• About
  • Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance

The Directors recognise the importance of sound corporate governance and intend to comply with the Corporate Governance Guidelines, to the extent appropriate for a company of its nature and size.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines were devised by the Quoted Companies Alliance ("QCA"), in consultation with a number of significant institutional small company investors, as an alternative corporate governance code applicable to AIM companies. An alternative code was proposed because the QCA considered the Combined Code to be inappropriate to many AIM companies. Argo has adopted the QCA Corporate Governance Code (for further details please click here).

The Corporate Governance Guidelines state that, "The purpose of good corporate governance is to ensure that the company is managed in an efficient, effective and entrepreneurial manner for the benefit of all shareholders over the longer term." The Board will meet at least quarterly to review the Group's strategy and oversee the Group's progress towards its goals. The Board has established Audit and Remuneration Committees, further details of which are set out below. Given the compact size of the Board, the Directors do not believe that there is a requirement to form a Nomination Committee.

Audit Committee

The Board has established an Audit Committee with formally delegated duties and responsibilities. The Audit Committee is chaired by Kenneth Watterson and its other members are Michael Kloter and David Fisher. The Audit Committee meets at least twice a year and is responsible for ensuring that the financial performance of the Group is properly reported on and monitored, including reviews of the annual and interim accounts, results announcements, internal control systems and procedures and accounting policies. As a result of the Group’s special situation pedigree the Audit Committee serves as an additional independent reviewing body of valuations creating a best in class control for executive management.

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Michael Kloter and its other members are Kenneth Watterson and David Fisher. It meets not less than two times a year. Executive Directors may attend meetings at the Committee's invitation and may participate in decisions not relating to the remuneration of the Executive Directors. Kyriakos Rialas (CEO) and Andreas Rialas (CIO) participate in discussions relating to the remuneration of senior executives at the invitation of the Remuneration Committee.

The Remuneration Committee has responsibility for determining, within agreed terms of reference, the Group's policy on the remuneration of senior executives and specific remuneration packages for Executive Directors and, exceptionally, other senior management, including pension rights and compensation payments. It is also responsible for making recommendations for grants of options under the Share Option Plan. The remuneration of non-executive Directors is a matter for the board. No Director may be involved in any discussions as to his own remuneration.

Corporate Social Responsibilty

Argo Group Limited (“Argo” / “Group”) is committed to the principle of corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) and intends that it should become embedded, where appropriate, into its policies and practices, to the benefit of stakeholders as well as the wider community. Argo aims to be recognised as an organisation that is transparent and ethical in all its dealings as well as making a positive contribution to the community in which it operates. The Board has reviewed the current and potential Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks and believe that adequate procedures are in place to identify and assess these risks.

Argo is committed to the following core values in all aspects of its work, including the fulfilment of its social responsibility:

  • Clear direction and strong leadership;
  • Customer focus and treating customers fairly;
  • Working to deliver good customer outcomes;
  • Open communication and transparency;
  • Commitment to the highest ethical standards;
  • Respect for people and the development of positive working relationships with others; and
  • Valuing and harnessing the equality and the diversity of Argo members and employees.

Strategies

Argo seeks to achieve its corporate and social objectives by focusing on the following areas:

Equal Opportunities, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights

Argo has committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and the preservation of human rights. Argo is vehemently opposed to the use of slavery in all forms; cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments; and any attempt to control or reduce freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Argo will not knowingly enter into any business arrangement with any person, company or organisation which fails to uphold the human rights of its workers or who breach the human rights of those affected by the organisation’s activities.  Argo also aims to ensure that all partners/directors, employees and associated persons at all times enjoy equal opportunities.

The board of Argo (“Board”) recognises the importance of diversity and the benefits it brings to the Board and Group. The Board is committed to ensuring its composition is appropriate for the business and that members and candidates should possess the broad range of skills, expertise, industry knowledge, and other experience necessary for the effective oversight and management of the Group.

Argo believes that its people should be appointed to their roles based on skills, merit and performance and makes all appointments within the guidelines of its equal opportunities policy. Fundamental to increasing diversity is the development of a pipeline of talented and diverse employees within the business. We do not support quotas or to set prescriptive, quantitative diversity targets however, we endeavour to have a proactive and coordinated approach to attracting, retaining and developing a diverse workforce. As at 31/12/2020 the gender diversity within the Group was as follows:

                              Male        Female

Directors                   5                -

Employees            Male        Female

                                12               9

Stewardship

Argo manages all investments using different proprietary investment processes, and the rationale around Environmental, Social and Governance issues depends on the underlying investment process. Good governance is important to all investment processes and so Argo is committed to the UK’s Stewardship Code. Argo’s response to the stewardship code and how Argo complies with the responsibilities laid out in the code is available here.

Purchasing, Procurement and Bribery

Argo is committed to adhering to the highest standards of business conduct; compliance with the law and regulatory requirements; and best practice. The firm has established an anti-bribery policy to aid Argo’s partners/directors, employees and associated persons in ensuring that they comply at all times with relevant anti-bribery laws. In implementing this policy, the firm demonstrates its commitment to preventing bribery, and establishing a zero-tolerance approach to bribery in all parts of the firm’s operations. Argo is committed to procuring its works, goods and services in an ethically and environmentally sensitive way, yet with proper regard to its commercial obligations, ensuring that suppliers deliver to agreed timescales, quality and cost. Purchasing is undertaken in a manner that encourages competition and offers fair and objective evaluation of offers from all potential suppliers. Any significant transaction or agreement is reviewed by the Board.

Environment  and Sustainability

Argo believes that businesses are responsible for achieving good environmental practice and operating in a sustainable manner. We are therefore committed to minimising our environmental impact. As part of our selection and review process, we encourage our suppliers, service providers and all business associates to do the same. Not only is this sound commercial sense for all; it is also a matter of delivering on our duty of care towards future generations. To this end, Argo aims to minimise its commercial waste and to recycle as much of its commercial waste as possible.

Policy on Slavery and Human Trafficking

Argo Group is committed to ensuring that their supply chains are free of any slavery and/or human trafficking and will not knowingly support or do business with any supplier who is involved in such activities. Argo Group expects employees, contractors and suppliers to prevent acts of modern slavery and human trafficking from occurring within both their businesses and supply chains. We recognise that office facility service providers, including cleaning services and IT service providers, as well as branded goods not for resale, may carry a higher risk of modern slavery practices. However, we consider the fact that our service providers are typically based in the UK, (which does not have high estimated prevalence of modern slavery according to the Global Slavery Index) reduces Argo Group’s exposure to modern slavery practices in this area.

Argo Group has corporate policies in place under which employees are encouraged to report concerns of non-compliance with FCA rules or statutory obligations, to the compliance department. Any concerns raised in respect of the Act will be escalated to senior management. This statement was made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 for the financial year ending 31 December 2021.

 

 

Copyright © 2023 Argo Group Limited. All Rights Reserved. | Designed by www.fbrh.co.uk

Argo Capital Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.