repaid by the Company on 30
September 2024 at its nominal amount and thus the Company must
ensure it has resources available to make these
repayments.
|
Current
|
The Board monitors the leverage
present in the Company via its monthly management
accounts.
At 30 September 2024 the Company
did not have the ability to make full repayments in respect of the
CULS.
Following the passing of the
resolution at the CULS holder meeting on the 30th
September 2024, the company paid £3.5m to CULS holders on the
30th October 2024. The Board also remains
committed to repayment of the remaining outstanding CULS notional
of £26.1m as soon as possible and no later than the 31st March 2025
("Settlement Date"). The Company is actively engaged in refinancing
discussions with counterparties and Delphos' operations are
forecast to generate sufficient cashflows to repay the CULS no
later that the Settlement Date.
|
BUSINESS MODEL AND STRATEGY (continued)
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
(continued)
Presidential election
|
The Directors note that the
Company's future performance may be adversely affected by the
economic and political instability surrounding the outcome of the
presidential elections in the US,
|
Current
|
The Board monitors the ongoing
situation and is prepared to respond accordingly as situations
evolve. The Company has also expanded its investment activities
into other geographical regions thereby reducing the overall impact
of instability in a specific region,
|
Civil unrest
|
Military actions in the Middle
East and Ukraine have continued over the year and into the
following year which continues to create volatility in economic
factors.
|
Current and Emerging
|
The Company and Group does not
have any investments that are directly or indirectly affected by
the sanctions levied to date thus the impact of this risk is
limited to the effect of global uncertainty arising as a result.
Directors continue to monitor the conflict and investment portfolio
and will implement necessary actions where possible to reduce the
impact from further escalation of military actions and
sanctions.
|
The Directors believe the risks
described below are the material risks relating to the Company
through its investment in APQ Cayman Limited:
Business Area/Process
|
Perceived risk
|
Current or emerging risk
|
Mitigation
|
Emerging Markets
|
APQ Cayman Limited will have
investment exposure to emerging markets, which are subject to
certain risks and special considerations that are not typically
associated with more developed markets and economies.
|
Current
|
The Company engages a team to
actively monitor treasury exposures live in high-end risk
management software applications. The team monitors exposure and
uses a comprehensive framework, utilising its administrator,
banking counterparts and other third-party vendors, to ensure
exposure levels are correctly measured and reported
daily.
|
Derivative Risk
|
APQ Cayman Limited will invest in
derivative instruments which can be highly volatile and may be
difficult to value and/or liquidate. Derivatives will be used for
gearing purposes which may expose investors to a high risk of
loss.
|
Current
|
The Company employs a highly
experienced management team that monitors exposure on a daily basis
and captures derivative exposure using high-end risk software
applications. Daily reports are generated from the software and
reviewed by the team.
|
Credit Risk
|
APQ Cayman Limited is subject to
the risk of the inability of any counterparty to perform with
respect to transactions, whether due to insolvency, bankruptcy or
other causes. Where the Company utilises derivative instruments, it
is likely to take credit risk with regard to such counterparties
and bear the risk of settlement default.
|
Current
|
The Company chooses reputable
financial service providers, and uses a spread of counterparties to
lessen the impact should one counterparty fail.
|
BUSINESS MODEL AND STRATEGY (continued)
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
(continued)
Liquidity Risk
|
The Company could suffer losses as
a result of a decrease in liquidity in the capital markets in which
it invests. A decrease in liquidity could result in higher exit
costs for a given investment, such as the commission or spread
charged by the counterparties with which it trades.
|
Current
|
The Company chooses reputable
financial service providers, and uses a spread of providers to
lessen the impact should one be unable to provide a market
price.
|
Third party risk
|
APQ Cayman Limited will be subject
to custody risk in the event of the insolvency of any custodian or
sub-custodians with which it transacts.
|
Emerging
|
The Company chooses reputable
financial service providers as its counterparties and uses multiple
service providers to lessen the impact should one become
insolvent.
|
The Directors believe the risks
described below are the material risks relating to the Company
through its unquoted investments:
Business Area/Process
|
Perceived risk
|
Current or emerging risk
|
Mitigation
|
Valuation Risk
|
The Company's Direct Investment
portfolio comprises unquoted investments purchased and sold
privately, for which there is no market price available. As a
result, management is required to make forecasts and assumptions
about certain inputs used in the valuation of these investments.
The Company could suffer losses, should these forecasts or
assumptions not materialise.
|
Current
|
The Company values its investments
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, and
employs external valuation experts to perform these
valuations.
|
These risks are mitigated by the
control and oversight of the Board. The Board will consider the
risks of the Company as a whole on a regular basis at its Board
meetings and on an annual basis shall review the effectiveness of
its risk management systems, ensuring that all aspects of risk
management and internal control are considered. The processes for
its annual reviews includes reporting and recommendations from the
Board as well as adoption and review of a formal risk matrix
documenting the current and emerging risks facing the Company, as
well as the assessed probability and impact of the identified
risks. Other risk mitigation measures include, but are
not limited to:
•
oversight by Executive Directors and key management with the
requisite knowledge and experience in emerging and credit
markets;
•
oversight by Non-Executive Directors;
•
dual signing authority on bank accounts;
•
Business Continuity Plans of the various service
providers;
•
ongoing Cyber Risk training; and
•
ongoing review of third party service providers by the
Board.
DIRECTORS' REPORT
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
The Directors present the
consolidated financial statements of APQ Global Limited (the
"Group") for the year ended 31 December 2023. The Group comprises
the Company and its subsidiaries[10].
The Company
The Company was incorporated in
Guernsey on 10 May 2016. The Company's shares ("Shares") were
admitted to The International Stock Exchange on 11 August 2016 and
admitted to trading on the AIM segment of the London Stock Exchange
on 26 August 2016. The CULS have been admitted to the Order Book
for Fixed Income Securities on the London Stock Exchange's
International Securities Market, with effect from 7 September
2017.
Principal Activities
The Company seeks to earn revenue
from dividends and interest income from its investments and realise
gains on sales of these investments. Additionally, the Company aims
to take majority stakes in private businesses, seeking to earn
income throughout the holding period and capital gains upon resale.
The anticipated holding period between purchase and sale is
expected to be three to seven years.
Functional and presentational currency
The Group's functional and
presentational currency is US Dollars. The Group's main activities
and returns for the year ended 31 December 2023 are from its
subsidiary Delphos International and were in US Dollars.
Results and Dividends
The consolidated results for the
year are set out in the consolidated statement of comprehensive
income on page 36 and the Statement of Financial Position at that
date is set out on page 37.
The Company did not pay any
dividends during the year (2022: nil).
Share Capital
As at 31 December 2023 the Company
had in issue 78,559,983 (2022: 78,559,983) Ordinary Shares of nil
par value. No ordinary shares were issued during the year (2022:
106,312).
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
are disclosed in the Business Model and Strategy
section.
The Company continues to mitigate
further risk to the balance sheet, de-risking its portfolio of
liquid market securities, furthermore, due to ongoing uncertainty,
the Board implemented the following cash preservation measure to
facilitate a smooth recovery as the world exited the pandemic.
These measures are still in existence:
• suspension of dividends paid to
ordinary shareholders until further notice;
• the management bonus scheme to be
cut from 20% of profits to 10% (no bonuses paid in current year or
prior year due to losses); and
• significant cost reduction across
all of the Group.
Going Concern
The Directors believe that it is
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the
Financial Statements since a significant percentage of the assets
of the Group consist of cash and, the forecasted distributable
dividends from Delphos Internationals in the next 12 months,
provide adequate financial resources to continue in operational
existence for at least 12 months from the date of approval of the
financial statements. The Group expects to be able to meet all its
liabilities as they fall due, including the remaining CULS
liability of GBP 26.1 million (as at the date of approval of the
financial statements) now due in March 2025, following the CULS
Holders agreement to the extension of the settlement date for the
CULS to March 2025. See below for the Stress Testing applied in
coming to this conclusion.
Despite the confidence of the
Directors that the Company should have the ability to continue for
a period of at least 12 months and be able to meet its liabilities
as they fall due the Directors accept this is uncertain. Since
refinancing discussions with counterparties are yet to be concluded
and the timing of forecasted dividends from investee companies, in
particular the Delphos business is dependent on Delphos' operations
generating sufficient cashflows which is not guaranteed, there
remains a material uncertainty with respect to going
concern
Stress Testing
After assessing the Group as a
Going Concern in normal and poor economic conditions across a one
year horizon, the Group expects to maintain a sufficient expense
coverage ratio net of paying all its operating expenses and net of
its financial payment obligations to the CULS under normal
conditions. The Group does not expect to breach any debt covenants
and is forecast to retain USD 9.69 million in cash as of November
30th , 2025.
Under normal market assumptions,
the Group assumes that it meets all its financial obligations as
well as its operating expenses. The Group forecasts to receive USD
44.5 million of dividend income from its Direct Investment
Portfolio between November 2024 and November 2025, albeit there is
no guarantee that these amounts will be received within the time
period. Under poor economic conditions, the earnings assumptions
are reduced, and USD 35.8 million of dividends are received from
the Company's Direct Investment Portfolio over the same period,
whilst the financial obligations and expenses are held constant.
There are zero Fair Value Profit or Losses assumed on the Direct
Investment Portfolio throughout the period under review.
Despite the confidence of the
Directors that the Group should have the ability to continue for a
period of at least 12 months and be able to meet its liabilities as
they fall due, including repayment of the CULS, the Directors
accept this is uncertain. The Group is actively engaged in
refinancing discussions with counterparties; however these
discussions are yet to be concluded. Furthermore, the receipt of
forecasted dividends from investee companies, in particular the
Delphos business is dependent on Delphos' operations generating
sufficient cashflows which is not guaranteed; therefore the amount
and timing of forecasted dividends remains uncertain. This
indicates the existence of a material uncertainty, which may cast
significant doubt on the ability of the Group to continue as a
going concern. Therefore, the Group may be unable to realise its
assets and settle its liabilities in the normal course of
business.
The Directors have a reasonable
expectation that refinancing and/or the forecasted dividends will
be forthcoming. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going
concern basis in preparing the financial statements. The financial
statements do not include any adjustments should the basis of
preparation be inappropriate.
Dividend Suspension
The continued suspension of the
dividend paid to ordinary shareholders will increase the liquidity
available to the Company by approximately $6m per annum based on
level of dividends paid prior to implementation of the dividend
hold. The Board reviews the dividend policy quarterly. The dividend
remains on hold until further notice.
Long Term Viability Statement
There is currently no strict
regime of Corporate Governance to which the Company must adhere to,
however there are guidelines set out for AIM companies. The Company
complies with the UK code on Corporate Governance, issued July 2018
for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019 to the extent
outlined in the Corporate Governance section below on pages 18 and
19. In accordance with provision 31 of the UK Corporate Governance
Code, the Directors have assessed the prospects of the Company over
a longer period than the 12 months minimum required by the 'Going
Concern' provision. Three years is deemed to be an appropriate time
period for management to implement its medium-term strategic
objectives set out in the Business Model and Strategy section (page
9) of these financial statements.
Further to this page - Going
Concern, the Company extends its above analysis to a three-year
cash flow forecast (to November 2027) using newly targeted budgets
and concluded that:
Assuming normal economic
conditions[11], the Company would preserve
an average 12-month expense coverage ratio net of its financial
obligations of 3.9 and retain an average balance of USD 20.4
million in cash on its balance sheet between November 2024 and
November 2027, providing considerable headroom to absorb poor
conditions. These figures include the settlement of the CULS of GBP
26.1m in March 2025. Under poor conditions, the Company would
preserve an average 12 month expense coverage ratio net of its
financial obligations of 3.1 and retain an average balance of USD
14.0 million in cash on its balance sheet over the same 3 year
period.
Based on the Company's processes
for monitoring operating costs, share discount, internal controls,
invested asset allocation, risk profile, liquidity risk and the
assessment of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the
Company, the Directors have concluded that there is a reasonable
expectation that the Company will be able to continue in operation
and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the forecasted
period to 30 November 2027.
Sustainability of Business Model
The business model, principal
risks and uncertainties, and the mitigation thereof is described on
pages 9-13. Evaluation of Going Concern, Stress Testing and the
Long Term Viability Statement are further examined in the Directors
report above. The Directors have conducted a robust assessment of
the principal and emerging risks facing the Group which include a
business model where a substantial part of the essential services
are outsourced, allowing key service providers to be replaced at
relatively short notice if necessary.
The Board's investment philosophy
is centred on identifying exciting companies where we can help
management to substantially grow the business by adding or pooling
resources from our Group and allowing them time to succeed. The
board meets regularly to monitor progress in these businesses and
consider whether any adjustments to strategy or actions required to
maintain momentum.
Based upon the Company's processes
for monitoring operating costs, compliance with the investment
objective, the portfolio risk profile, leverage, counterparty
exposure, liquidity risk, financial controls and operational
resilience, the Board believes that the company is in a strong and
sustainable position.
Directors
The details of the Directors of
the Company during the year and at the date of this Annual Report
are set out in the Directory.
As of 31 December 2023, and the
date of these financial statements, the following Directors, their
close relatives and related trusts, held the following beneficial
interests in the Company:
Director
Shares held
% of issued share
capital
Bart
Turtelboom
22,448,953
28.58%
Wayne Bulpitt
237,000
0.30%
International Tax Reporting
For the purposes of the US Foreign
Accounts Tax Compliance Act, the Company registered with the US
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") as a Guernsey reporting Foreign
Financial Institution ("FFI") in November 2016, received a Global
Intermediary Identification Number (B2KS93.99999.SL.831) and can be
found on the IRS FFI list.
The Common Reporting Standard
("CRS") is a standard developed by the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development ("OECD") and is a global approach for
the automatic exchange of tax information. Guernsey has adopted the
CRS which came into effect on 1 January 2016. The CRS replaced the
intergovernmental agreement between the UK and Guernsey to improve
tax compliance that had previously applied.
The Board will take the necessary
actions to ensure that the Company is compliant with Guernsey
regulations and guidance in this regard.
Auditor
BDO LLP were reappointed as
auditors at the AGM on 8 August 2023 in relation to the year ended
31 December 2023 audit. BDO LLP will be reconsidered for
appointment for the December 2024 audit at the next AGM.
Statement of directors' responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for
preparing the Annual Report and the consolidated Financial
Statements in accordance with applicable Guernsey law and
regulations.
The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008
requires the Directors to prepare consolidated financial statements
for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected
to prepare the Group consolidated financial statements in
accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standards ("UK
IAS") and the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008.
Under the Companies (Guernsey)
Law, 2008 the Directors must not approve the consolidated financial
statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair
view of the state of affairs of the Group and of the profit or loss
of the Group for that period.
The directors are also required to
prepare financial statements in accordance with the rules of the
London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on
AIM.
In preparing these financial
statements the Directors are required to:
•
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them
consistently;
•
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and
prudent;
•
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed,
subject to any material departures being disclosed and explained in
the financial statements;
and
•
prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it
is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in
business.
The Directors are responsible for
keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable
accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and
Company and its results for the year and to enable them to ensure
that the consolidated financial statements comply with the
Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008. They are also responsible for
safeguarding the assets of the Group and Company and hence for
taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud
and other irregularities.
The maintenance and integrity of
the company's website is the responsibility of the directors.
The directors' responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity
of the financial statements contained therein.
Responsibility Statement
The Directors confirm that to the
best of their knowledge the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is
fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information
necessary for the shareholders to assess the Group's performance,
business model and strategy.
Disclosure of Information to Auditor
Each of the persons who was a
Director at the date of approval of the financial statements
confirms that:
·
so far as they are aware, there is no relevant
audit information of which the Company's auditor is unaware;
and
·
he has taken all steps that he ought to have
taken as a Director to make himself aware of any relevant audit
information and to establish that the Company's auditor is aware of
that information.
This confirmation is given and
should be interpreted in accordance with the provision of section
249 of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008.
Corporate Governance
The Directors recognise the
importance of robust Corporate Governance and meet regularly to
review corporate strategy, the risk profile of the Group and its
operating businesses and to monitor the performance of the service
providers appointed to the Group. The Board assesses and monitors
the culture of the Company, and reviews the sustainability of the
Company's business model and its impact on external stakeholders.
Due to the size of the Company the Board are able to monitor the
culture through regular contact with employees. More
information with respect to the Company's Business Model can be
found on page 9.
There is currently no strict regime of Corporate Governance
to which the Directors must adhere over and above
the general fiduciary duties and duties of care, diligence and
skill imposed on such directors under the
Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008; however,
there are guidelines set out for AIM companies. The Directors
recognise the importance of sound corporate governance and the
Group will seek to take appropriate measures to ensure that the
Group complies with the UK Code on Corporate Governance to the
extent appropriate and taking into account the size of the Group
and the nature of its business. The Directors, having reviewed the
UK Code on Corporate Governance, considers that it has complied
with the Code throughout the period under review with the exception
of the following areas of non-compliance, each of which applied
throughout the period:
Areas of non-compliance with the UK
Corporate Governance Code which were disclosed at the launch of the
Company:
•
Provision 5 - The Board does not use any of the methods outlined
for engagement with the workforce, further information on the
Board's engagement with the workforce is listed below;
•
Provision 9 - The Chairman is not independent;
•
Provision 11 - At least half the Board, excluding the chairman are
not independent non-executive directors;
•
Provision 12 - The non-executive directors, led by the senior
non-executive director do not meet without the chair at least
annually to appraise his performance or on other such occasions
which are deemed appropriate;
•
Since the resignation of Wadhah Al-Adawi on 21 September 2023, the
company has not had a senior independent non-executive director.
The board are aware of the pace at which the business is developing
and are looking for a NED with the appropriate skills to support
the Group with its future plans. The search is still at an early
stage.
•
•
Provision 13 - The chair does not hold meetings without the
executive directors present;
•
Provision 17 - The Company does not have a nominations
committee;
•
Provision 20 - The Company did not use open advertising and/or an
external search consultancy when appointing the chair and the
non-executive directors;
•
Provision 21 - The Board does not have a regular externally
facilitated board evaluation;
•
Provision 24 - The audit committee does not contain two independent
non-executive directors. The chairman of the Company is a member of
the audit committee;
•
Provision 23 - The Company does not have a formal policy on
diversity and inclusion; and
•
Provision 32, 33 and 41 - The Company does not have a remuneration
committee.
The Directors do not believe that
compliance with these sections of the code are necessary due to the
size of the Group and the nature of its business. Following the
resignation of the Aspida Group (formerly Active Group) as Company
Secretary on 10 June 2020 the Company no longer has a material
business relation with the Chairman, and he was deemed to be
independent after three years from this date. On 3 June
2024, Beauvoir Limited were appointed as
Company Secretary. The Chairman is also Chairman and a significant
shareholder in Beauvoir Limited, and therefore is no longer
considered independent. With regards to a remuneration and
nomination committee, these responsibilities are undertaken by the
full board as appropriate. The Chair meets with fellow Directors
and executives regularly. The Board has recently undertaken an
independent Governance Review to ensure it continues to meet all
appropriate governance standards.
