Form 8-K

 

 

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): October 14, 2008

 

 

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.)

 

110 Pitts Bay Road

Pembroke HM 08

Bermuda

  

P.O. Box HM 1282

Hamilton HM FX

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 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))

 

 

 

ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

On October 14, 2008, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. issued a press release announcing expected pre-tax losses of approximately $50 million to $70 million related to U.S. weather events during the third quarter of 2008. Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. also announced in its October 14, 2008 press release that it expects to report a pre-tax investment loss and impairment charge of $18.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, of which approximately $3.7 million is related to sales of fixed maturity obligations of Washington Mutual, Inc. and approximately $13 million is related to investments in fixed maturity obligations of Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. Finally, the company announced in its October 14, 2008 press release that it estimates a pre-tax decline in unrealized gain of its investment portfolio of approximately $64 million, which is less than 1.6% of the value of its total portfolio as of September 30, 2008. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) Exhibits:

 

99.1

    Press Release issued by Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. dated October 14, 2008

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: October 15, 2008   Name:   Jay S. Bullock
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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