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Ferret's Stock to Watch: ARGO INVESTMENTS LTD08:00, Wednesday,...

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    Ferret's Stock to Watch: ARGO INVESTMENTS LTD
    08:00, Wednesday, February 07, 2007

    AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR THE LONG HAUL

    Sydney - Wednesday - February 7: (RWE Aust Business News)
    *********************************************************

    OVERVIEW
    ********

    Long-term share investment companies often show an amazing
    accumulation of wealth.

    One company that has attracted attention this week has been Argo
    Investments (ASX:ARG) which has been building up its share portfolio for
    46 years.

    With such a long-term time frame the highs and lows are often
    smoothed out.

    Argo's diversified portfolio of quality Australian shares
    produced a total portfolio return of 19.1 per cent for the year to June
    30.

    However, it lagged a little against the gains in the ASX All
    Ordinaries Accumulation Index of 24.5 per cent.

    This was due to the very strong performance of energy and
    natural resource companies, a part of the market which is extremely
    volatile and where Argo traditionally had a below-market weight
    exposure.

    Since balance date Argo has spent about $72 million on
    investment purchases, the larger ones being in BHP Billiton, Rio
    Tinto, Woodside Petroleum, Alumina, Toll Holdings and Woolworths.

    Investments which were taken over during the year were Foodland
    Associated and Patrick Corporation.

    GPT Split Trust income securities and Woolworths income
    securities were redeemed and holdings of Pacifica Group, Pacific
    Brands and a number of other smaller holdings were sold.

    Since balance date Excel Coal, Gasnet Australia Group and Unitab
    were taken over and the company is considering takeover offers for
    Adsteam Marine, Chiquita Brands South Pacific and DCA Group.

    Its holding in Mayne Pharma has been sold.

    Net asset backing has appreciated significantly.

    Led by the resource sector, Australian equity markets continued
    to rally during the year under review and as a result, the net tangible
    asset backing per share, before providing for deferred capital gains tax
    on unrealised gains within the investment portfolio and based on market
    value, rose to $6.81 at June 30 compared with $5.93 for the previous
    year.

    Total dividends distributed to shareholders amounted to $115.1
    million, an increase of 18.2 per cent on the previous year's
    distribution of $97.4 million.

    On Monday, directors resolved to make a 1-for-8 renounceable
    rights issue of about 61,231,480 fully paid ordinary shares in the
    company to be offered to existing shareholders at $7.20 per share.

    Shareholder approval is not required.

    Following the issue, there will be 552,611,657 shares on
    issue.

    The issue is priced at a substantial discount of 16.9 per cent
    on the closing price for Argo shares last Friday, which was the last
    trading day prior to the date of the announcement.

    The new issue will be available to registered holders of
    ordinary shares at the close of business on February 16.

    The shares will trade ex-rights on February 12 and rights
    trading will commence on that date.

    The issue will not be underwritten.

    If the issue is fully subscribed, the company will raise
    approximately $440.9 million. These additional funds will enable the
    company to make new investments, and to increase existing investments,
    as favourable opportunities arise.

    The new shares will participate in the final dividend for the
    year ending June 30, which is expected to be paid in September.

    Directors expect the final dividend to be at least 13c per
    share, fully franked, on the increased share capital resulting from the
    issue.

    Shareholders with a registered address outside Australia and New
    Zealand are not eligible to participate in the issue.

    SHARE PRICE MOVEMENTS
    *********************

    Shares of Argo Investments yesterday rose 28cc to $8.96. Rolling
    high for the year is $9.20 and low $6.65. Dividend is 25c to yield 2.75
    per cent. Earnings per share is 43.1c and p/e ratio 20.79. The company
    has 488.6 million shares on issue with a market cap of $4.3 billion.

    Argo shareholders have done well in the latest financial year.

    They have received another increase in their interim dividend
    following a continuation of the company's record-breaking profit growth
    in the opening half of 2006-2007.

    Operating profit after tax and before realised gains on the
    sale of long-term investments advanced by 18.6 per cent to a record
    $70.1 million in the half-year to December 31 from $59.1 million in
    the previous corresponding period.

    Operating earnings per share rose 14.3 per cent from 12.6c to
    14.4c per share, excluding realised gains on the sale of long-term
    investments.

    Interim dividend has been increased to 12c per share fully
    franked compared with 11c in the previous first half and 10c per share
    paid for the opening six months of 2004-2005.

    The latest profit improvement continues Argo's strong earnings
    growth which included the company's 2005-2006 full year operating result
    jumping 17.2 per cent to a record $123.1 million and annual dividend
    rising from 21c to 24c per share.