As a Company with its shares
admitted to listing on TISE, the Directors comply with the Model
Code of TISE and take all reasonable and proper steps to ensure
compliance by applicable employees as required by the Listing
Rules. The Directors and the Company also comply at all times with
the applicable provisions of the Listing Rules.
The Company has adopted an
anti-bribery policy and adheres to the requirements of the
Prevention of Corruption (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2003 and the
UK Bribery Act 2010.
Board engagement with the
workforce and other stakeholders
Due to the size and nature of the
business, the directors do not believe that compliance with
Provision 5 of the code is necessary. All members of the workforce
have access to the executive and non-executive directors and the
Board maintains an open dialogue with all members.
The Board considers the impact of
the Group's culture, management, and strategic decisions on both
the workforce and other external stakeholders. These external
stakeholders include, but are not limited to suppliers, the
environment and other stakeholders of investments held by the
Group.
Internal Audit
The Directors have determined that
no internal audit function is required, as the bookkeeping and
valuation of assets are performed by third parties, which provides
checks and balances on the operations of the Group. The Directors
believe that an internal audit function would largely duplicate
this oversight and represent additional cost for no additional
benefit. The Directors reassess this annually.
Role of the
Board
The Board is the Company's
governing body and has overall responsibility for maximising the
Company's success by directing and supervising the affairs of the
business and meeting the appropriate interests of Shareholders and
relevant stakeholders, while enhancing the value of the Company and
also ensuring protection of Shareholders. A summary of the Board's
responsibilities is as follows:
•
statutory obligations and public disclosure;
•
strategic matters and financial reporting;
•
risk assessment and management including reporting compliance,
governance, monitoring and control; and
•
other matters having a material effect on the Company.
The Board's responsibilities for
the Annual Reports are set out in the Statement of Directors'
Responsibilities section.
The Board needs to ensure that the
Annual Report and Financial Statements, taken as a whole, are fair,
balanced and understandable and provide the information necessary
for Shareholders to assess the Group's performance, business model
and strategy.
In seeking to achieve this, the
Directors have set out the Group's business strategy and have
explained how the Board and its delegated committee operate and how
the directors review the risk environment within which the Company
operates and set appropriate risk
controls. Furthermore, throughout
the Annual Report the Board has sought to provide further
information to enable Shareholders to have a fair, balanced and
understandable view.
Composition and Independence of
the Board
The Board comprises two executive
directors, and one non-independent non-executive director,
following the resignation of Al-Wadhah Al-Adawi.
Wayne Bulpitt is responsible for
leadership of the Board and ensuring its effectiveness as
Non-executive Chairman, a role he has held since 20 April
2017.
Bart Turtelboom continues to serve
as Chief Executive Officer.
Philip Soulsby continues to serve
as Finance Director.
Al-Wadhah Al-Adawi served as
Chairman of the Audit Committee until September 2023.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board
|
Audit
Committee
|
|
|
|
Held
|
Attended
|
Held
|
Attended
|
|
|
|
|
Bart Turtelboom
|
7
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
Wayne Bulpitt
|
7
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
Phil Soulsby
|
7
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
Al -Wadhah Al-Adawi (until
resignation in September 2023)
|
5
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
Re-election
At every Annual General Meeting
any Director appointed by the Board since the last annual general
meeting or who held office at the time of the two preceding annual
general meetings and who did not retire at either of them shall
retire from office and may offer themselves for re-appointment by
the Shareholders.
Terms and Conditions of Appointment on Non-Executive
Directors
Each of the Non-Executive
Directors shall be subject to re-elections at the first annual
general meeting of the Company and thereafter in accordance with
the provisions of the Company's articles of incorporation in
respect of re-election and retirement. Neither of the Non-Executive
Directors has been appointed for a fixed term.
The conditions attached to the
appointment of the Non-Executive Directors include the
following:
• termination in
the event of any serious breach of obligations to the Company or
through any act of dishonesty, fraud or serious
misconduct;
• attendance at
quarterly and ad hoc board meetings and consideration of all board
papers pertaining to such meetings;
• compliance with
all applicable legal and regulatory requirements; and
• compliance with
all applicable legal and regulatory requirements including the TISE
model share dealing code and the UK Corporate Governance
Code.
Board Evaluation and Succession Planning
The Directors consider how the
Board functions as a whole taking into account the balance of
skills, experience and length of service into consideration and
also reviews the individual performance of its members on an annual
basis.
To enable this evaluation to take
place, the Board has put in place a process whereby the Company
Secretary circulates, on an annual basis, a questionnaire plus a
separate questionnaire for the evaluation of the Chairman. A panel
comprising staff from Beauvoir and APQ Partners, but excluding the
Chair and CEO, collate and summarise the responses before
distribution to the Board. There is a standing annual board agenda
point where there results are discussed and any action required is
identified and acted upon.
The Board considers that it has a
breadth of experience relevant to the Company's needs and that any
changes to the Board's composition can be managed without undue
disruption. Future Directors will undertake an induction
programme.
With regards to board composition
and external evaluation, the board has considered its effectiveness
at least annually and composition on a regular basis. It is both
mindful of good practice and the need to continually review the
matter. With regards to external evaluation,
it is considered that the size and
the activity of the Company do not justify such an expense at this
stage, however a recent change of service providers and Company
Secretary will allow the company to benefit from a wealth of
Corporate Governance experience amongst the staff at the Company
Secretary, and an informal review of current arrangements will be
carried out in the coming months.
The Board is cognisant of good
practice and recent reviews into the composition of boards. It
continually reviews its own composition and believes that it has
available an appropriate range of skills and experience. The Board
will always ensure that the best candidates available are appointed
irrespective of their background, gender or ethnicity.
Company Secretary
Beauvoir Limited were appointed as
Company Secretary on 3 June 2024 replacing Parish Group Limited who
were previously appointed. All Directors have direct access to the
Company Secretary and the Company Secretary is responsible for
ensuring that Board procedures are followed and that there is good
communication within the Board and between the committees of the
Board listed below and the Board. Wayne Bulpitt CBE, Chair of APQ
Global is also Chair and a significant shareholder in Beauvoir
Limited.
Committees of the Board
The Board has established the
following committees:
Audit committee
Following the departure, of
Al-Wadhah Al-Adawi, the audit committee will be chaired by Wayne
Bulpitt, the Chairman, with all the other Directors as members. The
audit committee meets no less than once a calendar year and
meetings can also be attended by the Auditors.
The audit committee is responsible
for monitoring the integrity of the financial
statements of the company and any formal announcements relating to
the company's financial performance and reviewing significant
financial reporting judgements contained in them before
their submission to the Board. In addition, the audit committee is
specifically charged under its terms of reference to advise the
Board on the terms and scope of the appointment of the Auditors,
including their remuneration, independence, objectivity and
reviewing with the Auditors the results and effectiveness of the
audit, and in ensuring that the Company's annual report and
financial statements are fair, balanced and understandable. The
audit committee is also responsible for reviewing the Company's
internal financial controls and internal control and risk
management systems. They also consider annually the need for an
internal audit function.
The audit committee last met on 15
November 2024 to review and approve the accounts. It also met on 8
November 2024. A report of the Audit Committee detailing their
responsibilities is presented in the Audit Committee
Report.
The Audit Committee's Terms of
Reference state that the Audit Committee shall review the need for
any non-audit services provided by the external auditor and
authorise on a case-by-case basis. The Audit Committee's Terms of
Reference are available from the registered office of the
Company.
Audit fees for the external
auditor, BDO LLP, for the year ended 31 December 2023 were $214,867
(2022: $161,750). No other fees were paid to the
Company's auditors for non-audit or audit related services during
the year. (2022: none).
BDO LLP has served as the
Company's auditor for 7 years. The current audit partner is
Elizabeth Hooper.
Relations with Shareholders
The Board welcomes shareholders'
views and places great importance on communication with its
shareholders.
The Board monitors the trading
activity on a regular basis and maintains contact with the
Company's Nominated Adviser and Broker to ascertain the views of
the shareholders, with whom they maintain a regular dialogue.
Shareholders' sentiment is also ascertained by the careful
monitoring of the discount/premium that the Shares are traded in
the market against the book value calculation per Share.
The Company reports to
shareholders twice a year and produces a semi-annual update which
is posted on the Company's website. In addition, it has an Annual
General Meeting and a notice convening this together with a proxy
voting card is sent with the Annual Report and Financial
Statements. The Registrar monitors the voting of the shareholders
and proxy voting is taken into account when votes are cast at the
Annual General Meeting. Shareholders may contact the Directors via
the Company Secretary.
The Chairman and other Directors
are available to meet shareholders if required and the AGM of the
Company provides a forum for shareholders to meet and discuss
issues with the Directors.
Further information regarding the
Company can be found on its website at www.apqglobal.com.
Post Balance Sheet Events
In September 2024, an agreement
was reached with the holders of the Convertible Unsecured Loan
Stock, whereby a payment of £3,499,996 was made to reduce the
nominal value per unit to £4,408,79. The repayment for the
remaining CULS has been extended to March 2025 with an increased
coupon of 6% pa from 30 September 2024 plus a redemption premium of
1% per month.
Annual General Meeting
The Company's Annual General
Meeting is due to be held on 16 December 2024. The last Annual
General Meeting was held on 8 August 2023.
Related Party Transactions
Transactions entered into by the
Company with related parties are disclosed in note 24 of the
financial statements.
Signed on behalf of the Board of
Directors by:
_____________________
_____________________
Wayne
Bulpitt
Philip Soulsby
Chairman
Director
Date: 15 November
2024
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
For the year ended 31 December 2023
We are pleased to present the
Audit Committee's Report for the year ended 31 December 2023,
setting out the responsibilities of the Audit Committee.
Members of the Audit Committee
will be available at the AGM to respond to any shareholder
questions on the activities of the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee was formed on
4 November 2016.
Responsibilities
The Audit Committee reviews and
recommends to the Board the Financial Statements of the Company and
is the forum through which the external auditor reports to the
Board of Directors.
The Audit Committee
responsibilities include:
• review of the
annual financial statements prior to approval, focusing on changes
in accounting policies and practices, major judgemental areas,
significant audit adjustments, going concern and compliance with
accounting standards, listing and legal requirements;
• receiving and
considering reports on internal financial controls, including
reports from the auditors and reporting their findings to the
Board;
• considering the
appointment and removal of the auditors, their effectiveness and
their remuneration including reviewing and monitoring of
independence and objectivity;
• meeting with the
auditors to discuss the scope of the audit, issues arising from
their work and any matters the auditors wish to raise;
• reviewing the
Company's corporate review procedures and any statement on internal
control prior to endorsement by the Board; and
• providing advice
to the Board upon request as to whether the annual report and
accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable
and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess
the Company's performance, business model and strategy.
The Audit Committee reports its
findings, identifying any matters on which it considers that action
or improvement is needed, and make recommendations on the steps to
be taken.
The audit committee had numerous
discussions with external auditors including status update meetings
and a final completion meeting which was held on 8 November 2024,
to review the accounts and reports on the operations of the
Company. After due consideration they reported to the Board of the
Company that in their view the accounts were fair, balanced,
understandable and presented the information necessary to allow
shareholders to assess the Company's performance, business model
and strategy.
_____________________
Wayne Bulpitt
Audit Committee
Chairman
Date: 15
November 2024
BOARD MEMBERS
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Bart Turtelboom (Chief Executive Officer and Executive
Director)
Bart is Chief Executive Officer of
APQ Global Limited and is on the board of APQ Cayman Limited.
Previously he was the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer and
partner of APQ Partners LLP. Prior to APQ Partners LLP, Bart was
Co-Head of the Emerging Markets business at GLG and Co-Portfolio
Manager of the GLG emerging markets funds. He was previously the
Global Co-Head of Emerging Markets at Morgan Stanley, where he ran
a multi-billion US Dollar business spanning Asia, Latin America,
the Middle East and Africa, and head of its Global Capital Markets
Group. Prior to that Bart was a Portfolio Manager at Vega Asset
Management and a Director at Deutsche Bank, where he held several
roles culminating in coverage of the bank's largest European
clients. Bart was an Economist for the International Monetary Fund
in Washington D.C. from 1994 until 1997. Bart received a Ph.D. in
Economics from Columbia University.
Wayne Bulpitt CBE (Non-Executive Chairman)
Wayne Bulpitt has over 36 years of
experience in business leadership in banking, investment and
administration services. Having left National Westminster Bank Plc
in 1992 to join CIBC Bank & Trust Company, he developed and
launched CIBC Fund Managers (Guernsey) Limited in 1994. As Managing
Director, Wayne spent the next four years managing and developing
the offshore funds and building a third party fund administration
capacity.
In 1998 this experience was to
prove crucial for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce where, as
Director of Offshore Investment Services Global Private Banking
& Trust Division, his main priority was to restructure the
delivery of their investment management services outside of
Canada.
Wayne founded Active Group Limited
in 2002, which renamed to Aspida Group following its merger with
Optimus in 2019. Aspida is an innovative provider of practical and
professional support services such as compliance, corporate
secretarial and management services to the finance industry. Wayne
is on the boards of various investment management companies and
funds (both listed and un-listed), overseeing a diverse range of
investment activities.
Philip Soulsby (Executive Director and Finance
director)
Philip Soulsby is a mathematics
graduate. He qualified as a chartered accountant in London with BDO
Binder Hamlyn, before transferring to KPMG in Guernsey in 1990.
There he spent two years specialising in the audit of financial
services companies and offshore mutual funds. In 1992 he joined
Credit Suisse Fund Administration Limited in charge of finance and
compliance, later moving to a role more involved in structuring and
marketing mutual fund services, helping the business grow from 12
staff to over 130. During this time he acted as director to a
number of funds and fund managers, and gained a broad knowledge of
hedge funds, derivatives and risk control. In 2006, he left Credit
Suisse to establish his own business, The Mundi Group Ltd, a
fair-trade and ethical products business. He remains a director of
several funds and fund management companies and was also Douzenier
to the Parish of St Martin, his term of office expired on 31
December 2018.
Al-Wadhah Al-Adawi (Non-executive Director and Chairman of
the Audit Committee - until September 2023)
Mr Al Adawi has over '10 years'
experience within asset management and equity trading. In 2017, he
joined Hydrocarbon Finder, the oil and gas exploration and
development company in Oman, as Vice Chairman. Between 2012 and
2017, he was a Portfolio Manager with Harvard Management Company,
Boston, in which he managed a $300 million Long/Short Emerging
Market Portfolio. Prior to this, Wadhah spent 4 years in London
with GLG Partners, where he was responsible for investing and
managing Emerging Market equity exposure in both Long/Short and
Long Only strategies. He also has experience in asset management
with Morgan Stanley, EMSO Partners and HSBC. Mr Al Adawi is a CFA
Charter holder.
REMUNERATION POLICY
For the year ended 31 December 2023
No advice or services were
provided by any external person in respect of the Board's
consideration of the Directors' remuneration.
The Company's policy is that the
fees payable to the Directors should reflect the time spent by the
Directors on the Company's affairs and the responsibilities borne
by the Directors and be sufficient to attract, retain and motivate
directors of a quality required to run the Company successfully.
The policy is to review fee rates periodically, although such a
review will not necessarily result in any changes to the rates, and
account is taken of fees paid to directors of comparable
companies.
A management share plan was
formalised on 7 April 2017 and amended on 17 July 2018. The
plan allows for certain members of the management to benefit from
20% of any increase in the year end book value per share for a
given year. Awards can be issued as an allocation of a specified
number of shares or as an option (a right to acquired shares under
the plan for nil consideration). Cash consideration is an option at
the Board's discretion. It could disadvantage other shareholders if
cash is taken and cash consideration exceeds the share price. The
vesting period for any awards issued can be up to 5 years and
subject to certain conditions. Share awards were with respect to
the performance period ended 31 December 2017, which have continued
to vest over the period. No awards have been issued with respect to
the year ended 31 December 2021, 31 December 2022 and the year
ended 31 December 2023 as the performance criteria has not been
met.
Remuneration
The non-executive directors are
remunerated for their services at such a rate as the Directors
determine provided that the aggregate amount of such fees does not
exceed $270,550 per annum. No engagement with the workforce has
taken place to explain how remuneration aligns with wider company
pay policy, this is due to the small size of the
Company.
The directors are remunerated in
the form of fees, payable monthly in arrears. Bart Turtelboom
agreed to waive his entitlement to director's fees whilst he was
Chairman. From April 2017 Bart Turtelboom received an annual
salary of $148,237 (£120,000) as Chief Executive Officer. From 1
April 2018 the salary was amended to be settled as £60,000 from the
Company and £60,000 from APQ Cayman Limited.
From 1 May 2020 the salary was
amended to be settled as £24,000 from the Company and £96,000 from
APQ Cayman Limited.
The Board considers that the
salary is reasonable and commensurate with the level of the
appointment.
No other remuneration has been
paid to directors apart from reimbursement of their expense,
details of which have been included on page 26.
REMUNERATION POLICY (CONTINUED)
For the year ended 31 December 2023
2023
|
|
APQ Global -Limited -
Remuneration
|
|
APQ
Global -Limited
- Share based remuneration
|
|
APQ Cayman -Limited -
Remuneration
|
|
Total
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Bart Turtelboom
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
29,948
|
|
-
|
|
119,795
|
|
149,743
|
Wayne Bulpitt
|
Non-Executive Chairman
|
49,915
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
49,915
|
Philip Soulsby
|
Finance Director
|
37,436
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
37,436
|
Wadhah Al-Adawi
|
Non-Executive Director
|
12,410
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
12,410
|
|
|
129,709
|
|
-
|
|
119,795
|
|
249,504
|
-
2022
|
|
APQ Global -Limited -
Remuneration
|
|
APQ
Global -Limited
- Share based remuneration
|
|
APQ Cayman -Limited -
Remuneration
|
|
Total
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Bart Turtelboom
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
29,618
|
|
15,800
|
|
118,619
|
|
164,037
|
Wayne Bulpitt
|
Non-Executive Chairman
|
40,644
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
40,644
|
Philip Soulsby
|
Finance Director
|
36,998
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
36,998
|
Wadhah Al-Adawi
|
Non-Executive Director
|
24,255
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
24,255
|
|
|
131,515
|
|
15,800
|
|
118,619
|
|
265,934
|
At 31 December 2023, $nil (2022:
$nil) was payable to the directors with and $85,782 (2022:
$209,000) receivable from a director for an expense advance. A
total amount of $1,558,944 (2022: $482,169) of general corporate
expenses such as travel and business development were incurred by a
director which the Company reimbursed and , which does not
constitute a director
emolument.
