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):    May 24, 2019  

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Bermuda
1-15259
98-0214719
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

Argo House, 110 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
(441) 296-5858
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
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 communications 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 communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act   (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
     
 
£
Pre-commencement communications 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

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 Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Adoption of the Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan
At the Annual Meeting, the Company shareholders approved the Company’s 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan”).  The 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan provides for the grant of various equity and cash awards that may be conditioned upon attainment of specified performance targets or other factors. No additional awards would be made under the Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan or the Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Prior Plan awards that are outstanding as of the effective date of the 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of, and be governed by, the applicable Prior Plan.
The purpose of the 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing employees (including executive officers), non-employee directors, and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates with appropriate incentives to encourage them to enter into and remain in their positions with the Company and to develop a strong link between pay and the Company’s strategic goals and to align the interests of such award recipients with those of our shareholders by awarding long-term incentives in the form of equity and annual and other incentives in the form of cash and cash-based awards.
For more information about the 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan, see “Description of the 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan” set forth in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 12, 2019 (the “Proxy Statement”), which is incorporated herein by reference.  The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached as Annex B to the Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
(a)-(b) On May 24, 2019, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”) held its 2019 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Bye-laws.
Present at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy, were holders of 29,561,118 shares of common shares, constituting a quorum of the Company’s outstanding shares.  At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders considered twelve proposals set forth below, each of which is described in more detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement dated April 12, 2019, as filed with the SEC.
The voting results set forth below are based on the certification of First Coast Results, Inc., the independent Inspector of Election for the Annual Meeting.  There were no broker non-votes.
Proposals 1 through 4 set forth below required the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.  Each of proposals 1 through 4 was approved by the Company’s shareholders.
Proposal
     
For
   
Against
   
Abstentions
 
Proposal 1
 
Election of each of F. Sedgwick Browne, Samuel G. Liss, Kathleen A. Nealon, Al-Noor Ramji and John H. Tonelli as Class III Directors
                 
 
 
F. Sedgwick Browne
   
23,423,886
     
5,326,508
     
461,533
 
 
 
Samuel G. Liss
   
26,203,560
     
2,896,347
     
112,020
 
 
 
Kathleen A. Nealon
   
26,205,501
     
2,898,569
     
107,857
 
 
 
Al-Noor Ramji
   
26,198,642
     
2,902,156
     
111,129
 
 
 
John H. Tonelli
   
23,998,381
     
5,100,429
     
113,117
 
Proposal 2
 
Approval of the Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan
   
24,639,943
     
4,441,587
     
130,393
 
Proposal 3
 
Approval, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of Named Executive Officers
   
14,711,871
     
14,401,402
     
98,651
 
Proposal 4
 
Approval of the recommendation of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors that Ernst & Young LLP be appointed as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 and to refer the determination of its remuneration to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors
   
28,149,423
     
1,339,549
     
72,146
 
Proposals 5 through 8 set forth below required the affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s outstanding shares. Proposals 9 through 12 set out below required the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. None of proposal 5 through 12 were approved by the Company’s shareholders.
Proposal
     
For
   
Against
   
Abstentions
 
Proposal 5
 
Shareholder proposal to remove Gary V. Woods
   
3,563,796
     
23,316,690
     
2,331,436
 
Proposal 6
 
Shareholder proposal to remove Hector De Leon
   
2,940,191
     
23,940,015
     
2,331,716
 
Proposal 7
 
Shareholder proposal to remove John R. Power, Jr.
   
2,931,042
     
23,949,125
     
2,331,755
 
Proposal 8
 
Shareholder proposal to remove Mural R. Josephson
   
2,930,654
     
23,947,019
     
2,334,249
 
Proposal 9
 
Shareholder proposal to elect Nicholas C. Walsh
   
0
     
24,202,018
     
5,009,905
 
Proposal 10
 
Shareholder proposal to elect Carol A. McFate
   
0
     
24,204,076
     
5,007,847
 
Proposal 11
 
Shareholder Proposal to Elect Kathleen M. Dussault
   
0
     
24,204,025
     
5,007,898
 
Proposal 12
 
Shareholder proposal to elect Bernard C. Bailey
   
0
     
24,201,153
     
5,010,770
 
 
In accordance with Rule 14a-4(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company’s proxy card did not confer authority to vote for the election of any of the nominees named in Proposals 9 through 12.
 
