false 0001091748 0001091748 2021-08-06 2021-08-06 0001091748 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2021-08-06 2021-08-06 0001091748 argo:GuaranteeofArgoGroupU.S.Inc.6.500SeniorNotesdue2042Member 2021-08-06 2021-08-06 0001091748 argo:DepositarySharesEachRepresentingA11000thInterestInA7.00ResettableFixedRatePreferenceShareSeriesAParValue1.00PerShareMember 2021-08-06 2021-08-06

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 6, 2021

 

 

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Bermuda   001-15259   98-0214719

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

90 Pitts Bay Road

P.O. Box HM 1282

Hamilton HM FX

  P.O. Box HM 1282
Pembroke HM 08   Hamilton HM FX
Bermuda   Bermuda
(Address, Including Zip Code,
of Principal Executive Offices)
  (Mailing Address)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (441) 296-5858

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

 

Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, par value of $1.00 per share   ARGO   New York Stock Exchange
Guarantee of Argo Group U.S., Inc. 6.500% Senior Notes due 2042   ARGD   New York Stock Exchange
Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/1,000th Interest in a 7.00% Resettable Fixed Rate Preference Share, Series A, Par Value $1.00 Per Share   ARGOPrA   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officer; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Effective August 6, 2021, Matthew J. Harris resigned as Group Head of International Operations of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”) and the Board of Directors agreed to waive the contractual notice period under his Employment Contract dated August 1, 2017 (“Employment Contract”) and make the resignation effective immediately. In connection with Mr. Harris’s resignation, Mr. Harris and the Company entered into a Separation Agreement dated August 9, 2021 (the “Separation Agreement”). Under the Separation Agreement, Mr. Harris will receive the six months’ pay that he would have been eligible to receive during his notice period pursuant to his Employment Contract, in a lump sum payment, less applicable deductions and withholdings.

The foregoing summary of the terms of the Separation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Separation Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.

On August 11, 2021, as part of the Company’s efforts to continue to streamline management and reduce expenses, Timothy Carter’s employment with the Company was terminated without cause. Mr. Carter is eligible for severance benefits under the Executive Severance Plan. Subject to his timely execution and non-revocation of a release of claims and continued compliance with certain restrictive covenants (including confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-competition, and non-solicitation covenants), he will be eligible to receive the following severance benefits: (i) an amount equal to 0.75 times his annual base salary; (ii) an amount equal to the annual cash incentive payment for the year of termination, based on actual performance, prorated based on the number of days he remained an employee, to be paid on the date the annual cash incentive payment is paid to participants generally; and (iv) if Mr. Carter timely elects COBRA continuation coverage, payment by the Company of an amount equal to the difference between the cost of such COBRA continuation coverage and the amount active employees pay for health coverage through the earlier of the end of the nine-month period following the date of termination and Mr. Carter becoming eligible for health insurance coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure

On August 12, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing certain management changes including the departures of Messrs. Harris and Carter described above, the appointment of Andrew Borst as Interim President of International Operations and the appointment of Susan Comparato as Chief Administrative Officer, replacing Mr. Borst who previously held this role. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

This Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 are furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

 

No.   

Exhibit

10.1    Separation Agreement by and between Matthew Harris and Argo Management Services Limited dated August 9, 2021*
99.1    Press Release issued by Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. dated August 12, 2021
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

*

Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: August 12, 2021     ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
    By:  

/s/ Scott Kirk

      Name: Scott Kirk
      Title: Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 10.1

WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND SUBJECT TO CONTRACT

 

    DATED AUGUST 9,      2021     
 

 

  
       MATT HARRIS    (1)      
       - and -         
       ARGO MANAGEMENT SERVICES LIMITED    (2)      

 

 

SEPARATION AGREEMENT

 

 

 

LOGO

Ref:cm2ecb

Hogan Lovells International LLP

Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2FG

Hogan Lovells


CONTENTS

 

CLAUSE

        PAGE  

1.

   TERMINATION      1  

2.

   PERIOD UP TO THE TERMINATION DATE      1  

3.

   TERMINATION PAYMENT      2  

4.

   TAX      2  

5.

   EXPENSES      2  

6.

   REFERENCES      2  

7.

   ANNOUNCEMENTS      2  

8.

   DIRECTORSHIPS      3  

9.

   COMPANY PROPERTY      3  

10.

   CONFIDENTIALITY      3  

11.

   RESTRICTIONS      5  

12.

   FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT      5  

13.

   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      6  

14.

   COMPROMISE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS      6  

15.