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF APQ GLOBAL
LIMITED
Opinion on the financial statements
In our opinion the financial
statements:
•
give a true and fair view of the state of the
Group's affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of the Group's profit
for the year then ended;
•
have been properly prepared in accordance with UK
adopted international accounting standards; and
•
have been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008.
We have audited the financial
statements of APQ Global Limited ("the Parent Company") and its
subsidiaries (together "the Group") for the year ended 31 December
2023 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive
Income, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flow and notes to the financial statements,
including a summary of material accounting policies. The financial
reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is
applicable law and UK adopted international accounting
standards.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in
accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs
(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those
standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities
for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We
believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Independence
We remain independent of the Group
and the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical requirements
that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the
UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard as applied to listed
entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities
in accordance with these requirements.
Material uncertainty related to going
concern
We draw attention to Note 2.2 of
the financial statements, which indicates that despite the
confidence of the Directors that the Group should have the ability
to continue for a period of at least 12 months and be able to meet
its liabilities as they fall due, including repayment of the
convertible unsecured Loan Stock ("CULS"), the Directors accept
this is uncertain. The Group is actively
engaged in refinancing discussions with counterparties, however
these discussions are yet to be concluded. Furthermore,
the receipt of forecasted dividends from investee companies, in
particular the Delphos business is dependent on Delphos' operations
generating sufficient cashflows which is not guaranteed, therefore
the amount and timing of forecasted dividends remains
uncertain.
As stated in Note 2.2, these
events or conditions, along with other
matters as set forth in Note 2.2, indicate that a material
uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the Group's
ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified
in respect of this matter.
Given the conditions and
uncertainty disclosed in note 2.2, we considered going concern to
be a Key Audit Matter. Our evaluation of the Directors' assessment
of the Group's ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis
of accounting and in response to the Key Audit Matter
included:
· Understanding the outcome of the meeting with the CULS
holders regarding the extension of the settlement date to 31 March
2025 for repayment of the CULS and reviewing the amended Trust Deed
to understand the terms of the extension;
· Obtaining the Directors' going concern assessment and
evaluating the method in light of market conditions and the
uncertainties surrounding the timing of forecasted cash
flows;
· Reviewing and challenging the forecasted cash flows, such as
forecast revenue and expenditure. We assessed the Directors
forecasting ability by comparing the prior year forecasts against
the actual results. We also corroborated a sample of forecast
revenue expected to be received within underlying investee
companies to supporting agreements;
· Assessing the timing of forecast future cash flows and
challenging the ability to repay the CULS and other liabilities
based on the stress tested cashflow projections produced by
management which include the impact of poor economic
conditions;
· Considering the potential availability of other sources of
financing available to repay the CULS by reviewing correspondence
with counterparties, if the dividend income expected to be received
before the settlement date does not materialise.
· Assessing the Group's current and forecast compliance with
covenants under the base case and stress tested scenarios for any
covenant breach.
In auditing the financial
statements, we have concluded that the Directors' use of the going
concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial
statements is appropriate. Our responsibilities and the
responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are
described in the relevant sections of this report.
Overview
Key audit matters
|
|
2023
|
2022
|
Valuation and existence of
investments - Cayman Subsidiary and directly held listed
investments
|
|
X
|
Valuation of
investments
|
X
|
X
|
Investment Entity
Status
|
X
|
X
|
Going concern
|
X
|
|
The Cayman subsidiary no longer
holds a portfolio of listed investments nor are there any directly
held by the parent company, therefore this key audit matter has
been removed in the current year.
Going concern is a key audit
matter in 2023 due to the conditions existing as described under
the heading "material uncertainty related to going concern"
above.
|
Materiality
|
Group financial statements as a whole
$788,000 (2022: $381,000) based on
1.5% (2022: 1%) of the gross investment value
|
An overview of the scope of our audit
Our Group audit was scoped by
obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment,
including the Group's system of internal control, and assessing the
risks of material misstatement in the financial statements.
We also addressed the risk of management override of internal
controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of bias by
the Directors that may have represented a risk of material
misstatement.
The group comprises the Parent
Company, APQ Global Limited, one subsidiary, APQ Partners LLP which
is consolidated, four directly held 100% owned subsidiaries that
are not consolidated but measured at fair value through profit and
loss due to APQ Global Limited meeting the definition of an
investment entity, one 50% owned entity also valued at fair value
through profit and loss as well as a number of indirectly held
subsidiaries. All components in the group were in scope for our
audit. For the parent company and for the subsidiary that is
consolidated a full scope audit was performed by the group audit
team and for the entities that were not consolidated, the group
audit team audited each of the investment valuations for these
investments held at fair value through profit and loss.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those
matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most
significance in our audit of the financial statements of the
current period and include the most significant assessed risks of
material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we
identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the
overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit,
and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters
were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial
statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we
do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
In addition to the matter
described in the material uncertainty related to going concern
section of our report, we have determined the matters described
below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our
report.
Key audit matter
|
How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit
matter
|
Valuation of
Investments
Note 2.6, 2.7, 3, 14 and 22
|
The Group holds investments in a
number of entities (directly or indirectly) and measures its
investments at fair value. (2023: $52.5m, 2022: $38.2m)
As described in notes 2.6, 2.7, 3,
14 and 22, the fair values of the investments are determined by a
variety of techniques. The Directors engaged an expert in valuing
some of these investments. These unquoted investments are
recognised at fair value and subject to a high degree of estimation
uncertainty. There is a risk these may not be appropriately valued
through utilising inappropriate valuation methodologies or
assumptions.
|
For all
investments we:
· Challenged whether the valuation methodology was the most
appropriate in the circumstances under the International Private
Equity and Venture Capital Valuation ("IPEV") Guidelines and
International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs");
· Recalculated the fair value attributable to the Group, having
regard to the application of enterprise value across the capital
structures of the investee companies;
For 100%
of investments that were valued using more subjective techniques
(such as discounted cash flow forecasts and earnings multiples)
we:
· Reviewed the valuations prepared by management's expert
and challenged and corroborated the inputs to the valuation
with reference to management information on investee companies,
market data and our own understanding;
· Considered the competence, capabilities and expertise of the
management expert through consideration of the qualifications held
by the expert and the position held by the expert in the firm
employing the expert. We also considered the services provided by
the firm which employs the expert. We considered the independence
and objectivity of the expert through review of the independence
declaration made by the expert to the Company in its valuation
report.
· Considered the appropriateness of the methodology and
assumptions employed by the expert through review of the accounting
framework and valuation guidelines followed;
· Reviewed management information available to support
assumptions about maintainable revenues, expenditure, working
capital and tax which formed the basis of the cash flow forecasts
used in the valuations. In order to gain further comfort over this
management information we:
o Agreed a sample of revenue
per the investee companies' management accounts back to contracts,
invoice or bank statement to support the existence and accuracy of
revenue in the current year;
o Considered the ability of
management to forecast accurately by comparing the 2023 actual
figures to the 2023 forecasts produced and received as part of our
prior year audit;
o Obtained an understanding of
management's forecasted revenue and earnings and considered that
against our knowledge of the entity and the wider market as well as
performance post year end;
o Obtained management's
forecast EBITDA margins, depreciation and working capital and
reviewed for reasonableness based on current year actuals and the
forecast for revenue;
o Considered management's
forecast tax rate and considered this against the tax rates in
place and future tax rates announced for the relevant
jurisdictions.
· Considered the discount rate applied to the cash flow
forecasts by reference to third party data sources as well as
consultation with internal valuation experts;
· Considered the appropriateness of the cash flow forecast
period with reference to our knowledge of the subsidiaries and
industry norms; and
· Considered the appropriateness of the comparator market and
transaction multiples used with regards to the operating activities
of these companies.
We
assessed the impact of estimation uncertainty concerning specific
assumptions and where appropriate,
performing sensitivity analysis where we considered that
alternative input assumptions could reasonably have been applied.
We considered the overall impact of such sensitivities on the
portfolio of investments in determining whether the valuations as a
whole are reasonable and free from bias.
For 100%
of investments that were valued using less subjective techniques
(NAV and cost) we:
· Verified the cost or price of recent investment to supporting
documentation;
· Considered indicators that the cost or price of recent
investment were no longer representative of fair value considering,
inter alia, the current performance of the investee company and the
milestones and assumptions set out in the investment proposal;
and
· Where applicable we
agreed a sample of cash and other assets and
liabilities forming part of the NAV to supporting documents, to
corroborate the existence and accuracy of these amounts.
For 100% of investments held at
nil we:
Considered the rationale for a nil
valuation and where necessary obtained evidence to support that the
entities were newly incorporated and had not been trading during
the year.
Key Observations
Based on the procedures performed
we considered management's valuations of these investments to be
reasonable considering the level of estimation
uncertainty.
|
Investment Entity
Status
Note 2.5, 3 and 14
|
As described in note 3 to the
financial statements, the Directors have determined that the Group
continues to meet the definition of an Investment Entity and
therefore holds certain subsidiaries at fair value through profit
and loss as opposed to consolidating them.
The assessment of whether the
Group continues to meet the definition of an investment entity
under IFRS is judgemental and must be reconsidered at each
reporting date, taking into account changes in the portfolio and
the Group's activities.
Due to acquisitions in unquoted
investments through the subsidiaries continuing to occur year on
year as well as changes to overall operational and cash management
, there is a continuing need to spend time and effort re-assessing
whether the Group continues to meet the definition of an investment
entity.
|
We reviewed the Group's listing
documents, financial statement disclosures and website publications
to confirm that the Group's business purpose, objectives and
strategy were congruous with those of an Investment
entity.
We obtained management's
memorandum which details the rationale for why APQ Global Limited
continues to meet the definition of an Investment entity and
checked that the rationale applied was consistent with the
requirements of IFRS.
Furthermore we challenged
management on the explanations and rationale and considered whether
these were consistent with our understanding of the entity, its
operations and activities.
We obtained management's
memorandum in respect of each of the underlying investments which
detailed the rationale for acquiring each of these investments and
the exit strategy for each investment. We considered whether the
rationale for acquiring these investments was in accordance with
our understanding obtained throughout the audit and was consistent
with that of an investment entity.
Where appropriate we agreed the
details included in management's memoranda to supporting evidence
such as Board meeting minutes, publications for investors and fair
value assessments.
We reviewed management's fair
value assessment of each of the investments and checked that all of
the investments were evaluated on a fair value basis at the year
end.
We reviewed the key disclosures in
respect of this matter to test that they were complete, accurate,
and appropriate in the context of the requirements of IFRS
10.
Key Observations
Based on the procedures performed
we consider management's view regarding the Group's investment
entity status to be appropriate.
|
Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of
materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in
evaluating the effect of misstatements. We consider
materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including
omissions, could influence the economic decisions of reasonable
users that are taken on the basis of the financial
statements.
In order to reduce to an
appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements
exceed materiality, we use a lower materiality level, performance
materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed.
Importantly, misstatements below these levels will not necessarily
be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the nature of
identified misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their
occurrence, when evaluating their effect on the financial
statements as a whole.
Based on our professional
judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements
as a whole and performance materiality as follows:
|
Group financial statements
|
|
2023
|
2022
|
Materiality
|
$788,000
|
$381,000
|
Basis for determining materiality
|
1.5% of the Gross investment
balance
|
1% of the Gross investment
balance
|
Rationale for the benchmark applied
|
As an Investment entity,
investments are the key balance in the financial statements and a
key balance of interest to the users. 1.5% was selected based on
the nature of the portfolio and the level of judgement inherent in
the valuation. The percentage has increased from prior year given
the higher portion of unquoted investments.
|
As an Investment entity,
investments are the key balance in the financial statements and a
key balance of interest to the users. 1% was selected based on the
nature of the portfolio and the level of judgement inherent in the
valuation.
|
Performance materiality
|
$512,000
|
$247,000
|
Basis for determining performance
materiality
|
65% of materiality
When setting performance
materiality we consider a number of factors including the expected
misstatements, the history of misstatements and brought forward
adjustments from the prior years as well as the areas of the
financial statements subject to estimation uncertainty.
|
65% of materiality
When setting performance
materiality we consider a number of factors including the expected
misstatements, the history of misstatements and brought forward
adjustments from the prior years as well as the areas of the
financial statements subject to estimation uncertainty.
|
Component materiality
We set materiality for the
consolidated component of the Group based on 95% (2022: 95%) of
Group materiality due to the size and our assessment of the risk of
material misstatement of the Group. Component materiality was set
at $749,000 (2022: $361,000). In the audit of the component, we
further applied a performance materiality level of 65% (2022: 65%)
of the component materiality to our testing to ensure that the risk
of errors exceeding component materiality was appropriately
mitigated.
Reporting threshold
We agreed with the Audit Committee
that we would report to them all individual audit differences in
excess of $15,000 (2022: $7,000). We also agreed to report
differences below this threshold that, in our view, warranted
reporting on qualitative grounds.
Other information
The directors are responsible for
the other information. The other information comprises the
information included in the Annual Report and Consolidated
Financial Statements other than the financial statements and our
auditor's report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements
does not cover the other information and, except to the extent
otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any
form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read
the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other
information is materially inconsistent with the financial
statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or
otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such
material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are
required to determine whether this gives rise to a material
misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on
the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material
misstatement of this other information, we are required to report
that fact.
We have nothing to report in this
regard.
Corporate Governance Statement
As the Group has voluntarily
adopted the UK Corporate Governance Code 2018 we are required to
review the Directors' statement in relation to going concern,
longer-term viability and that part of the Corporate Governance
Statement relating to the Parent Company's compliance with the
provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code specified for our
review.
Based on the work undertaken as
part of our audit, we have concluded that each of the following
elements of the Corporate Governance Statement is materially
consistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained
during the audit.
Going concern and longer-term
viability
|
· The
Directors' statement with regards to the appropriateness of
adopting the going concern basis of accounting and any material
uncertainties identified set out on page 15; and
· The
Directors' explanation as to their assessment of the Group's
prospects, the period this assessment covers and why the period is
appropriate set out on page 15.
|
Other Code provisions
|
· Directors' statement on fair, balanced and understandable set
out on page 17;
· Board's confirmation that it has carried out a robust
assessment of the emerging and principal risks set out on page
10;
· The
section of the annual report that describes the review of
effectiveness of risk management and internal control systems set
out on page 10;
· The
section describing the work of the Audit and Risk Committee set out
on page 21.
|
Other Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008
reporting
We have nothing to report in
respect of the following matters where the Companies (Guernsey)
Law, 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our
opinion:
· proper accounting records have not been kept by the Parent
Company; or
· the
financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting
records; or
· we
have failed to obtain all the information and explanations which,
to the best of our knowledge and belief, are necessary for the
purposes of our audit.
Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the
Statement of Directors' responsibilities, the Directors are
responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for
being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such
internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable
the preparation of financial statements that are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial
statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group's
ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable,
matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis
of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the
Group or the Parent Company or to cease operations, or have no
realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial
statements
Our objectives are to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a
whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or
error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a
guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will
always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements
can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if,
individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected
to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of
these financial statements.
Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting
irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud,
are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We
design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined
above, to detect material misstatements in respect of
irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures
are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is
detailed below:
Non-compliance with laws and regulations
Based on:
· Our
understanding of the Group and the industry in which it
operates;
· Discussion with management and those charged with governance;
and
· Obtaining an understanding of the Group's policies and
procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations, we
considered the significant laws and regulations to be Companies
(Guernsey) Law, 2008, UK-adopted international accounting
standards, the AIM listing rules and the TISE listing
rules.
The Group is also subject to laws
and regulations where the consequence of non-compliance with
legislation could have a material effect on the amount or
disclosures in the financial statements, for example through the
imposition of fines or litigations. Such laws and regulations cover
tax, Employment and compliance litigation including the Prevention
of Corruption (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2003.
Our procedures in respect of the
above included:
· Review of minutes of meeting of those charged with governance
for any instances of non-compliance with laws and
regulations;
· Enquiries of management, the Directors, and the Audit
Committee, as to whether they were aware of any non-compliance with
laws and regulations;
· Obtaining an understanding of the control environment in
monitoring compliance with laws and regulations;
· Review of financial statements disclosures and agreeing to
supporting documentation; and
· Review of legal invoice and legal correspondence to identify
potential non-compliance with laws and regulations or undisclosed
contingencies and commitments.
Fraud
We assessed the susceptibility of
the financial statements to material misstatement, including fraud.
Our risk assessment procedures included:
· Enquiry with management and those charged with governance
including the Directors and the Audit Committee, regarding any
known or suspected instances of fraud;
· Obtaining an understanding of the Group's policies and
procedures relating to:
-
Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud; and
-
Internal controls established to mitigate risks related to
fraud.
· Review of minutes of meeting of those charged with governance
for any known or suspected instances of fraud;
· Discussion among the engagement team as to how and where
fraud might occur in the financial statements; and
· Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or
unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material
misstatement due to fraud.
Based on
our risk assessment, we considered the area's most susceptible to
fraud to be management override of controls, valuation of unquoted
investments, revenue recognition and the appropriate recognition of
expenditure.
Our procedures in respect of the
above included:
· Testing a sample of journal entries throughout the year,
which met a defined risk criteria, by agreeing to supporting
documentation;
· testing a sample of low value journals to incorporate an
element of unpredictability into our testing;
· agreeing revenue to supporting documentation such as bank
statements, management accounts of investee companies, and
subsidiary company Board approvals for dividend income as
appropriate to gain assurance over the existence and appropriate
recognition of revenue;
· Tested a sample of expenditure and obtained confirmation from
the Board regarding the nature and validity of expenditure
incurred; and
· the
procedures outlined in our key audit matters above in respect of
unquoted investment valuations.
We also communicated relevant
identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all
engagement team members wo were all deemed to have appropriate
competence and capabilities and remained alert to any indications
of fraud or non-compliance with legislation throughout the
audit.
Our audit procedures were designed
to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial
statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material
misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting
one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate
concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through
collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures
performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and
regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the
financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of
it.
A further description of our
responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council's
website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.
This description forms part of our auditor's report.
The engagement partner on the
audit resulting in this independent auditors opinion is Elizabeth
Hooper.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the
Parent Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Section 262
of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008. Our audit work has been
undertaken so that we might state to the Parent Company's members
those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's
report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent
permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to
anyone other than the Parent Company and the Parent Company's
members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the
opinions we have formed.
BDO LLP
Chartered accountants
London, UK
November 2024
BDO LLP is a limited liability
partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number
OC305127).