Item 8.01.  Other Events
On May 24, 2019, the Company issued a press release regarding the preliminary outcome of its Annual Meeting. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

10.1  
99.1
 


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.

 
ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
 
         
         
 
By:
/s/ Jay S. Bullock
 
Dated: May 28, 2019
 
Name:
Jay S. Bullock
 
   
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 


EXHIBIT 99.1
 

Argo Group Shareholders Elect All Five Class III Directors at 2019 Annual Meeting
Company Shareholders Overwhelmingly Support Argo and its Board of Directors
Voce’s Nominees and Proposals Lacked Shareholder Support Prior to its Withdrawal
Argo Reaffirms its Commitment to Shareholder Engagement
HAMILTON, Bermuda – May 24, 2019 – Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO) (“Argo” or the “Company”), an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty market, announced today that, based on a preliminary count provided by its proxy solicitor, shareholders have voted to elect all five of its Class III Directors to the Argo Board.
“We appreciate the strong support from our shareholders,” said Gary Woods, Chairman of the Board. “The Board and management value the conversations we have had with our shareholders in recent months regarding our strategy, governance, and plans for continuing to create shareholder value.  We deeply value their perspectives, and we plan to maintain an active and productive dialogue with our shareholders as we continue to integrate their feedback and execute on our strategy.”
Argo also disclosed that, prior to Voce’s announced withdrawal days before the Company’s Annual General Meeting, Voce’s nominees and proposals had received limited shareholder support.  As of the evening of May 20, Sedgwick Browne, Argo’s Class III director targeted for removal by Voce, had received support from shareholders holding over 80% of the submitted proxies.  Additionally, almost 80% of the submitted proxies had voted against the removal of Argo’s Chairman, Gary Woods and more than 80% of the submitted proxies had voted against the removal of the other directors targeted by Voce.
Additionally, based on preliminary votes, the non-binding advisory resolution on executive compensation received 50.53% of the votes in favor, with 49.47% against.
“We will work with our shareholders to fully understand the concerns that influenced the vote regarding the compensation of our executive officers and are committed to taking the necessary actions to address those concerns,” said Mr. Woods.  “Our Board will carefully consider these results, as well as future shareholder input, in determining executive compensation going forward.  We thank our shareholders for their continued feedback and support.”
Final voting tallies from this year’s annual meeting are subject to certification by the Company’s inspector of elections and will be included in the Company’s report to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission once certified.

ABOUT ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO) is an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty market. Argo Group 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 Group’s insurance subsidiaries are A. M. Best-rated ‘A’ (Excellent) (third highest rating out of 16 rating classifications) with a stable outlook, and Argo Group’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries are Standard and Poor’s-rated ‘A- ‘(Strong) with a positive outlook. More information on Argo Group and its subsidiaries is available at  www.argolimited.com .

 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may include forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," “do not believe,” “aim,” "project," "anticipate," “seek,” "will," “likely,” “assume,” “estimate,” "may," “continue,” “guidance,” “objective,” “outlook,” “trends,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “target,” “on track” and similar expressions of a future or forward-looking nature. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Argo Group's control. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, voting results from and other matters related to the Annual General Meeting, including compensation matters. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other documents of Argo Group on file with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Argo Group will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Argo Group or its business or operations. Except as required by law, Argo Group undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.

Media :
David Snowden, 210-321-2104
Senior Vice President, Group Communications
david.snowden@argogroupus.com

or

Investors:
Susan Spivak Bernstein, 212-607-8835
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
susan.spivak@argolimited.com