   MISCELLANEOUS      7  

16.

   ENTIRE AGREEMENT      7  

17.

   APPLICABLE LAW      7  

SCHEDULES

  

1.

   CERTIFICATE FROM THE INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVISER      8  

2.

   AGREED REFERENCE      9  

3.

   RESIGNATION OF DIRECTORSHIP / OFFICER POSITIONS      10  

Hogan Lovells

 

- ii -


SEPARATION AGREEMENT

WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND SUBJECT TO CONTRACT

THIS AGREEMENT is made on 9 August 2021

BETWEEN:

 

(1)

Matt Harris (“you”); and

 

(2)

Argo Management Services Limited whose principal place of business is at Exchequer Court, 33 St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8AA (the “Company”).

INTERPRETATION:

In this Agreement

Adviser” means a relevant independent adviser (as defined in section 203 Employment Rights Act 1996) from whom you have received legal advice as to the terms of this Agreement and its effect and, in particular, its effect on your ability to pursue your rights before an Employment Tribunal; and

“Employment Contract” means the contract of employment between you and the Company dated 1 August 2017;

Group Company” means any company which for the time being is:

 

  (a)

a parent undertaking (as defined by the Companies Act 2006) of the Company; or

 

  (b)

any subsidiary undertaking (as defined by the Companies Act 2006) of any such parent undertaking or of the Company.

WHEREAS:

 

(1)

Your employment with the Company will terminate on 6 August 2021 by reason of your resignation.

 

(2)

Without any admission of liability, the Company has agreed to settle all claims and potential claims arising out of your employment and/or the termination of your employment and/or your directorships and/or your resignation from your directorships on the following terms.

IT IS AGREED:

 

1.

TERMINATION

 

1.1

Your employment will terminate on 6 August 2021 (the “Termination Date”) by reason of your resignation.

 

2.

PERIOD UP TO THE TERMINATION DATE

 

2.1

During your employment up to the Termination Date you will continue to be bound by all the terms of your Employment Contract and the Employee Handbook save that you are not required to, and must not, perform any duties and should not contact any members of staff, clients or suppliers or attend the Company’s offices.

 

2.2

You agree that you will answer any questions that are asked by the Company, acting reasonably, to ensure that there is a smooth handover of your responsibilities.

Hogan Lovells


2.3

You will receive:

 

  (a)

your salary and other contractual benefits up to and including the Termination Date in the normal way; and

 

  (b)

any pay in lieu of accrued but untaken holiday

less deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions at appropriate rates. Your P45 will be issued to you.

 

2.4

Save as set out in this Agreement you have no other entitlements to salary or any other contractual or other benefits.

 

3.

TERMINATION PAYMENT

 

3.1

Subject to and conditional upon your compliance with all the terms of this Agreement the sum of £200,000 (the “Termination Payment”) will be paid to you by way of payment in lieu of notice.

 

3.2

The Termination Payment will be made within 14 working days of the later of the Termination Date and the date of receipt by the Company of this Agreement signed by you together with the Adviser’s certificate at Schedule 1 signed by your Adviser.

 

4.

TAX

 

4.1

Income tax and National Insurance contributions at the appropriate rate or rates will be deducted from the Termination Payment before payment.

 

4.2

The Company makes no warranty as to the appropriate tax treatment of the Termination Payment. You agree that you will be responsible for paying any income tax which may be assessed on the Termination Payment and the value of all other benefits provided to you under this Agreement (save for any sums actually deducted by the Company). You further agree to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and any Group Company in respect of any further income tax and/or employee’s national insurance contributions (including any interest, penalties, costs and fines) which the Company or any Group Company may incur in respect of this Agreement other than in relation to the sums deducted by the Company under this Agreement.

 

5.

EXPENSES

The Company will reimburse you for any expenses properly and reasonably incurred by you in the performance of your duties on or before the Termination Date. Any such claim must be submitted within 7 days of the Termination Date in accordance with the Company’s normal procedure.

 

6.

REFERENCES

Subject to any overriding regulatory obligations or requirements the Company will provide prospective employers on request with a reference in the form set out in Schedule 2 and will respond to all oral enquiries in a manner consistent with such reference provided that such enquiries are directed to the Company’s HR department.

 

7.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Company will issue a short internal announcement which shall confirm that you have left the business following your resignation. The Company will also make the necessary U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and regulatory disclosures regarding your departure.

Hogan Lovells

 

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8.