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Note
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
5
|
14,182,711
|
|
7,198,826
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(loss) on financial
assets at fair value through profit and loss
|
14
|
10,456,111
|
|
(20,202,661)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative expenses
|
6
|
(6,166,003)
|
|
(303,405)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating profit/(loss) for the year before
tax
|
|
18,472,819
|
|
(13,307,240)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest receivable
|
9
|
272,415
|
|
15,165
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest payable
|
10
|
(2,519,207)
|
|
(2,360,017)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impairment of financial assets at
amortised cost
|
|
-
|
|
(712,660)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on partial settlement of
CULS
|
17
|
224,868
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before
taxation
|
|
16,450,895
|
|
(16,364,752)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax on profit/(loss) from ordinary
activities
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total profit/(loss) for the year
|
|
16,450,895
|
|
(16,364,752)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive
income
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the
year
|
|
16,450,895
|
|
(16,364,752)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic Profit/ (losses) per share
|
11
|
0.20941
|
|
(0.20843)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted Profit/ (losses) per share
|
11
|
0.20941
|
|
(0.20843)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Company No.
62008
As
at 31 December 2023
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Note
|
$
|
|
$
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and
equipment
|
13
|
26,421
|
|
26,982
|
Investments
|
14
|
52,538,656
|
|
38,162,574
|
Right of use assets
|
21
|
115,357
|
|
82,872
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
52,680,434
|
|
38,272,428
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
15
|
7,970,810
|
|
3,055,956
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
705,606
|
|
586,040
|
Total current assets
|
|
8,676,416
|
|
3,641,996
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
61,356,850
|
|
41,914,424
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
payables
|
16
|
(980,222)
|
|
(756,296)
|
3.5% Convertible Unsecured Loan
Stock
|
17
|
(36,710,043)
|
|
-
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
(37,690,265)
|
|
(756,296)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long term liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
3.5% Convertible Unsecured Loan
Stock
|
17
|
-
|
|
(33,922,606)
|
Lease liabilities
|
21
|
(17,585)
|
|
-
|
Total long term liabilities
|
|
(17,585)
|
|
(33,922,606)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets
|
|
23,649,000
|
|
7,235,522
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
18
|
100,141,648
|
|
100,141,648
|
Equity component of 3.5%
Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock
|
17
|
6,823,671
|
|
6,919,355
|
Other capital reserves
|
23
|
-
|
|
37,417
|
Accumulated losses
|
|
(78,388,806)
|
|
(94,935,385)
|
Exchange reserve
|
2.13
|
(4,927,513)
|
|
(4,927,513)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity
|
|
23,649,000
|
|
7,235,522
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per ordinary share
|
19
|
30.10c
|
|
9.21c
|
The Financial Statements on pages
36 to 77 were approved by the Board of Directors of APQ Global
Limited and signed on 15 November 2024 on its behalf by:
___________________
___________________
Bart Turtelboom
Phil Soulsby
Chief Executive
Officer
Director
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
As
at 31 December 2023
|
Notes
|
Share
capital
|
CULS equity
component
|
Other capital
reserves
|
Accumulated
losses
|
Exchange
reserve
|
Total
|
|
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at 1 January 2022
|
|
100,005,450
|
6,919,355
|
167,331
|
(78,570,633)
|
(4,927,513)
|
23,593,990
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive loss for the year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for the year
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(16,364,752)
|
-
|
(16,364,752)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity after total comprehensive loss for the
year
|
|
100,005,450
|
6,919,355
|
167,331
|
(94,935,385)
|
(4,927,513)
|
7,229,238
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributions by and distributions to
owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share based payments
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
19,756
|
-
|
-
|
19,756
|
Share based payments
settled in cash
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
(13,472)
|
-
|
-
|
(13,472)
|
Issue of share awards
|
18
|
136,198
|
-
|
(136,198)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Dividends
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at 31 December 2022
|
|
100,141,648
|
6,919,355
|
37,417
|
(94,935,385)
|
(4,927,513)
|
7,235,522
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(continued)
As
at 31 December 2023
|
Notes
|
Share
capital
|
CULS equity
component
|
Other capital
reserves
|
Accumulated
losses
|
Exchange
reserve
|
Total
|
|
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at 1 January 2023
|
|
100,141,648
|
6,919,355
|
37,417
|
(94,935,385)
|
(4,927,513)
|
7,235,522
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive profit for the year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit for the year
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
16,450,895
|
-
|
16,450,895
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity after total comprehensive profit for the
year
|
|
100,141,648
|
6,919,355
|
37,417
|
(78,484,490)
|
(4,927,513)
|
23,686,417
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributions by and distributions to
owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share based payments
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
(34,049)
|
-
|
-
|
(34,049)
|
Share based payments settled in
cash
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
(3,368)
|
-
|
-
|
(3,368)
|
Transfer to reserves on settlement
of CULS
|
17
|
-
|
(95,684)
|
-
|
95,684
|
-
|
-
|
Dividends
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at 31 December 2023
|
|
100,141,648
|
6,823,671
|
-
|
(78,388,806)
|
(4,927,513)
|
23,649,000
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
Cash flow from operating activities
|
Note
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations
|
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) for the financial
year
|
|
16,450,895
|
|
(16,364,752)
|
Adjustments for non-cash income and
expenses
|
|
|
|
|
Equity settled share-based
payments
|
20
|
(34,049)
|
|
19,756
|
Depreciation on property, plant
and equipment
|
13
|
18,996
|
|
17,083
|
Depreciation on right of use
assets
|
21
|
82,872
|
|
80,187
|
Net (gain)/loss on financial
assets at fair value through profit and loss
|
14
|
(10,456,111)
|
|
20,202,661
|
Gain on partial settlement of CULS
via tender
|
17
|
(224,868)
|
|
-
|
Exchange rate
fluctuations
|
6
|
2,000,422
|
|
(4,214,851)
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Increase in trade and other
receivables
|
15
|
(94,459)
|
|
(492,077)
|
Increase/(decrease) in trade and
other payables
|
16
|
254,638
|
|
(77,456)
|
Increase in receivables from group
undertakings
|
15
|
(4,820,395)
|
|
(1,623,451)
|
Decrease in payables from group
undertakings
|
16
|
(45,612)
|
|
(5,746)
|
Cash generated from/(utilised by)
operations
|
|
3,132,329
|
|
(2,458,646)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest received
|
9
|
(272,415)
|
|
(15,165)
|
Interest paid
|
10
|
2,519,207
|
|
2,360,017
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating
activities
|
|
5,379,121
|
|
(113,794)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flow from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Payments to acquire
investments
|
14
|
(3,919,971)
|
|
(538,404)
|
Payments to acquire property,
plant and equipment
|
13
|
(18,435)
|
|
(9,897)
|
Proceeds from disposal of
investments
|
|
-
|
|
1,907,221
|
Interest received
|
9
|
272,415
|
|
15,165
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from investing
activities
|
|
(3,665,991)
|
|
1,374,085
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flow from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Interest on CULS
|
17
|
(1,297,894)
|
|
(1,268,504)
|
Partial settlement of CULS via
tender
|
17
|
(249,380)
|
|
-
|
Cash settled share-based
payments
|
20
|
(3,368)
|
|
(13,472)
|
Principal paid on lease
liabilities
|
21
|
(89,128)
|
|
(79,490)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash outflow from financing activities
|
|
(1,639,770)
|
|
(1,361,466)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
73,360
|
|
(101,175)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of year
|
|
586,040
|
|
670,644
|
Exchanged rate fluctuations on
cash and cash equivalents
|
|
46,206
|
|
16,571
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
|
|
705,606
|
|
586,040
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW
For
the year ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
|
At 1 January
2023
|
|
Movements arising from cash
flows
|
|
Non- cash
movements
|
|
At 31 December
2023
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Reconciliation of net debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash at bank
|
586,040
|
|
73,360
|
|
46,206
|
|
705,606
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible Unsecured Loan
Stock
|
(33,922,606)
|
|
1,547,274
|
|
(4,334,711)
|
|
(36,710,043)
|
Lease liabilities
|
(82,872)
|
|
89,128
|
|
(121,613)
|
|
(115,357)
|
|
(34,005,478)
|
|
1,636,402
|
|
(4,456,324)
|
|
(36,825,400)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net debt
|
(33,419,438)
|
|
1,709,762
|
|
(4,410,118)
|
|
(36,119,794)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Movements arising from cash
flows
|
|
Non- cash
movements
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Movements on debt balances
comprise:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows used in principal
payments of lease liabilities
|
|
|
89,128
|
|
-
|
|
89,128
|
Recognition of lease
liability
|
|
|
-
|
|
(115,357)
|
|
(115,357)
|
Amortisation of discount on lease
liabilities
|
|
|
-
|
|
(3,537)
|
|
(3,537)
|
Exchange differences on lease
liability
|
|
|
-
|
|
(2,719)
|
|
(2,719)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows used in servicing
interest payments of CULS
|
|
|
1,297,894
|
|
-
|
|
1,297,894
|
Cash flows used in partial
settlement of CULS
|
|
|
249,380
|
|
-
|
|
249,380
|
Gain on partial settlement of
CULS
|
|
|
-
|
|
224,868
|
|
224,868
|
Amortisation of discount on CULS
issue
|
|
|
-
|
|
(2,515,670)
|
|
(2,515,670)
|
Exchange differences on CULS
liability
|
|
|
-
|
|
(2,043,909)
|
|
(2,043,909)
|
|
|
|
1,636,402
|
|
(4,456,324)
|
|
(2,819,922)
|
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For
the year ended 31 December 2023
1. Corporate information
The financial statements of APQ
Global Limited (the "Group") for the year ended 31 December 2023
were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the
Board of Directors on 15 November 2024. The Company is incorporated
as a limited company in Guernsey. The Company was incorporated on
10 May 2016 for an unlimited duration in accordance with
the Companies (Guernsey) Law,
2008. The Company's registered office is
at 1st Floor, Tudor House, Le Bordage, St Peter Port,
Guernsey, GY1 1DB.
The objective of the Company is to
steadily grow its earnings to seek to deliver attractive returns
and capital growth through a combination of building growing
businesses in emerging markets as well as earning revenue from
income generating operating activities[12].
The Company and its
subsidiaries[13] have no investment
restrictions and no maximum exposure limits will apply to any
investments made by the Group, unless otherwise determined and set
by the Board from time to time. No material change will be made to
the Company's or subsidiaries objective or investing policy without
the approval of Shareholders by ordinary resolution.
The Group's investment activities
are managed by the Board.
The shares are quoted on The
International Stock Exchange for informational purpose. The
ordinary shares are admitted to trading on AIM.
2. Material accounting policies
2.1 Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial
statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance
UK adopted International Accounting Standards (UK
IAS) and applicable law. The financial
statements have been prepared on a historical-cost basis, except
for financial assets and financial liabilities held at fair value
through profit or loss (FVTPL) that have been measured at fair
value. The financial statements have been prepared on a going
concern basis.
The principal accounting policies
are set out below.
2.2 Going concern
Going Concern
The Directors believe that it is
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the
Financial Statements since a significant percentage of the assets
of the Group consist of cash and, the forecasted distributable
dividends from Delphos Internationals in the next 12 months,
provide adequate financial resources to continue in operational
existence for at least 12 months from the date of approval of the
financial statements. The Group expects to be able to meet all its
liabilities as they fall due, including the remaining CULS
liability of GBP 26.1 million (as at the date of approval of the
financial statements) now due in March 2025, following the CULS
Holders agreement to the extension of the settlement date for the
CULS to March 2025. See below for the Stress Testing applied in
coming to this conclusion. See below for the Stress Testing applied
in coming to this conclusion.
Despite the confidence of the
Directors that the Company should have the ability to continue for
a period of at least 12 months and be able to meet its liabilities
as they fall due the Directors accept this is uncertain. Since
refinancing discussions with counterparties are yet to be concluded
and the timing of forecasted dividends from investee companies, in
particular the Delphos business is dependent on Delphos' operations
generating sufficient cashflows which is not guaranteed, there
remains a material uncertainty with respect to going
concern
Stress Testing
After assessing the Group as a
Going Concern in normal and poor economic conditions across a one
year horizon, the Group expects to maintain a sufficient expense
coverage ratio net of paying all its operating expenses and net of
its financial payment obligations to the CULS under normal
conditions. The Group does not expect to breach any debt covenants
and is forecast to retain USD 9.69 million in cash as of November,
30th, 2025.
Under normal market assumptions,
the Group assumes that it meets all its financial obligations as
well as its operating expenses. The Group forecasts to receive USD
44.5 million of dividend income from its Direct Investment
Portfolio between November 2024 and November 2025, albeit there is
no guarantee that these amounts will be received within the time
period. Under poor economic conditions, the earnings assumptions
are reduced, and USD 35.8 million of dividends are received from
the Company's Direct Investment Portfolio over the same period,
whilst the financial obligations and expenses are held constant.
There are zero Fair Value Profit or Losses assumed on the Direct
Investment Portfolio throughout the period under review.
Despite the confidence of the
Directors that the Group should have the ability to continue for a
period of at least 12 months and be able to meet its liabilities as
they fall due, including repayment of the CULS, the Directors
accept this is uncertain. The Group is actively engaged in
refinancing discussions with counterparties, however these
discussions are yet to be concluded. Furthermore, the receipt of
forecasted dividends from investee companies, in particular the
Delphos business is dependent on Delphos' operations generating
sufficient cashflows which is not guaranteed; therefore the amount
and timing of forecasted dividends remains uncertain. This
indicates the existence of a material uncertainty, which may cast
significant doubt on the ability of the Group to continue as a
going concern. Therefore, the Group may be unable to realise its
assets and settle its liabilities in the normal course of
business.
The Directors have a reasonable
expectation that refinancing and/or the forecasted dividends will
be forthcoming. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going
concern basis in preparing the financial statements. The financial
statements do not include any adjustments should the basis of
preparation be inappropriate.
Dividend Suspension
The continued suspension of the
dividend paid to ordinary shareholders will increase the liquidity
available to the Company by approximately $6m per annum based on
level of dividends paid prior to implementation of the dividend
hold. The Board reviews the dividend policy quarterly. The dividend
remains on hold until further notice.
2.3 Functional and presentational currency
The Group's presentational and
functional currency is US Dollars.
2.4 Standards issued
Standards, amendments and interpretations effective for the
current year
The following amendments are
effective for the period beginning 1 January 2023:
· IFRS
17 Insurance Contracts;
· Disclosure of material Accounting Policies (Amendments to IAS
1 Presentation of Financial Statements and IFRS Practice Statement
2 Making Materiality Judgements);
· Definition of Accounting Estimates (Amendments to IAS 8
Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and
Errors);
· Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a
Single Transaction (Amendments to IAS 12 Income Taxes);
and
· International Tax Reform - Pillar Two Model Rules (Amendment
to IAS 12 Income Taxes) (effective immediately upon the issue of
the amendments and retrospectively).
These amendments to various IFRS
Accounting Standards are mandatorily effective for reporting
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. See the applicable
notes for further details on how the amendments affected the
Group.
2.4 Standards issued (continued)
Standards, amendments and interpretations effective for the
current year (continued)
IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts
IFRS 17 was issued by the IASB in
2017 and replaces IFRS 4 for annual reporting period beginning on
or after 1 January 2023. IFRS 17 introduces an internationally
consistent approach to the accounting for insurance contracts.
Prior to IFRS 17, significant diversity has existed worldwide
relating to the accounting for and disclosure of insurance
contracts, with IFRS 4 permitting many previous accounting
approaches to be followed. Since IFRS 17 applies to all insurance
contracts issued by an entity (with limited scope exclusions), its
adoption may have an effect on non-insurer. The Group carried out
an assessment of its contracts and operations and concluded that
the adoption of IFRS 17 has had no effect on its annual financial
statements.
Disclosure of Accounting Policies (Amendments to IAS 1
Presentation of Financial Statements and IFRS Practice Statement 2
Making Materiality Judgements)
In February 2021, the IASB issued
amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2. The amendments
aim to make accounting policy disclosures more informative by
replacing the requirement to disclose 'significant accounting
policies' with 'material accounting policy information'. The
amendments also provide guidance under what circumstance, the
accounting policy information is likely to be considered material
and therefore requiring disclosure. These amendments have no effect
on the measurement or presentation of any items in the Group's
financial statements but affect the disclosure of the Group's
accounting policies.
Definition of Accounting Estimates (Amendments to IAS 8
Accounting policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and
Errors)
The amendments to IAS 8, which
added the definition of accounting estimates, clarify that the
effects of a change in an input or measurement technique are
changes in accounting estimates, unless resulting from the
correction of prior period errors. These amendments clarify how
entities make the distinction between changes in accounting
estimate, changes in accounting policy and prior period
errors.
These amendments had no effect on
the Group's financial statements.
Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a
Single Transaction (Amendments to IAS 12 Income
Taxes)
In May 2021, the IASB issued
amendments to IAS 12, which clarify whether the initial recognition
exemption applies to certain transactions that result in both an
asset and a liability being recognised simultaneously (e.g. a lease
in the scope of IFRS 16). The amendments introduce an additional
criterion for the initial recognition exemption, whereby the
exemption does not apply to the initial recognition of an asset or
liability which at the time of the transaction, gives rise to equal
taxable and deductible temporary differences.
These amendments had no effect on
the Group's financial statements.
International Tax Reform - Pillar Two Model Rules (Amendment
to IAS 12 Income Taxes)
In December 2021, the Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released a draft
legislative framework for a global minimum tax that is expected to
be used by individual jurisdictions. The goal of the framework is
to reduce the shifting of profit from one jurisdiction to another
in order to reduce global tax obligations in corporate structures.
In March 2022, the OECD released detailed technical guidance on
Pillar Two of the rules. Stakeholders raised concerns with the IASB
about the potential implications on income tax accounting,
especially accounting for deferred taxes, arising from the Pillar
Two model rules. The IASB issued the final Amendments (the
Amendments) International Tax Reform - Pillar Two Model Rules, in
response to stakeholder concerns on 23 May 2023.
The Amendments introduce a
mandatory exception to entities from the recognition and disclosure
of information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to
Pillar Two model rules. The exception is effective immediately and
retrospectively. The Amendments also provide for additional
disclosure requirements with respect to an entity's exposure to
Pillar Two income taxes.
The directors have determined that
the Group is not within the scope of OECD's Pillar Two Model Rules
and the exception to the recognition and disclosure of information
about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to Pillar Two
income taxes is not applicable to the Group.
2.4 Standards issued (continued)
New standards, interpretations and amendments not yet
effective
There are a number of standards,
amendments to standards, and interpretations which have been issued
by the IASB that are effective in future accounting periods that
the Group has decided not to adopt early.
The following amendments are
effective for the period beginning 1 January 2024:
· Liability in a Sale and Leaseback (Amendments to IFRS 16
Leases);
· Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-Current
(Amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial
Statements);
· Non-current Liabilities with Covenants (Amendments to IAS 1
Presentation of Financial Statements); and
· Supplier Finance Arrangements (Amendments to IAS 7 Statement
of Cash Flows and IFRS 7 Financial Instruments:
Disclosures)
The following amendments are
effective for the period beginning 1 January 2025:
· Lack
of Exchangeability (Amendments to IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in
Foreign Exchange Rates)
The Group is currently assessing
the impact of these new accounting standards and amendments. The
Group does not believe that the amendments to IAS 1 will have a
significant impact on the classification of its liabilities, as the
conversion feature in its convertible debt instruments is
classified as an equity instrument and therefore, does not affect
the classification of its convertible debt as a non-current
liability. The Group does not expect any other standards issued by
the IASB, but are yet to be effective, to have a material impact on
its financial statements.
