Charity number: 1044509
Company number: 03019845
(England and Wales)
Asbol Ltd
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
Asbol Ltd Contents Page For the year ended 31 December 2020
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 3 |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 to 12 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 13 |
Asbol Ltd Report of the Trustees
For the year ended 31 December 2020
The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2020. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objects of the charity are to propagate the Roman Catholic Faith and an understanding of its teaching; to educate people in the experience of Christianity; and to create a missionary presence in society to bring the Roman Catholic Faith into the lives of people.
In order to achieve the above, the charity has powers, without limitation, to organise seminars, courses and retreats; to make grants to enable people to attend spiritual retreats; and to use properties held by the charity to create houses of prayer and meditation where people can live in a community in which they are educated in the Roman Catholic Faith.
To achieve the above, the directors have organised various meetings for people to share their experience of living Christianity; the meetings have been based on a book - Generating Traces in the History of the World - written by Father Luigi Giussani, founder of the Catholic Movement Communion and Liberation - and other texts that are relevant at different points in time. This movement is well known to the directors and its method of announcing Christ, present in His Church, as the only full answer to man's search for happiness, fulfilment and meaning is in accordance with the objects and aims of the charity.
In pursuance of the object of educating people in the Christian experience and creating a missionary presence in society, the charity runs a house for community living. People are able to live a life of regular prayer and dedication to Christ within the house so that they may experience Christ as the answer to their lives and may become witnesses to this fact in society, the work place etc. To achieve this aim the house has been provided to members of the lay association Memores Domini which is an association recognised as a Universal Private Ecclesial Association by the Pope John Paul II. The members of the association pay a rent for the use of the house and it is a condition of their permanence that they remain members of the association and follow its rule. The members are also involved in the meetings mentioned above and they attend and help lead these weekly meetings in London. Some of the members are also visiting communities of the same movement around the UK.
The charity is organised as a company. Day-by-day decisions are taken and less important policies are decided by the two directors - Amos Lawless and Gianluca Marcato - at board meetings. The third director, the Association Colombano e Bonifacio is also the sole member of the company and is involved in the main strategic decisions and policies to be undertaken by the charity; Colombano e Bonifacio is a charitable association registered in Italy and does not physically attend board meetings in the UK, but joins via video conference if and when necessary. Three board meetings with all three directors being present in person are also held in Italy during the Advent, Lent and Summer retreats of the Memores Domini. Due to the Covid pandemic, these meetings were held online during 2020.
Statement on public benefit
The trustees have considered the Charity Commision's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
All the activities organised by the Charity are done so with due regard for the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. In line with the objects of the Charity, the activities during the year aim to educate people in an understanding of Christianity and to allow people to experience the Roman Catholic faith. For this reason, the directors help to lead weekly meetings on the Catholic faith. Although the Charity is based around the Roman Catholic faith, all of the activities organised are open to people of every religious persuasion and none and in practice the events are attended by people from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs.
Through participation in these events people are enabled to understand what is essential in their lives and to be open to the presence of God in whatever tradition they come from. This in turn leads people to take further charitable initiatives in the sphere of their own lives, both privately and publicly. For example, many people educated through the weekly meetings also take part in regular works of charity, such as feeding the homeless.
While some activities have a charge to cover costs, it is the intention of the directors that the activities organised be accessible to anybody who would like to attend. No charge is made for the weekly meetings. For the larger activities run by Manalive, the directors work with the trustees of Manalive to ensure that the cost of any activity does not prevent any individual from attending.
The directors are not aware of any detriment or harm that could arise from the activities organised in pursuance of the Charity's aims.
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Asbol Ltd Report of the Trustees Continued
For the year ended 31 December 2020
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Significant activities
As for many organisations, the activities of Asbol this year were affected by the Covid pandemic, with events moving online from March 2020, though some in-person activities took place before the lockdown. The ecclesial movement Communion and Liberation, to which the directors belong, encourages weekly meetings of catechesis, based on books by the founder Fr Luigi Giussani or texts of the current President of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, Fr Julian Carrón. During the year Gianluca Marcato led meetings based on the books, Generating Traces in the History of the World, by Fr Giussani, and The Radiance in Your Eyes, by Fr Carrón. In January and February these meeting were held in-person in Ealing, London, usually followed by a dinner at the premises of 27 Corfton Road, and from March they were held online. The meetings are open to all, irrespective of religious beliefs, and people are encouraged to invite friends and work colleagues and to share their experience.