DIRECTORSHIPS

You agree to resign immediately from your directorship of the Company and from all your other directorships and other offices in any Group Companies by signing a letter of resignation in the form set out in Schedule 3. If you hold any trusteeships or other offices relating to the Company and/or any Group Company you will on request resign from them and execute such documents as may be necessary to give effect to your resignation.

 

9.

COMPANY PROPERTY

 

9.1

You undertake that you shall, at a date and time to be agreed between you and the Company, provide to a courier that shall be arranged by the Company (at its cost) all mobile phones, Tablets or other similar devices, security tokens, laptops, keys, credit cards, correspondence, documents, reports, papers, records and data (including notes, summaries and extracts) which relate to the Company or its business or that of any Group Company, held in any form (including electronically) and any other Company property or property of any Group Company which is in your possession or under your control, together with all copies of the same. This clause 9.1 shall not apply to mobile phone number on your Company mobile phone which you may retain and the Company shall take such steps as may be required (at your expense) to transfer the number to you.

 

9.2

You also confirm that you have deleted from your personal computer(s) and any other personal electronic device(s) any information which

 

  (a)

relates to the Company or any Group Company or its or their business or that of its or their clients and which you acquired during or as a result of your employment with the Company; or

 

  (b)

is material whose copyright belongs to the Company or any Group Company, which is stored electronically or in any recoverable form.

You further confirm that you have made no copies of those materials whether onto hard drive or onto any other medium whether allowing for their reproduction or otherwise, nor passed them on to any third party and that you have not incorporated or adapted any such materials into any material belonging to you or a third party.

 

10.

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

10.1

The terms of this Agreement, the circumstances in which your employment was terminated, any circumstances potentially giving rise to an Employee Claim (as defined in Clause 12.2) and all discussions on these subjects shall be treated by you and the Company as confidential and shall not be disclosed to any other person save:

 

  (a)

in the case of the Company, to HM Revenue & Customs and/or to the Board/ senior management and/or to those individuals who will be required to give effect to the terms of this Agreement and/or to those individuals who need to know for business reasons;

 

  (b)

in the case of the Company, the Company shall make the necessary U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and regulatory disclosures regarding your departure;

 

  (c)

as may be required by law or by a relevant regulator;

 

  (d)

for the purposes of co-operating with a law enforcement agency or relevant regulator in connection with a criminal or regulatory investigation or criminal prosecution or regulatory enforcement action;

Hogan Lovells

 

- 3 -


  (e)

for the purposes of reporting misconduct or wrongdoing or a breach or potential breach of regulatory or criminal requirements to a relevant regulator or supervisory authority (including to a law enforcement authority);

 

  (f)

for the purposes of obtaining advice from professional advisers in connection with this Agreement;

 

  (g)

in your case, your immediate family or to other professional advisers (including medical advisers) provided that such advisers owe you a professional obligation of confidentiality (which you agree not to waive). In the case of disclosures to your immediate family, you may not disclose any such information until you have procured that the person to whom such matters are disclosed will keep confidential the information you impart to them; or

 

  (h)

in your case and subject to your obligations under clause 10.4, to a prospective employer or recruitment consultant for the purposes of confirming that your employment ended by reason of resignation for personal reasons.

 

10.2

Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent you from making a protected disclosure within the meaning of s43A of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

 

10.3

You acknowledge that you remain bound by and will comply with your ongoing duties of confidentiality to the Company and to any Group Company and shall not:

 

  (a)

disclose to any person, firm, company or organisation whatsoever (save as may be required by law or to any regulatory authority or for the purposes of obtaining advice from professional advisers in relation to this Agreement); or

 

  (b)

otherwise make use of

any confidential or commercially sensitive information which you have or may have acquired in the course of your employment and which relates to the Company and/or any Group Company or to its or their business.

Information which has entered the public domain (otherwise than as a result of any breach by you of any obligation owed by you to the Company or any Group Company) shall cease to be confidential.

 

10.4

Subject to clause 10.1, the parties agree not to act in any manner detrimental to each other including, in your case, to any Group Company, and you agree not to make, or cause to be made, any derogatory statements concerning the Company, any Group Company, or its or their business or officers or employees. The Company agrees not to authorise the publication of any derogatory statements concerning you.

 

10.5

You agree not to make, or cause to be made, any statement or comment to the press (whether local, national or specialist) or to or on any other media (including social media such as FaceBook, Twitter or LinkedIn) concerning this Agreement or the circumstances of the termination of your employment with the Company, or your resignation or removal from any directorships or other offices with the Company or any Group Company without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

10.6

After the Termination Date you will not represent yourself as still connected with the Company or any Group Company, including on social media such as FaceBook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Hogan Lovells

 

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11.