2.5 Basis of consolidation
The Directors have concluded that
APQ Global Limited has all the elements of control as prescribed by
IFRS 10 "Consolidated Financial Statements" in relation to its
subsidiaries and that the Company satisfies the criteria to be
regarded as an investment entity. For a detailed analysis of
the assessment of the criteria please refer to note 3; Significant
accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions. Based on this,
the directly held subsidiaries APQ Cayman Limited, APQ Corporate
Services Limited, Delphos Holdings Limited, Evergreen Impact
Limited and APQ Knowledge Limited, along with indirectly held
subsidiaries, are therefore measured at fair value through profit
or loss (FVTPL), in accordance with IFRS 13 "Fair Value
Measurement" and IFRS 9 "Financial Instruments".
Notwithstanding this, IFRS 10
requires subsidiaries that provide services that relate to the
investment entity's investment activities to be consolidated.
The subsidiary APQ Partners LLP assists the Board with
implementation of its business strategy, provides research on
business opportunities in emerging markets and provides support for
cash management and risk management purposes. Accordingly,
the consolidated financial statements of the Group include the
results of the Company and APQ Partners LLP, whilst APQ Cayman
Limited, APQ Corporate Services Limited, Delphos Holdings Limited,
Evergreen Impact Limited and APQ Knowledge Limited are directly
held subsidiaries measured at FVTPL. The results of APQ
Partners LLP are consolidated from the date control
commences. Intra-group balances and transactions and any
unrealised income and expenses arising from intra-group
transactions are eliminated in preparing these consolidated
financial statements.
2.6 Financial instruments
The Group classifies its financial
assets and financial liabilities at initial recognition into the
following categories, in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial
Instruments.
Financial assets at FVTPL
The investments in APQ Cayman
Limited, APQ Corporate Services Limited, Delphos Holdings Limited,
Evergreen Impact Limited and APQ Knowledge Limited are designated
at fair value through profit or loss upon initial recognition on
the basis that they are part of a group of financial assets that
are managed and have their performance evaluated on a fair value
basis, in accordance with risk management and investment strategies
of the Company, as set out in the Company's offering
document.
2.6 Financial instruments (continued)
Financial assets at FVTPL (continued)
In accordance with the exception
under IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statement for an investment
entity, the Company does not consolidate its investments in APQ
Cayman Limited, APQ Corporate Services Limited, Delphos Holdings
Limited, Evergreen Impact Limited and APQ Knowledge Limited and has
designated the investments as fair value through profit or loss in
the financial statements. The investments in APQ Cayman Limited,
APQ Corporate Services Limited, Delphos Holdings Limited, Evergreen
Impact Limited and APQ Knowledge Limited are subsequently measured
at fair value with movements in fair value recognised as net gain
on financial assets at fair value through profit and loss in the
consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Financial assets held at amortised cost
The Group recognises trade
debtors, accrued income and other debtors as financial assets
classified as amortised cost. These assets are held in order to
collect the contractual cash flows and the contractual cash flows
are solely payments of principal and interests. These are
classified, at initial recognition, as receivables at fair value
plus transaction costs and are subsequently measured at amortised
cost. The Group has adopted the simplified approach to the credit
loss model. Under the simplified credit loss model approach a
provision is recognised based on the expectation of default rates
over the full lifetime of the financial assets without the need to
identify significant increases on credit risk on these
assets.
A financial asset (or, where
applicable, a part of a financial asset or a part of a group of
similar financial assets) is derecognised where the rights to
receive cash flows from the asset have expired, or the Group has
transferred its rights to receive cash flows from the asset, or has
assumed an obligation to pay the received cash flows in full
without material delay to a third party under a pass-through
arrangement and either:
(a) the Group has transferred
substantially all of the risks and rewards of the asset;
or
(b) the Group has neither
transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of
the asset but has transferred control of the asset.
When the Company has transferred
its right to receive cash flows from an asset (or has entered into
a pass-through arrangement), and has neither transferred nor
retained substantially all of the risks and rewards of the asset
nor transferred control of the asset, the asset is recognised to
the extent of the Group's continuing involvement in the asset. In
that case, the Group also recognises an associated liability. The
transferred asset and the associated liability are measured on a
basis that reflects the rights and obligations that the Group has
retained.
Further detail of the Group's
financial assets held at amortised cost are disclosed in Note 15
and Note 22 in these financial statements.
Financial liabilities held at amortised
cost
The Group recognises trade
creditors, other creditors, accruals liability component of
convertible preference shares, and the liability component of
convertible loan stock as other financial liabilities. Other
financial liabilities are classified, at initial recognition, as
payables at fair value net of transaction costs and are
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective
interest method. Further details are disclosed in Note 16, Note 17,
Note 21 and Note 22 in these financial
statements.
The Group derecognises a financial
liability when the obligation under the liability is discharged,
cancelled or expired.
2.7 Fair value measurement
The Company measures its
investments in APQ Cayman Limited, APQ Corporate Services Limited,
Delphos Holdings Limited, Evergreen Impact Limited and APQ
Knowledge Limited at fair value at each reporting date.
For APQ Cayman Limited this is
considered to be the carrying value of the net assets of APQ Cayman
Limited. APQ Cayman Limited, which has held cash, marketable
equities and other tradeable positions, measures its underlying
investments at fair value.
2.7 Fair value measurement (continued)
Fair value is the price that would
be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an
orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that
the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes
place either in the principal market for the asset or liability or,
in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous
market for the asset or liability. The principal or the most
advantageous market must be accessible to the Company. The fair
value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions
that market participants would use when pricing the asset or
liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic
best interest.
The fair value for financial
instruments traded in active markets at the reporting date is based
on their quoted price (bid price for long positions and ask price
for short positions), without any deduction for transaction
costs.
For all other financial
instruments, not traded in an active market, including APQ
Corporate Services Limited, Delphos Holdings Limited, Evergreen
Impact Limited and APQ Knowledge Limited, the fair value is
determined by using valuation techniques deemed to be appropriate
in the circumstances. These have been determined in accordance with
the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation
(IPEV) Guidelines. These guidelines require the valuer to make
judgements with regards to the most appropriate valuation method to
be used and the results and inputs used to determine these
valuations.
Valuation methods that may be used
include:
· the
income approach - valuation through discounted cash flow forecast
of future cash flows or earnings, using appropriate discount
rates.
· the
market approach - valuation by comparing the asset being valued to
comparable assets for which price information is readily available.
This price information can be in the form of transactions that have
occurred or market information on companies operating in a similar
industry.
· the
cost approach - valuation based on the cost of reproducing or
replacing the asset being valued.
The use of these guidelines
requires management to make judgements in relation to the inputs
utilised in preparing these valuations. These include but are not
limited to:
· determination of appropriate comparable assets and
benchmarks; and
· adjustments required to existing market data to make it more
comparable to the asset being valued.
The use of these guidelines
additionally requires management to make significant estimates in
relation to the inputs utilised in preparing these valuations.
These include but are not limited to:
· future cash flow expectations deriving from these assets;
and
· appropriate discount factors to be used in determining the
discounted future cash flows.
For assets and liabilities that
are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company
identifies transfers between levels in the hierarchy by
re-assessing the categorisation (based on the lowest level input
that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) and
deems transfers to have occurred at the beginning of each reporting
period.
2.8 Foreign currency translations
Transactions during the year,
including purchases and sales of securities, income and expenses,
are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of
the transaction.
Monetary assets and liabilities
denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the
functional currency rate of exchange ruling at the reporting
date.
Non-monetary items that are
measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are
translated using the exchange rates as at the dates of the initial
transactions. Non-monetary items measured at fair value in a
foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the
date when the fair value was determined.
2.8 Foreign currency translations
(continued)
Transactions during the year,
including purchases and sales of securities, income and expenses,
are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of
the transaction.
Monetary assets and liabilities
denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the
functional currency rate of exchange ruling at the reporting
date.
Non-monetary items that are
measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are
translated using the exchange rates as at the dates of the initial
transactions. Non-monetary items measured at fair value in a
foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the
date when the fair value was determined.
Foreign currency transaction gains
and losses on financial instruments classified as at FVTPL are
included in profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income
as part of the 'net (loss) or gain on financial assets at fair
value through profit or loss'.
2.9 Share capital
In the event of the liquidation of
the Company the Ordinary Shares entitle the holder to a pro rata
share of the Company's net assets. Shares are issued net of
transaction costs, which are defined as incremental costs directly
attributable to the equity transaction that otherwise would have
been avoided.
2.10 3.5% Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock
3.5% Convertible Unsecured Loan
Stock ("CULS") issued by the Company is regarded as a compound
instrument, comprising of a liability component and an equity
component. At the date of issue, the fair value of the liability
component was estimated by assuming that an equivalent
non-convertible obligation of the Company would have a coupon rate
of 6.5%. The fair value of the equity component, representing the
option to convert liability into equity, is derived from the
difference between the issue proceeds of the CULS and the fair
value assigned to the liability. The liability component is
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective
interest rate.
Direct expenses associated with
the CULS issue are allocated to the liability and equity components
in proportion to the split of the proceeds of the issue. Expenses
allocated to the liability component are amortised over the life of
the instrument.
The interest expense on the CULS
is calculated according to the effective interest rate method by
applying the assumed rate of 6.5% at initial recognition to the
liability component of the instrument. The difference between this
amount and the actual interest paid is added to the carrying amount
of the CULS.
2.11 Accumulated losses
Accumulated losses consist of
profit or losses for the financial year as disclosed in the
statement of comprehensive income less foreign currency translation
differences. Dividends declared by the Board of Directors are
accounted for as an increase in accumulated losses.
2.12 Exchange reserve
During the year ended 31 December
2017, the Company changed the functional and presentational
currency in which it presents its financial statements from Pounds
Sterling to US Dollars. A change in presentational currency is a
change in accounting policy which is accounted for retrospectively.
The financial information for the period ended 31 December 2016 was
previously reported in Pounds Sterling and was restated in US
Dollars using differing exchange rates. The retained earnings were
converted using an average rate for the period they related to.
Equity shares were converted using the historical date which was
the date of issue of the shares. The assets and liabilities were
converted at the closing exchange date at 31 December 2016.
Therefore, an exchange reserve is included in the Statement of
Financial Position to reflect the fact this change in
presentational currency from the functional currency to 31 December
2016.
2.13 Distributions to shareholders
Dividends are at the discretion of
the Company. A dividend to the Company's shareholders is accounted
for as a deduction from retained earnings. An interim dividend is
recognised as a liability in the period in which it becomes
irrevocable, which is following its payment. A final dividend is
recognised as a liability in the period when it becomes
irrevocable, which is once it has been approved at the annual
general meeting of shareholders.
2.14 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the
statement of financial position comprise cash on hand and
short-term deposits in banks that are readily convertible to known
amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of
changes in value, with original maturities of three months or
less.
Short-term investments that are
not held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash commitments and
restricted margin accounts are not considered as 'cash and cash
equivalents'.
For the purpose of the statement
of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and cash
equivalents as defined.
2.15 Impairment of receivables from group
undertakings
Impairment provisions for
receivables from group undertakings are recognised based on a
forward-looking expected credit loss model. The methodology used to
determine the amount of the provision is based on whether there has
been a significant increase in credit risk since initial
recognition of the financial asset. For those where the credit risk
has not increased significantly since initial recognition of the
financial asset, no impairment is recognised. For those that are
determined to be credit impaired, lifetime expected credit losses
along with interest income on a net basis are
recognised.
2.16 Interest revenue and expenses
Interest revenue and expenses are
recognised in the statement of comprehensive income for all
interest-bearing financial instruments using the effective interest
method.
2.17 Dividend income
Dividend income is recognised on
the date when the Company's right to receive the payment is
established. This is ordinarily at the ex-dividend date.
2.18 Net gain or loss on financial assets and liabilities at
fair value through profit or loss
Net gains or losses on financial
assets and liabilities at FVTPL are changes in the fair value of
financial assets and liabilities held for trading or designated
upon initial recognition as at FVTPL and exclude interest and
dividend income and expenses.
Unrealised gains and losses
comprise changes in the fair value of financial instruments for the
period and from reversal of the prior period's unrealised gains and
losses for financial instruments which were realised in the
reporting period. Realised gains and losses on disposals of
financial instruments classified as at FVTPL are calculated using
the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. They represent the
difference between an instrument's initial carrying amount and
disposal amount, or cash payments or receipts made on derivative
contracts (excluding payments or receipts on collateral margin
accounts for such instruments).
2.19 Fee expense
Fees are recognised on an accrual
basis. Refer to Note 6 for details of fees and expenses paid in the
period.
2.20 Taxes
The Company is taxable in Guernsey
at the company standard rate of 0% (2022: 0%).
2.21 Leases
All leases are accounted for by
recognising a right-of-use asset and a lease liability except
for:
· leases of low value assets; and
· leases with a duration of 12 months or less.
Lease liabilities are measured at
the present value of the contractual payments due to the lessor
over the lease term, with the discount rate determined by reference
to the rate inherent in the lease unless (as is typically the case)
this is not readily determinable, in which case the group's
incremental borrowing rate on commencement of the lease is used.
Variable lease payments are expensed in the period to which they
relate.
Right of use assets are initially
measured at the amount of the lease liability, reduced for any
lease incentives received, and increased for:
· lease payments made at or before commencement of the
lease;
· initial direct costs incurred; and
· the
amount of any provision recognised where the group is contractually
required to dismantle, remove or restore the leased
asset.
Subsequent to initial measurement
lease liabilities increase as a result of interest charged at a
constant rate on the balance outstanding and are reduced for lease
payments made.
Right-of-use assets are amortised
on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the lease or
over the remaining economic life of the asset.
3. Significant accounting judgements, estimates and
assumptions
The preparation of the Group's
financial statements requires management to make judgements,
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
recognised in the financial statements and disclosure of contingent
liabilities. However, uncertainty about these assumptions and
estimates could result in outcomes that could require a material
adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset or liability
affected in future periods.
Judgements
In the process of applying the
Group's accounting policies, management has made the following
judgements, which have the most significant effect on the amounts
recognised in the financial statements:
Assessment as investment entity
Entities that meet the definition
of an investment entity within IFRS 10 are required to measure
their subsidiaries at fair value through profit or loss rather than
consolidate them, except to the extent that the subsidiary provides
services that relate to the investment entity's investment
activities. The criteria which define an investment entity are, as
follows:
• an entity that
obtains funds from one or more investors for the purpose of
providing those investors with investment management
services;
• an entity that
commits to its investors that its business purpose is to invest
funds solely for returns from capital appreciation, investment
income, or both; and
• an entity that
measures and evaluates the performance of substantially all of its
investments on a fair value basis.
The Company's listing document
details its objective of providing investment management services
to investors which includes investing in equities, fixed income
securities, private equity and property investments for the purpose
of returns in the form of investment income and capital
appreciation. This is via its subsidiary APQ Cayman Limited. The
Company also holds several private investments either directly or
through its other subsidiaries for the purpose of investment income
and capital appreciation.
The Company reports to its
investors via quarterly investor information, and to its
management, via internal management reports, on a fair value basis.
All investments are reported at fair value to the extent allowed by
UK IAS in the Company's annual reports. The Company has an exit
strategy for all of its underlying investments.
Assessment as investment entity (continued)
The Board has concluded that the
Company meets additional characteristics of an investment entity,
in that it has more than one investment; the Companies ownership
interests are predominantly in the form of equities and similar
securities; it has more than one investor and its investors are not
all related parties.
The Board has therefore concluded
that the Company meets the definition of an investment entity.
These conclusions will be reassessed on an annual basis, if any of
these criteria or characteristics change. The Board therefore
recognises its investment in APQ Cayman Limited, APQ Corporate
Services Limited, APQ Knowledge Limited, Delphos Holdings Limited,
and Evergreen Impact Limited at fair value through profit or loss.
The Board has also concluded that since APQ Partners LLP provides
services related to the Company's investment activities, this
subsidiary should be consolidated.
Valuation of investments
There are a range of methods for
determining the fair value of the unquoted investments held by the
Group. Determination of the most appropriate method for valuing
these is a key judgement of the Board, and the use of different
methods will result in variations in the fair value determined for
each investment. The Board determines the most appropriate method
based off the life stage of the investment and available
comparisons to existing companies operating in the same
investments. The Board utilises qualified third parties to assist
in deciding the most appropriate valuation technique for trading
entities and entities that do not hold quoted assets.
Estimates and assumptions
The key assumptions concerning the
future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the
reporting date, that have a significant risk of causing a material
adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within
the next financial year, are discussed below. The Group based its
assumptions and estimates on parameters available when the
financial statements were prepared. However, existing circumstances
and assumptions about future developments may change due to market
changes or circumstances arising beyond the control of the Group.
Such changes are reflected in the assumptions when they
occur.
Fair value of investments
The Directors consider that the
fair value of the investment in APQ Cayman Limited should be based
on the NAV of APQ Cayman Limited, please refer to note 2.6 and note
14 for further discussion regarding the fair value of
investments.
The Directors measure the
investments in APQ Corporate Services Limited, APQ Knowledge
Limited, Delphos Holdings Limited and Evergreen Impact Limited in
accordance with the IPEV guidelines based on the value of the
indirect subsidiaries held by those entities. As these investments
are unlisted, their fair value is determined through a range of
inputs using external comparisons and management generated
forecasts. Forecasts are by their nature estimated expectations and
this leads to material estimation uncertainty with respect to the
valuation of these investments. The Directors engage qualified
third party valuation specialists to assist with valuation of some
indirect subsidiaries who use a combination of valuation techniques
to determine fair value. Other indirect subsidiaries, where inputs
are not available to facilitate a valuation based on future
forecasts are valued based on the net asset value at year end. The
valuation methodology applied to each subsidiary is detailed in
note 14.
The forecast future cash flows are
a key estimate in the determination of these valuations and are
subject to uncertainty. These forecasts are determined at the
Statement of Financial Position date and do not reflect changes in
these forecasts from events after the reporting periods.
4. Information
For management purposes, the Group
is organised into one main operating segment, which invests in
equities and credit, government and local currency bonds. All of
the Group's activities are interrelated, and each activity is
dependent on the others. Accordingly, all significant operating
decisions are based upon analysis of the Group as one segment. The
financial results from this segment are equivalent to the financial
statements of the Group as a whole.