    The latest first-half operating profit does not include $62.5
    million (previous corresponding period $9.8 million) in net realised
    gains on the sale of long-term investments after tax.

    A number of these transactions are non-cash, scrip based, deemed
    sales which are eligible for roll-over relief for income tax purposes.

    These include large portions of the holdings in Alinta,
    Australian Gas Light Company and Brambles Industries.

    While these gains are required to be included in the company's
    reported profit under accounting standards, Argo identifies them
    separately and not as part of operating profit.

    Including these gains, the latest December-half profit has risen
    from $68.9 million to $132.6 million.

    Argo's managing director, Rob Patterson, said that the latest
    first-half result continued the recent trend of strong distribution
    growth from many of the 180 stocks held in the company's diverse
    investment portfolio and reflected Australia's very strong economy.

    "The outlook remains positive for the current corporate
    reporting season and all of the signs are for another generally buoyant
    period of healthy returns from many of the stocks in which Argo holds
    investments," Mr Patterson said.

    The higher fully franked 12c per share interim dividend takes
    Argo into its 61st consecutive year of paying dividends.

    The total amount of the latest interim distribution is up from
    $52.3 million to $58.8 million - easily a record first-half payment.

    The increased dividend will be paid to Argo shareholders on
    March 9.

    Mr Patterson said significant investment purchases made by Argo
    in the half year to December were BHP Billiton ($26.8 million), Telstra
    Corporation (including instalment receipts) ($22.8 million), Rio Tinto
    ($15.1 million) and Woodside Petroleum ($14.9 million).

    There were no major sales, apart from the deemed sales referred
    to earlier.

    The company's net tangible asset backing per share rose to a
    record $7.56 as at December 31, compared with $6.81 on June 30.

    Mr Patterson said Argo's objective is to maximize long-term,
    secure returns to shareholders through a balance of capital and dividend
    growth from its diversified portfolio of Australian stocks.

    "For the past 10 years, the company's investment portfolio has
    produced a compound annual return of 14.9 per cent, as measured by the
    movement in net asset backing per share plus dividends paid, compared
    with 13.1 per cent from the ASX All Ordinaries Accumulation Index," he
    said.

    This included a total return of 20.5 per cent from the portfolio
    in the 2006 calendar year.

    Chris Harris, Argo's chairman, said Argo's diverse and high
    quality investment portfolio was well placed to continue producing
    income growth.

    "We are also confident of our astute investment team
    maintaining a watchful eye on market trends and emerging opportunities,
    in particular those that may arise from any downturn in the current
    record share market environment," he said.

    BACKGROUND
    **********

    Argo's investment approach can be summed up in three words -
    safe, steady and simple.

    Rather than attempt to gain spectacular rewards in the short
    term from high-risk situations, the investment company aims to provide
    you with safe and steady progress, secured by a spread of investments
    over a wide range of industries.

    Diversified of the portfolio is as follows: other financial 28
    per cent, banks 16 per cent, materials 13 per cent, industrials 11 per
    cent, consumer discretionary 8 per cent, cash assets 8 per cent,
    consumer staples 5 per cent, telecommunication services & IT 4 per cent,
    energy 3 per cent, utilities 2 per cent and health care 2 per cent.

    Argo adopts a long-term investment philosophy in selecting its
    portfolio, which also includes smaller companies with high-quality
    management and the potential for strong earnings growth.

    Its investment team has an excellent track record in selecting
    quality smaller stocks which can provide strong returns as they grow
    into larger companies or are absorbed by bigger competitors.

    No management fees are charged by Argo and being a listed
    company, only normal stockbroker charges apply when shares are purchased
    and sold.

    For the year to June 2005, total operating costs were 0.15 per
    cent of total assets at market value.

    Argo pays dividends in March and September each year.

    Imputation credits on dividends received by Argo are passed on
    through the fully franked dividends paid to Argo shareholders, with all
    shareholders benefiting from the associated tax credits.

    Certain Australian shareholders can also claim a tax benefit
    where the dividend is sourced from a LIC capital gain.

    Argo has a share purchase plan which enables shareholders to
    invest up to $5,000 a year in additional shares, currently at a 2.5 per
    cent discount off the market price.

    Participation in the SPP is entirely at the option of the
    shareholders and no transactional costs apply.

    The company has a dividend reinvestment plan, which is currently
    offered to eligible shareholders at a 2.5 per cent discount off the
    market price.

    Participation in the DRP is again entirely optional and no
    transactional costs will apply.

    Argo also has a history of making attractively priced new issues
    of shares to existing shareholders.

    ENDS

    Copyright © 2007 RWE Australian Business News. All rights reserved.
 
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