RESTRICTIONS

You acknowledge you are bound by and undertake to continue to observe clause 15 of your Employment Contract notwithstanding the termination of your employment.

 

12.

FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT

 

12.1

You agree to accept the terms set out in this Agreement in full and final settlement of any and all claims, demands, costs, expenses or rights of action which you have or may have against the Company or any Group Company or any of its or their officers or employees, whether at common law, under statute, pursuant to European Union law or otherwise, however arising, in connection with your employment and/or its termination and/or your directorships and/or your removal or resignation from them (the “Identified Issues”) whether such claims are known or unknown and whether they are or could be in the contemplation of the parties at the date of this Agreement, including claims which as a matter of law do not at the date of this Agreement exist and/or whose existence cannot currently be foreseen (but excluding any claim in respect of accrued pension entitlement or personal injury).

 

12.2

In particular, but without limitation, the waiver and release contained in clause 12.1 extends to:

 

  (a)

any claim for damages for breach of contract (whether brought before an Employment Tribunal or otherwise); and

 

  (b)

any statutory claims which you have or may have for:

 

  (i)

unfair dismissal, including any dismissal regarded as automatically unfair;

 

  (ii)

discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation related to sex under the Equality Act 2010;

 

  (iii)

discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation related to race under the Equality Act 2010;

 

  (iv)

discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation related to sexual orientation under the Equality Act 2010;

 

  (v)

discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation related to age under the Equality Act 2010;

 

  (vi)

a detriment under section 47B (making a protected disclosure) of the Employment Rights Act 1996;

 

  (vii)

a detriment under section 47C (taking leave for family reasons) of the Employment Rights Act 1996;

 

  (viii)

a claim for unlawful deductions under Part II of the Employment Rights Act 1996;

 

  (ix)

a claim under the Working Time Regulations 1998;

 

  (x)

a claim under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; and

 

  (xi)

a claim under the General Data Protection Regulation or Data Protection Act 2018.

Hogan Lovells

 

- 5 -


The claims specified in this clause 12.1 (together the “Employee Claims”) are claims which it is recognised you have or may have arising out of the circumstances surrounding your employment and its termination.

 

12.3

You agree that you shall not institute or commence any other claims, actions or proceedings against the Company or any Group Company in relation to the Identified Issues before any Employment Tribunal or court whether in respect of the Employee Claims or otherwise.

 

12.4

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Clause 12 shall prevent you from taking action against the Company before an Employment Tribunal or court to enforce the terms of this Agreement.

 

13.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

13.1

You represent and warrant as a strict condition of the Company entering into this Agreement that:

 

  (a)

having taken independent legal advice, that you have no complaints or grounds for any claim whatsoever against the Company in relation to the Identified Issues, including, without limitation, the Employee Claims and you are not aware of any claim or any facts which could give rise to any claim which is not being settled under this Agreement;

 

  (b)

you are not aware of any facts, matters or symptoms which might give rise to a claim for personal injury against the Company and/or any of its Group Companies;

 

  (c)

you are not aware of any facts or matters which might give rise to a dispute between you, the Company, any of its Group Companies and/or the pension trustees in respect of your pension rights;

 

  (d)

you have not commenced any action against the Company or any Group Company and will not commence or continue any action in relation to the Employee Claims or otherwise arising out of the Identified Issues;

 

  (e)

you have not made nor will you make any reference to the Information Commissioner in relation to any alleged breach of data protection obligations by the Company or any Group Company; and

 

  (f)

as at the date of signature of this Agreement, you have not breached the confidentiality obligations in your Employment Contract.

 

13.2

You agree that if you bring, or somebody representing you or acting on your behalf brings, any claim relating to the Identified Issues (including one or more of the Employee Claims) against the Company and/or any of its Group Companies you will repay to the Company as a pre-condition of bringing any such claim the amount claimed by you or the Termination Payment, whichever is the lower. You agree that this amount is recoverable by the Company as a debt.

 

14.

COMPROMISE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS

 

14.1

You acknowledge that the conditions regulating compromise and/ or settlement agreements (as appropriate) in the following sections are satisfied: section 203(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996, section 147(3) of the Equality Act 2010 and Regulation 35(3) of the Working Time Regulations 1998.