Furthermore, Gianluca Marcato kept in regular contact with groups in Scandinavia to encourage them in this work. Given the situation with Covid, Gianluca could not visit those countries in person, but he held regular online meetings.
The directors worked with members of the charity Manalive who organised several meetings during the year. Throughout the year meetings in which Fr Julián Carrón, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, discussed further the books Generating Traces in the History of the World and The Radiance in Your Eyes were broadcast from Italy approximately every 6 weeks. Amos Lawless and Gianluca Marcato provided an online interpretation from Italian to English from the premises of 27 Corfton Road. Other events organised included:
· A weekend retreat in January, held in Wokefield Park, Reading, coinciding with a visit to the U.K. of Fr Julián Carrón, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation. This was attended by more than 400 people from the U.K., Ireland, Holland and Luxembourg. Amos Lawless helped to prepare an evening event on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what it means for the life of man today, based on that presented at the holiday/ retreat of the UK community of Communion and Liberation the previous year.
· In February a pilgrimage to the shrine of St John Henry Newman in Birmingham was organised, which was attended by approximately 150 people.
· In May an online event was organised in Italy to present a book of Fr Carrón Reawakening our humanity - Reflections in a dizzying time. Amos Lawless and Gianluca Marcato provided interpretation of the event into English from the premises of 27 Corfton Road, which was broadcast to listeners in the UK and Ireland.
· Every fortnight Gianluca Marcato provided interpretation of a meeting of Fr Carrón with university students, to allow English-speaking students to follow across Europe and in Africa. From the start of the lockdown this interpretation was broadcast online from the premises of 27 Corfton Road.
While Manalive dealt with all the practical and financial requirements, Amos Lawless and Gianluca Marcato provided input into the content of these events through discussions beforehand with other trustees of Manalive and through their availability during the events. Regular meetings to decide all these activities have also been held with other members of the Catholic Movement Communion and Liberation.
Premises of 27 Corfton Road
During the year four members of the Memores Domini community living in South London asked to move into the premises of 27 Corfton Road. It was noted that there was space in the premises given that some residents had recently left the UK. Furthermore, it was clear that the presence of these members would help to strengthen the current Memores Domini community residing at the premises, in line with the Charity's aims of providing the premises as a house of prayer. Hence permission was given for them to move into the premises in July, with an associated change to the rental agreement.
Connections with other Associations
As referred to the above, the Charity works with the Association Memores Domini by providing the premises at 27 Corfton Road for members to live its rule. This furthers the charity's aims of educating people in the Catholic Faith and teaching people to act as witnesses to Christ as a living presence in society through the Church.
The charity also works with the Catholic Movement Communion and Liberation by providing the directors, Amos Lawless and Gianluca Marcato to lead and guide meetings based on the books of the founder of the movement, Father Luigi Giussani. This is in furtherance of the charity's objects of propagating the Roman Catholic Faith and an understanding of its teaching. In particular, meetings are open to everyone of any belief and people are encouraged to invite anyone they meet who is interested in their own destiny and finding God as the basis for their lives.
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Asbol Ltd Report of the Trustees Continued
For the year ended 31 December 2020
The charity also works with a charitable trust called Manalive, which has been set up by members of Communion and Liberation. The objects of Manalive include the advancement of Christianity in accordance with the experience of the Catholic Church. The directors have agreed to work with Manalive in furtherance of the company's objectives.
The member of the company - the Association Colombano e Bonifacio - is an Italian registered corporate body which is run by the members of the Memores Domini in Italy.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
As shown in the Statement of Financial Activities, the charity received £84,000 from rent and £10,000 from donations during the year. The charity's outgoing resources were £76,973 leaving a surplus in the year of £17,065.
Reserves
The charity is reliant on future rental income and donations to help fund its charitable aims and objectives. At the balance sheet date the reserves were £1,972,182.
The charity is managed with a view to it being able to continue its charitable activites for the future.