4. Information
(continued)
The following table analyses the
Group's assets by geographical location. The basis for attributing
the assets are the place of listing for the securities or for
non-listed securities, country of domicile.
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
Group
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cayman
|
|
14,665,766
|
|
26,197,356
|
United Kingdom
|
|
708,023
|
|
530,371
|
Guernsey
|
|
45,983,061
|
|
15,184,847
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,356,850
|
|
41,912,574
|
5. Analysis of revenue
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends received from APQ Cayman
Limited
|
|
14,182,711
|
|
7,128,826
|
Dividends received from APQ
Knowledge Limited
|
|
-
|
|
70,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,182,711
|
|
7,198,826
|
6. Analysis of administrative expenses
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Notes
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personnel expenses (excluding
share-based payments)
|
8
|
701,043
|
|
790,277
|
Depreciation of property, plant
and equipment
|
13
|
18,996
|
|
17,083
|
Depreciation of right of use
assets
|
21
|
82,872
|
|
80,187
|
Payments on short term
leases
|
|
94,587
|
|
168,172
|
Auditor's remuneration - Audit
fees
|
|
214,867
|
|
161,750
|
Nominated advisor fees
|
|
124,523
|
|
62,369
|
Administration fees and
expenses
|
|
279,048
|
|
204,751
|
Directors' remuneration
|
7
|
135,556
|
|
131,515
|
Other expenses
|
|
800,582
|
|
769,612
|
Travel and subsistence
|
|
1,471,990
|
|
-
|
Professional fees
|
|
473,158
|
|
2,355,235
|
Share based payment
expenses
|
20
|
(34,049)
|
|
19,756
|
Insurance
|
|
13,883
|
|
17,478
|
Recharge of expenses to APQ Cayman
Limited
|
|
(281,893)
|
|
(342,630)
|
Net exchange
losses/(gains)
|
|
2,070,840
|
|
(4,132,149)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,166,003
|
|
303,405
|
Travel and subsistence include the
corporate travel costs incurred in respect of establishment of the
Delphos network and branding. These general corporate expenses such
as travel and business development were incurred by a director on
behalf of the company and subsequently re-imbursed.
7. Directors' remuneration
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors' remuneration
|
|
135,556
|
|
131,515
|
Share based payment
expenses
|
|
(34,049)
|
|
15,800
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101,507
|
|
147,315
|
|
|
|
|
|
The highest paid director was Bart
Turtelboom (2022: Bart Turtelboom)
|
|
29,948
|
|
45,418
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of directors in the
year
|
|
4
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
In addition to the remuneration
received from the Company, Bart Turtelboom also received $119,795
(2022: $131,984) from APQ Cayman Limited.
8. Personnel expenses
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short term benefits - wage and
salaries
|
|
342,549
|
|
361,903
|
Short term benefits - social
security costs
|
|
21,907
|
|
30,046
|
Short term benefits - other
benefits
|
|
327,108
|
|
387,325
|
Short term benefits - Share based
payment expenses
|
|
-
|
|
3,955
|
Post-employment
benefits
|
|
9,479
|
|
11,003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
701,043
|
|
794,232
|
Personnel expenses include
expenses per note 6 and the portion of share based payments
relating to individuals who are not directors of the
Company.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Key management personnel expenses,
excluding Directors' remuneration detailed in note 7, is as
follows:
|
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short term benefits - other
benefits
|
|
320,417
|
|
365,338
|
Short term benefits - Share based
payment expenses
|
|
-
|
|
3,955
|
|
|
320,417
|
|
369,293
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other benefits include drawings
paid to the members of APQ Partners LLP and staff benefits such as
healthcare.
|
9. Interest receivable
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Loan interest receivable from
Palladium Trust Services Limited
|
|
-
|
|
13,609
|
Loan interest receivable from
Promethean Advisory Limited
|
|
7,886
|
|
1,404
|
Loan interest receivable from
Delphos International Limited
|
|
36,675
|
|
-
|
Loan interest receivable from
Delphos Holdings Limited
|
|
226,667
|
|
-
|
Bank interest
receivable
|
|
1,187
|
|
152
|
|
|
272,415
|
|
15,165
|
10. Interest payable
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest on 3.5% Convertible
Unsecured Loan Stock 2024
|
|
2,515,670
|
|
2,356,754
|
Interest on lease
liabilities
|
|
3,537
|
|
3,263
|
|
|
2,519,207
|
|
2,360,017
|
11. Profits/(losses) per share
The basic and diluted
profits/(losses) per share are calculated by dividing the
profit/(loss) by the average number of ordinary shares outstanding
during the year.
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive profit/(loss)
for the year
|
|
16,450,895
|
|
(16,364,752)
|
Weighted average number of shares
in issue
|
|
78,559,983
|
|
78,514,452
|
Profits/(losses) per
share
|
|
0.20941
|
|
(0.20843)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted profits/(losses) per
share
|
|
0.20941
|
|
(0.20843)
|
The Group has 5,920 (2022: 6,000)
units of Convertible Loan Stock which are potentially dilutive if
converted into ordinary shares. This would increase the weighted
average number of shares by 5,920 (2022: 6,000) exercise price on
these conversion options currently exceeds the traded share price
of APQ Global. These are not currently dilutive (2022: not
dilutive).
12. Dividends
No dividends were declared in the
year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: none)
The stated dividend policy of the
Company is to target an annualised dividend yield of 6% based on
the Placing Issue Price. Due to the impact of Covid-19, and
continuing negative performance, the Company has ceased all
dividends until further notice.
There is no guarantee that any
dividends will be paid in respect of any financial year. The
ability to pay dividends is dependent on a number of factors
including the level of income returns from the Company's investee
entities. There can be no guarantee that the Group will achieve the
target rates of return referred to in this document or that it will
not sustain any capital losses through its activities.
13. Property, plant and equipment
|
Office
equipment
|
|
Furniture and
fixtures
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
114,600
|
|
20,251
|
|
134,851
|
Additions during the
year
|
18,435
|
|
-
|
|
18,435
|
At 31 December 2023
|
133,035
|
|
20,251
|
|
153,286
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
88,043
|
|
19,826
|
|
107,869
|
Charge for the year
|
18,771
|
|
225
|
|
18,996
|
At 31 December 2023
|
106,814
|
|
20,051
|
|
126,865
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net book value
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023
|
26,221
|
|
200
|
|
26,421
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022
|
26,557
|
|
425
|
|
26,982
|
14. Investments
|
APQ
Cayman
Limited
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
APQ Knowledge
Limited
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
Evergreen Impact
Limited
|
|
BARTR Holdings
Limited
|
|
Listed
Investments
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2022
|
44,555,286
|
|
4,632,220
|
|
1,437,071
|
|
5,901,149
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
3,208,326
|
|
59,734,052
|
Additions
|
-
|
|
538,404
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
538,404
|
Fair value movement
|
(18,357,930)
|
|
(918,557)
|
|
(692,476)
|
|
1,067,407
|
|
-
|
|
1
|
|
(1,301,106)
|
|
(20,202,661)
|
Disposal
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(1)
|
|
(1,907,220)
|
|
(1,907,221)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022
|
26,197,356
|
|
4,252,067
|
|
744,595
|
|
6,968,556
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
38,162,574
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
3,919,971
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
3,919,971
|
Fair value movement
|
(11,531,590)
|
|
942,453
|
|
(271,644)
|
|
21,316,892
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
10,456,111
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023
|
14,665,766
|
|
5,194,520
|
|
472,951
|
|
32,205,419
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
52,538,656
|
The Company meets the definition
of an investment entity, it is therefore required to measure its
investments, including its subsidiary undertakings at fair value.
Subsidiary undertakings whose primary purpose is to support the
investment activities of the Company are consolidated on a line for
line basis. Directly held subsidiary undertakings, included in the
above table, which act as an investment holding company are valued
based on the underlying trading investment companies they hold.
These investments are held solely for capital appreciation and
investment income and measured at fair value through profit and
loss ("FVTPL").
Investments in subsidiaries
The following table outlines the
directly and indirectly held subsidiary undertakings of the
Company:
Name
|
|
Country of incorporation
|
|
Registered Office
|
|
Immediate Parent Company
|
|
Holding %
|
|
Acquisition/ Incorporation Date
|
|
Activity
|
|
Recognition
|
APQ Partners LLP
|
|
England and Wales
|
|
22a St. James's Square, London,
SW1Y 4JH
|
|
APQ Global Limited
|
|
100
|
|
10 August 2016
|
|
Investment support
|
|
Consolidated
|
14. Investments (continued)
Investments in subsidiaries (continued)
Name
|
|
Country of incorporation
|
|
Registered Office
|
|
Immediate Parent Company
|
|
Holding %
|
|
Acquisition/ Incorporation Date
|
|
Activity
|
|
Recognition
|
APQ Cayman Limited
|
|
Cayman Islands
|
|
Mourant Ozannes Corporate Services
(Cayman) Limited, 94 Solaris Avenue, Camana Bay, PO Box 1348, Grand
Cayman KY1-1108
|
|
APQ Global Limited
|
|
100
|
|
10 August 2016
|
|
Investment entity
|
|
FVTPL
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
2nd Floor, Lefebvre Place,
Lefebvre Street, St Peter Port, GY1 2JP, Guernsey
|
|
APQ Global Limited
|
|
100
|
|
10 January 2019
|
|
Investment holding
company
|
|
FVTPL based on value of indirect
subsidiaries
|
APQ Knowledge Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
2nd Floor, Lefebvre Place,
Lefebvre Street, St Peter Port, GY1 2JP, Guernsey
|
|
APQ Global Limited
|
|
100
|
|
1 March 2019
|
|
Investment holding
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
New Markets Media &
Intelligence Ltd
|
|
England and Wales
|
|
22a St. James's Square, London,
SW1Y 4JH
|
|
APQ Knowledge Limited
|
|
100
|
|
26 February
20192
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on a combination of
income and market approaches
|
Palladium Finance Group
Limited
|
|
Seychelles
|
|
Global Gateway 8, Rue de la Perle,
Providence, Seychelles
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
22 February
20193
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Palladium Trust Company (NZ)
Limited
|
|
New Zealand
|
|
Level 8, AIG
Building, 41 Shortland Street,
Auckland, New Zealand, 1010
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
22 February 2019
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
14. Investments (continued)
Investments in subsidiaries (continued)
Name
|
|
Country of incorporation
|
|
Registered Office
|
|
Immediate Parent Company
|
|
Holding %
|
|
Acquisition/ Incorporation Date
|
|
Activity
|
|
Recognition
|
Palladium Trust Services
Ltd
|
|
England and Wales
|
|
22a St. James's Square, London,
SW1Y 4JH
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
22 February 2019
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Delphos International,
Ltd
|
|
United States
|
|
2121 K St, NW STE 620, Suite 1020,
Washington, DC 20037
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
3 March 2020
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on a combination of
income and market approaches
|
Parish Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
PO Box 142, Suite 2, Block C, Hirzel Court, St
Peter Port, GY1 3HT
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
29 January 2020
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Parish Group Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
PO Box 142, Suite 2, Block C, Hirzel Court, St
Peter Port, GY1 3HT
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
29 January 2020
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on a combination of
income and market approaches
|
Parish Nominees Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
PO Box 142, Suite 2, Block C, Hirzel Court, St
Peter Port, GY1 3HT
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
29 January 2020
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Parish Trustees Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
PO Box 142, Suite 2, Block C, Hirzel Court, St
Peter Port, GY1 3HT
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
29 January 2020
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
14. Investments (continued)
Investments in subsidiaries (continued)
Name
|
|
Country of incorporation
|
|
Registered Office
|
|
Immediate Parent Company
|
|
Holding %
|
|
Acquisition/ Incorporation Date
|
|
Activity
|
|
Recognition
|
Delphos FMA - Frontier Markets
Advisors Inc
|
|
Canada
|
|
202-230 ch. du Golf, Montreal, QC
H3E 2A8, Canada
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
70
|
|
20 January 2021
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on a combination of
income and market approaches
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
2nd Floor, Lefebvre Place,
Lefebvre Street, St Peter Port, GY1 2JP, Guernsey
|
|
APQ Global Limited
|
|
100
|
|
13 August 2021
|
|
Investment holding
company
|
|
FVTPL based on value of indirect
subsidiaries
|
Delphos Impact Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
2nd Floor, Lefebvre Place,
Lefebvre Street, St Peter Port, GY1 2JP, Guernsey
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
18 August 2021
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Evergreen Impact
Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
2nd Floor, Lefebvre Place,
Lefebvre Street, St Peter Port, GY1 2JP, Guernsey
|
|
APQ Global Limited
|
|
50
|
|
10 August 2021
|
|
Management consultancy
(dormant)
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Delphos Partners LLP
|
|
England and Wales
|
|
22a St. James's Square, London,
England, SW1Y 4JH
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
97
|
|
6 October 2021
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Delphos Services
Limited
|
|
Guernsey
|
|
2nd Floor, Lefebvre Place,
Lefebvre Street, St Peter Port, GY1 2JP, Guernsey
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
27 September 2021
|
|
Trading services
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
14. Investments (continued)
Investments in subsidiaries (continued)
Name
|
|
Country of incorporation
|
|
Registered Office
|
|
Immediate Parent Company
|
|
Holding %
|
|
Acquisition/ Incorporation Date
|
|
Activity
|
|
Recognition
|
Promethean Trustees Limited
1
|
|
Malta
|
|
35/14 Salvu Psaila Street,
Birkirkara, BKR 9072, Malta
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
4 July 2022
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Promethean Advisory Limited
1
|
|
Malta
|
|
35/14 Salvu Psaila Street,
Birkirkara, BKR 9072, Malta
|
|
Promethean Trustees
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
4 July 2022
|
|
Trading services
company
|
|
FVTPL based on a combination of
income and market approaches
|
Delphos MMJ 1,
LLC2
|
|
United States of
America
|
|
The Corporation Trust Center, 1209
Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
18 March 2022
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on value of direct
subsidiaries
|
Delphos MMJ 2,
LLC2
|
|
United States of
America
|
|
The Corporation Trust Center, 1209
Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
18 March 2022
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on value of direct
subsidiaries
|
Delphos MMJ LP
|
|
United States of
America
|
|
The Corporation Trust Center, 1209
Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
|
|
Delphos MMJ 1, LLC
|
|
100
|
|
18 March 2022
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on recent
cost
|
Delphos Capital Limited
|
|
England and Wales
|
|
22a St. James's Square, London,
England, SW1Y 4JH
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
17 November 2023
|
|
Dormant
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
14. Investments (continued)
Investments in subsidiaries (continued)
Name
|
|
Country of incorporation
|
|
Registered Office
|
|
Immediate Parent Company
|
|
Holding %
|
|
Acquisition/ Incorporation Date
|
|
Activity
|
|
Recognition
|
Promethean Trustees Limited
1
|
|
Malta
|
|
35/14 Salvu Psaila Street,
Birkirkara, BKR 9072, Malta
|
|
APQ Corporate Services
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
4 July 2022
|
|
Trading investment
company
|
|
FVTPL based on net asset
value
|
Promethean Advisory Limited
1
|
|
Malta
|
|
35/14 Salvu Psaila Street,
Birkirkara, BKR 9072, Malta
|
|
Promethean Trustees
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
4 July 2022
|
|
Trading services
company
|
|
FVTPL based on a combination of
income and market approaches
|
Delphos Milan S.r.l
|
|
Italy
|
|
Via San Raffele, 1 20121 Milano
(MI), Italia
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
15 February 2023
|
|
Trading services
company
|
|
Cost
|
Delphos Design D.o.o
|
|
Croatia
|
|
Miramarska 24
HR - 10000 Zagreb,
Croatia
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
|
100
|
|
16 February 2023
|
|
Trading services
company
|
|
Cost
|
14. Investments (continued)
Investments in subsidiaries (continued)
1On 4 July 2022, APQ Corporate Services Limited, a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired 100% of the equity in
Promethean Trustees Limited (previously WDM Trustees Limited) and
its subsidiary Promethean Advisory Limited (previously WDM Lex
Advisory Ltd) for a cash consideration of €500,000
($538,404).
2On 18 March 2022, APQ Global Limited incorporated Delphos MMJ
1, LLC and Delphos MMJ 2, LLC for the purposes of acquiring an
investment broker in United States of America. The acquisition was
concluded in FY 2023 for a consideration of $100.
Delphos Milan S.r.l and Delphos
Design D.o.o were incorporated during the year. These companies are
in the process of establishing revenue generating channels however
these are not at a state when revenue can be confirmed and thus
cost has been used as an approximation of fair value.
Investments in subsidiaries - disposals
No investments were disposed of
during the year.
Valuation
techniques
At year end APQ Cayman Limited had
cash and bonds which it values at fair value using the same
policies as the Company. The Company is able to redeem its holding
of APQ Cayman Limited at its net asset value. Fair value of
the investment in APQ Cayman Limited is therefore measured at its
Net Asset Value ("NAV"). NAV is determined based cash held along
with the observable market values of its Argentinian
bond.
Fair value of the investment in
APQ Corporate Services Limited, has been determined by determining
the valuation of its underlying investments. The underlying
investments have been valued through the income approach,
incorporating comparison with external sources and the expected
cash flows of the investment. The income approach was determined to
be the most appropriate as the underlying investments are revenue
generating businesses.
Fair value of the investment in
Delphos Holdings Limited, has been determined by determining the
valuation of its underlying investments. The underlying investments
have been valued through 1) a combined income and market multiple
based approach, incorporating comparison with external sources and
the expected cash flows of the investment 2) net asset value where
the investment entities have not get developed a predicable source
of income and 3) costs for those newly incorporated/acquired
entities where the Company is still in the process of creating
revenue generating opportunities. The valuation methodology
applicable to each entity is included in the table
above.
The investment in APQ Knowledge
Limited was completed on 1 March 2019. Fair value has been
determined by determining the valuation of its underlying
investments. The underlying investments have been valued through
the income approach, incorporating comparison with external sources
and the expected cash flows of the investment. The income approach
was determined to be the most appropriate as the underlying
investments are revenue generating businesses.
Evergreen Impact Limited has not
commenced trading and as such has a nil net value.
Listed investments are measured at
fair value using the current market bid price for the underlying
equity as quoted on the applicable stock exchange the security is
traded on.
Unlisted managed funds
The Company classifies its
investments into the three levels of the fair value hierarchy based
on:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active
markets for identical assets or
liabilities;
Level 2: Those involving inputs
other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable
for the asset or liability, either directly (as prices) or
indirectly (derived from prices); and
Level 3: Those with inputs for the
asset or liability that are not based on observable market data
(unobservable inputs).
The Company has classified its
investments in APQ Corporate Services Limited, Delphos Holdings
Limited, Evergreen Impact and APQ Knowledge Limited as level 3 as
the inputs utilised in valuing the investments are deemed to be
unobservable, as they are private investments. The most significant
unobservable input used in the fair value of the investments in APQ
Corporate Services Limited, Delphos Holdings Limited and APQ
Knowledge Limited are the future expected cash flows of the
investments these companies hold, used in deriving a valuation
using discounted cash flows. The sensitivities to these
unobservable inputs are set out in note 22.
