Argo Group Highlights Comprehensive Ongoing Strategic Review Process in Letter to Shareholders

Rhea-AI Summary

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO) is urging shareholders to vote "FOR" its seven director nominees on the BLUE proxy card ahead of the Annual Meeting on December 15, 2022. The Company is conducting a strategic review, exploring potential sale options and evaluating over 80 interested parties with assistance from Goldman Sachs. The Board believes their nominees possess the expertise necessary for maximizing shareholder value and opposes Capital Returns' nominees, claiming they could disrupt the review process. Argo is focused on becoming a streamlined U.S.-centric specialty insurer.

Positive

• Strategic review process involves outreach to over 80 parties, indicating strong interest.
• Two major risk transfer transactions completed, strengthening financial position by $954 million.
• Significant divestitures to exit non-core businesses completed, enhancing focus on profitability.

Negative

• Potential disruptions to the strategic review process if Capital Returns' nominees are elected.

Details Exhaustive Outreach to More Than 80 Parties in Pursuit of Sale or Other Strategic Transaction

Urges Shareholders to Vote “FOR” All Argo’s Highly Qualified Director Nominees on the BLUE Proxy Card

HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO) (“Argo” or “the Company”) today announced that it is mailing a letter to shareholders in connection with its 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“Annual Meeting”) urging them to vote the BLUE proxy card “FOR” ALL seven of Argo’s highly qualified director nominees. The Annual Meeting will be held on December 15, 2022, and shareholders of record as of October 26, 2022 are entitled to vote at the meeting.

Argo Group (Graphic: Business Wire)

In the letter Argo details the comprehensive ongoing strategic review process the Argo Board of Directors (the “Board”) is undertaking to evaluate a range of alternatives, including a potential sale of the whole Company. With assistance from Argo’s financial advisor, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, the Company has conducted exhaustive outreach to more than 80 parties, including a balanced mix of potential strategic buyers and financial sponsors.

The process is being led by the Strategic Review Committee of the Board, which comprises directors who have significant experience executing M&A transactions and maximizing shareholder value. Argo is confident the strategic review process is best overseen by the Argo Board of Directors and its Strategic Review Committee, not by Capital Returns’ nominees.

The full text of the letter follows and can be found at the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

November 16, 2022

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

Your Board of Directors is focused on maximizing the value of Argo’s shares. That is why the Board launched a strategic review process to evaluate a range of alternatives, including a potential sale of the whole Company. As part of this process:

• Argo’s financial advisor, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, has conducted exhaustive outreach to more than 80 parties, including a balanced mix of potential strategic buyers and financial sponsors.
• The ongoing process is being overseen by the Strategic Review Committee of the Board, which comprises directors who have significant experience successfully executing M&A transactions and maximizing shareholder value.
• To ensure shareholder alignment, the Board appointed J. Daniel Plants, Chief Investment Officer of Voce Capital Management LLC, Argo’s largest active shareholder with approximately 9.5% of the Company’s shares, to the Board and as Chair of the Strategic Review Committee.
• Your Board has acted decisively to transform our business and make Argo a more streamlined and attractive company. As a result, Argo is a U.S. focused specialty insurance business and is now best positioned to drive our business strategies and evaluate strategic opportunities.

Your Board’s nominees are all essential in overseeing our progress as we continue the strategic review process. The Board believes that the nominees put forth by Capital Returns Master, Ltd. are not additive to your Board’s collective skillset, would diminish the level of expertise and diversity on your Board and would potentially disrupt or hinder the process.

We urge you to vote the BLUE card to ensure that shareholders receive the maximum value for their shares by allowing your Board to complete this comprehensive review process.

ARGO BOARD IS TAKING DECISIVE ACTIONS TO MAXIMIZE SHAREHOLDER VALUE

Your Board has taken a series of decisive actions to enhance and unlock the value of the business for shareholders. For example, over the last two years Argo has announced significant divestitures to exit international businesses and focus on its most profitable business lines. The Company has also re-underwritten its core U.S. specialty business, reduced costs and strengthened the management team, including adding five best-in-class C-suite executives to oversee its transformation and manage the Company in its next phase of growth as a U.S. focused specialty insurer.