Going concern
The charity continues to prepare accounts on the going concern basis and the trustees do not see any going concern issues for the foreseeable future.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Name of Charity Asbol Ltd Charity registration number 1044509 Company registration number 03019845 Principal address 27 Corfton Road London W5 2HP
Trustees
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Amos Lawless Gianluca Marcato Association Colombano & Bonifacio Secretary Amos Lawless Independent examiners Fergal Davern FCA 149-151 Sparrows Herne Bushey Heath Watford Herts
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by
............................................................................. 16 December 2021 Gianluca Marcato
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Asbol Ltd
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees
For the year ended 31 December 2020
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2020.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiners statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Fergal Davern FCA 149-151 Sparrows Herne Bushey Heath Watford Herts
16 December 2021
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Asbol Ltd
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 December 2020
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities 2 Investments Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 3 Total Net income/expenditure Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 10,000 84,000 38 94,038 (76,133) (76,133) 17,905 1,883,317 1,901,222 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - (840) (840) (840) 71,800 70,960 |
2020 £ 10,000 84,000 38 94,038 (76,973) (76,973) 17,065 1,955,117 1,972,182 |
2019 £ - 84,000 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84,000 | ||||
| (80,346) | ||||
| (80,346) | ||||
| 3,654 1,951,463 |
||||
| 1,955,117 |
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Registered Number : 03019845
Asbol Ltd Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2020
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 9 Current assets 10 Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 11 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 12 Net assets The funds of the charity Restricted income funds 13 Unrestricted income funds 13 Total funds |
£ 2020 3,435,181 3,435,181 - 14,536 14,536 (4,019) 10,517 3,445,698 (1,473,516) 1,972,182 70,960 1,901,222 1,972,182 |
£ 2019 3,472,029 |
|---|---|---|
| 3,472,029 | ||
| 1,048 13,585 |
||
| 14,633 | ||
| (5,705) 8,928 |
||
| 3,480,957 | ||
| (1,525,840) | ||
| 1,955,117 | ||
| 71,800 1,883,317 |
||
| 1,955,117 |
For the year ended 31 December 2020 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
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The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance
-
with section 476,
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The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting
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records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
Amos Lawless Trustee
16 December 2021
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Asbol Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.
Asbol Ltd meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
Statement of cash flows
The Trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in SORP FRS 102 from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the charitable company is small.
Funds
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Incoming resources
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Freehold property - 2% on cost of property excluding land
RESTRICTED FUNDS
The restricted fund is represented by part of the freehold property and results from a £100,000 donation during the first financial period of the company.
PERSONAL GUARANTEES
The following individuals have provided personal guarantees limited to £109,000 each in favour of the company's bankers in respect of the company's bank loan.
A Lawless, G Marcato, D Magazzeni, J W Morgan, S Falliti, F Iacono, J Fiueiredo, E Scambia, A Fonzone, G Rossitto and A Ventura.
LOAN FROM MEMBER
On 28 June 2016 the Charity received an interest free loan from the member Colombano E Banifacio in the sum of £550,000. The total amount due to the member is £570,000. The loan is interest free and is repayable no later than 30 June 2035.
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Asbol Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 December 2020
2. Income from charitable activities
| Unrestricted funds Missionary presence in society Rents osts of charitable activities by fund type Restricted funds Unrestricted funds £ £ 76,133 840 Support costs nalysis of support costs Missionary presence in society Finance costs Premises costs Governance costs |
2020 £ 84,000 2020 £ 76,973 2020 £ 29,338 45,960 1,675 76,973 |
2019 £ 84,000 2019 £ 80,346 2019 £ 34,538 44,186 1,622 |
|---|---|---|
| 80,346 |
3. Costs of charitable activities by fund type
4. Analysis of support costs
5. Net income/(expenditure) for the year
This is stated after charging/(crediting):
| This is stated after charging/(crediting): | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2019 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Accountancy fees | 1,451 | 1,400 |
6. Staff costs and emoluments
Other than the trustees the Charity does not employ any individuals.
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Asbol Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the year ended 31 December 2020
7. Trustee remuneration and related party transactions
During the year the trustees Amos Lawless and Gianluca Marcato paid rent to the charity in the sum of £10,000 each . During the year Gianluc Marcato donated £10,000 to the charity. The trustees believe that these transactions are at arms length.