14. Investments (continued)
Unlisted managed funds
(continued)
Valuation is determined for these
holding companies by the value of the underlying investments
held.
The Company has classified its
investments in APQ Cayman Limited as level 3 as the valuation is
determined based on the that entities NAV. The majority of
underlying assets and liabilities of APQ Cayman Limited, comprising
cash and debt instruments, are held at fair value based on
observable markets.
The listed investments are
designated as Level 1 instruments in the fair value hierarchy as
fair value can be determined by the quoted market price for these
assets. The movement of investments classified by level is as per
the below.
|
|
Level 1
|
|
Level 2
|
|
Level 3
|
|
Total
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2022
|
|
3,208,326
|
|
-
|
|
56,525,726
|
|
59,734,052
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
538,404
|
|
538,404
|
Fair value movement
|
|
(1,301,106)
|
|
-
|
|
(18,901,555)
|
|
(20,202,661)
|
Disposal
|
|
(1,907,220)
|
|
-
|
|
(1)
|
|
(1,907,221)
|
At 1 January 2023
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
38,162,574
|
|
38,162,574
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
3,919,971
|
|
3,919,971
|
Fair value movement
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
10,456,111
|
|
10,456,111
|
At 31 December 2023
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
52,538,656
|
|
52,538,656
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15. Trade and other receivables
|
|
|
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade debtors
|
|
|
|
|
529,270
|
|
554,265
|
Amounts due from group
undertakings
|
|
|
|
|
7,162,103
|
|
2,341,708
|
Prepayments and accrued
income
|
|
|
|
|
61,959
|
|
45,255
|
Other debtors
|
|
|
|
|
217,478
|
|
114,728
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,970,810
|
|
3,055,956
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
An amount of $162,662 (2022:
$162,662) has been deducted from the balances above in respect of
amounts that are not considered recoverable. Bad debts of $nil
(2022: $nil) have been recognised in the statement of comprehensive
income for the year. Amounts due from group undertakings are
included in related party disclosures in note 24.
16. Trade and other payables
|
|
|
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade creditors
|
|
|
|
|
139,988
|
|
127,716
|
Amounts due to group
undertakings
|
|
|
|
|
264,410
|
|
310,022
|
Other creditors
|
|
|
|
|
4,365
|
|
23,862
|
Accruals
|
|
|
|
|
473,687
|
|
211,824
|
Lease liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
97,772
|
|
82,872
|
|
|
|
|
|
980,222
|
|
756,296
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
17. 3.5% Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock
2024
|
Nominal
number
of
CULS
|
|
Liability
component
|
|
Equity
component
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
As at 1 January 2022
|
41,446,167
|
|
37,025,083
|
|
6,919,355
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortisation of discount on issue
and issue expenses
|
-
|
|
2,356,754
|
|
-
|
Interest paid during the
year
|
-
|
|
(1,268,504)
|
|
-
|
Exchange differences
|
-
|
|
(4,190,727)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at 31 December 2022
|
41,446,167
|
|
33,922,606
|
|
6,919,355
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortisation of discount on issue
and issue expenses
|
-
|
|
2,519,620
|
|
-
|
Interest paid during the
year
|
-
|
|
(1,297,894)
|
|
-
|
Partial settlement via
tender
|
(552,616)
|
|
(474,248)
|
|
(95,684)
|
Exchange differences
|
-
|
|
2,039,959
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at 31 December 2023
|
40,893,551
|
|
36,710,043
|
|
6,823,671
|
At an Extraordinary General
Meeting held on 4 September 2017, Resolutions were passed approving
the issue of 4,018 3.5 per cent. convertible unsecured loan stock
("CULS") to raise £20,090,000 ($26,953,749) before expenses. The
CULS were admitted to trading on the International Securities
Market, the London Stock Exchange's market for fixed income
securities and dealings commenced at 8.00 a.m. on 5 September
2017.
Following Admission there were
4,018 CULS in issue. Holders of the CULS are entitled to convert
their CULS into Ordinary Shares on a quarterly basis throughout the
life of the CULS, commencing 31 December 2017, and all outstanding
CULS will be repayable at par (plus any accrued interest) on 30
September 2024. The initial conversion price is 105.358 pence,
being a 10 percent. premium to the unaudited Book Value per
Ordinary Share on 31 July 2017. Following conversion of 80 percent.
or more of the nominal amount of the CULS originally issued, the
Company will be entitled to require remaining CULS Holders to
convert their outstanding CULS into Ordinary Shares after they have
been given an opportunity to have their CULS redeemed.
On 22 January 2018, the Company
raised a further £10,207,300 ($14,492,418) before expenses through
the issue of 1,982 units of 3.5 percent. convertible unsecured loan
stock 2024 in denominations of £5,000 ($7,099) nominal each, at an
issue price of £5,150 ($7,312) per unit.
During April 2023, the Company
announced a tender offer for up to 100% of the Company's CULS at a
discount of 50%. 80 of the 6,000 units of CULS with a nominal value
of $474,248 were validly tendered and were settled for an amount of
$249,380 resulting in a gain on settlement of $224,868. An amount
of $95,864 was transferred from the CULS equity to retained
earnings on settlement of the CULS representing the value assigned
to the conversion option of the CULS settled during the
year.
18.
Share Capital
The authorised and issued share
capital of the Company is 78,559,983 ordinary shares of no par
value listed on The International Stock Exchange and AIM. All
shares are fully paid
up.
Quantitative information about the
Company's capital is provided in the statement of changes in equity
and in the tables below.
Holders of ordinary shares are
entitled to dividends when declared and to payment of a
proportionate share of the Companies net asset value on any
approved redemption date or upon winding up of the Company. They
also hold rights to receive notice, attend, speak and vote at
general meetings of the Company.
18.
Share Capital (continued)
The Company's objectives for
managing capital
are:
• To invest the
capital in investments meeting the description, risk exposure and
expected return indicated in its listing documents.
• To maintain
sufficient liquidity to meet the expenses of the Company, pay
dividends and to meet redemption requests as they arise.
• To maintain
sufficient size to make the operation of the Company
cost-efficient.
• The Board has
authority to purchase up to 14.99 percent. of the issued Ordinary
Share capital of the Company. The Board intends to seek a renewal
of this authority at each annual general meeting of the Company. No
buy backs occurred during the period under review.
|
Ordinary
shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
£
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at 1 January 2022
|
78,453,671
|
|
76,999,179
|
|
100,005,450
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued from share awards
during the year
|
106,312
|
|
100,682
|
|
136,198
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022
|
78,559,983
|
|
77,099,861
|
|
100,141,648
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued from share awards
during the year
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023
|
78,559,983
|
|
77,099,861
|
|
100,141,648
|
During the year ended 31 December
2023, nil (2022: 106,312) shares were issued as part of the share
award scheme as detailed in note 20.
19.
Net asset value per ordinary share
The net asset value per ordinary
share is calculated by dividing the net assets of the Group by the
number of ordinary shares outstanding at the statement of financial
position date.
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at 31
December
|
|
23,649,000
|
|
7,235,522
|
Shares in issue at 31
December
|
|
78,559,983
|
|
78,559,983
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per ordinary share
|
|
30.10c
|
|
9.21c
|
20.
Share awards
On 19 April 2017 (and amended 17
July 2018), the Company established a share award scheme for the
employees of the Company. The scheme grants the Board the authority
to allot share awards or share options with service conditions
attached. Share awards or options can only be awarded for
performance periods whereby the book value per share (excluding
dividend transactions) exceeds the book value per share for all
previous performance period ends. The maximum amount of share
awards or options is determined by reference to 20% of the
increased performance of the current book value per share against
all previous performance periods. The Board retains the right to
settle these awards in either shares or cash. As the Company does
not have a present obligation to settle in cash the awards are all
recognised as equity settled share awards.
20.
Share awards (continued)
The first share awards were
granted in 2019 with respect to the performance period ended 31
December 2017.
Grant date
|
|
Type of
award
|
|
No. of
instruments
|
|
Fair value of instrument
granted
|
|
Vesting
conditions
|
|
Final vesting
date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cents
|
|
|
|
|
1 January 2018
|
|
Shares
|
|
584,141
|
|
128.11
|
|
Awards vest quarterly over 5 years
provided the employee is still in service of the Group.
|
|
31
December 2022
|
Fair value for the award dated 1
January 2018 is calculated by reference to the fixed value of cash
per share that the Board is at discretion to pay rather than settle
the award in shares.
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
Number of
awards
|
|
Weighted average of fair
value of instrument
|
|
Number of
awards
|
|
Weighted average of fair
value of instrument
|
|
|
|
|
cents
|
|
|
|
cents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at 1
January
|
|
29,208
|
|
128.11
|
|
146,036
|
|
128.11
|
Settled in equity
|
|
-
|
|
128.11
|
|
(106,312)
|
|
128.11
|
Settled in cash
|
|
(2,629)
|
|
128.11
|
|
(10,516)
|
|
128.11
|
Adjusted as noted below
|
|
(26,579)
|
|
128.11
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Outstanding at 31
December
|
|
-
|
|
128.11
|
|
29,208
|
|
128.11
|
The share vesting period was
initially calculated to end in Q1 2023 however the final vesting of
the scheme occurred in Q4 of 2022. As a result, the vested cost of
$34,049 and award of 26,579 units has been reversed to the
statement of comprehensive income.
|
|
|
|
Charge for awards to be
settled in Equity
|
|
Charge for awards settled in
Cash
|
|
Total charge for share based
awards
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended 31 December
2022
|
|
|
|
6,283
|
|
13,473
|
|
19,756
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended 31 December
2023
|
|
|
|
(34,049)
|
|
-
|
|
(34,049)
|
The unvested portion of the share
awards currently granted is $nil (2022: $nil). Of the awards
outstanding the number vested that are available for settlement
amount to nil (2022: 23,366).
21. Leases
The Company's subsidiary, APQ
Partners LLP, leases an office in London from which support
functions are conducted. The lease had a full term of 24 months and
ended on 24 December 2023. This has been extended to 28 February
2025 after which there is no certainty as to whether the Group will
renew the lease or move to other offices as appropriate.
21. Leases (continued)
The lease has been capitalised, as
set out below, based on an incremental borrowing rate of
9%.
Right of use asset
|
|
|
|
Land and
buildings
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
Cost
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
|
|
|
378,264
|
Addition
|
|
|
|
115,357
|
At 31 December 2023
|
|
|
|
493,621
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
|
|
|
295,392
|
Charge for the year
|
|
|
|
82,872
|
At 31 December 2023
|
|
|
|
378,264
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net book value
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023
|
|
|
|
115,357
|
At 31 December 2022
|
|
|
|
82,872
|
Lease liability
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Leased asset on 1
January
|
|
82,872
|
|
83,780
|
Interest on lease
liability
|
|
3,537
|
|
3,263
|
Payments for lease
|
|
(89,128)
|
|
(79,490)
|
Exchange differences
|
|
2,719
|
|
(7,553)
|
New lease commitment
|
|
115,357
|
|
82,872
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December
|
|
115,357
|
|
82,872
|
|
|
|
|
|
The lease falls due:
|
|
|
|
|
Within 1 year
|
|
97,772
|
|
82,872
|
After 1 year but within 5
years
|
|
17,585
|
|
-
|
|
|
115,357
|
|
82,872
|
The undiscounted cashflows on the
lease are disclosed in note 22.
22. Financial risk and management objectives and
policies
The Group's objective in managing
risk is the creation and protection of shareholder value. Risk is
inherent in the Group's activities, but it is managed through a
process of ongoing identification, measurement and monitoring,
subject to risk limits and other controls. The process of risk
management is critical to the Group's continuing profitability.
Further details of the principal business risks are included on
page 10. The Group is exposed to market risk (which includes
interest rate risk, currency risk and price risk), liquidity risk,
credit risk and investment holding period risk arising from the
financial instruments it holds.
22. Financial risk and management objectives and policies
(continued)
The following table analyses the
Group's financial assets and liabilities in accordance with IFRS 9,
which are exposed to these market risks:
Financial Assets
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Fair value through profit
and loss
|
|
Amortised
cost
|
|
Total
|
|
Fair value through profit
and loss
|
|
Amortised
cost
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments
|
52,538,656
|
|
-
|
|
52,538,656
|
|
38,162,574
|
|
-
|
|
38,162,574
|
Trade debtors
|
-
|
|
529,270
|
|
529,270
|
|
-
|
|
554,265
|
|
554,265
|
Amounts due from group
undertakings
|
-
|
|
7,162,103
|
|
7,162,103
|
|
-
|
|
2,341,708
|
|
2,341,708
|
Prepayments and accrued
income
|
-
|
|
61,959
|
|
61,959
|
|
-
|
|
45,255
|
|
45,255
|
Other debtors
|
-
|
|
217,478
|
|
217,478
|
|
-
|
|
114,728
|
|
114,728
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
-
|
|
705,606
|
|
705,606
|
|
-
|
|
586,040
|
|
586,040
|
Total
|
52,538,656
|
|
8,676,416
|
|
61,215,072
|
|
38,162,574
|
|
3,641,996
|
|
41,804,570
|
Financial Liabilities
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Fair value through profit
and loss
|
|
Amortised
cost
|
|
Total
|
|
Fair value through profit
and loss
|
|
Amortised
cost
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade creditors
|
-
|
|
139,988
|
|
139,988
|
|
-
|
|
127,716
|
|
127,716
|
Amounts due to group
undertakings
|
-
|
|
264,410
|
|
264,410
|
|
-
|
|
310,022
|
|
310,022
|
Other creditors
|
-
|
|
4,365
|
|
4,365
|
|
-
|
|
23,862
|
|
23,862
|
Accruals
|
-
|
|
473,687
|
|
473,687
|
|
-
|
|
211,824
|
|
211,824
|
Lease liabilities
|
-
|
|
115,357
|
|
115,357
|
|
-
|
|
82,872
|
|
82,872
|
CULS liability
|
-
|
|
36,710,043
|
|
36,710,043
|
|
-
|
|
33,922,606
|
|
33,922,606
|
Total
|
-
|
|
37,707,850
|
|
37,707,850
|
|
-
|
|
34,678,902
|
|
34,678,902
|
Market risk
Market price risk arises from
uncertainty about the future prices and valuations of financial
instruments held in accordance with the Company's investment
objectives. It represents the potential loss that the Company might
suffer through changes in the fair value of unquoted investments
that it holds.
Market price risk
Equity price risk arises from
equity securities held as part of the Group's portfolio of
investments. The Group's investments comprise unquoted investments
via its subsidiaries (see note 14). APQ Cayman Limited has
investments in a debt instrument whose value is dependent on
movements in markets and cash holdings which are not subject to
significant fluctuation. The unquoted investments in the Group's
other subsidiaries are subject to fluctuations in markets which may
impact their profitability and the realisable value on exit from
the investments.
22. Financial risk and management objectives and policies
(continued)
Market price risk (continued)
The Board seeks to manage this
risk whilst also attempting to maximise returns. The Board
regularly reviews the portfolio of investments and utilises an
investment advisory committee to help manage the risks of the
portfolio. The sensitivity of the investments held by the Company
to variations in inputs used in the valuation is as
follows:
Investment
|
Valuation methodology
|
Input
|
Base
|
Sensitivity
|
Change in fair value of
investments
$
|
APQ Cayman Limited
|
NAV comprising cash and debt
instruments with certain balance quoted in foreign
currencies
|
NAV
|
$14,665,766
|
+5%
-5%
|
733,288
(733,288)
|
APQ Knowledge Limited
|
Valuation of New Markets Media and
Intelligence Limited1
|
Revenue and EBITDA
forecasts
|
£166,193/
£40,220
|
+50%
-50%
|
186,746
(184,594)
|
|
|
Earnings multiple
|
1.4 and 8.7
|
+0.5%
-0.5%
|
2,933
(781)
|
|
|
GBP;USD Exchange rate
|
0.784436
|
10%
-10%
|
52,550
(42,996)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
APQ Corporate Limited
|
Valuation of Palladium Trust
Services Ltd
|
NAV
|
$23,212
|
+5%
-5%
|
1,161
(1,161)
|
|
Valuation of Promethean Trustees
Limited
|
NAV
|
$23,471
|
+5%
-5%
|
1,174
(1,174)
|
|
Valuation of Parish Group
Limited1
|
Revenue and EBITDA
forecasts
|
£1,381,599/
£288,378
|
+25%
-25%
|
1,174,158
(1,170,791)
|
|
|
Earnings multiple
|
28 and 12.1
|
+0.5%
-0.5%
|
25,133
(21,766)
|
|
|
GBP:USD Exchange rate
|
0.784436
|
10%
-10%
|
528,901
(432,737)
|
|
Valuation of Promethean Advisory
Limited1
|
Revenue and EBITDA
forecasts
|
€244,180/ €63,615
|
+50%
-50%
|
339,410
(339,646)
|
|
|
Earnings multiple
|
1.9 and 6.4
|
+0.5%
-0.5%
|
3,278
(3,513)
|
|
|
EUR:USD Exchange rate
|
0.905778
|
10%
-10%
|
43,056
(35,228)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
Valuation of Delphos Services
Limited
|
NAV
|
$2,159,018
|
+5%
-5%
|
107,951
(107,951)
|
|
Valuation of Delphos FMA - Frontier Markets Advisors
Inc1
|
Revenue and EBITDA
forecasts
|
CAD493,250/ CAD175,101
|
+50%
-50%
|
374,460
(374,551)
|
|
|
Earnings multiple
|
1.7 and 8.7
|
+0.5%
-0.5%
|
6,196
(6,288)
|
|
|
CAD:USD Exchange rate
|
1.32441
|
10%
-10%
|
164,769
(134,811)
|
22. Financial risk and management objectives and policies
(continued)
Market price risk (continued)
Investment
|
Valuation methodology
|
Input
|
Base
|
Sensitivity
|
Change in fair value of
investments
$
|
Delphos Holdings
Limited
|
Valuation of Delphos International
Limited1
|
Revenue and EBITDA
forecasts
|
$9,943,360/
$4,976,225
|
+30%
-30%
|
8,208,904
(8,208,904)
|
|
|
Earnings multiple
|
1.4 and 8.2
|
+0.5%
-0.5%
|
142,964
(142,964)
|
|
Valuation of Delphos MMJ
LP2
|
Cost
|
$1,000,000
|
+30%
-30%
|
300,030
(300,030)
|
|
Valuation of Delphos Milan
S.r.L2
|
Cost
|
$307,071
|
+30%
-30%
|
92,121
(92,121)
|
|
Valuation of Delphos Design
D.o.o2
|
Cost
|
$215,302
|
+30%
-30%
|
64,591
(64,591)
|
The most significant input used in
the fair value of APQ Cayman Limited is the valuations of its
underlying cash which in not susceptible to significant
fluctuations and as such a 5% sensitivity has been applied to the
NAV.