Argo has also announced two major risk transfer transactions, which together will significantly strengthen the Company’s financial position and result in the transfer of approximately $954 million in net reserves. Most recently, in August, the Company announced its entry into a Loss Portfolio Transfer (LPT) with Enstar Group Limited for approximately $746 million, which closed on November 9, 2022. In September, following the announcement of the LPT and in line with Argo’s focused approach to profitable growth, the Company announced its entry into an agreement to sell its Argo Underwriting Agency Limited and its Lloyd’s Syndicate 1200 to Westfield Ltd. for total cash proceeds of approximately $125 million, subject to closing-related adjustments. These recent announcements are underpinned by an ongoing strategic analysis of our underwriting results and competitive position in all markets in which Argo operates. In addition, the Company previously divested international businesses, including in Brazil and Malta, and its global Ariel Re business.

Following the recent completion of the LPT transaction and the pending sale of our Syndicate 1200 business to Westfield, your Board remains committed to continuing the review of strategic alternatives, better positioning Argo on a path to greater success.

THE STRATEGIC REVIEW PROCESS IS COMPREHENSIVE –
ARGO REACHED OUT TO MORE THAN 80 PARTIES

Your Board is conducting a thorough, disciplined strategic review process and is committed to leaving no stone unturned. The Board has been transparent throughout the pendency of the strategic review process and has provided frequent updates to shareholders regarding the status and potential outcomes of this process.

The Board is open to considering any and all credible offers, and as previously noted, Argo’s financial advisor has conducted exhaustive outreach to more than 80 parties, including a balanced mix of potential strategic buyers and financial sponsors. The group of prospective acquirors has also included select international companies with an interest in expanding their U.S. platforms. Select bidders who have put forward preliminary, non-binding proposals have been given access to a data room containing over 60,000 pages of documents, and they and their representatives are having due diligence meetings with management.

Through these discussions, it is evident that the parties have found the latest developments and progress of transformation initiatives impressive, acknowledging that Argo is a healthier, streamlined business. The next step is for interested bidders to put forward proposals with any financing commitments and binding documentation.

The Board’s dedicated Strategic Review Committee is composed solely of seasoned directors to drive the process, including J. Daniel Plants, Chief Investment Officer of Voce Capital Management LLC, Argo’s largest active shareholder with approximately 9.5% of the Company’s shares. Collectively, these directors have strong M&A, capital markets and regulatory experience, and are well-suited to make recommendations to the entire Board. This is in direct contrast to Capital Returns’ nominees, whom the Board believes lack these critical skills and experience. In addition, if Capital Returns’ nominees were added to the Board at this critical juncture, it could delay the strategic review process as they get up to speed on the actions already in process as a result of the current Board’s efforts.

The current Board has been conducting a robust and thorough process, and keeping this Board in place will ensure the process is not disrupted or hindered. Your Board’s focus throughout this process is choosing the right path that maximizes value for all shareholders.

ARGO HAS THE RIGHT BOARD TO OVERSEE THE COMPANY’S STRATEGY AND FUTURE

As of the 2022 annual general meeting, the Board will be made up of seven experienced directors, six of whom are independent. The Board’s current composition reflects its proactive refreshment program and its commitment to selecting diverse directors with relevant expertise. Six of our current nine directors joined the Board since the Company undertook its repositioning, and 10 directors have rotated off the Board in the last three years, including two at this year’s upcoming annual general meeting. Our average director tenure is now only three years. As a result of this significant level of change, the Board’s deliberations and actions reflect independent and fresh perspectives.

Further, the seven Argo directors up for election at the annual general meeting – Bernard Bailey, Thomas Bradley, Dymphna Lehane, Samuel Liss, Carol McFate, J. Daniel Plants and Al-Noor Ramji – each received the support of over 95% of shareholders voting at last year’s annual meeting (other than J. Daniel Plants, who was appointed following last year’s annual meeting). The seven Argo director nominees have also exhibited strong oversight of our strategic priorities and are all essential in continuing the progress we have made in our strategic review process. The Board is confident our seven highly qualified nominees have the expertise and skills required to successfully guide Argo forward.

In sharp contrast, we believe that unlike all of Argo’s current Board members:

• Mr. Bobman does not deal in facts. He has failed to acknowledge that the two major risk transfer transactions have made Argo a more attractive company for interested parties. His lack of public company board experience is evident in his apparent inability to recognize Argo is conducting a thorough, disciplined strategic alternatives process.
• Mr. Michelson serves as an advisor or director of at least six other companies. During his tenure as a director at FedNat Insurance, the company has suffered a ~98% stock price decline, been delisted from Nasdaq, triggered a default on over $120 million of senior notes and had one of its insurance subsidiaries placed into receivership by the Florida Department of Financial Services.

