Argo Group International Holdings, an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products, has announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30.

"It was another solid quarter in terms of profits and growth," said Argo Group CEO Mark E. Watson III. "Each of our four business segments generated top line growth in the quarter and three of our four businesses reported an underwriting profit. It's good to be heading in the right direction."

According to a release on Aug. 6, the Company reported results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30:

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30,:

-Gross written premiums were $474.2 million, an increase of $67.5 million or 16.6 percent over the second quarter of 2011.

-Pre-tax income was $25.0 million compared to $30.7 million in the second quarter of 2011.

-Pre-tax operating income1 was $17.9 million compared to pre-tax operating income1 of $2.6 million in the second quarter of 2011.

-Net income was $24.0 million or $0.92 per diluted share compared to net income of $21.6 million or $0.78 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2011.

-Net operating income1 per diluted share was $0.55 compared to net operating income1 per diluted share of $0.08 in the second quarter of 2011.

-Estimated pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums, were $3.9 million compared to $31.9 million in the second quarter of 2011.

-The combined ratio was 102.5 percent compared to 109.3 percent in the second quarter of 2011. The combined ratio was negatively impacted by 1.5 and 11.7 loss ratio points, respectively, for the first three months of 2012 and 2011.

-Book value per share (BVPS) was $58.74 at June 30, an increase of 5.6 percent from $55.60 at Dec. 31, 2011.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,:

-Gross written premiums were $870.5 million, an increase of $116.0 million or 15.4 percent over the first six months of 2011.

-Pre-tax income was $53.1 million compared to a pre-tax loss of $66.0 million for the first six months of 2011.

-Pre-tax operating income1 was $35.8 million compared to a pre- tax operating loss1 of $86.8 million for the first six months of 2011.

-Net income was $43.6 million or $1.66 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $72.5 million or $2.64 per diluted share for the first six months of 2011.

-Net operating income1 per diluted share was $1.09 compared to a net operating loss1 per diluted share of $2.69 for the first six months of 2011.

-Estimated pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums, were $8.0 million compared to $144.9 million for the first six months of 2011.

-The combined ratio was 102.9 percent compared to 126.8 percent for the first six months of 2011. The combined ratio was negatively impacted by 1.5 and 27.2 loss ratio points, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, and 2011.

Other Quarter Highlights:

-During the second quarter, Argo Group repurchased $17.4 million or 602,046 shares of its outstanding common stock at an average share price of $28.76. During the first six months of 2012, the company repurchased $27.4 million or 940,922 shares of its outstanding common stock, which represents 3.6 percent of shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2011.

Financial Results:

For the three months ended June 30, Argo Group reported net income of $24.0 million or $0.92 per diluted share. In the second quarter of 2012, the company produced net operating income after tax of $14.3 million or $0.55 per diluted share. These results were impacted by second quarter 2012 pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums, of $3.9 million. By comparison, the second quarter of 2011 produced net income of $21.6 million or $0.78 per diluted share. In the second quarter of 2011, the company produced net operating income after tax of $2.2 million or $0.08 per diluted share. Second quarter 2011 results were impacted by pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums, of $31.9 million. The difference between net income and net operating income for the three months ended June 30, reflects $2.7 million of pre-tax realized investment losses associated with the company's investment portfolio and a $9.8 million pre-tax foreign currency exchange gain. Included in the results for the three months ended June 30, was favorable prior year loss development of $4.1 million versus favorable prior year loss development of $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011.

Gross written premiums for the three months ended June 30, and 2011 were $474.2 million and $406.7 million, respectively. Total revenue for the three months ended June 30, and 2011 was $318.0 million and $336.4 million, respectively. Earned premiums for the three months ended June 30, and 2011 were $290.2 million and $271.7 million, respectively. Net investment income for the three months ended June 30, and 2011 was $30.0 million and $32.9 million, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, the Company reported net realized investment losses of $2.7 million versus net realized investment gains of $31.5 million for the same three-month period in 2011.

The Argo Group combined ratio for the three months ended June 30, and 2011 was 102.5 percent and 109.3 percent, respectively. Argo Group's second quarter 2012 combined ratios for each business segment were as follows: Excess & Surplus Lines at 88.6 percent; Commercial Specialty at 117.4 percent; International Specialty at 71.1 percent; and Syndicate 1200 at 98.9 percent.