For the other entities valued
based on NAV these valuations tend to consist primarily of cash and
receivables. These are not considered to be susceptible to
significant fluctuations and as such a 5% sensitivity has been
applied to the NAV.
1 These entities are valued using a 50:50 weighting of a
discounted cash flow method and a markets method(s) (Guideline
Company / Guideline Transaction method). In most cases these
valuations have produced a similar value for each method. As such,
for the purposes of this sensitivity note the inputs into the
market method only have been sensitized. Inputs sensitised are
revenue and EBITDA as well as the multiple and the exchange rate.
For revenue and EBITDA where this trend is considered observable, a
sensitivity of 30% has been applied with 50% sensitivity applied
for other trading entities.
Whilst the sensitivity provided
above is based on the market method approach we note that the
discount rates applied in the discount cash flow approach range
from 17 to 29%. The discount rate on the DCF methods have not been
sensitized as part of this sensitivity analysis.
The fluctuations specified above
for unquoted investments are fluctuations that could reasonably
occur given the nature of the entities and the volatility arising
from external market factors that could impact revenue and
earnings.
Interest rate risk
The bank accounts of APQ Global
Limited are not interest bearing and so there is limited exposure
to interest rate risk. In addition, the CULS are at a fixed
interest rate so there is no exposure to interest rate risk on
these instruments. The Board does not feel it needs to actively
manage this risk.
Interest rate benchmark reform
The Financial Conduct Authority
have transitioned away from the London InterBank Offered Rate
(LIBOR) to the Sterling OverNight Index Average (SONIA) and from
the end of the 2021 year and will no longer persuade, or compel,
banks to submit to LIBOR.
The Group does not have any
derivative or financial instruments that are valued and recognised
using the LIBOR rate and thus is not exposed to any risks from the
Interest rate benchmark reform.
Currency risk
The Group's functional and
reporting currency is denominated in US Dollars. The Group's
Ordinary Shares are denominated in Sterling. Through its activities
in emerging markets the Group will have underlying exposure to a
range of emerging market currencies. Accordingly, the Group's
earnings may be affected favourably or unfavourably by fluctuations
in currency rates. The Board may engage in the future in currency
hedging in seeking to mitigate foreign exchange risk although there
can be no guarantees or assurances that the Group will successfully
hedge against such risks. The Board therefore does not feel it
needs to actively manage this risk at this time.
22. Financial risk and management objectives and policies
(continued)
Currency risk
The Group holds assets and
liabilities in foreign currencies at year end. The following table
details the Group's assets and liabilities and the currency
exposure to the Group:
|
|
|
|
|
2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
2022
|
|
Pound
sterling
|
|
Euro
|
|
Total
|
|
Pound
sterling
|
|
Euro
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
537,785
|
|
83,872
|
|
621,657
|
|
428,156
|
|
49,672
|
|
477,828
|
Trade debtors
|
3,410
|
|
-
|
|
3,410
|
|
28,405
|
|
-
|
|
28,405
|
Other debtors
|
163,642
|
|
21,262
|
|
184,904
|
|
93,466
|
|
21,262
|
|
114,728
|
Amounts due from group
undertakings
|
2,549
|
|
380,038
|
|
382,587
|
|
-
|
|
159,302
|
|
159,302
|
Trade creditors
|
(31,390)
|
|
(31,193)
|
|
(62,583)
|
|
(12,522)
|
|
(6,604)
|
|
(19,126)
|
Other creditors
|
(4,365)
|
|
-
|
|
(4,365)
|
|
(23,862)
|
|
-
|
|
(23,862)
|
Amounts due to group
undertakings
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(45,612)
|
|
-
|
|
(45,612)
|
Accruals
|
(218,414)
|
|
(15,000)
|
|
(233,414)
|
|
(211,824)
|
|
-
|
|
(211,824)
|
Lease liabilities
|
(115,357)
|
|
-
|
|
(115,357)
|
|
(82,872)
|
|
-
|
|
(82,872)
|
CULS
|
(36,710,043)
|
|
-
|
|
(36,710,043)
|
|
(33,922,606)
|
|
-
|
|
(33,922,606)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(36,372,183)
|
|
438,979
|
|
(35,933,204)
|
|
(33,749,271)
|
|
223,632
|
|
(33,525,639)
|
A reasonable change of 5% in the
Group's foreign currency net liabilities (2022: liability) will
have an impact of $1,796,660 (2022: $1,676,282) on the value of the
net assets. This level of change is considered to be reasonable
based on observations of current conditions.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that
the Group and the Company may not be able to meet a demand for cash
or fund an obligation when due. The Board continuously monitor
forecast and actual cash flows from operating, financing and
investing activities to consider payment of dividends, repayment of
the Group's outstanding debt or further investing
activities.
The Group may employ borrowings in
connection with its business activities. Prospective investors
should be aware that in the event that the Group's income falls for
whatever reason, the use of borrowings will increase the impact of
such a fall on the net revenue of the Group.
The Group will pay interest on any
borrowing it incurs. As such, the Group is exposed to interest rate
risk due to fluctuations in the prevailing market rates. Interest
rate movements may affect the level of income receivable by the
Group and the interest payable on the Group's variable rate
borrowings.
22. Financial risk and management objectives and policies
(continued)
Liquidity risk (continued)
The following table details the
Group's expected maturity for its financial liabilities together
with the contractual undiscounted cash flow amounts:
31 December 2023
|
Less than 1
year
|
|
1 - 5
years
|
|
5 + years
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade creditors
|
139,988
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
139,988
|
Amounts due to group
undertakings
|
264,410
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
264,410
|
Other creditors
|
4,365
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
4,365
|
Accruals
|
473,687
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
473,687
|
Lease liabilities
|
97,772
|
|
17,585
|
|
-
|
|
115,357
|
CULS
|
38,517,770
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
38,517,770
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,497,992
|
|
17,585
|
|
-
|
|
39,515,577
|
31 December 2022
|
Less than 1
year
|
|
1 - 5
years
|
|
5 + years
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade creditors
|
127,716
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
127,716
|
Amounts due to group
undertakings
|
310,022
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
310,022
|
Other creditors
|
23,862
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
23,862
|
Accruals
|
211,824
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
211,824
|
Lease liabilities
|
82,872
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
82,872
|
CULS
|
981,105
|
|
37,350,045
|
|
-
|
|
38,331,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,737,401
|
|
37,350,045
|
|
-
|
|
39,087,446
|
The options available to the
Company to manage the expected maturity is set out in the long term
viability statement on page 15.
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that the
counterparty to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss
for the Group by failing to discharge an obligation. The Group
generates its returns through its investments (See Note 14) and is
thus exposed to the risk of credit-related losses primarily through
its investments. The risk of default from the investment in APQ
Cayman is considered minimal because the Group is able to redeem
its investment in APQ Cayman Limited at any time. The
underlying assets within APQ Cayman Limited comprise cash and other
readily tradable positions and are thus liquid. The credit risk of
its other subsidiary investments are managed by those entities and
the credit risk on these receivables are factored into the fair
value of these investments held by the Group.
The Group's primary credit risk on
its own assets are primarily related to amounts due from group
undertakings. These are deemed to be low risk as the Group has
significant oversight of these entities and therefore does not
recognise any expected credit losses unless the group undertaking
no longer has the facility to repay these amounts. The Company will
then provide against these amounts in full and once confirmed they
are irrecoverable these are written off.
Other significant assets exposed
to credit risk are the Group's cash and cash equivalents. The Group
banks with Credit Suisse, JPMorgan Chase & Co, HSBC and
Barclays. As per Fitch ratings, Credit Suisse has a credit rating
of A, JPMorgan Chase & Co has a credit rating of AA-, HSBC has
a credit rating of AA- and Barclays has a credit rating of
A+.
The Group's maximum exposure to
credit risk in relation to the financial assets is the carrying
amount as disclosed in the statement of financial
position.
23. Capital Management
The Group can raise new capital
which may be implemented through the issue of a convertible debt
instrument or such other form of equity or debt as may be
appropriate. It also has a buy-back authority subject to a
maximum buy-back of 14.99 percent of the issued Ordinary
Shares.
The Group's objectives for
managing capital are:
• To invest the
capital into investments through its subsidiaries.
• To maintain
sufficient liquidity to meet the expenses of the Group and pay
dividends.
• To maintain
sufficient size to make the operation of the Group
cost-effective.
The Board reviews and approves the
investment of capital into illiquid investments and regularly
reviews its dividend policy to ensure it remains in accordance with
its capital aims.
The Group may utilise borrowings
in connection with its business activities. Although there is no
prescribed limit in the Articles or elsewhere on the amount of
borrowings that the Group may incur, the Directors will adopt a
prudent borrowing policy and oversee the level and term of any
borrowings of the Group and will review the position on a regular
basis. The Group's capital comprises:
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
|
100,141,648
|
|
100,141,648
|
Equity component of 3.5%
Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock 2024
|
|
6,823,671
|
|
6,919,355
|
Other capital reserves
|
|
-
|
|
37,417
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
(78,388,806)
|
|
(94,935,385)
|
Exchange reserve
|
|
(4,927,513)
|
|
(4,927,513)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders' funds
|
|
23,649,000
|
|
7,235,522
|
24. Related party transactions
Wayne Bulpitt founded the Active
Group, now renamed the Aspida Group, who acted as administrator
until 10 June 2020; he is also a shareholder of the Company. He is
also Chair and a significant shareholder in Beauvoir Limited, the
Company Secretary that was appointed on 3 June 2024 to replace
Parish Group Limited.
Bart Turtelboom is a designated
member of APQ Partners LLP and is also a director of APQ Cayman
Limited as well as the largest shareholder of the
Company.
24. Related party transactions
(continued)
The Directors are remunerated from
the Company in the form of fees, payable monthly in arrears. Bart
Turtelboom was entitled to an annual salary of £120,000 as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. This is split between the Company
and APQ Cayman
Limited.
2023
|
|
APQ Global Limited -
Remuneration
|
|
APQ
Global Limited -
Share based remuneration
|
|
APQ Cayman Limited -
Remuneration
|
|
Total
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Bart Turtelboom
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
29,948
|
|
-
|
|
119,795
|
|
149,743
|
Wayne Bulpitt
|
Non-Executive Chairman
|
49,915
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
49,915
|
Philip Soulsby
|
Finance Director
|
37,436
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
37,436
|
Wadhah Al-Adawi
|
Non-Executive Director
|
12,410
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
12,410
|
|
|
129,709
|
|
-
|
|
119,795
|
|
249,504
|
2022
|
|
APQ Global Limited -
Remuneration
|
|
APQ
Global Limited -
Share based remuneration
|
|
APQ Cayman Limited -
Remuneration
|
|
Total
|
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Bart Turtelboom
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
29,618
|
|
15,800
|
|
118,619
|
|
164,037
|
Wayne Bulpitt
|
Non-Executive Chairman
|
40,644
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
40,644
|
Philip Soulsby
|
Finance Director
|
36,998
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
36,998
|
Wadhah Al-Adawi
|
Non-Executive Director
|
24,255
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
24,255
|
|
|
131,515
|
|
15,800
|
|
118,619
|
|
265,934
|
At 31 December 2023, $nil (2022:
$nil) was payable to the directors with and $85,782 (2022:
$209,000) receivable from a director for an expense advance. A
total amount of $1,558,944 (2022: $482,169) of general corporate
expenses such as travel and business development were incurred by a
director which the Company reimbursed and , which does not
constitute a director emolument.
The directors represent key
management personnel. Additional key management personnel are the
partners of the LLP, details of their remuneration is disclosed in
Note 7.
Parish Group Limited:
APQ Global Limited has incurred
$177,861 (2022: $129,454) of fees and expenses to Parish Group
Limited as administrator of the Company, who were the Company
Secretary during the year until they were replaced post year end on
3 June 2024. As at 31 December 2023 the balance owed to
Parish Group Limited was $nil (2022: $nil).
APQ Partners LLP:
As described in the Listing
Document, and under the terms of the Services Agreement, APQ
Partners LLP assist the Board and the Group's management based in
Guernsey with the implementation of its business strategy, provide
research on business opportunities in emerging markets and provide
support for cash management and risk management purposes. APQ
Partners LLP are entitled to the reimbursement of expenses properly
incurred on behalf of APQ Global Limited in connection with the
provision of its services pursuant to the agreement.
APQ Partners LLP has recharged
expenses of $1,214,003 (2022: $1,050,377) to APQ Global Limited
during the year. As at 31 December 2023, APQ Global Limited owed
$144,085 (2022: $83,736) to APQ Partners LLP. In the current and
prior year amounts have been eliminated on
consolidation.
APQ Cayman Limited:
During the year, the Group
recharged expenses to APQ Cayman Limited of $296,867 (2022:
$361,450) and was recharged expenses of $14,974 (2022: $42,653)
from APQ Cayman Limited. The Company received dividends of
$12,867,293 (2022: $7,128,826). At 31 December 2023, an amount of
$17,209 was due from APQ Cayman Limited (2022: $27,202 was due from
APQ Cayman Limited).
24. Related party transactions (continued)
APQ Corporate Services
Limited:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited received funding of $nil (2022: $nil) from APQ Corporate
Services Limited. As at 31 December 2023, an amount of $264,410
(2022: $310,022) was due to APQ Corporate Services Limited (See
note 16). The balance is interest free and repayable on
demand.
APQ Knowledge Limited:
During the year, the company
received dividends of $nil (2022: $70,000) from APQ Knowledge
Limited.
Palladium Trust Services
Limited:
APQ Global Limited has provided a
loan to Palladium Trust Services Limited, a group undertaking in
2021 which attracts interest at a rate of 10%. During the year, APQ
Global Limited charged interest of $nil (2022: $13,608). As at year
end, APQ Global Limited was owed $162,662 (2022: $162,662) from
Palladium Trust Services Limited (See note 15). The balance owing
has been provided for in full as irrecoverable.
New Markets Media &
Intelligence Ltd:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited repaid the loan taken in previous years. The loan is
provided at a 10% interest fee. As at year end, APQ Global Limited
was owed $2,549 (2022: $45,612 owed to New Markets) by New Markets
Media & Intelligence Ltd (See note 16).
Delphos Holdings
Limited:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited provided funding of $561,633 (2022: $nil) to Delphos
Holdings Limited which has been capitalised to the cost of the
investment in the Delphos Holdings group. As at 31 December 2023,
an amount of $nil (2022: $nil) was due from Delphos Holdings
Limited.
Delphos Partners LLP:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited paid expenses totalling $nil (2022: $363,779) on behalf of
Delphos Partners LLP. At 31 December 2023, an amount of $nil (2022:
$363,779) was due to APQ Global Limited. The balance is interest
free and repayable on demand.
Delphos International
Limited:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited provided funding of $1,757,061 (2022: $151,246) to Delphos
International Limited which has been capitalised to the cost of the
investment in the Delphos Holdings group. It also provided loan
funding of $1,040,000 (2022: $nil) on which the Company charged
$36,675 (2022: $nil) in interest at a rate of 4.5%. The loan has no
fixed repayment date. At 31 December 2023, an amount of $1,476,675
(2022: $151,246) was due to APQ Global Limited. The balance is
interest free and repayable on demand.
Delphos Impact Limited:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited paid expenses totalling $809,494 (2022: $1,098,814) on
behalf of Delphos Impact Limited and provided funding to Delphos
Impact Limited of $850,000. At 31 December 2023, an amount of
$2,758,307 (2022: $1,948,814) was due to APQ Global Limited. The
balance is interest free and repayable on demand.
Delphos Services
Limited:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited paid expenses totalling $3,107,525 (2022: $240,349) on
behalf of Delphos Services Limited. At 31 December 2023, an amount
of $3,070,392 (2022: $240,349) was due to APQ Global Limited. The
balance is interest free and repayable on demand.
Promethean Advisory
Limited:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited made a subordinated loan to Promethean Advisory Limited
amounting to $131,396 (2022: $99,355) which bears interest at 5%.
Interest of $7,886 (2022: $1,404) accrued on the loan during the
year. APQ Global Limited also paid expenses on behalf of Promethean
Advisory Limited amounting to $124,697 (2022: $51,115). At 31
December 2023, a total amount of $380,038 (2022: $159,302) was due
to APQ Global Limited. The balance is interest free and repayable
on demand.
Delphos Milan S.r.l:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited provided funding of $307,071 (2022: $nil) to Delphos Milan
S.r.l which has been capitalised to the cost of the investment in
the Delphos Holdings group. As at 31 December 2023, an amount of
$nil (2022: $nil) was due from Delphos Milan S.r.l.
24. Related party transactions (continued)
Delphos Design Doo:
During the year, APQ Global
Limited provided funding of $215,302 (2022: $nil) to Delphos Design
Doo which has been capitalised to the cost of the investment in the
Delphos Holdings group. As at 31 December 2023, an amount of $nil
(2022: $nil) was due from Delphos Design Doo.
25. Subsequent events
On 3 June 2024, Beauvoir Limited
was appointed as company secretary to replace Parish Group
Limited.
In September 2024, an agreement
was reached with the holders of the Convertible Unsecured Loan
Stock, whereby a payment of £3,499,996 was made to reduce the
nominal value per unit to £4,408,79. The repayment for the
remaining CULS has been extended to March 2025 with an increased
coupon of 6% pa from 30 September 2024 plus a redemption premium of
1% per month.
[1] In
accordance with IFRS 10, the Company, as an Investment Entity, is
required to follow certain accounting rules regarding its
Subsidiaries. Please refer to Note 14 for
further details.
[2] See
Page 9 for further details of the Company's KPI's.
[3] The
average discount over the financial year was 44%.
[4] Where we refer
to revenue from income generating operating activities this relates
to the revenue of our investee companies.
[5] The Capital
Subscribed on One Ordinary Share of the Company being £1.00 and
thus equivalent to £0.06 in dividends per share.
[6] The
dividend paid to ordinary shareholders and capital growth rate of
the Company are Key Performance Indicators (KPI's), discussed
further on Page 9.
[7] The
Total Return of the Company is a KPI and an Alternative Performance
Measure in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards, The Total Return for a given month is
calculated as (Book Value Per Share (BVPS) at end of month +
Dividends received during month) divided by BVPS at end of previous
month. The Total Return on the YTD is then the compounded MTD Total
Return for each month in the year. The Company KPI's are
discussed further on Page 9.
[8] The
independent valuation report attributes the increase in valuation
to the significant year on year growth in top line revenue,
profitability and forecasted continued future growth in revenue
from capital raise mandates.
[9] Where
we refer to revenue from income generating operating activities
this relates to the revenue of our Investee companies.
[10] See
Note 14 for further details.
[12] Where
we refer to revenue from income generating operating activities
this relates to the revenue of our investee companies.