In addition, over the past year of interactions between Argo and Capital Returns, Capital Returns has only proposed that Argo commence a strategic review process and appoint its nominees to the Board. The Board is already undertaking a strategic review – which has yielded two major risk transfer transactions, including the LPT with Enstar, as well as the pending sale of the Company’s Lloyd’s Syndicate 1200 – and continues to explore other value maximizing alternatives, including a sale of the whole Company. Capital Returns has given no indication that its nominees have any other perspectives or ideas to contribute.

PROTECT THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT
VOTE THE BLUE PROXY CARD TODAY “FOR” ALL OF ARGO’S NOMINEES

We believe the strategic review process is best overseen by the Argo Board of Directors and its Strategic Review Committee, not Capital Returns’ nominees.

The Argo Board formally interviewed Capital Returns’ candidates – Ronald Bobman and David Michelson – and unanimously concluded that our nominees are superior to Capital Returns’ nominees, who would not be additive to your Board’s collective skillset and would diminish the level of expertise and diversity on your Board. In the event Capital Returns’ nominees are elected, we believe the Board would get two directors with largely duplicative and inferior experience and skillsets to Argo’s existing directors, while potentially losing its most experienced technologist, Mr. Ramji, and one of its most experienced M&A practitioners, Mr. Bailey.

Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, you have an opportunity to protect your investment in Argo by voting the BLUE proxy card. Your vote is extremely important, no matter how many shares you own. We urge you to vote today by telephone, by internet or by signing, dating and returning the BLUE proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Please disregard any white proxy card you receive from Capital Returns.

The Argo Board has been unwavering in its commitment to maximize value for Argo shareholders and we thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors of Argo Group

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!   If you have any questions, or need assistance in voting your shares on the BLUE proxy card, please call our proxy solicitor:   INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED Shareholders in the U.S. and Canada Call Toll-Free at +1 (877) 750-9496 Banks and Brokers Call Collect at +1 (212) 750-5833

ABOUT ARGO GROUP INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LTD.

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (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 Group and its insurance subsidiaries are rated ‛A-’ by Standard & Poor’s. Argo’s insurance subsidiaries are rated ‛A-’ by A.M. Best. More information on Argo and its subsidiaries is available at argogroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release and any related oral statements may include forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial and operational performance. 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 “positioning,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “do not believe,” “aim,” “project,” “anticipate,” “confident,” “seek,” “will,” “likely,” “assume,” “estimate,” “may,” “continue,” “create,” “maximize,” “guidance,” “objective,” “outcome,” remain optimistic,” “outlook,” “trends,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “target,” “on track,” “simplifies” and similar expressions of a future or forward-looking nature. 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 and Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as supplemented in Argo’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The inclusion of a forward-looking statement herein should not be regarded as a representation by Argo that Argo’s objectives will be achieved. 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. Each of the transactions referenced in this press release is subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, that the transactions may be unable to be completed because of the failure to obtain required regulatory approvals or satisfy (or obtain waivers of) the closing conditions and uncertainty as to the timing of completion of the transactions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221115006605/en/

Investors:

Andrew Hersom

Head of Investor Relations

860-970-5845

andrew.hersom@argogroupus.com

Gregory Charpentier

AVP, Investor Relations and Corporate Finance

978-387-4150

gregory.charpentier@argogroupus.com

Media:

David Snowden

Senior Vice President, Group Communications

210-321-2104

david.snowden@argogroupus.com

Source: Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.

FAQ

What is Argo Group's strategic review process?

Argo Group's strategic review process involves evaluating a potential sale of the Company and has engaged over 80 interested parties to explore options.

When is the Argo Group Annual Meeting scheduled?

The Argo Group Annual Meeting is scheduled for December 15, 2022.

What are the major transactions Argo has recently completed?

Argo has completed two major risk transfer transactions totaling approximately $954 million, enhancing its financial stability.

How can shareholders vote for Argo's director nominees?

Shareholders can vote for Argo's director nominees by using the BLUE proxy card sent to them.

Who is leading the strategic review process at Argo Group?

The strategic review process is being led by the Strategic Review Committee of Argo's Board of Directors, including experienced M&A professionals.