For the six months ended June 30, Argo Group reported net income of $43.6 million or $1.66 per diluted share. In the first half of 2012, the company produced net operating income after tax of $28.6 million or $1.09 per diluted share. Results in the first half of 2012 were impacted by pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums, of $8.0 million. By comparison, the first half of 2011 produced a net loss of $72.5 million or $2.64 per diluted share. In the first half of 2011, the company produced a net operating loss after tax of $73.8 million or $2.69 per diluted share. Results in the first half of 2011 were impacted by pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums, of $144.9 million. The difference between net income and net operating income for the first half of 2012 reflects $10.4 million of pre-tax realized gains associated with the company's investment portfolio and a $6.9 million pre-tax foreign currency exchange gain. Included in the results for the first half of 2012 was favorable prior year reserve development of $7.4 million versus unfavorable prior year reserve development of $3.6 million for the first half of 2011.

Gross written premiums for the first half of 2012 were $870.5 million compared to $754.5 million in the first half of 2011. Total revenue for the first half of 2012 was $641.1 million compared to $633.6 million in the first half of 2011. Earned premiums for the first half of 2012 were $567.5 million compared to $533.1 million in the first half of 2011. Net investment income for the first half of 2012 and 2011, respectively, was $61.4 million and $66.3 million. Net realized investment gains for the six months ended June 30, and 2011 were $10.4 million and $33.8 million, respectively.

Argo Group's combined ratio for the first half of 2012 was 102.9 percent compared to 126.8 percent in the first half of 2011. The combined ratios for each business segment in the first half of 2012 were as follows: Excess & Surplus Lines at 90.0 percent; Commercial Specialty at 112.4 percent; International Specialty at 80.1 percent; and Syndicate 1200 at 101.0 percent.

At June 30, the investment portfolio totaled $4.1 billion with a net pre-tax unrealized gain of approximately $265.4 million.

Segment Results

Excess & Surplus Lines (E&S) - In the second quarter of 2012, gross written premiums for E&S totaled $143.9 million, resulting in pre-tax operating income of $22.3 million. This compares to gross written premiums of $131.8 million and pre-tax operating income of $7.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. The combined ratios for the second quarter of 2012 and 2011 were 88.6 percent and 104.5 percent, respectively. The underwriting results for the three months ended June 30, include favorable prior year loss development of $12.4 million, compared to favorable prior year loss development of $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2011. The combined ratio for E&S was negatively impacted in the second quarter of 2012 by 2.1 loss ratio points due to $2.1 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums. The combined ratio for the same three-month period in 2011 was negatively impacted by 5.4 loss ratio points due to $5.6 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums.

In the first half of 2012, gross written premiums for E&S totaled $251.2 million, resulting in pre-tax operating income of $41.2 million. This compares to gross written premiums of $240.3 million and pre-tax operating income of $20.5 million in the first half of 2011. The combined ratios for the first half of 2012 and 2011 were 90.0 percent and 102.2 percent, respectively. The underwriting results in the first half of 2012 include favorable prior year loss development of $21.7 million, compared to favorable prior year loss development of $2.2 million in the first half of 2011. The combined ratio for E&S was negatively impacted in the first half of 2012 by 1.1 loss ratio points due to $2.2 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums. The combined ratio for the same six-month period in 2011 was negatively impacted by 2.7 loss ratio points due to $5.7 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums.

Commercial Specialty - In the second quarter of 2012, gross written premiums for Commercial Specialty were $92.7 million, resulting in a pre-tax operating loss of $8.8 million. This compares to gross written premiums of $88.2 million and a pre-tax operating loss of $11.8 million in the second quarter of 2011. The combined ratios for the second quarters of 2012 and 2011 were 117.4 percent and 123.8 percent, respectively. The underwriting results for the second quarter of 2012 include unfavorable prior year loss development of $13.4 million compared to unfavorable prior year loss development of $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. The combined ratio for Commercial Specialty was negatively impacted in the second quarter of 2012 by 2.3 loss ratio points due to $1.8 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums. The combined ratio for the same three-month period in 2011 was negatively impacted by 18.1 loss ratio points due to $14.4 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums.

In the first half of 2012, gross written premiums for Commercial Specialty were $200.4 million, resulting in a pre-tax operating loss of $9.1 million. This compares to gross written premiums of $183.2 million and a pre-tax operating loss of $6.1 million in the first half of 2011. The combined ratios for the first half of 2012 and 2011 were 112.4 percent and 111.7 percent, respectively. The underwriting results in the first half of 2012 include unfavorable prior year loss development of $18.0 million, compared to unfavorable prior year loss development of $0.8 million in the first half of 2011. The combined ratio for Commercial Specialty was negatively impacted in the first half of 2012 by 2.6 loss ratio points due to $4.2 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums. The combined ratio for the same six-month period in 2011 was negatively impacted by 9.0 loss ratio points due to $14.8 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums.

International Specialty - In the second quarter of 2012, gross written premiums for International Specialty were $84.3 million, resulting in pre-tax operating income of $9.6 million. This compares to gross written premiums of $62.9 million and pre-tax operating income of $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2011. The combined ratios for the second quarters of 2012 and 2011 were 71.1 percent and 101.4 percent, respectively. The underwriting results for the second quarter of 2012 include favorable prior year loss development of $3.4 million compared to favorable prior year loss development of $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2011. There were no catastrophe losses in the second quarter of 2012. The combined ratio for the second quarter of 2011 was negatively impacted by 47.3 loss ratio points due to $10.9 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums.

In the first half of 2012, gross written premiums for International Specialty were $141.9 million, resulting in pre-tax operating income of $15.4 million. This compares to gross written premiums of $130.1 million and a pre-tax operating loss of $50.8 million in the first half of 2011. The combined ratios for the first half of 2012 and 2011 were 80.1 percent and 200.6 percent, respectively. The underwriting results for the first half of 2012 include favorable prior year loss development of $3.6 million, compared to favorable prior year loss development of $3.8 million in the first half of 2011. The combined ratio for International Specialty was negatively impacted in the first half of 2012 by 3.1 loss ratio points due to $1.6 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums. The combined ratio for the first half of 2011 was negatively impacted by 152.4 loss ratio points due to $78.9 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums.

Syndicate 1200 - In the second quarter of 2012, gross written premiums for Syndicate 1200 were $153.2 million, resulting in pre- tax operating income of $4.5 million. This compares to gross written premiums of $123.8 million and pre-tax operating income of $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2011. The combined ratios for the second quarters of 2012 and 2011 were 98.9 percent and 102.0 percent, respectively. The underwriting results in the second quarter of 2012 include favorable prior year loss development of $1.9 million, compared to unfavorable prior year loss development of $5.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. There were no catastrophe losses in the second quarter of 2012. The combined ratio for the second quarter of 2011 was negatively impacted by 2.6 loss ratio points due to $1.0 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums.

In the first half of 2012, gross written premiums for Syndicate 1200 were $276.3 million, resulting in pre-tax operating income of $6.2 million. This compares to gross written premiums of $200.5 million and a pre-tax operating loss of $44.3 million in the first half of 2011. The combined ratios for the first half of 2012 and 2011 were 101.0 percent and 143.4 percent, respectively. The underwriting results for the first half of 2012 include favorable prior year loss development of $2.3 million, compared to unfavorable prior year loss development of $11.6 million in the first half of 2011. There were no catastrophe losses in the first half of 2012. The combined ratio for the first half of 2011 was negatively impacted by 36.8 loss ratio points due to $45.6 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and estimated reinstatement premiums.

Run-off Segment - Argo Group's Run-off segment includes financial results for (a) asbestos and environmental liabilities; (b) the former Risk Management segment; and (c) all legacy operations for PXRE Group. For the second quarter of 2012, the Run-off segment produced pre-tax operating income of $1.4 million compared to pre- tax operating income of $6.6 million for the second quarter of 2011. Run-off results for the second quarter of 2012 include unfavorable prior year loss development of $0.2 million, compared to favorable prior year loss development of $5.3 million in the second quarter of 2011.

In the first half of 2012, the Run-off segment produced pre-tax operating income of $1.0 million compared to pre-tax operating income of $3.8 million in the first half of 2011. Results for the first half of 2012 include unfavorable prior year loss development of $2.2 million, compared to favorable prior year loss development of $2.8 million in the first half of 2011.

Argo Group International Holdings 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 coverage and claims handling needs of businesses in four primary segments: Excess & Surplus Lines, Commercial Specialty, International Specialty and Syndicate 1200.

More Information

www.argolimited.com

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