8. Comparative for the Statement of Financial Activities
| Income and endowments from: Charitable activities Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities Total Net income/expenditure Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 84,000 84,000 (79,506) (79,506) 4,494 1,878,823 1,883,317 |
Restricted funds £ - - (840) (840) (840) 72,640 71,800 |
2019 £ 84,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84,000 | |||
| (80,346) | |||
| (80,346) | |||
| 3,654 1,951,463 |
|||
| 1,955,117 |
9. Tangible fixed assets
| Cost or valuation At 01 January 2020 At 31 December 2020 Depreciation At 01 January 2020 Charge for year At 31 December 2020 Net book values At 31 December 2020 At 31 December 2019 |
Land and Buildings £ 3,684,704 |
|---|---|
| 3,684,704 | |
| 212,675 36,847 |
|
| 249,523 | |
| 3,435,181 | |
| 3,472,029 |
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Asbol Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the year ended 31 December 2020
10. Debtors
| Amounts due after more than one year: Prepayments and accrued income 11. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Accruals and deferred income 12. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Loans and overdrafts 13. Movement in funds Unrestricted Funds General General Unrestricted Funds - Previous year General General |
Balance at 01/01/2020 £ 1,883,317 1,883,317 Balance at 01/01/2019 £ 1,878,823 1,878,823 |
Incoming resources £ 94,038 94,038 Incoming resources £ 84,000 84,000 |
2020 £ - - 2020 £ 4,019 4,019 2020 £ 1,473,516 1,473,516 Outgoing resources £ (76,133) (76,133) Outgoing resources £ (79,506) (79,506) |
2019 £ 1,048 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,048 | ||||
| 2019 £ 5,705 |
||||
| 5,705 | ||||
| 2019 £ 1,525,840 |
||||
| 1,525,840 | ||||
| Balance at 31/12/2020 £ 1,901,222 |
||||
| 1,901,222 | ||||
| Balance at 31/12/2019 £ 1,883,317 |
||||
| 1,883,317 |
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Asbol Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the year ended 31 December 2020
Purpose of unrestricted Funds
General
The purpose of the general fund is to deliver the charity's objects and help meet the charity's obligations in respect of public benefit.
Restricted Funds
| Restricted Restricted Funds - Previous year Restricted |
Balance at 01/01/2020 £ 71,800 71,800 Balance at 01/01/2019 £ 72,640 72,640 |
Outgoing resources £ (840) (840) Outgoing resources £ (840) (840) |
Balance at 31/12/2020 £ 70,960 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70,960 | |||
| Balance at 31/12/2019 £ 71,800 |
|||
| 71,800 |
14. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Analysis of net assets between funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible | Net current | Creditors > | Net Assets | |
| fixed assets | assets / | one year | ||
| (liabilities) | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General | ||||
| General | 3,364,221 | 10,517 | (1,473,516) | 1,901,222 |
| Restricted funds | ||||
| Restricted | 70,960 | - | - | 70,960 |
| 3,435,181 | 10,517 | (1,473,516) | 1,972,182 |
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Asbol Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the year ended 31 December 2020
Previous year
| Previous year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible | Net current | Creditors > | Net Assets | |
| fixed assets | assets / | one year | ||
| (liabilities) | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General | ||||
| General | 3,400,229 | 8,928 | (1,525,840) | 1,883,317 |
| Restricted funds | ||||
| Restricted | 71,800 | - | - | 71,800 |
| 3,472,029 | 8,928 | (1,525,840) | 1,955,117 |
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Asbol Ltd Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
For the year ended 31 December 2020
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENT Donations and legacies Donations Charitable activities Rents Investments Bank interest receivable Total incoming resources SUPPORT COSTS Finance costs Bank charges Bank loan interest Interest payable Premises costs Council tax Repairs and renewals Insurance Depreciation on freehold property Governance costs Accountancy fees Legal fees Total resources expended Net Income |
£ 2020 10,000 10,000 84,000 84,000 38 38 94,038 (29) (29,306) (3) (29,338) (3,131) (930) (5,892) (36,007) (45,960) (1,451) (224) (1,675) (76,973) 17,065 |
£ 2019 - |
|---|---|---|
| - 84,000 |
||
| 84,000 - |
||
| - | ||
| 84,000 (375) (34,163) - |
||
| (34,538) (2,931) - (3,568) (37,687) |
||
| (44,186) (1,400) (222) |
||
| (1,622) | ||
| (80,346) | ||
| 3,654 |
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This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements