All sorts of grand theories abound about the financial position and prospects (and prospective demise, some speculate) of Allco Finance Group.  For the hundreds of insiders and advisers sifting through the details of any sale, recapitalisation, or restructure (or run-off, in the darkest scenario) there's no need for theories. And the delay in publication of the December 2007 half-year financial statements is taken as evidence in some quarters that the survival of this long secretive but successful financier is unlikely, if Allco is not already as good as dead. Whatever the dilemmas facing the responsible officers of Allco, it is already the case that one of them, at least, has already signed off on December accounts, or part of them. On 4 February 2008 Michael Stefanovksi, executive director and chief operating officer of Allco, signed the "Director's certificate and quarterly report" for the Allco Trust Notes. The document became available via ASIC in the last couple of days. Allco sold $350 million in Allco Notes to investors in June 2007, with the funds advanced as loans or equity investments to numerous Allco-managed entities.So two weeks ago Allco could attest "there was no material change in the business of the borrower"; that "there was no failure by the borrower or any guarantor" and that "no event has occurred that has caused or could cause the amounts lent to become immediately repayable", among other  boilerplate assertions in what is a routine piece of paperwork.