Hogan Lovells

 

- 6 -


14.2

You acknowledge that this Agreement relates to any matters over which an Employment Tribunal may have jurisdiction including, without limitation, the Employee Claims.

 

14.3

You confirm that you have received legal advice from your Adviser.

 

14.4

You have provided the name of your Adviser from whom you have taken this advice and the name and address of the organisation for whom your Adviser works and your Adviser has signed the certificate set out in Schedule 1 to this Agreement.

 

15.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

15.1

Save for any Group Company a person, firm, company or organisation who or which is not a party to this Agreement shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Agreement. The consent of a third party shall not be required for the variation or termination of this Agreement, even if that variation or termination affects the benefits conferred in this Agreement on that third party.

 

15.2

Although marked “without prejudice” and “subject to contract”, once the Agreement has been signed by the Company and by you and the certificate attached to this Agreement has been signed by your Adviser it shall be treated as an open agreement and binding between the Company and you.

 

15.3

This Agreement may be executed by the parties in separate counterparts each of which shall be an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement is not effective until each party has executed at least one counterpart and the Adviser has signed the Adviser’s certificate. Completion of this Agreement can take place by way of exchanging signed PDF soft copies.

 

15.4

The headings to the clauses are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

16.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

 

16.1

This Agreement contains the entire agreement between you and the Company and supersedes and extinguishes all prior agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations, understandings or arrangements, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter.

 

17.

APPLICABLE LAW

English law shall apply to this Agreement.

 

Signed by Mr Matt Harris    /s/ Matt Harris  
Signed for and on behalf of the Company    /s/ Anthony Cicio  

Hogan Lovells

 

- 7 -

Exhibit 99.1

Argo Group announces Susan Comparato as chief administrative

officer and other key leadership roles

 

  

•  Appointments support strategic goals outlined for investors

  
  

•  Streamlines management structure and reduces expense

  

HAMILTON, BERMUDA – August 12, 2021 – Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO), an underwriter of specialty insurance, today announced several notable leadership appointments with a focus on simplifying the organization.

“This is the natural next step in our continuing evolution as a leading U.S.-focused specialty insurer,” said Argo Group CEO Kevin Rehnberg. “These organizational changes will help continue and even accelerate our progress against our strategic goals. Our recent earnings results demonstrate the good progress we are making, and these appointments will further streamline our structure.”

The company announced the following promotions today:

 

   

Susan Comparato, chief administrative officer – In this role, Comparato will oversee the global business services and innovation teams; the U.S. transformation team, which is focused on aligning the business with a significant technology program of work; group communications; and group enterprise security. Comparato has formerly served as Argo’s U.S. general counsel and most recently managed a portfolio of Argo’s U.S. business lines.

 

   

Andy Borst, interim president, International Operations – Borst will oversee the following businesses: Syndicate 1200, Bermuda, Brazil and Dubai. Borst has a broad background working in many areas of the Argo business, including his time in London as chief administrative officer for International Operations prior to his promotion to chief administrative officer for the Group.

 

   

Gary Grose, president, Commercial Specialty – In this role, Grose will oversee the following businesses: Alternative Risk Solutions, Argo Pro, Commercial Programs, Rockwood and Surety. Grose formerly served as executive vice president of U.S. Operations. Grose will also continue to oversee producer management for the company.

 

   

Marsh Duncan, president, Excess & Surplus – In this role, Duncan will oversee the following businesses: Casualty, Construction, Contract P&C, Environmental, Inland Marine, Property and Garage. Duncan has held numerous roles at Argo, most recently overseeing a smaller portfolio of Argo businesses.

The company also announced that Tim Carter, Argo’s former chief underwriting officer, and Matt Harris, former head of international, have left the company.

ABOUT ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LTD.

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (“Argo”) (NYSE: ARGO), is an underwriter of specialty insurance products in the property and casualty market. Argo offers a full line of products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims-handling needs of businesses in two primary segments: U.S. Operations and International Operations. Argo and its insurance subsidiaries are rated “A-” by Standard & Poor’s. Argo’s insurance subsidiaries are rated “A-” by AM Best. More information on Argo and its subsidiaries is available at argogroup.com.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in Argo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The inclusion of a forward-looking statement herein should not be regarded as a representation by Argo that Argo’s objectives will be achieved. Any forward looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Argo undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on any such statements.

###

Investors:

Brett Shirreffs

Head of Investor Relations

212-607-8830

brett.shirreffs@argogroupus.com

Media:

David Snowden

Senior Vice President, Group Communications

210-321-2104

david.snowden@argogroupus.com